The story was basically written after Grambling State thumped the Southern Jaguars in the Bayou Classic, and the SWAC Championship put the anti-climatic ending to a predictable story line.
Grambling State Tigers win the Sheridan Black College Football National Championship.
What a difference a Bayou Classic win makes. Grambling State has taken over the number one spot in the Sheridan Broadcast Network’s black college football rankings, and should they defeat the Jackson State Tigers in the SWAC championship next week, they will like win the network’s Black College Football national championship.
Another week, another top ten list all out of wack from the Sheridan Broadcast Network. I can’t blame them, because they just publish what ignorant coaches and SIDs vote for. Maybe I can come at this another way, since the numbers themselves don’t seem to phase the voters.
So here we go. Week 12 of the Sheridan Broadcast Network’s Black College Football Rankings. I’ll just put it out there in the hopes that the energy catches up to the coaches and SIDs who vote in this poll.
Southern University does not belong in the top ten.
I get it now. The bias is pretty much relegated to hating on Division II football. Everything else about these rankings are in order, but for the Southern Jaguars to be anywhere near the top ten and not Elizabeth City State or Fayetteville State is unreal.
Just when you thought it was safe to rely on the Sheridan Black College Football Poll, the voters go and screw it up one mo’ time. This week, there’s no argument about rankings 1 through 3, but you start hitting some bumps in the road beyond those.
Here are the numbers.
1. Tuskegee Golden Tigers (22) 8-0
2. South Carolina State Bulldogs (8) 6-2
3. Grambling State Tigers 6-2
4. Florida A&M Rattlers 6-2
5. Prairie View Panthers 7-1
6. Hampton Pirates 5-2
7. Bethune-Cookman Wildcats 5-2
8. Tennessee State Tigers 6-2
9. Southern Jaguars 4-4
10. Shaw Bears 6-3
Others receiving votes (in order of points): Morgan State 24, Fayetteville State 21, Elizabeth City State 19, West Virginia State 13, Albany State 8.
The first error is Florida A&M at number four over the Prairie View A&M Panthers. I don’t care about their history of being subpar, they are a great team this year. Tuskegee not withstanding, they have the best record of any program in this list. I can see them at number four, because their sole loss is to a Grambling team that has been on an impressive run.
The next mistake, and likely most glaring error of this ranking, is the inclusion of the Southern Jaguars. Why are they anywhere near this list at 4-4? Several teams also receiving votes have better records than the Jags. You couldn’t get more bias if you were wearing a Maryland Terrapins #44 throwback.
Finally, if you’re going to include Division II football in the poll, at least do it objectively. The CIAA has several strong teams that could be in the top ten. Elizabeth City State is undefeated in conference, but is below the Shaw Bears? Fayetteville State University did lose to Shaw, but has a better overall record.
And what about Fort Valley State? They’ve won four in a row, and are in second place in the SIAC.
Hopefully, the coaches and SIDs can come a little stronger in next week’s release.
I have to admit, the folks associated with the Sheridan Black College Football poll are getting better with these rankings. The top three remain as they should have, Florida A&M and Grambling both ascended appropriately, and the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats finally got some love for continuity.
Southern should be down a little bit further, as they are the only three-loss team in the top ten. Other than that, you can probably take this to the bank.
Now, if they would only reconsider naming a “black college football champion,” we’d really be in business.
| 1. Tuskegee Golden Tigers (24) | 7-0 | 267 | 1 |
| 2. South Carolina State Bulldogs (4) | 5-2 | 205 | 2 |
| 3. Hampton Pirates (2) | 5-1 | 188 | 3 |
| 4. Grambling State Tigers | 6-2 | 161 | 4 |
| 5. Florida A&M Rattlers | 5-2 | 139 | 7 |
| 6. Tennessee State Tigers | 6-1 | 119 | 6 |
| 7. Southern Jaguars | 4-3 | 83 | 5 |
| 8. Prairie View Panthers | 6-1 | 56 | 8 |
| 9. Bethune-Cookman Wildcats | 4-2 | 42 | 10 |
| 10. Albany State Golden Rams | 5-2 | 38 | 9 |
Others receiving votes (in order of points): Delaware State 27, Shaw 23, Fayetteville State 18, West Virginia State 15, Clark-Atlanta 9.
I must say, for as much as I have decried the bias in the Sheridan Black College Football polls, this week’s results are not that far off in accuracy. Records and performances seem to have played a part in the voters’ placement of teams, and while its not perfect, its probably as close to perfect as we can get.
The most glaring error in the poll is Tennessee State below the Southern Jaguars. The Jags not only lost to TSU several weeks back, but the Tigers have a better record. I also think that Virginia Union has a case for being in the top ten, but its always hard when you post Division I-AA and Division II teams in the same poll.
| 1. Tuskegee Golden Tigers (24) | 6-0 | 265 | 1 |
| 2. South Carolina State Bulldogs (4) | 5-2 | 209 | 2 |
| 3. Hampton Pirates (2) | 4-1 | 185 | 3 |
| 4. Grambling State Tigers | 5-2 | 155 | 4 |
| 5. Southern Jaguars | 4-2 | 134 | 5 |
| 6. Tennessee State Tigers | 5-1 | 122 | 6 |
| 7. Florida A&M Rattlers | 4-2 | 87 | 8 |
| 8. Prairie View Panthers | 5-1 | 54 | 9 |
| 9. Albany State Golden Rams | 5-1 | 46 | 10 |
| 10. Bethune-Cookman Wildcats | 4-2 | 39 | 7 |
What do you think about this week’s poll? I’ve started a discussion on it in the forums, and look forward to hearing your feedback on it.
Here’s is this week’s Sheridan Broadcast Network Black College Football Poll. Of course I have gripes with it, as there’s no way the Southern Jaguars and Grambling should be above Prairie View A&M, the only undefeated team in the SWAC.
Further, why is Delaware State even in the rankings? Albany State, Virginia Union, and several other D-II teams have more claim to a spot than the Hornets.
If I were a more arrogant observer of black college football, I’d do my own poll. Instead, I’d like to formulate an unbiased collection of fans to conduct a more balanced ranking system. Two fans from each conference sounds about right.
If you’re interested, please email me. We’ve got to find a better way to treat our HBCU football programs on a national level.
2008 Sheridan Black College Football Poll
Team (First-place votes) Record
1. Tuskegee Golden Tigers (23) 4-0
2. South Carolina State Bulldogs (3) 3-2
3. Hampton Pirates (2) 3-1
4. Grambling State Tigers 3-2
5. Southern Jaguars 2-2
6. Florida A&M Rattlers 3-1 117 NR
7. Prairie View A&M Panthers (2) 4-0 8
8. Tennessee State Tigers 4-1
9. Delaware State Hornets 1-2
10. Bethune Cookman Wildcats 3-1
Let me just say, that I have posted and will continue to post the Sheridan Black College Football Poll on this blog, because I understand what it stands for. I believe that black colleges deserve the rights and privileges of media coverage to which any other conference or teams are privy, and I support that a poll can galvanize black college football fans around a singular accomplishment.
But to be honest, there is no merit or reason to the Sheridan Black College Football poll, or any other poll surrounding black college football that stands to compare the talent level of football teams divided among Division I-AA and Division II. It doesn’t make sense, and it creates a false sense of accomplishment among everyone involved.
