Alabama's on top again!

The two best teams played and Bama won. I hope Smart brings some of that to GA.

FYI - Walter Becker has said in interviews that they came up with the line They call Alabama, "The Crimson Tide" because it was the best example of the exaggerated grandiosity of meaningless winning that they could come up with.

Good thing they beat a team in orange last night, because that's the only time in 2016 they'll do it.

Congratulations to Alabama for being awarded the mythical title of Best College Football Program. They did what was needed, this year, to achieve that goal.

Now. The problem is that allowing the media or whomever to decide who the final four competitors will be is crooked, at best. Let's up that number to sixteen and try again. That is probably the minimum number with which to have a legitimate playoff to find the true champion. Hold the first eight games early in the bowl season. Hold the next four games late in the bowl season. Then wrap up as was done this year. That will find the true championship team. This year, it might have turned out to be Alabama or Clemson or three or four other likely contenders. Such a playoff would find the teams that have depth and aren't totally dependent on one or two players who might get hurt early in the playoffs then be unavailable for the final game. All one needs to do is look at March Madness to discover proof of teams that are far better than the media ever wants to admit, especially down the stretch, with or without certain stars being in the games.

I didn't have a dog in that hunt, so it really didn't matter to me who took home the trophy. But it was indeed a good game, all the way down to the last second. Clemson's last possession was a strong show. At first I thought they were pissin' into the wind. Then they scored and only needed five more points. I got to thinking, "wouldn't Saban be mad if Clemson DID pull off an onside and score"...But it wasn't to be.

Nobody on Clemson's team gave up until the final whistle. A class act. It was a great ball game, No. 2 and No. 1....and there was only one trophy.

One more championship and Nick can start wearing that funny hat.

Holy Cow, post: 352883, member: 50 wrote: Congratulations to Alabama for being awarded the mythical title of Best College Football Program. They did what was needed, this year, to achieve that goal.

Now. The problem is that allowing the media or whomever to decide who the final four competitors will be is crooked, at best. Let's up that number to sixteen and try again. That is probably the minimum number with which to have a legitimate playoff to find the true champion. Hold the first eight games early in the bowl season. Hold the next four games late in the bowl season. Then wrap up as was done this year. That will find the true championship team. This year, it might have turned out to be Alabama or Clemson or three or four other likely contenders. Such a playoff would find the teams that have depth and aren't totally dependent on one or two players who might get hurt early in the playoffs then be unavailable for the final game. All one needs to do is look at March Madness to discover proof of teams that are far better than the media ever wants to admit, especially down the stretch, with or without certain stars being in the games.

At least we do have the 4 team playoff now. The SEC was in favor of that in 2004 when Auburn was undefeated but couldn't play for the championship because USC and Oklahoma both ran the table as well. The only reason the playoff came about was due to the BCS formula matching LSU and Alabama in 2011.

Tommy,
"Good thing they beat a team in orange last night, because that's the only time in 2016 they'll do it." Will the Vols be wearing white when they play in Knoxville?:-P Tennessee is an improving team this year. After 9 straight losses, they are due for a win.

paden cash, post: 352885, member: 20 wrote: I didn't have a dog in that hunt, so it really didn't matter to me who took home the trophy. But it was indeed a good game, all the way down to the last second. Clemson's last possession was a strong show. At first I thought they were pissin' into the wind. Then they scored and only needed five more points. I got to thinking, "wouldn't Saban be mad if Clemson DID pull off an onside and score"...But it wasn't to be.

Nobody on Clemson's team gave up until the final whistle. A class act. It was a great ball game, No. 2 and No. 1....and there was only one trophy.

One more championship and Nick can start wearing that funny hat.

Nick doesn't wear a hat during a game unless it is raining. He does wear a straw hat on the practice field.

Steve Gilbert, post: 352890, member: 111 wrote: Nick doesn't wear a hat during a game unless it is raining. He does wear a straw hat on the practice field.

I was talking about a hat that looks like this:

Best National Playoff game overall in a while. Very little controversy.

btw, Nick and probably no other coach will never earn the right to wear that hat..........

paden cash, post: 352915, member: 20 wrote: I was talking about a hat that looks like this:

I knew that. Nick is creatinig his own legacy alongside Coach Bryant's.

Holy Cow, post: 352883, member: 50 wrote: Congratulations to Alabama for being awarded the mythical title of Best College Football Program. They did what was needed, this year, to achieve that goal.

Now. The problem is that allowing the media or whomever to decide who the final four competitors will be is crooked, at best. Let's up that number to sixteen and try again. That is probably the minimum number with which to have a legitimate playoff to find the true champion. Hold the first eight games early in the bowl season. Hold the next four games late in the bowl season. Then wrap up as was done this year. That will find the true championship team. This year, it might have turned out to be Alabama or Clemson or three or four other likely contenders. Such a playoff would find the teams that have depth and aren't totally dependent on one or two players who might get hurt early in the playoffs then be unavailable for the final game. All one needs to do is look at March Madness to discover proof of teams that are far better than the media ever wants to admit, especially down the stretch, with or without certain stars being in the games.

I don't think 16 games will fly. I would like to see the playoff expanded to 8 teams. This would increase the total number of games by 2, which is the big issue. They could increase to 6 teams with the top two rated teams getting a bye for week one and increase the total games by 1. Either would be an improvement and increase revenue. However, I still believe the best two teams played this year.

16 teams, not 16 games

The main reason to go that deep is that the media types and coaches absolutely hate voting for the "no-names" like Temple, Houston and other upstarts any given year that are condemned for playing an inferior schedule. The truth is that they may actually have a superior team to most of those ranked ahead of them but they aren't allowed to prove that, with the exception of a bowl win over a third or fourth place finisher in some renowned conference.

Another reason is to improve the quality of more bowl games. There were three or four under-.500 teams in bowls this year. And I know one 6-6 team that had not beaten one quality team the entire season.

Alabama already played 15 games this year (I believe Clemson did as well) - I don't see how you could stretch it much farther than that. I can see them going from four teams to eight in the not too distant future, but even at eight you're bringing in teams that realistically have no chance of winning it.

I would readily argue that any of the top 16 could beat anyone of the other top 16 on a neutral field with neutral officiating. A quick look at losses in the NFL in recent weeks proves that propensity does exist. From the basketball scene one can cite all sorts of games that were won by mighty underdogs. Any old timers here remember #1 Virginia and Ralph Sampson losing to microscopic Chaminade?

Holy Cow, post: 353029, member: 50 wrote: I would readily argue that any of the top 16 could beat anyone of the other top 16 on a neutral field with neutral officiating.

If any of the top 16 can beat the other, then does a playoff really finalize anything other than saying that Team A randomly beat Team B on that given day? I tend toward being a reactionary, but any college football game after January 1st is a travesty.

"Tradition is a work of the spirit which, in turn, is a work of the tradition. When a tradition perishes the spirit is extinguished...."
NicolÌÁs GÌ?mez Davila

I don't think you can draw parallels between college football and either pro football or college basketball. Everyone in the NFL is a professional, there isn't the disparity in talent and coaching that exists in college. I do remember the Chaminade - Virginia game, but I also know that no 16 seed has ever taken out a 1. Basketball is just a different game; with a few very rare exceptions everyone loses at least a handful of games every season. All it takes to get a tournament upset is a highly motivated and talented team to get hot against a higher ranked opponent having an off night.

Steve Gilbert, post: 352832, member: 111 wrote: "They got a name for the winners in the world
I, I want a name when I lose
They call Alabama, "The Crimson Tide"
(Aah)
Call me Deacon Blues"
Read more: Steely Dan - Deacon Blues Lyrics | MetroLyrics
What a game! An unexpected onside kick, a kickoff return for a touchdown, and 4 lead changes! RTR!

We went to the Iron Bowl this year, its something I've always wanted to do. It was great being there....

Against Clemson what impressed me was the agility of the defensive line man running down the back near the goal line, when seen from the pylon cam..amazing....It was a great game well deserving of a national championship, both teams left everything on the field!