Auburn may get an ‘04 ‘title’ yet (and who’s USC’s cover boy?)
All 156 All-Americans, 11 (or 10) national titles and 7 (or 6) Heismans? Lane Kiffin did that.
Before we get into this media guide cover — and thanks to devoted reader/serial e-mailer Andy Rosenberg for the tip — there is a movement afoot to appease Auburn in its national title claim for the 2004 season.
Rewind: Auburn, USC and Oklahoma all went undefeated in the regular season in 2004, but only two could go to the BCS title game. So Auburn was snubbed, went on to win the Sugar Bowl and finish 13-0, and coach Tommy Tuberville and Tiger Nation screamed injustice. The Trojans won the championship game but, as you might have heard, just got put into NCAA timeout and now must vacate that win (among others).
Now comes this: The executive director of the Football Writers Association of America said at the Big 12 Conference’s preview that the organization may take away USC’s 2004 title and award it to Auburn. “I wouldn’t say we’re definitely going to do that, but it’s a possibility,” Steve Richardson said. “As we survey the scene, we have an opportunity to consider for the first time of vacating, in the modern era, a national championship.” (It’s worth noting Tuberville now coaches in the Big 12, at Texas Tech.)
The FWAA honor might be all Auburn gets. The BCS has said it won’t make its decision until after USC’s appeals to the NCAA are complete. Even then, it probably will just vacate the championship. The Associated Press will not change its final rankings, even though Auburn finished second to USC.
Meanwhile, the poor USC sports information department doesn’t know what to do. Note the hysterical media guide cover. It references 11 national championships (including 2004). But the original cover that listed seven Heisman Trophy winners now has been changed to six. This is kind of bizarre, given that while the school made a big show of returning Reggie Bush’s Heisman Trophy, the Heisman Trust hasn’t done anything yet and won’t make a decision until after the appeals.
In summary, Bush, whose family lived in a home rent free, is not recognized by the school, but O.J. Simpson, who killed — excuse me, may have killed — two people is still embraced by USC.
Now, about the guy on the cover. I’m not sure who that is. But given the way those numbers are super imposed over his proud stance, I guess he had something to do with 11 national championships, 31 bowl victories, 6 Heisman winners, 156 first-team All-Americans and 437 NFL players.
Maybe he mentored John McKay or something.
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265 comments Add your comment
gdawginkalamazoo
July 28th, 2010
11:15 am
So it would technically be coorect if it read six Heisman trophy winners or seven Heisman winners. Remove Bush’s name and add the Goldmans.
SSIgator
July 28th, 2010
11:17 am
I say give the title to UGA. According to their fans they are always pre-season #1.
Mike Rehberg
July 28th, 2010
11:18 am
Why not settle this in a fair manner … It’s impossible to go back and play OK vs. Au, so make them National Co-CHAMPIONS! That has been done before. End of debate!!!
Ryan
July 28th, 2010
11:20 am
Notice all those dark clouds hanging over the program in that cover. That is a nice touch.
dawgster
July 28th, 2010
11:24 am
SSlgator, it doesn’t surprise me that a gator fan would make such a statement when the article has nothing to do about the dawgs or the gators…Why not for once try and show some class when posting…The article is not about your mighty gators or whether your dislike the dawg nation…Find a gator blog to spew your posts on….
juice sourcer
July 28th, 2010
11:26 am
Keep bashing please.
Tide Rising
July 28th, 2010
11:28 am
I can see an argument for just vacating the 2004 national title, awarding it to OU even though I disagree with that, or awarding it to AU. If it goes to AU I’ve no problem with that. And this is from an Alabama fan.
Probably the most interesting comment is Harold’s comment on Dooley’s recruiting at UT. Halfway through the year UT doesn’t have a committment from a single 4 star player, its committment list is ranked 54th nationally, and the vols trail everybody in the recruiting rankings in the sec except Vandy. This is horrible news if you’re a Vol fan.
UT traditionally has the single largest recruiting budget in the country, they have the big name to recruit nationwide, and Dooley should be locking up top shelf talent left and right with the promise of early playing time. With only 6 scholarship O-lineman on campus UT should have not one but several highly touted O-lineman committed for the 2011 recruiting class. This does not bode well at all for UT.
Really SSI Gator???
July 28th, 2010
11:30 am
I haven’t seen any real dawg fans say we were preseason #1. Seriously, keeep posting, becasue the more you do, the better we look…moron..
Jgolds06
July 28th, 2010
11:32 am
I am definitely sure that Okalhoma wouldn’t want any part of a Championship that wasn’t won on the field. I would think that Auburn wouldn’t either. These universities have proud histories and are capable of winning championships without being handed anything. If SC is stripped of the 04 title, then I say let there be an asterisk and an explanation as to what happened.
George Stein
July 28th, 2010
11:32 am
USC Rob – The court did not find him innocent. They found him not guilty. There is a big difference between the two. Plus, most people with a brain have a pretty good idea what happened.
As to the larger issue, Auburn should not, under any circumstances, be retroactively awarded the National Championship. While they ended the season unbeaten, we don’t know whether they would have defeated USC (in fact, we have some evidence that they would have been smacked). Further, we don’t know whether Oklahoma would have ended the season unbeaten if they had played VA Tech in the Sugar Bowl that year. All of this also ignores Utah, which also ended the season unbeaten.
Essentially, there are far too many variables to go back and award a title to another team. For 2004, there should not be a champion.
NoGaGator
July 28th, 2010
11:32 am
I’m so confused.
Part of me wants to have Haden come up with enough stuff (ex. lawsuit by Titans) to fire Kiffie’s sorry a$$ and soon.
The other part of me wants Kiffie have to have to stay and coach through the upcoming train wreck of USC football for the next 3 yrs.
What a dilemma! Never thought I’d feel sorry for USC after Garrett, Slick Pete and now Lyin’ Lame but I may if Haden makes it right.
Asheville Dawg
July 28th, 2010
11:36 am
Just amazing what folks think on your blog Senor Jeff.
Of course, O.J. was found not guilty on that tragedy that occurred to his former wife and that young fellow. But when he stole some things from a sports memorabilia dealer he gets sent to prison.
Only in America.
POAD
July 28th, 2010
11:37 am
You would have to Split the MNC between Auburn and OU. OU didn’t get to play Auburn and vice-versa. You have to split it if you are going to give to a team other than USC.
The cover is a JOKE. It should be the Team or a few players. Hell, the coach has a TV show like he needs to be on the Media Guide. EGO too much EGO if the cover shot is just the coach.
dawgster
July 28th, 2010
11:39 am
Definitely not a UT fan here, but don’t get to bent out of shape over the Vol recruiting class just yet, there are several very good recruits looking at them and I think Dooley will do well this year, and maybe even better next year…I think way too much is made of how many *stars* a player may have based on info from a recruiting service…It looks good on paper and gives everyone thrills, but unitl they get on the field we really can only speculate on how good of a recruiting class it is…The list is very big on the number of NFL players that were not highly touted going into college…Again, have no allegence with the Vols, but the program is a very good program, and while it has some issues right now, i wouldn’t count them out…The 54th ranking is only a number for others to look at…
boots
July 28th, 2010
11:42 am
They should put a HUGE asterisk on the cover – preferably right on Lane Kiffin’s face. And good for Auburn. If they count national titles like Alabama does (”1843 – two guys threw a turnip to each other in Alabama, and no one else did that year, so that counts towards one of our 349 national championships”), they should go ahead and put this one down.
Danny Terrio
July 28th, 2010
11:43 am
Let them pay!
POAD
July 28th, 2010
11:44 am
dawgster good points. I hate to see kids commit before the end of their Sr year anyway. So many things change during the High School Season and the College season. Dooley may do better than expected and some recruits will join the vols. Murry maybe great at UGA and LeMay may not sign because he will not get a shot. I thinks decide or talk about their decisions too early.
George Stein
July 28th, 2010
11:45 am
By the way, the suit by the Titans against USC was possibly the greatest piece of marketing I’ve ever seen.
gdawginkalamazoo
July 28th, 2010
11:54 am
Ryan, great call on the dark clouds in the photo. Hilarious.
Hollywould
July 28th, 2010
11:57 am
I am a War Eagle but who cares about a mythical NC for 2004. Doesn’t change anything. I’m with Boots, give it to the Bammers. They need another mythical championship.
gdawginkalamazoo
July 28th, 2010
11:57 am
Don’t get too excited about the Vols low ranking class. Fulmer didn’t leave the cupboard bare when he left and Kiffin didn’t hurt recruiting while he was there. Dooley needs a year or two to show progress by winning and UT will be back on the upper ranks in recruiting.
te29wr
July 28th, 2010
12:00 pm
I can say that OJ is not a USC favorite. All things, related to him, were gone from the campus when he went to trial.
Lame will be out before probation is over
fishtales
July 28th, 2010
12:02 pm
Give it to the Barners but put an asterisk by it just like their 57 title.
Auburn may get an
July 28th, 2010
12:03 pm
[...] [...]
dobearsbare
July 28th, 2010
12:03 pm
Well, they probably didn’t want to spend the $50,000 to make the change, knowing that Kiffin’s multimillion buyout is likely on the horizon.
Bugs the hell out of me that he couldn’t tuck in his pants for the media guide cover photo, by the way. You stay classy Lane.
Bama man
July 28th, 2010
12:10 pm
Give it to Aubarn. That’s the only way they’ll ever get a title. The reason they didn’t play for it was the weak schedule they played. Tubberfart is a sorry coach and a sorry man.
Hairy Box
July 28th, 2010
12:19 pm
The barn will roll Toobers Corner again if they receive this nominal make-believe title.
Auburn may get an
July 28th, 2010
12:27 pm
[...] [...]
gdawginkalamazoo
July 28th, 2010
12:28 pm
It looks like Kiffin is standing line for the restroom in that picture. And really has to go.
larry
July 28th, 2010
12:29 pm
Anybody that plays Citadel and La-Monroe in the same season doesn’t belong in a national championship conversation.
moddyd
July 28th, 2010
12:30 pm
OJ did what he did well after his playing days at USC. Bush had violations while playing at USC. See the difference??? I really do not see your connection to bringing that up. I hate USC by the way.
Paddy
July 28th, 2010
12:33 pm
Spike your are soooo right! OJ was still looking for his wife’s killer. Before he went to jail, he had eliminated all folks on golf courses in California and Florida. He was making great progress and lowering his handicap at the same time. Not a task I would be willing to take on, even in my best years. His quest will resume when he reaches his 83rd birthday. That is, if they reduce his sentence with time served and good behavior. Come on OJ we know you can do it!! Or maybe you already did it!!!
Boise Dawg
July 28th, 2010
12:37 pm
What about Utah… didn’t they also go 13-0 and win the Fiesta Bowl?
Auburn had an uphill argument getting into the BCS title game when they had Citadel, La Tech and La Monroe on their schedule… just unlucky that there were multiple undefeated teams and pretty tough to argue over Oklahoma and USC.
I also know it shouldn’t factor.. but in the current system we have going 8-5 and getting blown out by Southern Cal in 2003 didn’t help their cause in 2004… but that is the reality of the current system. Giving Auburn the title now is dumb and probably won’t appease their fan base.
SO CAL FAN
July 28th, 2010
12:49 pm
Auburn needs to stop crying…let’s see in 2002 USC beat Auburn 24-17 and then in 2003 beat Auburn 23-0. Oh, in 2004 Auburn played The Citadel, LA Tech and La Monroe (all at home) while USC played VA Tech (away), Colo State (home), BYU (away) and Notre Dame (home) as their OOC games. Auburn played a weak schedule. If the BCS title is to be given to another team, it should be OU, not an overrated Auburn team.
Tweets that mention Auburn may get an '04 title yet (and who's USC's cover boy?) | Jeff Schultz -- Topsy.com
July 28th, 2010
12:53 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Bryan Simkus, Steve Holley. Steve Holley said: Something not right with this recently released USC media guide cover, and not just with the math… http://is.gd/dOMYl [...]
Tide Rising
July 28th, 2010
12:55 pm
boots
July 28th, 2010
11:42 am
They should put a HUGE asterisk on the cover – preferably right on Lane Kiffin’s face. And good for Auburn. If they count national titles like Alabama does (”1843 – two guys threw a turnip to each other in Alabama, and no one else did that year, so that counts towards one of our 349 national championships”), they should go ahead and put this one down.
Boots,
Bama officially counts 13 ncs while the ncaa media guide credits us with 17 going by any poll. If you go by the most usual standard which is by one of the 2 major polls since 1936(AP and coaches poll) we have 8 legit titles(tied with ND). Going by this standard USC has 7 including the one in question and not the 11 that USC prints on that media guide featurning Kiffin. Bama’s other titles inlcude 1925,26, 30, 34, and 41. 1941 is not legit. But 1925, 30, and 34 saw 3 Bama teams go 10-0 and win the Rose bowl the defacto national title game at the time. Those 3 are very legit mythical titles even if they are mythical and or retroactive. No one was better in those 3 years. 1926 Bama team was unbeaten and tied the other top team in the land Stanford in the Rose Bowl. A split title is certainly warranted there also but I’ll chose not to include it just so you won’t complain. Bottom line is that we have 8 recognized titles by one of the 2 major polls, 11 legit titles, and this doesn’t include 2 unbeaten, untied Bama teams in 1945 10-0 and 1966 11-0 that weren’t awarded ncs. You should learn something before making jokes that Bama was claiming national titles back in 1843.
larry
July 28th, 2010
12:59 pm
Regardless of what Bush did, he was exciting to watch.
The way it’s going and the basis for some of the sanctions against usc, every d-1 school will face the same issue (re closing practices to outsiders (movie stars & press) since it creates an environment where the athlete does not feel he a part of the student body!) Does anybody really feel that athletes in a major school are treated the same as the student body? Using that logic, every school is in violation. The only difference between a moviestar and a reporter is the size of their wallet. Best way to handle the issue is pay them and get beyond it (maybe fund it through an excise tax on agent earnings).
Boise Dawg
July 28th, 2010
1:00 pm
The constant USC bashing gets a little tiresome… I loathe them just like I loathe the Yankees, but lets face facts, their history in college football is as great as anyones and their record over the past eight years is downright impressive.
Just look at their out of conference record since 2002.. including bowl games it is a ridiculous 34-1. I count not a single Division II opponent and the vast majority are good programs from major conferences.. here is a list of who they have beaten during this span.
Auburn (2)
Colorado
Notre Dame (8)
Kansas State
Iowa
BYU (2)
Hawaii (2)
Michigan (2)
Virginia Tech
Colorado State
Oklahoma
Arkansas (2)
Fresno State
Nebraska
Idaho
Illinois
Virginia
Ohio State (2)
Penn State
San Jose State
Boston College
Compare this out of conference scheduling and record to any other major program and it isn’t even close… that is amazing in my opinion.
Steve
July 28th, 2010
1:03 pm
It’s all Bush’s fault!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't hate
July 28th, 2010
1:04 pm
AU had it’s chance against USC and got smashed at home (opening game too) 0-24!
Cracker Jacket
July 28th, 2010
1:05 pm
Is that a picture of Mighty Louse? Maybe Kiffin can go on the View and hope to find some support too!!
oh my god
July 28th, 2010
1:07 pm
then Auburn opens up in 2005 at home vs GA Tech with Reggie Ball and guess who won? YELLOW JACKETS some Auburn team that was, they sux
LameWho?
July 28th, 2010
1:13 pm
Everytime I see an article on Lame (sorry Lane) Kiffin, I expected to read something that he has done extraordinary in his football past why people feel he is such a top-rated coach. Who the hell is this cherry?
Coqueta
July 28th, 2010
1:16 pm
Oh my goodness, look!
Red panties are falling from the sky!!!
Bartender Gimme Another One Dawg
July 28th, 2010
1:20 pm
I remember why so many people hate Kiffen. He beat the Dawgs 45-19 ( !! ) , should have beaten Bammer and he wasn’t a Good Ol’ Boy. I imagine if he’d stuck around, he’d be beating the hell out of most of you. Pretty much the same as Spurrier when he was at Florida.
Jonese
July 28th, 2010
1:22 pm
Any SEC homer that wants to give Auburn the title on a pro agent tampering scandal, feel free. A collective sigh was heard across the Plains’ when they got to avoid playing USC at the end of that season. You might recall 18 months before when USC came to Auburn and gave them a 23-0 beat down that was nowhere near as close as the final score would lead you to believe.
Auburn Man
July 28th, 2010
1:22 pm
No thanks. Not interested in a slightly used crystal trophy. We didn’t win it on the field and it would be an embarrassment to act as if we did. Let bygones be bygones, isn’t that the old saying. I feel for the guys of the 04 Tigers but they have moved on and so have I. I’m looking forward to the 2010 season not trying to rehash days gone by.
Who did they play?
July 28th, 2010
1:23 pm
Who did Auburn destroy in the Sugar Bowl. Hey “oh my god” I am pretty sure Mr C. Williams went to the NFL right after he was done running through that undefeated season. I imagine most of the Starters on that team either graduated or went to the NFL. Had you played them a year earlier they would have put 50 on you and you know it. Good luck beating south carolina state with your weak schedule you little bugs….
SKB
July 28th, 2010
1:28 pm
Neither GAtech or UGA will get ranked this season.
GaTech 2009 title was a fluke, they blow.. they lost to UGA at their worst season
UGA on the other hand, will get all their players arrested. thUGA what do you expect?
Florida and Alabama in the championship as always
Auburn Man
July 28th, 2010
1:30 pm
@ SO CAL FAN Who else did Auburn beat in 04. Games in 02 and 03 don’t count when discussing the 04 season. Southern Cal would never have make it thru the SEC in 04. You can’t make your living eating cupcakes from the Crap 10 and then get the best of every SEC you play. SC lives a sheltered life playing teams like Cal, Arizona, Stanford and even less impressive teams that don’t end up in the top 25. SC is a big fish in a small pond.