The Nick Saban Era | Why He Will Be Remembered By Alabama Fans Forever

The University of Alabama's Head Coach Nick Saban has brought back a team who in recent years has fell down on the respect polls dramatically. From Toledo to LSU to Miami to Alabama he has been an effective head coach.

When he arrived at the University of Alabama in 2007, he knew that he had a big task ahead of him. Since Coach Mike Shula was fired and he brought in his recruiting class for the upcoming 2007 season, Coach Saban was not allowed to recruit any further until the start of the season.

Therefore, he had to work with the team he was left with, and that would not be easy.

Coach Shula's class was nothing better than usual, bad. He didn't bring in one five-star, and only three four-stars. Terry Grant was his top recruit, and he was Coach Saban's choice for a starter in 2007.

Grant played fair, but not as good as Saban's choice for 2008, which was the junior Glenn Coffee. Coffee had two outstanding games against Auburn and Arkansas. His stats were great, but his decision to not return for his senior year hurt Coach Saban.

Coach Saban has a great deal of starters from last season that will return, but the loss of Rashad Johnson, John-Parker Wilson, Glenn Coffee, Andre Smith, and Antoine Caldwell will surely hurt him in 2009.

He will have to replace Wilson at quarterback, which will be tough. He chose Greg McElroy to start, which may have been the better choice.

Darrah and Jackson were his other two choices for QB, and they both did well in spring training, but McElroy shined. He put up better stats in the spring A-Day game, and he was the back-up in 2008.

McElroy was put into a couple of games in the fourth quarter, but he had his better game against Auburn when he threw his only touchdown in 2008. He was the only one out of the three QB's that actually has experience in a college game.

Saban has done great as the head coach at Alabama. In his first season he went 7-5 and in his second he went 12-2.

Now, no coach will ever have a "great" first season. Saban had a fairly good season in year one. He beat the No. 9 Arkansas Razorbacks in the final seconds of the game. He only lost by a touchdown in his first ever Iron Bowl. He also took a great Georgia team into over time.

The Tide eventually went on to beat the Colorado Buffs in the Petro Sun Independence bowl. Again, not a great season, but remember, he didn't recruit a single player, didn't make up the schedule, and it was only his first season at Alabama and back in college football.

In only his second year at Alabama, Coach Saban took his Tide to a undefeated regular season, an SEC championship, and a BCS bowl game.

He had the No. 1 recruiting class for 2008 and now 2009. He was also named the Home Depot Coach of the Year.

He went into Baton Rouge and beat his former team, LSU, in overtime. He had a great season in 2008, raising all hope for the Crimson Tide. In 2008, Alabama was considered the hunters. In 2009 though, Coach Saban will have to transfer over, and train his team because they will become the hunted.

This coming season the Crimson Tide will have every team in the SEC and college football coming after them. Every team will want to get a piece of Alabama, but all Coach Saban and his Crimson Tide have to say about it is, "Bring it on!"

Expectations are higher, we have a better team, and one of the elite coaches in college football. All of the materials of a successful team. We will have to see how Saban's third year will go. Expectations are high, but can the Tide live up to it? Roll Tide.