Alabama Football: Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide ‘Glory’ years

Those of us Alabama football fans of a certain age who had the good fortune to have experienced the Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant years might have a selective memory. We should remember the Bear Bryant years of Alabama football were glorious, but they do not equal the ‘glory’ years of the Nick Saban era.

For forty-plus years Alabama Crimson Tide fans rightfully believed Bryant was the greatest college football coach of all time. During the last 10 years, we have come to understand Bryant is No. 2 on the GOAT list. Nick Saban is No. 1 and it is almost impossible to believe any coach will supplant Saban – ever. And ever is a long time.

The simplest and most common way to measure the achievements of college football coaches is by National Championships. Nick Saban with seven has one more than Bryant’s six national titles. Some college football history buffs are willing to argue that Bryant should have attained two more – at Kentucky in 1950 and the better-known, undefeated Alabama Crimson Tide 1966 team.

With those near misses for Bryant, some oldsters may argue Saban and Bryant should be placed on the same, highest pedestal. That is wrong, and not just because Saban has had a near miss too.

The reason is Saban’s sustained excellence clearly defines him as the GOAT.

Alabama Football AP Rankings going back to 1958

Using the history of preseason and final AP Poll rankings shows an unparalleled dominance by Nick Saban. Five different Alabama football periods can be tracked going back to Bryant’s first season in 1958. They are Bryant (1958-1982); Ray Perkins and Bill Curry (1983-1989); Gene Stallings (1990-1996); Mike Dubose, Dennis Franchione and Mike Shula (1997-2006) and Nick Saban from 2007 through 2021.

Let’s take a look at the most disappointing periods first. Coach win-loss records at Alabama, are in parentheses.

Mike Dubose (24-23-0), Dennis Franchione (17-8-0) and Mike Shula (26-23-0) – 10 seasons

• AP Preseason Top 25 ranked in four of 10 seasons (40%), with an average ranking of No. 21 (when ranked); AP Final Poll ranked in three of 10 seasons (30%); zero AP Final Poll Top Tens

Ray Perkins (32-15-1) and Bill Curry (26-10-0) – 7 seasons

• AP Preseason Top 25 ranked in five of seven seasons (71%), with an average ranking of No. 11 (when ranked); AP Final Poll ranked in four of seven seasons (57%); two AP Poll Final Top Tens

Gene Stallings (70-16-1) – 7 seasons

• AP Preseason Top 25 ranked in all seven seasons (100%), with an average ranking of No. 12; AP Final Poll ranked in six of seven seasons (86%); three AP Final Top Fives; one National Championship

Paul Bryant (232-46-9) – 25 seasons

There can be no argument the Alabama football program Bryant inherited was in far worse shape than the one inherited by Nick Saban. In the three seasons before Bryant, Alabama won a total of four games.

• AP Preseason Top 25 ranked in 22 of 25 seasons, with the three unranked being Bryant’s first three (88%), with an average ranking of No. 6 (when ranked); going back to the 1961 seasons; AP Final Poll ranked (from 1961-1982) in 19 of 22 seasons (86%); 13 AP Final Poll Top Fives; six National Championships in 25 seasons (24%)- (five awarded by the AP and one by the UPI)

Nick Saban (183-25-0) – 15 seasons

• AP Preseason Top 25 ranked in 14 of 15 seasons (93%), with an average ranking of No. 4 (when ranked); AP Final Poll ranked in 14 of 15 seasons (93%); 10 AP Final Poll Top Fives (67%); six National Champions in 15 seasons (40%)

Note: Data from this post came from Sports Reference and collegepollarchive.com

The best Alabama coach and CFB’s best ever is indisputably Nicholas Lou Saban Jr. and that fact will never change.