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He lives and works in a state with the dubious distinction of having the lowest percentage (43) voter turnout in the nation for the last presidential election.
But Nick Rolovich, University of Hawaii football coach, wants you to know that he is pledged to be a proud and conscientious voter.
In local and national elections as well as, now, USA Today’s Amway Coaches Poll.
He is one of the youngest owners of a ballot in this year’s poll, a second-year head coach whose choices count as much as a national championship winner such as Nick Saban of Alabama, Ohio State’s Urban Meyer, Clemson’s Dabo Swinney or Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher.
The coaches poll released this week had Alabama No. 1, but Rolovich’s pick was defending national champion Clemson. “They finished on top of the final one last year, so that’s how I feel they should start,” Rolovich said. “After Week One, we’ll see.”
Similarly, Mountain West Conference champion San Diego State finished 25th in 2016, so that is where the Aztecs begin 2017 on his ballot even if they didn’t crack the Top 25 of a majority of the 64 other head coaches who vote in the 27-year-old poll.
The Associated Press poll, which marks its 82nd year, is due out on Aug. 21 and is based on balloting by writers and broadcasters. (The Star-Advertiser’s Dave Reardon represents the state this year).
After following the polls for many years as a fan, player and coach, Rolovich said, “I think it is nice to finally be a part of it. Actually, I feel it is kind of an honor, to be honest. You have a say in (picking the best of) those who are playing the greatest game in the world.”
Rolovich said while he did the voting for the preseason poll, he may seek feedback from his UH coaching staff in helping to fill out subsequent ballots. “It will be good for discussion,” Rolovich said.
Not all UH head coaches who have had the opportunity have embraced it. Greg McMackin, for instance, told reporters, “Polls to me don’t mean anything. I’m on the USA (Today) deal, and it’s hard to keep up with that.”
Nationally there are tales of coaches being so occupied with their regular duties that they turned their ballots over to their sports information directors to complete. Instances of coaches moving up friends — or lowering rivals — have become legend.
In 2007, for example, then-New Mexico State coach Hal Mumme voted his pass-happy pal, June Jones, and the unbeaten Rainbow Warriors, No. 1 in the regular-season-ending poll. Former New Mexico coach Dennis Franchione of Texas A&M, a not-so-big UH booster, picked them 22nd.
Since USA Today and the American Football Coaches Association only release the votes of coaches after the season-ending poll, coaches are able to cloak their ballots in anonymity until then.
Which is why then-Ohio State coach Jim Tressel once declined to turn in a final ballot since he didn’t want it known whether he voted for rival Michigan or Florida at No. 2 (behind the Buckeyes). In 2015, then-USC coach Lane Kiffin maintained he would not vote the Trojans No. 1 in the preseason because of depth and other issues but was outed after he did, indeed, vote his team No. 1.
Not that some of the finest minds of our time, the writers and broadcasters who vote in the AP poll, are above playing favorites or making head-shaking omissions. But their ballots are publicly revealed, rated and subject to scorching fan criticism each week — as our email in-box last season was able to attest.
Rolovich, the coach who has given us an Elvis impersonator, Pokemon hunts and water balloon wars, pledges, “This is not gonna be a joke to me. I want to do the best that I can. If it becomes a pain in the (butt), I just won’t do it next year.”
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