If USC is stripped of 2004 title, should Auburn get another look?
Auburn’s undefeated team of 2004 has been back in the news lately because of speculation, most of it light-hearted, that if USC has its BCS title of that year stripped for NCAA rules violations, perhaps the Tigers could get another shot at the ring almost six years after the fact. Maybe the Associated Press, wrote Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News, could take another vote to strip USC of the trophy and just give it to Auburn.
http://blog.al.com/kevin-scarbinsky/2010/05/scarbinsky_if_elected_auburn_s.html
Fun to think about but it’s not going to happen. But the mental exercise reminded me how significant that undefeated Auburn team was and how much happened after the Tigers got left out of the Big Game.
It was January, 2005, and I remember standing in the press box about an hour from kickoff for the BCS championship game between USC and Oklahoma in South Florida. Suddenly I feel a tap on my shoulder: It is Tommy Tuberville, the head coach at Auburn. His team had just beaten Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl 16-13 to finish 13-0.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“Just trolling for votes,” said Tuberville. He was joking. At least I think he was.
That Auburn team (Tuberville also joked that Auburn would be named national champs by Golf Digest) remains a sore point to this day in the SEC. It changed a lot of history.
Tuberville made a conscious decision to take the high road but privately he was convinced that his Tigers, who featured running backs Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown, could go toe-to-toe with USC, which drubbed Oklahoma 55-19.
“We certainly would not have been intimidated,” Tuberville would tell me later. “We would have given them a pretty good shot.”
SEC Commissioner Mike Slive, the former judge, was publicly disappointed and privately pretty ticked off to the point where he, with support from ACC commissioner John Swofford, eventually went before his fellow BCS commissioners and put a proposal for a “Plus-One” model on the table. A “Plus-One” was a fancy name for what would have been a four-team playoff instead of the current two-team playoff that is the BCS.
Slive was determined that he needed to do something because, in his mind, an undefeated SEC champion should not be denied an opportunity to play for it all. Urban Meyer’s defeated Utah team of 2004 felt the same way, I’m sure.
The “Plus-One” model was discussed during those BCS meetings I attended in South Florida but no action was taken. The majority of the commissioners wanted to stick with the status quo, which is what we will have until the current contract expires after the games of January, 2014.
A lot has happened since 2004. The SEC has now won four straight BCS national championships and, in the process, has convinced a lot of the voters of the strength of its league. The streak started with Florida (2006) and LSU (2007) simply overwhelming Ohio State in two straight BCS title games. In 2008 and 2009 Florida and Alabama defeated high-scoring Big 12 champs in Oklahoma and Texas.
This four-year streak has changed everything from the SEC perspective. The league office now feels that the SEC has proven its strength to the point where it is highly unlikely—almost impossible—that an undefeated SEC champion would be left out of the BCS title game.
In short, I’m not hearing anything these days about a “Plus-One” model from my friends at the SEC.
“I think with our performance on the field the SEC has positioned itself very well,” Slive told me not long ago.
So I’ll put it two questions to you this morning:
1. Regardless of what conference you pull for, do you see an undefeated SEC champion getting left out of BCS title game again?
2. If USC is stripped of its 2004 by the BCS, what should come of it? Should it remain vacated or should Auburn, which finished No. 2 in the final AP and coaches polls, get some kind of consideration?
The floor is yours.
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417 comments Add your comment
fan
May 26th, 2010
2:23 pm
yes Auburn should be named the champs , the title would be just as legit as some of alabama’s claims and all of Ga tech’s claims.
pat sulley
May 26th, 2010
2:24 pm
Just wondering….it appears there is none
punt bama punt
May 26th, 2010
2:24 pm
“Penn St beat LSU this year and Miami has 66% more national championships than UF does.”
Seriously, are you retarded? When I wrote Penn State and Miami, I was referring to their beat downs by SEC teams in the National Championship game.
Miami has 5 national titles. Florida has 3. How does 2 more national titles equal 66%?
You ma’am, are a colossal dumb a$$.
punt bama punt
May 26th, 2010
2:26 pm
pat sulley
Dan is probably a ClemPson fan. ClemPson fans are about as bright as Miss State fans. They ain’t none too bright.
Dan
May 26th, 2010
2:26 pm
Ok Pat. Please tell me who I am supposed to be scared of? UGA? Please. Miss St? Ole Miss? Auburn? They couldn’t score on Paris Hilton two years ago and now they couldn’t stop a girl scout troop. Tennessee? Seriously? Kentucky? May be in hoops. Arkansas? Funny. South Carolina? Speaking of not being able to score on Paris Hilton.
Basically the SEC is a two team conference. UF and Bama are both extremely good. Everyone else is pretty mediocre.
Dan
May 26th, 2010
2:27 pm
punt bama punt, get out your calculator and figure out what 2 out of 3 is. And then tell me who the collossal dumbass is.
punt bama punt
May 26th, 2010
2:29 pm
“Miami has 66% more national championships than UF does.”
Miami- 5 national titles
Florida – 3 national titles
Your conclusion: 66% more national titles.
My conclusion: Dan is a dumb a$$.
Otto
May 26th, 2010
2:30 pm
So the Big10 goes 1 and whatever to the SEC with a win over LSU and they’re better.
Miami has 5 titles to UFs 3 but UF has to play LSU, UT, and Bama who have all won titles since Miami won their first in ‘83. The SEC has 5? titles since Miami won their last.
Good job….
Dan
May 26th, 2010
2:30 pm
When did Miami or Penn St play SEC teams in the National Championship game? Miami played Nebraska and Ohio St. Penn St. has never played in a National Championship game (in the BCS era). And why is your sample size only limited to National Championships?
punt bama punt
May 26th, 2010
2:32 pm
“figure out what 2 out of 3″
The hell does that mean?
1: Florida has never faced Miami in a national title game.
2: Miami has 2 more national titles than Florida.
Bottom line: You’re no math whiz, ma’am.
pat sulley
May 26th, 2010
2:33 pm
Ok Pat. Please tell me who I am supposed to be scared of? UGA? Please. Miss St? Ole Miss? Auburn? They couldn’t score on Paris Hilton two years ago and now they couldn’t stop a girl scout troop. Tennessee? Seriously? Kentucky? May be in hoops. Arkansas? Funny. South Carolina? Speaking of not being able to score on Paris Hilton.
Basically the SEC is a two team conference. UF and Bama are both extremely good. Everyone else is pretty mediocre.
========================================
LOL just 3 years ago UGA was second in the nation…two years ago they were 10th in the nation and last year they had Joe cox and he sucked….they are bringing back 10 starters on offense and the new QB is a 5 star recruit that has 2 5A championships under his belt. You should be scared.
Dan
May 26th, 2010
2:33 pm
Yeah, that’s 66% more, moron.
Otto
May 26th, 2010
2:33 pm
Ole Miss and Auburn have done just find in their bowls often playing a team that finished higher in their conf. Ole Miss shutting down Texas Tech in the Cotton comes to mind.
Dan
May 26th, 2010
2:34 pm
I’m shaking in my little space boot, pat.
Dan
May 26th, 2010
2:35 pm
It means divide 2 by 3, punt bama punt. Good lord…
Otto
May 26th, 2010
2:36 pm
Space Boot….well we know you’re logic was airheaded but weren’t going that far….
Dan
May 26th, 2010
2:38 pm
Heck the SEC went 0-2 vs ACC teams in bowls.
Dan
May 26th, 2010
2:38 pm
Sorry Otto, typo. Space Boots (plural)
punt bama punt
May 26th, 2010
2:38 pm
“When did Miami or Penn St play SEC teams in the National Championship game?”
Miami vs. Alabama 1992. Bama crushed them.
Penn St played Alabama in 1982 and got crushed……..
“Miami played Nebraska and Ohio St. Penn St. has never played in a National Championship game (in the BCS era).’
Who said anything about BCS era? Not you.
“And why is your sample size only limited to National Championships?”
Because that’s what this blog is about, moron.
punt bama punt
May 26th, 2010
2:40 pm
“Basically the SEC is a two team conference. UF and Bama are both extremely good. Everyone else is pretty mediocre.”
WRONG!!!!!!! LSU won TWO national championships in the last ten years. UGA came really close as well. Auburn went undefeated IN CASE YOU HAVEN’T READ THE TITLE OF THIS BLOG!
Dan=MORON
Then GT wins it all
May 26th, 2010
2:41 pm
Using the NC rational of GT, because Auburn usedtot be a home and away GT rival game, then Tech can claim one half of the 04 title, like they do on the other one in 90, shared by Miami, Colorado, ND and GT.
punt bama punt
May 26th, 2010
2:42 pm
“It means divide 2 by 3, punt bama punt. Good lord…”
MIAMI HAS 5 NATIONAL TITLES. FLORIDA HAS 3. WHERE ARE YOU GETTING 2 AND 3 FROM?
5
3
WHERE DOES 2 AND 3 COME IN?
pat sulley
May 26th, 2010
2:42 pm
now doubt about it Dan…and peeing in your pants if you are a GT fan…GT is Richts biitch….UGA worse team in 15 years beat GTs best team in 20
.
Oh did I mention Richt is 8-1 against the tiny bee population?
fake punt PASS PASS
May 26th, 2010
2:42 pm
can’t we all just get a Bong
Gen Neyland
May 26th, 2010
2:42 pm
Dan says : ” Basically the SEC is a two team conference. UF and Bama are both extremely good. Everyone else is pretty mediocre.”
Dan : In today’s current cycle of SEC powers, you’re telling us all what we already figured out. We may fight it but the truth is the truth. Nonetheless, GBO…
…and Congrats to USC Men’s Tennis, dangit.
Otto
May 26th, 2010
2:43 pm
In the BCS era the SEC has had 5 teams win BCS titles.
How many conferences have had more than one win a title?
How many SEC team have won BCS bowls?
If the SEC is top heavy what does that say about the competition?
The SEC has more teams on any given year that could make a run for a title than any other conference.
pat sulley
May 26th, 2010
2:43 pm
Dan….the SECs fourth place team beat the ACCs champ…what the hell are you smoking?
Dan
May 26th, 2010
2:44 pm
Fair enough punt bama punt. Keep on talking about games from 18 and 28 years ago. But if your point is strength of a conference, it makes little sense to limit the sample to nat’l championships.
kgator79
May 26th, 2010
2:44 pm
Dont care what % of national titles more Miami has than UF. Fact is Miami is a sinking program. They now give extensions to their head coach for only losing 4 games.
punt bama punt
May 26th, 2010
2:44 pm
“The SEC has more teams on any given year that could make a run for a title than any other conference.”
Well said, Otto.
pat sulley
May 26th, 2010
2:44 pm
and at GT to boot
Dan
May 26th, 2010
2:45 pm
The Big 12 Otto.
Otto
May 26th, 2010
2:45 pm
kgator I wouldn’t be marking Miami down as a sinking program. Miami is improving, still not the Canes of their glory years but improving.
Reptillicide
May 26th, 2010
2:46 pm
No
punt bama punt
May 26th, 2010
2:46 pm
“Fair enough punt bama punt. Keep on talking about games from 18 and 28 years ago. But if your point is strength of a conference, it makes little sense to limit the sample to nat’l championships.”
1: You never said anything about the BCS era when you brought up Miami etc…
2: You claimed that Miami has 66% more national titles than Florida. YET, you still have not commented on HOW you got that number.
3: You claimed that Miami and Penn ST have never lost to an SEC team in a national title game.
Bottom line: You are not a smart woman.
Dan
May 26th, 2010
2:46 pm
So kgator79 says it’s not about national championships. Let me know when you decide on your standard.
Otto
May 26th, 2010
2:47 pm
Exactly the Big12 thats it… and how many have they lost to the SEC?
punt bama punt
May 26th, 2010
2:47 pm
pat sulley
Dan has yet to announce WHAT team she supports. Also, she can’t do basic math. So sad.
Dan
May 26th, 2010
2:48 pm
punt bama punt, look, if you want to get into history, i’d suggest you tread carefully. i could easily argue that there was not a true nat’l championship game until 1998. which of course would make your point wrong…
punt bama punt
May 26th, 2010
2:48 pm
“Let me know when you decide on your standard.”
Hey Dan
Let me know when you’ve figured out that 5 divided by 3 is not 66%.
pat sulley
May 26th, 2010
2:48 pm
Dan
May 26th, 2010
2:44 pm
Fair enough punt bama punt. Keep on talking about games from 18 and 28 years ago. But if your point is strength of a conference, it makes little sense to limit the sample to nat’l championships.
=============================
try and keep up
.
Nat titles are only a part.
.
The SEC lead in ALL categories to determine the best conference…geesh you are a moron
.
Bowl Victories;
.
.
bowl winning percentages
National Championships;
.
National Rankings;
.
and just Plain Old Wins –
.
SEC Football is #1 in them all.
The SEC has the most alumni playing in the NFL.
.
The 2008 NFL opening day active rosters showed 259 former SEC football players on NFL rosters. The ACC was second with 254 players;
the Big Ten was third with 227;
Pac-10 — 178;
Big 12 — 170;
Big East — 87.
The SEC has led all conferences with the most NFL players every year since 2001.
Dan
May 26th, 2010
2:49 pm
punt bama punt, you are the one who can’t do basic math. you keep looking dumber and dumber.
pat sulley
May 26th, 2010
2:49 pm
Dan is a GT fan.
Otto
May 26th, 2010
2:49 pm
Dan if you start in ‘98 it just makes your argument that much harder to win.
punt bama punt
May 26th, 2010
2:50 pm
“if you want to get into history, i’d suggest you tread carefully”
Check mate, b!tch! I took your king and queen outback for a beating.
“i could easily argue that there was not a true nat’l championship game until 1998.”
Go ahead, every UGA, Bama, FSU, Miami, Notre Dame, USC, TN, Ohio State and Michigan fan will be all over your a$$.
“which of course would make your point wrong…”
Stupid meet Dan, Dan meet stupid.
Otto
May 26th, 2010
2:50 pm
Dan is a GT fan? I thought they were better with #s?
Dan
May 26th, 2010
2:50 pm
Why start at 2001 pat? Is that when it gets convenient for you?
punt bama punt
May 26th, 2010
2:51 pm
“punt bama punt, you are the one who can’t do basic math. you keep looking dumber and dumber.”
DAN, PLEASE TELL THIS “DUMB” DUKE GRAD JUST HOW IT WAS YOU CAME TO GETTING 66% WHEN YOU DIVIDE 5 BY 3.
pat sulley
May 26th, 2010
2:51 pm
Dan….from what “sample” are you saying the SEC is not the best?
.
Throw me a bone here….just give a category that the SEC DOES NOT lead in for the sake of your argument?
.
JUST ONE….I mean besides dumb asz fans as clearly the conference you say is best has you to grab that crown
Dan
May 26th, 2010
2:52 pm
i’m sooooo scared punt bama punt