THE OPENING FIRST & GOAL READER'S CHOICE COLUMN: USC ARE THE CHAMPS

A week and a half ago my GameDay sports blog decided to take the power in crowning a national champion away from the evil BCS and put it in the hands of the people. Now, several days after voting began, a true college football champion has indeed been chosen by the ones who count the most — you.
And the people’s choice is — Southern California.
That’s right, our first national champ is actually a darkhorse that emerged from a four-team race to stake claim as the season’s best. USC beat out Florida, Utah and Texas for the title.
It wasn’t a blowout by any stretch of the imagination, although it did look like it as the poll hit its stride. After a handful of votes were spread evenly between the two favorites, Florida and Utah, in the early going, USC came on like a freight train and ended up blowing past the Gators and Utes to take a commanding lead. Texas, if you were wondering, was getting absolutely no love from the people.
While Florida and Utah managed to stay within striking distance, it was still Southern Cal’s race to lose heading into the final day.
But, much like they did in the BCS National Championship game against Oklahoma, Florida made its run when it counted the most and slowly but surely closed the gap to the point where in the final hours, the champion could have come from either down South or out West.
Southern Cal, however, held off the charge from the Aaron Hernandez-led Gators late to squeeze out the victory.
The Trojans ended up with 38 percent of the vote, while the Gators managed to pull in 34 percent. Utah came in with 19 percent and Texas picked up 7 percent.
My vote went to the underdog Utah Utes, who made it through the season as the only undefeated team in major college football. Not only did they finish a perfect 13-0, but they also went out and beat up on No. 4 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
Alabama was the same team that led Florida in the fourth quarter of the SEC Championship. Utah beat Oregon State as well, which was the only squad to defeat Southern Cal this past season. So, I believed they were more than deserving to win the championship both in our poll and the AP vote as well.
Florida, however, copped both the BCS and the AP championships. That doesn’t mean a thing year, though, as USC is our champion.
Our first reader poll is in the books … now it’s on to the next one, which will be hosted at bradcarrollgameday.blogspot.com. Check out the blog and vote, comment and even suggest your own poll questions. (And feel free to e-mail or call us with your vote or comments as well at (860) 584-0504 or at bcarroll@bristolpress.com.)
Make sure you check back every Tuesday for the results and comments from you the reader. This is your space, so stand up and be heard.