Whether one equates itself as a die-hard or bandwagon supporter, Alabama fans never grow tired of Nick Saban’s heated debates with media personnel or the occasional “a– chewings” with his players and staff.
The Crimson Tide was on the top of the world in 2013, or at least that’s what it wanted people to believe.
After winning back-to-back BCS national championships in 2011 and 2012, it was on the verge of doing something that had not been accomplished ever in college football—win three straight national titles.
We all remembered the fate of Southern California, following its championships in 2003 and 2004.
Texas quarterback Vince Young and the Longhorns forced it to bite the bullet during the 2006 Rose Bowl (2005 season). Hidden beneath the emotions that started all sad-faced memes for college football lied a coach who battled internal frustration, as he greeted the victor of a heated in-state rivalry at midfield.
Saban did not like were Alabama was at the end of the 2013 season and as he embraced his wife, Miss Terry, she felt the burden and back-hand comments regarding the Tide’s coach losing more than just a game.
The dreaded Iron Bowl ending, known as the “Kick Six,” revealed the true colors of multiple players and would lead to the team dropping the 2014 Sugar Bowl to Oklahoma, 45-31.
For a coach labeled as a control freak, Saban has feelings and the main one was respect. Losing to Auburn tipped the final straw on conversations concerning him losing the team’s chemistry. He hadn’t lost back-to-back games in that fashion since the 2008 season, when Alabama fell to Florida in the Southeastern Conference title game and then to Utah in the 2009 Sugar Bowl. While the ’08 campaign stung, Saban was still building the program. With this occurring five years and three national titles later—people expected more.
Three things were sealed in his mind following an 11-2 season and all became immediate priorities.
Overall character/communication
Selfishness kills “The Process.”
After 2013, Saban and his staff went in search of recruiting players that were solely bought into a team mindset. Pieces started coming together in 2014, as a leadership council was formed among the group.
Despite falling to Ole Miss and Ohio State (College Football Playoff semifinal), Alabama stayed together. The roster that had very little in the cupboard loved, supported and pushed one another to an SEC championship.
A year later, the council grew stronger.
The Tide embraced a quarterback in Jacob Coker, who had much to prove and wanted to win a national championship. Its defense was nasty as always, but this unit held everyone accountable.
Defensive back Tony Brown witnessed the seriousness first hand, as he was sent home by his brothers for a violation of team rules during the week of Cotton Bowl against Michigan State.
Ever focused and locked in on the mentality of its coach, Alabama secured its 16th national title in school history. Prior to taking down Clemson, Heisman-winning running back Derrick Henry approached the podium in New York City with one of the more heartfelt speeches to Saban.
Alabama RB Derrick Henry holding the 2015 Heisman Trophy with head coach Nick Saban in New York City. Photo via D.A. Graham- Touchdown Alabama Magazine
“To Coach Saban, the great ambassador. The man who believed in me when he recruited me,” Henry started his speech. “He seen me grow as a player and a person and you can learn a lot from him. Every day I am going to be challenged by you and you are loyal coach and I just love you.”
His tears confirmed the appreciation of Henry’s speech, but it was the future first-round picked respected his teammates that reassured Saban that his men were more “We’s” than “I’s.”
Following its 45-40 victory over the Tigers, the Crimson Tide turned its attention to a 2016 season that would pose many challenges. While everyone else expected Cooper Bateman or Blake Barnett, the team rallied behind an 18-year-old to take full command on offense. As Jalen Hurts responded with a record-setting year, one of the seasoned veterans of the leadership council proposed his goal back in August.
“I want to understand my teammates better,” senior defensive end Jonathan Allen said.
His effective communication led to Alabama having the nation’s best rushing defense (63.4 ypg), total defense (248 ypg), scoring defense (11.8 ppg), defensive touchdowns (10) and efficiency defense (98.0) this season.
An iconic moment in the team’s unselfish efforts came from a player that would not finish the year. Before breaking his leg against Texas A&M, safety Eddie Jackson was a big play waiting on happen.
Regardless if it was on defense or special teams, Jackson wanted to score.
On Oct. 8, Arkansas fans had its version of the Super Bowl as the Tide came to D.W.R. Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark. Like his brother Brandon, Austin Allen took a beating from Alabama’s pass rush. He found ways to pick apart the secondary yet there was one man Allen could not fool, Minkah Fitzpatrick.
On his third interception, the sophomore quickly identified Jackson.
Not thinking like the average senior, Jackson encouraged Fitzpatrick to come out of the end zone. He would then exude one of the biggest traits in Saban’s philosophy… Sacrifice.
The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native started and finished the aiding convoy for Fitzpatrick to travel 100 yards for a touchdown. New Jersey received the coveted “Ball Out” turnover belt, but Saban noticed another quality that was lacking in 2013 come to fruition. In facing adversity against Ole Miss, LSU and Auburn, Hurts never lost confidence in the team and his brothers did not lose confidence in him. Fully taking on an “us versus the world” persona, Alabama finds itself back in the College Football Playoff for a third straight time.
Defensive recruiting: Getting faster players
Alabama had gotten use to the big bodies.
Praise was heaped upon specimens like Terrence Cody and Jesse Williams, but their intimidating stature would only backfire against teams that could attack the Tide on the perimeter.
Run-pass-option schools—RPOs—or fast ball teams had a way of running multiple plays per possession that only tired Alabama up front, but also negated substitution opportunities.
In its five losses since 2013 (twice to Ole Miss), schemes in formation, misdirection plays and effective play calling kept Alabama on its heels. This statement became evident in the 2013 Iron Bowl, when Auburn’s quarterback Nick Marshall found Sammie Coates for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
His deceptiveness on the zone read forced the Tide’s defensive front to crash down, allowing him to roll out and put its secondary in a tough situation. Instead of staying at home, defensive backs Cyrus Jones and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix goes to attack Marshall—which freed up Coates on the third option.
Coach Saban saw his group surrender over 100 yards rushing and 250-plus yards of total offense in both 2013 and 2014. With the game vastly changing, he needed men that could take away angles and eat up space.
Much of the transition started in Alabama’s 2013 signing class.
Recruiting Jonathan Allen, Tim Williams and Reuben Foster meant more athleticism, however, the trio needed to be conditioned. Under Reggie Ragland, A’Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed, the Tide improved in 2015.
While turnovers on offense doomed the team against Mississippi, its defense allowed 75.7 rushing yards and 276.3 total yards. Even its total on scoring defense reflected positive, improving from 18.4 to 15.1 points.
The next three recruiting classes would introduce fans to Rashaan Evans, Shaun Dion Hamilton, Da’Shawn Hand, Christian Miller, Joshua Frazier, Da’Ron Payne, Raekwon Davis, Anfernee Jennings and more.
Armed with a firm rotation of speed, power and technique, all that remained was a goal.
Coming into this season, the target for the front seven was to drop 10-15 pounds. Following the lead of Allen and Foster, Alabama conditioned its bodies—making it the fastest defense assembled under Saban since 2007.
Assistant coach Jeremy Pruitt has witnessed some dominant defensive play in his time at Alabama, but none come close to this year’s unit. The Tide is in the top 10 nationally in every major defensive category.
While Foster leads the team in tackles (94), Ryan Anderson anchors it in tackles for loss (17) and both Allen and Williams share the lead in sacks (8.5). Minkah Fitzpatrick has five interceptions.
Since 2013, Alabama has recorded a +12 (70 takeaways, 58 giveaways) in the turnover margin and forced 128 sacks—including 45 this year. It accounted for just 22 sacks in 2013, the lowest under Saban.
Evolution on offense: Hiring Lane Kiffin/Signing dual-threat quarterbacks
Whether you love him or hate the very sight of him, Nick Saban needed Lane Kiffin.
The radical offensive changes in college football reminded Saban that defense could no longer be the primary catalyst for winning. Going back to its five defeats since 2013, Auburn, Oklahoma, Ole Miss (twice) and Ohio State all had something Alabama lacked—a dynamic quarterback.
Under Major Applewhite, the Crimson Tide scored 22.3 points a game in 2007.
The next six years would combine both Jim McElwain (2008-11) and Doug Nussmeier (2012-13) running the show and despite three national championships, the offense failed to average 40 points a contest.
John Parker Wilson, Greg McElroy and AJ McCarron were all successful quarterbacks, yet the theme for them was “game manager.” None of the three possessed the ability to create when nothing was available and opposition displaying 4.3 speed wasted no time bringing pressure.
Now, enter Kiffin at offensive coordinator.
Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin going over plays with quarterback Jalen Hurts against LSU. Photo via Cedric Mason – Touchdown Alabama Magazine
For starters, the Lincoln, Neb., native is a known quarterback whisperer. He did great things at USC and helped Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton make an NFL roster, so to be dominant at Alabama wasn’t going to be much of a challenge. Kiffin mentored two 3,000-yard passers in his first two seasons, including one who is the school’s single season passing record holder (Blake Sims, 2014). He’s changed Saban’s outlook on recruiting at quarterback, especially after the Tide missed on Star Jackson, Phillip Sims, Phillip Ely, Parker McLeod, Luke Del Rio, Alec Morris, Cooper Bateman and David Cornwell. Kiffin helped land two dual-threat signal callers, including Blake Barnett—who was the highest rated prospect ever signed (five-star).
Though Barnett would leave Alabama, Kiffin raised up Jalen Hurts to lead the troops.
After being in the huddle for 31 of the team’s 52 points in its season opening win against the Trojans, Kiffin would aid Hurts to season in which he’s been responsible for 34 touchdowns.
Under Kiffin, Hurts has gone from a shy true freshman to a rock star.
He was the recipient of both SEC Offensive Player of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year, while earning recognition as a finalist for a multitude of other national awards. Along with helping both Hurts and running back Damien Harris near 1,000 yards rushing, Kiffin’s assisted the Tide to 40.5 points per game.
In two of three seasons (2014, 2016), he’s navigated the offense to having its best yardage output in the Saban era. Currently, the Tide leads the SEC in total offense with 471.3 yards a game.
Reflecting back on Alabama’s meeting against Louisiana State University confirms the idea for creativity on offense. In 2011, the Tide’s lone blemish came versus the Tigers in Tuscaloosa.
Head coach Les Miles had a quarterback in Jordan Jefferson that could generate plays, no matter how tight a ball game was. He did just enough to engineer a 9-6 win and in the same manner, Hurts flipped the script on Tiger fans at Baton Rouge, La. Hurts’ arm was a non-factor, but his athleticism totaled 114 yards on 20 carries.
Aside from walking off a hit from Mississippi’s defensive end Marquis Haynes, his defining moment came on a 21-yard touchdown run against LSU late in the fourth quarter to seal a 10-0 victory.
Alabama QB Jalen Hurts rushes for a 21-yard touchdown against LSU at Tiger Stadium on Nov. 5, 2016. Photo via Cedric Mason – Touchdown Alabama Magazine
Regardless of Steve Sarkisian being hired at offensive coordinator, Kiffin wants to finish what he started.
In conclusion
For the pain it carried, 2013 brought Alabama closer together and forced Saban to implement new strategies in his system. All who aspire to be legends must evolve at some point and for Saban, it took a loss to Auburn to make it clear. The Tide has compiled a 39-3 record since that time, including restoring the college football nature with a 48-43 win over the Ole Miss Rebels. Saban now has his eyes fixed on a sixth national title.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
