Author Archives: TonyOrlando
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.
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.
SEC week 4 predictions
After going 7-0 last week, we’re 16-2 overall for the season. Some big games this weekend in the SEC, including the big one against the Gators. Here’s how we see this week shaping up.
Alabama vs. Florida A season hangs in the balance for both 4-0 teams. Florida under Will Muschamp is shifting from the Meyer aerial attack to a smashmouth SEC team. Muschamp’s mentor will be on the opposite sideline trying to shut down the Gator running game and force Florida to pass downfield into the heart of their violent defensive secondary. Alabama is a little dinged up, but if both teams bring their best game, this one could be a classic. Alabama 37-20
Mississippi State vs. Georgia A couple of .500 Bulldog teams meet in Athens, and we’ll get a chance to see in which direction each team is headed. As last week, we think Georgia will simply out-talent MSU. Georgia 24-12
Texas A&M vs. Arkansas An old SWC rivalry renews with A&M joining the SEC, and we get to see how the Hogs bounce back from being crushed last week in Tuscaloosa. Get ready to chant S-E-C… Arkansas 30-28
Kentucky vs. LSU This thing is going to look like a crime scene for two reasons. LSU is going to slaughter Kentucky, but still the Bayou Bengals will flop all over the field like a schoolbus exploded. LSU 40-10
Buffalo vs. Tennessee Derek Dooley was auditioning for his broadcast job last weekend, but actually gets to look like a decent coach this week. Tennessee 24-7
Auburn vs. South Carolina A rough October for the Tigers begins against Spurrier and the Gamecocks. This one should be fun, Tide fans. S. Carolina 30-16
Ole Miss vs. Fresno State Remember when Fresno State was good? Yeah, we don’t either. Ole Miss 17-9
