The moment Zow took over when they were 3-5 in 2001 and led them to an Iron Bowl and Independence Bowl win to finish 7-5 was one of the more fun stretches in Alabama football until 2008.

The 9-0 start in 2005 was great but you knew it was precarious due to the offensive injuries at places they could not afford. I think the O loss not only Prothro who was difference maker but a couple OL too. Just didn’t have the depth to withstand those losses. Alabama blasting Florida is the most fun I’d ever had going to a game at BDS though the GW FG at the end of the ugly 6-3 win over Tennessee was maybe the loudest the stadium had ever been during my days in college.

The only really good moment of the 2007 season was the comeback win over Arkansas and the shorthanded upset over Tennessee. Bookgate created similar OL depth issues to 2005 and eventually they were losing to ULM and Clanga after playing the eventual national champs tough for 55 minutes.

I think the TLDR for the 2000-2007 era Alabama: all good things were always mitigated.

Sanctions made the roster margins razor thin. The closest season we’ve had to some of these aughts seasons since was 2019 where it seemed like Murphy’s Law was the rule of the season.

This post was edited on 1/16/21 at 10:43 am