Is anybody really surprised that Nick can recruit? He can coach, too, I'm sure you're aware. Bama will not be a doormat in the West much longer. Get used to it, boys. The Bear Bryant days they dream of in Tuscaloosa will never come back, but the Bammers got a serious dose of humility in this decade, like we got in the 90's. They are getting their attitudes right and doing it Nick's way, for now. Auburn had their shot while Bama was down but Tuberville's program is declining a bit while Bama is getting stronger. Alabama will be our principal West Division rival for 2009 and beyond. It is a foolish mistake to underestimate Nick, just because some folks can't get past a coaching change. Geez, we got a better coach and we're doing all better than we did under Nick. We're going to play Bama every year and the sooner Nick becomes "just another coach" the better.
Both Saban and Miles can develop players no doubt. But my point was simply going by stars alone before any develop factors are considered. No one knows until the coaching is done and the kids get the opportunity to show their stuff on the field.
He'll never be "just another coach", but your point is taken. And look at the 5-stars Saban secured. He did a great job, but they are all in-state guys. Not knocking his achievement or recruiting ability. Just putting it all in perspective. He'd have been considered a recruiting failure this year if he hadn't landed at least two of those 3 5-stars. That said, he did a good job across the star-spectrum. Is it August yet?
Saban did a great job recruiting. No surprise there. And he can coach. But we adressed all our needs this year, in a down year talent wise for La. Next year we'll probably sign an even better class than this year. Any bamanite expecting the return of the days of Bryant is smoking crack. Saban is going to elavate them, but contrary to TerryP and some others,who defend him right or wrong, he's not without his weaknesses. Red is right, I see it being between us and bama for west supremecy in the future, but despite a lot of bama predictions, we're not going anywhere.
Slick Nickie actually swindled three of the top five players in the state of Tennessee (up yours PHAT effing PHIL!!!) ,Mark Ingram (RB) from Michigan St and Star Jackson from the state of Florida. He did very well with the in state players but plucked some good'uns from out of state as well. But we'll see. And August is a ways away. I'm sick now. :bncry:
I don't doubt there are some of "those" bama fans still out there. But the majority I believe understand the landscape of college football has changed. However, on the other side of that equation you're speaking from I think if any rival fan that expects bama NEVER to be able to return to the top of the football world (just because we've been down a while) are just as much the idiots as the bama crack heads. At the end of the day football is football. You get the talent, combine it with good coaching and you usually win a helluva a lot of games. Bama now appears to have both for the first time in a long time.
The last time you brought up Saban's weaknesses, I agreed with you. And now you pull it out of the hat again? I have stood on the other side of conversations here, sure. But, they have been situations where you have some on the outside looking in versus one looking at what those on the outside was saying. There have been a lot of things thrown out on this forum that were simply wrong, some down right lies. If you were in my shoes and the situations were reversed you would do the same.
