Can Alabama Fans and Press Handle the Eventual Downhill Slide?

Larry Burton (Panama City Beach, Fla.)—All good things must come to an end. Right now Alabama is on top of the college football world with the No. 1 team, players from top recruiting class after top recruiting class standing on the sidelines waiting for their chance to shine, and one of the best stadiums in the United States fixing to be even better.

But sooner or later, Alabama will lose some games and fail to make the SEC championship. People are already lining up to to point and say, "I told you so," and many will even question the man who made getting to the top possible.

The big question is, how will Alabama fans take it?

"No school has expectations as high as Alabama," Nick Saban said about the fan base. But he also went on to say this wasn't a problem to him, because they only met his own expectations.

But are the expectations too high?

People honestly expect to win big for the next few, foreseeable years with the talent and coaches Alabama has in place.

So if they lose, the coaches can deal it—they're professionals. The players can rebound—they understand just how fragile a winning season can be.

But what about the fans? Will there be gnashing of teeth? Will there be name calling and finger pointing?

Or will there be reflection over past accomplishments and hope that the team has learned their lesson and are going to be hungry and even more dangerous?

And what about the press? Will they delight in the downfall, or simply be caught up in the next great team?

Some will point to Nick Saban's record after the National Championship at LSU and say it was bound to happen.

Some will guess the team has gotten lazy, or the coaches aren't working as hard, or whatever other excuse they wish to dream up.

The simple truth is, nothing lasts forever.

The sad thing is, back-biting, name-calling and "I-told-you-so's" go on forever.