Destiny is a two edged sword by the way...

Tigers fall short in final BCS National Title Game

     I'm not here to celebrate FSU beating Auburn. It's all pretty inconsequential  if Alabama isn't playing for the national title. I've been telling all my Auburn friends that this 'team of destiny' mantra was just plain silly. If you believe in destiny, which I don't, it doesn't mean or even imply that the end result will be good.  Ask Napoleon if that's true or not. The truth of the matter is that Auburn had a marvelous run this season and I don't think the most ardent Alabama fan would disagree. So let me ask my Auburn friends this - if you believe it was your destiny to win the national title then doesn't that imply that someone or something beyond your teams' blood, sweat, and tears was responsible for the season?  Was it your destiny to win a national title, or was it your destiny to have your still beating heart torn from your chest in a last minute drive?
 

      I think believing in destiny takes away from what the Auburn football team actually accomplished, but moreover I think it tells us something about the mental state of Auburn fans. Is it true that AU fans must believe that some supernatural force or being is in charge of their football team? I believe that's truly the case. Alabama fans don't seem to believe in all that destiny non-sense. Feeling entitled is not the same as destiny. Believing in destiny is knowing you are not entitled, and hoping God or something descends from the clouds to give you a helping hand. Not only is believing that meaningless but is a slap in your team's face. I don't recall FSU or Alabama saying it was their destiny to win a national title. FSU might be led by an egotistical self-centered quarterback who has convinced himself he is beyond the laws us mere mortals, but at least he believes it was his own abilties which  saved FSU. 'the team got on my back and rode me  to the National Championship'.  Honestly, doesn't anyone think that a class or two in public speech might save the embarrassment named Jameis Winston was last night in post game interviews.

     The national media might be standing in line to consensually get in bed with Winston but I think he showed his true self last night. I didn't know if he was a Flamingo dancer or football player with those roses tucked behind his ear secured by a big head. Celebrate as you wish, but for heaven's sake at least speak the King's English from time to time. Coach Bryant said "act like you've been there before." FSU was the best team according to the score board. The difference was that the FSU defense was only slightly better than the Auburn defense, which has been terrible all season.  Kudos to Ellis Johnson for his attack mode approach the game though.  In retrospect, it is something that Alabama would have been better served in doing when they played Auburn. Of course, FSU had some  pretty decent cornerbacks.

     You have to hand it to Gus Malzhon. He turned a laughing stock into a bully with a gimmick offense and a crummy defense. I personally don't think there were any truly great teams in the NCCA this season. There were lots  of good ones and that parity led to some exciting games. All this high scoring might continue for another couple of seasons but defensive coordinators will figure out a way to stop the smoke and mirrors. Remember the wishbone? Unstoppable until coaches figured out a way to stop it. The no huddle hurry up offense may look unstoppable but its has a shelf life like anything else. Alabama had a good defense, but the corners were young and inexperienced. I think if Alabama had a couple of NFL quality corners on the field the new hurry up offense would have been stopped. I think that is why the Tide coaches are so concerned about signing quality corners.

     All things considered you have to give Auburn its due. I didn't think the Tigers would beat FSU, but if they played next week I might think differently. The Tigers drive to retake the lead late in the game was big time. Unfortunately, the their defense was starting to understand that their destiny might be a little different than the home fans thought. Auburn's run of miracles. luck, heavenly intervention ended because the real destiny of their team rested on the shoulders of a poor defense. And only Auburn controlled that themselves.

Bama loses to Oklahoma

Always a little something missing from this team    

    

Honestly, there has been something not quite right with this year's Alabama football team. The offensive line never reached a championship level. The Defensive backs were just not up to Alabama standards. The were too many long runs, to many long passes, and two many third downs given up all season. Despite all that the Tide scored 31 points last night. You'd think that would have been enough to win any game the Tide played. That doesn't appear to be true anymore. At least with the talent level the Tide had on defense this season it's true.

    Cyrus K may be a first round NFL pick. I don't see it. T.J. Yeldon proved that even a gifted back can appear lackluster behind a average line. The loss of Anthony Steen hurt. The place kicking was pretty good except when it mattered most. The players and coaches gave it a hundred percent all season but the talent level just wasn't there in my opinion. The loss of so many early departures to the NFL finally brought the Tide done a notch. I hate that A.J. McCarron got torn and tattered in his final game. He is the best quarterback who has ever played football at Alabama.  In terms of ability,  character, and leadership he stands in a class with very few members. Life isn't always fair. Life wasn't fair when A.J. nearly died as a five year old.  He survived that accident.  He'll survive the Sugar Bowl game. We will not remembe him because of the bowl game. There are too many high points to recall beyone that one game.

    The coaches did perhaps their best coaching job in covering up glaring shortcomings on this team. Great isnt' always measured in undefeated seasons. I think this team played to the max of their potential. Throw in three injuries to defensive starters and you have a defense that struggled at times. The loss of Sunseri seems to have really hurt. I'd think if you were a defensive back you be looking at Alabama  as a place to get instant playing time. Some welcome news was that Hootie Jones is back in the fold for the Tide. Bama also got Tony Brown yesterday. That is another 4 and 5 star addition to an already unbelievable recruiting class.

    You have to be excited about the play of one Derrick Henry. The Florida native gave warning that next season is going to be a stunner if decent line play evolves. My guess is the line is going to be much better. Hungry young lineman won't be willing to just wait their turn. They will play, take their lumps, and then become solid players. 

     You don't replace C.J.Moseley but the Tide has more than enough to cover up for his marvelous career. Players like Rueben Foster will step forward. The quarterback sitution will be an old fashioned bar fight. Someone will emerge. The coaches will manage him and let him develop.  This was a bad ending for Alabama this season. The world is not over.  The sun came  up. I'd rather have Alabama's pool of talent than most team. For whatever reason this team seemed to run of seven cylinders instead of eight. There have been some lessons learned, perhaps the fans won't be so full of unrealistic expectations.