Swinney turns against Crimson Tide
Clemson Coach Dabo Swinney has an explanation for putting Ohio State ahead of his alma mater in his last coaches poll ballot.
“A moment of insanity,” Swinney quipped Thursday. “Complete insanity.”
Alabama (11-1) slipped into the final spot for the four-team College Football Playoff, despite failing to win the SEC West.
Alabama was ranked No. 1 until a 26-14 loss at Auburn in its regular-season finale, which handed the SEC West title to the Tigers. Alabama got into the playoff after Auburn lost to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, combined with Wisconsin falling to Ohio State for the Big Ten title.
Now, it’s Clemson vs. Alabama for the third year in a row in the playoff.
Sitting next to Alabama Coach Nick Saban during an appearance by all playoff coaches at the College Football Hall of Fame, Swinney blamed his vote on fatigue. He cast his ballot on the bus ride back to Clemson after his team routed Miami in the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game.
“Just coming home. Literally, it’s 3 o’clock in the morning. ‘Man, I got to do this poll,” ’ Swinney recalled, casting a nervous look toward Saban.
The Clemson coach went with the Buckeyes (11-2) at No. 4 behind his own team, Oklahoma and Georgia.
“Looking at it, you know, they won 11 games. Alabama won 11 games,” Swinney explained. “They won the Big Ten championship. Obviously, the committee has a lot of things to look at, a lot of data. They’re going to pick the four best teams, however they see it.
“At that moment, that’s the way I voted. They’re all great teams, man.”
Saban chimed in, noting Swinney attended Alabama.
“He was disrespecting his alma mater,” Saban said with a smile.
He’s No. 1
Cristiano Ronaldo has no doubt he is “the best player in history,” the Real Madrid star told France Football on Thursday.
“No other player has won as many individual trophies as me,” Ronaldo said. “That says something, no?
“It’s not only the work that I’m doing in the gym, like people think. It’s a combination of many things. Legends like Floyd Mayweather or LeBron James, they didn’t get to this level of perfection by chance. It must be many factors coming together. To be at the top and stay there, you must always have more talent than others.
“You know, I respect everyone’s preferences. But I don’t see anyone better than me. I always thought that.”
It’s a team thing
St. Norbert College confirms that its women’s basketball team won’t play the next 10 games because of an alcohol-related incident involving some players.
School leaders say the college began an investigation after learning about the incident about three weeks ago. The decision to suspend the players involved was made by the school and its judicial board. School officials say it was not possible to hand out individual suspensions because too many players were involved.
The Green Knights also will be ineligible for the Midwest Conference Tournament and the regular-season championship. The team’s first game back will be at Cornell on Jan. 27.
St. Norbert Coach Connie Tilley, who is in her 41st season with the Green Knights, was not available for comment.