'Bama finishes takes out the Gators and sets a new standard in College football...



 
   If you are going to play Alabama in the college football playoffs, here is something that might just scare you off the field. Alabama is undefeated and still hasn't played anywhere near a perfect game. One thing is certain. The college football world has fallen into two categories. Category one is the University of Alabama. Category two is anyone not in category one. Keep in mind that Nick Saban's Alabama teams have done this in an era where reduced player on scholarships was designed to level the playing field. The Tide has succeeded with an otherworldly  defense in an era where scores look more basketball than football.

    Alabama is not perfect, but perfection is not necessary for football.  Execution and hard play will do the trick. But what if Bama's offense played a better game? What if is one of those phrases that stimulate the imaginations of fans. There is no doubt that three other head coaches left standing for a run at the national championship are thinking the same thing. What if Bama's offense plays a great game? It's enough to make Urban Meyer retire a second time. It this rendition of the Crimson Tide the best team in the history of college football?  I honestly don't know the answer, but they have a chance to answer anyone questions about that statement in the very near future.

      The Tide's defense is remarkable. In an era of cheap offense, it has dominated. The defense takes great offenses and reduces them to ordinary.  I know that Michigan likes to brag about its defense. I'm sorry Blue but you have no idea. You play in a league where you conference champion is considered so bad they won't make the playoff most likely. The Tide does what it does with an offense that is like an Italian sports car. It looks good when it runs. But a long period of time passes when they look ordinary. Then suddenly they look extraordinary. Despite the fact that Jalen Hurts is a freshman the Tide always settles down to score. Fumbles and interceptions have been problematic for the offense.  The defense has kept that mistakes from being deadly. So despite slow starts the Tide offense has been afforded the time to find its feet. When the Tide offense finds its balance they look unstoppable.
    What Alabama has done is remarkable. They have gone through the season undefeated. Kudos to Western Michigan but their record doesn't reflect the difficulty of competition. Some talking heads say the SEC is down. I agree. They are down and out because Alabama robs teams of their dreams and expectation. Alabama doesn't have a program. It has a factory. Great players come to Alabama for greatness. Alabama's greatness gives many a ticket to the NFL. Scientists say that perpetual motion machines are impossible. I beg your pardon but have you guys looked at Alabama. All of you can want 'Bama in the playoffs. You really don't. Trust me on that. 

Here's a final four prediction...

 

       Now that the Chattanooga game is over and the Tide won, where does the win leave Alabama in their 17th national title run? Bottom line is that we'll know more next Saturday. 

       Everyone has an opinion. That includes me. In the end, we'll see 1. Bama 2. Ohio State 3. Clemson 4. Washington. That prediction comes gift wrapped by a stunning blowout of wannabe Louisville. The only question I had after watching that debacle unfold was how the Cardinals had lost only one game prior to last night's stomp down.

        'Bama has two games left in its bid for another championship run. (regular season)  Auburn, either the good team or the other one, is going to embarrass themselves on national television just like they did against Georgia. Then the Tide takes on Florida. Kudos to the Gators for beating LSU in Tiger Stadium. The SEC Championship will once again prove to the rest of the SEC that the Western Division is still the best. Alabama will show all concerned that the King still sits on his throne. The Tide seems to defy that bard's belief that "heavy is the head who wears the crown."  It's a process as we have come to understand. I think it's fair to assume 13 other teams in the SEC understand that as well.  I think if Alabama beats Auburn, the Selection Committee would be hard pressed not to include the Tide even if they lose in Atlanta. Look for a 3-0 finish to the "regular" season, and then two more wins after that. The safer bet is for the Tide to beat both Auburn and Florida just to be sure. Should the Tide lose to Aubie and beat Florida for the outright conference title, there would be no doubt the Tide advances. There will be a legitimate claim for the Gators to be included. The have two losses but would be SEC Champs. I don't think Florida can beat Alabama, however.

      Ohio State has been running up scores against the so-called Big Ten Opposition. Their blemish? Penn State knocked off the Buckeyes. The real question is what happens if the Nittany Lions actually win the Big Ten? Ohio State might be a much better team now, but on the one day that mattered Penn State beat them. Given the Selection groups stated desire to give deference to Conference Champs, how can Committee say "but" to the Nittany Lions?  I think in the long run it still seems like Ohio State will be somewhere in the final mix. Here's the interesting question to me. What if Penn State actually is the Conference champ and Ohio State whomps Michigan? Will the Selection group take two Big Ten teams? They could. That would be termed "talking out of both sides of your mouth". That's something the Committee has done in the past.

     Clemson is a perplexing team to me. They have a great quarterback, as all Tide fans can remember. They also have a top shelf running back who seems to have gotten lost in the shuffle. Either the Tigers have lost their hearts or their defense is just not championship caliber. If you look back some of the wins the Tigers have recorded were suspect. The close win over Troy and Auburn comes to mind. Their best win was over Louisville. Well, that's what I'd argue if I was Dabo. Bottom line is that something about the Clemson Tigers just doesn't pass the sniff test. I don't think that Clemson can beat Ohio State. Still, look for the Tigers to make the final cut.

    So that leaves one team to round out the field. Will it be Penn State or maybe Wisconsin? Will the committee take a two loss conference champion over a very good one-loss team? Or will they opt for something akin to  political correctness? My guess is that Washington will fight their way through the remainder of their games and be the PAC 12 Champion? That matchup in Seattle with Washington State could be a stunner, and surely will be one of the most interesting games on the West Coast that weekend. How did the Huskies lose to Southern Cal? The Tide beat the Trojans by almost fifty points. The Committee can justify almost anything and make some sense in doing what they decide. Whatever their decision it will stink to high hell with equal clarity.

   After watching the Huskies play the Trojans, I think Alabama could beat ring up another 50 plus points on the purple dogs. Is there going to be a one-loss team representative from the Big Ten or a two-loss Big Ten Conference Champ? I'm going to believe the Committee has backed themselves into a proverbial corner with all their impetus on Conference Champions. I thought their goal was to pick the top four teams to play for the Dr. Pepper Trophy? You can almost sense the aroma of hypocrisy brewing around the water cooler right now. We all get to sit on the fifty-yard line to hear their decision. 

"CLEAR EYES, BIG HEART, CAN'T LOSE"

ALABAMA'S WIN OVER A&M PROVES A POINT...

EDDIE JOHNSON BREAKS LEG...

TIDE WEARS DOWN THE AGGIES TO BREAK OPEN A TIGHT GAME...

Tide grabs another defensive TD in Key Moment

Call it what you may. Call it what you will. The Tide appeared to be in for the fight of their lives and then the 'Bama defense ordered another Saturday Blue Plate Special. This one was by Jonathon Allen who picked up a loose ball and rumbled past the stunned Aggie offense, and carried it into the end zone. What had been an A&M 14-13 lead was gone. The then systematically eviscerated a great effort by the Texas Aggies and sent them home with their first loss of the season. The final was 33-14 but for two and one half quarters it was much tighter than that. The Tide fans got a scare whether or not they want to admit it. Tip of the hat to Kevin Sumlin and his team for bringing the fight to the Tide. Kudos for Alabama. For the Crimson Tide this one was right out of FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS. Clear eyes, a big heart, can't lose certainly applied to this one. There seems to be something special about this year's Tide team. They won this one by 19 and didn't play anywhere near their best game, but still won the game. For those who scoffed at the 18 spread this one is exhibit A in why Vegas always wins. 

Red Zone Woes...

Tide bogged down in the red zone...

      You have to admire a team which was giving a game away in the red zone, but who eventually figured out how to win. Alabama could have put this one away early. The Aggies stopped the Tide inside the ten three times. Once again the Tide place kicking missed a chip shot. Adam Griffin is just having a bad year. That's two he missed that were easy opportunities. Just for the record he did hit the uprights from 53 yards. A five yard penalty would have made the next one 58 yards. He had enough leg on the first attempt to make one from 58 but 'Bama decided to take it safe near the end of half one. Bama better think about their blocking and play calling inside the red zone. Clearly, Lane Kiffin didn't let Jalen throw to the inside. 

     The  team needs to understand that LSU and now Auburn are big time opponents who think they'll beat 'Bama this morning. Alabama fans are looking at the 'net this morning and saying Auburn did what? The LSU Tigers put away a game but fading Ole Miss Rebel team in Baton Rouge. Final in that one was 38-21.The lesser Tiger beat the Razorbacks 56-3. Alabama is now the only undefeated school in the SEC with an 8-0 record. They would have a tie breaker in their favor should they lose to either of the Tiger teams. Don't look for that to happen. This is an entirely different type of team. I don't see any Tiger running backs popping the Tide defense for 284 yards. Leonard Fournette might be the best player in the SEC, but he won't repeat his performance against 'Bama. 

JACKSON GONE FOR THE SEASON...

     

 I hate it. Jackson was a team leader (which he will continue to be) and a great safety. Eddie left the stadium to a standing ovation and hearing the chant of Eddie, Eddie, Eddie. A sad ending to a great career. Jackson is loved and he will sorely missed. Hootie  Jones will get to try his hand against the State that hates him, Louisiana. He isn't Eddie Jackson but he'll play well. I also believe the Tide staff is going to look at exactly how they want to reshuffle the line up in the next week. Jackson was tackled high and hard. His leg got tangled up in the fall and a great career comes to an startling end. He will be missed, and Bama coaches will make some positions decisions early next week. Hootie Jones a great player but doesn't have the experience of Jackson. He is next in line. 

Howard gets more looks against the Aggies... 

Howard against LSU last season...

    O.J. Howard was Bama's leading receiver with 8 catches. It is the first time number 88 has been the man on receptions since his stunning performance against Clemson in the National Champion Game last season. Howard moved around the entire game by Kiffin, and the movement paid off. Jalen Hurts found him time and time again for some key yards to keep the chains moving. I'd look for him to stay involved for the remainder of the season. Howard's blocking goes largely unnoticed, but he has turned into a great blocker on the edge. He is also the type of player how makes big plays in big games. The more passes he catches will open up the vertical throws to Calvin Ridley and Adarius Stewart downfield. Stewart has been a budding star this season. Ridley has been effected by the limitations that Kiffin places on Hurts. He will strike sooner or later. He's a big time player who loves the big games like LSU and Auburn. 

Final thoughts...

    Jalen Hurts played a great game. Given his competition he had the best game of any Quarterback in the SEC. He made some excellent reads feeding the ball to his running

Jalen Hurts played big time ball in a big game.

backs, and made two exceptional runs against the Aggies late in the game. His 37 yard TD in the fourth quarter was one of the best runs I've seen by a Tide quarterback. He gave up two interceptions but was under a lot of pressure. Once again the Tide offensive line showed great play, but also showed some lapses which cost the Tide in the red zone and contributed to a couple of picks. 

    Damien Harris had another 100 yard game. The quiet kid from Kentucky isn't build like some of the great backs of late at the Capstone. He just finds the hole and runs like his hair is on fire. He can also move the pile with his lower body. Alabama has three great running backs each with a slightly different skill set. 

    I'd give the game ball to the Alabama defense for their uncanny way of finding ways to stop their opponent and score touchdowns. But you can't over look the play of freshman Jalen Hurts either. Give him the offensive game ball once again. 

      

LIGHT 'EM UP BOYS...

TEN YEARS AND COUNTING

'BAMA IS THE YEARLY EMBARRASAMENT FOR 'VOLS

 

No, Bama doesn't take the axe on the field.

   Back in the day, Tennessee and Alabama was the game. When I was younger the Tennessee game was more important than Auburn. That was because the Tigers always got beaten by the Tide. That game days was smooth sailing for Alabama, but stormy weather for Auburn. The Tennessee rivalry was intense but rationale. The Auburn game has brought fans of both schools to the level of Trump vs. Clinton. 

    Coach Bryant would say the the Tennessee game defined your season and your manhood. Things change. Some programs lose ground, while others ascend to heights not yet explained. Arguably, Tennessee took its best team in a decade and lost 49-10. It was a kind and gentle destruction. The Tide left at least 14 points on the turf, or the score would have been outrageous. Now that I think about it the outrageous status fits. The might Tennessee offense was held to a measly 2.6 yards per play. That is brutal defense. The 'Vols, to their credit, had no turnovers, and played as well as they could. It wasn't enough, not nearly enough and Tennessee's famed Rocky Top is once again invisible because of the cigar smoke emanating from the Tide's locker room. 

    Tennessee will go back to the corner and lick their wounds and realize how far they are from being a great team. 'Bama has a way of doing that to opponents.  The 'Vols are officially the yard dog living in the backyard of the Crimson Tide. Here's how dominate the Tide is in today's game. The best Auburn wins are denominated by terms like Punt 'Bama punt and Pick six. Tennessee likes to recall Peyton Manning leading the band after one 'Vol win. If Alabama could be defined by some catchy little verse it might be We ground you up like hamburger meat and we'll be back next season. That is who the Tide is in today's world of football. That's who they were dating back to the Penn game in early 1900's. The Tide beat so many West Coast teams in the Rose Bowl the selection committee entered into an agreement with Big Ten for an annual showdown between league champions. Alabama would have beaten either of those Champs. We know that, the committee knew that, and the world knew that the Pac10 and Big Ten knew that. 

    Will 'Bama beat Texas A & M? It's highly likely. Will the Tide win the SEC Championship? Who'd bet against them. Will they beat National Champions. I'll not vote against them. It is possible, but not probable, that the Tide will finish the regular season undefeated. The Crimson has yet to play their best game. I suspect we might see it this upcoming weekend. The Tide, under Nick Saban, seems to have a knack for getting better and better as the year goes along. Alabama has dodged the injury reports thus far. That is not good for any opponent remaining on the Tide schedule. As long as Bama can continue its great defense I like them over the Aggies. Keep this in mind - Both Alabama's offense and defense out scored the 'Vols on their own field. There were 104,000 "hillbillies" screaming the heads off, or as freshan QB Jalen Hurts might say - "I didn't notice them." Roll Tide

TIDE WINS #16 THE OLD FASHIONED WAY, THEY EARNED IT

       Clemson is an excellent football team that played its absolute best game of the year. If you want to know the difference between the two teams, here it is. Alabama didn't play anywhere near its best game of the year and still found a way to win. Clemson almost won because they played a great game. Alabama won because they made great plays. The Crimson Tide had so many explosive plays I thought the roof might blow off the University of Phoenix Stadium. While it appeared that Clemson quarterback was the brightest star on the field, it was an underutilized junior tight end named O.J. Howard who became a supernova. Five times Jake Coker found his tight end open and two times Howard was dancing in the endzone. The real Hard Luck Kid, Kenyan Drake,  returned a kickoff 95 yards for his biggest touchdown as a Crimson Tider. It was a combination of skill and flat-out speed. It also was a message about never giving up. 

            The other kickoff play that mattered was a chip shot kick from Adam Griffin to Marlon Humphry. That wasn't an onsides kick. It was a designed play. It didn't require a crazy bounce or one bit of luck. Griff kicked the ball at a precise spot and Marlon Humphrey caught the ball in the air. We may never see another play like that one in our lifetime.  It took a lot of guts for Saban call the play, but the Tide knew it could work. It did, and the direction of the game changed. The momentum flipped a light switch and the evening got a lot brighter for Alabama. 


GREAT PLAYS BEAT A GREAT PLAYER

       In the last post, I suggested that DeShaun Watson would make a lot of good plays, but he wouldn't make enough. That's what happened.  For all the accolades afforded Watson, and he deserves them, it was Jake Coker who walked off the field as the winning quarterback. Let's not forget that. It was remarkable watching Coker progress from where he started last season to where finished his career is storybook stuff. He was this season's Blake Sims plus a better ending. I doubt anyone predicted the number of points scored. What most thought would be a wrestling match turned into a track meet. It ended up a great night for 'Bama and for Clemson as well.  And once again, the Tide coaching staff under Nick Saban, adapted and continued to win. I'm not talking Birmingham Bowl stuff. I'm talking NCAA College Football Championship stuff. Four titles in seven years may never happen again in my lifetime. You think five in eight years is possible? With Alabama, it's all possible.

CLEMSON IS AN SEC TEAM STUCK IN THE ACC

           Clemson is an SEC type team playing in the ACC because crimson blood runs deep in Dabo Sweeny. Sweeny had his team well prepared, and he a had a superstar at quarterback. That's a deadly combination. Despite all the talk about Alabama being able to handle the dual threat that Watson brought to the table, they couldn't shut him down;  but they slowed him down enough to win. In the long run, the Crimson Tide had enough defensive talent to tip the scales. What a luxury for teams like Clemson and Florida State to have such little competition within their conference. As long as Sweeny coaches at Clemson, you can count on the Tigers returning to the playoffs at some point the future. Alabama doesn't have that advantage. The SEC is a tough conference. Kudos to the entire SEC for winning nine out of eleven post season games. 

A long run fulfilled

        It would be unfair to say that winning the National Championship was uneventful. Alabama played for its life after the Ole Miss game. They never wavered, they never panicked, they didn't rely on luck in their run to the flag. They did it the old-fashioned way, they earned it. The Tide won it in the trenches and with a stout running back named Derrick Henry. They won because a couple of freshmen turned into great receivers, and throw in one old head from Oregon State to give them time to develop. They won because of quarterback who turned the team's season around even as he turned his personal season around as well.  They won it in the final game because the Tide used a little used tight end with so much talent and speed the Tigers had no answer. Coaching, talent, and heart were the hallmarks of #16. This national championship is one where it was a team effort. Saban said so, and I believe it. 

CLEMSON WILL SOON UNDERSTAND BAMA

ALABAMA IS READY...



    It's always the last team standing isn't it?  Only one team can be National Champion. Regardless of the method chosen to pick the winner, only one team gets to walk away saying "we are the man". It is hard to look at the auspicious list of teams who have won that trophy, and not see that one team is mentioned most. The name Alabama stands out from all the others. In the State of Alabama, we have two things - we have millions of nice people, and we have college football. There is not a lot in between according to national polls. In our State, there is only one poll that matters. We all know which one it is.  We may not be the richest, most educated, or even progressive State, and sadly, the rest of the United States sometimes laughs at us. They don't laugh at us about our football, however. Alabama is the gold standard for college football whether they win or lose on Monday night. My bet is they win, make half the State happy and the other understanding how much they have to improve to be like Bama.  That would be a galaxy far, far away as the movies say. 


      Most football programs have about as much in common with Alabama as winning the lottery. Since Nick Saban arrived in Alabama, I have never seen an Alabama team beaten. The Tide might lose because of turnovers, fluke plays, and what can only be described as a miracle.  No one has physically beaten the Tide. Let me put it another way. If Alabama played the same team that won a game against them, the Tide would be favored if the two teams played again next week. And Bama would win.

       I tip my hat to the Clemson Tigers. I salute Dabo Sweeny and admire DaShaun Watson's talent. Gentlemen, get ready for you are about to buried alive by the Crimson Tide. Think about this for a moment - the only undefeated team in the NCAA is now an eight-point underdog. I don't think eight is enough. Alabama is the most focused team I've ever had the honor of watch play football.  Tide players beat Michigan State and when asked about that game, to a man the answer was, we still have one game to play. 

      This blog today is not about numbers, statistics, or comparable scores. A Crimson Tidal Wave is coming to wash Clemson away. Our players are warriors. They don't have a gimmick offense; they don't use trick plays. They line up and look you in the eye, and to let you know the Tide is about to trample you into a distant memory. So to all the trash talking Clemson players and fans you will soon understand what we mean. As fans and players say in Bama - you are about to be processed

TIDE'S VICTORY OVER MICHIGAN STATE JUST ANOTHER DAY AT THE OFFICE...       

          
     

Coker has proven his critics wrong

 Gene Stallings recently said that six or seven SEC teams could beat Michigan State. I'm not a football coach but except for TAM, I'd have to agree with his assessment if Coach was talking about the SEC West. That does nothing to diminish the power of the Alabama win over State. We have to understand the complete pounding inflicted by the Tide on the Spartans to put it all into perspective. The Selection Committee did their best job in putting together the Final Four teams. I'm not saying that Alabama made the Selection Committee look foolish, but rather, it was the absolute dominance of the Alabama football team. The Tide defense took the eleven offensive players of State and made them look like a second rate junior varsity team. It was a whipping of monumental proportions. 38-0 is one of those scores that indicate that Michigan State wasn't the fourth best team in the nation. Or perhaps it is one of those scores that indicate that Alabama is the best team in the NCAA by the widest of margins. I'd put my money on the widest of margin theory. I think that's where the smart money will find a home. If you believe that Alabama's defense was overwhelming, you've got to give some strong praise to an offense that scored 31 points. Even the Tide's special teams outscored the Spartans.

Clemson is excellent  

      None of this means that Clemson isn't a good team. They won the ACC Championship and then beat Oklahoma. They aren't chopped liver. They have a great quarterback and two excellent running backs who often play in tandem. I'm can't remember us playing a duel threat quarterback as good as Clemson's. Their defense is flat out tough. A lot of talk among the analysts is that this is the quarterback that will beat the Tide. I think those same analysts are going to understand soon that Alabama has re-tooled to beat those quarterbacks. I have no doubt their quarterback will get in his licks, however. He's a tremendous talent. Players of his caliber always make some plays. Clemson may pile up some yardage. They won't pile up enough to win in my opinion.

TIDE SEEMS TO BE READY FOR THE FINAL STEP

 

   I think that the Tide is on the cusp for #16. Who would have thought, with the quarterback issues the Alabama staff faced, that making it to the national championship game was a possibility? Not only did the did lose Blake Sims but they also saw their two top pass receivers go to the NFL. The offensive line had to find three new starters. The Tide staff and players fixed all those problems. 

        This year's team might be the most unlikely championship that Alabama has ever had a chance to win. My guess is that the Tide is going to win on the 11th. I could be wrong. Perhaps Clemson is a team looking destiny square in the eye. Alabama is just looking at the same thing that the Tigers see. The difference? Alabama doesn't need fate or destiny to carry the day. Alabama creates its own.  Bama by 14.

   

         Gene Stallings recently said that six or seven SEC teams could beat Michigan State. I'm not a football coach but except for TAM I'd have to agree with his assessment. That does nothing to diminish the power of the Alabama win over State. We have to understand the complete pounding inflicted by the Tide on the Spartans to put it all into perspective. The Selection Committee did their best job in putting together the Final Four teams. I'm not saying that Alabama made the Selection Committee look foolish, but rather, the absolute power of the Alabama football team. The Tide defense took the eleven offensive players of State and made them look like a second rate junior varsity team. It was a whipping of monumental proportions. 38-0 is one of those scores that indicate that Michigan State wasn't the fourth best team in the nation. Or perhaps it is one of those sscres that indicate that Alabama is the best team in the NCAA by widest of margins. I'd put my money on the widest of margin theory.