OK, aside from the fact that this might be the single greatest photograph ever taken, there are a lot of expectations of Nick Saban in his first year at Alabama.
Alabama fans are hoping Saban can lead them back to national credibility and relevance and those who believe that Saban handled himself horribly and blatantly lied about not being interested in the ‘Bama job (I count myself among this set of people) hope he goes 6-6. While an SEC west championship definitely isn’t in the cards for the ’07 version of the Crimson Tide, neither is a 6-6 record.
On the surface, Saban had to have felt good when he saw that he was returning 9 starters on offense having only lost starting tailback Kenneth Darby, who was a dud last year after a breakout year in ’05, and starting fullback Le’Ron McClain. Though he returns his quarterback, depth at receiver and all five offensive lineman, he’s returning an offense that finished 9th in the conference in scoring offense and struggled to score in the red zone. Not to mention returning an offensive line that struggled to protect John Parker Wilson last year and struggled to contact the line of scrimmage.
Saban and Tide fans are hoping John Parker Wilson learns from an inconsistent year last year where at times he looked both brilliant and frazzled throwing 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions but scrambled effectively and held up well under pressure (except against Florida). Running back by committee will be the name of the game for the Tide who will see junior Jimmy Johns (wonderful sandwiches, by the way, the Turkey tom? Very tasty.), sophomores Glen Coffee and Ali Sharrief and redshirt freshman Roy Upchurch all potentially seeing time in the backfield this season.
At wideout, Alabama returns arguably the best receiver duo in the conference with D.J. Hall and Keith Brown. The unit does, however, need a quality third receiver to emerge from junior Will Oakley, senior Matt Caddell and junior Nikita Stover.
Though the offensive line returns all five starters, Saban could choose to infuse some new blood into a unit that showed some matador-like tendancies in pass protection season. This unit must do a better job of controlling the line of scrimmage in the running game and protecting John Parker Wilson if this offense is going to be more successful putting the ball in the end zone than it was last year.
Though the team returns starting defensive ends Wallace Gilberry and Bobby Greenwood, the rest of the Tide’s defensive line is relatively shallow and will need some young players to grow up quickly. With the switch from the 4-3 to the 3-4, Nick Saban will need to find a solid rotation of versatile linebackers and outside of sophomore Prince Hall, the only returning starter, they don’t appear to be there. Secure at the corners, returning senior Simeon Castille, who proved to be one of the conference’s most dangerous d-backs with six interceptions and three fumble recoveries, and junior Lionel Mitchell, the Tide will lean on free safety Rashad Johnson and strong safety Marcus Carter to shore up the unit. The Tide could be tough against the pass this year, if they can muster a pass rush.
All season Saban will be chasing that signature win. I don’t think he has a snowball’s chance of beating LSU, they won’t be able to stop Darren McFadden and Felix, they could be tough against Tennessee but I think Saban will most likely pick off Georgia. With a blitz package and a confident veteran defensive backfield, Saban will pressure Matthew Stafford into making bad decisions and throwing some reckless INTs given the sophomore quarterback’s penchant for doing so, I’d say this is not out of the question.
Bottom Line Prediction: 8-4. I see the Tide losing at home against Tennessee, LSU and Arkansas and dropping the neutral site game in Jacksonville against Florida State. I’m counting on Saban to knock off Georgia and Auburn in the Iron Bowl but both of those games are easily losable and if they do, they’ll be… wait for… 6-6
I Pledge Allegiance to the flag of The University of Alabama, and to The Bear and all he stands for, the Tide Nation, under God, with Tradition and Pride like no other… Roll Tide
Saban (all rise!!) will bring UA back to the glory years of our father and grandfathers. Sure we may not be a player nationally any longer but by God we have a bunch of National Championships years ago…just like the Vandy’s and Colgate’s and Army’s all of those teams use to be great centuries long gone. They all have something the barn doesn’t have too…tradition
All I can say is that ALABAMA will be playing for a National Championship every time they step onto the field. They will be better prepared than all their opponents, better conditioned, better disciplined, and better coached. You are relying on the pastr for your presumptions, and you would be wrong. ALABAMA is the team to beat. There will not be a better team on the field than ALABAMA. Let’s just see who’s closer to being right! ROLL TIDE!
butch davis did it at miami and tuberville did it at ole mrs, Nick Saban needs time and lots of it!!!
@3 get the shovels boys, it’s time to dig the bear up, prop his bones against the goal post, and bama will be back to win their 68th national championship
The envy these other schools have for Alabama is just unbelievable. But Alabama remains alone as The University of Alabama and Coach Saban is the Coach. Other teams can only dream of having Alabama’s traditions. It’s why they are all out to get us. They are you know, it’s a fact that they conspired to set us up and now they see in their failure to destroy Alabama that we are returning to our rightful place on top. God Bless Coach Saban for coming to Bama. He could have any head-coaching job in the NFL but he came to Bama because Bama is Special.
I know what I’m doing. Be patient and I will return Bama to the promise land.
we kneed to keep supportin our guy nick by continuin to bring our own toilet paper on a stick to the games. nothing says bama football and tradeeshun like brangin ar own toilet paper for us to use when and where we need it. aubies got that silly bird flyin round the stadyum but we got toilet paper on a stick!
RTR
you barners, as well as all sec coaches, are just jealous of Nick Saban. everyone knows he is the biggest threat in the sec. no other coach has the ability to create such a dynamic offense. all you barners better realize that bama is back!!!
Everyone needs to leave Nick Saban the hell ALONE!! HE is the coach at the University of Alabama! HE is the one that has to prepare this team for their next NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP! HE is the one that must put the rest of the teams in the SEC in their place! This is a HIGH-PRESSURE JOB! LET HIM DO IT!
i’d just like to say roll tide.
Good comment Billy. I got an uncle that lives in Ozark near the community college by that massage parlor. You might know him, John Lasater. Anyway here is my comment: let me tell you turd-knockers in east alabama that we still have 11 more national championships, 22 more sec championships, 2 more alcoholic coaches and 1,180 more meth labs than you will ever have! get it!
RTR
though i have never been to a game in tuscaloosa i too feel as though it is the greatest lurnin’ place in the world.
Perfect timing on my site I posted
http://ymswwc.wordpress.com/2007/08/07/this-is-alabama-football/
this morning….
all i have is one word, “alabama”. that says it all. RTR
TomfromBama: “God Bless Coach Saban for coming to Bama. He could have any head-coaching job in the NFL but he came to Bama because Bama is Special.”……….. Hum, Tom, I think your special.
Bark Nabber or is it Barn Napper???
this is the year we beat the barn and take all of our returning stars and win the sec and the national championship. just be patent. good things come to those who wait. Remember we are Alabama.
Bama is back…RTR
8-4, generous. 7-5 or 6-6 is more realistic. Saban is a great coach and it’s good to have him back in the SEC. Finally Bammer will become some what of a challenge again and people outside of the state lines of Alabama will give a flip about the Iron Bowl again. I just want to see the “we ballin baby” ladies face when the tide goes to the weed-eater bowl again this year. I wonder if 10-gallon Mal will enjoy signing Saban’s huge paycheck as much.
I am betting that Saban will “turn it on” when he is ready. Surely you are not downplaying the importance of the Weedeater bowl?
Is it Ears Whitworth or “Tears Shitworth”? Just dont get you hopes up too much little man.
How is BAMA supposed to beat UGA and also lose to them?
Oh, and Roll Tide.
BTW, that is a pic of Saban parting his hair.
Thereal bama bubba changed his name
You bammers are a friggin riot. Just fyi, no one fears your coach or your tradishun anymore than they fear the tradition of the Army and Notre Dame teams from antiquity.
Every year is “wait till next year” with you assclowns.. Well guess what fuckers? Next year you’ll be just as insignificant both regionally and nationally, only you’ll be doing so less 4 million bucks. Idiots.
Um, actually he tried the NFL, found that his control freak ways didn’t work in cities with newspapers and journalists that would question him, and that he couldn’t run grown men the way he did 19-year-olds whom he could kick out of “school”/ “farm league” at any moment.
But this is what will happen, Bama. You will win a national championship within five years. He is unquestionably a great recruiter and judge of talent, especially on the defense. And then Saban will leave you, as he is the Larry Brown of college (and pro, for that matter) football. And then the NCAA will discover, much like your last title under Gene Stallings, that your boosters were handing out cash, ‘hos of many colors, and cars hand over fist.
And then your title season will be erased from all but ya’lls minds.
I think Nick Saban is so sexy. I just want to hold his balls in my hands while I play his &^%#$% like a trumpet. Then he can turn me around and have his way. I hope i get a reach around.