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While it's been well documented that Nick Saban will do anything to win a few football games, I think it's just a sad commentary on the game of college football...

Alabama Fan Fantasy Land

by Mitch at sportschatplace.com (Senior Writer)

79

622 reads

Opinion

October 27, 2008


While it's been well documented that Nick Saban will do anything to win a few football games, I think it's just a sad commentary on the game of college football. While the success on the field is unquestioned, is it really worth the price the University of Alabama and its fans have paid for a few wins on the football field?

Now, I have been a fan of the game for quite some time. I have seen passion, and I live with a passion for the game. I am not delusional about the game as Crimson Tide fans have become in recent weeks.

While I know as well as anyone that winning is fun, what price are we willing to pay to win? At Alabama they have answered the question as: win at any cost, even at the cost of our dignity, and standards as an institution of higher learning.

Alabama had 10 players arrested this off season. I am not sure why head coach Nick Saban walks so easily with this track record.

While we hear Bama fans talking about the next big game or talking about winning the SEC, we rarely hear them talk about the absolute laughing stock their program has become in the eyes of the nation.

Sure the networks will ignore the stories, and act like it never happens, but how can we the public ignore it? It's not like we're talking about players who were at the school 15 years ago. These were players who were under the watchful eye of their head coach, Nick Saban.

I know as well as anyone that kids will be kids, and boys will be boys. But selling drugs to a federal agent, and assault with a deadly weapon, among other crimes go far beyond that. This is now the norm for the University of Alabama's football program.

And while these acts are happening, Alabama fans act as if it's OK. and rebound of sorts. On Bleacher Report, a member who goes by the name of 12 said," Alabama is headed in the right direction, academically and on the field, whether you will admit it or not, and Nick Saban is a major reason for that turn around in both areas."

I am not sure what a 49 percent graduation rate, and 10 off season arrests, is in the right direction. He sure said that with very strong conviction, strong enough that I have to believe it is what he really believes. So be it.

Another Alabama fan at Bleacher Report, Ctrl+Alt+Del, seems to believe twisted facts about other teams players in the past make Saban's behavior OK. For example he says, "Let's talk about Willie Williams who had 11 juvenile arrests before the Maker Of Thugs accepted him with no questions asked. Wow, 11 arrests and Thug U. welcomed him in like he was just their type of player."

While he is correct about Willie Williams record as a youth, what he fails to acknowledge was that Willie Williams had a stellar academic record and was given a very short leash. Miami took a chance on him. When Willie did so little as miss a study hall, he was thrown out of the school immediately.

Another Tide backer, Snu, believes that benching a player who is known around campus as a drug dealer is sufficient punishment. He says on the matter, "Jimmy Johns may have been in the game for a handful of plays last year...so what. Obviously Saban knew the kid was a punk and kept him off the field for the majority of the season even though his Athletic ability could have helped the Tide win—that's called discipline."

I'm not sure that is what the federal justice system considers discipline, and neither do I.

In any event, these are just a handful of quotes and it certainly isn't a representation of all of the fans of the University of Alabama. It is obviously the feelings of some, and it makes a very sad statement about the state of the game today.

 

 

 

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79 comments Last one added 8 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Jason Capley 8 months ago

    Alabama had a GSR of 77. This year they were tops in the SEC even over Vandy.

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 8 months ago

      according the the NCAA for their football team it is 49%.

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    • trey 8 months ago

      Exactly. Bama had the highest rate in the sec under the recent figures. And I don't see you providing a source for yours either. The players with problems were turds, and not even sabans. He kicked them off instantly. The other arrests were bs charges at bars and over half were thrown out.

      Just admit that saban is a great coach and great developer and stop sounding like a petty school girl

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 8 months ago

      you know trey, this is the problem I'm having here. You write some pretty solid stuff in a short span and then you throw in a person dig which makes your whole comment just silly.
      Personally I think you are spot on with the first part of the comments and if someone would have said this from the get go in the other article i think it would have ended there, instead, ALabama fans think it's their right to make personal jabs at people they don't know and are really thin skinned themselves.

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  2. Jason Capley 8 months ago

    These numbers were released by the NCAA The 14th. Check it out.
    http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20081014/NEWS/810140232

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  3. Jason Capley 8 months ago

    AS far as the thugs go. Those canes of yours have been notorious for off the field problems. No excuses, but most of the tide players that were in trouble have been either reprimanded or kicked off the team. Oh yeah, most of our seniors have already graduated.

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 8 months ago

      actually it's on the field problems, off the field few and far between. None even closely resembling those at Alabama., not that it excuses anything.

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  4. 12 8 months ago

    The readers of this article should check out the whole mess started by this jerk miamimitchdotcom. The article linked below was written as a tribute to Alabama Football past and present. Miamimitchdotcom decided to hijack the thread by spewing hate toward Nick Saban and the Alabama program. I posted the following:

    "You know, I really try to ignore you most of the time, but this one is really unnecessary. It was 1992-1993 Mitch, let it go. You lost, so move on. You've had over 15 years to heal. Jealousy is such a cheap characteristic displayed in all of your negative Alabama responses, and you wonder why people like Thomas call you names, prompting you to cry to BT to "make it stop". Get over it Mitch. Miami will be back one day... there's no need for you to be a crybaby about Alabama's success. Your persistence at trashing the Alabama football program is old and tired. If you don't have anything good to say, just crawl back in your hole and be quiet".

    You can read the rest of the rant on the post "2008 Alabama Team Mirrors Teams of the Past", linked below.

    Miamimitchdotcom has a knack for spin, and you will see what I mean when you read the posts I am referring to. There was no need for this jerk to comment in the manner he did, and his comments had absolutely no relevance to the topic. His only agenda was to disrupt the topic and hijack the thread, which he did successfully.

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/73502-2008-alabama-mirrors-teams-of-the-past

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 8 months ago

      Feel free to write whatever you like, and let them read it. The rest of the world doesn't live in a cave. they can draw their own conclusions.

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 8 months ago

      I like the way you call stating facts spewing hate, , you are very funny and I like your humorous take of the world.
      Thanks for your comments, I appreciate your input.

      Please remember to vote for this as post of the day and add yourself as fan :)

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    • 12 8 months ago

      What you're not seeming to get through your head is the fact that you had no business making the comment you made in this particular article. Think what you want about Nick Saban and the University of Alabama, but have some respect for a fellow writer by not hijacking his article because of your twisted disdain for Nick Saban. It was unnecessary and uncalled for.

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 8 months ago

      pot or kettle?

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    • 12 8 months ago

      Pot or kettle? Are you trying to say I have no business commenting here? You called me out in your article, so I have every right to respond. Nobody pulled your chain on the article I mentioned, that's the difference. You'll never get it. I think you must be too dense.

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 8 months ago

      lol...the other article...you are fine here..

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  5. 12 8 months ago

    The irony of this is that Miamimitchdotcom is a Miami fan, yes THUG U! MIAMI! Can anyone believe he has the audacity to attack another program after the arrest records of players of UM? He has the nerve to talk about another team's problems? Altie did a great job of shutting this jerk up by posting THUG U's past arrests, you can read it for yourself in the article mentioned above. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

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  6. Jason Capley 8 months ago

    Miamimitch I just want you to have current info. Where did you get your info? Where is Miami located?

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  7. Jason Capley 8 months ago

    I mean their GRAD rate.

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    • adam blackburn 8 months ago

      Mitch! Just wanted to let you know that the link you posted from rivals.com is for the 2007 season in which saban had nothing to do with the previous 3 years leading up to "graduation" in 2007 Also graduation was b4 he was even at the school for 5 months in 2007 as it is in May !! another graduation is held in December which would be 2 months after this report came out. I assume that the october 3 07 report would be refering to the May 9th graduation, not predicting the future of the Dec. Graduation. The guy had to step in after a coach that would ONLY clap his hands and frown a pitiful frown like an upset infant if anyone on his team did anything wrong(watch tape of M.Shula if you think im wrong)so no disiplne there obvoiusly. Having only 5 months to right a ship that had been going wrong for 3 and a half years is hard. You and i both know that similar to dating a girl, people can mislead you about there charcter if you only know them for a short period of time. As i think Jimmy Johns and others did to Saban,but after a year(as is usually true in dating)the true colors of a person come out. I remember hearing that J.J. had been arrested on a talk show at about 9:15 in the morning and by 10:00 saban had a conference dismissing him,one of the most toughted ATH recruits of his graduating class J.J. was let go even b4 his trial which lots of coachs would not do. Innocent until proven guilty!!!! Not Nick Guilty if arrested!! All in all he may not be perfect but no one is! He values education, as he must,but even still you are going to have retards that just havent grown up yet playing for you. As a recruiter you expect a High School senior to be a little immature and then you also expect then to mature by the time there freshman year is done. Truth be known some just dont and ALL schools including Yale, Harvard and other very Academic based school have dropouts and arrests, good football team or not!! Duke Lacrosse perfect example!!!!

      Thank you for allowing me to comment on your writing.MAB

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 8 months ago

      Adam,

      I a with you on most of this and I get it, why most Alabama fans think that it's better to make personal accusations about the person stating facts instead of actually refuting or defending them by giving examples of how the ship was righted is nuts and what propted me to write this article.

      I appreciate the sanity.

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  8. Jason Capley 8 months ago

    So do you analyze any other teams as hard as you do Bama?

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    • 12 8 months ago

      The answer to that is an obvious no. Miamimitchdotcom is beside himself that Bama has been successful so far this season, and it's killing him. He is obsessed with hating on Nick Saban, partly because Saban left a miserably failing Miami Dolphins NFL team because he was tired of dealing with those "Multi million dollar babies". Bama fans can see first hand what Nick Saban is doing, both academically in the football program, and on the field, no matter what this pompous jerk says. Bama is on the way back to being one of the premier football programs in the NCAA, and this jerk can't stand it.

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 8 months ago

      Thank you for your description of me as a person you know so well, I will be sure to add these to my profile. :)

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    • 12 8 months ago

      My description of you is as miamimitchdotcom the blogger. I say what I mean, and I can only comment on what I have read concerning your posts on BR, which have been many. You are abrasive and rude, not only in your comments concerning Bama posts, but many others as well. For some reason you have an extremely high opinion of yourself as a blogger and you are constantly bragging on yourself. I only know what I read on here, and to me you are a self serving jerk.

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 8 months ago

      Please find 1 comment where I am "bragging on myself" if you are going to quote me then quote me. If you are going to make things up well....that's what we're used to hearing from you....

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  9. Jason Capley 8 months ago

    That info is from 10/3 the latest info was released on 10/14. The info you're getting is actually from years ago.

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 8 months ago

      2007, the 2008 info hasn't been released team by team and you know that, that's why you asked me for my source..

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 8 months ago

      the only specific info is the #'s are down dreadfully and the NCAA has formed a special committee to address football specifically.

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    • Jason Capley 8 months ago

      I asked you because my info was released on the 14th and yours was released on the 3rd. That makes my info more up to date.

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    • 12 8 months ago

      Don't flatter yourself miamimitchdotcom. You're not worth the effort. I know what I've read by you for several months, and my opinion above is spot on. You're a self serving braggart. One comment that comes to mind is your comment that everyone who didn't agree with you about Tommy Bowden was delusional, and you bragged on yourself by predicting his demise. Who the hell cares? Everyone knew Bowden was a horrible coach. But you acted like you had some inside info that made you the know all see all. You're a pompous jerk.

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 8 months ago

      thank you for your editorial on me as a person as you know me, I will be sure to use your spot on first hand biographical interpretation of me as a business reference for years to come.
      this is all your opinion, I have yet to see you back up one shred of what you say. Let's look at what everyone said when I wrote my Tommy Bowden article and where once did I say I was a know all.

      I mean same as what happened with this issue, I stated facts, they called me names and said I was wrong because I critcised their program and head coach:

      http://bleacherreport.com/articles/46617-are-georgia-and-clemson-rankings-just-a-mirage

      or this one: still searching for this know it all thing you are talking about

      http://bleacherreport.com/articles/52694-hear-that-pin-drop-where-are-all-the-clemson-football-fans

      if you mean a different opinion than you well I have one, not any of the other unsubstantiated claims you make.

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    • 12 8 months ago

      Here's one good example among many others...me me me...my blog, my articles...talk about a self serving pompous jerk! I don't have the time or the desire to search for more, but I know what I have read by you, and I know you have a very high opinion of yourself, exemplified by this post as well as many others. Humility goes a long way...you should try it sometime, instead of crowing "I told you and everybody else so" comments. You've done this time and time again. Nobody else will tell you how great you are, so you have to try and tell the world how great you are yourself.

      "BT, on August 12th of this year, while the rest of the world had Clemson #9 and had given the Georgia Bulldogs an undefeated season and BCS Title I published this article both on my blog and here on bleacher (for those playing at home you can check my profile and it's really 1 of the first articles I ever posted on Bleacher), in any event I was roasted by Tigernet and received thousands of hits on my old blog (the article has since been transferred intact). Now that ESPN says it's OK for you and I to be right and the world has jumped on board they can feel free to read the article that meade me one the most hated writers on the Internet over 3 weeks before the season started..."

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 8 months ago

      and he article that comment came on?????
      the tommy bowden got fired article.
      I made a prediction (just like a predict a long probationary period for Alabama by the way) , I was crucified for it by bleacher people, tigernet (the clemson fan site), and by others and sure enough as it turns out the facts that I used to formulae the article were correct once. Now there it was several months later and the only person who agreed with me at the time BT, writes an article and here come all of the bandwagon jumpers.
      In other words, do you have a point and if it is that i am this ego maniac i don't see it there, I've posted 924 comments according to that stat thing, if I am who you say I am surely you can do a lot better than that...actually I know you can't.

      thanks for reading my articles and being a fan. I appreciateall that you do to make this site a successful for everyone who contributes.

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    • 12 8 months ago

      I made, I, I ,I, Me Me Me, I'm so great nobody can criticize me, because I'm the great miamimitchdotcom with a blog site.

      Thank you miamimitchdotcom for reminding us all that you are the greatest blogger on earth, that your opinion is the only one that matters, that all Bama fans are delusional, and that Bama is headed for the crapper because Nick Saban is a bad bad man, who encourages his players to break the law and get into all kinds of trouble so his job will be made more difficult in the long run. It has been a pleasure exchanging views with you. I wish you well in your continued bashing of the University of Alabama Football program, and in your obsessive hatred of coach Nick Saban. This has been one of the most successful articles you have ever written on BR...just look at all the comments. That's certainly something you aren't used to. Keep obsessing about Nick Saban and Alabama...you seem to bring out the best in people when you do. It certainly shows your outstanding ability as a blogger. I will ignore you from now on, your snide negative comments about UA and CNS, something I have been successful doing for many months, but this one drew me in. I can assure you it won't happen again.

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 8 months ago

      There is a huge difference between have a different opinion and making personal judgements and statements about someone you don't know which I think everyone who reads these comments will agree. I appreciate you reading my articles and contributing to our community.

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  10. Jason Capley 8 months ago

    Seems that when I make a good point you don't respond.

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 8 months ago

      no, I wasn't ignoring you, I was just responding to my friend and fan above... he'll be gone for a while now as he's imagined something that never has happened so he's not going to be able to find what he's looking for.

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  11. Jason Capley 8 months ago

    You just keep responding to 12.

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  12. Jason Capley 8 months ago

    I said this up top but the latest info was released after the info that you have.

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  13. Snu 8 months ago

    Wow!!! The disgruntled old man decided to dedicate a whole article taking cheap shots at Bama and a few B/R Bama fans... how sweet :)

    Hahaha, your level of immaturity is stunning! How an old ass man like yourself possesses such a lack of integrity, wisdom, and respect that you stoop to this level is beyond me. Honestly man you need to grow up. You obviously seem to think that because you spend all of your time writing articles on the internet it somehow makes you a credible writer. Newsflash: It does not. You are NO BETTER than ANY other person on this website and your lame attempts at boosting your ego are pathetic and laughable for someone your age. You're an old man with nothing better to do than try and degrade a successful football program (I believe they call that Jealousy)... and ON THE INTERNET nonetheless, because God knows nobody in their right minds would listen to anything you had to say in real life. I imagine smack-talking via blog sites gets you off (which means you probably need to find a woman..... soon), and most likely this is what you live for. To each his own I suppose!

    Go ruin your credibility elsewhere please, the Bleacher Report community and the rest of its writers have no need for your childish hate tactics.

    Oh, and as for you link to the Grad rates, those are from 2007 as is clearly visible at the top of that page. Nice try though.

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 8 months ago

      thank you for your insightful and colorful commentary. I am glad you know enough about me to know so much about me, i am so thankful to have a friend and fan like you. I enjoy reading all of your hard work you contribute to make this site successful. please be sure to add yourself as a fan and give this post the old POTD 5 stars!

      thanks again,

      Mitch :)

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 8 months ago

      I would like you to share any smack talk comments I have made....pot or kettle?

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    • Snu 8 months ago

      I don't claim to know you, I just state what I see and what you clearly project in your comments/articles. I'll use your responses in this "article" as a quick example:

      You post an article solely for the purpose of bashing a few members of B/R and their team (already you are off to a bad start), clearly fishing for a response (which your over-inflated fake internet ego received -- surprise), then try and use sarcasm as an attempt to make it seem like you are the one having to defend yourself, thus making you seem like the "good guy". Dude, that bullshit doesn't work and definitely does not make you any better. In fact, it only stacks up the evidence against you and further proves my point that you are nothing more than an old, pretentious, wannabe sportswriter whose age is starting to take a toll on mental capacity. Spend your retirement time elsewhere, please.

      Go ahead, prove me right. Throw some more sarcasm this way and make yourself look even more foolish. Destroy what little credibility you may still have left. I think I've made my point and will not respond further.

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 8 months ago

      I did not make one personal statement about you, I quoted what you said. you in tun who have nothing to say, contribute to this community except to walk around and critique other people who state facts about what you don't want to hear.
      Call me old, call me names, I do not care and will not stoop to your level. I didn't bash anyone, I raised a question and stated facts.
      thank you for reading my article and contributing more material. Feel free to add yourself as a fan.

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  14. Jason Capley 8 months ago

    The info came from the Tuscaloosa News. I posted the link up top.

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  15. Jason Capley 8 months ago

    yours is from rivals. thats not. the ncaa

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  1. Jason Capley 8 months ago

    And those numbers represent 98-2001.

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 8 months ago

      Do me a favor, Have 12, Ctrl+Alt+Del, snu and yourself go over to rivals and go blast that witer for being a liar too, or is it just a persoanl vendetta against me?

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  2. Jason Capley 8 months ago

    The NCAA website has not been updated yet. But even their number is 55 as compared to your 49. The Avg is 53.

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  3. Jason Capley 8 months ago

    In case you didn't know, RIVALS is not the NCAA. So don't get your info from some writer on RIVALS, go to the source. You have just lost a bit of credibility by using another writers info and noting it.

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 8 months ago

      I know the NCAA website, there is a link to it on my blog.
      They say their source is the NCAA.they didn't say they were their own source. obviously you don't care about the facts or finding them out, I a just as interested to see it from the NCAA as you are. Do you think I really care? I just wrote this article in less than 5 minutes to show the world what kind of statements these people make and actually think they are right. they are laughable so why not let the rest of the world enjoy a good laugh as well. I mean look at Snu's comments, nothing but personal attacks while I don't say anything personal about them in any post. 12 rips me for being part of the community yet he is what you call a parasite, contributes nothing and just lives off of everyone else's material and walks around making personal judgements about people and aside from not knowing one thing about that personn he doesn't even have the spine to put his own work out there and hides behind some helmet picture like I had on my wall when I was 7 because he obviously isn't proud of who he is, we all know people like this in real life.

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    • 12 8 months ago

      The only person I have ever made any personal judgement about on Br is you. You seem to bring out the worst in me. Your comments reek of hatred toward my team, and my team's coach, and if that insults you, too bad. You came into an article to spew your insults, and that was wrong and uncalled for. If you had been man enough to admit that to all of us participating, instead of sending an apology to the writer incognito, things would have developed differently. You had no business saying what you said. The helmet comment was just comical and lame. I've told you before I am not a writer, but I contribute to other works on BR, and those writers, not bloggers but writers, always apperciate my supportive comments. I also participate in several rankings opportunities that I have been asked to participate in. So it's not a matter of having the "spine" to put my work out there, I just don't write. It's not a talent I possess, and I'm not ashamed to admit that. I'm extremely proud of who I am in "real life", and I don't need your approval or anyone elses to know that. That comment would get your tail kicked if you were man enough to say that to my face. But you wouldn't be the type to stand up like a man, that I'm sure of.

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 8 months ago

      you comments reek of truth and facts that you don't want to hear, nothing more. I have never made a personal remark about anyone, especially someone I don't know, that is reserved for low life know it alls.

      I am not sorry for repeating facts nor will I ever be, I am sorry that you and the other Alabama fans took reading my comments to a personal level and used profanity in someone else's post.

      You and your buddies made personal accusations about me and continue to do so, I really don't care (I mean c'mon look at the source) and published this article to let the public be the judge, I don't see them rushing to back you.

      You don't like bloggers, well then you don't like 50% of the bleacher writers then and many you are probably listed as a fan of. You use that as a derogatory term (i think) but it 's actually a comliment and I am happy to be a blogger as are most. It means someone who writes about a subject they are passionate about. And yes I do!

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  4. Jason Capley 8 months ago

    ncaa.org

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  5. Jason Capley 8 months ago

    and not noting it. Sorry missed a word.

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  6. thomas moreland 8 months ago

    pick of the day not because of the content of the article but the blasts and controversy mitch seems to generate was entertaining!! lol all of a sudden i don t feel so left out blasting mitch!! i was out of line though i should learn to try to reason with people instead of just wanting to knock them out! lol. people s record should not be held against them! people deserve a chance to make things right and sometimes they learn sometimes they don t. coaches all want to win and if the school lets players play! blast the school , not the coach. he there to work with whats he got the best way he can. and blast the system not the players ! if they are free then obviously they are not a big threat to society right? if they were guilty of all this crime they would be in jail right? bobby bowden had some trouble with players too but they are all good boys right? people make miostakes and people pay for these mistakes for a long time ! live and let live mitch! whats all this have to do with who plays good football? lol

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 8 months ago

      probably the smartest words spoken here tonight and I think if one of them would have admitted what a prison camp was being run and that it wasn't something that would be tolerated long term I may have respected it, what I got instead was denial and personal insults. I have apologized here before and I wrote an apology on the original authors profile shortly after 12 started on his 2 day rant of utter nonsense.

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  7. Jason Capley 8 months ago

    http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=rivals-247989&prov=rivals&type=lgns
    There's an article from you RIVALS, still no mention of 49%. I was not on here to attack you. I wanted to see what you had to say. You just got fired up from a couple of YEEHAWS posting their emotional rants. I'm here to have discussions.

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  8. 12 8 months ago

    You should have made a public apology so the rest of us could have seen it...that just might have gotten you a shred of respect. Instead you continue to spew your garbage. You're pathetic and obsessed. Get over it.

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  9. Jason Capley 8 months ago

    I still didn't see the 49% though.

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  10. Jason Capley 8 months ago

    Look every program has its problems. Alabama has had its share. When recruiting film doesn't give a coach any kind of insight into what kind of person a player will turn out to be. I know that these problems happened under Saban, but he did not recruit any of the players that were in trouble. He gave some of those players another shot and some he relieved them of their duties. We are a work in progress. I think you should realize that us Bama fans haven't really had something to be excited about in a long time. This year has been a surprise for our fans and we are excited to be recognized and back in the picture. Roll Tide!

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  11. Ctrl-Alt-Del 8 months ago

    Really guys, this clown is nothing more than a troll. Read about him here:

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/73977-the-crapification-of-bleacher-report

    LOL.

    Us 'Bama fans have put up with far worse than him as a normal operating procedure type of thing just because we are 'Bama fans. Auburn fans are professionals and make this guy seem amatuerish in his blatant bait posts.

    Let's not give him the satisifaction of responses and after this post, if we don't all just to his threads, he will shrivel up and leave this area of BR.

    Definition of a troll:

    An "Internet troll" or "Forum Troll" is a person who posts outrageous message to bait people to answer. Trolls delight in sowing discord on the forums. A troll is someone who inspires flaming rhetoric, someone who is purposely provoking and pulling people into flaming discussion. Flaming discussions usually end with name calling and a flame war.

    A classic troll tries to make us believe that he is a skeptic. He is divisive and argumentative with need-to-be-right attitude, "searching for the truth", flaming discussion, and sometimes insulting people or provoking people to insult him. A troll is usually an expert in reusing the same words of its opponents and in turning it against them.

    While he tries to present himself as a skeptic looking for truth ... his messages usually sound as if it is the responsibility of other forum members to provide evidence that what forum is all about is legitimate.

    He (and in at least 90% of cases it is he) tries to start arguments and upset people.

    Sometimes, he is skeptical, trying to scare people, trying to plant fear in their hearts. Sometimes, Internet troll is trying to spin conflicting information, is questioning in an insincere manner, flaming discussion, insulting people, turning people against each other, harassing forum members, ignoring warnings from forum moderators.

    Trolling is a form of harassment that can take over a discussion. Well meaning defenders can create chaos by responding to trolls. The best response is to ignore it, or to report a message to a forum moderator. Ubuntuforums moderators usually move troll messages to the jail and may even ban trolls after a few unheeded warnings. Negative emotions stirred up by trolls leak over into other discussions. Normally affable people can become bitter after reading an angry interchange between a troll and his victims, and this can poison previously friendly interactions between long-time users.

    Finally, trolls create a paranoid environment, such that a casual criticism by a new arrival can elicit a ferocious and inappropriate backlash.

    When trolls are completely ignored they sometimes step up their attacks, desperately seeking the attention they crave. Their messages become more and more foul, and they post ever more of them. Alternatively, they may protest that their right to free speech is being curtailed.

    Syntax and grammar. Trolls, particularly Deceptives, invariably have trouble hiding their writing styles. Puppet accounts, or serial accounts created after previous accounts have been thoroughly discredited, will display traits similar to that of the TiQ.

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  12. 12 8 months ago

    Yes, Bama has had problems, but nothing near what miamimitchdotcom's beloved Thug U has had. Here is a sample of Altie's comments on the article that miamimitchdotcom hijacked: 2008 Alabama Mirrors Teams of the Past. Check out the link...this is just the beginning. No University can compare to the troubles that Thug U has had. As I have said before, people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/73502-2008-alabama-mirrors-teams-of-the-past

    Here you go, Mitch. I am looking up some of Thug U.'s problems on my own since you refuse to help out. Sorry Coach Saban left Miami, by the way, I bet you would like to physically beat him with your tiny little effeminate fists wouldn't you?

    Let's play:

    Kenard Lang
    - Founder of the popular “taking a dump” celebration after a quarterback sack.

    Dan Morgan
    - Rumored to have been barred from Miami weight room after Romanowski-esque lifting sessions and techniques.

    Jerome McDougle
    - Shot in attempted carjacking.

    Antrell Rolle
    – Arrested on charges of battery after road-rage brawl.

    Jeremy Shockey
    - Called Bill Parcells a "homo."
    - Told Maxim he fantastizes about having a "three-some with a mother and her two twins."

    Kellen Winslow, Jr.
    - After a college game against Tennessee said, "this is war. I don't give a flying you know what about a Vol. They don't give a freaking you know what about you. They will kill you. So I'm going to kill them. All you take this down. We don't care about nobody but this U. We don't. If I didn't hurt him, he'd hurt me. They're gunning for my legs, I'll come right back at them. I'm a f****** soldier."
    - After sitting out most of rookie season with a torn ACL, was injured for his entire second season following a motorcycle crash caused by an attempt to perform difficult tricks.

    Jamaal Green
    - Arrested on felony battery charges after reportedly breaking the jaw and orbital of a student who had dropped a drink on Green’s date.

    Edgerrin James
    - Told ESPN: The Magazine that he enjoys buying crack for people and watching them get high.
    - Willingly signed with the Arizona Cardinals.

    Phillip Buchanon
    - Calls himself “Showtime”
    - Refers to himself in the third person
    - Once showed up to Raiders training camp in a fancy pajama suit with a five-inch Playboy medallion around his neck.
    - Publicly ripped Raiders franchise moments before final game of 2004 season.

    Bryant McKinnie
    - Held out for eight months to begin NFL career.
    - Charged in Vikings sex boat scandal. According to the official charges “[McKinnie] picked up a naked woman, placed her on the bar in the lounge and commenced to perform oral sex on her. … At a different time during the evening, [witnesses] saw Mr. McKinnie along with three other unidentified males receiving oral sex from four women while the men were seated in deck chairs on the boat.”
    - Arrested after fight at Bobby & Steve’s Auto World in September of 2005.

    Ray Lewis
    - Charged with double-murder following Super Bowl-night shooting in Atlanta. Later pled guilty to obstruction of justice. No persons were ever convicted of the murders, despite belief that both Lewis accomplices were guilty.
    - Have you ever seen him "Mic'd Up"?

    Michael Irvin
    - Is Michael Irvin.

    Najeh Davenport
    - Arrested for allegedly breaking into a Barry University dorm room, squatting in closet and defecating in a laundry basket.

    Sean Taylor (?)
    - Left mandatory NFL rookie symposium after four hours.
    - Fired his agents one week after signing an $18 million contract.
    - Arrested for DWI following Rod Gardner’s birthday party.
    - Accused of spitting on Bengals receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
    - Was only Redskins player to skip mini-camp prior to 2005 season.
    - Refused to return Joe Gibbs’ phone calls following rookie season.
    - Arrested for assault following an incident in which he allegedly pointed a gun at two men suspected of stealing his ATVs. After leaving the scene, Taylor reportedly returned with a baseball bat and punched one of the men in the face.
    - Spit in the face of Bucs RB Michael Pittman during playoff game and was ejected.

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 8 months ago

      THank you for pointing out what players did after they were no longer at the U, what this has to do with the Alabama program being a sham doesn't make any sense to me. If you want to write an article about Jerome McDougal getting shot after he turned pro because someone tried to carjack his car then go ahead.
      As I just look at another as I'm not going to read this I am not sure what the minnesota vikings has to do with Alabama football players holding up other students at gun point.
      Nice job 12, keep up the good work. I appreciate all of your kind words and cherish our friendship.

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  13. Jason Capley 8 months ago

    So if you don't care what these people think why do you keep responding to the people that are slinging personal attacks. I've been here trying to have a discussion and you just keep adding fuel to the fire for the others. The last article I posted stated UA had gsr of 77 for the whole athletic program and the football program had a gsr of 80, which was tops in sec. The article never said anything about a 49% grad rate.

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 8 months ago

      It doesn't come from the NCAA, there are different ways to state the facts, lets see them when they are released. If they are better than so be it, I have nothing personal against ALabama or most of their fans (except the ones who think the best way to refute facts is with personal jabs and accusations).
      I appreciate the input but I don't see it the facts, when I do I will be the first to write the article about how the program has really turned itself around.

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  14. Jason Capley 8 months ago

    That article was an AP article and was posted on RIVALS.

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    • Mitch at sportschatplace.com 8 months ago

      well then you better grab the cavalry and tell them all about what kind of people they are and what kind of shop they run over there because I'm just quoting them.

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  15. Nic Gulas 8 months ago

    You know, for a guy of your age who has "been a fan of the game for quite some time," you sure do whine like a little girl about things that don't go your way. Alabama is sitting at 8-0 right now, with the former Dolphins head coach, and all you can do week after week is make snide remarks about Saban and the Tide. Grow up and grow a pair, I dont care in what order.

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  1. Franklin Crittenden 8 months ago

    Gee miamimitchdotcom, you have a lot of issues. Is there any particular reason for your hard feelings toward Alabama and Nick Saban?

    I can't think of any reasons, can you?

    I am sure your article was written with an unbiased pen.

    It is hard to take someone serious when their motives are so obvious.

    Please stick to writing about the Hurricanes. Maybe someday some will care enough about them to actually read one of them.

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  2. Franklin Crittenden 8 months ago

    Ha! You first!

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