Goodbye, and Hello
I moved from Tuscaloosa to Orlando, FL back in 2005 during the lowest point of the Shula era. As a way to cope with being away from my home, I started AlabamaGameday. The blog has had some highs, including being mentioned on the Paul Finebaum show and having Shane from Centerpoint as a regular contributor. It’s also had lows, mainly being lost in a sea of sports blogs.
I’ve often taken vacations from blogging, and that’s no way to keep readers entertained. People want consistency. They want to know you’re going to be there every day, to give them something to read with their coffee or their lunch or their midnight snack. So I’ve had to decide once and for all; am I committed to this or not?
The answer is yes. And so I’ve partnered with the folks at the FanSided Network to become Bama Hammer. I cordially invite you to join us at our new home over there.
Why should you? Because like you, I’m a rabid fan of Alabama football. I love talking about the team, the game and how the Crimson Tide have been a part of what I am, for all of my life. We’re going to bring you news, analysis and commentary. We’re also gonna talk smack with you about Auburn, Tennessee and the rest of the SEC.
We want it to be a conversation, not a monologue. I know you probably comment on several Tide sites already. I’m not trying to compete or beat anyone. What I want is the same thing I want when I tailgate in Tuscaloosa: to celebrate the Tide with fellow fans.
Come join us. We’re looking forward to having you say hello.
BOOM or Settle Down?
Last weekend saw the Jedi vs Padawan matchup everyone was waiting for when Nick Saban stood across the field from former assistant Will Muschamp. In the end, the Jedi Master’s team crushed that of his pupil, and may have provided Muschamp with another lesson.
You may recall Muschamp’s exclamation while working the sidelines at Auburn. That celebratory moment was meant to fire up his team, and provided Muschamp a nickname that speaks to his style of coaching: brash, intimidating and emotional.
Contrast this with Nick Saban’s own F-bomb last weekend. He dropped it while doing something quite the opposite; trying to get his quarterback to control his own emotional outburst. Saban is a coach that preaches control and poise, and his team reflects this with its discipline.
After the game, there were reports of a Florida player assaulting former Alabama player Reggie Myles. Whatever the circumstances were, clearly emotion governed a player’s decision. This is the type story you don’t hear anymore about Alabama players.
It’s great to have emotion on the sidelines and on the field. But emotion should never be a team’s hallmark or what it counts on. Emotion is fleeting, while discipline remains in times of trial. When the game is on the line, a team is much better off with steady execution than emotional outbursts.
A lot of people think every game is about emotion. When you have emotional teams, you have teams that have severe ups and downs. When you have a team that has great competitive character and a bunch of guys that really want to do good and have some goals and aspirations for what they want to accomplish personally and collectively as a team, you've got a lot better chance to be consistent.
Consistency makes trap games less likely.
Operation: The AJ McCarron Edition
What GenXer didn’t love Operation? Nothing says good parenting like giving the kids an electrified metal board and a set of tweezers for a little pretend surgery. Here’s our special edition of the classic board game. Click for full size.
AJ McCarron settles the argument
From our nosebleed seats at the Florida game, we didn’t get to see Nick Saban aggressively coaching his starting quarterback to settle down. We did see what caused the admonishment.
After AJ McCarron scored on a quarterback draw, he jumped up and waved his arms, pumping up the crowd and drawing his coach’s ire. At this point the game was well in hand. Also settled was something that seemed a matter of controversy and doubt just a few weeks ago: whether McCarron would even be Alabama’s starting quarterback.
Fans debated the merits of starting McCarron over Phillip Sims during the offseason. When it was announced both players would split time for the opener against Kent State, the job still appeared to be up for grabs. Each had mixed results in that game, but since then, McCarron has assumed control of the team, and settled the controversy.
McCarron is playing behind an offensive line that seemed questionable in the early season. But the o-line was rock solid against the Gators, opening huge holes for Trent Richardson, and giving McCarron plenty of time to throw.
McCarron made mistakes, to be sure. He overthrew open receivers and on at least one occasion seemed to tighten up when making a short dump pass. But he managed the game well in a hostile environment, and overall his numbers were respectable.
During the 2009 championship run, Greg McElroy had a 60.6 completion percentage and a 179 QB rating. Through five games this year, McCarron is at 62.5% with a 134 rating. If he stays healthy, McCarron will improve as a passer and, more importantly in a Nick Saban offense – as a game manager.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, the starting job is McCarron’s. He earned it the old fashioned way: by performing on the field and by learning to settle down.
Settle down
Poise, people. HT: Gifulmination.com
Alabama vs. Florida postgame thoughts
The ears are still ringing and the voice is gone, but the memory of last nights crushing of Florida are still vivid. Alabama came into the Swamp with some doubters even after crushing Arkansas. Now there can be little doubt the Tide are perhaps the best team in the country. Some impressions from the game and the UF experience:
Gator fans were, overall, a good bunch. We had a few drunken louts yell at us, but overall it was a friendly rivalry. One group shouted derisively, “You sure you guys can find the stadium?” I turned back and replied, “I was looking for some national championship flags, but I can’t see any.”
Alabama’s offensive line played brilliantly. AJ McCarron had protection all night, and was able to go through his reads. He does need to settle down, and Coach Saban obviously agrees.
Trent Richardson is in the Heisman hunt. He’s the heart and soul of the offense, and when he has a head of steam, is impossible to bring down by one man. He’s simply a beast.
The Tide defense is terrifying. They got punched in the mouth on the first play of the game. And as one fan put it, the defense spit out a tooth, smiled, and proceeded to crush the Florida offense. They’ve now dominated two great offensive minds (Petrino and Weis). It’ll be interesting to see what Auburn’s sandlot playcalling can do with this group.
Alabama’s tradition is second to none. Fans at the game listened to the smack all day, and took it in stride. The Gator fans fled the stadium early in the fourth quarter, leaving us to cheer the team and yell Rammer Jammer.
Let us know your impressions of the game, whether you watched it in the stadium or on your couch.
Predictions for Week 5
I’ve been on hiatus for a few weeks as life tends to intrude on blogging. Actually, I have some picks that I never posted that will forever remain apocryphal. Greetings from sunny Orange Beach, where I will be taking in the football action while floating in the pool, playing putt putt with the kids, and eating until I can’t stand up.
Texas A&M vs Arkansas
This is a tough one to call. These two teams will be natural rivals in the new SEC after realignment. However, both have seen their Lofty expectations for the season crash early. I think the Hogs can beat aTm but this is on the road. Texas A&M 35 – Arkansas 32.
Mississippi State at Georgia
Here we see another team with crushed expectations against a team with no real sense of direction. Which is which, you may ask? MSU should have won the Auburn game and I think they will avenge that a bit today. I have given up picking Georgia even when I want them to win. MSU 32 – Georgia 24.
Kentucky at LSU
Kentucky has no chance of beating LSU. I hate to make absolute statements in college football but let’s not kid ourselves. LSU will win this game by, at least, three touchdowns. LSU 42 – Kentucky 10.
Buffalo at Tennessee
Tennessee looks to go 3-1 today against MAC weakling Buffalo. They will. Hopefully, UT’s public relations team (do they even teach that there) will keep Dooley off of the commentator shows afterward. Tennessee 38 – Buffalo 6.
Auburn at South Carolina
As “O for October” officially begins today for the Tigers they begin their slump on the road in South Carolina. If they let the Carolina guys make travel arrangements for them, at least we know they stayed in a nice hotel. South Carolina 28 – Auburn 17.
Alabama at Florida
I read one commentary that said Florida will win a lot of games with Muschamp but today would not be one of them. Let’s hope so. I think it could start off close but Alabama should pull away. Alabama 35 – Florida 24.
Ole Miss at Fresno State
Remember when Ole Miss won games? It’s hard to pick against the SEC in a game against a WAC team. I can’t do it but i am not convinced Ole Miss can win anything anymore after getting killed by Vandy. In fact, the Black Bears are the only weak link in my “O for October” prediction for Auburn. I’ll grit my teach and stay in conference today. Ole Miss 28 – Fresno State 24.
Ready to roll
The family is getting ready to drive up the road to Gainsville this morning. Crimson and white clothing is being set out like combat gear. There’s excitement in the air, but a purposefulness on everyone’s face. It’s gameday.
We’re going into enemy territory today for a game with national implications. Saban vs. Weis. Two SEC powerhouse teams with undefeated records. The Gator fans will be out in force, and we’re expecting no end of trash talk.
The kids have been instructed: no smack, no starting trouble. You’re an Alabama fan, and you’ll show class, right up until the game clock hits zero. Then, along with the other Tide fans, you can yell the Rammer Jammer as loudly as you want.
Let’s get ready to roll.
