Bleacher Report - Articles by Nic Gulas

A University of Alabama Football Fan On The Iron Bowl: Creature vs. Creature

Nic Gulas — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 04:56:26 -0500

Game Preview

Auburn University Tigers vs. No. 1 University of Alabama Crimson Tide

The Auburn Tigers, pre-season SEC West favorites, are coming into the Iron Bowl with a 5-6 record and a six game winning streak against Alabama. There is nothing riding on this game for the Tigers, yet there is everything. A win by Auburn means a salvaged season, a bowl game and a continuation of the longest streak in Iron Bowl history for the orange and blue.

The Alabama Crimson Tide, the 2008 SEC West champs, is the top team in the country with an 11-0 record. However, they still need one more win to finish off the revenge tour. Alabama needs the win to not only stop Auburn's streak, but to complete Nick Saban's transformation of Alabama back to prominence.

Alabama wins this game if...

They play their game

Alabama has played tremendous football and nothing less will be needed to continue their perfect season.

Alabama will have to continue dominating the trenches, establish a power running game early and be the most physical team on the field. All three points have been major staples of the 2008 squad and the final and most important game of the season is no time to change.

With the Crimson Tide at full health, there should be no alterations in the Alabama game plan.

They can confuse Kodi Burns

Nick Saban is known to be a master of defense. He has the most complex schemes for his teams, but his defense also works to confuse opposing quarterbacks.

Kodi Burns will be no different.

This will be Burn's first Iron Bowl and Nick Saban is ready for him. Saban will work to baffle Burns by disguising blitzes and coverage's. This will give more opportunities for Burns to make a mistake.

Alabama will lose this game if...

The offense tries to get "too cute".

Alabama has been a smash mouth team for the whole season, but they have had a tendency to try new things at inopportune times.

In their struggles against University of Mississippi and Kentucky, Alabama got away from the things that were working and went completely conservative. Their conservative play resulted in less time on the field for their offense. Teams took advantage of their tired defense by driving the ball in on them.

If Alabama finds something that works, either running or passing, they need to stick with it and use that to their advantage for all four quarters. Any change from what works will give Auburn a chance to get back in the game.

They have another second half collapse

It happened against Georgia, then again against Kentucky, then the following game against Ole Miss. Alabama was up big at halftime, but won by a small margin.

The Crimson Tide have been solid in the first half all season, leading at halftime in every game except LSU, which was tied. The second half however, has been somewhat of a grab bag.

If Alabama can come out in the second half and move the ball, the Crimson Tide should cruise to their first win against Auburn since 2001, and first ever win in Tuscaloosa. If they manage to collapse, the second half of this game could get very, very interesting.

The X-factor will be...

Alabama Quarterback John Parker Wilson

Auburn’s losing streak has been a result of poor production from their senior quarterback play. Tyler Watts couldn't finish off the Tigers in 2002. Brodie Croyle spent more time on the ground than upright in 2005.

Now, its John Parker Wilson's turn.

Two years ago, JPW's two costly fumbles gave Auburn great field position. Last year, he played well enough to win, but had a bounce go against him in the end zone.

This year, if Wilson can play as well as he has all season, Alabama should have no problem winning the game. If he reverts back to his old self, this game will be a lot closer, and Alabama will have to rely on their running game.

Final Score Prediction

Alabama 27, Auburn 7

Alabama Sports: Things We Learned and Monday Message Board 11/17

Nic Gulas — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 05:57:37 -0500

Hey Guys,

So, with basketball season under way, the Monday Message Board is going to now expand to including some points about basketball, but, as always, we will start with football.

Two Down, One More to Go

After the 32-7 win against Mississippi State, Alabama managed to stop the second haunting streak it had going heading into this season.

Alabama ended the Bulldogs' two game winning streak, but more importantly, 'Bama scored an offensive touchdown for the first time since 2004.

Alabama has now ended losing streaks to both LSU and Mississippi State, as well as the November losing streak, but one more glaring streak remains: six in a row to Auburn.

The third team of Tigers is the last streak the Tide is looking to break this season, and it will take everything this team has left.

Auburn is looking into their first losing season in ten years as well as playing for a chance to get to Shreveport (ironic, huh). They will be hungry, and Alabama can not take this team lightly.

Javier Arenas: How Ever Could We Doubt Thee?

Was anyone else starting to get the feeling that Javy may have lost his touch or was trying to do to much?

The fumbles against Tennessee and LSU were not encouraging and some were starting to wonder what happened to the man who ran wild last season.

Well, he couldn't have returned at a better time.

Arenas went crazy on Mississippi State. He ran for 153 return yards, breaking his own career high, and scoring his fifth career punt return for a touchdown, good enough to tie David Palmer's school record of five.

Alabama provided Arenas plenty of room to run on the returns, something the team as a whole had struggled with at times this season.

Alabama could sure use that special teams help in two weeks when the Tigers come calling.

Mercer? Really?

So, here is the basketball inclusion. I don't know how many of you were able to see Alabama's performance against Mercer, but it was rather pathetic.

Alabama came out flat, remained that way, and played forty minutes of uninspired basketball.

Mercer pushed 'Bama around, out-rebounded them by 18, and in the end, managed to come away with the victory after outplaying Alabama in every phase of the game.

Sure, this may just be the first game, but there are plenty of things that need to change, and Alabama will get their only chance before heading to Maui on Wednesday to face off against Florida A&M.

Alabama will hopefully right the ship on Wednesday, but there is hope for a first round win in Maui as Oregon lost to Oakland at home Monday night.

So, with football in an off week, or, as coach Saban calls it, a time to "chill out," we will turn to basketball for this week's question.

As I stated earlier, Alabama looked completely uninspired against Mercer, a team Alabama beat on the road last season.

It sure didn't help the Tide that Brandon Hollinger, Senario Hillman, and Alonzo Gee went a combined 4-25 for the game, but good teams find a way to win, and Alabama couldn't do that on Sunday.

So, this week's question is...

Will the Alabama Basketball Team Be Able to Right the Ship Before SEC Season?

There are plenty of games and plenty of time between now and then, but most of those games aren't easy.

Alabama plays Oregon, Texas A&M, Georgia Tech, and at Clemson for sure, with the chance of playing North Carolina, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Indiana, St. Joseph's, or Texas in Maui as well.

As always, leave your comments below or write an article expressing your views on the topic.

That's all for this week, guys.

Thanks, and Roll Tide,

Nic

Alabama Football: Things We Learned and Monday Message Board 11/10

Nic Gulas — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 07:59:27 -0500

Hey Guys,

So, between a little schoolwork and the recuperation period needed from New Orleans, the Monday Message Board treads on a little late this week.

Anyways, after a trip to Tiger land, Alabama has emerged with another win, but there are plenty of other important things that have come from this victory, such as...

Alabama is headed back to Atlanta

For the second time this season, Alabama is going back to the Georgia Dome—this time to play for a title. The Crimson Tide wrapped up the SEC West in record time this weekend by defeating LSU and giving everyone else in the West three total losses.

This will also mark Alabama's third trip to the state of Georgia this season, which has been very kind to the Crimson Tide. Besides the 2-0 record, Alabama is averaging 37 points in the Peach State this season. Not half bad.

Alabama can handle the adversity of a tight game

If there was one positive out of Alabama's ho-hum performance, it was that the team found a way to win this game.

Alabama trailed for almost a quarter in this game, easily longer than any other time previously in the first nine games. Alabama also had uncharacteristic turnovers during the game but rose above them to put themselves in position to win the game for as many times as it would eventually take.

Trends continue for Alabama

Since 1999, Alabama has managed to have a 10-win season every three years.

Each of those seasons, Alabama was led by a senior quarterback.

This season has turned out as no different of a trend, as John Parker Wilson has Alabama at 10-0 in his final season with the Crimson Tide. The catch to this trend, so far, has been that Alabama has only reached 10 wins in each of those seasons. However, the Tide was never 10-0 in any of those years, either.

Alabama looking to continue streaking, and continue breaking streaks

Some people were actually not aware of this, but the win over LSU halted a five-game losing streak to the Bayou Bengals. By now, people are also well aware that Alabama is in the midst of its 21st double-digit winning streak in school history, easily the best mark in NCAA history.

The win over LSU was big, sure, but Alabama still has business to take care of. The Tide has lost two straight to Mississippi State and hasn't scored an offensive touchdown against the Bulldogs since 2004. Then, of course, there is the six-game streak against Auburn, which Alabama fans have been salivating over since the Tide reached 5-0 and Auburn was taking a downturn.

Now, as Alabama continues their season undefeated, they will continue to take the best shot from their opponents.

Up next, as previously stated, is Mississippi State, the most important home game of the season, as I wrote before the year began.

However, not only does Alabama have the No. 1 ranking target, but they also have the SEC West wrapped up.

This brings me to this week's topic: Can Alabama avoid a letdown even though the SEC West has been clinched?

Last season, the demeanor of the team changed once they were out of the SEC West race.

This season, they have won the West, but does that make a difference? Will the chance at an undefeated season be enough to keep them focused?

As always, feel free to leave your comments below.

That's all for this week, guys.

Thanks, and Roll Tide,

Nic

Alabama Football: Things We Learned and Monday Message Board 11/03

Nic Gulas — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 07:06:34 -0500

Hey Guys,

It was good to see Alabama dominate a game against a lesser opponent for the first time in what seemed like forever.

Alabama is now 9-0 and has amassed an NCAA record 21st win streak of 10 or more games.

So, after yet another win, and extending the best start ever for a Nick Saban coached team, the Alabama Crimson Tide found themselves in a spot they haven't been in since Jan. 2nd, 1993 and haven't been in in the regular season since November 1980.

Alabama is the unanimous No. 1 team in the nation.

After an incredible ending in Lubbock, Texas on Saturday, the Crimson Tide benefited from the loss handed to the Texas Longhorns by Texas Tech to take over the No.1 ranking in every poll out there.

The Tide sit atop the AP, Coaches, and, most importantly, BCS rankings heading into the final three games of the season.

O yea, and for the interesting stat of the week, it only took Nick Saban 669 days to get Alabama back to the number one spot in the country.

Mark Ingram has found his stride once again.

People were starting to worry about Ingram after getting injured against Ole Miss and then having a down day in Knoxville.

Ingram dismissed all those worries on Saturday against the Red Wolves.

The freshman running back ran the ball 12 times for 113 yards and two touchdowns on Saturday, achieving his first career 100-yard game at the college level and made me look like a genius for picking him as player of the game on WVUA's Crimson Tide Gameday.

Ingram looked like the guy who ran all over Clemson in Week One and came back just in time for the home stretch when Alabama will need everything at their disposal to finish off this season.

Defense is starting to get stronger.

Sure, this may not be the best time to declare this after a weaker opponent, but the Alabama defense shut out a team who had put 83 points on the board earlier this season.

Alabama used two things on Saturday which have not always been the strong points of the defense: quarterback pressure and pass defense.

Alabama managed to take down Corey Leonard four times on Saturday, easily the highest number of sacks tallied by the Crimson Tide this season.

Bobby Greenwood and Brandon Deaderick are both improving as the season goes along and both manage 1.5 sacks on Saturday.

As for the pass defense, the Tide held Arkansas St. to only 67 yards passing, kept Leonard under a 50 percent completion rate, and even returned an interception for a touchdown.

The pick-six by Rashad Johnson was the first score of his career and was the fourth defensive touchdown by Alabama this season.

So, as I stated above and is rather well known by now, Alabama is the No.1 team in the country this week.

Alabama heads to Baton Rouge for a game that has been circled since Nick Saban took the job at Alabama.

Saban wasted no time this weekend eliminating the distractions from his by releasing or making statements about his role in this week's game and the Tide's new ranking.

So, since we don't talk to Saban or the team, we can speculate all we want about these distractions.

So, the question being asked this week is: Do you think Alabama will be affected by all the distractions this week?

There are plenty distractions to go around besides what has already been mentioned. Alabama has lost five straight to the Bayou Bengals and hasn't won an SEC game in November since 2005.

So, as always, you can leave your comments below or write an article about how these distractions may or may not affect the Crimson Tide.

And one last thing this week. I was named a sports blogger for the Crimson White this past week and will be updating that at least once a day, so if you want to take a look at it, here is your link. Scroll down until you see "In the Nic of Time."

That's all for this week, guys.

Thanks, and Roll Tide,

Nic

Alabama Football: Things We Learned and Monday Message Board 10/27

Nic Gulas — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 07:29:44 -0400

Hey Guys,

Well, after looking less than stellar for the past two weeks, Alabama took offense to that talk and did something about it.

For the second straight year, Alabama played their most complete game of the season to date against the Vols, and came away with a convincing victory once again.

This is Alabama's first two-game win streak over Tennessee since 1991-92.

So what else did we learn?

This Is a Team to the Fullest Extent

This team is not made up of individuals, and that is the biggest difference between this season and last.

Everyone on this team has the same mindset and the same goals: one game at a time and do what it takes to win.

It was around this time last season that the individuals started to emerge, and there are no signs of that happening again this season.

November Is Right around the Corner

With Saturday being Nov. 1, I'm going to go ahead and start this talk before anyone else does: November has not been Alabama's month.

The Tide have not won a game in November since 2005, and they didn't even score a touchdown in that last November win, a 16-0 win over Mississippi State.

For those who don't want to do the math, let me break it down for you: The Tide have lost nine straight November games. It breaks down to three losses to LSU, three to Auburn, two to Mississippi State, and one to Louisiana-Monroe.

However, there is something different about this team. It partly has something to do with the previously discussed team, but also something in the locker room.

Each player in Tuscaloosa has a poster in their locker. It has shots of two scoreboards from last year—both losses, both in November.

Alabama has learned not to take any team lightly, and that will surely hold true, but nonetheless...

Let's Go ahead and See Those "Alabama Will Be Upset This Week" Articles

You know what I'm talking about, and don't even try to play dumb.

They were popular for Ole Miss after they had beaten Florida on the road. They were popular last week for Tennessee with Fulmer trying to save his job. They will be popular this week because:

1. Penn State has become a media darling now that they have gotten past Ohio State.

2. Alabama's loss last season to LAMO.

Alabama has all of a sudden become the team that the country wants to fail, and it seems to have happened overnight on a national scale.

Sure, Alabama doesn't always win pretty, but there are still numbers to suggest not only how this team has gotten its ranking, but how they still deserve it.

1:15: Total amount of time this season Alabama has spent trailing in a game. That's out of 480 minutes.
101-6: Alabama has outscored their opponents by this margin in the first quarter through eight games.
1: Number of rushing touchdowns allowed by Alabama this season.

Once again, this goes back to Alabama being a team, and it's the usual Alabama team. No Heisman candidate, but they still win.

So once again, Alabama gets a good victory and it got some help from some players you would have thought would normally contribute.

Roy Upchurch has had his fair share of runs this season, but he had the hot hand on Saturday night.

Josh Chapman stepped up in the absence of Mt. Cody to deliver a solid game from the nose tackle position.

Dont'a Hightower managed to lead the team in tackles against the Vols.

Of course, that is one game, but what about the season?

So, this week's topic is: Who is your pick for surprise player of the year for Alabama so far?

In other words, who on this Crimson Tide squad has done the most to impress you this year after you expected them to contribute less than they have, or maybe not even at all?

On a team that has risen out of obscurity this season, there are plenty of choices, and really this whole team has been a surprise.

So, as always, you can leave your comments below or write an article about your surprise player of the year so far.

That's all for this week, guys.

Thanks, and Roll Tide,

Nic

Alabama-Tennessee: With Terrance Cody Injury, Vols Have Poison Picked for Them

Nic Gulas — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 09:57:22 -0400

To say that Alabama fans have been enamored with Terrance Cody since he signed back in February would be an understatement.

Cody is the biggest thing to hit the University of Alabama campus since Bryant-Denny itself, and the cheeks in the seats of Bryant-Denny Stadium have developed a cult following for the man they call "Mt. Cody."

Don't believe me? Well, then you must have been in the bathrooms when Mt. Cody ran on the field for the Jumbo package and a loud whisper overcame Bryant-Denny Stadium against Ole Miss last Saturday.

You also must have been back in there when Cody went down with an MCL sprain and had to be carted off the field while the rest of the stadium could hear a pin drop.

(By the way, if you were the one in the bathroom at both of these times or just simply don't remember either, here is a hint to fix both problems: drink less before the game.)

As grim as the Crimson Tide faithful seemed after Cody's injury, there is no real need to get too down.

This is where redshirt freshman Josh Chapman steps in.

Never heard of him? Well, he has been rotating with Cody at the nose tackle position all season and has just as many tackles for loss as the big fella and only lags behind the tackles category by three after playing just half the time No. 62 does.

Sure, he doesn't weigh nearly 400 pounds, but let me pose this question to you as if you were an SEC center...

Take your pick: a man who weighs nearly 400 pounds pushing against you, or a man who can squat two of you pushing against you?

Having trouble making a decision? Personally, I would just take the medical hardship scholly and run.

In other words, what Chapman doesn't have in size, he makes up for in strength. The freshman from Hoover benches an impressive 450 pounds and squats 600.

If you are at a loss for words right now, let me help: The kid is a beast.

According to Alabama corner/return specialist Javier Arenas, Chapman draws the same sort of attention in the weight room that Cody has drawn from fans.

Arenas says Chapman fills up the bar with weight on both sides to the point no more can be added. To an even greater extent, a crowd forms around Chapman when he is maxing out, and many players leave with their jaws dropped.

So, to all the Tennessee fans who thought they had dodged a bullet with Cody going down, he is something to remember Saturday: The strongest man on the Alabama sidelines, instead of the biggest, will be on the field Saturday night.

Alabama Football: Things We Learned and Monday Message Board 10/20

Nic Gulas — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 07:24:36 -0400

Hey Guys,

Another week in the books, and another win as well.

Nick Saban is now 7-0 for the first time in his coaching career and has continued to get his Alabama team ready for game after game, along with making sure it's all one game at a time.

So, what was learned this weekend?

Terrence Cody can make a big hole and leave a big hole.

There was a rustling around Bryant-Denny Stadium when the Jumbo package took the field near the goal line, and never has the word been more true.

With Terrence Cody knocking over and stepping on about three Rebels, Mark Ingram marched into the end zone for his team-leading sixth touchdown.

Later in the game, though, Cody injured his MCL after being pushed backwards over an Ole Miss player who had rolled under him.

The Tide will be without Cody for at least two weeks and up to four weeks, according to whichever source you choose to listen to after his MRI today.

Alabama will now look to Josh Chapman, Nick Gentry, and maybe Lorenzo Washington to fill the void left by Mt. Cody.

Chapman has been there all season rotating with Cody, and he can still get a good rush up field.

Washington was moved to the outside in fall camp but should easily adjust back to the inside if needed.

Whoever takes the nose guard position for the Tide, he must be able to continue to get an upfield rush, as well as make holes for Rolando McClain and company to get through.

"A win is a win" is starting to get annoying.

I have nothing wrong with winning a football game, especially one involving Alabama, but this mentality is starting to get annoying.

Every single one of my friends I talked to after the game said the same thing before we were done talking..."Well, a win is a win."

I cringed every time.

Sure, as Alabama fans of the past 10 years, we should be used to this phrase, but the way this team plays in the first 30 minutes of every game should not end with fans coming away happy with just another win.

Just ask yourself this: After which game did you feel better? Ole Miss or Georgia? Tulane or Clemson? Kentucky or Arkansas?

I'm no psychic, but I'm guessing you picked the latter every time.

First half, good. Second half, bad.

Alabama just might be the best 30-minute football team in the country this season. The Tide have now outscored opponents in the first quarter 95-3 and in the first half 171-23.

However, the second half, especially in the last three games, has not been great.

Alabama has lost their last three second halves by a combined score of 63-13. The Tide have won three second halves this season (Clemson, Western Kentucky, Arkansas), but they only beat Clemson and Arkansas by seven and Western Kentucky by 10. However, they did post a shutout against the Hilltoppers.

If Alabama is going to continue undefeated this season, the complacency in the second half is the first necessary change seen on this team this season. It must start with Tennessee this week, who put up 21 on Mississippi State in the final frame Saturday.

So, as I just stated, and as most anyone associated with Alabama Football knows, it's almost time for "The Third Saturday in October."

(OK, that was this past weekend, but the SEC messed things up, so just work with me here.)

It's Tennessee week, and the Tide faithful are starting to reach the part of the schedule they always look forward to: the rivals portion of the schedule.

Every SEC team left on the Tide's schedule has somewhat of a rival feel to them, and the Vols are the top of the list for some Bama fans.

Thus, it should be quite obvious what this week's question will concern: the daisy orange and white.

With a win, Alabama seniors will end their career against Tennessee 3-1. That record would include two very memorable games: 2005's 6-3 win and last year's thorough beatdown in T-town (which Bama played a good second half in, by the way, but I digress.)

Here's this week's topic: What is your favorite memory from the rivalry with Tennessee?

Is it one of the games this senior class has been a part of? Is it the last time Alabama played a night game in Neyland? Or is it so far back that a certain coach was beating the Vols with a broken leg?

As always, you can leave your comments below or write an article of your own.

That's all for this week, guys.

Thanks and Roll Tide,

Nic

Alabama Football: Things We Learned and Monday Message Board 10/13

Nic Gulas — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 05:31:15 -0400

Hey Guys,

So with an off week, Alabama fans got a chance to watch an amazing weekend of football, which most Bama fans never thought was possible when the Tide wasn't in action.

So what did this reflection time allow Bama fans to see?

It is not a good time to be a ________ Tiger.

From last Wednesday all the way until Monday, it has not been the best time to be a fan of a team with a certain striped feline as its mascot.

From the awkward firing of Tony Franklin, to the Thursday night debacle that was Clemson at Wake, through the 0-3 Saturday for BCS Tigers, and then concluding with the firing/stepping down of Tommy Bowden on Monday, Tiger fans everywhere were not too pleased with the past week.

So how does this help Alabama?

Well, Auburn is all but done in the SEC West, LSU now has one loss, Clemson may become what many thought they were, and Missouri...well, it kinda sucks because they could potentially be the fourth Tiger on Alabama's schedule this season.

The Tide are healthy once again...even though they were never really injured.

Sure, Andre Smith was in a black jersey this past week due to his elbow—but mostly an illness—but he is ready to go according to coach Nick Saban.

Alabama has yet to have any major injury this season (knock on wood) that would hinder their chances at any type of championship.

Yes, it is football, so the occasional bumps and bruises may happen, but they have all come at replaceable positions or positions where Alabama might actually have some depth.

An "A" game is necessary every week this season.

If there is one thing that was learned from watching other teams this weekend, it was that there is no such thing as an off week unless you are actually off.

LSU got demolished by a Florida team who has had their own letdown already this season against the Tide's next opponent, Ole Miss.

Nebraska took Texas Tech to overtime a week after getting blown out at home by a Missouri team who just lost at home to Oklahoma State.

Vanderbilt, the golden child of the country to date, finally met a match against a Mississippi State team that has no offense but found its stride in time for Saturday.

In other words, every team is a letdown in the making, so it is always key to play every team like a top 10 team.

Since there was not much going on in the world of Alabama football this week, there isn't much to talk about...except the second half of the season.

After this past weekend, Alabama seems to have the most navigable of schedules left, along with Penn State, in the country.

However, it is still the SEC, whether the conference is down or not.

So, the topic for this week focuses on Alabama's remaining schedule.

With the success Alabama has had this season, how do you NOW see the second half of the season playing out for Alabama?

This does not include any sort of championship material or bowl predictions—just the remaining six games on the schedule that are set in stone.

Has Alabama shown you enough to give you the confidence to project 12-0 without the Crimson shades on?

Does this team once again run into a big November letdown?

As always, you can leave your comments below or write an article of your own about how Alabama will finish their regular season schedule.

That's all for this week guys.

Thanks and Roll Tide,

Nic

Alabama Football: Things We Learned and Monday Message Board 10/6

Nic Gulas — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 04:15:22 -0400

Hey Guys,

I know some people were probably thinking I was going to take a bye with the team this week, but here at the Monday Message Board, we don't take off weeks, so here it goes.

Is it time to start the Glen Coffee for Heisman campaign?

OK, I might be crazy, but just take a look at it.

Sure, as I pointed out last week, Alabama has a stable of backs who can run wild on a defense, but no one has done it like Glen Coffee this season. Coffee has 708 yards through six games, good enough for 7.5 yards a carry and five TDs. Those numbers either lead the team or are tied for the team lead and are good enough for 10th in the country currently.

Coffee has accounted for more than half of the team's rushing yards so far this season. He has two touchdown runs for more than 50 yards and has only lost four yards all season with his uncanny ability to always fall forward.

On top of all things, doesn't every top team need at least one candidate in the Heisman talk?

Alabama seriously committed 10 penalties? I call BS.

I am actually supposed to believe that a team that had committed 18 penalties in its first five games all of a sudden decided to commit 10 in one game?!?!

I have not been able to see a replay of the game, but I have heard and believe what I saw on Julio's "pass interference" was an absolute joke. I also think a hold on back-to-back plays is an absolute joke.

Now sure, Alabama committing only one penalty against UGA did seem a little out of the ordinary, but it seemed as if there was some sort of vendetta against the Tide on Saturday. I know the SEC would never do this, as much as some of my friends like to differ on Penn Wagers, but we can always look as if it could be worse. We could have Pac-10 officials.

I hope CBS doesn't pick up another Alabama game this season.

If you were at the game, I have already said enough.

***Edit*** CBS has picked up the Alabama/Ole Miss game for 2:30 next Saturday. Everyone bring your sunshades cause it will be hell once again sitting through 10 minute commercial breaks.

Courtney Upshaw is a beast. The end.

Sure, Alabama's special teams coverage has been spotty this season, but there is always one number and player around the ball.

No. 41, Courtney Upshaw.

There has not been one player who always flies to the ball and makes a big hit like Upshaw does every kickoff. Against Ole Miss in two weeks, just keep looking for Upshaw and how he always finds a way to the ball to make a play when Alabama needs it.

Who actually saw Alabama being 6-0 at this point realistically?

Anyone who just raised their hand or said "I did" is lying straight through their teeth.

The best anyone could have probably hoped for would have been 4-2 at this point and hoping for a top 25 ranking.

Instead, the Tide is rolling at 6-0, with victories over two top 10 teams away from home, and is ranked No. 2 in the country.

The last time Alabama was in this position was 1993. In 1993, I still had afternoon naps as part of a daily regimen. I think I speak for both previous statements when I say those were the days.

OK, so as we just looked at, Alabama is sitting pretty at 6-0. The Tide has already met its win total from a year ago and show no signs of stopping here for the third straight year.

Many things can be credited for this great start, but it's hard to focus on just one.

This brings us to this week's topic.

With Alabama undefeated at the "All-Star Break," who has been the biggest All-Star for the Tide this season?

This can be anyone associated with the team, from coaches to players to trainers if you want to give a friend a shout-out.

Does Mr. Coffee deserve the praise in this area? Is Terrence Cody now the anchor of the team? Or does the credit go where it always seems to go, with the QB and John Parker Wilson?

As always, you can leave your opinions below or write an article of your own on Alabama's biggest All-Star.

That's all for this week, guys.

Enjoy the break and Roll Tide.

Nic

Alabama Football: Things We Learned and Monday Message Board 9/29

Nic Gulas — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 09:11:03 -0400

Hey Guys,

I'm pretty sure that most of us felt like Alabama had a chance this weekend, but I would have to call anyone a liar who told me they expected that.

An absolute demolition of the No. 3 team in America on national television was quite a sight to see in person.

Anyways, it's been way past 24 hours, so it's time to move on to Kentucky, but not before one last quick look back.

Jim McElwain is Alabama's most important new addition this season.

Sure, all the new players are nice, but they wouldn't be worth crap without an offense. Enter Jim McElwain. The Tide has now put up 40-plus on consecutive SEC opponents for the first time since 1989. The average final score for Alabama this season has been 37-13 and 41-18 away from Bryant-Denny Stadium.

If you didn't believe me the first time I said it, John Parker Wilson is a different quarterback this season.

McElwain is also responsible for this, but credit is also due to JPW himself for buying in and making the necessary changes. Wilson stepped up when his team needed him for the first time this season, going 13-16 for 205 yards and a touchdown against Georgia.

He has gone from a 56 percent career passer to 63 percent this season, having three games over the 60 percent completion mark.

Who needs one running back when you can have three (or four)?

It's impressive enough that Glen Coffee is averaging seven yards a carry so far this season, but even more impressive that he isn't leading the team in touchdowns. That honor is currently on Mark Ingram with five, who isn't too shabby himself with an average carry of 5.6 yards.

Then there is Roy Upchurch who has visited the end zone in each of the past two games and is averaging 6.2 yards per carry himself. This is all before Terry Grant, last year's back of choice, has even seen the field for a significant amount of time this season.

Overall, Alabama has rushed for 1,076 yards and averages 5.2 yards per carry. That is easily enough to put Alabama at the top of the SEC.

Even if the backs are averaging five yards a carry, there is no way that happens in practice.

Sure, the stable of backs that Alabama has is quite impressive, but not as impressive as the Tide's run defense. Alabama has only allowed 270 yards rushing this season, one-third of that coming in one game alone. The Tide has only allowed one rushing touchdown all season and is only giving up 2.3 yards a carry, best in the SEC.

This isn't against some cheap competition either. The Tide has held three Heisman-caliber backs, Knowshon Moreno, James Davis, and C.J. Spiller, to a total of 17 carries for 54 yards against them, good for three yards a carry.

So now that we know this team is for real, there is no slack time available as an undefeated Kentucky team comes to town.

Sure, Alabama has done well so far this season, but there have still been times of lapse when you just ask yourself, "Are they trying to lose the game?"

So, that question brings us to this week's topic: What unit will cause the Crimson Tide to drop a game this season?

The defensive line has been great, but the defensive backs have had some rough spots.

JPW has done great to this point, but will he continue to be consistent?

Also, can someone please tackle on special teams!

Or is there somewhere else that would cause Alabama to stumble this year?

As always, you can leave your thoughts below or write an article yourself about what you think would cause a Bama loss.

That's all for this week, guys.

Thanks, and Roll Tide.

Nic

Alabama Football: Things We Learned and Monday Message Board 9/15

Nic Gulas — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 03:37:51 -0400

Hey guys,

So, I've been doing this article series for about three or four months now, and I felt the need to give it some more spice.

So, here it goes:

Things We Learned This Weekend

This Alabama Team May Have Too Many Stars

With this team, it seems that every time you turn around, someone new is making plays. Last week, Cory Reamer came out of nowhere to spark the Crimson Tide's stout defense. This week, Courtney Upshaw made his presence known on special teams and Justin Woodall made an impact from a position that most Bama fans thought had disappeared.

Of course, there is no problem with having too many stars on a team. It just means that there are a few more numbers to learn than usual if you want to follow this team.

Bama Fans Can Breathe a Bit Easier about Tulane

After going toe-to-toe with East Carolina, Tulane doesn't seem as bad as it did over the past week. Sure, the offense still should have moved the ball more, but the fact that Alabama found a way to beat a team like that should make Tide fans feel better about their team's performance.

John Parker Wilson Is, Indeed, a Better Quarterback

Sure, the Tulane game was horrid, but in his other two games this season, he has topped 60 percent for his completion percentage and has been more efficient in running the offense.

He is reading the defense better and going through his progressions better as well. There are still points he can improve on—overthrowing open receivers downfield is one. But this is not the same quarterback who has led this team the past two seasons.

The Future Looks Bright in Tuscaloosa

Finally, Alabama fans got to see some of the reserves play, and they made their time worthwhile. Greg McElroy showed that he is able to run the offense if the worst should happen to Alabama on the injury front. Every running back played very well, and none of them are seniors. Those are just a few of the things that seemed to run smoothly once the starters rested.

Okay, so now that the new stuff is covered, let's go back to what this series was built on:

Against Clemson, Alabama seemed to play flawlessly.

Against Western Kentucky, the same team that played Clemson seemed to show up again.

All signs are pointing to those teams being the team Alabama actually is this season. However, it is still early, so does that mean Alabama can actually get better?

So, this week's topic is: Can Alabama play a more complete game this season than they already have?

Sure, there were some small faults in both the Clemson and Western Kentucky games, (such as finally giving up a TD), but Alabama looked as dominant as they have in recent years in these games.

So, as always, you can leave a comment below or write your own article on this week's topic.

That's all for this week, guys.

Thanks, and Roll Tide.

Alabama Football: Monday Message Board 9/8

Nic Gulas — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:30:53 -0400

Hey Guys,

I am sure most everyone now has an idea about how Saturday's game went, and we can all agree that it wasn't pretty.

Ok, most of it wasn't pretty, but the picture above was downright fantastic.

As for the rest of the game, not so much, but, as the old saying goes, a win is a win is a win.

Alabama faced a team that had nothing to do this week but prepare to face them and still managed an ugly win.

I don't know about you, but this seemed like one of those games that Alabama would not win in years past.

This team has often struggled in the recent past to win close, ugly games, but the attitude is obviously different this year.

With not much to worth really pointing out extra, what say we move to this week's topic a littler earlier than normal?

I think everyone, from coach Saban on down the line to the man in the last row of the North end zone, can agree that the thing this team needs most is consistency.

However, that is definitely not the only thing missing.

Therefore, this week's topic is: Besides consistency, what is the biggest thing missing from this Alabama team after two weeks?

This may seem a little hard to pinpoint, having only watched 120 minutes of Bama football so far, but there are some things that have not gone right at all.

As always, you can either leave your comments below or write an article of your own telling everyone what you think is Bama's biggest hole.

I will close really quick with some great news which many of you probably already know.

This past week, Alabama picked up commitment No. 14 for 2009 in LB Nico Johnson. He is No. 30 overall according to rivals and a 5-star according to scout.

Anyways, that's all for this week.

Thanks and Roll Tide,

Nic

Calm Down, America: Alabama Only Won One Game

Nic Gulas — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 03:57:03 -0400

In case you have been living under a rock, you should know by now that Alabama beat Clemson with a severity only reserved for fraternity hazing.

Yes, a 34-10 beatdown against a team who was supposed to run the ACC this season is plenty of reason for any fan base to get excited.

But this is Alabama.

There have been comparisons to past national championship teams, fans are already buzzing about returning to Atlanta on Dec. 6, and ticket prices for future games have already gone through the roof.

However, this wasn't just any Alabama win. This was on national television. The entire country was able to see the nation's No. 1 recruiting class prove its hype, as well as watch year two of a Nick Saban-led team, which usually means good things.

This was an Alabama team allowing zero rushing yards and having an offense for the first time in almost five years.

The country took notice.

There has been a divide, as expected, as to whether this was a Clemson collapse or if Bama is just that good in year two under Saban.

Most people are starting to jump on the Crimson bandwagon, as can be seen below...

* CBSsports.com called Alabama the team of the day, "without a doubt."

* Ivan Maisel of ESPN.com says that there is no longer a need to look to the future for Bama fans, because "the future is now."

* Alabama rose from being out of the coaches' poll (No. 26 if you want to get technical) to No. 17.

* The AP poll had Bama at No. 24 preseason, but the Tide practically cut that in half, jumping all the way to No. 13. That jump was no doubt helped by those voters who just went off Week One performance. Adam Van Brimmer of the Savannah (GA) Morning News was one of them. This is what his poll looks like:

1. USC

2. Alabama

That is no lie. Here it is. And rumor has it he wasn't the only one who did so.

* Sports Illustrated has picked Alabama as their cover boys for this week, with the front title proclaiming, "SEC Beware: Alabama Sends an Early Warning" with the article titled, "The Tide is Turning." At least they had the decency not to put "Bama is Back" on the cover this time.

* Tostitos went on to name Alabama the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week.

Of course Alabama fans are loving this attention, considering there hasn't been much good press around the program in quite some time, but here is the message everyone in Alabama and America needs to hear, process, and comprehend.

IT WAS ONLY ONE GAME.

We are only six days into the college football season. Most of the big stars on the Alabama team are only six days into their first college football season.

Alabama won't play Clemson 12 times this season. The next game is Tulane, not somewhere in December.

Here, let Nick Saban lay it down for you straight.

That about sums it up.

Alabama still made mistakes Saturday. There were costly penalties, overthrown passes, and a couple of missed assignments.

This team is not perfect.

This team doesn't deserve to be ranked No. 2 by anyone right now.

This team doesn't need to be ranked No. 13 by anyone right now.

Alabama has all the tools, it seems, to be a really good team this season.

In 13 weeks and 11 games, we will really see if Alabama is a good team this season.

Until then, it was just one game.

Alabama Football: Monday Message Board 9/1

Nic Gulas — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 03:04:06 -0400

Hey Guys,

I am sure everyone is just as excited and pumped for the rest of the season as I am, thanks to the absolute demolition of the Clemson Tigers, 34-10.

As if the severe beating wasn't enough, here is some of the pregame talk, just to make it even sweeter.

"Clemson is too good to screw it up this time."—Mark Schlabach, ESPN.com
"It would be a colossal disappointment for Bowden and the ACC if the conference's best team choked in a high-profile opener. But it's not going to happen...Clemson 24, Alabama 14."—Cory McCartney, SI.com
"Clemson is my pick for the National Championship Game."—Brent Musburger, ABC play-by-play man.
Five out of five CBS "Experts" pick Clemson to win the game.

Oh yes, nothing but a bunch of wrong right there, but the tune all changed after the game.

"Get away from Chick-fil-A and get back home to Death Valley and stop messing around with powers from Sweet Home Alabama. Leave Auburn and Alabama alone. That's my suggestion, Clemson. Try UAB or Troy instead. See how that goes and then check back with me."—Gary Parish, cbssports.com
"With such a rare combination of size and speed, Cody looks like the same kind of one-man wrecking crew as the former LSU star (Glenn Dorsey). Foes will have no choice but to double or triple-team him."—Stewart Mandel, SI.com
"The team of the day was, without a doubt, Alabama. The 24th-ranked Crimson Tide plastered No. 9 Clemson 34-10. Put it this way: Even with talents like James Davis and C.J. Spiller, the Tigers rushed for an aggregate of zero freakin' yards against the 'Bama defense."—Eric Sorenson, cbssports.com
"We were whipped pretty bad."—Tommy Bowden

It is starting to circulate that the team's motto for this game and the season is "Shock the F*#%$ng World!"—and it is safe to say that Bama did that in Week One.

Ok, I've broken the 24-hour rule, but I can't write this until Monday, so I apologize to Coach Saban.

Now, on to this week's topic.

There is so much to point out about Alabama's win from Saturday in a positive light that there is not enough time between now and Tulane to discuss it.

With that, this week's topic is: What was the MOST impressive thing from Alabama's win over Clemson?

Was it the offense? The defense? The recruits? The seniors?

As always, you can leave a comment below or write an article of your own about your choice.

That's all for this week, guys. See you next week after Tulane.

Roll Tide,

Nic

Alabama Football: Monday Message Board 8/25

Nic Gulas — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 18:16:39 -0400

Hey guys,

I don't know if anyone else can feel it, but it is now officially game week!

This is the week we have been waiting for since Dec. 30, 2007.

Alabama vs. Clemson is in the very near future.

And, even with all of this, it was a rather quiet week for Alabama.

The Tide practiced this week to finish off fall camp, and this team still manages to dodge injuries for the most part. The only "causality" has been a recurring hamstring injury for Charlie Higgenbotham, and he is expected to be available for the Clemson game.
Coach Nick Saban has made one change of note in the past week on the defensive front. Former defensive tackle Lorenzo Washington has now been moved to the outside, leaving Josh Chapman and Terrance Cody on the inside. Saban obviously has tremendous faith in these guys to move a veteran like Washington this close to the first game.
Alabama spent some time this week preparing for their first set of Tigers, beginning preparation on Thursday.
Nick Saban will hold his first game-week press conference at what will become normal time on Monday. He will sit behind the podium at noon. At this press conference, Saban will release his all-important depth chart to the media. This will be the first time everyone discovers who the special eight-to-10 freshmen are who will help contribute this season, and there is a good chance the two guys above will make an impact.

So now that the past week has been covered, it's time to get to this week's topic.

Lately, we have been discussing the upcoming season and its important games, but now that the season is here, there is no more looking forward.

With that being said, this week's topic is: What is the biggest storyline heading into this week's game against Clemson in Atlanta?

There are plenty of angles from which to look at this game, as well as numerous things surrounding the game worth noting.

Is the biggest topic those heralded freshmen? Could it be Alabama's apparent new obsession with neutral site games? Or is it something else that you notice?

As always, you can leave a comment below or write an article yourself on what is the biggest topic going into the 2008 season opener.

That's all for this week, guys.

Let's hope the next time we talk, Saban's crew is 1-0 for the season and against Tigers.

Thanks, and roll Tide,

Nic

Alabama Football: Monday Message Board 8/18

Nic Gulas — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 02:05:53 -0400

Hey Guys,

I'm sure everyone is starting to smell the beginning of football season right around the corner.

Everyone is already back on campus and school starts this week, bringing with it the official one-and-a-half week countdown to kickoff.

Before we jump to this week's topic, it was quite a busy week for the Crimson Tide.

* As most of you know by now, the most powerful coach in sports resides in Tuscaloosa, according to Forbes magazine. Michael Hicks has a write-up here on the honor bestowed on Nick Saban by the most accredited money magazine in the country.

* According to Tulane, the Alabama vs. Tulane game in New Orleans next season is officially off. The Green Wave's AD is saying the game between them and the Tide will now be in 2012.

The reason? Well, with that opening, Alabama will now be able to play Virginia Tech in Atlanta next season. ESPN has stepped in to help move the process along and promised Tulane four telecasts on their family of networks.

Alabama's only stipulation in the deal was to find the Green Wave a replacement opponent for next season, and they did so with the BYU Cougars. There is a rumor that the plans for Alabama vs. Virginia Tech will be announced in the next few weeks.

* Kickoff times for Alabama's home opener against Tulane and second home game against Western Kentucky have been announced, and there is really no surprise. Both games will kick at 6:07 pm CT on Pay-Per-View.

* With the AP Poll released Saturday, Alabama can now claim an actual rank besides "26th." The Crimson Tide will enter the season as the No. 24 team in the nation. Clemson, Alabama's opening opponent, enters the season at No. 9 in the AP Poll.

* Oh yeah, there was also a scrimmage on Saturday. More or less, Julio Jones once again told us what we already knew—he is the real deal. During the scrimmage, he pulled down five passes for 125 yards and one touchdown, and he made the Johnson & Johnson DBs look silly in the process.

Jones beat Marquis Johnson to the ball on a pass from John Parker Wilson and started to sprint down the sideline, but Rashad Johnson had the angle. Well, he did until Julio pulled a Darren McFadden-esque stiff arm to ward off Rashad and scoot into the end zone.

* As for other highlights of the scrimmage, Terrance Cody is once again making noise with the coaching staff on the defensive line. Leigh Tiffin sat out the scrimmage with what Saban called a "tired leg." Don'ta Hightower and Jerrell Harris were among a number of freshmen who received praise from Saban after the scrimmage.

* One downside, for me at least, was the play at QB. John Parker Wilson had a solid day, going 14-25, but that's nothing to write home about. Everyone is talking about his better decision-making and ability to see the field, yet his completion percentage has not increased from last season in these first two scrimmages.

I know they are only scrimmages, but it is still something to look at and ponder heading into Atlanta in two weeks.

OK, so enough of all that—now for the reason I write this thing.

For the very near season, we have covered the most important home game and most important away game, but there is still one other type of game that always causes teams fits.

That's why this week's topic is: Which game of the 2008 season do you deem to be Alabama's "trap" game?

With such a roller coaster of a schedule, as well as many "should win" home games, there are plenty of choices to go around for the picking.

As always, you can leave your comments below or write an article about your choice.

That's all for this week guys. Next week, we will get into predictions and story lines, which should carry us through the season.

Thanks and Roll Tide,

Nic

The SEC West: Where Hate and Familiarity Run Rampant

Nic Gulas — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:03:09 -0400

So, you think you know your conference foes? Think you have a legitimate gripe to hate the teams in your division?

Until you look at the SEC West, you don't know the half of it.

The six teams that make up this division take this hate and familiarity to a whole new level.

Three out of six coaches have been head coaches at another school in the same division.

Five out of six coaches have ties to another school in the division.

This is all before we even consider talking about rivalries within the division.

Below is how each and every team in the SEC West has a storied history and connection to each other.

***Author's Note: The article is done in alphabetical order. There is no intended insult given to the Mississippi schools—they just fall at the end of the line in the division by this criteria.***

Alabama vs. Arkansas

Ever since the Razorbacks joined the SEC in 1992, these teams have split this series 8-8—but that's not what's important.

The winner of this game traditionally goes on to have the better season.

In Alabama's eight wins in this series, the Tide has had six 10-win seasons, two SEC titles, and one National Championship. The other two seasons have produced seven-win teams (2001 and 2007).

In Arkansas' eight wins since 1992, the Hogs have three Western Division titles and four seasons with at least eight wins.

These teams also shared a head coach in Joe Kines. Kines took over at Arkansas for Jack Crowe after Crowe lost the first game of the 1992 season to The Citadel. Kines was also the head coach for Alabama in the 2006 Independence Bowl against Oklahoma State.

Alabama vs. Auburn

Does anything really need to be said about this rivalry? There is hardly any rivalry—not just in the conference, but in the country—that carries more hate than this one.

The Iron Bowl teams split families, friends, and an entire state for 365 days a year, spanning outside of football to as far as swimming, diving, and gymnastics.

The rivalry's hate has hit an all-new high during Auburn's current six-game winning streak, coupled with Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville's continued hand count of victories.

These teams fight over recruits year after year, in and out of state. If you don't know anyone involved in this rivalry, meet someone soon. You won't regret experiencing the fanaticism surrounding this matchup.

Alabama vs. LSU

This game really didn't have much meaning to it previously, but the Nick Saban aspect has brought it to a whole new level.

The second coach to change schools in the SEC West left LSU fans feeling betrayed and Alabama fans looking to the future. The newest term in the Alabama fan's vocabulary—coonass—didn't make things much better here.

Before the Saban effect, LSU and Alabama was very much a road team series. LSU has won seven of the last 10 in Tuscaloosa, and Alabama is 15-3-1 in Baton Rouge since 1979. The Bayou Bengals also handed Alabama their first loss of the 2005 season, ruining what many Tide fans thought would be a return to glory season.

This year's game, Saban's first in Baton Rouge since his departure, is sure to be one that will garner large amounts of attention.

Alabama vs. Ole Miss

Alabama has dominated this series, leading it 44-9-2 all-time, and that doesn't sit too well with the Rebels, especially lately.

The past two contests between these two teams have been decided by three points each.

In 2006, the Tide won a game in OT, scoring a touchdown to counter Ole Miss' field goal.

Last year, Alabama won on a controversial call in Oxford, when an official review overturned a Rebel fourth down conversion and potential first and goal with eight seconds left.

This year in Tuscaloosa, the Rebels will be out to win for sure.

Alabama vs. Mississippi State

These schools are each other's most played rival, and they are the closest SEC campuses, separated by only 86 miles.

A big controversy has hung over this game for about five years now, ever since Alabama selected Mike Shula as head coach over Sylvester Croom.

Croom would take the head job at Mississippi State the following season, and he has proved that he should have become the head coach at his alma mater.

Sly, a former player for Bear Bryant, has a current two-game winning streak against the Tide, which does not sit well in Tuscaloosa. For the first time since 1999, this game will actually have real meaning for both teams.

Arkansas vs. Auburn

Over the past two years, this game has been quite possibly the most physical game in the SEC all season.

The rivalry got a big kick this season when Bobby Petrino took over at Arkansas. Petrino is a former assistant to Tommy Tuberville down on the Plains, but most Auburn fans think of him in a different light.

Petrino was the focus of Plane-gate in 2003, when Auburn administrators took a midnight plane to Louisville to talk to Petrino just days before the Iron Bowl. Since then, Tuberville is undefeated against Alabama and has an undefeated season under his belt.

Arkansas vs. LSU

The battle for the Golden Boot has long been a rivalry between these two teams, and it is one of the few in the SEC with a trophy.

These teams met last season and LSU suffered an unexpected loss to Darren McFadden and company, but they still managed to reach the national title game.

They meet every season on the final Friday of the year, and the arrival of Bobby Petrino will bring some new spark to the game.

Arkansas vs. Ole Miss

This game managed to become one of the most interesting ones during the offseason.

Just hours after Houston Nutt retired from Arkansas, he was introduced as the head coach at Ole Miss.

Nutt became the third coach in the SEC West to switch schools within the division.

The crazy relationship between Arkansas and Nutt will only get crazier when Ole Miss ventures into Reynolds Razorback Stadium in October.

Arkansas vs. Mississippi State

This may actually be the tamest of matchups in the SEC West at this point in time.

Games between these teams have fallen in favor of the Hogs since their inception into the SEC.

Auburn vs. LSU

This game has come a long way in determining the winner of the SEC West since 2000.

More times than not, this game will produce crazy endings and controversial calls, including last season's miracle pass by LSU to finish off the other Tigers.

The intensity between these two teams has escalated along with the games, and LSU fans still remember the cheap shot Auburn took on Glenn Dorsey last season.

Auburn vs. Ole Miss

Tommy Tuberville became the first coach to change schools within the division in 1999 when he left Oxford for Auburn. However, he didn't leave in a pine box like he had originally promised.

Most of the demons seemed to have died down from this change of coaches until this past season, when recruit Enrique Davis changed from Auburn to Ole Miss at the last second.

One thing to watch would be to see if the physicality remains in the matchup between Nutt and Tuberville.

Auburn vs. Mississippi State

This is another mild matchup for the most part, except State managed to crash the party in Auburn last season.

As shocking as it was for MSU to win this game, Auburn was just as shocked to lose it, and the team is determined to make things right this season in Starkville in a game that is already slated for an ESPN night telecast.

LSU vs. Ole Miss

Of all the teams LSU should have devoured in the past seasons, Ole Miss has given the Fighting Tigers fits.

Four of the past six games between the two have been decided by three points or less, and all have gone in LSU's favor.

The angst between these two schools ventures off the field every other year in Oxford.

Every other year, LSU fans will crash the party on the Grove, known around the conference as the best tailgating setting. Tiger fans do their best to take over the area.

Of course this never sits well with the Rebels, and the on-the-field results have mounted on top of these frustrations.

LSU vs. Mississippi State

It's one thing to get shut out by a team. It's another to lose 45-0 on national television to start off the entire college football season.

Bulldog fans won't soon forget the woodshed beating handed down by LSU, especially with a team this season that most Bulldog players view as SEC champion-worthy.

Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State

The Egg Bowl. The battle for Mississippi. Once again, this is a rivalry where the teams split families and the state every year, as well as fight over numerous recruits.

The game has gained a lot of luster with the arrival of Houston Nutt in Oxford, especially after Mississippi State's improbable win last season.

The hate is still there—and never left—but the appeal will be back to this game for the first time in years.

So there you have it—the insane and intricate connections which bring together the Western Division of the SEC.

These games have been heated in the recent past, but nothing can prepare an SEC fan for what will go on this season in the West.

Alabama's Biggest Home Game of 2008 Will Be Against Mississippi State

Nic Gulas — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 03:40:17 -0400

Ever since the end of last season, I have heard people complain about the 2008 home slate for Alabama.

I will admit, they have legitimate gripes, with games against Western Kentucky, Arkansas State, and Tulane slated for Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Kentucky also makes that list, as well as Ole Miss (who will be better), and then one game that has grown in luster in the past couple of years: Mississippi State.

I tend to agree with everyone about their complaints—except for one game.

You can call me crazy for what I'm about to say, but Mississippi State is the single most important game at home this season.

That's right: For 2008, this game, as of right now, is more important than Auburn.

Here are three reasons why.

1. This team's recent record against Mississippi State.

2. When this game falls on the schedule.

3. The effect a win over State will have on this team.

OK, let's start with number one.

Alabama starting quarterback John Parker Wilson is 0-2 against Mississippi State.

Yes, you read correctly—that isn't a typo.

The man who is about to hold all the passing records at the University of Alabama has never beaten Mississippi State, along with a bunch of other teams.

To put this "slide" against State in perspective, Alabama is 71-18-3 all-time against Mississippi State. Alabama has only had a three-game losing streak to State twice in the history of this game: 1996-98 and 1912-14.

Senior OL Antoine Caldwell, who has started since his freshman year, has never been the anchor on an Alabama team that scored an offensive touchdown against Mississippi State.

Once again, complete truth there.

It has been 185 minutes and 28 seconds since LeRon McClain caught a four-yard pass from Spencer Pennington in 2004 to cap the 30-14 win over the Bulldogs.

Since then, it has been all field goals and a couple of fumbles and interceptions returned for touchdowns. The offense hasn't crossed the goal line in three games.

OK, on to reason number two.

The game is scheduled for November 15, a week after Alabama visits Baton Rouge and two weeks before the Iron Bowl.

You may not have noticed lately, but Alabama tends to slide in November in recent years. Alabama was 0-4 last year in November and is 3-15 in the month of Thanksgiving since 2003.

Alabama has four games in November this year thanks to how the calendar falls, with the homecoming game against Arkansas State a week before LSU.

Arkansas State should be a win, but LSU in Death Valley is up in the air, even though Bama is 15-3-1 down there since 1979.

Nonetheless, a loss against LSU has been what has sent this team into a tailspin in recent years, and Mississippi State has moved behind the Bayou Bengals on the Tide schedule, making it very easy to kick Bama while they may be down.

So after numbers one and two, here is reason number three.

A win in this game would be huge. Hell, an offensive touchdown in this game would be monumental.

Three games without being able to move across the goal line against a team is downright horrible.

With the offense the Tide has returning, it would be unacceptable if this team couldn't score a touchdown against a Bulldogs defense in a new defensive scheme.

Or maybe the defense just needs to down the ball at the one-yard line on that first interception.

Also, a win would—as bad as this may sound—be a step forward for this team if they beat Mississippi State for the 72nd time in school history this year. It would start to erase the demons of the yearly November slide, as well as show the progress that head coach Nick Saban has made with this team.

Saban has already let the team know that a loss to State is unacceptable, posting the scoreboard from last year's embarrassing 17-12 loss on every player's locker.

Finally, and most importantly, a win over State would have Alabama in a winning mind frame heading into the Iron Bowl for the first time since 2002, the second year of then-head coach Dennis Franchione.

See, it all comes back to Auburn being the most important game anyway.

So when November 15 rolls around, just remember not to take this team lightly. They did win eight games last season and are extremely confident.

Simply put, this isn't your typical Mississippi State football team.

But this Alabama team is not the same Alabama from three years ago.

Alabama Football: Monday Message Board, 7/28

Nic Gulas — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:34:37 -0400

Hey Guys,

SEC Media Days sure went a long way in getting us closer to the season, but it's still just over a month away.

As for things to look forward to this week:

All players report to campus on Thursday with practice beginning on Friday.
Any more possible recruits to commit after we had three commitments last week.

OK, now on to this week's topic, the last in the history theme for the month of July.

Last week, the topic was the best offensive player in the history of the Alabama Football program. This week's topic may be a little bit harder than even last week.

The topic this week is: Who is the best defensive player of all-time for Alabama Football?

The number of players at linebacker alone make this a tough decision.

Is it Bennett? Thomas?

As always, you can leave a comment below or write an article profiling your choice.

Next week, the topics will shift to cover the present and the 2008 season.

That's all for this week, guys.

Thanks and RTR,

Nic

Nick Saban and Alabama Players Discuss Upcoming Season at SEC Media Days

Nic Gulas — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:35:45 -0400

Alabama had head coach Nick Saban, C Antoine Caldwell, and S Rashad Johnson present today at SEC Media Days.

Head Coach Nick Saban

In his opening statement to the media today, Nick Saban was straight with them about the team's play in 2007. Citing that "consistency in performance is the key to being successful," Saban said last year's team didn't play with that consistency.

"We were inconsistent up and down, played up to the good teams, down to the bad ones. We were inconsistent within games. Had big leads and weren't able to keep them. We didn't finish games. We didn't finish the season." Saban viewed the Tennessee game as the lone complete game the Tide played last year.

As far as the consistency, Saban said many things contributed to the inconsistent play of the team. He said that "judgment and discipline need to improve" for this team to play consistently. Saban was referring to both on the field and off the field.

Saban was asked about the comments made by LSU head coach Les Miles last Sunday and had nothing to say on the point. "Well, he told the truth. He told it like it was. We need to earn the respect. That's what we're trying to do."

Alabama head coach Nick Saban was not directly asked about his team's rough offseason, but he did give his team a compliment. "We have 25 to 30 guys that are doing extremely well in the program, have made a lot of personal choices that have enhanced their chances of being successful in the future."

When asked about the incoming recruiting class, Saban wasn't shy at all when discussing their contributions. He looks for a "lot of young players to make a contribution" this season. Saban went as far to say "several on offense" and "five to six on defense."

"We're going to play the best players, and if they're freshmen and the freshmen can go out there and play with consistency and performance and do their job better than someone else, we have no issue with those guys being the performers that will give us the best opportunity to be successful as a team."

With the incoming recruiting class being extremely hyped, Saban said he is finding ways to try and keep his incoming guys grounded. Saban said he wants to remove the expectations from recruiting services from the minds of the freshmen and wants them to have "expectations that they create for themselves, that they define and work for, and not be affected by things that happen outside."

When asked about John Parker Wilson, Saban described his off-season as "outstanding." "I think it was contributed largely to having a great bowl game, kind of restored his confidence."

Saban said he felt real good about JPW's off-season progress as well. He cited a "new offensive coordinator, a little more diversity, a little more quarterback friendly," as real reasons to see a much better QB on the field this year leading the Crimson Tide.

With JPW going into this third season with his third different offensive coordinator, Saban was asked whether or not this may have affected his performance on the field. "I think it probably didn't help him much when he had to do it. Now that he's done it, I think it's helped him tremendously. He's adapted extremely well, you know, to our current coordinator. I think he can have an outstanding year if he can just stay on task here."

The Crimson Tide head man was asked to give a timetable for when Alabama will return to the top. Saban gave his favorite answer of "it is what it is," and one that may become his new favorite, "we are where we are. We're going to continue to build a program that our fans and supporters can be proud of."

Concerning the Clemson game on August 30, Saban seemed excited about the tough opponent to begin the season. "There are a lot of positives in it. We need to create an identity for this team. I also think that's gonna help us down the road in our competition in the league."

Saban thinks the game will be exciting for the fans. He also addressed the possibility of playing Virginia Tech and says that the game is not totally out of the question. "We are trying to work around scheduling conflicts."

Antoine Caldwell

The Alabama center was really excited about his decision to return and to be on this version of the Alabama Crimson Tide. "I feel like we were going to have a really good season and there were relationships that I was going to miss. I feel like the money will always be there, so I just wanted to come back and be a part of what we're trying to do here."

As for the confidence he sees in this team, Caldwell says this team has "the best confidence level and the most talented team at the school" in his five years at Alabama. "I feel like we have a legitimate shot to compete for the SEC West."

Caldwell is confident in the team and how they have bought into "The Process." He says the point is to have a good practice day after day to complete a good week to be competitive.

As far as last year's team, he thought there were some problems in the team. "I think the guys are buying into it now and that makes a big difference. Half of the guys last year didn't get it. They still wanted to do their own thing."

The Alabama center was very high on the incoming class as well. "They are the most talented, hardest working group to come in. Coach McElwain, the system that he's brought, is more friendly, easier to learn, than what we've had here in the past. The younger guys have been in here this summer working with it, so I think they'll be more comfortable when fall practice starts next week."

Rashad Johnson

The Alabama safety was very vocal about being more comfortable under coach Saban now than during the first year. He sees "a lot better understanding of coach's philosophy."

Johnson also talked about his role as a leader on this team, being a returning elected team captain. He feels it's "very important" that his voice is heard about what is expected or what needs to be done. Johnson also enjoys the thought of "more players than coaches speaking up" in practice.

Johnson was also high on the freshman class. He said that the freshmen are competing already. "We have a lot of confidence in those guys, and we've already seen the way that they've come in and worked this summer...those guys are all about winning, and it means a lot to us that they've come in and started working like everyone else."

He mentioned two freshmen specifically, Jerrell Harris and Julio Jones, who can make an impact this season. Rashad thinks Julio "is a great player. He is working hard. He will do great things this year." As for Harris, Johnson thinks he has "the potential to come in and play. He could physically play for us, but it depends on how quickly he grasps the mental (part of the game)."

When asked about his career at Alabama, moving from a walk-on RB to an All-SEC safety, Rashad was very humble. "In high school, I was always a running back. I played defense in high school, but it was always catch the guy if he breaks." He said he never envisioned he would be an All-SEC DB and that you never know what God has in store for you. "Humbleness is definitely something that helps you reach greatness."

When asked about the prospects of this team, the Alabama senior was very realistic. "We have the possibility of being great. It just all depends on how we learn things when we come into camp."

SEC Media Days 2008: Day Two Nuggets and Recap

Nic Gulas — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:47:34 -0400

Teams present at day two were Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and Ole Miss.

Georgia

Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt was well aware of the expectations placed on his team both nationally and in the conference, but he says there will be no change in how his team goes about its season. "Every year we set goals. We want to win that first game, then the East to get to the SEC Championship Game, and then maybe we can go to the National Championship Game. " He said its about "the process of getting there" and if " you look too far down the road, you might miss some opportunities."
Richt was asked about the makeup of his 2008 squad, and really mentioned just once concern. "The offensive line will be all second-year players. We could quite easily start four sophomores and one freshman." On the plus side, Richt is very high on his quarterback Matthew Stafford. "He is now one of the top leaders on the team and in the best condition of his life."
The Georgia head man was asked if anymore tricks were up his sleeve this year, referring to the Florida celebration and Black Out from last year. The coach simply said, "I can't say. If I told you, I would have to kill you(smiles)." The coach did not rule out any momentum builders for this season, but mentioned that he has "more time to think about them" since reducing his duties during the week.
Richt was finally asked about the national championship snub last season. Before going too deep into his answer, he said, "if you lose two games, you don't deserve it." Richt had something to say about the BCS considering his team was 4th in the poll one week and the two teams in front of him lost and he dropped to fifth. Richt also seems in favor of some sort of playoff. "I think four teams will work real nice," he said. "It won't damage the regular season. Eight teams would be the limit."
DT Jeff Owens was asked about the celebration against Florida and said "it wasn't planned. One guy ran on the field, another guy ran on the field, so I ran on the field." Owens also did not shy away from calling that game a "turning point" in their season.
Owens and WR Mohamed Massaquoi both acknowledged the tough schedule ahead of the Bulldogs this season. Both players mentioned that they cannot look over anyone on the schedule, citing last year's game between Appalachian State and Michigan as an example. Owens said, "We know we have a tough road ahead." Massaquoi said, "Any team on the schedule is capable of beat us. We know what we want to accomplish and we know what we have to do to get there."
Georiga will begin practice on August 4th. The Bulldogs open up their season at home against Georgia Southern on August 30th.

Alabama

Alabama head coach Nick Saban was not directly asked about his team's rough off-season, but did give his team a compliment. "We have 25-30 guys that are doing extremely well in the program, have made a lot of personal choices that have enhanced their chances of being successful in the future."
Saban was asked about the comments made by LSU head coach Les Miles last Sunday and had nothing to say on the point. "Well, he told the truth. He told it like it was. We need to ear the respect. That's what we're trying to do."
The Crimson Tide head coach discussed the differences between his team in year one as opposed to now in year two, and he has seen some improvement in the players. He sees a "better understanding of what's expected" in his team. From his view, Saban thinks the team needs to continue to improve in their judgement and discipline on and off the field. "It will help contribute to consistency. Consistency wasn't where it needed to be last season."
When asked about the incoming recruiting class, Saban wasn't shy at all when discussing their contributions. He sees a "lot of young players to make a contribution" this season. Saban went as far to say "several on offense" and "five to six on defense."
OL Antoine Caldwell is excited about this team and sees a difference in them. "More comfortable, more settled down. This team has the best confidence level and is the most talented team that I have been a part of at this school." Caldwell, entering his fifth year, likes what he sees in his team and thinks the Tide has "a legitimate shot to compete for the SEC West."
DB Rashad Johnson was very high on the prospects of the freshman class and encouraged by the entire team outlook. Johnson specifically mentioned two guys, Julio Jones and Jerrell Harris, who will do great things or have the potential to do great things for this team. As for the team, Johnson said, "We have a possibility of being great, it just all depends on how we learn things when we come into camp."
Alabama will begin practice on August 1st. The Crimson Tide will open up their season in Atlanta against Clemson on August 30th.

Ole Miss

New Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt did not hold back when talking about how his new position in the SEC West has helped him. "I'm very, very excited," he said. He called the move from Arkansas "refreshing" and has made him "re-energized."
When asked about the changes he has made in Oxford, Nutt mentioned how we went about changing the mentailty of the team. He said when he arrived, he "saw guys with not much confidence." He said he felt sorry for his team because no one on the team has experienced a bowl. " They haven't had that experience to get that reward," Nutt said.
Nutt said he has tried to get involved with his team, and says most players recognize the fact that he knows everyone's name. " I tried to get involved with their life. I know where they live. I go visit them at night. Go knock on their door at 10:30." Nutt said that this has helped build a family mentality with his team. "They don't care how much you know," he said, "but they know how much you care."
The Rebels new head coach was very high on his new quarterback Jevan Snead. " I'm excited about him," he said. Nutt sees Snead as a "great decision maker" and a player with "excellent qualities as a leader."
When asked about the upcoming season, Nutt said he envisions a "very successful year" in Oxford. "I think a little success early will help us." Nutt knows that what he has to work with is some of the best talent in the conference, but is quick to point out that his players "don't know how to win yet."
OL Michael Oher explained that his decision to return for his senior year was an easy one. "I wanted to win more games" was his main reason for coming back. "We've got so much talent on our team," Oher said, "The sky is the limit for us."
The Rebels will begin practice on August 4th. Ole Miss opens up their season against the Memphis Tigers at home on August 30th.

Tennessee

The biggest news of the day came early on when Vols head coach Phil Fulmer was doing radio interviews. Fulmer was handed a subpoena to court for an ongoing investigation concerning the claim that he provided information to the NCAA about Alabama's alleged cheating. When asked about what happened during the morning, Fulmer simply said, "This event is about the players and the schools. BS like that doesn't belong here."
Fulmer was happy to announce that his team has had no distractions since his February off the field issues and his team had a "really good summer."
The Tennessee head coach has easily coached the longest in the SEC, and he said he is "proud to do this for a long time. We're doing it the right way." Fulmer said that his longevity not only has to do with his team's on field success, but also the fact he is "not a guy just passing through and not looking for the next best job."
Fulmer was singing the praises of new quarterback Johnathan Crompton. He was very excited about the new dimension Crompton brings to the offense with his ability to run. "He can pull it down and make a play, and that is something we didn't have last year." Although Fulmer is happy about his new offensive weapon, he was also quick to say that he wants to "discourage some of that" to protect Crompton from injury.
RB Arian Foster was well aware of the expectations of his team compared to Florida and Georgia, but was also quick to point out "Florida and Georgia have been at the top" since he has been at Tennessee. Despite that, the Vols are the reigning SEC East champs. "If the game was just played in the papers," he said, "we should just hang it up."
When asked about the possibility of sharing time in the backfield, Foster was not opposed to the idea. "I don't think any team in the SEC can have one premiere back."
Tennessee will begin practice on August 2nd. The Volunteers open up their season on the road in Pasadena against UCLA on September 1st.

Day One: Florida, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, LSU

Alabama Football: Monday Message Board 7/21

Nic Gulas — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:49:25 -0400

Hey Guys,

I've got some great news heading into this week.

Yeah, I know: It's now less than 40 days 'til kickoff—but there is some even better news.

SEC MEDIA DAYS ARE THIS WEEK!!!!!

That's right—this Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, all twelve coaches will converge on my hometown of Hoover, AL to speak on all things SEC football and the 2008 season.

Head coach Nick Saban will be speaking on Thursday, so expect something on what he had to say after his turn at the podium.

Well, back to the purpose of this post: the weekly message board.

Keeping with the month's theme, we are still talking Alabama Football history.

We've already touched on some of the best games, so now it's time to focus on the players.

This week's topic is: Who is the best offensive player in Alabama football history?

The pick can come from any team and any position, but we want to know why they are the best at what they did for the Crimson Tide.

You can base this on records, or on performance on the field.

As always, you can leave your comments below or write your own article on the best that Alabama's offense has had to offer.

That's all for this week guys.

Thanks and Roll Tide,

Nic

Alabama Football Flashback: 2005 Florida vs. Alabama

Nic Gulas — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 05:15:36 -0400

There have been few games in the recent past of Alabama Football that have as big a place in fan's hearts as the 2005 game between Alabama and Florida.

The Gators were coming into the game as the No. 5 team in the country with a 4-0 record and 2-0 in the SEC.

First-year head coach Urban Meyer was sitting pretty entering the game, especially after a win over rival Tennessee two weeks prior at home.

Alabama would be the No. 15 team in the country at kickoff, fresh off a home victory over Arkansas and a 4-0 record as well. Not to mention 'Bama head coach Mike Shula was still looking for a signature win in his third year.

Florida was an overwhelming favorite entering the game with quarterback Chris Leak and the top defense in the conference.

Alabama was no slouch themselves with senior quarterback Brodie Croyle and receiver Tyrone Prothro in tow.

Even with all the hype around this game, it wasn't even close.

After the opening kickoff, Florida took the field and managed to fumble on the opening play, but recovered. It would just be the start of a long day for the Gators.

The Gators would eventually punt and Alabama would take over at their own 13 yard line.

Then, the momentum of the game was established.

Croyle would hit Prothro on the first play from scrimmage for the Tide over the top for an 87-yard touchdown. Just like that, 7-0 'Bama.

Florida would get the ball back and then Leak would throw his first of two interceptions. Alabama would return the ball to the Gator two. Two plays later, it was 14-0 Alabama and the rout was on.

The teams would trade field goals to make the score 17-3 halfway through the second quarter. Alabama would then strike again from distance.

After the Florida kickoff, the Tide took over at their own 35-yard line.

Croyle then hit Kieth Brown on a quick slant that worked to perfection for a 65-yard touchdown pass. That would be the last score of the half as the teams headed to the locker rooms at 24-3.

Alabama would not miss a beat to start the second half, taking a six-play drive 80 yards for another touchdown pass from Croyle to Prothro for the last score of the game.

It would have been a perfect day for the Crimson Tide if it wasn't for one horrific play.

With ten minutes left in the game, Croyle tried to hit Prothro for yet another touchdown pass. Prothro made the catch, but had reasons to drop the ball.

Upon coming back to the ground, Prothro's left cleat got stuck in the grass and his left ankle would snap in a career-ending fashion. That one play put a small damper on what was a great day.

Alabama would close out the game and ride a 31-3 victory to 5-0.

Croyle would finish the day 14-17 with 283 yards, three TDs, and no interceptions.

Prothro would end his final game with five catches for 134 yards, and two touchdowns.

Leak would not be as fortunate as Croyle in the stats column. Leak went 16-37 for 187 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions.

Florida was held without a touchdown in this game for the first time since 1992 and it was the first Meyer coached team not to score a touchdown.

The Tide would use this game as the signature win in a 10-2 season which included a Cotton Bowl victory.

Florida would eventually re-group and go on to a 9-3 season and a bowl victory over Iowa.

Alabama Football: How the 1926 Rose Bowl Legitimized Southern Football

Nic Gulas — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 12:26:34 -0400

There is no doubt The University of Alabama has a tremendous football tradition.

Since its beginning in 1892, the Crimson Tide have played in over 1,100 football games.

They have won over 780 of their contests, good enough to be among the best in the country all time.

Legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant won 323 of them.

Twenty-eight seasons have seen 10 or more wins.

Twelve of those wins have contributed to National Titles, but none of the title victories was more important than the first one.

On Jan. 1, 1926, the Alabama Crimson Tide would take on the Washington Huskies in the Rose Bowl, but this would be no ordinary game.

The Teams

The 1925 Washington Huskies were a force to be reckoned with on the football field. The Pacific Conference powerhouse began their season with a 108-0 victory over Willamette.

Outside of a 6-6 tie against Nebraska, Washington would finish its regular season with a perfect record.

The Huskies would beat the likes of Cal, Washington State, and Oregon on their way to the 1925 Pacific Conference Championship.

The 10-0-1 record of Washington was good enough to merit them a spot in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., but at first, the Huskies denied their invite.

After three teams, including Washington, turned down the Rose Bowl berth, some because they believed the regular season was enough to determine the best team in the land, the Rose Bowl committee invited a 9-0-0 Alabama team to play in the game.

The 1925 Alabama Crimson Tide, led by head coach Wallace Wade, were not a traditional power in the South, but Wade was changing the landscape in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama would ride victories over Georgia Tech, LSU, Florida and Kentucky on the way to an undefeated record and a 1925 Southern Conference Championship.

The Tide was led by their defense, giving up only seven points the entire season.

The Tide would accept the invite and become the first team to travel out to the game. Upon hearing of the Tide's acceptance of the invitation, Washington changed its mind.

The Game

Back in the early days of college football, the dominant teams were from the West, Midwest, and North. The South was never given the time of day in football...until 1925.

The idea of inviting a Southern team to play, not only out West, but in the Rose Bowl, was laughable to most people.

How in the world would "a bunch of farmers," as Alabama back Johnny Mack Brown referred to his team, be able to beat—or even compete with—a team of the stature of Washington.

The match up was a beacon of national attention for well over a month, until it was time to play.

Washington made the short trip down from Seattle while Alabama had to take a four-day train ride out to the west coast.

The media attention the Tide would receive was huge. Alabama had photo shoots set up before the game, but Wade would keep his men grounded by limiting the time Bama would spend in front of the cameras and by putting the team through the most intense workouts of the season.

Washington, however, was being vaunted as the winner before the game was played. The Huskies had lighter workouts and continually looked down on Alabama.

Media members predicted a woodshed beating by Washington. Other head coaches at the time, including Pop Warner, said that Alabama was, "too light to stop that big Washington team."

Finally, New Year's Day was here, and it was time to play.

A crowd of 45,000 fans showed up to watch the first Southern team compete in a major bowl.

The first half belonged to Washington. The Huskies would ride the play of All-American halfback George Wilson to two first-half touchdowns.

Wilson ran for the first TD. He broke a big run to the Alabama 22-yard line before throwing a TD pass on the very next play.

Washington missed both of their extra points in the first half, but it wouldn't matter at the time. The Husky defense held Alabama scoreless and went in at halftime with a 12-0 lead.

Neither side was accepting of the first half. Southern football fans were concerned that the Tide couldn't put up a single point in the first half. Washington fans couldn't understand why the Huskies were only up by 12 on this vastly inferior team.

Wade was by no means impressed by his team's first-half performance. He made a challenge to his team, saying, "and they told me Southern boys would fight."

In the second half, Alabama did just that.

In the first seven minutes of the third quarter, Alabama managed to knock Wilson out of the game and put 20 points on the board.

The first TD was on five consecutive runs by quarterback Pooley Hubert straight into the gut of the Washington defensive line.

After the first TD, history is conflicted as to which touchdown came first, but there is no denying how each happened.

For one score, Alabama would stop the Washington attack again and force a punt. Alabama would then fling it long to Johnny Mack Brown on a 59-yard touchdown grab for another score. The extra point was good again.

The other Bama score would come following a Washington fumble and another pass completed to Brown. The extra point was no good, but Alabama had shocked the crowd in Pasadena and taken a 20-12 lead.

Wilson would return later in the second half and lead the Huskies to another score, this time converting the extra point, bringing the score to 20-19 Alabama.

The Huskies would have one last shot late in the game, with Wilson breaking loose in the open field, but he was caught and brought down by Johnny Mack Brown.

One last pass by Washington was intercepted by Alabama and the game was over.

Alabama 20, Washington 19.

The Reaction

Alabama had just pulled off the biggest upset in college football en route to the first National Championship for the university, but more importantly, for the South.

The "Tusca-losers" had just beaten a team that most considered to be a junior varsity squad compared to the Huskies.

Alabama would be asked back the next season to the Rose Bowl, starting a string of Southern teams making visits out West for the next two decades.

As the Crimson Tide returned by train across the country, they were greeted in every major town by big crowds and bands. Everyone in the South was excited to be respected as a region and on the football field.

Alabama would eventually make it back to Tuscaloosa where the day would be considered a state holiday.

The student newspaper, at the time called The Rammer Jammer, held a contest after the game for students to write the school's fight song.

The winning lyrics would immortalize this epic victory forever in Alabama history.

"Remember the Rose Bowl, we'll win then.

"Go, roll to victory, hit your stride, you're Dixie's Football Pride, Crimson Tide.

"Roll Tide, Roll Tide"

Sources

Alabama Football: Monday Message Board 6/30

Nic Gulas — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 17:02:51 -0400

Hey Guys,

Of course we all know this past week was a hard one for Crimson Tide fans with the arrest of Jimmy Johns. It wasn't any easier for me when I had to break the news to all of my friends. The station where I am interning broke the story first, and it was a hard one to swallow.

Anyway, I know everyone wants to move on from that, so here we go.

June has been focusing on the individual and the incoming freshman class, so there is no reason to deter from that on the last day of the month.

We have discussed the best incoming freshman, the best case scenario for JPW, and the best returning senior.

Basically, that leaves the rest of the team, so what better subject to focus on this week.

The question for this week, then, is: Which returning underclassmen need to have the biggest impact in order for Bama to be successful?

We will be focusing on the juniors and sophomores of the team and how they figure to contribute to this team.

As always, you can comment below, or write your own article about the topic.

Next month the focus will be this history of Alabama Football, which I know is something that every Alabama fan likes to discuss.

Here's to hoping that this next week is a happier one for the Crimson Tide.

That's it for this week guys.

Thanks,

Nic

Alabama Football: Rashad Johnson Looks to End Unthinkable Career on High Note

Nic Gulas — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 14:11:32 -0400

Next time you get a chance, go over to Rivals.com and search for the name Rashad Johnson in the year 2004.

When you get no results, don't blame the site—it's because Johnson doesn't have a player profile on Rivals.com. Same for Scout.com.

Despite what those sites say, Rashad Johnson does exist.

The Alabama senior walked on to the Crimson Tide football team under then-coach Mike Shula in 2004 and was just happy to make the team.

Now he is entering his final season not only with a scholarship, but with reigning first team All-SEC honors, plus team captain duties as elected by his teammates.

When Johnson came to Tuscaloosa, he was a running back out of Sulligent, Alabama, a small town about an hour from Jasper and home to a tiny 1-A high school.

After a redshirt season, Johnson made the move to defense in 2005, but saw no action short of special teams work.

In 2006, Johnson finally got a chance to start four times, but still saw limited action at safety.

After a coaching change and a tireless spring, Johnson earned a starting job in the defensive secondary, and he didn't disappoint in his junior campaign.

Johnson turned in a memorable season, picking off six passes, good enough to tie for the conference lead and 10th nationally. He was the team leader in tackles last season, including a team-high 13 in the bowl win over Colorado.

With all his hard work, Johnson left a mark on his coaches, opposing coaches, and his teammates.

During the season, Johnson garnered five Defensive Player of the Week honors from the coaches. After his breakout season, Johnson racked up a first team All-SEC selection from the coaches, and, more impressively, was selected as a team captain by his teammates.

By being selected a team captain, Johnson had the honor of placing his hands and cleats in cement around Denny Chimes along with all the other team captains since the '50s. Johnson's name is now in the company of many Alabama Football legends.

In 2008, Johnson looks to lead a defensive secondary which has lost some starters from last season. Even though that may be a problem, Johnson still figures to factor into opponents' game plans and will be a constant threat to quarterbacks under pressure.

It also doesn't hurt to have reigning All-SEC safety attached to your name.

Entering his senior season, Johnson may have been the only one who could have pictured himself getting this far. It is quite obvious that no one else could have pictured this scenario back in 2004.

Even though 'Bama didn't originally want Johnson, the Crimson Tide wouldn't know what to do without him now.

NBA Draft 2008: What Warriors Fans Can Expect from Richard Hendrix

Nic Gulas — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:33:31 -0400

In 2005, Richard Hendrix graduated Athens High School in north Alabama.

After being selected as a McDonald's All-American, Hendrix had a decision to make: either go into the NBA Draft, where he was projected to be a lottery pick, or go to college at in-state Alabama.

Hendrix opted to pass over the NBA for college, and went to Tuscaloosa.

Somehow, in those three years, Hendrix's stock dropped like a rock, but his game did not reflect the drop.

In his three years at Alabama, Hendrix was a force to be reckoned with down low.

He was an All-SEC selection in his final two seasons at The Capstone and was the leading scorer on the team for those two seasons.

Now, its all fine and dandy to listen to opinions of him, but what about the cold, hard facts?

Well, in his final season at Alabama, Hendrix averaged a double-double with 17.8 points and 10.1 rebounds a game, only one of fifteen guys in the country to do so.

He led the SEC in multiple rebounding categories, including offensive rebounds, and took up plenty of room in the middle.

His one down side is his bad free throw percentage, at 54%, but he reaches the line often enough to make up for his lack of accuracy.

So its nice to know that he is durable and can perform over a substantial period of time, but how did he perform against the top players and those who were drafted tonight?

In his two games against Florida this season, former team of 16th overall draft pick Marreese Speights, Hendrix had 24 points and 16 rebounds in the first game of the SEC season, a national broadcast on ESPN.

In the first round of the SEC Tournament in Atlanta, he managed to score 22 points and pulled in eight rebounds.

Speights scored a total of 21 points last season against Hendrix and the Tide.

Speights, who has been called "a tremendous talent" and "never been dominated" in the SEC, was pretty much dominated by Richard.

In two games against LSU this past season, the former team of 14th overall and fellow Warrior draft pick Anthony Randolph, Richard scored 19 and had 17 rebounds at home, and in a bad team effort in Baton Rouge, he still managed 16 points and 13 rebounds.

Sure, you can knock on his "lack of height" for his position, you can say that he struggles with free throws, but one thing you can expect from Richard Hendrix every night is that he will give 100% and work for any ball he can get his hands on.

The Warriors have just picked up one hell of a basketball player, and should feel lucky to have him in their organization and playing for their team in the future.

Alabama Football: Monday Message Board 6/23

Nic Gulas — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 17:13:13 -0400

Hey guys,

I'm gonna start this week with a few nuggets from the end of this past week.

If you haven't heard yet, Saban got commitment No. 8 for 2009 from Toledo, OH RB/FB Mike Marrow. Marrow's father, Vince, played for Saban at Toledo and eventually made it to the NFL. Marrow picked the Tide over Penn St., Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Illinois.

Also, Saban made a quick stop with the media informally this week. He let out a few injury reports and updates.

Saban said that CB Kareem Jackson and LB Charlie Higgenbotham have recovered from sports hernias which they had suffered during the spring.

Then came the news which has to deal with this week's topic.

Wideout Will Oakley is hurt...again. The receiver, who has never seemed to be healthy for an extended period, is out with a broken foot and may be back by fall camp.

Also, CB Lionel Mitchell is being forced to hang up the spikes because of a recurring back injury that has landed him on a medical hardship scholarship.

With the removal of Mitchell, Alabama is down to just 11 remaining seniors on the 2008 squad. Even that number may dwindle with Oakley questionable for the start of fall practice, and with the status of DE/JACK Ezekial Knight still in the air, the Tide could have as few as nine seniors on the team.

With so few seniors, someone is going to have to make a difference. We all know that John Parker Wilson has to have a great year, but we covered him last week.

This week, the topic is: Which senior outside of JPW will step up to have an outstanding 2008 season for Alabama?

Here is a list of the remaining seniors on the team:

Will Oakley
Ezekial Knight
John Parker Wilson
Rashad Johnson
Bobby Greenwood
Travis McCall
Antoine Caldwell
Nick Walker
Marlon Davis
Nikita Stover
Jimmy Johns

Johns has been a fan favorite ever since he was recruited by former coach Mike Shula.

Johnson and Caldwell are both returning captains from the 2007 squad and both are anchors in their respective units.

Just like previous weeks, either leave your comments below or write your own article on this week's topic.

That's all for this week guys,

Nic

Alabama Football: Is the Third Offense the Charm for John Parker Wilson?

Nic Gulas — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 11:39:04 -0400

An experienced quarterback at Alabama has become commonplace in the past decade or so.

Tyler Watts enjoyed shared playing time with Andrew Zow for two years before having his senior season to himself.

Brodie Croyle was the starter for two years and fell victim to injuries both years before staying healthy and leading a strong 2005 team in his senior year.

Now it is John Parker Wilson's turn. For two years, Wilson has led a different offense under a different coach and different coordinator with the same result.

2006: head coach Mike Shula, offensive coordinator Dave Rader, 6-6 regular season

2007: head coach Nick Saban, offensive coordinator Major Applewhite, 6-6 regular season.

Wilson now has some consistency with no head coaching change, but he once again has a new offensive coordinator in former Fresno St. offensive coordinator Jim McElwain. He also has a reputation to uphold in this new century of Alabama Football.

Watts and Croyle both led their respective Alabama teams to a 10-win season in their final go-around.

In previous years, Alabama fans have expected a lot from Wilson, especially based on his performance as a quarterback in high school at nearby Hoover High.

Wilson won multiple State titles as the leader of the Bucs, and many Bama fans expected that same success from him at Alabama.

In two years as a starter, that success hasn't been seen, as Wilson has posted a 14-14 record.

The personal success, however, has been there, with Wilson holding or on pace to set every quarterback record in Alabama history. He could potentially be the first Tide QB to pass for 3,000 yards in a season this year if his numbers continue to progress.

All of that is a lot for Wilson to live up to, but he may finally be in his element with his third offense in as many years.

So will this new offense, which is supposed to be quarterback friendly and more simplistic, be the thing to allow Wilson to combine personal and team success?

If the spring is any indication of this season, the answer is a resounding yes.

At Fresno State last season, McElwain improved the offense not only in numbers, but also in completion percentage by an impressive seven points, rising the Bulldogs from 89th to 21st in passing efficiency in the FBS.

For Wilson, that led to an impressive spring game. Sure, he finished with just a 50-percent completion percentage, but a closer look at the numbers reveals Wilson finishing the day 16-27 after a 1-7 start.

In other words, once Wilson settled in with the new offense, he was at a 60-percent completion rate, five points higher than his 2007 average.

Not only was his average higher, but the comfort in the offense was much more prominent. Wilson used more short, quick passes for his success instead of the long out routes or sideline fly patterns which don't suit his style nor the style of a McElwain offense.

In an offense which compliments his arm strength, Wilson should excel in his newest offense. However, if Wilson wants to match the senior success of Watts and Croyle, a few more than six wins will be necessary.

US Open: Why Is "That Guy" Always at Golf Tournaments?

Nic Gulas — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 17:46:21 -0400

We all know about that one golf fan who shows up to every event.

It's not always the same guy, but there is one response which is always heard in every crowd.

You may not know what I am talking about, but watch a golf event, in person or on TV, and you will easily figure it out.

It happens almost every swing and definitely on every putt.

Allow me to break down the situation here...

Random tour player No. 1 steps up to the ball. The volunteer marshal raises their hands to silence the crowd, and the crowd follows orders. The pro takes a swing or two away from the ball, then settles in. The wind swoops against the microphone in place to catch that customary sound. Then the pro starts his stroke. Swoop, chink...

“GET IN THE HOLE!!!!!!!”

Not a split second after the ball is hit, some moron always screams this phrase at the top of his lungs, which is as overblown as Stephen A. Smith's use of, "...at the end of the day."

It doesn't matter if its a tee shot or a putt from three feet away. It could be a par-3 185, par-4 467, or par-5 615 hole, but rest assured some idiot will chime in out of the crowd to verbalize this awful phrase.

Its almost as if this guy believes his opinion matters so much more than everyone else's, and they believe or expect Tiger to thank them personally after he sinks his putt for double bogey on hole number one.

So, after all of that, here is my plea to those of you who attend golf tournaments, please refrain from usage of this phrase. It annoys the people around you, it annoys the people watching on TV, and, in all actuality, it just makes you look like a loser.

There is a reason why the marshal asks you to be quiet: its for your own personal protection from public and national embarrassment. Please obey.