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Nick Saban always takes 25 signees - except for the last two years. The 2017 class had 29 and the '18 class had 19 with many top rated prospects choosing other schools on NSD. He would have taken more than 19. The struggle usually has been to get to 85 before fall camp. SEC rules limit class scholarships to 25, unless the previous class is less than twenty-five and the total scholarships are less than 85. ('16 had 25 signees though one player was dismissed prior to fall)

After NSD, Saban, counting signees, is usually around 90 scholarship players even subtracting those players who have declared for the NFL draft and others who announced their transfers prior to NSD. In 2017 he met that twenty-five by assigning two players blueshirts (both Alabama residents) and one player a grayshirt, counting towards the '18 class (officially 20 players). He announced after NSD that he would consider transfers into the program, assumedly graduate transfers who would be gone by next year. Oftentimes, special teamers will be preferred walkons, which also helps numbers. One QB from E. Carolina announced he was transferring to Alabama for his fifth year, then changed his mind and transferred to Wash St.

Not this year. Alabama is already at 85. The QB competition between Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa may result in Hurts transferring. Having missed on a QB in the '17 class that would leave Alabama with two scholarship QBs. The "18 NFL draft had five early entrants while the '17 class had three.

Potentially, Saban could take thirty in the Class of '19 since last year's was twenty. He would only have to show the SEC he needs that many to get to eighty-five. Another transfer or even two prior to the season, a few after the season, a blueshirt or two from three star Alabama recruits and he might just be able to take thirty.

Kirby Smart at Georgia seems to be also taking twenty-five each class.
 

T Town Tommy

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Nick Saban always takes 25 signees - except for the last two years. The 2017 class had 29 and the '18 class had 19 with many top rated prospects choosing other schools on NSD. He would have taken more than 19. The struggle usually has been to get to 85 before fall camp. SEC rules limit class scholarships to 25, unless the previous class is less than twenty-five and the total scholarships are less than 85. ('16 had 25 signees though one player was dismissed prior to fall)

After NSD, Saban, counting signees, is usually around 90 scholarship players even subtracting those players who have declared for the NFL draft and others who announced their transfers prior to NSD. In 2017 he met that twenty-five by assigning two players blueshirts (both Alabama residents) and one player a grayshirt, counting towards the '18 class (officially 20 players). He announced after NSD that he would consider transfers into the program, assumedly graduate transfers who would be gone by next year. Oftentimes, special teamers will be preferred walkons, which also helps numbers. One QB from E. Carolina announced he was transferring to Alabama for his fifth year, then changed his mind and transferred to Wash St.

Not this year. Alabama is already at 85. The QB competition between Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa may result in Hurts transferring. Having missed on a QB in the '17 class that would leave Alabama with two scholarship QBs. The "18 NFL draft had five early entrants while the '17 class had three.

Potentially, Saban could take thirty in the Class of '19 since last year's was twenty. He would only have to show the SEC he needs that many to get to eighty-five. Another transfer or even two prior to the season, a few after the season, a blueshirt or two from three star Alabama recruits and he might just be able to take thirty.

Kirby Smart at Georgia seems to be also taking twenty-five each class.

The number I have is 29. And the way the new staff is working the recruiting trail, they are going to be in a position to turn away some pretty highly rated recruits. They have all but locked up the in state talent they wanted minus one that hasn't committed yet. There won't be any room for grey shirts unless he can talk another four star in to accepting one.
 

Bishop2b5

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The numbers will likely change between now and August. Each offseason virtually every program loses a few players due to academics, behavior, transfers, non-football injuries, etc. It will be the first time in years, I believe, that the roster is already at 85 before that anticipated attrition.
 

Legacy

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I certainly don't doubt you, Bishop. Who could transfer outside of Hurts? We could see some walkons get scholarships. I don't see any more Senior transfers or medicals. A TE or DB? Haven't figured out the numbers of those without eligibility for '19 but would guess 10, add five Early Entrants... so it will be getting to 85. They've had minimal dismissals for behavior and few medicals. Academics?
Some big misses last class with Clemson and Georgia recruiting, now I expect Florida, Texas, A&M, even Miami and USC could impact top prospects' recruiting.
 
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Bishop2b5

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I certainly don't doubt you, Bishop. Who could transfer outside of Hurts? We could see some walkons get scholarships. I don't see any more Senior transfers or medicals. A TE or DB? Haven't figured out the numbers of those without eligibility for '19 but would guess 10, add five Early Entrants... so it will be getting to 85. They've had minimal dismissals for behavior and few medicals. Academics?
Some big misses last class with Clemson and Georgia recruiting, now I expect Florida, Texas, A&M, even Miami and USC could impact top prospects' recruiting.

I don't have any specific player in mind. Just a general observation that every offseason a few players leave most programs for a wide variety of reasons.
 

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Mekhi Brown, Alabama LB who caused sideline skirmish in national title game, happy at TSU
(The Tennessean, April 10, 2018)

Brown transferred to TSU shortly after Alabama beat Georgia in overtime in the national championship game and is wrapping up spring practice this week with the Tigers. He said he had made the decision earlier in the fall to transfer to TSU because he wasn't getting as much playing time as he wanted at Alabama.

"People think I left (Alabama) because of that," Brown said. "But that wasn't the case. I met with coach Saban literally a day after the game when we got back. We talked about it, he said it was wrong, but he didn't want me to leave. He wanted me to stay. I left on really good terms with him. I will always respect coach Saban, he will always respect me. He told me I could always come back to visit if I want."
 

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Excellent. Also a home-and-home as with the Irish in '28 & '29.

Bama's P5 non-conference opponents are now:
Louisville ('18) - neutral, Orlando
Duke ('19) - neutral, Atlanta
USC ('20) - neutral, Arlington
Miami ('21) - neutral, Atlanta
Texas ('22) - Darrell Royal, Austin
Texas ('23) - Bryant-Denny, T-Town
 

Bishop2b5

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I completely forgot to post this the other day:

https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2018/5/11/17339224/alabama-1941-national-championship-claim

I guess we shouldn't be so disappointed in the loss last November to the national champions in Palo Alto.

Good news though, they did beat the 2016 national champ Hurricanes!

I'll let you in on a little secret: most Bama fans roll our eyes at the '41 title also. The others were all awarded by a selector who was one of the major, respected selectors at that time, so we're good with them.
 

MNIrishman

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I wish we could lower our standards of championship recognition so that we were on an even playing field. It's a joke that Gump U recognizes '73. We have a better claim to 2012 than they do '73.
 

Ndaccountant

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I wish we could lower our standards of championship recognition so that we were on an even playing field. It's a joke that Gump U recognizes '73. We have a better claim to 2012 than they do '73.

Last I read was that if ND applied Bama math, ND would have 10 more natty's.

EDIT: Found it.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-f...etchy-counting/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

1930: Alabama and Notre Dame both went 10-0. The Crimson Tide got recognized as No. 1 by four ranking systems, all of which came retroactively. Notre Dame was ranked No. 1 by three ranking systems that existed in 1930 -- Dickinson, Dunkel System and Houlgate System -- and the NCAA recognizes the Fighting Irish as the 1930 national poll champion. (Adding to the confusion, this link on NCAA.com does list Alabama as a 1930 national champion with Notre Dame.)

1934: This was the first season Alabama finished No. 1 in a ranking system that existed at the time. Alabama went 10-0 and was No. 1 by three ranking systems, the same number as Minnesota (8-0). In the years since, Minnesota collected more retroactive No. 1 rankings for 1934 than Alabama. The NCAA recognizes Minnesota as the national poll champion.

1941: This is by far the silliest title claimed by Alabama, which went 9-2, finished third in the SEC and was ranked 20th in the final AP Top 25. Minnesota (8-0) is widely recognized as the undisputed national champion by being ranked No. 1 in 12 polls. Atcheson counted a title for Alabama because it finished No. 1 in the Houlgate System, a mathematical rating from 1927-58 developed by Deke Houlgate of Los Angeles.

In 1941, Alabama lost 14-0 at home to eventual SEC champion Mississippi State and 7-0 at Vanderbilt. Atechson defended the 1941 inclusion for years, arguing the Mississippi State loss came in the rain, the Vanderbilt defeat was close, and that Alabama was the country’s best team by the end of the season thanks to wins over Georgia (8-1-1), Tennessee (8-2) and Texas A&M (9-2).

Also, old rules for polls allowed Alabama to win titles in 1964 and 1973 despite losing bowl games. At the time, some polls decided champions before the postseason. Alabama was crowned Associated Press and United Press International champion in 1964 but then lost to Texas at the Orange Bowl. Arkansas went 11-0 in 1964 with a win at Texas.

For 1964, the NCAA record book recognizes Alabama (AP and UPI champion), Arkansas (Football Writers Association of America champion) and Notre Dame (National Football Foundation champion). Notre Dame doesn’t count 1964 so it claims 11 consensus national championships, not the 12 listed by the NCAA.

In 1973, Alabama was UPI’s champion but lost to Notre Dame at the Sugar Bowl, creating split national champions. UPI changed when it crowned its champion in 1974. Given that those were the rules at the time, it’s easier for Alabama to justify the 1964 and 1973 championships.
 
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Irish#1

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I'll let you in on a little secret: most Bama fans roll our eyes at the '41 title also. The others were all awarded by a selector who was one of the major, respected selectors at that time, so we're good with them.

Doesn't mean the selector was right. Lose head to head to ND in '73, but wait, the selector said we deserve it. Consider it your participation trophy.
 

Bishop2b5

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I wish we could lower our standards of championship recognition so that we were on an even playing field. It's a joke that Gump U recognizes '73. We have a better claim to 2012 than they do '73.

I'll respectfully disagree. At various times in CFB history bowls weren't considered relevant to the regular season and the national championship was awarded based strictly on what happened during the regular season, with the bowls viewed as little more than an after-the-season exhibition. UPI/Coaches Poll awarded the NC before the bowl at that time. Yes, it seems odd now, but that was the system in operation at that time. The criteria for choosing the NC has evolved and changed many times over the past century. You can't go back and change the rules retroactively. UPI awarded it by the system they followed at the time. It just is what it is. As a Bama fan, we feel we got jobbed by the system a couple of times. It worked in our favor a couple of times. It all even outs.
 

Bishop2b5

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Doesn't mean the selector was right. Lose head to head to ND in '73, but wait, the selector said we deserve it. Consider it your participation trophy.

The AP named its NC before the bowls until '65 and the UPI/Coaches until '74. Bowl results were taken into account during most of the 20's & 30's, but then disregarded from about the mid-30's until the 60's & 70's and seen as little more than a post-season exhibition game with no bearing on the NC. Again, it was just a different era with a different set of criteria used by the major selectors.
 

MNIrishman

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I wonder what kind of illogical, ridiculous claim to the NC led to UPI changing its criteria the following year?
 

ACamp1900

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I have watched the 73 TITLE GAME (own a copy on DVD) numerous times... I call it that because before, during and after the game that is what EVERYONE called it. Everyone who played in that game knew it was for the National Championship, bama lost.
 

greyhammer90

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The AP named its NC before the bowls until '65 and the UPI/Coaches until '74. Bowl results were taken into account during most of the 20's & 30's, but then disregarded from about the mid-30's until the 60's & 70's and seen as little more than a post-season exhibition game with no bearing on the NC. Again, it was just a different era with a different set of criteria used by the major selectors.

The fact that an Alabama fan can come on a Notre Dame board and say this garbage without being banned or negged into oblivion...

giphy-downsized-large.gif


Dissapointed in everyone.
 
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Bishop2b5

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The fact that an Alabama fan can come on a Notre Dame board and say this garbage without being banned or negged into oblivion...

giphy-downsized-large.gif


Dissapointed in everyone.

Google it. It may not be what you want to hear, but it's truth.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_football_national_championships_in_NCAA_Division_I_FBS

Relevant excerpt:

A number of other mathematical systems were born in the 1920s and 1930s and were the only organized methods selecting national champions until the Associated Press began polling sportswriters in 1936 to obtain rankings. Alan J. Gould, the creator of the AP Poll, named Minnesota, Princeton, and SMU co-champions in 1935, and polled writers the following year, which resulted in a national championship for Minnesota.[10] The AP's main competition, United Press, created the first poll of coaches in 1950. For that year and the next three, the AP and UP agreed on the national champion. The first "split" championship occurred in 1954, when the writers selected Ohio State and the coaches chose UCLA.[10] The two polls also disagreed in 1957, 1965, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1990, 1991, 1997, and 2003. The Coaches' Poll would stay with United Press (UP) when they merged with International News Service (INS) to form United Press International (UPI) but was acquired by USA Today and CNN in 1991. The poll was in the hands of USA Today and ESPN from 1997 to 2005 before moving to sole ownership by USA Today. Beginning in 2014, Amway became a joint sponsor with USA Today.[11]

Though some of the math systems selected champions after the bowl games, both of the major polls released their rankings after the end of the regular season until the AP polled writers after the bowls in 1965, resulting in what was perceived at the time as a better championship selection (Alabama) than UPI's (Michigan State).[10] After 1965, the AP again voted before the bowls for two years, before permanently returning to a post-bowl vote in 1968. The coaches did not conduct a vote after the bowls until 1974, in the wake of awarding their 1973 championship to Alabama, who lost to the AP champion, undefeated Notre Dame, in the Sugar Bowl.[10] The AP and Coaches' polls remain the major rankings to this day.
 

greyhammer90

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Google it.

The championship that you claim is such an clear error that it changed the rules of voting for the group that voted for you forever. You lost to an undefeated team that was also crowned champion by every other notable poll. Your school attempting to claim it on a dumb technicality is embarrassing. Again, this board is soft and everyone that doesn't neg you for your Bama bullshit should turn in their gun and badge.
 

ACamp1900

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Difference is, if ND went into a game that both teams, the media and everyone involved recognized as the National Title decider going in, and lost we wouldn't be having this conversation because they wouldn't be classless enough to attempt to throw out the result of the game with some bullshit pretzeling of logic after the fact.
 

MNIrishman

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Google it. It may not be what you want to hear, but it's truth.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_football_national_championships_in_NCAA_Division_I_FBS

Relevant excerpt:

A number of other mathematical systems were born in the 1920s and 1930s and were the only organized methods selecting national champions until the Associated Press began polling sportswriters in 1936 to obtain rankings. Alan J. Gould, the creator of the AP Poll, named Minnesota, Princeton, and SMU co-champions in 1935, and polled writers the following year, which resulted in a national championship for Minnesota.[10] The AP's main competition, United Press, created the first poll of coaches in 1950. For that year and the next three, the AP and UP agreed on the national champion. The first "split" championship occurred in 1954, when the writers selected Ohio State and the coaches chose UCLA.[10] The two polls also disagreed in 1957, 1965, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1990, 1991, 1997, and 2003. The Coaches' Poll would stay with United Press (UP) when they merged with International News Service (INS) to form United Press International (UPI) but was acquired by USA Today and CNN in 1991. The poll was in the hands of USA Today and ESPN from 1997 to 2005 before moving to sole ownership by USA Today. Beginning in 2014, Amway became a joint sponsor with USA Today.[11]

Though some of the math systems selected champions after the bowl games, both of the major polls released their rankings after the end of the regular season until the AP polled writers after the bowls in 1965, resulting in what was perceived at the time as a better championship selection (Alabama) than UPI's (Michigan State).[10] After 1965, the AP again voted before the bowls for two years, before permanently returning to a post-bowl vote in 1968. The coaches did not conduct a vote after the bowls until 1974, in the wake of awarding their 1973 championship to Alabama, who lost to the AP champion, undefeated Notre Dame, in the Sugar Bowl.[10] The AP and Coaches' polls remain the major rankings to this day.


Guys, we can claim the 2012 championship. A selector awarded it to us. If you have standards as low as Alabama, you can disregard whatever results you feel like. Or whatever rules you feel like.
 

ACamp1900

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Guys, we can claim the 2012 championship. A selector awarded it to us. If you have standards as low as Alabama, you can disregard whatever results you feel like. Or whatever rules you feel like.

Exactly this. Spare me this 'but, but but, things have changed...' no, they really haven't, the 1973 Sugar Bowl was looked at as a National Title Game every bit as much as the 2012 Natty was... I mean it was the biggest most talked about CFB game of that entire era,... but, "nah it was just some bullshit scrimmage that no one cared about,............. because we lost."
 
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