Commentary: The long wait for this Alabama fan could finally be over

By BRIAN WOOSON

It’s finally here. Way back on Dec. 7, Alabama brought Tim Tebow to tears with a rout of Florida, and Texas barely squeaked past Nebraska to set up tonight’s national championship game.

A full month later, the top-ranked Crimson Tide (13-0) and No. 2 Longhorns (13-0) will shake off the rust and gather in Pasadena’s Rose Bowl with the winner earning the title of champion.

Very few of the so-called experts are picking Texas in this one. That makes me nervous. I’d rather see the Tide be the underdog.

Since the BCS — initials that I hate — came into existence in 1998, No. 1 is 5-6 against No. 2, and 1-6 since winning the first four. No. 2 has won the last four. The Southeastern Conference is, however, 5-0 in the finale, having won the last three. Alabama could make it 6-0, and make it six of the 12 BCS titles to the best conference in college football.

Much has been made about Texas being used to the Rose Bowl. They’ve played there twice, including in 2006 with Vince Young rallying the ‘Horns to a thrilling 41-38 win over USC to win the national title.

Alabama has also played in Rose Bowl stadium, posting a 4-1-1 in the actual Rose Bowl game. Of course, the last meeting was in 1946. It was the Crimson Tide that traveled to Pasadena all those years ago and helped put Southern football on the map.

It’s safe to say that Southern football is now the best part of college football. No matter who wins, the title will stay in the South. Here’s hoping the national title game comes up Roses..for Alabama.

It’s been a long path back for the Crimson Tide, and the rest of us who have watched 33 other bowl games, all of which leads to the final climax of the season.

Being a fan of Alabama, but working in an area where West Virginia and Virginia Tech — or is that Virginia Tech and West Virginia — are king(s), my attention is often focused elsewhere from the Crimson Tide.

After all, how many people around here really care about Alabama, or Texas? I’m sure most of our readers are as tired of reading about my allegiance to the Crimson Tide as our non-Bluefield fans are of hearing about the Beavers winning the state football title.

Believe me, they’re out there. I’ve heard from them.

Way back in August I made my own predictions for the season, and selected Alabama to play Texas for the national title, which upset several Florida readers. Where are they now?

I did, however, pick the Longhorns to win it all.

Here’s hoping I was wrong.

How long has it been since Alabama last won the national title? So long ago that I was cooking steaks, making delicious lasagna and simply watching sports for the fun of it.

Way back on Jan. 1, 1993, the Tide smashed the Miami Hurricanes 34-13 to claim the national championship.

No, not the BCS national championship, or the Citi (this year’s BCS sponsor) national title. No, it’s just simply the champion of the college football world.

Of course, Boise State might argue that they deserve a shot at the same title. They are 14-0 — and even as an Alabama fan — I would agree. Their schedule isn’t exactly daunting, but give them a chance. They might get destroyed like Cincinnati did against Florida, but they might also pull off a shocker like they did in the Fiesta Bowl a few years over Oklahoma.

Seventeen years and seven days later — thanks to a bowl system that has effectively killed what was once one of the best traditions in sports (all the big bowl games on New Year’s Day) — Alabama is back.

It’s been a long 17 years, much of which would have made Paul “Bear” Bryant happy he was tucked away in a Birmingham grave.

The Tide has been on some sort of NCAA probation four times — all since ‘92 — and never before then. They’ve had coaches in trouble with secretaries, strippers and nightmares about what a “dream” job really is.

It all started to fall apart in ‘96 when Gene Stallings — a “Bear” guy if there ever was one — resigned after directing the Tide to a 62-25 mark in seven seasons.

From the point, the Tide went 67-55 over the 10-year period that ended in 2006, posting records like 4-7, 3-8, 4-9 and 6-6. They lost seven straight times to Tennessee, and dropped six in a row to Auburn. Ouch!!!

Those days are hopefully over.

In Alabama’s storied football history, the Crimson Tide has made a record 57 bowl appearances, and is second only to Southern California (33) in bowl victories with 31. They’ve won 812 games, 22 SEC titles, and there are 12 national championships.

They even finally have a Heisman Trophy winner, with Mark Ingram taking the prize over my preseason selection of Texas’ Colt McCoy.

There is little Alabama hasn’t done on the gridiron. There is one glitch, however, that could end tonight.

Alabama has played Texas eight times. They’ve never won, having posted an 0-7-1 mark, with their last meeting being in the 1982 Cotton Bowl.

All records are meant to be broken. That is one of them.

Mark it at 1-7-1. This is only one that counts, and the only one Alabama fans will remember.

It’s been a long wait for another national title.

The scary part. This wasn’t supposed to even be Alabama’s year. West Virginia native Nick Saban — better known as St. Nick in Tuscaloosa — could have an even better team in 2010, and hopefully far into the future.

Why wait? Alabama fans have waited long enough.

Roll Tide!!!

—Brian Woodson is the sports editor for the Daily Telegraph, and a fan of the Crimson Tide. He can be contacted at bwoodson@bdtonline.com

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