Harris poll reveals voters

Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2005 | 9:53 a.m.

SUN WIRE SERVICES

The list of 114 voters in the new Harris Interactive poll that will be part of the Bowl Championship Series formula to determine teams in the BCS title game. Names were taken at random from more than 300 nominees. No women made the final list. According to BCS spokesman Bob Burda, women were in the original pool. Some voters cross over to various categories; voters were put in categories where they are best known. Administrators include athletics directors, commissioners, sports information directors, presidents.

Administrators Gene Bartow, Bob Casciola, Charlie Cavagnaro, Jake Crouthamel, Peter Dalis, Boots Donnelly, Bob Frederick, Andy Geiger, David Housel, Fred Jacoby, Roy Kramer, Robert Lawless, Jack Lengyel, Jim Lessig, Mike Lude, Mike McGee, Chuck Neinas, Homer Rice, Pat Richter, Harvy Schiller, Dick Schultz, Ron Stephenson, Rick Taylor, Steve Townsend, Glenn Tuckett, Max Urick, Roger Valdiserri, Frank Weedon, Frank Windegger, Hugh Yoshida Coaches Bill Battle, Dick Bestwick, Earle Bruce, Eddie Crowder, Gerry DiNardo, Bill Dooley, Spike Dykes, Bump Elliott, Don Fambrough, Foge Fazio, Lou Holtz, Larry Lacewell, John Mackovic, George Perles, John Pont, Paul Roach, Dick Sheridan, Ken Shipp, Larry Smith, Gary Spani, Nelson Stokley, Jim Sweeney, John Toner, Bob Wagner, Bill Yeoman Players Bobby Aillet, Blaine Bishop, Kim Bokamper, Terry Bradsha

John Mackovic, writing two columns a week for the newspaper in Palm Springs, Calif., his current home, was announced Monday as one of the 114 voters in the Harris poll, which this season will replace the Associated Press poll as a one-third component of the Bowl Championship Series' ranking formula.

It might not equal the excitement of being on the sidelines, but the former Texas coach will take it.

"I'll go about it the same way I did when I voted in the coaches' poll," Mackovic said Monday from his home. "(Old allegiances or rivals) shouldn't matter. That would be unfair, either way."

Among others voting in the poll are former coach Lou Holtz and ex-NFL All-Pros Terry Bradshaw and Steve Largent.

The Harris poll replaced the Associated Press Top 25 in the system that decides which teams play for the BCS national title. Voters include former coaches, players, administrators and media.

The first BCS ranking will be released Oct. 17. In a departure from the past, the individual ballots of voters in the coaches and Harris polls will be revealed in the final BCS ranking at the end of the season.

Spike Dykes, a voter who retired as coach at Texas Tech after the 1999 season, still wants to see a playoff.

"The best solution is a playoff," Dykes said. "There's nothing else close. This (BCS formula) is a solution. I don't know if it's a good solution, but it's a solution. Who knows if it'll be good. I hope it is.

"But it's the same old deal," Dykes added. "How is a (voter) on the West Coast going to know about Boston College, and how's a guy on the East Coast going to know about Oregon?"