The story of Alabama football is a never-ending tale, but one that features, perhaps inarguably, the two greatest coaches in the history of the sport. The upcoming documentary "Nothing But a Winner" tries to weave the tale of two separate dynastic runs: Paul "Bear" Bryant's tenure from 1958-1982, featuring six National Championships, and Nick Saban's tenure from 2007-2023, also featuring six National Championships.
Directed by Jimmy Jenkins and featuring numerous former Tide players - Bobby Humphrey, Ozzie Newsome, Jeremiah Castille, Sylvester Croom, Walter Lewis, and Wilbur Jackson, among others, from the Bryant era, and Jonathan Allen, CJ Mosley, Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith, and Jaylen Waddle, among others, from the Saban era. Saban himself makes an appearance, too.
They all have a unique story to tell, having played for two coaches who not only led them to tremendous success on the gridiron but, more importantly, success in life.
Alabama football isn't for everyone - and this documentary won't be either. Ozzie Newsome's description of Crimson Tide football might say it best, as he sat comfortably in his home with a "Saban Nation" t-shirt on. It's a cult. It's not, but it invokes similar passions and tensions.
There was never supposed to be another Bear. Then Saban stepped off the plane in January of 2007 and cast an even bigger shadow, at least as a football coach. As his former players tell it, nobody cast a bigger shadow than Bryant as a man. He wasn't God, but he was to them. His gruff exterior and no-nonsense attitude couldn't hide for long a heart of gold. This documentary does a great job of reminding folks that the only thing better than Bryant the football coach was Bryant the man. From his role in desegregating the University of Alabama and its football program, to the Bryant scholarship, where kids and grandkids of all former Bryant-era players can attend the University of Alabama for free.
Bryant's players speak of him in reverence often reserved for deities. Saban's players don't quite reach that level, mainly due to a generational divide, but he is held in a much higher regard than a mere football coach. Jonathan Allen says it best in the documentary, calling Saban the "greatest leader of men of all time."
While plenty call him the GOAT, Saban, ever the humble kid from West Virginia, believes that moniker belongs to Coach Bryant.
Director Jimmy Jenkins felt a personal connection to the Alabama football story
Before becoming a filmmaker, Jimmy Jenkins was an athlete. He played college football himself at a small school in Illinois, so he felt a personal connection to the Alabama football story.
"I was football, football is me," Jenkins told me. "That is who I am. The football is what resonated with me, but even more than that, just the overall story resonated with me. It just was able to connect with me in so many ways. I don't play football anymore, but those principles that Coach Saban and Coach Bryant preached are the same things I live by today, and it's relatable for all people."
Lightning struck twice in Tuscaloosa with two dominant runs. Alabama was never supposed to reach the peak of the Bryant era again, but Saban somehow came to Tuscaloosa and in many ways exceeded what Bryant accomplished on the football field. Jenkins wanted to discover how those two runs were possible, a question so many rival fans have asked.
"I wanted to realize why these two men were winning so much and why this program is so special," Jenkins said. "It only took me to go down to Tuscaloosa one time to see why I needed to tell the story."
The core tenets of Saban's leadership principles are commitment, discipline, effort, toughness, and pride. You can tell from how Jenkins speaks that being around the Alabama football program either rubbed off on him or reinvigorated that part of himself.
"It's never too late to go win," Jenkins said. You can start winning right now. It just takes discipline, commitment, pride, and if you dedicate those things to your craft, you will be successful."
Nothing But a Winner is currently slated for a one-night only theatrical release, playing in cinemas on Thursday, July 31st.