Larry Scott: Coaches' poll a 'fallacy'

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LOS ANGELES -- USC coach Lane Kiffin has one very vocal backer of his decision to remove himself from the voting for the USA Today coaches' poll -- Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott.

“

I think it's an unfair position to put the coaches in, to supposedly vote objectively when they've got a very natural conflict of interest. ... To expect that coaches could have a good, balanced, well-researched perspective on who the best teams are in any given week is a fallacy.

” -- Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott

In a Wednesday interview with 710-ESPN's "Mason and Ireland Show," Scott said he believes coaches should not be voting in a poll that helps determine the national champion.

"I think it's an unfair position to put the coaches in, to supposedly vote objectively when they've got a very natural conflict of interest, No. 1, and, No. 2, I think most coaches are focused on their own games -- let alone breaking down tape afterwards and all that," Scott said. "So to expect that coaches could have a good, balanced, well-researched perspective on who the best teams are in any given week is a fallacy."

Scott was responding to Kiffin's announcement that he'd no longer be voting in the poll after USA Today decided to reveal his preseason No. 1 team.

"I'm not surprised Lane didn't want to be part of it anymore," Scott said. "I don't think any coaches should be in that position, and they won't be, starting in 2014."

The NCAA is implementing a playoff system beginning in 2014.

Scott, entering his fourth year as the Pac-12 commissioner after a six-year stint with the WTA, said the issues with the poll are one primary reason why the current system has been ineffective.

On Monday, Kiffin announced he'd no longer be voting in the coaches' poll, saying it was a responsibility he didn't "take lightly" but had to remove himself given the circumstances.

USA Today released Kiffin's vote of USC as the No. 1 team in the nation after he told reporters that he "would not vote" the Trojans atop the country when he was informed of Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez's comments that he did do so.

Kiffin has since said he was speaking from Rodriguez's perspective.

Pedro Moura covers USC for ESPNLosAngeles.com

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