Whats with the Southern Cal hype....again?

[Bucs90]

I can't help but notice, yet again, ANOTHER offseason where so many people are saying Southern Cal was the best team in the nation last year, even though Florida won the crown.

It happened in 2002, and 2003, and 2005 (even though they got beat straight up on the field) and now 2006. They technically have only won 1 National Championship, 2004. 2003 most people truly believed Southern Cal belongged there instead of OU, and I think the AP voted them #1 partly as a vengence factor towards the BCS, and partly because they were truly a top 2 team. But I just don't get it. Southern Cal loses a game, or two like last year, and they still get the benefit of the doubt from so many people that they were in fact the best team. Auburn 2004 goes undefeated, but is blasted for playing The Citadel- but did go undefeated. I don't get it. Some teams get blasted for who they beat, and Southern Cal gets an exception for who they lose to.

So, for 6 years now, Southern Cal was truly the best team, despite only winning the BCS crown once? Makes no sense. I keep hearing about the raw talent being the reason. Raw talent in boxing means you win the belt. In golf you win the tournament. In racing you win the cup. In football you....win the championship. "Talent" is the ability to win the big show in any given endeavor. Southern Cal's "talent", while great, isn't quite what some have been hyped to believe, or they wouldn't be the team that "should have" won it all 5 out of 6 years in a row.

By the way, if you notice I refer to the Trojans as Southern Cal and not "USC" it's because, as far as braggin rights go, the real "USC" is in Columbia, SC, seeing that the last time the Gamecocks and Trojans met, well, the chicken crowed "VICTORY", thus claiming "USC" until further notice. But hey, Southern Cal is truly better than South Carolina so maybe we should give them the benefit of the doubt again and award "USC" back to them.

If its LSU vs Texas playing for the 2007 National Championship, make no doubt about it.......Southern Cal will end up being the best team this year!!!

[buckeyejim]

Here are the last two coaches polls from 2003. USC had 37 coaches voting them #1, beat Michigan in the Rose Bowl and finished #2 (they had 3 coaches who broke the rules and voted USC #1 in the Final Poll even though all the #1 votes were supposed to go to LSU-Oklahoma winner).


Final Regular Season Coaches Poll
Team Final Record Points

1. USC (37) 11-1
2. LSU (18) 12-1
3. Oklahoma (8) 12-1
4. Michigan 10-2
5. Texas 10-2
6. Ohio State 10-2
7. Tennessee 10-2
8. Florida State 10-2
9. Miami (FL) 10-2
10. Kansas State 11-3
11. Georgia 10-3
12. Iowa 9-3
13. Purdue 9-3
14. Washington State 9-3
15. Miami (OH) 12-1
16. Boise State 12-1
17. Florida 8-4
18. Mississippi 9-3
19. TCU 11-1
20. Minnesota 9-3
21. Nebraska 9-3
22. Oklahoma State 9-3
23. West Virginia 8-4
24. Maryland 9-3
25. Utah 9-2


Final Post Bowl Coaches Poll
Team Final Record Points

1. LSU (60) 13-1 1,572
2. USC (3) 12-1 1,514
3. Oklahoma 12-2 1,429
4. Ohio State 11-2 1,370
5. Miami (FL) 11-2 1,306
6. Georgia 11-3 1,183
7. Michigan 10-3 1,140
8. Iowa 10-3 1,119
9. Washington State 10-3 983
10. Florida State 10-3 929
11. Texas 10-3 894
12. Miami (OH) 13-1 800
13. Kansas State 11-4 746
14. Mississippi 10-3 730
15. Boise State 13-1 704
16. Tennessee 10-3 684
17. Minnesota 10-3 553
18. Nebraska 10-3 532
19. Purdue 9-4 510
20. Maryland 10-3 462
21. Utah 10-2 327
22. Clemson 9-4 219
23. Bowling Green 11-3 170
24. TCU 11-2 145
25. Florida 8-5 124

[Blue Hen]

D1A college football is, basically, an 'exhibition' sport that runs on hype and perception.....always has. Certain teams and conferences are always hyped as the best, even when the numbers don't add up. Btw, when you refer to championships and 'crowns' won , you're just perpetuating the problem. Poll voters and computer geeks selecting 2 teams out of 120 to go off and play some post season fb game is in no way a legitimate championship or crown. Ever notice that in the championship divisions of NCAA CF you rarely hear stuff like "...but this or that team was really the best". D1A will never shed the 'mythicalness' until it decides to play it off.

[jeff4bucks]

we know Hen, we know.

Time for your meds sir!

[Blue Hen]

sorry, jeff......I try but can't control myself. I'll step up the dosage.

[EvilVodka]

we know Hen, we know.

Time for your meds sir!

lol

[EvilVodka]

Here are the last two coaches polls from 2003. USC had 37 coaches voting them #1, beat Michigan in the Rose Bowl and finished #2 (they had 3 coaches who broke the rules and voted USC #1 in the Final Poll even though all the #1 votes were supposed to go to LSU-Oklahoma winner).


With the latest version of the BCS formula, LSU and USC would have played each other...no matter which team anyone thinks was truly the best team, I think everyone would agree that these were the top 2 teams and should have played each other...

[EvilVodka]

I can't help but notice, yet again, ANOTHER offseason where so many people are saying Southern Cal was the best team in the nation last year, even though Florida won the crown.

It happened in 2002, and 2003, and 2005 (even though they got beat straight up on the field) and now 2006. They technically have only won 1 National Championship, 2004. 2003 most people truly believed Southern Cal belongged there instead of OU, and I think the AP voted them #1 partly as a vengence factor towards the BCS, and partly because they were truly a top 2 team. But I just don't get it. Southern Cal loses a game, or two like last year, and they still get the benefit of the doubt from so many people that they were in fact the best team. Auburn 2004 goes undefeated, but is blasted for playing The Citadel- but did go undefeated. I don't get it. Some teams get blasted for who they beat, and Southern Cal gets an exception for who they lose to.


IMO, they get the nod this year because they return a veteran QB

Also, I've only seen one person say they were the best last year...the majority of people know Florida was the best last year

[Blue Hen]

Why in the world would a major sport's championship be decided by something called a 'BCS Formula" ?? DUMB !!!!....and us sucker fans buy it.

[Blue Hen]

Bottom line truth there, NCT

[jeff4bucks]

i was obviously being a bit tongue in cheek, Hen, but I wouldn't go so far as where you say 2 teams out of 120 are picked to play for a championship. Sure, two teams get the benefit of the preseason poll, but they still have to go out and win all their games. Not an easy thing to do. Its far from perfect. I would also like a playoff system.

[Blue Hen]

All their games ? Nope. Florida didn't win all its games.

To win a D1A BCS' mythical' championship..or whatever it is, a team must win one single post season fb game with 7 weeks to prepare.
To win a 'real' NCAA D1 national championship, a team must win 4 consecutive tough post season games with only one week to prepare for each game. Winning a 'real' one is at least 10x more difficult than winning one of those opinionated style NCs.....imo. Kudos to Appy State and the other NCs that survived that most difficult grind.

[jeff4bucks]

yes, UF lost a game, just as LSU/USC did in 2003, and others as well. More often than not, a team has to go undefeated, or if they have 1 loss, they need a good deal of luck.

[EvilVodka]

To win a D1A BCS' mythical' championship..or whatever it is, a team must win one single post season fb game with 7 weeks to prepare. To win a 'real' NCAA D1 national championship, a team must win 4 consecutive tough post season games with only one week to prepare for each game. Winning a 'real' one is at least 10x more difficult than winning one of those opinionated style NCs.....imo.

Except you can drop a couple games in the regular season and it doesn't mean a thing