RELEASED: Dec. 18, 2003

DANVILLE, KY—The Bowl Championship Series formula that determines the national champion in college football has come under a wave of criticism this season.

The way the BCS computers work, it's not just what you do in the win-loss column, but it's also important how your opponents fare each week.

Centre College has played a significant part in this process. The Colonels have beaten a team (which beat team, which beat a team, etc.) that down the line beat another team that defeated each of the schools vying for the national title (Oklahoma, LSU and Southern California).

For example, Centre defeated Franklin & Marshall, who defeated Gettysburg College and so forth down the line until you reach Kansas State, which defeated Oklahoma.

Centre's role was recently mentioned on ESPN's national radio program The Dan Patrick Show. For more, go to http://espnradio.espn.go.com/espnradio/story?storyId=1681332.

The Colonels are coming off another stellar season. Centre finished 8-2 and won a share of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference title. Senior running back Lorenzo Engleman was named the league's Offensive Player of the Year, and 13 other Colonels were named either first- or second-team all-conference.

Senior strong safety John Ortega was invited to the Aztec Bowl in Cancun, Mexico, an all-star game for NCAA Division III standouts, on Dec. 13 but declined to concentrate on his academics during finals week. Ortega is also a member of the basketball team. Centre has had three players invited to the Aztec Bowl in the seven years the contest has been played.

This year's senior football class, made up of 11 players, is one of the winningest in school history. The seniors have amassed 28 victories during their four-year run.

For more on the Centre football team, go to http://www.centreathletics.comfootball/football_index.html.

- end -

For news archives go to http://www.centre.edu/web/news/newsarchive.html.

Back to News and Events Home Page