Alabama Crimson Tide
Tide Continue To Roll?
By: Joe Delaney
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Well, it had to eventually happen. Nobody coaches forever. Not even Nick Saban.
Yes, the GOAT of college football has cashed in his big pile of chips and moved on to the announcers booth and the beach in Florida. He leaves behind a legacy like no other.
In steps Kalen DeBoer with the biggest shoes to fill in college football history. DeBoer is a great young coach with a winning pedigree, and a hell of a lot of guts and grapefruit. That’s what it is going to take to follow Nick.
DeBoer took Washington to the final four last year and brings in a nine-year head coaching record of 104-12. He is really the best coach Alabama could have gone out and got.
The only problem is that the Bama faithful look at that and think of Bear Bryant, Nick Saban and the old Shania Twain song…………”that don’t impress me much!” Everyone in Tuscaloosa will give DeBoer the benefit of the doubt. Until he loses a game.
The good thing for DeBoer and the Crimson Tide is that through all the upheaval and portal transfers in and out, the Tide has one of the best rosters in the country. Couple that with what many say was the best recruiting class in the nation in 23-24. And don’t forget that DeBoer’s 2024 recruiting class is currently ranked in the top 3. The pieces are falling into place. Don’t underestimate this guy.
One of the best things for Alabama is the return of Jalen Milroe. The Tide QB came into his own later in the ‘23 season and is very very good. Don’t agree? Ask the Georgia Bulldogs.
Kalen DeBoer made Michael Penix Jr. a first-round pick last year at Washington. Jalen Milroe has the potential to be much better.
Surrounding Milroe will be a solid and huge offensive line with a lot of experience. Counting Parker Brailsford, who transferred in, the Tide return 4 starters and the TE. Tyler Booker the 6’5” 350 guard could be one of the first linemen off the board in next year’s draft.
Running back will be rock solid with Jam Miller and Justice Haynes. Watch out for the former 5-star Haynes. He could break out this year.
The wide outs are solid and will be bolstered by transfer Germie Bernard. Remember that name. All in all, this offense has greatness written all over it. We will know pretty quickly as the Tide have South Florida, Wisconsin and Georgia in 3 of the first 4 games.
Defensively the Tide have some holes to fill. Returning are Backers Jihaad Campbell and Deontae Lawson. They form one of the best duos in the SEC and maybe the country.
Couple them with a defensive line that has experience and talent and the front 6 in DeBoers 4-2-5 could be very good. Watch out for LT Overton the transfer from Texas A&M. He’s a former 5 star and should get on the field immediately.
The secondary is led by Malachi Moore, a returning captain and ALL-SEC caliber player. Throw in 3 transfers in Domani Jackson, Keon Sabb, and DeShawn Jones and the secondary should be very good. Jackson and Sabb are potential all stars.
This group has all the talent they need. We will know how well they have jelled together in the last week of September when Carson Beck and the Georgia Bulldogs come to town.
Oh, and what do you do when you lose your kicker who was the leading scorer in NCAA Division 1 history. Well, if you’re Alabama, you go get the Lou Groza award winner from last year. Graham Nicholson was 27 of 28 on field goals and should fit in nicely. Add in 3-year starter James Burnip, a second team ALL-SEC selection with a 47.6 yd average and things are good in Tuscaloosa.
The schedule is a tough but manageable one. It sets up very well in September. A USF team that surprisingly gave Bama a tough game last year comes to Tuscaloosa on September 7.
Follow that the next week with a trip to Wisconsin that will be a true test.
Start 3-0 and the nation will have all eyes on the September 28th matchup with the Georgia Bulldogs in Tuscaloosa.
It will be one the most anticipated games of the year. If that secondary plays lights out, Bama will give the Dawgs all the want and maybe more.
From there the usual culprits arise. South Carolina, Missouri, and the Iron Bowl all at home with big road games at Tennessee, LSU, and Oklahoma.
Beat Georgia at home and barring a collapse, the Crimson Tide will be in the 12-team party at the end of the year.
Undefeated? I don’t think so. But a one or two loss Alabama team will be very dangerous when the playoff comes around. VERY dangerous.
The GOAT
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
People throw around the title of ‘goat’ too often.
In the case of Nick Saban, he really is the greatest of all time for college football coaches. He has decided to retire after 17 seasons in Tuscaloosa.
Saban, 72, has won a total of 7 national championships. One at LSU and 6 with the Crimson Tide.
His reign spans from the BCS into the College Football Playoff era. The Tigers won the national championship in 2003. His Bama teams won in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2020.
He has also won 11 SEC Championships. His overall record is 292-71-1.
“The University of Alabama has been a very special place to Terry and me,” Saban said in an Alabama statement. “We have enjoyed every minute of our 17 years being the head coach at Alabama as well as becoming a part of the Tuscaloosa community. It is not just about how many games we won and lost, but it’s about the legacy and how we went about it. We always tried to do it the right way. The goal was always to help players create more value for their future, be the best player they could be and be more successful in life because they were part of the program. Hopefully, we have done that, and we will always consider Alabama our home.”
He’s been at Alabama so long that we don’t often talk about what he did prior to arriving there in 2007.
His first head coaching job was at Toledo in 1990. The Rockets were 6-5 in 1988 and 1989. Under Saban they went 9-2 and were co-champions of the Mid-American Conference. The two losses were by narrow margins: one point to Central Michigan and four points to Navy.
Saban resigned as Toledo’s coach after that season to become the defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns under head coach Bill Belichick. He held that position for four seasons. In 1994 the defense was the best in the NFL in points allowed.
He took over as the head coach at Michigan State prior to the 1995 season. The Spartans had not had a winning season since 1990.
Saban led MSU to bowl games in his first three seasons. His best season was 1999 when they finished 9-2; with wins over Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State. He resigned before the Citrus Bowl to accept the head coaching position at LSU.
This is what I think is not emphasized enough. Prior to his arrival in Baton Rouge, the last national championship that the Tigers won was in 1958. He built them into a national power, which is why they are still relevant now. He led them to a BCS Championship Game win over #1 Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl in the 2003 season.
He coached the Miami Dolphins in 2005-06 and had a record of 15-17.
“Simply put, Nick Saban is one of the greatest coaches of all time, in any sport, and The University of Alabama is fortunate to have had him leading our football program for the past 17 seasons,” Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne said. “Throughout his career as a head coach, his teams have won seven national championships, 11 conference championships and 312 games, and he’s developed an NCAA-record 49 NFL first-round draft picks and, most importantly, hundreds of college graduates. He is the consummate coach, mentor and leader, and his impact is felt far beyond the football field.”
The GOAT
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Alabama has played three of the top four offenses in the SEC this season. They held all 3 teams to only 10 points in the 2nd half.
Teams played, SEC ranked O and 2nd half points scored:
- LSU: 7
- Ole Miss: 3
- Tennessee: 0
Also, the Bammer offense outscored these 3 teams 66-10 in the 2nd half of those contests. How many of you wrote Alabama off after their loss to Texas? This football season shows why Nick Saban is the best coach in college football and reinforces the fact that he is the best college football coach of all time.
He has taken this current Alabama team, replaced a Heisman QB with a QB that simply has great running ability and turned them into the scariest team in the SEC.
Alabama is now imposing their will on other teams like well, like Alabama. They are big, fast, and physical and don’t make a lot of mistakes. Also, Alabama is still recruiting as well as any team in the country.
I frequently watch the SEC Network and my wife defines frequently as every single day.
All offseason the narrative has been that Nick Saban is on the decline. Alabama is not what they used to be. The talking heads on the ESPN family of networks wrote Nick off.
After the Texas loss there were should Saban retire narratives.
Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Tennessee wilted in the second half trying to match up with Alabama.
Alabama is going to the SEC Championship game in early December, and it appears the Georgia Bulldogs and Kirby Smart will be the opponent.
Yes, UGA is back-to-back national champions and going for a third straight, which is a feat that has not been accomplished since the 1930’s.
Well, Alabama was going for a 3-peat in 2013 then the “Kick Six” happened at Auburn.
The Saban era at Alabama was the best run-in college football history with six national championships in twelve years (2009-2021).
The problem with that statement is that the run is not over. If Alabama can beat Kentucky which they will, a paycheck opponent, and Auburn then they are an SEC title game win away from being back in the playoffs.
Then I ask who wants to play the Crimson Tide right now? If you look at the current roster Alabama is not up to Alabama standards under Saban at QB, RB, WR, OL, DL, and LB. Yet, despite those facts Alabama is putting themselves into a position to compete for another national title.
Alabama may again be the best team in the SEC, and Saban is the architect of it.
Saban is the greatest coach in college football history. Next time his team looks like it’s taken a step back, fans should keep their traps shut before using the word “retirement.”
It appears that GOAT has been taking notes of his premature demise and has produced one of his greatest coaching jobs ever. The Tide looked like a middle of the pack SEC team after the Texas and South Florida games, but a transformation has taken place since then.
The 2023 Alabama team is not one of the greatest in school history, but the grit and determination this team displays makes their head coach proud. When your head coach is the GOAT then that is quite an accomplishment.
Once again, the Tide is rolling right into Atlanta with a College Football Playoff berth at stake. Nick Saban and Alabama will have a say in the matter.
QB-0
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
There were moments during the Alabama-USF game when Nick Saban was in pure anguish. The sideline faces of Saban have always been a trip, even when his team is playing brilliantly but this was different.
These faces, or blank stares, were coming from a man who seemed numb. It felt like he was nonverbally asking the question: “How did The University of Alabama get here?” How?
How did Alabama — the most consecutively talented team in modern college football — get to a place where they don’t have a quarterback?
That’s a complicated question to answer. It’s not like Alabama didn’t create options through recruiting and the transfer portal. The Tide came into the season with five quarterbacks on the roster, each ranked among the top 160 as a recruit.
Among them Jalen Milroe, Tyler Buchner, Ty Simpson, Eli Holstein and Dylan Lonergan, someone would figure it out, right?
They are all from different places, having varying experience levels and with different styles of play. Everybody continued to just assume the great Saban would find one of them to lead this ultra-talented team back to the College Football Playoff. What evidence in the past has proven this assumption wrong?
It turns out, in the 2023 season- Alabama has a problem not even Saban can solve, even if he’s the greatest coach in college football history.
Sometimes coaches, even the great ones, hit a lull and that can lead to some uncomfortable moments on gameday. This isn’t to say Saban lost his touch or no longer knows the quarterback recruitment landscape. This could be a result of constant assistant turnover on his staff.
Whatever the root may be, the issue has become increasingly clear: there’s a disconnect between the players they are recruiting and the output delivered on the field. This seems to be an evaluation and developmental issue, which could mean bad years ahead for the longtime greats.
What production has Alabama put on the field recently. I’m not sure anyone could watch that and say something isn’t wrong. And it’s not a numbers issue. The Tide successfully signed a QB in a recruitment class and had players transfer in.
These aren’t the normal transition pains a program experiences when it transitions from a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback to someone new. This is what it looks like to go from elite to bad.
We’re talking about the same coach and program that put a true freshman into the national championship game at halftime and let him fling it. It didn’t take Tua Tagovailoa long to show everyone he was a star.
What’s truly bizarre is why Milroe didn’t play at all in the USF game. Through all the agony coming through on the television, you’d think the Crimson Tide would have turned to the most experienced quarterback on the roster who surely could have made plays with his legs to win the game. Instead, it seemed like a prolonged experiment from Saban to see whether someone anyone could quarterback this team.
Talent, legendary coaching, incredible fans, intimidating stadium, the lore of being one of the best programs in college football history…None of it matters if you don’t have someone special taking the snaps.
Look at the entire SEC — the conference seems down because the quarterback play has been down. Look at all of the non conference games the SEC has lost this season.
In almost every single one, the team that beat the SEC squad had an advantage at quarterback.
Even the greatest coach of all time can’t solve the issue of not having a top-level quarterback, whether he is to blame or not.
Rolling Tide
By: Jason Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Many have argued that Alabama has been replaced by the University of Georgia at the top of the College Football World. Facts are facts, and Georgia has been the National Champion the last two seasons. As a matter of fact, the Bulldogs knocked off the Crimson Tide on their way to winning their first national title.
That still does not diminish what Alabama is; the Crimson Tide are still among the teams to beat and in most years you must beat Alabama to win a National Title.
The Crimson Tide are coming off of a sub-par 2022 season by Alabama standards. That includes a 2-loss season, which had them ranked 5th in the country. Most teams would love to have that season. However, in Tuscaloosa, that doesn’t cut it.
The Crimson Tide’s biggest concern for 2023 is the QB position. Head Coach Nick Saban and his staff have not had a QB issue in over a decade. Bryce Young, Tua, Hurts, Mac Jones, McElroy, John Parker-Wilson, etc…..all names that have given Bama stability at the QB spot in the past.
For now, it looks like Coach Saban will go with Jalen Milroe as his signal caller. It is pretty apparent that Saban does not have a lot of faith in an of the QBs in the roster so you will likely see Ty Simpson and transfer Ty Buchner at some point this season too.
Unlike Georgia’s 2023 schedule, Alabama’s schedule is not a cake walk.
Sept 2 Middle Tennessee: The Blue Raiders take a trip to Tuscaloosa to serve as tune up for the Crimson Tide and it will be just that. Alabama wins 56-7.
September 9 Texas: The Longhorns will return the trip to Tuscaloosa. This soon is a matchup we will see on a more frequent basis with Texas joining the SEC. This will be a great game. Bama has a better roster. Both teams have questions at QB. Texas will start Ohio State transfer Quinn Ewers. Ewers has yet to throw a pass at the collegiate level. Give me Alabama 17-16.
September 16 @ South Florida: The Crimson Tide will be riding high off their tough win over Texas and will struggle on the road against the Bulls. In the end, USF doesn’t have enough playmakers to beat Bama and the Crimson Tide survive an upset scare early. 24-21
September 23 Ole Miss: I don’t ever see a circumstance where Nick Saban will allow himself to lose to a Lane Kiffin coached team, much less at home. Bama is ready for the Rebels and make an example of them. 30-17
September 30 @ Mississippi State: This will be your typical Alabama/Mississippi State game. Alabama big. 42-14
October 7 @ Texas A&M: Jimbo Fisher is sitting squarely on the hot seat and needs to win some big games in the conference to maintain his job with the Aggies. This will be close and the Aggies give the Tide a scare. Alabama survives. 27-21.
October 14 Arkansas: Nick Saban pushed his players through a tough week of practice following the upset scare to Texas A&M and Alabama comes out and plays their best game of the year against Arkansas. 56-17.
October 21 Tennessee: Alabama has had this game circled since last season and will be looking for revenge against Volunteers….not just for the loss Tennessee handed Alabama, but for Bama having to hear ‘Rocky Top’ played 250 times. Hendon Hooker is gone for the Vols, but Tennessee’s roster pretty good. Even with a step back at QB for UT, their QB situation is still better than Bama’s. The Vols beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa, 31-23.
November 4 LSU: After the loss to UT, this game becomes a must get for the Tide in order to win the SEC West. Unfortunately, for the Alabama faithful they will be handed their second straight loss at home. This loss gives LSU the inside track to Atlanta.
November 11 @Kentucky: The Wildcats are a pretty decent football team and Commonwealth Stadium will be rocking. Kentucky and their fans will see Alabama limping in and smell blood in the water. Too bad for the Wildcats, that Alabama will be looking to make a statement against them. Bama 35-10.
November 18 Chattanooga: The Mocs will come into Bryant-Denney Stadium to serve as a warm up for the Iron Bowl the following week. Alabama 62-21.
November 25 @ Auburn: Alabama will come into the Iron Bowl with an outside shot of making the College Football Playoff. The Tide will need an impressive win over Auburn to have a shot. They will get just that over first year coach Hugh Freeze and a rebuilding Tiger team that will be no match for their rival. Bama 48-10.
The Tide will once again finish 10-2 and be on the outside of the College Football Playoff looking in. Once again the Tide will fall to UT and LSU. And once again we will see Nick Saban go on National TV and beg the playoff committee to let them in.
A-Day
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Alabama recently played the 2023 Golden Flake A-Day Game.
After 14 spring practices Alabama is taking the first steps to get back on top this season.
The roster and coaching staff was split via a draft earlier in the week as they competed for a celebratory steak dinner.
It ended up going to Team Crimson as they beat Team White, 30-21, in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Defenses normally look good in scrimmages, and this was no exception. Malachi Moore finished with nine tackles, three tackles for loss and a pass breakup and he won the Dixie Howell Memorial Award (MVP of the A-Day Game).
Defensive lineman Tim Smith garnered the Dwight Stephenson Award (Most Valuable Lineman of the A-Day Game). In all, the Crimson defense had three interceptions, 10 tackles for loss and four pass breakups in the victory.
Freshman running back Justice Haynes played well. Haynes combined for 64 total yards and three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving) to lead the Crimson squad.
Meanwhile, White’s Malik Benson led all receivers with five catches for 70 yards and a touchdown.
Bama must replace Heisman Trophy quarterback Bryce Young, who declared for the NFL Draft.
Redshirt sophomore Jalen Milroe was Young’s primary backup last year. The QB competition is between him and redshirt freshman Ty Simpson.
Milroe threw for two touchdowns and ran for one score, but he also competed barely higher than 50% of his passes (19 of 37). He also threw two picks.
Simpson, who rushed for 58 yards on six carries, was only 12-of-26 passing with no touchdowns and an interception.
“We’ve tried to build this program here with the guys that we recruit and the people in the program,” Saban said, “but we have had a few guys that have come in and made real impacts on the team, and if we see an opportunity to do that, we’re always looking for a way to make our team better.”
Saban said he was pleased with the two true freshman quarterbacks, Dylan Lonergan and Eli Holstein, who were the No. 5- and No. 6-rated pocket passers in the 2023 class, respectively.
“I’m pleased with the progress they’re making and I think they both have bright futures,” Saban said.
They are working on the quarterbacks’ ability to process the defense.
“Are they playing Cover 2, are they playing Cover 7, are they playing three-deep zone?” Saban said. “So that way you have a plan in your mind, ‘This is what I’m reading, this is where I’m going and this is the progression that I want to go through,’ and trust in that and believe that and not start drifting around in the pocket before you give up on what your read might be. Because I think we have pretty good skill guys. I think we have guys that can make plays.
“… I like both guys’ athleticism to be able to extend plays and get out of trouble and make plays with their feet, which they did a couple times today. But at the same time, I think we’ve got to work on going through progressions and develop confidence in the passing game so that we can distribute the ball to other people who can make plays more effectively and more efficiently.”
Saban did say he was happy with the team’s physicality.
The Crimson Tide will open next season at home against Middle Tennessee State on Sept. 2. The following week, they will host Texas.
High Tide
By: Joe Delaney
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Why the heck would anyone rank these guys the preseason #1? Let’s see….
They have the consensus #1 collegiate football coach of all time.
They have the returning Heisman Trophy winner at quarterback.
They have the #1 pro prospect on defense who had SEVENTEEN and ONE HALF sacks last year.
They have 4 of the top transfers in the nation in Jahmyr Gibbs [Georgia Tech], Jermaine Burton [Georgia], Eli Ricks [LSU], and Tyler Steen [Vanderbilt].
They have 4 starters back on the O-line and the TE
They have 8 starters back on defense plus the punter and PK.
They have had a “rebuilding” year according to Saban and went 13-2 and lost in the Natty to a once in a lifetime Georgia team.
That’s a lot of ‘they haves’ and I can’t think of any ‘they don’t haves’!
They are the consensus #1 for now and should be next January. Boys and girls this team is built to run the table!
Offensively the Tide will be loaded with the only questions being the tackle spots.
Look for Tyler Steen, the Vandy transfer, to step in at left tackle. He will be a key protecting Bryce Youngs blind spot.
J C Latham has the experience and size, 6’6 325, to excel at right tackle. TE Cameron Latu is back to give defenses fits and the wide receivers will be good. Look for Jermaine Burton to have a big year. And Ja’Corey Brooks won’t be far behind.
At running back, Trey Sanders has waited his turn and will be another load for defenses both running the ball and out of the backfield. This offense averaged 488 years and 40pts per game last year. It will be better with the maturity in the O-line protecting Bryce Young and opening holes for Sanders.
Defensively the Tide has experience and speed! They return 4 of the front 7, including “the man” Will Anderson. You could write a whole column just on Will. The 6’4 245 LB is probably the best collegiate player for 2022. With 4.5 speed and a head hunter’s mentality, Anderson will wreak havoc this year.
Look for DC Pete Golding to find ways to turn Anderson and sophomore phenom Dallas Turner loose. D J Dale anchors a solid defensive line and Henry To’oTo’o is an all-SEC type backer.
This defense ranked 7th overall in the country in total yards given up last year. They will be better.
The DBs should be bolstered by Eli Ricks and will be solid with Kool-Aid McKinstry, Jordan Battle, and Demarcco Hellams all back.
PK is in good hands with returning SR Will Reichard and punter James Burnip is back also.
One more item for the Tide will be Jahmyr Gibbs returning punts and kickoffs. He should be outstanding and have a big year.
Schedule wise, the Tide opens with an 11-3 Utah State team and then travels to Texas and former OC Steve Sarkasian.
Those games will show what’s coming to an SEC slate that includes the usual culprits.
There are a couple of tough ones with a revamped LSU, a rising Arkansas, and A&M at home. The only trip up game that I can see, would be at Tennessee. I Would love to see that one.
Oct 15 at Neyland stadium. A hundred thousand orangenecks! The pomp, the pageantry and SEC football at its best! If the Vols can stay up for 4 quarters, they might make it a game.
Both Bill O’Brien and Pete Golding return as coordinators, which is rare for Bama. That’s a real plus for a team that has just about everything going its way.
Nick Saban said last year was a “rebuilding” year and caught some flack for that. Guess what? Nick don’t lie………I look for the Elephants to stomp everything in their path this coming year.
Maybe Georgia can play with them, maybe Ohio State. But probably not, I look for the Tide to HAVE IT ALL in 2022.
High Tide….Again
By: Buck Blanz
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
As we all know The Alabama Crimson Tide come into almost every season as the favorites to win the SEC Championship in early December and this season is no different.
Coming off a perfect National Championship season, The Crimson Tide come into 2021 with many different shoes to fill as Head Coach Nick Saban goes for his seventh national title with The Crimson Tide.
Saban had his work cut out for him this offseason with the number of holes needed to fill after losing many members of one of the most dynamic offenses College Football has ever seen to the draft.
The Crimson Tide lost three of their starting offensive linemen, best running back, two best wide receivers (Arguably in the nation a season ago), starting tight end, starting quarterback, as well as four coaches on the offensive side of the ball.
However, if anyone has the talent within their roster to be able to hide the talent, they lost its Alabama.
Luckily for The Tide, they have former 5-star Quarterback in high school, Bryce Young to lead the offense. He has high standards after Mac Jones’ perfect season last year.
Young is expected to thrive under center in Tuscaloosa, however the offense is likely to be more dynamic considering young’s style of play.
While Bryce Young has high expectations to live up to, returning wide receiver, John Metchie, must follow in the footsteps of one of the greatest receiving duos ever in DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle.
Metchie, however, had an outstanding season last year as well, racking up 917 receiving yards as well as 6 touchdowns. Alongside Metchie, the Crimson Tide have depth at the receiver position once again with guys like Slade Bolden, Javon Baker and Traeshon Holden. Alabama should have no issue throwing the ball downfield.
Najee Harris is just another player that produced great numbers last season for Alabama, continuing the standard of great running through Tuscaloosa. Taking the reins this season will likely be Brian Williams and while he might not run the ball like Harris, Williams has the size and strength to make it to the next level.
On the defensive side of the ball the Tide will be in good hands with many names to look out for. Among those names to watch out for is the returning second-leading tackler in Christian Harris at linebacker. Harris is just the tip of the iceberg in the Crimson Tide’s linebacker core as they are loaded with depth looking to make some noise.
As for the secondary, all but one starter is returning to the field, and they have a bunch of young talent ready to make plays.
Much like the secondary the defensive line is also returning all their starters except for one and the fanbase in Tuscaloosa is hungry for another Quinnen Williams from 2018.
The toughest tests for the Crimson Tide this season will likely consist of the season opener against Miami (on Sept. 4), at Texas A&M (Oct. 6), and as always, the Iron Bowl to close out the year (Nov. 27).
Nick Saban is always striving for perfection, and seems to achieve it frequently, however this season will provide some new tests for some young guys on offense.
I expect the Tide to finish 11-1 as SEC Champions once again earning a spot in the College Football Playoff.
The All-Time List
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Over the last 20 years, it has become easier to discuss the top five college football teams of the new millennia.
It’s a great time for debates. College football fans are very passionate and love to argue about their favorite teams!
I measured the teams by their on-field dominance, their overall talent level and the success on the gridiron.
Ranking these teams during the past 20 years brought back a lot of memories.
- University of Florida 2008:The Gators had a 13-1 record, averaged 43.6 points per game, allowed 12.9 points per game.
The Gators’ defense was led by Consensus All-Americans Brandon Spikes and Joe Haden. Carlos Dunlap and Janoris Jenkins were 1st round draft choices in the NFL.
The offense was led by 2007 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow (2008 Maxwell Award, Manning Award and Wuerffel Trophy) and 2nd team All American Percy Harvin.
The key moment for Florida, was a one point loss to Ole Miss at home. In the post-game press conference, Tebow delivered his famous “Promise Speech”. Love him or hate him, Tebow proved to be one of the best and inspirational college football players in the last 20 years.
Tebow kept his promise! No team came closer than 10 points to the Gators the rest of the season. Florida routed No. 8 Georgia 49-10, pummeled No. 24 South Carolina 56-6 and destroyed No. 23 FSU 45-15.
The 2009 FedEx BCS National Championship Game, Florida defeated NO. 1 Oklahoma 24-14.
- Clemson 2016: I think the 2016 Clemson team was Dabo Swinney’s best.
The Tigers finished 14-1, the loss coming to Pitt. The Tigers were led by Deshaun Watson, one of the best college football players never to win a Heisman.
Watson torched Alabama in the postseason to the point where Nick Saban admitted they had no answer for him.
Watson shattered Clemson’s history books with 5,222 total yards from scrimmage and 50 touchdowns (41 passing and nine rushing).
In an instinct classic, Clemson and Alabama came down to the final seconds to decide the winner. Watson found Hunter Renfrow on a rub route to seal the deal and Clemson claimed their first national championship since 1981.
- LSU 2019: Just last year many were crowning the Tiger team the greatest of all time, after finishing the season 15-0.
What a truly impressive resume for the Tigers players: Joe Burrow (Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, Sporting News Player of the Year, Davey O’Brien, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Manning Award, Broyles Award and SEC Offensive Player of the Year), Ja’Marr Chase (Biletnikoff Award), Grant Delpit (Jim Thorpe Award) and Derek Stingley Jr. (SEC Freshman of the Year and Sporting News Freshman of the Year). LSU had 14 players drafted and 6 undrafted free agents.
The Tigers defeated the defending national champions Clemson 42-25. LSU claimed their fourth national championship in school history, the third undefeated champion in the CFP era, and the second 15-0 season in the modern era.
After their dominant performance against a historically difficult schedule, several talking heads called them the greatest team in college football history.
- Alabama 2020: The honor of becoming the greatest football team in Alabama history has to put you in the top tier in my rankings.
It is not an easy statement: the undefeated 2009 team that slapped around Texas in the Rose Bowl, 1992 team that went 13-0 with maybe the most dominant defense in college football history or the 1979, 1966, 1965 or 1964 teams all had great seasons.
Unlike the teams above, the 2020 Tide team showed an offensive firepower rewriting Alabama history books.
Alabama had the best offensive line, wide receiver, running back and quarterback in college football.
After running through the 10 regular season with little to no resistance, the Tide captured the SEC Championship with a 52-46 (the closest contest of the season) over Florida.
Finishing 11-0 in SEC play, playing every game on their schedule during COVID, and the pure dominance the Tide displayed game after game has them at number two.
1.Miami Hurricanes 2001: By the numbers 12-0 record, 512 total points, 42.7 points per game, 9.8 points allowed, 32.9 points average margin of victory, 38 NFL draft picks and 17 first round picks.
The 2001 U was the most dominant all-around team in college football history with Andre Johnson, Willis McGahee, Clinton Portis, Jeremy Shockey and Ken Dorsey on offense and Sean Taylor, Jonathan Vilma, Phillip Buchanon and Ed Reed on defense (just to name a few).
Six first team Consensus All Americans in Buchanon, Joaquin Gonzalez, Bryant Mckinnie, Shockey, Reed and Todd Sievers.
The U had an absurd amount of talent and played with swagger that established themselves as the best college football team over the past 20 years.
Just outside the top five: Florida State 2013, Clemson 2018, Ohio State 2002, Auburn 2010, Alabama 2011 and 2012, Southern California 2004 and Texas 2005. I can make an argument that any of these teams belong in the top five.
High Tide
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
There have been some impressive college football dynasties over the years, but it’s hard to imagine a more successful one than the one currently taking place in Tuscaloosa.
If you take out Saban’s inaugural year in 2007 the Crimson Tide have never won fewer than 10 games in a season (they’ve won 12 or more in 10 of those 13 seasons) own 8 Division titles, 7 Conference titles, and 6 National Championship trophies.
What separates Alabama from other remarkable runs other programs have made is not only the longevity, but the circumstances surrounding it.
As frustrated as people get having to hear the argument about players and teams being from different eras, that does make a difference.
This isn’t the Knute Rockne/Bear Bryant days where all the best players went to one or two schools, making it easier to dominate the competition.
Not only are there more options for players, but a lot of players are spurning some of the bigger programs so they (players) have a better chance of getting their name out there and building their brand.
Yet, Alabama is still able to bring in top rated classes, year after year. They’ve also achieved these feats playing in arguably the most difficult conference in the country.
Clemson, a team some people, myself included, thought could dethrone Alabama as the premier program, is a perfect example. As impressive as the Tigers have been the past 5-6 years, and as deserving as they were in their two championship runs, you knew they were going to have a shot because of the league they play in.
The Tide have been more successful, for twice as long, playing in a much more difficult conference.
One area that seems to fly a bit under the radar is the number of coordinators Saban has gone through, especially on the offensive side.
Over his 14 tenure there have been seven (about to be eight) different offensive coordinators at the helm.
We like to discuss at length the hurdles that come with player turnover due to transfers, graduating, etc., but to have that many different coordinators reigning over the side of the ball Saban is least comfortable with says a lot about his ability to bring in talent not only on the field, but on the sideline as well.
Granted, he’s been fortunate to have some talented play callers on his staff, but to give credit where it’s due, he also was willing to take chances on guys like Lane Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian when their names weren’t exactly well received around the league.
That’s not to say Alabama and Saban are perfect or that they’ve won me over as a fan; of the three people I like associated with the state of Alabama, (Jason Isbell, Charles Barkley, and a player to be named later) none of them have anything to do with Alabama football.
It’s difficult to be objective towards Saban and the Tide- he’s not exactly the most gregarious person there is and winning as much as the program has does automatically brings detractors.
But, with Alabama winning their sixth title in 13 years, I do find myself appreciating what Saban has achieved during his time there.
The argument could be made some were just as good, but regardless of tonight’s outcome, I’d argue nobody has been better.
