LOUGH COLUMN: First Harris poll as odd as its voters

By Michael A. Lough
TELEGRAPH STAFF WRITER

College football fans waited eagerly, tuning into their favorite sports network or peering over their keyboards. - College Football -

The suspense of the first Harris Interactive Poll of the season was immense.

After all, it was voted on by a panel that included the son-in-law of a coach and had 114 people of varying jobs, access, objectivity and agendas. And pulse rates. Former coach John Mackovic wondered eloquently about the qualifications in an interview with the Palm Springs (Cal.) Desert Sun:

"There are several people on the panel who have long since departed their active roles in football. ... To tell you the truth, I did not know a couple of them were still alive."

Oh my.

But the Harris gathering is making the writers and coaches look good.

Idaho is 0-4. Got five points. Apparently somebody didn't take their Metamucil. There were concerns that whoever took the poll over the phone might have misheard the vote, that maybe "Iowa" sounded like "Idaho."

Maybe not.

One win against an overrated ranked team does not a ranking make, but South Florida at 2-2 got more points than 3-0 Nebraska. Syracuse at 1-2 got a vote.

Somebody likes the Mid-American Conference, because 1-2 Bowling Green got more points than 3-1 Toledo. - College Football -

The Harris gang voted for 50 teams. There are 119 Division I-A teams. I'd not be surprised if somebody tried to sneak in some Division I-AA teams.

The good news is that nobody nodded off while voting for the top dozen or so teams, for there was nothing outlandish. Interesting how similar a poll out for the first time in late September matches the ones that began with the preseason. - College Football -

Assorted media folks went goofy with the poll and some of its silliness, forgetting that it was only the first one and some kinks. Plus, hey, it's a production of the BCS, and if we know one thing about any production of the BCS, it's this: There will be tweaking.

Plenty of tweaking.

Alumni update

Gardner-Webb senior running back George Pressley (Westside) is averaging 54.7 yards rushing, third-best on the team. He has 1,214 yards on 233 rushes in his career at G-W, racking up a career-high 149 yards last November against Charleston Southern.

Two more Middle Georgians are on the G-W roster: running back Bryan Wallace (Dublin) and offensive tackle Jordan Sikes (Toombs County). ... - College Football -

Nebraska defensive lineman Le Kevin Smith (Stratford) is 13th in tackles with seven, with two sacks on the list. The Huskers lead the nation in scoring defense, allowing 5.3 points a game. ...

Wide receiver/returner Willie Reid (Warner Robins) is expected to play today when Florida State hosts Syracuse (ABC regional telecast). ...

Defensive back Ronnie Jackson (Windsor) had a team-high nine tackles in Central Michigan's 40-3 loss to Penn State two weeks ago. ...

Jeremy Wiggins (Northeast) is the leading tackler at Appalachian State with 41 stops, 12 better than the No. 2 Mountaineer. ...

Quarterback Adrian Johnson (Peach County) is second in rushing at Clark Atlanta with 49.8 yards a game, and is completing 37.5 percent of his passes (24 of 64) for 77 yards a game. ...

Defensive lineman Johnny Williams (Southwest) is fourth in tackles for Tuskegee with 16, including a sack. ...

Quarterback Justin Tyler (Jones County) is at Arkansas-Monticello, a Valdosta State rival in the Gulf South Conference, and is listed as a junior. He hasn't played yet this season. ...

Houston County's Kyle Moore in in the equation for top-ranked Southern Cal this year as a true freshman.

The 6-foot-7 defensive end had a fumble recovery in the opener against Hawaii, but has been sidelined with a sprained knee. He's listed as possible for tonight's game against Oregon and is listed as the No. 2 defensive end on one side. - College Football -

Gridmouthings

A sign things might return to normal in Statesboro: Georgia Southern is second nationally in Division I-AA rushing with 387.5 yards a game. - College Football -

A problem? The Eagles are 103rd in rush defense, giving up 224.3 yards each Saturday. ...

The Conference Call radio show started a nice discussion a few days ago:

Why is Alabama getting more poll love than Auburn?

Auburn was, yes, upset in the season opener by a team that despite a pounding last week remains ranked.

And that's the only opponent for either team so for that's likely to reach a bowl.

Alabama is 15th and 16th while Auburn is tied for 25th and unranked. In the new Harris poll, two-loss Michigan is 25th, but no Auburn. - College Football -

The Tigers have to dispatch unpredictable South Carolina today, while Alabama is an underdog against Florida. Other games today that may help Auburn rise: No. 13 Notre Dame at No. 22 Purdue, unbeaten Kansas at No. 16 Texas Tech, No. 1 Southern Cal at No. 14 Arizona State, No. 18 Minnesota at undefeated Penn State, and No. 23 Iowa State at 3-0 Nebraska. ...

Southern Cal is fallible.

The Trojans fall around the midway point of I-A statistically in pass efficiency defense (52nd, 119.21 points), net punting (54th, 35 yards a boot), 92nd in punt returns (5.4 yards a return, amazing since they should be well-versed in it), and 68th in pass defense (234.3 yards a game allowed). - College Football -

OK, being second in total offense (615.67 yards, 38 yards behind Texas Tech) and scoring offense (59.3 ppg, seven behind Texas Tech) sort of makes up for all that.