On January 10, 2024, the greatest head coach in college football, Nick Saban, retired. During his time at Alabama, Saban was 206-29 he also backed that up with 6 national title wins. Every year, Alabama was the team to beat; they were the ultimate powerhouse of college football.
On January 12, 2024, Kalen Deboer took the head coaching job at Alabama after just leading Washington to the national title game. With high hopes in year one under Deboer, fans felt angry as he didn´t meet the “Bama Standard,” going 9-4 and missing the college football playoffs. In year 2 under Kalen DeBoer, the fans hoped the tides would start to turn and roll again. Alabama had a better year this year, going 11-4, but the Rose Bowl loss to IU left a salty taste in the fan’s mouths. It was not the fact that they lost the game, but to be straight up embarrassed by Indiana losing 38-3. 2026 might be DeBoer’s last chance as fans start to fear that Rome has fallen and the dynasty is over.
Paul ¨Bear¨ Bryant was the start of the dynasty as he was the coach at Alabama from 1958–82. He had a record of 232–46–9 at Alabama; he completely turned around Alabama´s program. He won 6 national championships with Alabama. The University of Alabama named the stadium after Coach Bear Bryant. The stadium is now named Bryant Denny Stadium.
Ray Perkins was the next coach for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He coached from 1983–86; he was 35-15-1 at Alabama, but left to become a head coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bill Curry was the one who took over for Ray Perkins from 1987 to 89. His record at Alabama was 26–10–0. He left due to threats and negativity from fans; they wanted the program to go back to winning.
Gene Stallings won the Tide’s first national championship since Bear Bryant. He was at Alabama from 1990-96. He had a record of 62–25–0. He left the university because he felt like he didn´t get the support he deserved from the AD of Alabama.
Mike DuBose was only at Alabama for 3 years from 1997 to 2000. He had a record of 24–23, which doesn´t cut it for the University of Alabama. Dennis Franchione was at Alabama from 2001–02. He had a great record of 17-8, but left to return to Texas A´M University. Mike Shula was the next candidate for the Alabama Job. He was there from 2003–06; he had a record of 26–23, which didn´t cut it for the tide.
Nick Saban, the young head coach who had success at Michigan State, accepted the Alabama job on January 3, 2007, and soon became the best head coach since Bear Bryant and maybe the best coach in college football history. Nick Saban at the University of Alabama had a 206- 29 record, a .877 winning percentage. He won 6 national championships at Alabama, tied for the most with Bear Bryant.
Kalen Deboar, January 12, 2024- present time, he has not had ultimate success early, but hasn´t had bad seasons, just not up to the Bama standards. 2026 is a critical year for coach Kalen Deboar.
I would say Rome has not fallen, but the question is whether Deboar will be a great Roman emperor or a guy that gets stabbed in the back by his own fans.
