Nick Saban’s biggest fanboy was back at it again yesterday.
At SEC Media Days on Wednesday, Crimson Tide LB Dylan Moses actually told reporters that Clemson was in fact, not the toughest team Alabama faced last season. Instead, he claimed the Georgia Bulldogs were the Tide’s toughest opponent. This despite Alabama having beaten Georgia in the SEC Championship Game and Clemson taking the Tide to the woodshed in their 44-16 dismantling of Alabama in the CFP National Title game.
Several hundred miles away at ACC Media Days, Clemson OL John Simpson was asked his thoughts on what Moses had to say. His take? That Notre Dame was in fact the Tigers stiffest competition, and not the Tide.
“No one ever gives us our credit, man,” Simpson said. “It kinda sucks. But is what it is.”
That’s a spot on assessment on both counts. It’s hard to argue with the sentiment that the Fighting Irish actually played Clemson tougher than Bama did. I’ve always been of that opinion myself.
Paul Finebaum on the other hand, found it highly insulting to Alabama, saying…
“I’m not in the business of criticizing college players,” Finebaum said, “but that is easily one of the stupidest comments I have ever heard. Alabama was a phenomenal football team last year. Notre Dame was good, but they were not as good as Alabama. Alabama would’ve destroyed Notre Dame, and what you get there in John Simpson’s comments is just the pettiness of a program that is unaccustomed to being at the epicenter of this sport.
“And Clemson has won two championships, and they deserve them. Dabo Swinney, I think is a phenomenal coach. It’s a great program. But when faces of a program like that say stupid things like that, it’s demeaning to what the program has accomplished. And I’ve said this couple of times, I’m gonna say it again, Clemson just doesn’t know how to win yet. Maybe they will at some point, but not yet. And I hope that they can learn to deal with being No. 1 and being in the spotlight. Because so far, a lot of their comments and their behavior, both the last time two years ago and today, have been really embarrassing.”
Wait…. what? So an Alabama player can claim Georgia was a tougher opponent than Clemson, but when a Clemson player claims someone other than Bama was their toughest opponent, it’s pettiness and a sign that Clemson hasn’t learned to win gracefully.
Hypocritical much there Mr Finebaum? It seems that the two players said the same thing but you only take issue with one. Fact is, after using every excuse known to mankind as too why they got embarrassed on national television in a national championship game, maybe it’s Alabama that hasn’t learned to lose gracefully.
You Sir, Mr. Finebaum, are an embarrassment to ALL of college football. You are embarrassing to Alabama and the SEC as well. You frankly don’t seem to know a whole lot about anything outside of Saban’s shirt tails. Clemson has done things the right way, but we do not bow down to anyone. You Sir on the other hand, need to find new employment like Poker, where false faces, bluffing, and making excuses are of value.
You Sir, Mr. Finebaum, are an embarrassment to ALL of college football. You are embarrassing to Alabama and the SEC as well. You frankly don’t seem to know a whole lot about anything outside of Saban’s shirt tails. Clemson has done things the right way, but we do not bow down to anyone. You Sir on the other hand, need to fine new employment like Poker, where false faces, bluffing, and making excuses are of value.
As a life long Clemson fan, I do not care what Paul Finebaum thinks or says. As far as who was the bigger challenge in the playoffs…neither Alabama nor Notre Dame appeared to give our Tigers much trouble. Whatever language of losers their fanbase uses to help them sleep at night is fine with me. Just knowing that the Tigers outscored them by a combined 74-19 says it all. Clemson in fact scored more points against Notre Dame in the second quarter alone(20) than the combined 8 quarters of both games scored against them(19)…Let that sink in.
Spot on with your assessment of Finebaum. Winners act like winners regardless of the outcome of the game. The manner in which several Alabama athletes, coaches, announcers and fans have characterized the outcome of the National Championship indicate abdicating the throne brings out their worst! I am a Clemson Tiger but also pulled for Alabama since the Bear Bryant days. Bear was always humble in victory and defeat regardless of the joy or pain endured. The current version of Tide nation is humble in victory, a true representation of their current coach!
Well said