The younger generation of Alabama fans have no idea of what we are in middle of right now. Some may appreciate it but at times, we all need to step back, and take a look at what is happening to really take it all in. We are in the midst of greatness. It’s a dominance that has not been seen at Alabama since the days of Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant roaming the sidelines of Bryant Denny Stadium.
Photo from the Washington Post
The first coach that returned Alabama to prominence was Coach Gene Stallings. These are some of my first vivid memories as an Alabama fan and when I really got to the age that I could really realize what was going on. Coach Stallings first team posted a 7-5 record his first year with 34-7 loss to Louisville in the Fiesta Bowl. He was only the second coach to defeat Auburn in his first attempt. In Tuscaloosa and with the Bama nation, that is big. The 1991 season saw some improvement with an 11-1 record with a victory over Colorado in the Blockbuster Bowl. Then came 1992.
With one of the best defenses ever in college football, Alabama went undefeated during the regular season, only allowing 9.2 points a game during the regular season. After the win in the inaugural SEC Championship game that was sealed by an interception return by Antonio Langham, the Tide was heading to New Orleans to take on the number 1 ranked Miami Hurricanes. Miami was going to demolish Alabama. We didn’t belong there. And then, kickoff proved otherwise. Alabama shut down the Heisman Trophy winner Gino Toretta to the point that some writers even questioned if he ever deserved the award. At the end of the 34-13 victory, Alabama had returned to prominence as champions. Coach Stallings completed his tenure in 1997 with a 17-14 win over Michigan in the Orange Bowl and compiled 62-25 record while at Alabama (counting the forfeits from sanctions).
That brings us to the tough years. We did have some success but it was tough times to be an Alabama fan. Coach Mike Dubose got off to a great start winning 2 games but then the team began feeling the strain of the loss of scholarships from the sanctions. Alabama lost 7 of the last 9 games including the first loss to Kentucky since 1922 and a loss to Louisiana Tech. That year’s Iron Bowl gave a chance to salvage the season in some way but the Tide lost a heart breaker to Auburn 17-15. Dubose went on to have a 24-23 record at Alabama with losses in the Music City Bowl to Va Tech and Michigan in the Orange Bowl.
Coach Franchione was named the head coach in 2001 and turned around a 3-8 record from the previous year to an 7-5 record the next and a 10-3 record in 2002 including an Independence Bowl win in 2001 which was Alabama’s first bowl victory in five years. In 2002, the team finished with a 6-2 record and an SEC Western Division title but was ineligible for the title game due to NCAA sanctions. According to one player’s account, Franchione had called a team meeting for the next morning after the return to Tuscaloosa following the win against Hawaii. He never showed. Gone like a thief in the night to Texas A&M. That same player said that it just killed the team and the momentum. They felt that they were abandoned. They were all looking forward to Coach Mike Price until the strip club incident before he had even coached a game.
Coach Shula arrived in 2006. To me, he seemed more of a player’s friend than a coach and from a few accounts that I’ve read, that sounds true. Shula had some success here but it wasn’t enough for Alabama fans. Shula had a 26-23 record while at Alabama and an official record of 10-23 after sanctions. We wanted more. We wanted to return to what we had in 1992 and what we had under Coach Bryant.
We all know what we have going now. If you turn on the TV and haven’t been living under a rock, you know. Just think what could have happened if Athletic Director Mal Moore had not flown down to Miami to just be there in case Coach Saban wanted to talk and not knowing even if he would even get a meeting. The meeting happened, a deal was made, and here we are now. Coach Saban has compiled a 68-13 record during his tenure here at Alabama and an incredible 61-7 since 2008. Three out of the last four BCS Championships and poised to make another run this year. Yeah, you could say it is a great time to be an Alabama fan.
I realize that this may bring up a few bad memories for us older fans but sometimes looking back can help. I can remember before the 1992 title, I would say “I want to see Alabama just win one title” and they did. The later years would test me as I am sure it did all that lived through them. Little did I or anyone else know, we would go on a run like we have the past few years. Enjoy it, Bama fans. Cherish it. It may not come for a while after it’s over and it won’t last forever. Just know this. Coach Saban doesn’t look like he is ready to slow down anytime soon. You can tell he enjoys coaching. You can see it in his eyes when he is working with the defensive backs. He loves to teach them. Contrary to popular belief, there is always a big smile from him when his players accomplish the goal and are standing on the stage hoisting the trophy in January as confetti streams down. One day, he will decide that he has had enough coaching and is ready to rest for a while over at Lake Burton. However for the time being, he is the head coach at Alabama and he is building a Crimson Dynasty and I don’t see him calling it quits right away. Just sit back, buckle up because we are truly in the middle of oine great ride. Roll Tide!