They Won’t Rock Rose Bowl Boat : Football: Washington and Michigan coaches oppose playoff system.

Washington’s Don James and Michigan’s Gary Moeller, opposing coaches in the Rose Bowl game on Jan. 1, said all the right things Tuesday at a news conference in Pasadena.

James called Michigan a great team, “probably the best we’ve seen in the last two or three years.”

Moeller did him one better, calling Washington maybe the best team he had ever seen.

Both called the Rose Bowl the best of the postseason games.

“In my mind, it is the bowl game,” Moeller said.

And both said they oppose a playoff system to determine a national college football champion.

This was particularly relevant, especially from James’ standpoint, because Washington (11-0) could be voted out of a national championship even if it defeats Michigan (10-1) on New Year’s Day to complete an unbeaten season.

Washington is in a virtual tie for the top spot with Miami in the CNN/USA Today poll but is ranked No. 2 behind the Hurricanes in the Associated Press poll.

Michigan, ranked fourth in the AP poll and third in the CNN/USA Today poll, will stake its own claim to No. 1 if it defeats Washington and Nebraska beats Miami in the Orange Bowl.

James said he prefers the bowl system even if it should cost the Huskies a national title.

“I don’t judge myself, or my personal success, based on whether or not I win the national championship,” James said.

Still, he would love to win it.

“The interesting thing about where I’m at, the University of Washington has never won a national championship in any sport, and we play in the conference of champions,” James said. “Our league has won more than any other league. . . .

“I go to meetings and see (Tennessee Coach) Johnny Majors with his national championship ring. It would be fun to have one.”

But he won’t stump for it.

“I don’t want to get into the bashing of another team,” he said. “I think that if two teams ended up 12-0, it would be great if one team could win one poll and the other team could win the other.

“I’m not out to say we’re better than (Miami). I just hope we’re better than Michigan.”

Not all are so understated.

“I’ve been reading in a lot of papers, players being quoted (saying), ‘These guys don’t belong in our league,’ ” James said. “I’ve noticed even a couple of comments out of our players, and they don’t have a clue. They haven’t seen Miami play.”

Except on television.

And this season, that’s as close as they’re going to get.