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?