From TideSports.com:
Observations on UNC's troubles

Nothing particularly sexy, but Marcell Dareus gets props, we have a Boz sighting, and Hurt makes an interesting observation about Twitter. How do coaches handle it? I think it's safe to assume Coach Saban doesn't have time for this shit, so who has that responsibility? Position coaches? Team captains? A grad assistant? If I'm a coach, Twitter is an accident waiting to happen. Outside of using it to link to tornado relief or pictures of grandma's hands, nothing good could possibly come from it and the downside is immense.  I totally agree and you can read why on Twitter @adioslounge

From ESPN:

NEW YORK -- Deion Sanders and former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr are among the 16 players and coaches selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Sanders was an All-American cornerback at Florida State from 1985-88 before going on to a stellar NFL career.

Carr won 75 percent of his games and the 1997 national championship in 13 seasons as Michigan's coach.

On Monday, it was announced that 1995 Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George from Ohio State was heading for the Hall Fame.

Also picked are Florida receiver Carlos Alvarez, Texas defensive lineman Doug English, Oregon State fullback Bill Enyart, Alabama defensive lineman Marty Lyons, Miami defensive lineman Russell Maryland, Georgia defensive back Jake Scott, Nebraska guard Will Shields, Minnesota quarterback Sandy Stephens, West Virginia linebacker Darryl Talley, Oklahoma halfback Clendon Thomas, Arizona defensive lineman Rob Waldrop, and Michigan State receiver Gene Washington.

Fisher DeBerry, the longtime Air Force coach, was also picked for the Hall of Fame.

Hey y'all, I wrote a little something about the tornado(es) and Alabama's recovery process on The Adios Lounge.  Check it out, I hope you like it.

An American Tune (For Alabama)

Roll Tide, LD

via www.latimes.com

OK, so I'm a dum-dum.  I meant to fanpost this days ago and just plain forgot.  In honor of us crystallizing the championship run, I put together a short playlist of songs celebrating Alabama.  It's far from comprehensive because I wanted to keep the total running time between 35-45 minutes (finished at about 38:00).  Anyway, we're still champs, so it's better late than never. Enjoy!

Remember The Rose Bowl, We'll Win Then

Now that Bama has taken care of business I can go back to rooting for the Longhorns, especially with regard to the Oklahoma rivalry.  Having spent almost 10 years in Austin, it was simply easier to not say anything positive about the Sooners.  That said, this is a very thoughtful piece on last night's game, well worth reading.

The Agony Of Defeat – Turns Out Winning One Of Those BCS Championships Isn’t As Easy As It Looks

"Everyone's got a plan until they get punched in the face."
--Mike Tyson

I think it's telling that Roll Bama Roll hasn't been interested in analyzing the championship game.  What's to analyze?  Our plan is to beat on anyone in burnt orange until their mama starts crying.  Do I think Texas can win?  Sure.  They're a good team.  But, we make asses quit.  That's what we do.  Why fancy it up?  But, I have to admit that Burnt Orange Nation's analysis of how Texas will beat Bama had me laughing.  I could do a close reading, but let me just address the highlights.

"I love that all the pressure is on Alabama to show that they are what they're supposed to be."

False. I lived in Austin for the last 9.5 years.  There wasn't a nanosecond that every Austinite/Texan wasn't obsessing over the Horns, breaking down games, and usually focusing on how their team is getting snubbed, overlooked, disrespected, etc. You're the flagship university in a football-obsessed state.  If you don't think there's pressure on you from the first time you lace 'em up, you're an idiot or lying to yourself.  This isn't debatable.

Also, for Bean to suggest that "this (underdoggedness) is when we're at our best" is a bold-faced lie.  Really?  When was the last time Texas was an underdog?  The USC game?  Please.  Texas has won 110 games this decade and was the favorite in probably 95% of them.  You are EMPIRICALLY better as favorites.  Shut up with this "we got Bama right where you want 'em" talk.  Sheesh.  You can't be arrogant pricks and abject underdogs.  Pick one and stick with it.

"Our defense is comically underrated."

Right.  That's what everyone's saying.  God, those Horns are fucking pussies.  Sergio Kindle is Don Knotts-esque, Lamarr Houston is a brain dead oaf, Earl Thomas is a terrible cornerback, and the rest of those douchebags may as well be second-stringers on Lake Travis.  Sure thing, bud.  Keep telling yourself a Will Muschamp team isn't being taken seriously.

"Nick Saban is a stubborn freak."

If you really believe that ... I mean, REALLY believe that ... then you are comically underrating Nick Saban.

"Jordan Shipley works zones like Tiger Woods does C-list celebrities."

Except in the Oklahoma and Nebraska games where he was bracketed and disappeared.  Oh, I guess I'm not supposed to mention those games.  Everytime I do, Texas fans reflexively mention Tennessee and Auburn.  And funny thing about that Auburn game.  You know how every UT fan mentions Ingram getting shut down by Auburn and that's what UT is gonna do.  Ol' Stubborn Nick adjusted by giving the ball to Trent Richardson and Auburn also stopped him cold.  And by stopped him cold I mean got their ass gouged for 9 yards a pop.  I know, I know, your comically underrated defense will shut him down, too.  Uh huh.

Here's my fancy analysis:  You want blood, you got it.  Hulk smash.

Roll F'in Tide, LD

While checking out Bama's schedule for next year, I noticed something both alarming and borderline unacceptable.  Alabama faces SIX opponents coming off of bye weeks: South Carolina (10/2), Ole Miss (10/9), Tennessee (10/16), LSU (10/30), MSU (11/6), and Auburn (11/20).  Take away the Georgia State game (11/20) ... which could be an historic beatdown ... and EVERY opponent after the Florida game (10/2) has an open date before Bama!  Even Bama's tactical advantage of an open date before LSU is mitigated since that's also the Tigers' bye week.  Think about this.  The Tide has 8 SEC games and 6 of those games are versus opponents who have two weeks to prepare.  On top of that, we also host Penn State (9/11) and @Duke (9/18) and @Arkansas (9/25) could be trap games before the Florida showdown.  I'm not sure how strength of schedule is calculated, but even factoring in the Georgia State and San Jose State (9/4) scrimmages, there's no way Bama's SOS ain't damn near the top.

Roll Tide.

Quick write-up on Hidden Plays. I'll probably write more in the next day or two, but thought there would be general appreciation for the headline.  I'm not gonna lie, I'm still in general disbelief.  This is a good thing, though.  I'm usually in disbelief because my team underperformed, got screwed by an official, ran into a buzzsaw, etc.  But, every now and then, the sports gods honor us fans with a luminous beam of soul-enriching light.  This is one of those times.  I know I should be thinking about the Yankees, but I'm gonna give myself another 24 hours of blissful basking.  May the Force be with us.

My write-up on last night's badass Game 1.  Trying to take this one game, inning, and pitch at a time without overextending my fragile emotional complex.  But, hot damn, that was good to see.  I'm not saying all the demons were exorcised, but we got them SOBs on the run.  Just sayin.  Sadly, I have to work tonight ... though, it is a breast cancer benefit ... so I'll have to catch up with Game 2 on the TIVOs.  Allrighty then, let's go Halos!

If any group of people will appreciate this blog post, it's y'all.  Like most of you, I got pretty choked up seeing the boys honor Nick the other night and the first thing I thought of was my buddy Will's song, "Without You."  He's a HUGE baseball fan (Cardinals) and in a badass band called Centro-Matic.  Put the two together and it's my small tribute to a big show of class.  Hope you enjoy ... not to be all melodramatic and shit.

Check out The Angels: On Team

Here's a few photos that highlight this kind of amazing sequence.  I say "kind of" because it's not necessarily amazing in a good way.  I guess this is the hidden play within the hidden play.  Very meta.

via www.box.net

If you're Williams (VT 34), you're probably thinking, "Cool. 31's got 25, 75 has whoever is in front of him, nooo problem."

via www.box.net

I guess McClain fooled 31 with his cloak of invisibility.  Or, 31 thought to himself, "Badass All-American candidate or smaller white guy over there.  I'm going with white guy."  Meanwhile, Nosal is on his date with destiny.

via www.box.net

Ro about to put a world of hurt on Williams, Nosal about to engage Barron, and 31 ... well surely he's gonna do something to make up for ignoring Rolando McClain, right???

via www.box.net

[sad trombone]

via www.box.net

Williams should be tackled by McClain and Reamer in nanoseconds at a loss of 3-4 yards, but the kid stiff arms Ro and starts bouncing outside.  Looking at this play at this point, I feel sorry for Nosal.  The play was designed to be run between the tackles and McClain and Reamer had backfield containment, or so I thought. I love 31's exaggerated helplessness in empty space.  "CAN'T ... STOP ... HURTLING ... FORWARD!!!"

via www.box.net

Reamer inexplicably lunges at Williams' torso instead of pursuing him through his sternum and wrapping up, as I'm sure his coaches would've preferred.  McClain's ambush doomed by friendly fire. Again, sad trombone.

via www.box.net

Alternate view of the hold, McClain-Reamer pileup, and 31 looking back at the action as if to say, "Y'all got this covered?"

via www.box.net

For purposes of discussion/argument, I'm defining a hidden play as any play that has a significant impact on the outcome of the game, but is rarely discussed on the highlights or post-game analysis.  Saturday's hidden play occurred with 13:20 remaining in the 4th quarter and Virginia Tech facing 3rd and less than 1 from their own 37.  They were actually riding a bit of momentum, with the quarter already featuring a rare Julio drop on Bama's previous possession (on 3rd down, no less), a nice run after catch by a Hokies WR to get a 1st down, and a frantic timeout by McClain just before the Hokies snapped the ball on this 3rd down play.

Coming out of the timeout, VT lined up in the I-formation, Taylor handed off to Williams, and he took it around the right end for a 1st down at the 44.  However, Tech right guard, Greg Nosal, was caught for the hold pictured above, a breakdown in fundamentals that knocked the Hokies back 10 yards ... from which they never recovered.  In fact, the next several plays went like this: Taylor incomplete pass; VT punt with nifty 14 yd Arenas return; G-Mac deep to Maze for 48 yards; Ingram TD; G-Mac to Peek for 2-point conversion; VT fumble on ensuing kickoff, Bama settles for FG.  In just under 3 minutes of game time, the Tide went from down 17-16 to up 27-17 and that two-possession cushion essentially meant game over.

"Looking at the Alabama program today it's hard for even the most optimistic Tiger fan to see Auburn overtaking Nick Saban anytime soon. Following an undefeated regular season, nationally ranked back-to-back recruiting classes and a preseason top five ranking heading into 2009, it seems like a decade ago that Auburn won six in a row."
--Jay Coulter of Track 'Em Tigers

That's a great paragraph, isn't it?  It's really fun to say aloud.  Actually, this Coulter post is a good read.  He sets up a nice parallel between Auburn coming into 2009 and Auburn coming into 1993 and makes a pretty convincing case.  So sure, it's science fiction, but a reminder that we can never overlook the Iron Bowl, even if Auburn hasn't won a game.

via c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com

Meant to post this a few days ago.  For those about to rock, or who might consider rocking if appropriately engaged, I recently wrote about a couple bands with deep T-Town connections: The Dexateens and The Archibalds (who actually live near me in Austin, TX).  Talked a bit about The Chukker (RIP) and referenced "40-39 in The Swamp." For anyone interested in the electric guitar, Exile On Main Street, The Gourds, barbecue, Crimson Tide football (duh), time machines, and plates of shrimp.

Visit The Adios Lounge

Enjoy, LD

Can anyone confirm this comment on Dr. Saturday's "For the moment, the Nick stands alone" post?

"Sabans past 5 college recruiting classes are like this. LSU 1st, LSU 2nd, Bama (4 weeks) 10th, Bama 1st, Bama 1st."

For whatever reason, I hadn't thought about it this way, but holy hell that's impressive.  I'm curious if that 2nd place finish with LSU is the Feb 2005 class he mostly recruited before leaving for Miami or it's his last complete recruiting class from the year prior.  Anyone have any numbers ... going back even farther if possible?

OK, there is no bright side.  But, here's food for thought.  Because of the historical propensity to use the bowl game as a measuring stick for next season ... incorrectly, I might add ... there's a very good chance that Bama slips under the radar a bit next season.  Because of the way Ole Miss closed out its season and the way LSU dominated Georgia Tech (and seemingly addressed its defensive issues with the hire of John Chavis), that momentum will carry over into the offseason.  It's not real momentum.  It has zero to do with how those teams will actually perform because the bowl game means nothing with regard to next season.  But the perception says otherwise.  The Rebels and Tigers will be the theoretical beneficiaries of positive momentum and don't be surprised if they're picked 1-2 in the SEC West next year more often than you might expect.

Bama's tepid performance in the Sugar Bowl, combined with the loss of significant talent on offense, will give the program a sense of negative momentum, especially relative to Ole Miss and LSU.  I'm not saying it's fair or correct, just that this is how CFB fans think, especially if you give them 8 months to stew and dissect and froth over the next season.  People can talk themselves into anything.  Don't be surprised if we're picked to finish with 8 wins and a possible 3rd place finish in the West.  All of which could work to our advantage.  With diminished external expectations, the Tide will have the luxury of establishing a new identity on offense without the bullseye on its back.  While we do figure to have an adjustment period on offense, and 11-12 wins is probably unrealistic, 9-10 wins isn't out of the realm of possibility.  Thus, we can use the "lack of respect" angle, let alone the embarrassment from last night, to be a motivating force all offseason.  At least this is what I tell myself in between the sobs of rage.

Happy New Year and Roll Tide.

There's a good chance that next year's defense will be the best we've had since 1992.  The only guys we're losing are Rashad (big loss) and Bobby Greenwood (decent sized loss).  That's it and I'm talking 3-deep on the depth chart.  Going by this year's roster ... and assuming Cody doesn't jump to the NFL ... we could be starting 8 seniors on defense and barring injuries, transfers, or other forms of attrition, we may have 5 other seniors getting significant playing time.  That doesn't even include high-impact underclassmen like McClain, Jackson, and Hightower, all of whom figure to improve.  Plus, you have to think that 1-2 of this year's other freshmen (Barron, Lawrence, Harris, e.g.) will have a breakout season.

That's why I think we can overcome even a big loss like Rashad.  The only place where I see us deficient ... and this could be addressed between now and then ... is a game-changing pass rusher.  Assuming even modest improvement across the board, as well as a bit of roster shuffling, and "x factor" contributions from true freshmen, I see an unholy combination of the 2002 D line and the 2005 back seven, with depth all over the field.  In fact, I don't think it's far-fetched to think that all 3 of next year's units end up being better than their predecessors. While the QB and O line situation will be suspect until proven otherwise, I cannot wait to see our D lay the wood.

Roll Tide.

Specifically, I remember reading an article that discussed the 5-6 elements of teams likely to make the jump to championship contender.  It was stuff like "x" number of returning starters, senior QB, etc. and the person writing the article simply checked off which teams qualified and which didn't, irrespective of preseason polls and expectations.  Anyway, Alabama was one of the teams and I remember we all sort of chuckled because it was borderline delusional to consider a BCS title game when we were coming off a 7-win season.  But now I'd like to read that article again with the benefit of hindsight and see if the issues discussed have indeed been critical to our success and how teams that haven't had expected success fit into these 5-6 categories.  Also, it might be fun to project ahead to next year.

If there's one place where I'm sure I can find someone who knows what I'm referencing, RBR is the place.  For what it's worth, I'm pretty sure I read this online, so it should be something we can link to.

Thanks in advance, LD

Putting away LSU got me thinking about the Saban Era.  One way to look at his tenure thus far:

• 6-2
• 4 game losing streak
• 11-0

Not bad.  Obviously, that 4-game losing streak was painful, but if someone told us in January 2007 that we'd have a period of 6 wins in 8 games followed later by 11 consecutive wins, I'm pretty sure we'd have taken it no questions asked.  And right now, no questions asked.

Four streaks worth noting because they recently ended:

• 5 consecutive losses to LSU
• 9 consecutive November losses
• 9 consecutive years without an SEC West title
  
• 14 consecutive years since we started a season 10-0
  

For the sake of not upsetting the college football gods and jinxing our beloved Tide, I refuse to mention other streaks we have that could end soon.  Suffice to say, there are a few, and I'm pretty sure you know what most of them are.

Roll Tide.

Auburn's recent descent into madness got me thinking how similar in shape and form their shame spiral is to Bama's four-game slide last year.  Granted, AU's lackluster win against Tennessee interrupts what would be a perfectly symmetrical quartet of despair, but the similarities are eerie nonetheless.

Bama: Loses to LSU at home despite leading late in the game.
Auburn: Loses to LSU at home despite leading late in the game.

Bama: Loses heartbreaker to traditional SEC doormat (MSU) after leading at halftime.  Offensive issues gnaw at fanbase.
Auburn: Loses heartbreaker to traditional SEC doormat (Vandy) after leading at halftime.  Offensive issues gnaw at fanbase.

Bama: Loses game to Sun Belt team.  Fanbase out for blood.
Auburn: Loses coach from Sun Belt team.  Fanbase out for blood.

Bama: Loses game with intense personal connection (Iron Bowl).  Fanbase enters full-blown existential crisis.  Alcohol cause of and solution to all of life's problems.
Auburn: Loses game with intense personal connection (Petrino).  Fanbase enters full-blown existential crisis.  Alcohol cause of and solution to all of life's problems.

Goal Line Stand ... The Kick ... Run in the Mud ... Takeaway ... 315.

Defining Moments: The Stories Behind Alabama Football’s Greatest Plays is a set of five documentaries profiling these moments and the people who were involved. Each DVD is packed with rare photos, footage, and in-depth interviews. Check out the 2-minute preview on the Defining Moments website and get yourself some goosebumps.

Also, Van Tiffin, George Teague, Barry Krauss, Walter Lewis, and Eli Gold will be participating in the Defining Moments Premiere Event this Friday, October 3, from 6-10 pm at the Bryant Conference Center.  Check out The Rap Sheet for more info. Wish I could be there!

ed.- bumped from the fanposts.

I'm reading a lot about how Bama folded in the second half and the 31-10 points differential is held up as evidence.  While I think the coaches should use that to their advantage, the reality is a bit different.  The 3rd quarter ... OK, we got our asses handed to us there.  Three 3-and-outs on offense and we couldn't stop a runny nose on defense or special teams.  And yes, Anders was clearly blocked in the back on the punt return for TD, but there were 9 other guys who could've made a play.  For the record, I don't count Fitzgerald, who like Tiffin, has been habitually and spectacularly steamrolled on returns this year.  The good news is that Coach says the special teams breakdowns are correctable and hey, who am I to argue???

Which brings us to the 4th quarter ... where we reasserted our dominance, despite the pair of scores.  We opened the quarter with a 5-minute, 7-play drive ending in a FG.  Georgia then got the ball and proceeded to move all of 16 yards, eventually turning the ball over on downs.  5 plays and 3+ minutes later, Coffee break in the endzone.  In other words, after 11 minutes of the 4th quarter, UGA had 1 possession where they couldn't get past midfield and their D couldn't stop us from tacking on another 10 points.  And looked at from a broader perspective, as we lined up to kickoff, the score 41-17, Bama had dominated 41 of the 56 minutes played to that point.  All Georgia could hang its hat on was the 3rd quarter.  That's it.

TWO PLAYS

At which point ... and for the first time in the game ... our D understandably went into prevent, giving up a pair of meaningless TDs.  And those didn't have to happen, despite our "soft" D.  Two plays are the difference between 41-17 and 41-30.  If you watch the end of the 4th, Georgia has a 3rd and 5 at the Bama 35, with 3:29 left to play.  AJ Green runs a simple hook on the left sideline, Stafford telegraphs it, and Kareem steps in front for an easy pick.  At least that's the way it should've played out.  The ball inexplicably goes right through KJ's hands, giving Georgia new life.  2 plays later Stafford hits Harris for a TD.  If Kareem makes that pick, he has a chance to take it to the house.  Worst case scenario is he's taken down around midfield and our offense comes back on the field to run the clock out.

That TD, of course, was followed by Nick Walker's brainfart on the onsides, which led to another TD.  It's kind of a good news/bad news thing.  The bad news is that we gave up TDs.  The good news is we gave up TDs, in part because we were in a prevent D, which we were in because it was a blowout.  If it's a closer game, I have to imagine we're not in that D.  Also, both of these misplays ... especially Walker's ... are either correctable, or given a tight game, the kind of plays that we'll hopefully make because we have to.

My first fanpost, so bear with my clumsy mimeography.  It appears that AOL Fanhouse has itself an answer to Mr. B Cook of Poopypants Lane, Ann Arbor, MI.  Pete Holiday has written an impassioned defense of The Saban, which has been followed, perhaps inevitably, by a series of moans and whines from the pro-Michigan, pro-Cook fanbase.  They are still up in arms about how Saban obviously threw kids under the bus, despite no evidence to prove that assertion. Gentlemen, start your engines!