As we creep closer to the start of the 2010 college football season, we've noticed Alabama is the popular preseason pick to win the national championship.
That's not necessarily our take on it, though.
There is a reason why nobody has repeated as college football's national champions since Nebraska in 1994-95 — it's just too dang hard.
Since the formation of the Bowl Coalition — the forerunner to the BCS — only three defending champs made it back to the championship game the following season, with the Cornhuskers being the only ones to pull if off.
Here's a quick history lesson:
• 1996: Florida won its first national championship with Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel. The following year the Gators were ranked No. 1 until they lost at LSU (28-21) and then missed out on the championship game.
• 2001: Miami looked like a virtual lock to repeat as national champions after destroying Nebraska 37-14 in the Rose Bowl and bringing almost all of that team back in 2002. The Hurricanes went undefeated in the regular season but lost to Ohio State 31-24 in double overtime in the national championship contest.
• 2004: With two future Heisman Trophy winners — Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush — USC rolled to the 2004 national title by beating Oklahoma 55-19. But the next season Texas quarterback Vince Young scored with seconds left to beat USC 41-38 for the national title.
• 2008: Behind quarterback Tim Tebow, Florida won the 2008 national championship and had everybody coming back in 2009, when they were ranked No. 1 for the entire regular season but lost to No. 2 Alabama in the SEC championship game. The Tide, of course, went on to win it all.
Last year's Alabama team did what most all national championship teams do — catch a few breaks along the way. Remember the blocked field goal-attempt to beat Tennessee.
We are betting the ball doesn't bounce 'Bama's way every time this year.
Defense is why the Crimson Tide went undefeated in 2009. Nine starters off that unit are gone, including five of whom were taken in the NFL draft.
So then who out there is better than Alabama? Not sure anybody is.
It's just 15 years of history going against the Tide.
Nick Saban is the master motivator, so if anyone can prevent a letdown, it's him.
Alabama catches Florida and Auburn at home. The tricky road games are at Arkansas, LSU and South Carolina.
If the Tide does lose to Florida in early October, it will likely get a chance to redeem itself in the SEC title game. A one-loss Alabama team with a victory in Atlanta over a highly ranked Gator squad would almost be a shoo-in for the BCS title contest.
The possibility of a repeat is a fun debate regardless what side you fall on. In two weeks, we can quit talking and start watching.
So ready for that.
• Contact Bill Burrus at bburrus@gwcommonwealth.com.
