4down20
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I've voted for USC in honor of Roboticdreams, unless @iowajerms will count him as a silent vote for USC. I really hope he gets one.
However, the right answer is Alabama. Grab a beer and have a seat.
Rose Bowls
We'll get to the national championships, but this story starts before they even had National Champions. Many people who don't know much about college football history may think Alabama has always gotten respect, but that's not the case at all. In the 20's college football was all about the east and west coasts and northern midwest area. The south didn't get much respect at all.
After many teams turned down a bowl offer, Alabama agreed to travel to California and play in the Rose Bowl in 1926 to face the undefeated Washington Huskies. Alabama, treated much like mid-majors are today, were expected to get blown out. Instead, Alabama won 20-19, shocking everyone, and brought respect to southern football. Alabama was considered "the team of the south".
Alabama would go on to win many more Rose Bowls before they shut the SEC out of it. Still, Alabama has more Rose Bowl wins than any locked teams. The Rose Bowl is even mentioned in our fight song.
Rushing Team?
While most people think of Alabama as a rushing team, and for many years that's been true, it was actually an Alabama player, Don Hutson who is credited with creating what is considered to be the "modern receiver". He went on to set many NFL records. A huge contribution to football.
Legendary Coaches
Alabama has had 4 legendary coaches, 2 of which might be considered and debated against for greatest of all time. Bear Bryant, Nick Saban, Wallace Wade and Frank Thomas.
National Championships
Of course, we all know about Alabama's Championships, no matter if you think they are legit or not. However, what is often overlooked is that Alabama has been a HUGE part of the national championship process for basically the past 70 years. There are very few changes that Alabama hasn't been a part of - and it's not always a good thing for Alabama.
AP and Coaches polls were both changed because of Alabama. Traditionally bowl games were considered exhibition games and the final rankings came out at the end of the season. Alabama won the AP national championships in 1964 but lost it's bowl game, causing the AP to switch. A similar event happened again in 1973 and the Coaches poll also changed to after the bowl games.
Of course, more recently came in 2011 when Alabama got a rematch against LSU in the BCS. While the SEC and ACC had for years tried to get a playoff, the Big10 and Pac10 blocked it because of the Rose Bowl etc. After seeing 2 SEC teams get in, these conferences finally changed their positions and it lead to the college football playoff we have now.
And while sadly Alabama didn't win the first playoffs, they were among the teams who played in it, putting yet another chapter in the national championship story.
No matter what you think of Alabama's national championships, the simple fact of the matter is you can't hardly mention the word National Championships without someone thinking about Alabama, and more times than not bringing up Alabama(usually out of hate).
Recent History is lobsided
USC has great history, most of it is player based rather than team based, but they've done well in both areas. And leading into the 2007 season, I can easily see why USC would be seeded higher. But after the way Alabama dominated over these past 7 years with Nick Saban, winning 3 more national championships and back to back championships becoming one of the best dynasties in college football - Alabama has really taken the lead.
There is some much damn Alabama story on the media these days, I get tired of seeing it all even as an Alabama fan. Even as much as I love Alabama and the process, I might just puke if I have to watch another special on it. Alabama is the program and standard for football these days, being in the championship mix basically 6 of the past 8 years. Alabama has only had a few losses since 2008, but the majority of them have been to teams that won the national championship. The only team that has won a National Championship since 2008 without beating Alabama is Florida St in 2013. We can go back further, but I wouldn't say pre 2008 Alabama was an obstacle.
And the hate that all generates is likely to get a few votes against Alabama, but there it is.
There are plenty of other stats we could mention, winsepedia is also slanted towards Alabama last I looked.
Alabama has the head to head by a good margin, but I don't personally believe head to head means a ton when you don't play regularly.
However, the right answer is Alabama. Grab a beer and have a seat.
Rose Bowls
We'll get to the national championships, but this story starts before they even had National Champions. Many people who don't know much about college football history may think Alabama has always gotten respect, but that's not the case at all. In the 20's college football was all about the east and west coasts and northern midwest area. The south didn't get much respect at all.
After many teams turned down a bowl offer, Alabama agreed to travel to California and play in the Rose Bowl in 1926 to face the undefeated Washington Huskies. Alabama, treated much like mid-majors are today, were expected to get blown out. Instead, Alabama won 20-19, shocking everyone, and brought respect to southern football. Alabama was considered "the team of the south".
Alabama would go on to win many more Rose Bowls before they shut the SEC out of it. Still, Alabama has more Rose Bowl wins than any locked teams. The Rose Bowl is even mentioned in our fight song.
Rushing Team?
While most people think of Alabama as a rushing team, and for many years that's been true, it was actually an Alabama player, Don Hutson who is credited with creating what is considered to be the "modern receiver". He went on to set many NFL records. A huge contribution to football.
Legendary Coaches
Alabama has had 4 legendary coaches, 2 of which might be considered and debated against for greatest of all time. Bear Bryant, Nick Saban, Wallace Wade and Frank Thomas.
National Championships
Of course, we all know about Alabama's Championships, no matter if you think they are legit or not. However, what is often overlooked is that Alabama has been a HUGE part of the national championship process for basically the past 70 years. There are very few changes that Alabama hasn't been a part of - and it's not always a good thing for Alabama.
AP and Coaches polls were both changed because of Alabama. Traditionally bowl games were considered exhibition games and the final rankings came out at the end of the season. Alabama won the AP national championships in 1964 but lost it's bowl game, causing the AP to switch. A similar event happened again in 1973 and the Coaches poll also changed to after the bowl games.
Of course, more recently came in 2011 when Alabama got a rematch against LSU in the BCS. While the SEC and ACC had for years tried to get a playoff, the Big10 and Pac10 blocked it because of the Rose Bowl etc. After seeing 2 SEC teams get in, these conferences finally changed their positions and it lead to the college football playoff we have now.
And while sadly Alabama didn't win the first playoffs, they were among the teams who played in it, putting yet another chapter in the national championship story.
No matter what you think of Alabama's national championships, the simple fact of the matter is you can't hardly mention the word National Championships without someone thinking about Alabama, and more times than not bringing up Alabama(usually out of hate).
Recent History is lobsided
USC has great history, most of it is player based rather than team based, but they've done well in both areas. And leading into the 2007 season, I can easily see why USC would be seeded higher. But after the way Alabama dominated over these past 7 years with Nick Saban, winning 3 more national championships and back to back championships becoming one of the best dynasties in college football - Alabama has really taken the lead.
There is some much damn Alabama story on the media these days, I get tired of seeing it all even as an Alabama fan. Even as much as I love Alabama and the process, I might just puke if I have to watch another special on it. Alabama is the program and standard for football these days, being in the championship mix basically 6 of the past 8 years. Alabama has only had a few losses since 2008, but the majority of them have been to teams that won the national championship. The only team that has won a National Championship since 2008 without beating Alabama is Florida St in 2013. We can go back further, but I wouldn't say pre 2008 Alabama was an obstacle.
And the hate that all generates is likely to get a few votes against Alabama, but there it is.
There are plenty of other stats we could mention, winsepedia is also slanted towards Alabama last I looked.
Alabama has the head to head by a good margin, but I don't personally believe head to head means a ton when you don't play regularly.
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