Bad move: Coaches vote to make ballots secret
Destin–At a time when Congress is hauling the BCS into hearings in an attempt to get more transparency into the process, the American Football Coaches Association, a group I really respect, has made bad, bad step.
That group’s board of directors voted to make the final ballots in the coach’s poll—the one which helps determine who will play in the BCS championship game—secret once more starting after the 2010 regular season.
For the past three years coaches have made their final ballots public. That was done in order to have some kind of accountability in the system. The voters in the Harris Interactive poll, the other poll used in the BCS formula, are subject to have their ballots released at any time. With so much at stake in terms of money and prestige, and with BCS championship berths being decided by mere percentage points (ask Texas), every vote in both polls is critical.
“If every ballot was public then I would be out of it,” said Georgia coach Mark Richt, who votes in the coaches poll. “But there should be some accountability. I don’t mind having my last vote be public.”
South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said that the last vote should be made public in order “to keep folks honest.”
It is true that for a couple of days after the final vote coaches were having their votes scrutinized by the media. That scrutiny could be a little uncomfortable. So what? If you’re going to be powerful enough to determine who plays for the national championship, you need to be strong enough to take 48 hours of scrutiny. If you don’t want the scrutiny, then you shouldn’t vote in the poll. It comes with the territory.
And if the AFCA doesn’t want the scrutiny, that’s fine. Keep doing the poll. Keep awarding their national championship. It is a prestigious one. But get out of the BCS.
This sends exactly the wrong message as the bozos in Congress are trying to strong-arm college football. It just gives the Joe Bartons of the world some ammunition that they don’t deserve.
Here is some other stuff from the SEC Spring meetings:
NCAA updates on Alabama, Memphis: I’ve been getting questions for weeks about the upcoming resolution of Alabama’s NCAA case concerning the textbook scandal of 2007. Remember that Alabama self-reported that case in the fall of that year and suspended several football players because of it. Other sports were also involved. Based on some conversations I had yesterday it looks like a decision in that case could come as early as next week. No one has any idea what additional penalties (loss or scholarships, etc.) or if any additional penalties will be forthcoming.
Memphis received word yesterday that the NCAA is looking in allegations that a former basketball player had help making the required grade on the SAT and played for the Tigers during the 2007-08 season. Subsequent media reports claim that that Derrick Rose, who played one season and then went to the NBA, is the player involved. Former coach John Calipari, now at Kentucky, is not named in the NCAA charge but has been asked to speak to investigators.
Kentucky president Lee Todd issued a statement Thursday afternoon that the school was made aware of this during the interview process with Calipari. Kentucky is convinced that Calipari is not involved and will have no further comment.
SEC discusses eight-team playoff: The league has already discussed the Mountain West Conference’s proposal to create an eight-team playoff to decide college football’s national championship. No one is expecting a whole of support for the idea. BCS officials, who testified before a Congressional committee earlier this year, promised that the major conferences would at least discuss the eight-team playoff during their annual spring meets. But the current BCS contract has five more years to run (1 on Fox, 4 on ESPN). The SEC has won three straight BCS national championships so the current system has worked pretty well for this league.
But Alabama coach Nick Saban said that the system needs to be tweaked because too much of the post-season emphasis in college football is focused on just two teams. He learned that the hard way when his No. 1 Crimson Tide lost in the SEC championship game to Florida and just basically fell off the map with its trip to the Sugar Bowl—where they lost to Utah.
“You just need to have more teams involved,” said Saban, who said he could support a four-team set up where 1 plays 4 and 2 plays 3 in the semifinals and the two winners play a week later for the championship.
Will over signing be eliminated? Ole Miss raised some eyebrows in February when Houston Nutt signed 37 players. Arkansas signed 32. The NCAA limit on new players who may be on scholarship come the fall semester is 25. Sometimes that math can be a little tricky.
Nutt said Tuesday that “We knew seven or eight guys would 100 percent not qualify so you’re able to help some junior colleges,” of which there are many in the state of Mississippi.
Auburn has sponsored legislation that will limit signings in the SEC to 28 per year. The measure will be voted on Friday by the SEC’s presidents. If it passes, the SEC will send it on to the NCAA to see if that body would adopt the practice nationwide.
Commissioner Mike Slive told reporters that he was “concerned” when he saw the numbers of signees by some schools creeping over 30. This one has a very good chance of passing.
Basketball schedules are going to get tougher. Slive had a pretty forceful message for his men’s basketball coaches: Start upgrading your non-conference schedules.
The SEC placed only three teams in the NCAA Tournament last season and that number would have been two if Mississippi State had not won the conference tournament. Slive had a ringside seat for the SEC’s basketball woes because he was the chair of the NCAA Men’s Basketball selection committee.
“You better understand why teams in get into the tournament and why they don’t,” Slive said. “To me it was clear what we should do.”
Ron Higgins of the Memphis Commercial-Appeal did some good reporting on this. Higgins found that, according to Jerry Palm’s RPI rankings, 55.3 percent of the SEC’s non-conference wins last season (68 of 123) came against teams ranked 201 or higher.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/may/27/slive-wants-sec-to-get-tough/
Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl, however, says a team can get burned by a tough schedule. He played the No. 3 rated schedule last season and ended up with a No. 9 seed in the tournament.
“There needs to be more of a risk/reward,” Pearl said. “We took the risk of playing that schedule but we didn’t get rewarded when we got a nine seed.”
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138 comments Add your comment
TommyP
May 28th, 2009
8:26 am
From what I understand, Tony, Calipari was sent a letter stating he wouldn’t be named in the violations at Memphis. This was sent by the NCAA to Kentucky and Calipari.
I’m not sure why I read your article ’cause Jimmy Hyams reads it every afternoon on his afternoon show to the listeners.
KR
May 28th, 2009
8:30 am
Personally, I think all of the ballots should be public. There is too much at stake throughout the entire season.
I’d love to hear more from Richt about why he would drop out of the process if the ballots were made public all year long.
RynoVol
May 28th, 2009
8:33 am
Every ballot need not be made public, but the ones pre and post league championship games should. Maybe those ballots should be notarized.
No one should be surprised that illegal activities follow Coach Cal and World Wide Wes. Kentucky knew exactly what they were getting. That’s why they hired him.
m
May 28th, 2009
8:35 am
Scrap the idiotic bs bcs. It is the dumbest system ever developed…there are only two things dumber….idiots like Tony Barnyard defending the idiotic bcs and the hiring of chan gomer gailey. Thanks to God and Greyhound, chan gomer gailey is gone and the bcs needs to go with him.
Immediately institute a 16 game playoff and it will be the most fair and most exciting sporting event in the history of the world. And the added benefit of a true champion and not a fake champion like floriduh was last year.
Tony, get your head out of your arse and get behind a playoff.
P
May 28th, 2009
8:53 am
Everyone knows many of the coaches don’t take the ballot seriously enough. They have aids fill it out, they don’t have the time to do the research to make sure their rankings are consistent and reflect head to head play. So they are not going to open themselves up to the scrutiny week to week. To vote to reverse the last poll is unbelievable. However, the more controversy with the current system the better. Eventually a major faux pas will bring it crashing down.
What? No mention of the UT coach today? (thank god)
GeoffDawg
May 28th, 2009
8:54 am
What prompted this move to make the last vote secret? They would have to know that at the very least, it would give the impression that coaches from certain regions and conferences would try to game the system to their advantage. You thought the BCS was unpopular before, just wait until we get some outlandish matchups with no transparency and no accountability. That would be some end of the world stuff – dogs and cats, living together.
Gator Mike
May 28th, 2009
8:57 am
Why submit any comments when the AJC has become selective in who can make a comment. Sept 19 in the Swamp on CBS at 3:30 p.m. is my only comment. Go Gators!
Nachos
May 28th, 2009
9:03 am
I’m surprised the pathetic, loser barners aren’t on here with their “death penalty is coming from an inside source I know” comments. what a bunch of f@gs.. Fear the Chizzzzzzzzzzzz
Eric
May 28th, 2009
9:08 am
m does not m-press me. Hey m-oron, any chance you’re a former president now living in Texas?
Make the ballots public.
WDE!!!
No BCS
May 28th, 2009
9:10 am
Why not just get rid of the Coaches Poll. No coach has the time to completely review each team’s performance to make an educated decision on who ranks where. There’s no doubt coaches will side with their team or their conference or other teams on their schedule. It’s just another idiotic piece of the BCS puzzle.
TraditionSure?
May 28th, 2009
9:13 am
Dog fans are all about tradition when comes to a game in Jacksonville they can’t win. So why is the tradition of the bowl games silly? Can you see dog fans are more about the party than actually winning a National Title?
CharlotteGator
May 28th, 2009
9:13 am
Yeah that comment by Richt was interesting. Makes you wonder if there’s an understanding that all coaches vote their team #1 to keep them propped up in the rankings and then go legit w/ the last ballot.
I hate to be that guy, but it does make you wonder.
Mikey
May 28th, 2009
9:18 am
Tony,
Just my 2 cents worth….
**Ban M from this site. He keeps on calling you an idiot and this should not be tolerated. If he cannot communicate effectively and respectfully he should be booted.
** please get rid of the AJC advertisement for whiter teeth. Those pics are disturbing when I’m trying to eat my breakfast.
K Greene
May 28th, 2009
9:31 am
Secret Ballots = New Coke. Great time to get a case of the stupids when Congress is just looking for reasons to break up their little party.
I second Mikey
May 28th, 2009
9:31 am
Tony, you have the patience of Job to allow m to repeatedly post his hatred for everything & everybody. But please do the readers a favor, ban his sorry azz.
Hoopie
May 28th, 2009
9:44 am
Coach Pearl..based on your performance in the NCAA tourney….you didn’t deserve a higher seeding.
Coach Saban…win your ball games and you don’t have to worry about “post season exposure”. Quit whining.
Tony….I agree. Either make the coaches votes public or get them out of the BSC formula.
Hoopie
May 28th, 2009
9:47 am
M…I guess you must also be an NFL fan. Your desire for a “second season” is obvious.
Gen Neyland
May 28th, 2009
9:47 am
You mean to tell me Derrick Rose wasn’t a candidate for a Rhodes scholarship..? Crushing.
Saban says the BCS system needs to be tweaked. Many fans say overhauled. The programs most satisfied with the current BCSNC package as is are the two each year playing for it…
PMC
May 28th, 2009
9:49 am
The BCS committee should immediately move and remove the coaches poll from any relevance at all. They don’t take it seriously as a group anyway.
At this point just go with the computers.
PMC
May 28th, 2009
9:50 am
The retired coaches poll is a better idea anyway.
DawgGirl32
May 28th, 2009
10:01 am
Mikey- I’m with you about those teeth whitening ads. Absolutely disgusting.
The coaches poll proves that college football = politics. I can only imagine what these polls look like throughout the year. Take my bulldawgs for example. Anybody else wonder why we were ranked #1, won our first two games, and dropped two spots in the polls? Sketchy…
I agree with you Tony. If a coach is taking part in a decision that affects so much, he should have to be scrutinized for it.
Can I ignorantly ask what the greyhound reference is about? Did Gailey leave on a greyhound? Just wondering…
Roswell Ed
May 28th, 2009
10:14 am
Secret ballot? That’s insane. I always like to look at how these idiots or their minions vote.
Calipari is a snake oil salesman.
Check out my other opinions. I think you’ll enjoy them.
libertarianhumor.com
baconboy
May 28th, 2009
10:18 am
The teeth whitening ads are there for the Tennessee fans.
LOL
May 28th, 2009
10:25 am
No Baconboy, it says teeth whitening, not tooth whitening so it cannot be aimed at UT fans.
LouisvilleLarry
May 28th, 2009
10:26 am
Calipari’s already in trouble and he just got to UK! He had the same problems at UMass, with players getting in trouble with agents and he claimed he knew nothing. UK will be on probation soon—mark it down. Pitino’s ready to put a good beat down on Calipari to show him who’s boss in college BB.
man o man
May 28th, 2009
10:28 am
Hey Mikey ! What’s that cereal you like again ?
Tide rising and I third mikey
May 28th, 2009
10:41 am
Tony,
I’ve jumped on the ban “m” bandwagon. Get rid of this disrespectful person. There’s no room for his name calling, especially towards you the author. Also, his posts are just plain dumb, inane, and are anything but insightful. I guess there is no rule against really dumb posts but if you can’t ban him for that then at least ban him for calling you an idiot every day. I know you have a thick skin and can take it but every one else is tired of it and tired of him.
Secret ballot is a terrible idea. There should be a modicum of accountability.
I think we all agree the teeth whitening ad is disgusting. Please ask the advertising staff to stick it somewhere else or just get rid of it.
mcdawg
May 28th, 2009
10:48 am
Bad idea on the secret ballots-particularly given the level of distrust of the BCS system-although i think it has worked fairly well myself
SEC Meetings: Day Two Wrap, Part Three | MrSEC.com
May 28th, 2009
10:51 am
[...] … I don’t care where we play the game, quite frankly.”Tony Barnhart of The AJC provides his own wrap on all of yesterday’s news (over-signing, John Calipari, tougher basketball schedules, etc) [...]
Miles
May 28th, 2009
10:53 am
The secret ballot is a horrible move! Honesty and integrity have taken a step back per this decision.
SEC Spring Meetings Links | Blogging on the Arkansas Razorbacks
May 28th, 2009
11:00 am
[...] he offers his opinion on is the fact that the American Football Coaches Association has decided to make a coach’s top 25 poll private beginning in 2010. In case you didn’t know, the vote, which plays a part in the BCS formula, has been public. [...]
Joey
May 28th, 2009
11:00 am
Hey Eric, that former president living in Texas has a degree from Yale, and a MBA from Harvard. Seems that maybe you’re the m-oran.
Rabun Dawg
May 28th, 2009
11:07 am
Tide Rising and I third Mikey,
Amen, Brother, on your post!!
whitx2
May 28th, 2009
11:15 am
Guys, it wouldn’t do any good to ban m. Someone like him would just sign in under another name or use his grannys pc, since i’m sure he lives with her. Do like myself and anytime you see the m username, just go to the next post. If you respond to his posts or complain, he wins. That’s what he wants, you know.
DawgGirl32
Thank God and Greyhound he’s gone, is a tired old saying, made more tired by m’s use of it everyday.
G8R GRAD
May 28th, 2009
11:17 am
Transparency, transparency, transparency!
If you’re going to politcize a system intended to be objective, then you should face the music for it.
What say we take a vote on m’s banning?
Otto
May 28th, 2009
11:18 am
1 for Ban
Cuz
May 28th, 2009
11:19 am
And I was born on the backseat of a Greyhound bus,
rolling down Highway 99.
Now we know why m continues to use the Greyhound reference. He is missing his home.
SEC Coaches Meeting Headlines | MrSEC.com
May 28th, 2009
11:20 am
[...] Poll goes secret:– Coaches go anonymous – Hale– Coaches Poll makes bad move – Barnhart– Heavy price for secret ballots – Pat Forde– Spurrier against secret ballots [...]
Saint Nick
May 28th, 2009
11:21 am
M is an idiot!!! Don’t ban him,hire one of those guys from that sniper show to pick him off from 500 yards!!! They could have a show centered around sniping M!!!!! We have to go to a +1 system, BUT it will never happen UNTIL whoever wins the bid on the BCS rights DEMANDS to have a playoff BEFORE they sign the TV contract!!!! ROLLS TIDES!!!!
Reptiles Rule
May 28th, 2009
11:28 am
Secret balloting will be the beginning of the end for the Coaches Poll which is not a bad thing. Very few coaches have vast knowledge of every team outside their conference and don’t have the initiative nor the time to know. They do what most of us do, they rely on what the media says! As long as there is a human element involved, it’s all subjective and just an opinion anyway.
Auditdawg
May 28th, 2009
11:30 am
Calipari knew that the charge was coming and that he was not at risk. He informed Kentucky before they hired him. This is not news to them and will not affect his job status at all with Kentucky.
G8R GRAD
May 28th, 2009
11:31 am
Incidently, Cuz, I think it’s Highway 41.
Cuz
May 28th, 2009
11:36 am
You are right Grad, thanks for the point out. How did the rock, paper, scissors challenge work out with Coach Meyer and Coach Kiffin?
Gator Growl
May 28th, 2009
11:37 am
While I agree with the overwhelming majority here that “m” stands for moron, I am strongly against his banning. What is that famous saying? Goes kind of like “I may not agree with what you say, but I will fight for your right to say it”. This is the USA, not N. Korea. It is your right to express yourself, no matter how moronic or idiotic it may be. I mean after all, just look at Lane Kiffin!!!
RxDawg
May 28th, 2009
11:41 am
I agree about the ballots. Now let’s all sing along boys and girls, “conflict of interest”.
m
May 28th, 2009
11:43 am
The greatest sport in the history of the world is college football.
It is a shame and a disgrace to not have a real champion in the most important sport.
The bs bcs is a disgrace and everyone supporting it is a disgrace.
Tech got rid of chan gomer gailey and the fans should demand that the bcs be abolished immediately.
When we finally have a true playoff system in college football, the days of the bs bcs will be looked back on with disgust. History will treat the bs bcs very harshly.
G8R GRAD
May 28th, 2009
11:48 am
Cuz:
That’s funny.
Can you imagine?
Although I suspect it would be a much more boring world without these boys’ shots across each other’s bows.
Too much has been made of it.
Let ‘em have some fun.
Their jobs are stressful enough.
Just blowin’ off steam.
Frozen_Gator
May 28th, 2009
12:05 pm
Saint Nick…………………..OK, I just give up, what in the hell are the S’s for. I’m 3rd generation gator but my two kids are Ala grads.
Mikey
May 28th, 2009
12:09 pm
man o man: I am supposed to like Life cereal, but I prefer Honey Nut Cheerios.
G8R GRAD
May 28th, 2009
12:10 pm
Saint Nick:
Instead of “W, the President”
It’s “S, the Coach”
G8R GRAD
May 28th, 2009
12:12 pm
Oops,
I meant to direct the above post to:
Frozen_Gator.
Sorry, SN.
Call 'em like I see 'em.
May 28th, 2009
12:23 pm
Funny how no one has made a single comment about oversigning. It is in the best interests of the students NOT to oversign, but if the rule passes, you will see the SEC fall back to the pack in the long run in terms of dominance. I’d be surprised to see the coaches in favor of it.
Tide rising
May 28th, 2009
12:35 pm
Frozen_Gator,
The extra S es on the Rolls Tides are in tribute to Corrine Brown (D) from Florida. Someone with really bad grammar, spelling, and plural and singular agreement was posting as Ms. Brown although for all we know it was actually her. Anyway, she would write stuff like Coarch Meyers and would write Go Gator instead of Go Gators. So it became a fad amongst gator fans on here to sign off Go Gator instead of Go Gators and for some to refer to Urban as Coarch Meyers instead of Coach Meyer.
Well, not to be outdone us Bama fans now like to sign off with Rolls Tides or Rolls Tide in similar fashion. Its just one big running joke in reference to someone’s really bad English.
Huh?
May 28th, 2009
12:40 pm
Uh, I could be wrong Mr. Call em like I WANT to see them, but I think the SEC has the same scholarship limitations as any other conference. You are a totally clueless goob and need to stop talking about college football like you know something about it. Thanks.
Thinking out loud 5.28.9 : ctrentrosecrans.com
May 28th, 2009
12:46 pm
[...] The coaches’ poll will no longer reveal the individual coaches’ votes. But I guess we’ll all know who put his ballot as 1. Texas, 2. Texas, 3. Texas, 4. Texas, 5. [...]
Cuz
May 28th, 2009
12:57 pm
G8Grad, my point exactly. The SEC has enough characters and ego for three conferences. Let em go at it. It is what gets us through these doldrums before the games start. What ammount of points ahead on 9/19/09 before CUM pulls T-bow and lets your QB in waiting play? I am thinking 42.
I think the only way T-bow does not win the Heisman is if he gets an injury running that fullback run five yards out for the TD. I sure am hoping that the Gators overlook us before the JAX bloodbath. Either that or spot us a couple of touchdowns.
Tide rising
May 28th, 2009
12:59 pm
Huh?
I guess Mr. Call em like I see em doesn’t understand the difference between signing commitments and the actual number of commits that can actually report to be on campus when the fall comes. Everyone can only take 25 new recruits on scholarship when the fall comes.
Currently, you can sign as many as you want but when it gets down to it only 25 can physically report in the fall and be on scholarship for that year’s signing class. Just like only 85 players max can be on scholarship at any one point in time. In this regard of course the SEC has no advantage over any other conference.
The reason teams over sign is because they know there will be academic casualties, some of their commits may choose another sport like pro baseball, injuries during the summer or the last year of high school which could delay a commit from entering until the next year, etc. There are all kinds of reasons a kid can sign on the dotted line but not be eligible to show up on campus in the fall.
28 seems a little low to me though. The number should be more like 30. Saban signed 32 commits 2 years ago and actually came in 1 or 2 schollies under the limit in the fall because several players didn’t make the required grades, 2 went to pro baseball, 1 suffered a severe shoulder injury that delayed his entry till the next January. Stuff happens.
whitx2
May 28th, 2009
1:04 pm
cuz
No matter which highway, that was still a good one
whitx2
May 28th, 2009
1:08 pm
And who knows, m’s greyhound may have been on highway 99 or parked outback of an IHOP.
Tide Rose......& then fell.
May 28th, 2009
1:20 pm
Keep the Bowl system. Of course Saban supports a final 4 ‘playoff’. Who wouldn’t want a chance to redeem himself after starting the season off as hot as he$$ only to horrifically crash & burn in such a public & humiliating fashion (Florida & Utah). If you can’t win your conference, you have absolutely NO right to play for the National title. That fact should be a qualifier.
But if they did move to a playoff system, the whiners would still be out there, because the SEC would win for the next decade.
Big Blue Forever
May 28th, 2009
1:22 pm
Tommy P stop writing and do your own research. The beat writers asked under the Freedom of Information Act for the letter from the NCAA and have not recieved it. Anyone can say the received a letter, now I want it produced. I am part of the Blue Nation and I demand to see the letter. I do believe that Cal received the letter and that he was unknowing to the S.A.T. scandal. I also believed Billy Clyde never signed an “Official” contract. Than I’m blind-sided yesterday by the Nov. 2007 letter stating the university had all they needed to term Billy’s contract official. What was the lead counsel thinking when issuing that letter. What was UK doing saying Billy didn’t have a contract if Billy claims to have 12 pieces of correspondence where UK officials use the term “contract” and/or binding contract”. Billy, like Cal, produce them for me. Hiring an awarded “Super Lawyer 2004,2005,2006,2007,2008″ was smart Billy Clyde. Filing in Texas, brillant, in Texas law states U.K. Athletic Association can be charged with fraud. Next up for bankruptcy protection U.K. Athletic Association. Next up for cross examantion Calipari. Next firing Mitch Barnhardt.
stinger
May 28th, 2009
1:23 pm
Who wants a tickle pile?
jumbeauxtiger
May 28th, 2009
1:42 pm
I think they should do away with the coaches poll. The coaches don’t really spend the time needed to really evaluate all teams. I have always felt the AP writers even though at times some show favortism, are better at voting.
And I agree as well about m. Calling Tony names is uncalled for and unacceptable.
I have often wondered about the Gailey/Greyhound reference too DawgGirl32. I’m glad you brought it up.
I am all for a 16 team playoff but that probably won’t happen in our lifetime. A 4 tema playoff would be better than what we have.
It seems the doubleheader that CBS has locked in for Oct 10 very well may be UT-Uga in the afternoon and LSU-Fl at night.
Atlanta Gator
May 28th, 2009
1:51 pm
Cuz—-We Gators have too much respect for you Dawgs to spot your team any points. Personally, my Gator pride doesn’t require a blowout. I’ll take any Florida win over Georgia, whether it’s by a last-second field goal, or half-a-hundred at half-time.
If you want to bet against the line, call your bookie. = )
Atlanta Gator
May 28th, 2009
2:00 pm
The Coaches Poll is a creature a of a different time and different circumstances, one whose time and usefulness has come and gone. Most of the participating coaches will tell you straight up that they rarely have time to watch any significant portion of games outside their own conferences and opponents, and usually only then in snippets and highlights (when not watching game film for their next scheduled opponent). Most of the coaches are working 90-hour weeks during the season, and are voting based on what little they have seen and on what their assistants have shared with them. That’s hardly right, and hardly fair, and that’s even before the regional and conference biases come into play.
Unfortunately, the harder question is “With what do you replace it?” The best alternative poll, the AP Sportswriters Poll, has already been removed from the BCS formula at the AP’s request.
Otto
May 28th, 2009
2:05 pm
In Tony’s poast blog the 4 team playoff was shot down remeber Utah would not make it last year and UGA would not make it in ‘07.
The current BCS system is working great. The SEC is signing big TV contracts, big OOC matchups are on the rise. The TV networks and school are making a fortune off of the regular season becuase it is a playoff. In ‘07 how many were watching Mizzou fall in the Big 12 championship game or Pitt upset WVU for LSU to make the title game. If there was a playoff how much would ratings drop for those games? Further how many would watch ESPN’s CFB live or be posting on blogs like this? You could not ask for a more perfect product from a marketing stand point.
bull-gator
May 28th, 2009
2:18 pm
to Cuz: where the hell is highway 99?
DawginLex
May 28th, 2009
2:20 pm
No Cat in this fight but since i live here I’ll chip in my $.02. Calapari was not named in the report. UK’s compliance officer, Sandy Bell is top shelf and she would have never allowed Calapari to be hired if there was any mention or possibility of him having a problem.
When the Memphis people cry foul, ask them why they worked like crazy over the last 48 hours of his Memphis tenure to BEAT UK’s offer of $$$$. The notice from the NCAA came in September of 2008 and the further correspondence came in January 2009. Cal was hired by Uk in April 2009.
He will emerge from this and UK will go back to dominating SEC basketball again like the mid 90’s.
M, you are still an idiot.
Mikey
May 28th, 2009
2:27 pm
Regarding M:
Even a fish would be in no trouble if he kept his big mouth shut!
azcat225
May 28th, 2009
2:29 pm
bull-gator, cuz was corrected and acknowledged same. The Allman Brothers have always been true to their roots.
And cuz, I agree with other posters, that was damn funny…
AltamahaDawg
May 28th, 2009
2:45 pm
There is an actually Highway99 and any Rambling man, headed SouthBound, from the Statesboro Blues, would know where it is. I Ain’t Wastin No More time educating you folks from Hot’Lanta.
G8R GRAD
May 28th, 2009
3:02 pm
Cuz:
Your game in Jax is the only other one I have circled after the showdown in Death Valley against the Bayou Bengals. That game always has a high possiblity of an upset. Both squads come into that stadium high as a kite and if history has taught me anything, it’s never bet aginst the underdog (no pun intended) at the WLOCP.
Too Easy
May 28th, 2009
3:04 pm
..but as info, GA 99 is on the GA coast, and US 99 is in California (part of it is now I-5).
Huh?
May 28th, 2009
3:07 pm
“Unfortunately, the harder question is “With what do you replace it?”
A fan poll. I am not at all kidding. If we’re going to have mindless opinion polls deciding things why not give the fans a say? Could we be any more ill-informed and biased than the coaches working 90 hour weeks? I don’t think so. In fact, fans probably watch a lot more football on Saturdays than the coaches do. I personally watch everything from the Big 10/ACC snoozers at noon to the Pac 10 games late at night. Could we be any more woefully clueless than the media geeks that make up the AP poll? Doubt it. They don’t know any more about what’s going to happen on any given Saturday than the guy selling Cokes at the concession stand. They just pretend they do to keep their jobs and sell papers. ESPN already has a weekly interactive fan poll during the season and it barely deviates from any other poll floating around out there, including the AP and Coaches. So I say why the hell not? It sure would be a lot of fun for the fans to have a say in this mindbogglingly stupid process.
Gravy Train
May 28th, 2009
3:09 pm
A couple of points:
1. m is a Tech fan who need not worry about a playoff nor voting because Tech is not a factor in either discussion. Nor is the ACC for that matter.
2. Having your father purchase two ivy league degrees for you is not the same as having earned them yourself. Anyone who still thinks there was ever any wisdom associated with W should be banned from voting.
G8R GRAD
May 28th, 2009
3:14 pm
AltamahaDawg:
I always thought it referred to the Highway 41 that runs north-south the length of Georgia. It is Cobb Parkway north of town, Northside Drive through town and Metropolitan Parkway on the southside where it turns into 19/41.
Greg Allman
May 28th, 2009
3:18 pm
Yeah, that’s the one.
AltamahaDawg
May 28th, 2009
3:29 pm
I rather be tied to the Whipping Post, than be on the Cobb Parkway.
Greg Allman
May 28th, 2009
3:30 pm
Wasn’t it THE highway from Chattanooga to Valdosta (and on to Tampa) before I-75 was built?
AUtiger
May 28th, 2009
3:34 pm
Yawn.. I just want to know wehn the Rolls Tides go on probation again.
G8R GRAD
May 28th, 2009
3:38 pm
And north all the way to the upper peninsula of Michigan.
AltamahaDawg
May 28th, 2009
3:39 pm
“if history has taught me anything, it’s never bet aginst the underdog (no pun intended) at the WLOCP.”
Should have been.
G8R GRAD
May 28th, 2009
3:42 pm
AltamahaDawg:
You’re preaching to the saved.
My offices are in Vinings.
bull-gator
May 28th, 2009
3:46 pm
I think when Dickey Betts wrote “Ramblin’ Man” he was probably alluding to the west coast of Florida as he was raised in Bradenton which U.S. Hwy 41 runs directly through and terminates in Miami. I used to see Betts at a beach bar (can’t remember the name, but was a pretty rough place) in Bradenton Beach every now and then back in the late 70’s. The man can really play the guitar.
G8R GRAD
May 28th, 2009
3:48 pm
Greg:
“Wasn’t it THE highway from Chattanooga to Valdosta (and on to Tampa) before I-75 was built?”
Actally: (and on to Miami)
Oh, and what were you thinking when you married Cher?
AltamahaDawg
May 28th, 2009
3:49 pm
Only One Way Out of Vinings, Dreams of the Blue Sky.
G8R GRAD
May 28th, 2009
3:51 pm
It’s a living.
AltamahaDawg
May 28th, 2009
3:52 pm
Should have married Melissa, or Jessica, or Little Martha. Vows to Cher were just Wasted Words.
AltamahaDawg
May 28th, 2009
3:54 pm
Enter your comments here
G8R GRAD
May 28th, 2009
4:03 pm
bull-gator:
Good stuff.
Bradenton’s a nice part of the world.
Gen Neyland
May 28th, 2009
4:16 pm
Look closely at the photo on the cover of Live at the Fillmore. You’ll see D.Allman and the gang laughing it up. See D.Allman’s hands cupped together..? Know what he’s holding..? Believe it or not, there is a story to this shot…
PaulC
May 28th, 2009
4:39 pm
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/columnists/sfl-hyde-uf-arrests-s052809sbmay28,0,1709945.column
Urban Meyer runs a completely corrupt program in Gainesville. 24 arrests in four years, what a disgrace! UF is now THUG U and sooner or later big media will pick up on this story and Meyer will be exposed as the fraud he most certainly is.
ABB fan
May 28th, 2009
4:42 pm
Wwhat’s Duane hiding?
A pipe? A doobie?
shane#1
May 28th, 2009
4:58 pm
Gen, I give up, is Duane holding M’s bus ticket, and Cuz, are you saying M is Dickey Betts? Oh the horrow!
Gen Neyland
May 28th, 2009
5:16 pm
Photo shoot outside the Fillmore was going badly.
Some guy rounds the building and sees the band. He scurries over to them and hands Duane a bag of snowcaine. They all bust out laughing and FLASH, the photographer’s work is done.
Frozen_Gator
May 28th, 2009
5:45 pm
I think Ms Brown was in my highschool class. She didn’t maks it to UF but she sure figured out how to get alot of votes. Goes Gator and ROLLS TIDES!!!!!!!!!!
Atlanta Gator
May 28th, 2009
6:01 pm
Actually, gentlemen, US Highway 41 runs all the way from Miami to the upper peninsula of Michigan. Through metro Atlanta, US 41 tracks Northside Parkway, which changes names at the Chattahoochee and Fulton-Cobb county line and becomes Cobb Parkway. From Naples to Tennessee, US 41 closely parallels I-75.
I know US 41 well. It’s one of the common threads in my life. I was born two blocks from it in Florida, and it runs in front of my current Atlanta office.
And, no, I was not born in the back seat of a Greyhound bus. Thank God and Greyhound, eh? LOL
Gator Growl
May 28th, 2009
6:05 pm
I think PaulC is really “m” or at least closely related.
Atlanta Gator
May 28th, 2009
6:08 pm
Huh?
I am all for democracy, but I cannot imagine how a fan poll would more fair than the coaches poll. Large schools (i.e. Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, Texas), and schools from big states (Florida, Southern Cal, Texas) would have a disproportionate advantage in any fan poll. Where would that leave Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss and Tennessee?
Tide rising
May 28th, 2009
6:09 pm
I’,m having to retype this post so lets hope it doesn’t get eaten this time.
Frozen_Gator,
There you goes. You catchin on. Goes Gator is even better than Go Gator. I don’t think anyone can top Coarch Meyers though.
Ms. Brown didn’t make it to UF I don’t think but she did graduate from a 4 year school of lower learning. I believe English was her major. Well, I might be jesting.
Atlanta Gator posted her bio shortly after she started torturing the English language on this blog so he would know what her esteemed educational and legislative accomplishments were.
Rolls Tides!
Tide rising
May 28th, 2009
6:12 pm
Gator Growl,
You picked up on that too. I think they’re brothers or cousins or maybe the same person. They seem related some how and if this were Massachusetts I would have said maybe they’re married.
Me
May 28th, 2009
6:13 pm
No Growl, He’s just another Volusional Tenn fan! Thinks that Kiffey the Klown and full Monte Fossil Man is gonna come into the Swamp and whip the Gators. He’s got a better chance of meeting Layla behind Neyland Stadium tonight…or maybe not.
Gator Growl
May 28th, 2009
6:22 pm
Tide rising…Or maybe just brothers from a different mother. Was listening to Finebaum yesterday when some dude from Knoxville called in asking PF what he thought about Kiffin. Well, ole Paul didn’t mince words when he said “loser” and all that dude could do was murmur a few vile words and just hang up…Sounds a little like the replay of Spurrier vs Kitten… And if I’m not mistaken, Finebaum is a UT grad!!!
Atlanta Gator
May 28th, 2009
6:24 pm
PaulC—-The difference between the discipline problems of Miami in the 1980s, FSU in the 1990s, and Florida in the 2000s is that Urban Meyer actually disciplines his players when they get in trouble. Yes, some get second chances, but on Meyer’s terms. If you want thuggish behavior, undisciplined by the coaching staff, I suggest you revisit the problems of UM and FSU over the past 25 years. Every big-time program has its problems. How the administration and coaches deal with those problems when they occur is how the program should be judged. And, no, not all arrests are the same. Some are indicative of serious crimes; and some involve young and immature men doing things that young and immature men do.
I don’t apologize for the stupid arrests of Gator players. More often than not, their behavior was appropriately addressed by Spurrier or Meyer, up to and including the perps losing their scholarships and being bounced from the team.
Finally, please note that these are the actions of individuals, not the team, and are not indicative of team-condoned offenses. The Gators have run a clean program since their last probation in 1989-1990, which is a credit to Steve Spurrier, Jeremy Foley and Urban Meyer. If I am not mistaken, Florida and Vanderbilt are the only two SEC schools that have not been on NCAA probation in the past 20 years.
Sorry, but you need to take your anti-Gator blinders off. Nineteen eighty-four was a very long time ago. Charley Pell is dead, the Gators have the second or third highest graduation rate in the SEC, and the Gators have won 3 national championships that were untainted by recruiting violations in the last 20 years. But you keep that hate burning bright if it makes you feel better about your own life.
Me
May 28th, 2009
6:38 pm
Atlanta Gator…don’t even waste your time with that PaulC guy, he is a total idiot. If you don’t believe me, just go to his posts on this same Blog yesterday. Besides, he’s a Tenn Fan…you know, the home of the secondary violation and the place where they recruit convicted rapists…as they say, if the “Hood” fits, wear it.
Tide rising
May 28th, 2009
6:39 pm
Gator Grow,
Finebaum is indeed a UT grad which does make it that much funnier. But he dogs everybody and while he talks about Bama the most we probably get dogged the most by him to. Drives the Bama fans nuts but they just keep listening to him. Its that ole thing where some people just hate people like a Rush Limbaugh but they just can’t stop listening to his program. Same with Bama fans and Finebaum.
PaulC,
Give it a rest. Every major program out there has its share of thugs and kids who go bad. It is what it is and if you don’t have kids getting into trouble then you’re name must be Vandy, Duke, or one of the service academies.
Atlanta Gator
May 28th, 2009
6:47 pm
Tide rising—-Even the service academies have had honor code scandals in the last 30 years. It happens. Young people screw up. Questions are, was the screw-up sponsored by the institution, and what did the institution do to correct the screw-up?
Gator Growl
May 28th, 2009
6:48 pm
Tide rising…yeah Finebaum pretty much rags on Meyer too, calling him a premadonna and an out of control “control” freak. It’s funny, he was trying to explain that Alabama textbook thing or whatever and it didn’t sound like anybody on that show even understood it! I’m not very familiar with it at all, but based on the way they were trying to explain it, it sounded like a lot to do about nothing to me…
GT Falcon
May 28th, 2009
6:49 pm
The whole college football system is messed up. I love college football and I attend every GT home game plus some UGA games (I have a lot of friends that are dawg fans), but until they change the stupid system to playoffs I will be more of an NFL guy. Texas not playing in the championship last year over a team they beat in OU was the last straw for me. I hate the BCS!!!!!!!!
Atlanta Gator
May 28th, 2009
6:53 pm
Me—-It’s not for PaulC’s benefit. The Nazis had the idea that if you repeat a lie often enough, it will become the truth. And the best lies are the ones with an element of truth that allows you to swallow the rest . . . .
Truth is the Gator football program was out of control in the early to mid-1980s. The administration turned a blind eye to the nefarious activities of Charley Pell, his staff and certain alumni. Steve Spurrier and Jeremy Foley vowed “never again.” And that’s why there have been problems from time to time, but no probation for the Gators since 1990. That’s what “institutional control” is all about. The NCAA does not expect 17-23 year-olds to be angels, but it does expect the schools to maintain control and mete out appropriate punishments when problems happen, and it certainly does not permit the schools to sponsor or facilitate the problems.
Okay, I’m done being preachy now.
Me
May 28th, 2009
7:07 pm
Good points Atlanta Gator. I guess you could say that Florida learned from their near death (penalty) experience back in the 80’s. Foley is simply the best and since then not a hint of impropriety. Meyer has acted decisively in the majority of the cases and has given a few second chances, mostly when merited. The only time I disagreed with him was the Tony Joiner situation, I think he should have sat out that LSU game. And guess what?? I told Meyer that at a Tampa Gator Club meeting the following year. His response was that it WAS a tough call and that it was handled internally and that Tony DID pay the price. Anyway…
George G.
May 28th, 2009
7:15 pm
Can’t wait to see what the resolution in the Alabama case is. Perhaps it has taken so long because the NCAA discovered some additional shenanigans. Say, perhaps, in Gadsden???
Tony in Johns Creek
May 28th, 2009
8:23 pm
This Dawg fan agrees with Atlanta Gator (blasphemy I know) regarding the coaches poll. It is an abomination as a gauge to bring us a true national champion. These coaches don’t sit around and watch football all day… they have too much to do. How can they possibly judge the football teams in other parts of the country? So, the AP needs to come back in place of the coaches poll, because the AP is actually paid to cover these teams and give their analysis.
Hairofthedawg
May 28th, 2009
8:23 pm
Hey, why don’t we also let congress have a secret ballot. Why should they be held accountable? They don’t make any where close to what an Sec Coach makes!
Tide rising
May 28th, 2009
8:47 pm
George G.,
Keep hoping buddy. If that’s all you can do is hope for big time penalties then I’m afraid that you’re going to be let down quite a bit. We will get either nothing at all or 2 scholarships lost for 2 years for a total scholly loss of 4. And then we’ll get those right back in year 3 so the worst penalty looks to be pretty negligible. As for the Gadsden rumors they are just that. Rumors that started on Auburn and Tenn. message boards that Bama recruits were getting Dodge chargers from a local dealership in exchange for going to Bama. The Bama recruits from Gadsden have in fact been mocking the rumors in their statements because its just ludicrous. Bama’s 5 star cornerback recruit Dre Kirkpatrick addressed the rumor last week by telling rivals.com that his favorite car is a Dodge charger and then he laughed about it. He was just mocking the rumors because they are obviously bogus. Sorry to disappoint you again.
Tide rising
May 28th, 2009
9:00 pm
Gator Growl,
The textbook “scandal” if people want to call it that is indeed a lot of ado about pretty much nothing. What’s funny is that about half the textbook violations were unintentional. Students were getting course materials for a course that the professors recommended in their syllabuses but were not required. According to NCAA rules you can only get course materials that are “required”. But you cannot get additional materials that the professor recommends such as a copy of Moby Dick that an English prof may recommend for his Enlish Lit class but he doesn’t require it.
The other half of the violations is where several athletes across several sports figured out that their was a loophole in the textbook distribution program and were getting some textbooks for classes they weren’t taking to give to a friend or girlfriends that were having trouble paying for their books. Clearly this is gaming the system but no competitive advantage was gained. In all cases the athletes weren’t making money, they weren’t taking the books back and getting things like sweatshirts or clothing etc. at the bookstore. They were just getting books to help out classmates. Still wrong of course though.
Anyway, the school caught it, immediately self reported, suspended the 5 football players involved for 4 or 5 games until the NCAA said they could play again, took action against the other athletes, and took action against the bookstore managers for not catching this loophole and for not knowing that athletes could only get required course materials only and not recommended course materials.
Obviously there wasn’t any intentional cheating and no competitive advantage was gained, no money exchanged hands, etc. But the school should have been more on top of little things like this. I think we’ve just spent a lot more time focusing on rogue boosters and the like and didn’t “mind the store” so to speak on seemingly smaller matters like this.
George G.
May 28th, 2009
9:04 pm
Tide_Rising:
I don’t take your statements for anything, whether it be for or against my statements. So, no need to apologize there buddy.
Tide rising
May 28th, 2009
9:18 pm
George C,
George, I thought I would also let you know that I’ve had a standing reward of $1,000 to anybody who mentions Gadsden shenanigans and can prove allegations of cheating. Prove the allegations of these rumors and I’ll wire you $1,000. All ya got to do is prove it. I’ve noticed that when presented with the idea of backing up their smack talk about Gadsden and other rumors that most people just STFU as I imagine you will do also.
Nachos
May 28th, 2009
9:23 pm
Hey AUtiger…. when is the barn going to hire a REAL football coach? Chizzzz is the shizzzzz !
Tide rising
May 28th, 2009
9:25 pm
George,
Come on man? I’ve got your money right here. I’m still waiting on your proof! Still waiting…….
Gator Growl
May 28th, 2009
10:43 pm
Tide rising…looks like reward money talks and speculation walks!! lol
Dave
May 29th, 2009
7:08 am
Tony as a sports writer who votes in the AP pol I am surprised you got this one wrong. The coaches poll should not even be a part of the BCS. Very few coaches even watch much football during the season they are way too busy worrying about their own team to have the time. When they go home they hardly have enough time to spend with their families. Some coaches basically delegate their vote to some assistant who picks the teams. The big mistake the BCS made was losing the AP poll as part of the formula. This is the sports writers who do actually watch games because they need to be able to write sports stories. The problem was the BCS was just using AP poll for free and the AP pulled the plug on it’s being used. I think the BCS needs to work out a deal with the AP and scrap the coaches poll which in my mind is a sham to start with. I bet the average fan watches a whole lot more football than any coach. They are making it secret now because some coaches were embarrassing them by showing the rest of us how poor it actually is
George G.
May 29th, 2009
7:20 am
Tide Rising:
So, all I have to do is prove that there’s cheating in Gadsden and I win $1,000? Sounds like a deal to me. No timeframe or any other stipulations needed!!!!! You’ll hear from me if and when it happens.
Just like a Bama fan to make a bet that carries no burden on the person he’s betting against. Good job man!!!! Genius!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
May 29th, 2009
7:23 am
Hey tony did u see Layla in her bikini down in Destin? Get any pictures?
Not Disappointed
May 29th, 2009
7:30 am
<—————– Loyal GT Fan and Alum here. I too am upset with the BCS and agree “The Old Ball Coach and Coach Mark Richt, the last vote should be publish. That being sad. How many games do we entertain in a Playoff? 4, 8, ????? Until I remain “Ramblin Wreck!”
BamaBear
May 29th, 2009
8:21 am
To all you haters calling Saban a “whiner”, he is in year 3 of re-building a program. Last year was just a step in the process, and yes he lost to the eventual National Champions, but was 1 quater and 1 Tebow awy from a massive upset. You “Jaw-Ga” boys are just still sore from that “Black Out” butt whooping you got last year! Alabam is headed back to a national championship. Which way is Georgia headed?
godawg
May 29th, 2009
8:35 am
Was the vote to make the vote secret secret? In other words, do we know who voted to make it secret? Or was that secret?
BAMAPERRY
May 29th, 2009
8:59 am
The Gadsden rumors are a pack of lies made up by the Barners.
Hollywould
May 29th, 2009
9:04 am
Duane is holding a bag of “white gold” . Being an old hippie and a Maconite I remember those days well.(sorta)
Sanford Drive
May 29th, 2009
9:18 am
Hold your horses, BamaBear. Bama isn’t quite at National Title level yet. It’s going to take a miracle and a prayer for anyone to beat UF.
Bamafan
May 29th, 2009
9:36 am
Tide rising and Atlanta gator are the best writers on this blog and keep up the good work! General Neyland my brother was a hugh Allmond Brothers fan and I heard a lot of the big hits growing up in
Nashville. This is a true story I met Greg Allmond when he had to come to the medical lab I worked
for back in the mid-90s for a drug screen test for a drug arrest and he was real nice and was signing
autographs for people and can you believe he passed the test!! ROLL TIDES!!
Tide rising
May 29th, 2009
9:45 am
George G,
There’s really no burden on me at all since we both know you are full of shiite. I’ll also bet you a $1,000 that the sun will rise again tomorrow, Sure, the burden is all on me but what are the odds that its not going to happen? You aint too bright are ya boy?
But since you want a stipulation I’ll give you one. Go ahead and send over a shred of hard evidence today. Postings from an Auburn message board don’t count. Can you at least do that or do you just just post regurgitated crap from Auburn blogs?
The bottom line is that if you’re gonna make allegations be man enough to back em up. Money talks and boolsheet walks. In your case I believe I know which applies.
Oh, and I already noticed you’re little disclaimer about getting back to me IF and when this happens. So now we went from sure recruiting violations in Gadsden to IF it happened. Hmmmm! Something is sure starting to smell like all those fields in Lee county full of cow manure.
Seriously?
May 29th, 2009
9:57 am
Hey Tony, where are you today you turd?
Hollywould
May 29th, 2009
9:59 am
Bamafan, Maybe Greg Allmond passed your test but not the real GREGG ALLMAN.lol
Bamafan
May 29th, 2009
10:31 am
Hollywould you are right about my stupid spelling, but the real Greg A. passed one drug screen text
in his life!!
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hombres follando animales
July 20th, 2009
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eh… amazing..