Alabama's Long Journey To the 2009 National Championship

In less than 24 hours the Alabama Crimson Tide will take the field against the Texas Longhorns for the BCS National Championship Game. As an Alabama fan, it is so fun just to tap that line out; you just don't know how sweet it is.

Not since 1979 have I been so excited. I know, we had a championship in 1992, but in '79 I was entering the Capstone as a freshman. Alabama had just completed the '78 campaign and returned to campus as national champions.

As I drove into town on Highway 82, then onto McFarland Boulevard, I approached a huge Billboard on the right side of the road that read, "The University of Alabama, Home of the Crimson Tide. 1978 National Champions."

One of my high school friends had been recruited by the Tide in '79 and signed with the freshman class. Seeing that sign, knowing him, and how hard he had worked to get that scholarship gave me chills. Bear Bryant had traveled to Columbus, Georgia to meet Big John Elias personally. Our high school coach was Alvin "Pig" Davis.

Coach Davis had long-time ties with Coach Bryant. They knew each other in Arkansas as high school players. The "Pig" followed the "Bear" to Alabama and both were distinguished lettermen for the Crimson Tide in the mid to late '30s. But that is a story for another time.

I bring up these points just to give you a glimpse of how exciting this return to the title game is for this Alabama fan. In '92, I had way too many distractions to focus of the details of the Alabama football team.

I had just finished medical school and was immersed in residency, had been married five years, and had had my first child in '92. We were taxed and at our whits' end. We took the time to watch the team during the season and watched the '92 Alabama team win the championship in the Sugar Bowl, but it just wasn't as enjoyable as this moment.

Since 2002, I have taken my family of four to nearly every Alabama home game. We travel from Little Rock, Arkansas, five to six times each season to watch the Tide. There have been some very tough times during that period, as any Bama fan knows, but this moment has made all those trying road trips worth every mile.

There is more than just a national championship on the line Thursday night. For Alabama and Texas alike, it's more about pride in the program than it is about the Coaches' Trophy. As glorious as the crystal football is, it means no more to a true fan of the game than a brass trophy handed to a second place little league team.

The trophy symbolizes success, accomplishment, and the highest achievement in the college football sport. But it is only a trophy. What matters more are the memories of the path taken to get to the finish, particularly after looking back to where you began.

I can't speak for a Texas fan, or for a player on either side. But as a fan, and a contributor to the program, having been through the worst of times with Dubose, the promises laid out by Franchione, the disrespect of Franchione to the boosters and to the players, the Price debacle and the hiring of Shula; that would have been enough.

With Shula, there is tough love. He gave everything he had to the program, yet it just wasn't enough. He answered when Mal Moore called, he did not hesitate. Alabama needed its son to come home and he did just that. He assembled a very good staff and recruited well while he ruled at the Capstone.

But the administration and the fans could not take the up and down roller coaster ride that was the signature Shula pace. In 2003, although it was his first year, a record of 4-9 with losses to Northern Illinios and Hawaii was unpalatable.

Shula did better the following year with a 6-5 regular season record. Yet, despite knowing he did not have a high-caliber backup QB, leaving Brodie Croyle in the game against Western Carolina when the score was 31-0 at the half was unacceptable.

Croyle went down trying to make a play and blew out his ACL. Most fans felt he should not have been in the game at that point. The season started 3-0, finished 3-5 with the first bowl bid following probation. Alabama lost that bowl game to Minnesota by a score of 20-16.

In 2005, Brodie Croyle was back. Shula recruited well and reeled in a class that ranked No.15 in the nation. It was the highest ranked class for Alabama since the rankings were instituted by Scout and Rivals in 2002. The program had promise, and the fans had great hope for success.

Shula signed skilled athletes out of the state of Florida, a feat not accomplished since before the probation period. The athletes, all wide receivers, were DJ Hall, Keith Brown, and Will Oakley.

Oakley was a particularly good catch since he was the favored receiver of Nease QB Tim Tebow. Things were looking up for the Tide.

As freshmen, DJ Hall and Keith Brown had immediate impact. A sophomore by the name of Tyrone Prothro was also an impact player in the likes of a David Palmer and Al Bell.

In game two of the 2005 season, Prothro made a catch over the back of a Southern Mississippi player that is the greatest catch in the recorded history of football. It is still the moniker for the ESPN college football highlights.

Against South Carolina, Keith Brown caught a WR screen and streaked down the sidelines on a one play 80 yard drive that absolutely killed the Gamecock dreams of a victory against the Tide.

Alabama finished 37-14 on the road against the Spurrier coached team. The Alabama defense, coached by SEC veteran Joe Kines and led by junior MLB Demeco Ryans made a statement on that day. The defense would be a force to contend with against SEC offenses throughout the 2005 season.

In the post game press conference, Spurrier put his stamp of approval on the 2005 Crimson Tide team by stating it was the best team he had competed against in college football. Spurrier's '92 Florida Gators squad lost to the Alabama Crimson Tide twice in one season. It was a high compliment to the Alabama program and to coach Mike Shula.

That was game three of 2005. Alabama ripped of six more consecutive wins to land at 9-0 after the win on Nov. 5 against Mississippi State.

Game five of that remarkable 2005 season was an absolute ass-whipping of the Florida Gators in Bryant Denny Stadium.

Game five should have been memorable for the pounding the Alabama defense put on Chris Leak play after play, and the absolute dismantling of the spread instituted by the new Florida head coach, Urban Meyer.

Instead, the most memorable moment was the touchdown catch and drop by Alabama sensation Tyrone Prothro. He dropped the pass because of the extreme pain he felt as he fractured his lower leg while he stretched out for the catch.

When Prothro broke his leg, the score was 24-3 and the game was well out of reach for the visiting team. Like the year before, Alabama would have to finish the season without the best offensive weapon on the team. The Administration as well as the fans were beginning to question the judgement of the young Alabama head coach.

In the win against Mississippi State, center JB Closner broke his ankle and could not finish the season.  While the media hype was at an all time high, it was a devastating loss of personnel. The next two games would result in consecutive losses.

The Tide battled valiantly in a respectable loss to LSU. On the field, the Tigers looked much stronger and dominant relative to the Alabama squad than the 16-13 final score reflected. The season finale was more telling.

In the last game of the regular season against the in-state rival Auburn Tigers, QB Brodie Croyle was sacked 11 times and the rushing game yielded only 33 yards on the day. The beat down in Jordan-Hare was an ugly finish to a 9-2 regular season.

In 2006, Shula's fate was sealed in a win against Duke. The Tide struggled against the Blue Devil team that was 1-10 in 2005 and started the 2006 season 0-5. The Tide trailed at the half, 14-7.

In fact, the Shula coached squad did not seal the victory until late in the fourth quarter with under five minutes to go in the game. Losses to Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi State were indicators that the program was not making the right kind of progress.

The 2006 season ended, 6-6. Shula was fired and defensive coordinator, Joe Kines coached the final game in the Independence Bowl against Oklahoma State. The season ended with a loss against the Cowboys.

When Saban was hired, there was a definitive end of the "lets hope for the best" mentality. When Alabama fans heard their new head coach deliver his address to the fan base at the welcoming press conference, they knew a change for the better had taken place.

The "Be a Champion" speech electrified the fan base and the entire support network of the Alabama football program.

92,000 fans showed up for the spring game. A renewed confidence filled the stadium and spilled over onto the campus grounds. Though the next season had its low moments, the Alabama fans could sense a change of course. In 2008, senior QB John Parker Wilson led the Crimson Tide to it's first undefeated season since 1992.

Though the 2008 season ended with two consecutive losses, the Tide rebounded and finished with another undefeated regular season in 2009. Moreover, the Crimson Tide delivered an SEC championship to the fan base by dismantling the Florida Gators in the Georgia Dome on December 5th, 2009.

Saban entered with promise and he has delivered. He has used talent left behind by the Shula staff and combined it with highly talented younger teammates. They are poised to be crowned as a national champion.

The 2009 Alabama football team is a great blend of over achievers and highly skilled, talented athletes from around the southeastern United States; and one heck of a gem dug out of Flint, Michigan.

This shot at the title has been long awaited. It is a real chance to bring closure to what has been considered the most miserable period of football since JB "Ears" Whitworth era. From Dubose to the Mike Price hire, it has been one embarrassment after another.

Saban has all the components of a championship team at his command. But so does the veteran coach Mack Brown. Brown has the head to head advantage over Saban, winning the only contest between the two coaches in the 2005 Cotton Bowl Classic.

Both teams have a legitimate shot at completing the season undefeated. One team will have to overcome the adversity presented to them by the opponent. Neither team has suffered any self-imposed misfortunes as of the time of this writing. Both teams seem intent on winning the game.

But this article isn't about Texas. It's about the Crimson Tide. Take pride in your team, Alabama fans, they have made it to the season finale of college football.

The Men in Crimson and White are poised and prepared for victory.

At 7:30 EST, in Pasadena, California, history will be made and another page added to the long and rich history of the Alabama Football Program. Lets end that story with a dominating victory over the Texas Longhorns.

It's time. It's past time to deliver what the fans have been patiently waiting for since the last title grab in 1992. You have our full attention, the strength of our unwavering support and our unbridled passion for this moment. It's time for action. It's time to complete the final goal for the 2009 campaign without impedance.

Godspeed. To the seniors, this is the moment you have waited for you entire sports career. There will never be another chance like this. Seize the day.