Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice responded to criticism from former Auburn coach Pat Dye about her qualifications to be part of the College Football Playoff selection committee Wednesday night.
In an Oct. 7 radio appearance, Dye said: "All she knows about football is what somebody told her, or what she read in a book, or what she saw on television. To understand football, you've got to play with your hand in the dirt."
Rice, one of 13 members of the committee, was interviewed by ESPN's Colin Cowherd, who asked Rice to respond directly to Dye's remarks.
Rice's response: "I would say, Coach, I respect you. I remember your great run at Auburn, and I certainly respect you, but I just respectfully disagree. There are others on the committee who have not played football. ... You can be a student of something and not experience it, and I consider myself a student of college football."
Rice is one of three committee members who did not play college football, and one of 10 who have never been a college head coach. Among other notables on the committee are former Ole Miss and New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning, Southern Cal director of athletics Pat Haden, former Nebraska coach Tom Osborne and former Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez. Arkansas director of athletics Jeff Long was named the committee's chairman. The committee will choose four playoff teams beginning next season.
Dye, a semi-regular guest on multiple radio programs in Alabama, will have a chance to insert foot in mouth again soon enough.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread.*
