Okay, here's the deal. Are you tired of hearing the number 12? If Auburn fans were to use the same logic and National Championship claiming system that Bammers use, then we could probably claim 5 National Championships, because we were named by some institution; and in many cases, more credible and nationally recognized. As a matter of fact Auburn has been named the NC by some media or awards outlet in '83, '93, and yes, even '04 (and no, Finebaum, I'm not talking about the Eufala Times)

I love hearing, "Well at least we have 12 National Championships.... how many do you have?" Holy crap that's a terrible statement... it's a freaking myth that has been sold and now believed by almost all. Don't get me wrong, Alabama has an outstanding tradition and has won several National Championships. Just not 12.

I present to you the "Myth of the 12"... The kind of stuff that makes college football fun.

1925 National Championship - Alabama claims they share this one with Dartmouth. Who awarded the NC? Houlgate and Helms. Houlgate started his system in 1927. So Bama won their 1925 NC using a formula that didn't exist until 1927!? Helms Athletic Foundation started in 1941. Another incredible retroactive NC.
• National Championship Category = LEGITIMATE (#1) (The above information is true, but they were 10-0)

1926 National Championship - Alabama claims they share this one with 3 other teams with equal or better records! Once again it is the Helms Athletic Foundation in 1941 that awards it!
• National Championship Category = WEAK (they finished 9-0-1: under this system, everyone has won an NC at least 10 times)

1930 National Championship - The Davis poll says that Bama tied Notre Dame for NC this year. This was the only one to award it to Bama. Notre Dame was named NC in 6 polls! Parke Davis is another retroactive system! He (an individual, not an organization) did his in 1933!
• National Championship Category = LEGITIMATE (#2) (This has about as much credibility as winning one from the Eufala Times, which Auburn did one time. Did we claim it? No. However, because I am a nice guy, I will give a team that goes 10-0 a national championship, even if everyone else picks another team... sound familiar? 2004)

1934 National Championship - Alabama says they share this with two other teams. The awarders are Dunkel, Williamson, and Football Thesaurus. Dunkel was an individual who came up with his own system. Williamson was a geologist who came up with his own system. Football Thesaurus first appeared in 1946!
• National Championship Category = LEGITIMATE (#3) (Hell, they were 10-0)

1941 National Championship - This is a complete joke. The AP ranked Alabama 20th in the nation with 14 teams with better records in the top 20. Once again it is the Football Thesaurus that retroactively awards it. Alabama finished 3rd in the SEC that year.
• National Championship Category = ABSOLUTE CRAP AND HORSE FECES (someone should be shot.. this is like Clemson claiming a National Championship.. every single year... they even lost to Vanderbilt this year).

1961 National Championship - Finally a legitimate NC. One poll didn't give it to Bama though.
• National Championship Category = LEGITIMATE (#4)

1964 National Championship - While the AP did award the NC to Bama (10-1-0), Arkansas had the better record, 11-0. Alabama played Texas in their bowl and LOST. The AP final poll was before the bowl.
• National Championship Category = WEAK ( lost their bowl game, but it was awarded by the AP.)

1965 National Championship - The AP gave this to Bama. That year there were three teams with better records than Bama. Bama 9-1-1, Michigan St 10-1-0, Arkansas 10-1-0, Nebraska 10-1-0.
• National Championship Category = LEGITIMATE (#5) (AP gives it, so it's gotta be recognized.)

1973 National Championship - AP puts Bama 4th after their bowl game loss. Bama claims a NC from the UPI poll that was taken before they met Notre Dame in the bowl game and lost. There were 3 teams with better records than Bama that year. The embarrassment of naming Alabama number one caused the UPI to name champions after bowl games.
• National Championship Category = WEAK (gotta stop saying you're better than all the other teams with better records. However, they can claim from the UPI poll.)

1978 National Championship - AP gives this to Alabama (11-1-0) even though USC (12-1-0) had the better record Guess who Alabama lost to that year? USC!!!!!!!!!. UPI gave the NC to USC.
• National Championship Category = WEAK (Yep, can't be claiming you're the NC when you lose to the team with a better record and better team in the Bowl game. Morons. Again, AP awards it, so it has to count.)

1979 National Championship - Their second legitimate NC. Their first Unanimous NC.
• National Championship Category = LEGITIMATE/UNANIMOUS (#6)

1992 National Championship - Their third legitimate NC. Their second Unanimous NC.
• National Championship Category = LEGITIMATE/UNANIMOUS (#7)

You can see why people ridicule Bama fans when they talk about 12 NCs. The early ones were awarded by individuals years after the games were played. These weren't consensus polls but NCs awarded by people that had their own formula for determining champions. Some NCs where given before bowl games that Bama lost. However, in those early years they were undefeated, so it really is fair to claim an NC... EXCEPT for 1941... seriously, what the hell is that?

Using Alabama logic, Auburn could easily claim four national championships and maybe more. But when Bammers brag they like to say they have twelve and Auburn has one. How silly. The NCAA recognizes 6 NCs for Bama and there are only two NCs in the modern college football era that Bama has unanimously.

At any rate... Bama does have more championships (for now), but I feel something coming: Auburn winning six or seven in a row. Sounds reasonable. Maybe by then, we'll be able to claim some past championships as well, giving us a grand total of <drumroll> .............. 12.