re: The anticipation I once felt for football season is gone

Help me to sort all this out. Was Cignetti a great coach who found a way to beat the big money rosters with less, or did he just have the most expensive roster out there? I forget.

Indiana spent about as much as Alabama last season. Having veteran teams and injury luck is the key in this era. That is what we learned from their winning big in 2025. Everything else is just white noise and agenda.

So, what we see is that Cignetti overcame and beat the wealthiest teams in the country with the worst program in history. Didn't need Ohio State, Texas, and Miami money. Just went out and dominated with a bunch of no-names who had guts and desire.

All I am saying is, I would hate to be in a tough place with about 2/3 of the people on this board. Whether it be a firefight, a business challenge, or a late game drive. Obstacles are to be challenged and overcome.

The tide is going to shift. Innovation will figure out how to beat money. Too much reliance on money makes people and institutions weak.

Honestly though, despite all the NIL bull shite, we're going to be excited leading up to the week of the season.

Cash flow baby

And Indiana also benefits from a pillow soft schedule. This decreases injuries and wear on players. Like Ohio St, Indiana has 2-3 big games per year to worry about, the rest of the schedule is just showing up essentially

Cignetti is one of the best coaches in the country for spotting talent, especially undiscovered talent. He took that skill to James Madison and built a team that punched well above their weight. Then Indiana took him and with a bunch of his JMU guys, finding the best underrated QB in the country, and a dose of Cuban’s money to get whatever else he needed, he built a veteran team, mostly polished and developed under him at JMU, and won a natty in 2 years. He did it with experienced, developed players and diamonds in the rough and he put a chip on their shoulder. They aren’t going away this season, but they aren’t going 15-0 again either. Their non-conference schedule for the next 4 or 5 seasons is absolutely laughable it’s so easy, but until the CFP starts putting more emphasis on strength of schedule, playing rent-a-wins is not a bad idea. With Michigan and Penn State both in transition, Indiana and Ohio State are pretty much left as the two top dogs that will fight for the title.

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Sucks for yall, Roll Tide!

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I can appreciate your enthusiasm. RFT!

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Anyway else going through this?

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Absolutely.

I'm getting older also. Graduated from Bama in 1979.

Two big things I despise. One we can't fix, and one we can.

1. Unlimited free agency every year for every player. Even the NFL, with their labor contract, doesn't have that. If the NCAA had the will, they could make every scholarship a 3 year mutually binding agreement. Make all the money you want, but you can't leave for 3 years, and we guarantee 3 years of tuition, room, and board. Now, the player taking your NIL money this year will be driving that car he bought with it in Auburn or Austin next year.

2. The absolutely worst running game in the over 100 history of Alabama football. It wasn't just mediocre. 120+ in YPC and YPG is an utter disgrace. One of the worst in the country. I'm not expecting Henry, DHarris, NHarris, JJacobs, or even GCoffey...recruited by Mike Shula, btw. But I do expect...demand...basic competence. Either the players are talented but poorly coached, in which case every coach and analyst who touches the running game should have been fired. Or they aren't talented, in which case the coaches who recruited them should be fired.

You shouldn't get a pass on having one of the half-dozen worst running games in the country...and the worst in the history of the university...and expect to keep your job. Not at Alabama. This isn't frigging Arkansas or Mississippi State.

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But this staff is easily the best staff that Alabama could have at this time and it’s madness to think of getting rid of DeBoer. Many Alabama fans understand but there are some loud ones, along with the trolls, who can cause real damage.

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Oh please. Did you just start watching college football two years ago? The best staff Alabama could have can only produce one of the most abysmal running games in the country? That doesn't make one bit of sense.

Fans who continue to make excuses for the running game have absolutely zero football IQ.