About that 1935 national title
Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2003 3:44 amJust noticed the threads below about the 1935 MNC. The confusion arises because in 1935 there was no media or coaches poll.
The AP media poll was adopted the following year, 1936. From 1936-1964 and in 1966 and 1967, the final AP ranking was issued before the bowl games. This was changed to after the bowl games in 1965 and from 1968-present.
The UPI coaches poll was not adopted until 1950. From 1950-1973, the UPI issued its final rankings before the bowl games. In 1974 it switched after the bowl games. In 1991, the UPI was replaced as the coaches poll by USA Today/CNN, which in 1997 became USA Today/ESPN.
The various rating systems that predated the current polls were split in their decisions in 1935. The pre-1936 national champions listed on various football websites are all arbitrary because they all depend on what pre-poll rating system that particular site gives the most weight to.
Of the multitude of rating systems in 1935, the most highly regarded (in alphabetical order) were:
Dickenson System - a mathematical point system based awarding various point totals for wins over teams with winning or non-winning records, devised by Frank Dickinson, a professor of economics at the Univ. of Illinois.
Dunkel System - a power index system devised by [deleted] Dunkel Sr. and syndicated to newspapers around the nation.
Houlgate System - a mathematical rating system developed by Deke Houlgate of Los Angeles.
Litkenhous System - a difference-by-score formula developed by Edward E. Litkenhous, a professor of chemical engineering at Vanderbilt, and his brother Frank.
Williamson System - a power rating system developed by Paul Williamson of New Orleans, a geologist and member of the Sugar Bowl committee.
In 1935, Dickenson and Houlgate chose SMU as the MNC. Dunkel chose Princeton. Litkenhaus chose Minnesota. Williamson chose TCU.
The Williamson was the only ranking issued after the bowl games, same as the AP and coaches polls do today. All others were issued before the bowl games were played.
Regardless, four teams can legitimately claim a share of the 1935 title. TCU’s and SMU’s claims are as legitimate as anyone else’s.
The AP media poll was adopted the following year, 1936. From 1936-1964 and in 1966 and 1967, the final AP ranking was issued before the bowl games. This was changed to after the bowl games in 1965 and from 1968-present.
The UPI coaches poll was not adopted until 1950. From 1950-1973, the UPI issued its final rankings before the bowl games. In 1974 it switched after the bowl games. In 1991, the UPI was replaced as the coaches poll by USA Today/CNN, which in 1997 became USA Today/ESPN.
The various rating systems that predated the current polls were split in their decisions in 1935. The pre-1936 national champions listed on various football websites are all arbitrary because they all depend on what pre-poll rating system that particular site gives the most weight to.
Of the multitude of rating systems in 1935, the most highly regarded (in alphabetical order) were:
Dickenson System - a mathematical point system based awarding various point totals for wins over teams with winning or non-winning records, devised by Frank Dickinson, a professor of economics at the Univ. of Illinois.
Dunkel System - a power index system devised by [deleted] Dunkel Sr. and syndicated to newspapers around the nation.
Houlgate System - a mathematical rating system developed by Deke Houlgate of Los Angeles.
Litkenhous System - a difference-by-score formula developed by Edward E. Litkenhous, a professor of chemical engineering at Vanderbilt, and his brother Frank.
Williamson System - a power rating system developed by Paul Williamson of New Orleans, a geologist and member of the Sugar Bowl committee.
In 1935, Dickenson and Houlgate chose SMU as the MNC. Dunkel chose Princeton. Litkenhaus chose Minnesota. Williamson chose TCU.
The Williamson was the only ranking issued after the bowl games, same as the AP and coaches polls do today. All others were issued before the bowl games were played.
Regardless, four teams can legitimately claim a share of the 1935 title. TCU’s and SMU’s claims are as legitimate as anyone else’s.