FWAA 2004 Trophy.

[AuburnKev 15]

USC will keep the Gold or silver football AP trophy. The BCS and USC vacated the crystal one. My question is:  Will we accept the bronze football trophy of the FWAA to replace the crystal football of the BCS in a split title? How many will  claim it proudly as legitimate? How many will say it still isn't a recognized title?

My oppinion: All three trophies are given by media organizations. The AP (Associated press) The BCS (United press international sponsors it) The FWAA (Football writers association of America). Why should the latter not be as legit as the others? The FWAA trophy is kept prominently on display by every team who has ever been given one in their trophy rooms. Why should it be different for us? I for one am not gonna let a bunch of bammers dictate whether or not it is legit. After all, if they can come up with 6 in one day and defend it, we should be able to defend this one.

[around4ever 4,139]

We will gladly accept the well deserved and hard earned trophy.  The 2004 team deserves it. 

[Rednilla 5,449]

We will gladly accept the well deserved and hard earned trophy.  The 2004 team deserves it. 

^^^THIS^^^

[The SandMntTiger 9]

We will gladly accept the well deserved and hard earned trophy.  The 2004 team deserves it. 

^^^THIS^^^

X 2

[rws0009 0]

I already claim 2004 as a national championship and the decision by the FWAA, whether good or bad, will have no effect of that, but I will say this: In the Rane Room in the Athletic Complex where all the trophies are displayed, there is a trophy that says "2004 People's Choice National Champion."

[AuburnKev 15]

I actually claim 3 "recognized" championships for us. Billingsley (Part of the current BCS selectors) and the CFDW  (college Football Data Warehouse) site, both list the 1913 team as a "recognized" national Championship. I don't know why Auburn doesn't, except I was told they follow the "SEC standard" of only post AP/UPI titles are considered recognized.  We do at least put it in our media guide as champions. Anyway, to me there is 1913, 1957 and now 2004 as recognized. 1983 is one I would like to claim, but we don't have enough of an argument to defend it. We do have Billingsley recognizing that one, and the New York Times, but that wouldn't win an argument over it. No trophy.

[kreagle 0]

We will gladly accept the well deserved and hard earned trophy.  The 2004 team deserves it. 

^^^THIS^^^

X 2

x 3,....and counting!

[AUBigCat 17]

x 4!!

[Rednilla 5,449]

I don't know why Auburn doesn't, except I was told they follow the "SEC standard" of only post AP/UPI titles are considered recognized.

If that's the case, then Bama is not following the SEC Standard. Four of their national championships are from pre-AP, and one of them is from right after the AP started (they finished #20 in that poll).

[around4ever 4,139]

I say count all eight of them. 

http://www.auburnfootball.com/auburn-national-championships.htm

[walker77 0]

All 8-MNC are ours...

[ausoldiergrad 57]

I'm more worried about the next one than any in our past. 

[Rickys Rants 0]

I'm more worried about the next one than any in our past. 

DITTO!

[AUnCullman 601]

Has anyone seen what Oklahoma says about this?

Are they wanting the FWAA trophy?

Do they even care?

I just wonder what their take on this is and I havn't seen or heard anything out of those guys about it in the news.

Of course I havn't been on their message boards or web pages either, it may be all over the news there locally. 

[NoALtiger 4,066]

The "People's Choice" championship is SO embarrasing, I throw up in my mouth a little everytime I hear that and AU in the same sentence! Very lame. Very bush league. I wish our name wasn't associated with it at all. If it were Bammer, we would all be making jokes about them and their "championship". We all know we were the best that year, but grasping at straws isn't going to change anything. These days, the BCS is the only legit title imo, anything else is for the minor leagues. I know it's hard, but we all gotta let it go and look forward! WDE.

[NoALtiger 4,066]

Has anyone seen what Oklahoma says about this?

Are they wanting the FWAA trophy?

Do they even care?

I just wonder what their take on this is and I havn't seen or heard anything out of those guys about it in the news.

Of course I havn't been on their message boards or web pages either, it may be all over the news there locally. 

One more thing from me on this. You are correct. Oklahoma has a much right to this "title" as we do. Just depends on how you look at things. I would rather nobody gets it, it almost makes USC look even worse that way.

[45Tiger 0]

I'd be more interested in knowing if USC got to keep their share of BCS money from that season.

[kingofhill1 2]

As a "legit title" the BCS is about on the same level as Santa Claus.

I'd put th is FWAA thing somewhere on the level of the tooth fairy.

[AUCE05 370]

The "People's Choice" championship is SO embarrasing, I throw up in my mouth a little everytime I hear that and AU in the same sentence! Very lame. Very bush league. I wish our name wasn't associated with it at all. If it were Bammer, we would all be making jokes about them and their "championship". We all know we were the best that year, but grasping at straws isn't going to change anything. These days, the BCS is the only legit title imo, anything else is for the minor leagues. I know it's hard, but we all gotta let it go and look forward! WDE.

x 1000.  If you don't win the BCS, you're not national champions.  Hate to say it, the 04 team is not the national champion that year and we just need to move on.  I also cringe when I hear, "People's Champion."  What's funny, USC was considered the power program of the 00's and they have 0 championships. 

[norcuron 35]

I would rather not have a championship that we have to defend having.

Do I think we were the best team in 2004. yes.

Did we win the championship? No.

Yes our men deserve it but are they gonna get together after 6 years in a locker room and celebrate a MNC? No.

They were robbed and there is nothing that can replace what was stolen from them.

Sure, take the gimpy trophy. It is not adequate restitution.

just my 2 cents.

WDE!

[AUFan1 0]

I agree, The People's National Championship is a joke... Also this referring to the MNC is kinda lame too. On one hand we are saying it's not real, but in the same breath argue that we should be the 2004 BCS NC... I hate to say it, but referring to it as a MNC really caught on around January of this year... I hate bammer as much as anyone, but the fact is they won the BCS NC last year... Let's stop worrying about bammer, and NC's from 6 years ago, and concentrate on 2010.

[AuburnKev 15]

Seems to be about half and half, which is about what I expected. I appreciate all the comments and views.

One final thought: I am one who likes history, so the past means more to me I guess. I am proud of what Auburn has accomplished through the years, and all I want is to see us recognized for our body of work. That is what this is about for me. I just do not like being blown off and ignored by biased people. Everytime we think we have climbed to the top, somebody says, no you didn't. 1972 we finish in the SEC with 1 loss just like Alabama and a head to head win over Alabama. They are given the title simply because they scheduled an extra SEC game. 1983 we are ranked 3rd and win our bowl game. #1, and #2 both lose. #5 Miami becomes the champion. 1993, 11-0, but probation from years before keep us from doing more. 2004, USC cheats there way to the BCS and Oklahoma whines there way to it. We are shut out of an opportunity again. I'm sorry, maybe I should keep turning the other cheek so to speak, but I'm getting sick of it. If the FWAA awards us the championship, I'm claiming it. I guess  I've had enough.

[Bunn1 0]

Seems to be about half and half, which is about what I expected. I appreciate all the comments and views.

One final thought: I am one who likes history, so the past means more to me I guess. I am proud of what Auburn has accomplished through the years, and all I want is to see us recognized for our body of work. That is what this is about for me. I just do not like being blown off and ignored by biased people. Everytime we think we have climbed to the top, somebody says, no you didn't. 1972 we finish in the SEC with 1 loss just like Alabama and a head to head win over Alabama. They are given the title simply because they scheduled an extra SEC game. 1983 we are ranked 3rd and win our bowl game. #1, and #2 both lose. #5 Miami becomes the champion. 1993, 11-0, but probation from years before keep us from doing more. 2004, USC cheats there way to the BCS and Oklahoma whines there way to it. We are shut out of an opportunity again. I'm sorry, maybe I should keep turning the other cheek so to speak, but I'm getting sick of it. If the FWAA awards us the championship, I'm claiming it. I guess  I've had enough.

I'm with you on this one, Also, the 1913 team, even though it was prior to the AP has more of an argument than all of those. Probably the best defense ever fielded by a college team, allowing 0 points during the entire 8 game season. While racking up 195 points for themselves.

[auburn4ever 1,266]

Auburn football teams have been awarded some form of national Champions title eight times, although the officially claims only the 1957 title awarded by The Associated Press.

The NCAA's Web site states that: "The NCAA does not conduct a national championship in Division I-A football and is not involved in the selection process", but it adds that "a number of polling organizations provide a final ranking of Division I-A football teams at the end of each season."

The NCAA Web site lists four Auburn teams that have been named national champions by at least one organization.

The following is the complete list of Auburn teams ranked No. 1 and some of the organizations that recognized them as national champion:

* 1910, 6-1 (Loren Maxwell)

* 1913, 8-0 (Billingsley, James Howell, 1st-N-Goal), CFDW (College Football Date Warehouse)

* 1914, 8-0-1 (James Howell)

* 1957, 10-0 (AP)

* 1958, 9-0-1 (Montgomery Full Season Championship)

* 1983, 11-1 (The New York Times, ARGH, Billingsley, DKC, Eck, FACT, Fleming, Football Research, James Howell, Massey Ratings, Nutshell Sports, Sorensen, Sparks Achievement, David Wilson, 1st-N-Goal)

* 1993, 11-0 (Harry Frye, National Championship Foundation, Nutshell Sports, Sparks Achievement, David Wilson)

* 2004, 13-0 (Darryl W. Perry, EFI, FansPoll, People’s Choice National Championship, GBE, Hank Trexler, M Cubed

The AP Poll did not begin selecting a champion until 1936 nor did the American Football Coaches Association poll until 1950, so many national champion titles previous to those date were awarded retroactively.

However during the 1910s, it's difficult to dispute the legitimacy of the Auburn titles. The undefeated 1913 and 1914 teams coached by Mike Donahue were some of the best defenses in Auburn history.

In fact, the 1914 squad allowed zero points all season, outscoring opponents 193-0.

The 1983 team featuring Bo Jackson went 11-1, came within one point of being undefeated and finished the season by beating Michigan 9-7 in the Sugar Bowl. The 1993 team, coached by Terry Bowden went 11-0, but was denied postseason play because of NCAA probation imposed by rules violations of the previous staff.

The undefeated 2004 squad (13-0) finished second in The AP and Coaches Top 25 polls, but the team was awarded the 2004 Fanspoll.com and the People's National Champion title.

[auburn4ever 1,266]

Why don't Auburn claim any of those national championships? other people do claim them. If I was an Auburn coach, I would take pride and brag to any recruit that we have won 8 football national championships and not just 1.