NO. 1 DILEMMA COACHES COULD CREATE CHAOS BY STUBBORNLY VOTING FOR USC.

Byline: Scott Wolf Staff Writer

Over and over Sunday, it was repeated that USC was No. 1 in the coaches' top-25 poll but couldn't finish atop their final rankings because coaches are contracted to unanimously vote the Sugar Bowl winner as national champion.

But what if the coaches don't want to vote Oklahoma or Louisiana State as the national champion?

Even though the American Football Coaches Association requires its members to vote the Bowl Championship Series winner as its No. 1 team, and presents its national-championship trophy at the Sugar Bowl, no one is quite sure what happens if enough coaches simply put USC No. 1 on their ballots.

``I have no idea,'' said Vince Thompson, a spokesman for the AFCA. ``USA Today and the schools would have to deal with that.''

USA Today administers the coaches' poll, receiving ballots from 63 coaches across the country each week. Conceivably, USA Today could declare USC the No. 1 team in the poll Jan. 4 even though the AFCA would present its trophy and title to the Sugar Bowl champion.

The idea that coaches could keep USC as the top-ranked team, against the wishes of the AFCA, is something few seem ready to deal with, especially since it's never happened before.

But USA Today would recognize ballots that list the Trojans No. 1 on Jan. 4.

``If that's how they come in, that's how they come in,'' said Jim Welch, USA Today's Deputy Managing Editor/Sports. ``We'll do what we do every week and tabulate the ballot. The coaches have an agreement with the BCS. How they choose to respond to the directive (to vote for the Sugar Bowl champ) is up to them.''

Welch is expected to speak to AFCA officials about having an automatic vote for a national champion, but it's clear the coaches could shake things up by ignoring protocol.

USC received 37 of 63 first-place votes in the coaches' poll Sunday, and a few coaches already are grappling with the dilemma of changing their vote.

``As coaches we are supposed to vote for the winner (of the BCS championship game),'' Oregon coach Mike Bellotti told USA Today. ``At this point, I don't know what I'd do.''

Western Michigan coach Gary Darnell said he voted USC No. 1 and would keep the Trojans atop his ballot if Oklahoma lost to LSU. Darnell said he didn't want to punish Oklahoma for losing in a conference-championship game because the Pacific-10 Conference doesn't stage a title contest.

Illinois coach Ron Turner said he would consider voting USC No. 1 after the Rose Bowl.

The problem, of course, is how the AFCA would handle having its final poll disagree with its contractual agreement. AFCA executive director Grant Teaff was unavailable for comment Monday but has stated the BCS champion will receive his group's trophy.

``I can't really answer that,'' Welch said of a potential conflict. ``Obviously, there is that argument.''

USC coach Pete Carroll declined a chance to vote in the coaches' poll last summer but said if he did vote, he wouldn't hesitate to disobey an order and list the Trojans No. 1.

``Oh yeah, I would,'' Carroll said. ``That's in my nature to do that. What kind of vote is it if you don't vote.''

On Monday, Carroll seemed to enjoy that the coaches' poll is struggling with the odd situation of having a No. 1 team not playing in the official national-championship game.

``This is a time people can feel the challenge of creating change,'' Carroll said. ``It's bold that (coaches) want to step out and say something.''

Carroll, who is used to the NFL, where teams advance through the playoffs, said he didn't like the way a national champion is ``crowned'' at a season's conclusion in college football.

``The whole selection process bothers me,'' he said. ``I like to earn it.''

USC receiver Mike Williams said he hoped the coaches' poll retained the Trojans as its top team anyway.

``I don't see why they wouldn't if they voted us No. 1 last week,'' Williams said. ``I'm biased, but of course I would vote us No. 1.''

Of course, the Trojans still can finish No. 1 in the Associated Press poll, where members are not bound to vote the Sugar Bowl champion No. 1. The AP and coaches' polls have split the national championship seven times since 1970.

Scott Wolf, [phone]

scott.wolf(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- color) USC mascot Traveler poses during the UCLA game with the national-championship trophy that will go to the Sugar Bowl winner, not the Trojans.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer

(2) Pete Carroll credited the coaches who are willing to vote USC No. 1 despite allegiances to the BCS.

Ric Francis/Associated Press

Box:

(1) FURTHER CONFUSING THE SITUATION

(2) BOWLS AT A GLANCE