Nick Saban Resurrects the Ghost of Bear Bryant

From the moment Crimson Tide athletic director Mal Moore announced that Nick Saban had decided to leave the NFL's Miami Dolphins and return to college football and assume the helm at the University of Alabama, the eyes of the Crimson Tide faithful have been on whether Nick Saban could return the Tide to its place as one of the premiere football programs in the nation. Not since the days of Paul 'Bear' Bryant, have the Crimson Tide fans seen a program that was consistently great. While there has been a national championship since the Bear Bryant's retirement, the luster that is Alabama football has been missing since the old ball coach with the brim hat strolled the sidelines in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

When Paul 'Bear' Bryant was the head coach at the University of Alabama, the Crimson Tide were one of the nation's best college football teams. Consistently competing for national championships, Bear Bryant became a legend and a household name. It is the ghost of this iconic figure that has hovered over the Crimson Tide program since his untimely demise in the early eighties. Coaches have come and gone through the Alabama program. Many of them were disciples of Paul 'Bear' Bryant, but none of them were ever able to compete with the ghost that is the memory of Bear Bryant.

That was until this January when Nick Saban strode into Tuscaloosa on a chartered plane with a mission of returning the University of Alabama back to national prominence. With his adventure in the NFL a failure, Saban found the Crimson Tide offer as more than an intriguing proposition. With his run to a national championship already accomplished at league rival Louisiana State (LSU), Saban greatest challenge may be carrying on the legacy of Paul 'Bear' Bryant.

Now that Saban has taken the Crimson Tide through spring football and summer workouts, the time for all the talk has ended. It's time to see if Bryant-Denny Stadium will rock like it used to when the Bama faithful scream out, 'Go Bama' as the remainder of the stadium responds, 'Roll Tide'. Only at Alabama, with its rich history and heritage would a coach the caliber of Nick Saban face the daunting challenge of being successful. There is no doubt that Saban can coach. We also know he is an excellent recruiter. The only question is if he can win at Alabama.

For Bama fans, winning is beating certain teams. If the Crimson Tide who will be led again this year by second year starter, John Parker Wilson, can beat Tennessee and Auburn it will be a good season. It is amazing but those two teams are worth more to Bama fans than seven wins against other members of the vaunted Southeastern Conference. While success is categorized many different ways at other programs, you can win nine games and lose to those two teams and your season will be considered a failure. Case in point, the Alabama Crimson Tide fired Mike Shula at the end of last season, not because he was not a good recruiter. And not because he was not winning games. They fired him because he was a failure against the teams that matter the most to Bama fans, Tennessee and Auburn.

Nick Saban knows that Bama fans want to go beat Auburn and Tennessee and then go to a good bowl game. That reality has scared many a coach away. But for Saban, it is an atmosphere of pressure and expectation that he thrives in. Mike Shula was made for a lot of places. Tuscaloosa was not one of them. Alabama needs a coach that does not mind the shadow of Bear Bryant, seeing it as a tool as opposed to a liability.

As Coach Paul 'Bear' Bryant spends another day in the same grave and his time is occupied with other things, Nick Saban will be resurrecting the fire of Alabama football and calling on the soul of Bear Bryant to lead the Crimson Tide football team every Saturday afternoon.

Go Bama!

Roll Tide!