Southern Cal isn’t the 2004 BCS champ, but neither is Auburn
"Unhand that crystal, Mr. Carroll!" (AP photo)
File this under Empty Gestures: Six and a half years after the fact, the BCS has determined that Southern Cal was not its national champion. (Thank Reggie Bush and his benefactors.) Indeed, the BCS has decreed that, from this day forward, it will have no national champion for 2004.
Which will make Auburn folks mad, seeing as how the Tigers finished undefeated but was shut out of the BCS championship game because … well, because then as now we don’t have a bona fide playoff. But it really wouldn’t have been fair to name Auburn the national champ over Oklahoma, which was likewise undefeated until it lost to Southern Cal 55-19 in the BCS title game.
Can we debit the Sooners for a loss that now, at least in BCS eyes, didn’t happen? And do we know for sure that Auburn, with Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown and Jason Campbell, would have beaten Oklahoma, which had Adrian Peterson and Jason White and the fabulously named Mark Bradley?
(My question: Does this mean Mark Bradley’s silly fumbled punt against the Trojans is now expunged from the record book? All us Mark Bradleys can only hope.)
For all of those who aren’t Auburn fans, you now have a timetable. If the many investigations into the Tigers’ 2010 season turn up something damaging (and provable) — I’m on record as guessing they won’t, but let’s play what-if here — will it be June 2017 before the BCS reclaims its crystal football?
More to the point, should we care? As noted above, I’m no fan of the ex post facto title-stripping. Didn’t like it when the SEC did it to the 1984 Florida Gators. Don’t like it anytime. Once a game is played and a champion crowed, there’s no real way to take it back.
Southern Cal played for the title. Southern Cal beat Oklahoma by 36 points. That’s how I’ll always recall the 2004 season, and the Associated Press, which names a champion of its own, agrees. So far as the wire service is concerned, the Trojans remain the 2004 titlists. So far as I’m concerned, SC of ‘04 remains the finest collegiate team I’ve ever seen in person.
By Mark Bradley
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137 comments Add your comment
Andrew
June 6th, 2011
9:09 pm
Sure Auburn, a lot of teams can go undefeated when they cheat.
Mark Bradley
June 6th, 2011
9:12 pm
I’m thinking you were just giddy over your breadth of cultural references, TG.
todd grantham
June 6th, 2011
9:13 pm
Mark, i guess it was just the excitement of you being back, heh, heh.
todd grantham
June 6th, 2011
9:17 pm
is it just me or does it look like pete carroll and ray goff were separated at birth?
UGASlobberknocker
June 6th, 2011
9:20 pm
Congratulations to the 2004 National Champion
Utah Utes
NRBQ
June 6th, 2011
9:21 pm
War Eagle: ” Auburn gradfuate and was recrited by Wally Butts(UGA).”
Is one of your kids handy to help you spell, Mr. College Graduate?
Eaassyy
June 6th, 2011
9:28 pm
This is stupid.
it isn't what it isn't
June 6th, 2011
9:33 pm
hahahahahaha, you can’t make this cr@p up…well Kiffin, how do you like leaving Tennesee now? Don’t stop there NCAA, Auburn isn’t without sin either so Tuberville needs to shut up..
and while you”re at it, take a look at UCONN in basketballl in 2004, c h e a t e r s, hand the national championship over to GT
FLA DAWG
June 6th, 2011
9:38 pm
APPLES & ORANGES MARK,
These are two different issues………….In my book Auburn was short-sheeted by not having been invited to play for the Championship. That does not mean they would have won (I think they would have).
Stripping a team of a Championship does not automatically mean another team is GIVEN that Championship Title …………………UNLESS………………there IS a Playoff and then the PROVEN # 2 Team can be awarded the Crystal Ball.
So it is written, so it shall be done!
Kevin
June 6th, 2011
9:39 pm
Hey Auburn, USC had already came into your house in the SEC and cleaned your clock 23-0 just the year before! Be very fortunate Auburn fans that you didn’t make the title game in 2004. It would of been a complete massacre and waste of time to watch just as the Oklahoma game was for USC. Hey Mark how about this?….We should take the cheaters of the 2004 national championship and play the cheaters of the 2010 championship and the loser gets to leave college football for life. Both programs are a disgrace to the purity of what college football should be about!
DHM
June 6th, 2011
9:48 pm
Mark, why are such an Auburn Hater? Being from Maysville, KY, myself, I would think you might be a bit more objectional!!!!
bigdawg
June 6th, 2011
9:52 pm
Guess you are attempting to protect future UK basketball championships, Mark? I disagree with you entirely. That’s like saying a person that steals millions should not lose the money after the fact! Cheating should always be punished or the rule book should be thrown out. Can’t have it both ways and eat your cake too.
bamaguy
June 6th, 2011
9:53 pm
I am not sure Auburn could have beaten Southern Cal (USC is in Columbia, SC) in 2004 but I can tell you the score sure would not have been 55-19.
That said, stripping the title only hurts the fans, not those who participated in the fraud. I believe both of the guilty parties are making millions in the NFL (I do love that Reggie Bush is major pis*ed that the Saints drafter Mark Ingram)
Wait a Minute
June 6th, 2011
9:53 pm
As far as academics, Auburn may be the lowest ranked “school” in the country.
It Ain't Rocket Science
June 6th, 2011
9:53 pm
Just for informational purposes, Boise State goes before the NCAA committee Friday to answer to the charge of lack of Institutional Control. Darn who would ever have suspected that?
SiddyBoy
June 6th, 2011
9:56 pm
Hope we don’t have to wait 6 1/2 years to see Auburn and “CamTheScam” Newton stripped of the 2010 title.
Jamez Broks
June 6th, 2011
10:01 pm
No way Gene Chizik comes in there and recruits a top 5 class off the bat – when some dumb red neck fan is cussing him off the plane. Something smells like fish.
Michael
June 6th, 2011
10:03 pm
Lots of jealous pups, in my opinion.
Auburn: 13-0 in 2004 (claimed as a MNC by AU or not)
Auburn: 14-0 in 2010, BCS National Champs
Tree killer
June 6th, 2011
10:06 pm
Auburn, I will trade you 04 for 10 trophy, at least we know one of them was
Legit!!!! Hahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
Sports fan
June 6th, 2011
10:07 pm
Funny thing is auburn and USC are to most disgraceful programs of all time, period.
Check how many times each program has been in trouble , they are number one and two!
Coach Dooley
June 6th, 2011
10:11 pm
Juuurdun Hay-ur Love it- absolutely love it!!!
Jamez Broks
June 6th, 2011
10:13 pm
AU – something smells like a toilet at the truck stop.
Mr. Obvious
June 6th, 2011
10:13 pm
After the NCAA rescinds Auburn’s illegally obtained National Championship win Cam “The Scam” Newton, the Tigers won’t be 2010 National Champions, either.
Coach Dooley
June 6th, 2011
10:15 pm
DHM Here we go with the hater comments again- how fabulous that both OSU and Auburn would play the hater card with such relish. How ironic also that next year we will have new NCAA rules covering “the cam rule” and one covering the “the players didn’t know better” – one for pimping a son and the other for trading “stuff” for cash or tats.
Carlton
June 6th, 2011
10:15 pm
I’m a UGA fan, but I have always supported SEC play-especially in 2004 when Auburn went undefeated and got screwed out of the National Championship..
Honestly, if you’re going to vacate this title, you should also re-evaluate the system. Auburn was obviously a better contender for the national championship that year but that was before the SEC dominance occurred..so the BCS and voters didn’t have the same esteem for the SEC that they do now. They thought USC and either OK, Texas, OSU, Michigan, etc. were more deserving at that time period. That’s why both USC and OK got in the championship that year. Six years later, the SEC has proved that we are not a conference to be f***ed with and Auburn would have owned either USC or Oklahoma that year. The SEC didn’t get a fair shot during that time period (it was all about USC and whoever came out of the Big 12 if you’ll recall) and we only dominated when the BCS had no choice but to put Florida in the National Championship against Ohio State in 2006/2007..
Sports watchdog
June 6th, 2011
10:20 pm
It won’t take that long for NCAA to take away auburns crystal ball, that should resolve itself in a yr or two. Sorry tiger fans, war eagles, or whatever you call yourselves. Enjoy it for another yr.
Bama Fan#2
June 6th, 2011
10:20 pm
Auburn should have played in the NC game but who knows if they would have won it.
The NCAA is looking a the barn right now so may be they take the 2010 title from
Auburn in a few years. Cam Newton got payed and everybody with a brain knows
that except barn fans. RTR
Coach Dooley
June 6th, 2011
10:20 pm
The only thing still lacking is to hear the pious comments from Pete Carroll about how unfair this is to the university and the players. And how he knew nothing about any of it.
dawgtail
June 6th, 2011
10:22 pm
Mighty convenient isn’t it how USC always managed to dodge the SEC’s best in that great ’00’s run? Obviously they had little control over it, but me thinks they wouldn’t be viewed as quite the all powerful indestructible dynasty that they are if the SEC Champ had came calling.
Coach Dooley
June 6th, 2011
10:25 pm
The most pertinent question for me is just how hard will the NCAA come down on OSU after all is said and done. After the terrible year that the NCAA had last year with the Auburn/Cam saga and the OSU 5 (wait till next year) punishment, I would expect a huge part of the college football fan base is waiting to see if the NCAA is ever going to do it’s job again policing cheaters. Could they decide to tear OSU a new one as an example- especially since Tressel not only did not report it; he also lied about knowing about it?
NRBQ
June 6th, 2011
10:31 pm
DHM –
Didn’t you know that MB makes his daily bread being “objectionable?”
Delbert D.
June 6th, 2011
10:36 pm
Suitable punishment ex post facto is difficult to conceive. Perhaps a public pillory of Pete Carroll and Mike Garrett for a week in the Coliseum parking lot, along with the president of the BCS smashing the crystal football on the campus (video by ESPN, of course) would be a start. Reggie Bush in an iron cage for a week on the UCLA campus could be useful as well.
Coach Dooley
June 6th, 2011
10:37 pm
Carlton It might also help for the SEC teams to begin scheduling some tougher OOC teams and occasionally go out of state to play a decent team. And yes I am talking to you Gators. The last time was about 20 years ago against Syracuse I believe- tell me I am wrong????
Coach Dooley
June 6th, 2011
10:38 pm
One would have to admit that it was a delicious irony to have Lane Kiffin leave Tennessee in tatters only to go to USC after the crime had been commited there and to now report to Pat Haden. Will be fun to watch that relationship.
Mark Bradley
June 6th, 2011
10:52 pm
I’m the most objectionable person I know, NRBQ.
Coach Dooley
June 6th, 2011
10:53 pm
http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2011/jun/01/david-climer-gordon-gee-dropped-ohio-state-harder/
Interesting article on Gordon Gee and how tough he was at Vandy until he got religion at OSU.
Dawg A
June 6th, 2011
10:58 pm
Great article Mark! Auburn will have the same thing done to them once the NCAA has the guts to expose Scam Newton for the cheater he is. He is such a thug and his time will come! Auburn fans you will get what you deserve and will crawl in the same hole you have been in for years! Yea I said it!!! And listening to these ignorant fans make me sick so…… I am outta here!!!
Before I go…. why are “Auburn” fans the only ones that don’t get that they got their Scampionship because they cheated! USC and Auburn all the same!
robert
June 6th, 2011
11:00 pm
Auburn undefeated in 1993, 2004, and 2010. Did I miss any years. Any other SEC schools done better in last 20 years or less at having unbeaten seasons. Let me know. WARDAMNEAGLE!
Coach Dooley
June 6th, 2011
11:13 pm
robert WDE!!! We Deny Everything!!!
The Ole Ball Coach
June 6th, 2011
11:14 pm
Alabama will try to claim it, LOL
Larry
June 6th, 2011
11:44 pm
The facts of the case are simple:
1. USC Cheated
2. Oklahoma lost decisively
3. Auburn did neither.
Verdict: Auburn is the rightful and logical National Champion!
And I’m a Georgia Native, and avid Dawg fan, have no respect for the Auburn highly questionable 2010 championship because of Scam Newton.
But, facts are facts, the truth is the truth, and what is right is right!
Why is this so hard for everyone?
sports
June 6th, 2011
11:54 pm
Maybe now the NCAA will go after the Auburn Penitentiary
Coach Dooley
June 7th, 2011
1:05 am
Larry If it makes you feel better then by all means claim it- but it doesn’t work that way. And I don’t think the NCAA is finished with Awbarn U just yet.
1962 DAWG
June 7th, 2011
1:54 am
Mark you did a good job of not mentioning Cam or Cecil Newton.
David
June 7th, 2011
2:36 am
I’m an Auburn grad and not mad about the ‘04 trophy not being awarded to another team. Doesn’t make any sense to do so. Doesn’t mean I won’t forget how bummed I was not getting a chance to play for it, though.
7576DAWG
June 7th, 2011
2:48 am
Anybody who have read my comments know how much I dislike AUBURN. They have been getting away with unethical thing since I went to Georgia in the early to mid 70’s. Shug Jorgan was a master at illegal low life things.
Having said that there hasn’t been any school since I have been watching college football that was screwed over worst than Auburn in 2004. They deserved to play Southern Cal and the media wanted the #1 rated Quarterback and # 2 rated Quarterback in the nation to lead their schools in the national championship so the media money made the Southern Cal and Oklahoma game happen.
Georgia had a very good team in 2004 and was dismantled by Auburn and stopped cold. That was good enough for me and should have been good enough for the BCS.
Columbus Dawg
June 7th, 2011
5:26 am
This is off the subject, but does anyone know who the addition to the strength and conditioning program is?
Southern Cal isn’t the 2004 BCS champ, but neither is Auburn | Y'all Sports
June 7th, 2011
6:42 am
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ColumbiaDawg
June 7th, 2011
6:44 am
The message is as old as sport itself. Cheaters Never Win. Southern Cal cheated to win their games, so the NCAA stripped the school of those victories. The Trojans won using an ineligible playe(s)r to win the BCS title, so the BCS stripped the school of that title.
Barf
June 7th, 2011
6:54 am
Auburn was on probation in 1957,they were not anything but cheaters then and now and here is hoping the NCAA gives them the death penalty and Texas AM gets their SEC slot!!!