Is Bama Football back on track to becoming a national power?

[Tide&True]

Most of us here live and bleed Bama Football. We think about it 24/7. Naturally we are biased and many times our heart overrules our head when we talk about our beloved Tide. But, lets step back a minute...are we on track to becoming a major player in college football? I know it won't be like it was when Coach Bryant was here...the game has changed since then. Answer as honestly as you can...is Bama Football on it's way back to being an elite annual power or is our heart once again overruling our head? What are the reasons you feel Bama will once again be a premier team in college football?

 

[bamanut_aj]

hope so

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I think we're doing the right things to put us in a position to being a national contender again. But it doesn't guarantee it. A lot of little things have to also go right for you that sometimes are out of the control of the coaches and players.

Bringing in better talent will help, getting better in the S&C department will help, getting better coaching will help and so forth. But at the end of the day it has to be carried out on the field and turned into wins and a lot of them. We've got two big hurdles to jump and that's ending the streaks of LSU and Auburn. We can start out 6-2 all each season and begin each season "hot" but it's what we do against the teams that count that determines how "good" we really are. And for five and six years respectively we've come out on the losing end.

 

[J.Will]

No. We are not back on the track, but I do believe we have a good map, compass, and a decent set of directions to said track. It also doesn't hurt that we've visited that track several times before and have vague recollection of how nice it was to run on it.

 

[BocaLance]

We're on track.
It takes time to clean house of bad attitudes, beliefs, less than stellar talent and a general "this is the way it's always been done" mentality. I think Shula was a stopgap and the 10-3 season may have helped a lot of us lose perspective on where the program REALLY was at the time (much like DuBose's '99 season.) Saban is righting the ship with discipline, talent, fundamental coaching and work ethic. As long as he sticks around 6-7 years at least, we'll be back to post-Stallings days of consistent Top 10 teams. And that is really all anyone can or should hope for in this day and age - a legitimate chance to win it all every year, but a BCS or New Years bowl game as an absolute.

 

[i_live_4_bama]

Are we on track? Yes

Are we there yet? No

The tracks have been laid and the train has been put on the tracks. We are still at least 2 years away from seriously competing for an SEC and National championship. Coach Saban laid the foundation this year with the #1 recruiting class. It will take a couple more good Top 5 or top 10 recruiting class to establish talented depth at all positions. Once that happens, Alabama will be just like LSU, USC, etc. has been the past 5 years. There will be no drop off from 1st string to 2nd string. So I say 2009 will be the year we show the nation that we are back among the elite and 2010 and beyond will be the years we compete for championships on a yearly basis.

2009: Championship contender
2010: Serious Championship contender
2011: " " "
2012: " " "
2013: " " "
2014: " " "

You get the picture

 

[KrAzY3]

After a number one recruiting class I think there's no way to say Alabama isn't back on track to becoming a national power. All they have to do is turn the corner, it could happen next year but it might not. Sooner rather than later Alabama will be among the SEC elite again which will make them a national power. A couple of years of stockpiling talent like they did this past season and I could probably coach them to a major bowl game.

 

[rgw]

I think it's hard to say after just one year with Saban. I think we have a man with a method and his recruiting prowess is going to pay off. After our 6-2 start, I think many already thought we were on track around the state and nation. The 0-4 regular season finish left seeds of doubt though. Our team hit a wall after the Tennessee game - injuries and suspension partly to blame - and I don't think you'll see such a woeful end to the season under Saban again. It was really atypical that a Saban-coached team finished so poorly...all his teams (college and pro) improved over the course of the season except for the 07 Bama team.

The defense actually improved greatly by the end of the season but it was the offense that became stale and lacked consistency. Yes, the offense took the biggest hit from the textbook ordeal...but schematically we were becoming predictable due to play calls and talent. We couldn't run right side at all against SEC teams. We couldn't get any yards from a run play except the left outside zone stretch. Once teams started keying on that play, we were one-dimensional in regards to pass/run. In the passing game, we didn't get enough consistency from any receiver besides DJ and teams started rolling coverage to his side and taking him away from Wilson.

Our talent level really affected our playcalling, but our playcalling wasn't fluid enough to what our opponents were doing. A few bubble screens to DJ's side would have made teams pay for backing off in coverage. A good screen game to our backs would have helped our pass protection problems and act as a running game. More counter plays would have burned teams that overreacted to the stretch flow. The good thing is that we're going to see all of these things next year. McElwain seems to love the screen pass and pulling guards to seal off the backside...I'm pretty excited about what our offense can do if we emulate what I've seen from Fresno State in 07.

Anyway, back to the topic. I think our defense is going to surprise people next year and it's up to the offense to make this team into a NYD Bowl game type team.

 

[Bama323]

We're on track, but we're still at the train depot so to speak. We've got a ways to go to get to our "final destination." But I have no doubt we'll get there.

 

[GrayTide]

Improved recruiting and better talent is only part of the equation to returning to national prominence. We have the coaches, we are on our way to getting much better talent, but the missing piece will take time and that is rebuilding the foundation of the program. In order to once again become and remain a national power, a solid foundation has to be rebuilt and this means changing attitudes, recruiting character and teaching players how to win. The ingredients are there but it will take time and while we are rebuilding our foundation the top tier teams are not waiting on us to catch up.

 

[crimson_blood]

In a word, yes.

However, we are still in the midst of the process...and it ain't easy if you want to achieve greatness...

 

[TDBama78]

are we on track? very much so. and the train is leaving the station. we'll be slowly building steam until we are a runaway freight train no one wants to be in front of.

 

[bama peach]

I think we're definitely on track, but it's hard to guess when we'll be back in national contention, perhaps in two to three years.

 

[LSU63]

these are some very realistic expectations. Watch out, you guys are ruining the "unreasonable Bama fan" reputation.

 

[STONECOLDSABAN]

yes i would say that Alabama is on track to becoming a contender. I think a lot of people are gonna be surprised at Alabama's improvement next year. alabama can take a huge step in becoming a national contender if they can take the state back next year. but its all in baby steps my highest (realistic) expectation for next season would be a 9-4 season with a win over auburn. I really think alabama is gonna beat one or two teams there not suppose to next season. heck we did it this season when we smashed UT 41-17. Plus nick saban is doing a phenomenal job at recruiting. The future is looking bright. ROLL TIDE ROLL

 

[BEATtutorsee]

Absolutely we are. Another year or two of Coach Saban's recruiting and our depth chart will be fully charged once again and ready to compete with the elite of the elite. This year's class will certainly jump start that process, and if we have classes even remotely close to this year's (and I believe we will) over the next couple of years we'll be competing for championships before this year's recruits are seniors.

 

[ROTYDE]

I would have to say I think so...The reason being is the we have not had a change like this since 1958.........RTR

 

[cmmiller711]

these are some very realistic expectations. Watch out, you guys are ruining the "unreasonable Bama fan" reputation.

We've been trying to do that for quite some time. :smile: If it weren't for the 1-3% of people who seem to call the radio and get on TV all the time, we wouldn't have that problem at all. Just like you guys have that small faction who seem to get you the crazy militant alcoholic cajun reputation (although I will say that, dispite the influx of disgusting purple and gold that hits tuscaloosa when LSU rolls to town, all my friends love when you guys play us in Bryant Denny. The quad is especially delightful on that day. Ya'll can cook.)

 

[mailman]

Strong senior leadership is something we have been lacking with a few exceptions for the better part of the last fifteen years. This years senior class is, through no fault of his own, his hands were tied, Coach Shula's second recruiting class who came in with less than stellar credentials both on and off the field according to a host of media. This class will be counted on to set the tone throughout the season. Hopefully they will use this as motivation and prove me wrong,I hope so, I am pulling for them to. But if I had to make a guess, I still have reservations about the leadership on this team. Only time will tell. R.T.R.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mailman]

Strong senior leadership is something we have been lacking with a few exceptions for the better part of the last fifteen years. This years senior class is, through no fault of his own, his hands were tied, Coach Shula's second recruiting class who came in with less than stellar credentials both on and off the field according to a host of media. This class will be counted on to set the tone throughout the season. Hopefully they will use this as motivation and prove me wrong,I hope so, I am pulling for them to. But if I had to make a guess, I still have reservations about the leadership on this team. Only time will tell. R.T.R.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!