https://youtu.be/AaHhS_QsNww
It pains me to say it the but Alabama Crimson Tide dynasty is over. Don’t get me wrong, they will continue to be highly competitive under head coach Nick Saban for several more years. But make no mistake, the championship dynasty has concluded. It actually ended in last year’s national championship 44-16 loss to the Clemson Tigers. The reason I make this statement is because I have seen this story three times before.
Nebraska Cornhuskers 1994-1997
The Nebraska Cornhuskers were a college football powerhouse in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Their program’s peak included national titles in 1994, 1995, and 1997. Their ’95 team, which defeated the Florida Gators 62-24 in the national title game, is arguably the best team in college football history. When legendary head coach Tom Osborne retired in 1997, Nebraska had posted a 60-3 record in his final five years. However, Nebraska’s dynasty came to an end the following season going 9-4. While still remaining competitive for several years, reality truly set in in the 2001, losing 62-36 to Colorado in the last game of the regular season and then 37-14 to Miami in the championship. Which leads me to the second dynasty of the last 25 years…
Miami Hurricanes 2000-2002
The 2000 Miami Hurricanes finished with a dominant 11-1 record. Operating under the old BCS system, the computers determined Florida State, whom the Hurricanes already defeated 27-24 earlier in the year, should be voted in to face the Oklahoma Sooners in the championship game. Though they were the best team in the country in 2000 but were not awarded as such, “The U” left no doubt in 2001 going 12-0 and officially ended Nebraska’s reign 37-14. The 2001 team, what I feel is the greatest in college football history, featured 17 players who would be drafted in the NFL Draft’s first round and 38 players drafted overall. In 2002, the Hurricanes, in the midst of a 34-game winning streak, lost in a very controversial national championship game to Ohio State. Little did we know at the time, but the Hurricane dynasty ended that January 3rd night in Tempe, AZ. They were still competitive for several years going 11-2, 9-3, and 9-3. But their national dominance was over. Meanwhile, across the country another dynasty was birthed.
USC Trojans 2002-2005
The 2002 team finished 11-2 and featured Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer. However, with stellar recruiting classes featuring players like Reggie Bush and Matt Leinhart, the team reached dynastic heights over the next several years. Carroll’s team won a school record 34 straight games from 2003 to 2005 and featured two national championships. Their finest moment was the 2004 national championship game against Oklahoma in which they won 55-19. However, the following season, the undefeated Trojans lost in the national championship to the Texas Longhorns 41-38 in perhaps the greatest college game ever played. In the following years, the Trojans were still very good going 11-2, 11-2, 12-1 but each season featured inexplicable regular season losses. However, the 2009 team fell to 9-4 and the dynasty was officially over.
The conclusion of each of these three dynasties featured certain defining moments:
- A loss in the national championship game – Nebraska to Miami, Miami to Ohio State, and USC to Texas. The field had caught up to each team.
- The team still remained highly competitive for several years. They did not drop off a cliff but rather experienced a slow decline over several years.
- A shocking loss(es) which signified the team was not what it used to be – Nebraska experiencing back-to-back blowouts in 2001, Miami losing back-to-back games 31-7 to Virginia Tech and 10-6 to Tennessee in 2003, and USC losing to Jim Harbaugh’s Stanford Cardinals 24-23 in 2007 and 55-21 again in 2009.
The parallels for the 2019 Alabama Crimson Tide are significant.
- A 2018 national championship 44-16 loss to the Clemson Tigers.
- A 10-2 record thus far in 2019.
- Losses to Auburn two of the last three years, 26-14 in 2017 and 48-45 this year.
I am not celebrating the end of Alabama’s reign. I have greatly admired Coach Saban and what he has been able to do. Coach Saban’s record is 151-23 (.868), 14 bowl game appearances with ten victories, seven SEC West titles, six SEC championships, and five national championships. Since 2008, Saban’s teams have spent all or part of each season ranked No. 1 in national polls. During his tenure as head coach, Nick Saban has had more first-round draft picks (29) than losses (23). We may never see this again. With today’s recruiting restrictions, fan and media pressure, early NFL entrees, and continual loss of assistant coaches, Coach Saban has established himself as the greatest coach in college football history.
One final thought on the next dynasty.
Nebraska, Miami, and USC announced their presence with authority with blowout wins in championship games. Nebraska defeating Florida 62-24. Miami defeating Nebraska 37-14 and it wasn’t that close. It was 34-0 at halftime. USC defeating Oklahoma 55-19.
The next dynasty is the Clemson Tigers who defeated Alabama last year 44-16.
If the dynasty is over, Coach Saban left us a lifetime of leadership content. Click HERE or on the image to the left for my new ebook The Leadership Of Nick Saban: Timeless Truths From The Incomparable Head Coach Of The Alabama Crimson Tide. These insights are priceless. Enjoy!