Yes. That’s right. Anthony Grant has actually made diehard Alabama fans – who are not interested in anything besides what happens on the field – turn their attention to the hardwood. Why? Well throughout this week I’ve emailed and talked with several fans who have admitted that until recently they were only Alabama football fans. So what’s changed?
I believe the first thing that has drastically changed is the Alabama fan base. This is because of Nick Saban and his football team. Nick Saban is recruiting more out-of-state than he is in-state. Out-of-state enrollment at the University of Alabama has snowballed and become larger than in-state enrollment. Believe it or not, there are people out there who appreciate basketball just as much as football and … sit down for this one … some even appreciate it more! While our fan base expands at the University of Alabama largely due to the phenomenal success of football team, these fans – both old and new – are expecting success from other sports. So let’s look at a handful of those other sports right quick.
Baseball. Well, they’re not very good. We know that. We also know their facilities will be revamped here shortly and this, in my opinion, will give baseball another fresh start. So the baseball team has an excuse. Softball. They are basically top notch every season thanks to Coach Murphy and the players he recruits and develops. Gymnastics. Coach Patterson – need I say more? This professional, classy woman has taken the gymnastics team to the top more often than any football coach to step on campus here at Alabama. Men’s golf at Alabama has won two national championships under Coach Seawell. Women’s basketball is gaining momentum quickly after Coach Curry came in this season to start a fire underneath that program. So where does men’s basketball and Coach Anthony Grant sit? I’d say at the bottom of the barrel.
Do you hear those Alabama football fanatics complaining about the Alabama golf or gymnastics teams? Nope. Why? Well I’m sure it is because half of them don’t even realize we have those championship teams, and the other half is content with just knowing that we are winning. These teams play well enough to fly under the radar at the University of Alabama. And surprisingly, that seems to be the measure of success for those teams, too. Win enough that most of the football fans do not notice.
Well, Coach Grant has done the impossible and has awoken the beast of the Southeast. He’s poked the bear so hard that the entire Bama Nation is looking at him and his team. Now that he has the attention of the Bama Nation, what does he plan to do it with it? Right now, it seems his best play is to rub it in our faces that he beat Alabama. The contract we “negotiated” with him makes him a winner whether Alabama basketball is winning or not. He receives a little under $2 million a year till 2019 whether he coaches or not. So, what motivation does this man have to develop a team that accomplishes anything above average? I’d say pride, but his lackluster personality courtside seems to tell a different story. And so does his ability to blow off any questions concerning a game being a “must win” for him or the program.
Well Coach Grant, you have our attention. All of our attention. You’ve done something rare, but not magical. You’ve pissed off a lot of Alabama football fans because of how you’re running your own program, the basketball team.