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Alabama Football: Dabo Swinney is returning to Tuscaloosa

By Bryant Barger

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 8: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers, left, and head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide pose for a photograph after speaking to members of the media during the College Football Playoff National Championship Head Coaches Press Conference on January 8, 2017 at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 8: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers, left, and head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide pose for a photograph after speaking to members of the media during the College Football Playoff National Championship Head Coaches Press Conference on January 8, 2017 at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /
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Clemson Tiger’s head coach Dabo Swinney will attend the Alabama football and Arkansas game. The 1992 Alabama National Championship team will be honored.

Three national championship football coaches will be at Bryant-Denny Saturday night. All three of them contributed to Alabama football national championships. One of them also cost the Tide another championship.

Dabo Swinney, former Alabama Crimson Tide wide-receiver, and present-day Alabama football nemesis will return to the University on Saturday. Swinney plans to be in attendance this weekend with multiple other Alabama football players from the 1992 National Championship team.

Swinney was born and raised in Alabama. He joined the Crimson Tide in 1989 as a walk-on. Before the 2017 Alabama-Clemson National Championship game, Swinney took a stroll down memory lane. He recalled his rough beginnings at Alabama and even described himself as a “crawl-on”.

"“I was one notch below a walk-on. I crawled on the field out there. I had to go through – they didn’t invite me to come out. I had to go through Rich Wingo’s weight room program. But it was an unbelievable experience for me.”"

The former wide receiver was eventually presented with a scholarship from the University and played for the Crimson Tide from 1990 to 1992. Gene Stallings led the 1992 team to the Sugar Bowl, where they would play the indomitable Miami Hurricanes.

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Alabama’s victory over Miami became a monumental moment for the football program. The Crimson Tide won a national championship for the first time since 1979. The victory is still celebrated today as one of Alabama’s most paramount conquests of all-time.

The 1992 National Championship team will be honored this Saturday during the Alabama-Arkansas game. Swinney and fellow teammates will join the celebration. It is homecoming week, so this is sure to add more excitement to the already exhilarated atmosphere.

Gene Stallings is revered by Alabama fans. Dabo, though not reviled, placed his relationship with current Alabama football fans in some jeopardy in last season’s national championship game.

How will the fans react?

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There may be a few isolated boos Saturday night but they should be drowned out by cheers. Dabo does not deserve any denigration. Not to mention, Alabama fans being discourteous to one of his former players will not sit well with Gene Stallings.

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