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re: Has Alabama ever been this dominant?
Posted on 9/7/16 at 10:01 am to Huddie Leadbetter
Posted on 9/7/16 at 10:01 am to Huddie Leadbetter
quote:
"Terrible" is relative.
But we're Alabama, so it is relative to the history of the program.
And when you are raised on daddy's lap hearing stories of when he was in school and the only excitement in 90% of regular season games was whether his college buddies would win or lose their bets (with lines like Alabama -57), the 1997-2007 period was pretty miserable.
quote:
From 85-89 UA won 45 games and a SEC title
I was 0-4 years old
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During the 7 Stallings years UA won 70 games, a national title, SEC title, and 4 SEC W division "titles".
I was 5-11 years old.
The years I (and all my classmates at the University) truly grew up with, ages 12-22 (1997 - 2007), we were dominated by Auburn, Tennessee and LSU, put on probation, Coach Fran abandoned us, Mike Price used a company credit card to buy strippers and we became the laughingstock of the CFB world. By 2006 I had totally accepted the fact that we were going to always be just another middle of the pack program hanging out to past glory for forever.
This post was edited on 9/7/16 at 10:41 am
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Posted on 9/7/16 at 10:15 am to SummerOfGeorge
quote:
The years I (and all my classmates at the University) truly grew up with, ages 12-22 (1997 - 2007), we were dominated by Auburn, Tennessee and LSU, put on probation, Coach Fran abandoned us, Mike Price used a company credit card to buy strippers and we became the laughingstock of the CFB world.
Agree with this
quote:
By 2007 I had totally accepted the fact that we were going to always be just another middle of the pack program hanging out to past glory for forever
But not this
Posted on 9/7/16 at 10:40 am to Josh Fenderman
quote:
But not this
After the Mississippi State game I basically told myself to accept the fact we'd never be great again. And then, once the coaching search started and the list was Jim Grobe and Paul Johnson I doubled down.
Then Sabes happened.
Posted on 9/7/16 at 10:41 am to TailbackU
Yes in the 70s.
Posted on 9/7/16 at 10:45 am to TailbackU
When your best buddy is the president of the NCAA, recruiting gets very easy...
Posted on 9/7/16 at 10:46 am to jvilletiger25
quote:
When your best buddy is the president of the NCAA, recruiting gets very easy...
Posted on 9/7/16 at 11:00 am to SummerOfGeorge
I started paying attention to football in the early 90's as a kid. So my first real memories outside of a fuzzy one or two with Curry are the Stallings years which were really solid.
Yes 97-07 stunk in many ways, but we still won an SEC title in that period and had multiple 10 win seasons. I was confident that once Bama got off probation and hired a good coach we'd be back to a top 10 program. Never dreamed we would go on this type of decade long run that would be a dynasty, but I knew we'd be back at some point. What Stallings proved and Saban drove home is that Alabama with it's unmatched commitment to football along with a really good coach always equals success. There's really no reason for Alabama to ever not be at the very least a very good program. Same principle applies to UK or UNC basketball, the resources and commitment are there, a good coach assures great success.
Yes 97-07 stunk in many ways, but we still won an SEC title in that period and had multiple 10 win seasons. I was confident that once Bama got off probation and hired a good coach we'd be back to a top 10 program. Never dreamed we would go on this type of decade long run that would be a dynasty, but I knew we'd be back at some point. What Stallings proved and Saban drove home is that Alabama with it's unmatched commitment to football along with a really good coach always equals success. There's really no reason for Alabama to ever not be at the very least a very good program. Same principle applies to UK or UNC basketball, the resources and commitment are there, a good coach assures great success.
Posted on 9/7/16 at 11:23 am to jvilletiger25
quote:
When your best buddy is the president of the NCAA, recruiting gets very easy...
I think the foundation was built over there that way for sure, by everyone getting in line behind Saban and carrying out details regardless of the rules. And there was plenty of circumstantial evidence for even the most homer Bama fan to be nervous, but it had been established that the NCAA wouldn't do anything unless the evidence is plopped right in there lap, ala Laremy Tunsil, so the gamble worked. From the high school coaches, to booster groups, to school administrators etc.
But since that first 6 or 7 years the story turned to more of "the process". In other words, I don't think it's as necessary to set up the "house sitting" gigs, Gasden car connections, under the table payments and "scholarships" from Bryant Bank, etc. that were needed to get the Trent Richardsons, Julio Jones, and DJ Flukers because kids know that if they cut it at Bama, they will get paid big time in the league.
That fire is stoked so hot right now over there that it'll be a while before that thing burns out. It's just a matter of waiting till Saban hangs them up before anyone else can rise to prominence.
Posted on 9/7/16 at 11:26 am to TailbackU
With the parity now in college football, yes I think it is. Look at how much money each conference school is spending on football, how ruthless and high level the recruiting is. I definitely think it's harder to win championships on a consistent basis. Wasn't it like 10 years ago where the buzz in the media was how a true dynasty was impossible in today's college football? Now we're watching it unfold before our eyes.
Posted on 9/7/16 at 11:50 am to 14&Counting
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Not buying it...everything is relative....everyone operated under the same rules etc. disgaree there was less competition .....the other members in the SEC weren't very good but I would argue the national landscape was tougher
No way. Prior to the OU court case only a couple of programs could even get on TV, meaning only a couple of programs mattered to recruits. It was very easy for the elites of the sport to hold onto power, and Bear was simply the best coach among the elites.
In 2016 almost EVERY game is broadcast on some channel, plus you have Nouveau riche like Oregon using money to crowd into the national picture unlike in the 1970s. The pie is smaller (only one true national champion instead of a pile based on polls), more people want to eat it, and yet Nick has it all to himself.
Its just amazing what modern Bama is, the only modern dynasty more impressive is the Patriots and the only reason I give them the edge is Bama/Nick did have a head start as college football recruiting is a caste system.
Posted on 9/7/16 at 1:42 pm to TailbackU
As a lifelong Bama fan that was born in the sixties and witnessed the dominance of Alabama football in the seventies either by sitting in the stands at Legion field or listening to John Forney on the radio, I would say national now is the time. Back then during the time of unlimited scholarships Alabama would give them out to 5 star players that never saw the field just to keep from having to play against them. It's an even playing field now.
I don't know how long it will last but I'm going to enjoy it till the end. Because a few years ago we were so bad with the coaching circus and probation that playing a aggravating round of golf as horrible as a player that I am was more enjoyable than watching Alabama football. RTR!
I don't know how long it will last but I'm going to enjoy it till the end. Because a few years ago we were so bad with the coaching circus and probation that playing a aggravating round of golf as horrible as a player that I am was more enjoyable than watching Alabama football. RTR!
Posted on 9/7/16 at 6:05 pm to coldbeerfan
quote:
It's an even playing field now.
That's rich
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