Alabama mystique...yuck

[quietfan 233]

I don't get it...never have gotten the fascination with/worship of the Turd. Most everybody (other than themselves) considers their fans the worst in college football, yet their teams always seem to get special treatment.

Seems like Pat Forde agrees:

http://sports.yahoo....-231854511.html

Part of the beauty of being Alabama is that you never have to apologize for a loss. There's always an explanation for why it shouldn't be held against the Crimson Tide

There seems to be someone ever-ready to offer a rationalization for the occasional Tide stumble. Or, in the latest case, a committee of someones.

The College Football Playoff selection committee this week scrubbed the résumés of all the top teams, eyeballed 'Bama's 43-37 home loss to Mississippi and collectively said, "So what?" It ranked the Tide No. 4 in its first top 25 of 2015 – and while early November rankings don't mean much, it's an awfully cushy starting spot for a program that is accustomed to getting its way.

'Bama's No. 4 ranking must have raised some eyebrows in Gainesville. Florida is No. 10, despite having beaten that same Ole Miss team by four touchdowns two weeks after the Rebels won in Tuscaloosa.

The Gators' loss, by a touchdown at CFP No. 2 LSU while starting a new quarterback, certainly would qualify as a better loss than Alabama's. Maybe the committee was dazzled by the Tide beating Georgia by 28? Maybe – but Florida beat Georgia by 24. Narrowly beating Tennessee at home? Yeah, Florida and Alabama can both check that box.

But the Crimson Tide is six spots ahead of the Gators because – well, committee chair Jeff Long is here to explain.

"Alabama from our point of view, you know, had a stronger schedule in the games that they've won," Long said Tuesday night. "They've got three wins against teams with … better than .500 records, and Ole Miss with two and Florida with two. So that's the difference, but you know what, those are good teams, no question, and they're close, even though they may be separated by a number of ranking spots.

"I think if you go look at Alabama and how they won those games that they've won against quality opponents, and I think that sends a strong message of why we ranked Alabama higher than Florida."

The strong message is that the difference between losing to Ole Miss and routing Ole Miss can be washed away by, say, beating Texas A&M. Gig 'em, Tide.

Alabama also is nine spots ahead of undefeated Memphis, which beat Ole Miss by 13 points. Anything there, Jeff?

"You know, [the Tigers] have two other wins against teams with better than .500 records, so that stood out at us at this time," Long said.

To recap: Memphis and Alabama have beaten the same number of teams with better than .500 records – a sudden differentiating element, according to the committee. And Memphis beat the team that beat Alabama. And Memphis is undefeated. But here's what else could be inferred in the rankings: one team is Alabama and the other is Memphis.

So, yes, it's good to be 'Bama. As in years past, losses can be excused.

The playoff semifinal bust against Ohio State last season? The NFL draft deadline interfered with the preparation focus. Nick Saban said so in July.

The regular-season loss to Ole Miss last year? Didn't stop the Tide from being the No. 1 seed in last year's playoff, ahead of four other one-loss teams and one unbeaten.

The Sugar Bowl flop against Oklahoma to end the 2013 season? No motivation after Iron Bowl shocker. (Just as there was no motivation against massive underdog Utah in the Sugar Bowl five years earlier.)

And that Iron Bowl loss itself? A fluke – plus an illegal forward pass for Auburn's penultimate touchdown. Don't forget that. Alabama dropped only three spots in the polls after that one.

How about the home loss to Texas A&M in 2012? LSU hangover. Move on.

And the LSU home loss in 2011? Aberration, subsequently rectified in the all-SEC BCS championship game – a game that did much to hasten the demise of the BCS. Alabama dropped just two spots in the human polls after that loss, from No. 2 to No. 4, making it easy to work back into the BCS top two.

Much of the time, Alabama has made good on the second chances afforded to it by those whose votes matter. The Tide won national championships in 2011 and '12, both of them convincingly. They deserved their second shot, made the most of their do-overs, earned their benefit of the doubt.

And maybe they will this season as well, if they win out and make the CFP field. Maybe a second annual loss to Ole Miss can be survived with all the highest goals still intact. But Alabama's famously wide margin for error is gone, which makes the annual collision with LSU on Saturday a must-win.

A team with two division losses is a long shot to win the SEC West this season, unless some shocking things happen in the final weeks. The shocking is at least theoretically possible in a division where everyone is at least pretty good, but Alabama would lose head-to-head tiebreakers with both LSU and Mississippi if the Tide don't win Saturday.

And even then, a two-loss SEC champion – with both losses at home – would be a tough sell from a playoff perspective. Undefeated Power 5 champions – still very much possible in the ACC, Big 12 and Big Ten – could not be passed over for an 11-2 SEC team. A one-loss Pac-12 champ or Notre Dame also would have a legitimate beef if it were left out for a two-loss winner of the SEC.

And so, too, would a 13-0 Memphis. Which beat Mississippi, which beat Alabama.

Which can be explained away. Really. Just give the committee a chance.

But the Tide will be fresh out of explanations or rationalizations if they don't win Saturday in Tuscaloosa. There will be no do-overs or make-goods or power rankings that could save Alabama from the impact of a second loss.

[AUBwins 10,064]

Nice to see this come from a member of national media. It won't change anything but still good to see.

[lionheartkc 6,150]

Sometimes Forde can be a blow-hard, and jump on the wrong bandwagon, but he is one of the few members of the sports media who is willing to tell it like it is when crap like this is going down.

[penguin149 390]

Don't kid yourself....being ranked highly at this point in the season helps....a lot. Unless someone just absolutely thumps one of the top 4 teams or they lose multiple games, they won't drop much. They'll hang around close enough to make their way back in should somone above them stumble.

The 2004 season showed you all you need to know....once a guy makes his top 4, 10, 25 or whatever list, he will stick to it as long as possible....in 20014 OK & USCw were #1 & #2 to begin the season....that never changed regardless of how close some their wins were against weaker opponents...."I started out with these teams on top and the season finished with them on top....look how smart I am"!

[AU64 10,122]

The first release won't mean much after this weekend.....committee just letting LSU and Bama be the first game of the play-offs for those teams.

[looney 794]

Ole Miss still controls their own destiny...

Rankings get interesting if both Bama and Ole Miss win out.

The press would want to put Bama in but Miss would win the west (but with a non-con loss to Memphis).

Lotta games left...

[AU64 10,122]

Ole Miss still controls their own destiny...

Rankings get interesting if both Bama and Ole Miss win out.

The press would want to put Bama in but Miss would win the west (but with a non-con loss to Memphis).

Lotta games left...

Maybe true but the press not making the decisions....as you note, lots of games left....lotta very important games left....and some teams will probably get weeded out in the next few weeks.

Hate bama or whatever....but I don't know of any team out there that I would take on an even bet against them. I'm pulling for LSU ...but that does not count for much and I'm sure not betting that LSU will win.

[HarpyTrain 1]

The college football "playoff" committee is nothing more than a glorified, human bcs system. It's still GARBAGE! It STILL relies on some subjective, arbitrary and faulty rationale; Forde's article exposes that completely. Until college football goes to a playoff system like any of the true, major professional sports in this country, it will always be garbage. I am sooooooo sick of the excuses too: "too many games", "interferes with education" "too long after new years" :-\ Garbage! All of it. Make it 16 teams - the 10 conference winners automatically are in and 6 at large. The second week of December use 8 (of the FREAKING FORTY ) of the newer cheapo bowls; then the next weekend 4 of the middle-tier bowls (Sun, Holliday, Alamo, Citrus) for the round of 8. Then on new years do the same as they are now - new years day six bowls with the rotation. That way some of the bigger teams that missed the cut still get into a new years day bowl game for $**t and giggles. Let the committee pick the 6-at large for whatever stoopid reasons they have now. And your done. 16 team playoff uses 15 of the ridiculous 40 bowl games and cuts down on the amount of 6-6 teams that water down the post season.

[Weegle777 78]

Until you have an eight team playoff with conference champs only, this will always be the case.

[TigerOne 1,138]

how many on the committee are updykes or have financial interest in them?

[E'Town4Bama 109]

Just look at Bama's record since 2008. That is why they are always in the conversation. Their worst loss in that period is 14 to USCe and OU. The other losses have been single digits. You gotta admit, that is pretty damn good. They are consistent.

[E'Town4Bama 109]

Until you have an eight team playoff with conference champs only, this will always be the case.

I agree with 8 but only 5 conference champs and 3 at larges.

[AU64 10,122]

how many on the committee are updykes or have financial interest in them?

maybe one at most....unless you can show otherwise. JMO but you need to a bit more cautious about implying dishonest motives about people you do not know.

http://www.collegefootballplayoff.com/selection-committee

[bigman334 56]

u guys do realize that this is just the first week of the rankings right? a lot of these teams have to play each other. it always works itself out.

[HarpyTrain 1]

Until you have an eight team playoff with conference champs only, this will always be the case.

I agree with 8 but only 5 conference champs and 3 at larges.

That's not enough. You only do 8 and discount the the smaller D1 conferences then you will continue to have controversy. Every season there is a Memphis, Boise, TCU or Utah (the latter 2 prior to their joining a P5 conference) that will have a solid claim to being admitted to the playoff. And this season you could very well have had 2. Unless you explicitly classify the smaller conferences as non-D1 then they should be allowed ALL of the same benefits of the P5 schools. 16 teams; 10 conference winners and let a committee decide on the other 6 based on whatever criteria they decide. But winning your conference, be it Sun Belt, Mountain West, SEC, or B1G should give you an automatic ticket to play for a natty. That will get rid of all this "they beat 3 .500 teams in the last half of the season with a key defensive player missing blah blah blah" crap.

[Weegle777 78]

Until you have an eight team playoff with conference champs only, this will always be the case.

I agree with 8 but only 5 conference champs and 3 at larges.

I disagree because that would put the human element back into play. Plus, just about every year you would give the SEC Championship loser another chance.

[looney 794]

u guys do realize that this is just the first week of the rankings right? a lot of these teams have to play each other. it always works itself out.

Point taken, but TCU and Baylor disagree about that last part.

[FHeal 4]

The college football "playoff" committee is nothing more than a glorified, human bcs system. It's still GARBAGE! It STILL relies on some subjective, arbitrary and faulty rationale; Forde's article exposes that completely. Until college football goes to a playoff system like any of the true, major professional sports in this country, it will always be garbage. I am sooooooo sick of the excuses too: "too many games", "interferes with education" "too long after new years" :-\ Garbage! All of it. Make it 16 teams - the 10 conference winners automatically are in and 6 at large. The second week of December use 8 (of the FREAKING FORTY ) of the newer cheapo bowls; then the next weekend 4 of the middle-tier bowls (Sun, Holliday, Alamo, Citrus) for the round of 8. Then on new years do the same as they are now - new years day six bowls with the rotation. That way some of the bigger teams that missed the cut still get into a new years day bowl game for $**t and giggles. Let the committee pick the 6-at large for whatever stoopid reasons they have now. And your done. 16 team playoff uses 15 of the ridiculous 40 bowl games and cuts down on the amount of 6-6 teams that water down the post season.

Why retain any of the bowl system at all? Just play the games home and away. It keeps the money in and around campus towns, and the fans can make more playoff games. Why should mega cities like New Orleans, LA, or Atlanta make all the big bucks.... when they don't have a team in the game?

[AU64 10,122]

The college football "playoff" committee is nothing more than a glorified, human bcs system. It's still GARBAGE! It STILL relies on some subjective, arbitrary and faulty rationale; Forde's article exposes that completely. Until college football goes to a playoff system like any of the true, major professional sports in this country, it will always be garbage. I am sooooooo sick of the excuses too: "too many games", "interferes with education" "too long after new years" :-\ Garbage! All of it. Make it 16 teams - the 10 conference winners automatically are in and 6 at large. The second week of December use 8 (of the FREAKING FORTY ) of the newer cheapo bowls; then the next weekend 4 of the middle-tier bowls (Sun, Holliday, Alamo, Citrus) for the round of 8. Then on new years do the same as they are now - new years day six bowls with the rotation. That way some of the bigger teams that missed the cut still get into a new years day bowl game for $**t and giggles. Let the committee pick the 6-at large for whatever stoopid reasons they have now. And your done. 16 team playoff uses 15 of the ridiculous 40 bowl games and cuts down on the amount of 6-6 teams that water down the post season.

Why retain any of the bowl system at all? Just play the games home and away. It keeps the money in and around campus towns, and the fans can make more playoff games. Why should mega cities like New Orleans, LA, or Atlanta make all the big bucks.... when they don't have a team in the game?

Bowl games have been a part of college football forever and would be a huge decision to give that up....though they would still exist for the teams not participating in the play-offs.

Plus, we get to see most of the games played in good weather cities. The first time AU had to play a play-off game in Michigan....you would understand better. .

But more important in my view is that the play-offs try to create a neutral environment for the play-off games and the bowl game locations pretty much answer that question.

[Randman5000 4,223]

[keesler 5,923]

I don't get it...never have gotten the fascination with/worship of the Turd. Most everybody (other than themselves) considers their fans the worst in college football, yet their teams always seem to get special treatment.

Seems like Pat Forde agrees:

http://sports.yahoo....-231854511.html

Part of the beauty of being Alabama is that you never have to apologize for a loss. There's always an explanation for why it shouldn't be held against the Crimson Tide

There seems to be someone ever-ready to offer a rationalization for the occasional Tide stumble. Or, in the latest case, a committee of someones.

The College Football Playoff selection committee this week scrubbed the résumés of all the top teams, eyeballed 'Bama's 43-37 home loss to Mississippi and collectively said, "So what?" It ranked the Tide No. 4 in its first top 25 of 2015 – and while early November rankings don't mean much, it's an awfully cushy starting spot for a program that is accustomed to getting its way.

'Bama's No. 4 ranking must have raised some eyebrows in Gainesville. Florida is No. 10, despite having beaten that same Ole Miss team by four touchdowns two weeks after the Rebels won in Tuscaloosa.

The Gators' loss, by a touchdown at CFP No. 2 LSU while starting a new quarterback, certainly would qualify as a better loss than Alabama's. Maybe the committee was dazzled by the Tide beating Georgia by 28? Maybe – but Florida beat Georgia by 24. Narrowly beating Tennessee at home? Yeah, Florida and Alabama can both check that box.

But the Crimson Tide is six spots ahead of the Gators because – well, committee chair Jeff Long is here to explain.

"Alabama from our point of view, you know, had a stronger schedule in the games that they've won," Long said Tuesday night. "They've got three wins against teams with … better than .500 records, and Ole Miss with two and Florida with two. So that's the difference, but you know what, those are good teams, no question, and they're close, even though they may be separated by a number of ranking spots.

"I think if you go look at Alabama and how they won those games that they've won against quality opponents, and I think that sends a strong message of why we ranked Alabama higher than Florida."

The strong message is that the difference between losing to Ole Miss and routing Ole Miss can be washed away by, say, beating Texas A&M. Gig 'em, Tide.

Alabama also is nine spots ahead of undefeated Memphis, which beat Ole Miss by 13 points. Anything there, Jeff?

"You know, [the Tigers] have two other wins against teams with better than .500 records, so that stood out at us at this time," Long said.

To recap: Memphis and Alabama have beaten the same number of teams with better than .500 records – a sudden differentiating element, according to the committee. And Memphis beat the team that beat Alabama. And Memphis is undefeated. But here's what else could be inferred in the rankings: one team is Alabama and the other is Memphis.

So, yes, it's good to be 'Bama. As in years past, losses can be excused.

The playoff semifinal bust against Ohio State last season? The NFL draft deadline interfered with the preparation focus. Nick Saban said so in July.

The regular-season loss to Ole Miss last year? Didn't stop the Tide from being the No. 1 seed in last year's playoff, ahead of four other one-loss teams and one unbeaten.

The Sugar Bowl flop against Oklahoma to end the 2013 season? No motivation after Iron Bowl shocker. (Just as there was no motivation against massive underdog Utah in the Sugar Bowl five years earlier.)

And that Iron Bowl loss itself? A fluke – plus an illegal forward pass for Auburn's penultimate touchdown. Don't forget that. Alabama dropped only three spots in the polls after that one.

How about the home loss to Texas A&M in 2012? LSU hangover. Move on.

And the LSU home loss in 2011? Aberration, subsequently rectified in the all-SEC BCS championship game – a game that did much to hasten the demise of the BCS. Alabama dropped just two spots in the human polls after that loss, from No. 2 to No. 4, making it easy to work back into the BCS top two.

Much of the time, Alabama has made good on the second chances afforded to it by those whose votes matter. The Tide won national championships in 2011 and '12, both of them convincingly. They deserved their second shot, made the most of their do-overs, earned their benefit of the doubt.

And maybe they will this season as well, if they win out and make the CFP field. Maybe a second annual loss to Ole Miss can be survived with all the highest goals still intact. But Alabama's famously wide margin for error is gone, which makes the annual collision with LSU on Saturday a must-win.

A team with two division losses is a long shot to win the SEC West this season, unless some shocking things happen in the final weeks. The shocking is at least theoretically possible in a division where everyone is at least pretty good, but Alabama would lose head-to-head tiebreakers with both LSU and Mississippi if the Tide don't win Saturday.

And even then, a two-loss SEC champion – with both losses at home – would be a tough sell from a playoff perspective. Undefeated Power 5 champions – still very much possible in the ACC, Big 12 and Big Ten – could not be passed over for an 11-2 SEC team. A one-loss Pac-12 champ or Notre Dame also would have a legitimate beef if it were left out for a two-loss winner of the SEC.

And so, too, would a 13-0 Memphis. Which beat Mississippi, which beat Alabama.

Which can be explained away. Really. Just give the committee a chance.

But the Tide will be fresh out of explanations or rationalizations if they don't win Saturday in Tuscaloosa. There will be no do-overs or make-goods or power rankings that could save Alabama from the impact of a second loss.

How's that Alabama mystique lookin' today folks?

[AU64 10,122]

Now Keesler....that was naughty.....

Complain about the mystique.....sure it's there.....but I'm still waiting on someone to name a team in the top 10 that would be likely to beat bama on a neutral field. I hate to say it....but it's possible they could lose a game yet....but it's gonna be a big upset if it happens.

[mcgufcm 4,096]

A team that would be likely to beat Bama on a neutral field? I don't know about "likely," but if I were handicapping the games, I'd have Bama (independent of the influence public money has in moving every Bama line) and underdog to Clemson and Ohio State. I'd say Baylor would be a pick'em.

College football is about matchups. LSU is Alabama's wet-dream. That's a team that tries to out-Alabama, Alabama. Sometimes it works, but I guarantee Saban would take 10 LSU games over 2 games against spread teams (of really any variation) with legit QBs. Teams that speed up the game. Teams with QBs that can move enough to exploit their coverage schemes (by extending plays). That's what keeps Nick up at night. It's not Brandon Harris running LSU's power-run offense.

Auburn, on the other hand, would much rather play against spread teams than a power-run game (that's at least true right now but was untrue in 2010... which makes the defensive performance at the national championship even crazier). It's about matchups. If Bama ran up against Notre Dame and Stanford in the CFP, they'd win the national title. If they come into the thing as the 2- or 3-seed and have to play OSU and Clemson, that's an uphill climb.

Bama is great. They deserve credit and respect. Saban has done a better job than anyone since 1990s Diddy Bowden in keeping his guys focused week-on-week, year-on-year. They don't get blown out. They don't lose to unranked teams. They show up for big games. They improve from the start of the season to the end, every year. It's impressive. That said, they (like everyone else) have matchups they need (or at least really, really want) to avoid.

[looney 794]

I wish we could just "+1" or "like" a post without adding an additional post to say "+1" or "like".

[tiger88 934]

I wish we could just "+1" or "like" a post without adding an additional post to say "+1" or "like".

+1