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Could a major college football coach survive Bear Bryant's 1969 and 1970?
Posted on 7/20/18 at 4:30 pm
Posted on 7/20/18 at 4:30 pm
Sandwiched between Bear Bryant's mid-1960s run and his legendary 1970s run were 1969 and 1970 where Alabama went 6-5 and 6-5-1 respectively. Obviously Bear Bryant had built quite a bit of trust, but also coaches had a much longer leash in those days (with much smaller salaries).
My question is, would a similarly successful coach toady survive back-to-back bad seasons in today's what have done for me lately world?
My question is, would a similarly successful coach toady survive back-to-back bad seasons in today's what have done for me lately world?
Posted on 7/20/18 at 4:40 pm to TeddyWestside
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1969 and 1970 where Alabama went 6-5 and 6-5-1 respectively.
Nope... especially when you also consider that they lost to Tennessee in both 1967 and 1968.
By the end of the 1970 season, they had lost 2 straight Iron Bowls to Auburn and they had lost 4 straight to Tennessee. No way a Bama coach would survive that today.
Posted on 7/20/18 at 4:42 pm to TeddyWestside
Saban could do it, and that’s about it. Urbz used up one of his off years in 2010, so...
Posted on 7/20/18 at 4:44 pm to TeddyWestside
You mean, after winning multiple national championships in the previous 6 seasons? Yes. I think many major college football coaches could survive that.
Posted on 7/20/18 at 4:46 pm to TeddyWestside
What you are asking is if a coach with 3 national titles, 4 conference titles, and 9 top-10 finishes in the last 10 years would survive 2 seasons with merely winning records.
You are living in a fantasy world if you think they wouldn’t.
You are living in a fantasy world if you think they wouldn’t.
Posted on 7/20/18 at 4:47 pm to TeddyWestside
A coach who won 3 national championships in the current decade wouldn't get fired today for two mediocre seasons. There would be a ton of clamouring, but he wouldn't get fired. Not even close.
This post was edited on 7/20/18 at 4:49 pm
Posted on 7/20/18 at 4:56 pm to TeddyWestside
I think Saban could survive two down years like that. He’d obviously have to have a “1971” like Bryant, but he has plenty of capital built up to do so.
That’s the only way anyone could survive it. Because Bryant didn’t have Saban’s success by 1969. His best run was 1971-1980.
That’s the only way anyone could survive it. Because Bryant didn’t have Saban’s success by 1969. His best run was 1971-1980.
Posted on 7/20/18 at 5:19 pm to TeddyWestside
quote:
My question is, would a similarly successful coach toady survive back-to-back bad seasons in today's what have done for me lately world?
I think Saban would be allowed a mediocre season or two. He's earned the benefit of the doubt as Bear had.
Here's a fun SI article from October 1969:
LINK
quote:
LIKE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, THE SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE HAS LEARNED THAT DEFENSE IS GONE WITH THE WIND AND THAT IF YOU WANT TO WIN YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A PASSER AND SOME BOYS WHO CAN CATCH AND RUN
quote:
Yes, indeed, there's a wild new game in town, something called pitch and catch, and they are piling up the points so quickly it hardly pays to wave a Confederate flag at the enemy anymore. Just when you get your arm moving real good, the other guys have scored and are waving their flags right back. Last week, for instance, in eight games involving SEC teams, 472 points were scored. There hasn't been that much offense generated in the South since Sherman. When the late General R. R. Neyland was coaching, for example, Tennessee only gave up 485 points—in 14 years. "Football is nothing more than a series of actions, mistakes and miscalculations," Neyland preached. "Punt and let your opposition make the mistakes. Most of them will feel that possession of the ball is to be desired above everything else. I disagree."
It was the era of Archie Who.
The article linked above was published shortly after Archie took Bama to the wire but fell just a little short. Saturday night in prime time on national TV (ABC) at Legion Field. The very first time a SEC game was broadcast in prime time to the nation.
LINK
Bama lost to Vandy the very next week. Ole Miss lost one more game that season... to the Houston Cougars.
Posted on 7/20/18 at 7:58 pm to TeddyWestside
quote:
My question is, would a similarly successful coach toady survive back-to-back bad seasons in today's what have done for me lately world?
Not today.
Posted on 7/20/18 at 9:32 pm to TeddyWestside
Absolutely. We knew we had just hit a rough spot. The dolphins had been weighing heavily on Bryants mind too as he had accepted the job but backed out and that cost him some recruits but nobody thought Bryant should be fired. That's goofy.
He unveiled the wishbone in 71 and went back to fundamental defense. As was stated in an earlier post, the Bama defenses, particularly in 77-79 were jaw dropping to watch. They were the best sec group I've ever seen. Offensively, he signed a qb in 71 out of mobile named Richard Todd. He was 6-3 215 and ran a 4.6. bama was off and running. Todd was the best wishbone qb to ever play. Went on and was a first round pick of the jets.
He unveiled the wishbone in 71 and went back to fundamental defense. As was stated in an earlier post, the Bama defenses, particularly in 77-79 were jaw dropping to watch. They were the best sec group I've ever seen. Offensively, he signed a qb in 71 out of mobile named Richard Todd. He was 6-3 215 and ran a 4.6. bama was off and running. Todd was the best wishbone qb to ever play. Went on and was a first round pick of the jets.
Posted on 7/20/18 at 9:38 pm to TeddyWestside
quote:
1969 and 1970 where Alabama went 6-5 and 6-5-1 respectively.
Still got to claim one of these as a national championship, so Bear was always in the clear.
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