Since this whole “being ranked” thing is kind of a rediscovered experience for Razorback fans, I thought it would be interesting to look over some of the ballots submitted this week by the 65 voting members of the Associated Press Top 25 poll.
Our own Bob Holt of the Democrat-Gazette, the only voting member from the Arkansas media, placed the Hogs at #15. Sounds fair enough…maybe even a little on the sunny side of things.
And some of the more high-profile voters were also impressed with the Hogs, including ESPN’s Chris Fowler (#16) and Kirk Herbstreit (#14), as well as ABC’s Craig James (#12) and SI.com’s Stewart Mandel (#12).
Others, of course, were not as excited, including several voters from the west coast media. San Francisco Chronicle writer (and ESPN.com contributor) Ray Ratto ranked the Hogs #24 and Los Angeles Daily News writer Scott Wolf had them at #23. I guess they still remember that old Razorback team that showed up (or actually…didn’t show up) to play USC just a little over five weeks ago.
But the most amazing ballot has to belong to Anniston Star writer Joe Medley. Yeah…old Joe…his paper is published all of 95 miles away from the Auburn campus. That’s his picture there. And you see his title…”Star sports writer.” In fact, he just happens to cover Auburn for the constellation of fine journalism that is the Anniston Star.
But old Joe must of went to Talladega last Saturday and missed the Hogs dominating performance over the then #2 Tigers because yep…that’s right…Joe forgot to mention the Razorbacks at all on his Top 25 ballot.
Hmmm…you think maybe old Joe’s not exactly the brightest light in the sky? In fact, I think I’d peg him as more of a “real man of genius.”
So here’s to you, Joe…another shining example of journalistic integrity. We’ll check back with you in the coming weeks to see if you’ve changed your mind.
Update: Oh dear Lord…Wally and I are apparently on the same page. Somebody please shoot me now.
I would say he is still pretty impressed with the "War Eagle".
By the way, if they are so into this "eagle" thing, why don't they take a queue from the Razorbacks and change their mascot?
Yep ,Joe reminds me of the sore loser and this other type we all acknowledge lives among us. You know, the ones that expects everbody in the conference to support his team when their up in the polls but hasn't got the guts to support other conference teams when they are up, especially when they beat his.
Tipster I agree with you… some fans just can't take a loss. So when I learned of good ole Joe's "error" I emailed him Sunday (thanks to some investigators on Hogville finding his email adrees) to find out what he was thinking. Here is the email and his response for you to enjoy….
Mr. Medley,
I was just wondering if you actually watch college football or just vote by throwing darts at a map in your house. Granted you are from Alabama and may have a bit of spite due to the fact that My Arkansas Razorbacks have dominated both teams from your state in the past 3 weeks but your AP vote questions if you take your job seriously. For an unranked 3-1 team who happens to be 2-0 in the SEC to go on the road and hand the #2 team in the nation a 27-10 beating and get no respect from homers like you is un-real. In theory if we beat Auburn shouldn't we be ranked about them? We are obviously better as you might have seen Saturday. Do you honestly believe that Boise St, Missouri, Rutgers, Botson College or Flordia St deserve to be ranked above the Razorbacks? Those teams, may have winning records but they can't beat any body, especially Auburn at home. Flordia St is the only team who have played anyone decent and the can't survive those games. I'm honestly surprised you didn't keep Auburn at #2 and had Alabama in at #25. You might as well, you already have USC, West Virginia, Georgia, Okalhoma, Boise St, Missouri, Rutgers, Boston College, and Florida St over rated.
BelAirHawg,
No one in last week's top 25 moved out on my ballot. No. 17 Florida State was the lowest ranked team to lose. I dropped them to 25, an eight-spot drop. This is my second time to vote on the panel, and I've always been a conservative voter. Teams that win either stay the same or move up, depending what happens above. Teams that lose typically move down, how far depending on what happened beneath. I consider a seven- or eight-spot drop
considerable. Others apparently don't vote as conservatively. Had I moved someone out and moved someone in, I can't say how it would have gone. Arkansas entered the weekend next to last among "others." I always use the most recent poll as my starting point for each week's vote. If Arkansas continues to win and others ranked above lose, then there's a good chance I will move them up from the current No. 17 spot. As for my impression of Arkansas, I wrote in my game story that they played like the SEC darkhorse forecast in preseason.
If there's any thought that my vote has to do with the fact that I cover Auburn, know that I'm from Kentucky. I spent my first 31 years there. I am a Western Kentucky graduate.
Joe M.
Apparently he also sent this response to every body else who emailed him on hogville. What a stellar sports writter.
I've been to Talledga and the fumes can mess with your logical thinking. Old Joe had to have at least watched replays where the Hog defense "stuffed" the Iron Man, sacked the Wolf Man and "man handled" both their offensive and defensive lines and ran the ball, and ran the ball and ran the ball all over Auburn.
Old Joe should also be questioned about putting old "Wide Right U" Florida State at numer 25 after struggling with Troy and having their old nemisis NC State hand it to them again. Joe they're 3 and 2…
Joe, clear your head and watch some football and take a page from Herbstreit and James.
Oh, and also this week end while you're covering Auburn football recognize that the Tigers have the same opportunity to knock off a Number 2 Team in Florida. If they happen to do that are ya gonna swap them back up to number TWO???
Well if it helps you feel any better, no one in LA likes wolf either. He is one of two people in the three major polls (along with a Riveside CA press writer) to vote the couch burning Mountaineers #1. Why two schmuck's in So Cal are voting the furniture burners #1 I'll never know
Plus he has AU rated ahead of Arkansas even though the Hogs stomped AU, go figure
This dope also has FSU, Miami, Oklahoma ahead of the hogs
This guy should not be voting or even covering CFB.
oops, I forgot to Add that Wolf doesn't even have 6-0 Missouri in his top 25
He only dropped UGA 3 spots even though they gave up 51 at home.
this guy is a stiff
This guy typifies exactly what's wrong with the polls. We need a playoff to end this silliness.
Yes this is absolutely insane! According to Mr Medely's BRILLIANT formula his vote for Arkansas would go from unranked to 25 (remember we can't drop more than 8 slots) AFTER a loss to Southeast Missouri State. Genius…pure genius!
Yeah that tard sent me the same thing. He can take his conservative ass back to CANTucky. What a screwjob. Anybody can see that Arkansas is deserving at least of being in the top 20, if not higher.