Time to rethink 2004 national champion

Could Auburn be recognized as the national champion of 2004?

The coach of that team, Tommy Tuberville, believes the season needs a new national champion now that Southern California has vacated the game _ the 55-19 Orange Bowl triumph over Oklahoma _ that gave the Trojans the BCS National Championship.

“Why in the world would you not give it to somebody, whether it’s Auburn, Oklahoma or Utah?” said Tuberville, entering his first season as Texas Tech’s coach.

In 2004, the Trojans, Oklahoma, Auburn, Utah and Boise State went through the regular season undefeated. Southern California entered the bowls first in the BCS standing, the Sooner second and Auburn third, squeezing the Tigers out of a chance to be voted the national champion.

Auburn capped a 13-0 season by beating Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl and because of Oklahoma’s lopsided loss, the Tigers jumped the Sooners and finished No. 2 in the final USA Today coaches and Associated Press polls.

A football national champion has never been subject to a recount, and the BCS and AP would have to decide whether to no longer recognize the Trojans as the final No. 1 team.

Tuberville said that should happen in light of the NCAA action last month. As part of its penalties for improper benefits to running back Reggie Bush, the Trojans vacated two victories that season, including the Orange Bowl.

“Everybody played that year,” Tuberville said. “The team that won it on the field cheated. It broke the rules. There are other teams that did the right things. I’m not saying it’s us, but it should be somebody.”

At least one organization said it could be Auburn. The Football Writers Association of America, which has selected a national champion since 1954, is considering listing the Tigers as its national champion for 2004.

FWAA executive director Steve Richardson along with some of the organization’s past presidents, have discussed the issue at Big 12 Media Days in Irving, Texas.

But the BCS likely would not recognize another national champion. BCS executive director Bill Hancock said Tuesday that if the Trojans don't win an appeal and the penalties stand, the BCS simply will leave the year without a national champion.

That would be the wrong step, Tuberville said.

“I think it would be good for college football,” Tuberville said. “Give the championship back, revote the championship with the BCS and AP and make a bunch of kids and fans happy.

“People don’t realize what they went through. I had to look at a bunch of guys all year long and tell them all they could do was keep winning. Then you come up short at the end. Now, a team is out but you’re not going to revote it because it happened five years ago? That’s not right.”