By Michael Hicks
Tide controls its BCS destiny
The first BCS rankings came out Sunday and Alabama is sitting pretty at No.2. All the Crimson Tide must do is keep winning and the Tide will be playing in the BCS championship game January 8th. (You can read how the Tide ranks in the BCS here and in the AP here.)
Nineteen of the 20 teams to reach the BCS National Championship Game were ranked in the top 6 of the initial BCS standings.
The reaming schedule for the Tide features road games against Tennessee and LSU, and home games against Mississippi State and the Iron Bowl at the end of November followed with a possible SEC championship game. The strength of the SEC will benefit Alabama in the polls.
So far the Tide has not won with what the experts call “style points†but they are winning. They are 7-0 with key wins over Clemson and Georgia so far this season.
Penn State is close at No.3 but after this weekend’s game against Ohio State its reaming schedule is weak and Penn States does not play a conference championship game.
Recruiting News and Notes:
Tide on the rise in ESPNU top 15
Alabama is moving up in the ESPNU top 15 rankings. Alabama comes in at No.6 after a strong fall brought in some big name prospects. No.2 inside linebacker Nico Johnson, from Andalusia High School and top 20 defense tackle Darrington Sentimore are the Tides early additions that have them moving towards another top class in 2009.
Fluker rated highly
D.J. Fluker moved into the top five offensive tackles in the nation. Fluker, a Tide commit, is rated the fifth best offensive tackle by ESPN Scouts Inc. Fluker has excelled on the offensive side of the ball so far this season for Foley High School.
Richardson has big night
Tide commit Trent Richardson had a big night against Panama City Friday night. Richardson rushed for 224 yards on 12 carries and two scores. He averaged 18.7 yards a carry in the 54-0 Escambia win. Richardson also passed the 1,000 mark for the second straight season.
Recruits watch Tide win
Some High Profile recruits watched Alabama ’s win over Ole Miss Saturday. ESPNU top 150 defensive end Chris Bonds out of Columbia , S.C., and Auburn commit Montez Robinson were among some making their official visit to the Capstone.
Other recruiting items:
Tide ranked sixth by Rivals.com in the latest recruiting ratings. The Tide is ranked 12th by Scout.com.
Doug Segrest details how Nick Saban is taking control of in-state recruiting.