Paul Finebaum: Kayvon Thibodeaux 'insane' for making comments on Alabama education

Paul Finebaum is one of the many pushing back against Kayvon Thibodeaux for the disparaging comments the star made against Alabama education. In an appearance on The Opening Kickoff on WNSP 105.5 FM, Finebaum stated Thibodeaux’s comments were “insane.”

“That’s completely insane,” Paul Finebaum said, regarding the Oregon star’s remarks. “I’m not saying this because I have a strong allegiance to Alabama, but I know the university well. I’ve lectured there. I’ve been on the campus a million times. That is a very good academic school.

“This isn’t the Alabama Joe Namath left Beaver Falls, Pa., to go there because he could ‘major in basket weaving.’ This is an elite university that is not easy to get into anymore if you are an out-of-state student. The highest level of scholarship at Alabama rivals many of the top schools in the country. I found that argument really lame and stupid.”

In propping up Oregon, Thibodeaux took shots at the education he would’ve received if he played for the Crimson Tide. After making the comments to FOX’s Joel Klatt, the college football analyst realized he should’ve pushed back against the Ducks pass-rusher.

“No excuses. Should’ve pushed back!” tweeted Klatt. “Fact is a University of Alabama education is very good.”

Evidently, Klatt regrets letting Thibodeaux take the aforementioned point of view. After listening to the Oregon star’s comments, it’s tough not to see why it would be viewed as controversial.

Finebaum knows that Thibodeaux is wrong in his sentiment, and it’s been tough to find someone to agree with the Ducks star in recent days. While Thibodeaux believes his Oregon education is far superior than one he would’ve received at Alabama, his remarks come off as ignorant, at best.

Thibodeaux’s full comments: ‘It’s not the West Coast. (Alabama) ain’t Harvard.’

“I sat back and said if I go to Alabama, I’m going to win national championships,” Thibodeaux stated. “Literally. But do I want to be a guy whose known to be a national championship winner, or do I want to be a guy whose known for being a part of the greatest organization in the world? You know what I mean? What people don’t realize is that football is an American sport. So no matter how great Alabama is, people are going to play football in America, Canada, a couple other places. But a brand like Nike?”

“For me it was like, what brand associations do I want to be tied to? For me, I already hate the stigmatism of football players being dumb jocks. So now, do you know the stigmatism of Alabama education? It’s not the West Coast. It ain’t Harvard. So for me, I had to look at it and say I was only going to be in college for three years. Like I said, if I would’ve went to Alabama — one, I would probably still be there. Two, I probably wouldn’t have graduated yet. And three, I don’t know if my degree would mean anything.

“I think Oregon may be the only place where you are guaranteed – I wouldn’t say it’s a guarantee – but there is a ninety-percent chance that if you want to, a Nike opportunity is there. And there’s a guarantee that if you play football at Oregon, you can work in the corporate Nike world. That’s a guarantee. Phil Knight — I can call him and he’ll tell you that today.”

Kayvon Thibodeaux has a lot of pride in Oregon. Still, his comments didn’t need to be made at the expense of the University of Alabama.