AJ's boot

AJ McCarron showed up in Atlanta wearing a protective boot, and Twitter exploded. ESPN broke in with stories on the footwear, and virtually every news outlet made the boot a story.

I had a close friend hit me up for information while refusing to hear the truth of the situation.

Him: “AJ showed up in Atlanta wearing a boot (Twitter pic attached)

Me: “It’s nothing. He had an ingrown toenail procedure on Monday and it’s just for comfort.

Him: “Yeah right. My son had that done and he wasn’t in a boot.”

Me: “Your son isn’t the starting quarterback for the two-time defending national champion.”

Him: “It’s gotta be more than an ingrown toenail.”

Me: “He had it done, then had to immediately practice on it all week. It’s probably uncomfortable and they’re just resting his foot.”

Him: “No, it has to be more.”

Nervous nellies like my friend, and millions just like him hoping for an injury to one of Bama’s main cogs to success in 2013 (or dreading it) will be disappointed today when McCarron suits up, plays every snap and throws for 250+ yards with 3 touchdowns.

The boot, and toenail, are a non-story.

But then, when you’re talking about college football’s #1 wrecking ball, the Alabama Crimson Tide, you have to look for stories within stories to give yourself hope that there’s a chink in the armor.

Not today. Virginia Tech will offer intensity for the first quarter and a half, and Logan Thomas will challenge the Bama defense to spread the field and defend the talented QB runner. But the Hokies will quickly find themselves in the deep end of the pool with the neighborhood bully bearing down on them.

Virginia Tech was the last non-SEC opponent to lead Alabama going into the fourth quarter, dating back to the beginning of the 2009 season. Don’t look for that to happen today, however. It’s more likely AJ McCarron’s boot walks itself out of the locker room and onto the playing surface for a little soft shoe performance at midfield.

ITK prediction
Alabama 37
Virginia Tech 13

In other games
The fighting Dabo’s edge Georgia in a shootout, but afterward Bulldog fans talk about how close they came to being 1-0.

Georgia 34
Clemson 37

Flighty Washington State head coach Mike Leach watches the original Pirates of the Carribean movie in pregame on his iPad, completley forgetting to prep his Cougars for battle, and Auburn fans act like (and really believe) “Auburn is back with a bite!”

Washington State 27
Auburn 31

Bobby Petrino rides up to the stadium on a Harley and rides out 1-0.

Western Kentucky 41
Kentucky 30

For the 10th consecutive meeting, nobody actually gives a crap about this game, or either of the teams playing in it.

UAB 10
Troy 21

Les Miles asks to see the frogs from TCU trained to play horns in his pregame interview. Disappointed at the misunderstanding, LSU still smokes TCU and makes a statement about their place in 2013.

LSU 30
TCU 14

***Upset of the day***
Brett Bielema dusts off his speech for the postgame presser about being a year away from where he wants his team to be. Still, a woman in Arkansas tapes her nose with scotch tape, dons a pig hat and sings an uncomfortable song to the team in creepy vibrato.

Louisiana-Lafayette 24
Arkansas 20


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3 thoughts on “GameDay: Key to Alabama-VaTech? Apparently it’s AJ’s boot”

  1. i think Blake Sims could start today and we win this thing in a rout.

    Tech is a mess right now. injuries. suspensions. if the team could perform to the level of their mouthy fans it might be close.

    (went to see ‘bama in the ’99 music city bowl. yep, that cold, wet disaster. learned tech’s fans are on par with florida’s for arrogance and vitriol)

    this is a tune up for you-know-who.

  2. HEY, HEY, HEY, MERRY Chick-fil-A kickoff game day everyone…I hope Saint Nick brings you a new BAMA hat, a new BAMA #10 Jersey or “T” shirt, a new BAMA flag for your house and car and other cool BAMA gear, but most of ALL I hope he brings an arse whooping to the Virginia Tech Hokies in front of God and EVERYBODY so that the FEAR will kick in throughout the entire SEC… yea…the entire Nation…and ALL teams will be saying…BAMA is going to win it ALL again this year…WE SURE DON’T WANT TO PLAY THEM…
    And pray ye that we don’t hear comments like we heard at the USCe/NC fiasco….like they look out of shape…gassed…with heavy legs in the second quarter…etc., ’cause that would suck more than a Florida Cheerleader on Saturday Night…Which ain’t easy to do…And verily I say unto you, it would be a very bad sign for our much anticipated potential 3-peat season…
    But…Saban is NOT going to let that happen…(Don’t you just love it when Nick buts in)? Because he is a strict disciplinarian, with the knowledge and know how to “TEACH” boys to be men and how to play football with fundamentals and how to win or lose with CLASS…
    Which has nothing to do with smoke or mirrors or magic wands and trickery or any other such hocus pocus…(Please don’t Poke Us in de eye wiff yo magic wand Harry Pothead) dat thing is dangerous…and should be banned from de field…
    So, kids…Here it BE…The Chick-fil-A (with a Big Old A for Alabama) kickoff game day…Let the eating, drinking and merry making begin…And may Ron’s team win it ALL again this year…Starting with an impressive “BLOW OUT” tonight…
    Blessings to ALL and have a safe and Happy Communist Day Off on Monday…Comrades…Which reminds me…time to make a strafing run over at au.commie…they never expect it on a Big Holiday like today…Well, you know what I always say sometimes? Kick’em when dey up…kick ‘em when deys down…kick ‘em in the nuts, kick ‘em all around…
    It’s getting close to Poke the Hokies time boyz and goils…

    You put your Big Trunk in…You put your Big Trunk out…
    You put your Big Trunk in…and you shake it all about…
    You do the Poke the Hokies…and you stomp them in the ground… That’s what it’s ALL about…

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