Saban to leave Bama?

rumors push ratings...

     Mike and Mike in the mornings?  How about Mike and Mike in the land of make believe? Remember the days when sports reporters actually reported sports? Now, many reporters push themselves to be the story. It has long been my personal belief that any reporter who will not reveal a source should not be allowed to spread rumors as news. It's not like sports are on the level of Watergate. If I have someone who gives me information and doesn't want his or her name divulged it puts you in a tough spot. What I do (if I believe they have told me the truth) is to give the reader some direction of where I got the information. For example, if an assistant coach gives me some inside information it is easy to say "someone close to the player or the program". That gives the reader an understanding of where the information might come from. Close to the program or player might mean coach, the player himself, a trainer, a mom or dad. Sometimes it might be a girlfriend, or teacher. I'll tell who it never will be. Someone who says they no something but can't tell we who or how they learned a fact.

       After reporting on basketball recruiting do you have any idea how many people I've met. Literally, that means hudreds of coaches, assistant coaches, and players. Of course, you have to remember that often someone tell me something to see what the public reaction might be. The other day I had a person tell me that they knew for a fact that Rueben Foster had flipped to 'Bama. Hey, that's a big story. When I pressed him for details he said "I promised not to reveal". You can forget that. If a coach tells me the same thing,  I write about it. I am not saying that any player is flipping to Alabama and that needs to be made perfectly clear.

        Nick Saban to Cleveland and the Browns? It's someone pushing a rumor, a falsehood, or whatever society calls lies and liars these days they should be called out. . You could name thousand reasons why Nick Saban would not leave Alabama. If you could name a million more reasons for Sabin to stay at Bama, some broadcasters would spread a lie to improve their ratings. Mike and Mike in Morning is merely a lie from two has  beens and wanna be's.  That's the real story here,and it is one that will never find it's way to the news or airwaves.

Cooper in a freshman league of his own...

copper has given alabama the offensive balance they need...
is there a better receiver in the sec?

     One by one the Alabama wide outs starting falling. DeAndrew White, Chris Black, and finally Kenny Bell. When Bell broke his leg against Auburn it placed Cooper in awkward position. No longer would he get the single coverage the coaches anticipated. Bell was the speed burner that Alabama used to get behind defensive backs. Cooper responded with his top performance of the season. It included two spectacular plays - the winning touchdown on a bomb from McCarron. The other was out leaping all conference Biccari  Rambo on jump ball. It was the best catch an Alabama made all season long. The play was so superlative that Gary Daniels and Vern Fleming were finally and thankfully rendered speechless. I know that Johnny Football just won the Heisman but he isn't any better at his position than Amari Cooper. Not only can Cooper go deep, he'll go across the middle without fear for a possession catch. He can also get the wide out screen and create yardage out of nothing. Blink or look the wrong way and Cooper is long gone. Cooper has given Alabama a passing game that cannot be ignored. He has become MCarron's go to receiver.


great hands and he can fly...

     Cooper runs precise routes and has soft hands. The kid can fly. You have to admire his use of catching the ball with his hands, and not always against his chest. All Alabama receivers are taught how to catch the ball with their hands.  This is one reason why Tide wide outs drop so few passes.  Cooper is going to be on the biggest stage in college football. I have no doubt he'll play a starring role. One thing is certain - if Cooper has a bad night, then Alabama might have long night. I'm betting he has a good night. The play action pass thrown vertically down field is becoming a big part of the Tide's offensive arsenal. Cooper and Christian can catch anything thrown their way, and McCarron is the delivery system. For the season Cooper's numbers are impressive. 53 receptions for 895 yards, and he's just a freshman. But he doesn't play or act like a freshman. He plays like a senior. I get the feeling that when the game is on the line Amari Cooper wants to be a major part of the action. How good is Cooper. He's so good that Alabama builds their passing attack around him. To think about Jones, Norwood, Bell, Black, and Cooper on the same team is exciting. When you throw Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon in the mix you are talking about more offensive firepower than we believe possible. Now consider, the Crimson Tide's offenisve line. You think Alabama is going to lose to Notre Dame? Fat chance.

Heisman goes to Johnny Football

how do you determine the best player in america?
sec wins the award once again...

     There is no way to ever pick the best football player in the NCAA. I'm always happy for whoever wins, and sometimes disappointed  when a favorite player doesn't.  To be selected is something that I cannot even imagine. How can you compare a linebacker to quarterback? The obvious answer is that you can't compare the two. I honestly think the Heisman rarely goes to the best player in America.  RGIII better than Trent Richardson? Not in my mind. Is Johnny Manzeil the best football player in America.? And he'll be wearing that Bulls eye on his back next season. Opposing coaches will be better prepared. Alabama looked lost in the first quarter against him. They Aggies only scored nine point in the last three. I wonder if Manzeil would have won if Alabama scored and won the game? I doubt it very much. The memory of that game would  have been the comeback of Alabama and not the start of Texas A&M.  

 

       Johnny Manzeil is unique. I've heard the phrase lighting in bottle all my life. Now I know exactly what that means. Lightning in a bottle is some kid from Texas who looks like a pin ball bouncing off the walls.  Will he be the first four time winner of the Heisman. Probably not. It really doesn't matter who the best player in America. It's the idea that someone could be named  the best player in the NCAA despite the flaws involved in the voting system. It is great symbolism.  If you watched Johnny on the stage in New York it was hard not to cheer for him. What about Manti T'eo? Talk about a heartbreaking story. It makes you want t go give him a hug and express your thanks for such a profile in courage. Collin Klein wasn't going to win. He didn't have the Golden Dome's press machine behind him. He wasn't lightning in a bottle. He was the Rock of Gilbrater. He is Tim Tebow with real talent and none of the drama queen stuff. If any of these guys won it could have been supported by facts. I think the Bama game won that Trophy for him. He had great stats before and after. T'eo seemed to be walking on the yellow brick road until he lost. Collin was relaxed. He probably knew he wasn't going win but don't you know that somewhere deep in heart was thinking "maybe".

 

      One untold story needs to me mentioned. This is America. We are the greatest country in world in my opinion. Our diversity is what makes us so flexible and adaptable. Those characteristics are what makes us great. Last year a young black man with dreadlocks won the award. This year a young white a young white man won.  Both are from Texas, but both come from different worlds. It shows me the voters may be bias in someways as the vote, but in more important ways there is no bias.  Man, is this a great country or what?

 

     

     Back to Tider Insider

heart of a champion

a look back at the sec championship...
some things we should all remember

       Now that some time has passed since the SEC Championship game I thought it was time look back at some of things we viewed. This was Alabama football at its best. It was an afternoon where four raised fingers symbolised what Tide football is all about. I don't know how or where to rank this game in terms of great Alabama wins. It certainly deserves our attention because of all the moments where the Tide fought back like a champion.

1. The Team Leaders stepped up and made the difference. Barrett Jones played through a painful injury that required the use of crutches after the game. He could have quit during the game but didn't. Jesse Williams was double-teamed on almost every play. As if that wasn't bad enough he suffered a knee injury. With Williams out of the line Gurley ran with great success. . Williams iced his knee down and sucked it up, and when he returned the Dawgs were put on a leash. Eddie Lacy was hurt. His return to questionable. His injury has yet to be publicly disclosed, but Lacy trotted back on the field and along with T.J. Yeldon ran roughshod over the Georgia defense. He had over 180 yards before the game was over. A.J. McCarron was patient and bided his time. When the moment was right he used a play action pass to beat the Bulldogs.  Robert Lester kept the defensive backfield together when things got tough. He'll be missed.
2. New leaders emerged for Alabama. Amari Cooper isn't going to be at Alabama for more than three years, but he showed that freshmen can lead. He has become the prime target in the passing game.T.J. Yeldon is well... amazing. Before he is finished at the University, he is going to have an S on his jersey. When he was able to talk with the media since his freshman season was officially over, he deferred saying instead the night belonged to the seniors. Where does Saban find these guys?
3. You can't teach an old dog new tricks. The Tides ace in the hole is running the football. In an era of cheap thrills and non-existent defenses, the Tide is a throw back to old time football. Saban has shown the nation that Alabama can roll up their sleeves and go to work the old fashioned way. What 'Bama chooses to do on defense and offense is not really a trick  - it is in your face and be a real man football. Alabama is the Rock of college football.

      Do I think Alabama will be Notre Dame?  Does an Indian beat a drum?  You give Nick Saban 5 weeks to prepare for anyone you are probably beat. The pressure is on the Irish. The world is hoping Notre Dame beats us. How much better can it get than that for all of us Swamp Rats? I admire Georgia for the play. The better team  won. This could have been a blowout if Bama had eliminated some mistakes. Sometimes greatness is measured not when things are going well. Perhaps they are best measured when things are looking grim. I know that Notre Dame has the Golden Dome and Football Jesus. That dome is going to be torn down, and if Jesus makes an appearance it will be to heal the pain of the Irish players when Bama walks off the field.


Bamabasketball.net click here

Back to TiderInsider

 

And the beat goes on in Lee County...

malzhan named new auburn head coach...
same old same old for the Tigers...

Coach Malzhan was the unanimous choice
to lead the Auburn Tigers next season

             And some Alabama fans were worried about who the next head coach might be. Gene Chizik = Gus Malzhan = the same old song, just a new verse for Auburn. Let me be the first to say how happy I am that Kirby Smart is not going to Auburn. He may go somewhere but not to the Plains. 

 

           In a somewhat shocking statement Auburn named Gus Malazhan as the "unanimous" selection for their next head coach. I'm sorry that just isn't the truth. It is more likely that Malzhan was the only unanimous choice the board could agree on after the Petrio blood letting had coagulated. However, it is not unusual for a group to come together in a show of unity after a bitter fight on a candidate. Let me say this - I think Malzhan was the "peoples choice" for the job. Perhaps this will bring some happiness for the Auburn fans who have genuinely suffered after at 3-9 season. All this makes me wonder why the Tigers didn't select Malzan in the beginning. Gene Chizik brought a national title to the Plains, but the Board of Trustees hope that Gus can bring something needed even more - peace of mind.

 

        Malzhan was the offensive coordinator behind the 2010 Auburn BCS National Championship. Behind the multi-talented Cam Newton, the Tigers used the Malzahn offense with great success. Whether it will work with the same success with someone like Jonathon Wallace. Wallace ran a similiar offense in high school. So did Keihl Frazier, who was given the opportunity to win the AU starting job this season. Frazier didn't win, neither did Clint Mosely.

 

           Malzhan was head coach at Arkansas State this past season where the school enjoyed a 9-3  record.  No immediate details regarding his salary or future of current assistants has been released at this time. Reactions to his hiring were mixed, but many AU fans are happy to see him named as head coach. More as details are available.

Tide Wins a Classic over Georgia 32-28

Rammer Jammer down their throats...

A grown man and a full load...

 Atlanta, Ga. -   The highly touted Alabama offensive line rolled up their sleeves, took names, and knocked the upset minded Georgia Bulldogs on their collective rear ends. In a game where Georgia bared their teeth for four quarters, the Crimson Tide showed the Dogs that an elephant never forgets. In this case they didn't forget the running game. The Tide returned to a vicious ground game behind running of Eddie Lacey and T.J. Yelding. Time after time the offensive line opened up gaping holes for the two backs.  A.J. McCarron didn't play his best game, but he saved his absolute best for a play action pass to freshman Amari Cooper which covered 45 yards,  and into the lore of Alabama Championship Football. That touchdown gave Alabama the 32-28 victory.  The Tide ran the ball against a great Georgia defense, which according to Dawg defensive back Ricardo Rambo, said was man for man better than Alabama for 350 fifty yards. I had to wonder what Rambo thought when Eddie Lacey leveled him on a 32 yard gallop in the third quarter. Perhaps he has rethought his earlier position by this time.

 

 

effort, effort, and finally a win

 

 

        You cannot say enough about the effort of Alabama. After Georgia blocked a third quarter field goal, and returned it for a TD, and a 21-10 lead it might have been over. Alabama wouldn't  quit. They doubled down on their game plan of running the ball and wore down a gallant Georgia defensive into submission. You have to admire Georgia as well. They got the breaks, won the kicking game, ran the ball with authority, and Bama still beat 'em. Bama gave the Dawgs a chance to win and took it away. Aaron Murray had one last drive but it fell short on the Tide four yard line as time expired. We have seen games that have left the losing quarterback in tears, and have watched a defensive back snare a pick to return it for a heart stopping win, but we have never seen anything like this game.  This was a game that saw D.J. Flucker jump up and down with anger at his team's effort. It was game that had more ups and down the roller coaster over at Six Flags. It was one of the best games in SEC history.

 

 

game for the ages in SEC...

 

        The game was an all timer. It is one of those games you tell your grandchildren about. I'm very serious to say it was a honor just to watch those two great teams slug it out. Just when America thought their fondest desires of not seeing Alabama hanging around a BCS Championship game for the last time, the Crimson came back. They didn't do it with flash and dash. They did it down and dirty in the trenches. They did it yard by yard. They won the game where the big ones played. In the end the five offensive linemen of Alabama grabbed the SEC crown. Barrett,Steen, Fluck, Kouandjio, and Williams dominated the game in a way you rarely see in college football today. With all the run and gun the offenisve line play has lost its importance to the fans. This was a day that Bear Bryant would have loved.

shake up the echos...

 

 

       Alabama fans just don't like Notre Dame. It all goes back to a day when the Irish vaulted over much superior Alabama teams to be voted #1. The days of a team jumping five spots over a higher ranked teams are over. Now it will all be settled on the field. The Irish and Alabama are probably the two top football programs in college pigskin history. This upcoming national championship game will set records for the most watched game in college history. To football fans this is a match made in heaven. In the world of television and advertising this is a game made in the board rooms all across America. We've seen a lot of "greatest games in college history".  They come and they go. This one might actually be that game.

      The Notre Dame fight song is football world famous. It contains the phrase 'wake up the echos'. If Notre Dame fans watched this game the those Irish echos might more shaken than awakened. The national championship game will be a big stage. A lot of Alabama players will be playing in their third championship game. This has been a magical season for a Notre Dame. The Irish had dropped off the relevancy map of college football. This season they weren't ranked in the top 25 when the year began. They have ascended to number one.  Now I happen to be one of those fans who respect Notre Dame. If you look at their history you almost have to respect them. I can't think of a single team I'd rather see us play for the Crystal Football. I don't think Notre Dame will be able beat Alabama with a redshirt freshman quarterback.  This may not be Alabama's best defensive team under Saban, but it is still the best defense in college football. 

amari cooper in class of his own...

    McCarron to Cooper is starting to sound like one of those sports phrases we'll remember for a long time. Cooper, a true freshman, has electrified the SEC with his speed and great hands. He pulled in the winner from McCarron like he was out to practice. Earlier in the game he out jumped Rambo for another long game. Rambo had a tough night. Evidently, his mouth is more talented than his playing ability. I bet he's seen all the Crimson and White he cares to see for a while. Cooper has become the go to guy to Alabama. In the absence of Kenny Bell he has stepped up his game even more. The talented and still red shirted Chris Black didn't have to play because of Coopers ability to get open and create yardage after a catch. Of course, running for 350 helped the recievers.

     With 3:15 left in the game and the Tide behind by 3, Cooper pulled in a crimson bullet from A.J. McCarron and the Tide had the final margin of victory. The last 3:15 was full of great plays and more drama than I can describe. I'll save that for another blog.

    back to TiderInsider

 

Alabama's Offensive Line was my MVP

of the Game.

 

 

 

Final Toughts...

been their, done that, got several tee shirts...

         Alabama's consistency and coaching is going to enough to whip the pudge off the Georgia Bulldogs. I keep listening to all these talking keeps on television who say that Georgia more talent than Alabama. Excuse me ladies, but what games have you been watching or have you been hanging around with the Honey Badger on a few too  many sell runs to his favorite customers?  I understand the hatred and the national need for fans to see the Tide lose. You know what? I love it. I love the fact that everyone else in America, except on small group of television executves, that need to see Alabama get beat. You think TV wants to see Notre Dame play Georgia for the Crystal. We all know that Georgia found themselves in this lofty position despite Mark Richt. He's a great guy. Pehaps this game will give him a chance to shake off the stigma of a choker, but don't count on that. Count on Alabama grinding and executing the Dawgs to a slow and agonizing death.

       Look for Kirby Smart to have come up with more blitz packages than we've ever seen. Eddie Lacey is going for 100 yards+. I think Nick Saban is going to let the offensive coordiantor use a little more imagination that before. We're going to come out with an unbalanced line or something similiar to throw off the Dogs early. We might bet beat but Georgia is not going to be able to pound Alabama to grits. On the other side of the coin it is possible that Bama can do just that. Eddie Lacey looks 100%.  He's like ominous thunder with his running style. Throw in lighting in the form of T.J. Yeldon and you have a deadly combo at the running back. Then you have the most underrated quarterback in college football in A.J. McCarron. I don't get the deal with Mc. All he does is win. And this afternoon I strongly believe he'll win one more.

      Despite how much America wants to see the Tide lose they probably won't. And then you have to wonder if an Alabama vs. Notre Dame national championship game might be the most watched televised game since black and white tv? I think it will. Am I being a dyed in the wool Alabama fan? Absolutely. I have no Texas A&M feeling about this one. I am giving you an honest opinion. Absolutely. Can you do both? Absolutely.  Is Alabama going to win this game? Positively. Is it going to be a one side affair? Nope. But only one thing matters and that is being ahead be one single point. And that, my friend, is a the same thing as a rout. Bama has made this journey several times. They understand what it takes, and they know how to do get it done. If Georgia wins it will be cause the talent on the Georgia team is so much greater than Alabama that it can overcome that plus Nick Saban and Kirby Smart. I've go reservations for the National Championship. You need to do the same thing as well.

I still say Bama 24-17.

Bamabasketball.net - the Cincinnati game