TIDE WINS WITH DEFENSE

      Things looked a little dicey when FSU knocked 'Bama on their collective heels in scoring their first-half touchdown. Visions of De Shaun Watson danced in lot of heads. That one touchdown was the end of the Seminole dream to join the race of a college football championship. There would be no additional Seminole touchdowns. The FSU defense was ready for prime time. I'll grant them that. The FSU offense? Not so much. Jimbo Fisher had his 'Noles ready to play anyone in the NCAA except the Alabama Crimson Tide. Once again, the teacher beat the student. Once again, Saban shows the futility in trying to beat the Tide when they have an excess of time to prepare. The same could be said for almost anyone who schedules Alabama. Like it or not, the world of NCAA football has turned into the Crimson Tide prime time show and on occasion someone else manages to crash the party.

Alabama offense had its problems...

Damien Harris blocks punt

    Despite some obvious problems, the Alabama offense had enough to  manage 24-points. The defense made a lot of that possible with three second half turnovers. None was bigger than a fumble recovery after a kick-off. Those fumbles and interceptions killed the ACC powerhouse. The Tide also blocked a punt in the first half which led to a Tide field goal. That three pointer followed a picture perfect pass from Hurt to a wide open Calvin Ridley. That bomb was the result of great pass blocking, a pass with enough air under it to allow a wide open Ridley to track it down for a TD. Those two first half scores put the Tide up 10-7. For the Seminoles the lights had been turned off,  but it took a while for all of us to grasp the fact FSU wouldn't score additional points. 

    

Going into the game I think most experts were more concerned with the Tide Defense. That turned out to be wrong. The Tide defense devastated FSU. In the second half it was clear that FSU had no chance of scoring. Shaun Dion Hamilton was must named the Defensive Player of the Week. So much for his comeback. He was a one man wrecking crew. The win was costly however. The Tide has lost both Hall-Lewis and Miller for the season. Evans is questionable for a while.  Regardless, whoever steps into the void has some big shoes to fill. I bet we will find someone.

 If you need a job done, and done right the first time, contact Vance Ballard of B&B Construction, LLC. Vance has put a roof on one of my homes and it was perfect. Vance graduated from the Captone, and loves the Crimson Tide. He loves doing quality work even more. You can contact him by leaving a Facebook Message at Vance Ballard

TIDE IS SET TO BEAT THE 'NOLEs

 All joking aside, does anyone really think that FSU is going to beat Alabama tomorrow? I can tell you a lot of reasons why Alabama will win this game, but I’ll give credit to Charles Hollis, who has a singular ability to incorrectly pick college upsets, and whose disdain for Alabama is well known. Hollis picking Alabama is akin to being on the cover of Sports Illustrated as favorite to win the Super Bowl. I read his pick and immediately felt better. You should too.

  As the kickoff for the big game draws nigh, more and more of the Alabama haters come out of the woodwork. I bet ESPN even considered bringing Danny Kannell out of forced retirement to add his two cents to the argument. Of course, Alabama might lose the game. FSU is a gallant opponent. Likewise, it is possible that Georgia Southern might beat Auburn, and Don Quixote will make windfall chasing a professional sport.  Why didn’t the Tigers open with a tougher opponent? Hoover High School already had a game on their schedule.

  For the younger fans, there was once a day when sportswriters reported on sports. Now they are part of the story. All the major networks like to take their “professional staff” and divide them down the middle of an argument. They claim it makes for better coverage of the games. It gives me much needed time to mow my grass, take out the garbage, and answer some emails from posters. 

 

Pressure is on Coach Daboll

 Granted, there are legitimate questions to address regarding 'Bama. Will Brian Daboll, in his first game as offensive coordinator, allow Jalen Hurts to throw the ball downfield? Or will Saban and Daboll give in to the great temptation to run the ball as the Tide's weapon in chief? Not a bad strategy for 'Bama, but it is unlikely that three yards and the smell of burning astroturf will be enough to put away the Seminoles. FSU gave up some pretty substantial number to opposition forces last year. 'Nol fans say the gaps are fixed and most observers think that may be indeed the case. Mathew Thomas, the best defensive player for FSU missed three weeks of practice but has been cleared to play. The big time linebacker is a force. Some NFL higher ups believe that the FSU defense has the most draft choices of any NCAA team this season. So, that is the what Saturday night brings to Brian Daboll. 

 

  Can Brian Daboll be the man in his first game as offensive coordinator for Nick Saban and Tide fans? I bet is he probably can get the job done. I'm almost`

   Last season, the Seminoles gave up a ton of yards and points. They are good. They are probably really good. But I don't think that they are 'Bama good. Every season it seems the Saban is faced with early departures to the NFL, and questions arise about depth. Each season he has answered them. The ACC pundits believe their league has now surpassed the SEC in stature. I don't and I think around 10:30 PM the clock will strike midnight for another team who thought they were a princess. Instead, they are the pumpkin