Top Five Reasons the Close Iron Bowl Game Was Good for Alabama

Ugly win? Yes it was. Under achieving? Perhaps it was that too. But there are five good reasons why this game could actually help Alabama in it's quest for continuing wins this season and next.

1. It was a win. When it's all said and done that's number one. For Alabama to play in the BCS national championship game all it has to do is win. This ugly win could slip Alabama back behind Texas, but it doesn't matter if they just keep winning.

If they beat Florida, no matter how ugly, they will play for a national championship and that is the goal of this team.

2. Greg McElroy erased any doubters that he can lead this team back from behind to a late game comeback win.

That last drive showed McElroy could not be flustered, even after some wicked sacks. He simply showed his cool, calm manner and went about his business taking what the defense would give him, draining both the clock and Auburn's hopes of winning the game.

This kind of comeback will give the whole team confidence, not just McElroy that they can will win these kinds of games if they keep their cool and do their jobs.

3. We can win when our "star" is having a bad game, and let's face it, Mark Ingram had a bad game. Auburn's game plan was simple, follow Mark Ingram.

They had someone in his face following him everywhere except the Alabama bench and the locker room at half time, and it worked.

So we had others step up. This is a lesson will that keep the team from panicking if another "star" goes down.

4. This game may have kept Mark Ingram from winning the Heisman, and if it did that, it may be the reason to end any speculation of him leaving at the end of the season for the NFL.

Not that any hint of this supposed early leaving has come from Ingram, but it should end that speculation by the press and fans alike.

Now Alabama will come back with the play makers from this offense intact for next year and that can't be a comforting thought for the rest of SEC.

5. It shows this team once again how important it is to take every team seriously and take advantage of every scoring opportunity to earn seven points and not three.

This is a game that while giving a win, gives the coaches much to point to for improvement and gives the players a reason to listen to the advice.

In all, it may have been ugly to some, but it was a thing of beauty to others.