I read on here quite often how someone thinks LSU is not getting enough respect. I got to thinking about who votes for the AP TOP 25 and why? I don't really know but I thought this might interest some of you and explain/give you something to think about. Doug Lesmerises, a reporter for the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, who votes for the AP TOP 25, has Ole Miss at No. 24 this week, lower than just about aeverybody lese in the free world......But then again, he has Florida behind Cincinnati......(kind of suspect in his thinking?) Blog talk @ CLARIONLEDGER.COM I know the man has a right to his opinion, just as I do, but it gives me a lot of room to question how can he justify his votes? Is this man the sports reporter for his paper or some editor/journalist who doesn't really follow sports and just happens to have this honor by being in the right time and right place. It's quite possible that Ole Miss is NOT deserving to be #4. We will find out a lot more Thursday night. I realize that this man may not really get much insight and not have the resources to actually view tapes of teams and such. But why do people like that get such a position? He can hurt some team's ability to be considered for honors/bowl selections, etc. I have read where some of the coaches for teams, who have a vote in the coach's poll, never actually do the voting themselves. They have someone in their office do it for him each week. Remember when SS finally admitted that SC was the one school that did not vote TT first team SEC QB? Someone on his staff was the "delegated" voter for him and had cast the SC vote for Snead. It appears to me that this individual has a hard on for the SEC schools. People like him may be the reason LSU sometimes appears lacking in respect. A few like him may just not like LSU for personel reasons. Maybe he went to a game and did not appreciate a good natured "tiger bait." I think that all of the people, who have this privilege, should have some sort of accountability though. Sure.......his top 25 may be different from mine. And probably due to my own prejudices, probably would be. I don't particularly like So. Cal, but if I had a vote, I don't think I would have them at 24/25. Then again...MAYBE WHAT CHA THINK? :geaux:
This is why we have all learned to not really care about the AP Poll. I believe you said you were at the 2003 celebration in Tiger Stadium. I'm sure you heard the boos when a representative for the AP gave Saban his Coach of the year award. If you were there in 2007 when they presented their National Championship trophy, they were again booed. The AP is a bunch of homers who write stories and the only time they actually vote close to what it should be is the end of the year.
I think he's voting how he honestly thinks. It could be that he is right, that Ole Miss really is just a #24 team. That wouldn't surprise me at all. Early season polls don't matter... there isn't enough to go on when it comes to ranking the teams. Who has Ole Miss played? The only time to worry is during the final polls, and I seriously doubt this guy will rank Ole Miss at #24 if Ole Miss deserve better based on their results this season. Turns out the guy writes articles explaining the reasons why he votes the way he does: Sept 8 (ranked Ole Miss #14, and LSU #16) LINK: Why I ranked Alabama, BYU and Oklahoma State ahead of Florida | Doug Lesmerises' Buckeye Blog - cleveland.com - - cleveland.com Sept 16 (ranked Ole Miss #26, and LSU #14) LINK: Explaining my AP ballot: Alabama, Houston, Florida, Michigan, Ole Miss, etc | Doug Lesmerises' Buckeye Blog - cleveland.com - - cleveland.com This is what he said about Ole Miss: Case in point - before the season started, I picked Mississippi to make a surprise run to the national title game. I had Ole Miss ranked No. 4 in the preseason. Based ONLY on the Rebels' one less-than-impressive game this season, a win at Memphis that was a struggle for three quarters, I am the only AP voter to not rank Mississippi this week. Do I still think the Rebels will reach the national championship? After that shaky start, which wasn't helped by the flu, I'm slightly less inclined to think so. But I stand by that prediction, and I believe Ole Miss WILL be very good, in the future. But based only on its present resume, Mississippi is the 26th-best team in the country in my opinion. He even got a reply from an Ole Miss fan saying: Doug, As an Ole Miss fan for my entire life, I couldn't agree more with your ranking logic. First of all, I think preseason polls are ludicrous, but I realize that the public wants them. I feel like your method is hands down the most accurate way to rank teams. I think it is absurd for a team to get to coast into the "meat" of their schedule with a top 10 ranking just because they are in a BCS conference. Especially when you consider that the mid-majors "meat" generally comes early in the season, or at least spread throughout the year. I know this sounds weird coming from a hardcore SEC fan, but your way seems to be the only semi-logical way to go about the absurdity of being forced to rank teams people really know nothing about. Thanks! Sept 21 (ranked Ole Miss #24, and LSU #8) LINK: Explaining my AP ballot: Miami, Cincinnati, Michigan, Ohio State, USC, Washington, Mississippi and other unusual votes | Doug Lesmerises' Buckeye Blog - cleveland.com - - cleveland.com This is what he said about Ole Miss... Mississippi at No. 24. This was a bigger issue for people last week when I didn't have Mississippi ranked at all after a 1-0 start when the win was a struggle against Memphis. Now the Rebels added a big win against an FCS school [a home win against SE Louisiana], and moved from No. 26 to No. 24 for me based on that resume. Ole Miss is No. 4 in the overall poll, and if you missed my explanation before, I picked the Rebels before the season to beat Florida in the SEC Championship and play for the national title. I thought a lot of them, and if they continue to win as their level of competition increases, my ballot will reflect that.
If every voter followed the same set of rules about their votes, it would remove the inconsistencies that exist today. Personally, I like the fact that Doug Lesmerises has largely ignored what these teams did in previous years and is basing his ballot only on what they've accomplished in the current season. The issue isn't what Lesmerises did, it's that every voter isn't voting in similar fashion .....
Dildeau's conjoined twin, separated at birth and shipped to Ohio because he was the uglier one. Chit-stirrer, nothing more, move along.
This is what he said about Ole Miss... I don't care about how he feels about OM. I stated in my post that I don't necessarily agree with OM at 4. But I sure don't see Conn. ahead of Fla. Jmo---just like he has one.
I really don't worry about the polls. If you win them all, then you will rise to the top. We beat Fld, Bama, Ole Miss, Miss St, Ark, Ga & Auburn, we will get the respect we deserve.
I think for a team that went 0-fer in the SEC two years ago should take what they can get. I think OM has a very talented team, but they had talent in '07, too. And if we're using the past as an indicator, this should be taken into consideration. If you were doing it based soley on the last year's team.... Well, we would be more around #24 and OM would be #10 +/- I think OM should be happy to be on the map. (Keep in mind, I'm not slamming you, the program/coaches, or the fans, just throwing you some perspective)
I agree. I really don't see them as 4. I'm glad to see it, but would not have voted that way myself. The win against Memphis is seen as sloppy. Not counting the sick they had as any kind of excuse, but they still won by 31 pts. Slow start? OK. 2nd game? Just not the same level. Truely, I kind of fear Thursday and the ole ball coach. Never underestimate this man. It could be a "dream" season or a "creamed" season. On my best days, I can see "undefeated" until the SECCG. On other days, I can see maybe five loses.:lol:
