Auburn wins Sugar Bowl, joins Utah as co-faux-national champs

ABC TV and the Bogus Championship System | 1/3/05 | French figure skating judge

[Diddle E. Squat]

Auburn beats VA Tech in the Sugar Bowl, 16-13, to finish the season undefeated. 2 days ago Utah whipped Pitt in the Fiesta Bowl to also complete an undefeated season.

USC and Oklahoma play tomorrow night in the bogus national championship game, but in truth, once again no one will know who was the best team this season.

[Txsleuth]

I was thinking about Alabama the other day when they were showing the press conference after the Cotton Bowl.

Texas A&M really stunk up the place and there was Dennis Franchione trying to explain how they managed to embarrass themselves on national TV.

I kind of liked him when he coached TCU, right down the freeway from me, but after what he has pulled since then, I wish all kinds of bad on him.

[fso301]

If coach Beamer taught his fullbacks how to catch the football, VT could have won.

[TheBigB]

Auburn's strength of schedule rating was #73 in the nation. USC was #13 and Oklahoma was #31.

[Diddle E. Squat]

I wouldn't vote Auburn #1, but that isn't the point. The problem is that this isn't solved on the field.

Hey, the undefeated Miami Dolphins (1972?) only beat the Redskins 14-7, with Washington only scoring on a long fluke play similar to V. Tech's. Margin of victory doesn't always reveal a strong defense.

No way to know without a playoff.

Sorry USC, sorry OU, the NCAA is likely screwing one of ya'll out of an undisputed championship. One would think any Trojan or Sooner fan with pride would be angry about that.

[Dolphy]

Only 4 schools would have their athletes miss any more school, so that argument is bogus.

Not for the schools involved. As things stand now teams have the luxury of Christmas/Winter break and they use the time to prepare for their Bowl Games, usually with a week or so at the Bowl site. They aren't juggling classes and football practice.

[ConservativeTerrapin]

I can only hope the Maryland Terrapins get good again. They had such a poor season this year.

[Arkinsaw]

You don't take a poll to determine a sports champion. There IS NO champion. There CANNOT be a sports champion determined by a poll.

You can't have four people play two games of chess and then come up with a "champion".

You can get "the most popular" that way, and you can get "the one we voters think most likely to be champion". But you CANNOT get a champion.

Imagine stopping the NFL playoffs right now and taking a poll to determine the "champion". Stupid. It would not be tolerated.

The Cardinals would be the champions of baseball right now if we had "picked" a baseball champion this way.

There will be NO "champion".

[Utah Girl]

So, the only worthy teams to play for the national championship are those who are in the 'chosen' leagues for the BCS? Utah went 22-2 the past couple of years. Oh, but I forget myself, the MWC is a cupcake league. What are the BCS people so afraid of? That the national championship will be decided on the field? Or some of that lovely money will go to an intruder (as the University of Utah was called Saturday night.)

[trthnjsts]

Yeah, If I'm a coach and go undefeated and win the SEC championship, I'm gonna quit coaching Auburn and find a good conference that I can coach in and win all my games so that I can win the "National Championship". Obviously the SEC is a weak conference. What a f'ing joke.

[BerniesFriend]

For years I have always thought that the President could end this issue..he could have the division II and division III champs at the White House..when asked why he won't honor the "mythical" division I champ at the White House..he would merely say..division II and III have playoff..whereas division I has an idiotic bowl system..I don't have the time to honor about two dozen bowl winners..my two cents..it is a terrible system..I know no President is going to do that..but it would be nice..

[Diverdogz]

Deep down inside, Auburn fans are desperate for a National Championship so they can gloat to Crimson Tide fans. Instead, their whining about what they think should be this year will be but a shrill annoyance.

[panzer_grey]

I was totally disgusted when a VT player offered to help up the Auburn punt returner (C Williams?) and the Auburn player not only refused his help, but jumped up got, in the VT player's face, and dog-cussed him something awful! A totally classless act.

[trthnjsts]

I was at the Tech USC game at the beginning of the year and the Hokies were in it the whole game. USC is gonna get rolled.

[MissouriConservative]

That's the sagrin (sp?) ratings. The NCAA strength of schedule is different as is the Palm strength of schedule...it's all opinion since all three differ so much.

All I know is that Auburn beat (including Virginia Tech tonight) 5 top 15 teams while going undefeated in the SEC.

Auburn should have been playing tomorrow against Oklahoma....I'm not a believer in the "mighty" USC.

[Bogey78O]

Well that's the biggest argument against the AP.

[sinkspur]

What the hell has Alabama done lately? Not much.

[Diverdogz]

If USC or Oklahoma, take yer pick, blows the other one away, there will be no dispute. But if the game ends up like tonight's game......let the second guessing begin.

Actually, that would be a good step to getting a playoff system.

[Arkinsaw]

Well that's the biggest argument against the AP.

Of course its easy for me to say that as a Razorback fan ain't it :-)

[trthnjsts]

I like the way you think... Go TERPS!

[Azzurri]

I believe the Pittsburgh Steelers are the best team in football. The silly NFL are wasting their time with a playoff to determine what we all know to be true. :-)