As the biggest Tide fan on here (or at least the one with the most seniority), I’ll admit that it is a little early to call us a “Dynasty”. I heard an interview with Austin Murphy yesterday, and I believe that the headline (selected by the editors, and not the author) was meant to be looking PROSPECTIVELY, and not RETROACTIVELY.

No question, the past decade included some miserable moments (3-8 in 2000, 4-9 in ’03). The nadir, in my opinion, was the above-referenced 21-0 loss to none other than the USM Golden Eagles at storied Legion Field on a late (ESPN2-mandated)Saturday night during that 3-8 campaign.

That said, I believe it’s fair to say that the laughter around the conference has pretty much subsided, and everybody – fan, opponent and otherwise – knows that the next decade, barring something which cannot be anticipated, is going to be about the opposite of this last one. I don’t think we’ll win 14 games every year, but I sure do think that we’ll get National Championship #14, and maybe ##15 and 16, too.*

Dynasty, maybe not, but we’re back, and we’re better than anybody else. In fact, we’re better today than some have ever been, or ever will be. If anybody would like to take the “over” on LSU or Auburn beating Alabama 7 times THIS decade, or on Tennessee winning 5 (although I think it is more likely after today’s events), I’d be glad to handle your action.

*I will freely acknowledge that the claimed championship in 1941 is bogus, but no more bogus than the legitimately-earned championships which were not awarded (and which are not currently claimed) in 1945, 1966, or 1977. The rest of the 13 are iron-clad. Those championships are no less valid simply because the AP poll was not in existence. The Wright Brothers still get credit for flying, even though there were no air traffic controllers present. 2+2 equaled 4, even before the invention of the calculator. The Bible existed before King James commissioned his famous version.