Eli Gold: ‘This Is Greatest Era In Alabama Sports History’
By David Wasson
As veteran radio play-by-play voice of Crimson Tide, Eli Gold has updated and re-released his ‘Crimson Nation’ book.
One of the best parts about writing a book about Alabama football is the absolute wealth of quality information and rich history with which to work. But when you’re Eli Gold, the double-edged sword of writing “Crimson Nation” 14 years ago means a near-total rewrite had the veteran broadcaster busy during the last offseason.
Gold’s updated “Crimson Nation” ($24.95, Triumph Books) needed updating and near-wholesale renovations because Alabama is arguably in the most golden of ages in college football history. With four national titles (and counting) in the Nick Saban Era, Gold’s task was certainly a pleasant one.
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“When I wrote it initially, it was in the middle of the Mike Shula administration. So much has happened since then, not only with Nick Saban, but a chapter about my broadcast partner Kenny Stabler,” Gold said during Alabama’s off week. “The Snake has passed away sadly since then. Records had to be updated. Heisman Trophy winners was a huge update. We updated every chapter, from start to finish, where it was necessary, and added in five or so chapters in the finish.”
“The school went 17 years between national championships from 1992 and Gene Stallings to resurrection with Nick Saban, and Bama fans never lost their swagger, but they have gotten it back and then some in the last decade.”
Gold’s day job as the voice of the Crimson Tide Sports Network allows him perhaps the most unique access among the legion of authors to write about Saban and the Tide. With “Crimson Nation”, Gold sought to tell the stories of Alabama football history in an “easy reading” fashion.
“I was shocked to learn that even though Alabama plays home games at Bryant-Denny Stadium, so many people had no idea who (former school president George) Denny is,” Gold said. “I figured everyone knew, and so the chapter “Who is this Denny guy anyway?” was born. So it is a lighter approach. We talk all about President Denny and so on and so forth. It is an all-encompassing history book, but an easier read that is very complete.”
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Gold, 62, believes such perspective is important, simply because Alabama has so much history as college football royalty.
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“The people who lived through the Coach Bryant Era called that the heyday of Alabama football,” Gold said. “Now, for teenagers, this is the heyday of Alabama football. Chronological age has a lot to do with how to view it. But more people view the state of Alabama through the window of college football – whether Alabama, Auburn, UAB, Jacksonville State, South Alabama, Troy … For some people, the state of Alabama had done nothing over the years but produce negative stories. Now the state has come light years – through the football programs – to open the window.”
Now in his third decade of the voice of Alabama football, Gold has seen many ups and downs from his press box perch. But there is one thing that has remained constant: Alabama fans believed then and now that their program is the best in the country.
“The school went 17 years between national championships from 1992 and Gene Stallings to resurrection with Nick Saban, and Bama fans never lost their swagger, but they have gotten it back and then some in the last decade,” Eli Gold said. “There were tougher times, certainly, and at a university where you’re used to winning or being in the hunt for national championships, 17 years was a long, long time. If you ask people in general if this the greatest era in college football for Alabama football, the answer is generationally based.
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“In my estimation, with scholarship constraints and way parity is now, this is greatest era in Alabama sports history. But Coach Bryant had quite the deal going. Comparing through generations is so tough, but either way it is a great time.”
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