Alabama Football G11 vs WCU 2014
Alabama defensive back Landon Collins (26) gets loose on a kick return during the first quarter of the Alabama vs. Western Carolina football game, Saturday, November 22, 2014, at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Vasha Hunt/vhunt@al.com
(VASHA HUNT)
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - Western Carolina head coach Mark Speir was angered when he watched a segment on ESPN's College GameDay Saturday morning where the hosts were down on SEC teams playing FCS opponents this weekend.
Alabama was one of four SEC schools playing an FCS opponent this weekend, and South Carolina played South Alabama from the Sun Belt.
Smaller schools get several hundred thousand dollars, sometimes even more than a million dollars, from the power schools. Alabama paid WCU $480,000 for coming to Tuscaloosa. Speir said earlier this week on the Southern Conference coaches teleconference that playing Alabama basically funds their athletic department.
The ESPN analysts called it "embarrassing" and Kirk Herbstreit, a former Ohio State quarterback, said it was the worst thing happening in college football today.
Analyst Lee Corso, a former college coach, defended the FCS schools. For that, Speir was grateful.
"(Corso said) Alabama, they're a great school and because they played Western Carolina today, they're still a great school and they're still going to win a national championship," Speir said after his team lost 48-14 to No. 1 Alabama on Saturday.
But then Speir went on. He never named Herbstreit, but did refer to the fact he played quarterback at Ohio State.
"A guy had a silver spoon in his mouth all his life, Ohio State, primadonna state quarterback talking about, 'It's an embarrassment,'" Speir said. "He ain't ever coached."
WCU lost, but the Catamounts took an early 7-0 lead and trailed just 17-14 in the second quarter before Alabama pulled away.
Troy Mitchell, the talented junior quarterback for the Catamounts, set a school record for total yardage and became the first WCU player to pass the 3,000-yard mark in total yards. He threw for 221 yards with two touchdowns.
Mitchell was born in Mobile and played little league football with former Alabama linebacker great C.J. Mosley. He moved to Houston in middle school.
"Guys get an education and we battled our butts off, playing games like this," Speir said. "It sends people who wouldn't have an opportunity to go to college and have great memories. Then a guy like Troy sets a record. You tell me that ain't special. I'll get off my soapbox."
Speir said he took it personally when he heard the ESPN College GameDay crew referring to SEC teams playing FCS teams as an embarrassment.
"Coach (Nick) Saban had a lot of great things before and after the game about FCS playing the big boys," Speir said. "Alabama needed this game. Like I said, whether they win or lose, Alabama, I think those fans had a good time today.
"I'm just proud of FCS football, I'm proud of our football team, I hope America doesn't listen to a guy who sits behind a mike that hasn't ever done it, with that silver spoon in his mouth, he never had probably a bloody nose or a callous like some of these guys."
Speir also made two positive references to Alabama governor Dr. Robert Bentley in his postgame remarks.
"(You've got a) governor who, until the employment rate went down, he ain't takin' a paycheck," Speir said. "I wish some of those guys behind a (microphone) would work for a living too instead of putting their opinions out there.
"But I love your governor here. I love this program here and I'll give you a Roll Tide."