Last season, against Tennessee. Late in the first half, fourth-and-goal from inside the one. Alabama, if I remember correctly, began the game as twelve point underdogs.

There was some deliberation. It was very clear the the offense wanted to stay on the field. And who could blame them? What did they really have to lose? Barring an incredible play on the part of the Vol defense, the worst case scenario would likely have been Alabama turning the ball over on downs inside the Tennessee three yard line.

The deliberation didn't last long. Within seconds, Mike Shula had lost me for good. What's worse, he had lost the team. (Someone who had attended the game wrote in these pages of seeing the offense return to the sideline disgusted, avoiding their coach and throwing helmets to the turf.) With his decision to kick the chip-shot field goal, Shula demonstrated his lack of belief in his team. To some extent, he demonstrated his lack of belief in himself.

Let's contrast the above episode with one from last Saturday.

Fourth and five with four minutes and change, Alabama at the Arkansas 35 or so, down by seven. Decision time. By his own account, Saban turns to his defense - which had of course been bowed and battered for the better part of the second half - and asks if they feel as though they can get a stop. "Can you get us the ball back?" To a man, the defense answers in the affirmative. And out goes the field goal unit.

Field goal good, defense does get the stop, the offense executes an almost-perfect two minute drive, Alabama wins by three.

Saban believed in his team. He knew that if they reached deep they were capable of winning that ball game. He trusted those young men, and they trusted him.

That's coaching. That's mentoring. That is what has been lacking from the Alabama program for far too long.

It is because of this that there is very good reason to be highly optimistic in the weeks, months, and years ahead. Will Alabama win the SEC  West this season? Likely not. But will they lay a foundation for success that can be readily built upon in the coming years? Absolutely.

For far too long it has seemed as though the Alabama football program rested precariously on a bed of sand. What seems to be happening now though is the construction of a new program built upon solid bedrock. And there's no reason in the world not to feel good about that.

Roll Tide.