Ranking The Last 100 Years of Alabama Football

by kleph on Jul 27, 2010 2:38 PM CDT in Football Comment 27 comments

Crimson Tide quarterback Pat Trammell led Alabama to its first National Championship under Coach Paul W. Bryant.

In 1958 Paul W. Bryant returned to the University of Alabama to begin rebuilding the football program he once played for. He was 45 years old and had been a head coach at three different schools leading them all to new heights of success. But the National Championship had eluded him.

He started with a group of raw freshmen and began transforming the Crimson Tide program from the bottom up. Three years later he had molded the team into a fearsome unit that "played like it was a sin to give up a point." After rolling undefeated through the regular season Alabama met Frank Broyles Arkansas squad in the 1962 Sugar Bowl. The 10-3 victory over the Razorbacks 10-3 gave the Crimson Tide the first National Championship of the Bryant Era.

That team was not simply Bryant's first great Alabama squad, it may have been one of the best in the history of the program as well as the game.

Bill Connelly, of Rock M Nation, has produced a statistical comparison for Football Outsiders that ranks the best college football teams in the last 100 years. Using a metric that gauged on points scored and points allowed - the same tool OTS relies on to derive his Pythagorean Wins statistics - Connelly created a historical comparison of every team in the past century of college football.

Today, over at Football Outsiders, he reveals that Alabama's 1961 squad is ranked No. 2. Furthermore, no less that 12 Crimson Tide teams made the list, more than any other program in college football. Here is how Alabama fared in Connelly's rankings.

Overall Rank	Alabama Rank	Year	Coach	Record	Championships
2	1	1961	Paul W. Bryant	11-0	NC/SEC
8	2	1962	Paul W. Bryant	10-1
15	3	1979	Paul W. Bryant	12-0	NC/SEC
24	4	1966	Paul W. Bryant	11-0	SEC
40	5	1971	Paul W. Bryant	11-1	SEC
61	6	1934	Frank Thomas	10-0	NC/SEC
63	7	1975	Paul W. Bryant	11-1	SEC
78	8	2009	Nick Saban	14-0	NC/SEC
80	9	1973	Paul W. Bryant	11-1	NC/SEC
83	10	1992	Gene Stallings	13-0	NC/SEC
88	11	1936	Frank Thomas	8-0-1
97	12	1945	Frank Thomas	10-0	SEC

His results have been... controversial to say the least. But we thought it was interesting to see how the rest of the Crimson Tide teams stacked up using this system. Obviously, these twelve squads are at the top of the list of all Alabama teams over the past century but Connelly was kind enough to provide us his tally of the rest using his system. You'll find them after the jump.

Rank	Year	Coach	Record	Championships
13	1974	Paul W. Bryant	11-1	SEC
14	1964	Paul W. Bryant	10-1	NC/SEC
15	1930	Wallace Wade	10-0	NC/SC
16	1924	Wallace Wade	8-1	SC
17	1925	Wallace Wade	10-0	NC/SC
18	1937	Frank Thomas	9-1	SEC
19	1978	Paul W. Bryant	11-1	NC/SEC
20	1977	Paul W. Bryant	11-1	SEC
21	1980	Paul W. Bryant	10-2
22	1972	Paul W. Bryant	10-2	SEC
23	1926	Wallace Wade	9-0-1	NC/SC
24	1965	Paul W. Bryant	9-1-1	NC/SEC
25	1960	Paul W. Bryant	8-1-2
26	1919	Xen Scott	8-1
27	1933	Frank Thomas	7-1-1	SEC
28	1938	Frank Thomas	7-1-1
29	1994	Gene Stallings	12-1
30	2002	Dennis Franchione	10-3
31	1991	Gene Stallings	11-1
32	1963	Paul W. Bryant	9-2
33	1935	Frank Thomas	6-2-1
34	2005	Mike Shula	10-2
35	2008	Nick Saban	12-2
36	1952	Harold Drew	10-2
37	1989	Bill Curry	10-2	SEC
38	1986	Ray Perkins	10-3
39	1985	Ray Perkins	9-2-1
40	1941	Frank Thomas	9-2	NC
41	1976	Paul W. Bryant	9-3
42	1967	Paul W. Bryant	8-2-1
43	1999	Mike DuBose	10-3	SEC
44	1920	Xen Scott	10-1
45	1931	Frank Thomas	9-1
46	1981	Paul W. Bryant	9-2-1	SEC
47	1950	Harold Drew	9-2
48	1939	Frank Thomas	5-3-1
49	1968	Paul W. Bryant	8-3
50	1996	Gene Stallings	10-3
51	1959	Paul W. Bryant	7-2-2
52	1942	Frank Thomas	8-3
53	1993	Gene Stallings	9-3-1
54	1932	Frank Thomas	8-2
55	1988	Bill Curry	9-3
56	1947	Harold Drew	8-3
57	1982	Paul W. Bryant	8-4
58	1940	Frank Thomas	7-2
59	1995	Gene Stallings	8-3
60	1983	Ray Perkins	8-4
61	1928	Wallace Wade	6-3
62	1915	Thomas Kelly	6-2
63	1923	Wallace Wade	7-2-1
64	1929	Wallace Wade	6-3
65	1944	Frank Thomas	5-2-2
66	1917	Thomas Kelly	5-2-1
67	2001	Dennis Franchione	7-5
68	1953	Harold Drew	6-3-3	SEC
69	1958	Paul W. Bryant	5-4-1
70	1946	Frank Thomas	7-4
71	1987	Bill Curry	7-5
72	1969	Paul W. Bryant	6-5
73	1911	D.V. Graves	5-2-2
74	1990	Gene Stallings	7-5
75	1922	Xen Scott	6-3-1
76	2003	Mike Shula	4-9
77	1970	Paul W. Bryant	6-5-1
78	1912	D.V. Graves	5-3-1
79	1913	D.V. Graves	6-3
80	1949	Harold Drew	6-3-1
81	1998	Mike DuBose	7-5
82	1916	Thomas Kelly	6-3
83	2004	Mike Shula	6-6
84	1948	Harold Drew	6-4-1
85	2007	Nick Saban	7-6
86	1914	D.V. Graves	7-6
87	1927	Wallace Wade	5-4-1
88	1984	Ray Perkins	5-6
89	2006	Mike Shula	6-7
90	1954	Harold Drew	4-5-2
91	1921	Xen Scott	5-4-2
92	1951	Harold Drew	5-6
93	1910	Guy Lowman	4-4
94	2000	Mike DuBose	3-8
95	1997	Mike DuBose	4-7
96	1955	J.B. Whitworth	0-10
97	1956	J.B. Whitworth	2-7-1
98	1957	J.B. Whitworth	2-7-1

Football Outsiders Top 100 College Football Teams of the Last 100 Years

Part I (100-81) - posted June 28
Part II (80-61) - posted July 6
Part III (60-41) - posted July 13
Part IV (40-21) - posted July 20
Part V (20-1) - posted July 27

0 recs | Comment 27 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

That list makes me hate Mike Dubose

I voted for Kleph and all I got was this lousy t-shirt

by BamaReturns07 on Jul 27, 2010 2:54 PM CDT reply actions

Mike Dubose's motto:

Thank God for Ears!

"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." - Bear Bryant

by NJBammer on Jul 27, 2010 3:43 PM CDT up reply actions

I bet ol' Ears thought he was really starting to turn 'em around

when he won 2 games in ’56, after going winless in ’55. Just goes to show you what he knew; they were apparently getting worse! LOL

by CarrotTop4 on Jul 27, 2010 4:21 PM CDT up reply actions

To me...

…as much as the 2000 and 1997 squads, the 1999 squad’s placement here (and their record/performance then) indicates how much was wasted. That team was so talented they should have at least played for the title, if not won it….

"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban

by NiceLittleSaturday on Jul 27, 2010 8:07 PM CDT up reply actions

interesting

2005 squad came in one spot higher than 2008.

RollBamaRoll.com - Also check out my music blog: Hear the World, which is exploring the music of BULGARIA in July 2010.

by Nico2.0 on Jul 27, 2010 4:06 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

I don't know...

…by how many spots, but I agree that they should be higher….

"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban

by NiceLittleSaturday on Jul 27, 2010 8:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Alabama's FIFTIETH best team had 10 wins.

That’s staying power, folks.

by kipling iffer on Jul 27, 2010 4:14 PM CDT reply actions

wish we could see this list for other schools as well

for example, it would be interesting to see the list for Notre Dame teams…

The Process of Champions

by atcrawford on Jul 27, 2010 4:18 PM CDT reply actions

Poor old Whitworth...

…he was the exact opposite of a hard act to follow.

by Queen of the Universe on Jul 27, 2010 4:20 PM CDT reply actions

ha ha ha

I voted for Kleph and all I got was this lousy t-shirt

by BamaReturns07 on Jul 27, 2010 4:36 PM CDT up reply actions

There really is...

…just not one good thing you can say about his coaching…except that it ended well.

"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban

by NiceLittleSaturday on Jul 27, 2010 8:09 PM CDT up reply actions

my dad

I’ve heard my dad talk about going to games during the Whitworth era. He says you really can’t fathom how bad they were w/o having been there.

RollBamaRoll.com - Also check out my music blog: Hear the World, which is exploring the music of BULGARIA in July 2010.

by Nico2.0 on Jul 28, 2010 9:00 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

As much...

…as I would have loved to witnessed more of the Coach Bryant era, I’m sooooo glad I missed the Ears years….

"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban

by NiceLittleSaturday on Jul 28, 2010 9:54 PM CDT up reply actions

Inaccurate

This must be wrong. The 1957 Auburn team ranks 7th.

"You gonna pull those pistols or whistle dixie..."

by figtide on Jul 27, 2010 4:21 PM CDT reply actions

Best quote ever

they [Auburn] went 19-0-1 in 1957-58, then fell back into the 6-8 win swamp from which they had emerged

I voted for Kleph and all I got was this lousy t-shirt

by BamaReturns07 on Jul 27, 2010 4:43 PM CDT up reply actions

gee...

i wonder what happened to cause that?

Roll 'Bama Roll: The Champagne of 'Bama Blogs.

by kleph on Jul 27, 2010 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions

link doesn't work right

Guessing this is what you were pointing at….

Institution: Auburn University Date: April 21, 1958

Violation Sumary: Improper recruiting inducements.

Penalty Summary: No NCAA voting and committee privileges during probationary period; postseason (all); television (all).

Reports
Public Report [PDF File]

Involved Sports:
Football

Involved Penalties:
Television: 3 yrs Reduction in Financial Aid: No
Postseason: 3 yrs Recruiting: No
Probation: 3 yrs Show Cause Action: No
Vacation of Record: No

References

Legislative References
Div. Number Title
Institution: Auburn University Date: January 11, 1957

Violation Sumary: Improper recruiting inducements.

Penalty Summary: Probation for three years.

Reports
Public Report [PDF File]

Involved Sports:
Football

Involved Penalties:
Television: 2 yrs Reduction in Financial Aid: No
Postseason: 2 yrs Recruiting: No
Probation: 3 yrs Show Cause Action: No
Vacation of Record: No

References

Legislative References
Div. Number Title

The Process of Champions

by atcrawford on Jul 28, 2010 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions

an honorable mention

The margin of victory led to Alabama hiring a new coach — Bear Bryant.

The Process of Champions

by atcrawford on Jul 27, 2010 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Good stuff,

Kleph…since I’ve been off work, I’ve been doing a little digging myself. I’ll post the worthy and shitcan the rest.

"...because you've got your mind right, and that's the way we like it." Nick Saban

by SRGBama on Jul 27, 2010 5:42 PM CDT reply actions

I guess...

…2003 wasn’t quite as bad as I remember….

"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban

by NiceLittleSaturday on Jul 27, 2010 8:11 PM CDT reply actions

Fascinating to rank them that way.

A lot to chew on and argue about. Some thoughts:

1) I disagree that Curry’s 89 team was better than Perkins 86 team _albeit by one spot — 37 vs. 38). I think the 86 team was better — which would make Curry the worst coach to follow Bryant rather than Perkins. I am no fan of Curry.

2) Still think 2009 is ranked low — that was a great team and a great year and they are better than 78th all time nationally.

3) Amazing how many great Tide teams there have been through the decades. Tide fans are very lucky. Its the program with the most 10 win seasons — which traditionally before the extra game was a real mark of an upper tier team.

by wey on Jul 27, 2010 10:30 PM CDT reply actions

remember it isn't a preferential ranking...

it’s a system. connelly created a formula, put in the data and this is what it produced. nowhere in any of his posts does he argue that these results indicate that any given team was better than any other.

the beauty of these types of systems is seeing, first, how they match up with our perception of different teams (i knew dubose fielded some bad teams but yeesh, ears wihtworth bad…? that i hadn’t considered).

next it’s trying to understand why the squads that appear out of order are placed where they are… perhaps it was an up year for multiple rivals, maybe there was an anomaly with scoring, whatever. but that analysis will help us understand those specific squads even more than we did before.

and, of course, when you go and look at this on a national scale…. the issues increase exponentially.

Roll 'Bama Roll: The Champagne of 'Bama Blogs.

by kleph on Jul 28, 2010 7:30 AM CDT up reply actions

In at least...

…one of his posts, Connelly admitted that he could have given more weight to strength of schedule, which seems to be the main ingredient of his formula that keeps the 2009 team back.

"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban

by NiceLittleSaturday on Jul 28, 2010 9:57 PM CDT up reply actions

1) I agree that the 1986 team was more talented than the 1989 team, but that 1986 team fell apart after getting beaten soundly by PSU. The losses to LSU and the Barn that year were ludicrous. The 1989 team’s losses to end the season were painful, but more understandable.

2) You’re exactly right.

3) Word up.

"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban

by NiceLittleSaturday on Jul 28, 2010 10:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Fair enough . . .

Its like the ol’ BCS computer systems vs subjective human polling issue. The subjectivity of college football actually adds a lot of interest to the sport despite the small minds who scream for a playoff regardless of the fact the huge number of D1 teams make it impossible to have a completely objective system in the first place.

by Son of Roaring Dan on Jul 28, 2010 9:38 AM CDT reply actions

the problem with the bcs system...

is that it tries to integrate the two and, due to the way it’s set up, it only succeeds in magnifying the weak points in both methods.

Roll 'Bama Roll: The Champagne of 'Bama Blogs.

by kleph on Jul 28, 2010 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Perhaps...

…but by doing so, it seems to be making things better. Nebraska’s inclusion in 2001 and Oklahoma’s in 2003 did have me ready to give up on the BCS. Since then, however, I haven’t had any major problems with their title game selections. The BCS has recognized some of its own weak points in the past and worked to rectify those matters. I’ll agree that more could be done (I never want to see a team that didn’t win its conference in the BCSNCG again…I’m looking at you, Sooners), but based on their past actions, I’m not convinced that the BCS committee won’t continue to reevaluate their methods in the future.

"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban

by NiceLittleSaturday on Jul 28, 2010 10:21 PM CDT up reply actions