Paul Finebaum reveals lessons learned as young journalist after questioning Bear Bryant

College football analyst Paul Finebaum is a seasoned veteran in the sports journalism industry. Finebaum was recently a guest on Always College Football hosted by Greg McElroy, where the two talked in depth about the past, present, and future of the college football landscape.

The two reminisced about Finebaum’s infamous back and forth with Alabama head coach Nick Saban at SEC Media days in 2016, and talked about asking the tough questions. McElroy asked Finebaum about some of the “softball” questions that were asked to SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and coaches at media day, and asked Finebaum what he would’ve wanted answered at this years media days, where he shared an anecdote and lesson learned from legendary Alabama football coach Bear Bryant.

“I don’t know because Greg, the media is so different.” Finebaum said. “I asked coach Bryant three questions at his retirement announcement and I’m embarrassed about it to this day, because they were tough questions. One of them was ‘coach Bryant do you regret after winning your 315th game that you came back for another year,’ because he lost three of his last four games, including for the first time at home in 25 years to Southern Miss and to Auburn. So I learned at an early age that if you’re going to ask a tough question, you’re almost better off doing it in a different setting, because otherwise it looks like you’re just grandstanding, like I was with Saban that day.”

You could tell at SEC media days new trending topics like NIL, the transfer portal, and conference realignment were popularly asked, but the lines between easy and hard questions regarding them were blurred based on the newness of of them. It will definitely be interesting to see how Finebaum and media members continue ask questions regarding these topics as they continue to evolve with time within the college sports landscape.

Finebaum explains why he doesn’t see the SEC as a fit if Notre Dame joins a conference

All signs are pointing towards two mega-conferences between the SEC and Big Ten, and both conferences might not be done adding to their respective equations just yet. The SEC has been linked to a number of teams from the ACC, while the future of some of the remaining teams in the Pac-12 is also up in the air. 

In the end, though, the conversation surrounding future conference realignment and expansion always has and always will circle back to Notre Dame. Finebaum believes the Irish are a fit in the SEC, but he doesn’t ultimately see it happening. Even if it makes sense, Notre Dame could be turned away by the simple perception of what that move would be for.

“And I love them in the SEC, but I don’t think they’re going to be able to convince the people that really matter at Notre Dame – and that’s the administration – that this is where they should be,” added Finebaum. “It would wreak to some people up there as just a pure money grab, and Notre Dame, even though everything it does football wise is about money, doesn’t want anybody else to know that.”

On3’s Jonathan Wagner contributed to this report.