USC may lose BCS title but Auburn is still feeling the burn
Tommy Tuberville banged the drum for his Auburn team after the Sugar Bowl, and rightfully so.
So we’ve already established that this is a major kegger day in Knoxville (click here for the updated USC story). The Lane Kiffin/Weenie Roast officially begins at 3 p.m., when the NCAA is scheduled to drop the probation hammer on USC.
But how do you feel today if you’re an Auburn fan? USC may get stripped of its 2004 BCS national championship, and the Tigers never were allowed to even play in that game, despite going through the season undefeated.
Is this a day for Auburn to feel vindicated or just angry?
Rewind to 2004: Auburn went 12-0 through the regular season but finished third in the BCS standings, behind USC and Oklahoma (which also went 12-0). To any SEC follower, the thought of going through the conference season undefeated and not winding up in the national title game is ludicrous. But the Tigers had to settle for the Sugar Bowl, and they defeated Virginia Tech, 16-14.
Auburn’s case for being in the BCS title game even was supported by Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, who said, “We started out playing Southern Cal and I believe this Auburn team is better.”
So you can imagine what the opinion was of Oklahoma — especially after the Trojans destroyed the Sooners, 55-19, to claim the title.
“Neither team is better than us,” Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville proclaimed. “We’ll play them anytime, anywhere.”
Never got that chance.
Now what? The BCS added to its bylaws in 2007 — after the NCAA began looking into potential violations at USC — that gives it the power to strip a championship from the winner. Quoting:
“When the NCAA or a conference makes a finding of violations … and imposes a sanction of forfeiture or vacation of contests in which an ineligible student-athlete participated, we will presume that vacation of participation in a BCS bowl game is warranted.”
This doesn’t mean the BCS (which is independent of the NCAA) is suddenly going to declare Oklahoma the winner and give Auburn a runner-up trophy. If it opts to strip USC, there just won’t be a champion listed for 2004.
Conversely, the Associated Press will not change its final rankings from that season: USC will remain No. 1 and Auburn (which drew three first-place votes) will be No. 2.
The Tigers probably deserve a little more than that.
But then, they also deserved more in 2004.
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301 comments Add your comment
CHEAT ON TROJANS!!!!!!
June 10th, 2010
5:20 pm
“My point is that when UGA won it in 1980, they had to win 12 to do it.”
Well no $hit, moron.
“Don’t be sad because you don’t know your mascot.”
AT LEAST WE DON’T HAVE TO RENT OUR LOGO FROM THE GREEN BAY FUDGE PACKERS!
Jay
June 10th, 2010
5:20 pm
Tom, first and foremost I am a fan. Second because I feel USC would have beaten them again. They had the return of most of their starters from a the previous year, so why does it not seem plausible that they wouold beat them again? Also they beat them at their home and championship game would be on a neutral field.
Tom
June 10th, 2010
5:21 pm
Hey TideRising…..who held USC to the fewest points in 2003 or 2002? You guessed it…Auburn….if they could only score 24 and 23 on us…what makes you think it would have been a beat down? How come everyone says USC was better between years but Auburn cant be?
Jay
June 10th, 2010
5:21 pm
Tom by the way. How many national championship does Auburn have in Football?
Jim Donnan of a new era
June 10th, 2010
5:21 pm
AS UGA’S NEW HEAD COACH, I’Z GONE WINNED US DA NATIONAL TITLE. GO DAWGS! BUY MY BUMPER STICKER!
IT’S A DONNAN OF A NEW ERA. WOOF WOOF!
Aaron Mitchell
June 10th, 2010
5:22 pm
Nice argument “Cheat on Trojans.” “The NCAA says differently.” You obviously graduated from an SEC school. Frankly, I’m surprised you even know how to use a computer.
Jay
June 10th, 2010
5:23 pm
Tom, 23 to nothing means you can’t score. How many coaches would be comfortable winning on the road by that score.
Alphare
June 10th, 2010
5:24 pm
Tide Rising,
you don’t know what the outcome would be if played. Auburn was much improved in 04 and had three(4?) 1st round draft picks on the 04 team.
Tom
June 10th, 2010
5:24 pm
One, in 1957…but 1983 and 2004 are jokes.
CHEAT ON TROJANS!!!!!!
June 10th, 2010
5:25 pm
“You obviously graduated from an SEC school.”
Actually, I graduated from Duke. You know, the school that is ranked higher than any Shat-10 school?
“Frankly, I’m surprised you even know how to use a computer.”
Well ma’am, frankly I am surprised that you can walk upright seeing as you spend most of your nights bent over a pool table.
Tom
June 10th, 2010
5:25 pm
Jay 23-0 yes we couldn’t score..It’s unfortunate you don’t know why.
CHEAT ON TROJANS!!!!!!
June 10th, 2010
5:26 pm
“but 1983 and 2004 are jokes.”
Bo Jackson will always be a greater sports star than Herschel Walker.
Oh, and when’s the last time UGAY finished undefeated? Oh yeah, 30 years ago.
CHEAT ON TROJANS!!!!!!
June 10th, 2010
5:27 pm
Jay
How many does UGAY have?
Steve
June 10th, 2010
5:28 pm
Poor CHEAT. So much anger. It’s OK little boy. Auburn will win another NC in 2057, maybe.
Tom
June 10th, 2010
5:29 pm
It’s just ridiculous we couldn’t share the title that’s all. I don’t know any Auburn fans that would want this title outright…Look, all we are saying is why is the SEC hands down the best conference every year…uhh…just not when Auburn wins? Give me a break. Florida won a title with one loss, and LSU won one with 2 losses…Auburn goes undefeated and doesnt even share it? Please.
Steve
June 10th, 2010
5:30 pm
UGA has two, CHEAT, one more then Auburn. They also have more bowl wins then almost anyone.
CHEAT ON TROJANS!!!!!!
June 10th, 2010
5:31 pm
“So much anger.”
Nah, I’m laughing at the Trojan Condoms right now. So much fun!
“It’s OK little boy.”
Why do you like little boys?
Gatorbait 17-3
June 10th, 2010
5:31 pm
Aaron Mitchell
Hey Jerk,
You don’t think those marketers paying Bush and his family to go to USC,
gave USC an advantage in recruiting———–get a life and head on back to
the left coast.
Steve
June 10th, 2010
5:32 pm
Also 12 time SEC Champions. How many does Auburn have? You must have a lot of jealousy.
CHEAT ON TROJANS!!!!!!
June 10th, 2010
5:33 pm
“UGA has two, CHEAT, one more then Auburn.”
LOL! Yeah, I forgot about 1904. UGAY must have been awesome back then.
“They also have more bowl wins then almost anyone.”
Yeah, too bad that doesn’t count for anything.
Do you count the Shreveport Bowl?
bamaguy
June 10th, 2010
5:33 pm
I am in the strange, if not bizarre, position of agreeing with the Auburn fans. It does make the 2004 snub even more painful. The only thing I could ever figure out was that the BCS thought USC/Oklahoma would be a much better TV rating draw (ditto Boise State this year).
But I don’t think they revise old polls or re-award anything. I mean, if they take Bush’s Heisman (and I REALLY hope they do) they wouldn’t give it, six years later, to whoever finished second in the voting. And if the BCS takes the crystal football away from USC, they won’t give it to anyone else.
CHEAT ON TROJANS!!!!!!
June 10th, 2010
5:34 pm
“You must have a lot of jealousy.”
Why would I be jealous of people who rent their logo from Green Bay?
CHEAT ON TROJANS!!!!!!
June 10th, 2010
5:35 pm
bamaguy
It’s a tough one. Glad you see things realistically.
Tom
June 10th, 2010
5:35 pm
Steve…you are funny. You think just because we didn’t get the votes that we didnt play at a high level and win the championship on the field? We embarrassed UGA that year…basically shut you out…I think you scored some sad TD at the very end when our starters were pulled…Yeah…we dont have the trophy…but we went 13-0…I suppose if UGA went 13-0 they wouldnt feel they deserved anything…yeah good call..considering all that whining I heard from UGA fans in 2007 when they had two losses…and thought they should get in….still laughing.
CHEAT ON TROJANS!!!!!!
June 10th, 2010
5:36 pm
A little UGAY history.
Although the Packers have granted limited permission to other organizations to utilize a similar logo, notably the University of Georgia and Grambling State University, the Packers hold the trademark for it.
Mike
June 10th, 2010
5:37 pm
It’s all about perception. After Auburn nearly shutout #5 UGA in November, Auburn was actually tied with Oklahoma in the BCS standings. The next week Auburn struggled in the 1st half vs. Bama and was fried by the media.
When USC struggled to put down a 6 win UCLA team a few weeks later…the media gave them the “Ohh, it’s a rivalry game/everyone’s giving them their best shot” treatment. Oklahoma got it when they struggled to beat Okie lite by 3 the same year. It all goes back to CFB wanting pick it’s title game and champion MONTHS before the season even starts.
What’s sad is the USC cheating started early that year when we saw that BS pass interference vs. Virginia Tech to start the year.
Steve
June 10th, 2010
5:40 pm
It was actually only 10 years before Auburn won theirs and was in the 1940’s. Nice try though. Sad you don’t know college football. What a loser.
Tom
June 10th, 2010
5:40 pm
Good call Mike…..I remember everything of what you just said…I think playing Alabama on the road is a little tougher than UCLA on the road too huh? Its a joke…Auburn finished the year with wins over UGA, ALABAMA, TENN, and VT…and didn’t even share it….what a joke. They had the game they wanted…remember? Two heisman winning QBs on the same field at the same time? Last time I checked Jason White is bagging groceries at Publix.
what its worth
June 10th, 2010
5:41 pm
The Pac-10 announced in a news release Thursday that the league has officially added the University of Colorado as its 11th member.
NCAA hammers Southern Cal’s football program with two-year postseason ban. The ban includes a two-year ban on postseason play and a reduction in 10 scholarships for the next three seasons. The NCAA determined that Reggie Bush received illegal benefits during his playing career at Southern California.
CAPTIONBy Kevork Djansezian, APUSC will also forfeit 14 victories Bush participated in from December 2004 to the end of his career in the 2006 Rose Bowl. It includes the 2005 Orange Bowl, where the Trojans beat Oklahoma for the BCS national championship. It is possible that the school could forfeit that title. In addition, Bush could be forced to return the Heisman Trophy he won in the 2005 season.
Steve
June 10th, 2010
5:41 pm
And CHEAT, who gives a damn about a logo? I sure as hell don’t. They could have solid red helmets and I would be happy. We would still have beaten Auburn 4 years in a row.
Aaron Mitchell
June 10th, 2010
5:42 pm
Another good one “Cheat on Trojans.” But Stanford is in the Pac-10 and its regularly ranked ahead of Duke. You continue to impress me with your intelligence. I’m know youre just a closet SEC grad typing from your trailer home.
Jay
June 10th, 2010
5:42 pm
Earth to mars, hey guys everyone should stop drinking the kool aid.. There is not a clean big program out there. It is just a matter olf time when someone blows the whistle. Gifts are wrong but you play the game on the field.. The whole ncaa is a sham for integrity!
CHEAT ON TROJANS!!!!!!
June 10th, 2010
5:43 pm
Tom
Remember when this UGAY player got his @ss beat?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3tz2X-vkMI
Steve
June 10th, 2010
5:44 pm
Jay, I agree. Every program cheats somehow, including UGA and Auburn, just don’t get caught.
CHEAT ON TROJANS!!!!!!
June 10th, 2010
5:44 pm
“who gives a damn about a logo?”
You gals sure don’t since you have to rent yours.
Tom
June 10th, 2010
5:45 pm
Yeah and Aaron Mitchell are you living in the bankrupt California? Keep playing on the stereo types…the south is a great place to live.
CHEAT ON TROJANS!!!!!!
June 10th, 2010
5:45 pm
“But Stanford is in the Pac-10 and its regularly ranked ahead of Duke.”
No they’re not. Just check the top 100 universities. Duke is number 8 in the country.
CHEAT ON TROJANS!!!!!!
June 10th, 2010
5:46 pm
“I’m know youre just a closet SEC grad typing from your trailer home.”
Grammar fail. If you’re so much smarter than me then why can you not use correct grammar?
Dumb @ss.
Go back to the Shat-10 with the rest of your second rate football teams.
Tom
June 10th, 2010
5:46 pm
I agree we all cheat too…but CHEAT has a point Steve…you cant knock on Auburn for our original two mascot deal…when you cant even come up with your own logo. Kind of sad. And this is the same school that burned the Iron horse or whatever. Dont talk to Auburn fans about spirit.
CHEAT ON TROJANS!!!!!!
June 10th, 2010
5:48 pm
Tom
Bingo. Thanks.
Steve
June 10th, 2010
5:49 pm
Tom Auburn does not even sellout every home game and they have a smaller stadium. UGA sells them all out even against the pansies. WHO CARES about the logo thing? You Auburn people do more then anything I guess.
CHEAT ON TROJANS!!!!!!
June 10th, 2010
5:50 pm
Aaron Mitchell
Whatever happened to Matt Leinert? Last I heard he was a 3rd string bench warmer behind a 40 year old grocery bagger turned QB.
And Carson Palmer? What’s he up to these days?
Marcus Thomas
June 10th, 2010
5:50 pm
Everyone cheats- heck, I almost had to kill somebody before Florida could finally be convinced to kick me off the team. Which make you wonder about Cam Newton…
Aaron Mitchell
June 10th, 2010
5:51 pm
Here you go “Cheat on Trojans.” Try not to cry when you look at this. By the way, this is called “evidence.” Its used to support arguments.
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/national-universities-rankings
Vince Lombardi
June 10th, 2010
5:51 pm
I think it’s cool that we let UGA and Grambling share a logo with us because we’re all better than you.
Mike
June 10th, 2010
5:52 pm
Tom-
Auburn should have beat the tar out of Alabama that year. Bama had gotten their butts kicked the week before by LSU but it didn’t work out that way. The game was in T-Town and played in crummy weather but that didn’t mean anything to the media that already had the game they wanted and weren’t going to change, even if another team was playing better.
Auburn had the best scoring defense in the country that year and I thought would have had a game vs. Oklahoma, USC or Utah. It’s a shame we didn’t have a playoff and were left with the 55-19 game…highlighted by a performance by Ashlee Simpson at halftime.
The media had it in for USC during that stretch. Remember the horrible, horrible coverage the following year leading up to the Texas title game? ESPN actually ran a 20 part special comparing the 05 USC team to other historic, great CFB teams. It was disgusting.
Kirk..
“Who would win in a title game….USC or the 85 Bears?”
Mark
“Well, USC is just so dynamic with Reggie Bush…i’d have to take USC by 14.”
I hope with Kiffin coaching them and with their major hit they took today, they go back to the 90’s era trojans that couldn’t even sell out home games vs. UCLA or Notre Dame. Stupid t-shirt/fair-weather fans.
CHEAT ON TROJANS!!!!!!
June 10th, 2010
5:52 pm
“Auburn does not even sellout every home game and they have a smaller stadium.”
OH NO!!!!!!!! Ma’am, is that the best you can come back with?
Well, let’s see. UGAY frat guys dress up as black people and make fun of them. So, I guess you’re school hates black people.
Dumb @ss.
“UGA sells them all out even against the pansies.”
Hey, that’s no way to talk about your fans.
“You Auburn people do more then anything I guess.”
You ain’t too bright is ya?
Tom
June 10th, 2010
5:53 pm
We do to sell out our stadium almost 95% of the time…yes sometimes we dont against the patsies…but neither does UGA…And seriously…you say why do we care about the logo…well why do you care about our mascot deal? I personally think the two mascot deal is cool…and original…something UGA is obviously not…
CHEAT ON TROJANS!!!!!!
June 10th, 2010
5:53 pm
Aaron Mitchell
Did you attend and graduate from Stanford?
If not, your argument is stupid. As are you.
CHEAT ON TROJANS!!!!!!
June 10th, 2010
5:54 pm
Mike
Alabama should have beat the tar out of Auburn last year. They didn’t. They won in the final 57 secs of the game.
Your point?