Alabama's sudden rise back to national prominence something to behold
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Bear Who?
OK, just kidding. Just trying to see if the Tide Nation has sobered up since the scintillating visit Saturday to the Puppy Pound in Athens.
Remember during Alabama's 38-day coaching search after the 2006 season, when many of the national pundits said the Tide was on the verge of its own blackout? Remember when they said Nick Saban would turn down the job because no sane coach would want to live in the suffocating shadow of Bear Bryant?
One day it was Colin Cowherd of ESPN ranting about Alabama's "lunatic and delusional fan base."
The next day, it was Jim Rome foaming at the mouth, saying: "Maybe Alabama wouldn't be so quick to have fired Mike Shula if they knew that nobody in America who mattered would be willing to step in and replace him. Look at who has already said no. Nick Saban. Pass. The ole ball coach, no thanks. Frank Beamer, why should I? Bobby Petrino, Downgrade. Rich Rodriguez, make me. Oh, and Jim Leavitt wants nothing to do with you. That has to hurt. At this point, you might as well dig up Bear Bryant. Or better yet, see if Mike Price is still interested. Trust me, you're not going to do any better. The front of the jersey may still say Alabama but in name only. That program is nowhere right now. It's become an SEC afterthought. Enjoy the glory days of Bryant, Namath, Stabler, Stallings, Alexander, Price, because that's all you have and that is not going to change."
That was then.
This is now.
For a program that has been accused of living in the past, Saturday night in Athens sure felt, tasted and smelled like the present — to say nothing of the future.
I've seen a lot of Alabama football since joining the Bear Bryant masterpiece in its waning days, but the first 30 minutes of the Georgia game was as good as it gets.
In the press box, writers were scrambling around, searching for a drafting partner, saying: "Hey, what do you think? Maybe Alabama moves to No. 5."
"Now, I think they could go up to No. 4."
Finally, someone chimed in: "What are you guys talking about? Alabama ought to be No. 1."
I checked around for a spare straight jacket. However, by the end of the evening, the guy's point made a lot of sense. If Saban can hold this team together and have them ready to play like Saturday, who's to say they can't repeat this again and again?
Funny, remember when the original goal of the season was to be competitive, perhaps upset somebody — maybe go 8-4 — and finally end the noxious six-game losing streak to Auburn?
Any takers on Auburn straight up against the Tide now?
Tom Luginbill, ESPN's national director of recruiting, says Alabama's stupefying ascent will help Alabama continue to dominate in recruiting — which isn't good news for Auburn, a program in more turmoil than the nation's banking industry.
"What it means is now as Alabama moves forward, recruits no longer look at Alabama only as a school of tradition but one who is competing for SEC and national championships," Luginbill said. "Ultimately, that's what every kid would like to do throughout his career."
The two titanic wins this year over Clemson and Georgia will have a residual effect in recruiting, particularly in the state of Georgia (where both games were played), which has been fertile ground obviously for the Bulldogs, nearby Clemson as well as Auburn.
What's happened so far this season really isn't explainable. It is surreal or is that sublime?
I heard many in the aftermath of Saturday night say there was simply no way to explain the results. I said the same thing myself walking out of Sanford Stadium while trying to avoid some of the most drunk, obnoxious, unruly and vile home-standing student fans I've ever seen — that is, east of Baton Rouge.
But really, it's pretty simple. It's blocking and tackling and whipping the guy across the line from you into submission. Saban Ball. Bear Bryant football. Winning football. No cheap tricks like Mark Richt tried with the laughable black jerseys. And it didn't hurt to have the much-maligned John Parker Wilson turn in his most meaningful and masterful performance to date.
Still, there are some non-believers out there, wondering if Saban has done it with a magic stick. Nope. Can he keep this up? Why not?
But will he? Can this team run the table and play for a national title?
The fact we're even having this discussion as the calendar turns to October is probably the most astonishing aspect of these first five weeks.
In a game where the past results have proven that virtually nobody is invincible (see USC and Florida), the odds of Alabama avoiding bad luck are pretty slim. Is it simply because the target on its back is so much bigger now? Is it the law of averages? Or could it be this football team is still a year or two away, as we often hear?
A year or two away from what? Stockpiling future NFL first-rounders like USC? Like Georgia? Like Florida?
Regardless, in today's world, we want answers now. Fans want to know why Alabama isn't ranked higher, want to know if anyone can lay a glove on the Tide over these next two or three months.
Considering the experts can't seem to get anything right — from the economy to ranking football teams — it would be foolish to make any rash predictions now. Just for the record, seven of the preseason AP top-25 teams (including four of the top five) have already gone down. Two of those top-10 knockouts have come at the hands of Alabama.
When I picked Alabama to beat Auburn back in April in my annual preseason forecast of the Tide, many football fans — including some wearing Crimson — felt I had gotten ahead of the process.
But Alabama fans should enjoy this magnificent ride. Given the last few years, fans should appreciate every minute of every hour. It's one of the most amazing, unexpected and spectacular surprises in recent Alabama history. Whether the run ends Saturday against Kentucky or on Jan. 8 against Oklahoma in the BCS national championship game, it's been a sight to see and savor.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Bear Who?
OK, just kidding. Just trying to see if the Tide Nation has sobered up since the scintillating visit Saturday to the Puppy Pound in Athens.
Remember during Alabama's 38-day coaching search after the 2006 season, when many of the national pundits said the Tide was on the verge of its own blackout? Remember when they said Nick Saban would turn down the job because no sane coach would want to live in the suffocating shadow of Bear Bryant?
One day it was Colin Cowherd of ESPN ranting about Alabama's "lunatic and delusional fan base."
The next day, it was Jim Rome foaming at the mouth, saying: "Maybe Alabama wouldn't be so quick to have fired Mike Shula if they knew that nobody in America who mattered would be willing to step in and replace him. Look at who has already said no. Nick Saban. Pass. The ole ball coach, no thanks. Frank Beamer, why should I? Bobby Petrino, Downgrade. Rich Rodriguez, make me. Oh, and Jim Leavitt wants nothing to do with you. That has to hurt. At this point, you might as well dig up Bear Bryant. Or better yet, see if Mike Price is still interested. Trust me, you're not going to do any better. The front of the jersey may still say Alabama but in name only. That program is nowhere right now. It's become an SEC afterthought. Enjoy the glory days of Bryant, Namath, Stabler, Stallings, Alexander, Price, because that's all you have and that is not going to change."
That was then.
This is now.
For a program that has been accused of living in the past, Saturday night in Athens sure felt, tasted and smelled like the present — to say nothing of the future.
I've seen a lot of Alabama football since joining the Bear Bryant masterpiece in its waning days, but the first 30 minutes of the Georgia game was as good as it gets.
In the press box, writers were scrambling around, searching for a drafting partner, saying: "Hey, what do you think? Maybe Alabama moves to No. 5."
"Now, I think they could go up to No. 4."
Finally, someone chimed in: "What are you guys talking about? Alabama ought to be No. 1."
I checked around for a spare straight jacket. However, by the end of the evening, the guy's point made a lot of sense. If Saban can hold this team together and have them ready to play like Saturday, who's to say they can't repeat this again and again?
Funny, remember when the original goal of the season was to be competitive, perhaps upset somebody — maybe go 8-4 — and finally end the noxious six-game losing streak to Auburn?
Any takers on Auburn straight up against the Tide now?
Tom Luginbill, ESPN's national director of recruiting, says Alabama's stupefying ascent will help Alabama continue to dominate in recruiting — which isn't good news for Auburn, a program in more turmoil than the nation's banking industry.
"What it means is now as Alabama moves forward, recruits no longer look at Alabama only as a school of tradition but one who is competing for SEC and national championships," Luginbill said. "Ultimately, that's what every kid would like to do throughout his career."
The two titanic wins this year over Clemson and Georgia will have a residual effect in recruiting, particularly in the state of Georgia (where both games were played), which has been fertile ground obviously for the Bulldogs, nearby Clemson as well as Auburn.
What's happened so far this season really isn't explainable. It is surreal or is that sublime?
I heard many in the aftermath of Saturday night say there was simply no way to explain the results. I said the same thing myself walking out of Sanford Stadium while trying to avoid some of the most drunk, obnoxious, unruly and vile home-standing student fans I've ever seen — that is, east of Baton Rouge.
But really, it's pretty simple. It's blocking and tackling and whipping the guy across the line from you into submission. Saban Ball. Bear Bryant football. Winning football. No cheap tricks like Mark Richt tried with the laughable black jerseys. And it didn't hurt to have the much-maligned John Parker Wilson turn in his most meaningful and masterful performance to date.
Still, there are some non-believers out there, wondering if Saban has done it with a magic stick. Nope. Can he keep this up? Why not?
But will he? Can this team run the table and play for a national title?
The fact we're even having this discussion as the calendar turns to October is probably the most astonishing aspect of these first five weeks.
In a game where the past results have proven that virtually nobody is invincible (see USC and Florida), the odds of Alabama avoiding bad luck are pretty slim. Is it simply because the target on its back is so much bigger now? Is it the law of averages? Or could it be this football team is still a year or two away, as we often hear?
A year or two away from what? Stockpiling future NFL first-rounders like USC? Like Georgia? Like Florida?
Regardless, in today's world, we want answers now. Fans want to know why Alabama isn't ranked higher, want to know if anyone can lay a glove on the Tide over these next two or three months.
Considering the experts can't seem to get anything right — from the economy to ranking football teams — it would be foolish to make any rash predictions now. Just for the record, seven of the preseason AP top-25 teams (including four of the top five) have already gone down. Two of those top-10 knockouts have come at the hands of Alabama.
When I picked Alabama to beat Auburn back in April in my annual preseason forecast of the Tide, many football fans — including some wearing Crimson — felt I had gotten ahead of the process.
But Alabama fans should enjoy this magnificent ride. Given the last few years, fans should appreciate every minute of every hour. It's one of the most amazing, unexpected and spectacular surprises in recent Alabama history. Whether the run ends Saturday against Kentucky or on Jan. 8 against Oklahoma in the BCS national championship game, it's been a sight to see and savor.