This Saturday, the two best teams the SEC has to offer will face off in a battle not only for pride, but for a trip to the BCS National Championship game. The stories behind the two teams couldn't be more different.
On one hand, you have a rising tide that is Alabama, rising from the ashes like a phoenix with a perfect record.They are ready to reclaim their spot as the rulers of the SEC Western division and restore themselves to national prominence, a spot that once was thought to be a birth right for the Crimson Nation.
On the other hand you have the Florida Gators. They are fierce, lightning fast, and appear to be unstoppable. Since their loss earlier this season to Ole Miss they have beat every opponent by at least 30 points, and punished Georgia, LSU and South Carolina, beating them by a combined total of 119 points. Florida looks to remind people that while they didn't win the SEC East last year they are still the reigning power.
The stories couldn't be more different, and no surprise neither could the philosophies of the two teams.
Alabama is has been through the Nick Saban school of discipline. They Tide has an air of seriousness to them that hasn't been felt since the Bear. They take each game one at a time, and break their opponents will.
Bama uses the old SEC stand bye for success a smash-mouth running game combined with a stout, opportunistic defense. Their offensive game-plan is simple enough, we are going to match our big guys with yours, and impose our will upon you by running the ball down your throat.Their defensive philosophy, is even simpler if they can't score on you then they can't beat you. The Tide has allowed just 138 points in 12 games, or about 11.5 points per game.
While the Tide is a blue collar team, who relies on pounding the ball, Florida is flashy. The Gators steam roll their opponents with blazing speed and impenetrable defense. The Gators are in the top ten in both scoring offense and defense. The Gators thrive off emotion, a big sack, long return, or partially blocked punt is all the Gators need to get the momentum rolling, and once they are started the Gators can't be stopped. The slightest change in moment will open the flood gates. The Gators seem to score at will, ripping big gains both in the air or on the ground from their spread offense.
Both Bama and Florida have tremendous play makers. The Tide is lead defensively by tackling machine Rolando McClain, and the one man wrecking crew of Rashad Johnson. Johnson has picked off 5 passes this season and returned two for touchdowns. Johnson doesn't just pick off passes, he terrorizes opposing receivers and even running backs as he patrols the entire field. McClain is a force in the middle of the field for Alabama, and leads the team in tackles.
Offensively Bama's o-line is anchored by gargantuan left tackle Andre Smith and Senior Center Antoine Caldwell. The big guys up front for the Tide provide immense holes, allowing for Bama's dynamic duo of Coffee and Ingram to runn all over and around opposing defenses.
The Gator's are lead by the defending Heisman trophy winner, and dual threat quarterback Tim Tebow. Tebow's massive physique makes him difficult to bring down, not to mention he can throw the ball a country mile. Tebow's favorite target is Percy Harvin or the Flash. Harvin can line up at wide out or running back and cause headaches for the opposing team.
78 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment
mindi green 7 months ago
(standing on chair applauding) ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!!!!!!!!!
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JoeGator Gator 7 months ago
(standing on chair rolling up cuffs on my pants) Go Gators!!!!!!!!
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JoeGator Gator 7 months ago
[Excellent write-up Cody... and Little Nickie is a good coach, but it just ain't happnin' fa yawl this year... sorry]
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Cody Dockens 7 months ago
Mindi, I agree Roll Tide, but I am interested to know how many "fans" Bama will lose if they lose.], but lets not think of losing. I believe the game will be close, but in the end, Rammer Jammer will be played in the Geoorgia Dome.
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Trey Murphy 7 months ago
I like how you said "fans." The only "fans" Bama will lose this weekend are the bandwagon riders who free-load on the best team from year to year; the people who have no tie to any school whatsoever; the people who, at the HINT of weakness in a team, will run for the hills, speaking down about the team they "know" so well. Great article.
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Jeremy C 7 months ago
I was looking for some tangible reason why Bama would win. You know, something implying an offensive or defensive advantage. Instead, the writer says it is a point spread that will determine the game. Amazing!
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Jason Sumner 7 months ago
92 win over the favored Miami team. Roll Tide!
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Nick The Only 7 months ago
I wonder if Bama's undersized offensive line can get it done against an underrated Gators front 7.
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Cody Dockens 7 months ago
All of Bama's o-lineman are close to 300 or over they will provide enough resistance to stop the gators pass rush, and Smith and Davis should be able to stop the speed coming off the ends. If not it will be a long day for JPW
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Chad Haynie 7 months ago
Wow. That is probably the most ignorant statement I have ever seen on Bleacher Report and I have seen quite a few my friend.
Alabama's BIG, physical, and heavily experienced offensive line is considered by many to be the best in the country.
Might want to do a little bit of research before you trash talk.
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Michael Inglis 7 months ago
Undersized?
Are you knew to this whole college football thing.
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Tristan Clement 7 months ago
Michael are you NEW to this whole spelling and grammar thing?
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Nick The Only 7 months ago
Average weight of Bama's offensive line = 307 lbs
Average weight of Florida's offensive line = 315 lbs
Bama's line, compared to Florida's, is undersized.
So Chad, I am not ignorant. I am just stating the facts. Bama has two offensive lineman under 300 pounds. All 5 of UF's offensive linemen are 300 or more. Looks like you are the one who needs to do some research.
Michael - undersized compared to Florida, yes. See above. I guess you're the new one (not knew).
The superior size and physicallity of Florida's offensive line shows up in the stat sheet too:
Florida averages 237 rushing yards per game to Bama's 201 rushing yards per game.
Florida has allowed one less sack, too.
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RON WILSON 7 months ago
ALABAMA S O LINE IS GOING TO PUSH THEIR ASSES UP AND DOWN THE FEILD AND TEBOW IS GOING TO FINALLY GET A POUNCING BY MOUNT CODY AND HIS POCKET PICKED BY R. JOHNSON AND OH YEAH I HOPE THOSE TINY ASS HARVIN AND DEMPS CAN HANDLE SOME SERIOUS LICKS CAUSE IT IS GOING TO BE THE HOUSE OF PAIN IN THAT ALABAMA SECONDARY AND EVERYBODY IN AMERICA KNOWS IT.
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Nick The Only 7 months ago
der der dey took our jobs
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Colin Colverson 7 months ago
That is my favorite south park reference yet on B/R!
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Timothy Croley 7 months ago
Comparing Bama's O-line and Florida's is pretty irrelevent. Both lines will face off against the opposing defenses, not each other. So...
Bama's o-line will face off a defensive line that is down one starter with another one questionable. I think Bama can handle them. Florida's o-line will face Mount Cody and company who have dominated o-lines all year. The story lines of the game will be how well the secondary of Alabama holds up against the arm of Tebow, if Harvin is 100% and posing a threat, and if Bama can score enough when they have the ball.
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Carson Howell 7 months ago
No Percy=Very Lucky Bama
Figures that are best player, and the most explosive player in the country, would go down while routing FSU in their "swamp" of a field, just prior to the biggest game of the season.
Now the gators must rely solely on their 2 stud freshman(Demps and Rainey) and Moody to tote the rock.......it's a good thing the Gators have 6 sure-handed wide-outs to throw to.
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Cody Dockens 7 months ago
Carson,
The gators have depth, more depth than any other team including over rated southern cal. Many bama fans worry about Tebow, but Harvin is the biggest threat. I don't know how Bamas DBs wil match-up against Floridas 3 or 4 wide out, but they dang sure can't cover Harvin, and I don't know about them beng able to cover Murphy... Harvin out... destiny...I don't know how much impact Harvins injury may be, it is too early in the week, but no matter the size of the impact itfavors the Tide, and we could use all the help we can get. Good luck to Florida, they are a dang fine team and Bama couldn't face a better opponent as far as talent, and the character of the players. It will be a good game, and a close game.
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Michael Inglis 7 months ago
Already making excuses are we?
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Carson Howell 7 months ago
Michael-
It's hardly an excuse, I'm still predicting the gators rout the tide.....
But one would have to be a severely ignorant College FB fan to not acknowledge the impact it would have on a team to lose one of their 2 best players.
You would have us presume that there would be no "excuses" from you Sir, or the rest of Tide nation, if JPW or Glen Coffee were injured(god forbid)and not be able to play?
Think before you type.
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Isaac Luber 7 months ago
Good write up, but I have to strongly disagree with your opinion. Even though Harvin is out, I still think the Gators will rout Bama. I never thought Bama was very good. They consistently had close games with mediocre teams. Teams like Penn State and Florida both have one loss and were upset, but in every other game they basically blow out the mediocre teams. Bama has had close games, some even overtime, with teams that they should be beating by 40. I think Florida will rout Bama, and force JP Wilson to throw, and to be honest, he underthrows almost every pass, and UF will take advantage and force INTs.
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Cody Dockens 7 months ago
Wilson is bamas achelles heel, I have never been a wilson fan. With the style of play Bama is running all we need is a game managing quarterback, one we won't have to depend on to win the game by himself, and the description fits wilson to a "t". I don't believe Ole Miss beating Florida is as big an upset as people seem to think. Ole Miss has shown they are a very good team, and they are on a late season roll like Georgia last year, Sneed is playinglike an all American, and they lookk unstopable.
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Michael Inglis 7 months ago
Florida played a lot of close games in 2006 and routed Ohio State.
Ohio State played a lot of close games in 2002 and beat the might Miami Hurricanes.
So pointing out that Bama has played close games is meaningless.
LSU lost two games last year but I don't hear you telling me how overrated they were.
Don't compare PSU season to Florida. PSU is just like OSU of the past two years. They just wont have the chance to get blown out in the NC game.
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Isaac Luber 7 months ago
Penn State got upset by a good Iowa team and they are overrated? LSU was not overrated last year, they won the NC. They were upset twice. Michael, you better shut up before you say something stupid. Penn State is not Ohio State! We are a much better team, and we could easily beat Bama, Texas, Texas Tech, USC, and Oklahoma State. We would beat, by a close margin, Florida and Oklahoma. Bama is just not good enough, and haven't faced any real challenges other than Georgia so far this year. We played Oregon State, Ohio State, a very good Iowa team, and Michigan State. We were upset, which would only happen 1 out of 100 times against Iowa, and we won those other three games. The best team in the Nation, the team that deserves to be National Champions, is stuck in the Rose Bowl this year. Teams are lucky that they don't have to play us because we would crush them. Bama will be crushed by UF, and if they did make it to the NC they would be killed by OU. The NC will be OU vs. UF, but for the best game it would be PSU vs. UF. Don't say anything about a team you know nothing about, Michael! You don't even watch PSU! They are better than most people think, which includes people like you who think PSU is bad because they are in the Big 10 this year. Just to let you know, the Big 12 and SEC are overrated in their hype. Texas lost to Texas Tech, who is a fraud and almost lost to BAYLOR at HOME!!! Oklahoma is the only good team in the Big 12. Until Bama can stop under throwing every pass and have more than one weapon on their team, I won't be convinced that they are good, and I think that UF is the only great team in the SEC this year. The Big 10 may not be great, but they are underrated and the SEC and Big 12 are overrated. But you won't believe me because you believe anything and everything the biased media tells you, just like any not-knowing fan.
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Cody Dockens 7 months ago
Isaac, Isaac, Isaac, slow down there... You seem to have the misconception that Bama has just one weapon on their team, that couldn't be farther from the truth. I am positive you were referring to Coffee as bamas weapon, but we have more.
Glenn Coffee: 199 carries, 1235 total yards, avg 6.2 yards per carry, 9 touchdowns
Mark Ingram: 127 carries, 681 total yards, 5.4 yards per carry average, 11 touchdowns
Julio Jones: 46 receptions, 743 yards, 15.1 ypc average, 4 touchdowns (bama has only 10 passing tds, as we run the ball many more times than we pass)
Roy Upchurch: 58 carries, 350 yards, 6 ypc avg, 4 tds ( and that is 3rd string rb)
John Parker Wilson: 9 passing touchdowns, 5 ints, 5 rushing touchdowns, 1900 passing yards
Our secondary has 4 ints for tds, and Javier arenas haspunt returns for touchdowns as well.
Now besides Clark butler norwood and Royster does Penn State have any other weapons the tally is penn state 4 bama 5... or 6 if you count arenas
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Cody Dockens 7 months ago
One last thing JPW doesnt underthrow reciever he overthrows them... when you overthrow Julio Jones that scares me.... good thing he can run the ball better than most teams give him credit for
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Isaac Luber 7 months ago
You make good points. I think Coffee and Jones are the best players on the team, and probably the most explosive and powerful. However, even though Bama's defense holds up against most teams, I just think Florida will completely overpower them. Maybe I'm wrong, but I just think that Florida is much better than Bama at this moment. At the beginning of the season, Bama was unstoppable and Florida looked awful, but now Florida looks unstoppable and Bama looks vulnerable.
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Isaac Luber 7 months ago
Also, the long comment was directed mostly to Michael, who thinks PSU sucks.
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Nathan Lusk 7 months ago
Dude, Isaac, don't get me started. Texas Tech lost to only one team this year, and only once (in that loss) did we score less than 35 points in a game. Sure, our defense isn't as great as some teams, but only a team who our coach used to run the offense for could figure out how to defend us. Penn State would beat Texas Tech?
Yeah right. Penn State doesn't have a clue how to stop a team like TTU, and in the long run wouldn't be able to play the whole game.
The one thing most of you guys, and I mean all you SEC nutcases, don't seem to understand, is that the Big 12 is for real. We have high-powered offenses that score in 2 minutes or so most of the time they get the ball. The defenses have to move extremely fast just to get to the new line of scrimmage after every play. Then the offense has to come back in after a quick TD and try to play again. It is a pace that you guys can't keep up with, because you may have one game a year like it. We do it every game, all season.
For that one hour of gametime, each SEC starter may have to run three or four times more yards than they have ever had to run in a game before. Those big linemen especially can't hang in there. TTU has one of the biggest O-lines in the country, bigger than most NFL teams, but our guys are used to that kind of running. How long do you think your teams' guys could keep moving? Not long enough to play all four quarters, I bet.
Think of it like this: If you assume an average of 6 yards per play, and your opponent scores well, say 4 TD's a game, then your lineman move probably 14 yards a play (6 for the play, plus 8 laterally and between plays) on a scoring drive that takes 6 minutes. In the Big 12, your lineman moves 35 yards a play (15 for the play, plus 20 laterally and between plays) on a drive that takes a 1:50. More running per play, less rest time between plays, and do it all faster than you have before. Good luck, chubby!
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Isaac Luber 7 months ago
Nathan, wtf are you talking about? I completely lost you and I don't know what you're talking about. Also, TTU is a fraud, and whether you want to believe it or not, its true. Also, PSU isn't in the SEC, so why would I be a SEC nutcase? Finally, your logic isn't going to work on a tough PSU defense and a great PSU offense. I could explain why, but I have to go to dinner now, so basically Penn State would crush Texas Tech.
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Nathan Lusk 7 months ago
Nice cop out Isaac, "...have to go to dinner."???? Whatever. I meant you AND all the SEC nutcases, I just didn't state it well. And no, your little team, PSU, could not keep up with Tech after a while. You are right, PSU is a good team, and I'll give you that. But PSU's players aren't used to the kind of workout a Big 12 offense puts you through. That's my point.
The shame is, unless OU makes it to the BCS Championship game, noone will see what this year's iteration of the best offense in the nation (OU's and TTU's are the two best) would do to non-conference opponents.
You keep drinking the PSU kool-aid, my friend. I'll stay on my Red Raider diet. But know that PSU might be as good a team as TTU, they just couldn't win the game because they would be shellshocked by the neverending offense of TTU. Now you know what I mean.
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L85chevy1 7 months ago
Cody, if Alabama fells too Win, And Thats a Big IF. Why would Alabama lose Fans, Thy have Played a Hell of a Year,for themselfs as well as for the Fans. If Thy Lose Fans, if thy should lose againts Flordia, To me thy were not Fans to begin with, Either you are a Alabama faithful are your not, if some Fans are not thy should stay on the side Line, in till thy no what a True Alabama is . For me if thy were 1 and 11, I would still be rooting for them. For I am a True Alabama TRUTHFUL.. ROLL TIDE
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Cody Dockens 7 months ago
notice the word fan was in quotes they arent rel fans and will jump ship at the first loss. It seems they wait until Bama is having a heck of a year to become fans, and it irrate=ates me as it should bother any real fan. Howevver, they should be able to contenue their charade a bit longer.
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L85chevy1 7 months ago
You are right, Cody. Thy are those that will jump Ship at the firsts Lost, In to me there not Fans to begin with, The only True Fan is the one's that are there no matter what kind of year there having.
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Cody Dockens 7 months ago
My favorite saying about true bama fans is "Being there during low Tide makes High Tide that much better" it i truer than I could have ever imagined.
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Rich Parker 7 months ago
I have been a Bama fan as long as I understood that football was a way of life and I am 53, so we are talking about 40 years or so. I remember Johnny Musso speaking at my football banquit in 1972, that was a big day for our football team hearing him speak, a really nice and soft spoken individual.
So picking a winner of the SEC championship Game seems to me to be pointless because both teams are deserving to be in the game and either one if they player their game to a T can win the game. Can Bama played above expectations, sure any team can just like Bama did with the Clemson & Georgia games, games that Bama wasn't supposed to be a win. Can Florida put up huge scores well yeah just about every game except one.
I will be on the edge of my seat bitting my nails living on pure emotion and praying I do not suffer a heart attack before the game ends. Yet, if Bama loses I will still be a Bama fan until that day I cross over and talk to God the father, son and holy spirit first and shake Bears hand second (toung in check).
Can this game be a blow out sure, can this game be tight sure, but I say let them suit up and play the game and let the fans of the winning team do their bragging until next year.
Now with all that hog-wash said - ROLL TIDE ROLL.
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GatorJon 7 months ago
Rich, I appreciate your hog-wash. Man it has the makings of an epic battle in which something just has to give. Power vs Speed. Old School vs New School. Evil vs Good. :-)
Regardless of the outcome, I already feel like I won the lottery: Florida beat Georgia, Tennessee, Miami and FSU this year and we get to play Alabama in Atlanta. Anything we win from this point on is just gravy as far as I'm concerned.
Congrats to Alabama and Florida on the great seasons they have already had.
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Cody Dockens 7 months ago
Rich it must have been great to listen to a speach or talk by the Italian Stallion. I met LeeRoy Jordan, at my great Uncles 70th birthday, it turned out they are 2nd cousins, and my uncle introduced me to him. It is a feeling words cant describe.Roll Tide Roll
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Chris Marks 7 months ago
Dear Alabama,
Bear Bryant isn't your coach anymore. You haven't won a MNC since 1992.
I love how Alabama has the only fans that will ALWAYS bring up their history and tradition when arguing modern football.
Your 1992 wins, your 1925 national championship and even Bear Bryant have NO BEARING ON THIS GAME WHATSOEVER. Get that through your heads. Regardless of what happens- and Alabama is a great team very capable of winning this game- that championship from 1925 or Bear's dominance during his career have absolutely no effect on this Saturday's game. Yes, they laid the foundation, yes that program is where it's at because of the history. But, when these players step on the field that 1992 upset win over Miami isn't going to help you stop Florida.
It's pretty obnoxious talking to 'Bama fans on the internet and in person where they can't go 5 minutes without bringing up historical success. Florida hasn't experienced much historical success before 1990, but it hasn't stopped them from being much more successful than even Alabama during that timespan.
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GatorJon 7 months ago
Chris, apparently that is what 16 years of irrelevancy will do to a fan base.
Near as I can tell, the Alabama plan for victory doesn't so much involve X's and O's or blocking and tackling as it relies on the 2008 Tide team being spiritually possessed by the 1992 team and Florida somehow turning into the 1992 Miami Hurricanes who will then proceed to re-enact Florida's loss to Ole Miss.
All of this will of course be preceded by Saban walking out onto the sideline of the Georgia Dome wearing a hounds tooth hat and holding up 12 fingers to invoke the mojo of the 12 previous national championships.
The Gators only hope, and it is a very slim hope at best, is that Meyer knows to hold up the middle finger on each hand to bring forth the protective power of our two pitiful NCs that we were lucky to win during the 16-year dormancy of the all-powerful Crimson Tide.
Meyer will then be possessed by the spirit of the OBC who went 4 and 2 against Bama in the SECCG. The 1992 Miami Hurricanes will then turn back into the 2008 Florida Gators and begin to "pitch it around the yard a little" and "make some ball plays".
That, I fear, is the only hope the Gators have.
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GatorJon 7 months ago
A couple of corrections:
- it was only 15 years of dormancy/irrelevancy, not 16 years
- I believe the OBC only had a SECCG record of 3-2 not 4-2 against the Tide
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jonathon calhoun 7 months ago
I understand that you like to make sarcastic comments and that you are just "throwing a jab at a Bama fan," but when you talk about college football, it’s impossible to forget about history. When you talk about how "good" Florida is this year, you are bringing up history! The games they have played thus far are over, and it all depends on who shows up for the big show. What I mean is: will it be the Florida team we seen against Ole Miss or will it be the Florida team that has played the rest of the year?
I would agree with allot of comments that have been made about both teams, but Florida fans, you have to appreciate what Alabama has done this year. Hell, we are close to doing something that Florida hasn't been able to do, EVER! I'm not trying to rub it in, nor am I trying to say that we are better than Florida is this year, but then again that is exactly what I'm saying. That last sentence was my sarcasm!!!
The game of the year will be played this weekend. You will be able to crown this year’s National Champ with the outcome of the SEC Championship. No other conference can stand up to the SEC, no matter which SEC team it is (and I mean all of them!)
The history of the game is who we are, and how we got there no matter who you pull for. The most dominate team today playing the most dominate team of all times, can't wait for kick off!!!
ROLL TIDE, ROLL!!!
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GatorJon 7 months ago
Jonathan, not sure if your comment was directed at me, Chris or both of us.
Speaking for myself, I have given Bama props for this season on many occasions and I would agree that anything occurring during the 2008 football season is relevant history including Florida's loss to Ole Miss (although as I have posted, I would probably disagree with how that loss should be interpreted).
The not so subtle point I have been attempting to make, albeit poorly I guess, is that Florida and Alabama have a shared history which some might even call a "rivalry". And that rivalry would seem to be relevant to Florida and Alabama fans discussing the game at hand.
As M pointed out below, Alabama's history belongs to Alabama and I cannot take it away from you, hell I don't even care to comment on it as it is not my place. I understand Bama fans reveling in their history. Enjoy it. But Bama fans shouldn't expect it to be an icebreaker in talking to Gator fans about the upcoming game.
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Bob McKelvey 7 months ago
Dear Chris,
Bear Bryant wasn't our coach in 1992 either, since you apparently don't know that. The people I hear talking most about Coach Bryant are the ones telling us that he's not our coach anymore. He wasn't our coach the last time we played Florida either (in 2005) Do you remember how that one turned out? How about the UNSTOPPABLE 1999 Gators, during the regular season AND again in the championship game? He wasn't our coach then, either; but we still managed to figure out how to play the game. Last time I saw, Florida wasn't the defending national champion, that would be LSU. So anything relevant to your team is HISTORY just like ours. This game will be played on Saturday, and hopefully nobody will get hurt. May the best team win, and then bring the third Crystal in a row to the conference to which it belongs. Roll Tide!
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Rich Parker 7 months ago
Chris, tell me does Florida have any good history that you fondly recall maybe a past SEC championship title game or maybe even a national championship? Or does all Florida fans look to is the future and to hell with what happened for the team a year or two or more ago?
As a Bama fan we have a lot of history, a lot of it good and some not so good, but we have history that we are proud of and guess what Bear is a bunch of that history like it or not. As I stated earlier I have been a Bama fan for about 4 decades and I do not plan on switching to another team at this point in my life.
I been there through the good times (and all of those weren't just with the Bear) and though some bad times (even with the Bear) and whether we win or lose Saturday I will still be a Bama Fan. I just hope both Bama and Florida dish out a big can of whip-ass in their bowl games which ever one they are in.
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Michael Inglis 7 months ago
Gatorjon,
You seem to repeating yourself a lot on these articles. We get about 1992 already. Move on my friend, move one.
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GatorJon 7 months ago
Sorry Michael, just trying to keep up with the Bama fans on the 1992 references.
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Michael Inglis 7 months ago
And just a minor correction, it was actually a 15 year dormancy 1993-2007.
Those years also included an SEC Championship (over the Gators) and undefeated 1994 regular season, and we did win 10 games in two other seasons.
Every program has bad years, Florida will find that out once again after Tebow leaves.
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GatorJon 7 months ago
I stand corrected. It was only 15 years. ;-)
I am well aware of the ups and downs of football programs (see Ron Zook for a recent example). I am glad that Alabama is back. It is good for the SEC and college football.
Please don't interpret everything I write as arrogance and cockiness. I am much more into sarcasm, irony and clever banter. I don't take what I write too seriously.
My comment about Bama being irrelevant was just another attempted jab at Bama fan's focusing on history prior to 1993. Bama fans seem to be treating 1993 to 2007 as irrelevant years in Bama's history. To me its very relevant.
I watched the Alabama vs Miami game on TV with my dad who is a Cane's fan. I laughed my ass off as Bama stomped Miami.
I was at the 1993 game in Birmingham in the pouring rain as well as the 1996 game in Atlanta that launched us into the Sugar Bowl beat down of FSU.
I was at all of the games in the Swamp during the 1990's. I was sitting in the endzone where Darryl Jackson muffed that punt and Shaun Alexander ran into the endzone to win that game in OT. I always found it interesting that Shaun and Darryl both played on the same NFL team.
I respect Alabama and really enjoyed what was a great rivalry in the 90's.
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m m 7 months ago
I just want to thank those young men for giving me and my family of hard core Alabama fans one more very enjoyable year. Its been great, Thank You.
I'm sure you Florida fans feel the same way.
Being an Alabama fan has always been great through the ups and the downs.
We revel in our history and make no apologies for it. Thats just fine, because it belongs to us alone and no one can take that away from us. Don't bother trying, you'll only upset yourselves.
Now back to the matter at hand.
Whichever one of them teams comes out victorious Saturday this week, the SEC will be damn well represented in the National Championship Game and they will bring that trophy down south where it belongs.
May the best team win and lets hope all them boys make it home safe Saturday night.
ROLL TIDE!
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Cody Dockens 7 months ago
M, I could have said it better myself. I believe that Bama is capable of beating Florida, but I know that we have not faced a tougher, and more deserving opponent. We have not faced a more talented player who who has un questionable character then we will face in Tebow, I wish both sides luck, and pray that neither team will lose anybody to injuries in the game. As it should be, the winner of the SEC Championship will be the national champuions, lets extend it to 4 years baby. Hopefully it will be Bama who goes to the national championship, but I knowww Florida woould do the SEC proud if in fact they win.
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Keeven Kuate 7 months ago
Loving these comments. I want a ticket to Atlanta, GA,as it could be a game to remember.
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Mack Smith 7 months ago
I became a fan of Alabama in 2004. Ive watched as Bama, year after year, was dismantled in November and in the Iron Bowl. I didnt put a lot of hope in Nick Saban when he became the head coach and I didnt put alot of hope in the 2007 season. Hell, I didnt even put hope in this season. But Bama has surprised me this year.
Bama isnt as good as Florida, everyone knows that. Hell, even the team knows that. But, Alabama plays its best against the teams that they arent supposed to win against. Say what you want about the Bama schedule this year. But they were supposed to lose against Clemson, they were supposed to lose agaist Georgia, they were supposed to lose against LSU, hell, alot of people were saying they were supposed to lose against Auburn and Tennessee, but they won. True, most of Alabama's wins were ugly, but look at all those ugly Florida and LSU wins in 2006 and 2007. And in the National Championship game, Ohio State was the heavy favorite to win against both of those teams. And somehow the SEC boys got it done against the Oooohhhhhiiiiiiooooooohhhhh-NOOOOOO!
It doesnt really matter to me if Florida wins the SEC Championship game. Why? Because the team I grew to love during the worst years it has ever seen has taught me to never give up on the ugly, flea bitten junk-yard dog just because the refined and flashy show dog shows up for a fight. The pretty dog is always going to leave looking worse for wear. Win or Lose.
Roll Tide.
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Lou Vozza 7 months ago
I think it will be a close game. Usually in big games, solid defense beats flashy offense. Even though the Dome favors Florida's speed, normally I would be calling for an Alabama victory.
However, Florida's defense is very good also, maybe overlooked because of the flashy offense. I think Florida pulls it out with big plays by Tebow and special teams.
Here's an example of Florida's special teams impact. Georgia's offense only gains 15 yards less per game than Florida, but Florida has outscored Georgia by two touchdowns per game.
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Brian Scott 7 months ago
Great article but where's the payoff? The title suggests that a case would be made as to why bama would win the game. All I saw was that Alabama had tradition and was the underdog. Don't do that. Don't be Notre Dame.
Other than that - great job. The SEC Championship this year negates the need for a BCS title game - but I guess we'll go through the formality anyway!
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Cody Dockens 7 months ago
Brian, sorry for not making the reason clear, Bama has the edge over Florida simply because Florida is recieving so much hype from the media it is bound to affect the players, florida will take the field prepared to overwhelm the overated Alabama, but instead they will have a dog fight on their hands, a dog fight Bama is preparing for. In short Florida is preparing to be crowned and Bama is preparing for a fight. Sorry about the confusion.
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Jim Hill 7 months ago
Tebow "can do all things" through you know who....
It's a done deal from the man upstairs...
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mindi green 7 months ago
yeh right. I'm sure God cares about a football game....
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Kyle David 7 months ago
Chris, if UF had the history of UA, I am sure you and your fans would be bringing it up as well. However you want to count national championships, UA has more than UF any way you slice it. Yes, UF is the better team this year, but they were suppose to be, UA was not even suppose to contend for the west and here they are undefeated. You have to give UA credit for their accomplishment this year regardless of how bad UF beats them. Saban is definitely coach of the year.
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Keith Lott 7 months ago
This game is simple. Tebow vs Rashad Johnson
If you hear the names of Justin Woodall and Kareen Jackson and Sheriff, more than once each, then Alabama is getting burned by the gators wr. yet if you hear the names of Florida lb a lot that means Coffee is getting good yardage. Thats where the game will be decided. tebow is great when he can run but Cody clogs the middle. JJ will make first down catches, few but some very important ones, and Florida will be in run stopping mode. will not be able to run the ball, so tebow will be forced to throw, the lbs will drop in their coverage unafraid of a running game except McClain who will be watching tebow, and if the bama pass rush do not put pressure on tebow without allowing him to run for big gains, the wr must get down field, and tebow have to be better than johnson.
Bama will only score a field goal or one touchdown, and trail at halftime about 14 to 3, after tebow throws a long pass, and on third and long run for a big gain that leads to a touchdown in the first half. Although they did not score, the oline continues to pound the d line, and as the gator defense tires, Bama slides Ingram into the game, fresh he makes a couple of nice runs and bama scores in the third to get close at 17 to 13. But Arenas returns a punt to set up a touch down and bama takes the lead. tebow begins to press and throws a pick forcing the ball down the field. Alabam gets coffee back into the game and he churns out tough yards to kill the clock. Florida gets one last chance to score and go for the onside kick, but a fourth and one pass is picked off by johnson, bama wins and goes on to use the same defense against Oklahoma.
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Gill Davies 7 months ago
Keith, I think you may be closer to the truth than you actualy know. The o&d lines are going to pound each othe rto pieces, good thing there is a long break before the bowl games. Ingram leads the tide in rushing touchdowns, and is second in yardage. Besides Ingram we have Upchurch and Grant, desopite his small stature upchurch hits like he his consierably bigger.
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GatorJon 7 months ago
Is Upchurch in or out for the game?
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Nick The Only 7 months ago
Are all of these Bama fans going to turn the TV off when Bama is down by several scores at halftime?
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Cody Dockens 7 months ago
Nick, first off I hope nobody like reinstorm ever gets the reputation as an affiliate of Alabama. Every team has some uncooth, illbred fans in the closet. I hope you understand that most Bama fans are like myself, and controll themselves. I personally like Tebow,.
Second, I don't doubt some fans will turn off their t.v.s, but I won't good luck to yall
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Football God 7 months ago
I have been reading blogs from several sites including this one. I am a huge Florida Gator fan and
have come to respect this past week that the Bama fans are very down to earth and respectful in
thier excitement. I believe when its a said and done both teams will respect each other more than
ever and I hope the fans will follow suit.
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Cody Dockens 7 months ago
I thank you for your comment about Bama fans, for the most part we are good people, but like any program, Bama has its unruly, uncooth fans as well. As fatr as my experience goes with Gator fans they are quite pleasant to be around, I like Tebow, and the majority of the team, but I don't care for Urban Meyer, then again I wanted Spurrier or Davis over Saban... b/c of attitude, and demenor, nothing to dop with coaching ability.
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Michael Collins 7 months ago
I was mildly surprised to learn that Florida has a better scoring defense (12.5 pts/gm) against Conference opponents than Alabama does (14.4 pts/gm).
http://www.cfbstats.com/2008/leader/911/team/defense/split07/category09/sort01.html
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Cody Dockens 7 months ago
Florida leads agaisnt conference opponents, but bama leads against all opponents. Thuis will be a great game.
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gators bait 7 months ago
Bama needs to quit bitching...like this guys writes about http://lovewithoutnagel.wordpress.com/
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mindi green 7 months ago
Good article Cody!! Someone mentioned earlier and I have to agree Tebow sounds like good people and a very good young christian man...that being said I have to quote Jerry Clower here when he was playing football and a guy kept pushing his face into ground when Jerry asked him why the guy told him that the good book says that the meek shall inherit the earth!! I hope nobody gets hurt Sat but I hope Tebow inherits ALOT of earth!!
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Cody Dockens 7 months ago
Mindi, I too hope to see tebow inherit alot of earth, much like Geno Torreta did in th 1992 Sugar bowl, I have noticed a whole lot of comparisons to that game. I was a toddler at the time, and don't remember it, but I have saw it many times on video... Roll Tide
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Derwin Daigle 7 months ago
Have you all forgotten what Florida did to L.S.U and what Alabama almost couldnt do, in O.T.?
From the biggest L.S.U fan, "GO GATORS"
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Cody Dockens 7 months ago
Go Gators huh... oh wait you are an LSU fan, that means that you probably hate Saban adn the Tide. Personally if I was an LSU fan I would be rooting for Saban. Whatis the deal with LSU fans anyway, it isn't like he left yall and went strait to Bama. He did coach in the pros, I highley doubt that his plan all along was to go to Miami until Alabama fired Shula, and then go to Bama...
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Derwin Daigle 7 months ago
No Cody, I dont hate Saban. I think he is a great coach. Im simply stating facts. LSU lost all their key players to NFL. We are playing with mostly freshmen. Of course we have Scott and Jackson. What Im saying, is that LSU is horrible this year. Alabama, barely squeezed by in O.T. Florida beat LSU by 40 points. Its just an indication of what will happen in Atlanta Saturday. Yes, once again, from an LSU fan, "GO GATORS"!!
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Cody Dockens 7 months ago
Derwin, you have my apologies for calling you a Saban basher, LSU is plying with mnay unexperienced player as is Bama we are starting 15 or 16 freshmen. I think that Bama will squeeze by Florida, it seems that so far, no matter how the Tide plays they find a way to win, something I can't say for florida, in their 1 close game they lost... so that plays into Bamas hands. Both Bama and LSU will be better next year, if Jarett Lee is yalls starter next yeaar he should do fine, he just needs ime to mature as a qb, it only took John Parker 3 years, but Lee will probably do it a lot faster
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Stephanie 7 months ago
I'm not listening to my father's wisdom of taking one game at a time, but I can't help but wonder: Will the winner of this game likely beat Oklahoma (assuming they are the opponent in the National Championship game)? Is this game the "real" National Championship game?
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Cody Dockens 7 months ago
I have run the stats of the top 10 teams, their total offesne vs top 40 defenses, total defense vs top 40 offenses,etc in OU grades out behind Bama Florida USC and Penn State, so since the ones i just mentioned tied then it is as close to a true nc game as you will see this season.
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