Was 2008 really a great season for the Alabama Crimson Tide?

Perhaps the greatest overstatement regarding the 2008 college football campaign was that Alabama had a great season. This simply was not the case. True, the program did enjoy a resurgence. The Tide won its first 12 games and spent time atop the college football polls. However, aside from a divisional championship, Bama did not accomplish much.

Alabama lost the SEC title game to Florida then got embarrassed by Utah in the Sugar Bowl. Since when does this qualify for greatness? Really, the Tide did not accomplish more than Tennessee did in 2007. The Vols won the SEC East in '07 before losing to LSU in the conference title game. Actually, the Vols did the Tide one better by beating a good Wisconsin team in its bowl game. Therefore, a person can make a compelling argument that Tennessee had a better 2007 season than Alabama did in 2008.

At this point, the Tide is entering the 2009 season on a two-game losing streak. And that does not define greatness.

I wonder what 'Bear' Bryant thinks of all this.