Is the Honeymoon Over and Does it Matter?

[numbersman]

Bama fans have been glued to every word that came from Saban until a 4-game losing streak halted what appeared to be what could lead to a very good post season.

While some might be somewhat disenchanted, most are still behind the 4 million dollar man - 1) He has and beleives in his plan 2) He can recruit with the very best of them 3) He's been there before.

SO even if the honeymoon is over - and I would say it is - Saban has a complete vote of confidence and should be much happier a little bit more obscure as he goes about the business of wrapping up what will likely be a top 3-4 class. A couple more like this one and he will be sitting on top of the SEC and perhaps playing for the BCS chmpionship. The only problem is that most of us are tierd of waiting.

RTR

 

[TDBama78]

its not a honeymoom its a process.

 

[StoneMtnDew]

I'd say it is over but when I really think about it is isn't, at least not for me. A coach that can go 6-6, lose to MSU and ULM and drop another one to AU and apparently lose some players mentally and still have my confidence - that's a honeymoon to me. For just about anyone else I'd be enraged at how awful the year finished.

 

[J4Bama]

Bama fans have been glued to every word that came from Saban until a 4-game losing streak halted what appeared to be what could lead to a very good post season.

While some might be somewhat disenchanted, most are still behind the 4 million dollar man - 1) He has and beleives in his plan 2) He can recruit with the very best of them 3) He's been there before.

SO even if the honeymoon is over - and I would say it is - Saban has a complete vote of confidence and should be much happier a little bit more obscure as he goes about the business of wrapping up what will likely be a top 3-4 class. A couple more like this one and he will be sitting on top of the SEC and perhaps playing for the BCS chmpionship. The only problem is that most of us are tierd of waiting.

RTR

Saban doesn't have a "Honeymoon" period in my opinion.

 

[CapstoneTider]

Well it's a safe bet that everyone will be able to find a seat during the A-Day game But that's good in my opinion I want expectations lowered to a more realistic level. Excitement and expectations went hand in hand last season.

 

[bama_jam]

I think the term Honeymoon is an invention of the drive-by press, the bottom dwellers that inhabit the press room, folks like Paul Finebaum. I think everyone should realize that Nick Saban did not make this mess and it's going to take him a while clean it up. If you thought he was a miracle worker, he's not, he just works his ..... off! Like he's doing right now. This season we saw flashes of what will be in the near future, don't jeopardize that by playing a blame game, leave that to the knuckleheads in the press. They'll sell it but you don't have to buy it.

 

[Ironhead Bret]

I think anyone who expected Alabama to win the SEC West this year was delusional at best. The problem is we as Bama fans have gotten a reputation of being ludicrous when it comes to our expectations of the team and coaching staff. While I don't think it will run CNS off anytime soon, it cannot be in the least bit healthy for his efforts. So no I don't think it matters about a "honeymoon" period especially when alot of the blame for this season can be laid at none other than the players feet.

 

[Nolan]

I think anyone who expected Alabama to win the SEC West this year was delusional at best. The problem is we as Bama fans have gotten a reputation of being ludicrous when it comes to our expectations of the team and coaching staff. While I don't think it will run CNS off anytime soon, it cannot be in the least bit healthy for his efforts. So no I don't think it matters about a "honeymoon" period especially when alot of the blame for this season can be laid at none other than the players feet.

No, you're right - but we did come within a fourth down stop and a win over Miss. State of doing just that. Glimpses of the future, methinks..

There is no honeymoon, IMO. There was, for a while, this strange novelty of realizing from time to time "Is Nick Saban really our coach? Wow! Someone pinch me, I must be dreaming."

He says it's a process, then it is. He would know best.


RTR

 

[Redwood Forrest]

It is NOT delusional to expect to beat ULM. It is not delusional to expect to beat Miss State. ULM ended the honeymoon with me. But that does not mean I want a divorce.

 

[bamanut_aj]

there never was a honeymoon, IMO.

 

[crmzn]

If we're going to use marriage as an analogy, what part do we, the Bama fanbase, play? I see us as the "nagging wife" a lot of times. The question could be asked to Saban, "Is the honeymoon over?". Our program has been in dire need of the kind of leadership he posesses since 1996-97. Our administration, as well as some boosters, have failed miserably over the past decade or so, but are finally getting it together. Everyone needs to take a step back, stop the nagging and interfering, and let the coaching staff do there job. We may not understand everything that happens, or appears to happen, but that's why we're not the coach and Nick Saban is. He's paid to understand, trouble-shoot, and solve. We don't have to worry about him. Let's worry about our own selves. Are we being realistic, supportive, etc.... Forget the honeymoon, and let's work on the marriage.

 

[AlexanderFan]

I don't understand how y'all can say that the honeymoon is over. CNS inherited the most bi-polar, out of shape, undisciplined team in the country and had them knocking on the door of the S E C west title. During the time he accomplished this he was instilling work ethic, discipline, and mental toughness in a team that had no come from behind wins in 4 years! Also during this time half of the seniors on this team, not known for their leadership qualities anyway, QUIT on the team, five players, three starters, were suspended,and 5 teams had 2 weeks to prepare for playing against Alabama with it's first year coaching staff. All these factors, and others must be considered when grading CNS on his "honeymoon" time. .

 

[CDsdad]

I think anyone who expected Alabama to win the SEC West this year was delusional at best. The problem is we as Bama fans have gotten a reputation of being ludicrous when it comes to our expectations of the team and coaching staff. While I don't think it will run CNS off anytime soon, it cannot be in the least bit healthy for his efforts. So no I don't think it matters about a "honeymoon" period especially when alot of the blame for this season can be laid at none other than the players feet.

Exactly. The probation and several poor recruiting years left the cupboard bare. You can't expect CNS to fix it in less than 3 years. A lot of our fans do have unrealistic expectations. I saw a young man from Opp, AL bet a corndog on an oil rig $100 that Bama would beat LSU this year. I asked him if he was crazy. I love Bama, and we had some very disappointing losses this year, but be realistic. It takes time.

 

[Bamaro]

It is NOT delusional to expect to beat ULM. It is not delusional to expect to beat Miss State. ULM ended the honeymoon with me. But that does not mean I want a divorce.

Well said :iagree:

 

[BamaInBham]

Bama has probably the best coach in college football. He is almost without a doubt the best fit for Bama and the shape she was in. He is obsessively driven and works harder than anyone we know. What more can anyone ask for ? He is a great strategist, tactician and teacher; a great talent evaluator and recruiter. He is even fun to watch for the most part. He is much more engaging with the fans than most would have anticipated. He is not perfect, no one ever has been. He loves it at Bama and is as happy as he could be at any place. He recognizes that the fanbase is much better than he was led to believe by some - though correctly described by Stallings.

As to the charge of some LSU fans that he has lost it - that is laughable. I followed him at MSU, LSU and Miami and he has lost nothing that I can see. He is still the driven, obsessed, sharp coach that he ever was. Only now he is at his final destination and he knows it. Bama was a 4th down stop from having a magical season (many other teams can say something similar).

Any Bama fans who seriously question him (I am not saying he is not flawed and makes mistakes just as all coaches have done, just that overall he knows what he is doing) are fools. If Bama cannot return with Saban, she cannot return.

 

[abmtgman]

You'll start finding out for real by 2009, when Saban's excellent recruiting acumen should really start to pay off, and his "weeding out" of undesirables will be complete.

 

[drjamesm]

Exactly. The probation and several poor recruiting years left the cupboard bare. You can't expect CNS to fix it in less than 3 years. A lot of our fans do have unrealistic expectations. I saw a young man from Opp, AL bet a corndog on an oil rig $100 that Bama would beat LSU this year. I asked him if he was crazy. I love Bama, and we had some very disappointing losses this year, but be realistic. It takes time.

IMO,you can add to that the poor attitude and work ethic left over fro the last regime. I never felt Bama would contend for even the SEC west this year,but feel we will have a legit shot next year.Also,2009 we should have a chance at the SEC and who knows maybe a bigger prize.Like it has been said it's a process!

 

[Ironhead Bret]

It is NOT delusional to expect to beat ULM. It is not delusional to expect to beat Miss State. ULM ended the honeymoon with me. But that does not mean I want a divorce.

Certainly not, but it is delusional to say we might be going to Atlanta after winning the first three games of the season. Especially when the "tough" opponents are still ahead. It's also delusional to call an assistants house at 3 am after an overtime loss to a top ten team.

 

[CaliforniaTide]

There was never a honeymoon to begin with. Coach Saban has his way of doing things and all of those things have a part in his overall PLAN to win A national championship at Alabama. However, even if he wins just one national championship, I want to see consistent 9-10 wins every season. That kind of consistency will get us (for the most part) the players that can help win a SEC and national championship.

Just because we win 1 national championship with Coach Saban doesn't mean that we're "back"; it just means that we were able to accomplish the top goal, but we have to keep working at it and keep working hard every single year to have a chance at playing for a national championship.

 

[GrayTide]

Bama has probably the best coach in college football. He is almost without a doubt the best fit for Bama and the shape she was in. He is obsessively driven and works harder than anyone we know. What more can anyone ask for ? He is a great strategist, tactician and teacher; a great talent evaluator and recruiter. He is even fun to watch for the most part. He is much more engaging with the fans than most would have anticipated. He is not perfect, no one ever has been. He loves it at Bama and is as happy as he could be at any place. He recognizes that the fanbase is much better than he was led to believe by some - though correctly described by Stallings.

As to the charge of some LSU fans that he has lost it - that is laughable. I followed him at MSU, LSU and Miami and he has lost nothing that I can see. He is still the driven, obsessed, sharp coach that he ever was. Only now he is at his final destination and he knows it. Bama was a 4th down stop from having a magical season (many other teams can say something similar).

Any Bama fans who seriously question him (I am not saying he is not flawed and makes mistakes just as all coaches have done, just that overall he knows what he is doing) are fools. If Bama cannot return with Saban, she cannot return.

Very good post. While we are spreading blame around let's not forget Dubose, Franchione and Price along with Shula. Where we are now did not just happen during the Shula years it goes all the way back to 1997. While I have been critical of Shula those other coaches are as much to blame.

We do have the best coach in college football and we will be back but it ain't going to happen over night. I expect someone on here to remind me from time to time what I just said cause patience is not my strong suit.