Auburn is now apparently claiming a national championship for its 1993 season – you know, the one (one of the ones?) during which the Tigers were on probation.
Does that mean Southern Cal’s 2004 championship is still recognized on the Plains? I bet Tubs is pissed.
(h/t Jason Kirk)
Get The Picture 
I read….”Radio National Champions.”
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National champions of what?
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Alabama started all of this back in the 70’s, when their AD at that time decided to claim a MNC for every year in which just one poll/publication ranked them as champs for that year. Back in the day, there were all sorts of polls, some of dubious distinction with clear agendas or clueless heads. Those were also the days in which some polls named their MNC before the bowl games were even played.
Thus, some of Bama’s claimed MNC occurred during years in which they lost 2-4 games, including their bowl game, yet some ragtag poll or publication listed them as #1 anyway, so they ran with it. If I recall, there was a season in particular in the 40’s or 50’s that Bama went something like 7-3, along with a tie and a blowout loss in their bowl game, yet some poll out of Memphis or wherever ranked them #1 anyway, much to Bama’s delight years later.
Frankly, I’m surprised more teams haven’t jumped on this bandwagon. When we played at Bama both in ’02 and ’07, the Bama media guide listed UGA as having won 5 MNC’s, even though we only claim 2. I’ll never forget telling my Bama crazed friend, who hosted me for the ’02 game, that only Bama would claim more MNC’s an SEC rival than they would themselves.
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We actually claim 5 but we also state that only 2 of them were “consensus”. And I think that is fair and accurate.
Click to access history-champions.pdf
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Funny how nobody lists 1920 even in the “came close” category.
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Bless their hearts.
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Bama has been extraordinarily fortunate. You would think that some of that pixie dust would be sprinkled elsewhere in the conference once in a while.
In 1964 the Tide was the AP and UPI National Champion despite losing to Texas in the Orange Bowl. Arkansas was unbeaten, but the polls at the time determined the National Title prior to the bowl games, which were considered a reward for a good season. The AP changed their policy immediately after the game.
In 1965, Bama went into the Bowl games ranked 4th in the nation. Michigan State, Arkansas and Nebraska were all ranked ahead of the Tide. Bama had lost the famous flea flicker game in Athens and been tied by Tennessee. On New Years Day, UCLA upset Michigan State in a rematch of a regular season meeting. Arkansas was upset by LSU in the Cotton Bowl and Bama walloped Nebraska in the Orange and leap frogged everyone in the AP poll because the AP had changed their policy. How fortuitous.
In 1973 Alabama and Notre Dame met in the Sugar Bowl in one of the greatest college games ever. The Tide was #1 and the Irish were #2. The Golden Domers won a classic game 24-23, yet because the UPI had never changed their before the bowl game policy, the Tide was still the National Champ in the Coaches poll. Talk about luck of the Irish.
And of course we all know about the 2011 sham. LSU wins the West and as a reward, gets to play Georgia while Bama gets a bye. They had no business in the game, but we all know what happened.
Alabama is without question the all time best team in the South when it comes to College Football. But they have been blessed with more than a bit of good fortune and their fans are the worst embellishers around.
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The older I get the more I realize….you make your own luck.
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Forget about their “championships”…does the NCAA even recognize AUBURN anymore?
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Well, you know there were a few co-champions some of those years.
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Not surprising since they also can’t decide on a single mascot
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War tiguh, I mean eagle…Go aubie…urn!
Agh, who cares? Let’s go get our national title this year.
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Alabama’s an elephant, out of control algae (crimson tide), or toilet paper and a box of laundry detergent.
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Guess Awbarn realized that was easier than paying thousands for a football player
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Pretty sure the NCAA doesn’t even recognize a D1 National Champion, hence the “MNC.” They definitely don’t award a trophy for it. Theyve always left the D1 postseason to the schools and conferences to work out amongst themselves.
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Just another reason my combined hatred of tech, florida, tenn, clemson & sc is nowhere near my dislike for the piss poor kiddie college on the plains.
the auburn code – lie, cheat, steal, be extremely paranoid.
I don’t care for awburn.
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Most Auburn fans I know were against recognizing these titles the last time this came up. Shame the admin didn’t listen. Most Auburn fans see this as a very Bammer way of creating publicity for a program.
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Minority opinion, I’m sure, but UGA should celebrate all of its titles as well, whether consensus or dubious. What’s wrong with having more things to celebrate and more banners to impress recruits?
Claim ’em all and don’t ask permission. By at least one measure, we have 11 total. http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sec/georgia/all_national_champs.php
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The success of the college football programs in Alabama can be explained in three words. Idiot Savant Syndrome
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No argument from me, I don’t count anyone as having ever won a sigle national title since it should be earned on the field, not a result of political and nerdy BS. In a quandary about the next twelve years because even though it is better, four teams still excludes teams that should be in the playoff by virtue of winning their conference, or rolling through a tough schedule. We will get there one day, for now we have to settle for baby steps of progress, even though the changes made does not solve the problem that brought the change about. Horse by committee,, imo.
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