Should Alabama make the CFP over Miami? | The herd
The scheduled College Football Playoff brackets were announced and Alabama made it to Miami. Colin Cowherd agrees with this decision and explains why Alabama’s tougher schedule benefited them.
In January, Nick Saban sent shockwaves across the college football landscape when he announced he was stepping away 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 to NFL Draft coverage and appears on other ESPN shows and platforms. The final segment of an episode of “College GameDay” usually features a celebrity guest offering their picks for some of the upcoming games.
On Friday, comedian Shane Gillis was nominated as a guest selection. But at some point during his performance, one of the comedian’s jokes seemed to irritate Saban.
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During a discussion about the state of college football, Gillis pointed to the relatively new “parity” that exists in the sport. But during his remarks, Gillis also appeared to suggest that either Saban, or perhaps the Alabama football program as a whole, orchestrated or turned a blind eye to players receiving improper payments.
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“This feels different, it feels like we could win,” Gillis said. “There is parity, now that everyone can pay their players, Notre Dame has a chance. It’s not just the SEC, it’s not Coach Saban.” The seven-time national championship coach was not present when Gillis made his comments.
Comedian Shane Gillis is shown before the Indiana-Notre Dame game on December 20, 2024 in South Bend, Indiana. (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
However, fellow ESPN college football analyst Pat McAfee eventually reminded Gillis of his statement.
“You called him a fraud earlier,” McAfee remarked.
While Gillis said he only made those comments in jest, Saban appeared to take offense at the allegation that players under his watch were improperly compensated.
“I was just kidding,” Gillis said. “I don’t think the SEC ever paid the players. I’m just kidding. Isn’t this a fun show?”
Nick Saban speaks during ESPN’s “College GameDay” on December 20, 2024 in South Bend, Indiana. (MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Gillis eventually turned his attention to Saban’s clothing, particularly 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 gave a direct response to Gillis’ joke about how he ran the Alabama program during his 17-year tenure.
“I believe in integrity. “I have always tried to run the program in a way that gives the players a better chance of being 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 the LSU Tigers to the BCS National Championship Game following the 2003 regular season.
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