Alabama Is No Dynasty, Are They?

Dynasty: A family or group that maintains power for several generations.

When I heard of the new Sports Illustrated cover declaring Alabama a "dynasty", it made me skeptical. The same word had been used to describe Florida just one year ago. I did not like the sound of this one bit.

Then I looked up the word and found it has two meanings. One deals with royalty and government and does not pertain here. The other is listed above. It must be dissected and examined.

A family or group that maintains power over several generations. This is quite a description and certainly not one that should be taken lightly. Does anything about the Crimson Horde lead one to believe in a dynasty?

The program began in 1892. For the most part, a generation is 20 years. This means the program has been in existence for about six generations. I personally have experience with four of those generations.

Several means more than two, but less than many. I guess six does meet this particular criteria. Maybe the writers at SI do have a point so far. Maybe we need to delve a little deeper into this subject.

A "family" or "group" is certainly applicable to the Crimson Horde. No group is more diversified as to the human condition. No group is more in step with each other on the subject of football. There is not the slightest doubt that this criteria is met.

"Maintains power" can be taken in many ways. Alabama has not won championships over every decade. They have not won more games than other programs over their existence. They have not won more conference titles or national titles over their existence.

If all of this is so, how could one consider them to maintain power over that existence? I thought about this for awhile and decided this writer was not flawed. This concept was true to a fault.

Many Alabama fans are broad minded. Some are wealthy in a material sense. Some are poor as dirt. Some are well educated and some certainly not. If a random group of Alabama fans were selected and put in a room, they would have little in common.

There is one thing that would pull that group together though. It is their passion for their Crimson Tide. They would argue over new recruits. They would argue over offensive and defensive strategy. They would all agree on their passion for their team.

There is no more rabid group of college football fans on the planet than the Crimson Horde. They will dote on every word uttered about their team. They will defend their team to the bitter end in good times and bad. They will stick to their team even when it's not successful.

If this is not power, I personally do not know what is. I guess that writer had a point after all. There is no doubt that Alabama is a football dynasty, due to the Crimson Horde.

"Horde", a teaming crowd or throng. "Throng", a multitude or crowd. There is certainly no shortage of members in the Crimson Horde.