Alabama-Auburn: Post-Thanksgiving Humble Pie Is a Treat for Crimson Tide

Although Bama fans had hoped the Crimson Tide would have had a more convincing victory against the in-state rival Auburn Tigers, this win is the best thing that could have happened to this team on the weekend just before the SEC Championship game.

Alabama fans and players alike now know that an average team in the SEC can put together a complete game and rock the hopeful dreams of any championship into another dimension.

The Auburn Tigers took a week off, rested, schemed and practiced a plan that worked to perfection in the first quarter of the 2009 Iron Bowl.

What is different this year, is this Alabama team has a different demeanor from the one a year ago. This team in 2009 does not accept defeat as an option.

Despite being down 14 points in less than five minutes after the opening kickoff, this team had no intention to lay down and quit.

With the deficit before them, the defense gathered together and re-assessed the goals set prior to kickoff. They studied still frames and listened to the coaches' advice about how to defend against the revamped Auburn offense. While the defense was regrouping, the Alabama offense went to work.

The entire offense contributed to the second-quarter success of the Tide. There were no spectacular individual efforts. At the end of the first half, The score was tied and Alabama even had a chance to take the lead before the break in action.

In the second half, the Crimson Tide outscored the Tigers 12-7 for a five-point victory in the closest game since 1997, that being a one-point victory for the Tide. The Crimson Tide is now 12-0.

The games against Tennessee, LSU, and Auburn have allowed this team to mature into a championship caliber unit. Prior to these classic SEC matchups, the Tide had sailed to an 7-0 record without much of a challenge.

These last few wins have caused the team to overcome adversity in a variety of ways. The team has responded favorably to the challenges. Like a prize fighter punched in the mouth and dazed by an underdog competitor, the Crimson Tide rose to the challenge and shook off the blows.

The end result is a group of high quality athletes that know how to depend on each other for support and strength when their own strength has been sapped. There are no individuals who stand alone, this is a solid team.

As Mark Ingram sat on the sidelines, unable to contribute due to a hip pointer and shoulder stinger, true freshman Trent Richardson buttoned his chin strap and went to work.

Third-string senior running back Roy Upchurch stood in when his number was called and scored a game-winning touchdown on third and goal, late in the fourth quarter.

On the game-winning drive, Quarterback Greg McElroy was 8-of-10 passing, and the Tide traveled 80 yards in 15 plays for the score. Julio Jones stepped up as a receiver and made catch after catch during the late fourth quarter drive.

The last Alabama offensive possession of the game drained 7:03 from the clock, leaving less that 1:30 for the Auburn offense to work with after the ensuing kickoff. Auburn had burned their time outs during the drive in an attempt to save what time they could for their last effort on the home field. 1:30 would not be enough.

This completed a second straight undefeated regular season for the Crimson Tide. Despite the errors along the way, it is a perfect record in the toughest conference across the country, two years in a row.

Two consecutive undefeated regular seasons in the SEC is not a feat easily achieved. In fact, the last two SEC champions that have finished as National Champions have not completed the regular season undefeated.

The University of Florida has never accomplished the feat even once.

The next game will, in fact, be against the defending National Champion and SEC Champion Florida Gators. The Gators will be ready for the Tide, and the Tide will come prepared as well.

This conference championship game may very well determine who will be the eventual 2009 National Champion.

Two games left for the Crimson Tide. These games will determine how this team stacks up with previous Alabama champions.

This writer would be interested to know what the Alabama fans on this site think regarding this team compared to past championship teams.

Please leave your assessment in the comment section for debate or affirmation.

RTR into the 2009 SEC Championship. With hard work and perseverance, they should then roll into the 2009 National Championship game in Pasadena.