Poll Voting
While I could have an entire blog full of my rants against ESPN, I do not want this particular blog to get ugly. I do want to make a comment based on something my good friend (no, we have not met) Brent Musburger said regarding poll voting. In discussing with Kirk Herbstreit the teams that belong in the nation's Top Five, Musburger strongly advocated for the presence of Miami in the nation's top five based on how they have looked this season. Musburger feels strongly that the play on the field should be the only basis for poll voting and that one's reputation or prior seasons' results should not come into play.
Brent did get it half right. Past reputation does factor too much into the discussion as too a perceived notion that certain schools have more talent than others. We here at Sunday Morning Quarterbacks have long argued against the presence of preseason polls because your position before the season begins may have a determination toward your final ranking. Cincinnati, for example, was unranked in the preseason polls and can thusly work their way up the polls with continued good play. But they will never pass an undefeated Florida or an undefeated Texas because those squads are presumed to be better and were placed well above the Bearcats from the beginning of the season. Miami is in a similar position and has to hope that they not only beat Oklahoma but that Oklahoma beats Texas. Florida just has to win out and need not worry what their opponents do as enough SEC teams will populate the polls to give the perception that the Gators have a tough schedule.
But where Brent has it wrong is the notion that you can throw everything out the window but the results on the field. If that were the case then East Carolina should have been no. 1 a year ago after opening the season with wins against Virginia Tech and West Virginia (they only climbed to no. 17). After winning a third game, the Pirates then dropped three straight. You must factor in your best guess--and that is what we are talking about--as too where the team will finish at the end of the season. Florida is no. 1 at the moment despite not having an impressive victory. They should be no. 1 because on the field they look like a good team and they are still expected to be good all season in a great conference.
Miami, ridiculously 13th in the current USA Today Coaches' Poll, just has to wait their turn. It is a long season.
Let's face it. The only reason Miami is even in the top 10 is because of its old reputation. I agree that Miami has put together what appears to be an old Jimmy Johnson-style roster (talking just athletics and not character)and its early wins have been impressive.
ReplyDeleteBut it's hard to believe that Miami would garner this much praise and attention if were a lesser-known program. College football and TV networks would love nothing more than to see big-market Miami storm back into the national championship picture.
I would argue that South Carolina has established an equally impressive program and no one talks about it being in the top 10.