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. 

 
Tide makes a statement...
So much for the hurry up offense of Ole Miss

 

Bama puts the icing on the cake

    The regular football season is now one-fourth complete. It has indeed been curious crimson quarter.  It is not surprising that Alabama is 4-0. Most fans expected that to happen.  The road to a perfect start had been marked by imperfections.  Despite those three victories against Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, and Colorado State,  those wins opened up more questions than answers to Tide fans and the coaching staff. Where was Alabama team that imposed their will on opponents?  An opposing team simply cannot score 42 points against the Crimson Tide.  A Nick Saban coached team does not struggle to run the ball. An Alabama offense does not have to fight for their lives on third down.  In past seasons if  Alabama even had a third down it was a foregone conclusion that first down was just a play away.   Now,  third down became an almost lost cause.  Sure, they might be 3-0 but they were without a doubt the worst #1 ranked team in college history.  It seemed that the national media, and a lot of Tide fans, were waiting for the other shoe to drop. The national talking heads  were tired of  SEC supremacy,  and an Alabama loss would drop the team lower than a rock thrown in a deep lake.  You could almost hear the digital masses licking their chops for the loss which seemed inevitable. 


Tide turns the page... 
   

Against a cocky Ole Miss team led by a boastful quarterback, the Tide decided to change the talking points.  Alabama played like they were outrunning demons. In the end Ole Miss had scored no points. Alabama scored 25. Between the  25 and the zero a lot of questions were finally answered. If Alabama wins another national championship early next year , the Ole Miss game may be remembered as the night the team found an identity.  The defense shut down and then shut out an explosive Rebel team that had averaged 490 yards a game. The Tide defense finished  the game better than Mariano Rivera.  For the night Ole Miss had only 205 total yards.  A team averaging 27 first downs per game was held to a mere 11.  Alabama competed, dominated, and then embarrassed the Rebels. The ultimate humiliation for any offense is to give up a safety.  Bo Wallace being tackled in his own end zone was a final indignity to an offense that had more than met its match. 

    

    Once again Tuscaloosa becomes a kind of football gulag where dreams go to die. Ole Miss is better. Better isn't good enough to beat Alabama. This game shows the clear gap between Alabama and the rest of the SEC.  None of this means that Alabama will win the national championship. I'm not sure it even means the Tide will win every SEC game they play this season. It does mean that the road to any SEC championship has to go through west Alabama. This may not be the greatest Alabama football in the Saban era. The obvious point is that achieving the goals Alabama has set since the 1920's can be attained without a 'greatest' type team. In an era where scholarship reductions are supposed to equalize competition the opposite has happened. Everyone has good talent. Almost every team has a couple of great players. Not every team has Nick Saban. I admire what Hugh Freeze is trying to do in Oxford. Ole Miss is going to get better. They may  get a whole lot better. But Ole Miss, or any other team in the SEC, will never be Alabama and Nick Saban great.  Some things never change. It's Alabama and likely to be Alabama for a long time. Perhaps the saying we should use about Alabama football is "even the bad times are good, the good times are great, and the great times usual at 'Bama."

'BAMA DEFENSE SHUTS OUT OLE MISS...

Ole Miss shut down and shut out...
'Bama Defense near perfect in 25-0 win


 

    The effectiveness of the Ole Miss hurry up offense has become nothing more than a myth. The Tide defense pitched shut down the Rebels better than Mariano Rivera with a five run lead. The offense sputtered around for the first half. In the second half the much discussed Crimson running game found new life. The Tide rushed for 254 yards at 6.5 yards a rushing attempt. A lot of that was covered by a 50 yard run by Kenyan Drake. Drake looked like he was shot out of a cannon on a key fourth quarter run which sealed any hope of a time comeback. The way the Tide defense played there wasn't much of a chance Ole Miss could come back. As the game progressed the Tide got stronger on defense.  The final embarrassment to the Ole Miss offense was a safety. It was the only time the Rebels found the end zone all night. About the only offense that Rebel quarterback Bo Wallace could muster up for the game was some pretty ill-advised pregame comments. Wallace boasted that the Rebels would be able to put up points. They put up exactly two when Wallace ran into a Crimson wall trying to escape his own end zone. Once again, Tuscaloosa became the place where dreams die for SEC hopefuls.