More History For Bama
Written by nxojkt   
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 00:43

After Saturday's historic Heisman Trophy presentation, it looked as though the wave of honors for the Alabama football team might calm a bit before picking back up in early January.

Instead the 2009 Alabama football team has set a school and NCAA record by having six members named first team AP All-American.

It's been a year of historical accomplishment for the Tide. How historical? (I believe I heard someone ask) That's an interesting question...

Mark Ingram, Rolando McClain, Mike Johnson, Javier Arenas, Terrence Cody, and Leigh Tiffin were all announced as having made the first team All-American squad today. Just for good measure, Mark Barron was named to the third team.

Ingram and McClain were named All-American by each of five nationally recognized groups that name teams - AP, AFCA, FWAA, Sporting News, and the Walter Camp Foundation.

That gives Alabama 97 players who have been named first team All-Americans in school history. And in case you were wondering, here they are:

  1. W.T. 'Bully' VandeGraaff - 1915
  2. A.T.S. 'Pooley' Hubert - 1925
  3. Hoyt 'Wu' Winslett - 1926
  4. FredPickhard - 1926
  5. Tony Holm - 1929
  6. Fred Sington - 1929, 1930
  7. John Suther - 1930
  8. Johnny Cain - 1931, 1932
  9. Tom Hupke - 1933
  10. Millard 'Dixie' Howell - 1934
  11. Don Hutson - 1934
  12. Bill Lee - 1934
  13. Rily Smith - 1935
  14. Arthur 'Tarzan' White - 1936
  15. James L. 'Bubber' Nesbit - 1936
  16. Joe Kilgrow - 1937
  17. Leroy Monsky - 1937
  18. James Ryba - 1937
  19. Carey Cox - 1939
  20. Holt Rast - 1941
  21. Joe Domnaovich - 1942
  22. Don Whitmire - 1942
  23. Harry Gilmer - 1945
  24. Vaughn Mancha - 1945
  25. Ed Salem - 1950
  26. Bobby Marlow - 1952
  27. George Mason - 1954
  28. Billy Neighbors - 1961
  29. Lee Roy Jordan - 1962
  30. Wayne Freeman - 1964
  31. Dan Kearley - 1964
  32. Joe Namath - 1964
  33. David Ray - 1964
  34. Paul Crane - 1965
  35. Steve Sloan - 1965
  36. Richard Cole - 1966
  37. Cecil Dowdy - 1966
  38. Bobby Johns - 1966, 1967
  39. Ray Perkins - 1966
  40. Dennis Homan - 1967
  41. Kenny Stabler - 197
  42. Sam Gellerstedt - 1968
  43. Mike Hall - 1968
  44. Alvin Samples - 1969
  45. Johnny Musso - 1970, 1971
  46. John Hannah - 1971, 1972
  47. Jim Krapf - 1972
  48. John Mitchell - 1972
  49. Buddy Brown - 1973
  50. Woodrow Lowe - 1973, 1974, 1975
  51. Wayne Wheeler - 1973
  52. Leroy Cook - 1974, 1975
  53. Sylvester Croom - 1974
  54. Mike Washington - 1974
  55. Ozzie Newsome - 1977
  56. Barry Krauss - 1978
  57. Marty Lyons - 1978
  58. Jim Bunch - 1979
  59. Don McNeal - 1979
  60. Dwight Stephenson - 1979
  61. Thomas Boyd - 1980, 1981
  62. E.J. Junior - 1980
  63. Tommy Wilcox - 1981, 1982
  64. Jeremiah Castille - 1982
  65. Mike Pitts - 1982
  66. Cornelius Bennett - 1984, 1985, 1986
  67. John Hand - 1985
  68. Bobby Humphrey - 1986, 1987
  69. Van Tiffin - 1986
  70. Derrick Thomas - 1988
  71. Kermit Kendrick - 1988
  72. Larry Rose - 1988
  73. Keith McCants - 1989
  74. John Mangum - 1989
  75. Phillip Doyle - 1990
  76. Robert Stewart - 1991
  77. John Copeland - 1992
  78. Eric Curry - 1992
  79. Antonio Langham - 1992, 1993
  80. David Palmer - 1993
  81. Michael Proctor - 1993, 1994
  82. Jay Barker - 1994
  83. Kevin Jackson - 1996
  84. Michael Myers - 1996
  85. Dwayne Rudd - 1996
  86. Chris Samuels - 1999
  87. Shaun Alexander - 1999
  88. DeMeco Ryans - 2005
  89. Antoine Caldwell - 2008
  90. Terrence Cody - 2008, 2009
  91. Rashad Johnson - 2008
  92. Andre Smith - 2008
  93. Javier Arenas - 2009
  94. Mark Ingram - 2009
  95. Mike Johnson - 2009
  96. Rolando McClain - 2009
  97. Leigh Tiffin - 2009

These 97 guys have earned a total of 113 first team All-American selections, with 14 guys having been named twice. Terrence Cody has now joined that list that includes - Fred Sington, Johnny Cain, Bobby Johns, Johnny Musso, John Hannah, Woodrow Lowe, Leroy Cook, Thomas Boyd, Tommy Wilcox, Cornelius Bennett, Bobby Humphrey, Antonio Langham, and Michael Proctor. Amazingly enough, Bennett and Lowe were named All-American three times. This list of 14 guys includes six who have been named to the College Football Hall of Fame.

It is not hyperbole to say that this Alabama team is one win away from being in the argument for the greatest Bama team of all time. Really there would only be 15 or so teams that could stake a claim to being in that argument, but this group could have as good a case as any.

Think of it this way - if Bama wins in Pasadena:

  • The Tide's 14 wins would be a school record, and tie the NCAA record for most wins in a season.
  • Mark Ingram is Bama's first Heisman Trophy Winner
  • Rolando McClain is Bama's second Butkus Award Winner
  • Six first team All-Americans, including two unanimous All-Americans is a school and NCAA record
  • Mark Ingram set the school's single season rushing record
  • Leigh Tiffin set the school's single season and career scoring record
  • Javier Arenas has already set the SEC record for career punt return yards, and has a real chance at the NCAA record

There are some Bama teams that have had more dominating defenses. There are some Bama teams that have had more prolific offenses. But ask yourself these two questions:

***Has any Bama team played a better game against a better opponent than the Tide did against Florida? January 2, 1993 vs. Miami is a quick entry into this argument, but considering the predestination of the Bama-Florida matchup, it would be tough to argue against two Saturdays ago.

***Has any Bama team ever lived up to the type of expectations that this team did? Teams that were defending national champs probably did, but it's a different world from a media standpoint now. Pressure is a totally different animal than it was 30 years ago. I'm not saying that it the pressure is worse (or less), just that it's a totally different beast.

I'm sure there are some folks out there with more experience (coughGlen55cough) that could probably chime into this debate. Feel free to do so yourself, even if you aren't as old as the hills.

Understand, though, that I'm not necessarily stating this team as the best at this point. There's still a whale of a game against a really good Texas team that has to be won before this can even really be a realistic conversation. And even if Bama brings the crystal ball home from California, I'm not certain that this team can claim the title of the best Bama team of all time.

Having said that, it's still two more full days (Friday) before begins practicing for the BCS National Championship Game, and there's no better time to have this type of discussion than during a lull.

So what say you? Where does this Bama team have the potential to rank among the all-time best Bama teams?



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Comments (19)Add Comment
...
written by Kanya, December 16, 2009
Imma let you finish, but this bama team is the greatest of all time!
...
written by Gary W. Mize, December 16, 2009
1. 1979 Absolutely great team
2. 1961 Full of champions
3. 1992 Great defense Good enough offense
4. 1934 Legends Bigger than life
5. 2009 Opponent dominators - Should Texas go
down - move to the front of the class.
...
written by Joe Stults, December 16, 2009
It is hard to compare great teams when components are all different.No two teams are the same and we can't put these teams on the field at the same time with the opponents to find out who was really the greatest.All were and are GREAT in their own way and no one can take that away from them. The 2009 team is truly a great team and we will see if they are a GREAT TEAM at the end of the Texas game.I am confident they will prove the test if they want it bad enough.
...
written by Jimmie N. Hyde, December 16, 2009
I would like to make a correction to be added to the list of Alabama players who played in the 1926 Rose Bowl. His name was Leon Long from Haleyville, Alabama.He was my first cousin who is now deceased. I know this to be factual. Jimmie Nell (Rose) Hyde.December 15,2009
Best Team ever
written by John Brandon, December 16, 2009
I have been following BAMA for years and don't think there has ever been a team to compair to this team. Beat Texas? Absolutely. We've lost to them 9 times and tied once. Enough is enough.
ROLL TIDE ROLL
...
written by bamafan73191, December 16, 2009
I think 92 team was our best D ever, but this year is our best team ever. Our offense isnt just average this year, it is outstanding, our defense could also be the top d in the country by the end of the season.
...
written by Nspradley, December 16, 2009
I see what you did there Kanya (though his name is Kanye)
...
written by Dr. Jay, December 16, 2009
1966 is my #1 team of all time.
1979 #2.
1992 #3.
If Bama beats Texas Jan. 7, this team slides up to #2 on my list. 1966 was the first year (as a 10-year-old) I followed with life/death intensity to every play. I was convinced they could beat the Green Bay Packers. It is my earliest memory of being outraged -- when Notre Dame and Michigan State tied each other, but stayed #1-2 in polls. I don't think any team can supplant the 1966 team in my mind. For you youngsters, check out the roster and the coaching staff of the '66 team. "The Missing Ring" is a great book about that team.
...
written by Clark P., December 16, 2009
That '92 team was special! What a defense!! They made other teams look inept. Truly a joy to watch. The 2009 team is very similar. The major difference being that they still have one goal remaining to accomplish. If they are able to bring home National Championship #13, then they definitely belong in this discussion. I am sure that Coach Saban, his staff, and the players will be up to the challenge.

Roll Tide Roll - Beat Texas!!!
Wow
written by Carl statum 3rd, December 16, 2009
Well my fellow alabamians I am but 35 yrs old. My pops Carl JR could easily comment with pure factual opinion. I however only witnessed 79 and 92. 92s defense was the best college d I have ever seen. However the man saying our old team coulda beat the packers... Phooy! Right now the bucs or lions would walk up n down the field on bama and Texas. Fact. I think this team we have is great but Greg only has 13 starts. Tennessee had us dead to rights (without Cody of course) ha ha! Sabin is the biggest player on our team in my opinion. Roll tide rolllllllllllllllllll
best TEAM?
written by geelafenderama, December 17, 2009
This year's team is better than '92 team because it has an offense to go with the defense. Can you imagine how many more statistical records the '92 defense would have (like Curry and Copeland w/ sacks and Langham and Teague w/ interceptions) if the other teams that we played would have had to get out of their gameplans??? But NO, with our offense, or lack there of, no team we played (with the exception of Miami in the second half) had to play "catch-up"! So this team is better than '92 team, but it will only be GREAT (and the '92 team was definitely great) if it beats Texas.
...
written by glen55, December 18, 2009
You know, "best" is so subjective, but I'll tell you one thing for sure. A win would give this team accomplishments no other Alabama team could match.

Check that. NO TEAM, ANY SCHOOL could match these accomplishments, because one thing that would be a really nice starting-out brag point is that nobody, ever has won two undefeated AP #1 vs undefeated AP #2 matchups in the same season, and Bama would have done it in two straight games. The six AP 1st-teamers is also unmatched, per ESPN.

Two #1 vs #2 wins - Heisman trophy - Butkus trophy - six All-Americans. Who is going to stand up there and match accomplishments with that? I'll tell you who - nobody, that's who.

But are they really the best? Heck, I don't know, and I won't know after January 7, either, but it will be a good time to pontificate on it.

As for best Bama teams of the past, and going strictly on the teams I have seen, I have always liked our '66, '73, and '79 teams - but only one of those teams actually won a national championship!

The '73 team laid an egg against an inferior Notre Dame in an historic and eternally anguishing Sugar Bowl. But I still think that was the best offense Bama has ever had and one of the top Ds as well.

The '66 team got ripped off by the pollsters, beyond any doubt. 37 points given up all season. (1961 team only gave up 25 points, but the key distinction from my perspective is that I remember the '66 season well but the first Bama football game I listened to on the radio was in 1962, so I just don't remember '61.)

I know I'll raise hackles here, but I don't put the '92 team with those groups. The offense was barely above mediocre, and there were way too many close games for me to put that team with the ones I mention above.

They're a favorite because of the fabulous closing game, and also because they were our one oasis of Bama-ness in the midst of a quarter-century of Auburn-like performance. I just don't put them at the top, quality-wise.
Puuhhhhhlease
written by Advanced, December 19, 2009
Remember when ESPN used to have a bracket of the greatest teams of all-time and play it out to see who would win. The last time I remember them doing it was when USC and Texas played in the title game.

I hated it when they tried to compare a team from the early 1900's against Reggie Bush and Matt Leinhart. How the hell can you compare a team from 17 years ago like the 1992 team to this one. Let's be honest, people have developed athletically so much since the 1992 team that I bet the 2002 team could beat them. That's right, I said it: DEVELOPED which can be confused with evolved which comes from the root word EVOLUTION.
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