SB Nation User Blog: 5026

The Crowd Factor

5026 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:51:15 -0000

I was at the game yesterday and wanted to share a few thoughts about the crowd.

First, I have been going to Alabama games since 1961. I’ve been to most of our big games over the last 5 decades. The crowd yesterday, especially in the second half, was the loudest, play for play I have heard since the 1986 Norte Dame game, and probably the loudest I have ever heard. This is just my opinion, but if you were there you know how loud it really was. There is no doubt that the crowd had a part in LSU’s false starts which was a major factor in the game.

Secondly, the students were unreal. I know the students have at times been criticized for not showing up and not being loud. All the students, even the Greeks, were totally into it. Now I don’t expect the same from the Greeks against Chatt. but that is understandable.

Third, the little thing that Terry Saban started about saying "Roll Tide" after a 1st down is really getting loud. I was against it at first, but I like it now, and it has to pump up the players.

Finally, although most people around me wanted to go for the TD early in the when we trotted out the FG unit I did not here any boos. I think our fans trust Saban unlike they ever trusted Shula, Fran, or Dubose. I hope when we finally lose, hopefully sometime in 2012, our support for our coaches will continue. The LSU cry babies are ready to hang Miles.

To be honest there was a time when I felt like the Alabama crowd, though always large and faithful, was not as loud as some places I have been. For a long time I seemed like the crowd would sit around waiting for the team to do something. I mean when we went to Baton Rogue there crowd seemed to be into it no matter the score. But, now I think we are just as loud as anyone. And, with 10,000 more Bama fans in house starting next year we will be even louder.

By the way, I can’t help but think the crowd helped seal the deal with Allen who is going to be a good one. Tradition is awesome for old guys like me and for the kids who grew up in Alabama loving the Tide. But for your average 18 year old out of state kid our crowd, and our stadium means more than our tradition. They want excitement and that is what they are going to get at Bryant-Denny.

13 Ways To Beat The Gators

5026 — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:25:39 -0000

I’m not a UGA fan, but I will be pulling for you guys this Saturday because I really want Tebow to lose. I think you might have a shot at the mighty Gators and here are 13 things you could do to win the game. Good Luck!! The whole world wants you to win.

#1- No celebrating in the end zone, on the sidelines, or anywhere within 100 yards of the stadium.

#2- Throw 30 passes to AJ Green.

#3- Let AJ Green run from the wildcat.

#4- Let AJ Green play defense.

#5- Let AJ Green lead the team prayer.

#6- Get AJ Green to date the ref’s daughter.

#7- Whatever you do, do not get in a UF receivers face or accidently run into anyone wearing orange and blue away from the ball even if the play is still going on. That will cost you, just ask Arkansas.

#8- See if AJ Green can convince CBS to put a camera on the goal line so you can get a good view of when the ball does or does not cross the plane. (See MSU)

#9- Lobby the SEC office to get ref’s from the ACC for this game. Especially Miami and Florida State grads.

#10- Hold up a sign on the sidelines that says "Hey Tebow, just throw it right here!"

#11- Get AJ Green’s sister to go out with Riley Cooper and thus mess up the "chemistry" between Tebow and his roommate.

#12- Get Gary Danielson to request Tebow do a circumcision on the sidelines at halftime for the cameras to show off his many talents. If there are no volunteers, draft Riley Cooper.

#13-Confuse the Gators by the way the score is kept. For example rather than saying 28-0 have them say 28-Love.

Sabans Give $250,000 to Children's Hospital

5026 — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:13:37 -0000

Sabans Give $250,000 to Children's Hospital

I'm sure he was planning on doing this anyway, but what an awesome way to celebrate a great win.

Brillant Strategy or Dumb Luck?

5026 — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 03:27:48 -0000

When UT made a 1st down at our 27 it was clear what they were going to do...run the clock down and kick a last second field goal.

Everyone sitting beside me at BDS was calling for Bama to use their 3 time outs to leave us about 30 seconds to try and drive down and also get a FG. And, we have all seen teams use that strategy before and even have some success. But Bama strangely decided to just let the clock run. Why?

Well, I have not heard Coach Saban on this but I'm sure he had a reason. So what do you guys think? Was it brillant or just luck?

One thing one of my friends said was that Saban did not call time out for fear UT might run right at us a few times trying to kill the clock and then actually break lose and score a TD as our D was very tired (see LSU & UGA.)

Another idea is that Saban knew their kicker had a sore leg and thought he could not make it from that distance and so rather than risk him getting even a yard or two closer he decided to roll the dice.

A third theory is that Saban was saving his time outs to see how UT was lined up to block for the kick to see how to get a mismatch (like Cody on a little guy.) When UT lined up the same as they had done when we blocked the previous kick (they had made no adjustment) he knew we had a shot and just didn't need the other two.

So what do you think? Why did we not use our time outs? Strategy or luck?

The Julio Problem

5026 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:07:42 -0000

We’ve got a problem with Julio Jones. Now Julio is not the problem. The guy goes out every week and gives it his all. Even when we don’t throw the ball to him he is still blocking like crazy, breaking up interceptions, causing fumbles and in general doing whatever he can to help Bama win. Plus, you will never hear him complain about not getting the ball. He is actually a team player who wants what is best for the team.

But...not getting Julio the ball is not best for Alabama. First of all not getting Julio the ball is costing us points. But, it goes way beyond the scoreboard.

Julio Jones was the #1 player in the country coming out of high school. We probably got him because he lived in Alabama. But he is known around the country. Right now the 2011 number #1 player, the 2012 #1 player, and the 2013 #1 player are watching Alabama on ESPN. What are they seeing? Julio Jones, former #1 player not even getting the football. What will happen when they are approached by Coach Saban or our assistant coaches about coming to Alabama? They are going to be thinking "No way am I going there because look what happened to Julio."

And, if they don’t think about this coaches form the other teams are going to tell them about it. We will have a hard time, a very hard time convincing, the stud receivers like AJ Green or Calvin Johnson to come to Bama.

What will that mean? Well maybe nothing. Maybe we can win it all on defense and running the ball without stud receivers. But maybe not.

In the late 70's Bama was the best team in the country. There was a high school kid in GA named Herschel Walker. He didn’t really fit our wishbone scheme and so we either didn’t try very hard or didn’t try at all to get him and he went to UGA. We won the NC in 78 & 79 but in 1980 UGA with Herschel won the NC. In 1982 we didn’t even get Bo Jackson and he was from Alabama. Again I’m not sure if it was from not trying or what. But, I always wondered what would have happened if we would have been willing to change to the I backfield if Herschel would have come. Hey, we might have gotten Bo as well. We won it all in 78 & 79, but passed or missed on both Walker and Jackson and have only one NC in the last 30 years. It is a team game but winning individual awards, like the Heisman, will help your team in the short and long run.

All I’m saying is we have a problem with Julio because he is that good.. If he doesn’t get the ball a bunch and make All American next year (no way he makes it this year his stats are nothing) he will still sign a big NFL deal but Bama could suffer for squandering the receiver of a generation, even if we win the National Championship this year. Personally I doubt we can win the NCG, or even the SECCG, without Julio making many catches.

We can fix blame wherever we want but I think our coaches have got to figure out how to get the ball into Julio’s hands. I can promise you that if he were playing for anyone in the conference, even Vandy, he’d at least be All-SEC. He will be lucky to get any votes for All-SEC based on his stats for the 1st 7 games. Hopefully we will fix this problem on Saturday. If we don’t we will regret it.

Could Duel Numbers Hurt Bama?

5026 — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:56:14 -0000

I'm sorry but I am not a fan of two players having the same number. For example on Saturday when Fitzgerald threw the ball to #4, from where I was sitting, the end zone, I could not tell if it was Maze or Barron.

I realize one of the reasons for duel numbers is to be able to promise a guy a certain number when we are trying to convince him to come to Bama. We have about 7 or 8 guys with duel numbers right now most in the single digits. I suspect having a single digit is now cool.

Now I'm guessing the rule is that 2 players can have the same number just as long as they are both not on the field at the same time. Therefore, what you end up having is a #3 on offense, Richardson, and a #3 on defense, Jackson. Or you might have a 4th string guy who is going to red shirt share the number with a starter, etc.

But here is the problem, Kick-off Coverage. This week we get Jerrell Harris back- #5. I think that last year he played some kick off coverage. To be honest our kick-off coverage stinks and I think he is big and fast and could really be used on kick-off coverage.

But Roy Upchurch- #5, also big and fast, and has been finding the field on kick coverage (I'm assuming to beef up the coverage.) So, one of these guys has got to either switch numbers or not play on kick off coverage.

This wouldn't be that big a deal except I'm not sure we might not want to play both. It seems to me we have too many small DB's on kick coverage. Although fast, they are getting distroyed by bigger blockers who have been able to punch holes in the Bama coverage all season.

I know we want to play the best cover guys on kick-offs because we are getting burned there all the time. Will we tell Harris, the younger player, "Hey take number #6, Goode is not playing?"

Need Help With #12 and QB's

5026 — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 01:56:19 -0000

Need Help With #12 and QB's

Greg McElroy will wear #12 this season. I know that QB's Pat Trammell, Joe Namath, Ken Stabler, and Brodie Croyle all wore #12 at Bama. But I can't remember if there were any other QB's who wore 12. Did either Scott Hunter, Vince Sutton, Danny Woodson, or Brian Burdorf wear #12? Did anyone else?

UT's (Kiffin's) Problems

5026 — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 17:53:48 -0000

Ok, UT is excited because they have Bama’s recruiter. But UT has real problems. Recruiting talent to UT has never been a problem. For several years they were near the top. Yet somehow the talent has resulted in little except one NC.

The real problems with UT go back to that NC. It was 1998 and UT was on top. What happened? They (Fulmer) became obsessed with Alabama. From 1998 on the program declined including two losing seasons. Now they hire this kid and that is going to solve the problems? He has no experience as a college HC, no knowledge of the SEC, and a terrible record in the NFL. The only thing he has done is guide an offense that Norm Chow had already put together. USC is a great team, but winning there is not as hard as winning in the SEC.

So, wonderkid hires his daddy. That sounds smart, but who is going to be running the show? I can’t see dad taking orders. Then he gets what everyone thinks is the greatest staff ever. Ok, coach O maybe a decent coach. But I’m not so sold on the rest. I don’t think Gran or Wilson are the tops in their field. I think SC was pushing Reaves out the door. Supposedly these 3 were hired because they were great recruiters but I don’t see it.

Then, still obsessed with Bama, they get LT in an underhanded way. But, what have they got? A coach who is not a great position coach (they didn’t even like him at UCF.) As far as being a super recruiter I think he has done great at Bama, but he was assigned a talent rich area, Mobile, and kids wanted to get in on Saban being at Bama. Saban is the closer than made LT’s recruits sign.

So, has Kiffin blown it? He got supposed SUPER recruiters (debatable) at the expense of not having great position coaches. He got his dad to work under him (won’t happen). He has hired a bunch of guys that he has not worked with. He focused media attention on himself bragging that he had stolen other SEC schools top recruiters (stupid thing to brag on.) Now, he can’t fly under the radar even in his 1st year. He must win right out of the gate. Looking at UT’s schedule for 09 7-5 is about where they will end up- they could be 5-7. (They have 8 tough games UF, UGA, UA, Ole Miss, SC, UK, AU, and UCLA)

He has created problems for himself with his flamboyance as he now MUST win, but can he? I'd be shocked if he is better than 7-5. But hey, he is young, good looking, famous family and his wife is hot. Reminds me of Shula.

I don't like Tebow

5026 — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:23:01 -0000

Well the Gators are #1 and I think most people will agree. I'm not so sure they are really the best team as it appears the Big 12 is just not as good as advertised. I think the USC defense could give them fits and I think Utah's quick pass attack would be hard to defend. OU could have won the game if they had played it smart after the 2nd Tebow INT when they tried to run it in. If they had passed to their TE down on the goal line they would have scored. If they scroed then it would have been a different game. The SECCG could have been different if we had not tried to go deep after falling behind in the 4th but instead tried to run Coffee to the left.

But even though UF is # 1 I don't like them and I really don't like Tebow. How does he not get called for celebration with some of the on field things he does after a run or TD etc? And, then even late in the game he is taunting the OU players doing the chomp etc. To me that shows no class. But is the same stuff he has been pulling for 3 years and everybody just gives him a pass. Remember the phone thing at LSU last year--and nothing. JPW does a lot less and we get 15 yards.

But it seems Tebow can do no wrong. And I am tired of these stories about how Tebow has done this or done that. To me half of what he has done has been to play to the press to hype him or UF. I'm sorry I do not see any humility in Tebow. I hope he does return, and I hope we get him one more time in the SECCG. I honestly think he can be stoped and I think we can stop him. I'd love to see him crying after the game too.

People...It Is ONE Game

5026 — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:41:21 -0000

It is amazing how some so called fans are ready to jump ship over one game. I say let them go. Let’s look at the facts.

Fact #1- Utah is a very good team. Their QB was spot on and when you run into something like that you are in for a long night. Our DB’s are not as good as Utah or UF’s receivers- RIGHT NOW. In time they will be. By the way I’d love to see Utah play UF.

Fact #2- It actually could have been much worse. I’m sure when were down 21-0 with 3 qts. to go Utah was thinking they could make a real statement by hanging half a hundred on us. Thankfully we didn’t quit.

Fact #3- Even though we played a bad game against a good team we still had a chance to win in the 4th qt. That shows you the heart of this team.

Fact #4- Our team is young. Actually I was somewhat proud of the way they responded to being down by so much so early. I saw frustration but I did not see anyone quit. These guys will be back and they will remember this loss. It will motivate them in the off season.

Fact #5- We don’t lose that much by losing this game. This was not a championship game, not a conference game and we will likely finish # 6 or #7 in the polls. We will only drop 3 spots at most and it will be our best finish since 1994. Obviously you want to win every game you play but this loss is not a devastating loss. It only seems like a terrible thing because people think Utah is no good.

Fact #6- Our best days are ahead. We had the #1 recruiting class last year. We are presently ranked #4 in recruiting for this year. I think all our commits are pretty solid and will not let this game change their mind. We need to sign these guys and a few others and then we are going to really be good. We think the 22 we sent out there to start Friday night were the most awesome players since the 92 squad. Let me tell you, the 22 we start next Sept., as a unit, will be better athletes than the 22 we started Friday. Do you remember that when signed these guys Greenwood was 3 stars, Wilson- 3, Caldwell-3, Stover-4, Oakley- 2, Marlon Davis- 3, Walker-2, McCall- 3. These 9 guys averaged less than 3 stars. We are going to be better with the 4 and 5 stars we signed and are going to sign. I can’t say we will have a 12-0 start next year, because some of the games we won this year (UK, UM, LSU) were close and could have gone the other way. But we should be 10-2 regular season and after that who knows. We have a favorable conference schedule next year, and there are many new and inexperienced coaches on our schedule. There is not a game on our schedule that I don’t think we can win. Coming into this year I thought we absolutely could not beat Clemson, UGA, LSU, and AU. Our biggest problem next year is going to be getting a starting QB to play like a veteran. (Which we will do- just wait and see how good our new QB is going to be..)

We lost a game. One game. Our program is in good shape and the future is very bright. Those freaking out by this game need to just get over it. Those bowl less Aubies and Vols from the safety of their living rooms proclaiming us to be a fluke have no idea about what is in store for them. UF lost to Michigan last year it didn’t seem to mean much this year did it?