Nick Saban: Alabama's Renaissance Man

We Alabama fans are seeing the Crimson Tide being reborn right before our eyes.

I've been involved with Alabama football since 1965. I've witnessed six national championships—two in person. I think I have a pretty good handle on what it took for Alabama to reach the pinnacle of college football. It took hard work, great leadership, and each player having confidence in himself and his teammates. 

There was something special in the air in those days. You could feel the excitement, and you could feel the confidence growing, season by season, game by game.

The team, the coaches, the alumni, and the fans were all critical in making it happen. There was a confidence that ran from the field to the stands, and from the stands back down to the field. The team knew they could accomplish anything, and the fans had no doubts the coaches and team would do what ever it took to get it done.

I don't want to be accused of counting our championships before they hatch, but I am starting to sense a groundswell of momentum that will lead Alabama to greatness again, and we have coach Nick Saban to thank for heading up the charge.

We are gathering the pieces of the puzzle essential to reach that goal. We have great coaches, we are now recruiting great players, and we have the best facilities and loyal fans. Knowledgeable people are starting to see signs that can only mean one thing: Alabama is on its way back!

The only question is "When?" I am not going to try to predict when Alabama will get there. I am willing, however, to predict that we will get there. When that opportunity comes, we will have to make the most of it. Whether it comes this year, the next, or five years from now, only time, fate, and hard work will tell. 

We may not realize it, but we as Alabama fans are eyewitnesses. For most fans, your team winning a championship is a once-in-a-lifetime experience—not so at Alabama.

Just think you are seeing a team being built from the ground up. You will be able to say you saw it all happen from the start. Even better than that, you may be able to tell your children you were sitting in the stands when Alabama won a National Championship! I tell mine all the time.

Roll Tide!

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