AP Voter Puts Michigan Ahead of Ohio State After Appointing Himself Replay Official, Deeming Michigan the Victor
By Jason Lisk
Tom Murphy of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette voted Michigan ahead of Ohio State on his AP ballot, following the Michigan-Ohio State game. Here is his explanation:
"Yes, I voted Michigan higher than Ohio State. The Wolverines essentially outplayed their arch rival on the road and I don’t think the football reached the necessary 15-yard line on J.T. Barrett’s fourth-down run in double overtime. As that was the game-decided play, I appointed myself as the replay official and deemed Michigan the winner. Now, if only the College Football Playoff selection committee would do the same. As a side note, while I admire Jim Harbaugh for speaking his mind after the game, he appeared to pin everything on the officiating, which isn’t a good look."
Murphy voted Michigan #3, behind Alabama and Clemson, and Ohio State at #5, behind Washington as well.
Declaring someone else a winner of the game? That’s a bit much, even if one can take into account the manner of wins. Too bad this guy wasn’t around back in 1990 when Colorado got a national championship after a fifth down.