The question most often posed to Nick Saban, aside from beat reporters clamoring for a mythical preseason depth chart, is this: When will Alabama return to the nation’s elite?
Like the preseason depth chart, Saban says a timetable doesn’t exist. But to understand the job Saban is facing and the length of time needed to put Alabama in the BCS conversation in November, fans must first understand where the Crimson Tide just came from.
“You know, sometimes you go into a situation and you have pretty good players there in disarray. You straighten them out, they start playing pretty good and get confidence,” said Saban, and he’s probably referring to his stint at LSU. “And, all of a sudden, you’re pretty good.
“You go in other situations where you may not have as many good players and it’s going to take a little more time to recruit your way out of it.”
The latter is likely referring to his current situation at Alabama. Starting in 2003, former coach Mike Shula’s national recruiting rankings, according to Rivals.com, went 49th, 15th, 18th and 11th — zero top-10 classes.
Left tackle Andre Smith certainly matched the expectations heaped upon him out of high school, developing into one of the nation’s top left tackles. Quarterback John Parker Wilson and center Antoine Caldwell are certainly major contributors. But the rest of Shula’s recruits expected to play this year are either buried on the depth chart, suspended or dismissed.
The Tide are tied with South Carolina for seventh in conference wins this decade. Looking at the elite teams in its own division, Alabama has lost six straight to Auburn and five in a row to LSU. The gap, for now, appears great.
“You know, eight years ago, I started out not having a lot of success,” Saban said, referring to an 8-4 mark in his first season at LSU. “But you have to build. And that’s what we’re trying to do right now.”
The process started with the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class earlier this year, the first serious step in challenging the two sets of Tigers at the top of the division.
“I really didn’t expect those guys to come in as good a shape as they did and as physical as they are,” Alabama safety Rashad Johnson said. “They all have the opportunity to go out and play this year.”
The class, based on early reviews, includes gems like receiver Julio Jones, quarterback Star Jackson, linebackers Don’ta Hightower and Courtney Upshaw and safety Mark Barron. Add current sophomore linebacker Rolando McClain to the list, and Saban has potentially built a solid nucleus for the future.
“I’ve been around some really talented players,” defensive coordinator Kevin Steele said, discussing Hightower and Upshaw, “and they fit the mold with those guys.”
Surpassing LSU, which routinely lands top-5 talent, will likely take more than one class. But very few are doubting Saban’s recruiting efforts. Just don’t expect Saban to say if the program is one year or two years away.
“We never talk about that,” he said. “We are where we are.”
Fans and curious members of the media will have to wait and see when, and if, Alabama returns to the elite. When Saban raises the trophy in Atlanta, only then will they know.
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