The Goat Pen

Why would they? Everyone knew the outcome before kickoff.

Shaddup and KYR, Rat.

Jungle Rat wrote:Why would they? Everyone knew the outcome before kickoff.

They Rammer Jammer Vandy and Kentucky all the time.

The last 8 seasons have been very good, regardless of how this year finishes.

2015, 12-1
2014, 12-2
2013, 11-2
2012, 13-1
2011, 12-1
2010, 10-3
2009, 14-0
2008, 12-2

has it been worth most of the $$$ paid to Saban?

Worth. Every. Cent.

And, honestly, grossly underpaid.

2015, 12-1, SEC, CFP
2014, 12-2, SEC, CFP
2013, 11-2, Sugar Bowl
2012, 13-1, SEC, NC
2011, 12-1, NC
2010, 10-3, CapOne
2009, 14-0, SEC, NC
2008, 12-2, SECW, Sugar Bowl

96-12 (.888), 4 SEC titles, 3 national titles.

When your nadir is 10 wins and a CapOne berth...yeah, worth every cent.

Those are incredible numbers.

And provided Saban doesn't die or become the Colts new head coach this spring, he will soon start his 10th season at Bama, which is second only to Les Miles in continuous service by an active SEC coach.

I don't see him leaving Bama unless he gets bored or dies. I.e. Not any time soon.

AA, nostalgia aside, who would you prefer: Bryant or Saban?

It's a good question. The eras are so different that I don't think it lends itself to an easy comparison. Bryant right now, though, but it is close and Saban will pass him if he stays.

KeviNole wrote:Shaddup and KYR, Rat.

I love it when I'm right

AlabamAlum wrote:It's a good question. The eras are so different that I don't think it lends itself to an easy comparison. Bryant right now, though, but it is close and Saban will pass him if he stays.

I understand the different era aspect, but I am always interested in these types of discussions, especially from the perspective of someone who understands the game and the history of the program.

Like I said, it's a good question, but difficult. Bryant started at Bama in the single-platoon era, no internet or recruiting firms, no computers, no ESPN, limited travel to recruit, extreme limits on TV appearances, segregated, a very meager budget, and many other differences...that said,

Bryant was 232-46-9 (.824) in 25 years at Bama. He won 6 NCs, and 13 SEC titles (or shares).

Saban is 98-18 (.845) in 9 seasons at Bama. He has won 3 NCs and 4 SEC titles (Saban would have 5 more wins but they were vacated in 2007 because of the textbook scandal).

I give Bryant the edge despite a 2% deficit in win% because of the titles and the longevity. The fact that Brant's first and last NCs are 18 years apart is kinda amazing.

The question is will you ever catch yourself saying "Yes I still miss Coach Saban".

and what was Bryant's last bowl like? It's become a dark and rainy memory.

Yes, I'm sure I will say I miss Coach Saban.

It was a blustery and frozen night as I entered the dank, austere surroundings of the Liberty Bowl on the late December night of 1982. Slow barges lumbered down the Mighty River. Blues bands played as if they were heralding in a fresh lamb to the slaughter.

The Mighty Fighting Illini were big. They were strong. They were mean. The wounded and much-beleaguered Crimson Tide team formed a thin red line as they shielded themselves from the cold and valiantly headed onto the tundra that night.

The rifle-armed All-American, Tony Eason, set his angular jaw against the gale-like, frozen winds on that dark Memphis night. Like a gridiron Baryshnikov, Eason’s 6’4” frame danced nimbly through the pregame warm-ups as he focused his mind on the task at hand: Embarrassing – no humiliating – the great, but terminally ill Paul Bryant and his rag-tag band of undersized and injured players...

Head Coach of the Mighty Fighting Illini, Mike White, knew a pro career lay ahead of him. He chuckled slightly as he perused the gameplan and thought to himself, “This is Bryant’s last game. I’ll make him wish he’d quit sooner.”

The ailing Bryant grimaced as he slowly emerged from the tunnel. Heart disease was killing him and he knew his doctors had warned him about coaching this game, especially considering the extremely harsh weather. He struggled to keep from letting his family – the players – see him in such mind-searing pain as he covertly placed a nitroglycerin tablet under his tongue. He never wanted this game to be about him. He simply wanted the players to hold their heads high and compete honorably for the University, their families, and most importantly, themselves. “Make your mamas proud," he grumbled, as the last of the players and trainers ran from the tunnel.

Somehow, Alabama had managed to keep the game close through most of the game; however, Eason was driving his team for what should have been the winning score. But Alabama's defense came through ... one last time for Bryant. Afterward, the young Illinois coach said that he had never seen a team hit as hard as Alabama that day. Bama was outgunned and out-manned, but they played with incredible heart and won the game for Bear on desire and grit alone.

That fateful Liberty Bowl was played on December 29, 1982. Less than one month later Bryant would die of heart disease. Coincidentally, less than one month after that, his beloved wife of 59 years, Mary Harmon Bryant, would die, too.

From the time Bryant first prowled the sidelines at the University of Alabama in 1958, until the day he died in 1983, no other team in the Nation won as many games, had as high of a winning percentage, or as many championships. And no one was really even close.

Mighty Fighting Illini.

Heh.

AA, you're a prosefessional.