ESPN pulls out of coaches' poll

[Porter]

ESPN pulls out of coaches' poll
By NANCY ARMOUR, AP National Writer
June 7, 2005

ESPN withdrew from the college football coaches' poll Tuesday, the second major news organization to say it didn't want to be a part of the Bowl Championship Series' weekly rankings.

The cable sports network said it no longer wanted its name attached to the rankings unless all ballots were made public, not just the final ones. USA Today will continue running the poll, which helps determine who plays for the national championship.

In December, The Associated Press told the BCS to stop using its media poll in its weekly formula.

ADVERTISEMENT
click here
``Coaches have the perfect right to conduct their voting the way they see fit,'' said Vince Doria, ESPN's vice president and director of news. ``We just feel, in our best interests here, we couldn't reconcile having our name on the poll and being able to cover any controversy that might arise.''

Unlike the AP voters, the coaches' ballots have always been secret. ESPN asked this year that they be public, but the coaches agreed only for the final regular-season poll. Doria said ESPN wanted it for the entire year.

``We just felt that to be as ethical as we possibly could in this situation, that's what we needed to do,'' Doria said. ``This wasn't a case of us questioning the ethics of the coaches or the validity of the voting. These things tend to create controversy. When there is some vetting to be done, it needs to be done thoroughly and we didn't feel it could be done.''

Doria said ESPN notified USA Today and the coaches' association of its decision, but not the BCS.

``There will still be a coaches' poll, and it will be used by the BCS, but we don't have a comment on ESPN's decision,'' said Bob Burda, spokesman for BCS coordinator Kevin Weiberg.

The AP poll and the ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll had been the major components of the BCS rankings.

However, the AP said such use was never sanctioned and had reached the point where it threatened to undermine the independence and integrity of its poll.

ESPN had sponsored the coaches' poll with USA Today since 1997.

Doria said the network became uncomfortable last season, when California lost a shot at a major bowl after dropping in the final coaches' poll, causing a public outcry and debate among fans.

The Golden Bears finished fourth in the coaches' poll, but six coaches dropped them below No. 6 on the final ballots -- four at No. 7 and two in the eighth slot. In the previous week's poll, nobody picked Cal lower than sixth.

The final vote came after Cal's 26-16 win at Southern Mississippi -- a close game, but a tough road contest that wasn't in doubt in the final minutes.

The drop cost Cal its first Rose Bowl bid in 45 years. The Golden Bears instead went to the less glamorous Holiday Bowl while Texas got into the Rose Bowl.

``In essence, that was really the determining factor,'' Doria said. ``The poll was more than something that is there primarily for fans to discuss and debate. It was a determinant element in the BCS poll.''

Monte Lorell, managing editor for sports at USA Today, said he was surprised at ESPN's decision.

``As recently as a week or so ago, my understanding was that if the coaches were to move to the level of transparency that ultimately they did, that that would satisfy ESPN,'' Lorell said.

In November, the BCS signed a four-year deal with Fox to televise the Sugar, Fiesta and Orange bowls from 2007-10 and the national title game from 2007-09. The Rose Bowl has its own television deal with ABC.

``Our BCS interest is focused only on our TV coverage, which begins in January of 2007,'' Fox spokesman Dan Bell said.

Full Story

Heres a concept....SCRAP THE BS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[HuskerFan2002]

Figures. More proof that tejas boosters influenced (financially or otherwise) the BsCS last season.

[Steak]

I am done with college football unless there are legitimate changes. I am still annoyed how Auburn did not get to play in a BCS game. I am not sure if Auburn was going to beat USC and odds are they would not, but at least they would have made USC earn that win and it would be pretty good game. Oklahoma had no business being in the championship game IMO.

[Porter]

Oklahoma is the most overrated program in the country. Cal got screwed by both polls. Listening to Mike and Mike on ESPN news they brought up 2 good points.

1. Who is to say that a coach is going to vote against a team that costs their school money.

2. Who is to say that a writer is going to vote against the team they cover and expect to get access to do his job.

3. The best option is the computers and no one wants them.

4. I lied about 3, GET A PLAYOFF!!!

[HuskerFan2002]

Cal got screwed by both polls.

Well, fortunately for Texas Tech... they didn't have to play defense against Nebraska last year.

We self destructed for them.

The score would've looked better if Nebraska had punted on every first down in the second half.

[ATLien]

I am done with college football unless there are legitimate changes. I am still annoyed how Auburn did not get to play in a BCS game. I am not sure if Auburn was going to beat USC and odds are they would not, but at least they would have made USC earn that win and it would be pretty good game. Oklahoma had no business being in the championship game IMO.

Auburn did play in a BCS game, and they barely beat VT.. unless you meant they did not get to play in the Championship game vs. USC

[Taylor]

Figures. More proof that tejas boosters influenced (financially or otherwise) the BsCS last season.

Just like Texas and it's boosters were screwed the year before?

[Taylor]

I am done with college football unless there are legitimate changes. I am still annoyed how Auburn did not get to play in a BCS game. I am not sure if Auburn was going to beat USC and odds are they would not, but at least they would have made USC earn that win and it would be pretty good game. Oklahoma had no business being in the championship game IMO.

I've been saying that for almost 20 years yet there I am catching the games.

Face it, the BCS is made to profit the largest conferences, and they're not giving up this golden goose

[Steak]

Taylor: Big difference. You live in a region where football is a religion so it's tough not to miss it while I live in a region where college football is more of apathy. With Glen Mason's Gophers doing their usual choke job once they play Michigan and Rutgers underacheiving as always, I think I can overcome not following college football. I will stand by my principle on this one.

[HuskerFan2002]

Just like Texas and it's boosters were screwed the year before?

Texas >> overrated Cal.

[Porter]

Texas >> overrated Cal.

Cal >> Overrated Oklahoma.