Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
2:05 am Sunday, February 8, 2009

At the top where they belong

By Staff
Jonathan Willis
It seems like yesterday that I sank deep into my couch buried in misery as I watched a start-up Utah team put a whipping on my Alabama Crimson Tide in the Sugar Bowl.
Now, just over a month later, things seem to be falling back in place.
Wednesday I joined thousands of other people across the country keeping a close eye on where the nation's top high school football players will be next fall.
Now that it's in the rear-view mirror, it seems kind of sad that I put so much energy and attention into following what these kids will do.
But, I quickly got over that and am now looking forward to the signing class of 2010.
For the second consecutive year, Coach Nick Saban pulled in the number one recruiting class in the nation according to rivls.com.
After a decade of highs and lows for Alabama fans, we are almost at a point where it seems like the good news won't end.
After the much-ballyhooed arrival of Saban in January 2007, he quickly turned the program into one of the best in the nation again.
Two number one recruiting classes sandwiched around a 12-2 season that saw the Tide atop the national rankings for five straight weeks, those are the kinds of things that keep a fan base on the edge of their seats.
That's how you pull in 92,000 people for a spring game.
That's how you generate enough interest to increase a stadium's seating capacity to more than 101,000.
That's how you build champions.
And most importantly, that's how it's supposed to be at the University of Alabama.
Saban has put the college football world on notice that Alabama is definitely back.

Also on Franklin County Times
Thorpe to play at Blue Mountain Christian
High School Sports, News, Russellville, ...
Brannon King For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE – Brennon Thorpe made his plans official to attend Blue Mountain Christian University and play baseball for the Toppers during a recent s...
Russellville High Class of 1967 gathers, reminisces
Columnists, News, Opinion, ...
HERE AND NOW
July 16, 2025
You can’t really go back to the good old days of high school, but you can pay them a visit now and then. That’s exactly what the RHS Class of 1967 has...
Former Cypress Lakes official to lead Guntersville State Park
Lifestyles, News
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
GUNTERSVILLE — Heath Puckett had an Auburn University degree and golf course superintendent certification in his pocket when he arrived at Cypress Lak...
European travel builds bonds across cultures
Lifestyles, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- A group of Franklin County travelers spent nine days this summer walking through catacombs, exploring castles and standing in places w...
Little Free Library welcomes readers in East Franklin
Lifestyles, News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
PHIL CAMPBELL — Eleven-year-old Aiden Hall is an avid reader, but he doesn’t just want to read books. He also wants to share them, and the way he deci...
King becomes elementary curriculum director
Lifestyles, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELVILLE — Molly King says every child can learn, though not necessarily in the same way or on the same day — a belief she plans to carry into her ...
New Junior Leaders begin their training
Franklin County, News
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
FRANKLIN COUNTY — Forty-two high school students from across Franklin County are beginning 10 months of hands-on leadership training and community ser...
Fire destroys 2-story garage, guest suite
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
R U S S E L LV I L L E – Jason Gist leaned against the wall of his home with a look of disgust while dozens of firefighters worked to extinguish a fir...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Stories
July 4, 2025Augusto Simon Diaz, 42, of Russellville, passed away July 4. Visitation and funeral were held at Spry Memorial Chapel on July 12 from 2pm ...
July 16, 2025
July 8, 2025Jamie Kerby Cummings, 41, of Russellville, passed away on July 8. Visitation took place July 13, at Spry Memorial Chapel from 1 pm to 3pm....
July 16, 2025
July 11,2025Julie “JuJu” Welch Black, 63, of Russellville, passed away on July 11.Graveside service was held at 1pm on July 13, at Belgreen Cemetery w...
July 16, 2025
July 9, 2025Scott Noel Benford, age 58, of Muscle Shoals, passed away on July 9. Visitation was held at Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville on July 1...
July 16, 2025