What once was...
Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2005 1:59 pm
What once was a valued football poll is now a sideshow to the "big dance."
The AP Poll used to have value and influence over college football.
However, they are now a second tier poll and I had difficulty even finding a credible link.
The AP noted their differences in a letter to the BCS in Dec 04. They left because of continued "criticism of the BCS' selection process and scrutiny of the polls," probably due to the complications of 3 undefeated teams (were there other issues at hand?).
So now, no one cares about their poll and they have lost their influence over the BCS. If they had that big a problem with the current system, why not stay involved and try to find a resolution. By leaving they simply excluded any possible influence and opened themselves to replacment.
And realistically, their poll is almost identical to the Harris poll. There are a few differences but nothing that will change the BCS outlook.
Personally, I would rather have current and past coaches deciding on polls than some sportswriter who isn't completely devoted to CFB. So maybe it was for the better but it sure is a drastic change to a system that existed for so long.
The AP Poll used to have value and influence over college football.
However, they are now a second tier poll and I had difficulty even finding a credible link.
The AP noted their differences in a letter to the BCS in Dec 04. They left because of continued "criticism of the BCS' selection process and scrutiny of the polls," probably due to the complications of 3 undefeated teams (were there other issues at hand?).
So now, no one cares about their poll and they have lost their influence over the BCS. If they had that big a problem with the current system, why not stay involved and try to find a resolution. By leaving they simply excluded any possible influence and opened themselves to replacment.
And realistically, their poll is almost identical to the Harris poll. There are a few differences but nothing that will change the BCS outlook.
Personally, I would rather have current and past coaches deciding on polls than some sportswriter who isn't completely devoted to CFB. So maybe it was for the better but it sure is a drastic change to a system that existed for so long.