re: How does Saban view the Bama fanbase?

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he has been and has said he will retire from there.

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You think you are special. That's cute

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You think you are special. That's cute

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I know it helps you sleep at night hoping he goes somewhere else. It's OK. I understand

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You think you are special. That's cute

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We just know reality.

See, we thought Saban was just a hired mercenary. That was our plan. He was gonna be here 3 or 4 years, get us back on top, then go on about his way to some other job. But those plans changed. Something happened. His wife completely fell in love with the place. His kids attended the school. His mother moved here. It's been 7 years now, far longer than he's been anywhere else and there's no sign that he's leaving and every sign that's he's staying.

We didn't know they would love it here. But they do. We'll take it.

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Admissions standards are virtually the same yet auburn admits 20% more applicants than Alabama.

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Because alabama gets numerous unqualified applicants

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Alabama is really profiting from playing the USNWR game. They're good at it too. I think it is probably a good idea on their part, although it isn't necessarily reflective of where the schools are at.
For example, IIRC, Auburn is harder to get into and generally provides a more valuable degree. So why would Alabama be ranked higher? Because they know what USNWR wants, and they play to it. Merit Scholars get ridiculous money to come to Bama, it is a good plan. Huge amounts of investment also gets you USNWR points, which is something Bama has definitely done over the last decade.

Perhaps the most telling example is Alabama's law school, which has insanely jumped a number of better institutions. FWIW, I think Alabama's law school is good, but it is in a state without a major law industry, and it doesn't feed top firms in other states. The clerkship numbers aren't that impressive, and the faculty doesn't come close to some of the schools it has jumped. The student body also lags in a lot of areas over schools it is presently ahead of. But again pumping money into the right places, getting high satisfaction reports from local professionals and former students, etc., earns you US News points. Alabama is shrewd, while other schools are focusing on more amorphous goals which don't translate to rankings (like diversity statistics or clinics).

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Exactly. Since 2003, UA has made an effort to cater to improving stats to rank higher. Many of the measurables used are irrelevant fluff, but UA invests in the fluff to help them rank higher. It is nothing more and nothing less including the amount UA pays merit scholars to come to UA.

UA needs the fluff, but in the real world a bama degree pays a lot less than an AU degree overall.

Nice explanation for the uninformed BTW.

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Alabama has lower admission standards. It is a fact.

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Alabama:

In terms of educational preparation, the college preparatory curriculum minimum unit requirements for regular admissions are

4 units of English
4 units of social sciences
3 units of mathematics
3 units of natural sciences, including two courses with lab components
1 unit of foreign language
5 additional units of academic courses (We recommend courses in fine arts or computer literacy, with additional courses in mathematics, natural sciences, and foreign language.)

Auburn:

Each freshman applicant must complete the following core curriculum requirements by the end of the high school senior year:
4 years English
3 years social studies
3 years math including Algebra I and II, and either Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus, or Analysis
2 years science including Biology and Physical Sciences with Laboratory Component

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Exactly. Since 2003, UA has made an effort to cater to improving stats to rank higher.

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Yes, the hundreds of millions of dollars in capital improvements and staff additions have been made purely to score points with USNews. For fricks sake you are a retard

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TnM might have an aneurysm

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Nope. I'm cool. I understand those things as well unlike most gumps who like to tout them to make them feel better about bama.

Bama has never really been that close to AU as a university. It has always been a clear second tier option behind AU for either the less qualified individuals or those that car more about football than their degree (in general).

UA is improving, but the gap is still there. Everyone knows this as well and it is not even a question that AU has been the better academic institution for many many decades.

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Bama has lower standards so a lot more unqualified people try to get into it

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I think the correct answer is that more people WANT to go to Alabama than they do Auburn. There's nothing wrong with that.

I've never understood the Auburn mindset. "We're special because fewer people want to go here."

LULZ