Bleacher Report - Articles by Ingram Worley

Iron Bowl for the Ages Sets Up Game of the Century, Part 2

Ingram Worley — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 01:43:06 -0500

In the wee hours on Friday night (read: Saturday morning), I got a call from my buddy, Vice, who was vacationing in the Rocky Mountains. While my friends and I were celebrating a miserably close Iron Bowl victory in Auburn, Vice and company had watched the game at a little bar in Idaho Springs, Colorado.

Apparently, the game looked as good from 2000 miles away as it did from the upper deck at Jordan-Hare.

My friend is one of a small, but loyal, contingent that reads my articles, and he insisted that I write about the heroism of one Roy Upchurch. Though he never offered much input to me when I was writing his term papers for him when we were in college, I am going to take his advice on this one.

Alabama senior tailback Roy Upchurch is one of several upper—classmen for the Tide that has seen his spot on the depth-chart sink with the arrival of numerous blue—chip recruits. Upchurch has gone from battling for a starting job, to battling for a back—up job, to a spot a sort of a "special circumstance" back. Now listed as the third option at tailback behind Mark Ingram and phenom Trent Richardson, Upchurch has taken the demotion in stride, contributing when he can, and never complaining.

On Friday, his patience paid the dividends that were so richly deserved.

On third down with just under 90 seconds remaining and his team down by one, Upchurch pleaded to be put into the game. He had a feeling that he could slide open in the end zone.

"I was yelling at everybody, 'Put me in! Put me in!'" Upchurch said. "No one was hearing me. I just had the feeling that I'd be wide open in the end zone. They changed the play.

"Patience pays off and today I've got a story to tell," he said.

When the gigantic Terrence Cody was inserted for the third-down play, a run seemed immanent. As it turned out, Cody's presence worked as sort of decoy, as McElroy took the snap and rolled to his right. As he thought, Upchurch broke right at the goal line into open space and had McElroy's pass hit him directly in the "5" on his jersey.

For the year, Upchurch's stats seem somewhat underwhelming. With just under 40 carries and 12 receptions, Upchurch has accounted for just over 300 total yards.

However, his last four yards will be played and replayed alongside the greats in Alabama football history. Somehow I think that play will find its way into the Bryant-Denny pregame video montages for years to come.

In an Iron Bowl that saw Alabama pushed to the brink by a gutsy Auburn team, Upchurch, along with sometimes—maligned quarterback Greg McElroy and the underachieving (at least according to some) Julio Jones, will be forever remembered as the heroes of the day.

What do Upchurch and Alabama get as a reward for the hard—fought victory?

They are set up for a national title semi-final game with Florida. But the game seems to be so much more than that.

Consider the following. For the second year in a row, Alabama and Florida will meet as the top two ranked teams. For the first time in the 17—year history of the SEC Championship game, both teams enter without a loss. Though Mark Ingram likely saw his bid for the Heisman Trophy washed away in Auburn, Ingram and Florida quarterback Tim Tebow are near certain to be Heisman finalists. The defensive units occupy the top two national spots statistically. Alabama cornerback Javier Arenas is eyeing the NCAA record for career punt return yardage. Tim Tebow has the SEC record for touchdowns in his grasp.

This game doesn't lack for anything. Coaching heavyweights? Nick Saban and Urban Meyer. Check. Offensive stars? Tim Tebow, Riley Cooper, Mark Ingram, Julio Jones. Check. Defensive standouts? How about Brandon Spikes, Rolando McClain, and Terrence Cody. Check. Electric return men? Javier Arenas, Brandon James. Check.

Alabama gets the unique chance to play villain to everybody's "good-guy" Tim Tebow. Due to the media's love affair with Tebow, along with his eye—popping statistics and his unmatched will to drag his team to victory, the national storylines will be dominated by Tebow's attempt to cap off his brilliant career with another national championship.

Early indications are that the betting line for the game will have Florida favored by 4—6 points. This marks the first time Alabama will enter a game as an official underdog since the SEC Championship game last year, when Florida was favored by ten. Position by position, the matchup grades out pretty evenly, with the notable exception of the quarterbacks.

One only has to look at last year's game to see why. With Florida trailing by three entering the fourth quarter, Tebow hoisted his Gator team onto his back, making several key perfect third-down passes and overtaking Alabama for an 11-point win.

Plain and simple, without Tebow, Florida doesn't win that game last year.

The bad news for Alabama? Tebow still lines up a quarterback for Florida. The bad news for Tebow? Alabama's excellent defense from last year has only improved. I think Tebow will find that those sort of precise throws from last year will again be required.

So, for me, that's where this game hinges. Can Tebow make another series of heroic throws with the game on the line? History says he can, but Alabama's defense may say otherwise.

Can his counterpart, Greg McElroy, continue to show the championship fortitude he showed at Auburn? Florida's defense is more sound than Auburn's, to be sure. But what McElroy showed on the plains is that he will not shrink when the game is on the line. That kind of guts and poise under pressure will certainly be a factor if Alabama is to come out on top.

As an SEC fan, I have learned that betting against Tim Tebow isn't something that smart people often do. As an Alabama fan, I've had my fill of the Tebow hype (though it is most certainly deserved). I feel fortunate that Alabama has one more shot at him before his career is over.

This is all you can hope for as a fan: to watch your team play its way into a shot at the biggest prize. My team has done that. What happens now is literally the stuff of legends. You can only expect a game of this magnitude involving your team a handful of times in your life. The year—in, year—out brutality of an SEC schedule will rarely allow it. The inconsistency of the current BCS set—up will only deliver it in the most perfect of circumstances.

And yet, it is upon us now. Those of us who are lucky enough to be supporters of Alabama or Florida should take time to appreciate this matchup. After all, there may not be another one like it for years. Or at least until next October.

Iron Bowl 2009: Why The Tide Will Pull Off the Big Road Win

Ingram Worley — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:14:18 -0500

Welcome, everyone, to my favorite week of the year.

Alabama and Auburn are scheduled to square off Friday afternoon for the 73rd installment of, not the "Deep South's Oldest Rivalry," not the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party," certainly not the "Third Saturday in October," and definitely not for anything called the "Egg Bowl," or even the "Saban Bowl."

No, the Tide and the Tigers meet again in their annual blood-feud better know as the Iron Bowl. I could regurgitate here all of the reasons why this is the greatest rivalry on Earth.

The fact remains, though, if you have lived it, then you believe it. If you, unfortunately, have not, then you don't.

You can have your USC/Notre Dames, your Ohio State/Michigans, your Texas/Oklahomas, and even your Army/Navys. I will see all of those and raise you the most intense, bile-inducing, hatred-filled rivalry in all of sports...our game...The Iron Bowl.

People who have lived the rivalry not only know, but feel the following phrases:

"Punt, Bama, punt"

"Wrong-way Bo"

"The kick"

"The Reverse"

"Go crazy, Cadillac, go crazy"

"Honk if you sacked Brodie"

"Honk if you scored in the 2008 Iron Bowl"

The joy/excruciating pain that those simple words can induce in the members of this state and many outside of it serves to paint a picture of what this game really means... everything.

We live in a state that is consistently the butt of national jokes—at least the ones that don't involve Mississippi ("Thank God for Mississippi," I've heard it said). For a long period of time, football was one of the few nationally respectable ventures in Alabama.

For a state in the Union to carry the reputation of being so far behind—in everything—so dilapidated, so depressing, to give birth to not one, but two national football powers was nothing short of miraculous.

For many years, the folks of Alabama have been rewarded with a day in November—usually—when their two beloved football teams strap it up to play in a winner—take—state game.

Generally, records entering into an Iron Bowl are nothing more than window dressing, but for my purposes, the inaugural "Rory Turner Waxed the Dude" Iron Bowl preview will start right here.

This is going to be a long one, so feel free to select an intermission point.

I'll start with a look at each offense, and how it stacks up against the defense.

AUBURN QUARTERBACK CHRIS TODD

In the Gus Malzhan-themed spread-attack offense, Chris Todd has been given ample opportunity to heave the rock. To be exact, he has been given it 272 times.

Todd's numbers as a whole show him as a very able quarterback. On throwing downs, Auburn averages over eight yards per attempt. His TD-to-INT ratio is strong, standing at 19-5. His completion percentage is near 60 percent, and the ever-confusing efficiency rating lists his at 147.1.

In short, the guy can move the football quickly. Heavy on big plays and light on mistakes, Todd came within one throw of setting Auburn's record for most consecutive completions earlier this year.

The knocks on Todd are his lack of mobility and his sometimes hasty check downs to the safety receivers.

Important stat: Five picks in 11 games doesn’t lend one to believe he's going to chuck up three of them in this game. Limiting mistakes will be key, as Auburn likely won't be able to afford any points off of turnovers.

ALABAMA QUARTERBACK GREG MCELROY

McElroy holds a slight advantage in completion percentage, but is nearly a yard behind Todd in average yards gained when a pass-play is called. The TD—to—INT numbers are similar, with McElroy hooking up for 14 TDs and four INTs. His efficiency rating is well below Todd's at 137.6.

McElroy's "plus" grades exist in game management, and his ability to throw a catchable deep ball when coverage is broken. He also seems to have a knack for changing called plays when he senses trouble.

A negative about McElroy is his tendency to get a little rushed in the pocket, and his tendency to get down on himself. The ability to shake off mistakes will be key in his development as a quarterback.

Important Stat: McElroy is a winner. He started one season in high school, went 16-0, and won a state title in Texas—where I hear they do actually play some high school ball. You know his record at Alabama.

ADVANTAGE (Stat-based)—Chris Todd

ADVANTAGE (Intangibles)—Greg McElroy

The homer in me wants to lean in Alabama's favor, but I can't, impartially, do it. McElroy needs a road—rivalry game to test the thickness of his skin (Mississippi State doesn't count, at least not like this).

BACKS

Much has been made in the past couple of weeks about the Ben Tate/Mark Ingram debate. Both are very skilled, hard-nosed backs that thrive after contact. Both are phenomenal at getting four tough yards when you need them.

What sets Ingram apart is his ability to wreak havoc in the second level when he gets there.

While he is not likely to bust one for 80 yards, Ingram turns a five-yard gain into a 15—yard gain as well as any back I have ever seen. Most of those yards are earned on his own. His ability to find holes, hit them, and do major damage afterwards is what sets him apart from Tate.

Remember, Tate is an outstanding back in his own right, and his numbers speak for themselves. The most important number to me, however, is yards per carry, where Ingram holds a 6.8 to 5.4 advantage.

Both teams have the luxury of depth at this position, in pass-catching specialists Mario Fannin and Roy Upchurch. Both have solid No. 2 running options in Trent Richardson and Ontario McCalebb.

Although all are skilled in their own ways, Richardson has elevated from the group, as well as McCalebb. Both have similar numbers, but vastly contrasting styles.

The difference for me comes in the form of Mark Ingram, and his ability to eat up first downs on clock—munching drives. Add to that his success from the Wildcat formation, and I think you have to lean toward the Tide here.

Advantage—Alabama

RECEIVERS

There is a very interesting comparison here, because, judging only by the numbers, Auburn seems to have quite an advantage at wide receiver.

Auburn's two leading receivers, Darvin Adams and Terrell Zachary, have combined for nearly 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns. The leading two for the Tide, Julio Jones and Marquis Maze have combined for less than 900 yards and only 6 touchdowns.

While few would argue that the most skilled receiver on the field—at least physically—would be Julio Jones, Alabama simply has not found enough ways to get the ball into his hands.

If Auburn's defense finds a way to neutralize Jones, it is advantage Auburn. With a banged-up secondary and a multitude of guys in the box to stop the run, one—on—one coverage from a second string corner may not turn out well for them. I see a couple of plays from Jones making a difference...

Advantage (slight)—Alabama

DEFENSE

I truly believe that statistics only tell the outline of the story in football. They exist as a kind of guidebook when handicapping a game. In this case, though, I think they deserve a closer look.

Stat #1: Points given up/game

Alabama: 9.9, Auburn 27.0

This may be the most damning of all statistics, because, in the end, points are what matter. Against very similar schedules, Auburn's defense allows, on average, an additional field goal and two touchdowns when compared to Alabama's.

Stat #2: Yards allowed/game

Alabama: 226.5, Auburn: 359.2

Stat #3: Turnovers caused

Alabama: 25, Auburn: 19

I believe when a team holds a decided advantage in these three key areas, only one conclusion can be made.

Advantage—Alabama

SPECIAL TEAMS

Both teams have struggled in kick coverage at times. Both teams house incredibly accurate kickers. Both have returned kickoffs well.

The punt return game is a little bit different. As a unit, Auburn averages right at five yards per punt return. Meanwhile, Alabama possesses Javiar Arenas, a cornerback—don't dare call him a return specialist—who is in reach of setting the NCAA record for career punt return yards, and is one touchdown away from tying that mark as well. One big blow by Arenas can change the makeup of any game.

Advantage—Alabama

COACHING

I don't want to spend too many words on this, but Nick Saban has proven his stock. Gene Chizik still could, but hasn't yet.

Advantage—Alabama

INTANGIBLES

The very first and most significant intangible is Auburn's home-field advantage. Auburn is not an easy place to play for anyone, let alone in this game when emotions run at their highest.

The place will be packed, and as we know, the underdogs tend to yell louder. A major piece of the puzzle to this game is how well McElroy and the Alabama offense manage the atmosphere early in the game.

A couple of crowd-induced mistakes, and this game could turn. On the other hand, if Alabama can successfully quiet the crowd early, this could have a detrimental effect on Auburn—the reverse home-field advantage has been seen and used many times in this series. In a 90,000 seat stadium, the silence can sometimes be even more deafening.

Another key that won't show up in the stat book is Alabama's mounting pressure to finish off a perfect regular season—again. Saban has showed incredible focus in not letting his players see beyond the moment at hand, but a road game at Auburn will put that to the test like no other scenario.

Perhaps less significant is Alabama's first real Heisman shot, tailback Mark Ingram. Ingram certainly hasn't played the role of a stat—hawking glory monger. However, I do believe they will do whatever they can, within the confines of a sensible game plan, to see that he generates the numbers necessary to keep him in the forefront of the discussion.

I've never thought more carries for Ingram meant anything but good for Alabama, but a point of diminishing return does exist in there somewhere. Alabama must by wary of that.

Whew.

After looking at all of the numbers, as an Alabama fan I should feel even more confident. In some ways I do. But the old cliche about games not being played on paper is a true one, and rivalry games showcase that statement to the nth degree.

In the end, I just can't see Auburn's thin defense hanging tough long enough to keep Alabama within striking distance.

I believe if Nick Saban had his way, McElroy would throw the ball 20 times maximum, and the Tide would do the majority of the dirty work on the ground, wearing on the already depleted Auburn defense.

Big plays and turnovers change games, though, and they could certainly come from either side.

When the clock runs out, I see the score Alabama 30, Auburn 13.

I say hopefully, one of the minority voices singing Rammer Jammer at the end will be mine, and all will be well with the world once again.

Alabama's Mark Ingram Takes High Road, Laughs Off Jab by Auburn's Ben Tate

Ingram Worley — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:04:43 -0500

Although I wasn't watching the Auburn-Georgia game very closely on Saturday night (there was a slightly more pressing matter going on at the time), I happened to catch a quote from Auburn running back Ben Tate that was featured on the ESPN2 broadcast.

In response to a question about how he felt he compared to Alabama running back and Heisman trophy candidate Mark Ingram, Tate said the following:

"I know I’m the best back in the state. I bet if you went and broke down film and asked teams in the SEC who is the best back in the state, I feel like it’s me."

Ummm...excuse me?

Now, to be fair, I think you have to salute the guy for his confidence. I even can get on board with a little cockiness, when presented correctly (i.e., exactly the opposite way Lane Kiffin does it).

Mark Ingram could have responded in any number of ways. He could have turned this into some sort of media quote-battle, or used his own statistics to refute the claim.

Ingram chose to do none of those.

When asked about Tate's statement, Ingram, in perfectly politically-correct fashion, said the following:

“Somebody told me about it,” Ingram said. “Everybody is entitled to their opinion and I respect him. He’s a great running back. I just let my words speak for me when I play. I won’t get into any tongue-tussling or anything like that.

“He’s a great back. He runs hard and I like his game and I respect him. I’ll let my game talk for me when I’m on the field.”

With that, any thought of Ingram giving Tate and Auburn any sort of "bulletin-board material" was squelched. Ingram said all of the correct things, but the real-life translation of his quote said something else:

"Ben who? Do you think I'm actually going to get into some kind of war of words with that guy? No, I don't think so. Can't you guys get Tim Tebow to say something like that? Than you might have a printable story. This isn't even on my radar."

Not that anyone really needs to defend Ingram in this situation, I think I will anyway. Here's a quick rundown of both backs' numbers.

Rushing Yards: Ingram 1297 (129.7/game), Tate 1142 (114.2/game)

Advantage: Ingram

Yards per rushing attempt: Ingram 6.7/carry, Tate 5.6/carry

Advantage: Ingram

Touchdowns: Ingram 13, Tate 8

Advantage: Ingram

Receptions (yardage): Ingram 25 (225), Tate 16 (88)

Advantage: Ingram

Nonsensical quotes: Ingram 0, Tate 1

Advantage: Tate

Other areas that Ingram holds an advantage? Yards after contact, runs of 10-plus yards, and yards against top-25 defenses.

So, in short, regardless of how much film the teams in the SEC break down, I'm not sure that there is a valid argument to be made in Tate's favor.

Ben Tate is a very good back. He will probably find his way into the NFL someday. However, I don't think attention-grabbing quotes such as these are really in his best interest.

I don't really think Mark Ingram and Alabama need any additional motivation for next week's Iron Bowl, but just in case they did, now they have it. Nice work, Ben.

Evil Genius Mike Slive and the Great SEC Conspiracy Theory (Humor)

Ingram Worley — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:10:53 -0500

On Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama fought off a battered LSU team to claim the Western Division crown in the SEC for the second consecutive year, setting up a rematch with top-ranked Florida in the championship game.

With zeroes left on the clock, the scoreboard read Alabama 24, LSU 15.

I was fortunate enough to attend the game, in perhaps the rowdiest Tuscaloosa atmosphere in 15 years.

The game was as the past two Bama-LSU matchups were-close and hard-hitting. LSU and Alabama both made many key plays, but Alabama made a few more down the stretch to claim the victory.

However, the national and local media has decided that the focus on the game should be the controversial incomplete pass that looked like it could have been an interception by LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson in the fourth quarter.

Trailing by six with time leaking from the clock, LSU covered a called roll-out by quarterback Greg McElroy very well. Attempting to squeeze the ball into the hands of Julio Jones, McElroy fired a pass that was on the boundary, only to see Peterson lunge in front of Jones for the pick.

After a short delay, officials on the field ruled the ball incomplete, much to the chagrin of the LSU sideline, which was frantically claiming that Peterson came up with the ball in bounds. The officials turned it over to the replay booth, which confirmed the ruling on the field.

Without the benefit of a replay for those actually in the stadium, this appeared to be another close play that could have gone either way. Television replays would tell a different story.

As an admitted Alabama fan, I can say with near certainty that the call was missed. I don't really understand why the play wasn't reversed. I watched the replay several times late that night, trying to see what the replay official saw, and was unable to come up with anything.

I assume that the replay officials know how to do their job better than I do, and that Peterson gained full control of the ball as his foot tapped the ground, too close to call if the foot was in-bounds or not.

Oh well, I thought, that was a nice break in a close game.

What I didn't expect, and what continues to amuse me, are the outlandish conspiracy theories that have been hatched by this particular play.

Evidently, the media, along with several factions of SEC fan bases have decided that this was just the latest in a sinister plan by the SEC brass to assure an Alabama-Florida rematch in December.

Really?

Like most other moderately sensible people, I chuckled at this notion when it was first mentioned following the Arkansas-Florida game, when a ridiculous personal foul was whistled on Arkansas late in a very tight game.

The whispers gathered more momentum in the next weeks, when Florida was the beneficiary of non-reversal of a fumble against Mississippi State. Add in Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin's whining, sniveling comments following their game with Alabama about the discrepancy in penalties called.

People were even claiming that Alabama defensive tackle Terrence Cody should have been flagged for a personal foul when he removed his helmet after his victory-clinching block.

The murmurs have now become a full uproar following the controversial call on the boundary in Tuscaloosa on Saturday.

On ESPN's "Around the Horn", while the talking heads debated the Great Conspiracy, the headline at the bottom of the screen read "LSU ROBBED?". Later, on ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption", the analysts laid claim to the validity of the Conspiracy.

So let me get this straight....

Somewhere, in a dark room in the SEC offices, commissioner Mike Slive must have met with the SEC head of officiating Rogers Redding and had a conversation that MUST have gone something like this:

Scene: Mike Slive sits in his office chair in his lair, I mean office, dressed in an all-white suit. A hairless cat reclines in his lap. Slive extends his little finger on his right hand to his mouth, and....

SLIVE: "Listen, Rogers. I've got a plan to make sure we get Alabama and Florida back in the SEC Championship game, and help us achieve national dominance and BILLIONS of dollars. Billions! This has to work! I'm not sure if the conference's foundations will hold if another team makes it in. But I need your help."

REDDING: "Hmmmm....devious. I'm listening."

SLIVE: "Okay, here's what we're gonna do. I need your officials to make sure that every close call goes in favor of Alabama and Florida in their games. Even if it's a replay decision, we need you to rule in favor of Alabama or Florida.

"It really doesn't matter if it is a blatantly obvious call. In fact, I'm going to need you to call 90 percent of all penalties on their opponents. You can throw in an occasional flag on Alabama or Florida, but only if the game won't be immediately impacted."

REDDING: "That sounds like something we can handle."

SLIVE: "Listen, I know you and your guys are going to catch the brunt of backlash from this, so I am prepared to reward each of you financially."

REDDING: "I don't know, Mikey, I could use the extra change, but that sounds like something that could get us into trouble."

SLIVE: "Listen, Rodge, there's nothing to worry about. I'm going to start fining coaches that speak ill of you, and you'll be free to make the calls that are necessary. I know that these games are under the largest microscope in college football, but I think you're up to the task.

"Now, go, meet with your guys and let them know the situation. If anyone has a problem with our arrangement, I'll have some of my guys pay them a special visit."

REDDING: "Okay, boss. Whatever's best for the conference."

SLIVE: "That's the spirit. Now go bring me my dream matchup."

Slive erupts into maniacal laughter.

I mean, that's how it had to go down, right?

Can't you just see it? Slive, reclining behind his desk in a dimly lit room, coaxing the head of officials to see it his way.

Is this what it has come to?

If you are a self-respecting SEC football fan, and you are spouting garbage like this, you need to have your fan license revoked. Permanently.

Be it fear of an obvious fine for making detrimental comments about the officiating or not, I give Les Miles a lot of credit for taking the high road and not questioning the call.

If he were my coach, I would be proud that he took responsibility for the loss instead of blaming it on the officials, a la Lane Kiffin, Dan Mullen, or Steve Spurrier.

Alabama outgained LSU by nearly 200 yards. Alabama had 10 more first downs. The LSU sideline looked like a M.A.S.H. unit, with players responsible for 12, that's right, 12 injury stoppages in play.

You're going to try to convince me that the game was won or lost on a single interception non-reversal?

Not me. Call me a homer. I'll call it exactly what it was, a nice break in a season where we have seen just as many go the other way.

And I'll continue to roll my eyes at the masses from Tennessee, LSU, and even Auburn, who have all of the sudden become quite focused on the officiating intricacies-not in their own games, but in ours.

Here is my advice to the conspiracy theorists out there.

Hard as it may be, try to muster up at least a semblance of pride in your own team. Take a step back and look at yourselves: whining over the officiating. It is really quite sad. You are doing your own team an injustice.

And since you all seem to be so interested in the goings-on at Alabama and Florida, here is what you can do: throw a little Jiffy-Pop on the stove and grab yourself a nice seat in front of the old tube.

You aren't going to want to miss what Mike Slive and the boys have risked everything for: another epic Alabama/Florida championship game.

Playing Devil's Advocate: Where Does Alabama Go if Nick Saban Leaves?

Ingram Worley — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:49:33 -0400

Last week, I exchanged a number of emails with a good friend, an Auburn graduate, who took exception to an article I wrote questioning the "relevancy" of Auburn's (and Tennessee's) rivalry with Alabama.

He was upset with the perceived arrogance of Alabama fans, and used his uncanny knack for statistical analysis to point out how wrong I was.

As it turned out, the article in question was proven invalid following Alabama's close win against Tennessee, and was more than a little bit off-base on my part. But it was something he mentioned in the final email that got me thinking about a scenario I didn't really want to mentally digest.

While I think it was mostly written in jest, and I am paraphrasing a bit here, but he said something along the lines of "I'm not really worried, the Notre Dame job is going to come open soon, and Saban's ego won't let him say no to the most publicized job in college football."

Of course, I laughed it off.

But something stuck with me. Tiny thoughts kept creeping into my brain, though I tried valiantly to push them away.

Saban has never stayed at one job for more than five years. He has an ego that would rival a Napoleon/Ivan Drago hybrid. He has no personal ties to Alabama. His contract has no buyout.

Now, as I lack the mental capacity to comprehend the Black Monday-type fallout from the news, if it were to come, that Nick Saban was leaving our beloved Crimson Tide, I will maintain that this is not a scenario that we have to immediately worry about.

But what if I'm wrong?

Now, this may be a bit of a stretch, but walk with me for a minute.

Let's say that Alabama's season plays out with the best possible outcome. It is not outside of the realm of possibility that Alabama runs the table and wins their 13th National Championship. All is well in Tuscaloosa. Alabama fans exist in a perpetual fog of joy, and the expectations rise to a level that is impossible to sustain.

Cut to 2010. Alabama continues to play well, but loses a couple of games to miss the SEC Championship. Meanwhile, things continue to unravel in South Bend, and in Columbus, at Ohio State. Maybe the situation in Ann Arbor is no better. Fast forward to December of 2010, and those three mega-jobs come open.

Who do you think they are going to call first?

Cue the cricket-chirping sounds of silence.

Alabama fans, still a little hungover from the '09 championship, dismiss the ever-growing rumors about Saban's interest in any of the three. LSU fans, on the other hand, watch the situation with a knowing smirk.

While the pockets at Alabama are as deep as any, the offers start to roll in.

ESPN reports that Michigan has offered a five year/$40 million package to Saban.

Fox Sports trumps that with news that Ohio State has come over the top with a six year deal worth a reported $54 million.

Days later, rumors spread that Notre Dame is ready to offer Saban $70 million for seven years, doubling the salary of the highest paid coach in college football.

I will be the first to admit that these numbers seem a little bit far-fetched. But are they? Take three of the five richest programs in college football, all desperate to win, and put them in a bidding war over the same guy.

A guy who may be the best ever at changing the fortunes of a program. Throw Alabama into the auction, and my scenario actually may have underestimated the money.

By this time, Saban has nearly matched his career-long stay at one institution, and has another National Championship on his resume. The rebuilding has long been complete.

One could say that he has nothing left to prove at Alabama, taking the program from the depths of probation-induced embarrassment to a national title and a spot as a perennial contender. He has been offered a chance to turn around another one of the Mount Rushmore-level collegiate programs.

And he gets to chose which one.

Somewhere around this time is when I begin to spearhead a fund raising effort to rent out John Cusack for a day, find him a trench coat and a giant boom box, and camp him out in Saban's yard, have him raise the giant speakers over his head, and play Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes."

Let's say Saban resists my best efforts and takes the job in South Bend.

Chaos, anyone?

Everyone at Alabama has been so delirious with the return to glory, that no one has bothered with a contingency plan, or to wonder why Saban insisted that his contract included no buyout clause.

Who would we turn to?

A simple, lighthearted exchange of harmless emails led me to this.

Maybe I have seen too much Dubose, Franchione, and Shula in my adult life. Maybe it's the incessant idea that all good things will eventually come to an end. Maybe my head has been so filled with all of the reasons that he won't stay that I have trouble believing that he will.

The man is the equivalent of a coaching nomad, an unbelievably good one, but a nomad all the same. As an Alabama fan, I can admit my arrogance in believing that there is no better job in college football.

But somewhere in Ann Arbor, somewhere in Columbus, and somewhere in South Bend there exists someone that feels the same about their program. Am I arrogant enough to believe that Alabama is the one magical job that can tie Saban down?

Yes, I am.

Roll Tide.

Alabama Survives, but Takes Strong Dose of Reality from Tennessee

Ingram Worley — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:10:46 -0400

Last week, I sat in front of my keyboard and wrote an article questioning the legitimacy of Alabama's rivalries with Tennessee and Auburn, in favor of the blossoming rivalries with LSU and Florida. I used the term "relevance" to make my case, arguing that the games with LSU and Florida had surpassed the games with Auburn and Tennessee in importance.

After Saturday, I can say with 100 percent certainty, that I could not have been more wrong.

As it turns out, national relevance can not hold a candle to an age-old rivalry.

Though the Alabama-Tennessee matchup was broadcast nationally on CBS, the game was not much more than an afterthought on a national scale. Alabama came in as a two-touchdown favorite, on the heels of two dominating performances against Tennessee, games that featured a total score of Alabama 70, Tennessee 26.

The slug-fest that took place in Tuscaloosa on Saturday proved that cliched statements like "you can throw out the record book when these two get together" are a lot more accurate than the eye-rolling responses they usually garner.

For the fourth consecutive week, Alabama's performance declined. Save the heroic performances of Terrence Cody and Leigh Tiffin, Alabama was outgained, outcoached, and outplayed.

Now that the game is safely in the books, and Alabama's perfect season is still intact, one can look at what was learned from this throwback-style battle.

1. Point spreads, team records, rankings, and statistics mean absolutely nothing in the SEC.

Here is my tip for all of you point-spread players. If it is your choice to gamble on the point spread of an SEC game, the following is your best chance to pick a winner. Reach into your pocket and grab a quarter, dime, or anything else that has two sides. Assign heads to one team and tails to another. Toss it into the air, catch it, and slap it on top of your hand. There is your winner.

Analysis and trends don't mean a thing. Alabama escaped Tennessee on the strength of two blocked field goals, and didn't score a touchdown. Florida entered the fourth quarter leading Mississippi State 16-13, and rode an inexplicable non-reversal of a fumble resulting in a touchdown to win by 10.

LSU completely manhandled Auburn and won by 21 in a game that wasn't even that close.

Whatever you think you know about teams in the SEC, you can effectively throw out of the window. Each game holds the possibility of an upset. It doesn't matter if it's Mississippi State or Vanderbilt. No one is immune.

2. Alabama must find some offensive consistency, or the National Title dreams will end on Nov. 7.

For the second consecutive game, Alabama will face an opponent that is coming off of their best performance of the season. LSU used a crumbling Auburn team to find its offense, and also its confidence, and will come to Tuscaloosa riding high.

If Alabama can not figure something out offensively, I don't expect them to escape again. LSU's defense is every bit as good as Tennessee's, if not better. LSU held Auburn to nearly 300 yards below their season average, forced turnovers, and finally figured out how to get to the quarterback.

None of this bodes well for an Alabama team that has seen its offense slow to a crawl in the last three weeks.

3. Finally, the bye week finds Alabama at the perfect time.

For what seems like the past several years, Alabama has come into the biggest games with the bye-week falling somewhere else. This is not the case this year, as Alabama will finally get a chance to rest and heal before the biggest game of the season.

While LSU's game against Tulane may end up being a de-facto bye week for them, they still have to suit up and play it, while Alabama has an extra week to try and nurse an offense that has become anemic.

4. Any talk of a 13th National Title should come to an abrupt end.

I'm guilty, you're guilty, anyone that is a Tide supporter and claims not to be is probably not being very honest. We were all sucked into the old Alabama mentality of expecting victories, and looking ahead to rematch with Florida and a chance to play for another ring.

As I see it, the Tennessee game was a much needed reality check, that nothing is predetermined.

After the game was over, I didn't feel exhilarated. I felt relieved. It was a feeling that I can only describe as nauseating. I couldn't shake it and hate myself for feeling that way. I don't want to feel relieved when Alabama beats Tennessee.

This feeling was justified by the fact that I believed that Alabama played as bad as they were going to play for the entire season against a ranked South Carolina team, and yet managed to win by two touchdowns.

It was amazing how quickly I was forced to reassess the situation. The cold, hard truth is that this team is very beatable. The team that was previously labeled "the most solid in the country" by most, is likely not the most solid. At least not right now.

5. On the bright side, Alabama may have a renewed sense of purpose.

While I am certain that Alabama's performance against Tennessee exposed many glaring weaknesses, I believe this team can use them to improve. There will be no talk of "looking ahead", no worries of a letdown. Alabama enters the game against LSU with everything on the line, without distractions.

At any other point in the season, I could find an excuse to look past the next opponent. A blowout victory over Tennessee could have easily fueled that sentiment, causing the team and fans alike to focus on Florida. I hardly think that is the case anymore.

6. Lost in all of this is the fact that we may have witnessed the greatest of all Alabama-Tennessee games.

Terrence Cody blocked not one, but two fourth-quarter field goals, including the potential game-winner as time expired. In my mind, this feat should stand alongside Barry Krauss and company's goal-line stand against Penn State, Langham's "pick-six" against Florida, Teague's strip of Lamar Thomas in the Sugar Bowl, and Thomas Rayam's block against Penn State.

I am happy for Cody, in that his relatively short career at Alabama will now be immortalized. In a word, this was historic.

7. Tiffin's foot and Cody's arm have now paved the way for a matchup of monumental proportions with LSU in two weeks.

As a college football fan, you can only expect a very few times in your life to see a game involving your team with this bevy of storylines. Alabama and LSU both control their own destinies to play for a national title. Both teams will be ranked in the top 10. The last two games against LSU were classics.

Nick Saban must face his former team again. This game is the effective SEC West championship game. There will be no bigger, more important regular season game anywhere in the country, at any time this year. We should consider ourselves fortunate to be involved in it.

For Alabama, there is a laundry-list of issues that must be addressed in the next 13 days. For now, we should enjoy a surprisingly relevant victory against one of our biggest rivals. If the game yesterday taught us anything, it is that we should relish those victories when they come, because no one is guaranteed the next one.

Alabama's Rivals: Tide May Be Turning Away From Traditional Foes

Ingram Worley — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:01:22 -0400

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines the word "relevance" as: "relation to the matter at hand," or "practical and especially social applicability."

When speaking on the matter of college football, and especially the rivalries contained within, relevance is a word that has taken on special significance.

For my entire life as a college football fan, and more specifically, an Alabama football fan, my rivalries consisted of two teams: Tennessee and Auburn.

Regardless of preseason expectations, returning talent, coaching situations, or previous records, the games against Auburn and Tennessee were circled, and looked forward to for the entire season.

History plays a great role in the growth of a rival. Geography plays an important, though less vital role as well.

Alabama and Auburn share the state. For many years, the two schools represented the only major college football within the boundaries. Though UAB and Troy have recently come into the picture, for most, the situation remains the same.

Fans within the state will tell you definitively that the Iron Bowl represents all that a college football rivalry should be. Two teams that routinely occupy national importance, share a conference, and have more than a healthy dose of hatred have grown the rivalry, the "Iron Bowl," into a household name nationwide.

Tennessee and Alabama for years occupied the "Third Saturday in October," which the rivalry still claims as a title, though the game has not occupied that exact date for some time.

The hatred is certainly there, and like the Iron Bowl, both teams are major college football institutions and in most years, at least one of the participants is involved in the national conversation.

However, the recent trends in college football place relevance ahead of rivalry.

While folks in the state of Alabama will always relish the late November date between Alabama and Auburn, national relevance has been missing in action for a long period of time.

The last time Alabama and Auburn met when both teams resided in the top 10 nationally was 1994. You can safely tack on another year to that streak this year, which will leave the tally at 16 years.

While the game will always be relevant in the state, the Iron Bowl has ceased to exist on a national scale of importance for the better part of two decades.

To put that fact in perspective, there is a fairly good chance that by the year's end, Alabama will be involved in four top-10 matchups. For 15 years, Alabama has not faced Auburn when both teams were near the top of the college football mountain.

The rivalry with Tennessee has proved no better. While the game has produced many entertaining contests, the national picture generally is impacted little by the game. While the rivalry has not suffered in the least in local fanfare, a matchup that in recent years has pitted two unranked teams has drawn little or no national attention.

Now, as an admitted Alabama homer, this could easily be construed as my "elitist" Alabama attitude downplaying the rivalries because of recent "down" years at Auburn and Tennessee. This is not the case.

In fact, Alabama shoulders most of the blame in the last decade for the loss of national implications relating to the two rivalries. From 1997 to 2007, Alabama (notwithstanding the SEC Championship year of 1999) has been far-removed from the national stage.

Auburn's six-year winning streak against Alabama during that time saw many below-average Alabama teams, which further removed the game from national prominence. Alabama's return to the upper-echelon has seen Auburn slip back.

During that time, LSU and Florida have emerged as the perennial conference favorites. Claiming three of the last four National Championships, certainly the national attention has been properly directed toward them.

For forty years, LSU's spot on Alabama's schedule meant nothing more than that of Mississippi State, Ole Miss, or considering Alabama's dominance in the series prior to the mid-90's, even Vanderbilt. But "relevance" has changed the landscape.

LSU's emergence as a national power first enhanced their rivalry with Auburn, but that has now shifted to Alabama. The two have locked up in classic matchups in the last two years, both with national title implications. Add to that the "Saban factor", and this has become the "can't miss" game in the SEC West.

It has all of the hatred you will find in an Iron Bowl or on the Third (Fourth) Saturday in October, but when you add in the fact that both teams now generally sit in the Top 10, the game has become a rivalry in the truest sense of the word. A very relevant one, at that.

Alabama's rivalry with Florida might seem like it has come about in the last 10 months, dating back to the No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup in last year's SEC title game. Certainly, any game involving the top two teams in the country is bound to draw attention and give rise to a "rivalry."

The fact of the matter is that Alabama and Florida have met in the SEC Championship game in five of the 16 years of the game's existence, and seem to be steamrolling towards a sixth meeting.

Couple that with Alabama and Florida's 1-2 ranking (again), and a rivalry, with or without the history factor, was bound to emerge. It doesn't get any more relevant than that.

I can remember a time (not that long ago), when Alabama fans could look at the schedule and assume that all would be right with the world if the Tide could beat Auburn and Tennessee, and let the cards fall where they may for the rest of the games.

This year, even the most traditional of Alabama fans looked at the 2009 schedule, and found Auburn and Tennessee as the fourth and fifth most important games on the schedule.

Which brings me back to that word again: relevance.

National relevance has dictated that Alabama has new rivals. LSU and Florida are now the most important. Tennessee and Auburn will still have their historical significance, but the games mean nothing more nationally than the games against Ole Miss and Arkansas.

Alabama enters the this weekend's game against Tennessee as a 17-point favorite, where a seven-point margin of victory would actually be damaging to their national credentials.

Alabama's total score against Tennessee and Auburn in 2008?

56-9.

This is hardly the stuff that will have viewers in Texas or California glued to their seats.

If Auburn can right the ship, the Iron Bowl might attract moderate national attention, but this seems unlikely.

Do not mistake this for an indictment of Auburn and Tennessee. I do not mean that in any way. But in this age of 24-hour sports stations and an overload of information via the internet, the games must mean more to maintain the intensity they have had for decades.

It just so happens that this is Alabama's turn on top, and that lends little to adding relevance. Today, Alabama's games against LSU and Florida just "mean more."

I guess you have to decide for yourself if you want "rivalry" or if you want "relevance." It seems rare to have both. For years, Texas and Texas A&M had a relevant rivalry. Does anyone even pay attention to that game now?

Texas' "relevant" rival is now Oklahoma, and sometimes Texas Tech. What about Notre Dame and USC? Rivalry? Certainly. Relevance? Not in a while.

Even Miami and Florida State, which is arguably the most "relevant" rivalry of my generation, has been relegated to a second-tier game. Army and Navy boast what most consider as the purest rivalry in sports. That game hasn't been relevant in half a century.

I do not want to see the Alabama-Auburn and Alabama-Tennessee rivalries fade into irrelevance. I wish that those two games were the most important on the schedule. They aren't, and don't appear that they will be for a few years. For the time being, LSU and Florida are the "circled" games, and the Florida game isn't even official yet.

I know that these things are cyclical. Auburn and Tennessee will certainly be back. I just hope that Alabama stays strong for as long as that takes, so we can see some "relevance" back in the rivalries.

Alabama Bandwagon Nearing Capacity As Tide Rolls Into Second Half

Ingram Worley — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:13:51 -0400

Another week, another dominating performance. Another fan-base crushed. More contenders fall by the wayside.

Another week, a few more first-place votes. Another week, more "talking heads" are changing their tune.

When the season started, Florida entered as the odds-on favorite to win the National Championship. It wasn't even a question of "if," but a question of whether the Gators would even be tested.

Now, seemingly everywhere you turn, you hear the new "expert" opinion: Florida's got some company.

Alabama's play has changed the mindset of many, including many of the more vocal members of the national media.

How many different ways can a football game be won?

McElroy, Ingram and company light up the scoreboard with gaudy offensive numbers.

Win, win, win.

Seemingly forgotten, McClain, Arenas and the defense begin to channel the 1992 defense and completely embarrass two of the conference's (previously) most lauded quarterbacks.

Win, win, win.

Greg McElroy exceeded expectations to start the year, but has leveled out somewhat. No problem, enter Mark Ingram and freshman Trent Richardson. The play on the offensive line (especially at center) has improved. There is a stable of six capable wideouts. Tight end Colin Peek may be developing into McElroy's favorite target.

To make things even more frightening for the opposition, Julio Jones hasn't even scratched the surface of his potential this year. And Roy Upchurch, the third-string running back who just might start for half of the conference, can't even get on the field. And yet, there is much room for improvement.

Alabama entered the red zone six times in Oxford and came away with 15 points.

How one-sided could the game have been?

Alabama was one fumble and one dropped touchdown pass away from winning by 30. One could make the case that 19 points was as close as that game could have possibly ended up.

On the defensive side, Alabama took a staggering blow with the loss of Dont'a Hightower. After a very brief "struggle" at Kentucky, the linebacking corps looks as strong as ever.

Rolando McClain would have to be considered the front-runner for the Butkis award, and Courtney Upshaw has stepped into the starting role admirably. Eryk Anders spends his time camped in the offensive backfield, and Cory Reamer is coming off of a career game in Oxford.

Reamer was somewhat maligned after the game at Kentucky, when he was exposed while struggling to juggle two positions. He looked bad on a few plays and it was obvious that Kentucky was targeting him. A slight change in the linebacker positioning left Reamer back at his normal strong-side spot, and the comfort level was obvious. Against Ole Miss, Reamer registered this ridiculous stat line: 5 tackles (1 for loss), blocked punt, forced fumble, fumble recovery, and a pass deflected.

I heard tonight at dinner that Reamer might be questionable for Saturday's game against South Carolina. I figured that he had tweaked a knee or a hamstring. I was informed that Reamer actually had a part of his ear ripped off during the game- And he didn't realize it.

If you are keeping score at home, that tallies one defensive player that was shot on a Tuesday and played that Saturday, and one defensive player that had part of his ear torn off, and didn't even know it.

Gunshot wounds and severed ears?

My God, Patrick Swayze survived "Road House" in better shape.

The defense is beginning to show a swagger that has been absent at Alabama for a long time. Many defensive units have been good in the last 15 years, but its been a long time since one has completely ravaged the opposition the way that they did against Arkansas and Ole Miss.

And then there is Nick Saban and "the process."

Thirty months ago I said that I believed it would be impossible to live up to the hype around his arrival. Unbelievably, I think I was mistaken.

Saban's highlights in two and a half years: 2 top-ranked recruiting classes, wins in 18 of last 20 games overall, 11 straight regular-season conference game wins in a row, 18 regular-season wins in a row, and at least, a supporting role in the firing/resignation of four opposing coaches.

The only thing he hasn't delivered is a championship, and more and more people are lining up to pledge that the big crystal football will find its way to Tuscaloosa, sooner, rather than later.

At age 30, this moment represents the most crowded Alabama bandwagon that I can remember. I wasn't around in the sixties and seventies, when dominance was not only expected, but achieved.

In 1992, the bandwagon reached the finish line before anyone outside of the state jumped on. Last year, the national media heaped praise upon the team, but never really gave them a chance against Florida (fairly accurate, as it turned out).

This year, the lofty national predictions are gaining steam by the day.

This represents a new set of challenges.

Can Alabama carry the weight of the ever-expanding expectations? Will the bandwagon's increasing load prove too much to bear?

Whatever the answer may be, you are more than welcome to jump on and find out. This bandwagon has room for a few more. Just try not to block the view.

Beyond the Numbers: Using Kentucky to Measure Alabama and Florida

Ingram Worley — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 01:55:59 -0400

In the wake of Alabama's 38-20 victory over Kentucky in Lexington on Saturday, the national media has rushed to use the Wildcats as a benchmark to compare the Tide and the Gators.

The topic was a popular one, even before the game on Saturday. Members of the media were anxious to get Kentucky head coach Rich Brooks' thoughts on who might be the stronger of the first- and third-ranked teams. Brooks was somewhat noncommital in his answers prior to kickoff.

Brooks was quoted several times and gave answers that ranged from Alabama being "not quite as good" to "as good, just in different ways."

When the game was finished, Brooks was far more diplomatic, though his players seemed to favor the Gators, should the two match up in Atlanta in December.

Brooks stated that Alabama and Florida possessed the confrence's two best defenses, while his players felt that Florida's speed set them apart.

The national and local media will undoubtedly use the final scores of the teams' games against Kentucky as the first major telling point in what could end up as a season-long debate.

Florida's final tally against Kentucky was 41-7. Alabama's was 38-20. The games took place on the same field. The point spreads were similar: Alabama was favored by 16 while Florida was favored by 22.

Both teams covered the respective spreads, but even the most loyal of Alabama fans will tell you that Florida certainly looked more impressive.

Using an offensive onslaught to end the game before the gun sounded at the end of the first quarter, Florida pummeled Kentucky for a four-touchdown lead. Without question, Florida eased off of the gas pedal and cruised through the final three quarters.

Alabama scored early, but struggled for the next 27 minutes. Two late scores before halftime gave Alabama a 21-6 lead at the break. The Tide managed to maintain and extend the lead, but failed to deliver a knockout punch.

Alabama's starters were forced to play the entire game. The win was statistically unspectacular, but winning ugly in '09 certainly has a different feel than winning ugly in '08.

The media has been quick to point out the fact that Alabama, while winning comfortably, did not measure up to Florida.

The numbers, both the score and the statistics back up that idea. Alabama managed a respectable 352 yards of total offense, while the Gators gashed the Kentucky defense for nearly 500 yards.

On the surface, one could certainly agree that Alabama may still have some ground to cover to catch Florida. I can understand that, but I see it with a slight twist.

To me, the most significant fact to come out of Lexington on Saturday was that Alabama upstart quarterback Greg McElroy boarded the team's plane and flew comfortably back to Tuscaloosa.

Florida's all-world quarterback Tim Tebow spent the night after the game in a Lexington hospital, going through a battery of tests to make sure that there was no permanent damage after a vicious blow left him unconscious on the field.

As late as five days after the game, Tebow was still suffering from headaches that led doctors to order him not to read or watch television.

The spin out of Gainesville is that Tebow has made a full recovery and will play Saturday night, when they travel to Baton Rouge for a top-5 matchup with LSU.

However, for the first time in a career that has him mentioned with the best quarterbacks ever to play college football, Tebow will have to deal with something that, up to this point, he has not: doubt.

There is every chance that Tebow will suffer no lingering effects from the concussion. It would surprise no one if Florida changed nothing in their game plan, and continued to use Tebow as a battering ram on LSU's defense.

But, again, there is doubt. Can Urban Meyer afford to risk using Tebow in the same way that Florida fans have become accustomed? And, if Meyer is forced to alter Tebow's style of play, will he be as effective?

The fact of the matter is that no one, not Meyer, not the medical staff in Gainesville, and not Gator nation, knows for sure. For the first time in three years, uncertainty surrounds the Heisman Trophy winner.

Meanwhile, back in Tuscaloosa, Greg McElroy begins a game week as he normally would. Alabama travels to Oxford to face an Ole Miss team that is hungry to show that they were not overrated and overhyped.

A win against Alabama would vault them back into the national picture and ease some of the pain from the egg they laid in Columbia a few weeks ago.

Both Alabama and Florida are preparing for their toughest tests of the young season. With a common opponent under their belts, the numbers say that Florida is still superior.

Digging below the surface, however, shows that while Florida dominated Kentucky and Alabama did not, Alabama may be in better shape.

As most football fans would, I hope Tebow comes back at 100 percent. He plays the game in a way that commands respect, whether or not you wear orange and blue.

But, for me and for anyone that witnessed the hit and the after-effects, I wouldn't want to bet on Tebow returning to form, at least right away.

What does that mean for Florida? Probably not much, at least in the short run. I tend to think that they come out of Baton Rouge with the win, with or without Tebow.

As for what happens down the road, the picture is less clear. Anyone who watched the SEC Championship game last year would tell you that Tebow was without question Florida's most valuable player.

He made perfect throws time after time in the second half, squeezing the ball into the tightest of windows in the most key spots of the game.

I didn't buy into Tebow as a NFL-caliber quarterback before the game. After the game, I couldn't believe he wouldn't be the first one drafted.

Without him, Florida doesn't win that game in 2008.

Certainly, no one can assume at this point that the two are destined to meet in Atlanta again. There are miles to go for both teams before that becomes a realistic issue.

But, should '09 play out the way '08 did, and Florida can't depend on Tebow to make the same plays, the scale may shift toward the Tide in the rematch.

If you want to read the headlines and decide for yourself that 41-7 is far more impressive than 38-20, be my guest. For me, I'll take the 18-point victory and a healthy quarterback.

The score and the statistics may be more of a concrete judging point for the two teams, but what happened beyond the numbers may be far more important in the grand scheme.

2009 Alabama Defense is Fearsome, but Roll with the 1992 Version as its Finest

Ingram Worley — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 01:52:26 -0400

With Alabama's dominating defensive performance Saturday in a 35-7 win over phenom quarterback Ryan Mallet and his Arkansas team, the whispered comparisons between the 2009 Alabama defense and the legendary 1992 unit have become a popular topic of conversation around these parts.

Not only do I find the comparison very premature, I consider the idea unfair to this year's defense.

Alabama's defensive statistics from the 1992 National Championship year are gaudy, to say the least. The defense led the nation in the following: scoring defense, rushing yards allowed, passing yards allowed, and total yards allowed. These statistics were accumulated while carrying an offense that, at best, was average, and at worst, inept.

They won many games with points scored from the defensive side of the ball, and capped the season with a suffocating performance against Miami and Heisman Trophy winner Gino Torretta.

I will be the first to admit that this year's defense has exceeded even the highest of expectations, at least so far. In an opening game against a very solid Virginia Tech team, the defense kept Alabama in the game while the offense worked out the early kinks.

In the second half of that game, notwithstanding the lone drive managed by Tech for a late touchdown, the defense was dominating. In the end, the scoreboard read 34-24 in favor of Alabama.

In case you were wondering, the most points given up by the '92 team in a single game? 22.

This year's unit was solid against two mediocre opponents before matching up with Arkansas in a game that was billed to be a shootout. The offensive fireworks were not to be, however, as Alabama held the heralded Mallet to just 12 completions on 35 attempts.

The game Saturday has brought Alabama's defense to the forefront of national conversation, and reminded the Crimson Tide faithful of the Gene Stallings/Bill Oliver-directed championship defense of 1992.

Here is why I think the idea, while flattering, borders on being ridiculous.

*At defensive end, the '92 defense possessed two of Alabama's all-time best pass-rushing defensive ends in Eric Curry and John Copeland. Dubbed "the bookends" by the media, Curry and Copeland harrassed quarterbacks throughout the year, allowing Alabama to play nickel and dime coverages without sacrificing quarterback pressure.

The defensive scheme has certainly changed, and Alabama employs a 3-4 defensive setup now. Terrence Cody anchors the middle and provides at least one spot in which the '09 defense holds a slight advantage. Lorenzo Washington, Marcell Dareus, and Brandon Deaderick are, without question, servicable ends. There is a huge gap, at least for now, between that group and Curry and Copeland.

*At linebacker, the 1992 National Champs rotated an incredibly talented group including Lemanski Hall, Michael Rogers, Antonio London, and Derrick Oden. What this unit lacked in "standouts", it made up for in depth. The rotation relied heavily on speed, and while they were not the best tacklers the school had ever seen, the group ran to the football as well as any and were above-average in coverage.

This year, the linebacking corps is the heart and soul of the defense. While Dont'e Hightower will be incredibly difficult to replace, Alabama still has the advantage of having arguably the best linebacker in the nation in Rolando McLain. Eryk Anders, Cory Reamer, and Courtney Upshaw are very skilled complimentary contributors. Alabama will need help from a handful of prized newcomers to fill the hole left by Hightower.

Time will tell, but at full strenth I consider this year's linebackers to have the potential to compare with the '92 group.

*The Grand Canyon-sized divide between the '09 defense and the '92 defense comes in the secondary. In 1992, Alabama employed what is arguably the greatest defensive backfield in college football history. The four starters alone would eventually account for almost 30 years of service in the NFL.

At cornerback, all Alabama had to offer back then was the All-American tandem of George Teague and Antonio Langham. Most teams are fortunate to possess just one "lockdown" corner. Alabama had two, and I'm not sure "lockdown" is a strong enough word to describe Teague and Langham.

While Teague will always hold a place in Alabama football lore with the nail-in-the-coffin "pick-six" off of Gino Torretta to seal the championship and the jaw-dropping rundown and strip of Lamar Thomas to save a touchdown, Antonio Langham was the hero among heroes during the championship run.

Consider this:

-Against Mississippi State in Starkville in late November, Alabama was losing a tight game in the second half. The offense had provided almost nothing, and with the defense forcing yet another three and out, Langham tore through the line, blocked a punt, recovered the ball, and scored the go-ahead touchdown.

-At Legion Field against Auburn, the teams had battled to a scorless tie at halftime. With Auburn driving near midfield in the third quarter, Langham stepped in front of a Stan White pass, and returned it for the go-ahead touchdown.

-Against Florida in the first SEC Championship Game, again the score was tied, with time winding down in the fourth quarter. Langham correctly read a slant pass from Shane Matthews, intercepted it, and took it in for his third go-ahead touchdown in as many games.

-Against Miami, I can only recall one ball thrown Langham's way (he batted it down).

Along with Teague and Langham, Alabama had safety help in the form of Sam Shade. Shade possessed arguably the best ball skills of any safety to play at Alabama, and systematically elimated any deep threat from opposing teams. Chris Donnelly didn't draw the headlines of the others, but was as dependable as they came.

Now, with all of that being said, I am beyond impressed with this year's secondary. Javier Arenas has grown into a very dependable corner, and Kareem Jackson seems to be his equal. Mark Barron is developing into a head-hunting safety and Justin Woodall has handled the duties vacated by All-American Rashad Johnson quietly, but very well.

I believe the secondary as it stands is among the best in the SEC. I'm not ready to rank them with the nation's elite on the strength of their performance against Arkansas alone, but I am considering it more and more after every game.

Recently, a certain sports-talk radio host in Birmingham asked former Alabama coach Gene Stallings how he thought this year's defense compared with his masterpiece of 1992. Stallings answered with a chuckle. "If they can finish the year and lead the nation in four major statistical categories, then we can start to talk about it", Stallings said.

In other words, let the '09 defense write its own history.

But, if you like comparisons that favor this year's team, try stacking up the offense from 1992 against this year's offense. I don't believe you will find an argument from anyone on that subject. And that may well be the fact that has this team playing for Alabama's first big ring in 17 years.

Lofty Expectations Could Lead to Bruised Egos in the SEC West

Ingram Worley — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 02:05:58 -0400

How do you temper the expectations of the most rabid fanbases in the country?

For most squads in the SEC, you don't. You simply ride the streaks as they come, try to win the weekly battles against your bitter rivals, and hope that your team, if it can't get to Atlanta, can at least satisfy what have become the somewhat unreasonable goals of those that support the program.

This season, the SEC West is packed with teams that have seen their projected spots and believe that they can not only exceed the predictions, but make a run that could end in a championship.

Where will the chips fall? Here is a look at each of the teams in the West that could make some noise before what has become a de facto national championship semifinal in Atlanta in early December.

Arkansas

While last week's loss in a shootout to Georgia may have slowed the momentum, Arkansas has shown many positive signs under Bobby Petrino. Michigan transfer quarterback Ryan Mallet continues to impress, throwing for over 900 yards in the first two games of the season.

The matchup with Alabama on Saturday may prove to be the fork in the road for the Hogs. Coming into Tuscaloosa as a 15-point underdog, Arkansas must find a way to make the game competitive to remain relevant in the West.

A blowout loss after the close call against Georgia would likely signify that they are headed for a middle-of-the-pack finish. An upset would turn Arkansas into a top-25 team and a real player for the SEC West title.

To remain in this conversation, Arkansas must defeat Auburn on Oct. 10. A third loss, especially one that would result in an 0-3 start to conference play, would remove Arkansas from contention.

Auburn

No other team in the SEC has seen expectations rise so quickly. Considered an afterthought in the West race, Auburn has turned heads under Gene Chizik and his band of skilled coaches. While the defense looks suspect, Auburn fans hope to ride the newfound enthusiasm and favorable early-season schedule into the top 25.

The unlikeliest of questions concerning Auburn has all of the sudden become relevant. Can a team that managed five wins last season with an offense that can only be labeled as abysmal continue to build offensive firepower and outscore its opponents in the SEC?

The scheme is heavy on misdirection and teams that are less than well-coached defensively can have problems.

The troubling fact for Auburn is that most of those teams exist in conferences outside of the SEC. The breakneck pace and seldom-seen formations can win games against inferior athletes, but can they win against defenses loaded with strength, speed, and talent?

Road tests at Tennessee and Arkansas are must-wins if Auburn wants to remain in the race. The late-season gauntlet of LSU, Ole Miss, Georgia, and Alabama will be too much to overcome if Auburn has any hiccups early.

Ole Miss

Perhaps the team that is least-equipped to handle national championship aspirations is Ole Miss. Houston Nutt has positioned his team firmly in the top five nationally, but is still a marquee win away from being taken seriously.

While talented at nearly every position on the field, the Rebels are in unfamiliar territory, as they have not had a team in the top five in nearly 40 years. In my opinion, this makes them ripe for an upset and the Thursday night game in Columbia may prove to be that stumbling block.

Steve Spurrier is generally good for at least one unlikely win per year in his stint with the Gamecocks and this one has the potential to be very close.

If I am proven wrong and Ole Miss can show that it is capable of winning the tough road games, it can stick around until the end. Possessing arguably the most favorable schedule in the West, Ole Miss gets Alabama and LSU in Oxford.

But remember that you heard it here first—the Rebels' title hopes will be derailed, as they will go 1-1 in the their trips to Auburn and South Carolina. This will make their games against the Tide and the (Bengal) Tigers of dire importance and anything better than 1-1 against those two seems unlikely.

Two conference losses will likely have the Rebels on the outside looking in come December.

LSU

Due to a lackluster (at least it seemed so at the time) performance at Washington and the higher rankings of Alabama and Ole Miss, LSU has become the forgotten team in the West. However, they have arguably the most talented overall roster in the division and they have bones to pick with Ole Miss and Alabama.

What works against LSU is the fact that they have to face SuperTim and the Gators, while Alabama and Ole Miss (thankfully) do not. Also, their schedule is made all the more difficult in that their games against Ole Miss and Alabama fall on the road, with another road date in Athens thrown in for good measure.

Without question, this is the toughest draw of any SEC team.

The upcoming Georgia/Florida/Auburn portion of the schedule that precedes a trip to Tuscaloosa will be telling, as LSU needs to win two of the three to have a realistic shot. If LSU can't handle Florida and Georgia, they have no room for error in the West.

Alabama

Consider this: Through three games against comparable opponents, junior quarterback Greg McElroy has thrown for 647 yards and four touchdowns while carrying a 67 percent completion percentage. 2008 quarterback John Parker Wilson threw for less than 500 yards during the early stretch of last year with one touchdown.

And McElroy managed these numbers in fewer pass attempts.

While one should not judge future performances based on these tune-up games, it is impossible to argue that McElroy is a significant upgrade at the position. Throw in a stable of talented backs and receivers and Alabama's offense is as promising as it has been in recent memory. The play of the offensive line will prove to be the determining factor in Alabama's continued improvement on the offensive side of the ball.

Defensively, Alabama possesses perhaps the best linebacking corps in the conference (some would argue the nation) and a solid if unspectacular defensive line. Considering these supposed truths, Alabama would have to be the odds-on favorite to win the division, if only by a marginal amount.

Alabama's questions remain in the secondary and on special teams. This weekend's game against Arkansas will certainly answer some of the questions. Alabama's schedule sets up nearly as well as that of Ole Miss.

Barring a mishap on Saturday, the Oct. 10 trip to Oxford will become the most important matchup of the season in deciding the West race.

Prediction

If one were to assume that all five of the teams mentioned can count their respective games against Mississippi State as a win, that leaves five teams in the race. I think that Alabama and Ole Miss stand the best chance of sweeping their games against teams from the East and due to that fact, I see the Alabama/Ole Miss game as one of the deciding ones for the division. The other will come when LSU comes to Tuscaloosa.

That is assuming an awful lot. It is not beyond the realm of possibility that the West race will become a bloodletting and each team could have multiple losses. While this would eliminate every team from the national picture, the race could come down to some of the odd tiebreaker rules to decide the champion.

If this is the case, all five teams could realistically have a say in who goes to Atlanta.

These are the rigors of playing in what has become the best top-to-bottom division in college football. Three teams carry a "championship or bust" mentality and two are looking to spoil the party.

What results is a season in which every game has championship implications and every upset can bring the highest of expectations crashing back to reality, or the Peach Bowl, if you prefer.

Random Thoughts on Week 2: The State of the SEC and Beyond

Ingram Worley — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:15:04 -0400

Saturday night, I was in Tuscaloosa for the Alabama/FIU game. Without question, the game was important. I think perhaps we learned more about the team this week than last week.

Alabama struggled early, and then took control in the second half, winning 40-14.

However, as happens from time to time, I found myself losing focus on the game. Call me what you will, but in a game such as the one on Saturday, one's mind wonders. Here is a brief synopsis of my random thoughts from Saturday night. Do not expect much rhyme or reason to this. Some of this is relevant. Some is not.

"We play Dixieland Delight/Sweet Home Alabama too much."

Am I imagining this? It really seems that the loudspeakers blast "Sweet Home" for 30 minutes before every game and "Dixieland Delight" during every time out. I love both songs, but maybe we are playing into that stereotype everyone else has of us with our affinities for those two songs. I, for one, am in favor of expanding the playlist.

On the positive side, I couldn't be more pleased at the selection of AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" before kickoff. Anybody who doesn't get at least a little bit amped when they hear that may not actually be breathing.

"How worried should I be at the 'injuries' to Ingram, Jones, and Upchurch?"

I will have to admit to being a bit paranoid when it comes to injuries. I was a little concerned to find out that a) Julio rested on the bench, icing his knee, b) Upchurch was also out because, according to multiple sources in my section, "something is wrong with his back, or his foot, or his neck," (yes, we get the inside scoop), and c) Ingram is still under the weather and nursing a sore ankle, but has been pressed into playing due to the injuries.

Later, I learned that most of this was precautionary, but let us not forget that Jones and Ingram are sophomores. They each have a season and a game under the belt, and could use as much playing time as possible for the stretch run. I agree that the conservative route is the correct one when it comes to injuries, but I believe this is a bigger deal than it has been made out to be.

"Trent Richardson, at least early on, looks as good as advertised."

How much hype could one back have to live up to?

I was too young when Alabama recruited Humphrey, Jelks, Stacy, and the like to know if they came with this kind of fanfare. To hear the rumors, Richardson's strength and quickness remind people of a young Hershel Walker.

Saturday night, I got a chance to see what the fuss was about. You will not hear me claim that he has Heismans in his future or that he should be starting. What you can say is that he is of a different physical breed than everyone else on that field. He is raw and unharnessed now, but, as they say, the upside is gigantic.

"The stadium expansion is underway, I see your 92,000, and raise you 10,000."

Construction on the new upper deck at Bryant-Denny is fully underway. I don't know if others will admit this, but our stadium capacity has become a competition with the other larger schools, especially in the conference. I haven't the slightest idea why it makes me happy that our capacity is, or soon will be, larger than the stadiums at Auburn, Georgia, Florida, and LSU, but it just does. Juvenile, isn't it?

"Is it just entirely too much to ask to get some score updates during the game?"

Maybe I am the only one who is annoyed by this, but why can't we have score updates running across one of the 64 scoreboards at the stadium?

Saturday, I was anxiously hoping that Tennessee had laid an egg against UCLA (check), and that Auburn was struggling with Mississippi State (not so much). With a little less urgency, I was wondering what happened in Michigan, and what was going on in Columbus.

Total number of score updates: Two. I understand that, at least according to one of the pre-game montages, we "live" Alabama football, but I would still like to check out what else is going on. I mean, Tennessee was losing! Shouldn't this have been repeated at least ten times?

"What is the NCAA record for consecutive games in which a team has given up a kickoff return for a touchdown?"

"How good is Auburn?"

I really try to take the high road most of the time, I do. But I don't like Auburn, I don't wish them the best, I don't hope "the Iron Bowl 'means' something because it's 'better' that way."

I could lie. I won't.

I hope that Auburn loses every time they step on the field, excepting when they face Tennessee, and maybe then too.

Much to my chagrin, Auburn looks to be improved. The changes in the staff, at least now, appear to be the right ones. The team has a totally different look than the last time I saw them, and they have managed about 1,100 yards in two games. I know the competition hasn't been first-run, but the offensive turnaround has been eye-popping. I am moderately concerned.

"Florida is good."

I watched some of the Florida/Troy game. I am glad they aren't on the regular schedule. If Alabama stays healthy and gets a shot at them in December, they are going to have to play at or very near their best to stay competitive.

Most teams won't.

"Georgia and Tennessee may have brought the SEC's reputation down, just a notch."

In the few "name" non-conference games the SEC has been involved in so far this year, the conference appears to have weakened, at least at the middle level.

Georgia, although a slight underdog anyway, went to Oklahoma State and lost by two touchdowns. An acceptable loss, sure, but it would have been a badge of honor for the conference to defeat a Big 12 team on the road.

Tennessee, on the other hand, lost as a double-digit favorite, at home, to UCLA, a team that had to travel across the country to Knoxville for the game. Losing to a mid-level Pac-10 team in front of 106,000 people is not exactly a running start for Lane Kiffin, or a boasting point for the SEC.

That was the lot of it. The very random, very disjointed thoughts of your average Alabama fan. And this is just week two.

A Tuscaloosa Tribute: Why Alabama Home Games Are Like Nothing Else

Ingram Worley — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 03:36:39 -0400

From an outsider's perspective, Alabama's 2009 home opener against Florida International this Saturday is little more than a tune-up, a breather after a tough first game.

For those of us who are planning on being counted as one of the 92,000 plus that will be on hand in Tuscaloosa this weekend, it might mean slightly more than that.

For me, Alabama home games (and many on the road) were simply a part of my upbringing. As a kid in the '80s, Bryant-Denny was an awe-inspiring place to be, although the 72,000 seat capacity was roughly three-fourths the size of the behemoth it is today.

Although much has changed within the program in the last 25 years, the gameday experience in Tuscaloosa remains an integral part of life to me, and to about 100,000 of my closest friends.

This year, the opener may leave a little to be desired as far as the opponent is concerned, but the first game is always a unique experience.

In my little corner of the stadium, the first game brings yet another opportunity for me to shamefully apologize to the nice gentleman in front of me for my dropping a hot dog on his head (and shoulder, and back) at the LSU game in '05. Writer's Note: This was my wife's fault, contrary to documents released in 2006.

Once again, I get to exchange high-fives with the guy two rows behind me, who, as far as I can remember, has yelled at the top of his lungs "BLOCK, LINE!", no less than 2,700 times. I can remember him saying no other words. I have hugged him four times. I do not know his name.

To say that I am fidgety during a football game would be a gross understatement. I am up and down, in and out of the aisle, pacing constantly. This is a character flaw. I have come to terms with it. The first game this year provides the lady that sits at the end of my row three hours worth of opportunities to scowl at me and mutter under her breath. I do not know her name either. I have hugged her zero times.

And then there is Hannah. At last count, Hannah was a 8-year-old little girl who sat to my left at most of the home games last year. Hannah not only understands the intricacies and nuances of the 3-4 defense better than I do, but she is happy to explain them to me. Also, if you are confused about the roles of the "mike", "will", or "jack" linebackers, Hannah is your go-to source for answers. You have not really attended a football game until you and the 8-year-old girl next to you jump up and yell in unison, "THAT'S HOLDING! THROW THE DAMNED FLAG!" And then fist-bump if it gets called.

I also look forward to the age-old debate with the guy behind me about the social ramifications of an adult male and his "shaker", or "pom-pom", as they are known to anyone outside of the SEC. I have weighed both sides of the issue carefully. For the record, I support the idea that the "shaker" has no age or sex restrictions. Hannah agrees with me. Fist-bump.

Also, I have made a promise to my wife this year to avoid knocking her over when Alabama scores, as I jump up and down with my father like a couple of 12-year-old kids. For the record, I am 30, he is 57. I never really found anything odd about that.

I have often wondered if everyone that attends collegiate football games has experiences such as these. It might be true, but it is hard for me to imagine anything similar at the Coliseum in L.A. or at The Horseshoe in Columbus. Maybe I am mistaken. If so, please do not take offense. Or do take offense, if you like. Maybe you think you have it better. The hot dog guy, the "BLOCK, LINE!" guy, the scowling lady, the shaker-hater, Hannah, and me do not believe that we could be missing out on anything.

Whatever the case is elsewhere, there is absolutely nowhere that I would rather be on a fall Saturday.

Alabama Shatters Stereotypes and Gets Offensive in Season Opener

Ingram Worley — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:59:06 -0400

Saturday night, the 2009 edition of the Alabama Crimson Tide kicked off the season with a win in the Georgia Dome over seventh-ranked Virginia Tech, 34-24.

At first glance, the final score would not come as much of a shock to most people. Alabama was favored by a touchdown or so and ended up winning by 10. Ho-hum, good win, solid start.

What the first glance would fail to show is the fact that the Tide statistically dismantled Virginia Tech.

Over the last five years, Virginia Tech leads the nation in yards allowed per game. That would be a five-year window. Five-year statistical trends are not flukes. Head coach Frank Beamer and defensive coordinator Bud Foster have a proven scheme. They don't give up many yards. They don't give up many first downs. They don't give up many points.

When the dust had settled late Saturday night in Atlanta (and by dust I mean tiny little pieces of artificial grass), Alabama had rolled up 498 yards, 22 first downs, and 34 points.

Alabama's offense has been traditionally run-heavy. A bruising offensive line opening holes for battering backs, gaining three or four yards at a time until the defense is worn out.

Saturday, Alabama ran the ball with success, to be sure. Tailbacks Mark Ingram and Roy Upchurch combined for 240 yards on 33 carries. That's a healthy 7.3 yards per run.

The 268 total rushing yards would have been considered a success against the feared Hokie defense. The 230 yards passing, on the other hand? Those sort of numbers and that kind of balance have not been witnessed, at least against a quality opponent, in many years. If ever.

Early in the game, Alabama pounded the middle with marginal success and assigned McElroy comfortable, confidence-building passes. A couple of early throws to Julio Jones caused Foster and company to commit multiple defensive backs to Jones to try and take the threat away. For the most part, Jones was rendered to little more than the role of decoy for the remainder of the game.

A new development, however, was McElroy's willingness to look away from Jones and find opportunities for a trio of talented receivers in Darius Hanks, Marquis Maze, and newcomer and Georgia Tech transfer Colin Peek.

While few would find fault with a quarterback locking in on a receiver with Jones' sort of talent, what McElroy showed Saturday was that Alabama has no shortage of playmakers. Hanks and Maze each had diving, over-the-shoulder catches to extend drives and set up scores. Peek emerged as a possession receiver, grabbing three passes for 37 yards, not including the pass for a two-point conversion early in the fourth quarter.

The difference in Alabama's offense this year and the 2008 version is not in talent. In fact, I would have to say that, at this point in the season, the talent level overall in 2008 was a little higher, factoring in the likes of Glen Coffee, Andre Smith, and Nick Walker.

The change has more to do with the fact that this system and this quarterback produce more opportunities for more players. Jones and Ingram will continue to bear the bulk of the offensive weight, but Alabama proved Saturday that production can come from many different angles.

There will be plenty for Nick Saban to complain about. Too many penalties, multiple turnovers, sluggish red-zone performance to name a few. However, if a 500-yard outburst against Virginia Tech is a harbinger of things to come, look for Alabama to light up the scoreboard in a fashion that we haven't seen since...

I am 30 years of age, and I believe that this offense has more potential than any I have seen at Alabama in my lifetime. Now, I know that potential is worth about as much the Opelika News crowning a national champion, but it is an exciting proposition to those of us that have always thought that 27 points and 350 total yards qualified as an outburst.

Times are changing, apparently. As it turns out, watching your team roll up 500 yards on somebody is just as much fun as I thought it would be. Here's to hoping that this is the beginning of something special.

Visiting Alabama Trounces Ole Miss To Notch Third Straight Conference Win

Ingram Worley — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 02:15:30 -0500

Doctor, we've got no pulse.

Bring in the crash cart!!

CLEAR!

Nothing, hit him again!

CLEAR!

Beep, beep, beep, beep.

Saturday afternoon in Oxford, Miss., the corpse formally known as Alabama's basketball program was shocked back to life, demoralizing Ole Miss with a 90-69 victory.

The win was Alabama's first on the road in the SEC in their last 19 tries.

The win also marked Alabama's third straight conference victory, a season high.

The game was significant for several reasons.

In a year when most of the Alabama faithful had given up long ago, interim head coach Phillip Pearson did what ousted coach Mark Gottfried had not been able to do in over two years: win an SEC game on the road.

Somehow, unbelievably, Alabama is still alive to clinch the No. 2 seed in the Western Division and secure a first-round bye in the SEC tournament.

While I am not shouting that Alabama is now a contender to run off the streak of wins it would take to garner the automatic NCAA tourney bid for winning the SEC tournament, I will promise you this: Alabama has now become a team that nobody wants to play in a "one and done" situation.

With absolutely nothing to lose, Alabama has found a way to put together its best stretch of basketball this season.

The win sets up an interesting matchup with a surprising Auburn team this Tuesday night in Tuscaloosa. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

Alabama will have a chance to win its fourth conference game in a row, a feat not matched in four years. As icing on the cake, those of us in crimson will get to enjoy Auburn's SGA President handing back over the ODK trophy at halftime, a result of the football team's 36-0 pounding of the Tigers back in November.

If nothing else, this stretch has given some much needed enjoyment to the die-hards, who have suffered through the misery of this season.

And, for those close to the program, we feel great that Phillip Pearson has been able to enjoy a bit of success as head coach. Pearson was given the thankless job of captaining this seemingly sinking ship.

At year's end, he will be forced to walk the plank, as he will most likely not be included in the search for the new head coach.

Pearson has done what no one thought he would be able to do. He has injected at least a little bit of excitement into a program that was forgotten by most.

The man deserves a lot of credit. No one would have batted an eye if Alabama had continued to spiral into oblivion.

He suffered through some tough losses, but managed to keep the players playing hard, and he ended what was a very embarrassing road losing streak.

If he and the Tide can manage to defeat Auburn on Tuesday, regardless of what happens after, Pearson earns an "A" in my gradebook.

I've heard that the Auburn game is going to be a sellout. I, for one, did not foresee a game for the remainder of this season that would generate much interest.

However, I'll be making the trek to Tuscaloosa on Tuesday, with the hope that I'll get one more chance to see Alabama come up with a big win.

The fact that I am excited again to go watch my basketball team play is more than I could have hoped for a month ago. Congratulations, Coach Pearson. Well done.

Alabama: Road Woes Continue

Ingram Worley — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:18:21 -0500

Alabama interim head coach Philip Pearson opened his seemingly short stint at the helm much the way his predecessor left, with another road loss.

The 89-80 loss to Arkansas marked Alabama's 15th consecutive SEC road loss, and dropped Alabama to 2-4 within the conference.

Like the road games before, Alabama was somewhat competitive throughout. There were some bright spots. Front-court mates JaMychal Green and Justin Knox combined for 36 points on 15-21 shooting. Alabama shot 80 percent from the free-throw line, albeit on only 10 attempts.

The reasons for the loss, however, were nothing new.

Alabama shot a pitiful 22 percent from three-point range, including a variety of shots that brought to mind Woody Harrelson from "White Men Can't Jump", when he described a game that featured so many bricks that he thought he was at a "masons' convention."

Due to Alabama's ineptitude from distance, Arkansas was able to stay in a sagging 2-3 zone that clogged the interior. Without having to respect Alabama's shooters, Arkansas managed to force several wayward attempts and maintain rebounding position that resulted in numerous fast breaks and easy baskets.

As with the games before, one could not find fault with Alabama's effort. They fell behind by double-digits numerous times, and fought back in each instance, keeping the game close.

A particular stretch early in the second half probably sealed the game.

Alabama was down by 12 with about 16 minutes to play.

Mikhail Torrance connected from three-point range, cutting the lead to nine. Alabama came up with a stop, and Senario Hillman hit a jumper from the baseline, trimming the lead to seven. On the ensuing inbound, Alonzo Gee intercepted the pass and laid it in to cut the lead to five.

Alabama's defense was strong again on the next trip, forcing an errant shot and an Anthony Brock rebound. Brock was stripped in the open court, and Arkansas hit a three to squelch the run. Alabama would get no closer.

One can look back in nearly every Alabama road loss and find a similar turn of events.

When you add that to the fact that Arkansas shot 35 free throws to Alabama's 10, you can surmise that Alabama would have no chance. Couple that with Arkansas 80 percent success rate on those attempts (as a team, they have shot free throws at a 65 percent clip for the year) and Alabama was completely buried.

Unfortunately for 'Bama fans, there isn't much relief in sight, at least not in the short run. Alabama needs a quality ball-handler, and without Ronald Steele, the roster doesn't include one. Obviously, they need someone who can shoot the ball from the outside as well.

See the previous statement about Steele, it applies here also.

Green and Knox have showed steady improvement, but without a legitimate outside threat, their attempts will get more and more contested. The good news is that if Alabama can fill the needs in the offseason, Knox and Green will be seasoned players by next year, and things will hopefully open up for them a bit.

As an Alabama fan, it pains me to state the obvious: we are in for a long year.

Wins will be few and far between.

As long as the team continues to play hard, I will continue to support them. The guys on the roster have been through the gauntlet this year, and they haven't laid down. As long as they give the effort, they deserve our support.

In a weak SEC, you never know what can happen. While the regular season looks to be a lost cause, one can look back at Georgia's performance in the SEC tournament a year ago and see that every team in Atlanta has a chance.

It is difficult for me to imagine Alabama putting it together enough to run off four wins in a row, but stranger things have happened.

Alabama's bandwagon is as empty as it has been since David Hobbs left Tuscaloosa. There's plenty of room up here if anybody wants to join me.

Roll Tide (anyway).

Alabama's Basketball Program Faces Steep Climb

Ingram Worley — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:24:49 -0500

On Monday, Alabama Director of Athletics Mal Moore made the long-awaited decision to send head basketball coach Mark Gottfried packing.

The news was no surprise. Since Alabama's last NCAA tourney berth in 2006, the program has steadily declined. Gottfried had a laundry list of excuses, ranging from injuries to early departures to the NBA.

Certainly, some of the excuses had merit. Without question, he was given the benefit of the doubt in the form of retaining his job for the 2008-09 season, when many thought he should have been axed at the end of last year.

In reality, there was really no sensible argument to keep Gottfried at the helm any longer. The program is stagnant. A change needed to be made to freshen things up, if nothing else.

Here is what troubles me.

I have been a die-hard Alabama fan my entire life. I grew up in the eighties, in an up-and-down period of the football program. However, this period was as close to the "glory days" as we ever had when it came to basketball.

Although I always knew that football would reign at Alabama, it puzzled me that a seemingly successful basketball program drew little to no interest from the majority of the fan base.

The head coach at the time, Wimp Sanderson, had quite a run. He routinely sent teams to the NCAA tournament, and enjoyed a three-year streak in which the team lasted into the third round of the tournament. Despite the success, Coleman Coliseum only filled when Arkansas or Kentucky were in town, with maybe a few exceptions.

Excepting the dreaded David Hobbs years of the late nineties, Alabama's successes continued with Mark Gottfried until the last few seasons. Alabama secured five consecutive NCAA tourney berths and enjoyed its only stint in recent memory of having the number one national ranking.

Five consecutive tourney bids should qualify a program as a legitimate basketball entity. And yet, the Alabama "faithful" could not sustain any interest. Attendance was poor, to say the least, and the team faded back into mediocrity.

I agree that Gottfried must shoulder the lions' share of the blame for that. Any halfway sensible basketball fan could watch his teams and realize that talent was being wasted. Gottfried insisted on trying to run an outdated offense that never really worked in the SEC, and his players didn't seem to show the improvement that other programs were able to draw from their players. To top it off, his record away from Tuscaloosa was horrendous. This is not new information.

What bothers me is how far Alabama had to fall before anyone even noticed. It seemed that when Alabama was relevant, basketball was nothing more than a slight distraction between the football bowl season, signing day, and the beginning of spring practice. When the team faltered, somehow fans were able to pay enough attention to scream for Gottfried's head.

Call me what you will, but I find it ridiculous that certain people will shout to the rafters about a basketball coach when they couldn't name three players on the roster. And lately, that is the majority of what I have heard. It is like people want Alabama to be good enough to blend in, and that would be satisfactory.

If they get bad enough, those people will hoot and hollar and demand a change. A change will be made, and Alabama will improve. Those same people that shouted at the injustice of Gottfried still having the job will continue to NOT buy tickets and NOT support the program.

Unless, of course, Alabama creeps back into the top 25, at which time they might find the time in their busy lives to come see them play Kentucky, or maybe even Auburn.

God forbid we lose to Auburn, and they can give the customary "who cares about basketball?" comment. This irks me beyond description. I despise the "I don't care about basketball" fan. If you don't like basketball, that's fine. Just don't opine on the subject if that is the case.

The road for Alabama to get back to its version of "national prominence" is a long one. It won't be easy, because recruiting kids to a place where 4000 people attend a non-conference home game is difficult to do. ESPN doesn't want to televise Alabama. After all, if its own fan base doesn't care about it, why is there any reason to think a national audience will?

On top of everything else, when Alabama does happen to draw a decent crowd, I would be hard-pressed to call the atmosphere "electric". Don't get me wrong, the people who actually show up for the games should be commended.

However, we don't exactly produce the atmosphere that you get at Bud Walton, or in Gainesville, in Rupp, or even (gasp) Knoxville.

If you are an Alabama fan, and would like to see your team back among the nation's respected programs, do your part and put your butt in a seat and cheer for the team. If you can't make the game, watch it on television or listen to the radio.

Incidentally, Alabama has a very talented play-by-play announcer by the name of Chris Stewart. If you like basketball, his commentary alone will make the game worth listening to. Learn about the program. Show some interest. Talk it up.

If you aren't willing to do any of those things, don't bother calling your local sports radio show and complaining. Just go back to your "countdown to kickoff" calendar or scoping the Internet for video on that 2011 defensive back prospect. Stop wasting the time of the people who actually care about the basketball program and get back to what you are good at-cheering for the football team.

If I come across as being annoyed, I assure you, I am. Don't misunderstand though, as an Alabama fan, I know exactly where my bread is buttered. I know that all athletic programs at the University thrive because of football. There is no disputing that. Also know, however, that if you want Alabama to be a "multi-sport" school that enjoys successes on and off the gridiron, a la Tennessee and Florida, it is time to spread some of that interest around.

I can promise that if we do, those eight months of misery between the bowl game and kickoff in September will be much more enjoyable.

Alabama-LSU: Tide Opens Conference Play With Victory Over Tigers; More to Come?

Ingram Worley — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 02:45:27 -0500

And here we go again...

Alabama opened 2009 SEC play with a gutty 65-59 victory over LSU at Coleman Coliseum on Sunday afternoon.

While it is no secret that I have been more than a little bit critical of Mark Gottfried's coaching in recent years, the game on Sunday left me with renewed hope.

By no means was this a dominating performance by the Tide, though they never trailed in the game. What set this game apart from others this season, and what impressed me the most, was the defensive effort.

Believe it or not, I must credit Gottfried with his game planning. It was obvious from the beginning that Alabama would attempt to get the ball to the rim and force LSU's thin front line into foul trouble. The plan worked (wow, that doesn't even sound right when referring to Gottfried).

Alabama enjoyed a huge free throw disparity, attempting 36 of them while LSU was only able to get 10 shots from the line. The fact that Alabama only hit 23 of 36 is another problem entirely, but the fact that they were able to get there so many times shows an aggressive nature that I was not aware that this team possessed.

While I am attempting to draw positives out of negatives, I will mention that Alabama managed the win without much help from point guard Ronald Steele. In the post-game interviews, Gottfried admitted that Steele has been battling some sort of heel injury, and it was obvious that he was somewhat hobbled during the game.

Without much production from Steele, Alabama relied on the suddenly dependable play of swingman Alonzo Gee. Gee has been a force so far this season, and he turned in another double-double and extended his streak of double-figure scoring efforts to 13. He has also morphed into some sort of rebounding machine, grabbing 13 more in this game.

If you watched the game, you couldn't help but be impressed by the play of sophomore guard Senario Hillman. While his skills are still very raw, he is amazingly quick on defense, and his leaping ability is nothing short of unbelievable. He sparked an important run in the late going with a steal and a thunderous dunk. To add to the accolades, he hit four pressure free throws late in the game to ice the win.

Hillman still lacks a dependable jump shot, and certainly teams will adjust to exploit that weakness. He also lacks above-average ball handling skills, which leaves Steele to break presses mostly on his own. But Hillman appears to be improving by the game, and he could prove to be the tipping point of a team that desperately needs one more scorer.

A point of concern is the front line play of Knox and Green. Alabama has been unable to generate much production from the starting pair, and as conference play gets into full swing, this weakness must be improved.

Justin Knox has shown signs of improvement, though. He had a couple of early put-backs and managed to play fairly solid interior defense. Fouls continue to plague freshman JaMychal Green, and he was held to 0-3 shooting, though he did make 6-8 from the line.

From here, Alabama heads to Starkville to face an unpredictable Mississippi State team coming off an upset win at Arkansas. Starkville has proved to be a place that Alabama has had trouble stealing wins, so a victory Wednesday would be a huge bonus.

I'm not ready to leap back onto the Gottfried bandwagon. Road games in the SEC have befuddled him throughout his career at Alabama, and unless we see at least some improvement in that area, I will continue to shout for his replacement.

Somehow, though, the game on Sunday left me wondering if he could manage to turn this team around. Unlike last year, the players seem to be playing hard for him. He seems to have renewed focus on defense and rebounding, two keys to a winning SEC record. If the Steele injury proves to be a small hiccup instead of a crushing loss, I believe there is a chance.

I hesitate to put too much weight on this first road game, but we should have a clear picture of the direction of the team at game's end. With a trip to Auburn looming this weekend, I believe Alabama must split these games, at worst, to set themselves up for a competitive run through the conference.

As you can probably tell, I am starving for something positive out of our basketball program. This season is Gottfried's last "last chance," and while I think the long-term improvement of the program is more likely to happen in someone else's hands, I would love to see him make a winner out of a team that we had all written off.

So Mark, see if you can prove us all wrong and give us something to cheer about this winter. Good luck—you are going to need it.

The Ten Best Sports Movies of My Generation

Ingram Worley — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 23:57:19 -0500

Let’s make one thing very clear before I get started. This ranking has absolutely nothing to do with critical acclaim. It has nothing to do with award nominations. This will be a very far cry from your usual lists of the greatest sports movies of all-time.

It is, however, the movies that I think are the most enjoyable to watch, preferably with beer(s) in hand, surrounded by your buddies. These are the movies that would prevent me from changing the channel if they showed up on cable at 11:00pm on a Tuesday.

I don’t expect that most will agree with me. I attribute that to the fact that at age 29, I possess the sense of humor of a 15 year old.

I rank sports movies based on a couple of different criteria.

First, the movie must have what I like to call "rewatchability." Yes, I know that is not a word. Second, the movie must have numerous quotable lines. If brought up in conversation, your pals will know exactly what you are referring to. Finally, the actual sports sequences must be filmed with some measure of realism, although I am probably most lenient when it comes to this.

So, here it goes. If you haven’t seen any of these, obviously I recommend that you pick them up. If you think this ranking is childish and nonsensical, you’re probably right, and you’re probably boring. So without further ado….

10) The Program (1993)

This one barely made the cut. I kept it simply because it is one of the few tolerable movies about college football. James Caan stars as the coach of a fictional east coast university football team.

While the acting is sub-par, to say the least, the football sequences are actually okay. Also, the team has games against several notable "real" universities. Complete with steroid references, NCAA violations, and a Heisman trophy campaign, the movie features all the things that make college football interesting.

Why it’s good:

James Caan...Halle Berry...Good football scenes. It also maintains some sense of realism in that the team does not win every game, players get hurt, and players get suspended.

Why it’s ridiculous:

The acting is horrible except for Caan.

Interesting notes:

The football scenes were filmed at South Carolina’s stadium. Also, there was a controversial scene cut from the movie that involved several of the players lying in the middle of a road to prove their "fearlessness." The scene was cut after an actual high school player was run over while mimicking the scene.

9) Bull Durham (1988)

This was Costner at his best. The story of the Minor League Durham Bulls will go down as one of the greatest sports movies ever made.

I only ranked it as low as ninth because in retrospect, it was more of a romantic comedy than a sports movie, although there was enough baseball to include it. In a lot of ways, I think Tim Robbins played the most memorable character in the movie.

I’m not big on Susan Sarandon, but she played the role of the aging "cleat-chaser" to perfection. The movie included several quotes to remember, but for me, the most memorable was the "lollygagger" scene in the locker room. This might be the most- quoted speech in the history of sports movies.

Why it’s good:

The Costner-Robbins interchanges throughout the movie are some of the best dialogue of this genre. Additionally, the minor league angle made for a unique story. I also thought the ending was perfect.

Why it’s ridiculous:

Oddly, I couldn’t come up with much here. This should probably be ranked higher.

Interesting note:

Rumor has it that Costner, Sarandon, and Robbins have all agreed to star in Bull Durham 2. I am not in favor of this.

8) Jerry Maguire (1996)

While I can normally by-pass anything involving Tom Cruise, he actually makes the first of two appearances on this list here. But make no mistake, this movie did not make my list because of him.

Cuba Gooding, Jr. was phenomenal. His role as an undersized receiver for the Arizona Cardinals was spot on. I could skip through the Cruise-Zellweger scenes. However, you do get Kelly Preston in her prime. Plus, this is one of the few movies that I can recall that was actually sanctioned by the NFL. The list of cameos is also impressive.

Why it’s good:

Quotability. You can go anywhere is this country and shout "SHOW ME THE MONEY," and while people might think you are insane, they will absolutely know what you are talking about.

Plus, Cuba’s role as the primadonna NFL receiver seems more accurate by the year. Then there’s the kid who adds some hilarious lines—namely his conversation with a drunk Cruise about going to the zoo. The football scenes, while few in number, are also great.

Why it’s ridiculous:

Tom Cruise’s overacting.

7) White Men Can't Jump (1992)

If you can stomach the two hours of Rosie Perez’s dialogue, this is a great movie. Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson team up as a "street-ball" basketball team and learn to deal with their differences. While the basketball scenes are okay at best, the Snipes-Harrelson interchanges are classic.

Why it’s good:

The verbal assaults by Wesley Snipes on Harrelson are spectacular. Harrelson has one of the greatest "white guy basketball names" in history—Billy Hoyle. Plus, I would watch the entire movie just to see the scene where Hoyle attempts to intimidate the other two-man team that they are going to play in the finals of the tournament—"You got a big Z in your ‘fro! Who are you? The Black Zorro?

Why it’s ridiculous:

Unfortunately, the director was unable to hide the fact that Snipes and Harrelson have no business anywhere near a basketball court. Additionally, it is fairly obvious that when Harrelson finally dunks the ball at the end of the movie, the scene was filmed using a seven-foot goal.

Why I almost left it off the list:

Rosie Perez’s voice...nails...chalkboard...agony.

Interesting Note:

Until the release of "Pulp Fiction," this movie held the record for the highest number of profanities.

6) Friday Night Lights (2004)

Unquestionably, this was the most acclaimed movie on my list. Billy Bob Thornton was tremendous as a high school football coach. Tim McGraw was also great as an alcoholic, abusive father.

Plus, this movie spawned what I consider to be one of the most underrated television series of all time (trust me, if you haven’t watched the show, go pick it up on DVD). I really don’t have anything negative to say about this movie because it was nearly flawless. The football scenes were some of the best I’ve seen, and the casting was nearly perfect.

Why it’s good:

Billy Bob Thornton. His acting was possibly the greatest performance as a coach, ever. Also, the movie did not have the Hollywood ending. It delved into the gritty side of high school sports.

Why it’s ridiculous:

It isn’t. See it immediately if you haven’t already.

5)Tin Cup (1996)

If you don’t play golf, you probably hated it. If you do play golf, you might have anyway. The ending was silly and unrealistic. Other than that, the movie was great.

Cheech Marin, in the role of the caddie, was hysterical. The golf scenes were great. The movie also included an impressive list of cameos. Don Johnson, however, stole the movie in my opinion. His role as the rival jerk to Kevin Costner’s Roy McAvoy was second-to- none.

Why it’s good:

The non-golf portions of the movie were actually entertaining as well—a rarity in the sports-movie genre. Rene Russo, as a psychiatrist, was great. Kevin Costner was funny at times. McAvoy’s buddies in the movie were also humorous. But I go back to Johnson who was perfectly cast as a class-A jackass.

Why it’s ridiculous:

The ending. While I’m generally not a fan of the prototypical happy ending, McAvoy’s dumping eight shots in the water on the last hole of the U.S. Open was too much of a stretch. To make it more unrealistic, he holes out the last one. Also, one can only take so much Gary McCord before you want to strangle him with his microphone cord.

Interesting Note:

Johnson and Costner are both respectable golfers in real life. Most of the shots filmed were actually performed by them.

4) Varsity Blues (1999)

Yes, you read that right. I loved this movie. I can’t help myself. The premise of the movie is the high-pressure high school football program at fictional West Canaan High School in Texas, where high school football is a religion.

This is overplayed, obviously, but Jon Voight, who plays Coach Bud Kilmer, actually makes it believable. Nearly every one of his lines in the movie is a classic, highlighted by his "you got the kind of sense that makes me wonder if you know the difference between a sneeze and a "wet fart" line.

The football scenes were actually very good. The young cast, specifically Scott Caan (Tweeder) seemed realistic. I could literally spend hours quoting this movie.

Why it’s good:

Voight—absolutely steals the show.

Why it’s ridiculous:

Two things, mainly. First, James Van Der Beek’s accent is beyond terrible. Second, the hook-and-ladder at the end—if you’ve seen it, you know.

3) Days of Thunder (1990)

There are a couple of reasons why I know that this movie was good. First, when I originally saw the movie, I cared nothing for NASCAR. It didn’t matter. Second, Robert Duvall gives what I consider to be the greatest performance in sports movie history as crew chief Harry Hogge.

I am not exaggerating when I state that every word that leaves his mouth during that movie is an instant quote. Tom Cruise does a passable job of not ruining the movie. Cary Elwes and Michael Rooker have roles as rival drivers and they are both great. On top of that, you get the "big-hair" Nicole Kidman. I could watch this movie repeatedly for the Duvall speech to the car before Daytona—golden.

Why it’s good:

If I haven’t said it enough, watch this movie for Duvall. Randy Quaid is also terrific in his role as the team owner. The monkey-football line that I can’t print here is classic.

Why it’s ridiculous:

The driving sequences are awful and unrealistic. Rumor has it that NASCAR officials shunned the movie post-production because of how laughable the race scenes were. Oh, and Cruise overacts again. Shocking, I know.

2) Major League (1989)

Oh, where do I begin. The cast was great, from Charlie Sheen as Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn, to Tom Berenger as aging catcher Jake Taylor. Corbin Bernsen, Wesley Snipes, Renee Russo, Dennis Haysbert, and Bob Uecker were all great.

James Gammon, who played manager Lou Brown, was perfect in one of his only memorable roles. This movie was filled with all-star quotes, perhaps none better known than the "are you trying to say Jesus Chris can’t hit a curveball?"

Uecker’s commentary throughout the movie makes this great movie a classic. I can even get past the dreaded Hollywood ending. The baseball scenes were probably the movie's weakness, but the dialogue more than made up for that.

Why it’s good:

The movie has absolutely everything you would want from a sports comedy. As far as quotable lines go, this one is near the top.

Why it’s ridiculous:

I think this movie was ridiculous for numerous reasons, but it doesn’t matter. This one still stands up as one of the best.

1). Caddyshack (1980)

What can I say that hasn’t been said already? This is the sports movie by which all of the others are judged. I’ve never been much for Rodney Dangerfield’s brand of comedy, but Chevy Chase and Bill Murray more than make up for that.

Possibly the most quoted sports movie of all-time, Caddyshack’s lone fault was spawning "Caddyshack 2," which was possibly the worst movie of all-time—sports-related or otherwise. I truly believe that if you can watch the "it’s in the hole" Bill Murray scene without laughing, there is something severely wrong with you.

I won’t waste any more of your time reliving this movie. If you need me to tell you about it, you are seriously deprived.

Why it’s good:

Everything.

Why it’s ridiculous:

Everything. That’s what makes it so great.

Alabama Basketball Showing Signs of Life? Nah, Probably Just the Death Spasms

Ingram Worley — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 02:34:11 -0500

As a sports fan, you will understand where I am coming from. I just can't give up on my team.

I started out as what seemed like the lone defender of Alabama basketball coach Mark Gottfried. A few years ago, the rumblings began about making a change.

"Oh no," I said, "let's stick it out with him." "He has taken our program to an Elite Eight and a conference title." "He recruits well with very limited resources and a dump for an arena." "He can still win." "Let's hang in there with him and see if he can turn it around."

Gottfried continued to bring in high-profile recruits. True, he couldn't sell out Coleman Coliseum for a Jessica Alba/Megan Fox jello wrestling match. True, he couldn't win on the road against Hoover High School. And yes, he couldn't teach his team any sort of dependable offense or teach anyone to rebound, even if they were 6'10" and built like a brick house.

But I was still perched on his increasingly roomy bandwagon.

Last year, I began to try to find a way off the bandwagon, which began to look more like a hearse.

But being the admitted Alabama homer that I am, I tried to explain away the disaster that was the 2007-08 season.

"Don't worry." "The Ronald Steele injury sealed our fate." "It might not be Gottfried's fault." "Steele would have been worth at least five or six additional wins." "We've got to give him one more year with a healthy Steele and see what he can do."

If you were watching Family Feud on television, this is where you would see the giant third "X" on the screen and that grating buzzer noise.

Alabama opened the season with a truly despicable loss to Mercer at home.

At this point, I barrel-rolled off the Gottfried hearse into oncoming traffic.

Not to be outdone by this egg-laying performance, Gottfried took his team to Hawaii and was embarrassed by a mediocre Oregon team.

As far as I was concerned, the basketball program was the equivalent of an 85-year-old man on a hospital bed with a "DNR" tag on his toe.

Then, as some sort of cruel joke, Alabama won a few games and looked like they had some inclination as to what sport they were actually playing.

Texas A&M came to Tuscaloosa at this point. While certainly no national power, a win against the Aggies might build some momentum going into play in the very marginal SEC.

What happened? Alabama had the game locked up until Gottfried got too concerned with fouling three-point shooters with time running out. As expected, A&M hit two late ones and forced a game that was in the bag into overtime.

Shockingly, Alabama was punished in the overtime period.

I reserved the futile hope that Mal Moore was putting together a list of potential replacements. I'm sure he wasn't. Someone needs to inform him first that, in the winter and spring, all that activity at Coleman Coliseum is basketball games, and not football pep rallies. I am relatively certain that Moore wants his last act as Athletics Director to be his miracle hire of Nick Saban, not another mail-it-in hire of a basketball coach.

But then, something happened.

Georgia Tech came to town. While by no means are they a power in the ACC, they are still a "name" team. I chalked this up to be another embarrassment, but then Alabama played its best 30 minutes of basketball in the past three years. They built a 30-point lead, and despite their best efforts to blow the game in the end, they won.

An odd, long-forgotten emotion came over me. Hope.

Ronald Steele looked to have regained some of his former self. Alonzo Gee pulled down 18 boards against a team that had a height advantage at every position. Senario Hillman channeled Bruce Bowen on defense.

The upcoming trip to undefeated Clemson all of a sudden seemed like less of an afterthought.

In the beginning, it looked as though my hopes were founded. Alabama hung in with a massively more talented Clemson team and didn't give up in the second half when the momentum swung the other way. For the first time in I don't even know how long, I was proud to watch my team play.

Which brings me to my point, or more accurately, to my question.

Is Alabama turning the corner, or are we all being sucked into high hopes just to see another 5-11 conference record?

While I do not moonlight as any sort of optimist when it comes to Alabama basketball, I could see both sides of the argument.

The SEC is as bad as it has ever been. Divisional foes such as Auburn, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss seem to be in as bad of shape as we are. Arkansas and LSU have shown signs of improvement, but are depending on rosters filled with unseasoned players. It wouldn't take 11 wins to own the division.

But then I remembered that Alabama has to play eight conference games on the road. Mark it down, seal it, write it on a rock if you'd like to: This translates to, at the very least, six losses. Assuming (a great leap there) we can win two on the road, that means Alabama has to sweep the conference home games to finish 10-6.

Sorry, that is simply not going to happen.

At best, Alabama wins six at home. That leaves a best-case scenario of 8-8 in the conference. With Alabama's craptastic non-conference play, this is a one-way ticket to the NIT, and a one-way ticket for Gottfried to somewhere, anywhere, other than Tuscaloosa.

I refuse to adopt the NBA/NFL mentality of bad teams to "tank" in hopes of forcing changes on the team. I will root for the Tide equally if they are 0-15 (possibly) or 15-0 (I had trouble even typing that).

So, here is my advice to the very few of us die-hard Bama basketball fans. Hunker down. Get ready for a struggle. Support the team anyway, and hope that plans are on the horizon for a change that can turn the program around.

Judging by the attendance so far, most people have written them off. This is understandable. But for the future of the program, we need to show that we will support whatever product they put out on the hardwood, as agonizing as it may be.

Hopefully, our loyalty will be repaid at some point.

Reality Comes Crashing Down: An Alabama Fan's Painful Recollection

Ingram Worley — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:37:45 -0500

I believe when someone is wrong, the first step to righting the wrong is admitting it.

So here goes: I could not have been more wrong about the Sugar Bowl, in every imaginable way. I won't be the first or the last to say it, but congratulations to Utah and its fans.

The Alabama faithful were forced to watch what I can only describe as a "clinic" of sound football. The top five (or higher) final season ranking you've earned is well-deserved.

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote an article detailing the reasons why I felt Alabama would not fall into a "trap" against Utah.

Looking back, I feel like an idiot, like the person I warned Alabama fans not to be. The entire premise of the article was my idea that Alabama would not be lulled to sleep by an "inferior" or "boring" opponent.

Oops.

Not only was Utah not inferior, they were not even equal. They were better, plain and simple.

I would love to make the standard argument that Alabama was "not ready to play" or that Andre Smith's suspension cost Alabama the game.

I would gladly write about how the distractions were more than any team should have to cope with. I would like nothing more than to pen an article laying out the reasons that these ideas are true.

The problem is, they are not.

Here are the reasons that Alabama lost, as much as it pains me to put them into print.

1) For 13 games, Julio Jones performed like an All-American, not the teen-age freshman that he is. We were all sucked into believing that he is a no-mistake-making robot. In my recollection, he dropped one pass in the first 13 games.

He dropped two key passes in New Orleans, one on an important third down on the opening drive. This doesn't lessen his talent in my eyes, it just proves that he is human.

We are fortunate he went this long without having an "off" game. I don't fault him for this. I still believe that he will go down as the greatest receiver to wear the uniform, but he wasn't on that night.

2) The offensive line brought back the long-buried memories of the Auburn "honk if you sacked Brodie" game (sorry, I had to pause for a vomit break). The smaller, quicker ends on Utah's defense consistently blew past our tackles and chased down Wilson.

I do think that the shuffling of the line due to Smith's suspension had something to do with that, but it doesn't change the fact that Utah attacked with a speed rush that we were not able to defend. They found a weakness and exploited it. Kudos to them.

3) John Parker Wilson, in the few attempts when he was not running for his life, was very much off. He missed several open receivers and threw key interceptions. This is not earth-shaking news.

Utah defended the deep routes softly because they were not afraid of Wilson beating them down the field. Again, I chalk this up to a sound game plan on their part.

4) The Alabama defensive backfield forgot how to tackle. I shudder to think how many times in the game a gain that should have been minimal turned into a big play due to a missed tackle.

Utah's plan was to get balls to their receivers in space, and hope that they could shake one tackle and break the play open. They did, consistently.

5) Alabama was shaken by the no-huddle pace of Utah's offense, especially early. The defense did not appear to be lined up or even looking in several instances when the ball was snapped, leading to gaping holes and wide open receivers.

It pains me to admit it, but our defensive backs were no match for their skill players in one-on-one situations. I could chalk this up to lack of preparation, but it looked much more like a disparity in talent.

6) Alabama was never a team built to come from behind, especially by a 20+ point margin. The Tide's game plan was shot when Utah scored the second touchdown.

7) Leigh Tiffin did not kick the ball well. Again, this is not a surprising headline. He has struggled before, and he certainly did that night.

8) Utah's offense rendered Terrence Cody, a stalwart in the middle throughout the year, into becoming a complete non-factor. I believe Utah knew that Cody could not keep pace with their style, and, proving them right, he spent the majority of the game on the sideline.

So, in retrospect, Alabama was beaten soundly by a team with a better game plan and better execution. I hesitate to include better players in that statement, although it certainly looked like Utah was the more talented team.

Now, here is what troubles me more than the game itself. Alabama's weaknesses, while very well-hidden throughout the year, were exposed in a very public way. Teams in the SEC struggled all year to come up with a plan to attack Alabama.

Kyle Whittingham and Utah have written the "How To Beat Alabama For Dummies" book and sent a signed copy to the teams in the SEC. It's time to make some adjustments.

After a few days to process what happened, I can look to the positives.

While some of the Nick Saban aura was tarnished in New Orleans, I still believe that he is one of the most intelligent coaches in football. I believe he knew Alabama's soft spots better than anyone, and did one hell of a job masking them with superior planning and utilization of the talent on hand.

He knows as well as anyone that teams will mimic Utah next year, and I have to believe he will be ready. I've also heard that Alabama is building another stellar recruiting class, filling the holes that were so blatantly exposed in the Superdome.

Unfortunately, the Utah game, being the last one played on the biggest stage, will be the one that most people remember from the 2008 season. I can't argue that this bitter pill will stay with me for quite a while.

Remember, though, that National Signing Day is less than a month away. There is a fresh crop of talent waiting to don the Crimson and White. The spectacular class from last year will be seasoned. At last count, Alabama is losing only 10 scholarship players. Most importantly, Nick Saban has another year to massage the "process."

Let us all remember the expectations for 2008, that for most were exceeded by Nov. 1. Remember the beautiful run we were given in the regular season. Remember the heart we showed in the battle against Florida.

And remember the Sugar Bowl. The bitter defeats make future victories that much sweeter.

No pun intended.

Sugar Bowl Preview: What to Look for From a Weakened Alabama Offense

Ingram Worley — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:49:19 -0500

On Sunday afternoon, I sat down to put together an article on how I felt Alabama would be able to attack the Utah defense in the Sugar Bowl this Friday.

At the time, Alabama's game plan seemed pretty easy to predict.

I felt Alabama would stick with between-the-tackle running plays, mixed with some play-action to take advantage of certain one-on-one matchups in the secondary. Alabama would depend on the ground game to wear down Utah's defensive front.

Without a doubt, Alabama's strongest point was the offensive line, and I felt that would be the difference in the game.

What a change a day can make.

On Monday came the troubling suspension of All-American Andre Smith. Regardless of Alabama's depth on the offensive line, the removal of the cornerstone of the line would have an affect. By all accounts, Andre Smith is the best lineman in the country.

The knee-jerk reaction to the news was to go back and look at the one game this year that Alabama played without Smith.

In a 20-6 victory against Tulane in Tuscaloosa, Alabama had by far its worst offensive output of the season. As much as I would like to chalk this up to coincidence, common sense says otherwise.

However, a closer look at the statistics in the game showed that Alabama's air attack suffered more than the running game.

Glen Coffee and Mark Ingram combined for 20 carried for 119 yards-nearly six yards per carry.

John Parker Wilson, on the other hand, could only manage a meager 73 yards through the air, completing 11 passes in 23 attempts.

Looking back at the game, what I remember above all else was the pressure applied to Wilson. Without question, he was harassed more in that game than any other this season.

Obviously, if your backs are ripping off six yards per carry, you would assume that the team would ride that trend and run the ball 40 or more times. Alabama did not.

The tailbacks ran the ball a season-low 20 times, which leads me to believe that Smith's absence resulted in a change in the game plan. Without him, Alabama felt they needed to force the ball into the air.

Therein lies the question: what did Alabama learn from this?

I assume that the brain trusts in Tuscaloosa and Utah have taken a hard look at the film from the Tulane game. If Utah expects a similar offensive game plan to the one Alabama brought to the Tulane game, I believe that they will be mistaken.

I expect Alabama to stick with the bread and butter of the offense and run the ball-maybe even more than usual. Chances are that Utah's plan on defense has been amended for the loss of Smith.

I would guess that the Utes will not commit as many defensive players to the box, and focus a bit more on Julio Jones, attempting to limit his touches.

I will not pretend that the loss of Smith creates any sort of advantage for Alabama. However, the offense should have a chance to capitalize on the change in focus.

If Alabama can stick with the running game, I think they will have a chance to move the ball and force Utah to defend the middle, which could open up the outside again.

I believe if the statistics at game's end show Alabama putting the ball in the air 30-plus times, they will lose. If Coffee and Ingram combine to carry the ball less than 25 times, I don't like Alabama's chances.

Everyone expects that the loss of the devastating run-blocking of Andre Smith will force Alabama to "open it up". I expect the opposite.

Therefore, Alabama needs to surprise everyone by changing nothing, as odd as that may sound.

I've heard it said that it is wise to "dance with the one that brought you." Here's to hoping that Alabama takes this saying to heart.

As an afterthought, I checked to see what the Smith suspension may have changed in the Las Vegas point spread.

What was the loss of Smith worth in points? Two? Three? More? The answer surprised me. The line on the game is the same now as it was on Sunday.

Is this some sort of oversight? It is not as if the Smith suspension is secret information. Therefore, what are we to take it to mean that the betting line did not move because of this breaking news?

Everyone can form their own opinion on this. My opinion is that this loss will not have nearly the affect that many people think it will.

If Alabama can "stick to their guns," I believe they leave New Orleans with a double-digit victory.

Deflating News for SEC Centers: Mount Cody to Return for Senior Year at Alabama

Ingram Worley — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:20:24 -0500

According to BamaOnline.com, Alabama Junior nose guard Terrence "Mount" Cody will return to the Capstone for his senior season.

In a late-breaking story, Cody stated that not only would he return for his senior season, but he will not be filing the necessary paperwork to obtain his potential draft position.

The article went on to say:

"It was a big deal, am I coming back or am I leaving, but I talked to coach Saban," Cody said. "...I told him I felt like I needed another year to get full control, get my weight down, and get my knee back to full health and get in better condition and stuff."

The news is welcome for Tide fans.

While Cody left a lasting impression on opposing offensive lines, he also changed the way offenses were forced to attack an already stingy Alabama defense. With his ability to "eat up" blocks on the interior, SEC opponents were forced to try to run wide against a talented group of defensive ends and linebackers.

The news will most certainly elevate Alabama's preseason ranking for next year.

One could almost hear the sighs from opposing coaches when they were told the news.

While we still expect Andre Smith to declare for the draft, the Cody revelation is almost like landing another bigtime commitment.

I think a good deal of the credit for Cody's return should go to Nick Saban. The man obviously has made an impression on these guys, and they are willing to turn down massive dollars to come back and play for a championship.

The "process" rolls on...

Can Alabama Fall into "Trap" Against Utah? Don't Believe What You Hear

Ingram Worley — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:58:45 -0500

I caught an ESPN bowl preview segment on SportsCenter today, and heard exactly what I had expected to hear.

The "trendy" pick in the Sugar Bowl is Utah in an upset victory against Alabama.

According to Lee Corso, the model of consistency that he is, Alabama is too distraught over the disappointing loss to Florida in the SEC championship game to regain focus and play well against an underrated Utah team.

Corso picked Utah in his "BCS upset special," and Kirk Herbstreit agreed with him.

Apparently, the Alabama players, coaches, and fans were so hyped up over a chance to play for a national championship again, they will not be able to handle "coming down" to play a game that is essentially meaningless in the national picture.

You may find this hard to believe, but I disagree.

While the game, in reality, will mean the difference between finishing third in the final polls or 10th, I believe it means a little more to these guys than that.

From the perspective of the players and coaches, I think they may have a little chip on their shoulder from being left out of the conversation concerning who should play for the national championship, even though they have one loss—just like the rest of the contenders.

Although I knew there was no chance of Alabama ending the season at No. 2, it actually has a fairly valid argument.

If you compare the one-loss teams across the board, Alabama has the "best" loss, if there is such a thing. Alabama lost to Florida, which most people agree is the best team in the country.

Don't get me wrong: My point is not to complain that Alabama was unfairly left out of the national championship game. To the contrary, I understand that a loss that late in the season, regardless of the opponent, ended the team's chances.

Which brings me back to Utah.

This game is a mirror image of the Georgia-Hawaii Sugar Bowl of last year. Georgia had a great season, and drew a non-BCS conference opponent in the bowl game. Hawaii, like Utah, was undefeated.

You heard a lot of the same quotes that you are hearing now. It was supposed to be a "trap game" for Georgia. How could its players get up for that game, knowing they were so close to playing for a title?

Obviously, they had no troubles. Georgia ran Hawaii out of the dome in a rout, silencing the doubters and going a long way toward earning a preseason No. 1 2008 ranking.

Now, it's Alabama's turn.

Utah, by all accounts, is a very sound football team. I will not pretend to know much about them. I think that regardless of conference affiliation, any team that runs the table needs to be taken very seriously. They bring the nation's longest winning streak into the game, a streak that includes wins over BCS-conference foes.

Like most Alabama fans, I was devastated by the Florida game. It doesn't matter who you are—if you go that long without losing, it is painful.

I can't help but think that the team was in the same state.

But, remember, it has been a while since Alabama played on this kind of stage. I think that while they needed some time to get over the Florida game, the four-week layoff will have provided that. Plus, I haven't seen Nick Saban let these guys get complacent so far this year.

Furthermore, I think the team will be jacked up to send their seniors out as winners. This senior class deserves the bulk of the credit for the great year, and the younger guys on the team recognize that. The team will be ready to run through a wall to make sure these guys don't leave on a sour note.

And as far as the fans go, have you ever been to a Sugar Bowl? If there was ever a place to get "prepped" for a football game, it is New Orleans. Regardless of the bowl-initiated ticket-split, I expect something along the lines of an 80-20 percent advantage of fans in attendance for the Crimson Tide. This makes this a virtual home game.

So in conclusion, when you factor in the coaching, the senior leadership, the underclassmen on a mission, and the fans, I can't see Alabama losing this game. I expect a competitive game into the fourth quarter, but I think Alabama wins by 14 when all is said and done.

On the other hand, I have been accused of being a little biased. But that is untrue. I am VERY biased.

Gene Chizik Fallout: An Alabama Fan's Take on the Auburn Coaching Mess

Ingram Worley — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:14:45 -0500

Writer’s note: Once again, I will issue the disclaimer that I am an Alabama fan. For some, this will disqualify my opinions on the recent events in Auburn. What you will find, however, is that my feelings may vary slightly from what you hear from most Tide supporters.

Does it get any better than this?

Alabama has regained control of football in this state. Alabama ended the six-year drought with a 36-0 blasting in Bryant-Denny, a place where we had previously failed to win a game against our most hated rival. The Western Division championship was locked up with three games to play. On top of this, the Auburn program is in a state of turmoil, teetering on the edge of the toilet, threatening to fall in.

I was initially disappointed with Tommy Tuberville’s exit. With his finger-raising, cartoon t-shirt wearing, disrespectful antics, I wanted a few more shots at him before he was sent packing.

One beatdown would have to be enough.

When the Auburn coaching search reached national punchline status, I thought that the apex had been reached.

Then, the brass at Auburn chose to bring in Gene Chizik and passed over a seemingly more qualified Turner Gill.

Really?

Then on top of everything else, the most recognizable Auburn alum issued a statement that blamed the hire on racial profiling. The publicity, to put it mildly, was not good.

Normally, when the national media chooses to drag the despised Auburn Tigers through the mud, I can’t get enough.

However, after a few hours to digest these happenings, I tried to see the big picture.

None of this is good for the state, the conference, or the region as a whole.

I will put my personal feelings on the hire aside for now. If one wanted to look at it with absolutely no bias, an argument for Chizik could be made. With the resources of a big-time program, the man can obviously run a defense. His record as coordinator at Auburn and Texas speaks for itself. Without a doubt, his run at Iowa State did not improve his reputation. But how much can you really judge from that?

Gill, on the other hand, has done everything right in his brief stint as a head coach. He has taken a Buffalo program from the cellar of college football to a conference title.

On the surface, especially from a national perspective, this seemed like a no-brainer.

As much as I would like to think that the powers that be at Auburn were just dumb enough to make the worst hire imaginable, common sense says that they had to have reasons:

1. Chizik has successful ties with Auburn and with the conference. I can see that experience as an advantage for him.

2. No one that I know actually witnessed the interviews. It is possible that Chizik was more impressive behind closed doors.

3. Buffalo to Auburn is a huge jump, both in expectations and pressure. Maybe Gill was not ready.

I would like to believe that these factors were the ones used when making the decision. If the worst you hear is actually true, Auburn is truly in a sad state.

If you listen to "experts" like Charles Barkley, or any of the numerous talking heads at ESPN, you believe that the passing over of Gill was based solely on race. If this is true, than this will not be seen nationally as an indictment of Auburn’s program only. It will be seen as deep-rooted racism that still exists in the deep South.

People will bring up Alabama’s passing over of Sylvester Croom for the disaster of the Mike Shula era. I think we would all like to forget about that.

From an Alabama fan’s perch, I do not see Auburn’s downfall as a victory. If this hire is the massive mistake that it has been made out to be, it probably indicates the beginning of a lengthy Alabama winning streak in the Iron Bowl. This will surely spill over into recruiting within the state and outside of it as well. Alabama will benefit.

While the Alabama fan in me would like nothing more than to face an Auburn team that is routinely 3-8 coming into the last game, though, the SEC fan in me knows that this will not really benefit anybody. A bad Auburn team is bad for business.

I will not pretend that I am "that" Alabama fan that roots for Auburn in every game except for the Iron Bowl. Quite the opposite is true. In fact, I spent the better part of the Auburn-Tennessee game trying to think of ways that they could both lose. I couldn’t come up with anything.

Believe it or not, my hope is that Auburn did make the best possible hire. Beating them when they are at their best is a whole lot more fun then beating them when they are in the tank. Therefore, I will choose to believe that Auburn hired the best man for that job.

Anything less than that forces me to admit things that I am not ready to come to terms with. Anything less than that will force all of us to rethink issues that should have been settled ages ago.

Alabama Blows Late Lead to Texas A&M, The Funeral Procession Continues

Ingram Worley — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 15:30:47 -0500

Right now, while you have a second, go to your closet.

Pull that black suit out of the back. Try it on, see if it still fits.

You are going to need it.

Saturday night, Alabama's basketball team continued it's decent into oblivion, blowing a five point lead with 15 seconds left, at home against Texas A&M.

You might have missed it. It did not make the front page of the sports section. You could find the blurb about it on page 11.

You might have chosen to read about the Tide's Sugar Bowl preparation for Utah. You might have read about man-child defensive tackle commit D.J. Fluker in his practice for the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star High School football game. You might have even read about the "Days of Our Lives" saga that was the Auburn football coach search.

In these good football days, it's easy to pretend that the basketball program is not sinking to a Hobbsian level.

But it is. And quickly.

Don't get me wrong. Basketball is very much on my back-burner right now.

But I can't help but to think about January, when SEC play begins and we are forced to watch the team with nothing else to distract us.

As I watched the game Saturday night, something bothered me. Alabama was competitive. In a lot of ways, it was their most complete game of the year. But my eyes were on Mark Gottfried.

Something was wrong. He reminded me of someone. At first, I couldn't put my finger on it. But then it hit me. In a "Sopranos" style dream sequence, I looked up and saw (gasp), Mike DuBose coaching my basketball team.

I nearly spit up. Gottfried had that same lost, overwhelmed look on his face that I watched for four years from Big Mike.

Alabama managed to take control of the game, and hit two late free throws to capture a five point lead with thirty seconds to go.

Now, I'm no John Wooden. But I do know that if you have a five point lead with under 30 seconds to play, you need to at least attempt to have some defense on the perimeter.

Did that happen? No. A&M came down, hit a three, and called time out. My stomach began to churn.

During the timeout, Dubose, I mean Gottfried, did his patented clap and fist shake. This did not add confidence.

Alabama managed to get the ball in bounds and draw a foul. Eight seconds to go. Two free throws would seal it. Did we make the two? No.

Like clockwork, Alabama gave A&M possession back, up by three with just a few ticks remaining.

Full-tilt, carnival-style nausea had kicked in.

Surely, we could contest the shot to tie the game. Did that happen? No.

A&M drained the three-pointer to send the game into overtime.

Dubose, I mean Gottfried, smiled.

I wanted to get up, turn the game off, but I was afraid the motion would bring about an unenjoyable bout of vomiting.

So I watched, as Alabama folded. I watched the confused Dubose face become frozen atop Gottfried's neck.

Gottfried's reign as Alabama's coach is coming to a close. Mal Moore will not do anything during the season, not that it would matter, so we've got three more months of this misery to endure.

Memorial services will be held sometime in March, most likely during an opening-round NIT game that we will not be playing in. Burial services to follow.

So dust off that black suit. Prepare a eulogy if you feel so inclined.

Let us hope that the powers that be have already started a search for a replacement. Because, judging by the performance Saturday night, rigor mortis has already set in.

Tuck and Run: The Tommy Tuberville Way

Ingram Worley — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:55:12 -0500

I was trying to take the high road; I really was.

I tried to handle Alabama's success with quiet pride. I tried to sit back and enjoy the undefeated regular season and the return of Alabama football to national prominence.

I tried to relish the end of losing streaks to LSU, Mississippi State, and most importantly, Auburn, silently.

But slowly, like an approaching thunderstorm, it started to happen.

Chatter from the Auburn faithful (see Kevin's article, "Taking Blame, The Nick Saban Way") began to emerge. I began to hear the whispers about Nick Saban.

He is a turncoat. He is awful to the media. He blames losses on his players, not himself. He is arrogant. He cheats. He is just plain mean.

Meanwhile, Alabama continued to pile up the wins. Tommy Bowden, executed. Phil Fulmer, terminated. Sly Croom, booted.

And then there was Tommy Tuberville, the most intelligent of the four.

You see, Tuberville saw the writing on the wall long ago. He realized he had lived his moment in the sun. A year ago, he glimpsed into the future and saw the sleeping giant beginning to stir.

He wanted out.

He wanted out, because he knew this was going to happen. When his Texas A&M/Arkansas plans went in the tank, the panic began to set in.

Hoping for a miracle, he abandoned Auburn's long successful offensive style, and went for the "hot" commodity, the vaunted "spread" offense.

He found a coordinator (read: scapegoat) willing to implement this new idea, and headed into 2008 as a top 10 team and a trendy pick to win the division.

What followed has been analyzed, critiqued, and regurgitated for four months. The offense sputtered, to put it mildly.

Auburn escaped games early, winning thrillers against Mississippi State (3-2) and Tennessee (14-12). Even though the offense exploded for 20+ points against LSU, Auburn came up short. The wheels had come off.

Meanwhile, to the northwest, Alabama continued to win, and continued to climb up the polls. The national media began to recognize that Nick Saban was, in fact, as good or even better than advertised.

Tuberville, now grasping, axed offensive coordinator Tony Franklin, adding to a lengthy list of assistant coaches removed from the premises.

The change did not have the intended effect. Losses to Vanderbilt, Arkansas, West Virginia, Ole Miss, and finally Georgia had cemented the season as a lost cause.

Up in Tuscaloosa, the "process" continued to steam along. Alabama rolled through the remainder of its schedule undefeated. Nick Saban had all but locked up the National Coach of the Year award.

The day that Tommy Tuberville had feared was upon him. Carrying a six-game Iron Bowl winning streak into Tuscaloosa, Tuberville defiantly raised seven fingers as his team entered Bryant-Denny Stadium.

There is no need to get into the details of that day. The 36-0 dismantling of his Tigers confirmed the obvious. The run was over. He had waited too long.

The win was more than the cap on the undefeated season for Alabama. It was more than the seventh loss for Auburn. It was symbolic in that the entire climate of football in the state of Alabama had shifted.

Tuberville knew it.

According to Auburn's President and Athletics Director, Tuberville was "begged" to stay. Most of the national media felt that Tuberville should stay. He had earned too much in his ten years to be removed from his post.

They were correct, he had earned it.

He just did not want it.

He did not want any part of what was going to happen, what had already started to happen. He knew what was left of his legacy would forever be tarnished if he became Nick Saban's personal doormat.

He could no longer compete for the high profile recruits. He had lost the support of the administration (if he ever had it), and support from his fan base had fractured.

In the three and a half hours at Bryant-Denny Stadium, his six-game streak was washed away. His undefeated season was forgotten. His conference title was an afterthought.

In the fourth quarter, one could almost read it on his face. "Why am I still here? I will not let this happen to me again."

So, kudos to Tommy Tuberville, it will not happen to him again. He played the "tuck and run" to perfection.

Top Five Heisman Busts of the Last 20 Years

Ingram Worley — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:46:34 -0500

With the 2008 presentation of the Heisman (maybe soon to be named Tebow) Trophy in a few days, my thoughts were drawn to the snubbing of Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell.

My first thought was to put together a list of the most glaring omissions from the award ceremony itself, but then I thought of a better idea.

After all, Harrell has a chance to move on to the NFL and prove to everyone that he should have been included. His career is ahead of him. I believe that most would agree that he has the skills to play at the next level.

However, my thoughts turned to those who actually took home the little gold statue. Specifically the ones who won the trophy and then busted like Don Johnson's singing career (anybody remember "Heartbeat"?).

So listed below are my top (or bottom) five biggest Heisman busts. Most were deserving winners at the time, but we will always wonder why they could not take it to the next level.

5. Chris Weinke, QB, Florida State (2000 Winner)

Weinke is perhaps the only Heisman winner that is remembered more for his age than for his ability on the field. Somehow he convinced the NCAA that a 46-year-old man could still play collegiate football. And he played it well.

He was an incredibly efficient quarterback at FSU, and led his team to a national title in 1999, the year before he took home the Heisman.

In the NFL, Weinke, to put it mildly, did not enjoy the same success. He has what may be the worst record for a starting quarterback who played a minimun of one full season (1-15).

The Panthers did not see improvement on the horizon and cut bait. Although he hung around as a backup in the league for a number of years, he will go down in history as a Heisman bust.

4. Rashaan Salaam, RB, Colorado (1994 Winner)

Although he was one of the most productive backs of the decade, Salaam had problems that would haunt him once he reached the NFL.

The first problem was the inability to hold on to the football. The second problem was the inability to say no to just about any drug known to man.

Salaam became a cautionary tale to NFL camps. A productive back in a gimmick-filled offense did not exactly translate into a franchise NFL back.

After multiple suspensions, Salaam exited stage left, and resurfaced in the action-packed XFL. Any Heisman winner who played in a league created by Vince McMahon was a shoo-in for this list.

3. Jason White, QB, Oklahoma (2003 Winner)

White was one of the more decorated college quarterbacks in the game. After an injury-riddled two seasons in Norman, White threw for 40 touchdowns and 8 picks en route to the 2003 Heisman. After being granted an extra year of eligibility due to "medical hardships", White was a finalist again in 2004.

That was the last of the good news. NFL scouts saw no potential, and White went undrafted, and had trouble even getting a tryout in the league. Eventually the Chiefs and Titans gave him a look, but he never took a snap in the NFL. On the bright side, he does own an Athlete's Foot shoe store.

2. Eric Crouch, QB, Nebraska (2001 Winner)

Although Crouch had to battle for playing time for the majority of his career at Nebraska, he eventually became a dynamic player for the Cornhuskers.

He was known probably more for his running ability, but put up impressive enough numbers through the air to win the 2001 award.

NFL teams were all in agreement that Crouch was not to be an NFL quarterback. He was too short and did not have the required arm strength. He was originally drafted as a wide receiver, but he never relinquished the desire to play QB.

He was given a look at the position by Green Bay, but this was a failure as well. Eventually, Crouch ended up as a safety in the NFL Europe. Apparently, quarterbacks need to be tall there, too.

1. Gino Torretta, QB, Miami (FL) (1992 Winner)

Torretta was another in a long list of superstar Miami quarterbacks. His gaudy numbers in 1991 led Miami to a national title.

He threw for over 3,000 yards in his senior season to lock up the Heisman for that year. As we know, the Heisman is presented before the playing of the bowl games.

The No. 1 and heavily favored Hurricanes faced Alabama in the 1993 Sugar Bowl in the "pre-BCS" National Championship game.

This may have been when Torretta was "exposed." The Alabama defense dominated, and Miami was held to six offensive points in a 34-13 blowout loss.

I do not know if this had any bearing on his falling draft status, but he was not taken until the seventh round by the Vikings. He did not take one snap for the Vikings that year, as was the case in the following year with Detroit.

After a brief stint in the NFL Europe, Torretta made it back to the NFL with a spot on Seattle's roster. He finally got a chance to throw his first NFL pass in 1996.

So there you have it, my personal list of Heisman busts. You will not find any of these "busts" in Canton.

John Smoltz to the Red Sox or the Mets? Say It Ain't So!

Ingram Worley — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 09:46:22 -0500

As a die-hard Alabama football fan living in Alabama, I have had little time to follow the offseason activities of the Atlanta Braves. I try to check on them a couple of times per week, hoping against hope that I get the dream headline "Braves Deal Franceour to Pittsburgh for Player To Be Named Later." No such luck. Anyway, I did find some troubling news the other day. Let me tell you why I am troubled.

I am 29 years old. My earliest memories of the Braves are the Rick Mahler/Andres Thomas/Glenn Hubbard/Claudell Washington days. Dale Murphy was a hero. Bob Horner was, well, Bob Horner. The teams those days were tough to watch, but I did not care, I loved them.

Back then, the "Superstation" TBS aired every game in Birmingham. I learned the game of baseball watching the Braves go 70-92 every year. To this day, the Braves are the only professional team in any sport that I really care about.

John Smoltz was one of a small number of guys who changed the face of the franchise. He was everything you could ask for, at least from a number three guy in the rotation for many years. He threw hard. He struck guys out. He got fired up.

As he got older and the core of the team that started winning division titles began to slowly drift away, Smoltzy was the constant. His slider and split-finger became devastating additions to his potent fastball. He became a strong number two, and then he became an ace. Eventually, he became a shut-down closer.

All the while, the guy was as good off of the field. He was incredibly intelligent, could give a great interview, and did endless charity work both in Atlanta and back in his home state of Michigan.

In a lot of ways, Smoltz was to Atlanta fans what Brett Favre was to the Green Bay faithful. Thinking of him wearing someone else's jersey simply did not compute. In my mind, he would throw his last pitch at Turner Field. I feared that had happened already. In fact, when he went down again last year, I just figured that it was time.

He had put together a wonderful career, a Hall of Fame career, according to most. If he retired now, not many would blame him. He most certainly has a career in some broadcast booth in the years to come. I even imagined him as the color guy along with Chip Carey during Braves games for years to come.

I was not surprised when I read that the Braves were trying to find a way out of paying him the 12-plus million he would be guaranteed to pitch this year. His recent arm troubles have put his status in jeopardy. There is no denying that.

Smoltz, as he has every right to do, is listening to other offers. As many as seven teams have shown interest. This was painful information to digest. But that wasn't the worst of it.

Two of the teams showing interest are Boston and the New York Mets. This makes sense. These are two of the wealthier franchises in baseball, much more equipped to take a high-priced risk than Atlanta. But, come on, the Mets?

Braves people despise the Mets. This has become a bigger problem in recent years as New York has passed Atlanta in the division. Braves fans watch as New York shells out giant contracts to the biggest-named free agents. I can not imagine John Smoltz in a Mets uniform. It was bad enough with Glavine.

And Boston? What I've come to realize is that outside of their own mammoth legion of fans, everybody hates the Red Sox. They, like the Yankees, have priced the majority of that league into submission. They are part of the reason that small market teams have little to no chance anymore.

Personally, I do not hold any ill will toward them, as they play in the American League, but I don't want those people cheering for Smoltz. Something just seems wrong about it. Nauseating.

Why does it seem less painful to me to see him in Detroit? L.A.? Cleveland? Anywhere else? I have come to grips with supporting a losing team again. I am dealing with that. And I am not making a plea for the Braves to sign Smoltz again. I am simply venting my depression of seeing a childhood hero in the uniform of a rival, or the uniform of the baseball equivalent of Wal-Mart.

I did not understand the big deal in Green Bay when the Favre saga unfolded. I understand it now. I would love to see Smoltzy retire as a Brave. If that can't happen I wish him the best of luck. I will just choose not to watch.

Mark Gottfried's Alabama Basketball Team in Crisis: Does Anybody Care?

Ingram Worley — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:23:24 -0500

Like most Alabama fans, I think the past four months have been a great time to be a supporter of the program. The football program.

However, I still maintain a vested interest in the spiraling basketball program as well. I can't help myself.

As I near my 30th birthday, my life is filled with memories of Alabama football games. I have had the good fortune of being in attendance at nearly every meaningful win, and the misfortune of witnessing many of the worst losses.

Unlike most 'Bama fans, I have just as many memories, if not more, of the basketball games. I grew up in what most would consider the pinnacle of our basketball program: the Wimp Sanderson era.

Those days were special. The plaid coats, the parquet floors, and a packed Coleman Coliseum on most nights, especially conference games. I can remember nights when I thought the roof was going to blow off because the crowd was so fired up.

We had a vicious rivalry with Arkansas after they joined the SEC. I had a chance to witness the days when Robert Horry, Latrell Sprewell, James Robinson, and company went head to head with Todd Day and Oliver Miller.

I was young, but I remember the run of consecutive Sweet 16 appearances. I remember having a home-and-home set up with North Carolina.

I can recall Roy Rogers blocking 12 shots in one game. I remember Elliott Washington's three-pointer at the buzzer to beat the Hogs in the semifinals of the conference tournament, when they still felt the need to play that thing in Birmingham.

After the David Hobbs debacle, I remember thinking that Mark Gottfried was the perfect fit. He was an Alabama guy, he was young, and he had led Murray State to several NCAA tournaments after being a part of a UCLA National Championship team.

During the first half of his tenure, I think I still felt that he was our coach for many, many years to come. Even though the most optimistic Alabama fan couldn't expect Final Four appearances, Gottfried had us in the dance more often than not. He even led the memorable Elite Eight run a few years back. This was a feat that even Wimp could not attain.

Unfortunately, since that time, the program has headed south. By all accounts, Gottfried had a knack for attracting moderately high-profile recruits to the Capstone, even though our facilities were a mess and we didn't draw a crowd unless Kentucky or Arkansas came to town.

The team record in road games became an embarrassment. I do not have the numbers in front of me now, but places like Oxford and Starkville made us look like a junior varsity middle school team.

He dotted some seasons with a few unlikely wins. We beat Kentucky a couple of times, we managed to keep pace in most years in the division, even though we rarely were competitive near the end of those seasons.

As the years passed, the losses mounted, but the talent seemed to stay in place. NCAA Tourney appearances began to dwindle. We even attained a No. 1 ranking for a couple of weeks one year, only to self-destruct and miss the tournament all together.

As a member of the Gottfried bandwagon, of which people were bailing left and right, I maintained that the majority of this was not his fault. Early departures for the NBA left us in bad situations multiple times. Untimely injuries added to the problems.

I felt if we could get a few breaks, he could bring us back. I no longer think this is possible.

I drove to Tuscaloosa in October to see the first practice and sit in on a Q and A session with Gottfried, and he preceded to win me over again. The practice was run well, and the players looked ready for the season. He answered all of the questions the way I hoped that he would, and I became a Gottfried defender once again.

Then the season started. Mercer came to Tuscaloosa and won on our home floor. Strike one. We then went to Hawaii for one of the more high-profile preseason tournaments available, chock full of quality opponents. We opened with an average Oregon team and were run out of the gym. Strike two.

I was ready to chalk up the season when I sat down to watch us play Alabama A&M (a team coming off of a hard-fought loss to Talladega College). In my 20 years of loyalty to the program, this was arguably the lowest point.

The team jumped out to an early 16-point lead, only to see A&M whittle that lead to five by halftime. The second half was no better, as it became a one-possession game with less than a minute left. Thanks to a very questionable blocking foul on A&M with about 45 seconds to go, Alabama escaped with a victory. Strike three.

I am now firmly entrenched in the camp of people screaming for a change. It is time. It has been time for a while, I just couldn't bring myself to believe it. Gottfried has done all he can do for us, and we need new blood.

Which brings me to the question and the focal point of this article: Who can we get that is any better? This is a sad situation. What up-and-coming coach would want to come to a place where, at best, you are an afterthought, even in the best years.

Tennessee managed to do it under similar circumstances. They hired Bruce Pearl, who has taken Tennessee to an elite level. Florida trumped even that, snagging Billy Donovan and winning multiple titles.

These are football-first schools, just like ours. Why not us? Where can we find our Donovan, our Pearl?

Although I know that most Alabama fans could not care less if we finish last in the conference year-in and year-out, but I do. There are some like me.

This begs the question: Where do we go from here? I have heard no rumblings, no potential replacements, just silence. Those of us who care need to take a more active role in improving this situation. I just do not know how. I will gladly throw my tiny bit of support behind any new plan.

If you care about the basketball program like I do, it is time we started to make some noise. It is very easy to look the other way when the football team is running the table in the SEC and is back in the National Championship picture. We can't do that.

So, here is my plea to the few die-hard 'Bama basketball fans. Let's keep supporting our team, but let's also look to the future. If we remain quiet, it could lead to more years of this miserable mediocrity. A few more years of this, and die-hards like myself will start to look the other way, too.

We are at a crossroads, folks. Let's start to talk this thing up and help this once-proud program climb back to respectability. Let's find a fresh face with a fresh attitude and try to make this right.

I don't want to have a nine-month dead period between January and September where the most exciting action is on the football recruiting front. I'm not ready for that. Not yet.