Post by boxedlunch on Jun 18, 2015 12:24:06 GMT -5
The site actually starts in 1926 with Dickinson, if you use that option.
Team Record Vs Dickinson Ranked Opponents
Dickinson doesn't get much play because the average college football fan remembers nothing important outside of the AP poll. For as long as they watched football, the AP poll was king, so they assume it was always that way. The national championship craze started with Dickinson. It was the first national "title" and it give out a trophy every year. Other rating systems quickly joined the party, as well as the AP poll which was just copying Dickinson. The AP gave out titles in years prior to 1936 as well. The AP poll was just following the trend. Since it became king and few remember the trend-setters, the general consensus incorrectly credits the AP poll as starting it.
The same question I asked Harry, how does having a poll(s) change the way the game was played on the field?
That's one of the reasons Dickinson is not defaulted. People are unaware of what it was and it requires explaining every time you use it. It is, however, a very important cog in the history of national championships and how they came about and has to be used in any discussion to that effect. Unfortunately, the same people who are clueless about it will be the first to argue about it's insignificance to you.
Polling doesn't change what goes on on the field, but there are several factors over history that do. If you look at the early 90s and the watch the differing body types of the players and the different style of game, you can easily argue they were playing a different type of game. The wishbone of the late 60s and early 70s was a different style of games and the rules on passing relaxed and brought in a more pass-happy style. "Modern eras" can be argued for many different reasons, but I'm with you. If anybody wants to look at any other period, they should do so and not complain. People get way too wrapped up in where their team is on these lists instead of learning what they can from them.