Vol Audio
Photo by AP Photo / Butch Dill
Alabama coach Nick Saban yells to his defense during the second half of a football game, Saturday Oct. 6, 2007, in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Event Details
- What: Tennessee at Alabama
- When: Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007, 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m.
- Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium
- Cost: Not available
- Age limit: All ages
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - You almost could feel sorry for Alabama.
Don't get alarmed. I was just kidding.
Of course, you don't feel sorry for Alabama, which Tennessee plays Saturday in Tuscaloosa. How can you feel sorry for a program that claims 12 national championships, including one in 1941 when it went 9-2? How do you feel sorry for a program that can pay a football coach $4 million a year?
So why would I even hint at playing the sympathy card?
It's just that Alabama fans were so excited about hiring coach Nick Saban. And their excitement soared with a 3-0 start.
They weren't ready for what happened next.
Going into the season, rational Alabama fans (insert your own punch line) knew their program wasn't at a national championship level. It wasn't even at an SEC championship level.
Saban would need time to build a powerhouse program at Alabama as he did at LSU, which won the national championship in 2003. You can't do that with coaching alone. It takes recruiting, which Saban does as well as almost anyone.
Then the season started, and rationality took a beating.
First, Alabama routed Western Carolina. Never mind the competition. When Alabama beats anyone 52-6, its fans can't help themselves from flashing back to the Bear Bryant era.
Next came a 24-10 victory over Vanderbilt. If former coach Mike Shula had been behind that, Alabama fans would have shaken their heads in frustration. But this was the work of Saban, who seemingly had turned an ordinary defense into one capable of holding an SEC opponent to one touchdown. Two games, 16 points allowed: That's why you pay the man $4 million a year.
The clincher came in the third game when Alabama rallied in the final seconds for a 41-38 victory over Arkansas. I wonder how many Alabama fans said, "Shula doesn't win that game."
Why wouldn't they? A year earlier, Shula's Tide lost to Arkansas in overtime.
Alabama's success was magnified by Auburn's failure. It was as though Saban's mere presence in Tuscaloosa had turned the Tide's top rival topsy-turvy. Auburn, which has won five consecutive games against Alabama, lost two of its first three games and needed a strong fourth quarter against Kansas State to avoid an 0-3 start.
Those first three weeks of the season are now known as the "glory days" of the Saban era at Alabama. Since then, the Tide has lost an overtime game to Georgia, fallen to Florida State, and beaten Houston and Ole Miss by a whopping total of nine points. Alabama could have hired another coach named "Mike" to do that.
While Alabama has come stumbling back to reality, Auburn has won four consecutive games, including a 17-14 shocker against Florida. Alabama can't beat Florida State in Jacksonville, but Auburn can beat Florida in The Swamp. Imagine how that comparison goes over in Tuscaloosa.
It's enough to make Alabama fans wonder if they should have tried to get by with a $3 million coach. It's enough to obliterate the optimism engendered by a 3-0 start.
But it's not enough to make you feel sorry for Alabama.
I was in Baton Rouge the week before UT played Saban's first LSU team in 2000. The Tigers had just lost to UAB, and their fans already were wondering if the hiring of Saban ranked right up there with the hiring of Mike Archer, Curley Hallman and Gerry DiNardo.
The following Saturday, LSU upset UT in overtime.
Alabama's excitement from a 3-0 start was understandable, though premature. But the last four games could be just as misleading in trying to determine where the program is headed under Saban.
Forget the fast start or the subsequent drop-off. Saban has a proven track record in college football.
And it doesn't inspire sympathy.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.
© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 18
revjulian writes:
Let's not forget.... that 2003 National Championship was SHARED with USC. Still another reason to send 'ole Saban some sympahty.
snafu14u#241639 writes:
In order to have sympahty you must identify with the person/situation or whatever.But because Alabama fans have no class,win,lose or draw it is difficult to do so. Saban and the Bama fans deserve one another. Go Big Orange.bonzaivol
bloodrunsorange writes:
Snafu14u, truer words were never spoken. They have no class!
GreerVol22 writes:
they have class....they just don't attend them! ha!
mtnvol writes:
What's a Bama fan with a sheep under each arm? A Playboy!
todd#529269 writes:
BEAT BAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!
troubleinc writes:
Wasn't the Auburn-Florida score 20-17?!?
memphis_republican writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
kaplan#211944 writes:
If you read his post you would understand. It's by not ny.
threehundredbowler writes:
Touchdown,have you ever considered becoming a real person instead of this stupid fool you show yourself to be?You have absolutely no class at all.Jesus can change you if you will only let him.Think about it.You need to change your life around before it is too late.
asleep#212036 writes:
Actually, there are no shared championships anymore. Since 1998, there is a BCS champion and wannabees. Let's not give USC any more credit than the national media and coaches already give them. I live in Alabama and you wouldn't believe the talk around here after the Arkansas comeback. They were honest to God talking National Championship. Now they are wondering how badly we will beat them. I don't know about that but I guarantee there is no more fickle animal on God's green earth than a Crimson Tider. If they lose Saturday, I swear there will be posts to fire Saban. I hope it happens!!! Go Vols!
threehundredbowler writes:
No, i'm in no position to judge anyone.I am just telling you the image you are displaying.You can be assured however that you will be judged one day and there will be no lawyers to defend you.
VolinUtah writes:
This is changing the subject a little, but did anyone see today's article in USA Today about the "storied" Hoover, AL high school program. The article details facts of illegal grade changes and coaches pressuring teachers to improve grades, as well as an Alabama Crimson Tide (Hoover signee) that (suprise) coud not qualify acedemically. A coach that makes $93K/year that doesn't teach at the school. Is it any wonder that this is the entire Alabama Football mentality and if this is the message they send the High School kids, then no wonder the Univ of AL has been on probation a considerable portion of the last two decades. I am sure that the Hoover Alabama Board of Education will find some way to blame this on Coach Fulmer for turning them in to the proper authorities. (LOL), God I love negative news for the Aabama LOSERS (GO VOLS)!!!!!!
threehundredbowler writes:
I did not say you were a stupid fool.I said you show yourself to be one .But I will call a spade a spade when that is what it is.As for being a nut,that is exactly what I am.That makes two things we agree on.
threehundredbowler writes:
God Bless you son.
SmokeDog72 writes:
Mtnvol,
Liked the joke. How about this one:
What do a Bama fan and a maggot have in common?
Both can live of a dead Bear for 30 years!!!!
SmokeDog72 writes:
Intended Punchline:
Both can live off of a dead Bear for 30 years.
thevol writes:
I will judge you touchdowntn, you are an idiot and a trader. I would LOVE to meet you and your sorry group of "friends" one day on campus. Me and my 100,000 or so "friends" would have a lot to tell you face to face.
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