Air Force Coach Troy Calhoun
Navy Coach Ken Niumatalolo
Rather than select a national champion with a playoff system like every other collegiate sport, college football’s Division 1 Football Bowl Subdivision depends on computers and rankings to select which teams play for the national championship. It’s an absurd system that is all about money and greed, which President Obama has even spoken out against.
We’re not breaking any new ground there, though. The USA Today Coaches’ Poll rankings are part of the equation the BCS uses to pick the two top teams. Air Force Coach Troy Calhoun and Navy Coach Ken Niumatalolo happen to be two of those voters. In Monday’s paper, USA Today published how each coach voted.
Each coaches’ rankings provide an interesting insight into how each coach sees the college football landscape. Calhoun, for example, was so impressed by the SEC and Tim Tebow’s Florida Gators that he ranked them second over four other unbeaten teams to include the Texas Longhorns. Niumatalolo wasn’t all that impressed with Texas’ narrow win over Nebraska either ranking TCU ahead of the Longhorns.
Niumatalolo also gave some love to his former employer ranking Georgia Tech, which is coached by former Navy coach Paul Johnston, seventh – three spots higher than their final ranking.
Below the jump is each coach’s ballot.
Troy Calhoun, Air Force
1. Alabama
2. Florida
3. Texas
4. TCU
5. Boise State
6. Cincinnati
7. Oregon
8. Ohio State
9. Georgia Tech
10. Penn State
11. Virginia Tech
12. Iowa
13. LSU
14. Brigham Young
15. Miami (Fla.)
16. Oregon State
17. Stanford
18. Oklahoma State
19. West Virginia
20. Pittsburgh
21. Utah
22. Northwestern
23. Nebraska
24. Wisconsin
25. Houston
Ken Niumatalolo, Navy
1. Alabama
2. TCU
3. Texas
4. Cincinnati
5. Boise State
6. Florida
7. Georgia Tech
8. Ohio State
9. Oregon
10. Iowa
11. Penn State
12. Virginia Tech
13. Pittsburgh
14. LSU
15. Brigham Young
16. Miami (Fla.)
17. Oregon State
18. West Virginia
19. Nebraska
20. Utah
21. Arizona
22. Stanford
23 Oklahoma State
24. Wisconsin
25. Missouri
No Comments
Calhoun voted Florida #2? That’s a little controversial. I mean, it wasn’t like they barely lost to Alabama. They got smoked. Coach Niumatalolo, on the other hand, gives TCU some love, which is pretty sweet.