Hard to believe we're about to enter Coach Saban's ninth year. When he first came I
- Thread starter TommyMac
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Paul, it was more than just a few years. I started in 1957 and left in 1963, also with a law degree. It was increased from 31K to 43K while I was there...
The best thing that Bama fans and alumni can do is stay out of it instead of demanding that we hire an assistant. We don't need another DuBose.
The A.D. will need to hire the BEST in the country, but the BEST may not want to follow Coach Saban. We don't need someone who we think will be good. We need someone who we KNOW will be good. Just look at the similar qualities of Coach Wade, Coach Thomas, Coach Bryant, and Coach Saban and make sure the new coach has these same characteristics/traits. We don't need a "clapper" on the sideline. We need an intelligent person who makes effective decisions and has a proven track record.
Being of that era I can offer that, in the 1950's the stadium seated a bit over 30,000 and both end zones were open with rather rickety bleacher seating located there. An expansion was done around 1961(?) that, if memory serves, replaced the press box, upgraded the lights, and added about 12,000 seats. Despite the upgrade, the lighting was still not adequate for TV so night games that were to be televised continued to be played at Legion Field. Later auxiliary lighting would be brought in and this in concert with improvements in video technology permitted games to be telecast from Denny Stadium (Bryant had not been added to the stadium name then). Prior to the upgrade in 1961 or thereabouts the only games I remember being played in the stadium at night were high school games on Friday nights.
The time Coach Saban has spent here has certainly brought a lot of great players and great memories to the University of Alabama. When he retires I'm expecting us to have good teams but not championship caliber teams for a while. Once again we may have to go through several head coaches before we find the one to get us back to the top. I'd love to see Coach Saban still on the sidelines at age 70. That would certainly be something nobody expected. Great coaches rarely come along, so for now ENJOY! Roll Tide!!!
I'm hoping that they will try to get a recommendation from Coach Saban and will be wise enough to follow it.
One of Coach Bryant's great strengths was following his own advice, namely, that "You always gotta have a plan." It's also a staple for Coach Saban as well and I suspect it's a common trait of all great coaches.
There may have been times when one could coach by the seat of their pants, but with all the technology available to today's coaches, I suspect those days are past.
Why was the stadium in Tuscaloosa so substandard for so long. Were they too cheap to upgrade it or did they just enjoy the benefit of being in Birmingham for the big games that it wasn't worth the effort?
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Oh, then son you really missed a treat when Dubose was here. I was thinking CNS would be here 5 years max, I remember all of the aubies saying 3 years and he'll dump us, go figure, and I remember the 70's quite well and this is how I felt back then, so all I can say is savor every moment because times like these are few and far between.
Not so sure that the “substandard” is appropriate as there were many factors involved in stadium expansion. To put it in perspective consider the following:
First, remember that we’re talking 54 years ago when the stadium was expanded to 43,000 and at that time Tulane Stadium, which hosted the Sugar Bowl was easily the largest on-campus stadium in the SEC at around 65,000. The rest were pretty much in the size range of Denny or even smaller.
Tuscaloosa was a small town, population around 60,000 in that era. There just wasn’t the infrastructure or services to support larger crowds. After all folks want to eat and rent a hotel/motel room.
The U of A student population was a bit over 8,000 if I remember correctly. Then as now not all students were interested in going to the games.
Hank Crisp was the AD and a frugal gentleman indeed when it came to spending the AD’s dollars and remember, the ticket demand was for the Birmingham games, not the games in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama, as did Auburn, played four games a year at Legion Field, basically all of the two school’s major games. This gave Birmingham a total of seven big games a year (remember one of the four games for each school was the Iron Bowl).
The interstate system was just beginning to be built in Alabama. Mobile to Tuscaloosa was a weary five to six hour haul, very little of it four lane.
The cash flow from football was actually rather minor. Ticket prices for off-campus games was around $5.00. Teams travelled by bus. Alabama played a game in Mobile most years. For instance the first game in Coach Bryant’s tenure at Alabama was played against LSU in Mobile at Ladd Stadium.
I could ramble on, but why belabor the point further; besides I suspect I’m putting folks to sleep as it is.
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I don't know only three SEC titles and three NC. We may need to ask if we are getting our $$ worth.
Seriously, the stability and the success without the NCAA breathing down are neck is very appreciated.
Seriously, the stability and the success without the NCAA breathing down are neck is very appreciated.
I agree. He answered my question thoroughly and politely. Thank you for the history lesson, I thought it was interesting.
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