Trendsetters, Y'all...a year and a half late

In early 2008 I started but ultimately deleted a football blog. The only event that inspired me to write was National Signing Day when Julio Jones committed to Alabama. I drank an Irish coffee at ESPNZone in Times Square by myself to watch this one kid select a school. I alone among the tourists jumped and cheered when he donned his crimson baseball cap. I went home and wrote this bit called "Trendsetters, Y'all!"

Some people are just born winners. The cosmos seems to align itself around their endeavors. They will always rise to the top, and likewise some football programs will always be great. Superiority has been a thread throughout their history and will continue to appear in their stories. Roll Tide Roll.

Last April a staggering 92,000 packed out Bryant Denney Stadium to see Nick Saban's first public work with the Alabama Crimson Tide at the A Day game. No one declared a mass pilgrimage to Bryant Denney. No one rallied the troops or circled the wagons or any other metaphor for mobilizing a group of people. Alabama fans collectively were compelled from within by hope for a greater future, faith that it will come, and unquestioning loyalty to the team they know will return to the top.

The result? Media buzz like no one could have predicted from the team that already had provided all the offseason buzz with its dramatic coach change. And now, nearly a year later, this compelling program has roped in a recruiting class that again has the entire sports world chattering. Springtime will never be the same.

What Alabama did naturally, programs nationwide are trying to replicate: turn their spring games into a recruiting gimmick. Read the message boards. West Virginia wants to send a message to Pitt, UVA, and Rich Rodriguez that the Mountaineers are serious about staying a viable football force. The Aubz, too, are chattering about scheduling bands and making a near carnival of their spring game.

Trendsetters, y'all. Bama's played like a midlevel team for a decade, excepting '05, and still everybody wants to be them. They're easy to villainize, especially their coach, but they possess elitism innately. They will continue to glide above their peers who try to emulate their undeniable weight, excellence, and superiority.



P.S. The trend continued, and on Feb 6 this year we welcomed another top recruiting class to The Capstone as well as two more packed out spring games.

P.P.S. The above photo is the wallpaper on my laptop.