I really liked that 1977 team. The one that beat USC and lost a close game in Lincoln Neb. With Nathan, Ogilvie, and Davis in the backfield. Either Jeff Rutledge or Steadman Shealey at QB? What a team. Ozzie played on that team. Defense was loaded too.
How do you rank Alabama's great teams? In your opinion, which was the best?
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Our depth now really creates a more "machine" like approach. More often than not we basically steamroll 8-10 teams per year where the game is never in doubt. Another 2-3 games per year where I swear he lets the other team hang around, almost by design to teach adversity and to control arrogance.
I think the teams the last two years have become virtually unstoppable and are truly almost plug-play
I think the discipline we now see would allow this year's team (despite the losses to the draft) to beat 09, 11, and 12.
I think the teams the last two years have become virtually unstoppable and are truly almost plug-play
I think the discipline we now see would allow this year's team (despite the losses to the draft) to beat 09, 11, and 12.
College football changed dramatically with the recruitment of black athletes. It also changed with scholarship limitations. My favorite teams were the 1961 and 1966 teams, but if either of those teams at their best played the current Alabama teams it would be liking playing Vanderbilt or may be Charleston Southern.
It was a regional game without question.
But in my view that goes out the window when you look at what we did in bowl games when we had the opportunity.
Yes, but by definition you're going to play more now.
There was no SEC title game in 1966.
There was no four-team playoff.
And there was no 25 ranked teams, either (as you note).
In no way am I dissing you - and I actually AGREE with you - but the reality is that comparing now with 1961-66 is like comparing those teams back then with 1892-1898. It really can't be done.
It's no doubt amazing, but it's also the product of the modern time.
I mean, we faced ten ranked FBS foes in 15 games in 2016.
That's why I could care less about who we played last year or this. We've lined up the monsters and beat them.
First I agree that it's impossible to compare eras. In this thread we haven't even established any criteria for how we would rank teams. In fact, I've not even offered a list. I was just wanting to provide some context. We're all just throwing things out there. IMO, the fact that Bama's recent schedules have been far, far, far more difficult than in the past, adds greatly to their accomplishment. Why they are playing many more tough games is irrelevant. Prior to Saban, Bama had played the number one team 6 times in its entire history (3-3, Coach Bryant 2-1 in 25 years); they've done it 7 times in the last 11 years and are 6-1.(Btw, Bama's 9-4 record vs number 1 is the best in college football history. In fact, the only other program with a winning record vs number 1 is Miami 9-8. Bama's record is incredible. The other blueblood's records through 2010: Neb 1-11, OU 7-13, ND 8-16, USC 7-11, OSU 4-9, Mich 3-17, UTx 4-11.)
I understand that just because you navigate a much tougher schedule doesn't mean that you are a better team, but my point was simply that the recent teams have accomplished more by doing so. That's one way of viewing the greatness of teams, or at least one component.
The 1973 Bama team that lost to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl was the best I ever saw. The depth of that team was incomparable. The Tide started that season by punishing the Steve Bartkowski led California team 66-0. I personally witnessed the 77-6 shellacking of VPI (now VCU) and Don Strock. Multiple NCAA offensive records were broken that night. Bear used as many as 70 players in 1 game. We were declared National Champions after the season by UPI. The AP gave it to the eventual winner of the Sugar Bowl, Notre Dame.
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For the time being I'll leave the ranking to the rest of you, but I'm relishing the fact we can even have this discussion and that in my lifetime alone Alabama has won NINE National Titles.
I was in attendance at that blood-letting of VT, too. Results: Alabama had 828 yards of offense, 743 on the ground on 63 carries for an average of almost 12 yds a run. Four players with 100 plus yards rushing, James Taylor, Richard Todd, Calvin Culliver (87 yard td run) and Wilbur Jackson.
The All American right tackle and Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner on the 1966 team was Cecil Dowdy. Cecil was 6 foot tall and weighed 204 pounds. Could he hold up in a game against a modern team? How fast were DBs and WRs back then?
My best team is still the 1966 team.
I've watched and at times heard on a radio Crimson tide football since 1955.
I do realize it's impossible to evaluate teams over a period of decades, but these are just the way I see them within my minds eye!
While there are a lot of good arguments/positions being posted here for seemingly every team since the '61 title team, (Bears first title), all the way up to last years team!
Although in my lifetime I still would go with the '61 and/or the '66 team...
The '61 team is hard to beat giving up just 25pts. in 11 games avg. just a smidge over 2 pts. a game!
BUT the '66 team had 6 shutouts, gave up 44 pts. in 11 games, for an avg. of 4 pts. a game! (Qualifer The 'Bear' said this was his BEST team!)
A look at the Stallings coached '92 team shows they only gave up 9.3 pts. a game, when college football was throwing the ball all over the field!
But per usual the Bama 'D' still came out on top! Oh well just call me old-fashioned!
I do realize it's impossible to evaluate teams over a period of decades, but these are just the way I see them within my minds eye!
While there are a lot of good arguments/positions being posted here for seemingly every team since the '61 title team, (Bears first title), all the way up to last years team!
Although in my lifetime I still would go with the '61 and/or the '66 team...
The '61 team is hard to beat giving up just 25pts. in 11 games avg. just a smidge over 2 pts. a game!
BUT the '66 team had 6 shutouts, gave up 44 pts. in 11 games, for an avg. of 4 pts. a game! (Qualifer The 'Bear' said this was his BEST team!)
A look at the Stallings coached '92 team shows they only gave up 9.3 pts. a game, when college football was throwing the ball all over the field!
But per usual the Bama 'D' still came out on top! Oh well just call me old-fashioned!
Comparatively speaking about players from 1966 vs players of today?? Yeah that would present problems, but remember too that the players of today could not play the same game that players in 1966 could play because of the incredibly different style of play. OL could not molest a DL back then. Blocking rules were nothing like today. DBs were not allowed to molest receivers as many are allowed today. I saw Dennis Homan play. I saw Terry Beasley play. Many of the players from the 60s and 70s certainly could play today and would compete nationally. Stabler? Sure. The game has changed. But those teams from the 60s were very talented and competitive with skill levels anywhere back then under the rules. Using the old rules...the teams of today wouldnt do so well. Who could teach them the old fundamentals? So......I think it is a moot point to compare the 1961 team to the 2018 team.
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