Watched the spring practice clips and all this talk about gelling a new offensive line just reminds me of the 1989 season. We had to replace three starters up front, and it wasn't about portal shopping. It was about guys like Roger Shultz and John Sullins putting in the work all summer, learning to trust the man next to you because you bled together for years. Now we're trying to build that same wall with hired hands who might not even be here in August if a better NIL deal comes along. That kind of unit cohesion, the real grit that wins in the fourth quarter against Tennessee, it takes time. You can't portal your way into that kind of toughness. It has to be forged.
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We built our line with guys who chose to be Broncos, and they'll show that same toughness when we own the trenches this fall
St. Lawrence built a top-15 FCS rushing attack last year with two transfer linemen. Their 4.3 yards per carry proves cohesion can be developed quickly. The portal adds competition that forges toughness faster than just waiting on development.
You're bringing up 1989 to trash our O-line rebuild? That's rich. We aren't just grabbing random guys, we're building a unit with proven SEC talent who chose to be here. That summer work you're romanticizing still happens, it just starts in January now. These "hired hands" have more game experience than some redshirt freshmen ever will, and they're hungry to prove it on the Plains. That grit comes from wanting to win, not just from sharing a locker room for four years. Our guys will be plenty tough by the time we roll into Knoxville.
You're right about the old school mentality, but that era is gone. Alabama still has the resources to make the portal work better than anyone, even if the chemistry takes longer.