Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004 | 10 a.m.
FROM SUN WIRE REPORTS
After a season of controversy in which the No. 1 team in the final regular-season polls was left out of the Bowl Championship Series' title game, Division I-A football coaches Wednesday recommended the BCS modify its system to give more weight to the human element of the BCS formula.
Meeting as part of the American Football Coaches Association convention in Orlando, Fla., they also said they want the current bowl system kept intact and voted against recommending a playoff or a post-bowl one-game championship.
The coaches also recommended that more access to BCS bowls be given to leagues that are not currently among the six BCS conferences (Atlantic Coast, Big Ten, Big 12, Southeastern, Pacific-10 and Big East).
All 77 I-A coaches present (out of a total of 117) recommended the BCS make the "human polls" count more. Southern California was first at the end of the regular season in the USA Today/ESPN coaches' poll and Associated Press media rankings but finished third in the BCS formula, which incorporates the polls, computer ratings, a team's strength of schedule and record.
Thirty-seven coaches who vote in the poll ranked the Trojans No. 1 on Dec. 6, but the AFCA is mandated to award its national championship to the winner of the BCS title game.
Three coaches still voted for USC in the final poll, and the split left the coaches in an uncomfortable position. Ideally, the coaches want to see the No. 1 team guaranteed a spot in the BCS title game.
"Never, ever, as long I live do we want to go through that (again)," said AFCA executive director Grant Teaff.
USC won the Rose Bowl and took the AP's national title; LSU won the BCS version in the Sugar Bowl.
Teaff said the recommendations will be discussed with BCS officials in the next two months.
Associate athletic director Mark Boehm, who filled in for Pederson at the Nebraska Special Olympics Breakfast of Champions, said Pederson couldn't make the scheduled meeting because his interview with Callahan was not completed Wednesday night.
Boehm said delays in Callahan's flight getting to Lincoln required the interview be continued today.
Of the coaching search, Boehm told The Associated Press the process would be completed "soon."
Bridgette Young, president and CEO of Special Olympics Nebraska, said while she was disappointed Pederson did not make the breakfast, she understood he was in the middle of "a large process."
Pederson is conducting a search for a new Nebraska football coach to replace Frank Solich, who was fired Nov. 29.
Pederson reportedly also interviewed Huskers defensive coordinator Bo Pelini and quarterbacks coach Turner Gill on Wednesday.
Zook led the Gators to the Outback Bowl for the second consecutive season but Florida lost 37-17 to Iowa. The Gators lost to Michigan 38-30 in last season's bowl game.
"I know our program is heading in the right direction and I feel good about the pieces we have in place," he said.
Athletic director Jeremy Foley had the contract extension approved this week by Bernard Machen, the school's new president.
"Coach Zook is building a solid base within our program," Foley said. "His honest, hard-working approach has paid dividends."
Spurrier, who led Florida to a national championship, quit as coach of the Washington Redskins on Dec. 30.
archive
