By Michael Hicks

After Alabama 17, Kentucky 14 Nick Saban took a deep breath and just for a moment let out a smil—as his team is 6 and 0 halfway through the season.

“You can say what you want about our team,” Saban said “But I’ll betcha there weren’t very many people in this room betting that they’d be 6-0 right now.”

This is the type of game Saban likes because it was a win that came with many lessons to teach. It was not pretty at times—even the good things came with a mistake or two.

Glen Coffee ran for 218 yards, the sixth highest in Alabama history, but he also fumbled twice. A UK defender fell on the last fumble but it bounced out from under him and out of bounds and kept the drive alive.

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It seemed like every good offensive play was called back because of a penalty, UA had 10 totaling 92 yards. Leigh Tiffin missed two field goals and an extra point, but after a penalty on Kentucky he made the second chance count. When Alabama needed three points to seal the win, Tiffin nailed a 24-yarder to go up 17-7 with two minuets to go.

After the game Saban just wanted to focus on the positives, “ I’m just trying to give our team credit for what they have accomplished in the first half of the season,” he said.

On a day when John Parker Wilson only completed seven passes and had one interception the running game bailed him out that’s what championship teams do. This is the type of game that last years team may have lost their composer and lost the game—but not this year. Things just seem to go right and that is something to smile about.

10 thoughts on “New type of team has Saban smiling”

  1. I’m one of those individuals who didn’t think we’d be undefeated at this point in the season.

    I’m happy to say we are and I wish our team the very best of luck in the second-half.

    Roll Tide!

  2. I’m going to be honest after watching this “Gene Stalling Flashback” and say that I’m wondering whether we are #2. My first fear after the game was dropping in the Polls. I just think that when you come to this upper atmosphere that you must have the intensity and mental sharpness to do the deal. This was lacking. Championship Football demands that you beat the hell out of teams even when you are “tired” and looking forward to a “break”.
    Right now I would offer that we are right in the middle of the top 10 and don’t be surprised that Bama drops during the off week. Honesty folks. Do you have it ? Or you another shill ?

  3. It doesn’t matter where we are in the polls. With the rest of the schedule, if Bama wins, the polls take care of themselves. How many other teams play as many top 10 ranked teams in one season?

  4. “Championship Football demands that you beat the hell out of teams even when you are “tired” and looking forward to a “break”.”

    I recall the 1992 Championship season. It wasn’t a season of blowouts each week:

    vs. Southern Miss – 17-10

    vs. Louisiana Tech – 13-0 (This game was closer than the score would indicate.)

    vs. Tennessee – 17-10

    vs. Mississippi State – 30-21

    vs. Florida – 28-21

    You must play with intensity 100% of the time. Sometimes the opponent comes in hot and plays right back at ya.

    A win is a win — they won’t all be “pretty”. A “Championship Team” finds a way to win.

    Alabama is the only team in the top five whose opponents have a combined winning record. They are the only top five team to have defeated two top ten teams. Why does any other team outrank Alabama at this point?

    I’m no shill. I know that this could all fall to pieces on any given Saturday. But dammit man, give credit where credit is due. Enjoy the success of the Tide and hope that it continues. There’s nothing to be gained from having a negative attitude.

    RTR!!!

  5. I agree with Truecrimson A “Championship Team” finds a way to win.

    Thats what was so good about the Kentucky game last year I think they lose that game.

  6. George, again,,,,,,You are wrong. That was really Pluto…..Or was that a lame attempt at humor ? If you dont think that yall will have to score big to go to the dance……..Hold it………Oh yeah..All that is irrelevent as yall are not going to go to the SEC champ game, much less the BCS champ game.

    Never mind.

  7. BALLPLAY we will be there i grant you that.there is something special about this team and you can see it if you were a bama fan.last year this team would have blown kentucky game for sure.besides you do not go in to georgia and lead 31”’0 at half.can’t remember any team lately that done that.that was the real alabama team that night and the same one who is going to stomp a mud hole in aubbies ass 11 29 08.ROLL””TIDE

  8. Ballplay sure does know his football. Nah, Bama don’t stand a chance. All they have to do is WIN, and they won’t be left out like an undefeated Auburn team did. Another blow to worsen the Auburn inferiority complex.

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