Unbeaten West Virginia Loses in the Coalition : College football: The Mountaineers are second in coaches’ poll, but third in the one that counts.

There’s a difference between an undefeated season and a perfect one, a distinction that West Virginia Coach Don Nehlen now can describe in detail.

Nehlen’s Mountaineers, who finished the regular season 11-0, were left out of the national championship mix Sunday when voters presented Nebraska and Florida State with the only New Year’s Day game that really matters: a matchup between the coalition poll’s No. 1 Cornhuskers (11-0) and the No. 2 Seminoles (11-1) in the Orange Bowl.

Although West Virginia finished ahead of Florida State in the USA Today/CNN coaches’ poll--Nebraska was first, the Mountaineers second, the Seminoles third--it wasn’t enough to overcome the results of the Associated Press poll. The writers and broadcasters voted Florida State No. 1, followed by the Cornhuskers and West Virginia. When the point totals of the two polls were combined for the bowl coalition standings, the Mountaineers could do no better than third.

“We had a perfect season and it’s very difficult for our kids to understand how the bowl coalition works, especially when the coaches voted us No. 2,” Nehlen said. “But there’s no way I’m going to get bent out of shape because we get a chance to go to a great bowl and play a great football team.”

In all likelihood, the Mountaineers will receive a Cotton Bowl bid and play seventh-ranked Texas A&M; (10-1). However, the Dallas Morning News reported today that the Mountaineers might turn down the Cotton Bowl’s $3-million payday in favor of $4.1 million from the Sugar Bowl. Official invitations won’t be extended until Sunday, when the bowl coalition announces its pairings.

While Nehlen simmered, Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden explained why he thought the Seminoles and not the Mountaineers deserved first chance at a national title game against Nebraska. In a nutshell: strength of schedule.

Bowden also declared a truce in the war of words between West Virginia and Florida State. Last week, Nehlen chastised the poll voters and also questioned the Seminoles’ claim to a championship shot. He charged that if the Mountaineers were squeezed out, “then it’s just political.”

No hard feelings, Bowden said.

“If I was Don Nehlen, I’d say exactly what he said and I’d do exactly like he said.”