College Football Playoff Proposal: Who Should Vote in Human Poll?

We are living in a very interesting time in college football as we push toward a playoff system. As that becomes more of a reality, there is another bridge that has yet to be crossed, who should and shouldn't be allowed to vote.

In college basketball, they have a committee that selects the tournament field. In college football, we are still dealing with a voting system that seems to be in need of repair.

While the coaches and the people who vote in the Harris poll have done an okay job, as fans we need to expect more. It is time to blow up the entire system and identify the former players and members of the media who we know we can rely on. 

Here is a look at the 25 people who can be trusted with this responsibility and the 25 who cannot.

Chris Spielman: Yes

Former Ohio State star Chris Spielman has always been a character guy and would be great for this vote. While Spielman has retired after a successful NFL career, he has never let being from Ohio State get in the way of being a great analyst for college football.

John Saunders: No

John Saunders has been an employee of ESPN for a long time now. While his experience and knowledge of sports and college football is great, he has always been a defender of the BCS. Including Saunders in a vote that was forced by changing the BCS format may be a mistake.

Brent Musburger: Yes

Brent Musburger has been around for quite some time and has seen more than his fair share of outstanding sporting events and college football games. Musburger has a great eye for what is going on in college football. His experience would help this group of 25 find the best teams for a playoff.

Craig James: No

During his time on the air, Craig James has stirred the pot quite often. When putting together a panel of voters that will be expected to uphold a high moral standard and conduct themselves professionally, James doesn't make the cut.

Mike Tirico: Yes

Another guy out of the announcers booth is Mike Tirico. He is a Michigan man but has had very little issues with calling it how he sees it. He has been around many brilliant football minds and has the experience that would be needed to put together an intelligent vote.

Gary Danielson: No

It is impossible for Gary Danielson to be a part of this panel now or ever. Danielson has a huge bias that can be heard every Saturday on CBS. His love for SEC football oozes out of every word he says and would make his vote completely tainted.

Shaun King: Yes

Shaun King is a product of Tulane and went on to have a journeyman-type career in the NFL. Now that he is retired, King has done some work for ESPN and college football and has been great. Without being attached to a big school, King could provide some unbiased opinions that would benefit the group.

Brock Huard: No

Brock Huard has done some good work for ESPN and helps cover various college football games. While Huard does well up in the booth, he tends to allow his bias to show too much. That is something that would not be tolerable in a vote of this magnitude.

Andre Ware: Yes

Andre Ware has had a much better career in the studio than he had in the pros. It seems like the college game brings the best out of him. Ware went to Houston and might be able to provide this panel with some insight into how good a smaller school may perform against some of the top programs.

Desmond Howard: No

Desmond Howard is a great part of the College Gameday show. He does a nice job of making sure he gives you the ins and outs as a former player. The problem with Howard is he is a huge Michigan supporter. It makes you wonder if he can remain objective.

Erin Andrews: Yes

Not only is Erin Andrews easy on the eyes but she has a lot of football knowledge. Being a part of College Gameday, Andrews has found herself around the game for a while now and would certainly have the ability to help determine who should and shouldn't go to a playoff.

Jesse Palmer: No

Jesse Palmer is the kind of guy that seems to walk the company line. With ESPN and the SEC having a deal to have all SEC games on their networks, Palmer may find himself conflicted from time to time more so than other ESPN personalities.

Jim Brown: Yes

Jim Brown is one of the best football players of all time and would certainly bring a lot of value to this vote. Brown is someone of high moral standards. Aside from his football knowledge, you know he would do the right thing when voting.

Mark May: No

Mark May does a nice job of entertaining people on ESPN, but sometimes he is so passionate about his ideas and opinions that he becomes stubborn. The inability to change on the fly is something that could affect his ability to vote.

Barry Sanders: Yes

Barry Sanders was an outstanding running back and certainly has made Oklahoma State proud of him after leaving there. Sanders has come out of the shadows recently after a sudden retirement. If he carries himself in this position the way he did on the field, the vote is in good hands.

Chris Fowler: No

Chris Fowler is the host of College Gameday, and it would like be an extreme conflict for Fowler to not only host that show but also stay an impartial voter. While Fowler has been a part of the game for a while now, he would not be part of this panel.

Bruce Smith: Yes

Former Virginia Tech star Bruce Smith would be another great addition. As a member of both the college and professional halls of fame, Smith is held in high esteem by his peers and has the kind of football background you would want out of someone who would hold this kind of position.

Rod Gilmore: No

Rod Gilmore has done a fine job for ESPN. The one issue with Gilmore is that he almost appears ready to give credit to small schools way too quickly. I know some may be anxious to see a small school get its shot, but Gilmore appears way too anxious.

Marcus Allen: Yes

USC great Marcus Allen is probably one of the first guys on this list who would do justice to the West Coast teams. After playing for the Trojans, Allen understands that there is still good football being played after 10 p.m. on the East Coast, and he would help share that with other voters.

Kirk Herbstreit: No

Kirk Herbstreit does an amazing job on College Gameday. He is extremely believable and does a good job of keeping the audience engaged. Unfortunately for him, his ties to Ohio State are strong and may unduly influence him when it comes time to vote.

Holly Rowe: Yes

Holly Rowe has been with ESPN since 1998. Her main role has been as a sideline reporter for college football. Being a graduate of Utah, Rowe would not bring a huge bias to the table and would be someone who could be relied on to help make this playoff system and voting work.

Lee Corso: No

It isn't that Lee Corso would do a bad job of voting, but rather that at this point in his career, Corso has found a perfect niche and does not need to add any additional stress to his life.

Dan Fouts: Yes

Another member of the NFL Hall of Fame is Dan Fouts. He had a quiet but successful career at Oregon and went on to have great success in the NFL with the Chargers. After leaving the game, Fouts has gone into broadcasting and would certainly have the background necessary for voting.

Deion Sanders: No

While Deion Sanders was an outstanding player in college and the pros, he is not someone who would receive an invitation to vote. His numerous connections to players before they are out of college would not make him an appropriate choice.

Marshall Faulk: Yes

Newly inducted NFL Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk would be another outstanding addition to this voting panel. After having success at San Diego State, Faulk had an even better professional career. While he has spent time covering the pros, Faulk would have no issues switching his attention over to the college game.

Robert Smith: No

Since retiring from the NFL, Robert Smith has been put to work by ESPN and he has mainly focused on covering the college game. While Smith does a great job, he is another person that seems to be stuck in his opinion and the inability to be fluid with his decision-making could be an issue.

Emmitt Smith: Yes

Out of the University of Florida, Emmitt Smith is one of the best running backs of all time. Smith has spent most of his retirement covering professional football, but football is football. Smith has always carried himself well and would continue to hold up the standards needed in this vote.

Michael Irvin: No

Former University of Miami star Michael Irvin currently does some great work for the NFL. When looking at former players, Irvin would have to get crossed off the list because his loyalty to "The U" runs too deep.

Jerry Rice: Yes

The greatest receiver of all time would be an outstanding pick up for this voting panel. Jerry Rice has been an ambassador for football and has been an outstanding role model throughout his career. With no major college ties, Rice is the perfect type of player for this.

Lou Holtz: No

Love him or hate him, Lou Holtz is part of college football history. While Dr. Lou does a great job on television, let's be honest. His love for the Fighting Irish is way too strong to even consider putting him on this voting panel.

Wendi Nix: Yes

Wendi Nix is another sideline reporter who has been around the game for quite some time. Nix has been covering sports since 1999 and on ESPN since 2006. Her experience, knowledge and lack of ties to a big school would make her opinion valuable in this process.

Reece Davis: No

Reece Davis has been an employee of ESPN since 1995. With all the time that Davis has spent with the four-letter network, he may put his job above what is right for the vote and cause some complications.

Rod Woodson: Yes

Rod Woodson is out of Purdue and had a great NFL career with four teams. Woodson has great football sense and would have a great eye for outstanding defenses at any level of football.

Eric Dickerson: No

Eric Dickerson is an icon in football and normally this would make him a perfect fit for the vote. The downside to Dickerson is that his central role in the death-penalty case at SMU would seem to make him an unlikely choice for a panel such as this.

Thurman Thomas: Yes

Another great back out of Oklahoma State is Thurman Thomas. Thomas spent almost his entire career with Buffalo before finishing with Miami. He is a relatively new member to the NFL Hall of Fame and knows the game better than most. With great character and the respect he has earned, his vote would be unquestioned.

Verne Lundquist: No

Verne Lundquist is also an employee of CBS and can be seen covering SEC games. While he isn't as blatant as Gary Danielson, Lundquist also has a bias in favor of SEC football and would not be included in this vote.

John Madden: Yes

Since finally calling it quits from Monday Night Football, John Madden has been largely out of the public eye. Madden spent decades devoting his life to the game of football and would be nothing short of perfect in filling a spot on this vote.

Pacman Jones: No

While he was outstanding at both levels, Adam "Pacman" Jones cannot seem to keep his life on track. By now, all of the good that Jones has done on the field has been overshadowed by his actions off it.

Steve Young: Yes

Steve Young has been a long-time analyst on ESPN and has done a great job covering the NFL. Young has also provided some insight into the college game. With unquestioned integrity, he would be one of the final pieces to this 25-vote puzzle.

Brad Nessler: No

Brad Nessler started with ESPN in 1991 and hasn't looked back. While Nessler does a great job of calling games, his connection and roots with ESPN are just too strong to include him.

Ronnie Lott: Yes

Ronnie Lott is a member of both the College Football Hall or Fame and the NFL Hall of Fame. Lott is a former USC Trojan and has always been around the game of football. Despite his ties with USC, Lott would be a great addition and certainly understands the college game.

Ray Lewis: No

Ray Lewis is a player who has had a huge impact at the professional level. Lewis appears to be a player who inspires others to raise their game and play at their best. While this is great, there are questions about Lewis' past that make including him too risky. 

Howie Long: Yes

Howie Long would be a great addition to this panel. While he does a lot of work with the NFL, he has had experience reconnecting to the college game through his son. Long has been a stand-up guy throughout his career and would certainly be a great choice here.

Reggie Bush: No

Reggie Bush was an amazing athlete in college and is doing well in the NFL. The downside for Bush is that with the issues that went on at USC and the eventual sanctions that followed, adding him to this panel is impossible.

Tood McShay: Yes

Todd McShay makes his money breaking down the college game and analyzing the pro potential of the best players. In doing so, he sees most of the nation's best teams. With this vast knowledge, McShay would be a great fit.

 

John L Smith: No

Yes, he is currently the coach of Arkansas, but in another year he will not be. Still, as someone who just took a head coaching job as a one-year fill-in, he disqualifies himself as a member of this voting panel.

Mel Kiper: Yes

While it is highly debatable, Mel Kiper has been around the game of football for a long time now and like McShay, Kiper earns a living understanding the college game and how it translates to the pros. With all of the time he spends breaking down college players, Kiper has a lot of experience that he can draw on.

Jon Gruden: No

Jon Gruden would be a perfect fit for this panel, but Gruden has such a passion for football that I think it is going to lead him back to coaching at the college level. This panel would likely be replacing him in a year or two.

Todd Blackledge: Yes

Todd Blackledge appears to have a true love for the game. Blackledge does some great work for ESPN and hasn't appeared to have lost any passion about the game. As a voter, Blackledge would be a great addition.

Jim Tressel: No

Things did not end well for Jim Tressel at Ohio State. With the NCAA sanctions that eventually led to him being fired, he would not be a good choice for this panel.