AP pulls out of BCS

[vtbub]

Home > Sports > College > Football
The Boston Globe
AP pulls out of BCS
The removal of AP poll from formula will take place starting next year

By Mark Blaudschun, Globe Staff | December 21, 2004

The Associated Press pulled its football poll from being used by the Bowl Championship Series to select the teams for the national title game and the three other BCS bowls.
ADVERTISEMENT


Kevin Weiberg, the commissioner of the Big 12 and coordinator of the BCS, said he has received a letter from the AP indicating it was concerned about the process and being a part of it.

"We respect the decision of the Associated Press to no longer have its poll included in the BCS standings,'' Weiberg said in a statement today. "Since the inception of the BCS, the AP poll has been part of our standings. We appreciate the cooperation we have received from the organization in providing rankings on a weekly basis. We will discuss alternatives to the Associated Press poll at the upcoming BCS meetings and plan to conclude our evaluation of the BCS standings formula, including any other possible changes by our April meeting.''

The move takes place starting next season.

The eight teams selected for the four major bowls -- Orange, Rose, Sugar, and Fiesta -- are picked by the BCS, which uses a combination of the AP poll (voted on by writers and broadcasters), the ESPN/USA Today poll (coaches) and several computer rankings. Each segment receives a one-third weighting in picking the teams.

Controversy arose this year when some voters in the AP poll moved Texas ahead of California in the final ballot. That move was enough (even though Cal stayed ahead, the margin was closer) to push Texas ahead in the BCS standings when the polls and computer rankings were combined. As a result, Texas is going to the Rose Bowl, while Cal ends up at the Holiday Bowl.
© Copyright 2004 Globe Newspaper Company.


edit:for clarity

[vtbub]

Shocking

[MylesKnight]

WOW!!

The first baby step toward a full blown Playoff Format may have just been taken folks.

Division I-A Football.... The only team sport in intercollegiate athletics not decided by a Playoff/Tournament Format.

[sooner333]

No, either the BCS will replace the AP poll with something like the Grantland-Rice poll or maybe make the computers and coaches poll worth half and half or something. Either way, no playoff.

[MylesKnight]

Like I said Sooner, a baby step... Very small and very slight but possibly the first movement in the looooonnnnnggg road toward a Tournament Format. We could be talking ten, fifteen years, but I believe it will happen.

[IMetTrentGreen]

i'm so fuckin proud that texas played a role in bring this about. f the bcs, f the big east, f anyone who incorrectly thinks cal should be in the rose bowl, f ignorant sportwriters (99% of them), and f adrian peterson while im at it

[Klinglerware]

A tournament won't happen unless someone can devise a way to hold a tournament that does not impinge on final exams or the NFL playoffs. If not, the college presidents will not go for it and it will piss off the NFL, who will either exert pressure on the TV networks to lean on the BCS schools, or failing that, start scheduling games on Saturday during the college regular season.

The final exam issue is a deal breaker in my humble opinion. The argument can be made that the players are already juggling their athletic and academic commitments, so they can handle playoff preparation and games during finals. I disagree, the final exam period is not the same as the rest of the regular season--I remember the bulk of my graded work due in that time period... it's also a period where people have a chance to play catch up with their academic work. This is not an issue with most of the other sports... soccer finishes their tournament before finals, basketball and hockey are in the early spring, and the NCAA tournaments of the spring sports are scheduled in late May and beyond, after most schools are done for the semester.

[Franklinnoble]

i'm so fuckin proud that texas played a role in bring this about. f the bcs, f the big east, f anyone who incorrectly thinks cal should be in the rose bowl, f ignorant sportwriters (99% of them), and f adrian peterson while im at it


Uhh... I think Cal should be in the Rose Bowl.

Can I at least get a reach around?

[Klinglerware]

Uhh... I think Cal should be in the Rose Bowl.

Can I at least get a reach around?

Only if you say "Please, Mommy!"

Did I just say that out loud?

[Easy Mac]

A tournament won't happen unless someone can devise a way to hold a tournament that does not impinge on final exams or the NFL playoffs. If not, the college presidents will not go for it and it will piss off the NFL, who will either exert pressure on the TV networks to lean on the BCS schools, or failing that, start scheduling games on Saturday during the college regular season.

The final exam issue is a deal breaker in my humble opinion. The argument can be made that the players are already juggling their athletic and academic commitments, so they can handle playoff preparation and games during finals. I disagree, the final exam period is not the same as the rest of the regular season--I remember the bulk of my graded work due in that time period... it's also a period where people have a chance to play catch up with their academic work. This is not an issue with most of the other sports... soccer finishes their tournament before finals, basketball and hockey are in the early spring, and the NCAA tournaments of the spring sports are scheduled in late May and beyond, after most schools are done for the semester.
ummmm... all other divisions have finished up playing in the last 2 weeks... during finals.

This is not a real issue, its one college presidents like to make up so people think they give a damn.

[cartman]

The final exam issue is a deal breaker in my humble opinion. The argument can be made that the players are already juggling their athletic and academic commitments, so they can handle playoff preparation and games during finals. I disagree, the final exam period is not the same as the rest of the regular season--I remember the bulk of my graded work due in that time period... it's also a period where people have a chance to play catch up with their academic work. This is not an issue with most of the other sports... soccer finishes their tournament before finals, basketball and hockey are in the early spring, and the NCAA tournaments of the spring sports are scheduled in late May and beyond, after most schools are done for the semester.

My rebuttal for that is why is this not a problem for all of the other divisions of College Football? Everyone from I-AA on down has football playoffs, why would it be such a burden for I-A?

[Desnudo]

Only if you say "Please, Mommy!"

Did I just say that out loud?

I'm afraid it's now part of your permanent record.

[cincyreds]

A playoff system! The Movie!

Coming to a theater near you!

[Klinglerware]

ummmm... all other divisions have finished up playing in the last 2 weeks... during finals.

This is not a real issue, its one college presidents like to make up so people think they give a damn.

I watched the division 1-aa final, and Montana's coach said that he didn't like the playoff system because of the disruptions of finals. They had to sequester the students in a hotel conference room for a couple of days so they could take their finals and complete their other work. I personally would rather study for finals and write my papers with the resources of campus close by, but that's just me.

Notice that the other divisions start their tournaments in late November. Yeah, a couple of teams will be impacted by finals in the end, but the impact for most of the schools is minimized by starting early. The powers that be will never shorten the regular season (which extends into december) or get rid of their conference championship games to accomodate a playoff. The big boys will especially not want to lose the revenue generated from that extra home game.

[Noop]

IMTG - Cal should be in the rose bowl...

[Easy Mac]

I watched the division 1-aa final, and Montana's coach said that he didn't like the playoff system because of the disruptions of finals. They had to sequester the students in a hotel conference room for a couple of days so they could take their finals and complete their other work. I personally would rather study for finals and write my papers with the resources of campus close by, but that's just me.

Notice that the other divisions start their tournaments in late November. Yeah, a couple of teams will be impacted by finals in the end, but the impact for most of the schools is minimized by starting early. The powers that be will never shorten the regular season (which extends into december) or get rid of their conference championship games to accomodate a playoff. The big boys will especially not want to lose the revenue generated from that extra home game.
well, seeing as how most of them don't take their own tests, its not really a problem.

[lynchjm24]

I watched the division 1-aa final, and Montana's coach said that he didn't like the playoff system because of the disruptions of finals. They had to sequester the students in a hotel conference room for a couple of days so they could take their finals and complete their other work. I personally would rather study for finals and write my papers with the resources of campus close by, but that's just me.

Notice that the other divisions start their tournaments in late November. Yeah, a couple of teams will be impacted by finals in the end, but the impact for most of the schools is minimized by starting early. The powers that be will never shorten the regular season (which extends into december) or get rid of their conference championship games to accomodate a playoff. The big boys will especially not want to lose the revenue generated from that extra home game.


It's what, 4 or 8 teams? Preparing for bowls conflicts with finals too, for a lot more teams.

[SunDancer]

WOW!!

The first baby step toward a full blown Playoff Format may have just been taken folks.

Division I-A Football.... The only team sport in intercollegiate athletics not decided by a Playoff/Tournament Format.


You do know that it is also the only division that the NCAA does not award or hand out a championship trophy?

[SunDancer]

Heres a solution,
Get the BCS OUT of the non championship game and stick to doing No. 1 vs. No.2. That is what it is created for, and what it should do.

[Chief Rum]

The final exam issue is a deal breaker in my humble opinion. The argument can be made that the players are already juggling their athletic and academic commitments, so they can handle playoff preparation and games during finals. I disagree, the final exam period is not the same as the rest of the regular season--I remember the bulk of my graded work due in that time period... it's also a period where people have a chance to play catch up with their academic work. This is not an issue with most of the other sports... soccer finishes their tournament before finals, basketball and hockey are in the early spring, and the NCAA tournaments of the spring sports are scheduled in late May and beyond, after most schools are done for the semester.

You do realize that all of the other levels of football in the NCAA go with a tournament format, don't you?

CR

[clintl]

If the NCAA is not going to have a tournament, then it should do the honest thing and go back to the system they had before, where there is no official champion. Anything other than those two options is a sham.

[Chief Rum]

You do know that it is also the only division that the NCAA does not award or hand out a championship trophy?

Well, duh...they don't hold playoffs, why would they hand out a trophy? If the NCAA ended up running a playoffs for Division I, I am pretty sure a trphy would enter the picture.

CR

[Klinglerware]

You do realize that all of the other levels of football in the NCAA go with a tournament format, don't you?

CR

As I mentioned earlier, the other divisions start their tournaments 2 weeks before 1-a finishes their regular season. This way, only a couple of schools are adversely affected during finals, rather than the entire field.

Yes, bowl preparation will conflict with finals for most schools. But, bowl coaches do lighten practice considerably during exam week. Coaches also try to concentrate on recruiting at this time (right before the dark period). Also, since almost all of the bowls are in the latter half of December, the most intensive practices will happen after finals.

I'm also under the impression that coaches have an incentive for their players to pass finals, since some conferences have a rule where if you don't pass all your classes, you can't play in the bowl game. Has anybody heard of this?

[clintl]

I just don't buy the finals exam issue as anything more than a smokescreen. Colleges on the quarter system are having final exams in March, right in the middle of the NCAA Basketball Tournament, and that doesn't seem to bother the NCAA all that much. And the basketball tournament schedule is FAR more disruptive to academics than a football playoff would be.

[miami_fan]

No, either the BCS will replace the AP poll with something like the Grantland-Rice poll or maybe make the computers and coaches poll worth half and half or something. Either way, no playoff.

By Ivan Maisel
ESPN.com
The Associated Press did the dirty work for the Bowl Championship Series. The AP's decision to pull its poll from the BCS Standings is all but a death sentence for the 7-year-old idea of the formula, which has gone through more changes in its brief life than Madonna.


Rather than use another poll in the formula, a BCS official said Tuesday night that the BCS commissioners are considering appointing a blue-ribbon committee of athletic directors and other executives to name the teams that will play in the national championship game.

The concept, although foreign to college football, is not foreign to the NCAA as a whole. Many NCAA postseason playoff participants are named by committees, including March Madness.


The commissioners understand that the credibility of the BCS is at stake. The AP is out, and the American Football Coaches Association has refused to reveal the votes of its members in the ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll.


Big 12 commissioner Kevin Weiberg, the current BCS chair, released a statement Tuesday saying that, "We respect the decision of The Associated Press to no longer have its poll included in the BCS standings. Since the inception of the BCS, the AP poll has been a part of our standings. We appreciate the cooperation we have received from the organization in providing its rankings on a weekly basis. We will discuss alternatives to The Associated Press poll at upcoming BCS meetings and plan to conclude our evaluation of the BCS standings formula, including any other possible changes, by our April meeting."


Weiberg was traveling Tuesday and couldn't be reached for further comment. As the BCS chair, he will give an informal State of the BCS talk at the Football Writers Association of America annual meeting on Jan. 4, the morning of the BCS championship game, the FedEx Orange Bowl.


By pulling out of the formula, the AP has come full circle. In 1998, a sufficient number of AP members didn't want their college football writers to be responsible for voting teams into the national championship game that the Division I-A commissioners developed the Bowl Championship Series formula to determine the standings used to pick teams for the BCS games.


AP members, worried about making the news instead of reporting it, felt better that their poll was only indirectly responsible for which teams received the eight-figure payout (this season: $14.4 million).


However, after the controversy in 2003, when USC finished No. 1 in both the AP and the ESPN/USA Today polls and failed to qualify for the championship game, the BCS simplified its formula to rely more heavily on the polls.


With USC, Oklahoma and Auburn all finishing the regular season undefeated, the simpler formula didn't end the controversy. The controversy, however, renewed the AP's concerns regarding making news.


An AP voter in Alabama, Paul Gattis of the Huntsville Times, was chastised for voting Auburn No. 3 by the editor of his paper -- in print. Three AP voters in Texas drew attention when they moved Texas ahead of California in the final poll, helping the Longhorns qualify for a BCS berth in the Rose Bowl instead of the Golden Bears.

[Klinglerware]

I just don't buy the finals exam issue as anything more than a smokescreen. Colleges on the quarter system are having final exams in March, right in the middle of the NCAA Basketball Tournament, and that doesn't seem to bother the NCAA all that much. And the basketball tournament schedule is FAR more disruptive to academics than a football playoff would be.

That's a good point about schools on the quarter system. I think that might be a reason why some of the big-10 and pac-10 schools were so resistant to having a conference basketball tournament (Stanford and Ohio State come to mind as schools on the quarter system).

Well, in the end, the presidents will have to get on board if playoffs are to happen. You might even get most of them to come along, but I doubt you'll get all of them. It could be a situation like div 1-aa, which is still kind of a bogus playoff since not all of the conferences are willing to participate. Even if a 1-a tournament is attempted, I do envision a few hold-out schools/conferences (especially those schools who fancy themselves to be legitimate academic institutions) who won't let their teams participate for whatever reason.

[sooner333]

Quite frankly, I think the AP is being hypocritical about wanting to "report the news, not make the news." Until they stop making the poll altogether, they are still making news and are trying to decide who is the best team in college football and awarding a trophy. It seems kind of silly that they think that somehow being *part* of a formula to award a trophy is somehow more making news than giving a trophy solely based on their own poll.

[sterlingice]

I watched the division 1-aa final, and Montana's coach said that he didn't like the playoff system because of the disruptions of finals. They had to sequester the students in a hotel conference room for a couple of days so they could take their finals and complete their other work. I personally would rather study for finals and write my papers with the resources of campus close by, but that's just me.
Yeah, but I'll wager decent bucks that the student athletes at Montana are 10x more student athletes than the "student athletes" at the average BCS school.

SI