re: Alabama Football, carrying the torch for the South since 1926

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The reason they were the first "great" southern team is that they were the first team to take on an Eastern powerhouse (Penn) and win convincingly.

Sure, teams like Vanderbilt had been good for years (but always lost to Michigan or any other Big Ten team). LSU had a great year in 1908 with a (probably bought) player from Pennsylvania. LSU, however, did not play a team from the East, and Penn was widely considered the "national champ."

ETA: GT put southern football on the map in 1917. Without that season, Bama likely doesn't get invited to play in the Rose during the 20s.

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Very interesting and thanks for bring up the story of GT's Everett Strupper. Interestingly, he was the journalist that later supposedly called Bama the "Red Elephants" post football career.

Everett Strupper was a big arse baller (although small in stature).

Thanks for sharing.