Alabama-Georgia: Greatness Awaits the Crimson Tide

After Alabama's heartbreaking loss in the 2006 Independence Bowl to Oklahoma State, a teary-eyed Joe Kines, who served as the Tide's interim head coach, humbly looked out to the sea of reporters at the postgame press conference. 

In that familiar gruff voice of his, he bellowed, "There's a champion in that room! Good young players that will work hard. Alabama’s important to them, and the University is important to this state.”

The old coach furrowed his brow and continued pouring out his heartfelt words, as he sternly dismissed the criticism of the hobbled Crimson Tide program, which had just stumbled to a 6-7 season and was in the middle of yet another coaching search.

"Don't believe all that junk about too much expectations,” Kines said. “That's what's wrong with the world anyways. Too many people settle for average. We will never settle for average at Alabama.”

It was a foreshadowing of sorts. Settle for average, Alabama did not.

Less than a week later, on Jan. 3, 2007, after a lengthy and highly criticized departure from the Miami Dolphins, Nick Saban officially accepted the position to lead the Crimson Tide.

In the eyes of Alabama fans across the nation, the hiring of Saban was an obvious reason for aspirations of better days. For Saban himself, it was a homecoming.

Prior to 2007, Saban had no ties to Alabama. He had been successful in his time at Michigan State, leading the Spartans to a 10-win season in 1999, but it was in the Southeastern Conference at LSU where Saban would reign supreme.

Winner of two SEC titles, as well as a national championship, Saban had made his mark as one of the elite among college football coaches.

His future, however, would lead him away from the college game, as he accepted an offer to coach at football’s highest level. But in the second year of his unsuccessful stint in the NFL with the Dolphins, a situation was developing in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

When the opportunity presented itself for him to return to his old stomping grounds of the SEC and be reunited with the college game he loved so dearly, Saban went where his heart was.

Thus, the process began.

On that unforgettable January morning amidst a hullabaloo of television cameras, photographers, and reporters, Saban assured everyone of his mission statement.

Using passionate phrases like, “We want to be a champion,” “I want to win every game we play,” and “We want to dominate our opponent,” Saban had rejuvenated the hungry Bama Nation.

With one fell swoop, those in crimson found themselves basking in the euphoria of the presence of their new head man.

A few months later, at the conclusion of spring practice, that euphoria displayed itself in the form of more than 92,000 fans for the Tide’s spring scrimmage game. Saban and the players spoke of how they were “blown away” by the outstanding support from its undying fanbase.

At long last, the day arrived for the kickoff of the much-anticipated “Nick Saban Era”. On the evening of Sept. 1, 2007, just as they had done in record fashion that spring, 92,000-plus Alabama fans, donned in their Crimson Tide décor, packed legendary Bryant-Denny Stadium for the season opener versus Western Carolina.

Needless to say, the Tide rolled 52-6, and Saban’s career at the Capstone had opened with a bang.

The harsh realities of the SEC would rear their ugly heads, however.

After a blissful last-minute victory at home over Arkansas, Alabama would drop two straight games, including a gut-wrenching defeat in overtime to the Georgia Bulldogs. Less-than-stellar wins over Houston and Ole Miss would follow.

The season hit its watermark on the Third Saturday in October, as Alabama rolled over Tennessee, though talks of an SEC Championship were silenced by another heartbreaking loss, this time to LSU. It was a loss that would send the Tide into a downward spiral.

Alabama dropped its final four regular-season games, including a humbling loss at home to Louisiana-Monroe and a sixth straight defeat at the hands of archrival Auburn.

The 7-6 season was only salvaged by a bowl victory over Colorado, and it was evident that the “process” of Nick Saban was very much a work in progress.

But even after the Tide limped through its final few games, it seemed to have no ill effects on the always-persistent Saban.

As he had done throughout his career, Saban emphasized the importance of recruiting. If he were going to make Alabama a national power once again, he would need to bring in the right players to build the foundation for the coming years.

Fortunately for Saban, the Southeast is a hotbed for talent. Alabama, with its championship coach, its prestigious tradition, and its newfound optimism, became a trendy pick for some of the nation’s best high school football players.

Thus, Saban and his staff reeled in a much-heralded recruiting class, ranked by many as the best in the country.

Once again, the joys of Bama Land were heard loud and clear, and the 2008 opener versus the Clemson Tigers could not arrive soon enough. 

As game week finally arrived at the end of August, there was a different feeling about this year’s Alabama team.

Perhaps it was the fact that the Tide was entering the “magical” Year Two, as history has shown that Saban’s teams have always made the most improvement from the first year to the second.

Perhaps it was the new look of this Crimson Tide, with a plethora of young, talented freshmen, such as wide receiver Julio Jones, running back Mark Ingram, and a host of others.

Perhaps it was the opponent: the Clemson Tigers, picked by many as the ACC championship favorite and ranked in the preseason polls at No. 9 in the country.

Perhaps it was a little of everything.

But whatever the reason for this newfound confidence in the Crimson Tide, it was obvious on the night of Aug. 31, 2008, before a fervent, capacity Georgia Dome crowd, that this team was—indeed—different.

Behind the physical, stalwart offensive line consisting of All-SEC performers like Andre Smith and Antoine Caldwell, coupled with the bruising running attack of Glen Coffee and freshman Mark Ingram, the Tide ran over, around, and through the Tiger defense.

With the steadfast senior John Parker Wilson under center, and a surplus of weapons at the receiver position, Alabama picked apart the Clemson secondary as well.

The dominating Crimson Tide defense, behind the 365-pound plug in the middle known as Terrence “Mount” Cody, held the talented tandem of James Davis and C.J. Spiller to a mere 20 rushing yards combined and were constantly busting into the backfield, pressuring Clemson QB Cullen Harper with reckless abandon.

Alabama rolled in most convincing fashion, 34-10. It was more than a win for the Crimson Tide. It was a statement. An identity had been established.

One Sports Illustrated cover and three wins later, with the Tide undefeated at 4-0 and ranked inside the nation’s top 10, the greatest opportunity to date for Nick Saban’s Alabama team presents itself this Saturday night in Athens, Georgia.

Everything that Tide players, coaches, and fans have been hoping for is suddenly closer to their grasp. The goals set by Saban when he arrived at Alabama nearly 22 months ago now seem to echo incessantly, because the opportunity has arrived for Alabama to do something very special.

The stage couldn’t be much bigger.

In the preseason, Georgia was picked by many pundits as the best of the best in college football. They find themselves unbeaten and currently ranked in the top three in the nation. The Bulldogs’ roster consists of a bevy of NFL-caliber talent, such as QB Matthew Stafford and RB Knowshon Moreno.

ESPN’s popular television show, College GameDay, will be in Athens, the second time the GameDay gang has followed the Tide this season. Sanford Stadium will be “blacked out,” as it was in Georgia’s 45-20 thrashing of the Auburn Tigers last November.

However, these storylines, while intriguing for pregame buzz, are “external” factors, as Saban would point out.

Sure, the stage is grand. Of course, it’s a clash of two SEC teams in a game that carries a lot of clout in the hunt for the conference championship, and even the national championship.

But what is probably most significant for Alabama, in the grand scheme of things, is that this game actually means something again. It means something because under the leadership of Nick Saban, the Tide has once again risen to legitimacy in the SEC championship race, probably quicker than most had anticipated.

What better way for Alabama to prove its worth than in an electrifying showdown against a prestigious Georgia Bulldog team, “between the hedges” in Athens, on a national stage?

What becomes of Saturday night’s matchup between No. 3 Georgia (4-0, 1-0) and No. 8 Alabama (4-0, 1-0) remains to be seen, but witnessing all the hype and buildup surrounding this can’t-miss affair, things are put into perspective.

This is a battle-scarred program that not so long ago was an afterthought in the SEC title picture. By not “settling for average,” look how far it has come.

The opportunity awaits Nick Saban’s “process” to take yet another monumental leap in Athens on Saturday night.