Alabama Football: Minor setback leads to major comeback for Tide
By Ronald Moody
Dethroned as the kings of college football, Alabama football seeks redemption for 2019. The Crimson Tide always turn setbacks into a challenge for an upcoming season.
Orange and purple confetti poured from the night sky as Clemson demolished Alabama football 44-16 for the College Football Championship. Senior running back Damien Harris and superstar Tua Tagovailoa sat motionless as their season came to an unceremonious end.
No one predicted the behind the woodshed whipping Clemson handed out. On that fateful night, the Tigers out-schooled; outperformed, and punished the neighborhood bullies.
In HBO’s The Wire, a quaint, questioning, aging soldier, Cutty, expressed how everything changed after a long stint in prison. New school general Slim Charles retorted a memorable quote, “Game is the same–just got more fierce!” This is where Saban is now, knee-deep in the “game.”
In his most critical season ever in Tuscaloosa, Saban and the Crimson Tide seek to reclaim the 2019 College Football Championship Trophy. Spring cleaning commenced early for Saban resulting in seven new coaches pacing the sidelines for the 2019 season.
Will the extreme coaching turnover doom the Tide again? The constants remain the same, Saban, strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran and head trainer Jeff Allen. Assembling an older, experienced staff is the beginning for the Tide to regain its footing. Out of the seven new coaches, two have been head coaches (Sarkisian, Flood), four have been coordinators (Kelly, Sunseri, Sarkisian, Flood). The addition of the top-ranked national recruiting class per 247 Sports brings more top-shelf talent, fresh legs and invigorated energy to the Crimson Tide.
A renewed sense of urgency is buzzing around Tuscaloosa. Too bad, Las Vegas does not feel the same way.