We will enter a new decade in two weeks, and hopefully it shall be one that has great athletic feats on display.
Since 2009, dominant schools and franchises have come and gone in both collegiate and professional sports – however, one school has been wildly successful through 10 years.
The rise of Nick Saban ushered in the rise of Alabama football and the emergence of the state as a whole.
In terms of infrastructure, cities like Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery and Huntsville among others have grown in technology and industry.
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When it comes to athletics, the football program at the University of Alabama reigns supreme above all major sports.
One cannot even start a national championship conversation without including Saban and the Crimson Tide.
This expectation started on Jan. 4, 2007; the day Saban was hired at head coach and vowed that he’d give fans a product it could be proud of.
He followed the promise by delivering the school five national championships and has placed himself in the same light of respect as legendary coach, Paul W. “Bear” Bryant. Each journey to coveted hardware carried a different vibe.
The 2009 championship was Alabama’s return to the mountaintop.
In 2011, the Tide owned college football with a stifling defense. It played with two forms of motivation.
After a horrific tornado ripped through Tuscaloosa in April of that year, the players wanted to dedicate the season to the residents of the city and those who lost lives.
Also, a regular season loss to LSU at home played a critical role.
An incredible turn of events happened in the rematch, as the Tide downed the Tigers by a score of 21-0 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in New Orleans, La. Les Miles, who was LSU’s head coach at the time, witnessed arguably one of the best Alabama defenses of all time. The Tigers crossed midfield only once and Jordan Jefferson could not create anything. While it made five field goals, a late touchdown run from Trent Richardson sealed the deal in the 2012 title game.
Despite the greatness carried from the 2012 and 2015 championship teams, the 2017 title squad had Saban in rare form. For someone who is often thought of as a control freak, the 68-year-old actually was in a state of pure happiness. To snatch a championship away from Georgia and his former assistant, Kirby Smart, was gratifying – especially in the way it was achieved.
Even with the success Jalen Hurts had, Saban made the decision to roll with Tua Tagovailoa in the second half.
A freshman then, the native Hawaiian brought a much-needed spark on offense in the passing game, tossing for three touchdowns.
The final score came in overtime as Tagovailoa found DeVonta Smith for 41 yards, in a play now dubbed “2nd and 26.”
All Saban could do was throw his headset in the air in utter joy.
In his words, it was the happiest moment of his life and the 26-23 win over Georgia earned him his sixth national title overall.
When one thinks about it, Alabama’s five national titles are the most by any major athletic program in this decade.
The trio of Duke, North Carolina and Villanova each have won two national championships in college basketball since 2009. Kentucky won the NCAA Tournament once (2012) in this decade under John Calipari.
As far as the National Basketball Association, both the Los Angeles Lakers (2009-10) and Miami Heat (2012-13) won two championships in this decade.
Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors owned the decade with three titles.
In the National Football League, the New England Patriots have won three Super Bowls since 2009 and the San Francisco Giants ran Major League Baseball with three World Series Championships in this decade.
None of these schools or franchises topped Alabama.
It did not make the College Football Playoff this year, but Saban and the Tide were must see television through these 10 years.
Alabama football grew ratings, sparked intense debates, and even made the sport change systems from the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) to the CFP. People thought the change would limit the Tide; however, two of its five championships came in the CFP.
Regardless of the run Clemson has made in two of the last three years, Dabo Swinney still needs four titles to catch Saban.
He’s about to bring in a special recruiting class in February of 2020 and with quite a few draft-eligible juniors being rumored as potential returners to the roster, Saban is not done ripping off championships just yet.
Alabama will be dynamic for years to come.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
