Alabama Football: Nick Saban Says Conference Champ Argument Is Shot at SEC

Alabama head coach Nick Saban continued his push for the top four teams to be included in the newly-created four-team playoff regardless of conference affiliation, while making the rounds during Day 3 of SEC Media Days at the Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover, Ala.

Saban closed out his opening speech in the main ballroom with one final push to include the best of the best in the four-team playoff, starting in 2014, according to Bruce Feldman of CBSSports.com.

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Saban on how important winning conf title should be in playoff, Saban "you don't have to win your league to get into the Final Four."

— Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) July 19, 2012"

He then railed against the critics for having their own self-interest at hand, according to Dennis Dodd of CBSSports.com.

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"Whoever is making the statement against conf champions, is making a statement against the SEC." Saban re: playoff discussion

— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) July 19, 2012"

Good for Saban.

People will undoubtedly criticize the Alabama head coach for being selfish himself, considering his team in 2011 was the poster child of the anti-conference champion movement.

That's not his goal.

Saban knows that if the playoff is going to be the championship event that college football fans have been yearning for, it needs to include the best of the best.

Not the best of the "very good."

The best.

Winning your conference doesn't make you a national championship-caliber team. The two are totally unrelated, and Saban's team proved that in 2011.

The next big college football debate will revolve around the members of the selection committee, and Saban used his platform at SEC Media Days to make his opinion known.

He's not out lobbying for himself, he's lobbying for the good of the game.

Thank you, Nick Saban.

Follow @BarrettSallee