I've been a Bama fan over thirty years. Never before has the off-season crept by so slowly. I blame it on Nick Saban. The success, expectations and potential of Alabama football is at an unmatched level. While the football team is engorged in it's 4th quarter conditioning program I get to sit here in anticipation of what 2010 has in store. I do believe there's not one single tidbit of Alabama Crimson Tide news in print or in the infinite data banks of cyber world that I've not fully read. I've always looked forward to football season, but, after a National Title in 2009 I'm in an unprecedented withdrawal and if something doesn't happen soon, (i.e. a big time commit, an auburn player getting arrested....) I'm prolly going to be admitted to Pine Grove Behavioral Health & Addiction Services in Jackson Miss. So if anyone has some insight for this junkie little football slut, please, by all means share. 

With the 2009 regular season over lets take a look at how the Western Division stacked up against the Eastern Division.

East

West

Overall record for SEC Eastern Division teams:   22 W - 27 L  (.4489)

Overall record for SEC Western Division teams:  27 W - 22L   (.5510)

Head to head record for 2009: West 12 wins - East 7 wins. Only Florida and Georgia had winning records against the West. Ga  2-1 and Fla 3-1. Both Vandy and Tennessee were win-less against Western schools. In the West only two schools didn't have winning records against the East both Arkansas and auburn went 1 and 2.

The 2009 season records including OOC opponents

West: 49 W - 24 L

East: 42 W - 31 L

The SEC East had only one team with more than 7-wins this season (Fla.)  66% of Eastern Division schools went 7-5 for 2009. Vandy's 2-10 record brought up the rear for the entire conference.

The SEC West had 2-teams with a 7-5 record, auburn and Arkansas. MSU posted the only loosing record in the West at 5-7 yet still went 2-1 against the East.

America says the SEC is the most dominate conference in College Football. With the West dominating the conference and Bama being the best team in the West it's no wonder The Tide is going to Pasadena to try and capture College Football's most prestigious trophy. Roll Tide Roll !!!!     

Texas is the FBS #1 ranked rushing defense allowing an average of 62.15 YPG. When I first saw this I began to wonder if Bama would have great success against The Horns. So I did a little leg work and found out a few interesting facts about Texas and the Big 12 conference.

First off many people consider the Big 12 a pass happy conference infested with spread offenses and Heisman QB's. There hasn't been an immersion of a dominate RB in this league of Heisman QB's and star WR"s. So how hard is it to amass great statistics against the run if no-one commits to it or recruits the players needed to make it a success?

In 2009 the Big 12 had only one RB who averaged 100 YPG. Kansas State RB Daniel Thomas has averaged 105.42 YPG. If Thomas were in the SEC his yardage totals would put him in 10th place just ahead of Mississippi State's second string RB Leon Berry who's total is 104.92 YPG. In the SEC there are 11 RB's who have an average of 100 YPG. Oklahoma State leads the Big 12 with 191.75 YPG. In the SEC that same yardage will earn you 6th place behind Kentucky's 193.25 YPG.

Now I understand Texas hasn't had to game plan for a true running attack so far this season. They never played their conferences number 1 rusher. I'm trying to give true respect to the stats and Texas's #1 rushing defense. Texas did hold Texas Tech to -6 yds rushing but on a mere 18 attempts. I however can't find the evidence where a Texas opponent has committed to the run with a Heisman finalist and #3 in the backfield.

 http://web1.ncaa.org/football/exec/rankingSummary?org=703&year=2009&week=14

• Opponent          Rushing Attempts            Yds
• La Monroe              35                              101
• Wyoming                34                               85
• Texas Tech             18                               -6
• UTEP                     25                                9
• Colorado                 34                               42
• Oklahoma               22                              -16
• Missouri                  29                               74
• Oklahoma St           43                              134 
• UCF                       38                                75
• Baylor                    28                                 6
• Kansas                   26                               47
• Texas A&M             40                              190
• Nebraska                35                               67
• Totals       Attempts 401 for 808 YDS for 2.01 YPC

Adrian Hubbard, a defensive end from Norcross, Ga., announced today that he is committing to Alabama, according to BamaOnLine.com.

The 6-foot-7, 225-pound prospect is likely to play the "Jack" outside linebacker position for the Crimson Tide. This position was filled by Dante Hightower earlier this year until his season ending injury. Now the position belongs to Eric Anders. Hubbard is the second DE/Jack LB commit for 2010. N.C. DE prospect Alfy Hill gave his verbal earlier this year. 

Hubbard, rated a four-star prospect by Rivals.com, reportedly chose Alabama over Florida State and South Carolina. Hubbard is ranked #79 in ESPN's Top 100 and is the Nations #8 DE prospect and also an Under armor All-American. Not bad for a kid who recently switched from basketball to football in his Senior year. At 6'7'' he will be a pass break up specialist. What's really amazing is he runs a 4.44 - 40 yd. He will give OC's fits with this speed in backside pursuits.  

Welcome aboard Adrian Roll Tide.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhjaRbHhIjY

Many of you probably remember this. Bob Stoops was sighted in Tuscaloosa prior to the season. Sources say the one day meeting between Saban and Stoops was to "Talk Defense" Also Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp was brought in to help players learn the techniques of defending the spread. At the time it seemed a little bit wishful or maybe premature for The Tide to start preparing for a potential match up with the Gators. Now that the game is upon us the off season moves seem brilliant. Alabama faced former Florida offensive coordinator and current MSU head coach Dan Mullen in Starkville. This game was hyped as a tune up for Florida. Maybe from an X's and O's standpoint it was. The Bulldogs currently run the same offensive system. Yet there is where the comparison stops. Personnel being the reason. Bama was able to stop the Bulldogs offensive scheme. Maybe the off season preparations paid off. We'll see come Saturday when it's ran with upper talent personnel.

Back to the meetings with Stoops and Muschamp. I've googled it and searched and searched. Yet I've been unable to find any real substance pertaining to the topic. So I guess what I'm trying to find out is, well anything you guys know on the issue. What should we expect to see against Florida? Saban has obviously had an eye on this match up since last years SECCG clock hit 00:00. Thanks for your help my Bama Brothers!

ROLL TIDE BEAT THE GATORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   

With the new recruiting limitations imposed by the SEC Nick Saban must begin making some hard nosed decisions. Currently Bama has 22 verbal pledges and can sign only six more players to it's 2010 class. Of the top 100 players Bama has their eye on 9 of them.  Here they are (6) Jeff Luc #1 MLB, (8) Corey Lemonier #1 DE,         (22) Lamarcus Joyner CB, (24) Jordan Hicks #1 OLB, (27) Ahmad Dixon S, (35) Chris Dunkley WR, (64) Damion Robinson OT, (73) Johnavon Fulton CB, (97) James Stone OT. Now I know they're a host of other offers out there to some very good players at needed positions. For example - Terrance Cody is a Senior and is leaving for the NFL. Cody is a big reason Bama's ranked #2 in run defense. Who will be the next BIG presence in the middle? Nick has his eye on 3-star DT James Carmon. A JUCCO player James is 6'7" 370 lbs. With his size he would fill in nicely for Cody. MSU is the leader right now for Carmon with Bama said to be a close second. So far this recruiting class has a good balance of offensive defensive and special teams players. What positions need attention? Which personnel would be a nice fit? Can Nick take players based on talent alone and then find their collegiate fit. For example safety prospect Keenan Allen will likely play at WR for The Tide. Also lets consider that not all players qualify academically. Which brings us to another question. What happens if we sign 28 and say 4 guys don't make the grades. Will Bama have to endure such attrition's due to Houston Nutts' past indulgence? Also is there a penalty for signing more than 28 players? Right now there's some top talent available. Which ones have Nick and company licked their finger and touched declaring mine? Will Tide coaches sift thru current commits and tell them to seek other schools for hopes of better talent taking their spot? However it goes down we all know this. NIck Saban is a hell of a recruiter. He has a GOD given ability to spot talent and develope it into something special. I will never doubt his choices. However it will be fun to watch it unfold. 

http://alabama.scout.com/a.z?s=14&p=9&c=4&yr=2010

We've all heard it, most of us know it to be true. Nick Saban can run a fine football program. From media relations to off the field contributions Nick seems to be atop the coaching world. He's a machine. A workaholic fueled by Little Debbie's. No doubt he gives his all and requires everyone around him do the same. But any football analyst, reporter or battle hardened couch coach will tell you a team is only as good as it's players. This is the part of coaching where Nick seems to prevail. In the years prior to Saban entrenching himself firmly at the Capstone. Bama coaches seemed to be content loading up on in state football players. From 2002 until 2006 Bama signed a total of 73 players native to the great state of Alabama. In the same time period The Tide signed 45 players from out of state High Schools. 2007 was a transitional year with Shula making his exit. When Saban arrived he did the right thing by honoring the scholly offers from the Shula staff. Yet of the 23 players signed in 2007, 11 were Alabama natives and 12 were from out of state. For the first time in years Alabama had reeled in more out of state players than in state. A trend that seems to be ongoing still today. 

In 2008 Nick signed a big class both in numbers and stars. Filling the roster with future NFL stars like Julio Jones, Mark Ingram, Mark Barron, Terrance Cody and Marcel Darius. Of the commits 18 of them were from Alabama and 15 from out of state. In 2009 Saban again stacked up on big prospects that are sure to gain glory in the future. Of these future stars only 10 of theme called Alabama home. 17 members of this class were from other states. The trend continues to go abroad for players. In the most recent class, still under construction for 2010 Coach has verbal commits from 22 players. Of these only 8 are from Bama. See where I'm going here? Nick Saban does not feel limited to the in state talent that now fills the rosters of schools like Troy and UNA or Auburn. Nick seems to have it. He's not only loved by the fans in Alabama but also by the blue chip players from around the country. Most of all he's not scared to reach out his ever so long arms to haul them in. As most expect myself included, Nick Saban seems to be smashing the recruiting borders states claim to have built. His reach is becoming longer and longer. I just hope he doesn't break apart and reveal his greenish jelly like substance within. Roll Tide

Its well known that in the off season SEC Commissioner Mike Slive put the SEC atop the food chain by signing a multi billion dollar deal with ESPN. The unprecedented move by Slive started in 2009 and extends thru 2024. The landmark deal is the longest national rights agreement in ESPN history. All of a sudden there was a feeling that the SEC which was already dominate in coaching, recruiting and championships would also be dominate on the airways. All seemed well until Oct. 3, 2009 when LSU came stumbling into Athens for what appeared to be a top 25 match up between two SEC powerhouse schools. The game played out like any other until the fourth quarter when officials flagged a celebration penalty that  the SEC later said never happened. Thus giving LSU a gift wrapped comeback and the win. But hey everyone makes mistakes. This was the feel and would have been the end of it until two weeks later the same officiating crew blew another call in a huge SEC game. This one in Gainsville. This time the pseudo flag helped keep the Nations #1 team on a path for Pasedena. Head coach Bobby Petrino came unglued and put the integrity of the SEC in question. Slive once again agreed that the penalty never happened and suspended the officiating crew. This is where it gets hairy. More coaches started publicly questioning the integrity of the league. All of a sudden each and every call was under the microscope. Lane Kiffin echoed this sentiment with more propaganda for the conspiracy cause after his bout with The Crimson Tide. Kiffin felt cheated by a no call that would have given his Vols a second shot at a last chance field goal. Although this time it was a case of a coach not knowing the rules but never less Slive and the nation heard about it. Slive issued a meaningless reprimand.  Nothing seemed to be able to derail the conspiracy theories and public scrutiny from coaches. Had the nations premier college football conference rigged games in an attempt to keep the ESPN ratings high? All of a sudden the hard earned glory the SEC had built was in question. Is this all an attempt to level the playing field? An attempt by the national media and other conferences to keep the SEC from becomming to big or running to far ahead for other conferences to catch? In the preseason it seemed the SEC was the premier league. Holding BCS titles from 4 of the past 5-years. Now the entire structure of this conference is being viewed as tainted. Now I haven't seen any black helicopters flying around the conferences B'ham headquarters, yet there is a feeling that the league has moved two steps backwards. Thus helping keep all other conferences within reach of the almighty SEC.