Interesting conversation today on Swain and yesterday on Basilio. *note- I know many of you don't like them- but I much prefer Wvlz to the boring sports animal.*
Anyway, here's what they were asserting:
Steve Shaw - head of officials is a biased Bama grad.
There is evidence that Bama gets officiating breaks (see today's Basilio blog citing Auburn researched materials).
Having the SEC office in Birmingham is a big advantage for Bama because all of the conference employees and their families live in this pro Bama environment which is bound to rub off.
The Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and state of Alabama media is all in the tank for Bama. E.g. They rarely report anything negative about Alabama football and certainly do not do any investigative digging. Compare this to the Knoxville and Nashville media which many see as hostile to the Vols.
Local and state police and legal authorities in the state of Alabama are in the tank for Bama. These people are Bama fans and know that all of their constituents are.
Compare this to Knoxville and state of Tenn police and judges. Do they ever "look the other way"?
The University of Alabama educational hierarchy fully cooperates with Coach Saban. If there is a player that is "borderline" academically, the school will find a way to get him in. Same thing with any drug or disciplinary problems.
The school will cover up these problems.
That does not happen with UT's administration.
Bottom Line: University of Alabama football is THE BIGGEST AND MOST IMPORTANT thing in the state of Alabama and the entire state infrastructure buys in.
That is not the case in the state of Tennessee and UT.
Anyway, here's what they were asserting:
Steve Shaw - head of officials is a biased Bama grad.
There is evidence that Bama gets officiating breaks (see today's Basilio blog citing Auburn researched materials).
Having the SEC office in Birmingham is a big advantage for Bama because all of the conference employees and their families live in this pro Bama environment which is bound to rub off.
The Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and state of Alabama media is all in the tank for Bama. E.g. They rarely report anything negative about Alabama football and certainly do not do any investigative digging. Compare this to the Knoxville and Nashville media which many see as hostile to the Vols.
Local and state police and legal authorities in the state of Alabama are in the tank for Bama. These people are Bama fans and know that all of their constituents are.
Compare this to Knoxville and state of Tenn police and judges. Do they ever "look the other way"?
The University of Alabama educational hierarchy fully cooperates with Coach Saban. If there is a player that is "borderline" academically, the school will find a way to get him in. Same thing with any drug or disciplinary problems.
The school will cover up these problems.
That does not happen with UT's administration.
Bottom Line: University of Alabama football is THE BIGGEST AND MOST IMPORTANT thing in the state of Alabama and the entire state infrastructure buys in.
That is not the case in the state of Tennessee and UT.
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