Crimson Dynasty

Even two days after the fact,  please excuse University of Alabama football fans  if they still are not totally coherent, you know much like Lou Holtz or Lee Corso on just about any occasion. 

No doubt the collective heads of the Alabama Nation are still spinning following the Crimson Tide's 42-14 pasting of then top-ranked Notre Dame Monday in the BCS National Championship Game in Miami, and why not, as those giddy and jubilant supporters of Nick Saban's dominant program have had much to take in over the last few days.

 

Such as a second consecutive national title, with Alabama becoming the first program to gain back to back BCS crowns, and its third title in four years, putting the Crimson Tide in very select company with that achievement. Alabama, of course, also gained its 15th national title overall. Alabama has also now won 61 games in a 5-year stretch, which is a new college football record. Saban gained his third title in six years at Alabama and his fourth overall.

With Monday's title clash between the Crimson Tide and Fighting Irish effectively over by halftime, and with the Tide having already stripped Brian Kelly's team of its manhood, the only real questions remaining after the intermission basically involved how many points and yards Alabama would amass in the title win, who would claim MVP honors and how many times the ESPN cameras would focus in on Katherine Webb, the former Miss Alabama USA, the girlfriend of Tide quarterback A.J. McCarron and the subject of Brent Musburger's extended droolfest. 

The second half of the title clash between college football's two most iconic programs also allowed Bama fans to soak in yet another title while also perhaps letting their minds wander towards more delicious aspects of the victory, such as where Alabama's current dynasty ranks in the annals of college football, the growing legacy of Saban and just how many more national championships could still be on the horizon. There is little doubt that Alabama will enter the 2013 season heavily favored to gain its 16th title and an unheard of three-peat.

 

Obviously this is not good news for Holtz and a national media that was no doubt hoping that its beloved darling Notre Dame would be the team that could stop the run by the Crimson TIde, and the Southeastern Conference which has now gained seven consecutive national titles. Make no mistake, the majority of the national media has no love for the south, for southern football or for Nick Saban, so it was no doubt particularly galling for all of these analysts, writers and even bloggers to witness Saban's Tide juggernaut expose their gold helmeted opponents as nothing more than slower and less athletic pretenders. Notre Dame deserved credit for its 12-0 record entering the title game, but against Alabama it was not able to survive on close calls and lucky bounces, and Alabama also proved definitively that the Irish had faced no one on its schedule displaying the speed, athleticism and strength that can only be found in the SEC. 

As Alabama fans continue to flood the sporting goods and department stores to snatch up anything related to the Crimson Tide's latest championship game victory, they are no doubt celebrating this crown with perhaps a significantly increased vigor over last year's title, and fans of other programs may tend to view this as the usual and typical arrogance always displayed by Crimson Tide supporters. 

But this title is special, however, and even casual Tide fans recognize that winning three of the last four national championships can only be called remarkable in these days of scholarship limitations, increased parity and considering the current overall dominance of the SEC. Alabama's latest dynasty is the most impressive in school history, which speaks volumes considering the tradition-rich heritage of the Crimson Tide program and the current run of championship success also cements the Bama dynasty as one of the greatest ones in the history of college football. 

 

Saban has also cemented his legacy as perhaps one of the top five coaches in college football history, along with legends such as Knute Rockne and Paul "Bear" Bryant. Although it may seem a ridiculous notion for some, some are even wondering aloud whether it is Saban, and not Bryant, who now stands as Alabama's greatest coach ever.  Bryant won sixnational titles at Alabama, but he did that in 25 years at Alabama while Saban has already captured three in 6 years in Tuscaloosa, and now that he has recently removed all doubts of a possible departure by noting that he is at total peace in college football and that he has no unfinished business in the NFL, it seemingly is only a matter of time considering the way he currently has the Tide program rolling before he breaks Bryant's championship mark for the Crimson Tide.

 

So as Alabama fans continue to shell out their money for their national championship memorabilia from the school's 15th title, and to proclaim the Tide's dominance as loud and proud as they can, one has to wonder how many more crowns Saban's talent-rich machine can produce. 

 

With Saban continuing to bring in more and more heralded stud athletes, Bama continuing to collect victories and championship rings and trophies, and the Crimson Tide program also continuing to produce a host of future NFL stars, seemingly the only thing that would be able to halt this staggering run of success would be some type of scandal, mass defections or injuries, or an unlikely departure from Saban. Or perhaps complacency.

 

What perhaps makes the current Alabama dynasty one of the greatest feats in sports history is that it is being done in an age where it is no doubt more difficult than ever to challenge young athletes, and keep them focused and motivated, and working hard to achieve greatness considering the multitude of distractions and temptations they are faced with on a daily basis.

 

But Saban and his coaches, and no doubt great team leaders such as Mark Barron, Nico Johnson, Javier Arenas and Barrett Jones, have been able to maintain the chemistry, the discipline, the hunger and the class and integrity needed to keep Alabama's program at or near the top of the college football world since the coach's arrival in 2007.

Of course having a lot of incredible talent helps, but good fortune is also integral, such as blocking a couple of field goals to help preserve a tight win or having a couple of teams in front of you in the polls go down on the same night. 

 

All of this plays a role in creating a championship team or even a championship run, but to keep it going, Saban will have to find more and unique ways to keep the players in his "organization" hungry and challenged. 

 

I think some Alabama fans were a little concerned heading into Monday's game after hearing about or reading that a team meeting was held due to a lack of focus in some of the practices in the days leading up to the contest. 

 

Perhaps any lack of focus could be blamed on the long layoff since the Tide defeated Georgia to claim the SEC championship and a change in practice and travel routines, but it was obvious in the early stages of the game which team was fired up and ready to play and which team was quickly looking for the nearest place to hide. While the crispness that Alabama displayed even early in the game was no doubt a welcome sight for anyone who bleeds crimson, I think most of the nation was stunned by the manner in which the Notre Dame team seemed to fold its tent early after being hit in the mouth a few times by a superior SEC school. 

 

The national title game returns to Pasadena after the 2013 season, and early forecasts have Alabama returning there to defend its 2012 championship, perhaps against an Oregon or Ohio State, but I am aware that such talk would only annoy Saban.   He knows that the right ingredients have to fall into place for Bama to reach that pinnacle once again, and he knows better than anyone the process involved in achieving greatness and sustaining greatness. 

 

Saban noted that the 2012 Tide team exceeded expectations considering the losses of leaders such as Barron, Trent Richardson and Courtney Upshaw from the 2011 championship squad. The expectations will likely not be as guarded by many for the 2013 Tide team. 

 

Although the Tide will lose true leaders such as Jones, who has been a prolific Tide student-athlete on and off the field, a few linemen and perhaps an Eddie Lacy if he receives a positive draft evaluation, the stars could be aligned for yet another Tide title run in 2013 provided good health and good fortune shine on the Alabama program again. 

 

McCarron, who starred once again in a national championship start with four TD passes,  and who continues to display more and more of his vast potential, leads what should be another prolific Tide offense, with a wealth of skill position weapons returning including T.J. Yeldon, Kenyan Drake and possibly Lacy among others at running back and Amari Cooper, Kevin Norwood, DeAndrew White and Kenny Bell among others at receiver. C.J. Moseley will again lead what looks to be another talented and improved Bama defense that will return standouts such as Adrian Hubbard, Trey DePriest, Vinnie Sunseri and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. The Tide offensive line will have to be retooled somewhat, but Alabama will again bring in a host of talented freshmen to contribute on both sides of the ball.
 

Another national title run in 2013 is at least likely, if not probable for the Crimson Tide, but pardon Bama fans if they take more than 24 hours to enjoy Bama's latest crown....and its most impressive to date.

On a final note, considering the historic magnitude of this national title for the Crimson Tide program, it is my opinion that the University of Alabama and the City of Tuscaloosa need to at least seriously consider holding a national championship parade similar to the one that was held after the 1992 crown by Gene Stallings and company.  The celebrations held in Bryant-Denny Stadium held after the 2009 and 2011 crowns were nice enough, but paled in comparison to the spectacle and color of the parade that saluted that '92 team. That parade was a treat for the players and the fans and was a memory that the City of Tuscaloosa will not soon forget. I have said this after the last two Tide championships but this Bama national championship squad deserves nothing less, especially after repeating as champions and taking 3 of 4.