Do you remember the down years for Alabama football?

GrayTide · Jun 1, 2019

Glad to see you are back with us TideMan 09.

TIDE-HSV · Jun 2, 2019

Al A Bama said:
And lost to the Barn 40 to 0. I've hated, well disliked to the nth degree, the Barn since that game. Oh, but Coach Bryant was coming to town soon, real soon.

The "Ears" years had to be the very WORST in Alabama Crimson Tide history.

And - we almost upset them Coach Bryant's first year. I ran into a boyhood friend who attended AU in the parking lot after that game and he commented that he wouldn't be surprised if we won a national championship in a couple of years. I just thought "absurd," but it wasn't at all...

bama61 · Jun 2, 2019

TIDE-HSV said:
And - we almost upset them Coach Bryant's first year. I ran into a boyhood friend who attended AU in the parking lot after that game and he commented that he wouldn't be surprised if we won a national championship in a couple of years. I just thought "absurd," but it wasn't at all...

I can't help but remember how good the 1958 season seemed to be after Whitworth's 0-10-0, 2-7-1, and 2-7-1 record for the previous three seasons. On top of that after some of the drubbings we'd received, for the for the biggest margin in a loss to be by 10 points to the eventual national champions was an eye opener. Since freshmen weren't eligible back then, Coach Bryant accomplished that solely with Whitworth's players and with squad considerably diminished in numbers after the number of players that quit or were run off the previous Spring. Of course, the Coaching Football course taught by the "staff" and conducted in pads on the field between Woods Hall and the old Dressler Hall probably helped both skill develpment and QPA's. The course was pretty much limited to players and was legal at the time but quickly put an end to once the SEC office heard of it.

TIDE-HSV · Jun 2, 2019

bama61 said:
I can't help but remember how good the 1958 season seemed to be after Whitworth's 0-10-0, 2-7-1, and 2-7-1 record for the previous three seasons. On top of that after some of the drubbings we'd received, for the for the biggest margin in a loss to be by 10 points to the eventual national champions was an eye opener. Since freshmen weren't eligible back then, Coach Bryant accomplished that solely with Whitworth's players and with squad considerably diminished in numbers after the number of players that quit or were run off the previous Spring. Of course, the Coaching Football course taught by the "staff" and conducted in pads on the field between Woods Hall and the old Dressler Hall probably helped both skill develpment and QPA's. The course was pretty much limited to players and was legal at the time but quickly put an end to once the SEC office heard of it.

Marvin, remember Marlin Dyess' long pass reception to set up the FG? The only Div I player I ever knew smaller than I. Then there was Darwin Holt, playing LB at my size. He was a friend. Different world...

CaliforniaTide · Jun 2, 2019

My first year as an Alabama fan was CMS' season in 2006. That was an odd year for me as a rooting fan. Kept seeing/hearing all about the tradition Alabama had, but the play on the field didn't reflect it.

2010 was rough though. Alabama only lost 3 games...

bama61 · Jun 2, 2019

TIDE-HSV said:
Marvin, remember Marlin Dyess' long pass reception to set up the FG? The only Div I player I ever knew smaller than I. Then there was Darwin Holt, playing LB at my size. He was a friend. Different world...

Yep, remember the pass play well. I had a couple of classes with Dyess, a nice guy and smart too. I really didn't know Holt though I met him a couple of times, I did see him go damn near homicidal at a party when someone hit on his date, made a mental note to not make that mistake. Similarly, I saw Gary Phillips do pretty much the same under similar circumstances. He was another of the small linemen, playing tackle at around 180 - 185. Actually I suspect that you and I probably knew or were acquainted with a number of the same people since the student population was so small then, a bit over 8,000 I think...

TideMan09 · Jun 2, 2019

GrayTide said:
Glad to see you are back with us TideMan 09.

It's good to hear from you to Gray..I hope you're doing good brother..

ReturnToGlory · Jun 3, 2019

The 80s were not all that bad. But considering how dominant we were in the 70s, I can see it being looked at as a down period.

1997-2006 were without a doubt the lowest in my lifetime. I actually volunteered to work on Saturdays at my radio station so I wouldn't watch some of the games.

GrayTide · Jun 3, 2019

TIDE-HSV said:
Marvin, remember Marlin Dyess' long pass reception to set up the FG? The only Div I player I ever knew smaller than I. Then there was Darwin Holt, playing LB at my size. He was a friend. Different world...

I remember watching Coach Bryant's Sunday afternoon show and recall Coach, while reviewing the film when Marlin "Scooter" Dyess had the ball, saying, "get to the sideline, Scooter".

Bama Czar · Jun 3, 2019

ReturnToGlory said:
The 80s were not all that bad. But considering how dominant we were in the 70s, I can see it being looked at as a down period.

1997-2006 were without a doubt the lowest in my lifetime. I actually volunteered to work on Saturdays at my radio station so I wouldn't watch some of the games.

Agreed that 1997-2006 were the lowest point in my lifetime as well. However, I am quick to point out to others that even at the "lowest" point, Alabama still managed to win 10 games every third year (1999, 2002, 2005). Not too many schools can claim that during their low-point.

DzynKingRTR · Jun 3, 2019

Bama Czar said:
Agreed that 1997-2006 were the lowest point in my lifetime as well. However, I am quick to point out to others that even at the "lowest" point, Alabama still managed to win 10 games every third year (1999, 2002, 2005). Not too many schools can claim that during their low-point.

I think in almost our entire history we have had only one coach that did not have a 10 win season. Ears Whitworth.

tide96 · Jun 3, 2019

DzynKingRTR said:
I think in almost our entire history we have had only one coach that did not have a 10 win season. Ears Whitworth.

It's Rolling Baby would have a word with you.

DzynKingRTR · Jun 3, 2019

tide96 said:
It's Rolling Baby would have a word with you.

He does not count.

TIDE-HSV · Jun 3, 2019

bama61 said:
Yep, remember the pass play well. I had a couple of classes with Dyess, a nice guy and smart too. I really didn't know Holt though I met him a couple of times, I did see him go damn near homicidal at a party when someone hit on his date, made a mental note to not make that mistake. Similarly, I saw Gary Phillips do pretty much the same under similar circumstances. He was another of the small linemen, playing tackle at around 180 - 185. Actually I suspect that you and I probably knew or were acquainted with a number of the same people since the student population was so small then, a bit over 8,000 I think...

I'm sure that's true. It's sad that so many are dying off. At least we're hanging on by our fingernails...

Padreruf · Jun 3, 2019

Do I remember them? They are permanently etched in my brain cells...late 60's....late 80's...mid 90's to 2007...you always remember the losses more than the wins...always.

bama61 · Jun 3, 2019

TIDE-HSV said:
I'm sure that's true. It's sad that so many are dying off. At least we're hanging on by our fingernails...

Too true, and my fingernails seem to be getting a bit worn down and ragged. That said, I can't really complain as I still roll out of bed around 4:30 or so, putter around a while then head off to work. I've said for years that I'd retire when it got hard to get up and go, but that still hasn't happened as yet. My wife is just as bad, does the same and leaves for work maybe half an hour after i do. Guess we're both incorrigible.

GrayTide · Jun 4, 2019

Hindsight being 50/50, I wish I had worked another year or two.

selmaborntidefan · Jun 4, 2019

Padreruf said:
Do I remember them? They are permanently etched in my brain cells...late 60's....late 80's...mid 90's to 2007...you always remember the losses more than the wins...always.

Yup.

Or as Lewis Grizzard rhetorically asked, "Why are the highs never as high as the lows are low?"

NoNC4Tubs · Jun 4, 2019

TIDE-HSV said:
Marvin, remember Marlin Dyess' long pass reception to set up the FG? The only Div I player I ever knew smaller than I. Then there was Darwin Holt, playing LB at my size. He was a friend. Different world...

I know Scooter. When I met him, I was really surprised at how short he really was. You can't judge a book by its cover...

DzynKingRTR · Jun 4, 2019

TIDE-HSV said:
Marvin, remember Marlin Dyess' long pass reception to set up the FG? The only Div I player I ever knew smaller than I. Then there was Darwin Holt, playing LB at my size. He was a friend. Different world...

Mark McMillan was a little guy too. He was 5'-7" and playing DB. Almost every receiver he covered towered over him. He even played several years in the NFL.

Do you remember the down years for Alabama football?

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