And the beat goes on for the Tide...
My late Grandfather, Russell, winner of the Silver Star for gallantry in WWI, remarked that Bear Bryant was a good coach, but he was no Wallace Wade. That is a prime example of comparing the "best" coaches in different generations. When he said that, many Alabama fans were hoping that the Bear would restore Alabama to Wallace Wade's years. Coach Wade won three national championships in seven seasons will at the University. His 1925 win over Washington is still considered one of the greatest wins in college football history. That win was referred to as "the game that changed the South." The win propelled the South into modern America after the prolonged enigma of post Civil War problems. Wade left Alabama because of too much interference by State and Local political officials. Sound familiar? Wade felt that a private school gave him wider latitude to coach with the distraction of elected officials. He negotiated a settlement with Alabama to name his own successor Alabama.
When Bear Bryant won his 6th national championship, there was an almost unanimous belief that no one would ever break that record. Once Coach Bryant retired and then died, it left a coaching vacuum at the Capstone. Before Bryant, the Tide had won five national championships. Five were by Wade, two by Frank Thomas. Gene Stallings won one, as well.
Winning a national championship was something done by the Crimson and White on a recurrent basis. Then came Nick Saban. Seven times Saban has won a national championship. One of those was at LSU and the remainder at the University of Alabama. Playing for a national championship is an almost orthodox occurrence. I'm lucky enough to have been a fan when Bryant and Saban coached. I am also lucky enough to hear my grandfather say that Wallace Wade was the best coach Alabama put on the sidelines. I went to the Gator Bowl in 1968. Next to me were two elderly Bama fans. They were as old as I am today. They cheered, "Bam, Bam, Bama." I asked them where they learned that. In the 1920's they said. Later, the pair elaborated everyone started to say Roll Alabama Roll, and then it was Roll Tide.
So, is Nick Saban the greatest Alabama coach in an illustrious Tide history? He might well be. The truth is we will never know. Perhaps Saban will win a few more, and then the argument for that status will be more clear cut. Three coaches have won multiple national championships at Alabama. The truth might be they were all the greatest coach in Alabama football history. I won't disrespect any of them by elevating one to the lofty position of GOAT. It really isn't necessary to do so.
Note: Alabama claims it has won national titles in 1925, 1926, 1930, 1934, 1941, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1992, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2018 and 2020.
