TALKIN' TIDE: Hey, Bama fans, 8-0 in the SEC is a good thing

Oct 31, 2009 (The Cullman Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- ACONF | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Wonder if Nick Saban ever saw anything like this coming?

Alabama beats Tennessee to remain undefeated, and the Crimson Tide coach spends the entire week ... defending his players and coaching staff?

Yep. That's what Saban has been doing all week.

During his weekly press conference Tuesday afternoon, Saban was questioned about everything from offensive coordinator Jim McElwain's playcalling to quarterback Greg McElroy's play in recent games.

And during two different speaking engagements later in the week -- one in Birmingham and another in Mobile -- the Crimson Tide coach was grilled about the same things.

But that shouldn't come as a surprise. Fans have been calling sports talk radio shows all week venting frustrations about those very topics.

My, how easily fans forget.

Or better yet, look at how easily fans can get spoiled.

Alabama has not lost a regular-season game since the 2007 Iron Bowl. For those keeping count, that's 20 straight regular-season wins.

The Crimson Tide is also ranked No. 2 in the country and is one win away from a second straight SEC West crown -- not to mention a legitimate national title contender.

So why is everyone complaining? Is it because Alabama isn't blowing out every team on the schedule?

Or would that even be enough to satisfy this rabid fanbase?

It's starting to look like a few Tide fans need to take a step back and look at the big picture.

Just a few years ago this program was in disarray. Alabama football tumbled off the map under former coach Mike Dubose, and the next three coaches -- Dennis Franchione, Mike Price and Mike Shula -- didn't exactly help bring the Tide back to prominence.

Then Saban took the helm in 2007, and one year later he had Alabama back in the national championship hunt.

Now in his third season, Alabama is an even more legitimate contender. The Tide have arguably the best defense in all of college football and a running back who's played his way into the Heisman conversation.

Oh yeah, this Crimson Tide team is also 8-0 with wins over three ranked opponents.

So why all the nitpicking?

Yeah, Alabama is coming off three close games. But all of them were wins.

Sure, the offense isn't putting up video-game type numbers like it did earlier in the season. But the Tide also just faced three pretty good defenses in No. 24 Ole Miss, No. 23 South Carolina and Tennessee.

The reality is this: A perfect record isn't easy to achieve in the brutal SEC. It's only happened twice this decade -- Auburn in 2004 and Alabama in 2008.

And there's been a lot of good teams to come through this conference during that span. Remember those LSU national championship teams in 2003 and 2007? How about those Florida national championship teams in 2006 and 2008?

Those were some talented teams, and none of them were able to run the table. They all suffered at least one loss to an SEC team.

So, Alabama fans, before you go crazy and start calling for the head of a player or coordinator, remember this: This is a special time for Crimson Tide football and there are plenty of other programs out there that would love to be on a run like this.

Justin Graves can be reached by phone at 734-2131, ext. 257 or by e-mail at jgraves@cullmantimes.com.

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