Overview Alabama_Crimson_Tide_football_under_Nick_Saban

1 overview

1.1 hiring
1.2 first season
1.3 2008 season
1.4 first national championship
1.5 2010 season
1.6 second national championship
1.7 third national championship
1.8 2013 season
1.9 2014 season
1.10 fourth national championship
1.11 2016 season

overview
hiring

after 4 seasons head coach in compiled overall record of 26–23 (.531) on november 26, 2006, mike shula fired head coach of crimson tide. @ time of firing, athletic director mal moore promoted defensive coordinator joe kines roll of interim head coach independence bowl , search permanent replacement begin immediately. @ time several current coaches rumored in consideration position @ alabama, steve spurrier of south carolina , saban of miami dolphins thought preferred candidates. on november 27, saban publicly stated had not been contacted alabama , had no interest in leaving dolphins become head coach of crimson tide.

in december, moore made preliminary offer saban s agent jimmy sexton coach @ alabama $5 million per season 7 years $7 million signing bonus. @ time saban stated had not interviewed @ alabama , told players not leaving. after west virginia head coach rich rodriguez turned down offer coach crimson tide, speculation again focused on saban. rumors persisted prepared take alabama job, on december 21 saban stated guess have it, m not going alabama coach in effort stop alabama rumors. after dolphins season ended, speculated again alabama offer head coaching position saban. on january 3, 2007, saban officially resigned dolphins , became head coach of crimson tide. @ time signed eight-year contract worth guaranteed $32 million coach alabama.

first season


alabama attempts two-point conversion in 24–10 victory @ vanderbilt on september 8, 2007.

after hiring, saban worked hire first staff , complete first recruiting class crimson tide. staff did not include of shula s former staff, , kevin steele hired defensive coordinator , major applewhite offensive coordinator. on february 7, landed first recruiting class highly ranked major recruiting services in spite of having on month complete it. anticipation first season continued build through first spring practices, , reached peak when overflow crowd of 92,138 attended a-day spring game on april 21.

in saban s debut head coach, crimson tide defeated western carolina first win @ alabama. followed victory first road win @ vanderbilt , first win on ranked opponent against no. 16 arkansas 3–0 record open season. entered polls @ no. 16 position, lost in overtime @ home against georgia , in river city showdown @ jacksonville municipal stadium florida state. alabama rebounded 3 consecutive wins on houston on homecoming, @ ole miss , @ home on tennessee.

prior game against vols, antoine caldwell, marlon davis, glen coffee, marquis johnson , chris rogers suspended result of violating ncaa rules. violation result of failure in distribution system of textbooks deemed improper benefits defined ncaa. after ncaa reviewed case, in june 2009 determined players received improper benefits retroactively ineligible. part of penalty, ncaa forced alabama vacate football victories dated 2005 season through first 5 games of 2007 season.

after victory on tennessee, crimson tide lost 4 remaining regular season games. against former team lsu, crimson tide lost eventual national champions in dubbed saban bowl. followed loss @ mississippi state , against louisiana–monroe in 1 of bigger upsets of 2007 season. after sixth consecutive loss auburn in iron bowl, alabama closed season victory on colorado in independence bowl , finished season winning record @ 7-6 in saban s first season.

2008 season


alabama lines on defense during 34–10, season opening victory against clemson @ georgia dome.

looking improve on 7–6 record previous season, alabama signed top recruiting class determined wide variety of selectors. class featured many players later drafted nfl , formed foundation championship run 2009 through 2012. players class included future first round draft picks marcell dareus, julio jones, mark barron, dont hightower, , mark ingram. crimson tide completed spring practice large a-day crowd before season started later in fall.

the crimson tide opened season ranked no. 24, , defeated no. 9 clemson in inaugural chick-fil-a college kickoff open season. followed victory home wins on tulane , wku , won on road on arkansas before much-hyped game @ georgia. ranked no. 8 , playing against no. 3 bulldogs in deemed blackout game georgia head coach mark richt, crimson tide took 31–0 halftime lead en route 41–30 upset victory. after win, crimson tide moved no. 2 ranking , defeated kentucky, ole miss, tennessee , arkansas state on homecoming extend record 9–0.

after no. 1 texas lost texas tech, crimson tide achieved first regular season no. 1 ranking in ap poll since 1980 season , first ever no. 1 bowl championship series (bcs) ranking prior game @ lsu. in saban s first game @ tiger stadium since resigned lsu s coach after 2004 season, crimson tide defeated tigers 27–21 in overtime. victory on lsu allowed crimson tide clinch sec west division championship, , earned spot in sec championship game. alabama closed wins on mississippi state , auburn, ended six-game losing streak in iron bowl, , finished regular season undefeated 12–0. although favored, 2 touchdown rally led florida s tim tebow in fourth quarter resulted in crimson tide failing capture sec championship , instead of playing national championship, accepted invitation play in sugar bowl. against undefeated utah team, alabama upset 31–17 , finished season overall record of 12–2.

first national championship


alabama defeated texas first time in school history 37–21 bcs national championship.

although reached first bcs game since 1999 season, alabama looked improve 2009 season after closed 2008 on two-game losing streak after 12–0 start year. again, crimson tide secured 1 of top ranked recruiting classes third consecutive season in february 2009. in previous year, 2009 class included many players played significant roles in championship run. these players included first round nfl draft picks james carpenter, dre kirkpatrick, trent richardson, d. j. fluker, , chance warmack in addition eddie lacy , aj mccarron. in annual a-day game, crimson team defeated white team score of 14–7 before 84,050 fans @ bryant–denny stadium.

for second year in row, alabama opened season @ atlanta in chick-fil-a kickoff game. against virginia tech, crimson tide trailed @ halftime, 18-point rally in fourth quarter gave alabama 34–24 win. after consecutive wins on non-conference florida international , north texas, crimson tide defeated arkansas 35–7 open conference play @ bryant–denny stadium. alabama next went on two-game road trip, defeated both kentucky , ole miss , extended record 6–0.

the crimson tide returned home played south carolina on homecoming. against gamecocks, mark ingram had career-high 246 rushing yards , entered heisman trophy conversation led alabama 20–6 victory. in next game, pair of terrence cody blocked field goals, 1 of came time expired, preserved 12–10 win on rival tennessee. berth in sec championship game on line, crimson tide clinched west division championship 24–15 victory lsu in next game. alabama closed season wins on mississippi state, chattanooga , auburn , completed second consecutive, undefeated regular season.

in sec championship game, alabama faced east division champion florida second season in row in no. 1 versus no. 2 matchup. both conference championship , berth in 2010 bcs national championship game on line, crimson tide defeated gators 32–13 , won sec first time since 1999. @ conclusion of regular season, mark ingram won first heisman trophy in alabama history closest margin of victory in history of award on toby gerhart. crimson tide closed season 37–21 victory on texas finish perfect 14-0 , recorded first national championship since 1992 season , thirteenth overall in history of program.

2010 season


jeremy shelley made 2 field goals in alabama s 30–10 win on mississippi state.

as defending national champions, alabama entered 2010 season favorite repeat , win second national championship in many years. after again signing highly rated recruiting class, crimson tide opened season in no. 1 position in polls. alabama won first 5 games on san jose state, penn state, duke, arkansas, , florida , retained unanimous no. 1 ranking. however, in sixth game, crimson tide lost first regular season game since 2007 season when upset @ south carolina 35–21.

they rebounded next week 23–10 win on ole miss on homecoming , @ tennessee margin of 41–10 before top ten matchup @ lsu. against tigers, late stevan ridley touchdown run set 23-yard deangelo peterson run on fourth-down play gave lsu upset victory , ended opportunity alabama repeat of national championship. crimson tide defeated mississippi state , georgia state prior season finale against auburn. no. 2 tigers still in national championship picture, auburn overcame 24–0 deficit , won 28–27 in largest comeback in iron bowl history. alabama closed season 49–7 victory on michigan state in capital 1 bowl , finished overall record of 10–3.

second national championship


the alabama offense lines against lsu defense in 9–6 overtime loss.

after disappointing 2010 season in opened year national title favorite , ended 3 losses, crimson tide looked regain championship form 2011 campaign. after again signing 1 of top recruiting classes in country, , going through spring practice, tragedy struck tuscaloosa on april 27, 2011, when ef4 rated tornado devastated city. tornado resulted in deaths of 43 people in city, , team later dedicate season both victims , survivors of storm.

the crimson tide opened season 48–7 victory on saban s alma mater, kent state , traveled beaver stadium , defeated penn state 27–11. after 41–0 shutout on north texas, alabama opened conference play 38–14 victory on arkansas. after defeated florida 38–10 @ gainesville, crimson tide shutout vanderbilt 34–0, , defeated both ole miss , tennessee set game of century against lsu.

against tigers, neither team scored touchdown , lsu won final score of 9–6 in overtime. loss, alabama dropped no. 3 bcs position prior game against mississippi state. however, regained no. 2 ranking in of polls after oklahoma state upset iowa state, , defeated bulldogs @ starkville. alabama closed regular season wins on both georgia southern , auburn , finished in second place in west division behind lsu.

after tigers won sec championship game, rematch against crimson tide became pairing 2012 bcs national championship game. alabama qualified bcs national championship game after received final bcs score of .942, ahead of oklahoma state s bcs score of .933. in rematch against lsu @ mercedes-benz superdome in new orleans, crimson tide shutout sec champion tigers 21–0 , captured alabama s second bcs championship , 14th overall national championship.

third national championship


the alabama defense in motion during 49–0 victory on auburn.

after captured second national championship in 3 years, alabama again signed 1 of nation s top recruiting classes in february 2012. after completed spring practice in april, crimson tide entered season no. 2 ranking , favorite repeat national champions. alabama opened season 41–14 victory on michigan in cowboys classic. after win on wolverines, crimson tide moved no. 1 ranking prior game against wku won 35–0 in home opener. next week, alabama posted second consecutive shutout 52–0 win @ arkansas open conference play. crimson tide returned tuscaloosa , defeated florida atlantic , ole miss prior first win on missouri conference foes @ faurot field.

next alabama defeated rival tennessee 44–13 @ neyland stadium , followed 38–7 win on undefeated , no. 13 ranked mississippi state. crimson tide defeated lsu @ tiger stadium 21–17 when aj mccarron threw screen pass t. j. yeldon took 28-yards game-winning touchdown within final minute of play. however, next week, alabama suffered loss of season when texas a&m upset tide 29–24 in tuscaloosa.

after loss aggies, alabama dropped no. 4 ranking 49–0 win on western carolina. in evening after win on catamounts, alabama moved no. 2 position result of upset losses both kansas state , oregon. alabama closed regular season 49–0 win on auburn , captured sec west division title play georgia in sec championship game. in championship game, alabama escaped 32–28 win after bulldogs stopped inside crimson tide s five-yard line time expired , captured sec championship , berth in bcs national championship game against notre dame. in bcs championship game, tide defeated irish 42–14 , captured third national championship in 4 years , schools 15th overall football championship.

2013 season


aj mccarron takes snap white team @ 2013 a-day game.

as two-time defending national champions, alabama entered 2013 season favorite repeat , win third consecutive national championship , fourth in 5 years. after again signing highly rated recruiting class, crimson tide opened season in no. 1 position in polls. alabama won first eleven games , retained unanimous no. 1 ranking throughout. crimson tide opened season victory on virginia tech in chick-fil-a kickoff game @ atlanta. after first bye week alabama traveled kyle field defeated texas a&m in 49–42 shootout saw aggies have best offensive day against crimson tide defense in history of program.

the defense responded after a&m game , did not allow touchdown on next 14-quarters in victories on colorado state, ole miss, georgia state , kentucky. after touchdown-free streak ended, started three-game homestand saw alabama shutout arkansas , defeat both tennessee , lsu in back-to-back rivalry games. next defeated mississippi state , chattanooga set top 5 matchup against auburn.

in iron bowl, alabama kicker adam griffith attempted , missed 57-yard field goal attempt time expired in regulation. in since dubbed kick bama kick , chris davis returned missed field goal 109 yards game-winning score no time left on clock clinch 34–28 auburn victory. loss cost crimson tide opportunity play both sec , national championships, selected play in 2014 sugar bowl. in game, alabama defeated oklahoma 45–31 , closed season overall record of 11–2.

2014 season

alabama entered 2014 season ranked #3 in polls. crimson tide rolled off 4 straight victories before losing ole miss 17-23. loss ole miss dropped them down #7 in rankings. however, alabama rebounded winning 8 straight games, including victories against #14 lsu, #1 mississippi state, , #15 auburn in iron bowl. defeated #14 missouri in sec championship 42-13 , earned spot in inaugural college football playoff, lost eventual national champion ohio state 35-42.

fourth national championship

alabama started 2015 season win against 20th ranked wisconsin. alabama start 2-0 lose next game against ole miss 43-37. following loss crimson tide go in win next twelve games including 2015 cotton bowl playoff semifinal 38-0 on michigan state , winning 2016 college football playoff national championship on undefeated clemson 45-40 claim alabama s sixteenth national championship , saban s fourth national championship @ capstone.

2016 season

alabama entered 2016 season ranked number #1 in polls. reigning national champions began 2016 resounding 52-6 win on #9 usc in arlington, texas, led true freshman quarterback, jalen hurts. in first meeting between tide , trojans since 1985, blake barnett started game, replaced hurts, go on starting qb season. hurts first true freshman qb start crimson tide since 1984. first time since 2009, alabama go undefeated way through sec championship game. alabama crushed florida 54-16 win third consecutive sec title. made tide first 3 peat sec champion since florida gators won 4 in row 1993-1996. marked first 3 peat alabama since late 1970s when alabama won sec championships 1977-1979. tide once again go on playoffs defeat washington huskies 24-7 in peach bowl advance second consecutive college football playoff national championship game in tampa, florida. in first ever national title game rematch, alabama fall clemson, 35-31. in closing seconds of game, clemson qb deshaun watson found hunter renfrow two-yard touchdown pass give clemson win , first national championship since 1981. loss ended alabama s 26 game winning streak, second longest in program history. marked first time nick saban had ever lost in national championship game.