how long.....

by rollzack on Jul 2, 2008 3:28 PM CDT Comment 11 comments

Do you think nick saban will stay with alabama? Can he finally lead us to victory against auburn? And how long will it take him to lead alabama to an sec title. I think we are about past due for one. Just beating tennessee and going to some little bowl game like the independence bowl is not enough. Im looking for alabama to have a national title in their sights or atleast a bcs bowl game. but if we play another team like colorldo again. IN A BOWL GAME!!!!. That would be extremely dissapointing.

Im ready for nick saban to step it up!!!

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He has been

at Alabama for one season. We had a roster of crappy to average at best players for him to work with in a year in which most of our conference opponents were much more talented. He did more with the 2007 team than Shula would have done, that’s for sure, and he set the plan in motion for the future. We might not be spectacular in 2008, either, but we are improving.

I mean, how could anyone have expected more from the 2007 team? How? No depth on offense. A makeshift defensive , led by an affable, yet undersized, below average end who relied on savvy and guile to make plays instead of physical ability; at linebacker, we had a converted wide receiver, a walk-on, a true freshman, and a no-talent senior manning the four spots; in the secondary we had a below average free safety who only started because the alternatives were THAT BAD, a walk-on strong safety, a true freshman corner and an undersized nickelback playing opposite him at the other corner.

We had to play with that in the same conference as teams like Georgia, Auburn, LSU, Florida, and Tennessee. No coach could have done better.

It still shocks me when people say Saban is overrated or that Alabama underachieved in 2007. We were not a talented team last year. Offensively, we had maybe 75% of a good team, but once guys got banged up, suspended, bitchy, etc., we struggled, which easily explains why we lost our final four regular season games.

It takes a lot to win a football game. In high school, in college, and in the NFL. 130 people have to be on the same page and distractions have to be minimized. The perfect environment takes time to create. Saban is creating it, but even if we did manage to go 6-2 in the SEC, we would be overachieving this year. We’re better, but we’re not there, yet. We are moving in the right direction, though.

by Bamagrad on Jul 2, 2008 4:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

Great post. I would have to agree with just about everything you said.

The bottom line is that weren’t very good last year. The offense had a couple of good games, but was generally pretty mediocre. Wilson made a ton of costly turnovers, and we couldn’t run the football effectively. The defense was solid, but we couldn’t rush the passer at all. The kicking game was solid, but we were terrible in punting. Moreover, we had very little depth, a ton of costly suspensions, and no senior leadership. When you add it all together you don’t get a good team out of that.

And honestly, it was probably for the best that we gave LSU that game last year. We don’t do that and we win the West, but in the long-term it may have hurt us. A lot needed to change around the program in terms of discipline and attitudes, and a win there would have just reinforced that all of the things we were doing were the right things, when they most certainly weren’t.

Bottom line, it’s not going to be quick, but it’s coming along. We were definitely better last year than in 2006, and we’ll probably make another jump in 2008. The attitudes are getting better, the work ethics are getting improving, the players are getting bigger and stronger, and the talent level is rising exponentially. The progress is being made, and I believe everyone knows it.

As for Saban, the high expectations arguments be damned, the fact of the matter is the entire fan base is crazy over this guy, end of story. And since things are only going to get better from here, I think you can rest assured that will not change.

by outsidethesidelines on Jul 2, 2008 10:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think his stay is really..

up to the fan base and media. I hope that us alabama fans can have the patience to wait the rebuilding process out. It will take time. This year, no. Next year not with a rookie qb. 2010 our team will have the depth and talent to play with anyone in the country. It will not be quick enough for some but, IMO the most realistic. I hope I mean really hope that another coach, anywhere will get a paycheck bigger than CS. Just bc we pay him alot does not mean he can work miracles and the media, rivals are going to continue to use his salary to create controverse that is not there.

Auburn fans are like slinkys... not really good for anything but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.

by IHC800 on Jul 2, 2008 4:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

2010

2010 is my thought as well. Granted we’ll have a tough road slate that year, but by that time, Saban’s imprint on the program should be firmly in place and we should really start to see what we all think of as Alabama football.

Regarding 2007. One number sums it up. 36. 36 total points in six losses. We hung with everyone on the schedule when we theoretically should’ve been blown out of the water in some games. We didn’t lose any game by more than a touchdown.

I hate to burst the bubble of folks out there living in fantasyland, but we weren’t a good team last year and haven’t been for quite some time. Our program has been in big trouble for a variety of reasons and it’s going to take a while to fix. A turn around can’t be made in one year, but progress can be made every year. If there’s any virtue Alabama fans need to develop, it’s patience.

by Nico2.0 on Jul 2, 2008 6:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Controversy

Auburn fans are like slinkys... not really good for anything but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.

by IHC800 on Jul 2, 2008 4:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

yup

nicely put you guys

by rollzack on Jul 2, 2008 4:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I smell cow.

by Destindune on Jul 2, 2008 8:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

last year

Considering the talent lack last year, the coaching last year was excellent and the team overachieved. Yes, it was dissapointing that the team couldn’t pull out any of the late season games, but to hang close with vastly more talented teams was a real accomplishment. Late season amd bowl game simply told us that we had no depth and that some players were giving up instead of fighting on, not surprising since many of them knew they didn’t have the horses, but dissapointing that they didn’t have the heart and discipline to fight on and pick up a lucky win or two. Hopefully this year we’ll have the kind of spirit and fortitude CU showed us in the bowl game last year when they didn’t throw in the towel after getting pasted in first 1.5 quarters.

I’m going to the Clemson game. My head tells me we lose, but my heart hopes we’ll pull it off. I think we could beat them late in the season. If we win, I’ll be a Saban believer to the max. Gotta tell you, I moved to Tuscaloosa in 1966 and we will NEVER see the like of Bear again, but tht doesn’t mean we can’t have similar success and just as great a coach; it’s just a different environment today and nobody outside of Souther Cal or Florida, or LSU has the opportunity to dominate the way we did back then.

Think about it – to be the absolutely domnant recruiter in a talent pool like California, for souther cal to not be in the bcs game 2-3 times every 4 years means their coaching and character as a team is pathetic.

by johnnythermo on Jul 3, 2008 9:36 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I think...

...that USC and Florida have a certain amount of “geographic advantage” when it comes to recruiting, but what is it that makes you include LSU in that group?

by Nico2.0 on Jul 3, 2008 10:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

LSU

because they are the only major program in a state full of talent. Plus they pull a fair share of players out of southern MS and southern AR. I always found it odd that MS had two major programs (three if you count USM). MS has more NFL players per capita than anywhere and they have produced Peyton, Rice, and Favre.

I wouldn't piss off the boys from Alabama . . .

by I hate UT on Jul 3, 2008 1:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Mississippi

insert “Since they don’t have _ in Mississippi, they have more time to devote to football” joke here. Appropriate fills include electricity, internet, roads, running water, asians, literacy.

Cause bama's pluck and gritt has writ her name in crimson flame.

by pluckandgritt on Jul 3, 2008 11:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs