Alabama Football History is Overrated
by Dan
(Florida)
I disagree. I believe Notre Dame is the best. For starters, Notre Dame, not Alabama, can legitimately lay claim to the most national championships (most sources attribute Notre Dame with the most). Notre Dame is typically attributed with 13 consensus national championships and can possibly lay claim to 2 more, while Alabama is given 10.
Moreover, Notre Dame has the second highest winning percentage of all time, is tied with USC for most Heismann winners, has the most players and coaches in the college football hall of fame (42), and the most All-Americans (178).
In terms of win percentage among coaches, the coaches with the highest and second highest win percentage both coached at Notre Dame (Knute Rockne and Frank Leahy). Notre Dame is second to USC in terms of players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
How is the Alabama-Auburn rivalry the greatest rivalry? It certainly is not greater the Ohio State-Michigan. I understand the Notre Dame-USC is viewed as being as great as Ohio State-Michigan, but there are more national championships between the two schools than any other rivalry (22).
Alabama and Auburn only have 11 between the two schools. Moreover, the Notre Dame-USC rivalry accounts for some of the most viewed games in history, in terms of tv ratings.
Its hard to say that Alabama has an unmatched football tradition. I'm sure Alabama has a great tradition, but I believe it is matched by Notre Dame.
Although I will admit that Notre Dame's bowl record stinks, but this is due mainly to the fact that the football program hasn't been so hot recently and hasn't won a bowl game since 93. (Alabama hasn't been too great recently either)
Alabama has NO Heisman winners. Not a sign of the greatest program. Moreover, Alabama CANNOT lay claim to a national title in 73. They lost the Sugar Bowl to Notre Dame. They lost the Orange Bowl in 1964. How can a program claim titles in seasons in which they lost their bowl game?