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The Alabama football program has been on top of the world over the last two decades, going on an unprecedented run under head coach Nick Saban.
In his 17 seasons roaming the sidelines, the Crimson Tide won at least 10 games in all but one, but a new era is quickly approaching.
Saban announced his retirement this offseason after leading the team to yet another College Football Playoff appearance. Arguably the greatest coach in the history of the sport, he takes his six (out of seven) national championship rings with him.
While rivals reveled in the departure, Alabama supporters felt as if their hero had died.
The university has done its best to move on, hiring Washington’s Kalen DeBoer as his replacement. Unfortunately, the timing of the retirement couldn’t have been worse.
The transfer portal and NIL dominate the new college football landscape, and now, Alabama is on the other side.
After reaping the benefits in the past, landing major prospects like Jahmyr Gibbs and Jameson Williams in recent years, they’re now seeing a mass exodus.
23 players from Alabama’s two-deep have entered the transfer portal or the NFL Draft. https://t.co/w3vYYmaCyF
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) January 17, 2024
That includes Freshman All-American Caleb Downs, who announced his intention to enter the portal on Wednesday.
With Saban at the helm, the Tide rarely lost top talent. That often happens when you compete for championships on an annual basis.
Now, though, uncertainty surrounds the program, leading many fans to cry about unfairness in this “new era.”
They aren’t getting much sympathy from others, who have been dealing with these issues since the portal’s introduction.
Alabama right now pic.twitter.com/rC7hUoi6kn
— Barrett Sallee 🇺🇸 (@BarrettSallee) January 17, 2024
“Welcome to real life for everyone else. The fantasy is over.”
“Bama fans finally joining the party!”
“Alabama fans suggesting college football is unfair. What a time to be alive.”
“That’s what the rest of us have been dealing with for years.”
“Now Bama fans care.”
Now, no one is saying the program will fall off a cliff. In fact, with Kalen DeBoer’s track record, it’s plausible to believe they’ll continue competing for CFP spots on a yearly basis.
But the obstacles are certainly growing larger, at least in the short term, and the Crimson Tide are starting to see what the rest of college football has been dealing with over the last few seasons.
After the incredible success seen under Saban, no one will feel bad for the fanbase, either.