It might take a little more time for jaded fans to accept what the country is quickly realizing: Patrick Murphy has his best Alabama softball team in five years.
No, the competition hasn't been high through the season's first nine games, but the Crimson Tide has done exactly what it should do against teams it has a major edge in talent against: dominate.
Not only is Alabama off to a 9-0 start, but it has outscored its opponents 83-9 in those nine games and shown power at the plate that has been missing in recent seasons. The emergence of freshman pitcher Vic Moten has solidified the Tide's rotation, and this team suddenly looks like a legitimate contender again.
And pollsters are taking notice.
Alabama softball has jumped into the Top 10 in all major polls
Alabama opened the season ranked No. 16 in the ESPN.com/USA Today Softball poll. After climbing to No. 13 after the first weekend of games, the Crimson Tide has jumped up to No. 9 after a dominant showing at the Easton Bama Bash this weekend that included two wins over Purdue and two wins over Liberty.
Softball America is even higher on Murphy's squad, ranking Alabama No. 6 in their latest poll.
It's obviously still early, but it's hard not to be encouraged by the promising start for the Crimson Tide. But the proof will be in the pudding this weekend in Tallahassee.
Alabama will face its first real test this weekend at the Dugout Club Classic. In the middle of games against Elon (x2) and Dartmouth, Alabama will play two games against a Top 10 opponent in Florida State.
The Seminoles are 8-2 and ranked No. 7 in the ESPN/USA poll. They are a formidable foe and will serve as the perfect measuring stick for Murphy to determine whether this team is truly back to being among the elite programs in the country, or if its 9-0 start was just fool's gold.