Litkenhous Ratings
{{Short description|Mathematical system for ranking sports teams}}
The Litkenhous Difference by Score Ratings system was a mathematical system used to rank football and basketball teams. The Litrating system was developed by Vanderbilt University professor Edward E. Litkenhous (1907 – December 22, 1984){{cite news |date=December 24, 1984 |title=Dr. Litkenhous Funeral Service At Woodlawn |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117139148/dr-litkenhous-funeral-service/ |work=The Tennessean |publication-place=Nashville, Tennessee |access-date=January 23, 2023}} and his brother, Francis H. Litkenhous (December 9, 1912 – June 22, 1996).{{cite news |last=Elkins |first=Roy |date=February 8, 1948 |title=Dr. Lit Is Noted Sports Expert |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116352949/litkenhous-biography-1948/ |work=Kingsport Times–News |publication-place=Kingsport, Tennessee |access-date=January 12, 2023}}
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football records book includes the Litkenhous Ratings as a "major selector" of college football national championships for the seasons 1934 through 1984.{{cite book |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2022/FBS.pdf |title=2022 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records |section=National Champion Major Selections (1896 to Present) |pages=112–114 |publisher=The National Collegiate Athletic Association |date=July 2022 |location=Indianapolis |access-date=January 4, 2023 |quote=The criteria for being included in this historical list of poll selectors is that the poll be national in scope, either through distribution in newspaper, television, radio and/or computer online. The list includes both former selectors, who were instrumental in the sport of college football, and selectors who were among the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) selectors.}}
College football national champions
File:Litkenhous Ratings Championship trophy.jpg
Teams in the following table were ranked No. 1 by the Litkenhous Difference by Score Ratings system.{{cite news |last=Litkenhous |first=Dr. E. E. |date=December 22, 1957 |title=O-State Ends Sooners' Reign — Buckeyes Tops In Litkenhous |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116350328/litkenhous-ratings-1934-1957/ |work=The Wichita Eagle |access-date=January 12, 2023 |quote=The top ratings by years: 1934–1957}}{{cite news |date=December 20, 1966 |title=Notre Dame Football Team Regains High Ranking After Long Hiatus |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117050985/litkenhous-ratings-1966-1934/ |work=Hartford Courant |access-date=January 22, 2023 |quote=Litkenhous Ratings 1966–1934}}
The NCAA records book credits Litkenhous as a "major selector" for the seasons 1934 through 1984, and credits the system with 51 total rankings. However no selections are listed in the NCAA records book for six seasons: 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, and 1980.
† Years where Litkenhous selection is omitted from the NCAA records book.
=Litkenhous trophy=
The No. 1 team in the year's final ranking was awarded the Litkenhous Ratings Championship trophy. The traveling trophy took the form of a huge wooden plaque and bronze mural by artist Marion Junkin.{{cite news |date=November 20, 1952 |title=Litkenhous State Trophy |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116355581/litkenhous-trophy-marion-junkin-bronze/ |work=Nashville Banner |access-date=January 12, 2023 |quote=This huge plaque, with a bronze mural by Marion Junkin,}}
The trophy plaque is engraved with the winners for 1934–1962. Ole Miss was evidently the last Litkenhous champion to receive the trophy; the trophy is still held today at the University of Mississippi.
Further reading
- [http://thebasketballstories.com/?p=2022 The Mysterious Dr. Litkenhous]
References
{{Reflist |refs=
{{Cite sign |title=Litkenhous Ratings Championship trophy |date=July 18, 2013 |type=Trophy plaque |publisher=Litkenhous Ratings |location=Hollingsworth/Manning Hall, University of Mississippi |url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Litkenhous_Ratings_Championship_trophy.jpg |access-date=April 5, 2023 |quote=The Difference By Score System}}
{{cite news |last=Frakes |first=Jason |date=December 26, 2021 |title=Remember those Litkenhous Ratings? Here's what happened |url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/preps/kentucky/2021/12/21/litkenhous-ratings-why-courier-journal-stopped-publishing-them/8840386002/ |url-access=subscription |work=Courier Journal |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-remember-those-litke/116358804/ 1B], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-litkenhous-ratings-c/116358813/ 4B] |publication-place=Louisville, Kentucky |quote=the original computer code for the Litratings was written in COBOL. The code was rewritten in 2004 and by 2016 had become outdated as technology progressed.}}
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{{Sports rating systems}}
Category:College football rankings
Category:College men's basketball rankings in the United States