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[Caligula]

No, if he wins two or three more, yeah.

[Pork Rinds]

Saban's the better coach, but Bryant is the greater coach.

[UKat]

Saban will never replace the Bear's legacy and mystique...he is forever engrained in Alabama folklore, houndstooth hats will always be worn and he will forever be loved. But as far as what Saban's done.....in my opinion, he has surpassed the Bear, even though he hasn't won 6 yet or the disputed championship at UK that Bear had won, what Saban has accomplished in the very few years is incredible, I'd say 4 champs since 2004 is not even close. As long as Coach stays at Bama, I think he wins several more crystal balls

Nick Saban is carving out his own piece of Alabama history in the record books, but the Bear will be forever loved....he put Bama on the map for good, made them a household name nationwide and the Football powerhouse that they are and will always be. For Saban to accomplish what he has considering the parity and sheer number of strong programs and to do it in the biggest,  baddest football conference in the country is absolutely amazing.

Saban will never pass up the Bear in Alabama
folklore, but he has walked passed him in the coaching halls of Bama football history and national football history. RTR!

[the Paradox]

This is the golden era for Alabama Football. While Coach Bryant will never be replaced in Alabama lore, Saban has produced the more dominant Bama dynasty.

RTR

[Noah]

There were a number of dominate coaches while Bryant coached and they defined college football.

Bryant's peers were Bo Schembechler, Woody Hayes, Ara Parseghian, Bob Devaney, Joe Paterno, Frank Broyles, Shug Jordan, Johnny Vaught, Vince Dooley, Darrell Royal, John McKay, Duffy Daugherty, Barry Switzer, Doug Dickey, Charley McClendon, Bud Wilkerson, Boddy Dodd, John Robinson.

You are right about one thing, it was a different era... it was the golden era of college football.

[Crimson Kicker8]

Show Stopper, on 07 January 2013 - 11:31 PM, said:

While Saban will never probably be the figure that Bear Bryant is in Alabama culture, is he on his level in terms of his coaching legacy?

Yes.  I use to think that the art of taking a mediocre player and tunring him into a championship-calibur player was lost in today's world of college football.  Bryant was a master at building guys up.  Nowadays, it seems like jhaving the most 4 and 5 star recruits drive success.  However, phenominal recruiting classes aside, Saban is still able to build up guys to that same championship-calibur level.  College football has gotten much tougher and competative since Bryant's era, now having a roster of 4 and 5 star recruits isn't enough (look at USC and Texas), you must be able to develop and coach them into someone who can hold up a crystal football, Nick Saban does that.

[Herschel Talker]

Keep in mind that Bryant didn't have the same scholarship limits and NCAA benefits rules to deal with. I never thought anyone would surpass the Bear, but it looks like Saban is on his way.

[SECats]

To the OP:

No

[JoeGator]

TheRealBrave, on 08 January 2013 - 12:06 AM, said:

Bear Bryant is an Alabama cultural icon. Alabama fans still wear hounds tooth hats

What if the Bryant-Denny concessions start selling Oatmeal Cream Pies?

[bbqit]

I would say they are equal. Both great during their own era. It's hard to compare eras because of the differences in how football has changed. Now i'm ready to have this conversation about Vaught and Freeze. Come on Freeze, let's get back to the Sugar Bowl so I can start my own thread!!!!

[SECorBust]

Bryant's contributions to the sport were greater than his reccord.  The sheer number of great players that he coached and molded are staggering.  The effect that he had on the game and the changes that he caused in the rules and coaching styles have shaped the history of the sport. His iconic look leaning up against the goal post in a houndstooth hat and sportcoat is grand, but supercicial and remnant of an age gone bye.  We honor his memory with houndstooth, but we honor the present with only cheers and victories.

There is much more parity especially in the SEC and Alabama has looked outside of the family; the Bryant coaching legacy for its latest coach in the dawning of a new era at Alabama.  We thought we'd fix the mediocrity and become relevant again, but we stumbled into something even more special.  Nick Saban is a game breaker and a rule changer.  He has pushed the envelope all along the seal, the edges, the front and back looking for a whole new dimension to use to his advantage.

He has embraced the science of sports psychology, nutrition, muscle building, excercise, and advances in technology to forge paths forward into new recruits hearts, minds, and homes.  He has officials at practice and coaches to use every leagal angle and technique to get a leg up on the competition.  His players never let the opposition see them sweat.  They are machine like in their operation and that is part of the psychological advantage.  The process, sabanization........on and on, etc.

Even the most prideful and egotistical coaches will openly admit that they try to emulate his success.  They see what he has done and then they begin to model their teams after his.  This is one of the reasons Alabama blitz-kreiged Saban at Miami.  Saban can and has been beat, there is too much parity in the sport for the wins to continue too much longer, but both of these men have changed the sport and left a legacy of winning at Alabama.  Bryant's has stood the test of time, will Saban's?

Edited by SECorBust, 09 January 2013 - 09:13 AM.

[Show Stopper]

SECats, on 09 January 2013 - 07:00 AM, said:

To the OP:

No

Whats your reasoning?

[Gidnik]

i dont know about with just bama, but hes clearly the most successful college football coach of all time.

[Gidnik]

JoeGator, on 09 January 2013 - 07:09 AM, said:

What if the Bryant-Denny concessions start selling Oatmeal Cream Pies?

if they do, ill go to a bama home game wearing my burnt orange.

[SheLuvsBama]

The love people have for Coach Bryant is not all about football. They love this big, swaggering "Bear" of a man who knew the game inside and out, struck fear into the players if they saw him coming down the steps of his practice field tower, knew how to be tender when they needed it and tough when it was demanded of him. They loved his laughter, his commanding "presence", the feeling that if he was around everything would be alright. They loved the way he loved his players and the way he loved his whiskey. They loved him for his silly jokes and for his words to the wise. He was something special and there will be no one else like him. He was a true character! Larger than life!

We love Coach Saban. We love him for his hard edges, his determination, his romance with excellence and with Alabama football, his steadfast discipline, and we love his love for winning.We love his quirks and passion.  We love what he brings and we are so very grateful for him. He is part of Alabama Tradition now and part of us. Saban is a master of the game, but we will not compare the two. They are what they are, and we love them both for all of that.