Wow, take a look at this site where it shows how the coaches voted. Mack Brown had the Gators number 1, that floors me. Steve Spurrier had the Gators number 2. Urban Meyer had Florida number 1, Oklahoma number 2, USC number 3 and Texas number 4. Most voters had Oklahoma and Florida 1 and 2 in one order or another. Coaches Poll By Coach
I read Meyer's wrong Terry, I though he had USC 4th but it was Utah. Hey several of the computers have Utah ahead of the Gators and one of them have them at number 1. I'm not defending it, but he did coach there. Brown though is impressive in not making his team number 1. I can't argue with how any of the coaches ranked teams but I can say that I wouldn't have expected anyone to do what Brown did. And it could cost him. Classy. Corey, no I don't see where Carroll has a vote. The coaches are in alphbetical order so it's easy to check. I don't see him.
I think that's the key, and is the problem with human polls. Voters don't always take the proper responsibilty when voting. It's known that coaches vote their next opponent higher, that coaches vote their conference breathern higher, that in this case Urban voted for Utah with his heart. In the end that one vote for Utah didn't change anything, but I just wish that coaches (and writers) would set aside personal, regional, etc issues and really try to figure out who deserves to be voted where.
Terry, not to belabor a point, but look at these final computer rankings. Utah is ahead of USC in the computer rankings. I'm not and have not been a fan of the computer rankings. Final Computer Rankings
Well I'm a little conflicted about Mack's vote. I'm sure he feels justified votiing Texas over OU, and most likely did it for 2 reasons. 1. He'd be roasted by Texas fans if he didn't do that way 2. He did actually beat OU head to head and no doubt feels justified. So really he had an agenda when he made that vote, most likely. But probably could justify his vote more so than Urban. I note that Jim Tressel voted the top 8 to BCS conference schools, I'm sure he justified it by the fact that they were BCS schools, and Utah isn't so they can't be as good. Anyhow I think this match up is a great matchup and beyond the #1 and #2 slots it really doesn't make very much difference whether you are #4 or #9
I'm surprised that the folks here who know the game so well would summarily dismiss the possibility that Utah might - just might - be a better team than USC. My feelings about USC aside, I am not dismissing that possibility. I can't say that if challenged to say which is better that I would not pick Utah. Before I would make a final decision, I would have to review each team's season-long body of work.
Given that both Neuheisel and Mike Price voted Texas No. 1, there might be a Texas fan on this board who will now speak more kindly of the PAC 10 :wink: I see Chizik also voted the LH's No.1. Seriously though, I think Texas got hosed. It will be interesting to see how things turn out for "Big Game Bob". For several years, the talk before the bowl games was about how great Oklahoma was but WVU Boise State, and LSU seemed to disagree. Gator Nation will be in full force in Miami and my bet is that the Sooners will not have a fun visit.
You seem to be certain that USC is superior to Utah, so you should have some information to support your belief. I'd like to see it. I'm not convinced. Convince me.
I communicate better with images Sid. Here are the 2 things that USC has that Utah doesn't have and they give USC a big edge!! Case Closed. :!:
Sid, watching the ESPN bowl show tonight they addressed this issue. I'll just give you my opinion, Utah may in fact be better than USC or any one other team. Lee Corso in particular addressed the schedule that the schools in the bigger conferences go though and how it can wear on a team. If we have a playoff of 8 or more teams then I could see teams like Utah getting in, however I personally would not vote them in when we have a two team playoff. Last time Utah was in a BCS bowl was when Urban Meyer was the coach. Unfortunately they played Pitt which was not that good. This time they will play Alabama. If they can beat Alabama then I might look more favorably at them in the future. However right now I wouldn't vote the in the op 4 or 5. Just my opinion.
How sad is it that teams must play their way into consideration and respectability for several years, while others are handed it based on reputation alone? IMHO-USC is the best team in the country and Utah is a whole lot better than you guys realize. That being said... my fellow Alabamians in these parts have been making fun of Utah and Boise State all year long. They've constantly made fun of the talent, heart and ability of the entire Mountain West. Mentioning that the MWC owned the Pac10 this year just meant that the P10 were even bigger wussies this year... Well, they will get to see if they suck or not.
Corey, I'm not making fun of anybody. I also happen to agree with you that USC is the best team in the country, from a consistent year in and year out point of view. I don't know that they are the best this year, but I do know that the @#!@$! computers have a lot to do with them not being in contention and the computers are what kept them out in 2003. I think Utah is a possibly a very good team. However I don't give them or Boise State ranking over the top 5 - 6 teams in the BCS. We don't know how good they are and I don't think that the Championship is the time to find out. As I said earlier if we had a playoff then I would look favorably on teams like Utah and Boise State being included. Last year it was Hawaii who was unbeaten, but then totally out classed by Georgia in their bowl game. So I don't have a perfect answer, but would not put them into the Championship game.
Bill, I wasn't really calling you out specifically with my post. You just happened to be the guy making a similar point to one I've seen spread around for months now. People point to Hawaii last year and paint Boise St/Utah with that brush. That ignores the fact that Boise State and Utah have both been to a BCS bowl game and that they both won that game. While Utah and Urban Meyer did get a pretty weak Pitt team, Boise State state beat Oklahoma in one of the greatest games I've ever seen. Boise whipped their arse and then imploded when the Sooners came roaring back... only to take the game in OT..
That was a great game Corey and I enjoyed it a lot and was pulling for Boise State. My point is not that those teams shouldn't go to a BCS game at all, but I would be very reluctant to put Utah in the Championship game ahead of Oklahoma, Florida, Texas and USC. As far as I am concerned some of the ACC and or Big East teams may not belong there either.
Terry, The picture on the left does not convince me. The picture on the right does! I'll rest my case for now, but I retain the right to challenge further, thus requiring you to post more "convincing proof." :wink: I did not know until after I posted that Utah plays Alabama. I guess we'll learn a lot from that game and the Rose Bowl re: the final rankings and the Utah vs. USC issue.