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Should Alabama make the CFP instead of Miami? | Herd
The projected picks for the College Football Playoff have been unveiled, and Alabama has come out on top over Miami. Colin Cowherd agrees with this decision and talks about why Alabama’s tougher schedule has benefited them.
In January, Nik Saban sent shockwaves through the college football landscape when he announced he would retire from the sidelines. Shortly after the legendary coach retired, Saban officially joined ESPN.
While Saban primarily works as an analyst for the network’s long-running and popular pregame program, “College GameDay,” he also contributes NFL draft coverage and appears on other ESPN broadcasts and platforms. The final segment of a “College GameDay” episode usually features a celebrity guest offering their picks for some of the upcoming games.
On Friday, comedian Shane Gillis was selected as the guest picker. However, at one point in his appearance, it seems that a funny joke annoyed Saban.
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During the status discussion college footballGillis cited the relatively new “parity” that exists in sports. But during his remarks, Gillis also seemed to suggest that either Saban or maybe Alabama football orchestrated the program as a whole or turned a blind eye if players received inappropriate payouts.
ALABAMA AD INVITES FANS TO DONATE TO THE NIL COLLECTIVE TO STAY COMPETITIVE: ‘WE MUST RESPOND’
“This is a different feeling, it feels like we can win,” Gillis said. “There’s parity, now that everybody can pay their players, Notre Dame has a chance. It’s not just the SEC, it’s not Coach Saban either.” The seven-time national championship coach was not present when Gillis made his comments.
Comedian Shane Gillis is pictured before the Indiana-Notre Dame game on Dec. 20, 2024 in South Bend, Ind. (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
However, a fellow ESPN college football analyst Pat McAfee finally reminded Gillis of what he had said.
“You called him a fraud earlier,” McAfee remarked.
While Gillis said he made the comments in jest, Saban appeared to take offense at the suggestion that players under his watch were improperly compensated.
“I was just kidding,” Gillis said. “I don’t think the SEC paid players. Ever. Just kidding. Isn’t this a fun show?”
Nick Saban speaks during ESPN’s “College GameDay,” Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. (MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Gillis eventually turned his attention to Saban’s attire, specifically the retired coach’s hat.
“Old Alabama Jones means business,” Gillis joked in an apparent reference to the hat that has become synonymous with the fictional character Indiana Jones.
Saban then offered a direct response to Gillis’ joke about how he led the Alabama program during his 17-year tenure.
“I believe in honesty. I have always tried to run the program in such a way that the players have a better chance to be successful in life,” Saban said. “We make more money in the NFL than any other school, 61 players in the league. That’s how we cheated. We developed players.”
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Saban won six national titles during his storied tenure in Tuscaloosa. Before taking the head coaching job at Alabama, Saban led LSU Tigers to the BCS National Championship game following the 2003 regular season.
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