A Numerical Look at the Alabama Crimson Tide

12-10 was the score by which the Tide defeated Tennessee in their annual meeting Saturday and it was not a score that I or anyone would have expected.

Both teams had a strong defense, so a good old-fashioned defensive struggle was far from a surprise but few expected Tennessee to stick a bloody knife into the undefeated season of the Crimson Tide.

Alabama had control of the game and the ball in its hands with only a few minutes to kill when Mark Ingram coughed up the ball and Tennessee recovered, which led to a series of plays in which Tennessee nearly pulled off a miracle.

Tide fans watched in horror as their defense gave up an uncontested touchdown.  They felt their knees weaken with shock as they witnessed the ever-so-rare successful onside kick and more so when Tennessee completed a long pass into field-goal territory. 

In a matter of what seemed like seconds, Tide fans went from planning post-game cigars to watching their national championship hopes slip away.

Which brings me to my first number.

2 – The number of field goals Alabama blocked in the fourth quarter to defeat Tennessee.  I’ve asked around; nobody can remember such a thing happening before. 

Both blocks came courtesy of Tide nose guard Terrance Cody.  Both Tennessee kicks were low.  It’s questionable if either kick would have been good had they not been blocked.

“Mt.” Cody’s main contribution was simply being the largest object in the stadium and the odds were good it was going to hit him somewhere. Cody, for his effort, has solidified his unique place in Tide History and possibly on canvas.

55 -  The number for Tide reserve LB, Chavis Williams, who made his first appearance for the Tide defense as the staff continues to try to find players who can take up the pass-rushing slack lost when Dante Hightower’s season ended prematurely.

16 – The number of field goals made by senior Lee Tiffin in the last three games.  Lee Tiffin is the son of  Tide legend Van Tiffin. Van was the place kicker for the Crimson Tide in the mid 1980’s.  He had a solid career but is famous for one kick in particular.  In fact it’s so famous it’s known as “The Kick.”

Tide fans know this as the last second 52 yarder that tore the heart out of the Auburn Tigers and their fans as his kick completed one of the most unlikely upsets in Iron bowl history. 

Tiffin has had some good and bad days in his college career.  He’s continually suffered from those who want to compare him to his father but as of mid-season, Tiffin is money in the bank and pretty much all of Alabama’s offense as Alabama struggles with a very bad case of endzone-a-phobia.

2 – The number of touchdowns Alabama has scored in three games.  Alabama’s mid season offensive slump almost cost them dearly against Tennessee.  Alabama blew a huge scoring opportunity in the first half that could have put Tennessee away for good.

13 – The number of quarters Greg McElroy has played without throwing for a touchdown.  His last touchdown throw was to Darius Hanks against Kentucky in the third quarter. 

6 - The number of rush attempts Mark Ingram had in the second half of the critically tight game against Tennessee.    It’s probably a fair question to ask why, with the game on the line, your Heisman Trophy candidate running back is collecting dust for most of the second half.   Granted, his late fumble put the game in jeopardy but from a strategic standpoint this doesn’t make much since.

8 – The number of weeks Alabama has played without a break which includes five straight weeks against SEC opponents.  The Crimson Tide looked somewhat ragged against Tennessee.  Alabama is clearly a more talented team than Tennessee but fatigue and the fact that Tennessee had the week off before the game may have played a role in the near upset at the end.

2 – Alabama’s current rank in the BCS poll.  Even with the near loss to Tennessee, Alabama still made the plays it needed to win and the polls are still on the wagon.

0 – Number of losses thus far in 2009.   In the SEC the name of the game is "Survive and Advance."  It doesn’t matter how you get there, or even how you look,  only that you get there.  Mighty Florida is having their own troubles as well.  Florida and Alabama continue to advance relentlessly toward each other.  In the end, there can only be one SEC Champion.