A game that many expected to be Alabama's toughest test of the season turned into exactly that, as an inspired Arkansas team, led by Heisman Trophy candidate Ryan Mallett, gave the Tide all it wanted for 60 minutes. Alabama trailed 17-7 at halftime and fell behind by 13 in the second half before methodically grinding out a win over the Razorbacks. Mallett threw for 357 yards on 25 for 38 passing, but his three interceptions proved to be the difference in the game.
These are my Seven Points for Game 4:
1. This game played out somewhat like the Auburn game last year. Arkansas got on the board early. The crowd was really into the game. The Razorbacks were fired up and built a two-touchdown lead. However, when the fourth quarter came along, Alabama completely dominated Arkansas, scored the winning points, forced two turnovers, and played as if it was unrattled by the circumstances.
2. This game played out somewhat like the South Carolina game last year. Alabama has a lot of weapons on offense, but in the fourth quarter when the game was on the line, Mark Ingram got the ball. Ingram delivered, rushing for 157 yards and 2 TD on 24 carries. The last scoring drive for Alabama was all Ingram, in the wildcat and in the I-formation, showing the same grit and determination that won him the Heisman in 2009.
3. Robert Lester's second interception was the biggest play of the game. Lester, who has picked off four passes this year in four games,was out of position at times today, and made some freshman mistakes against an experienced, top-flight offense. But Lester's over-the-middle interception in the fourth quarter, after the Tide had settled for a field goal and trailed 17-20 with six minutes left in the game, completely deflated the Razorbacks and their fans. Lester returned the overthrown pass 33 yards to the Arkansas 12 and set up Ingram's go-ahead score.
4. Nick Saban's decision to go for it on fourth and inches showed the confidence he has in this offense. Alabama faced a fourth and inches on its own 44 with 54 seconds left in the game. Last week, in a similar situation, Mallett had led Arkansas to a win over Georgia, driving the Hogs down field in about 50 seconds to score the winning touchdown. The Tide tried to shift around to draw Arkansas offsides, then after a timeout showed that they were going to go for it when Arkansas expected a punt. Alabama had to call timeout again though when the correct personnel did not make it out on to the field. The conventional wisdom in that situation would have been to punt, but Alabama went for it anyway, with Greg McElroy sneaking forward for the first down, to salt the game away.
5. The Tide continues to play stronger in the second half. The first three games of the year were all pretty much blowouts - over by halftime. Alabama had not allowed an opponent to score in the second half until today. Although they did give up a field goal to the Razorbacks in the third quarter, the Tide outscored the Hogs 17-3 in the second half and limited the Arkansas offense to 120 yards in the final two quarters. Credit halftime adjustments by the coaching staff as well as an inexperienced defense that is basically learning on the job.
6. This might have been the worst defensive match-up Alabama will face all year. Arkansas's Mallett is a great pocket passer with good receivers, a great offensive line and a complex big-play offense. Alabama's defensive secondary is inexperienced and the defensive line has not been able to get much pressure on quarterbacks. Early on, the defense looked lost - unable to keep up with the receivers, fooled by the schemes - and Mallett picked them apart. As the game progressed however, the defense was able to adjust. By the fourth quarter, Mallett was the one who looked lost as 'Bama pressure forced two decisive interceptions.
7. These next few weeks will determine much about the rest of the season. Alabama comes home next week to face Florida, then will travel to South Carolina. This three-week stretch has tested the Tide already, but by the end of it we'll know whether Alabama is capable of winning the SEC again as well as returning to the BCS Championship Game. No other top 10 team faces a gauntlet of ranked teams like Alabama does. If the Tide can successfully navigate these next two games, and stay injury-free, it should have an excellent chance to repeat.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Game 3 Review: No. 1 Alabama 62, Duke 13
Alabama's first road trip of the season was hardly a nailbiter. The Tide scored on its first four possessions, did not experience a third down or a punt until late in the game, and scored the most points it has since the 1991 game against Tulane. Greg McElroy and Mark Ingram finished their day early. The first team defense, however, displayed some areas of concern as Alabama heads into SEC play next week.
My Seven Points on Game 3:
1. Yeah, Mark Ingram's knee is okay. Knee surgery sure 2ain't what it used to be. Merely 19 days after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery, Ingram reminded everyone why he won the Heisman Trophy last year. Ingram had a mere nine carries for 151 yards and 2 TDs. He made a great cutback move on his second touchdown that made it clear he has returned with the full range of motion. The budding "running back controversy" that some fans tried to start this week died on the vine as Ingram ran all over the Blue Devils in very limited action.
2. Alabama's offense is starting to live up to the hype. Preseason speculation about the Tide and its returning weapons on offense was that the offense might be Alabama's best ever. It's hard to make an evaluation about that after game three, but the Tide has scored early and often in each of its three games. Alabama has had a 100-yard rusher in each game this season, and they have been three different players. Greg McElroy has completed over 70% of his passes and has only thrown one interception. Five different receivers have caught touchdown passes. Bama has a lot of looks and a lot of ways to beat you on offense.
3. Secondary play may not be the defense's biggest issue. The defensive secondary is young, and Bama has looked inexperienced and out of position at times. Against Duke, however, the problems seemed to be up front. The Blue Devils finished with over 300 yards of offense, and many times plays that should have been stopped in the offensive backfield made into the secondary. The defensive line and linebackers did not play very well overall today. Josh Snead didn't break the Tide's 36-game streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher, but he came within hailing distance. The Tide tightened up a good bit in the second half, so its unclear if early problems were a lack of effort or if the large lead caused Duke to slack off. Either way, its an area of concern when the Tide faces better competition.
4. Again, the second half gave Alabama plenty of opportunity to get young players some time on the field. For the third straight week, Alabama has had the opportunity to put a number of second, third and fourth string players in meaningful game action. We shouldn't expect to see as much of that now that SEC play is starting for Alabama, but the chance to get the younger, less experienced men into the games may turn out to be critical as the season rolls along.
5. Wallace Wade Stadium doesn't really do the coach justice. We fully understand why Duke turned down lots of money to get Alabama into the on-campus stadium rather than selling the game to a large city. And while it's great that there is a stadium that honors the coach that established Alabama football as a national power, the 36,000-seat horseshoe that bears Wallace Wade's name looks more like a product of Wade's era than a modern football complex. After spending two weeks celebrating the expansion at Bryant-Denny, the contrast is pretty stark. One would hope that Coach Cutcliffe will be able to have enough success at Duke in years to come to do something about that.
6. The defense may not match up well against Arkansas. Arkansas has steadily improved each week, and after a confidence-building defeat of Georgia, the Razorbacks will be gearing up to ruin Alabama's season next week. We're not sold on Ryan Mallett as the "best quarterback in college football," but he can throw the long ball. The Hogs' receivers know how to catch the ball too. Alabama's secondary will be sorely tested in Fayetteville next week.
7. So far, the Tide looks like the best team in the country. Despite problems on defense, the Tide has still outscored its opponents 134-19 in three games. Alabama has taken the lead in each game and has never relinquished control. None of its opponents have scored in the second half. Each game has been completely in the bag at halftime. After watching other top teams struggle at times to put decent opponents away, the Tide appears to be unstoppable at its best. Alabama isn't perfect - there have been enough issues each week to give the coaches plenty to work on for the next game. The Tide, however, is a solid number one.
My Seven Points on Game 3:
1. Yeah, Mark Ingram's knee is okay. Knee surgery sure 2ain't what it used to be. Merely 19 days after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery, Ingram reminded everyone why he won the Heisman Trophy last year. Ingram had a mere nine carries for 151 yards and 2 TDs. He made a great cutback move on his second touchdown that made it clear he has returned with the full range of motion. The budding "running back controversy" that some fans tried to start this week died on the vine as Ingram ran all over the Blue Devils in very limited action.
2. Alabama's offense is starting to live up to the hype. Preseason speculation about the Tide and its returning weapons on offense was that the offense might be Alabama's best ever. It's hard to make an evaluation about that after game three, but the Tide has scored early and often in each of its three games. Alabama has had a 100-yard rusher in each game this season, and they have been three different players. Greg McElroy has completed over 70% of his passes and has only thrown one interception. Five different receivers have caught touchdown passes. Bama has a lot of looks and a lot of ways to beat you on offense.
3. Secondary play may not be the defense's biggest issue. The defensive secondary is young, and Bama has looked inexperienced and out of position at times. Against Duke, however, the problems seemed to be up front. The Blue Devils finished with over 300 yards of offense, and many times plays that should have been stopped in the offensive backfield made into the secondary. The defensive line and linebackers did not play very well overall today. Josh Snead didn't break the Tide's 36-game streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher, but he came within hailing distance. The Tide tightened up a good bit in the second half, so its unclear if early problems were a lack of effort or if the large lead caused Duke to slack off. Either way, its an area of concern when the Tide faces better competition.
4. Again, the second half gave Alabama plenty of opportunity to get young players some time on the field. For the third straight week, Alabama has had the opportunity to put a number of second, third and fourth string players in meaningful game action. We shouldn't expect to see as much of that now that SEC play is starting for Alabama, but the chance to get the younger, less experienced men into the games may turn out to be critical as the season rolls along.
5. Wallace Wade Stadium doesn't really do the coach justice. We fully understand why Duke turned down lots of money to get Alabama into the on-campus stadium rather than selling the game to a large city. And while it's great that there is a stadium that honors the coach that established Alabama football as a national power, the 36,000-seat horseshoe that bears Wallace Wade's name looks more like a product of Wade's era than a modern football complex. After spending two weeks celebrating the expansion at Bryant-Denny, the contrast is pretty stark. One would hope that Coach Cutcliffe will be able to have enough success at Duke in years to come to do something about that.
6. The defense may not match up well against Arkansas. Arkansas has steadily improved each week, and after a confidence-building defeat of Georgia, the Razorbacks will be gearing up to ruin Alabama's season next week. We're not sold on Ryan Mallett as the "best quarterback in college football," but he can throw the long ball. The Hogs' receivers know how to catch the ball too. Alabama's secondary will be sorely tested in Fayetteville next week.
7. So far, the Tide looks like the best team in the country. Despite problems on defense, the Tide has still outscored its opponents 134-19 in three games. Alabama has taken the lead in each game and has never relinquished control. None of its opponents have scored in the second half. Each game has been completely in the bag at halftime. After watching other top teams struggle at times to put decent opponents away, the Tide appears to be unstoppable at its best. Alabama isn't perfect - there have been enough issues each week to give the coaches plenty to work on for the next game. The Tide, however, is a solid number one.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
What Alabama Football Means to Me (or How I Learned to Hate Auburn)
I was born in Tuscaloosa. My mother grew up there, and my dad's family was from the Tuscaloosa area as well, although he was an Air Force brat and moved around quite a bit in his early years. My entire family had at least a passing interest in Alabama football, but as a small child you can't really appreciate much about a 3+ hour football game. My father was a bi-vocational Southern Baptist pastor while I was growing up, and between his two jobs we were obliged to move around some as well. My parents both watched and enjoyed Alabama football games, which never seemed strange to me growing up. Now though, I find it pretty interesting.
See, my father isn't a sports nut by any means. He doesn't really enjoy any other sport than football. He doesn't watch the NFL. He will watch other SEC football teams, especially Auburn, mainly hoping that they lose. My mother likes to talk about the team with me, sometimes asking questions, sometime telling me things she's heard. She watches Alabama play, but she might get agitated when the games are close or if 'Bama isn't playing well. Sometimes she gets too nervous to watch. My parents both went to school at Alabama, but neither of them have been to a game in at least 15-20 years. So I'm not really sure why Alabama football became an important part of their lives or mine. Maybe it became a link back to Tuscaloosa when we moved away from family and friends. Maybe it was a way of latching on to a cultural identity. Maybe it was just a matter of cheering for their alma mater. In any event, my first football memory happened over 30 years ago.
When we moved away from Tuscaloosa the first time, we weren't gone for very long - just a couple of years. Then when I was about five, we moved away for good, right into the heart of enemy territory - Opelika, Alabama. My earliest football-related memory occurred around the holidays. My uncle Bill, who is five years older than me, played football with me in our front yard. The football was a small white plastic one, the kind that you see nowadays at high school pep rallies. It had red stripes and Alabama logos, and I remember pretending to be Alabama as we prepared to watch the Tide face Penn State in the Sugar Bowl.
During my early childhood, Alabama was one of the most dominant teams in the country. I was born a few months before Alabama won the 1973 national championship. Paul 'Bear' Bryant led the team to two more back-to-back championships in 1978 and 1979. The Tide won eight SEC titles in the 1970s. Bear Bryant became the winningest college football coach of all time in 1981. I remember getting a coke bottle with his picture on it and a cup with '315' on the side. Then it all came crashing down.
I guess I was aware of Auburn before the 1982 season, but my hatred for them started on one particular day. That day was November 27. I was nine years old and Auburn had never beaten Alabama in my lifetime. Then came "Bo Over the Top," a 22-23 loss, and Auburn fans tearing down the goalposts at Legion Field. Bear Bryant had already announced his retirement and then had to suffer the indignity of losing his final game to a team he had beaten 19 times in 25 years. I cried. Barely two months later, I was at school in Mrs. Owings class and Jennifer Oliver came up to me and told me that Bear Bryant had died. I laughed at her. Jennifer got upset and told the teacher that I laughed because Bear Bryant had died. Mrs. Owings reprimanded me, and I was stunned. I had laughed at Jennifer because I didn't believe her. It was crazy. How could the Bear be dead? I continued in disbelief until I got home and learned that it was all too true. I blamed Auburn football, Pat Dye, Bo Jackson, and every other Auburn fan I knew.
The decade of the 1980s was a difficult time to be an Alabama fan. We lived in Tallassee, Alabama, a small town 25 miles from Auburn, so I could more or less count on my fingers and toes every Alabama fan in my class. On top of that, it was the golden age of Auburn football. Pat Dye coached the Tigers to four SEC titles, and won four games in a row over the Tide. He also succeeded in getting the game moved from Birmingham to Auburn in 1989. It's easy to be a fan when your team is on top. It's harder when your team is terrible. Hardest of all, though? It's being a fan of a team that was once mighty and isn't any more. Those few Alabama fans at school that I knew took comfort in each other's support. It became so much a part of how I perceived my classmates, I can still tell you the team affiliation of people I haven't seen or spoken to in 20+ years. My Alabama pride was hardened in the crucible of those fall days. I wore my Alabama T-shirts to school the Monday after an Iron Bowl loss to show that I loved the Tide anyway, enduring the jibes and taunts of Auburn fans who did not acknowledge their inherent inferiority. The Crimson Tide's adversity had, in a small way, become my own.
By the time I graduated from high school, Alabama had righted the ship under Coach Gene Stallings, who won a national championship my freshman year at the University. But those formative years shaped me and my fandom. They inspired me to learn about the history of Alabama football, so that I could refute the arguments of bandwagon Auburn fans. They taught me to believe in upsets (1984) and miracles (1985). They showed me that I could live through a loss, even when it was hard. And they forged my identification with a group of college athletes I didn't know and would probably never meet. When I talked about Alabama playing well, I said that "we" did it. When facing another team's fans, I would tell them that they wouldn't beat "us." Although I would never play a snap of college football at Alabama (or anywhere else), I felt as much a part of the team as the players on the field.
I'm doing my best to raise my kids the same way.
See, my father isn't a sports nut by any means. He doesn't really enjoy any other sport than football. He doesn't watch the NFL. He will watch other SEC football teams, especially Auburn, mainly hoping that they lose. My mother likes to talk about the team with me, sometimes asking questions, sometime telling me things she's heard. She watches Alabama play, but she might get agitated when the games are close or if 'Bama isn't playing well. Sometimes she gets too nervous to watch. My parents both went to school at Alabama, but neither of them have been to a game in at least 15-20 years. So I'm not really sure why Alabama football became an important part of their lives or mine. Maybe it became a link back to Tuscaloosa when we moved away from family and friends. Maybe it was a way of latching on to a cultural identity. Maybe it was just a matter of cheering for their alma mater. In any event, my first football memory happened over 30 years ago.
When we moved away from Tuscaloosa the first time, we weren't gone for very long - just a couple of years. Then when I was about five, we moved away for good, right into the heart of enemy territory - Opelika, Alabama. My earliest football-related memory occurred around the holidays. My uncle Bill, who is five years older than me, played football with me in our front yard. The football was a small white plastic one, the kind that you see nowadays at high school pep rallies. It had red stripes and Alabama logos, and I remember pretending to be Alabama as we prepared to watch the Tide face Penn State in the Sugar Bowl.
During my early childhood, Alabama was one of the most dominant teams in the country. I was born a few months before Alabama won the 1973 national championship. Paul 'Bear' Bryant led the team to two more back-to-back championships in 1978 and 1979. The Tide won eight SEC titles in the 1970s. Bear Bryant became the winningest college football coach of all time in 1981. I remember getting a coke bottle with his picture on it and a cup with '315' on the side. Then it all came crashing down.
I guess I was aware of Auburn before the 1982 season, but my hatred for them started on one particular day. That day was November 27. I was nine years old and Auburn had never beaten Alabama in my lifetime. Then came "Bo Over the Top," a 22-23 loss, and Auburn fans tearing down the goalposts at Legion Field. Bear Bryant had already announced his retirement and then had to suffer the indignity of losing his final game to a team he had beaten 19 times in 25 years. I cried. Barely two months later, I was at school in Mrs. Owings class and Jennifer Oliver came up to me and told me that Bear Bryant had died. I laughed at her. Jennifer got upset and told the teacher that I laughed because Bear Bryant had died. Mrs. Owings reprimanded me, and I was stunned. I had laughed at Jennifer because I didn't believe her. It was crazy. How could the Bear be dead? I continued in disbelief until I got home and learned that it was all too true. I blamed Auburn football, Pat Dye, Bo Jackson, and every other Auburn fan I knew.
The decade of the 1980s was a difficult time to be an Alabama fan. We lived in Tallassee, Alabama, a small town 25 miles from Auburn, so I could more or less count on my fingers and toes every Alabama fan in my class. On top of that, it was the golden age of Auburn football. Pat Dye coached the Tigers to four SEC titles, and won four games in a row over the Tide. He also succeeded in getting the game moved from Birmingham to Auburn in 1989. It's easy to be a fan when your team is on top. It's harder when your team is terrible. Hardest of all, though? It's being a fan of a team that was once mighty and isn't any more. Those few Alabama fans at school that I knew took comfort in each other's support. It became so much a part of how I perceived my classmates, I can still tell you the team affiliation of people I haven't seen or spoken to in 20+ years. My Alabama pride was hardened in the crucible of those fall days. I wore my Alabama T-shirts to school the Monday after an Iron Bowl loss to show that I loved the Tide anyway, enduring the jibes and taunts of Auburn fans who did not acknowledge their inherent inferiority. The Crimson Tide's adversity had, in a small way, become my own.
By the time I graduated from high school, Alabama had righted the ship under Coach Gene Stallings, who won a national championship my freshman year at the University. But those formative years shaped me and my fandom. They inspired me to learn about the history of Alabama football, so that I could refute the arguments of bandwagon Auburn fans. They taught me to believe in upsets (1984) and miracles (1985). They showed me that I could live through a loss, even when it was hard. And they forged my identification with a group of college athletes I didn't know and would probably never meet. When I talked about Alabama playing well, I said that "we" did it. When facing another team's fans, I would tell them that they wouldn't beat "us." Although I would never play a snap of college football at Alabama (or anywhere else), I felt as much a part of the team as the players on the field.
I'm doing my best to raise my kids the same way.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
College Football Week 2: Contenders and Pretenders
Two weeks into the college football season, Saturday was a day of massive matchups and even more massive upsets. As always, there were clear winners and losers, as well as a team that lost without even playing. Once again, it's time for Contenders and Pretenders.
Contender - South Carolina (17-6 over Georgia). We praised the Gamecocks last week after their shellacking of Southern Miss, but reserved judgment on USC East until they faced the Georgia Bulldogs. Carolina defeated the Dawgs in convincing fashion, pounding them into submission with powerful running back Marcus Lattimore (37 car., 182 yds., 2 TD). The Gamecocks proved that they can compete with the upper echelon of the SEC East. Now they have to prove that they can sustain success.
Pretender - Boise State (Idle). After defeating #10 Virginia Tech 33-30 last Monday night, Boise State was the talk of the nation. Should they be allowed into the BCS Championship Game? Were they the number one team in the country? Did it matter that their conference is terrible if they have proven themselves over and over again? Shouldn't defeating a great Virginia Tech team in what was more or less a home game for the Hokies be enough to prove their worth? The question that every one should have been asking was, 'What if Virginia Tech isn't very good?' After FCS (that's I-AA to you and me) squad James Madison defeated the Hokies 21-16 at HOME on Saturday, it's clear that Virginia Tech is not a Top 25 caliber team, and now Boise State has no quality win to hang their little blue hat on. If the Broncos played in a good league, that wouldn't be the end of the world. But since they don't, the same process that could have vaulted them into the championship game with only one quality win will almost surely keep them out of it without one.
Contenders - Former Champs. One of the storylines going in to Saturday was that the three marquee matchups of the day featured rematches of former national championship game pairings from the past - #1 Alabama - #18 Penn State (1979 Sugar Bowl); #2 Ohio State - #12 Miami (2003 BCS Championship Game); and #10 Oklahoma - #17 Florida State (2001 BCS Championship Game). At the end of the day, all three games finished with the same three winners as those championships - Alabama, Ohio State, and Oklahoma. Other common factors were that none of the games were really close, with the higher-ranked home teams romping in each contest.
Pretenders - The ACC. The Atlantic Coast Conference has had a bad couple of years in football, finishing 2-6 in bowl games in 2008 and 3-4 in 2009. The conference suffered through an off-season that exposed the weak position it faces vis-a-vis television contracts and conference re-alignment. It hasn't placed a representative in the BCS national championship game in ten years, and it has been nearly that long since it had a serious contender. And it generally suffers from the characterization that its fans tolerate football season until basketball tips off. The 2010 season was supposed to be the one where the ACC started re-asserting itself, but the first two weeks have been abysmal. Virginia Tech, the highest-ranked ACC team preseason, suffered the aforementioned devastating losses to Boise State and James Madison. North Carolina lost part of its team to NCAA violations, then dropped a heartbreaker to an average LSU team. The defending ACC champ Georgia Tech fell to Kansas Saturday, who lost to FCS-level North Dakota State the previous week. Miami and Florida were both crushed in big matchups. It is entirely possible that no ACC team will remain in the top 20 when polls come out Monday. A lot is riding on Clemson's matchup with Auburn next week. The Tigers are the only upper-tier ACC team still undefeated after week two.
TossUp - The FCS. Nobody except the NCAA and the folks at the Worldwide Leader even seem to know what the FCS is. Regular Joes still call them I-AA. (For the record, the NCAA now calls that the Football Championship Subdivision.) That doesn't mean that FCS schools aren't getting a lot of notice though. Through two weeks of football, six FCS teams have defeated FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) teams. And although Kansas and Ole Miss gave the Big 12 and SEC a black eye last week, the Big Ten (Minnesota) and the ACC (Va. Tech) felt the wrath in week two. There were only five losses by FBS teams to FCS teams in all of 2009. The separation between the two subdivisions is as fuzzy as it has ever been.
Contender - South Carolina (17-6 over Georgia). We praised the Gamecocks last week after their shellacking of Southern Miss, but reserved judgment on USC East until they faced the Georgia Bulldogs. Carolina defeated the Dawgs in convincing fashion, pounding them into submission with powerful running back Marcus Lattimore (37 car., 182 yds., 2 TD). The Gamecocks proved that they can compete with the upper echelon of the SEC East. Now they have to prove that they can sustain success.
Pretender - Boise State (Idle). After defeating #10 Virginia Tech 33-30 last Monday night, Boise State was the talk of the nation. Should they be allowed into the BCS Championship Game? Were they the number one team in the country? Did it matter that their conference is terrible if they have proven themselves over and over again? Shouldn't defeating a great Virginia Tech team in what was more or less a home game for the Hokies be enough to prove their worth? The question that every one should have been asking was, 'What if Virginia Tech isn't very good?' After FCS (that's I-AA to you and me) squad James Madison defeated the Hokies 21-16 at HOME on Saturday, it's clear that Virginia Tech is not a Top 25 caliber team, and now Boise State has no quality win to hang their little blue hat on. If the Broncos played in a good league, that wouldn't be the end of the world. But since they don't, the same process that could have vaulted them into the championship game with only one quality win will almost surely keep them out of it without one.
Contenders - Former Champs. One of the storylines going in to Saturday was that the three marquee matchups of the day featured rematches of former national championship game pairings from the past - #1 Alabama - #18 Penn State (1979 Sugar Bowl); #2 Ohio State - #12 Miami (2003 BCS Championship Game); and #10 Oklahoma - #17 Florida State (2001 BCS Championship Game). At the end of the day, all three games finished with the same three winners as those championships - Alabama, Ohio State, and Oklahoma. Other common factors were that none of the games were really close, with the higher-ranked home teams romping in each contest.
Pretenders - The ACC. The Atlantic Coast Conference has had a bad couple of years in football, finishing 2-6 in bowl games in 2008 and 3-4 in 2009. The conference suffered through an off-season that exposed the weak position it faces vis-a-vis television contracts and conference re-alignment. It hasn't placed a representative in the BCS national championship game in ten years, and it has been nearly that long since it had a serious contender. And it generally suffers from the characterization that its fans tolerate football season until basketball tips off. The 2010 season was supposed to be the one where the ACC started re-asserting itself, but the first two weeks have been abysmal. Virginia Tech, the highest-ranked ACC team preseason, suffered the aforementioned devastating losses to Boise State and James Madison. North Carolina lost part of its team to NCAA violations, then dropped a heartbreaker to an average LSU team. The defending ACC champ Georgia Tech fell to Kansas Saturday, who lost to FCS-level North Dakota State the previous week. Miami and Florida were both crushed in big matchups. It is entirely possible that no ACC team will remain in the top 20 when polls come out Monday. A lot is riding on Clemson's matchup with Auburn next week. The Tigers are the only upper-tier ACC team still undefeated after week two.
TossUp - The FCS. Nobody except the NCAA and the folks at the Worldwide Leader even seem to know what the FCS is. Regular Joes still call them I-AA. (For the record, the NCAA now calls that the Football Championship Subdivision.) That doesn't mean that FCS schools aren't getting a lot of notice though. Through two weeks of football, six FCS teams have defeated FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) teams. And although Kansas and Ole Miss gave the Big 12 and SEC a black eye last week, the Big Ten (Minnesota) and the ACC (Va. Tech) felt the wrath in week two. There were only five losses by FBS teams to FCS teams in all of 2009. The separation between the two subdivisions is as fuzzy as it has ever been.
Game 2 Review: No. 1 Alabama 24, No. 18 Penn State 3
With all eyes on Tuscaloosa, the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide completely demolished Penn State in a renewal of one of the most interesting and historic series in college football. The postponement of the home-and-home series from the 2004/2005 seasons to 2010/2011 set Joe Paterno and the Nittany Lions up to visit Tuscaloosa in the midst of an Alabama football renaissance, and the Tide smothered PSU from beginning to end.
My Seven Points on Game Two:
1. Trent Richardson is more than able to carry the load while Ingram recovers. Mark Ingram's knee injury kept him out of the game for the second straight week, but Trent Richardson made sure that he was hardly missed. Penn State had not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 17 games until Richardson slashed the Lions defense for 102 in the first half. He finished with 144 yards rushing on 22 carries and a touchdown, and caught an additional 4 passes for 46 yards. Much was made over the last few days of Richardson's freakish strength, and of course, there was the Sports Illustrated cover as well. The bottom line is, Trent is an amazing running back in his own right, and he and Ingram are arguably the top two backs in the country.
2. When you're good, "jinxes" don't matter. ESPN's Gameday visited Tuscaloosa for the sixth time today. Alabama was 0-5 coming in to the game tonight with GameDay on campus. Sports Illustrated featured Trent Richardson on the cover this week. The SI "cover jinx" is legendary. Fortunately, silly superstitions do not dress out for football games. Both "jinxes" quietly died in light of a decisive performance by Alabama and Richardson tonight.
3. At this point in his career, McElroy confidently executes the offense. While he wasn't perfect, McElroy turned in a workmanlike performance, completing 16 of 24 passes for 229 yards and 2 TD. McElroy has matured into a field general, managing the offense, making good decisions, hitting receivers in impossibly tight coverage, and just generally looking every bit the undefeated senior quarterback. We don't expect to see a mid-season slump from the Rhodes Scholar candidate this year like we did in 2009.
4. Special teams performed well, although not perfectly. Cade Foster did miss a long field goal, and a few Penn State kick returns gained more yardage than strictly necessary. Cody Mandell continued to impress with solid punting, averaging 37 yards on three punts. Overall, far from being the weak link that some expected, the special teams contributed solidly to the Alabama win.
5. Youth in the secondary was exposed a little bit tonight, relatively speaking. There were a few blown coverages. Lowery and Lester were out of position a couple of times, and there were some missed tackles and dropped interceptions. On the other hand, the Penn State quarterbacks combined for 14 of 31 passing with 156 yards and 3 interceptions, so the "problems" that we saw ended up being a lot less problematic in light of the results. Forcing turnovers is critical for any defense, and one of the differences tonight was that Alabama forced turnovers nearly every time the Nittany Lions were in the red zone.
6. Give me SEC officials any day. Rogers Redding and the Southeastern Conference officiating crews have taken a lot of hits over the the past couple of years. In fairness, some of it is deserved, and some is sour grapes. The Big Ten officials tonight, however, made several puzzling calls - none more so than the decision to give Penn State the ball back on an admittedly bizarre play. The Lions fumbled the ball in the red zone, Alabama cornerback Robert Lester picked it up and ran it nearly to the opposite end zone before having the ball ripped loose. Then Bama's Dre Kirkpatrick fell on the ball and had it punched out again while rolling on the ground. How Kirkpatrick was not ruled down, even after the replay, was unclear. In addition, the officials seemed to spot the ball a yard short every time Alabama hit the ground. We didn't notice poor spotting on the other side of the ball, however. All in all, it made us glad that we'll be done with Big Ten officials for the foreseeable future.
7. Everybody's talking about separation. In the last two years, the talk around the country has been about how Alabama and Florida had separated themselves from the rest of the SEC. After two weeks of football, it may be fair to say that the top two teams in the country, Alabama and Ohio State, have separated themselves from the rest of the nation. The Buckeyes looked strong while dispatching the Miami Hurricanes 36-24, and both the Tide and OSU should be favored in every game they both have the rest of the year. It's too early to book a trip to Glendale, Arizona for the Fiesta Bowl, but we wouldn't rule it out for either team.
My Seven Points on Game Two:
1. Trent Richardson is more than able to carry the load while Ingram recovers. Mark Ingram's knee injury kept him out of the game for the second straight week, but Trent Richardson made sure that he was hardly missed. Penn State had not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 17 games until Richardson slashed the Lions defense for 102 in the first half. He finished with 144 yards rushing on 22 carries and a touchdown, and caught an additional 4 passes for 46 yards. Much was made over the last few days of Richardson's freakish strength, and of course, there was the Sports Illustrated cover as well. The bottom line is, Trent is an amazing running back in his own right, and he and Ingram are arguably the top two backs in the country.
2. When you're good, "jinxes" don't matter. ESPN's Gameday visited Tuscaloosa for the sixth time today. Alabama was 0-5 coming in to the game tonight with GameDay on campus. Sports Illustrated featured Trent Richardson on the cover this week. The SI "cover jinx" is legendary. Fortunately, silly superstitions do not dress out for football games. Both "jinxes" quietly died in light of a decisive performance by Alabama and Richardson tonight.
3. At this point in his career, McElroy confidently executes the offense. While he wasn't perfect, McElroy turned in a workmanlike performance, completing 16 of 24 passes for 229 yards and 2 TD. McElroy has matured into a field general, managing the offense, making good decisions, hitting receivers in impossibly tight coverage, and just generally looking every bit the undefeated senior quarterback. We don't expect to see a mid-season slump from the Rhodes Scholar candidate this year like we did in 2009.
4. Special teams performed well, although not perfectly. Cade Foster did miss a long field goal, and a few Penn State kick returns gained more yardage than strictly necessary. Cody Mandell continued to impress with solid punting, averaging 37 yards on three punts. Overall, far from being the weak link that some expected, the special teams contributed solidly to the Alabama win.
5. Youth in the secondary was exposed a little bit tonight, relatively speaking. There were a few blown coverages. Lowery and Lester were out of position a couple of times, and there were some missed tackles and dropped interceptions. On the other hand, the Penn State quarterbacks combined for 14 of 31 passing with 156 yards and 3 interceptions, so the "problems" that we saw ended up being a lot less problematic in light of the results. Forcing turnovers is critical for any defense, and one of the differences tonight was that Alabama forced turnovers nearly every time the Nittany Lions were in the red zone.
6. Give me SEC officials any day. Rogers Redding and the Southeastern Conference officiating crews have taken a lot of hits over the the past couple of years. In fairness, some of it is deserved, and some is sour grapes. The Big Ten officials tonight, however, made several puzzling calls - none more so than the decision to give Penn State the ball back on an admittedly bizarre play. The Lions fumbled the ball in the red zone, Alabama cornerback Robert Lester picked it up and ran it nearly to the opposite end zone before having the ball ripped loose. Then Bama's Dre Kirkpatrick fell on the ball and had it punched out again while rolling on the ground. How Kirkpatrick was not ruled down, even after the replay, was unclear. In addition, the officials seemed to spot the ball a yard short every time Alabama hit the ground. We didn't notice poor spotting on the other side of the ball, however. All in all, it made us glad that we'll be done with Big Ten officials for the foreseeable future.
7. Everybody's talking about separation. In the last two years, the talk around the country has been about how Alabama and Florida had separated themselves from the rest of the SEC. After two weeks of football, it may be fair to say that the top two teams in the country, Alabama and Ohio State, have separated themselves from the rest of the nation. The Buckeyes looked strong while dispatching the Miami Hurricanes 36-24, and both the Tide and OSU should be favored in every game they both have the rest of the year. It's too early to book a trip to Glendale, Arizona for the Fiesta Bowl, but we wouldn't rule it out for either team.
Saturday, September 04, 2010
Game 1 Review: No. 1 Alabama 48, San Jose State 3
The 2010 edition of the Alabama Crimson Tide probably didn't expect much of a contest in its opener against San Jose State, and to be fair, it didn't get much of one. The Tide, however, did take care of business quickly and efficiently against the Spartans, and subsequently got some meaningful game experience to a number of young players. The result was a nice tune-up game for Penn State next Saturday.
My Seven Points on Game One:
1. Off-the-field distractions didn't seem to impact the team. The off-season had its share of opportunities to lose focus, with Mark Ingram's knee injury and Marcel Dareus' two-game suspension, not to mention that little matter of the 2009 national championship and the attendant media interest. Alabama did not seem to be affected on the field, however, even against a non-marquee team. Anyone who doubts that distracted, unfocused teams can look bad against over-matched opponents need only roam as far as Oxford or Gainesville. It is a tribute to the Tide's buy-in to Nick Saban's philosophy that Alabama came out enthusiastic and ready to play.
2. Special teams looked much better than expected. After losing the starting punter, kicker, kick returner and holder from last year's squad, Alabama's biggest question mark coming into the season was arguably special teams. Cody Mandell made two punts over 50 yards, and both Jeremy Shelley and Cade Foster made every field goal and extra point attempted. Kickoff returns were decent, and while no one is going to approach Arenas as a punt returner, coverage on punts and kicks was good. Granted, SJSU is no great test, but the special teams overall contributed to the win and did everything they were asked to do.
3. Mark Ingram shouldn't have to hurry back. Ingram is a great player and leader, without question. He is the best blocker among the RBs, and he just doesn't turn the ball over. That being said, Trent Richardson, Eddie Lacy, and Demetrius Goode all ran the ball really well against SJSU, and should give 'Bama the opportunity get Ingram back to 100 percent before he plays again, hopefully by the time SEC play begins.
4. Greg McElroy was totally in command. This is Greg's team. He was calm in the pocket, made great throws, and good decisions (the improvised toss to Richardson might have been the best). He looked like he was having fun and was totally confident, passing 13 of 15 for 218 yards and a TD in basically two quarters. He has continued to grow and mature into a real on-the-field leader.
5. It was good, however, to see McCarron early and often. Once the game started getting away from the Spartans, McCarron came in and almost immediately threw a fantastic touchdown pass to Julio Jones (fantastic more for the catch than the throw). Anyone who has been a Bama fan long enough to remember Brodie Croyle's season-ending knee injury (or David Smith's, if you want to go back another couple of decades) knows that the line between backup and starter can be one play. I like the fact that Saban got McCarron some game experience early, and seated McElroy, Richardson, and most of the other starters once the result was certain.
6. The stadium looks fantastic. I've been in and around Bryant-Denny Stadium many times, and have seen it from inside and out since the south end zone construction began, but you don't really get the full impact of it until it's full of rowdy fans. In a way, though, tonight was really a dress rehearsal. As great as 101,821 fans looked and felt against SJSU, no fan went into that game expecting anything but a blowout and a chance to see some new players get on the field. Next week will provide the first real chance to change the game with the enclosed space and crowd noise. That being said, the new work looks beautiful. Compared to the 70,000-81,000 seat structure that I experienced as a college student, it looks like a totally different place, and one that every 'Bama man (or woman) should be proud of.
7. Overall, this night was a success. Although it didn't provide the excitement that opening day has the last two years, the matchup with San Jose State provided something for this team that it needed. In 2008, Alabama's decisive win over Clemson gave the team the confidence that it could compete at a high level and set the stage for a great run that ended in Atlanta 12 games later. Last year, the victory over Virginia Tech established a fresh-faced young quarterback and inaugurated a national championship run. In 2010, the question is not talent but experience, and the game was lopsided enough that second, third and fourth-string players got significant time on the field. Beyond that, they mostly maintained the level of play and enthusiasm that the starters established. That is a good sign of things to come.
My Seven Points on Game One:
1. Off-the-field distractions didn't seem to impact the team. The off-season had its share of opportunities to lose focus, with Mark Ingram's knee injury and Marcel Dareus' two-game suspension, not to mention that little matter of the 2009 national championship and the attendant media interest. Alabama did not seem to be affected on the field, however, even against a non-marquee team. Anyone who doubts that distracted, unfocused teams can look bad against over-matched opponents need only roam as far as Oxford or Gainesville. It is a tribute to the Tide's buy-in to Nick Saban's philosophy that Alabama came out enthusiastic and ready to play.
2. Special teams looked much better than expected. After losing the starting punter, kicker, kick returner and holder from last year's squad, Alabama's biggest question mark coming into the season was arguably special teams. Cody Mandell made two punts over 50 yards, and both Jeremy Shelley and Cade Foster made every field goal and extra point attempted. Kickoff returns were decent, and while no one is going to approach Arenas as a punt returner, coverage on punts and kicks was good. Granted, SJSU is no great test, but the special teams overall contributed to the win and did everything they were asked to do.
3. Mark Ingram shouldn't have to hurry back. Ingram is a great player and leader, without question. He is the best blocker among the RBs, and he just doesn't turn the ball over. That being said, Trent Richardson, Eddie Lacy, and Demetrius Goode all ran the ball really well against SJSU, and should give 'Bama the opportunity get Ingram back to 100 percent before he plays again, hopefully by the time SEC play begins.
4. Greg McElroy was totally in command. This is Greg's team. He was calm in the pocket, made great throws, and good decisions (the improvised toss to Richardson might have been the best). He looked like he was having fun and was totally confident, passing 13 of 15 for 218 yards and a TD in basically two quarters. He has continued to grow and mature into a real on-the-field leader.
5. It was good, however, to see McCarron early and often. Once the game started getting away from the Spartans, McCarron came in and almost immediately threw a fantastic touchdown pass to Julio Jones (fantastic more for the catch than the throw). Anyone who has been a Bama fan long enough to remember Brodie Croyle's season-ending knee injury (or David Smith's, if you want to go back another couple of decades) knows that the line between backup and starter can be one play. I like the fact that Saban got McCarron some game experience early, and seated McElroy, Richardson, and most of the other starters once the result was certain.
6. The stadium looks fantastic. I've been in and around Bryant-Denny Stadium many times, and have seen it from inside and out since the south end zone construction began, but you don't really get the full impact of it until it's full of rowdy fans. In a way, though, tonight was really a dress rehearsal. As great as 101,821 fans looked and felt against SJSU, no fan went into that game expecting anything but a blowout and a chance to see some new players get on the field. Next week will provide the first real chance to change the game with the enclosed space and crowd noise. That being said, the new work looks beautiful. Compared to the 70,000-81,000 seat structure that I experienced as a college student, it looks like a totally different place, and one that every 'Bama man (or woman) should be proud of.
7. Overall, this night was a success. Although it didn't provide the excitement that opening day has the last two years, the matchup with San Jose State provided something for this team that it needed. In 2008, Alabama's decisive win over Clemson gave the team the confidence that it could compete at a high level and set the stage for a great run that ended in Atlanta 12 games later. Last year, the victory over Virginia Tech established a fresh-faced young quarterback and inaugurated a national championship run. In 2010, the question is not talent but experience, and the game was lopsided enough that second, third and fourth-string players got significant time on the field. Beyond that, they mostly maintained the level of play and enthusiasm that the starters established. That is a good sign of things to come.
Friday, September 03, 2010
College Football Day 1: Contenders and Pretenders
College football kicked off last night with 18(!) games. Although most of them were cakewalks, there were a few surprising moments. Without further adieu, here is what we learned last night as we wade into the 2010 season.
Contender - South Carolina (41-13 over Southern Miss). Every year since Steve Spurrier took the helm at South Carolina, Gamecock fans have been predicting success on the way to another eight-win season. This year, they might be right. Southern Miss was no great competition last night, but neither are they a team that surrenders a lot of 30-point blowouts. Carolina looked poised, confident and hungry last night. If they can get by Georgia next Saturday, they will prove themselves at least the second best team in the SEC East. After that, who knows?
Pretender - Pittsburgh (24-27 OT to Utah). The best thing that you can say about Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt is that he has put Pitt back into the conversation since taking over the Panthers. Unfortunately, they seem to take two steps back for every step forward. Pitt blew a golden opportunity at Utah last night to capitalize on a top 15 ranking, a moderately high-profile opponent, and a winnable game. Pitt will still probably win a game or two this year that they shouldn't, but this was an chance to prove that they could play with the big boys, and they blew it.
Tossup - USC (49-36 over Hawaii). For all the blows that USC has taken over the off-season, many prognosticators still predicted that the talent level at USC would put them in contention for a conference title this year, if not the national championship. Last night's game at Hawaii showed that the Trojans have lots of offensive talent for certain. On the defense, which Monte Kiffin is supposed to own, there is a lot of work to be done. Granted, USC did not do any contact work at all in fall camp due to low numbers and the Warriors did surprise the USC coaching staff by running the pistol formation rather than their customary spread. But giving up nearly 600 yards to Hawaii, and getting good and gassed doing it, does not bode well for the rest of the season.
Punching Bag of the Week - UAB (31-32 to FAU). When will the Birmingham media stop treating UAB like they are a top-tier college football program (we're looking at YOU Birmingham News and WJOX)? The Blazers don't deserve to be treated like they are one step behind Alabama and Auburn. They aren't even one step behind Troy. This was supposed to be the year Neil Callaway had the Blazers in Conference USA contention. They even, somehow, pulled 25,000 fans to Legion Field on a Thursday night. And then they lay an egg against a team that they destroyed 56-29 last year. UAB ranks 101 out of 119 FBS teams in winning percentage (that's 18 spots below Vanderbilt, if you're keeping score). Compare that to Alabama (6th), Auburn (16th) and Troy (43rd). Put a fork in the Blazers. They are done.
Contender - South Carolina (41-13 over Southern Miss). Every year since Steve Spurrier took the helm at South Carolina, Gamecock fans have been predicting success on the way to another eight-win season. This year, they might be right. Southern Miss was no great competition last night, but neither are they a team that surrenders a lot of 30-point blowouts. Carolina looked poised, confident and hungry last night. If they can get by Georgia next Saturday, they will prove themselves at least the second best team in the SEC East. After that, who knows?
Pretender - Pittsburgh (24-27 OT to Utah). The best thing that you can say about Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt is that he has put Pitt back into the conversation since taking over the Panthers. Unfortunately, they seem to take two steps back for every step forward. Pitt blew a golden opportunity at Utah last night to capitalize on a top 15 ranking, a moderately high-profile opponent, and a winnable game. Pitt will still probably win a game or two this year that they shouldn't, but this was an chance to prove that they could play with the big boys, and they blew it.
Tossup - USC (49-36 over Hawaii). For all the blows that USC has taken over the off-season, many prognosticators still predicted that the talent level at USC would put them in contention for a conference title this year, if not the national championship. Last night's game at Hawaii showed that the Trojans have lots of offensive talent for certain. On the defense, which Monte Kiffin is supposed to own, there is a lot of work to be done. Granted, USC did not do any contact work at all in fall camp due to low numbers and the Warriors did surprise the USC coaching staff by running the pistol formation rather than their customary spread. But giving up nearly 600 yards to Hawaii, and getting good and gassed doing it, does not bode well for the rest of the season.
Punching Bag of the Week - UAB (31-32 to FAU). When will the Birmingham media stop treating UAB like they are a top-tier college football program (we're looking at YOU Birmingham News and WJOX)? The Blazers don't deserve to be treated like they are one step behind Alabama and Auburn. They aren't even one step behind Troy. This was supposed to be the year Neil Callaway had the Blazers in Conference USA contention. They even, somehow, pulled 25,000 fans to Legion Field on a Thursday night. And then they lay an egg against a team that they destroyed 56-29 last year. UAB ranks 101 out of 119 FBS teams in winning percentage (that's 18 spots below Vanderbilt, if you're keeping score). Compare that to Alabama (6th), Auburn (16th) and Troy (43rd). Put a fork in the Blazers. They are done.
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