From the Bear to Sir Nick: It Hasn’t Always Been This Way
College football is cyclical. Bama is the model of consistency and on top again, but as many Tide fans remember…it wasn’t always so.
By: Dr. B
The college football season of 2020 will go down as one of the most unusual in the history of the sport. A virus that proved to be more powerful than the sport’s best teams, opt-outs and cancelations and playing in front of near empty stadiums will go down as lasting images of the season. In addition, the rise of teams like Coastal Carolina, Louisiana, Cincinnati, and Liberty and the struggles of traditional bluebloods Michigan, Penn State, and LSU served as a reminder of how crazy the season was.
Yet, despite the lunacy of the season, a few things have remained the same. The College Football playoff that takes place on January 1st will consist of a few usual suspects...Alabama and Clemson will be making their 6th appearances (out of 7 years), Ohio State returns for their 4th trip and Notre Dame is back for round 2. If you are experiencing playoff fatigue over hearing, essentially, the same teams at or close to the top year after year, you are not alone.
One constant this year, and really for the last decade, has been Alabama. The Tide, under coach Nick Saban who is in year 14 with the Bama program, has been the sport’s definition of consistency and is enjoying one of the best runs in college football history. Programs have changed their entire mentality because of what's going on in Tuscaloosa. Hiring and firing practices have changed as boosters and athletic directors have a thought that their programs should be able to replicate the success at Alabama. Coaches are being fired at a rate that has been unseen in the history of the sport (call it the “Saban Effect”). Forget building a program and a culture, forget years of “strong” mediocrity where losing three or four games a year and going to a good bowl game is acceptable (right, Gus?).
Photo: Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images
Since Nick Saban became head coach at Alabama in 2007, the 13 other SEC schools have gone through 35 head coaches.
Coaches need to win now and such thinking has muddied the entire process to the point that certain programs are, essentially, being run by powerful, wealthy boosters instead of university personnel. The end result? An absolute circus, like what we saw Auburn just go through. I’ve talked to a few Auburn buddies who love their school, love their program, and are great fans but are beyond upset over the apparent 2% that seem to be running the football program from the outside...good, solid Auburn people calling this small group utterly delusional, costing the remaining 98% of the pure joy they know as Auburn football. Time will tell if the hiring of Boise State’s Bryan Harsin proves to be a good one. Welcome to the SEC, coach, and I hope the Auburn Nation embraces you and gives you a chance. Nothing but the very best to you.
But back to Alabama...some reading this might not be old enough to know or understand this, but the Tide has not always been this consistent, healthy, and dominant. As a matter of fact, prior to Sir Nick coming on board, there were actual years where the well was dry. Very dry. Heck, even Coach Saban’s first year in Tuscaloosa in 2007 was a rough one, as will be explained a bit later. However, for Alabama, it hasn’t always been this way. How did the Tide get to where they are today? It’s actually a fascinating study.
Alabama has a rich history of football, and the pride in the Tide took off during the Great Depression. The state had long been seen as backward and well behind the rest of the country in almost everything, yet the University of Alabama began to build a powerful football program. That program gave Alabamians the opportunity to say to the rest of the country, in at least one area: “we are better than you.” In the late fifties, the program had fallen on hard times and went out to find a man that would turn their football fortunes around.
That man would turn out to be one of their own...a former tight end and a man that was known for his no-nonsense approach to the game and absolute dedication to winning on the field. In 1958, Paul Bryant was hired after the previous coach went a combined 4-24-2. Citing his reason for going home to Alabama was plain and simple...Bryant stated that “Momma called me home.” Bryant was in his forties and had been the head coach at Maryland, Kentucky and Texas A&M (stories of his first team at A&M, a group dubbed “The Junction Boys” are legendary and even inspired an ESPN film and the name of our friends’ site, The Junction Blog; their story will be saved for a future column).
Photo: Associated Press
Enter the savior of Alabama football, Paul “Bear” Bryant, whose legacy towers over the University of Alabama and the entire state to this day.
The legacy of Bryant is further enriched with the fact that he carried an iconic nickname. When he was 14, growing up in rural Mora Bottom, Arkansas, Bryant went to a carnival and in order to earn some extra money for his family, he took part in a sideshow event that offered the opportunity to enter into a ring and wrestle a live bear, earning a dollar for every minute he stayed in the ring. Apparently, Bryant lasted a good while in the ring before jumping out. It’s debatable who won the match and the bear may have been the last one standing in the ring, but young Bryant left that day with a legendary nickname that stuck...“The Bear.” To add to the legend, Bear wore a trademark houndstooth hat on game days. The houndstooth legacy lives on today, as from salty old Bama fans down to sorority girls, the checkered black and white design is as much a part of the Alabama gameday tradition as tailgating and the iconic “Roll Tide” chant. The Bear established a tradition of winning and excellence, and Bryant’s footprint will forever be ingrained on campus. The team plays at Bryant-Denny Stadium, which is located on Paul Bryant Drive...you get the picture. For many years, everything Alabama football went through the lens of the legendary coach, who ranked right below Jesus on the state’s hero scale.
Bear Bryant would amass 232 wins at Alabama, and at one point he held the record for most career wins for a college coach. During his time in Tuscaloosa, Bryant would win 13 SEC championships and six national titles as the Tide’s head coach. Bryant retired at the end of the 1982 season, and six months after he retired, the Bear passed away at the age of 69. To say the state of Alabama, and college football in general, mourned heavily would be an understatement. For Tide football, the passing of the Bear ushered in a frustrating era of mediocrity that would only be halted with the hiring of a man named Nick.
Photo: Paul W. Bryant Museum
Ray Perkins would take over as coach of the Tide, and while there were good moments, he could never break loose of the Bear’s shadow.
The Bear was replaced by a former player of Bryant’s, Ray Perkins, who was plucked from the NFL’s New York Giants. The “Perk” as he was known, tried to put his mark on the program but had the impossible task of following an absolute legend. He went a combined 32-15-1 in four years of coaching, which included zero national or conference titles. Worse, in his second year, Alabama suffered through their first losing season in decades (they went 5-6) and failed to qualify for a bowl game for the first time in 25 years. The season was only salvaged due to a 17-15 upset of Auburn and Bo Jackson in the season finale. The Tide rebounded in 1985 and led by a lefty quarterback from Miami whose last name was Shula, recorded two victories that remain legendary in post-Bryant Tide lore...a 20-16 victory over Georgia in the season opener, which actually was an extremely boring game until the final minute produced a blocked punt for a touchdown by Georgia only to be answered by a Shula touchdown pass to a junior college transfer from Los Angeles named Al Bell (great name) with 16 seconds to play. The other was the most exciting Iron Bowl ever played, a 25-23 victory over Auburn that ended in a dramatic last-minute drive by Shula that culminated in a 52-yard field goal from Van Tiffin as time ran out, immortalized by the call from the late Keith Jackson that I remember well to this day (“This is 52 yards into the breeze...it’s not strong but there’s some...the kick is up...it’s long enough...and it’s good! HE MADE IT!”).
One of the main highlights of the Ray Perkins era, known as “The Kick.”
The ‘86 season was supposed to put the Tide back into the national title picture and return the Tide to the glory days. Bama rose as high as #2 in the nation, and the season included the Tide’s first victory ever over Notre Dame (28-10), but Alabama stumbled down the stretch and finished 10-3. Perkins, who just passed away, jumped ship after ‘86 and went back to the NFL, taking the reigns as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
With Perkins' departure, the Tide did what was considered unthinkable...they hired someone who had no ties to Bryant or the University. Bill Curry was hired away from Georgia Tech and faced an uphill climb for acceptance right from day one. Curry survived three seasons and went a respectable 26-10, yet there were some interesting times during his tenure. In a rare homecoming loss to Ole Miss in 1988, the Tide was defeated 22-12 in a game where their three quarterbacks went a combined 0 for 11 passing. The game became known in Tide lore as the “Brick Bowl” as someone threw a brick through the window of Curry’s office after the loss. Southern hospitality at its best. At the time, a joke circulated around campus that when looking for suspects, all three Alabama quarterbacks were quickly cleared due to the fact that throwing a brick through a window took a degree of accuracy.
Photo: Bernard Troncale, Birmingham News
Curry leading the Tide out of the tunnel. His inability to beat Auburn spelled his demise in Tuscaloosa.
Similar to Perkins, the Tide would enjoy one season where the faithful were teased into thinking the good old days were returning when in 1989, led by a tall, razor-thin backup quarterback named Gary Hollingsworth and a tailback named Siran Stacy (named after Saran Wrap...no joke) the Tide rose to #2 in the polls leading into the annual Iron Bowl. Prior to 1989, the Iron Bowl was played in Birmingham’s Legion Field and the stadium was split 50-50 (it was awesome). On this day, the game was moved to Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium for the first time. It was seen as a historic day in Auburn, as symbolically, Auburn people believed it showed that the Tigers were, at long last, on an equal plane with the Tide. On this particular day, the 11th ranked Tigers rose above the Tide and rallied from a 14-10 halftime deficit to down 2nd ranked Alabama 30-20, ending Bama’s run at a national title. The Tide would go on to lose to eventual national champion Miami in the Sugar Bowl and ended the season 10-2, ranked #7. Curry resigned a few weeks later and took his show to Kentucky, leaving Alabama to look for their third coach since the Bear. Curry’s biggest sin? He went 0-3 against Auburn.
Alabama went back to its roots and hired a Bryant disciple, Gene Stallings. “Bebes” as he was known, had formerly coached at Texas A&M (where he played under Bryant) and the St. Louis Cardinals, where he had minimal success. Yet, Stallings was known as old school, a throwback to the Bryant era, and Bama nation hoped that at last, the glory days were set to make a return in Tuscaloosa. The Stallings era started off rough, as he lost his first three games of 1990 and finished 7-5, which included an embarrassing 34-7 loss to Louisville in the Fiesta Bowl (where Louisville managers were caught on camera saying “Alabama who?”...totally unacceptable to the Alabama faithful). Stallings' saving grace was a 16-7 victory over Auburn, their first victory over their rivals since Van Tiffin’s kick in 1985.
Stallings would go on to record a below the radar 11-1 season in 1991 where they finished #5, but an early 35-0 shellacking to the Florida Gators eliminated them from any serious national discussion, yet Tide Nation had a glimpse of past glory. That glimpse would turn into full-fledged euphoria in ‘92 as Alabama would capture their first post-Bryant national championship, capping off a perfect 13-0 season which included the Tide’s third straight win over Auburn, a dramatic 28-21 victory over Steve Spurrier’s Florida Gators in the first SEC Championship game, and a dominating victory over defending national champion Miami Hurricanes 34-13 in the Sugar Bowl. Alabama was finally back on top and Tide Nation rejoiced. It took 10 years and three coaches, but we were finally back!
Photo: The Crimson White
Stallings brought Alabama back to the promised land, but it was a short-lived stay at the top.
The Tide's time at the top would not last long, as Bama stumbled through a 9-3-1 1993 season, but returned strong in 1994 by going 12-1, with the lone loss coming at the hands of Spurrier and Florida, 23-22 in the SEC Championship game. The season ended with a Citrus Bowl win over Ohio State. Stallings' last two years were marred with probation due to recruiting violations and mediocrity on the field, as Tide teams went 8-3 and 10-3 to finish up the Stallings era. Bebes finished with an overall record of 70-16-1.
Alabama turned to another former Bama player who was also Stallings’ defensive coordinator, Mike Dubose. DuBose was an interesting character, as he was not incredibly respected as a football coach in the Alabama circle. Side note: Football coaches love saying the word “football” and tend to add the word any time they could. By far, DuBose used the word more than any coach I have ever heard, inserting the word numerous times in every sentence he spoke.
Photo: Tuscaloosa News
The DuBose era was wrought with problems and marred by scandal.
To sum it up, the DuBose era lasted four years, produced an overall record of 24-23, and was a disaster. Two of his four seasons ended in losing records, yet he did win an SEC Championship in 1999, beating Florida twice that season. In addition, DuBose had an affair with a university secretary that came to light and embarrassed the program. DuBose was sent packing in 2000.
Replacing DuBose was an up and comer from TCU named Dennis Francione. Coach Fran lasted just two years, as he never fully embraced the Alabama nation and was hamstrung by another round of probation. Fran went 17-8 and left to become Texas A&M’s head coach after the 2002 season. Alabama would be looking for their sixth head coach in twenty years, and the Tide nation was getting used to life on probation and mediocrity on the field. But the very worst was still yet to come.
Photo: Dave Martin, AP Photo
The Franchione era was done in the blink of an eye, as he chased the Brinks truck to Texas A&M.
Bama turned to Washington State head coach Mike Price. A coaching veteran of 22 years, Price seemed like a good choice as he had elevated Washington State’s program from irrelevant to one capable of competing for a spot in the Rose Bowl each season. Price lasted a grand total of five months and was released from his contract after he was caught visiting a strip club while attending a golf tournament in Florida. This was incredibly embarrassing to a once-proud program. Bama had become a mediocre job and in the face of the rise of SEC programs like Florida, Auburn, and LSU, was seen as a program whose very best was well behind them. Once again, Bama was looking for someone to lead them back to relevance.
The Tide was still hamstrung by NCAA sanctions and made an interesting hire...they turned to former Tide quarterback Mike Shula, the son of legendary Miami Dolphin coach Don Shula, who had been the Dolphin quarterbacks coach. He had no former head coaching experience and was seen as a peculiar hire. The Shula era lasted four seasons, which included records of 6-6 (twice), 4-9, and there was a tease during the 2005 season when the Tide rose to 3rd in the nation, but fell in consecutive weeks to LSU and Auburn to finish 10-2. Shula never looked comfortable coaching the Tide, and after a 5-2 start to the 2006 season, Bama stumbled badly down the stretch, finishing 6-6, and Shula was let go before Bama’s bowl game. Once again, the Tide was in search of yet another coach.
Photo: Rob Carr, AP Photo
Shula was unable to break through at Alabama under difficult circumstances.
I remember the search to replace Shula very well, as Tide Nation had grown weary of the mediocrity that surrounded the program. We heard former LSU and current Miami Dolphins head coach Nick Saban’s name early on, but upon him famously stating he would “not be the coach at Alabama,” the search turned its attention towards someone else we were incredibly excited about, West Virginia’s Rich Rodriquez. Rich Rod was a hot name, having elevated the Mountaineer program to a level that could compete for national titles, and was offered the position in December. Rumor had it that he was ready to accept the offer and become Alabama's next head coach and had even picked out his crimson tie for the press conference. Yet, Rodriquez turned down the offer and later that month would accept the head coaching position at Michigan (his tenure did not go well as he lasted just three years and compiled a record of 15-22 with the Big Blue). Bama turned its attention back to Saban, and Athletic Director Mal Moore somehow convinced the Dolphins coach to take the Alabama job.
Photo: UM Photo Services
One of the greatest photos in Alabama football history. Bama dodged a bullet, and it led to the hiring of Nick Saban, the second savior of the Crimson Tide.
Alabama fans were ecstatic with the hire but turned cautious as Saban’s 2007 squad turned in a pedestrian 6-6 record. Notable happenings during that first year included:
Saban’s first victory at Alabama, a 52-6 win over Western Carolina
Saban’s first SEC win as Bama’s coach, a 24-10 decision over Vanderbilt
Saban’s first loss as the Tide’s head coach, a 26-23 overtime loss to Georgia. Alabama has not lost to Georgia since.
A 41-17 victory over Tennessee, which had beaten the Tide 10 of the last 12 games. This victory started a streak of 14-straight and counting, victories for the Tide over the Vols.
A 21-14 loss to Louisiana-Monroe, the last time Alabama lost to an unranked opponent (98 in a row and counting!).
It took a while, and I certainly appreciate all who have coached the Tide, as there were some great coaches and great men that led the Crimson and White. Yet 27 years after the Bear left the Tide sideline, Alabama dominance returned under a new legendary coach and reached the summit again with the 2009 national championship. In many ways, the Tide has yet to vacate that position.
The Bear was seen as the ultimate legend in college coaching, and in Alabama, he literally was seen as a god that could not be topped...until Saban arrived. Years from now, this generation will know Alabama football through Coach Nick in a similar way that mine saw the Bear. Nobody will take the place of the Bear in Bama football lore, and the same can be said about Saban when he steps down (no time soon, by the way...Bama nation, breathe easy). The ultimate record held by Bryant may actually be broken this season. The Bear and Saban are dead even with winning 6 national championships each. Saban and the Tide are favored to add #7 to Saban’s resume.
To those that love college football who are suffering from Alabama fatigue...to those that are frustrated with their programs and to those that think they might not have the right coach...to those that love their teams and think they may never get over the hump...I get it. As Alabama fans, we have been there. We have been mired in irrelevancy and frustration...we’ve suffered through losing seasons and getting beat by our bitter rivals on a consistent basis. Hang in there, as your time might come. Keep loving and supporting your teams, the tough times will be worth it, and one day your team may be the dominant one in college football. After all, just a short time ago, “Clemsoning” was associated with a modern Tide rival due to the Tigers’ penchant for collapse...just look at them now.
Photo: Gary Cosby Jr., Tuscaloosa News
I know we love to hate on Dabo as Tide fans…but if your team is fighting for relevance, just remember what Swinney did with a Clemson program toiling in mediocrity before his takeover.
For the Alabama nation, it’s our time right now, and I can tell you, it’s wonderful and glorious and tons of fun. Yet, as history has shown us time and time again, college football is cyclical, and most likely we will see Alabama return, at least to a degree, to the Perkins, Curry, Stallings, DuBose, Francione, Price, and Shula eras. I do not envy the task that will be given to the coach that follows Saban.
At the point when your program is at the top, you will be able to say what I have been able to say to my kids, who are 13 and 10 years old and have never known a mediocre Alabama: it hasn’t always been this way.