Oh those Aubies! Alabama football fans are joined by others who deride Auburn for claiming additional National Championships.
By Auburn's count, the Tigers are up to nine claimed National Championships. Getting to nine required casting aside what Aubun AD, John Cohen had been a "humble" approach by Auburn in claiming National Championships. Cohen is right in that being humble gains no program any traction in today's college sports world. So Auburn went from humble to bold, jumping past an intermediate phase needed to include a plausible review.
Auburn's four national title additions give the Aubies a total of seven claimed from 1910, 1913, 1914, 1958, 1983, 1993, and 2004. It is difficult to believe 'Coach' Tuberville did not influence Cohen's decision.
It is worthwhile to remember that any national college football title before the Poll Era began in 1936 can only be claimed. The closest thing to consensus on titles before 1936 is provided by the NCAA. The NCAA has Harvard and Pitt as the National Champions in 1910; Harvard in 1913, Army in 1914, LSU and Iowa in 1958, Miami in 1983, FSU in 1993, and USC in 2004. USC's 2004 title was later vacated. by the NCAA.
Debate can challenge the merits of Auburn's claimed titles, but the most fake one is 2004. After the BCS started determining National Championships in 1998, there should be only one recognized National Champion each season. USC's title being vacated does not justify Auburn claiming the Tigers deserve that season's title.
Alabama Football fans and others laugh at Auburn
Most of the college football world will scoff at Auburn's new claimed titles. Alabama football fans can and should join in the derision. While doing so, Crimson Tide fans should consider that Alabama has no sound justification for claiming a 1941 National Championship. While Alabama can make a legitimate claim of a 1934 title, the NCAA list of National Champions only includes Minnesota in 1934. Four national selectors awarded Alabama the 1934 title. At 10-0 with a Rose Bowl win that season, which had often been seen as a national title game, Alabama has a credible claim.
Alabama's claim of 1941 is probably as bad as any of Auburn's new claims, except for the Aubies' 2004 claim. Many Alabama football fans can retort, Yes, but what about 1966? And yes, the 1966 title is one Alabama should have long ago claimed.