High Tide: Why Bama Will Roll In and Out of Pasadena Undefeated

The Alabama Crimson Tide Football Team will win the 2010 Citi Financial BCS Championship Game. The Tide will Roll. It's all over but the crying. Nobody else stands a chance. It should be so obvious to everyone.

The only question yet to be answered is: Will Bama fans throw roses on Jan. 7, 2010 after the Crimson Tide win the BCS Championship Game in Pasadena?

Wait a minute! This is a legitimate question, because the Rose Bowl Game will have been played less than a week before on New Year's Day in the same stadium.

Most likely, USC and Ohio State will meet again, and while this game will scream ideal marquee matchup for Rose Bowl fans, it will nonetheless be less than intriguing with Alabama and Texas looming on the horizon.

Ohio State Fans will be ecstatic when the Buckeyes win. They will throw Roses and slam Rose Petal shots all night long, but what will happen six days later after the Crimson Tide corral the Longhorns to win their 13th National Championship in the very same stadium where they won their first?

Will Bama fans party with the petals? Will Crimson Roses fly through the air? Will Tide fans even care enough about playing in the Rose Bowl Stadium to throw roses?

You bet your begonias they will! Call it a slight breach of fan etiquette, a touch of Southern Tacky, or just plain stubbornness, but Crimson Tide fans will pull out all the Roses for this game, and they will feel they have every right to every petal in Pasadena that day, even though this will not officially be a Rose Bowl Game, because this is where it all began for Alabama Football. 

This is the place where Alabama put Southern Football on the Map when they won one for Dixie by defeating the Washington Huskies 20-19 in the 1926 Rose Bowl to win the first of 12 National Titles for the Crimson Tide.

The school's Fight Song immortalizes that game, "...Remember the Rose Bowl, we'll win then....", and every Crimson-blooded fan will be well aware of the historic symbolism on display that day.

So yes, Bama fans, get your garden gloves ready, bring your roses, and get ready for the petal party because the Tide is going to Roll! Nobody can stop Alabama this year, and here's why.

1. Recruiting

Coach Nick Saban has again put together one of the Nation's top recruiting classes.

The Tide landed the nation's No. 1 Lineman—DJ FLuker, No. 1 Defensive back—Dre Kirkpatrick, and No. 2 Running Back—Trent Richardson. All three should be able to make an immediate impact.

Trent Richardson will compete for the top spot in an already deep stable of running backs for the Tide. DJ Fluker should replace Andre Smith at Left Tackle, and Kirkpatrick adds depth to what should be the nation's top defense in 2009.

Alabama Coaches filled the gaps perfectly with this year's freshmen, and it will show on both sides of the ball.

2. Quarteback Greg McElroy

Greg McElroy has patiently waited his turn to guide the Crimson Tide to victory. With the departure of gutsy three-year starter John Parker Wilson, who owns every significant passing record at the Capstone, McElroy will quickly show fans he is the real deal.

Wilson was a great competitor, but often was labeled more of a Game Manager than a Game Breaker.

McElroy is a far better pure passer than Wilson, and with an incredibly fast and tall receiving corps, opposing defenses should be afraid—very afraid.

McElroy may not break all the records, but he will deliver the wins. With the surrounding talent, he should become one of Alabama's all-time great quarterbacks.

3. The Offensive Line

So Andre Smith, Marlon Davis and Antoine Caldwell are gone. Most people are already talking about the O-line being Bama's weakness this year. How far they are from the truth!

The O-line should and will be even better, even after NFL gutted it during this year's draft. Incoming Freshman DJ Fluker, 6'7", 350 should immediately replace Smith at Left Tackle, JUCO Transfer James Carpenter, 6'5", 310 could play there as well. 6'7, 300 pound Tyler Love and 6'3" David Ross are both experienced Juniors ready to play either side of center.

The Tide has more solid depth than ever on the O-line and with all these big guys competing everyday for positions and going against the nation's best defensive line in practice, opposing defenses again, should be afraid—very afraid.

4. Defense

Defense wins championships, and Alabama has the nation's finest.

Returning Nose Tackle Terrence "Mount" Cody 6'5" 380, leads 10 returning starters from the 2008 squad that was easily ranked in the top five nationally. 

Linebackers Rolando McClain and Donte' Hightower could start in the NFL tomorrow.

Incoming Freshman DB Dre' Kirkpatrick will star in the NFL one day. With Josh Chapman eligible this year and incoming Kerry Murphy, Alabama could easily have the best line in the nation.

The only school that comes close is Oklahoma.

5. Schedule

Does Anyone think Virginia Tech can stay with Alabama in Atlanta?

Not a chance, and once again Bama will start the season smashing a well respected foe Sept. 5 on national television.

Bama dodges both Georgia and Florida on the regular season schedule this year. The toughest test will be in the West at Ole Miss Oct. 10.

Both LSU and Tennessee are home games, and Auburn has no chance this year even on the plains.

Aside from Va-Tech, the non-conference schedule includes walk-overs Chatanooga, North Texas, and Florida International. Aside from a gaffe at Mississippi, Alabama should easily go 12-0 before getting another shot at Florida in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta, in the same stadium where Bama will beat down the Hokies in the first game.

6. The Loss to Utah

Bama suffered a humiliating defeat to Utah in Last Year's Sugar Bowl.

Coach Saban said he saw it coming, that the team didn't practice with the intensity and focus it showed during the season. After sitting at No. 1 in the polls longer than any other team last year, don't expect Bama to overlook anyone this year.

This team is hungry. They can feel it. They can almost taste it. They know what it takes to win and they know the pain from a tough loss.

Expect Saban to have these men ready every week, and not only will they win, they will look good doing it.

7. Coaching

Nick Saban is College football's highest paid coach for a reason. He knows what it takes to win championships. He will have this team drinking the cool aid and they will keep asking for more.

With tough losses to Florida and Utah last year, there is plenty of motivation to keep this team focused.

Saban's job should be pretty easy this year. He knows what he has in this team and he is excited. Expect him to feed off his team's energy and in turn energize his players to perform to their abilities.

If Alabama stays focused, they will be unbeatable.

Everything is in place this year for the Crimson Tide to Roll away with the crystal football: A favorable schedule, top-notch talent, a solid pure-passing quarterback with tall speedy receivers, big, strong offensive and defensive lines, experience and depth in the offensive and defensive backfields, motivation, and one of the best coaches in the country.

So only one question remains, and I already answered that. "Remember the Rose Bowl, we'll win then!!"