Posted by  NotImpressed, Florida on 09/11  at  11:52 AM

...This from from college that has a 12 yo football program...some people never learn...hope they are still ranked after the Kansas game!!

Posted by  NotImpressed, Florida on 09/11  at  11:51 AM

No i would say that the national scribes and voters saw exactly what they thought they did...an overrated USF team that “were what we thought they were”, the same USF team that crumbled under expectations during a year ending 3 game loosing streak that ended in getting pummeled in their bowl game. Kudos to Grothe and Leavitt for heightening the expectations in the media talking about how UCF isn’t really on there level. Great job...like the previous poster said...maybe you should just shut-up and play and hope to god Kansas players haven’t seen comments on how Kansas has only “recently been good” and that the USF has been to more bowl game so beating them wouldn’t really be an upset..lol.

Posted by  NotImpressed, Florida on 09/11  at  11:50 AM

The game honestly should have never gone to overtime in UCF’s favor. I’m sure the national media saw USF trrible special teams coverage as well as its inability to to covert field goals,unable to stop UCF’s rush. This lead Leavitt to make the moronic decision with 30 seconds left in the game trailing by 3 to go for it on 4th and 1 from the 35 yard line. That along with his decision to stubbornly kick to a Joe Burnett that had torched him all game when it would have been all to easy and prudent to simply punt it out of bounds and let an up till that point anemic UCF offence try and go the length of the field against USF, much publicized defense(Selvey 0 sacks on the year!).

Posted by  NotImpressed, Florida on 09/11  at  11:49 AM

I was at the game...and probably what the pollsters looked at was the same thing i saw. USF didnt necessarily win the game as much as UCF (and to some extent the Big East officials) HANDED them the game. The poor choice personal fouls were UCF’s contribution, but it were be fair to say a lot of that frustration came from the calls(phantom clipping call negating a UCF Int. return for TD) and non-calls(blatant push off by USF’s receiver on the big play resulting in USF’s lone first half TD) by obviously biased...even to ESPN2 commentators...Big East officials. Take away bad officiating...even with UCF’s poor choices....the first half could have very easily been 17-3 or worst case 17-10 in UCF’s raucus home stadium.

Posted by  Brett McMurphy,  on 09/08  at  08:54 AM

Jeffrey, veteran = old, right? I’m not sure there are any “specific” requirements other than being a media member that covers college football. The individual voters are selected by a state representative/employee of the Associated Press. So basically if you’re a sports writer/broadcaster and you’re breathing, you’re eligible. Being overweight is an option and not a requirement.

Posted by  jeffrey saff, annapolis, md on 09/07  at  09:21 PM

Brett,

I would love to know the criteria for selecting a sports writer to vote in the AP Poll.  Obviously, you must be considered a veteran sports writer at this point. Your fans would love to know.

Posted by  Ed Laugen, Dunedin, FL on 09/07  at  08:54 PM

USF will be fine.  We got lucky to get by UCF.  Dan is right.  They’re bad news.  They’re a decent team that the voters expect us to blow out.  But hey, the Big East is weak and we should be favored to win all our games.  East Carolina stomped West Virginia.  It might actually be harder to win Conf-USA this year than the Big East, but the way the system works, the Big East will get us BCS bowl game.  We win our games, we’ll be fine.  So let’s not whine about rankings.  We’re blessed to be undefeated.  One game at a time, and let’s keep our mouth shut so we don’t eat crow like last year.

Posted by  Brett McMurphy,  on 09/07  at  07:17 PM

Chris, how can Miami not receive any votes? Because you only get votes if you stay within 22 points of Florida. Hector, possibly there was some Big East bias against USF. Probably more of it was going to OT against a team USF was favored by 14 against. Also, I’m sure a large number of voters didn’t realize the statistical domination by USF and only saw: USF 31, UCF 24 (OT). Dan, if you think USF dropped because they won a close game to UCF wait until next year and see how far USF drops if it wins a close game against Western Kentucky.

Posted by  Dan Coe, Apollo Beach, FL on 09/07  at  04:17 PM

This is why USF doesn’t need to play UCF. You go on the road and win an emotional game and still drop in the polls.  Game is a lose/lose for the Bulls.

Posted by  Nabeel Mulla, Dayton, OH on 09/07  at  04:07 PM

I think the overall poor performances by Big East teams did affect USF’s ranking.  I also think that the national media was aware of all the talk of superiority over UCF and expected USF to back it up with a blowout win.  The ESPN2 announcers were obviously pulling for the upset and kept showing Grothe’s loud mouth remarks about UCF.  Moral is: Do the talking with your play, not with your mouth.

Posted by  Hector Jimenez, Forsyth, GA on 09/07  at  03:43 PM

Brett...I have two questions:

1. Do you think USF dropping had anything to do with the performance so far this year by BE teams?

2. What is the general philosophy for most when it comes to voting?  It shouldn’t matter if you win by 1 or 100, regulation or overtime, you do what have to do, which is win....why does it seem like schools get penalized for winning if not by what coaches or AP voters expect.

Posted by  Chris, Seffner on 09/07  at  03:33 PM

How can Miami receive no votes when they had Florida shook up all game except the 4th quarter? Miami goes 10-2 at worse.