Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit preview Alabama-Clemson title game

Q. I want to use the ‘perspective’ word. If Nick happens to win his seventh national championship, where do you put that, where does that place in college sports history in general? 

CHRIS FOWLER: I think you have to talk about sports history. You have to start talking about Red Auerbach, Coach Wooden, very different landscapes and different eras. But I already think Saban has the most accomplished résumé in the history of college football, even if he never wins another game. To me it’s astounding to be able to do what he’s done with no signs of slowing down.

Whether it’s six or seven, it’s adding, in my opinion, to a legacy that’s unequaled in college football. I think you do have to have a much broader perspective throughout the history of sports to see where he would rank because, as Kirk pointed out, it’s not easy to do what he’s done.

You don’t get to have a guy eight or 10 years like you did when you had the Celtics. It’s more akin to Wooden’s machine at UCLA. I think it’s harder to win a championship in football than it was in basketball in that era.

It’s a good barstool conversation.

KIRK HERBSTREIT: It is. I’m with you. People want to compare him to whether it’s Bear Bryant, Bud Wilkinson, Woody Hayes, Bobby Bowden, Joe Paterno, those are all legendary coaches. If he’s able to win on Monday night, I think you have to love the sport of college football. I’m with Chris, and going way back, I know John Wooden had a ridiculous run, Red Auerbach with the Celtics, Phil Jackson, what he did with the Bulls and Jordan.

Here is the funny thing. It’s not slowing down. People in the NFL, they’re looking for cracks in that armor. Belichick, they lost a game. Brady is done. They’re waiting for the Patriots dynasty to be done.

With Alabama, they might lose a game, but for 10 or 11 years they’re either in the national title or they’re a play or two away, they get upset, that close to being in it again. We’ve never seen anything like this. It’s not slowing down.

They just maybe signed arguably their best recruiting class they’ve ever been able to put together in December. I told Chris, I think next year, they’re going to lose some great players, but with Tua coming back, I think this team scores 45, 50 a game next year again. I think they could be better next year than this year.

People that hate Alabama, they can’t stand their dominance, it’s not fair, blah, blah, blah. Whatever they have to say… I just tend to pull up a chair and appreciate it. 30, 40, 50 years from now people are going to be talking about that run of Nick Saban and Alabama.

We’re lucky enough to be sitting right in front of it watching it. I choose to appreciate it instead of nitpicking or questioning or complaining about it. I think it’s incredible and fun to watch.

CHRIS FOWLER: The championships are there. Ralph would know this fact. They have more weeks at No. 1 in the last 10 years than the rest of college football combined. Think about that. That’s, like, wire to wire, start to finish. That’s incredible.

For the Clemson side, let’s not forget, if they get the win, they’re cementing a mini dynasty, too. They’re not just chipping away at Alabama, but they’re also building something themselves. They would have taken two out of three against the Tide in championship games. They’re not going anywhere either.

It’s a tussle for this trophy. It’s also a collision of these two dynasties that have gotten in each other’s ways. I think Clemson is on the rise. Dabo is young, not going anywhere, I don’t think. It will be fun to see what they achieve in the years to come. Nick has to retire at some point, you’d think (laughter).