Such is the level of expectations at Alabama, a school located in the heart of the football-rabid South where national titles aren't only dreamed about, but also planned.
If football is a religion in the South, as many southerners will attest, then Alabama arguably is its holiest ground. It's the place where men such as Wallace Wade, Joe Namath and Paul "Bear" Bryant became legends. It's a school where professors make an average salary of $116,000, according to Forbes, and will gladly pay a football coach $32 million over eight years. Is Nick Saban worth it?
No Alabama football fan will say he isn't.
Where Utah fans may view the Utes' trip to the Sugar Bowl as the pinnacle of an undefeated season, Alabama fans see the Jan. 2 bowl game as an indication that Saban merely has the Tide flowing in the right direction once again.
"It's overly simplistic to say that Alabama fans expect to win the national title every year," said Tommy Deas, the executive sports editor for the Tuscaloosa News. "But they feel the program should be at a level like Florida, Georgia, LSU and others, where Alabama is in the discussion on a regular basis and a regular contender for the SEC championship."
Which is to say that yes, championships are expected at Alabama.
It has been that way for many, many years, ever since Alabama won its first of 12 national titles in 1925 through the time Bryant made success as constant a presence in Tuscaloosa as his houndstooth hat. A former Alabama player, Bryant abruptly left Texas A&M to become Alabama's coach in 1958. His decision may have irked some in Texas, but they couldn't argue with his reasoning.
"Mama called," he said. "And when Mama calls, then you just have to come running."
Bryant is often recognized as the program's central figure, leading the Tide to six national titles and 13 SEC championships.
Under his guidance, Alabama participated in 24 straight bowl games, including eight Sugar Bowls. Namath was his most well-known player, leading the Tide to the 1964 national championship.
After Bryant retired in 1982, he was asked what he planned to do. He reportedly said he would "probably croak in a week."
Less than a month later, Bryant died of a heart attack.
Alabama football coaches have been trying to out-coach his ghost ever since.
Gene Stallings, a former player for Bryant, led the Tide to the 1992 national title, but his seven-year stint was marred by NCAA investigations and probation. Mike DuBose was replaced after three seasons remembered more for his highly publicized affair with his secretary than his wins on the field, Washington State coach Mike Price was hired then fired after an embarrassing scandal in which he spent several hundred dollars at a strip club in Florida, and Mike Shula was fired after four seasons.
In 2007, Saban became the highest-paid college football coach when he agreed to coach the Tide. It didn't matter that he had coached at rival LSU; what mattered to Alabama fans was he was a proven winner after leading the Tigers to the 2003 national championship. More than 92,000-plus fans turned out to watch him coach his first spring game.
"He was immediately embraced as a savior who would return Alabama to what Crimson Tide fans believe is its rightful place in the college football pantheon," Deas said.
Alabama finished a disappointing 7-6 last year, but any thoughts that the school had made another bad hire were squashed this season as the Tide came within a win of playing for the national title.
The loss to Florida in the SEC championship game ended those national hopes. But it did set up a Sugar Bowl matchup between a school known for its history and a school trying to become known nationally.
It could be intimidating for the Utes, thinking about all that history of the Bear, Namath and championships. But Namath won't be playing, the Bear is buried in Birmingham, and past championships don't count for current points.
The 2009 Sugar Bowl isn't about history, Utah quarterback Brian Johnson pointed out earlier this week, "it's about 2008," he said.
lwodraska@sltrib.com
Alabama Football 101
WHY THE CRIMSON TIDE? Alabama became known as the Crimson Tide following the 1907 game against Auburn that was played in heavy red mud. Alabama played Auburn, a heavy favorite, to a 6-6 tie in the slop, leading to a description of the "Crimson Tide" in a newspaper article.
WHY AN ELEPHANT? Alabama officially adopted the elephant as a mascot in 1979, but ties go back to the 1930 team, which shut out Washington in the Rose Bowl. A sports writer referred to the team as elephant-sized.
THE MILLION DOLLAR BAND: Alabama's band of 300-plus members received its nickname after the football team lost to Georgia Tech in 1922. In response to a reporter's comment that Alabama didn't have much of a team, a manager for the team replied Alabama did have a "million dollar band."
ROLL TIDE ROLL! Fans' favorite cheer is Roll Tide!, the final words of the school fight song "Yea Alabama." Utah fans will want to know the adopted cheer by some of Alabama's opponents, which goes, "Roll Tide Roll, around the bowl and down the hole!"
RAMMER JAMMER CHEER: The cheer Utah fans don't want to hear is this one, chanted by Alabama fans when a win is certain. The cheer goes "Hey [insert opponent name here], We just beat the hell outta you! Rammer Jammer Yellowhammer, Give 'em hell Alabama." The Rammer Jammer was a magazine on campus, and the yellowhammer is the state bird. They are part of the cheer because, well, what else rhymes with Alabama?
FORREST GUMP: Probably more outside of the South recognize the name of the movie character who played for Paul "Bear" Bryant more than any Alabama player in recent years. Fans who visit New Orleans for the bowl game can eat at the movie-inspired restaurant - Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
TITLE TOWN: Alabama has 12 national titles (1925, 1926, 1930, 1934, 1941, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1992) and has been to 55 bowl games, including 13 appearances in the Sugar Bowl.
Sugar Bowl
UTAH VS. ALABAMA
Jan. 2, 6 p.m., Ch. 13
