When Gene Stallings talks, it sounds like Alabama is on the verge of another dynasty.
"I thought before the season we were still a year away," he said after the Crimson Tide won its sixth national championship. "Maybe I shouldn't have said that."But it doesn't seem farfetched to expect Alabama to contend for No. 1 again next season after routing Miami 34-13 in the Sugar Bowl. The Tide (13-0) will have 12 of 22 starters and both kickers returning, plenty of experienced backups to replace those who are departing and another favorable schedule.
"I think we've got a chance to be pretty good next year," Stallings said. "But I really don't want to worry about next year for a while."
Alabama will have to replace All-America ends John Copeland and Eric Curry, who anchored the nation's best defense. But the Tide still has senior-to-be Jeremy Nunley, a valuable reserve for three seasons who recorded four sacks in 1992, and Dameian Jeffries, who had three sacks his sophomore season while backing up Curry.
Alabama will have holes to fill at linebacker with the departure of Antonio London and Derrick Oden, the Tide seem well stocked in the backfield despite losing All-Southeastern Conference cornerback George Teague. The other three starters return, including cornerback Antonio Langham, and Teague can be replaced by Tommy Johnson, a sophomore who had a key interception and caused a fumble in the Tide's rout of Miami on Friday night.
On offense, Stallings is most concerned about recruiting some depth at running back, a key in Alabama's run-oriented philosophy. The Tide has only three scholarship backs returning next season.
Starters Derrick Lassic, the Sugar Bowl MVP, and Martin Houston are leaving. Lassic's hole can be filled by Chris Anderson (492 yards this season) and Sherman Williams (299 yards, eight touchdowns), while Tarrant Lynch will step into Houston's job as the blocking fullback and short-yardage specialist. He backed him up in 1992.
Quarterback Jay Barker doesn't seem to put up impressive statistics (1,614 yards, seven TD passes in 1992) but it's hard to argue with his record: 17-0 as a starter.
"I'm a Jay Barker fan," Stallings said. "He's not always able to do the things he wants to do, but that's not because he's not trying. No one works harder or tries harder. I can live with that."
Still, Stallings hopes to improve the passing game next season, particularly since he won't have as much depth at running back.
"I've always said you need 175 to 195 yards passing every game to be a good, effective team," he said. "We haven't been able to do that. We'll work hard on the passing game all spring. Of course, we worked hard on it last spring."
Guard George Wilson is the only loss on the offensive line, and the Tide will be well-stocked with receivers led by David Palmer, a freshman star two years ago who will be expected to rebound from a disappointing 1992 season (24 receptions, two TDs).
The Tide's kicking specialists will be back, including Michael Proctor (a school-record 104 points as a freshman) and punter Bryne Diehl.
The toughest SEC opponent on next season's schedule figures to be Tennessee, but Alabama will have the advantage of playing that game in Legion Field at Birmingham. The conference championship game also will be held at the Tide's second home in Birmingham, but Alabama does have to go to Auburn for only the second time.