Crimson Tsunami Rolls Over Florida

Nobody saw that coming.  Bama fans like to say “Roll Tide,”  but this was more like a tsunami.

Total domination—that's all you can say about the second half of the SEC Championship game.  Alabama took a six point lead into halftime and hammered the Florida Gators into submission, outscoring them 13-0 in the second half. 

With the win, Alabama ends ten long years of frustration that saw just about every turn of bad fortune that could befall a program short of locusts. 

Also with the win, Mark Ingram stormed back into the thick of the Heisman Trophy race.  Auburn thought they had beat that into submission as well, but Ingram's 113 yards rushing, 76 yards receiving and three touchdowns against the Florida defense should relight that fire.  

With Tim Tebow being shut down by Alabama and an uninspiring performance by Colt McCoy in their near upset by Nebraska, there is really only one choice. 

Of course there is also CJ Spiller from Clemson.  His stats are gaudy.  But in the ACC those stats just don't stack up to Ingram's 1542 yards rushing and 322 yards receiving against the heart of the SEC. 

Ingram also unceremoniously broke the Alabama single season rushing record held by Bobby Humphrey since 1986.

Even Ingram's amazing night has to take a back seat to what was accomplished by Greg McElroy.

McElroy had an entire career in one season for the Tide.  He entered the season an unknown.  After several games of success, he was anointed a Heisman Trophy candidate.   

As he approached the salty roughage of the SEC schedule, he crumpled under the pressure—struggling mightily but never quite losing it.  In the second half of the season he slowly clawed his way back to respectability.

In the last two weeks he went from respectable to a bona fide star.  His 218-yard performance against Auburn that included a fourth quarter come-from-behind winning drive opened the door.  The 239 yard shredding of the Florida defense in the championship knocked it off the hinges. 

Greg McElroy and the Alabama passing game is now a force that must be reckoned with.  Texas must now game plan to stop both Ingram and McElroy in Pasadena.    My advice to Mack Brown—drink heavily.

Speaking of Texas, this is the dream match for Bama fans.  The 2009 Alabama football team has the chance to become the winningest team in Alabama history with a 14-0 record.  They can return Alabama to the top of the College Football world for the first time in 17 years.  They can beat Texas—a team Alabama has never beaten in eight tries.

I sincerely hope the 24 hour rule is still in effect.  I realize it will be a while before the bowl game, but Alabama has come too far to turn back now.  Auburn showed them they can't take anyone lightly.  Last year Alabama was satisfied just getting to the SEC title game.  This year they can't be satisfied with just getting to Pasadena.