FanHouse SouthernCalFootball

The USA Today/Coaches Poll was released on Sunday and the top 10 looks the same as it did a week ago. But when you dig a little deeper, you realize what a true joke this poll really is. First off, why is the Coaches Poll a component in the BCS Standings? Does anyone believe that coaches have time to evaluate other schools on Saturday?

Being an Auburn writer, I spend most all of my time following my team. On Saturday, I'm in the stadium watching Auburn. I rarely watch more than a few other games on the weekends. Most of my day is tied up at Auburn. I get most of my highlights from Reese Davis and his group on ESPN's College GameDay Final Show.

My guess is, even with me being in Auburn on most Saturdays, I still have more time to follow other teams than say the head coach at USC, Georgia or Texas. Is that a stretch? I think not. So why in the world does college football allow a coaches poll determine who plays for the national championship?

Does anyone really believe that college coaches actually vote themselves. Do the powers that be really think fans are that naive? We all know that it's the sports information department submitting the poll - if we are lucky. Do you think they have agendas? Exactly.

Let's look at this week's Top 25 USA Today/Coaches Poll. Ohio States remains the number one team. Fair enough. In the number two spot is Southern Cal. Now USC beat Washington State 28-22 on Saturday. Auburn beat South Carolina 24-17 on Thursday. As a result, the Trojans lost 14 points overall and two first place votes in the poll. Auburn, after beating a 3-1 Gamecock team on the road lost 23 points overall and one first place vote.

If you are comparing apples to apples, how does USC remain number two? If memory serves me correct, Auburn defeated Washington State 40-14 earlier this year. Yet Auburn loses more points than USC this week? Can somebody please explain this to me?

It's obvious that the coaches don't take the voting seriously. It's time for SEC commissioner Mike Slive to get off his butt and start making some noise about this whole BCS system. It's his year to manage the BCS system and he's remained quiet all season - much as he did in 2004. He turning out to be a disaster as a commissioner.

Meanwhile, Lee Corso and Lou Holtz's darling team Michigan, gained 38 points in the poll this week. It really pays to beat a Notre Dame team that nearly lost to Michigan State (who this week lost to a 2-3 Illinois team). Don't tell me that ESPN doesn't wield too much power.

College football is in crisis. It's time for a few good men to step up and make a difference. That means you, Mike Slive.

Link: Football Saturday In The South

Like the wildfires burning out West, former USC tailback Reggie Bush's troubles continue to spread. Yahoo Sports has uncovered more improper payments to the former Heisman Trophy winner. During an eight month investigation, the site found that the Bush family received more than $100,000 in payments from sports agents.

Back in April, it was revealed that the Bush family received $54,000 in free rent from an agent. Today, those numbers jumped again. This time the web site found that Bush and his family received round-trip airline tickets, free limousine transportation, new suits for his father and brother, money to fix up his car and several other high dollar items.

There's a very real chance that Bush might have to forfeit his Heisman Trophy if these allegations are proved true. More importantly, if the allegations are true and the NCAA finds that USC was aware of these activities (or had lack of institutional control), it could be forced to forfeit its national championship from 2004.

Does that mean that Auburn could be finally crowned national champions? It's certainly possible. It's not unusual for the NCAA to strip teams of their victories and championships.

Would this make up for the way Auburn was shafted in 2004? It would go a long way; but that time has passed and it certainly wouldn't give Auburn people that feeling of a true championship. Still, I'm sure most Tiger fans would take it.

If it were Alabama, they'd already be changing the banners in Bryant-Denny tonight to read 13 National Championships. This will be an interesting story as it plays out. It could become the biggest shakedown in NCAA history.

Link: Football Saturday In The South