Final 2008 Blogpoll Ballot

by BSD on Jan 9, 2009 9:13 AM EST in Blogpoll Comment 48 comments

Here it is.

Rank	Team	Delta

1	Florida	--
2	Southern Cal	1
3	Utah	6
4	Texas	2
5	Oklahoma	1
6	Alabama	1
7	Penn State	5
8	TCU	3
9	Ohio State	1
10	Oregon	4
11	Boise State	1
12	Georgia	7
13	Texas Tech	6
14	Mississippi	6
15	Virginia Tech	6
16	Cincinnati	3
17	Oregon State	6
18	Oklahoma State	1
19	Michigan State	7
20	Iowa	5
21	Boston College	3
22	Georgia Tech	7
23	Brigham Young	5
24	Pittsburgh	8
25	West Virginia	1

Dropped Out: Northwestern (#22).

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Comments

I think we’re better than Alabama and Texas.

"They haven't played us yet."

by ReadingRambler on Jan 9, 2009 9:17 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Texas would have carved up our secondary the same as USC. Unfortunately any team with a half-decent QB and O-line could crush us.

Alabama, I think we would have beaten.

by millzners on Jan 9, 2009 9:19 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I honestly think the secondary would do better against Texas. And I know we would score enough.

"They haven't played us yet."

by ReadingRambler on Jan 9, 2009 9:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

We'd have hung 50 on Texas

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Jan 9, 2009 9:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nahhh...

we’d beat texas…

" We need MORE cowbell !"

by BlueWhiteLife on Jan 9, 2009 4:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe Alabama

but I think he’s got Texas right.

by HookMania on Jan 9, 2009 9:19 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i would have

still put oklahoma over texas, and left pitt off the board after their performance against OreSU.

i believe that iowa is better than MSU.

i like what you did with utah.

World F#$king Champions

by psudrozz on Jan 9, 2009 9:19 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Iowa > MSU
Pitt should be off the list, replaced by Coastal Carolina

I bleed Blue and White.

by Horse N Buggy on Jan 9, 2009 9:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It’s disgusting that Utah can’t be #1. They beat everyone they played, and they crushed the team that Florida struggled with.

by millzners on Jan 9, 2009 9:23 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Not sure why Utah wouldn't be #1

They dominated Alabama more thoroughly than Florida and they did not lose at home at any point in the season.

by dontcallmescooter on Jan 9, 2009 9:23 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

well

we dominated OreSU more thoroughly and did not lose at home this season.

enter USC.

World F#$king Champions

by psudrozz on Jan 9, 2009 9:26 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Utah for MNC!

1. Utah
2. Florida
3. USC
4. Oklahoma
5. Penn State
6. Texas
7. Alabama
8. TCU
9. Ohio State
10. Oregon

"They haven't played us yet."

by ReadingRambler on Jan 9, 2009 9:28 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

USC would beat UF

1. Utah
2. USC
3. Florida
4. Texas
5. Oklahoma
6. Penn State
7. Alabama
8. TCU
9. Ohio State
10. Oregon

by PSU Mudder on Jan 9, 2009 9:43 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Top 10

1. USC
2. Florida
3. Utah
4. Texas
5. Oklahoma
6. Penn State
7. TCU
8. Ohio State
9. Alabama
10. Oregon

Alabama was not at all impressive this year. Their best win was against a highly overrated Georgia team that barely beat Sparty on a “neutral” field. I believe OSU would handle Alabama.

WE ARE.......PENN STATE!

by Nick7 on Jan 9, 2009 10:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Perfect

That is my exact top 7

by Wlvrn99 on Jan 9, 2009 10:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Looks good.

I’d have PSU over Alabama and Ohio State over TCU. Iowa should probably be bumped above VT and Cincy, records be damned.

Oh, and didn’t Ole Miss just beat Texas Tech by two TD’s?

--
Mr. Bob Dobalina

by Run Up The Score on Jan 9, 2009 9:44 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'm with the crowd that says Florida's #3

USC or Utah is #1 (depending on how many bonus points you give someone for going undefeated).

by drothgery on Jan 9, 2009 9:52 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Also, didn't BC lose their bowl game?

… and BYU lost to Arizona.

by drothgery on Jan 9, 2009 9:56 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

1 Utah
2 Southern Cal
3 Florida
4 PSU
5 Texas
6 Oklahoma
7 Alabama
8 TCU
9 Ohio State
10 Oregon
11 Boise State
12 Ole Miss
13 Texas Tech
14 Georgia
15 Virginia Tech
16 Cincinnati
17 Oklahoma State
18 Iowa
19 Michigan State
20 Missouri
21 Boston College
22 LSU
23 Oregon State
24 Florida State
25 Northwestern

by psu1313 on Jan 9, 2009 10:01 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Biggest issue, I think,

is that there are groups of teams that you simply cannot differentiate. Utah, USC and Florida all have valid claims. All had big wins against good teams at the end of the season; neither had more than one loss, and all three played respectable schedules. I think Texas, Bama, PSU, and Oklahoma are in the same situation only a peg lower.

No season has proven the polls as incapable of doing their job as this one.

Kevin @ Black Shoe Diaries

by Kevin HD on Jan 9, 2009 10:09 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Nobody but Florida has a valid claim

We all agreed to the rules at the begining of the season. It sucks to be Utah, they got screwed, and that’s twice. One more and they can start to complain.

USC needs to STFU already, they lost, again. Stop friggin’ losing and telling me how god damn great you are. It’s really tiresome. Win out once and we’ll talk.

Who is really better, Texas or Oklahoma. Here’s my answer, who outside of Texas and Oklahoma really gives a shit, and what difference does it make anyway. You think Texas would have beat Florida? Yeah, neither do I.

So endith the football season.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Jan 9, 2009 10:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't agree to the rules.

Hard to say that you go undefeated with a decent schedule and don’t even get a shot.

by dontcallmescooter on Jan 9, 2009 10:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Which University are you the President of?

The schools that play college football have set out the rules for determining a “National Champion”. It is totally within their power to change those rules, they have done it before. I find it absolutley exhausting to hear all of these people piss and whine about how unfair this all is, when if there was any real momentum to change the system it would get changed.

Either enjoy the sport for what it is, or don’t. But for the love of god can’t we just enjoy the games rather than complain we aren’t watching the right games?

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Jan 9, 2009 10:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

agreed scooter!

We didn’t agree to these rules and it’s our right to complain about these games. Florida and Oklahoma put on a crapfest last night. Most of the people on this board could have thrown that interception Tebow threw to the DLinemen. Not only are we watching the wrong games, but we have to wait 6 weeks to do it. The system is wrong, the only people that agreed to these rules are the Big conferences due to money and everyone else is getting screwed!

by psu1313 on Jan 9, 2009 11:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Then don't watch.

Spend your money on something else. Read a book, wash your car, bake your wife a cake, do anything. This is college football. You don’t have to like it, it’s okay.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Jan 9, 2009 11:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hypothetical wife sounds hot

"They haven't played us yet."

by ReadingRambler on Jan 9, 2009 11:18 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Especially the

hypothetical part

Ben and Alex... first commits for 2024

by 3Yardout on Jan 9, 2009 11:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Doesn't expressed opposition generate its own momentum?

I spose if it’s here in blogistan, and not in a university board meeting, then: no, not as much. And I detest the notion by powers that be that the ‘complaining’ (debating) is good for the game.

But I could paint Quiet Acceptance as just as dangerous.

And it’s not an Either/Or. I can love my favorite sport while disapproving of how it is organized.

pax et amor

by jtothep on Jan 9, 2009 11:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That's a different argument

My point is that Florida is the only true national champion, to the exclusion of the other three teams claiming that they are the best team in the country. Penn State has two national championships that are based solely on the premise that the winner of a one versus two bowl game is the national champion.

Want to debate that point? Let’s find an SMU fan and argue with them over why 11-1 Penn State won the national championship over their 11-0-1 squad, and see how quickly we point out that their schedule was garbage and we beat the number one team in the country in a bowl game.

Do I think USC is better than Florida? Yes, I do. Do I think it sucks that Utah never really had a chance? Yes, I do.

Do I think either of those teams is a more deserving champion than Florida? Absolutely not. What the BCS has done, again, is to anoint a consensus champion. Not a perfect champion, nor even an undisputed one, but certainly one that hard to argue with. That’s what the BCS is supposed to do, that’s what it does.

I think the BCS is so close to being right that I can taste it. All it needs to do let the four bowls do their thing like they used too, and have one more vote after the bowls to get the final two teams. Not a semi-final mind you, that will make it worse, just play the bowl season like it’s week 13 or 14 of the regular season, and you’ll the best football on television on New Years Day again. That and professional voters. That’s it.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Jan 9, 2009 12:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Jesse...

Consensus means everyone agrees. It’s obvious based on the 1 first place vote for Utah in the Coaches’ Poll and the numerous first place votes for Utah and USC in the AP Poll that no consensus has been reached except for those people trying to tell us that this system works. It’s a FRAUD!

by psu1313 on Jan 9, 2009 1:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

con-sen-sus (noun)

1. broad unanimity – general or widespread agreement among all the members of a group

One vote, from Utah’s own coach no less, does not mean that there is no consensus national champion

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Jan 9, 2009 1:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

consensus

consensus – agreement in the judgment or opinion reached by a group as a whole; “the lack of consensus reflected differences in theoretical positions”; “those rights and obligations are based on an unstated consensus”

There is a broad enough dispute to say there is no consensus

by psu1313 on Jan 9, 2009 2:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreeing with the rules

Should every sports league/organization poll fans of the sport when determining their champion?

I agree that only the big conferences signed up for these rules, but come on! The big conferences probably pull in 95% of the revenue for the sport. Yes, it’s about money. Can you honestly say that any major sport, professional or college, isn’t about money in the slightest? All the schools agreed to the rules. If Utah felt it was getting screwed, no one made them fly down to the Sugar Bowl and play. They could have politely declined the invite, and some other team would have been more than happy to fill it. That would have said a lot about the BCS. However, Utah was more than happy to get on TV, take their multi-million paycheck, and be on their way.

I’m not saying I agree with the system. Every year, more and more evidence appears to the contrary that the bowl system is effective for truly determining the best college football team. I’d like to see a transition to some sort of playoff myself.

But to suggest that fans have any say in determining the way the NCAA decides its champion is silly. If you really don’t like the system in place that much, don’t watch the game.

by shadowfax on Jan 9, 2009 11:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow, Black & White makes a return

If you really don’t like the system in place that much, don’t watch the game.

Just preposterous.

pax et amor

by jtothep on Jan 9, 2009 11:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Preposterous?

I don’t know. I love college football as much as the next guy, and really didn’t pay too much attention to the game last night. The same goes for most of the bowls. I watch so much more during the regular season than I do in bowl season. Most bowls turn into a 3.5 hour commercial for FedEx or whoever anyway.

As I said, I think the system in place can be improved. I don’t see a whole lot of validity in it. I just think that if you really don’t like it that much… if you find it absolutely appalling that Florida was declared the champion, then your time can be better spent doing other things. It’s just a game.

by shadowfax on Jan 9, 2009 12:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Reframing the arguement

We already have a playoff. It’s just two teams. Like the NCAA basketball tournament, a committee of people (and in this case, computers) determine who makes the “tournament” and who doesn’t. The winner of the two team “tournament” is declared the National Champion and nobody else is allowed to lay claim to it. So in a sense, we’re not arguing about whether or not there should be a playoff. There already is one. What we should be arguing for is the expansion of they playoff to include more teams.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Jan 9, 2009 11:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Mike..

Forgive me but 2 teams is not a playoff, it’s a championship game. Especially when you are annointing these 2 teams as the best in the country. In a 64(5) team tourney, teams left out have no one to blame but themselves. As for PSU, USC, Texas, and Utah…each of them had a rightful claim to say they should be able to compete for the championship.

by psu1313 on Jan 9, 2009 11:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

A playoff is a playoff

Doesn’t matter if there are 2 teams or 64 teams. Once the BCS championship game is set none of the other games matter. The coaches that vote in the coaches poll are told they MUST vote the winner of the BCS Championship game the #1 team in the country. They don’t even have an option to go with USC or Utah. Because the system is set up so that the winner of the championship game must be declared the National Champion even if other people think another team is more deserving. That’s a playoff system.

(The AP does not participate in the BCS and can vote whomever they want.)

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Jan 9, 2009 12:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

maybe but the NCAA doesn't participate either

There’s a reason the NCAA doesn’t recognize the BCS champion and does recognize the Final Four Champion

by queler on Jan 9, 2009 2:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I dunno man...

If we all lived by the “if you don’t like it then shut up” philosophy, everything would be different and usually worse. The fact is, we didn’t vote for this system, we aren’t university presidents and if we were, we would never have voted for it to begin with.

Here’s why I disagree with you more specifically. Teams like Utah don’t bring in the most revenue, true, but it’s the National Championship, not the “Best Team Among Those Who Bring In Huge Money” Championship. The sheer possibility of a George Mason coming along draws huge ratings in the NCAA bball playoff and has only helped the sport’s popularity. If Memphis would have played North Carolina for all the balls after their conference tournaments and everyone else wouldn’t have had any chance last season, it still would have been fun but…less fun. Good but less good.

Here’s the big thing though. We can definitely enjoy what we have WHILE we think it can be improved. I think that’s where almost all of us are at. We love the bowls, love the matchups we have but aren’t naive enough to think it can’t be improved upon.

by jimbo2psu on Jan 9, 2009 1:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Boy, that escalated quickly!

Just to be clear, since something in my comment obviously sparked this: I am not advocating a #1 vote for USC or Utah, or similarly declaring Florida a fraud. Jesse is right in that the rules were in place and everyone knew them before the season started.

My point is this: from both a resume and “power ranking” standpoint, there is absolutely no way to say that Florida is more deserving than USC or Utah. UF won the BCS system, will get the title, banner, name in history, yada yada yada. All I’m saying is that, in some distant “perfect” world where everything is “fair” and not ruled by the BCS, you couldn’t convince me Florida would be called the de facto “best”. You couldn’t convince me they aren’t, either.

Kevin @ Black Shoe Diaries

by Kevin HD on Jan 9, 2009 1:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Utah should be #2 but other than that it looks ok.

"For every moment of triumph, for every instance of beauty, many souls must be trampled"- Hunter S. Thompson

by phishead_psu on Jan 9, 2009 10:23 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Utah should get numero uno

They are undefeated.

Let's Go State

by rmcmillen50 on Jan 9, 2009 10:36 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

for what its worth:

1. USC
2. Utah
3. Florida
4. Texas
5. Oklahoma
6. Penn State
7. TCU
8. Ohio State
9. Alabama
10. Oregon

We just needed a couple players, a couple people to buy in to the fact and we were able to do it. --A.Q. Shipley

by psu on Jan 9, 2009 10:51 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I couldnt agree more....

WE ARE.......PENN STATE!

by Nick7 on Jan 9, 2009 12:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ok...but...

tOSU over TCU…

" We need MORE cowbell !"

by BlueWhiteLife on Jan 9, 2009 4:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

In my opinion

Utah had a great season and number three is an accurate place to put them. True, they played a good schedule, for a MWC team. We examine the fact that the MWC did so well against the PAC-10, but that doesn’t apply to one team, and it doesn’t mean that Utah could get through a BCS conference schedule unscathed. BCS conferences have more talent from top to bottom than the MWC. They’d probably do pretty well, but if a team as talented as USC or Florida can crap the bed (although both of those teams they lost to have finished in the top 20) then I don’t think Utah would make it through the SEC or the PAC-10 straight through.

Also, USC is super talented and we’ve been raving about their recruiting, Florida has been recruiting just as well. I would put Florida as the National Champion, and I would be hard pressed to doubt any team led by Tim Tebow.

by psuphiman80 on Jan 9, 2009 11:51 AM EST reply actions 0 recs