... recent history, it's a good time to both look back at the team's hopes and fears coming into this season as well as look ahead to next year's team.

The year started with pundits saying Alabama would be good but still a year away from competing for a championship. Many prognosticators saw Alabama coming in third in the SEC West behind either LSU or Ole Miss.

The reasons were no experience at quarterback, a shaky defensive backfield with the loss of Rashad Johnson, a patchwork offensive line with a lot of inexperience, and the departure of Glen Coffee, Alabama's best running back, for the NFL.

Half of the doubters were erased when the Tide, in yet another opening day bowl-type game, took on the team picked to win the ACC and ra...

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