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July 27, 2010

TALKIN' TIGERS: Could AU finally get the title it deserves?

By Justin Graves The Cullman Times

Remember that undefeated 2004 season, the one where Auburn was wrongfully snubbed from the BCS National Championship despite winning the Southeastern Conference title with a perfect record?

Remember that 2004 season, where an overrated Oklahoma team was given a chance to play in the BCS National Championship, only to get smoked by semi-pro Southern California in the title game?

Remember that 2004 season, the one that no longer has a national champion now that USC has been hit by NCAA sanctions?

Yeah, that season.

How could any Auburn fan forget?

Well, some resolution to one of the worst BCS snafus of all time could finally be headed Auburn’s way in the near future.

No, the BCS doesn’t plan on awarding the ’04 Coaches Trophy to another team, even though USC has been forced to vacate all 12 of its wins from that season because of NCAA sanctions.

The Associated Press isn’t going to re-vote the final poll from that season, either.

But the Football Writers Association of America may take a stab at rewriting history.

On Thursday, FWAA executive director Steve Richardson confirmed that that the organization was considering the idea of awarding the ’04 Grantland Rice Trophy — considered one of the four major national titles awarded at the end of each season — to another team.

And since Auburn finished the ’04 season ranked No. 2 in the country with a perfect 13-0 record, the Tigers would be a likely candidate if the FWAA chooses to re-award its hardware.

Better late than never.

Former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville agreed.

“Why in the world would you not give it to somebody?” Tuberville said at Big 12 Media Days Tuesday afternoon. “It doesn’t make any sense. Everybody played that year, so you give it to the team that wins on the field.

“But, ‘Uh oh, they cheated. They broke the rules. We’re gonna take it away from them.’

“Well, give it to somebody, because there’s other teams that did the right things,” Tuberville continued

Tuberville was right. A team deserves that title.

And there’s not a more deserving candidate than Auburn.

Yeah, USC was the best team that season, but Trojans coach Pete Carroll was also playing with a semi-pro squad — including Heisman Trophy-winner Reggie Bush, who helped place USC under the NCAA’s finger by accepting impermissible benefits from a sports agent.

But Auburn was a close second to that USC team, and more importantly, Tuberville’s squad played by the NCAA’s rules.

That Auburn team should’ve been given a shot to play for the title that season.

The Tigers were clearly the nation’s best amateur football team — which is what college programs are supposed to be, per the NCAA — but the BCS system failed Auburn, putting over-hyped Oklahoma in the championship game instead.

That was one of the great wrongs the BCS era, one that will hopefully be made right soon.

The FWAA can do that by awarding Auburn what it rightfully deserves: the 2004 national title.

Auburn earned that title fair and square — emphasis on the word “fair.”

Justin Graves can be reached by phone at 734-2131, ext. 257 or by e-mail at jgraves@cullmantimes.com.

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