“Never Again”.  That is what the blue and orange flyers read. They are plastered all over the football facility.  The message is clear, never again will the Crimson Tide lose to Auburn like they did last season. Bama jumped out to a 24-0 lead. They saw a couple of fumbles and a dropped pass keep that number from being 45.  The story doesn’t have happy ending as all Alabama know. The Tiger comeback propelled them toward the national title. It all happened in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

      Here we are almost a year later. The Tigers are at home where they have been a great team. An Alabama win will propel the Crimson and White toward a chance to win a national championship. It is like Déjà vu all over again.  I bet there hasn’t been a single day since last year’s loss that the Alabama team hasn’t been reminded of what happened. Alabama is a 19-21 point favorite. There may have been a year when the point spread was this great – I don’t remember that occasion if it did. This season the visiting team will come into the game with increased incentive.

Not thinking about anything but Auburn

     ‘Bama will likely prepare this game as if it is the most important game of the year.  If you only have a couple of wins away from a national championship every game is the most important.  The Tide isn’t thinking about a national championship. They are thinking about going into Jordan-Hare and beating their arch-rival. Because of the upsets that rocked the BCS last weekend the game takes on an added importance.  A Tiger win will make the Auburn season very successful. A loss is of no consequence. No one thinks they can win the game. Only in Auburn and in Tuscaloosa is that a serious thought. Make no mistake that the Auburn game is first and foremost in the eyes of the Tide. Not one word will be  spoken about the chance to play in a national championship by the Alabama coaching staff. Coach Saban made it very clear that he isn’t eve allowing the Tide team from even watching the game on Friday. He couched that in terms of being a suggestion. I’d like to suggest to the players they follow that suggestion if they know what is good for them.

Trent says he is ready...


Back to the Bama Nation...

So this game will be between two hated rivals. The hatred will not be on the field but in the stands and in front of a couple of million Alabamians viewing it on television. I remember how much the Tiger fans gloated over Ingram’s lackluster performance and how the Tigers had stopped his Heisman Trophy hope. Seriously, many Auburn fans actually said that in public. I don’t think they were they were joking.

The last two seasons have seen the educational system in Alabama win two Heisman Trophies. The schools have had back to back national championships. Will there be a hat trick? I wouldn’t bet against it. So the Tide hits the road, and A.J. McCarron has played very well on the road. I have to admit I was nervous about the LSU game. Not this week. Tranquility reigns. I’ll be watching the game in San Luis Obispo. I can’think of a better way to spend a vacation.