Sports: BCS buzz precedes first poll

BCS buzz precedes first poll

By BOB HARIG, Times Staff Writer

The season's first Bowl Championship Series poll is scheduled to be released Monday, but naysayers have not waited to see the standings.

"I can't begin to tell you the letters and e-mails I've received," said Mike Tranghese, commissioner of the Big East Conference and chair of the BCS the next two seasons. "And this is before we've had our first rankings or any real controversy. I've probably gotten over 100 letters from people, most with playoff proposals. I've never had another subject or topic that has garnered so much attention."

The system was tweaked again in the offseason, eliminating margin of victory from the computer polls. At the end of the process, the BCS is supposed to match the top teams to play for the national championship on Jan. 3 in the Fiesta Bowl.

For controversy, all you have to do is look back to last season, when Oregon was denied a shot at the national title in favor of Nebraska, which didn't win its conference championship. The BCS likely will get a lot of scrutiny this season as well.

Tranghese has been in this position before as a member of the selection committee that puts together the 64-team NCAA basketball tournament. But this is different.

"With the BCS job, you're in the public eye a lot more," he said. "In basketball, you make the announcement of who's in, the seedings and you get some complaining. But three days later they're playing games and people forget. In football, it's every week, people projecting and analyzing."

Does he expect more controversy?

"There are two kinds of controversy -- real and controversy in the minds of fans," Tranghese said. "I thought there was real controversy two years ago when Florida State was in the championship game instead of Miami. That was difficult to explain. Last year there was controversy, more among the fans, because I thought a lot of it was created by the media. People were writing about Colorado belonging in the championship game with two losses. That was nonsensical."

TAKING HEAT: Chris Simms' record as a starting quarterback fell to 0-4 against top 10 teams after Texas lost to Oklahoma last weekend, when he completed 12-of-26 for 156 yards and three interceptions. At a news conference Monday, Simms was not made available. Coach Mack Brown chided the media for putting too much of the loss on Simms and offensive coordinator Greg Davis.

"Everyone is going to beat up Chris, me and Greg," Brown said. "That's what happens after a loss around here. But Chris didn't give up (266) yards rushing. Chris didn't give up an 81-yard kickoff return. It's hard to blame all of this on Chris."

Texas wide receiver Roy Williams was testy as well: "We've lost to Oklahoma three years straight. So what? It's not like we lost to Baylor. ... Oklahoma is a good football team. We're a good football team. But every time we lose in this state, we've got to take something from somebody."

NIGHTMARE SCHEDULE: Iowa State is having its best season in six decades, but the ninth-ranked Cyclones will earn it if they remain in the Top 10. After playing at No. 2 Oklahoma today, the Cyclones travel to No. 8 Texas on Oct. 26. Then, after a Nov. 2 home game against Missouri, they play at No. 17 Kansas State on Nov. 9 and at No. 23 Colorado on Nov. 16. AROUND THE NATION: When Boston College lost to Virginia Tech last weekend, it meant the seniors will leave without a victory over the Hokies or Miami. They have lost 23 of their past 24 to ranked opponents. ... Notre Dame's offense has 11 touchdowns. The Irish's opponent tonight, Air Force, has 15 alone from quarterback Chance Harridge. ... Minnesota can go to 7-1 for the first time since 1961 with a win over Michigan State.

-- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.