a good friend of mine (who's a few years older than me but we won't say how many) talks about the golden age of Alabama football. now, this golden age started in 1958. he talks about how it felt after Coach Bryant won his first national championship. he talks about how it felt year after year after year after year of winning and dominating and how it made you, as a fan, feel unbeatable, too.
i was alive for a short part of those years. i was there at the end of that era and i was there during the down years. i was there when it looked we'd found "Bear 2.0" in Coach Stallings. he played for Bear. he coached for Bear. he BEAT Bear. he knew what it took to win. and he did. sadly, the romance was short-lived. there was some success after; but not much. there was an sec championship won, but we never really threatened for the national championship.
then.....it happened.
Mal Moore took a trip to south florida on a "do-or-die" mission to bring who he thought was the best man to resurrect our beloved program back from the brink of disaster and put it on a path to winning. and he did just that. he did what everyone said he couldn't do. and i will forever be thankful for that.
and that brings me back to my friend. each time we've won the national championship under Coach Saban, he's told me this is what it was like with Coach Bryant. that this feeling is what it was like back then. he talks about how this is like another golden age of Alabama football and that we should cherish each and every one of these trophies. and he is right. this game is an ebb and flow. we won't always be on top, but we won't always be on the bottom, either. we will rise, and we will fall. and i will be there for each one as long as i am able. up or down, win or lose, high or low....this is my team. and i will certainly cherish this Golden Age of Alabama Football v. 2.0 for all it's worth.
i was alive for a short part of those years. i was there at the end of that era and i was there during the down years. i was there when it looked we'd found "Bear 2.0" in Coach Stallings. he played for Bear. he coached for Bear. he BEAT Bear. he knew what it took to win. and he did. sadly, the romance was short-lived. there was some success after; but not much. there was an sec championship won, but we never really threatened for the national championship.
then.....it happened.
Mal Moore took a trip to south florida on a "do-or-die" mission to bring who he thought was the best man to resurrect our beloved program back from the brink of disaster and put it on a path to winning. and he did just that. he did what everyone said he couldn't do. and i will forever be thankful for that.
and that brings me back to my friend. each time we've won the national championship under Coach Saban, he's told me this is what it was like with Coach Bryant. that this feeling is what it was like back then. he talks about how this is like another golden age of Alabama football and that we should cherish each and every one of these trophies. and he is right. this game is an ebb and flow. we won't always be on top, but we won't always be on the bottom, either. we will rise, and we will fall. and i will be there for each one as long as i am able. up or down, win or lose, high or low....this is my team. and i will certainly cherish this Golden Age of Alabama Football v. 2.0 for all it's worth.
