Dear ESPN: Who’s Compiling Your NCAA Football Stats?

• Tweet
• Email

Dear ESPN:

I’m curious to know who exactly is responsible for compiling the NCAA football statistics at ESPN.com, the Worldwide Leader, the kings of sports television and one of the most powerful media entities on the planet.

You’ll note I posted the 2009 NCAA football statistics earlier today on MoonDog Sports and was perusing through ESPN to capture all of the data I needed.

As I’m looking at the numbers and transferring them into the tables, I noticed there was a tiny problem.

Whoever is responsible for compiling the numbers for ESPN can’t add.

While compiling the team offensive leaders I was looking at the total yards, passing yards, etc. I see where ESPN has the Florida Gators as the number one team in total offense, with a two-game total of 1287 yards.

OK, that’s fine, but here’s the problem.

ESPN shows the Gators with 660 rushing yards and 636 passing yards. Let’s see – 660 + 636 = 1296. So how do the Gators have 1287 total yards but rushing and passing yardage that equals 1296?

Me thinks something is askew.

So there I am at 0200, breaking my back digging through individual game statistics to provide my three loyal readers with up to date and accurate information they so desperately need.

And the Gators weren’t the only team with mathematical errors I found. Check out the link to ESPN’s team offensive leaders and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

So please ESPN, if I’m going to provide my readers with a weekly update of the NCAA FBS football statistical leaders, I need someone with your fine organization to hire a person who can handle the 1 + 1 = 2 thing.

Better yet, since I’ve already corrected your mistakes and posted the accurate figures on MoonDog Sports, ESPN can cheat off of me.

Just send me a blank check for my trouble. Don’t worry, I won’t be like a politician and fill in the blanks for more than you’ve got.

Much love,

MoonDog