The classiest coach I've ever seen in my 50 years on this earth. I love the Bear and I love Coach Saban, but Gene Stallings is my personal favorite. He epitomized sportsmanship, dignity, toughness, and manhood. My love for BAMA football will always be linked to my admiration and respect for Coach Stallings (and John Mark).
Stallings was a pain in the ass. Of course I’m an Ole Miss fan. Lol. He put winners on the field. He played old school football. He was one of Bear’s favorites for a reason. All character and hard work. This man earned unending respect from everyone. Period. Such a good man!
SHANE: Being a good coach and person alone does not mean he would make a good president which is something you people in the South do not seem to comprehend since most of you live in your “Bible Belt” Bubble. Your statement about how Coach Stallings would make a great U.S. President along with your reasoning is a fine example of why the rest of the U.S. laughs and makes fun of all of you down there in Dixie Land. Being born and raised in the South myself along with knowing how most of you think and reason, I’m pretty sure that the main reason the people in Alabama voted for Senator“Tommy Tuberville” is because he is a former College Football Coach. Yet I doubt most of you could name one single policy of his. I’m also quite sure that if Nick Saban were to ever run for President or a U.S. Congress Seat that he would win in a landslide down there based on the mentality and reasoning of you Southerners. I know this from experience because unlike most people who have been in the South all of their lives I left my Southern Bubble over 10 years ago and moved up North. FYI, the rest of the country does not share and agree with “Y’alls” beliefs down there in the South.
It was a shame that he and the AD couldn't get along. Had he stayed, at least 2 more title trophies would have been in the case and the second probation would not have happened.
+Bob Kidd Possibly, but I remember realizing that the following season was going to include a lot less skill players. 1997 wasn't a fun year. 4-7 record with losses to Arkansas, @ Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana Tech, LSU, Mississippi State and @ Auburn.
For the Next 10 years of Alabama Football a full decade of Mediocrity, Turmoil, Scandals, and Defeats. Not One, Not Two, But Three Coaching Misses in Mike DuBose for four season, Dennis Franchione for Two Seasons before leaving for Texas A&M, and Mike Shula for Four Seasons record 67-55 overall, 39-41 in conference play, One SEC Championship, and No National Title Under DuBose-Shula years. Do not count the strip club debacle of Mike Price was hired but never Coach a Game
I remember this night very well, I love Gene Stallings the man but the sad truth is that coach Stallings did more harm than good to Alabama football. I am a die hard Bama fan and when you look at the facts of this era his win/loss record makes it look like he was more successful than he was. The 92 championship team was great but as much as I hate to say it it was kinda a fluke. And that's coming from a guy who really loves that team, he won it with Bill Curry's players and they didn't contend for the championship before that or after. He was admittedly a horrible recruiter and he couldn't beat Florida or Tennessee. He did have a good record against auburn though. I think the game had passed him by and he saw that so he got the heck out of there before the crap hit the fan and it did and almost all Alabama fans don't realize it was mostly his fault. He is a great man who deserves a lot of respect as a person but he left behind a mess that took a very long time to recover from.
The natty under Stallings was not a fluke. Bama had the much better defense that year easily and that made the natty a reality. We had enough talent offensively to put pressure on everyone we played as well
I'm a Georgia fan, but I lived through these years and what the fuck are you talking about? 'they didn't contend for the championship before that or after'. They were 11-1 and finished in the top 5 in '91 (the loss was in week 2). They were undefeated in the regular season in '94 and there only loss was by one point to a Spurrier UF team. They played in every SEC Championship game they were eligible for during his tenure. You'd prefer Bill Curry?
Alabama didn't give him power and it's ashame. Alabama got on probation twice. That year, Alabama had 14 scholarships. He told my brother he was going to get him. My brother and sjaun Alexander met together in his office. Jean stated in the Birmingham news he didn't get a player he wanted. The Alumni/ Boostets had there hands in everything.
The 1996 Iron Bowl was the last Iron Bowl that I got see in person, and somehow I just knew that things were going to be different after that game. Alabama lost two games that year that they didn't normally lose - Tennessee (lost a 13-0 lead late in the 3rd quarter) and Miss St (an upset, not one of Jackie Sherrill's best teams). And, they nearly lost this one, but a fantastic last-minute drive got Bama the win. Coach Stallings was able to re-unite a divided fan base. One other thing, I know that Nick Saban is a better coach than Stallings, but the two have some things in common - they were both 55 when Alabama hired them. They both had NFL experience as assistant coaches and head coaches. People forget that Stallings coached with Tom Landry for 12 years in Dallas after he was fired from Texas A&M and then was head coach of the St Louis/Phoenix Cardinals before coming to Bama. Whenever the day comes to find a successor for Nick Saban, Bama needs to find someone with these same characteristics.
Chris J I think whoever replaces Saban needs NFL experience. Alabama is that kind of program...I don’t know who that would be, but I think they need NFL experience. Yes, I don’t see Dabo leaving Clemson.
