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Tranghese: Change inevitable for failed BCS
equation
By The Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS — BCS
coordinator Mike Tranghese would like to see the human element play a
bigger role in college football's national championship formula.
"I'd like to see us go back to using the human polls," Tranghese told
USA Today for a story on its Web site Friday, "but I don't think we can
get that done."
Tranghese expects conference commissioners to soon discuss possible
changes in the controversial system that selects the two teams that play
in the national title game. One change could be giving more weight to
The Associated Press poll and the USA Today/ESPN coaches' poll than
computer rankings.
The Bowl Championship Series standings are derived from a complicated
formula that includes poll results, seven computer rankings and strength
of schedule, plus other factors. The top two teams in the final
standings meet in the national championship game.
Southern California, ranked No. 1 in both human polls used by the BCS,
was left out of the Sugar Bowl, this season's BCS national title game.
The Trojans virtually assured themselves a piece of the national
championship Thursday with a 28-14 thumping of No. 4 Michigan in the
Rose Bowl because voters almost certainly will leave the Trojans atop
The Associated Press poll no matter what happens Sunday night in the
Sugar Bowl.
Voters for the USA Today/ESPN coaches' poll are obligated to crown the
winner of the BCS championship game between No. 2 LSU and No. 3
Oklahoma.
That would produce a split national championship, just what the BCS was
designed to avoid.
"I can tell you the six commissioners do not take any delight or
pleasure in having to defend a poll we didn't want to have in the first
place," said Tranghese, the Big East commissioner.
"I don't think we have a choice but to take a hard look at this."
Tranghese was slated to discuss the conclusion of his tenure as BCS
coordinator at a meeting of the Football Writers Association of America
on Sunday. The BCS has two seasons left in its current format.
"It's just not a single issue," Tranghese said. "Every time you add a
twist, there's an unintended consequence."
02/23/2007 10:40 AM
Copyright 2004 The
Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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