#1. Happy Thanksgiving. We are a blessed people, living in the most prosperous time and place in the history of the world. Many of us have health, and families, and jobs. We have homes and cars, food and shelter, and we're all part of a fan community of one of the greatest athletic programs this country has ever produced, in the midst of its resurgence as a perennial college football power. I'm thankful for that.

#2. The tradition that defines Alabama is the gritty "hard road" where we have players who are physically and mentally tough, who grind it out.

#3. We are also the alpha dog in the SEC. We are -- and should be -- its champions, both in the short term and the long term. I think it's a little trite to say that "at Alabama, we win national championships" in such a way as to devalue the SEC championships that are the foundation of so many of those national prizes. Why in the world would I root for anyone OTHER than us to be SEC Champs, when we are still alive for that championship? If we're good enough to win America, we're good enough to beat Georgia, by damn.

#4. If we beat AU and secured the SECCG berth by virtue of an Arkansas win over LSU, I would not be afraid of UGA. If we're a true national title contender, then we should welcome all comers. Credit Miles in the 11/5 post-game, he had it right; we should be honored to play anybody willing to line up across from us. I wouldn't want to shortcut an SEC title for a BCS title berth because we're "nervous" about the outcome of a contest in Atlanta. Let's beat UGA in Georgia and then LSU in Louisiana. Frankly, I'd like to see a 12-1 Bama play an 11-1 LSU, not a 11-1 Bama vs. a 13-0 LSU. I think a win in that situation would get a different kind of asterisk, but you'd have folks clamoring for a rubber match. Even if Bama/LSU was the rematch, I'd like it better if WE were the ones with the SEC rings going in.

#5. That said, I don't buy this whole "win your conference to play." As of today, we're one of the top two teams in America (as was confirmed last weekend with all the upsets). I fully expect that to be borne out after this weekend too. The BCS was designed to put #1 and #2 in the big game. If LSU wins tomorrow, I don't think that should kick us out. Nobody has a better "quality" loss than we do, and that won't change if Arkansas beats LSU.

#6. I'm not going to be cocky about the AU game. We've only won there what, 2x? 3? AU has only lost their away games this season, and they're going to sell out physically with nothing else in front of them until bowl season. I don't really expect the Ark or LSU blowouts. Also, and perhaps of greater concern, I don't think we've played as good a brand of football since LSU as we were playing beforehand. Do I think we're a more physical, more complete, and better team than AU? Yes. Do I think we're going to win? Yes. Do I expect to waltz through them like 2008? No.

Roll Tide.

 

 

It wasn't so long ago we were nursing losing streaks to all of our November rivals ... LSU, MS State, and Auburn. 2008 was a critical -- and somewhat unexpected -- year in that we exorcised those demons. In 2009, of course, we took it all. The bad taste in our mouths in 2010 was as much for the November losses as any failure to repeat (or the ridiculous flash in the pan of Auburn.) It was, in many respects, 2005 all over again. I'm no statistician, but LSU looks pretty even on a macro level. The conference and overall point spreads are roughly the same, and for both teams, our 5 vanquished SEC foes (Bama: Ark, UF, Vandy, OM, UT ... LSU: MSU, UK, UF, UT, AU) have 5 SEC wins among them. Do I think Ark is a better win than AU, or our Swamp win over UF was better than LSU's a week later in Baton Rouge? Yes, but don't be fooled, this is pretty close. The fact is, I want to win November. December and January will take care of themselves, but 3 of our 5 SEC West rivals play us in November. I think we'll take care of business on 11/5. We're Iceman, they're Maverick. Don't forget who won Top Gun. We're the Terminator, and they don't have enough dynamite. Can't wait to see us execute. RTR

Oxford is a literary town, so I took a crack. Had a great time at the game. RTR

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I'm not talking about the admittedly awesome scene from the movie Crimson Tide with Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington. Before the 2010 BCS game with Texas, I'm pretty sure that the real USS Alabama crew lined up in Norfolk or somewhere and gave a Roll Tide. If you can link that video, or point me in the right direction, I would greatly appreciate it. 2011 can't get here soon enough. The trees aren't the only things we're going to kill in Auburn next year.

 

Thanks,

RTR

Look, I'm a Mississippi native, so I don't have the inbred hatred of the Aubs that Bama natives have to endure. My years at the Capstone (93-97) included some great, hard-fought, last-minute wins by both teams (the 1996 come-from-behind win being one of my favorite football memories of all time). I know it was just a year ago that we took AU's best shot, only to come storming back to claim the victory on their turf, and ultimately the national title. So I get that it's supposed to be sporting and all that they return the favor in "the best game of 2010."

Horse ca-ca. Alabama is a team and a program built for both short and long term success. 2008 may have been a happy surprise season, but the reason 90,000+ of us showed up at Bryant-Denny in April 2007 was because we knew what was coming in 2009, 2010, and beyond. Saban proved he could build a winner at Michigan State. He proved he could recruit and win at the highest level against SEC-caliber competition at LSU. Given three years, a trained monkey could win 10 games at Alabama; with Saban at the helm, the sky's the limit. We're built for a run, and we're not going away. Witness the SEC-record 36 wins in the last three years; not even UF 06-08 matched that.

AU, on the other hand, was a stars-aligning, shady, makes-college-football-fans-feel-dirty collection of mercenaries whose timing just happened to coincide with an OL made up of seniors and the latest "evil-genius" offensive coordinator's version of the no huddle spread. Are Cam Newton and Nick Fairley dynamic, game impacting football players? Yes, of course. But they are also short-timing JUCOs who stopped by Auburn for a cup of coffee (and an asterisk ... err ... ring) before plying their trade in the NFL, not the kind of early-enrolling high school phenoms who are lining up to test their mettle against top flight competition in Tuscaloosa.

Here's what I think, heading into 2011. South Carolina was an abomination, we get that. But I think Saban's going to circle (ugh, remember when we joked about Fran "circling" games?) LSU as well as Auburn as "heartbreak" games from 2010, games that we gameplanned, prepared, and executed the right way to secure the win, but for whatever reason let them slip away. The last time that happened was 2008, against Florida. The motivation ... not to "exact revenge," necessarily, but to "make it right" ... well, you know the rest. If we can brutalize a Florida team built for a championship run of their own, then I guarantee we'll be "working 365 days a year to dominate our opponent" with bad intentions.

I'll be honest, I hope we run them out of Jordan-Hare in November. Can't wait.

Roll Tide.

 Urban Meyer Gators (2005-2010)

versus Georgia: 5-1

versus Tennessee: 6-0

versus Florida State: 5-1

versus Miami: 1-0

versus South Carolina: 4-2

------------------------------------------------------

versus Alabama: 2-3.

Take a few minutes and chew on that one. This is a guy that had just about all the accolades you could have, including multiple SEC and national championships and a Heisman Trophy winner. But at the end of the day, he has a losing record against the league's true alpha team. If you ever wonder about the staying power of Alabama, and the reason the fan loyalty is unmatched, that's a great statistic.

RTR

 1. Our last two opponents in 2009, Florida and Texas, had iconic QBs and 13-1 records. They were preseason Top 10 teams. Their 2010 records are 7-5 and 5-7, respectively.

2. LSU fans had the most tortured season in college football history, and just lost a BCS bowl with yet another loss to Arkansas. That just means Ohio State will have to lose to yet another SEC team.

3. Notre Dame is 7-5. Michigan is 7-5. USC is 7-5 and in NCAA exile. 

4. Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky all finished at 6-6.

5. Miami just fired their coach.

6. Boise State will be rewarded with postseason play. At home. On blue turf. On December 23 or some such.

7. Virginia Tech is the best team in the ACC. They lost to James Madison. And Boise.

8. South Carolina "clinched" the East. With 3 losses.

9. Florida State got humbled by Oklahoma. Who got humbled by A&M. Who got humbled by Missouri. Who got humbled by Nebraska. Who got humbled by Texas. Who isn't even bowl eligible this year.

10. Georgia Tech gakked up the season. NC State frittered it away.

11. Pitt? West Virginia? Connecticut? Really?

12. Auburn can celebrate "the biggest win in the history of Auburn football ever, can you believe it, as long as it's against Alabama nothing else matters, etc. etc." but uneasy lies the head that wears that crown. While the Newton saga isn't the viral media story it was two weeks ago, it's not gone either. 2010 may yet yield wailing and gnashing of teeth for future Auburn teams and fans. And the current ones know it, but can't and don't want to get off this ride.

13. As far as I can tell, science convinces Oregon to practice in the morning, and run fast on Friday for muscle memory. No results on how schizophrenic uniform choices utilizing as many as 7 different team colors influence performance. Also, ducks do not have razor-metal, detached feathers on their shoulders. Also, nothing says sportsmanship like (a) opponents faking injuries to slow the game down and (b) Oregon fans booing injured players who may not be faking.

14. Winners (i.e. fans who are not disappointed with how 2010 has played out): Oregon, Auburn, TCU, Stanford, OK State, Mississippi State.

15. Losers: everybody else.

The point is -- this has been, comparatively speaking, a "blah" year for college football; and not just for disappointed Bama fans. When your big story is the horse race between BSU and TCU, sorry but that's not good for college football. 2009 had great teams with great players in big time games (Texas, Florida, Bama, Ohio State). 2010 is the "little brother" year. Go back and look at the 11 games Bama played in 2009 against everybody but FIU, N.Texas, and Chattanooga. The lowest winning team was MSU, with 5. Stack that up against Auburn's 2010 slate. Yawn.

Do I wish we had some "Ro/Javy" heart to finish off at least the LSU and AU games? Of course. But frankly, given the miasma of 2010, I can live with playing for a 10th win in Tampa, Orlando, Dallas, or Atlanta.

RTR

 

I know, I know, there’s nothing “bitter” about the pistol-whipping administered by the Tide to the Gators on Saturday night.

 

But think about it. In the last 3 years, Alabama’s meteoric rise to the top of the SEC (cough, cough, America) had one metric against which we measured ourselves: the Gators. Don’t get me wrong, in 2008 we had to cure a lot of other diseases (like winning in November). But we took our temperature in the SECCG, against a year-removed national  champ from 2006 and reigning HTW from 2007. And we weren’t ready quite yet. They were the best. In 2009, we went for a “recheck” and came out with a clean bill of health….

 

But this game was bittersweet, the way the decline and fall of the Roman empire was bittersweet. Yes, we’ve reclaimed our rightful perch atop the CFB landscape, but it sure felt like the better measure of our hold on the top spot so far was an Arkansas on the way up, not a Florida on the way down. They’re not the same team. Tebow cast too long a shadow.

 

Meanwhile, Bama right now is “plug and play.” Rolando’s gone? Welcome Moseley (aka “Theodore”). Kareem Jackson’s in the league? Hello Kirkpatrick, Menzie, Lester. No Ingram? No problem. Just stick TR in the backfield. There are folks who can’t wait for McElroy to leave so we can put McCarron in.

 

Scarbinsky said something that was strong conceptually, even if he bumbled the execution trying to get a little too cute: “Consider the implications of these two knockouts these last two years. Alabama beat up Florida after Alabama circled Florida. Alabama beat down Florida after Florida circled Alabama.” (http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/10/scarbinsky_all_else_being_equa.html).

 

Anyway, enough philosophizing. We’re a cold-blooded machine killer right now, and I will absolutely relish every minute of it:

 

·         This game was over in four plays: (1) the jump pass INT by Nico; (2) TR’s field-flipping 30 yard run to the outside left; (3) Ingram’s first TD run to the outside right; and (4) Julio’s field-flipping punt return.

·         All of those plays happened before Florida’s 3rd offensive possession, so Urban Meyer can “what if” all day long about how the game unfolded, but after 15 offensive plays they were down 17 points. They had no chance.

·         Why those four? #1 is obvious – They tried to “do” Tebow without Tebow, and they failed. Plus, the shot of Kirby Smart warning of the jump pass showed how we have Florida’s pulse on playcalling.

·         #2 and #3 is because we took their supposed strength, this lights-out defense, and beat them straight up. We had the better scheme, the better personnel, and the better execution. We had linemen and receivers flowing to the point of attack, sealing the edge, and springing our horses. No chance, Gators. No chance.

·         #4 is because their punt coverage team has been stellar for years. Remember Javy trying to break the return yardage record against a unit that had allowed ZERO net positive return yards last year? Um, did I mention that the Gators are on the downhill?

·         I’m sure the atmosphere was electric … at least until halftime.

 

Guess we’ll take Soukerlina’s best shot next week, and Ole Miss’ the week after that, and so on and so on. We might not win ‘em all. We might see Florida again in December and get creamed. But I doubt it. Right now, we’re on top, and the drop off is pretty precipitous. What a great time to be an Alabama fan.

RTR

This will be a mudhole. You know it. I know it. And deep down in places they don't talk about at parties, the Razorback faithful know it. Alabama 38. Arkansas 17. Somebody post some more highlight videos and tell the guys that build 'em that the "chilling movie soundtrack" background music is a nice touch. Sometimes you feel like Metallica "freight training" Florida, sometimes you gotta "run this town tonight," and sometimes you need some creepy movie music to reflect the monster you've become. Can't wait for Saturday.

Roll Tide.

 

 

Just a few production notes in advance of tomorrow's game:

#1. When "ROBO" (really, PSU fans?) completes a pass or eludes a rush, that does not necessarily mean that "you're watching a young quarterback grow up before your eyes." Also, refrain from comments about the "kind of poise you don't usually see in a true freshman."

#2. Technically, Musberger is NOT allowed to play drinking games in honor of Joe Paterno/Bear Bryant references. We're also clear that JoePa does not actually CALL the plays.

#3. Everybody already knows that "some people think Trent Richardson is just as good, if not better, than Mark Ingram." And that it's a luxury most teams can't afford to have that kind of talent step up when your Heisman Trophy winner can't go.  

#4. We're not sure it means anything to say that an offensive line is "more athletic" when compared to a team's previous offensive lines.

#5. Feel free to coin comfortable phrases like "Julio Jones is a beast" or "he's a man among boys out there right now" or "he is just abusing the Nittany Lions' secondary right now." Also, just FYI, if McElory is dicing up PSU, that is not the same thing as being a "game manager, protect the football, don't turn the ball over."  

#6. Nobody can name Penn State's starting linebacker corps. Therefore, no need to reference PSU as "Linebacker U" during the call of this game.

#7. We recognize that Penn State "doesn't practice in this kind of heat and humidity; we're going to have to watch for cramps, especially in the second half late in the game; proper hydration is really going to be a factor."

#8. We also recognize that the Penn State scout team "can't mimic the size and speed of Alabama's skill players."

#9. "Orange" is not the same thing as "tan." One is not a popular color around here (to be fair, though, the other one is).

#10. You are correct: "it just doesn't get any better than this in college football."

Warmest regards,

Bama fan

PS - To suggest that Auburn will win the SEC Western Division title reflects a fundamental misconception of Auburn. First, of course, Auburn sucks (as demonstrated in front of a nationwide audience on Thursday night). On a deeper level, however, Auburn is simply not a championship caliber program. To wit: since 1990, Alabama and Auburn have each enjoyed two undefeated seasons. One program secured national championships in each its two flawless seasons. The other, bupkes.  

Sometimes you eat the cupcake, sometimes the cupcake eats you.

Sincerely,

Ole Miss

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I know our folks put together some fine videos, but I have to say, this one is pretty sweet. Glad they're on the schedule. Also, I appreciate the fact that both as to Dareus and Ingram, their fans have taken a Bama-like approach: "our gameplan is a little bit easier without them, but we want to face our opponents' best." Pretty classy, Nittany Lions. Here's to a great game next week. RTR 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=of2L57HChd4&feature=player_embedded

AUGUST

·         Did you hear about Scrimmage [#]?

·         I heard the [offense/defense] really dominated.

·         Yeah, but that means our [offense/defense] must really suck.

·         Great. And everybody knows we can’t cover kickoffs.

·         Coach is furious. Did you hear him yell at the press conference?

·         I heard the seniors called a meeting.

·         Good. These pansies need to get their head in the game. I don’t care how hot it is.

·         Did you hear that [awesome player] got [hurt/arrested]? That really sucks. We only have [#] [players at that position], and none of them have any real experience.

·         Yeah, but at least we’ve got [#] [players at that position] with [4 or 5] stars who have been in the system for [#] years.

 

SEPTEMBER

·         Did you see that crap?

·         Yeah, we only won by [#].

·         If we keep playing that way, we’re gonna get beat by [team X on the schedule].

·         I bet Coach is gonna wear those guys out at practice.

·         Good. We can’t count on our [running game, passing game, defense, kickers] to bail out our [running game, passing game, defense, kickers] every week.

·         Um, OK, you do realize we just beat [Arkansas, Penn State, Florida], the number [#] team in the nation, right?

·         Yeah, but did you see [team Y’s] [offense/defense] this week? They lit up [some other team on our schedule].

·         It only gets tougher in the SEC.

 

OCTOBER

·         Did you see that crap?

·         Yeah, we only won by [#].

·         Well, sometimes it’s harder to win [at home/on the road].

·         I don’t know, if they can’t play better when they’ve got [100K people screaming for them/some smaller number of people screaming against them], they’ll never win [next home game/next away game].

·         All I know is, I love our [OL, DL, RB, LB]. Did you see that physical play?

·         Give Scott Cochran another raise.

·         Yeah, but don’t knock [QB, WR, DB, K]. That guy made a play in the [1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th] quarter. Made [star player on other team] look silly.

·         They couldn’t play with us in the 4th quarter.

·         Give Scott Cochran another raise.

·         Did you see that pass to Julio? [How could he drop that he has hands of stone/It took [#] guys to bring him down, what a beast]

·         None of it matters if we don’t beat [next team on schedule]

 

 NOVEMBER

·         So if we beat [team A] and [team B] beats [team C], we go to Atlanta, right?

·         Not if Mississippi State beats [some random SEC team that will crush Mississippi State].

·         OK, well assuming we don’t tear the very fabric of time/space, we win we’re in?

·         Yes. We control our own destiny.

·         Did you see that crap?

·         Yeah, we only won by [#].

·         Team’s tired from all those bye-week games.

·         Starting to get a little excited.

·         As long as we beat Auburn [on a heartbreaking final drive that they’re powerless to stop/in a woodshed shutout beatdown], this season can’t be a total loss.

·         Dude, we’re undefeated.

 

DECEMBER

·         I’m kind of nervous about playing [Florida for the 2nd time this year/some other team for the first time ever in SECCG]

·         Don’t be. Remember last year? We’re dialed in.

·         First time there’s been a back-to-back champ in 10 years, baby.

·         I think Urban Meyer just retired again.

 

JANUARY

·         Ohio State has never beaten an SEC team in a bowl.

·         [Man, I love ESPN and the love they’re showing us/Man, I hate how ESPN just craps on us with this Ohio State worship]

·         14 is my new favorite number.

Here's some notes I typed up in 11/07 after the loss to MSU in Starkville (and before ULM and AU). It's amazing to me that the program today is utterly unrecognizable from the one that was so frustrating only 2 years ago. I hope we can extend a nice long run of excellence. RTR ....
 

OK, deep breath. Forgive my catharsis.

 

* The half-ending INT was terrible on so many levels. (A) At 20 seconds to go, third down, no time outs, we cannot run the ball. We know it. They know it. Play-action is not a good playcall. (B) Ellis Johnson made a good point, if they don't stop our 1st and 2nd down runs, there's no 3rd down to intercept. We need a power back, and an I formation look; (C) Do we even need to ask who the RT matadoring Titus Brown was? and, of course (D) frankly, I don't believe JPW was trying to "throw it into the bleachers." When he rolled out and saw Brown in his grill, he panicked, jumped up the air, and floated it towards the corner in hopes that DJ Hall would somehow be on that side of the field and bail him out.

 

* The INT in the second half was, ultimately, even worse. Not only did it lead to the other MSU touchdown, it killed JPW's confidence. You know that had to be "the drive" (that whole "first-five-minutes-of-the-2nd-half" where we had to "respond-to-adversity drive"). Later in the half there was the three and out series where he went through his steps, immediately bailed out (2 rollouts right, one left) and threw the ball away. We knew it, the announcers knew it. The game was over. JPW was scared. Taking a sack in desperation time on the last play doesn't have anything to do with MSU's coverage. It has everything to do with a QB who got the jitters.

 

* Terry Grant is a great scatback. He's a burner who needs only the tiniest crease to hit 10-15 yards or greater. He can catch out of the backfield. He's a home run threat. All of that stuff is dead on. What he CANNOT do is generate offense. He cannot lower his head and get 3 yards. Ever. Not between the tackles, and not on the edges. He has got to have a block. He can run through a hole, but he cannot make something from nothing. That's what our offense lacks. I thought Upchurch was the closest to that back on our roster, but for whatever reason, he's not getting those touches.

 

* I like Nikita Stover. A lot. I think he and McCoy will be #1 and #2 next year. I like Travis McCall (or was it Nick Walker? I can't remember). We've still got to throw to them, particularly TE, particulalry against AU. But both had terrible drops. Killer in a game where first downs are treasure.

 

* Our defense is better than I expected. A lot better. Let's give them some credit. MSU only had something like 200 yards of offense. BUT. But we can't make the critical stop on 3rd down (or, in the case of LSU, 4th down), and our LB are either too slow or starting from too far away. Our blitz package is more dynamic in that it doesn't always "show" the same place that it actually comes from (a la Kines), but the best we can seem to do right now is the slight disruption rather than the definitive dominating hit. The difference between a QB hurry and a QB sack could be the sidearm throw to the TE for the first down. We can only stop the run when we load up. It bugs me that we can't defend the run man on man. Schemes help for a reason, but I want us to more consistently be the aggressor. That said, I thought #97 and #92 played pretty well. I felt a lot better about P. Hall last year, and I'm finally beginning to see that we need a hitter at SS. Did anybody see Florida/S. Carolina? That freshman Major Wright or whatever his name was hit the Cocks so hard they dropped the ball on the way down. 

 

* Rashad Johnson is a player. I thought Lowe earned more touches, because he was hungrier.  

 

* Back to JPW. The State QB had a forgettable day, but he was having fun. When he converted the 1st down late, he was loose. I don't expect JPW to whirlybird like Brodie in the Florida game, but when you have fun you play loose, and it gets easier. Who was the freshman? Who was the multiyear starter? Note that I'm not lowering myself to this lowest common denominator "play him/bench him" argument. He's our QB for a reason. I just would like to see our offense progress the way our defense seems to have over the season.

 

* Textbook "scandal." This sure has the smell of the NCAA jerking us around. How the fat do you have a textbook scandal anyway? Scholarship athletes get free books for their classes. That's just how it is. You give somebody your schedule, they give you your books. I agree wholeheartedly with Saban when he says our system let these guys down. I'm 100% sure that Glen Coffee is not scalping Geology 101 out of his trunk. Antoine Caldwell is the biggest loss from this whole sordid affair. That said, this came down before the UT game. A MONTH AGO. For resolution (or even updates) to take this long from the NCAA is unconscionable. Obviously, right now the atmosphere in Indy is "Alabama" = "guilty" but sometimes folks just need to stand up and act like professionals.

 

* In game 1 (the 45-0 debacle to LSU), I was furious at MSU's coaches (and no, I'm not a State supporter. I detest them. But there should not be a 50 point difference between teams, especially with a Bama man on the losing sideline). When you play with inferior talent, you run the ball, play the best defense you can, shorten the game and take your chances. I sure didn't want Croom to learn that lesson at our expense, but that's precisely what happened.

 

* Don't look now, but we're the same team as Auburn. Both teams have lost to SEC foes Georgia, LSU, and Mississippi State. Both teams have lost to mediocre BCS teams from Florida. Assuming Bama finishes off Louisiana-Wherever next week, we'll both have identical 7-4 records, little confidence in our QBs, a disappointing run game, and a pretty strong defense. Oh, and the game's at Auburn. One of the things we hired Saban for was psychology, and hopefully that plus the imminent departure of Tubs will provide an equalizer. Season hinges on Iron Bowl. The Tide needs a win in November.

And no, it's not the "Tebow factor." It's more of the "whole bunch of new assistant coaches" factor. The fact is, even with all the stockpiled talent, I would think this might have a 2005 flavor for UF (i.e. Urban's first year). Ordinarily, I would proceed to pencil in UGA, but they've got their own issues. Is this the best shot South Carolina's gonna get at the SEC East? Are they a sleeper contender for Atlanta?

Frankly, I think the way to reposition the SEC for additional TV revenues would be to add another SEC game to the schedule. 5 divisional opponents, 2 permanent teams from the other division (the way we used to have it) and 2 rotating teams from the other division (the way we currently have it).

I don't think we need more conference teams. I think TV would come running for more conference games. Teams could then schedule one "big game" or OOC rivalry game (what if the SEC passed a regulation that every team had to schedule at least one OOC game against a BCS-league team?) and 2 patsies to make up 1/4 of the schedule.

The problem with a 14 or 16 team conference (and a 12 game schedule)  is that by the time you play through your division, there's barely any room for interdivisional matchups ... which basically renders each division its own conference anyway.

 

The SEC model works as is. If there's a push for change for the sake of change (and revenue), l submit that it should be for even more desirable match-ups at the highest level of college football: more SEC games.

1 ... 12 ... 51 ... 205 ... 53 ... 251. Sound like a winning lottery ticket? It is. According to the final 2009 NCAA statistics, Bama's last two opponents, 13-win Texas and 13-win Florida, had the #1 and #12 run defenses in college football last year. In 104 attempts, the Tide rushed for over 450 yards. 4.5 yards per attempt against two of the best run defenses in America. Make no mistake. We can run against ANYBODY. Don't believe me? Let's review.

1. V-Tech: 268
2. FIU: 275
3. North Texas: 260
4. Arkansas: 134
5. Kentucky: 204
6. Ole Miss: 200
7. South Carolina: 264
8. Tennessee: 136
9. LSU: 176
10. Miss. State: 252
11. Chattanooga: 313
12. Auburn: 73
13. Florida: 251
14. Texas: 205

Folks, that's 10 of 14 games, 5 of 9 SEC opponents, with 200 yards rushing or better. 

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There's no denying that we've got some highly skilled and talented backs, but there's a lot of good running backs out there. I've been thinking about the fact that we probably have the best RB tandem since ESPN was touting Davis and Spiller at Clemson. You know who first put that combination on the field, right? I think Burns is one of the top RB coaches in America, and I credit Saban for recognizing that and getting him on board.

RTR

From 1999 - 2009, Florida had 3 coaches (Spurrier, Zook, Meyer), and 14 double digit losses. Three of those losses were to Bama (only Miami had as many big wins over the Gators). Notably, those 3 losses came to 3 different Bama coaches (Dubose, Shula, Saban). Here's the breakdown:

1. 29 point loss (LSU 2002)
2. 28 point loss (Bama 2005)
3. 27 point loss (Bama 1999 - SECCG)
4. 25 point loss (Miami 2002)
5. 23 point loss (FSU 2000)
6. 20 point loss (Iowa 2003)
7. 19 point loss (Bama 2009 - SECCG)
8. 17 point loss (Miami 2000)
9. 17 point loss (FSU 2002)
10. 17 point loss (Miami 2004)
11. 14 point loss (Tenn. 2003)
12. 12 point loss (Miss. State 2000)
13. 12 point loss (UGA 2007)
14. 10 point loss (AU 2006)

If you figure that UF's traditional rivals include UGA, UT, FSU, and Miami (plus LSU is their permanent Western Division opponent), looks like it's really Alabama that gives them some of the most trouble. Surprised? Maybe we shouldn't be.

Roll Tide

• LSU was juiced up and prepared for this game. Give them credit, I thought they were physical. In particular, I thought their OL acquitted themselves very well against our defensive front. I don't know the stats for TFLs or sacks, but I thought they did a decent job of pass protection against our base (not the blitz) and ran the ball ok, not great. I had really expected a little more push from our front.
• That said, if LSU was physical, we were Old Testament wrath of God. How many of their first-born sons did we strike down? Rich Brooks has all but said we were the most physical team they played (we're the "hardest to recover from"). Miles can never say that, given all the context in this rivalry, but I guarantee those ice baths are getting a workout in Baton Rouge.
• Along those lines, I'm not sure if Jordan Jefferson quit or not. He sure had the look of a player that said "no mas."
• Patrick Peterson is a great player. I would've loved to see him wearing crimson. He played well and made some great breaks on balls thrown to Julio. But here are some facts: (1) in 2008 Julio beat him one on one to set up the winning TD. (2) in 2009 Julio beat out his replacement for a screaming 73 yard go-ahead TD because PP couldn't go. Would Peterson have made the tackle? Who knows? He wasn't in the game. My image of Peterson is not kicking up divots on the INT, it's clawing his way off the field from cramps.
• Bo Bounds on talk radio in Jackson MS is advancing this argument: the missed call on the INT (and, to be fair, it was probably a missed call) "denied" LSU the "opportunity" to try to win the game, down 6. His point is that a TO is a momentum-changer and despite Bama's utter dominance of the 4th quarter (i.e., "winning time"), we'll never know what could've happened. Fair enough, but Bo, spare me the hypocrisy when somebody says Boise ought to play Cincinnati in the championship game. We'll never know, because those teams will be denied the opportunity. I'm not suggesting that officiating shouldn't be fair, and I'm not giving any credence to the conspiracy theorists, just pointing out some parallels. Football's about (among other things) meeting and overcoming adversity. Alabama did. LSU didn't.
• I'll also say this. The INT problem was a replay issue, not an "on-the-field" officiating problem. It was bang-bang on the field, and you can see on the replay that neither ref had a view of Peterson's feet. I think the right call when in doubt -- when you don't see it --  is an incomplete pass. There need to be consistent guidelines and technology for replay, but I don't blame this one on the guys on the field.
• LSU's punting was magnificent, but I actually thought P.J. did a pretty nice job. I can specifically recall 2 inside the 10 and another inside the 20, and there may have been more. Arenas was relatively limited on PR, in part due to their guy's leg.
• Tiffin's 40 yarder to push the lead to 9 came at a critical time in the game. It was clutch, and it was perfect. I think it's time to let go of Arkansas 2006. No one has ever scored more points for the Tide. Ever. Also loved that we got a touchback on the ensuing kick. He was feeling it at that point.
• Happy for G-Mac. He left some points on the field, but ended up with a pretty nice stat line and came back from his mistakes (vs. for example, a Jevan Snead meltdown). He's under a lot of scrutiny, and I think all in all began to recover some of his early season form in terms of spreading the ball around.
• I'm not sure I'd say Ingram should win the Heisman trophy, but frankly, he's our Tebow, in terms of being able to put the team on his shoulders and take us down the field. He's deserving of all the accolades he's given.
• Embarrassing admission: I enjoyed the ESPN.com "Drubner" road trip videos with Tank Conerly, et al. My 8 year old daughter and I watched them again last night.
• Last year, if you'll recall, we were still suffering through "0 for November" streaks to LSU, MSU, and Auburn. It's becoming my favorite month again. Not to put carts before horses, but I'm thrilled that we get another shot at Tebow-led Florida.

Roll Tide.

Watched most of the replay on SECSports.com last night. Even knowing the outcome, the last 5 minutes were incredibly tense. From the roughing the kicker penalty through Cody's block, Bama traded plays with UT. Don't forget that mixed in with all the Vols' "big plays"  -- the fumble, the TD, the onsides kick, and the TE seam route to set up the FG -- were what seemed like a bunch of TFL, sacks, penalties, and PBUs. Saban said we did everything wrong during the last 3 1/2 minutes. Looking back, though, Tennessee was unbelievably fortunate to get as close as they did.

Of course, that just made it all the more bitter for them. And all the sweeter for us. What a game. What a win.

Roll Tide.

• I attended Alabama for the 93 through 96 football seasons. Vintage Stallings years, where every game was an expected W. You didn't know or care exactly how we'd get it, or who would step up. You just knew someone would.
• I saw the Deuce deflate the Vols in the 1993 tie.
• I saw the 1994 shootout with Georgia in a rockin' night game.
• I watched an LSU TD in 96. The stadium shook. Until it was called back on a penalty. And Su. Alexander ran all over the building. And LSU never sniffed the scoreboard.
• And one of the single greatest moments of my life ... apart from my wedding and the birth of my children ... was the 2 minute drive to win the 1996 Iron Bowl. You remember: Bama up 17-0 in the 1st quarter .... AU scored 23 unanswered ... and Dennis Riddle took the game winner in with 30 seconds left. Spontaneous hugging of strangers. Abused vocal chords. And sheer joy.
• I watched Saturday's game at home, on television. I watched in horror as one odds-defying improbability after another piled up in favor of the Vols. It's 2 scores, and we have the ball and a run game. Except .... (1) Ingram fumbles .... (2) we bust the coverage on the TD .... (3) Vols get the onside kick .... (4) Crompton hits a 20 yard pass to the TE to set up a game-winning FG.
• And then, somebody stepped up. And I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that if I had been in BDS, I'd have been engaged in spontaneous hugging of strangers. Abused vocal chords. And sheer joy.
• The player interviews are classic, pure Bama. They say, in one voice, this spotlight's not too hot, this pressure's not too great, we WANT to make a play. It could be Arenas, or Ingram, or Jones, or McLain, or Tiffin, or Johnson, or Cody. The message is the same: I WILL make an Alabama football play.
• That's how I know we're "back." Bitch about our passing game. Bemoan our special teams. And relish the fact that those are the luxuries of an Alabama fan.
  
  
  Roll Tide, folks. Roll Tide.
  

To their credit, the Ole Miss defense, the "LandSharks," were stout. But Alabama on Saturday was USS Indianapolis-level. This is where the Rebels were poundin' and hollerin' and the shark wouldn't go away. The Alabama defense has got lifeless eyes ... black eyes ... like a doll's eyes. Doesn't even seem to be livin' till they bite you, and those black eyes roll over white, and the ocean turns red, and despite all your poundin' and hollerin' the sharks rip you to pieces.

First half of UGA 2008 was one of the single best offensive performances I've seen. First half of Ole Miss 2009 was undoubtedly the single best defensive performance.

 

RTR