Why Kentucky Basketball Beats Alabama Football

Count me among the legion of fans in America that respects the heck out of Alabama football.  As Duncan Cavanah pointed out yesterday, there are a lot of similarities between the esteemed BBN and Alabama football fans.  From a rich tradition, to fans who expect excellence, to a passion for the sport, if there is an equivalent of the Kentucky basketball program in College Football, Alabama can make a good case for holding that title.  But because we’re Kentucky, and because we need to win at everything, let’s make no mistake.  Alabama football – while close – is no Kentucky basketball when it comes to prestige.

Let’s look at arbitrary comparisons of the two programs, and see how it shakes out.

All Time Wins

Alabama is a team that screams tradition.  They had Bear Bryant.  They have 15 national championships (according to their media guide… 14 according to wikipedia.  They have Nick Saban, the most footballin’ football coach there is.  They have the script A.  But you know what they don’t have?  The most wins in sport history.  Alabama ranks 9th in program wins, behind the likes of Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Texas and Nebraska.  They fare a little better when you look specifically at win percentage, with .714 being good enough for them to finish 6th.  Comparatively, as you all know, Kentucky basketball is first in wins and first in winning percentage – winning nearly 3% more of their games than the next closest, North Carolina.  Verdict:  Kentucky.

At The Top of Their Game

This brings us to the next point – the top program in college football is a muddled affair.  You could make an argument for Michigan (most wins), Notre Dame (arguably the most iconic), Texas (one of the largest fan bases, complete with their own TV Network) or Alabama (most D-1 championships), but no program can claim the title outright.  Basketball isn’t clear cut, by any means, but most any way you slice it Kentucky comes up #1.  You can make an argument for UCLA, if you want to look solely at championships – but where’s the consistency?  UNC can lay a claim, based on final fours and being close in wins, but where’s the championships?  Kentucky is the top dog in college basketball, and Alabama is among the top dogs in college football.  There’s a difference.  Verdict:  Kentucky.  

Legitimacy of Titles/Degree of difficulty

For as hard as it is to win a title in college football (more often than not you have to go undefeated) we rarely end the season with a clear cut, no debating, national champion.  At the end of the day, whether it’s a championship awarded by an AP poll or a one shot BCS title game, there is just too much subjectivity to feel great about being declared the National Champion.  Make no mistakes – I’m not saying that Boise State could’ve won a title if given the chance, but there is so much that is out of control of the teams, that there will always be debate surrounding any championship.  That being said, while March Madness certainly determines a less controversial champion, you have to give Alabama credit for doing what it has done in the SEC.  To be so dominant the past few seasons, in the most dominant league in the nation, takes something special.  Kentucky is great, but you never mistake SEC basketball for SEC football, so Bama gets point for degree of difficulty.  Verdict:  Push.

Transcendence of Sport/Brand Recognition

The biggest programs in any sport, are the programs that transcend the game.  The New York Yankees mean something more than just ‘baseball team’.  Same for the Patriots, the Lakers, and the Celtics.  Kentucky has certainly laid claim to transcendence in the past few years with Calipari, as the BBN has crept in to popular culture.  But at the same time, most people outside the BBN probably couldn’t tell you what it was.  Meanwhile, thanks to one of my favorite ESPN commercials, Roll Tide is synonymous with great football.  Alabama football isn’t being featured in too many rap videos, but at the same time, football is the more popular sport, and Bama is a premiere brand in the sport.  Verdict: Alabama.

At the end of the day, perhaps the strongest case could be made that we are comparing apples to oranges.  But if there’s one thing we like to do around here, it’s smash some oranges, so sorry Bama fans.  You’re good, but you ain’t this good.  

Go Cayts.