SB Nation User Blog: Watchman

Slive Lays the Wood to Lame Kitten

Watchman — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:09:01 -0000

In case you were wondering just how annoyed Commissioner Mike Slive is with the mouth of UcheaT's coach, here's a sample:

Since it is clear from your public comments that you believe this letter “mean(s) nothing”, let me be equally as clear to you. The next time you, or a member of your staff, make public comments of this nature, you will be suspended from all coaching duties for one or more games, and the institution may be subjected to a substantial fine. I also remind you that this is your second public reprimand in your brief tenure as Tennessee’s Head Football Coach and on both occasions you were wrong about the applicable rules.

You can read the entire reprimand letter (released through a Freedom of Information Act request apparently) over at MrSEC.com. Talk about a major league trip to the woodshed...and so very richly deserved. I don't know that anything can penetrate that skull, but I suspect this will at least get Hamilton to pull the leash a little.

CBS - Can't Broadcast Sports

Watchman — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 04:16:04 -0000

Exciting game (too exciting) on the field...putrid performance in the booth. From Verne Lundquist (does the man not have a mirror) mocking Cody's weight to Danielson defending the incredibly lame no-call on the blatant pass interference at the end of the first half it started bad. But it got a lot worse after that. Verne actually called us Auburn at one point.

And then there was the disgrace of their comments after the second Cody block. Nothing about his great game--just yapping and flapping about "excessive celebration" and Cody taking off his helmet. Their bias against Alabama has been most rippling under the surface with only an occasional ripple for a long time but today it came out in full force. I know the league is getting a boatload of money from CBS, but it's a complete crock to have to listen to guys who hate your team and constantly run it down.

I am NOT happy with Alabama

Watchman — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:22:38 -0000

If the media reports are accurate and UcheaT asked to wear their orange jerseys and we said no, I'm bummed. We're supposed to have a sense of tradition and history, and that's part of what sets Alabama apart from the lesser lights of the football world. Well for those of us old-timers, part of what made the third Saturday special (and for Heaven's sake how hard is it to schedule that game on the right day?) was seeing the red and orange clashing on the field.

Don't know if this was the coach, the AD or what, but I wish we hadn't turned them down. And regardless of what color they wear, I hope we send them back to Rocky Flop with their tails between their legs...again.

Bama Turned Down Owens?

Watchman — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:35:24 -0000

It seems like a very strange story that we would turn down a LB candidate like Ladarius Owens, but apparently that's the story Beasley told when he committed to Clemson today. Is this just an 18 year old kid blowing smoke and getting attention, or can that possibly be true? I know we're both stocked and stacked at LB, but I can't imagine a reason (at least based on what's in the public domain) why we wouldn't want Owens. Does anybody know anything about this?

Is Your Cell Phone Video at the Game Illegal?

Watchman — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 13:46:28 -0000

There's been a lot of talk aobut the new SEC Digital Plan and what it's going to make available...and a little talk about what it's going to take away. But in addition to impacting what highlights can be broadcast and even what online updates (Twitter, blogging, etc) news reporters can provide (from a public event!), it apparently may impact individual fans as well. Per Jack Lail (found via Instapundit) http://www.jacklail.com/blog/archives/2009/08/blogging-has-its-limits-in-the.html

Here's more from TuscaloosaNews.com. There are similar provisions in the "fine print" of tickets for those going as spectators, which they might find surprising as they're tweeting, texting, blogging or shooting cell phone video that comes under wary gaze of the SEC rights guardians.

I think those glorious shaky cell phone Rammer Jammer videos are technically banned under this new deal. Whether it will be enforced who knows? But in a world where our own school sues Daniel Moore....anything is possible. Ugh. Big Brother is watching you...

Yet 40 Days and Virginia Tech Shall Be Overthrown

Watchman — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:44:19 -0000

So I was walking down the street when this strange-looking man who smelled vaguely of fish and seaweed came up to me. He told a story of having been divinely appointed to carry a message of judgment against an evil people. There was something in there about being swallowed by a whale...at least I think that's what he said. I asked him where he was headed, and he said Atlanta. So I asked him to share his message with me.

That's when he cried out loudly, "Yet 40 days and Virginia Tech shall be overthrown." Well it didn't take a prophet to figure out what that meant! I can't wait to bring down the hammer on the Hokies.

Demarco Cobbs Says...

Watchman — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:34:00 -0000

There's a brief interview with Demarco Cobbs in the Tulsa paper today. It's mostly "athlete speak" but there are a couple of interesting comments on his experience at the Alabama camp:

"I competed with some of the best players in the country. Coach Saban was cool. He was laid back but fired up at the same time. He talked about the program he's putting together." He almost got stranded in the airport at Atlanta on his way home.

Cobbs says OU is still on his list but that if he signed today it would probably be with someone "out of state." He's going to visit Knoxville in a couple of weeks on an unofficial visit and he'll be in Orlando for the Rising Stars camp later this week. He doesn't give any timeline for when he will announce. You can read the whole article at the link.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/sports/article.aspx?subjectid=227&articleid=20090722_227_B3_Afters291116&sport=Football

Party Like It's 1973

Watchman — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:39:49 -0000

Since we're now 73 days away from kicking off the new season with Virginia Tech, it seems like an appropriate time to look back at our 1973 game with VPI. On October 27th the Hokies rolled into Tuscaloosa to take on the Tide. When the dust had settled, the final score was 77-6. (Which in fairness to them was six points more than Auburn scored on us that year.)

The Crimson Tide set new NCAA rushing and total yardage records that day, racking up 748 yards on the ground with four different players rushing for more than 100 yards--James Taylor, Wilbur Jackson, Calvin Culliver and Richard Todd. We only completed four passes out of seven on the day. It;s also worth noting that our total of 77 points and 833 yards total offense was reached despite three turnovers. As we only put up 7 points in the fourth quarter it could have been a lot worse...

So bring on the Hokies again. I can't wait!

Kiffin Awarded Game Ball

Watchman — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:04:37 -0000

KNOXVILLE - In an emotional postgame locker room ceremony following the dramatic Orange victory over White, Tennessee team captains voted to award the game ball to Coach Lane Kiffen. "Without him in there in the huddle telling all of us what to do, we simply couldn't have a run a single play," quarterback (sic) Jonathan Crompton said. "He really gave us confidence, and I'm glad to know he'll be standing right next to me for every play this fall."

Others gave more weight to the fiery pre-game motivational speech Kiffen delivered. All-American safety Eric Berry, who was held out of the game which recovering from an injury said, "Seeing Coach rip his shirt off and threaten that if we didn't win Coach O would do the same was enough to really get everybody focused and committed. The guys went out there and gave their all to prevent that."

For his part, Kitten seemed to view the game ball as a token of affection from his players, and also as a rebuttal to his critics. "I guess all those people who said I hadn't won a game in the SEC will have to shut up now," Kiffen said. "I think we proved today that we have what it takes to put a whipping on everybody on our schedule." (Athletic Director Mike Hamilton later clarified Kiffen's remarks, indicating that he had meant to say "whupping" but his Californian--Tennessean translator had malfunctioned during the interview.) "I'm planning a new series of illegal recruiting contacts and secondary violations that should scare the pants of every team we'll face...and the shirt off Coach O unless we keep playing well," Kiffen concluded.

Coach O was reached for comment, but as none of his words were recognizable as English, no quotes are provided. He did provide a handwritten condemnation of future recruits' grandparents, but since it was legible, it quite likely was written by someone else.

Remembering the 92 SECCG

Watchman — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 07:20:29 -0000

We were living in West Palm Beach, Florida in 1992. My best friend Doug and I felt like we were the only Bama fans in the state. Florida had abused us in '91 (even though it ended up being the only game we lost) and everyone there thought Miam was unbeatable. Even though we were undefeated, we weren't impressing people with a grinding offense and a stiffling defense.

I opened the paper one morning to read that Florida hadn't sold nearly 2,000 of their allotted tickets...and we sprang into action. I was so broke I could hardly pay the rent, but I called my parents and told them I knew what I wanted for Christmas, and I wanted it early. We paid $30 each--face value--for seats in the Florida section. The end zone at Legion Field would be our vantage point for history.

We left after work Friday to make the long drive to Birmingham. Stayed with one of Doug's buddies who lived outside of town. I couldn't sleep. We got up early Saturday, on a cold Alabama winter day and went squirrel hunting to pass the time. Finally we headed for the stadium. Florida was the home team for the game and we were surrounded by blue shirts.

The Army-Navy game ran late, so they delayed the kickoff for what seemed like forever. Finally we were underway. I still go back and watch that tape, and I can remember and anticipate nearly every play. Our swarming defense--ranked #1 in the country shutting down Eric Rhett when they tried to run...Barker hitting Brown in the end zone for the 14-7 halftime lead. In hindsight, the second biggest play of the game was Proctor nailing a 40 yard extra point after a pair of penalties to make it 21-7. If he doesn't hit that (and it just barely cleared) Florida isn't passing late because they would have been ahead 21-20.

Then Florida coming back to tie the game. And finally Antonio Langham baiting Matthews into the pick--and running right toward our end zone. We were yelling and screamng and celebrating at the top of our lungs while all those Florida fans who had been so confident began to slink out of the stadium. I've never been more excited at a game than that moment. Watching the sugar cubes and packets flying through the air (and remembering Lou Holtz saying "I'm glad we're not going to the Gator Bowl") to celebrate the win. Chanting "Gator meat is Sugar sweet!" Driving home Sunday morning, we flew the Bama car flags all the way across the Sunshine State and rubbed it in every chance we got.

Only one thing left to say--do it again boys, do it again.