Wake Up, Alabama Football Fans! History Is Being Made in Our Generation

Much has been made of the three years that Saban has been at the helm of the Alabama Football program. From the first season that finished at 6-6 to the 2009 season ending as undefeated National Champions, it has been a great ride in three measly years.

As an Alabama football fan, it has been a roller coaster, despite back to back undefeated regular seasons. The post season of 2008 left fans unfulfilled. Some thought that would be the shot for the title and 2009 would be a year of rebuilding. It ended with back to back losses to Florida and Utah.

In the end, many considered the season unsuccessful.

On the other hand, some relished in the blissful moments of the 2008 season. Wins against highly ranked Clemson in the season opener, at Georgia during a "blackout", at Death Valley against the LSU Tigers. The regular season finale win against in-state rival Auburn, bringing to a close the reign of terror brought on by Tommy Tuberville.

But at the end of the 2008 season, no one was calling Nick Saban a legend. Everyone saw the glimmer of promise. Saban's process of "building a champion" was taking hold but no one really had considered that a national championship loomed on the horizon, particularly in 2009.

Remember, Kevin Steele left and went to Clemson. Coach and top notch recruiter Lance Thompson jumped ship from Saban to the Kiffin crowd at UT. Saban hired an old buddy named Sunseri and promoted little known, but energetic Kirby Smart to fill the void left by the well paid DC Steele.

Saban kept his nose to the grind and so did everyone else in the program.

Two more issues were addressed by the Alabama caretaker during the summer of 2009. Brandon Fanney was told that studying was just as important as football and his grades would need to improve. He left for North Alabama to play for Bowden. Saban liked this kid and helped him finish his career.

Saban showed Prince Hall the door for a persistent bad attitude. Hall wouldn't reform.

The table was set for a successful season. Successful it was, for sure. Saban rode the Crimson Wave all the way to the National Championship, on the backs of stellar recruits put together as a team by himself and his predecessor, Mike Shula.

These athletes bought into the process, finished the program and ended the season dismantling the mighty Texas Longhorns. The Texans did not go down without a fight, even after losing their All-American, All-everything, Colt McCoy. He deserves all the recognition his college career brought with it, Colt was no doubt the real McCoy.

His backup was a freshman, talented but still lacking. In the end, the Longhorns would not have enough to stop the Crimson Tide from finishing the season as champions. The Alabama team finished as champions, not the coach, not the quarterback, and not the famous junior linebacker. It was a team effort.

Bryant did much of the same in a short period of time for the Crimson Tide. But he wasn't labeled a legend after his first national championship. He used the gridiron as his mission field. He molded young boys into men. He taught them to be champions on and off the field of play.

The men molded by Bryant became leaders on the gridiron and in the world around Alabama citizens. That is what brought on the status as legend. Look around Bama fans, I don't have to name them you know who they are.

We see them everyday. On television, at work, in politics and in the christian mission field. They are a part of the fabric of our lives, our communities and our country. Some have had international impact. That is the legend of Coach Bryant.

Now all of a sudden, Alabama fans want to hang the label as "Legend" on head coach Nick Saban. After one truly successful season, he is now a legend in the mind of some amongst us. In fact, it is impious to say that he is not, in their opinion.

Please don't do this, Alabama fans, let Saban continue on his journey and let him complete his body of work for the Crimson Tide. Don't sell him short. He doesn't deserve it and neither do the men and women in whom he intends to continue 'the process' with in years to come.

Saban is without a doubt worthy of praise by the fan base. But to label him as a legend is premature. To say he is a legendary coach amongst his peers is one thing, but to say he is legendary at Alabama is another thing, entirely.

Is Gene Stallings a legend? How about Mike Dubose? They both won championships in one form or the other. Did that make them legends? Absolutely not.

A single championship doesn't make a legend. May it never be! That is what trophies are for. Pins and banners make a champion but not a legend.

Legends are built over time. Through hardships, and overcoming unbelievable odds. Taking something that was mundane and making it more than anyone imagined it could be. Through that process, releasing champions into our communities to continue their work.

Yes, Saban has the stuff of legend, and if he continues on to complete his work, he will be legendary, but let it happen.

Don't label it legendary now.

Our history is cherished, too rich and too steeped in tradition to just hand it over to someone in such a short time. In fact, if you would ask the man himself, he would not consider himself an Alabama legend. I challenge anyone in this fan base to ask him or have someone you know to ask him this very question, "Are you an Alabama Legend?"

Saban came to Alabama wanting to make a mark on a traditional program. If you will ask him, he will tell you that his job is unfinished. He is still in the process of rebuilding the Alabama Football program. It is not yet where he wants it to be and he is not ready to leave it in someone else' hands. But guess what? It's not about football, it's bigger than that!

Football is the means but the process yields a product that is much more important. The process develops champions in football that become champions for life.

His goal is not to finish as champion for a season. And thank the Lord for that because that goal has been accomplished. His goal is much broader. Bigger than himself, bigger than Mal Moore and bigger than Dr. Witt. And he needs our help and the help of the administration to accomplish his goals, his indelible mark on the world.

He intends to put Alabama in a position to succeed year after year. And that does not simply mean winning a championship every year.

"Then what will it look like?" you might ask.

It will be a program that athletes will line up to become a part of, recruiting will be necessary but will be much easier. The best will come knocking on Alabama's door, not the other way around.

The athletes will be successful on and off the field. The best of the best will leave with a degree after their third year in college and head to the NFL. That is an attainable goal, one more and more athletes at the University of Alabama are achieving.

Many athletes will go on to extend their football careers in the NFL but many more will extend their education in professional schools across the land. Some will become Rhode Scholars, educators, lawyers, doctors and business leaders. Unfortunately some may need to become politicians and help clean up the mess others are making as we speak.

Alabama will become a launching pad for educated athletes. An institution molding great minds within strong bodies in order to make a difference in the world around us. Championships will come and go but champions will be living amongst us and helping us make our world better, working right beside us, day by day.

Working side by side, the champion will inspire us all to excel even more.

No longer will there be a need for the ESPN chronicle "where are they now." They will lead us into the future on and off the field. They will be the leaders of the brave new world. That will be the stuff of legend. That is the mark that Saban intends to leave on Alabama.

It's cutting edge stuff. Saban is on the edge, cutting the mold as we speak.

Don't diminish his achievement by calling him legendary for simply bringing home a crystal football. May it never be!