For Alabama, 2008 Turned the Tide

By Carlos Pineda
SouthernPigskin.com

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Looking back, it just may have been Alabama's surprising and perhaps unexpected win against Georgia (11-1) four years ago that turned the tide for this juggernaut program.

With kickoff less than 24 hours away, Alabama finds itself one win away from returning to the BCS National Championship Game.

These appearances have become all too common for the Crimson Tide (11-1) and much to the liking of its passionate fan base.

Having captured two titles in a three-year span, Alabama could be looking at three championships in four years when it's all said and done.

But it wasn't always a frequent sight for Nick Saban to hoist the crystal ball.

Looking back, it just may have been Alabama's surprising and perhaps unexpected win against Georgia (11-1) four years ago that turned the tide for this juggernaut program.

That game featured then-No. 8 Alabama at then-No. 3 Georgia.

After starting the season ranked 24th in the AP poll and unranked in the Coaches' poll, the Tide upset No. 9 Clemson and ascended the polls.

They faced a Bulldogs team that entered the season ranked first in both polls and looked poised to potentially play for a national title with an offense that featured quarterback Matthew Stafford, running back Knowshon Moreno and receiver A.J. Green.

With ESPN's College Gameday and a "blackout" in full force, it was truly astonishing when Alabama raced out to a 31-0 lead before the half and staved off a late Georgia rally.

Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson completed 13-of-16 passes for 205 yards while running back Glen Coffee rushed for two touchdowns and finished with 86 yards rushing on 23 attempts.

"The bottom line was we didn't play well that day," Georgia coach Mark Richt said on a teleconference earlier this week. "We played a much better second half. But we just got whipped obviously."

The Tide ended up winning 41-30, but any talk about being a national championship contender was immediately shot down.

"After five games?" Saban said. "Let's see when we get a full body of work at the end of the season."

Prior to the game, the Bulldogs held a 5-0 record against the Alabama when both teams were ranked. Georgia had also won three straight games in the series.

Following the win, the Tide were ranked second in the country and were eventually ranked No. 1 in the regular season for the first time since 1980.

Despite an undefeated regular season, Alabama would end up losing to Florida in the SEC Championship Game and Utah in the Sugar Bowl.

That would essentially set the foundation for Alabama's current run in which Saban teams have gone 47-5 since 2009.

Since the SEC title game’s creation, nine of the game's winners have gone on to win the national title, including five consecutive from 2006-2010.

For more coverage of the SEC follow Carlos on Twitter @_cfpineda