Beech Tree News Network

Is Alabama the king of college football in the eyes of fans in the southeast, or are they the biggest bandwagon for fans with soft allegiances?

I ask this because it's almost impossible to go very far and mention football without finding a Crimson Tide fan.

When I was a child my dad was an Alabama football fan, which made me an Alabama fan by default until my rebellious teen years steered me toward favoring the Tennessee Volunteers. Dad chose to support Bama because of their legendary coach, Paul 'Bear' Bryant. Dad also despised all things UK at that time. When pushed for a reason he would say something to the effect of, "because that #%*£¥ Adolph Rupp ran the Bear out of Lexington."

I like to think my dad chose to not like UK because I've always been a rabid Kentucky basketball fan. For whatever reason Dad was like a lot of other 'old time' football fans and thought Bear hung the college football moon. He wasn't so much a fan of the team as a fan of the coach.

That makes me wonder if Nick Saban has grown a Bryant-like following in the southeast, and across the nation.

Of course it's easy to support a winner, and Saban certainly does win, but there are more things working for him, especially in the southeast. Saban isn't the only winner around. Steve Spurrier used to win as much as Saban, but he wasn't a likable winner like Saban. Spurrier was arrogant, abrasive, and reminiscent of the much bigger kid that revels in beating the little kids in backyard pickup games. Bobby Bowden won, and had a lot of followers, but outside the Florida state line he was reviled more than revered.

Maybe what draws people to Saban, and to Alabama, is the fact that we like that Saban didn't shy away from Bear's legacy, but embraced it. Granted, Saban wasn't the first guy hired at Bama since Bear's retirement, but he's the first one to embrace the things Bear stood for; discipline, respect, excellence, and good citizenship.

In Alabama, Saban is royalty. Outside the state his greatness is recognized, admired, and he draws fans not just because if his success, but because of the way he does things. He's a no nonsense winner, that demands perfection, enacts swift punishment when his rules are broken, and lifts his players up when they fall. When he wins he praises his players, but when he loses he takes most of the blame. Much the way a parent will take the fall to protect their child.

Most of all Saban is who he is. He doesn't spin what he says, he makes no excuses for how he acts on the sidelines. He defends himself with results, and victories, and championships.

America loves a winner. So the next time you see someone in an Alabama shirt or cap maybe they're a diehard Crimson Tide fan. However they might be a fan of Nick Saban, and the way he's filled Bear Bryant's shoes and uplifted Bear's legacy by bringing greatness back to Alabama football.
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I correctly picked the Thursday night NFL winner again, and I need the boost. Last week I was a paltry 9-5 with my NFL picks, running my season record to 58–33. Several tricky games loom on the rest of this week's schedule, and I need a strong week if my goal of picking 70% is to be reached.

This weeks winners; Bears, 49ers, Falcons, Lions, Dolphins, Patriots, Cowboys, Rams, Chargers, Packers, Chiefs, Ravens, Broncos, Giants.

Yes, I picked the Giants to win, and I'll be able to watch live because the Giants face the Vikings on Monday night football. I bring this up to show I'm not the only person that can't figure out the NFL. ESPN and the NFL work together to pick potential marquee games to go on the MNF schedule. This game looked great on paper in March when the schedule was released, but a few months down the road it's the stinker of the week. If you're a fan of these teams this is your Super Bowl, because it's as close as either of them will get for this season.
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