A Sense Of Urgency: The Alabama Senior Class

The Alabama Football program must sense the urgency to finish well this year and get to the National Championship game. There is one reason why. The reason has twenty different meaningful components.

Eryk Anders, Javier Arenas, Terrence Cody, Drew Davis, Brandon Deaderick, P.J. Fitzgerald, Baron Huber, Marquis Johnson, Mike Johnson, Tyrone King, Mike McCoy, Colin Peek, Cory Reamer, Chris Rogers, Brian Selman, Ali Sharrief, Leigh Tiffin, Roy Upchurch, Lorenzo Washington and Justin Woodall.

This senior class is a blend of talent that dates back to the first recruiting class of Mike Shula and more recent efforts by current head coach Nick Saban. Length of stay for the classmates ranges from two to six years duration.

This class represents the strength of the Alabama team and these seniors understand what it takes to get to a championship level. They have paid their dues and have contributed to the recent swell of pride in the Alabama Football program.

Every name on this list rings a bell and brings back memories of great plays and great contributions to the success of Alabama Football over the past two years. Many of the individual stories deal with perseverance through hardships, injuries and coaching changes.

Two names on the list are of young men recruited as far back as 2004. Lorenzo Washington and Drew Davis were in the same class as John Parker Wilson, Keith Brown and Ezekiel Knight. Nikita Stover, D.J. Hall, Will Oakley, Antoine Caldwell and Simeon Castille were members of the 2004 class as well.

In 2003, Alabama Athletic Director, Mal Moore made the egregious mistake of hiring as head coach, Mike Price. He had the wisdom to fire the newly hired coach before Price had ever coached a game for Alabama.

I would think all Alabama fans remember why Coach Moore had to break ties with the former Washington State coach. I have chosen not to elaborate on the event.

The football team was utterly rudderless. The coaching search was extremely difficult because of the untimely dismissal of Coach Price. The University rescinded the unsigned contract offered to Mike Price in May, 2003.

Mike Shula returned to the Capstone in a rescue effort on behalf of Coach Moore. He stepped in at a very critical juncture in the history of the Alabama football program. His dedication and love for the University will not be forgotten by this Alabama fan. I will be forever thankful for his sacrifice.

The class of 2004 was the first opportunity for Mike Shula to prove what his recruiting efforts could do for the University. The class was ranked 15th in the country. It was the first Alabama recruiting class to break into the Top 20 ranking, since the ranking of recruiting classes was instituted by programs such as Rivals.com and Scout.com.

In the following season, the Shula led Crimson Tide finished 6-6 and returned to postseason play, attending the Music City Bowl in Nashville, TN. It was the first bowl appearance following the probation period instituted by the NCAA.

The Class of 2005 brought in great recruits from the state of Florida, a blend of talent that was missing from the program dating back to the Stallings era. This 2005 class includes names like Coffee, Upchurch, Deaderick, Rogers, Sharieff, Johnson and Reamer.

Six of the recruits in the Top 20, 2005 class were out of the hotbed state of Florida, doubling the number Shula recruited out of Florida in 2004. Prior to 2004, the Alabama rosters were void of Florida talent for at least three years running and possibly more.

I couldn't see going back any further than 2001 to check. The point is, Shula was making progress and drawing quality talent from the Sunshine State, blending them into the Alabama team.

Unfortunately, because of the need for talent and Shula's desire for personal success, other notable players brought to the program included Jimmy Johns and Prince Hall. The talent was there, but in cases such as these young men, character was much to be desired.

The rise in talent level for the Alabama team translated into a successful 2005 season. Quarterback Brodie Croyle led the Crimson Tide to a 10-2 finish and postseason berth in the Cotton Bowl.

The bowl game was memorable for a much needed postseason victory against a quality opponent. The talented Texas Tech offense, averaging better that 30 points per game was held to a season low of 13 points on the day.

Croyle led the offense on a late fourth quarter drive, setting up the game winning field goal off the toe of Jamie Christiansen. The win was a boost for the program and the highest point in the Shula era.

During the visit to Texas, Shula visited with Texas Tech commit Greg McElroy. He encouraged the young, talented, 5A champion high school QB to attend the Capstone. McElroy ultimately changed his commitment to attend the University of Alabama.

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