And I know its picking nits, and drives Kaos crazy, but the fact that we smelled blood in the water and didn't pouce for the jugular eats at me to this day. Bama was down, we had them on the ropes, we should have used the 13-0 in 2004 to put a stranglehold on them. But we didn't. 6 in a row? Sure, it was nice. Every game was close though. We never blew them out. They were competitive with us even though they were on probation, had the Shula, Franchione, Price, Dumbose carosel, and we were on top of the world. We should have been light years ahead of their program. Then, the one year they get an advantage back, they kill us 36-0. It just aggravates me that we couldnt put more distance between ourselves and them during that span. Kaos, I know you are going to say Tubs' morale was low and "he was tired of fooling with the monkeys in the administration" but I just don't buy that explanation. He was getting paid a lot of money. We, the fans, pay tons of money to see his product. By quitting on us after 2004, it hurt the fans and players. We always supported him. Hell, I wrote him a letter in support after 2003's Jetgate. I thought he was too good of a man to have that done to him. The fans overwhelmingly supported him after Jetgate. So did he "quit" after that? Yeah, maybe. But like I said - it hurt the fans and players - not the PTB. They were all still lining their pockets and shaking hands at VP events. Those guys are gonna get their money. No - it didn't bother those guys a bit. He gave them what they wanted if you ask me. ~End Rant~ 
They were down during those years, but they were never down the way Auburn was down the second half of 2008. Not only that, in 2008 Alabama was in the midst of vindicating themselves (already 11-0)...and coming out of the darkness. Both programs were shooting past each other in opposite directions. That's what created the huge gap in the 2008 game.
During those 6 years that Tubs won, Alabama wasn't necessarily nose-diving at light speed at any one time. They were kind of stuck in a mediocre status quo, but not so much in a "wheels are coming off
right now" situation going into a game. And don't forget they were ranked #9 in 2002 and #8 in 2005. That's being just successful enough just often enough to stay in recruits eyes and think the return to glory is just around the corner.
On top of that....there is no amount of "greatness" Auburn can be that will negate the recruiting ability of Alabama in Alabama. Although it's changing, the majority of coaches and parents still are Alabama/Bryant disciples. No matter how bad they seem, and who is coaching, they have always had a solid talent level. Even in their down years, like 2003 when they went 4-9, they lost to #3 Oklahoma by a TD, they lost to #7 Tennessee 51-43, the next week they beat Miss State 38-0, they lost to a 9-4 Arkansas team by a FG. The point is, even at 4-9, they had some talent and could play with people.
I just don't buy the idea that any Auburn coach can ever deliver a "crippling blow" to Alabama recruiting. The fact that they were ranked in the top 10 in 2005, after Tuberville had gotten great classes in the previous years, shows that there is: A. enough to go around to both schools from Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, and B. no matter how great Auburn is, Alabama will always maintain enough of a stronghold in the state to fill out it's roster nicely (and vice-versa).
Dye had Auburn at a peak for most of a decade too...yet even without Bryant, in the 1980s Alabama spent 129 weeks in the AP poll (to Auburn's 122, although Auburn spent more time in the top 10). Dye was ranked as high as #4 as late as November 1990....yet Alabama won the national title in 1992 (which was won with players being recruited while Auburn was still on top...the nose dive had not come yet).
Just like Chizik has proven...even
Saban at Alabama can't slam the door on Auburn recruiting...I don't know why we expect that Tuberville or Dye or anyone else should have been able to slam the door on Alabama recruiting and deliver some death-blow to their program.
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