There's a lot to be said for Auburn retroactively claiming the 2004 national title, among others. And, of course, there can be a lot said of Tommy Tuberville, the coach of that Tigers’ team that went undefeated, since he threw his reputation into the game that is American politics.
But what can definitely be said is that the team played for Auburn, its fans and, most importantly, each other even when they felt jilted by being left out of the BCS National Title Game.
Flash forward 21 years, and Notre Dame, a school so smug and used to getting its way that it shares many similarities with a school in Tuscaloosa, has decided to take its ball and go home after being left out of the 12-team College Football Playoff. Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish are the little kid on the playground who, once he doesn’t get his way, quits the game and ruins it for the rest of the group.
This isn’t the first team to opt out of a bowl game. Under totally different circumstances, a 5-7 Auburn team with a head coaching change declined a last-minute invite this year. Heck, this isn’t even the first Notre Dame team to opt out. But this is probably the most famous example of a team quitting on themselves and their fans after something went against them. It exemplifies a lack of leadership from Freeman up, and it's a horrible look for a nationally recognized program that has had a lot handed to it (hello, being able to basically set your own schedule every year) in the past.
He might not have even played in a bowl game had the Irish not gotten so greedy, but fans are missing one last possible chance to see Jeremiyah Love, one of the most explosive players in college football, suit up in a Notre Dame uniform.
Way more problems than NIL and the transfer portal
While people blame the transfer portal and the introduction of NIL for ruining college football, there are many other, greater factors that have made the sport sometimes unbearable to follow. While players get blamed for being greedy, Lane Kiffin leaves his team on the verge of a spot in the College Football Playoff for the first time. While players getting paid is the downfall of college football, Matt Campbell leaves for another school a couple of days after the Early Signing Period.
There are many things to love about college football still, but every year, it seems the ugly side of it becomes what a season is known for. No matter how many teams are in a playoff, someone will be left out, thinking they were cheated. And while Notre Dame has good cause to believe they belong in the playoff over the likes of Alabama, James Madison and Tulane, their response is as lame as the acting in the movie Rudy.
So, the next time you think about bashing on Auburn for claiming the 2004 national title, think of how those players, many who knew they would be first-round NFL picks, went out and played for each other one more time. Instead of taking their ball and going home, they strapped on their helmets and beat Virginia Tech to complete the undefeated season.
It’s much better than what Notre Dame is doing for college football and themselves.