as good as its record and I really liked the team.

The record was actually similar to Alabama in 08. Alabama had lost to ULM at home in Saban's 1st year and the next year the SEC West was trash. Bama went 12-0 then lost in the SEC CG to Florida and then lost to Utah. Bama just had an inflated record from playing a very weak schedule and if Utah had lost, it really should have been an upset. Bama fans have long claimed the team wasn't motivated but that team just wasn't as good as its record. Utah's best win that year was likely beating TCU, not beating Bama at the Sugar Bowl.