Will Reggie Bush Problems Have An Impact On Auburn?

by Jay Coulter on Oct 11, 2007 5:53 AM CDT in News Comment 4 comments

By Jay Coulter
jccoulter@gmail.com

I received an email today from one of our readers, Mark Wilson. It was a link from The Los Angeles Times that talks about the continuing problems of former USC Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush.

In case you haven’t heard, Bush is being investigated by the NCAA for receiving money and housing while playing at USC. One of the accusers now says he has proof that Bush received kickbacks.

Why do we care? Should Bush be found guilty it would likely mean that USC would have to forfeit it wins during the 2004 season – a year in which they won the national championship and Auburn was denied a shot at the title.

The question then becomes who is the national champion? Would it be Oklahoma or Auburn? Both could stake a claim. Would the BCS be forced to name a new champion? Or would they just let things be?

There is no precedent for this situation. Teams have been stripped of conference championships, but never national titles. Conference titles are cut and dry – you have a declared winner each year. The polls are a different story.

Keep your eye on this developing story. Things are going to get real interesting.

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bcs 2004 result

Auburn (3) 13-0 1,559

Oklahoma 12-1 1,454

maybe since this poll looks strictly at wins and not schedule strenght we should be next in line

by auskip07 on Oct 11, 2007 8:08 AM CDT reply actions

It's pleasant to think about...

but the title should simply be vacated by USC. What is done is done and we did not win it on the field, regardless of the situation. I hear a lot of talk about Auburn not being like the Crapstone, so I don't want to have the "got two?" mentality.

I want Auburn to win a NC fair and square--on the field of play. USC may not even have to vacate the title anyway. We all know the NCAA is loaded with USC/Notre Dame/Big Eleven apologists. Let sleeping dogs lay.

I chose to look forward--our National Championship is going to come to us. Kodi and our young OL are going to gel in coming seasons and Muschamp is building a ferocious D.

Our future is bright! War Eagle, everybody.

by eastside on Oct 11, 2007 8:57 AM CDT reply actions

Won't matter

Sorry guys, but what happens with Bush won't make a difference for a national title. This is because the BCS title isn't an NCAA sanctioned award. It's basically a crystal ball awarded by a bunch of corporate sponsors. As such, the NCAA has no authority over it, despite the fact that usc could have to vacate their wins ( which the NCAA can make them do ).

by gcaprio on Oct 11, 2007 10:26 AM CDT reply actions

All you need to know...

Here's what will happen. Auburn will most likely step up and claim the title after a few other things transpire in this general order:

USC will be forced to VACATE, not forfeit, the games from 2004.

Most MNC selectors will change their final poll results, awarding the title to Auburn. Some will refuse to change it, some will choose Oklahoma, one or two may choose Utah.

Keep in mind that VACATING games does not give the original LOSING team a win, it simply means that the WIN of the offender never happened. The loser still has their loss.

Okalahoma still lost a game in 2004, leaving them #2 behind Auburn.

Now, if they were required to FORFEIT the games, it would be a different story. You might see Auburn and OU split the titles. That would be bitterweet for the Sooners, though. But a split title still counts as much.

If you think that something as important as a MNC would simply be VACATED, especially when there were other deserving teams, you're crazy!

Look, no one would want to win a title this way, but I don't see a problem with it. Everyone knows Auburn got shafted. If USC knowingly broke the rules, that's all there is to it.

Considering it doesn't take much prompting for certain teams to step up years after the fact to claim titles, (see Alabama) you can expect a legitimate heir apparent to do no less...

by War Eagle Atlanta on Oct 11, 2007 12:28 PM CDT reply actions