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Football Writers Association of America Nov. 3, 2002
For Immediate Release
Contact: Steve Richardson
972-713-6198

Virginia Tech earns Team of the Week honor
OKLAHOMA TOPS GRANTLAND RICE
SUPER 16 POLL; USC NOW NO. 2

DALLAS (FWAA) – The Oklahoma Sooners continued to pace the FWAA's Grantland Rice Super 16 Poll, collecting all 16 first-place votes for the fourth straight week since the poll resumed on Oct. 13. The Sooners, one of only two remaining unbeaten teams in Division I-A, solified their spot with a convincing 52-9 romp over in-state rival Oklahoma State.

After Oklahoma, though, things start to get interesting as USC has risen to No. 2, ahead of Florida State and LSU. Just one poll point separates the Seminoles and Tigers, though. USC ran away from Washington State, 43-16, to assume the No. 2 ranking, while Washington State fell to No. 13.

This week's FWAA National Team of the Week, Virginia Tech, caused the biggest tremor in the poll with its 31-7 win over then No. 2 Miami, ending the Hurricanes' 40-game regular-season unbeaten streak. That dropped Miami down to No. 7, just a point below Ohio State. Now at No. 5, the Hokies, on the strength of two defensive touchdowns, rekindled their national title hopes ten days after falling victim to the previous national team of the week, West Virginia. Arkansas, with its 71-63 overtime win at Kentucky, was the only other school nominated for team of the week.

As for the rest of the poll, Michigan moved up four spots to No. 8 after dropping Michigan State, 27-20. The Wolverines, one of five Big Ten teams in the poll, lead a pack of two-loss teams from 8-11. Michigan State fell five spots to No. 14. TCU, the only other unbeaten team in the nation, moved up two spots to No. 12. Texas worked its way back into the poll, up to No. 10 with its 31-7 win over Nebraska, which joined Oklahoma State as the two teams to fall from the rankings this week.

Click here to see how and why each pollster voted

The complete poll for the week of Nov. 3 is as follows:

  School [1st Place Votes] W-L Pts.  LW Next Game
1. Oklahoma [16] 9-0 256 1 Nov. 8
2. USC 8-1 237 3 Nov. 8
3. Florida State 8-1 207 5 Nov. 8
4. LSU 8-1 206 6 Nov. 8
5. Virginia Tech 7-1 191 10 Nov. 8
6. Ohio State 8-1 174 8 Nov. 8
7. Miami 7-1 173 2 Nov. 8
8. Michigan 8-2 131 12 Nov. 8 n
9. Georgia 7-2 118 4 Nov. 8
10. Texas 7-2 86 - Nov. 8
11. Iowa 7-2 85 15 Nov. 8
12. TCU 8-0 68 14 Nov. 5 vs. Louisville
13. Washington State 7-2 52 7 Nov. 8
14. Michigan State 7-2 43 9 Nov. 8
15. Purdue 7-2 35 16 Nov. 8
16. Florida 6-3 32 - Nov. 8
Also receiving votes: Bowling Green 22, Nebraska 11, Tennessee 11, Oklahoma State 10, Ole Miss 8, Pittsburgh 7, Auburn 6, Boise State 3, Minnesota 3, Northern Illinois 1.
By conference: Big Ten (5), SEC (3), Big 12 (2), Big East (2), Pac-10 (2), ACC (1), Conference USA (1).
Dropped out: Nebraska (11), Oklahoma State (13).

The FWAA/Grantland Rice Super 16 Poll, which has made its debut last season, will decide the winner of the Grantland Rice Trophy, the FWAA's national championship award presented since 1954. The presentation will be made on Mon., Jan. 5 in New Orleans following the Nokia Sugar Bowl.

The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club also awards a Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week award each Tuesday.

For further information contact Steve Richardson, Executive Director of the FWAA (972-713-6198, tiger@sportswriters.net) or Ted Gangi, FWAA webmaster (214-823-7992, webmaster@sportswriters.net).

2003 FWAA Teams of the Week
Aug. 30: Southern California
Sept. 6: Wake Forest
Sept. 13: Arkansas
Sept. 20: Marshall
Sept. 27: California
Oct. 6: Baylor
Oct. 13: Oklahoma
Oct. 20: Florida
Oct. 27: West Virginia
Nov. 3: Virginia Tech

2003 FWAA/GRANTLAND RICE SUPER 16 POLLSTERS
EAST SOUTH MIDWEST WEST
Mark Blaudschun
Boston Globe
Mike Griffith
Knoxville News-Sentinel
Dennis Dodd
CBS SportsLine
Bob Condotta
Seattle Times
Jordan Burchette
maximonline.com
Ron Higgins
The Commercial Appeal
Pete Fiutak
collegefootballnews.com
Steve Henson 
Los Angeles Times
Frank Coyle
MSNBC/draftinsiders.com
Stewart Mandel
si.com
Darryl Richards
Freelance
Bob Moran
East Valley Tribune
Lenn Robbins
New York Post
Jeff Shain
Miami Herald
Dave Sittler
Tulsa World
Adam Thompson
Denver Post
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