Heard Rodney Orr on TV tonight talking about Notre Dame and Alabama being tied for first with 8 AP National Titles each and this game would be the Rubber Match. Has he been reading material from this site?
The 1941 team stayed together following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and then played one of the few other teams who had not disbanded, Texas A&M.I really don't know why 1941 is recognized. But 1945 is not recognized because of WWII. Army won the NC that year and even though Alabama went 10-0 and dominated USC in the Rose Bowl, we weren't going to dispute a title with the Army right out of WWII.
Thanks for sharing this story.The 1941 team stayed together following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and then played one of the few other teams who had not disbanded, Texas A&M.
Many of the men from both schools were sworn into active duty during halftime of that Cotton Bowl game.
Alabama completely dominated Texas A&M on the field, and I believe Coach Thomas put in our second and third string after building a pretty hefty lead, 29-7, or something like that.
There were only three or four bowl games, and a lot of the conference champions had disbanded, so the remaining teams moved up in the pecking order.
At that time people here on the home-front had no earthly idea what was going to happen. For all they knew, that might have been the last football team UofA ever fielded.
The national championship was awarded during those very trying circumstances. I think that that is why the university chose to include that team among the other 13.
I don't doubt Rodney reads us from time to time, but he really doesn't have that much time left over. He's a long-time friend of mine and I've been a member - under the same username - since Tiderinsider was a free site...Heard Rodney Orr on TV tonight talking about Notre Dame and Alabama being tied for first with 8 AP National Titles each and this game would be the Rubber Match. Has he been reading material from this site?
tell you what we Bama fans will stop counting 1973 the same day you stop counting 1966.Most Notre Dame fans have great respect for Alabama football. If you ask Notre Dame fans what, if anything, they dislike about Alabama football, the majority will answer the claim of a championship in 1973.
The 1973 title was decided by a head-to-head game on the gridiron between two undefeated teams. All other title claim arguments over the years are just arguments.
It is not a claim. We were awarded the UPI National Championship which was always awarded prior to bowl games. We have a big trophy in our trophy case so please do not use the word "claim".Most Notre Dame fans have great respect for Alabama football. If you ask Notre Dame fans what, if anything, they dislike about Alabama football, the majority will answer the claim of a championship in 1973.
The 1973 title was decided by a head-to-head game on the gridiron between two undefeated teams. All other title claim arguments over the years are just arguments.
The claim regarding 1941 is hard for Alabama to defend. The team was 9-2-0 that year. Minnesota is regarded by the rest of the world as the national champion for the 1941 season; they won the AP vote for #1 at 8-0. Alabama could justifiably swap in 1945, 1966, or 1977 (or all three of them for that matter). But 1941? Just strange (the Houlgate vote notwithstanding).The only year I don't get is 1941. Every other year Alabama either won the Rose Bowl or was the #1 team in the Final AP or Coaches Poll. Rivals can crow all they want but it is not like Alabama decided when the polls held their final vote on declaring a champion. They thought Alabama was the best at the end of November and that was that.
I just don't understand 1941 though...seems like 1945 was a better season. Any Tide historian want to illuminate me on this?
1945 was a 1941 substituteI really don't know why 1941 is recognized. But 1945 is not recognized because of WWII. Army won the NC that year and even though Alabama went 10-0 and dominated USC in the Rose Bowl, we weren't going to dispute a title with the Army right out of WWII.
1) Yes, we were the pre-season number one.Another fact about '66 that not a lot of people mention, is that we were pre-season #1 and crushed everyone, I don't think we had a nail biter all year. how do you get jumped by two teams when you are winning all of them big ?
Not sure how true this is but...Another fact about '66 that not a lot of people mention, is that we were pre-season #1 and crushed everyone, I don't think we had a nail biter all year. how do you get jumped by two teams when you are winning all of them big ?