Should Alabama Be Number 1?

If you flip the remote around the various ESPN channels trying to catch a little college football news here and there you are an avid college football fan.  As an avid fan you have undoubtedly noticed that a lot of non-poll voting “football experts” are saying that Alabama is their number one pick.  Most of those who have them in their top three have said the Tide would probably beat Florida and Texas.  Really?  Then why isn’t Alabama number 1?  Would they be number one if not for the preseason poll bias?

When your team is getting stung by the preseason bowl process it is easy to see the flaws. However the previous season matters. Case in point during the 60s Bama won back to back national championships. There were a lot of articles written about if a team deserved to win three in a row and there was even more of a west coast and northeast media bias against southern schools at that time.

After Alabama went undefeated with no ties but the pollsters gave the championship to Notre Dame who had a tie and played an easier schedule Bear Bryant said "I always thought when you’re the champ someone needs to beat you to take it away from you." I may not have the words exactly right but this year Florida deserves to be in the number one slot especially since they still have basically the same team back.

As a lifelong Bama fan I would rather not be in the number 1 position. There's more pressure. But if you're in the top five and win the SEC championship then you'll get the chance to play for it all. That's what it’s all about anyway.

On the other hand Texas and Boise State are completely getting a free pass based on previous season's teams. In Boise State's case they get even more consideration because of the current climate to over elevate the non-BCS conference teams in some weird fairness, cool zin type of love fest for all. I believe some pollsters think they are better people if they give the Boise States and Houstons of the world more than the benefit of the doubt.

What is no doubt is that Bama has the best all around team in my life time.  And I was born in the 60s.  Alabama has won six national championships since then.

They really are that good.