Thursday, May 3, 2012

Clearing Up Alabama's National Championship Debate...

Never in my life have I seen such a hubbub created by overly envious fans of rival teams. The envy is so strong, it's almost deadly. And of course, it all started when a goathumper (*ubarn, AL) fan discovered one of Alabama's titles was questionable. Then he began spreading misinformation and fabricated facts all across the internet, making it appear as if almost every Alabama championship is illegitimate.

There's been so much misinformation and baseless lies posted all across the internet regarding Alabama's 14 national championships, it's a crying shame so many people believe it, without bothering to do any research on their own.

Luckily, I'm here to pick up your slack...


Pre-AP/UPI Era (25, 26, 30 and 34)

Many claim these titles are illegitimate because during this era, there was "no such thing as a national champion". That, however, is false. Don't ask me where they get that idea from. They only assume there wasn't one because no polls existed during this time period.

If said people bothered to research their facts, they'd learn the Rose Bowl was the de facto national championship game (because it was the first and only bowl game to be played during this era, and the whoever was deemed the two best teams were invited to play in the annual game). Unlike them, I have done a little research myself and what I found, may surprise the envious liars.

So national champions didn't exist during this era of college football? Here are the screenshots from a few of my findings:

(click on each photo to see its full resolution)









The above photo shows O. Elmer Anderson presenting the 1935 national championship trophy to UA President George Denny; Coach Frank Thomas; team captain Captain Bill Lee.


As you can see, clearly one existed in during these years, and that was The University of Alabama.

Now there is an argument to be made about polls retroactively selecting champions in later years, but that doesn't change the fact Alabama won said titles fair and square. I have read where once the AP and UPI were implemented, college football basically "started over" (which explains why later polls retroactively selected champions during this period), meaning all past records were erased. But if this is the case, then to be fair to all the men who won titles during the 20s and 30s, then once the 2014 playoff system is implemented, college football should once again "start over", thus erasing all past accomplishments of every D1A team during the AP, UPI and BCS eras, right?


1941

Truly the only Alabama championship worth questioning the validity of. By now, the AP title had been established as the dominant selector, but Alabama did not finish first in its annual poll in this particular season. No one knows why Alabama claims this title, but in Alabama's defense, around the same time period there were numerous teams who claimed titles, despite not finishing first in the AP poll.

There was Kentucky in 1950, who finished 7th in the AP; Illinois who finished 5th in 1951; USC who finished 3rd in 1939; Tennessee who finished 4th in 1940 and 2nd in 1938; Georgia who finished 2nd in 1942; Pitt who finished 3rd in 1936; etc. etc. etc.

So as you can see, obviously this was the norm for the late 30s to early 50s. It was theorized that the AP remained irrelevant in the eyes of many until the UPI debuted in 1950, which was why so many teams claimed titles from that era, despite not finishing first in the major poll.


1964

People claim because Alabama lost their bowl game, they should give this title up. What kind of sense does that make when they were awarded the title BEFORE the bowl game was played?

During this time period, bowl games were considered "exhibition games". The AP would award their national champions at the end of the regular season, before the bowl games were played. Bowl games were basically a game that served as a reward for teams who elected to play in one (yes, they were optional as well). Saying post-season exhibition games counted during this era would be the equivalent to saying pre-season NFL games count today. Again, what kind of sense does that make?

Don't believe me?  Alabama isn't the only team to win a national title, despite not playing in or losing a bowl game. National Champion Oklahoma won the title in 1950, yet lost to Kentucky in the Sugar Bowl; National Champion Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now known as *ubarn, AL) won the title in 1957, despite not even playing in a bowl game due to NCAA sanctions; National Champion Tennessee lost to Maryland in the 1951 Sugar Bowl; National Champion Maryland lost the 1953 Sugar Bowl to Oklahoma; National Champions Minnesota lost the 1960 Rose Bowl to Washington; National Champions Michigan State lost the 1965 Rose Bowl to UCLA; National Champions Texas lost the 1970 Cotton Bowl to Notre Dame...

Either way, Alabama finished the regular season number 1 in both the AP and UPI thus winning the title. That can't be taken away from them. Period.

(By the way, do you guys have a problem with 8-0-1 Ohio State claiming a share of the 1961 title, not from the AP or UPI, because they were awarded to Alabama, but from the Football Writer's Association?)



1965


For some reason, people like to claim Alabama did not deserve this title because two other teams finished with a better record than 'Bama did.....

Then in fairness to Alabama by applying the same logic, in 1937, Alabama finished 8-0-1 while national champion, Minnesota finished 7-1; in 1945, Alabama finished 10-0 (with a Rose Bowl win) while National Champion, Army, finished 9-0, skipping out on the bowl season; In 1966, Alabama finished 11-0, while National Champion(s) Notre Dame and Michigan State (co-champs) both finished 9-0-1; In 1974, Alabama finished 11-1, while National Champion USC finished 10-1-1.


1973

See 1964.


1978



People claim because Alabama lost to USC in the regular season, and they both ultimately finished with the same record, then this title is not legit. Well, I guess since Alabama lost to LSU in the 2011 regular season, who also finished the season with an overall better record than Alabama, then the 2011 national title is illegitimate, correct?

Alabama did lose to USC at the beginning of the season, but Alabama jumped USC midway through the season after USC lost to mediocre Arizona State, while Alabama never lost another game. 

To complete the season, number 2 Alabama defeated number 1 Penn State in the Sugar Bowl, winning the AP title. I must also note USC was awarded the UPI title at the season's end.


Let's not forget about '37, '45 unclaimed years and the '66 and '77 screwjobs

That's right, if Alabama claimed outright bogus national championships, then why don't they make a claim for ANY of the aforementioned years in which they rightfully deserved the national championship?

In 1937, they finished 8-0-1 while the national champs, Minnesota finished 7-1. If Alabama claimed bogus titles, why don't they make a claim for 1937? Not to mention UA found itself screwed out of a Rose Bowl bid because Washington refused to play another powerful southern team in Alabama (the team who upset them in a previous Rose Bowl match-up) and instead tapped Pitt as their opponent.

In 1945, Alabama finished 10-0, while also winning the prestigious Rose Bowl. National Champion Army finished 9-0, but skipped out on the bowl season. Again, if Alabama claimed bogus championships, why aren't they claiming 1945? Many Alabama football historians have argued this is the greatest team in Alabama's storied history!

Since people like to talk about Alabama screwing teams out of national championships, what about the years Alabama was screwed out of a title as well?

In 1966, Alabama was working on a three-peat, the first in AP poll era history. After winning the AP title in 1964 and 1965, Alabama started the season number 3 behind Notre Dame and Michigan State. Everyone questioned why, considering they were arguably better than both teams. Alabama blew through their schedule shutting out six of its 11 opponents, while not giving up more than 14 points the whole season (and they only gave up 14 points ONCE)! But 9-0-1 Notre Dame intentionally played 9-0-1 Michigan State to a tie in their bowl game, totally screwing Alabama out of any championship chances.

After winning the Super Bowl that year, Vince Lombardi was asked if there was "any doubt the Packers were the best team in all of football", to which he replied, "I don't know... we haven't played Alabama yet!"

In 1977, it happened once again. Entering the bowl season, Alabama was number 3. However, number 1 and number 2 lost their respected bowl games, while Alabama destroyed Ohio State 35-6. But instead of Alabama jumping to number 1, guess who did? Number 5 Notre Dame. But here's the kicker: both Notre Dame and Alabama finished the season 11-1. Only problem is, Notre Dame's only loss came against Ole Miss, a team Alabama shellacked that year.

Even Woody Hayes said in the aftermath of the Sugar Bowl beatdown, "We were just whipped by the national champions. No doubt about it."

So to those of you who say "If we claim titles like Alabama, we could claim 5 more!" Well, you DO claim titles in the same method as Alabama, just as Alabama claims titles in the same method as everyone else. Only difference is, they have more and if they wanted to, they could claim a few more - that is IF UA claimed flat out bogus national championships.

Not only that, Alabama also leads the nation in bowl victories and bowl appearances, while also leading the SEC in conference titles as well. I can't help but wonder if our envious rivals will begin spreading lies and misinformation about those accomplishments soon. Either way, it's not going to change the fact that Alabama has the most!

Deal with it!



10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great write up!

People are going to believe what they want to believe, though.

Many are butt-hurt because Alabama has so many, but like you said, other than 1941, there's no disputing the rest of the championships.

I have a feeling 40 years from now, the next generation will be questioning Alabama's 2011 title, without researching the facts themselves, just as they do with Alabama's past championships.

UA'03 said...

PENIS! PENIS! PENIS! PENIS! PENIS! PENIS! PENIS! PENIS!

^My thoughts on what the barn-tards in Lee County have to say about our past accomplishments.

Anonymous said...

Funny how of all the teams who claim NC's without winning the AP poll in the 30's-50's, the only team whose final AP ranking he fails to mention is 1941 Alabama's(which was 20th, the worst by far).

1941 is a joke and makes our other claims look questionable. We should have never claimed it.

Anonymous said...

Okay fuck-tard, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, or 20th, what difference does it make? Why would he have to list it? None of the other aforementioned teams finished first, so it really doesn't matter. The OP was saying Alabama isn't the only team to claim a title from that era without finishing first in the AP. I swear I get sick and fucking tired of you pussies caving for those sheep-grinding, Wire Road inbreds.

Anonymous said...

BTW, how does ONE title make the rest of our claims appear questionable? I don't quite understand that logic.

Florida Blogger Is Flaming Homosexual said...

Do you fart in public, Florida Blogger?

BTW, have you guys over at Tardfans found the bag man yet? Here's a tip to take with you: my sources tell me he's been hanging around your mom's bedroom hereof late.

Florida Blogger Is Flaming Homosexual said...

Florida BLOGGER likes to touch male dogs in the peen. Fact.

LSUbravo said...

I have no problem with any of Alabama's claims, other than 1941, and I really don't see why others do as well.

However, the OP uses the Rose Bowl to validate the pre poll claims, yet totally dismisses the poll era bowls as exhibition.

I'm not quite comprehending that logic.

LSUbravo said...

I have no problem with any of Alabama's claims, other than 1941, and I really don't see why others do as well.

However, the OP uses the Rose Bowl to validate the pre poll claims, yet totally dismisses the poll era bowls as exhibition.

I'm not quite comprehending that logic.

Bamamanchip said...

15 Now about to be 16 next year so like the man said Get Over It Your Only Jealous ...