Want to be really pissed? Read this story about a Harris Poll voter from The Oklahoman’s Barry Tramel:
Some have questioned the validity of the Harris Interactive poll, which has had a spotty run in its four years as being part of the BCS.
The skepticism could be valid.
True story from the Boone Pickens Stadium pressbox Saturday night.
I asked Harris poll voter Pat Quinn, the former Oklahoma State University sports information director, how he would vote OU and Texas if the Sooners won Saturday night.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Quinn said. “Doesn’t really matter.”
Really?
“I think Alabama and Penn State will probably play for the national championship,” Quinn said.
You do?
“They’re the only undefeated teams, aren’t they,” Quinn said.
Uh, actually, Penn State has a loss.
“Oh well,” Quinn said, “those Big Ten teams have a lot of votes.”
Sigh. It’s so awful it’s almost hard to get angry about it. It’s not exactly unexpected as I was already under the impression that a great deal of Harris Poll voters watched little to no college football every weekend. I hope the BCS takes a long look at exactly who is voting in these things (including the current coaches) and whether they’re qualified to do so. Just a wild guess, Mr. Quinn won’t be a voter again next year.
reply to #1
Frank
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:33 am
You are right about Harris Poll voters. They voted Texas over Oklahoma. They do NOT know football. Who has the most wins over ranked teams? If the officials had been unbiased in Dallas, Texas would have two losses.
reply to #2
Brian
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:45 am
Yeah who in their right mind vote a Texas team that beat OU on a neutral field and in half the computer polls had a higher strength of schedule higher than than OU? Oh wait, everyone. Congrats on that win over mighty Cincinnati, a team that didn’t play or beat a soul this year.
And I’m not sure what game you were watching, but if the refs called 1/3rd of the holding calls they should have Texas would have won by 20.