Alabama didn't 'lose' those two to South Florida.  One couldn't get into Alabama and the other had family issues and he needed to be closer to home (in, of all places, south Florida).  Get your facts, straight, pinhead.  Saban wasn't saying that USF was cheating or breaking academic standards and he wasn't just speaking extemporaneously about USF and their admission standards.  He was stating facts IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION: partial qualifiers have been allowed at USF since its inception, they have them on their team right now!  It is not a matter of opinion that the admission standards are lower there, it is demonstrated fact.  If Levit doesn't like people pointing out that they are playing players who were not able to get into other schools because of the other schools' academic standards, maybe he needs to talk to the USF faculty about raising their standards.

Hey Al, how about a little librium to go with your illusions of granduer?

It truly is obvious that Auburn is the "Princeton of the Plains."  You can't even spell, Leavitt!!  Can you spell, Bear?  I'll spot you the B-E-__ -R.  Think carefully about filling in the blank. By the way, it is "A", as in Albert Means!  Don't worry, you'll have plenty of time to work on your spelling on New Year's Day.  I'm not into illusions.  I prefer facts...and fact is, USF will play in a bigger bowl game this year than your beloved 'Bama.  

Well for you spiteful comments. USF needs to enjoy a short time on top. THis is the first year of a comeback to nation attention unlikewith USF who is there for the first time. I think its great for USF to have a program that is going well but it is fans such as yourself that is a creud/rude fan that make people like me dislike a program because of its fans.
As far as New Years Day...Don't count your chickens because the season is not over for Bama or USF
Think about how you are percieved in things that you say regarding other teams to make you sound ignorant...or maybe you just like coming off that way

Settle down, Alabama fans.  Alabama football has been around for a long time.  So long, in fact, I would hazard to guess that few people recall Alabama’s rise to national prominence in the 1920’s.  As the first southern team to be invited to a bowl game, Alabama football was frequently discounted by the news media outside of Tuscaloosa.  Saban’s attempt to belittle USF’s program is no different than what Alabama experienced some 80 years ago.  

USF’s unprecedented rise culminated with a win just six days ago.  This is a time for Bulls fans to celebrate their team’s success, and for itinerant coaches to give the Bulls the respect they deserve.

Al, you have been a sports reporter in the Bay Area for as long as I can remember. That's why it's so disappointing to me that you put words into Nick Saban's mouth. Saban never "accused [USF] of breaking NCAA academic standards" or even implied that they did. You obviously have not read the transcript of Saban's press conference, so please do so: http://www.rolltide.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8000&ATCLID=1255901.

As an Alabama graduate who lives in the Bay area, I hope the Bulls go undefeated. Jim Leavitt has done a masterful job building a winning program, and I hope USF is able to keep him. If Mike Ford (who signed TWICE at Alabama but never qualified) and Jamar Taylor (whom Saban let out of his commitment to be closer to his ailing mother) are able to contribute to taking the program to even higher levels, even better. But please don't lower yourself to the level of the sports "journalists" in the Miami area who are still acting like Nick Saban is the ONLY coach to say he was not interested in a job that he ended up taking.

Weak USF...very weak attempt! Talk to me in two years when you are back at the bottom sucking mud for crustaceans! You need to watch the press conference and get the real facts. Being the genuis that you are, you can figure out how to find the link.

For you Alabama apologists, you are missing the biggest point.  Why would Saban need to say anything about USF?  You don't see Pete Carroll saying this stuff...or Urban Meyer.  Has Alabama really fallen that far?  And Kahol I will talk to you in 2 years, because USF's top players are all sophomores.

The only reason Saban said anything was because he was asked a question during a press conference. Just like the reporter who asked the question, you and other journalists in this area are doing a disservice to your audience by keeping this non-story alive. The Bucs game against the Colts on Sunday, the Lightning's opening night win, and USF's game against FAU are of much greater interest.

Saban is a classic example of sour grapes end of story.  By the way, I hope Alabama keeps Saban because as long as he's at the helm, the Tide will never be able to compete with the nation's elite.  

So Mike Ford applies twice to Alabama, cant get in, but does get into USF....

Peanut Whitehead looked at Auburn and Alabama, cant get in to either, and goes to Lousville...

Noel Divine, who it was generally thought wouldnt be able to get into any school academically and looked at UF, FSU, and practically any big name school, gets into WVU....

See a pattern? the Big East obviously has lower standards than some other conferences. Fresno State did the same thing, and it helped put them on the map. I dont begrudge them, i like USF, i thought they could upset WVU, and am happy to see them do well. But  a coach was asked a question about non-qualifiers, and here is a track record of 3 high profile players that looked at different schools, but could only get into Big East schools.

Ryan, how exactly are Saban's comments an "example of sour grapes"?

Also, your statement that "as long as [Saban's] at the helm, the Tide will never be able to compete with the nation's elite" is ludicrous. But you probably realize that, don't you?

>>>>It truly is obvious that Auburn is the "Princeton of the Plains."  You can't even spell, Leavitt!!  Can you spell, Bear?  I'll spot you the B-E-__ -R.  Think carefully about filling in the blank. By the way, it is "A", as in Albert Means!  Don't worry, you'll have plenty of time to work on your spelling on New Year's Day.  I'm not into illusions.  I prefer facts...and fact is, USF will play in a bigger bowl game this year than your beloved 'Bama.  <<<<

Don't bother responding to the point, just try to steer the subject away from anything that would reveal you didn't do research worth bird poop for your little piece.  Keep repeating the same half-truths and outright falsehoods and maybe people will start thinking they are true.  Goebbels liked that strategy, too.   If that might not do the trick, you can always drag a red herring across the discussion to see if it will distract attention away from the fact you are losing the argument.

Wonder why I misspelled Leavitt?  Could it be that I don't care how his name is spelled?  Your focusing on a misspelling on an Internet post rather than the content of that post as good as says that you concede the point.  But, if you want to get technical, unless you are inferring that I am named Leavitt or Bear, you need to review proper comma usage.

Look, USF is a great story, and Leavitt/Levit/what'shisname is obviously a good coach, if a little bit goofy.  But this is a non-story fashioned only to make South Florida fans have a higher opinion of themselves.  No need, USF is having a fine year and may have a wonderful bowl season.  But as for facts, the fact is USF has around eighty years of high level competition and a few national titles to go before they seriously get on the same page program-wise as an Alabama.  Let's see how USF does when FSU and UM are really back up to speed.  It is a measure of how far USF has to go when a win against an SEC team warrants such ballyhoo, your coach has to invent stories practically out of whole cloth, or when an off-hand remark in response to a reporters question is such a big deal anyway.

Nice win against Louisville, BTW.  Auburn was a nice victory, but truthfully, they are an erratically coached team that loses a game and wins a game it shouldn't almost every year.  Louisville was to me a better victory against a better team.

Best of luck the rest of the way.  Again, USF is really doing a great job this year.

First, why is this such a big deal?  This issue has been out there for years.  I believe ESPN even did a segment on it this year.  This issue is tossed about in coaching circles when something unexpected and amazing happens, like USF this year.

Now, Saban should get his facts straight before he speaks on a subject, but in fairness to him, it was brought up at a press conference and his opinion was asked, with little warning.  He has some knowledge of the subject, since two of their players were enrolled or attempted to enroll at UA.

Finally,   alkeck, how long have you been in the Bay area.  I thought that job was looked at as a stepping stone to bigger and better things?  I find it funny you bash the actions of Saban yet promote another liar coach down on the "plains."  "They'll take me out of Oxford in a pine box" -- Tommy T.  Maybe you are just trying to fit in with the South Florida media who are still hung up on Saban.  Just remember Don Shula cost the Dolphins some cash and draft picks for sliding out the backdoor in Baltimore and signing a contract with Joe Robbie, something I don't think Johnny Unitas ever forgave him for.

I hope USF goes undefeated, good for them, good for the Big East, and good for the South.

I personally feel bad for the Alabama players. They are held to unreasonably high standards every year, and then they get crapped on when they eventually fail.  Saban is a perfect fit for the Tide, just be careful if he starts swearing he'll never leave...
Saban is all mouth and no game. And don't bring that LSU junk because they're blatantly just fine without him.

Enough with Alabama's lofty academic standards...if Mike Ford was lacking why did Alabama offer him a scholarship?  The Tide certainly knew what his academic situation was.  The Tide certainly thought he was strong enough on letter of intent day.  As previous bloggers have said, it is all "sour grapes".  And enough with the notion that Saban was simply responding to a question.  Have you seen Saban in press conferences?  I have.  He doesn't touch anything he doesn't want to answer.  Saban knew what he was saying and why he said it.    

It's a case of sour grapes because Saban has to answer why his team has lost back to back losses to UGA and FSU.  Look, he's crying because he sees a team that performing well this season and it's not his team so he's taking a cheap shot trying to justify why his team has fallen from the rankings.

Further, it's not like Alabama has all academic stars on its roster.  Besides, Alabama is not the one of the nation's premier academic institutions.  In fact it's not even a top tier state university.  So, to me that's calling the kettle black.

What has the world come to? South Florida among the nation's elite? Hold on there bulls. Still a long season to go. I hope you're not leaning on the polls to decide if you're top ten material. We've all witnessed just how pathetic the polls have been. Congratulations, you beat a one-dimensional WV team, and a very shaky Auburn team. Let's not pull out the champagne just yet. If anyone HONESTLY believes that Alabama made a mistake by hiring Saban then they've got serious issues. All the man does is win. You're jealous. At least be a man and admit it. Bama doesn't need to worry about qualifiers anymore. Saban's recruiting kids with high academic standards. You may want to talk to Tubbs about that one.

Al, every time you post, you contribute to global warming.  All athletic scholarship offers are subject to the athlete meeting admission standards.  Just ask Steve Spurrier.  It is an undisputed fact that USF and the Big East in general have lower admission standards.  The laughable slings at Alabama in this regard almost makes one think some folks down there have an inferiority complex.

Ryan L, you clearly are without a single, solitary clue in your post, possibly due to a deficient education:  

Alabama is indeed the flagship university of its state.  Alabama is perennially ranked among the top 50 and top 100 schools and universities by U.S. News and World Report (ahead of that other state school, by the way), and is also regularly ranked in the top 100 by Kiplingers.  Other rankings of Alabama include a top 50 law school, with over 97% of its graduates passing their state bar on the first attempt.  The undergraduate business program was ranked at 57 in 2005, a top 25 accounting school, the Mass Comm school is ranked in the top 15, the doctoral health education degree issued jointly with UAB is ranked 7th.  

The University of Alabama debate and forensics program has won 15 national debate championships.  The University of Alabama’s graduates include 15 Rhodes Scholars, 18 Goldwater Scholars, 10 Truman Scholars, two Javits Fellows, one Udall Scholar and one Portz Scholar.  Alabama is a national leader in the enrollment of National Merit, National Achievement and National Hispanic Scholars, with 145 scholars in the fall 2005 freshman class. These numbers include 72 National Merit Scholars, 13 National Achievement Scholars and 60 National Hispanic Scholars.  

The UA 2005 freshman class averaged in the top 20 percent nationally on the ACT, and had an average high school grade-point average of 3.4. A record 612 freshmen are enrolled in the University’s Honors College.  Six University of Alabama students were named to the 2006 USA Today All-USA College Academic Team, the most of any school in the nation. UA's four-year total of 20 also tops all other colleges and universities.   I'm sorry, I got carried way there.  You were saying, Ryan?

It's obvious that none of you who are attacking Saban for what he said have read the transcript of the press conference, Al included. Coach Saban answered a question that came out of the blue, and this was his response:

“I think that the distribution of players is not the same for everyone. We can’t take Props (partial qualifiers) in the SEC. They can’t take them in the ACC. And there’s a significant amount of players who don’t qualify. And they end up being pretty good players at some of these schools. I think there are six guys starting on South Florida’s defense who probably could have gone to Florida or Florida State but Florida and Florida State couldn’t take them. And if you do a good job of recruiting that way—now the Big East has passed a rule that they aren’t going to take Props at some time in the future. I don’t know if it’s next year or the year after or whenever. Now, will that affect their league? It shrinks the pool of players that they can recruit from. I’m not saying it’s not a good rule by the NCAA that we have NCAA eligibility requirements. I think that’s a good rule. I’m not saying that. But it’s not the same for everyone and it does create a lot of parity when you’re playing those schools, you’re playing against guys you couldn’t recruit.”

Coach Saban's comments were not 100% accurate, but there is no denying that in the past quite a few talented players went to Big East schools because they could not meet the minimum qualifying standards of some other conferences. And the Big East STILL has a lower minimum transfer GPA requirement than the SEC or ACC. That's not a knock against the Big East or any of its schools. It's just the way it is. The SEC has lower minimum qualifying requirements than Notre Dame, and every Notre Dame coach since Ara has reminded the college football world over and over again about it. So what? It is what it is, and we live with it.

The sour grapes thing is still laughable. Nick Saban won a national championship at a program that had 8 losing seasons in the 11 before he arrived. He is coaching a bunch of players who were recruited by Mike Shula and are not nearly as talented as those he had his last few years at LSU. Has he ever complained about that? No. Has he ever made excuses about the lack of defensive depth on his team? No. So don't talk about sour grapes. He is coaching at a university with facilities that are among the best in the nation,  he is bringing in a recruiting class that will almost certainly be among the top 5 in the nation, and oh yeah, he's making $4,000,000 a year. I hardly think there's any sour grapes involved, at least on Coach Saban's part!

Worst of all, those of you who are attacking Alabama's academic standards are being foolish. Show me where Coach Saban attacked USF's academic standards. Nowhere. But if it makes you feel better to twist words and attack the University of Alabama, go for it. The reason Mike Ford entered this discussion is because Al said "Alabama and Saban recently lost running backs Mike Ford and Jamar Taylor to USF." But he left out the fact that Alabama lost one because of academics and the other because of family issues. But don't let the truth get in the way of a good story, right? Nearly every top program signs players who do not end up qualifying, and they lose those players. You know that, Al. If it were possible to determine before signing day that a player would not qualify, they would not sign them. But it's not.

Incidentally Al, Alabama is #11 nationally in the number of National Merit Scholarship finalists enrolled. For the past 8 years, the University of Alabama has fared better in recruiting academic scholars than football stars! In addition, Alabama's journalism program is not only one of the tops in the Southeast, but also in the entire nation. They also have an outstanding programs in accounting and engineering, and as far as I know none of their engineering professors have been deported for being terrorist suspects. ;-)

(Sorry for that last comment, but I think with all the negative comments about Alabama here, we earned the right to hit back once.)

I do not believe the quote that was attributed to Bobby Bowden in this story. Do you have a link or did you just make it up?

"It truly is obvious that Auburn is the 'Princeton of the Plains.'"

You might actually want to do some research on this before you post more ignorant comments! Oh wait, research isn't offered at USF! That class was actually called "recess"! My bad! I forgot! Anyway, back to the topic! Why don't you look up comparisons between Alabama and Harvard in regard to Academic All-Americans. You might be interested to see who wins this competition over and over! By the way princess, it's NOT Harvard!

"Enough with Alabama's lofty academic standards...if Mike Ford was lacking why did Alabama offer him a scholarship?"

Since you can't put enough thought, or research, into this to formulate the truth, it is because of a school known as a junior college! Many players that don't qualify attend these, and they then transfer back to where they originally committed! I can understand why this is something that you are not familiar with since USF has the same admission standards as these programs! Your ignorance is forgiven! After all, it has to be somebody else's fault. Get you some cheese, and you can "whine" about them too!


"He doesn't touch anything he doesn't want to answer.  Saban knew what he was saying and why he said it."

Good job! You are correct for once! You know why he said it? Because it is the TRUTH! If you can't handle that, then go back to your USF class and color! Stay inside the lines though! You will probably get bonus points!

In conclusion, Alabama will be glad to host all of you highly educated scholars again anytime that you feel as though you want some more of what you got the last time you stopped by for a visit! Just let us know when you are ready to stop by again! The university can send you all some picture books of roads so that you don't get lost! We wouldn't want you to miss your lil heifers being grilled again!