Countdown to Tiger Hunt Begins...

bama could have scored a 100 ...
dieon belue has the play of the game



Go Bo Go, Alabama's Rudy runs the ball

     I will  never understand why Alabama would even schedule a team like Western Carolina. It is probably the NCAA equivalent of wealth distribution. The Catamounts get a nice pay day of $475,000.  With that money they might improve their football team. Heaven knows they need something to help them. For Alabama it was an opportunity to get back on track, and to allow some rest for the first team players. The opponent on the field may have been wearing blue and gold. I suspect that the fans were thinking more about orange and blue and blood red. The Alabama offense was firing on all eight cylinders.  Eddie Lacy rushed for 99 yards. It seemed to me he ran with reckless disregard. Perhaps he is finally over his turf toe injury. T.J. Yeldon had 55 yards. Both players had limited appearances. Yeldon sprained his foot. Saban said it was not serious. Lacy left the game wth his left arm wrapped in ice. He said he was bruised and not injured. Alabama will be virtually an injury free team for the Iron Bowl next Saturday. CBS  2:30 PM


blake sims was the second quarterback to play...



Sims got to play with first team line.He took advantage
of the opportunity.

      When the second Alabama quarterback took the field it was Blake Sims and not Phillip Ely. I'm not sure what to read into that move. Sims moved the team for a couple of touchdowns although by the read option method. After suffering through the perfect passing  of A.J. McCarron,  the Catamounts had to adjust to an option offense. Alabama ran the offense with flawless perfection. Sims will never be confused as a passing quarterback but he was effective enough to keep the defense honest when he does threw. For the game he finished with 2 completions in 6 attempts for 27 yards. He rushed for 70 yards. McCarron had a 6 for 6 day for 133 yards. He yards per attempt was 22.5 yards. McCarron threw one touchdown pass to Christian Jones. Blake had one rushing touchdown on nifty run through the middle of the Catamount's defense. Sims is not McCarron in several regards, but I think Bama can win with number six at the helm.

on to THE game...

     Last season the Crimson Tide whipped bowl bound Auburn 42-14. It was the "never again" game. Odds are "never again" will last a long time. Auburn is coming off a 51-7 win over Alabama State. Bama will open up as a considerable favorite in the Iron Bowl. Bama plays Aubie in Bryant-Denny. I doubt that Saban will use the last game played in Tuscaloosa as motivation. Tide fans will use it to get beyond fired up. Auburn has won 3 games this season. They beat Louisiana-Monroe in overtime, the beforemention Alabama A&M, and New Mexico State. To say the bottom has dropped out of Tiger football in the last two seasons would be an understatment. Speculation is high that Auburn head coach Gene Chizik is a gone after the Alabama fans. However, late in the week word out of Lee County is that he may be given another season. Let's hope so. There will be a lot written this week about the Iron Bowl. Coach Saban and Alabama will say it is the next game in the process to win  a national championship. That wouldn't be entirely true would it? Not for the fans, and not for a lot of players who grew up in Alabama. Even the players from out of state understand the importance of the game. For Auburn the formula is simple - save a season with a huge upset. Four wins, plus bragging rights for a year would be a great finish for the Auburn "family". I won't happen. It won't come close to happening. Auburn will play its best game of the year. They will play hard. They may even get a break here and there. In the end the game will belong to Alabama.

Never again will last another season.
     
 

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