| This Is Alabama Football
As I was growing up in southwest Alabama my dad and I would often go to the university to watch the games. I remember the chill that went through my body when we went into the stadium and looked across the football field for the first time and every time since. In the late 70's and early 80's I had the privilege to see alabama play Penn. State, Tenn., L.S.U., Auburn and others then and now. One thing that I observed in the 70's and 80's was that fans didn’t have to hope that bama would win they knew that they would it was just by how much. Bear Bryant instilled that nothing but a winner attitude in his player and fans as well. After the Bear retired and Ray Perkins came in he tried to remove the Bear’s image from all that was Alabama he didn’t embrace the past and apply it to the future it was as there was no winingnest college football coach Bear Bryant at that time how could one do such. Then Bill Curry he didn’t understand and if one listens to him now he still doesn’t, about Alabama or even about football. Then Gene Stallings Bama’s best coach since the Bear until now and would have coached longer than he did if he had not been forced out to retire. Gene restored what Alabama football is about and for 6 years pride and respect was restored along with a national championship and a SEC title and 70 wins. Then for the next 10 year there have been a few bright spots but mostly disappointment Bama won a SEC title in 1999 the last one that Bama won. Probation and sanctions cast a cloud over the University. A coach in scandal, a coach who used Bama as a stepping stone to somewhere else another who was fired before he even coached a game. It appeared that Alabama could not find a coach or either didn’t want to pay for one worth his salt. Then Coach Mike Shula came and brought some stability to a program left to die in the wilderness. He has some success to a point and in 2005 hope again was restored, Bama’s Back they said and even gave him a raise for their efforts. In 2006 with high expectations in place the 2006 Tide looked no better than the 2004 team and Coach Shula’s unwillingness to make changes was his own undoing. Alabama was an outcast laughed at and mocked by all, a college that no one wanted to coach and settled for moral victories on the field instead of wins. This is Alabama football I think not. This University one of a storied past of 12 national championships 21 SEC titles and the greatest tradition in college football. And now more than ever Alabama, its fans and all who adore the university want that back, whatever it takes no matter the cost. In late November Mal Moore did the right thing, he stood by his word and went after what most said was impossible and was the scorn of the media to look and get a quality head coach. Now it is Nick Saban who will lead Bama and the crimson nation which has more faith and hope than ever. That if we all do our part in the process that champions is the end result. Whatever dollar amount right now it doesn’t matter if the results are there in the end it will be money well spent only time will tell. This is Alabama Football, Pride, Legends, Tradition, Championships and a bright future to come. As fans who follow Alabama it is a passion that is undescribable one has to live it to understand the passion of Alabama Fans.
And once again it will be heard through out the land that
THIS IS ALABAMA FOOTBALL.
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01-15-2007, 04:46 AM
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