Sunseri has successful surgery...

Vinnie says he will be back in 4 months...
Spring practice possible...

    

  As a person who has had a severed ACL and subsequent surgery I can tell you that Sunseri can come back after surgery, and be fine. There are essentially two ways to repair an ACL. It depends on whether the ACL is torn or severed. You still have two  basic methods regardless. First, the ACL can be sown back together if not severed.  The partial tear usually results in some type of surgical "sewing" the ACL back together. A severed ACL can be sewed back together also. Or the the patient have  a donor ACL  or a ligament from the thigh can be grafted in lieu of a donor. I had a donor ACL. My left ACL was completely severed. Contrary to popular belief not all ACL injuries are overtly painful. Mine wasn't. I knew something was wrong but thought I had just popped my joint. Two holes later as I left the golf course I knew different. My left knee looked like it had a softball grafted inside.

   

  Dr. Bill Garth, who was UAB's orthopedic sports medicine did the honors. We waited a few days after the diagnosis to allow the swelling to recede. When it did, he went in and did his best. His best was beyond excellent. I was back on the golf course in three weeks. Today, my left knee is better than the other knee. My rehab was uneventful and shorter than planned. I had, what the good Dr. said, a remarkable recovery for some in their early 50's. Of course, I wasn't going to return to the college gridiron. I'm sure the strength needs are very different from someone who wants to play golf and someone who plays football. If anyone can pull of a Dee Hart it is Vinnie Sunseri. He'll still be a team leader even if he is not on the field.

     Joe Namath questions Saban's use of starters on special teams. He has a point. Saban has a point. You have to understand that Namath is speaking from a position of someone who had knee trouble his entire career. He's bound to be a little biased, and I respect him as a person and his opinion. I bet this injury is going to cause Saban to reassess his use of starters. He may continue to use them. Perhaps he won't use them when the Tide has a lead. He could split the baby.  It is entirely logical that Vinnie comes back to 100%. Modern orthopedic surgical skills and techniques are remarkable. It is a shame that Namath wasn't able to have such skills for his knees. He might have set records never to be broken. We'll very likely to see #3 back during the spring and starting in the fall.

      A special thanks to my wonderful wife, Sharon, who literally nursed me back to health. She worked at UAB and was my nurse.  That's how we met.  Every dark cloud indeeds has a silver lining.

Bama looks for starting five...

How long will Levi Randolph be out?

Bama looks for a starting five...


   

       I don't envy Anthony Grant. First he loses Trevor Lacey to stupidity. That's my word and not the coach. The starting center decides to transfer to Pan American. I don't care what anyone says he will be missed. Now he loses Levi Randolph. It wouldn't surprise me if Anthony Grant looked out his window and finds a plague of Locusts swarming around the facility. If he looked out in his out office and saw someone in a robe and carrying a stone tablet I wouldn't be surprised. If it wasn't for bad luck he'd have no luck at all as the old saying goes. Despite all this, our coach remains surprisingly upbeat and optimistic. Any you look at what has gone on it is true that he lost 60% of his starting lineup. Now the question becomes who will the starters be ? After watching a couple of practices he has some options. He just doesn't have a lot of options. To compound all the problems that Alabama has faced a new one may be the worst of all. It involves hand check and forearm checking on defense.  This one might be the biggest loss of all. That one takes away a lot of what Alabama does on defense. If Nolan Richardson could comment he'd say that college basketball has become 40 minutes of child care. So where does the Tide go?

 

          It is hard to believe or think that Bama is going to change the basic way they play. Here are couple of things I think they will do from observation. Alabama is going to try to score more points, maybe a lot more points. If I was pressed to name a starting lineup I'm not sure I could. It's clear we will have very little depth. Carl Engstrom is not full speed, the to freshmen we have are not up to speed right now. They will be and they are going to have a baptism by fire. Here are a few observations:

 

• Releford is shooting better and has improved. That should be a scary for the SEC
• Rodney Cooper has really improved. He seems to have found his touch and he knows he's going to get to take a lot more shots.
• Nick Jacobs has lost some weight, looks a little quicker, and is forcing his way inside. His baby hook looks sweet.
• Carl Engstrom move well. He is limited in what he does, but Grant doesn't ask him to do a lot of things. Set screen, pitch the ball back outside, block shots and get rebounds. He has a soft shooting touch.
• Shannon Hale as a silky smooth shot. He reminds me of Keith Wilkes in the way he moves. He can play inside as well.
• Jimmie Taylor is a beast in training. He can blocks shots and has excellent timing  to do so. He leaves his feet like a rabbit on hot coals, but he'll get better. He is going to score some around the basket and can finish off plays with thunder dunks. I'd estimate he weights at least 245.
• Retin Obasahan has improved tremendously. He is confident. He can shoot outside and is not afraid to take it inside. He's going to be a good one this year.
• Algie Key isn't much of a shooter although he practices outside the arch a lot. He can flat out take it inside and he is as hard as nails. He is fast, quick, and can run like cheetah.

     Counting heads that only seven players who look like they can play SEC ball. Dakota Slaughter is going to play some, and he'll help out. He is stronger and very excited about getting a grant in aid. He is also confident. When Levi come back we will have an eight man rotation. That's not a lot, but Wimp Sanderson played with 7 and 8 players for years. The statement of several weeks could mean a lot. I'm  told he'll be back by the SEC. We need him before them to make the NCAA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEC OPINIONS - Conference shake up but Bama is a rock...

Others fall but Tide gets better

Tide plays it most complete game...

 

     South Carolina and LSU fell on last second field goals, but Alabama was rock solid. It might be the first complete game the Tide has played season. The final score  was 52-0. It could have worse, much worse. It could have been 70-0. It could have been a number right out of the back stretch in a Grand Prix Race.  Auburn pulled off an "upset" of Texas A&M. I can't see the Tigers ripping up the Tide's line like they with Texas A&M. Let's all hope the Tigers remain undefeated until  the final regular season game. Auburn leaped all the way to # 11 in polls.

 

      

         How often do you see a head coach scowl when a player scores a touchdown?  Saban did that on Derrick Henry's wonderful touchdown run late in the game. Saban doesn't believe in running up the score on a helpless opponent. Henry was just being the all-world back he is soon to be. He's a kid and was having fun. Soon he will be grown man running for bigger things when they matter, when games are on the line, and when he's chasing the big bucks. Henry found the right side of the line block, reversed his field and outran the defense. I couple of Arkansas defensive backs had the angle on Henry but misjudged the man's speed. That run was a preview of what we will see more in the future. By the way, Henry is Bama's 4th team running back.

 

         

           The Tide's defense also said something to the SEC. The road to the SEC championship goes through Tuscaloosa, and they'll knock you off that road in the blink of the eye. Arkansas isn't a very good school. They played old school football and Alabama responded in an old fashioned way. They shut them down. It was only in the late fourth quarter that they Hogs got close to scoring. The second and third depth chart players didn't let it happen. Not only does Alabama have great first line players, but those waiting in the wings are going to be great as well. Alabama won game # 7 and kept their perfect season alive for at least on more game. It is hard to describe the win in any other terms than dead solid perfect. Tennessee pulled a dramatic last second win over South Carolina and will come to Tuscaloosa with hope in their hearts. They will leave with their tails between their legs. And of course, then comes the first big game - LSU. Ole Miss stunned the Bayou Bengals in Oxford on Saturday night. An almost last second field goal beat the Tigers. Mettenburger had three interceptions, two in the end zone, and then almost brought his team to victory. You would have expected that LSU would have had a record setting night since Ole Miss was short 6 defensive starters. The Tiger defense simply had no answer to Bo Wallace and a surprising inside running game. That means that both LSU and Texas A&M each have two losses. Only Auburn has one loss in the West. If both Auburn and Alabama continue to win in the SEC the season finale in Lee County will be huge. You have to give credit for AU for a season which was very unexpected.

 

    One bad thing about the game is that team leader, Vinnie Sunseri, injured a knee. Although the extent of the injury was not disclosed it appears to be season ending from the way that Alabama players talked about what happened. Sunseri was walking on the sidelines without crutches. That probably mean it wasn't an ACL injury. If it is cartilage he might be back by the Auburn game. We will all probably know more after the MCI on Monday. What I find odd about this injury is that Alabama is notoriously tight lipped about injuries. Sunseri is the emotional leader of the defensive backfield. What he lacked in speed and height he made up in savvy and intelligence. His injury is why some coaches don't like to play first team players. It seems to me that overall that use of such players has turned out very well for the Crimson Tide.  We all can now get ready for the third weekend in October which for many of us is the Tide's real arch rival. Roll Tide.


Power Poll for the Week

1. Alabama
2. LSU
3. Auburn
4. Missouri
5. Texas A&M
6. South Carolina
7. Ole Miss
8. Tennessee
9. Georgia
10. Florida
11. Vanderbilt
12. Mississipi State
13. Arkansas
14. Kentucky
13.

 

 

     

 

 

Bama is ready for the Razorbacks and key player returns

 Ha Ha returns for Arkansas...

 

              Alabama is going to go to a BBQ this weekend and Arkansas is coming as the pig. No pun intended.  I'm thinking the Tide will score at least 45 points or as many as Saban will allow. Unless something happens such as a kick off return or fumble I predict that the Razorbacks won't score. Tomorrow night will be game # 1 as the tune up for the LSU Bayou Bengals. Then perhaps a sterner test when the Tide takes on Tennessee in a time honored rivalry. Bama won't score as many points against Tennessee as did Oregon.  Why not? First, Saban wouldn't allow it, and secondly I think the 'Vols have improved. The media will say "look, the Ducks are much better than Alabama".  Comparing games is a road make for fools. Alabama and Tennessee have history. Oregon and Tennessee don't. Big difference.

 

        

Don't think for one minute that Butch Davis won't help Nick Saban should Alabama and Oregon meet for the Crystal Footall. Davis knows the quickest way to rebuild Tennessee football is for the SEC to remain the big dog of college football. I do think that Oregon is a great offensive team. They can beat Alabama. That doesn't mean they will. If Oregon takes the field against Alabama it will be the most pressure packed game a Duck team has ever played. It will make the Auburn/Oregon game look an opening act for the real deal.  I admire what Oregon has done with their program. I think they play silly football but you can't argue with success. Speedball is all the rage but honestly it seems to me that football wasn't designed to be a continuous play sport such as basketball. Say what you wish about injuries but more plays mean a statistical probability for players to get hurt. I think this is going to prove to be true, especially for the defense. But looking at tomorrow.

 

         Realistically, there is no way the Arkansas should be able to be competitive tomorrow. I'm not even considering an upset as possible. Chad Lindsey has settled in nicely at center and he seems like a real leader. Skill isn't always the defining factor in being a good player.  I wonder if Saban will risk the developing chemistry of the Offensive line? I wouldn't, but Coach hasn't called me for my opinion. I'm also concerned about Yeldon not getting enough touches. He's the kind of back that gets better as the game progresses. I wonder if he can ever get in the grove splitting reps with another back. HaHa has served his stint in lock up and will dress for the Arkansas game much to the relief of Tide fans.

    

SEC POWERS RATINGS

THIS WEEK'S POWER RANKINGS...



1. 1. Alabama - Until you unseat the king he still rules. The pieces are there for a great season. Can the team fit them together?
2. 2. Georgia - I'm picking the Dawg's number 2 because of Aaron Murray. Injuries will hurt the red and black. But Georgia fans know Gurley will be back.
3. 3. LSU - Almost put them at #2 with all the Georgia injuries. Slow start at Mississippi State didn't look good. Strong finish was impressive.
4. South Carolina - Despite the soap opera known as Clowney, Conner Shaw is keeping the Gamecock faithful very hopeful.
5. Florida - If you picked them #4 I wouldn't argue much at all. A team rarely loses their starting quarterback and doesn't pay the piper at some point.
6. Texas A&M - Show me some defense and I'll move them up.
7. Missouri - You know, that other new team in the SEC.
8. Auburn - They are movin' on up per George Jefferson. Better but not a contender
9. Ole Miss - but I think this might be a little high. LSU and TAM will send them sinking
10. Tennessee -  Butch Davis almost pulled a stunner.  Oregon whipped them bad...
11. Arkansas - They are gettng better as their coach adusts to real football
12. Mississippi State - Mullen over the their program like a free ticket on the Titantic
13. Vanderbilt - It is now okay to say "same old Vandy".
14. Kentucky - Stoops has a long way to go. Just watch this weekend.

    

 

Tide gets ready for Kentucky...

Bama gets ready for improving Kentucky...



Kentucky almost pulled a stunner over SC

       Don't overlook the fact that Kentucky almost pulled off a major upset down the home stretch over South Carolina.  The Wildcats ripped the Gamecocks wide open in fourth quarter by scoring three key touchdowns. So you have to wonder - will that fourth quarter team show up against the Tide? Kentucky is not a very good football team. They are an SEC football team who will be playing at home this weekend. There are no pit stops in the SEC.  Don't expect the Wildcats to turn into kittens just because it is Alabama who is coming to town. A win over the #1 team in American would make the Wildcat season, and launch a rebuilding program onto the fast track. Very few coaches even have had a modicum of success at Kentucky. The football program has always played second violin to Wildcat basketball. A lot of loyal Kentucky fans call the football team the mildcats and not the wildcats. Alabama needs to remember that time worn phrase - 'on any given Sunday'.  Well, actually that should be Saturday. Upsets are fairly common in the SEC, and the Tide is not immune. If I'm a Kentucky fan I would not hold my breath however.

 

Big whup, LOL...

          Now that Auburn beat Ole Miss 30-22 the "we're back" lingo has started up from the Auburn fans.  Big whup is what I say. Who doesn't beat both of the Mississippi schools? I think Auburn is better than last season, but Ole Miss is woefully overrated. Ole Miss beat Texas. That's their signature win. Only Bo knows. Mississippi State has beaten has beaten Troy. That's their big win of the year. No reason to bash Auburn for the sake of bashing Auburn, but I want to see them beat someone who actually matters. The Tigers big win? How about Washington State?  Think that one over.

 

 

         I personally believe that Ole Miss was so beat up and demoralized after 'Bama pounding them silly the AU game was going to tough for them. How many times did the option work against the Ole Miss defense? The answer was everytime the quarterback kept the ball. Ole Miss made no adjustments to defend the quarterback. Kudos to Auburn for continuing to exploit a major coaching gaff by the Rebel staff. If I had to guess it looks like the Tigers are going to win at least six games. I am really looking forward to the AU-TAM game. I wonder what the over/under for plays run in that game will be on game day?

BAMA BLASTS A HAPLESS GEORGIA STATE TEAM

'Bama calls off the dogs in second half...

Christian Jones on the way to the end zone

         The final score was 45-4. The Tide had 38 of those points at the end of the first half.  Honestly, Alabama could have scored 80 if they wanted. Oregon would have run up the score. Alabama didn't, nor did they have pile on the anquish. That's one big difference between SEC football and PAC 12 football.

 

          Georgia State got a big check, got on the bus, and got home before dark. Nothing like fun in Atlanta after you have been dismantled, demolished, and discarded by the Crimson Tide.  Heaven knows none of the Georgia State players had any fun in Alabama. The Panthers played the role of a homecoming patsy to perfection. The State team had a lot of spirit but not enough talent to give Alabama a game. It hurt the Georgia State team when the Tide came out sharp and focused. This was no more than a scrimmage. The Tide moves to 5-0 and remains on track for another SEC Championship.  Georgia State falls to 0-5 and I have no idea why the school even started football.

 

   

      A.J. McCarron was almost perfect in his limited playing time. In less than a half he threw four touchdown passes. That matched his career high. It could have been eight or ten.

       Blake Sims put on an impressive performance in his playing time. He was very accurate  with passing. For the day he finished 14-18 for 130 yards. Coupled with McCarron who was 15-16 for 166 yards it was quite a day for Tide quarterbacks.  Just for those keeping score that is 29-32 for 296 yards. This Sims kid can play.

 

         Backups saw considerable playing time in the second half. I have never seen a better group of running backs. Yeldon, Drake, Tenpenny, Hart, Henry, and Fowler combined for 190 yards. Each bring different styles to the game, but each compliment the Tide passing game. Alabama's offensive line doesn't look overpowering but they seem to be improving. I'm not sure that Georgia State can give you much idea of how much they have improved. Henry rushed for 50 yards in only 5 attempts and showed some of his highly touted high school skills. Dee Hart had a brilliant punt return to remind us he won't be put on a shelf and forgotten. His special team tackle caused a fumble. Who else but Dillon Lee recovered the ball after Hart's hit? 

 

Chris Black looked like he's ready for some playing time...

 

      One player who really stood tall today was wide out Chris Black. Black showed some extraordinary running ability after catching the ball. For the morning matinee Black pulled in 6 receptions which included 1 TD. Kenny Bell was his ususal dangerous self.

 

       DeAndrew  White had a ESPN highlight catch for a TD. He reached behind the defender and pulled in a McCarron pass for a circus catch. All in all a total of 15 players caught at least one catch on passes by the two quarterbacks. Alabama had 296 passing yards. Who didn't catch a pass? Amari Cooper failed to catch one, and his absence from the Tide passing game obvious. The Tide is going to need his homerun ability down the line. He has had some slight injuries but it seems to me that something else is the matter as well. He is a marked man and that accounts for some of his problems but he needs a big game soon.

     

   I'm glad this game is over and the team can get ready for some bigger games. Kentucky is up next. ThenTennessee and Alabama continue their heated rivalry.  Bama travels to Lexington in what should be a pretty easy game. The Tennessee game will draw a lot of national attention because the media will play let's compare the Oregon/Tennessee score. Those things are fun to talk about but rarely mean a thing. There are a lot of games left to be played but a Bama and Oregon game would be something to watch.

 

Grading the Tide:

 

Offense:  A-         Despite the score the offensive line is still troubling to me 

Defense: A-         Gave up a long field goal. That's okay but pass rush is needed

Special tms: A     Tell me that our punter is not the best in the SEC

Coaching: A         Got the team fired up for a nothing game.

 

Next up for Tide:

       At Lexington for the Kentucky Wildcats. The little blue played a pretty good game against South Carolina. The Wildcats scored three fourth quarter TD's to end the game 35-28.  Clowney did not play, a fact that upset Spurrier. Conner Shaw returned after last week's injury and passed for 262 yards.

 

 

 

Clark chooses Alabama over Aubie...

Ronnie Clark can play on
either side of the ball

Ronnie Clark brings skills galore to Alabama...

 
         About the only thing that surprises me about the Ronnie Clark commitment to Alabama that he was rated four stars and not five. Despite some of the hardest recruiting by Auburn I've ever seen for an in-state player the Tide won out. From Calera it is barely over an hour to Lee County. In the end none of that matter as Clark committed to Bama calling his choice 'firm'. The two way star at Calera High School in Shelby County was a prize that over 75 schools wanted to sign. The 6-3 inch 190 lb. senior can run the offense as a quarterback and can knock your brain sideways as a safety. At Alabama he will be given a chance to play offense but many believe he will end up as a safety or perhaps a wide receiver.  He is a national top 60 recruit. His skill set is perfect for what Nick Saban expects out of his players. Fans talk about what a nice person he is in his personal life, and about a tireless work ethic to prepare himself for college.

     Clark adds to Bama's lead in the national recruiting wars according to Rivals.com.  Some recruiting experts believe that Clark is in the same mold as C.J. Mosely and may end up as  linebacker. That's a lot of offensive firepower moving over to the defense. That is a perfect example of why the SEC is so much better on defense than other conferences. When you take a player with the speed and quickness as Clark and make him a linebacker you've got speed to chase down speed.





































































































  About the only thing that surprises me about the Ronnie Clark commitment to Alabama that he was rated four stars and not five. Despite some of the hardest recruiting by Auburn I've ever seen for an in-state player the Tide won out. From Calera it is barely over an hour to Lee County. In the end none of that matter as Clark committed to Bama calling his choice 'firm'. The two way star at Calera High School in Shelby County was a prize that over 75 schools wanted to sign. The 6-3 inch 190 lb. senior can run the offense as a quarterback and can knock your brain sideways as a safety. At Alabama he will be given a chance to play offense but many believe he will end up as a safety or perhaps a wide receiver.  He is a national top 60 recruit. His skill set is perfect for what Nick Saban expects out of his players. Fans talk about what a nice person he is in his personal life, and about a tireless work ethic to prepare himself for college.

 

CLINTON-DIX SHOWS THE PROBLEM WITH SYSTEM...

Ha-Ha shows the poverty of student-athletes...

Clinton-Dix gets suspended

     I'm not going to debate the right or wrong about what happened with Clinton-Dix. It is certainly not my place or intent to judge. I'll leave that up to other writers. Each of us have an opinion about whether the actions taken by CD and a coach was wrong or just an act of humanity. I'm less concerned about the absence of HHCD,  the player, during his suspension than I am that the why of what happened. A kid gets his car broken into. He losses his possessions and needs to get his car repaired. The only problem is that he has no money and no way of actually making any money due to his being an athlete of scholorship. There is something very wrong about this situation.  You probally fall into one of two ways of thinkng about the situation regarding Clinton-Dix. You might believe a rule is a rule is a rule. The other is that all this hoopla shows the basic unfairness of being a student and having no way to make money. Breaking rules are not good. But then again rules are indeed made to be broken.

 

 

 

            When rules cause an unfair hardship they are not rules. They are a kind of bondage. That bondage could be physical or mental. It could be socially demeaning. Unfair is contrary to the basic American value system. If a rule is unfair it means that someone is profiting. It's not the person who is required to follow the rule. Players have rules to follow. First and foremost players are human beings. They should be treated as human beings. I'm not suggesting that the University of Alabama treats their players unfairly.  I know that Alabama gives their players the best they can offer under the rules. I believe if the rules allowed Alabama to treat their players like royalty they would do just that. The problem is that they can't provide things that are important and necessary to players. It's hard to teach the value of hard work and self-esteem if you can't come up with a paltry five hundred dollars. The truth is that players have to question all their hard work when you can't get your car fixed for lack of a little money. I know that getting a college is supposed to be a big deal. The problem (or brillance) of young people is that the long term is so abstract. Having a ride to is immediate. When you are young enough to think you are immortal the long term isn't as high on their list. Did Clinton-Dix do something wrong? I'm not able to answer that question in all honesty.

 

    

        Here's a better question - does the NCAA rule the players in such a manner as to really deny them basic humanity?  I know that sounds kind of high and mighty. Too much drama for such a situation?  Or do we answer to a different set of rules that might allow us to help a young man come up with five hundred dollars?  I know one thing - HHCD could have come  up with a lot more than five hundred dollars from a lot of places. As an attorney I have to question whether such rules mandated by the NCAA are even enforceable. Credit to Alabama for bringing the situation to light. They will probably get off with a slap on the wrist. What the NCAA needs is a slap in the face.

UNTIL SOMEONE BEATS 'BAMA THEY REMAIN # 1

As long as Bama wins...
Blue collar work ethic for nation's blue blood football program makes the difference... 
Ha-Ha gets benched indefinitely for violation of team rules...

     So one talking head thinks that Georgia is the best team in the SEC and Tide fans have a meltdown. Who is he kidding?  As long as Alabama keeps notching W's they should remain number one. You have to beat number one to be number one.  Until the LSU game that isn't likely to happen. I don't think it will happen all season.  Someone, like Georgia, or Ohio State, or Oregon might eventually beat Alabama. That isn't a sure thing. I think Georgia has an defense that is frankly offensive to almost everyone. Who knows about a team like Ohio State. Who the heck do they play?  Oregon can rack up a lot of points. So could Ole Miss.  In my book, the team that plays the best defense will win the national championship. Now that Alabama has seemingly shored up the corners they appear to be the best defense in the NCAA.

 

Why does 'Bama schedule Georgia State?   

Georgia State comes to T Town

      Alabama's next game is with Georgia State.  That's a sure win regardless of what Coach Saban says. I have not idea why the Athletic Department would inflict such a game on the Alabama fan base. I'd rather play UAB, South Alabama, or Troy. That isn't going to happen but at least it might be fun to watch. I think we all understand why such games won't be played, or can't be played. Surely the UofA can find someone they know they can beat who we has some type of national recognition. Why don't we try to schedule Army or Navy. Someone with a little name recognition would be nice, and could keep the rest of the NCAA from laughing at our schedule. After the Georgia State game that leaves the Tide with Kentucky on the road, Arkansas and Tennessee at home, and then what could be the game of the year for national title hopes. LSU has looked pretty impressive on the offensive end of field. Zach Mettenberger. I don't know if he can bring the Tigers a national title but he has certainly enhanced his pro draft status. Perhaps it is just wishful thinking but it seems hard to believe that LSU could put up the same number of points in Tuscaloosa as they did against a weak Georgia defense.

 

      It may seem like a small thing to most but having your Homecoming Parade at 7AM just won't work for a lot of people. This writer included. Television calls all the shots these days and that's not always a good thing. Back to that scheduling thing - if Bama was playing someone better known we wouldn't be playing this game so early. Homecoming is one of those remaining tradition that the University owes more to the students than to the fans.

Ha-Ha Clinton Dix suspended...

   Per Saban's habit not reason was given as to why the junior All-American isn't playing this weekend and when he might return. "When guys get suspended, I never ever say what it's for, so I'm not going there, so don't ask me," Saban said Wednesday as his team prepares for Saturday's game against Georgia State. "It's the way I've always handled this -- every guy. They do right, they wouldn't be getting suspended. And I don't know for how long this will be, so don't ask me that either." That's the bad news. The good news is that Landon Collins would be starting for most teams right now. The absence of Clinton-Dix isn't going overly effect Alabama until the LSU game.

 

 

      You might remember that Landon Collins was a top 10 national recruit his senior year in high school. He's talented, he's a hard hitter, and has been a special team star thus far in his Bama career. Look for Collins to give Tide fans a preview of his own skill set.

 

 

 

 

 

Jackson plugs in a big hole in Tide Defense...

Kiffin out as head coach at USC               

          

 It seems to me that Alabama may have solved a real problem by inserting Eddie Jackson in the defensive backfield.  He had a great game against Ole Miss including an interception. The best thing he did was to allow the Tide defense to play straight up and not worry about what was going on in Jackson's  little corner of the world. With the injured Dion Belue back at his regular corner, and the addition of Jackson made a lot of difference in the Tide's ability to stop the Ole Miss Rebel's high powered offense. Well, perhaps it would be more correct to say "sometime" high powered offense. The Tide chewed up the Rebel offense and then spit them out. The Rebels came into Bryant-Denny Stadium riding in high cotton and left with their tails tucked between their legs.

Ole Miss vs. Auburn will be interesting...

    

        You have to wonder what state of mind will the Rebels be in when they travel to Auburn?  They will either be ready to show they can really play or roll over and die. Most Auburn fans I know believe the whip hand belongs to the Tigers right now. An Auburn win would mean that the lowly Tigers have beaten both Mississippi schools. I say, "big whup". Who doesn't beat both Mississippi schools. Still for AU fans this will be a watermark game for the Tigers. A Rebel win would keep them at one loss and they then play all of their remaining games in Mississippi. That fact makes the AU game even bigger than the Alabama game in some ways. We all know that playing UA is the biggest game of any teams season. I like the Rebels in that one right now.

 

South Alabama almost beats UT  &  Kiffin gets the axe...

            In one of the oddest events of the college football season was how Lane Kiffin was fired. Low class treatment to a low class guy in my opinion. To fire him in an airport was about a classless thing any school could do. I'm no Lane Kiffin fan as most of you know but USC should do things in a better way to end that relationship. Taking a man into a room at LAX and giving him  the axe is no way to do things. Kiffin is his own worst enemy in a lot of ways. He rubbed the SEC the wrong way with his tasteless comments. 

      Tennessee was left high and dry with Kiffin's departure. The Vols have never recovered. A couple of 'iffy' calls went Tennessee's way against South Alabama. Otherwise, the Jags may have beaten once respected UT. How times change. I bet Ole Smokey is embarrassed.

       

        I wonder if one day we might see an South Al game on the 'Bama schedule. Not likely for a long time. Having second tier leagues which include Jacksonville State, Troy, South Alabama, and UAB certainly spice up football Saturdays regardless of whether you are a Tide  fan or not. I don't besmirch any of those schools having football teams and hoping to compete with the big boys. This season as seen some odd things. Whoever thought that USC would have lost to Washington State?  Who thought that Arizonia State would be the school that put the final nail in the Lane Kiffin coffin. We have to admit that the SEC hasn't looked like the most powerful conference in the nation.