By Shane from Centerpoint
Alabama head coach, Nick Saban, is on a mission to resuscitate a once legendary football program. The process continues this Saturday night when the “Nictator†takes his traveling show to the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The outcome of this gridiron war should provide Crimson Tide fans with a candid outlook on whether this season will be a stepping-stone in an attempt to regain national respect or a quick revival that says to college football, “Bama’s backâ€.
Saban’s return to the Southeastern Conference last year was at best, a struggle. However, he has had another off-season and recruiting class to wipe away the stench of the pathetic attitude that permeated the Crimson Tide football program. With a very average transitional year behind him, Nick and his Tide are being presented with an opportunity to grab the spotlight when they face off with the 10th ranked Clemson Tigers.
Admittedly, the opening game of the season usually involves a multitude of mistakes. As a result, the team who makes the fewest mistakes will usually win the game. Alabama’s performance Saturday will serve as an excellent indicator pertaining to coach Saban’s ability to extract discipline, poise, and consistency from his players.
Most experts would agree that a quarterback’s performance is crucial to any offense’s continuity and overall success. Two big questions centered around that position will determine Alabama’s offensive success against Clemson: Have coach Saban and his quarterback guru, Jim McElwain, been able to re-program senior signal-caller, John Parker Wilson? Can J.P. eliminate those fatal errors and maintain his poise under fire in order to utilize Bama’s talented arsenal of weapons – which provide him with ample firepower and scoring potential. In fact, Wilson’s ability to maintain consistency will be the most important factor in determining Alabama’s offensive success against the Tigers.
Will the second edition of Nick Saban’s defense be good enough to keep pressure on Clemson quarterback, Cullen Harper – keeping him off balance and forcing him to turn the ball over? This year’s version of the Crimson Tide defense should be a better reflection of Saban’s philosophy. If the defense can confuse Clemson’s inexperienced offensive line early and limit their quarterback protection, the Tide’s front seven should be able to disrupt Harper’s rhythm and rattle him quickly. Regardless, Saban knows his defense must first prove it can shut down the tandem of Davis and Spiller – Clemson’s dynamic running backs. This game against Clemson features an abundance of talent on the Tiger offense. However, this second stanza of the complex “Sabanized†defense should be better equipped to meet the coach’s standards and create a dominant defensive personality.
Of course the game’s “wild card†is going to be which team has the better-coached special teams. Saban is a complete coach who preaches detail to the extreme and he pays close attention to every facet of football’s third phase as well. Both teams possess enormously talented return specialist, but Alabama’s Javier Arenas is a proven game-breaker. He could be a difference maker in any game.
This early season excursion to Atlanta is an excellent chance for the Crimson Tide to stomp a footprint on the minds of future opponents. A win by Alabama will only serve to enhance recruiting and perpetuate Saban’s process ahead of the expected pace. Is the Tide on the rise?
Anyway, here is my prediction for the final score: Crimson Tide 31, Tigers 21.
LARRY,
You guys better just worry about that Golden Eagle Soppin’ Syrup eatin’ your biscuits next Saturday.
The only “spread” they’re gonna be concerned with is a little sweet cream butter to smear on them biscuits!
Auburn can’t be “back” — because they never have “been there” to start with.
Ok, seriously I pick on the Aubies and they pick on us and most of it is in jest or fun. I do have a number of Auburn friends and they are good people just as most Alabama fans – with that said however, Auburn has to find a quarterback that can throw to make the spread work. Southern Miss will stack the BOX and slow down the running game and the QB will then need to throw. That is what makes the spread work. I think Auburn might be in trouble down the road if they don’t get that fixed. They be in trouble against SM but it is better to lose early than late – Auburn proved that last year.
As for the TIDE, we had a great first game but as Saban said, it is “one game” and all we can do is take them one at a time and get better and “go forward” and not fall “backward”. If we get to Novemeber and we only have a loss or two going into the Auburn game that would be a GREAT 2nd year under Saban. If we beat Auburn then it will be an AWESOME year, but we have to play them all one at a time on the field and see where we are, although it is quite obvious that getting rid of the “problem seniors” from last year and the fact that this freshmen class is a “good one”, we will be better. If we get all the players we are after in 09 then the next several years in Tuscaloosa will be bright!
RTR folks.
i don’t see any of you barnies talking any more trash since the trashing the tide put clemson….one set of tigers down….two more to go….ROLL TIDE
What I Like About Julio Jones
I don’t mean to in any way slight the Upperclassmen, but I must say that I’m particularly proud of the performance of all of the Freshmen that played Saturday.
They showed a lot of poise and maturity. They did their jobs and they didn’t make any foolish mistakes by trying to do more than they were asked to do.
There was much hullabaloo surrounding the debut of Wide Receiver Julio Jones. Little did most folks know that he would be sharing so much of the spotlight with a young Running Back from Michigan. Mark Ingram proved that he deserved to be wearing the #22 Crimson Jersey made famous so long ago by Johnny Musso.
But I digress. This post is about Julio. What impressed me even more than his diving 1st Down catch was the way he handled his first Touchdown catch in his very first college football game. He could have been forgiven if he’d drawn a penalty for celebration after that catch. Most folks would have understood if he’d done a little hotdog dance in the End-zone.
But Julio Jones is not a wiener — he is a class act. When he caught that pass and then calmly proceeded to walk over to the official and hand him the ball — that was, in my opinion, one of the best moments of the entire game.
I am proud to be a Crimson Tide football fan.
RTR!!!
We’re just waiting on Shane’s next absurd observation to fuel the fire.
Weren’t you one of the many bozo’s that proclaimed Bama to be back after blundering past Arkansas, the “moral victories” against Georgia, Florida State, LSU, MS State and Auburn as well as those stunning victories against Houston, Vandy, Ole Miss and Colorado.
MississippiBamaFan is kinda like wife=sister isn’t it?
IT’S GREAT TO BE AN AUBURN TIGER!!!
WAR “SPREAD N’ RUN” EAGLE!!!
KICK EM IN THE BUTT BIG BLUE!!!AGAIN!!!
YO, PEOPLE! “Shane’s Pain,” you’re picking on our cheerleaders? PLEASE. Didn’t your Momma teach you better? “Ballplay Indian,” no, I still say that we aren’t back, but we’re ON OUR WAY. “AuburnFan33,” I agree that defense wins championships. That’s why I said, “be glad your defense shown up.” Seriously, I realize that coming out of the gate an offense ain’t gonna show more than what they have to. However, you have to wonder why Tony Franklin was as apologetic as he was after the game. One has to think that things didn’t go as completely planned. You had your tune-up game, got the win and have some momentum going into the Southern Miss game. But BEWARE…Southern Miss can be a dangerous team to face. We Bammers know from experience what those guys are capable of; in 1981, they tied us 13-13; in 1982, they beat us 38-29. In 1990, they beat us 27-24 in the season opener and in 2000 they whipped us 21-0. Just be careful. As for ‘Bama, we need to be completely aware of the TASK AT HAND, and that’s Tulane. I know we should win but you can’t take any opponent for granted anymore! ROLL TIDE, y’all! Later.
30 yards of offense in the first half of the Tulane game. Yep,,,,Bmas back baby.
12-1, and a 36-0 beatdown of the tigers,,
Yep, I would say Bama is back.