BCS Coaches divided on changing how they name champ

More than three-fourths of those surveyed want to at least consider a change.
By JOSH DUBOW
ASSOCIATED PRESS
When the coaches agreed to make the winner of the BCS title game their champion, they never figured their No. 1 team wouldn't be in the mix.
With that being the scenario, many of them want to rethink their agreement.
"Absolutely. It's a no-vote," Wyoming coach Joe Glenn said. "What are we doing here? It's a joke."
Glenn isn't alone.
Of 19 coaches in the USA Today/ESPN poll surveyed by The Associated Press, 16 -- about 85 percent -- want to consider a change to the deal that was made when the BCS began in 1998.
Can't change this season
USC finished No. 1 in the AP and coaches' polls, yet didn't make the BCS title game because of lower computer rankings.
Oklahoma, which is third in the polls, will play No. 2 LSU for the BCS title at the Sugar Bowl. The Trojans play No. 4 Michigan in the Rose Bowl.
USC can finish atop the final AP poll, but can do no better than second when the 63 coaches vote.
"We have to go by what we agreed to, which includes me," Pittsburgh coach Walt Harris said. "If we need to tweak it, we'll do it. This year there are three 11-1 teams, so someone has to be left out. It's kind of a tough deal."
Not all coaches disagree with the system in place. North Carolina State coach Chuck Amato doesn't see a need for change.
"I will vote for the winner of the Sugar Bowl," he said. "We voted to give the winner of the BCS game No. 1. I think we should stay with that."
Topic of discussion
But the issue is sure to be discussed when the coaches hold their annual meeting Jan. 7 in Orlando, Fla.
The coaches voted overwhelmingly in favor of giving their title to the BCS winner in 1998 and haven't wavered since. But there hasn't been a situation like this year, where the No. 1 team is out of the title game.
"They only allow you to vote for 2 through 25," Cal coach Jeff Tedford said. "It makes our poll insignificant [when it comes to] who we think the national champion is."
The coaches could vote to change their agreement in time for next season. But the head of the American Football Coaches Association, Grant Teaff, said he would be "very shocked" if that happened.
The coaches surveyed by the AP represent eight of the 11 Division I-A conferences, including all six in the BCS. Coaches who put USC, LSU and Oklahoma No. 1 participated.
While many of the coaches who rank USC first say they will feel awkward to drop the team even if it wins the Rose Bowl, they aren't prepared to defy the agreement.
"I would like to be able to vote for the team that I feel deserves the national championship, but, by the same token, we agreed to this system," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. "Until it is changed, I think that is what we should do."
Wolverines are key
Michigan can make it all moot by beating USC in the Rose Bowl. A Wolverines' win would guarantee an undisputed title for the Sugar Bowl winner, letting the BCS once again escape controversy.
In 2000 and 2001 there was talk of a split championship when the No. 2 team in the polls didn't make the title game. But both times, an unbeaten No. 1 team won the bowl, ending the debate.
No matter how this plays out, many coaches say changes need to be made to the computer-based system that determines the top two BCS teams.
"The BCS winner needs to be the national champion," Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said. "If you take that away, you're taking away the power of the BCS. What we need to do is to make sure we have the two top teams in that game. Certainly if a team is ranked No. 1 in both polls that team has to be in that game."