2009: The Beginning, Part 1 | Looking back at Alabama's first championship season under Nick Saban

You remember the T-shirt: “Tebow cried. Cam Lied. LSU tried.”
There were different variations of the T-shirt after Alabama’s national championship run in 2009, which would be the first of five national championships under coach Nick Saban.

“This is not the end,” the Alabama coach said. “This is the beginning.”
But, before you can truly appreciate that national championship win, you have to understand the mindset, the personnel changes, the opponents and the obstacles standing in the Crimson Tide’s way.

The year before, the Tide was a victim of Urban Meyer’s Florida Gators. Tim Tebow ripped open the heart of the Crimson Tide as the Gators secured a second straight national title.

A stunning loss to Utah in the Sugar Bowl gave the Tide back-to-back losses in a season which started with a win over a ninth-ranked Clemson team “that announced Alabama on the national stage.”

Gone from the 2008 team were leaders Antoine Caldwell, Andre Smith, John Parker Wilson, Glen Coffee and Rashad Johnson. Those players replaced with names like Greg McElroy, Barrett Jones, Mark Ingram, Mike Johnson, Julio Jones, and Trent Richardson.

AL.com, on the 10th anniversary of the 2009 national title run, takes a three-part visual trip through what became the foundation for a modern-day college-football dynasty.

Subscribe, and stay tuned for parts 2 & 3 later this season.

[sjenkins]

What a year! Undefeated, SEC Champs, Heisman, & Nat Champs! 🐘🏈🌊

[Jeremy-pbxk]

This will always be the greatest Alabama season of all time in my opinion. Born in 1987, this is the first one I really remember. And the fact it was perfect and we had our first heisman just adds to how magical a season it was. Thank you 2009 Alabama Crimson Tide for the greatest season I’ve ever experienced in my life.

[jbhammontree]

Saban looks so young. My all time favorite Bama team.

[fridgecold]

As of now, this is the greatest run in Saban history. However Tua and the boys will change that this year, 15-0 Roll Tide Roll.

[sneakyquick]

I hated John Parker never got a championship he gave alot for Alabama when they stunk.

[jwiese]

Greg McElroy a really good quarterback surrounded by other really good players. That’s every Bama QB that played under Saban

[SarcasticGame]

I remember the season like yesterday. I never thought I would I see our team win a National championship. Let alone 5 in the past 10 years. Crazy. I really think that the dynasty with saban is over. We have a weak defense. An overrated and huge bust at quarterback. We are not going to win another until we get back to playing great defense and winning games in the trenches. This air raid offense we have now, is not what we need. Especially with a quarterback that's average. He can throw but he cannot handle pressure. We are in serious trouble. Maybe he will prove me wrong. I hope he does but after Mississippi State, Georgia and Clemson. It doesn't look good.