T-Bob Hebert delivers ‘harsh, cold truth’ for future of Alabama football
Since Nick Saban took over at Alabama in 2007, Crimson Tide fans have seen the highest of highs. They’ve witness six national championships during that time as the program moved to the top of college football.
So far this year, Alabama fans haven’t seen the type of dominance they’ve seen over the last 15 years. The Crimson Tide lost to Texas in Week 2 and, amid their recent six-game winning streak, have two one-score victories and only scored 17 points against USF. Still, Alabama is in first place in the SEC West heading into this week’s key matchup against LSU in Tuscaloosa.
Given the way this season has gone, not to mention missing the College Football Playoff last season, former Tigers center T-Bob Hebert had a message for Alabama nation.
“Here’s a harsh, cold truth for any Alabama fan listening to my voice right now,” Hebert told Andy Staples on Andy Staples On3. “You will never experience the heights that you have occupied for the last 20 years. I don’t care how long you live. You will be dead and buried before you will ever achieve what you have achieved these last 15-20 years. So like a great athlete that peaks in their 20s or some young tech wizard that never finds another way to get value in their life after that, you’ve already peaked, and it’s all downhill from here. And yes, look, progress is not linear, decline is not linear. Maybe you sneak in natty and on the way down. But make no mistake, the consistency with which you have gotten to enjoy and cheer for will never happen again.
“And one day, you’re going to be dying, you’re going to be on your deathbed and you’re going to be like, oh my god, that son of a bitch was right. And I hope you see my face floating above you as you breathe your last and you understand that it really was the best from 2010 to 2020.”
Hebert also pointed out two losses to former Saban assistants — Kirby Smart twice and Steve Sarkisian earlier this year — to prove his point about Alabama’s downfall. Then, he posed an interesting question about who fans want to replace Saban once he retires.
No matter who Alabama hires, Hebert argued the run of dominance will never happen again.
“It’s just all downhill from here, boys,” Hebert said. “Who are gonna get to replace Nick Saban? Who? Dabo Swinney? You still want him? You think Lane Kiffin is gonna do what Nick has done? Face it. It’s over, Alabama fans. It’s over. And it will be over every single day until you’re done living.”