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The State of ALABAMA Football.

T

TommyMac

Hall of Fame
Apr 24, 2001
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I must admit that I've been pleasantly surprised by the general state of optimism generally expressed on this board this year. A few years ago, we'd have been much closer to melt-down status and I think most of the old-timers would agree with me on that. Heck, we even had folks complaining about HOW we won when we won 10 games and would have been in Atlanta if not for the sanctions.

All that aside, this is for the skeptics still among us. Consider these five programs:

Notre Dame
Nebraska
Penn State
Maryland
Washington

All pretty dang good programs, right? Notre Dame, Nebraska and Penn State are even legendary programs. Now, what do they all have in common?

Here you go:

They're all operating with full complements of scholarshipped players.

They all pretty much went through the season without suffering devastating injuries, in neither amount of injuries or severity of injuries.

All, except Washington have HC's who are highly regarded and have previous HC experience.

None, except maybe Notre Dame can claim to have played a tougher schedule that BAMA.

They all suffered humiliating, blow-out losses.

Yet, they all suffered through worse seasons than we did. Notre Dame matched our 6-5 record, but got their hats and arses handed to them a few times along the way.

Now, take any of these programs, slash their schollies and inflict upon them the depth and severity of injuries suffered by the TIDE this season and how much worse do you see their records being? Ya think ND goes 6-5 and qualifies for a bowl? Nah, me neither.

So, if we look at this season in it's entirety, we should be bursting with pride over our kids and coaching staff and what they accomplished against not just tough odds, but against OVERWHELMING odds. I really and truly believe that NO other and I mean NO other program in the land could have matched them.

I'm extremely proud of them and all of y'all should be too. As far as I'm concerned, they've "writ their name in CRIMSON flame".

Anybody agree?
 
T-Mac, very true indeed...

I, for one, have never seen a team so marred by injuries in one season! We hung around and played with a lot of heart and did everything we could to win games. This coaching staff will lead UA back to an SECC game very soon.

I think next season is going to be pretty fun for Bama fans!
 
Excellent post and I couldn't agree more! I wish more people could see it that way. UA is indeed headed in the right direction, with the right attitude, the right vision, and the right staff.
 
Amen, Brother. But you didn't tell it all.

A couple of years ago, some Bama fans were saying they wanted a visionary. Somebody who could flat-out coach, and wasn't necessarily an egotistical jerk about it.

You mentioned Maryland, with Ralph Fridgen.
But turn the clock back three years, and look at these names then and where they are now:

1. Maryland is struggling, now that they're operating with Fridgen's players.

2. Jim Tressell and Ohio State struggled this year, and are looking at some NCAA trouble (whether they get the Big-Ten skate or not is irrelevant -- what would have happened if he'd been at Bama?)

3. Larry Coker isn't looking invincible enough to overcome the return of the thug in Miami.

4. FRan's successor at TCU went for two years with great success. But for a late loss in 2002, they would have been that year's Utah BCS buster. Now, with Fran's players gone, they aren't even bowl eligible, despite the fact that they play in a very soft Conference USA.

5. Gary Barnett at Colorado -- See Jim Tressell, with a sex scandal added for good measure.

6. Tommy Bowden at Clemson -- built a great record at Tulane on a foundation of clay, and has clearly lost control of his program now.

I could go on, but the common thread is this: All these guys experienced a period of success, and all were golden boys, on everybody's coaching short list for about two years. All have been exposed as less-than-desireable for one reason or another -- mostly inability to continue success, but some for image problems that dwarf problems caused by declining records.

I"M PROUD OF SHULA! He's overcome more than any coach I can ever remember. He hasn't gotten a break in two years, but is building a program the right way. Yes, it's slow. No, it doesn't satisfy the I-want-mine-now crew. But nothing worthwhile ever is fast or satisfies that contingent for long. And he's finally starting to get some props for it, Finebaum be hanged. Take a look at Scarbinsky's column in today's Birmingham News.

Roll Tide and Props to Shula!

OK, I'll stand down from the soap box now and take my Prozac.
 
Ditto 4QBC

Couldn't have expressed it better! Since CMS's hire I have consistently preached patience and let him get his system in, his players in. It was obvious at the beginning of the season we were on the right track and certainly would have better than a 6-5 record had it not been for the devastating injuries suffered by the team. The Tide was in EVERY game until lack of depth betrayed them.

I am just so, so proud of this team and their heart, especially the juniors and seniors who had an opportunity to leave. What men they are! Whether they go on to play at the next level or are professionals in some other field, they will do well.

I want everyone to realize just what we have, not what we don't. That will come.
 
After this year I'm still not sure where we are now. With the sanctions which we will continue to feel until 08 and the injuries, it is too hard th really tell. On the one hand its nice to be in a bowl again but we squeeked in by the slimist margin. If BC had stayed healthy we may have had an 8 or 9 win season but one player seems to have made a huge difference. However if BC had stayed healthy we could be now worrying whether he would come back for his last season.
 
Great post. I agree with all you said. And when I hear the talking heads going on about what a great job fRan has done this year it makes me want to puke. Great job? Fully stocked, few injuries and can only manage an 11-12 record? Several Blowout losses and even getting beat by Baylor this year is a sign of greatness?

The 10-14 record of CMS looks a lot better to me.
 
Just my two cents on this topic

The Bama sanctions were among the toughest ever handed out by the NCAA. And no matter what anyone says we are right in the middle of their effects. Next year will be better but it will take 2 more years for a full recovery. I have pride in the fact that lesser programs would have buckled and never have recovered from them. I believe that’s what the NCAA had in mind.
Mike Shula will never embarrass the University and he wants to win as bad as the most rabid fan. His steadfastness and integrity is exactly what the doctor ordered. The jury is still out on whether or not he is a great coach, but I believe if the injury bug had not come calling Bama wins 8-9 games this year, extraordinary under the circumstances. For the “pistol in the mouth” crowd listening to Finebaum, remember at the beginning of the season he had us winning 6-7 games, either he has a crystal ball and knew we would loose our entire starting backfield or he doesn’t know anything. I have my money on the latter.
:D
 
Great Post Tommy

The Tide is definitely on the rise. People mark my word next year the Tide will beat the barn and TutorC too. Remember you heard it here first.
 
There were two injuries we often forget about...they happened last year to Brodie and Spencer. If they had been healthy and gone through a normal spring and summer, the QB situation would have made a better transition this year after BC's ACL injury. Just points to what an outstanding coaching job was done this year!
 
And another major difference between UA and these schools is recruiting. Penn St, ND, Neb, etc have suffered lately because they can't recruit. They are still using the we have a big name recruiting philosophies that kids are not as attracted towards. We started to suffer under the Dubose error with recruiting. Fran started a little better but no where close to how Shula recruits. We would never landed a guy like Barnes under the old staffs. And now we are at least of the list of considerations for top 100 recruits. It's the whole package kids are looking at: playing time, big games, facilities, pro potentials, and championship possibilities. Shula is on the right track for great things for the Tide.
 
The Tide is on the rise

Over the past few years we have experienced Low Tide at the Capstone. The good thing about Low Tide is that the Tide will rise again. I agree with other sentiments that have been expressed, CMS is laying a good foundation. Just look around and consider the circumstances over the past several years and hopefully you will see the same thing.

RTR!
 
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