Bryant's influence would once again bring the program into the national spotlight and Trammell was his first star player. Coach Bryant had promised the team in the fall of 1958 the impossible notion that they would win a national championship within four years, if they could "stick it out", as told by team-mates Billy Neighbors, Bill Oliver and Mal Moore. This was going to be an uphill battle, as Alabama was coming off of four straight losing seasons. In 1959, when Trammell was a Sophomore, he led Alabama in total offense and then led in total scoring in the 1960 season, including a win against the Fran Tarkenton-led Georgia Bulldogs. Then after being named SEC champions in 1960, Coach Bryant's bold prediction soon would become mysteriously true. In 1961, Trammell would lead the team to a perfect season and ultimately to a NCAAF National Championship for 1961 (AP, UPI, NFF - unanimous), which was the first in 20 years for Alabama.