re: Before Saban

The SEC has played 101 seasons. Bryant and Saban coached Alabama for 42 of those seasons in which they won 22 SEC titles. In the other 59 seasons Bama has won 8 SEC titles. That is essentially tied with UGA as the number two SEC program with a title rate of 14% vs non-Bryant/Saban rate of 14%. So, Alabama without Bryant or Saban is tied with UGA as the program most likely to win an SEC title. And Alabama’s third best coach, Wallace Wade with 3 NCs, is not included since his tenure ended just prior to the formation of the SEC.

So, don’t think Alabama is nothing without a transcendent coach. They are at the top of the SEC without Bryant or Saban.

As far as NCs, Bama is tops with 17 (no ‘41 doesn’t count), LSU is second with 4, UF and UGA are 3rd with 3. Bama with Bryant and Saban has 12, without Bryant or Saban they have 5. So, Alabama is first and second so to speak.