Latest Topics

[Noah]

It's not impossible for Alabama head coach Nick Saban to eclipse Paul W. "Bear" Bryant as Alabama's most accomplished head coach.

But it's close.

Comparisons to Bryant seemed lofty when Saban took over in 2007, and even more so after Alabama lost to Louisiana-Monroe that November.

But since then, Alabama has established itself as the nation's premier college football program.
BCS National Championships in 2009 and 2011, an SEC Championship in '09 and SEC West titles in '08 and '09 have solidified this era of Alabama football as one of the most successful in its history.

Had Tim Tebow not led Florida to 14 fourth-quarter points to beat previously undefeated Alabama in the 2008 SEC Championship Game, Alabama would have gone on to play Oklahoma in the BCS Championship Game and perhaps could have won three of the last four titles.

The Tide wouldn't be on the brink of a dynasty; they'd already be a dynasty.

But where does this era, which has seen Saban post a 51-6 record over the last four-plus years, stack up with the rest?
Bryant's teams in the '70s were among the best in college football history.

During a seven-year period from 1971-77, Alabama compiled an overall record of 74-10, but it managed only a share of the 1973 title, which was awarded to the Crimson Tide by United Press International (UPI) before its 24-23 Sugar Bowl loss to No. 3 Notre Dame.

Alabama fans can claim that title if they want, because those were the rules at the time, but the fact that UPI changed its rules to award its title after the bowl games starting in 1974 is a clear indication that its methods were faulty.
Semantics aside, the prolonged success in the '70s culminated with the ultimate glory to close out the decade.

The 1978 squad dropped a game to USC, but it tore through the rest of the schedule to finish the season with a No. 2 ranking and secure a meeting with No. 1 Penn State in the 1979 Sugar Bowl. The Crimson Tide held onto a 14-7 lead on the heels of a goal-line stand in the fourth quarter to topple Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions and claim the No. 1 spot in the
final Associated Press (AP) poll.

The 1979 Crimson Tide team was one of the best ever, shutting out five opponents and winning five games by 30 or more points. That squad completed the regular season undefeated and topped No. 6 Arkansas 24-9 in the 1980 Sugar Bowl to claim the AP and UPI national titles.

The '70s were great to the Tide, but the '60s weren't so bad, either.

During a six-year period from 1961-66, Alabama went 60-5-1 and won shares of three national titles.

The 1961 squad ran the table, claimed the AP and UPI titles and toppled No. 9 Arkansas, 10-6, in the Sugar Bowl. The Crimson Tide allowed only 25 points all season and shut out six opponents.

Alabama finished the 1964 season undefeated and earned the national championship from the AP and UPI before its appearance in the Orange Bowl, which it lost to No. 5 Texas. Arkansas finished the regular season and bowl game undefeated, with a victory over Texas included. As a result of the controversy, the AP awarded its title after the bowls on a trial basis in 1965 and permanently in 1968.

The Crimson Tide went back-to-back the following year, after finishing the regular season 9-1-1, beating Nebraska in the Orange Bowl and claiming the AP title.

Bryant's team nearly made it three in a row in 1966, finishing the regular season 10-0 and beating Nebraska in the Sugar Bowl. But Notre Dame and Michigan State played to a 10-10 tie in mid-November in East Lansing, Mich. Neither team played a bowl game, and Notre Dame was awarded the titles by the AP and UPI.

Do either of those decades sound familiar?

National titles, conference titles, defenses that don't give up many points...sounds a lot like what Nick Saban is doing now at Alabama.

Given the current landscape of scholarship limitations, increased power in the SEC and challenge of keeping continuity on the coaching staff, Saban's current streak of success is absolutely comparable to those that Bryant enjoyed during his glory days.

That era looks like it's going to continue for the foreseeable future.

[SECorBust]

@ - should probably cite a source on this, but thanks for posting the article click free.

http://bleacherrepor...abama-dynasties

I think the opposition has gotten so much better and the playing fields are a lot more level than they were during Bryant's time.  Head to head in todays time I think Saban would take The Bear.

[SheLuvsBama]

I think we have been incredibly fortunate. Roll Tide!

[jthomas666]

SECorBust, on 21 September 2012 - 05:56 PM, said:

@ - should probably cite a source on this, but thanks for posting the article click free.

Does the Nick Saban Era Compare to Bear Bryant's Alabama Dynasties? | Bleacher Report

I think the opposition has gotten so much better and the playing fields are a lot more level than they were during Bryant's time.  Head to head in todays time I think Saban would take The Bear.

You're going to burn in Auburn for all eternity.

[Tider27]

SECorBust, on 21 September 2012 - 05:56 PM, said:

@ - should probably cite a source on this, but thanks for posting the article click free.

Does the Nick Saban Era Compare to Bear Bryant's Alabama Dynasties? | Bleacher Report

I think the opposition has gotten so much better and the playing fields are a lot more level than they were during Bryant's time.  Head to head in todays time I think Saban would take The Bear.

jthomas666, on 21 September 2012 - 06:17 PM, said:

You're going to burn in Auburn for all eternity.

It's arguable, but not successful at this point.

The one thing I would point out is how many more players Coach Bryant was working with. If you give Coach Saban the opportunity to have 120 kids on one team, well it would be even uglier than it is right now. That's kind of hard to imagine.

[Noah]

I believe you have me confused with someone that gives a damn...

SECorBust, on 21 September 2012 - 05:56 PM, said:

@ - should probably cite a source on this, but thanks for posting the article click free.

Does the Nick Saban Era Compare to Bear Bryant's Alabama Dynasties? | Bleacher Report

I think the opposition has gotten so much better and the playing fields are a lot more level than they were during Bryant's time.  Head to head in todays time I think Saban would take The Bear.

[Crimson Kicker8]

Regardless of what the atmosphere was from era to era, great Alabama coaches have always known what brings championships to college football; defense.  Coupled with a tough, regimented, and focused training environment that keeps young guys focused on success, you can't go wrong.

Edited by Crimson Kicker8, 27 September 2012 - 01:09 AM.

[The Playmaker]

Entering this season I admit I thought next year would be our year to win it all since the defense would be more experienced and would be McCarron's year.  The only draw back was the OL and even though they won't be very experienced it will still be a talented group.  This year I thought LSU would win the title but now with Mettenburger not living up the hype, Mathieu gone, and Bama looking very impressive we may just go back to back.  At LSU will be our toughest game but hopefully we come away with the win and then beat UGA/USC in the SECCG.  National Championship will be ehh I can't see any team really hanging with us for 4 quarters.  What Saban is doing here is quite impressive and soon we'll be a football factory as good as Miami back in their prime years.