State of the University of Alabama athletics overall

[lafella]

I remember coach Saban commenting on Dr.Witt's desire for Alabama to be the best from top to bottom or something along those lines.

I'd have to agree that both Coach Moore and Dr.Witt have done an absolutely outstanding job fitting the pieces together. Football, Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Gymnastics and many others not to mention the additions and renovations.

I truly think this is a Golden Time for the University. The way it has worked out is amazing to have all these outstanding Coaches and Administrators come together.


I'm glad my children are growing up with the state of the University of Alabama is in right now. I didn't think they'd have the chance to have the proud and exciting time that I did growing up with Coach Bryant, Coach Wimp Sanderson eras (haha ok some could say Coach Wimp didn't go out Ideally but I idolized the man growing up both of them).

It really is Awesome to be an Alabama fan.

Roll Tide Roll!

 

[Johnnyb]

I just graduated from UA last semester after I transferred in as a sophomore. I just have to say the athletic programs were all fantastic, and I almost feel spoiled to have such a quality of athletics at my school. It's amazing to have that added on to a great school with great faculty and administrators. I went to 2 other schools within the state before finally finding my home at UA and must agree with what the OP said, it is amazing to be a fan and alumni of a school in this time.

Not everyone gets to see a great young basketball coach and team, thriving gymnastics, great baseball and softball teams, and their football team go 36-5, win an SEC title, and National title in their time on campus. I feel truly lucky.

 

[b2v4ua]

AGREED!

 

[big_fan78]

Roll Tide!!

 

[TiderB]

I just graduated from UA last semester after I transferred in as a sophomore. I just have to say the athletic programs were all fantastic, and I almost feel spoiled to have such a quality of athletics at my school. It's amazing to have that added on to a great school with great faculty and administrators. I went to 2 other schools within the state before finally finding my home at UA and must agree with what the OP said, it is amazing to be a fan and alumni of a school in this time.

Not everyone gets to see a great young basketball coach and team, thriving gymnastics, great baseball and softball teams, and their football team go 36-5, win an SEC title, and National title in their time on campus. I feel truly lucky.

Consider yourself fortunate. I was there under Dubose and Fran, and the end of David Hobbs' run as the bball coach. At least we were 3-2 against auburn while I was there.

 

[BAMAccounting10]

Very very good time for BAMA athletics. The semester I graduated I went to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena to watch my team beat the Longhorns in the national championship! ROLL TIDE

 

[JamieSPC]

A golden time for us, and combined with the issues and coming trouble "down south," it could last for a while.

I AM LOVING IT.

 

[NPGator]

There is no doubt that the best top to bottom sports schools do reside in the grest SEC!

 

[rgene]

How true! Need to add golf to the list for sure!

 

[elizabama74]

Don't forget mens and womens golf, they are really shinning.

 

[TommyMac]

Am I the only one that's proud of our Bass Fishing team that won a NC a few years ago? :tongue:

 

[rgw]

Clay Travis had a good article about the changing dynamics of the SEC. He called Alabama, Kentucky, and Arkansas the winners of the future SEC.

Personally, I think Alabama is following the Florida plan to a degree: pay top dollar for a proven winner as your head football coach, win titles, draw a huge revenue, and reinvest the new earnings into all sports. We've reached the point where there is a definite diminishing return when simply reinvesting the bulk of the revenue into football. You can't make our practice facilities more NFL-like than they already are today. It's hard to think what more we could do to Bryant-Denny. Our athletic dorms are already bar-none. Any money spent to make our football program seem more attractive to prospective athletes is simply not going to give the "bang for the buck" that, say, a dedicated men's basketball practice facility would for the b-ball program.

As Clay Travis stated, when you're bringing in 100+ million dollars in revenue each year there is simply no excuse to not have proven winners in your two revenue generating coaching positions (men's b-ball and football) AND be a winner in all sports revenue-generating or not. Alabama, Florida, Texas, Ohio State understand this and have become great athletic programs across the board. It's not about being a football school or basketball school when you're in that financial position. It's about being the place that any athlete in any sport would want to be at for four years.

Throwing money at something is not really the best solution in the business world but this isn't really a for-profit business. There is nothing to be gained by sitting on cash. There is much to be gained by spending it generously on everything from great softball facilities to better tennis courts to even the revenue-generators when needed.

 

[We_are_Bama]

All due respect to Shula, Gottfried, and Wells, it was clear that football, basketball, and baseball had all gone about as far as they were going to go under them. I was a little skeptical when they didn't go out and get a seasoned baseball coach when Jim Wells retired, but now I see that hiring Gaspard was the right move. As for football and basketball, well, I never doubted those hires for a second!

 

[CapstoneGrad06]

All due respect to Shula, Gottfried, and Wells, it was clear that football, basketball, and baseball had all gone about as far as they were going to go under them. I was a little skeptical when they didn't go out and get a seasoned baseball coach when Jim Wells retired, but now I see that hiring Gaspard was the right move. As for football and basketball, well, I never doubted those hires for a second!

I can agree on Shula and Gottfried, but Coach Wells did take Alabama baseball to heights it hadn't seen since the early 1980s, and was more consistent with it. Baseball is just behind the eight ball, relative to lottery states, when it comes to scholarships. That being said, I really feel Coach Gaspard can take the program to the next level. A Super Regional in year one, and another great start in 2011. You have to love that.

 

[lafella]

I think most everyone was happy to see Coach Gaspard get the job.

 

[lafella]

Don't forget mens and womens golf, they are really shinning.

this is exactly what I mean top to bottom it's an awesome time.

 

[glasscutter256]

Have you seen the commercials about the Capital One trophy. It goes to the University with the best all around men's and women's atheletic programs. Do you think we will have a shot with it? At first, I didn't think we had a chance this year. I figured football played heavy on the choice. We should be competing for this every year with all of our strong athletics. Does anyone know the actual sports that count toward the point total?

 

[BSin80]

I've got to agree that top to bottom, UA is the best I can remember in my lifetime...and back in my day it was Bryant and C.M. Newton. I am very proud of all the accomplishments, both in athletics and in academics!

 

[skibama]

Have you seen the commercials about the Capital One trophy. It goes to the University with the best all around men's and women's atheletic programs. Do you think we will have a shot with it? At first, I didn't think we had a chance this year. I figured football played heavy on the choice. We should be competing for this every year with all of our strong athletics. Does anyone know the actual sports that count toward the point total?

I think the problem with the Capital One trophy is they count sports like men's soccer, wrestling, Lacrosse and under water badminton in their total list. That's why schools like Stanford are always at the top...they have lots of "smaller" sports. I hate to even say this, but in a way, focusing so much on football actually hurts our chance of winning this (not that I ever want to NOT focus on football ). I'd take Nat'l championships over Capital one trophy's any day.
I would like to see some sports added though. I think we are large enough to field a men's soccer team and a wrestling team. We have clubs for soccer and hockey...it would be cool to have them as a varsity sport.

 

[TommyMac]

All in all, I'd guess that there's very few (if any) other schools that wouldn't jump at the chance to be where we are right now. :BigA: