Disrespecting Alabama

Go ahead America.  Give us your best shot.  You're falling right into our hands.

Mark Ingram won the 2009 Heisman Trophy.  He did so rushing for 6.2 yards per carry against a tough SEC schedule.  

If that were not enough, he followed up with 115 yards rushing, 76 yards receiving and three touchdowns against the number one ranked Florida defense.  

For those still not convinced, he racked up 116 yards and two touchdowns against the Longhorns who were ranked the number one rush defense in America.  He did that with leg cramps and a foot injury.

Yet with all that, there are talking heads out there who are calling him the worst Heisman winner in a generation.

Go ahead, give Ingram a reason to work even harder this offseason.

After Alabama vanquishes the undefeated and number one ranked Florida Gators in beat down fashion and following that up with a win against Texas in the national championship game, the press just wants to talk about Colt McCoy.

I was wondering what Alabama's motivation would be going into the offseason.  Alabama is getting respect from the pollsters, but they aren't getting it from everyone.   

Certainly Texas isn't convinced.  Apparently getting owned by Alabama's running game was meaningless.  

I guess Alabama's complete domination of their running game is a non-stat outside of the SEC.   

When Alabama went back to the regular game plan in the fourth quarter it resulted in two turnovers, both of which were converted to touchdowns.  Had every Texas TV been turned off by that time?  Does the game not last 60 minutes?

Auburn seems to have regained some swagger with their close game against the Tide.   No excuses from me, Alabama played poorly that day and Auburn played great. 

If close losses are meaningful to you then so be it.  But don't think you caught us at our best, and don't think we will make the same mistake twice.

I can already see news articles being clipped and hung on the wall in the weight room.  Telling us what we want to hear.  That you need more proof that Alabama is back.

Every season is a completely new team.   Winning a championship in 2009 does not guarantee anything for 2010.   A million factors go into winning big including luck and injuries.

But one thing will not change.  Alabama will play old fashioned football,  they will work hard in the weight room,  they will run until they can't run any more.   They will run the ball on you,  they will try and stop your run game.   They will come after your quarterback, and they will play physical for 60 minutes.

I know that's not as sexy as a pretty boy quarterback.  I know it's not as good of a story as hard work and sacrifice by a team of individuals.  But that's football.

So bring it on America.  We live for this.