Swinney and Saban find common ground

It is not often that Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney and Alabama head coach Nick Saban will find something to agree on, but it has happened—at least once.

ATLANTA— It is not often that Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney and Alabama head coach Nick Saban will find something to agree on, but it has happened—at least once.

Swinney and Saban, the two coaches who met for the fourth straight season in last year’s national title game, found common ground when asked about whether or not the playoffs should expand to include eight or even 16 teams.

“Oh man, I like the system that we have, to be honest with you,” Swinney said. “I think we’re in a playoff mode every week, literally, for about four, five weeks now. Every week has been a playoff mentality for us. You lose, you’re probably out.

“It’s been all you got every single week. Every game is the biggest game of the year.”

For Saban, the reason he will continue to endorse the current system is more inclusive than Swinney—he does not want to take away any more bowl games from the students and the fans.

While only four teams are granted the privilege of participating in the College Football Playoff, there are 78 other teams that will be participating in 39 other bowl games. And while many will say the number of bowl games has watered down the bowl games, Saban believes there is still great value in those other 39 games for those 78 teams.

“I think a few years ago, going to a bowl was a unique think in college football because it rewarded a lot of players who participated, had good seasons, had an opportunity to go to a bowl game. Their fans could enjoy a bowl game,” Saban said. “Now all the focus in on the playoffs. Teams that go to Bowl games don’t coexist very well with the playoffs relative to importance, how much attention they got, but they are important to positive, self-gratification for a lot of players, coaches, a lot of fans who have a good season.”

The danger inherent in expanding the playoffs is summed up with a single question: Where will it stop?

IF the playoffs were to expand to eight teams, how long before it expands again to include 16 teams? Once it expands to 16 teams, how long until is at 32 or 64 teams?

“Expanding the playoffs would minimize (the bowl games) to a larger degree in terms of the importance of bowl games and the importance of playing in bowl games,” Saban said. “If we go to eight teams, I’m sure it won’t be long after that you all want to be talking about 16. I don’t care if we have 68 teams in it, we’ll still have a two-hour show on who shouldn’t have gotten in just like they do in basketball.”

Swinney echoed the sentiments of his rival, saying that he believes the “include everyone” playoffs is the unique way in which the game of college football chooses only four teams is what makes the sport so unique—putting a premium on the regular season and the entire body of work, unlike professional sports which makes the regular season nearly meaningless.

“I love the NBA, but I don’t ever watch until the playoffs,” Swinney said. “Just doesn’t matter. In our sport, it (the regular season) still matters. I mean, it matters. It matters what you do in September. It matters what you do in October. It matters what you do in November.”

Swinney and Saban may not agree on a lot of things when it comes to football, but when it comes to expanding the playoffs both are in agreement because, in spite of their 18-year age difference, they are both traditionalists when it comes to bowl games.

“You know what, there’s nothing wrong with going 9-3, 8-4,” Swinney said. “Maybe that’s the best you were that year. Now, you have a chance to go play a good bowl game—somewhere, grow as a team, get better, develop some young guys for the spring. That’s kind of what I grew up in. I’m kind of traditional in that.”