nothing but respect for MY national champions

January 9, 2018 9:47 AM

After Alabama (13-1) rallies to a comeback win over Georgia (13-2), 26-23, in OT in the College Football Playoff National Championship, undefeated University of Central Florida Knights, snubbed in one of a series of controversial playoff selections this year (and years past), is declared National Champions - by Rick Scott, governor of Florida, and has the parade at Disney World and will pay National Championship bonuses to staff.

The rationale for the now 6th ranked UCF goes something like this:

11 NOV: #10 Auburn beats #1 Georgia 40-17
25 NOV: Auburn upsets Alabama in Iron Bowl stunner
1 JAN: UCF beats Auburn in Peach Bowl on New Years Day

Could 23 others teams also declare themselves Champions?

Lessons From Four Years of College Football Playoff Selection Committee Decisions

The controversy stems from the split between Group of 5 and Power 5 conferences, and the arguments around strength-of-schedule. The arguments for playoff expansion.

posted by the man of twists and turns (17 comments total)

Let us never forget that Trump was indeed present at the game last night and surprised absolutely no one by mouthing words in a, shall we say, confusing manner.

A friend who was at the game replied as follows when asked how the reaction there to Trump was:

"For POTUS? Boo outside, no one seemed to care either way inside, which is better than boos, in a way."

I don't know what to make of that since Alabama and Georgia (though perhaps not ATL itself so much), nor college football fans themselves, aren't exactly known concentrations of folks that would be expected to Boo him. I bet they resented the additional traffic congestion that a motorcade inevitably causes in Atlanta, even on the best of days.

Oh, and Roll Tide. Helluva game, UGA played well too and it was a toss up as to who really deserved the win.
posted by RolandOfEld at 9:59 AM on January 9, 2018 [4 favorites]

Twitter user @BamaBobblehead asked, ".@UCFDannyWhite You gonna pay the coaches their national championship bonuses or nah?"

White replied with "Of course we are! That’s what National Championship programs do. Our coaches were informed of that earlier this week. #ChargeOn".

Ah yes, highly compensated coaches, often among the highest paid state employees, receiving performance bonuses on the labor of athletes who go uncompensated. GO TEAM
posted by Existential Dread at 10:03 AM on January 9, 2018 [22 favorites]

I didn't know what to expect. You're right that UGA and Bama fans are probably Trump voters for the most part, but there would definitely be some people not on board the Trump train there.

What does not surprise me one bit is that football was more important than politics for the overwhelming majority of people there.
posted by billjings at 10:05 AM on January 9, 2018 [2 favorites]

It was a memorable win. I hope the players will be able to remember it when they're in their 30s.
posted by a complicated history at 10:13 AM on January 9, 2018 [9 favorites]

It looks like the College Football Belt official website is not exactly up to date, but based upon my calculations, the current College Football Lineal Champions are the... Pittsburgh Panthers?

Yup. Clemson held it coming into the season, but they coughed it up in October to Miami (FL). The U held on to it for a few weeks, but were upset in the final week of the regular season by Pitt.

There is a chance The Belt will dip into the FCS when Pitt takes on the Albany Great Danes on September 1, 2018, but if Pitt can string together a few wins, UCF actually has a chance at The Belt on September 29th.
posted by Rock Steady at 10:34 AM on January 9, 2018 [1 favorite]

UCF has another great story, beyond an undefeated season. One of their star players, Shaquem Griffin, has overcome losing his hand to become a standout worthy of consideration for the NFL draft. His brother is a rookie star for the Seahawks.
posted by OHenryPacey at 11:03 AM on January 9, 2018 [3 favorites]

When are they going to pay the players?
posted by Nelson at 11:29 AM on January 9, 2018 [3 favorites]

One of their star players, Shaquem Griffin

Yep, watched him play vs Auburn and he was insanely impressive. He dissembled their offensive line with surgical finesse. As I heard the announcers say it, it also sounds like he is a film watcher of above-average enthusiasm which is good to hear since he's a prospect for the pros.
posted by RolandOfEld at 11:31 AM on January 9, 2018

So impressed by Jalen Hurts. To be benched at halftime in the national championship game, then at the end, after watching the guy who’s gonna take your job win the game, to be all smiles and cheerful sincerity - that’s hard stuff. Thanks for a great season, Jalen. You’re a class act and a model of good sportsmanship. Roll Tide!
posted by BitterOldPunk at 11:44 AM on January 9, 2018 [7 favorites]

highly compensated coaches, often among the highest paid state employees

Point of fact: football coaches are almost always far and away the most highly compensated state employees, and there was no exception at work last night. Fun fact: for most of the states where it's not the football coach, it's the basketball coach.

You're right that UGA and Bama fans are probably Trump voters for the most part,

Careful with that broad brush.

Georgia was 46% for HRC. Alabama's vote was more one-sided, but over a third of Alabamians still voted for Hillary.

Note, too, that as the flagship state schools, many local kids go there and leave for more urban locations. Certainly everyone I'm still friends with from UA (BA, '92) is profoundly anti-Trump.

Oh, and current Tide running back Bo Scarbrough appears to agree.

When are they going to pay the players?

I used to wonder that, too, but now I think it's possible football as it is currently known will vanish first. The CTE news has had a measurable effect on new generations of players entering the sport, and that's good.

And @BitterOldPunk posts for me re: Hurts. I didn't watch -- I don't anymore -- but I saw his postgame clip. Serious class there.
posted by uberchet at 12:01 PM on January 9, 2018 [5 favorites]

Must be Scott in desperate search of positive attention. He's trying to run for Senate here after two terms as governor. I desperately hope we have it in us to exorcise him once and for all this time around.
posted by Gymnopedist at 12:15 PM on January 9, 2018 [2 favorites]

There was a watch party for the game in UGA's basketball stadium that was only open to UGA students/faculty/staff (ID required). It holds maybe 10,000 and was pretty full. Boos filled the place when Trump came on.

Heartbreaking game.
posted by cyclopticgaze at 12:17 PM on January 9, 2018

Re: That Bo clip where he says "Fuck Trump" in the tunnel on the way in. I read a update to that where he's quoted as claiming that he was actually saying "Fuck Georgia" and that people need to chill. I'll not link anything since it seems a bit muddy at best now but yea, I thought that was a profound (and brave/admirable) move for a player. Guess we'll see?
posted by RolandOfEld at 12:26 PM on January 9, 2018 [1 favorite]

No mention yet of Slippery Rock U?
posted by TreeRooster at 2:48 PM on January 9, 2018 [1 favorite]

The Lineal Champion is how it should be run. Think you can knock off the champs? Schedule them. You wanna be The Man, ya gotta beat The Man. Have the champs play all comers and have the ref hold up the title belt when the match begins.

Also, steel chairs are a 15-yard penalty. Nothing more.
posted by delfin at 3:52 PM on January 9, 2018

Heartbreaking game.

I mean, I know as an alum of the winning school, this is cold comfort, but a tight came lost on the final play is like the best case scenario for losing. Georgia will be back, and back quickly -- maybe even next year.
posted by uberchet at 6:20 PM on January 9, 2018 [1 favorite]

GA and Bama fans are probably Trump voters for the most part

Athens, GA is like 1980's liberal with a strong conservative Georgian mentality but it's not a bunch of overall wearin' rednecks who drive big trucks

there were something like six different protest events organized in Atlanta Monday including a friend of mine who projected 'FUCK TRUMP' among other, more progressive phrases with high power light projector. there were boos when Trump came in drowned out by cheers but boos nevertheless

and the crowd is less representative by geography than by income. never have I seen so many 1) horrible drivers, 2) luxury cars, and 3) predominantly white, upper-middle class county plates in Atlanta on a Monday except back when the Braves still played at Turner Field
posted by runt at 8:05 AM on January 10, 2018 [3 favorites]