Why Complicate a Good Thing By ROBERT WEINTRAUB Published: October 9, 2008 Many college football fans have been surprised, nay, agog, at the sudden excellence of Alabama, the undefeated and second-ranked team that has already walloped highly ranked opponents Clemson and Georgia. But close followers of the Southeastern Conference, as well as football coaches everywhere, realized that the Tide was entering the mythical, second season under a new coach — in this case, Nick Saban, he of the cannily-timed contract-jump — and that meant great things were in the offing. Full article here.