At Alabama, It's Not About the Football Stats, It's About the Results

I learned a long time ago that a smart man (or woman) with some quick wit and a page of statistics could make any team seem good, bad, or somewhere in the middle.

There are some things that aren't counted by the statisticians. Where's the stat for Rolando McClain being mentally aware enough to tip the ball into the air one more time so it might could be picked off?

Where's the stat that says that shows McElroy completing a pass to everyone who could possibly be deemed a receiver?

Where's the stat that shows Cory Reamer being coached well enough to pick up a screen being set up in mid play and changing his rush to a pass defense?

As writers, we all use stats in our articles everyday. I guess it's the easy way for us to make a point and help sway our audience to our way of thinking. We need however, to be less concerned with stats and more on story, like the examples used previously.

Of course, Alabama has impressive stats this year, and some of those stats are pretty important. But it's like Coach Bryant used to say: the only stat that really means anything in the end is the final game score statistic.

But it's all those un-statistical things that happen before that final whistle that makes football such a wonderful game.

How do you put a statistic on momentum, on desperation, on blind luck or mental genius?

Where's the statistic that shows Mt. Cody occupying two linemen that allowed Javier Arenas shoot through the line on a blitz to get a sack?

Where's the statistic that shows how many players Greg McElroy looked off before finding the open man? And show me the stat for broken arm-tackles—I'm sure Mark Ingram is leading in that one. Or point out to me how many times an Alabama running back picked up a blitzing defensive man to allow us to make a positive play.

Reporters don't keep stats of unity either. I've been lucky enough this year to get to interview players after the game and I have yet to have one boast on any accomplishment that he has made. Instead, he heaps the praise on his team for allowing him the opportunity to make that play with their hard efforts.

And lastly, show the stat on energy level in the fourth quarter. I've never seen that, but I keep hearing from every coach how important it is.

In the end, let me close by saying, you keep the stats and I'll keep the results.