Goodman: For Alabama, a magical season smokes along

Nick Saban’s voice could not contain his excitement.

It surged with adrenaline after Alabama’s season-defining victory against Tennessee. It jumped with energy. It sounded like the voice of a person who had just survived some catastrophe or great struggle and wanted to tell the entire world how much he loved every single glowing soul. Alabama’s 34-20 comeback against rival Tennessee carried the Crimson Tide to the bottom and then pushed it higher than anyone thought possible and the reverberations in Saban’s words after the game echoed a stadium’s collective joy.

“I just can’t tell you how pleased I am with everyone in the organization,” Alabama’s coach said after the game.

And he meant every last person cheering in the stadium, too.

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Saban, who turns 72 on Halloween, took a victory lap to thank fans after the game and then he raced off the field so fast his security detail had trouble keeping up. He even left Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe in the dust.

“Boy, he was moving,” Milroe said. “I’ve never seen him run like that.”

This team is special for Saban. It’s obvious. He loves this group and all of its plucky, messy charm. Alabama has had more talented teams, but there is something so enjoyably authentic about how these guys are developing.

“Can’t say enough about their competitive spirit when they need to have it,” Saban said.

I’m not saying it’s a team of destiny, but it’s certainly a team that makes you hope they can be that good when it matters the most.

“Taken years off my life, but I’m ok with that,” Saban said.

Oh, and the quarterback is pretty good and getting better.

Milroe is a gunslinger, isn’t he? Alabama just needs to let him rip because some of those throws he made in the second half rival any arm we’ve ever seen at Alabama. His touch passes saved Alabama against Arkansas and his wrist rockets toppled Tennessee.

Milroe might not be the best quarterback in the country just yet, but he has the ability to beat the best team in the SEC. For the third season in a row that team is not Alabama, but we now know that the Crimson Tide is never out of a game with the quarterback from Katy, Texas.

What a ride. I don’t know what was more stunning, Alabama’s comeback or Tennessee’s collapse?

Tennessee had a 20-7 lead at halftime and the Volunteers should have led by much more. The book on Tennessee called for stopping the run. Alabama dared Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton to throw, and he looked like an All-American doing it.

Alabama’s season was done and so, too, was the dynasty. That’s what halftime felt like inside Bryant-Denny Stadium for the Third Saturday in October. The mood was somewhere between despair and despondency. People felt like crying, and that was just in the press box. Outside it was a funeral, and, honestly, how many times does Tennessee’s band have to play “Rocky Top”?

Don’t get me wrong, it’s an OK song, but at some point maybe do everyone a favor and learn another tune.

They played “Rocky Top” on loop during that first quarter. Tennessee led 13-0. Alabama’s offense could do nothing. Alabama’s defense was a myth. Alabama’s pride was in a bad place, and that was before the interception in the end zone by Tennessee and then the Volunteers’ stabbing, unstoppable drive right through the middle of Alabama’s hearts.

What happened?

Saban put it all on the line during his halftime address.

“I said everyone here has a choice to make,” Saban said.

Maybe I’m a fool, but I choose to believe. After the second largest comeback for Alabama against Tennessee in the history of the rivalry, how can you not?

In one half of magical football, Alabama went from a team that seemed potentially good enough for the Gator Bowl to a Mighty Morphing National Title Contender.

It’s “fun,” Saban said, and that’s exactly the way this season should be embraced.

Trick or treat? That’s Alabama (7-1, 5-0 in the SEC) as it rolls into Halloween. We’re eight weeks into the season and the Tide remains a mysterious joyride from one half of football to the next. No one knows what to make of this team — not even Saban, it seems — but after the Third Saturday in October the smiling coach understands that this team isn’t far off no matter the score.

Joseph Goodman is the lead sports columnist for the Alabama Media Group, and author of “We Want Bama”, a book about togetherness, wild times and rum. You can find him on Twitter @JoeGoodmanJr.