Alabama’s dynasty is dying, but that doesn’t mean Crimson Tide are going anywhere

Just because Alabama’s dynastic run over college football is coming to an end does not mean the Crimson Tide are going to fall on hard times in the immediate future.

For the first time since 2010, the Alabama Crimson Tide have been officially eliminated from playing for a national championship well before the Iron Bowl.

Although Nick Saban’s team held on to beat Ole Miss in Oxford on Saturday evening, its College Football Playoff chances ended the second the clock struck zero in Fayetteville after LSU’s 13-10 road victory over Arkansas. A two-loss, non-division champion SEC West team is not sniffing the playoff this year, no matter how much talent you think is being grossly underutilized in Tuscaloosa.

Even if the day and age of Alabama vs. the field is coming to an end, this program is not hopeless.

Alabama dynasty is dying, but the Crimson Tide are not going to fall to pieces

To understand why the dynasty is dying and will soon be dead, you must understand what has changed in the college football landscape. While the coaching has gotten better across the board as Alabama’s coaching staff has regressed, it all comes down to the players. Saban’s program is still able to recruit at a high level, but not every blue-chip prospect is committing to the Tide now.

Some like what Kirby Smart is doing in Athens. Others dig what Ryan Day is building up in Columbus. Of course, there are those who will succumb to the pyramid scheme masterfully laid out by Jimbo Fisher to go to Texas A&M, but to each his own. Regardless, there are other more interesting places to go play college football at and be developed for the NFL at than Tuscaloosa.

As to why Alabama is not going to fall off a cliff, it is not like the recruiting well has completely dried up. Recruitment is still a passion for Saban. As long as he does not lose that, Alabama can contend for conference championships and national titles. What needs to happen this offseason though is for him to honestly assess his underwhelming coaching staff and makes some changes.

First order of business, defensive coordinator Pete Golding has to go. He has been at Alabama long enough to have made a positive impact. Although the Crimson Tide have blue-chippers everywhere on that side of the ball, this is not a Smart-led defense or even one that can hold a candle to a Jeremy Pruitt one. If you know defense, you do not have to know what asparagus is…

Secondly, it probably serves Saban to see if there is another out-of-work offensive mind instead of Bill O’Brien. While he was the offensive coordinator when Bryce Young won the Heisman Trophy, the Crimson Tide’s offense is looking more and more like that of the Houston Texans with every passing week. O’Brien still has value as a college or pro coach, but he may need to get a new job.

And even if Saban lands two star coordinators this offseason, that still may not be enough. With other elite programs on their level, and those potentially passing them in the night, these type of seasons are bound to happen more often. A 10-2 record and a New Year’s Six bowl is still a great season. Heck, that mark might even get you into the playoff once the field expands to 12 teams.

Overall, it might be hard for some Gumps to stomach that the best years of Nick Saban Alabama football are behind them. Instead of being bitter, they should appreciate what the last 15 years have meant to them. All good things must come to an end. Nobody can ever deny what a total juggernaut the Crimson Tide were at their absolute apex under the greatest head coach of all time.

Ultimately, it is good for the sport to not have two concurrent dynasties at Alabama and Clemson. While more power to the Crimson Tide and Tigers to go try and win as many games as possible, fresh blood in major championship settings is never a bad thing. Necessity is the mother of invention. This is the best sport in the world and we as fans deserve to see everyone give their all.

By committing to Alabama, it is no longer a foregone conclusion a player leaves school with a ring.

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