📡 Besting the Bear? Saban in hot pursuit of Alabama icon (Yahoo Sports)

[Yahoo Sports - NCAA]

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Bobby Bowden never thought he'd see the day when someone would challenge Bear Bryant as Alabama's greatest coach. Nick Saban has bellied up to the Bear with one of the best runs in major college football history, and he's already passed the rest of his predecessors in the category that turns coaching greats into coaching legends. Saban's latest Crimson Tide team seems ready-made to challenge for the sixth national title of his career, which would match Bryant's longstanding record.

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[rick4bama]

You know, he may one day beat Coach Bryant record of six Nation Championship. But, will that replace Coach Bryant as a top coach here at Alabama? For, me ,I don't think so. I don't think Coach Bryant will ever be replaced. Will we ever see a Saban Museum or his name in the Stadium? I don't think so. Will the field be named after him? That I can't say. To me I don't think so. I don't think Coach Bryant will ever be replace. Will we ever see a Saban Museum or his name in the Stadium? I don't think so. Will the field be named after him? That I can't say. He will get his name put on some stuff around here.

 

[UAgrad93]

Both have been innovators! Coach Bryant had unlimited scholarships while Saban has limited numbers. Coach Bryant won a couple National Titles and then reinvented his offense, so has Saban.

 

[bearsnest]

I don't know Bryant-Saban stadium has a nice ring to it to me

 

[TUSKtimes]

I would like to pass a motion we count coach Bryant's 1950 Kentucky team as National Champs. They legitimately beat Oklahoma in the sugar bowl 13-7. Okie was given the title in the regular season. Kentucky claims it, so, can I get a second on that motion?

Kentucky 1950 National Champions
1945Maryland
1946–1953Kentucky
1954–1957Texas A&M
1958–1982Alabama

Administrative career (AD unless noted)​

1954–1957Texas A&M
1957–1983Alabama

Head coaching record​

Overall323–85–17
Bowls15–12–2

Accomplishments and honors​

Championships
6 National (1961, 1964–1965, 1973, 1978–1979)
14 SEC (1950, 1961, 1964–1966, 1971–1975, 1977–1979, 1981)
1 SWC (1956)
Awards
3x AFCA Coach of the Year (1961, 1971, 1973)
12x SEC Coach of the Year (1950, 1959, 1961, 1964–1965, 1971, 1973–1974, 1977–1979, 1981)

Paul “Bear” Bryant, one of the greatest coaches in college football history, spent eight years at UK (1946-53) and compiled a 60-23-5 (.710) record.​

 

[Bamabww]

@TUSKstuff : I second said motion.

 

[TerryP]

I would like to pass a motion we count coach Bryant's 1950 Kentucky team as National Champs. They legitimately beat Oklahoma in the sugar bowl 13-7. Okie was given the title in the regular season. Kentucky claims it, so, can I get a second on that motion?

I ran across this about two weeks or so ago.



Which ended up leading to this little piece being published on SBNation.

Kentucky's 1950 football title claim is funny, but so is Oklahoma's

 

[sean]

when the last person dies, who was alive during Coach Bryant's tenure, at that time i think coach Saban's time will begin.

not say what he's done isn't impressive or even legendary. i think it goes without saying (even though i just said it).

but to be a coach, at the school where the greatest there ever was coached, is especially difficult. even more so when there are those still alive who remember the greatest there ever was.

to be honest, it's really difficult to compare the two. there are so many factors that are so different between the times they have coached and are coaching.

The Bear meant so much to so many people, his status was legendary and iconic even while he was still coaching. Coach Saban is getting there, but he's still a ways off, in my opinion.

rest assured, i love what he's done for our beloved University if bringing us back to greatness, and in short order. but to so many people there will only ever be one "the greatest there ever was".

and i'm sure Coach Saban himself will tell you that he is not match for Coach Bryant.

me? i'll just continue to be in awe of both of them, love them for what they did and continue to do, and praise their names until the day that i die.


RMFT!!!

 

[TUSKtimes]

I ran across this about two weeks or so ago.



Which ended up leading to this little piece being published on SBNation.

Kentucky's 1950 football title claim is funny, but so is Oklahoma's

For well over a hundred years, college football championships were one hell of a beauty contest. If you missed out on Miss America pageant there was always Miss USA to consider. Now decades later no wants to settle for runner-up or Miss congeniality after all.

 

[RollTideinGA]

While not on the internet I wonder if this same conversation took place during Coach Bryant's career? "Will Bryant ever beat Wade and Thomas in Bama fans
minds?"

Different era's right? Media and marketing is a huge player as well. Aside from video, our parents, and a continuous houndstooth barrage we are not permitted to let the legend rest. Everything is compared to him and his teams.

Before Saban came aboard we were riddled with comments of us Bama fans living in the past, but we have different era's of Bama football to appreciate. We have the 1920's-30's and the 60's and 70's then the '90's. We've had our fair share of rough times from Perkins to Shula and then came Saban and his era. 2008- Present have been great and I have told my 14 year old he is living in a time of being spoiled to be a Bama fan. I am just enjoying what we have now going on at the campus and I could care less about records and who is better than who. Lets just enjoy this like our fathers enjoyed the Bryant era because its all opinions in the grand scheme of things.

 

[TerryP]

While not on the internet I wonder if this same conversation took place during Coach Bryant's career? "Will Bryant ever beat Wade and Thomas in Bama fans
minds?"

You've been around here for years...do I recall correctly your early years (as a kid starting to watch football) started in the early 80's?

 

[ElephantStomp]

Bear will probably always be considered the greatest ever by most Bama fans.

To me Saban is the greatest coach ever. What Saban has been able to do in this era of limited scholarships is mighty impressive. Bobby Bowden, JoePa, etc were all great, but I don't think any of them touch Saban. Just my opinion of course

 

[Max]

Bear will probably always be considered the greatest ever by most Bama fans.

More than likely. Saban won't be able to beat some records Bryant posted like his win total. There are extenuating circumstances but Bryant's record in Tuscaloosa won't be matched either.

 

[EasyTider]

At the least, the Bryant museum could accommodate the Saban 'extension' or Saban 'wing'.

 

[RollTideinGA]

You've been around here for years...do I recall correctly your early years (as a kid starting to watch football) started in the early 80's?

Went to my first game in 1978 at Tuscaloosa vs Virginia Tech- I was 6.

 

[ElephantStomp]

More than likely. Saban won't be able to beat some records Bryant posted like his win total. There are extenuating circumstances but Bryant's record in Tuscaloosa won't be matched either.

I think even if Saban matched it or even beat it it wouldn't matter some or most Bama fans would consider Bear better

 

[rick4bama]

I would like to pass a motion we count coach Bryant's 1950 Kentucky team as National Champs. They legitimately beat Oklahoma in the sugar bowl 13-7. Okie was given the title in the regular season. Kentucky claims it, so, can I get a second on that motion?

Kentucky 1950 National Champions
1945Maryland
1946–1953Kentucky
1954–1957Texas A&M
1958–1982Alabama

Administrative career (AD unless noted)​

1954–1957Texas A&M
1957–1983Alabama

Head coaching record​

Overall323–85–17
Bowls15–12–2

Accomplishments and honors​

Championships
6 National (1961, 1964–1965, 1973, 1978–1979)
14 SEC (1950, 1961, 1964–1966, 1971–1975, 1977–1979, 1981)
1 SWC (1956)
Awards
3x AFCA Coach of the Year (1961, 1971, 1973)
12x SEC Coach of the Year (1950, 1959, 1961, 1964–1965, 1971, 1973–1974, 1977–1979, 1981)

Paul “Bear” Bryant, one of the greatest coaches in college football history, spent eight years at UK (1946-53) and compiled a 60-23-5 (.710) record.​

I'm with you on this. This is what on the web site
On the official Kentucky athletic website, we read this:

"More than a decade after Gamage had left UK, a young man by the name of Paul "Bear" Bryant arrived on the scene at Lexington in 1946. Bryant quickly grabbed the UK program by the collar and turned the Cats into a national power.

Bryant took UK to eight consecutive winning seasons (1946-53) and helped the Wildcats claim their first national championship and Southeastern Conference championship in 1950. He also sent UK squads to four bowl games which included the 1947 Great Lakes Bowl, 1950 Orange Bowl, 1951 Sugar Bowl, and the 1952 Cotton Bowl.
"
Kentucky bases its claim for a national title on Jeff Sagarin retroactively claiming the 1950 team the national champion in the 1990s.
Final AP and Coaches Polls were taken before the bowls and the national champion was named in December, UK finish 7th in both poll.

 

[UAgrad93]

This is what I believe drives Saban! He knows that he more than likely can't catch Bryant in wins but he can catch and pass him in Natty's!!

 

[TUSKtimes]

Bear will probably always be considered the greatest ever by most Bama fans.

To me Saban is the greatest coach ever. What Saban has been able to do in this era of limited scholarships is mighty impressive. Bobby Bowden, JoePa, etc were all great, but I don't think any of them touch Saban. Just my opinion of course

Before Saban got here he had a great season at LSU and then there's what's going on at Bama. You want to pass the best, especially at the same school, then your yardstick should measure the totality of the resume. As far as JoePa and Bowden's coaching resumes, both have coached teams to over 400 wins and that is nothing short of dominate, sustained excellence. Greatness is not a wind sprint.

 

[BamaFan334]

Before Saban got here he had a great season at LSU and then there's what's going on at Bama. You want to pass the best, especially at the same school, then your yardstick should measure the totality of the resume. As far as JoePa and Bowden's coaching resumes, both have coached teams to over 400 wins and that is nothing short of dominate, sustained excellence. Greatness is not a wind sprint.

Bowdon and Paterno was also part of some miserable teams, not dominant their entire careers. Saban has been pretty dominant everywhere he has been from what I have seen. Left Michigan State as they were turning the corner if we want o use that against him. Sure, a down year or so starting out, but raising the bar and maintaining it is more in my eyes. Bowdon and Paterno gimped around for how many years with truly no influence? Recruiting, sure, and maybe an instruction here or there, but no thumb on the program for years. Currently Saban has more wins for every loss over Bowdon and Paterno. He is still behind Bryant though by like 0.7 wins per loss.