August 8, 2006
Another year, another token Duke vote in the Coaches Poll
The first USA Today Coaches Poll of the 2006 season was released last week to minimal fanfare. Astute observers might have looked in the "Also Receiving votes" area to discover this little nugget.
Duke (1-10) 1
That's right, someone gave the mighty Duke Blue Devils, they of the three wins in the last two seasons, the respect of a Pre-season #25 ranking in the coaches poll.
Please step forward, mysterious voter.
"Yeah, I claim that," the South Carolina coach told the Journal-Constitution. "I've been voting for the boys from Duke since, oh, about 1990, whenever I started voting on that poll. I just want 'em to know that I haven't forgotten about 'em and I appreciate everything they did for me. That's why I did it."
That's right; South Carolina Head Coach Steve Spurrier gave a vote in the Coaches poll to his former employer. There is probably little doubt that he gave his alma matter and other former collegiate employer, the University of Florida, the same preferential treatment.
Maybe it's just Spurrier being Spurrier, but at least give kudos to Spurrier for not even bothering to beat around the bush about not taking seriously the pre-season poll.
Comments:
Cock-n-fire said:
posted on August 28, 2006 9:58 AM — 167.127.24.69 — link — abuse?
The point he's making is simple - let their records determine who gets votes. The only people that benefit from preseason rankings are odds makers. And, if you think SS is 'an idiot', well that just speaks volumes about your football knowledge. Stick to things you know...like who's getting arrested.
CANES ALUM said:
posted on September 1, 2006 5:16 PM — 71.101.27.11 — link — abuse?
Cock on fire you need to look at what spurrier did in college and the pros. His pro career shows that he isn't a good coach. He got most of his wins from taking a decent Florida team through a weak SEC. How many national championships does the old ball coach have? 1 That doesn't sound like the statistic for a great coach.
Aaron said:
posted on September 5, 2006 7:45 AM — 24.250.191.175 — link — abuse?
Pre-season polls can have a huge impact, look at last year, USC and Texas start at the top and run the table, no-one has a chance to break into the top two spots if they both go undefeated. Not the polls' fault, it is the lack of a playoff that really screws with the National Championship.
B H CASHION said:
posted on September 12, 2006 1:46 PM — 67.32.193.126 — link — abuse?
you may not like him but,i will bet you can't find anyone @ florida or south carolina that doesn't.and there is a lot of people from tennessee that do to. check out carolinas record year before last and last years nuff said
Kevin said:
posted on September 17, 2006 10:14 AM — 65.190.177.186 — link — abuse?
How did the cocks do against the middle-of-the-road team in the "A she she" conference Clemson last year. We won't even get into the Wofford game. Yep, he's at the doorstep of another championship. He's got to win the state championship first.
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Regan said:
posted on August 8, 2006 12:20 PM — 192.24.243.21 — link — abuse?Geez..another reason to like this guy since he got humbled by the NFL.
Makes me want to shoot myself...