ESPN Pulls Its Name From USA Today Coaches' Football Poll

(Fromm Sports Business Daily)

ESPN will no longer have its name attached to the ESPN/USA TODAY COLLEGE FOOTBALL POLL.

ESPN VP/Communications MIKE SOLTYS said, "As a newsgathering organization, ESPN was not comfortable having its name attached to the college football poll since it plays a significant role in determining BCS participants. The coaches' desire for confidentiality puts us in a difficult journalistic position." ESPN is the second major news organization to disassociate itself from BCS rankings, as the AP pulled its media poll from the BCS formula in December.

The AP's NANCY ARMOUR noted ESPN "asked this year that (coaches' ballots) be public, but the coaches agreed only for the final regular-season poll."

ESPN Vice President and Director of News VINCE DORIA said ESPN wanted the ballots public for the entire year.

BOB BURDA, spokesperson for BCS Coordinator KEVIN WEIBERG, said, "There will still be a coaches' poll, and it will be used by the BCS, but we don't have a comment on ESPN’s decision."

Doria added that ESPN "became uncomfortable last season, when (the University of) California lost a shot at a major bowl after dropping in the final coaches' poll."

Doria -- "That was really the determining factor. The poll was more than something that is there primarily for fans to discuss and debate. It was a determinant element in the BCS poll."

Doria -- "The confidentiality of the coaches prevented us from covering the story the way we wanted to."

USA TODAY Managing Editor for Sports MONTE LORELL was "surprised by ESPN's move."

Lorell -- "The last we heard was if the coaches were willing to reach the level of transparency they ultimately reached, ESPN would remain part of the poll."

Lorell added, "I have complete confidence in the integrity of the poll, so I have no problem with (USA TODAY) having our name on the poll."

Doria said that ESPN will continue to "co-sponsor coaches polls in men's and women's basketball, which are not used in the selection for postseason spots."