I'm not impressed with Bama

[randystewart]

Don't get me wrong, they have an impressive roster, there is just nothing impressive about them winning games. With the talent disparity, nobody should come within 21 points of them. It is like people showing up to watch a sports car race a golf cart, and then talking **** when the sports car wins.
The past few years, we have been one of the top 2 to 4 games competition wise on Bama's schedule. Based on the recruiting rankings I can find, Bama has NINETEEN 5 star players on their CURRENT roster. On the flip side, we have signed SIX in the HISTORY of our program. While the numbers are not that drastic of a difference vs Auburn and LSU, they are still overwhelming. So again, color me unimpressed with their on field dominance. It is a sad state of college football when the disparity has gotten that far out of hand.

 

[DawgsOnTheWing]

Uhh, say again?

 

[seshomoru]

Bama has pointy elbows

 

[shotgunDawg]

They are a recruiting machine unlike college football has ever seen and it may not end in our lifetimes.

Sure, when Saban leaves, it may momentarily interrupt it, but they'll hire and 5 fire until they find the right guy again and the process will last forevermore. There's really very little point to the sport. There are so many data points that make recruits feel like Bama is there best chance to get to the NFL that's it's almost impossible to beat them on the recruiting trail.

 

[Clarence Boddicker]

What is the point of the sport if you are not trying to do what Alabama has done?

College football is all about recruiting and always has been. The best players win, and the programs with the most support/resources get the best coaches and therefore get the best players (at least that is the equation). If you want to win, you better focus on recruiting, directly or indirectly.

 

[maroonmania]

I just know they are beginning to ruin college football for me at the national level. I still love MSU and seeing how we compete each week but Bama is becoming so dominant that there isn't really any suspense with who will end up winning the NC. So I've lost interest and in fact really have very little interest in watching us play them this weekend. Clemson MIGHT be the only team that can stay on the field with them this year. Heck, Bama's closest game was 22 points vs TA&M and that was before their defense gelled. I would care less about the NFL as well if one team was winning every game by 20+ points every week. But even with the NFL, IF that happened, it wouldn't stay like that because the draft helps eventually rectify the competitive problem. There is no such equalizer in college. This mess will continue on until Saban retires and probably even a few years past that until Bama might finally slide back to normalcy again.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

There have been recent years when you could say this kind of stuff about Bama.

This year is not one of them. I put this year's Alabama team on par with the Nebraska's 1995 team. A definite once every other decade sort of team.

 

[shotgunDawg]

What is the point of the sport if you are not trying to do what Alabama has done?

College football is all about recruiting and always has been. The best players win, and the programs with the most support/resources get the best coaches and therefore get the best players (at least that is the equation). If you want to win, you better focus on recruiting, directly or indirectly.

You can't do it though or at least without going on probation.

The barriers of entry are too high. They are a machine that can't be touched.

 

[shotgunDawg]

I just know they are beginning to ruin college football for me at the national level. I still love MSU and seeing how we compete each week but Bama is becoming so dominant that there isn't really any suspense with who will end up winning the NC. So I've lost interest and in fact really have very little interest in watching us play them this weekend. Clemson MIGHT be the only team that can stay on the field with them this year. Heck, Bama's closest game was 22 points vs TA&M and that was before their defense gelled. I would care less about the NFL as well if one team was winning every game by 20+ points every week. But even with the NFL, IF that happened, it wouldn't stay like that because the draft helps eventually rectify the competitive problem. There is no such equalizer in college. This mess will continue on until Saban retires and probably even a few years past that until Bama might finally slide back to normalcy again.

It's only beginning to ruin it for you? I love college football & the individual games, but when there is nothing at stake because there is an assumed winner, it hurts the sport.

When Saban retires, they'll slightly regress for 10 years until they hire & fire enough coaches to ramp the machine right back up again. It's never ending

 

[Shmuley]

At least they suck at baseball.

 

[shotgunDawg]

There have been recent years when you could say this kind of stuff about Bama.

This year is not one of them. I put this year's Alabama team on par with the Nebraska's 1995 team. A definite once every other decade sort of team.

You mean they've won 5 of the last 9 national titles & haven't even been operating at maximum capacity?

LOL. What a great sports structure!*

 

[T-TownDawgg]

There's only thing I can think of that gives me hope for the future and makes me smile after seeing these bastards recruit monsters, send droves to the NFL every year, reload, and dominate the **** out of everyone for the past ten years.

Miami.

 

[Shmuley]

I smile every time Drew Brees sets another record.

 

[We Men]

And there's one thing you guys failed to mention. As long as they are playing SEC teams, they have always, always, always, gotten referee help. And that's why I don't respect them.

 

[DoggieDaddy13]

You guys need to quit crying. We're gonna beat that Bama @*** this weekend. It's like Daniel Boyd said before the '96. It ain't the helmets, it's the players and We READY.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElFDlShmOng

 

[shotgunDawg]

There's only thing I can think of that gives me hope for the future and makes me smile after seeing these bastards recruit monsters, send droves to the NFL every year, reload, and dominate the **** out of everyone for the past ten years.

Miami.

Not sure if you're talking about the Hurricanes or Dolphins, but, if you are talking about the Hurricanes & how their dynasty fell apart, there is one big difference between them & Bama IMO & that is that Bama has infinitely more money, a significantly bigger fan base, & generally a much bigger structure than Miami

If your talking about Saban in the NFL, I'm not sure where you're going with that.

 

[L4Dawg]

Don't get me wrong, they have an impressive roster, there is just nothing impressive about them winning games. With the talent disparity, nobody should come within 21 points of them. It is like people showing up to watch a sports car race a golf cart, and then talking **** when the sports car wins.
The past few years, we have been one of the top 2 to 4 games competition wise on Bama's schedule. Based on the recruiting rankings I can find, Bama has NINETEEN 5 star players on their CURRENT roster. On the flip side, we have signed SIX in the HISTORY of our program. While the numbers are not that drastic of a difference vs Auburn and LSU, they are still overwhelming. So again, color me unimpressed with their on field dominance. It is a sad state of college football when the disparity has gotten that far out of hand.

LOL.

 

[T-TownDawgg]

Canes. Their dominance was toppled by several factors. Surprisingly, the NCAA was actually one of them.

 

[maroonmania]

It's only beginning to ruin it for you? I love college football & the individual games, but when there is nothing at stake because there is an assumed winner, it hurts the sport.

When Saban retires, they'll slightly regress for 10 years until they hire & fire enough coaches to ramp the machine right back up again. It's never ending

Well, Bama has been winning all along with Saban but this year's dominance has taken it to a new sickening level. At least in some previous years, even last year, there was some suspense. In fact, Georgia outplayed Bama for most of last year's NC game and should have won but there were 3 or 4 blatantly bad calls in Bama's favor that gave Bama all they needed to pull it out.

 

[maroonmania]

And there's one thing you guys failed to mention. As long as they are playing SEC teams, they have always, always, always, gotten referee help. And that's why I don't respect them.

Absolutely true. Even when they do play in a close game the refs will give them a call or two to push them over the top. When you have the talent they do it doesn't take much to tip the scales back in their direction. The Ridley out of bounds play was enough to give Bama the game at MSU last year and in the NC game against Georgia there were multiple blatantly bad calls in Bama's favor that tipped that game to them for an OT win. It always amazes me how refs in most all sports always seem to give the perceived better team most all of the judgement calls in their favor. Seen it in all sports at most all levels. Like the officials are afraid to be the reason that somebody gets upset I guess. Poor Vanderbilt has gotten the worst end of officiating in the SEC for years. Even worse than us which is saying something.

 

[Pilgrimdawg]

You guys need to quit crying. We're gonna beat that Bama @*** this weekend. It's like Daniel Boyd said before the '96. It ain't the helmets, it's the players and We READY.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElFDlShmOng

Even if we did manage to beat them on the field ( which I doubt ) the SEC Refs will control the outcome. Been watching the dawgs since 1961 and I can’t even count the number of times with us and others where they have been protected. I first saw it happen first hand in I believe 1963. I could be off a little on the year but we lost on the score board 20 to 19. We were sitting down low, right on the goal line and clearly scored on a 4th down play. Back in those days they used yellow chalk in Tuscaloosa to mark the goal line and white chalk to mark the rest of the lines. Our back clearly scored and had yellow chalk on his uniform around his waist. The refs looked at each other for awhile and finally one of them picked up the ball, put it on the 2 and said first down Alabama. A few years later, Bama went for it on 4th down, did not come close to making it so the gave them 5th down. One time in the mid 70s n Jackson we were first and goal inside the 5 and scored 3 times but they kept just taking the ball and sticking back on about the 2. I forget the score but we lost by less than a touchdown. I have lost count over the last 57 years. That out of bounds play with Calvin Ridley last year was nothing compared to the crap I have seen. In the years where Bama is highly ranked don’t get your hopes up. They are not going to let it happen.

 

[mount lefroy]

What is the point of the sport if you are not trying to do what Alabama has done?

College football is all about recruiting and always has been. The best players win, and the programs with the most support/resources get the best coaches and therefore get the best players (at least that is the equation). If you want to win, you better focus on recruiting, directly or indirectly.

Florida State,Tennessee and Nebraska would like to have a word with you outside please.

 

[Clarence Boddicker]

Florida State,Tennessee and Nebraska would like to have a word with you outside please.

What are you talking about?

 

[Clarence Boddicker]

You can't do it though or at least without going on probation.

The barriers of entry are too high. They are a machine that can't be touched.

No they aren't. They have a great combination of rabid support and location in a talent-rich area that is football crazy with not much else to do. They were one of the first programs to build up their team, and they benefit now. But don't lose sight of the fact that a lot of this is due to Saban, but I give them credit for being able to attract and hire him.

 

[BlueRidgeMtns]

View attachment 11703

 

[philduckworth]

I smile every time Drew Brees sets another record.

Drew Brees, Mike Price, Rich Rod, Franchione many things could have fallen differently...

Same with Cohen being our AD. A lot of luck in life.

 

[JoMo MoJo]

This Bama team is probably the best offensive unit they have ever fielded. Their defense is the problem. Saban drives a fine line between scoring just enough to ensure a win and totally demoralizing his opponents and college football entirely. His idiot coach in waiting, Dabo Swinny, has been dropping 60 on most teams they play. That is not what Saban wants to do. Bama usually loses a head scratcher every year. That would have probably been the Arkansas game this year where Arkansas scored 31 on them but Bama still blew them out.

 

[maroonmania]

You can't do it though or at least without going on probation.

The barriers of entry are too high. They are a machine that can't be touched.

Not even other big time programs have been able to do it at anything like the levels Bama is currently. The great equalizer has always been playing time and to a lesser degree scholly limits. Its really only been early playing time and the 25 scholarship rule that remotely keeps college football competitive. Otherwise 8 to 10 elite programs across the country would be untouchable by most everyone else. But I've not seen another program until Saban that can consistently convince 4 and 5 star guys to come in and sit 2-3 years behind other 4-5 star guys before they see their time on the field like Saban does. Not sure if he does it legally or illegally but its mindboggling that he can continually get whoever he wants even though those players know they either likely won't be a significant contributor for several years or if they don't produce at a super high level will get processed out.

 

[deadheaddawg]

I don't mind bama dominating. It at least shows us who the sour grapes snowflakes idiots are because they will be yelling about a referee conspiracy theory

 

[Clarence Boddicker]

Not even other big time programs have been able to do it at anything like the levels Bama is currently. The great equalizer has always been playing time and to a lesser degree scholly limits. Its really only been early playing time and the 25 scholarship rule that remotely keeps college football competitive. Otherwise 8 to 10 elite programs across the country would be untouchable by most everyone else. But I've not seen another program until Saban that can consistently convince 4 and 5 star guys to come in and sit 2-3 years behind other 4-5 star guys before they see their time on the field like Saban does. Not sure if he does it legally or illegally but its mindboggling that he can continually get whoever he wants even though those players know they either likely won't be a significant contributor for several years or if they don't produce at a super high level will get processed out.

It's not that difficult. Number 1, Saban is a tireless recruiter. That's his biggest talent, and it happens to be the most important aspect of college sports. This is a big reason he succeeded in college and not the pros. He doesn't have a coaching gimmick, and if he does, it's that he's very good at coaching fundamental football. There is nothing special about his defenses except that they are super disciplined.

 

[Clarence Boddicker]

And there's one thing you guys failed to mention. As long as they are playing SEC teams, they have always, always, always, gotten referee help. And that's why I don't respect them.

Good teams always appear to get help from the referees. Funny how talent seems to create more breaks for you.

 

[Ranchdawg]

They won't miss a beat after Saban leaves. He installed the same recruiting machine at LSU and they have continued to "hire" some of the best players in the country.

 

[Ranchdawg]

I'm with you Randy. I used to watch their games and pull for the under dogs. All I was doing was voting to see Alabama on TV week in week out. 90% of the people that tune in were doing and still are doing the same. ESPN loves Alabama because all their games have a huge viewer ship. For that reason about 8 years ago I quit watching all Alabama games except 1. Saban couldn't win in the NFL because the draft wouldn't allow him to stack the deck. He came back to the college level so he could "hire" the best athletes and only have to coach in a few games. Two years ago Alabama recruited 23 4 and 5 star players. That is an entire offense and defense in one class of all 4 and 5 star players. That was just one year of recruiting! I think we may have a few 4 and 5 star players but we can't even match up with just that one year for them. He has destroyed the SEC just like Calimari has destroyed the basketball for the SEC.

 

[MSU601Dawg]

I don't see how someone could NOT be impressed with what Alabama is doing and has done.

You can only get 25 guys a year and they don't get the 25 best players in the country, there are 5-10 rosters that are right there with theirs every year. But no one does more with those players than Saban.

It's not about them having more money or support than anyone else, lots of programs have those same things. It's about them having the 2 best coaches in college football history. After Saban is gone, I think you'll see Shula/Franchione/Dubose type results again.

 

[MedDawg]

They are a recruiting machine unlike college football has ever seen and it may not end in our lifetimes.

Sure, when Saban leaves, it may momentarily interrupt it, but they'll hire and 5 fire until they find the right guy again and the process will last forevermore. There's really very little point to the sport. There are so many data points that make recruits feel like Bama is there best chance to get to the NFL that's it's almost impossible to beat them on the recruiting trail.

No way they keep this up after Saban leaves. It's just a perfect storm right now. Bama will return to really good to great most years but not super great every year. Like Bama after Bryant. Still win some NC's, but no where close to what they are now. Eventually when they do find another great coach, he won't be able to sustain it like Saban has.

Due to the pressure, I predict within 2 or 3 coaches after Saban they will hire a coach who is sloppy at cheating and gets hit by the NCAA.

Other than Saban, there is nothing at Bama better than any other top football school. And Bama still has a big in-state rival who is willing to do whatever it takes to win. A lot of other top schools don't have that.

 

[patdog]

there are 5-10 rosters that are right there with theirs every year.

No there aren't. Not even close. Here's the number of 4 & 5 star players for all 4 playoff teams last year.

Alabama: 101 four- and five-star recruits, including 27 five-star prospects.
Clemson: 58 four- and five-star recruits, including 7 five-star prospects.
Georgia: 73 four- and five-star recruits, including 11 five-star prospects.
Oklahoma: 55 four- and five-star recruits, including 3 five-star prospects.​

 

[thekimmer]

I agree in principle with the sentiment. Not that bama is unimpressive. On the contrary, Alabama building such a dynasty is a very impressive feat. It does however highlight two things. 1) NCAA football is a haves and have not sport. Its an example of why it is so nearly impossible to break into the elite level of college football unless you are already there or have recently been there. The reason is because there are no checks and balances to keep top programs from building huge monopolies fueled by a never ending supply of money. 2) Bama's situation does tend to hurt the sport because they just happened to be able to take empire building to such an extreme that it has eroded competitiveness. There is little entertainment for the average fan in watching a team not just win 99% of their games but win almost all by blow out.

There is really little that can or will be done. What we have is essentially this dichotomy. College football by virtue of the money involved is a de facto major pro sport but its governed like it is just another extracurricular activity. So you essentially have the money of the NFL without the framework to maintain parity. I think the NCAA as a whole is OK with the current system but would much prefer the talent be spread around more evenly among the elites instead of being so concentrated on one program for so long. But it is what it is.

 

[Clarence Boddicker]

I don't see how someone could NOT be impressed with what Alabama is doing and has done.

You can only get 25 guys a year and they don't get the 25 best players in the country, there are 5-10 rosters that are right there with theirs every year. But no one does more with those players than Saban.

It's not about them having more money or support than anyone else, lots of programs have those same things. It's about them having the 2 best coaches in college football history. After Saban is gone, I think you'll see Shula/Franchione/Dubose type results again.

patdog just pwn3d you in regards to your comment about who has the best players.

As far as them getting the best coaches in history, how do you think they got them and paid them and kept them there?

 

[campshelbydog842003]

No there aren't. Not even close. Here's the number of 4 & 5 star players for all 4 playoff teams last year.

Alabama: 101 four- and five-star recruits, including 27 five-star prospects.
Clemson: 58 four- and five-star recruits, including 7 five-star prospects.
Georgia: 73 four- and five-star recruits, including 11 five-star prospects.
Oklahoma: 55 four- and five-star recruits, including 3 five-star prospects.​

This is right here. The top 5 or 6 rosters besides Bama are not even close in talent (but Georgia is going to get there eventually). The fact that anyone beats them is pretty amazing, considering how much more talent they have than anyone else. At least Georgia isnt in the division so when Saban retires we have a chance to go get skull drug by the new Bama if we happen to overachieve one year.

 

[missouridawg]

No there aren't. Not even close. Here's the number of 4 & 5 star players for all 4 playoff teams last year.

Alabama: 101 four- and five-star recruits, including 27 five-star prospects.
Clemson: 58 four- and five-star recruits, including 7 five-star prospects.
Georgia: 73 four- and five-star recruits, including 11 five-star prospects.
Oklahoma: 55 four- and five-star recruits, including 3 five-star prospects.​

I remember playing those PS2 NCAAF games and I would always get tired of blasting teams once I got my dynasty out-recruiting a,l of my closest rivals. Bama is doing this **** in real life and ain’t gonna stop.

I honestly wonder what each recruiting class costs them.