Gary Danielson is partial to Alabama? No way!
Gary Danielson of CBS thinks Alabama is the best team in the country. Well, of course he does. That's not really news. Danielson also called Notre Dame the worst of the top four undefeated teams (Alabama, Oregon, Kansas State, Notre Dame). That's not really news either. But it was another quote in an interview with USA Today that has ruffled some feathers: Danielson claiming that a one-loss Alabama team should potentially get the nod in the BCS Championship Game over an undefeated team.
"You'd have to put them in the discussion, because they've earned it given what the conference has accomplished."
So hear me out here. In Gary Danielson's world, he thinks that a one loss Alabama team that either A) loses to LSU and doesn't play in the SEC Championship game, B) beats LSU and loses the SEC Championship game, or C) loses to LSU but wins the SEC Championship game is worth considering for the BCS Championship game over an undefeated Pac-12 champion Oregon team, an undefeated Big 12 champion Kansas State team, or an undefeated Notre Dame team.
Alabama is a great team, and I fully expect them to run the table and play in the BCS title game. But if they lose, they shouldn't play in the national title game if two of Oregon, Kansas State, and Notre Dame run the table. Alabama has two wins over ranked teams this year: the season opener with Michgan (who has been proven to be a mediocre team in a weak conference), and a blowout over Mississippi State (with such a weak schedule that it's covered in frosting) in Tuscaloosa last weekend.
Kansas State has already won in Norman and Morgantown, and will need to beat ranked Oklahoma State and Texas teams to run the table. They also have a solid out of conference win against Miami, who is leading the ACC Coastal division. Oregon ravaged a good (and ranked) Arizona team, beat a ranked Washington team, and will need to win at USC and against ranked Stanford and Oregon State teams in back to back weeks before heading to the Pac-12 championship game against either USC (again) or UCLA. Then, there's the Irish, who have wins over Michigan, Miami, Stanford, and Oklahoma, and have a showdown with USC to end the season. In other words, Notre Dame's best four wins are essentially equal to four of the best wins from the other three undefeated teams.
So while Danielson has a great point in putting an unbeaten Crimson Tide team at the top of the heap, it would be downright silly if a one-loss Alabama team made the national championship game over an undefeated team that won its conference title and had much better wins than the Tide. But what else would you expect from the SEC on CBS analyst and someone who has developed a reputation as one of the biggest homers in college sports? Danielson's SEC bias is almost reaching Hawk Harrelson territory with the White Sox.
Danielson is absolutely correct in stating that a one loss Alabama team should jump those other three clowns. The SEC has had at least five teams in the top ten all year long. Bama started the year with #8 Michigan. It doesn't matter what happened later, they were ranked when it mattered. Then thay played a #5 LSU in Death Valley.They were one INT from overcoming a 20 point lead by the #15 Texas A&M. They also played a ranked Miss.State team. None of the other three would be in the game at half against an SEC ranked team. So get REAL
ok. one more. Gary danielson actually just said this while Texas AM was on offense. "When texas AM substitutes, Alabama also substitutes to slow down the game". Gary, I hate to break it to you, but the offense is under no obligation to wait for the defense to substitute before snapping the ball. In fact, Peyton Manning has perfected exposing the defense when a defense tries to subsitute while an offense is getting set. I'm going to turn off the volume now.
is there anyway gary danielson AND vern lundquist can contain their mancrush on Nick Saban and all the boys on Alabama. I am not a fan of either of Texas AM or Alabama but when I watch a broadcast with blatant bias by announcers I tend to root for the other team. it is only 7 minutes into the game on CBS and I'm appalled (with 2 p's).
All he said was "you'd have to put them in the discussion" and you're comparing him to Hawk? What the SEC has done over the past six years is unprecedented in college football. Saying the best conference's best team should be "in the discussion" does not merit an article being written about.
