Wow.
The Associated Press said Thursday that lower-division schools - that means you, [Appalachian State] Mountaineers - are now eligible for its 71-year-old poll. [snip]Any such appearance from lower-division teams will be rare, but at least the pre-eminent poll has allowed all comers to be eligible. So long as there's cross-pollination between divisions, I say why not.
Several AP voters expressed interest in putting Appalachian State on their ballots after a shocking 34-32 upset at then-No. 5 Michigan last weekend. But the poll guidelines, which mirrored the coaches' rankings conducted by USA Today, limited eligibility to teams competing in the former NCAA Division I-A, now known as the Football Bowl Subdivision.
The AP decided to make the change because schools that show they can compete with big-time teams on the field should have a chance to be recognized with them in the top 25, Sports Editor Terry Taylor said.I wouldn't have voted for Appalachian State after last weekend, but this affords voters the right to follow the dictates of their conscience. Bravo, AP! Unlike the NCAA, the AP as an organization has shown 1)a conscience and 2)flexibility.
"Why not? The poll was always intended to measure teams that compete against each other, regardless of division, based solely on on-field performance," she said. "It was that way long before Division I was divided into I-A and I-AA in 1978."
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. Interesting stuff. I agree that App. State isn't there yet, but it's cool that they could be considered should they win out. I think getting schools like that into bowl games could really stir the pot.
Posted at 8:27PM on Sep 6th 2007 by kevin
2. AP Poll...hmmm a bunch of sportswriters give their opinion on who is the National Champion? This is just another ploy to get their opinions to mean something...which doesnt work.On the field play is all.
Posted at 9:51PM on Sep 6th 2007 by S321
3. App. State have their own division of football and they don't belong in the top 25 of the AP.
Posted at 11:58PM on Sep 6th 2007 by George B Vieto
4. App. State have their own division of football and they don't belong in the top 25 of the AP.
Then Michigan should never have played them.
Posted at 12:18AM on Sep 7th 2007 by twoeightnine
5. kevin appalachian st cant go to a bowl game. they are fcs (formerly div 1aa) and they have a legit playoff to determine their champion. now as far as ranking appalachian st. its a mistake. yes they had a great win but ranking fcs with fbs is like ranking a 4a school with 6a schools in high school. it doesnt make sense and thats why we have these classifications. support for ranking appalachian st who plays a div2 next week would also be a vote of support for a fbs program like michigan to schedule the same div2 opponent. lets not ruin college football anymore than it has been ruined already by allowing fbs teams to schedule fcs teams.
Posted at 4:22PM on Sep 7th 2007 by cfb expert
6. "If I'm going to play a I-AA team, I want one I know I can beat," Tommy Bowden said. "Appalachian State's a little ways from here. I surely wouldn't pick them."
Posted at 1:03PM on Sep 8th 2007 by email4kh
7. I think this is a good idea. With the new rule: less scholarships that colleges can offer, a lot of talent is going to the lower division schools. That's not to say they don't already have talent. Good coaching can beat good talent any day. I know a lot of high school teams that have amazing talent they just don't have the coaches to lead them. I know that's a lower level but still. I believe the lower division teams need a chance to prove themselves among the so-called "elites."
Posted at 7:25AM on Sep 24th 2007 by Matt