[Bamabeachlivin]

From my perspective, it's interesting to compare the past in the context of today's Alabama program. Sure, different time, different place. But I contend that Bryant's first year was not totally unlike what Nick Saban faced in his first season rebuilding the Tide.

Fans at the time were just as eager to see Alabama restored among the nation's elite. They adored Bryant so much that during the opening kickoff of the LSU game, the Tide's kicker actually whiffed on a ball that rolled about 11 yards and was recovered by the Tigers. Nevertheless, supporters immediately applauded Bryant's gumption and creativity in trying an onside kick to start his first game.
On what Bryant inherited ...
Stoddard: "By the time Coach (Ears) Whitworth was fired, the program was in terrible shape. Basically, they didn't have any athletes. They didn't have any discipline and were running wild there. When he came in, he really cracked down, especially on the seniors who had been pretty big dogs."
O'Steen: "You could give tickets away in '56 and '57. Really, nobody wanted a ticket under Whitworth. But we did notice people start requesting tickets from us."
On Bryant's first offseason camp, which ran off all but about 35 players ...
O'Steen: "He made the statement, 'Look, I don't care if I end up with 11 people. The 11 people that stay are going to be the ones playing.' ... You'd go to bed and wake up, and your roommate would be gone. It really worked on you. You could hear people coming down the steps at night with their suitcases leaving. Of course, you didn't know who left until you got to practice the next day. You're just hoping it wasn't somebody at your position, because that meant you've have to work twice as hard taking the repetitions."
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[Stoney]

That is EXACTLY what I have eluded to when I asked if it was too soon to compare Nick Saban to Bear Bryant. Some people blasted me for sacriliege and others thought I was totally foolish. So when you look at the numbers and the problems they inherited the similiarities are eeriely similar. Does this mean Nick Saban is the second coming of the "Bear"? That is anybody's guess. Does it mean Alabama will be restored to her rightful place atop the SEC and National Title scene? I certainly hope so!