Alabama claims 14 national championships. The NCAA and SEC recognize eight national championships. Only five are completely legitimate, no questions asked.
Of the six that are completely bogus, none is moreso than 1941. We all know the story, but if you don't here it is - the complete truth.
Mississippi State went undefeated in 1940 and won the Orange Bowl. Alabama coach Frank Thomas, whose team went unbeaten and won a national championship in 1934, was upset about this, so he contacted UA president Richard Foster and devised a plan.
Thomas knew that Mississippi State would be tough in '41. They were returning most of their starters that had beat Alabama soundly in '40. Thomas wanted to do something that would impact the Alabama-Mississippi State game in 1941, but Foster was a voice of reason and did not want to something drastic if Alabama were able to beat MSU.
Mississippi State defeated Alabama 14-7 that year, so Thomas and Foster put their plan into action. They contacted the emperor of Japan, Hirohito and told him of their dilemma. Mississippi State would be playing at San Francisco on December 6, and a win over the Dons would mean a trip to the Sugar Bowl for Mississippi State, and that this was not an option.
On December 6, MSU defeated then-West coast powerhouse San Francisco 26-13 to cap off its only SEC championship season. Foster contacted Hirohito and told him to proceed as planned.
The next morning, as commanded by Hirohito, the Germans launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. As San Francisco was the largest city on the West coast at the time, it was placed under lockdown and the Mississippi State team was unable to return to Starkville to accept the Sugar Bowl invite.
The Sugar Bowl knew what Alabama had done, and refused to invite the Tide to the 1942 event, instead taking Missouri from the Big Eight. The Cotton Bowl accepted Alabama, a game in which the Tide won to <span style="font-weight: bold;">finish #20 in the final AP poll.</span>
That's right, Alabama finished #20, and third in the SEC behind MSU and Vanderbilt.
Yet somehow they claim the 1941 national championship.
I hate these bastards.
Of the six that are completely bogus, none is moreso than 1941. We all know the story, but if you don't here it is - the complete truth.
Mississippi State went undefeated in 1940 and won the Orange Bowl. Alabama coach Frank Thomas, whose team went unbeaten and won a national championship in 1934, was upset about this, so he contacted UA president Richard Foster and devised a plan.
Thomas knew that Mississippi State would be tough in '41. They were returning most of their starters that had beat Alabama soundly in '40. Thomas wanted to do something that would impact the Alabama-Mississippi State game in 1941, but Foster was a voice of reason and did not want to something drastic if Alabama were able to beat MSU.
Mississippi State defeated Alabama 14-7 that year, so Thomas and Foster put their plan into action. They contacted the emperor of Japan, Hirohito and told him of their dilemma. Mississippi State would be playing at San Francisco on December 6, and a win over the Dons would mean a trip to the Sugar Bowl for Mississippi State, and that this was not an option.
On December 6, MSU defeated then-West coast powerhouse San Francisco 26-13 to cap off its only SEC championship season. Foster contacted Hirohito and told him to proceed as planned.
The next morning, as commanded by Hirohito, the Germans launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. As San Francisco was the largest city on the West coast at the time, it was placed under lockdown and the Mississippi State team was unable to return to Starkville to accept the Sugar Bowl invite.
The Sugar Bowl knew what Alabama had done, and refused to invite the Tide to the 1942 event, instead taking Missouri from the Big Eight. The Cotton Bowl accepted Alabama, a game in which the Tide won to <span style="font-weight: bold;">finish #20 in the final AP poll.</span>
That's right, Alabama finished #20, and third in the SEC behind MSU and Vanderbilt.
Yet somehow they claim the 1941 national championship.
I hate these bastards.
