For Alabama The Flames of The Utah Loss Have Gone Out

In the waning weeks of the 2008 season the Crimson Tide players suffered through back to back losses, one at the hands of the Florida Gators that cost them the SEC title. The second a humiliating loss at the hands of underdog Utah in Sugar Bowl.

The entire nation had a good laugh at the Crimson Tide in the aftermath of the Utah loss and the players took it hard.

All offseason you heard the word Utah over and over, mumbled low and under breath like a swear word.  The players anger burned and smoldered and they turned that anger into energy.  Energy they used in the weight room and on the field. 

The fire from that anger burned a path through the college football world to the tune of a 14-0 season and a National Championship.

They started out the 2010 season as the number one ranked team and up until a few hours ago they were considered by most to be the best team in the land.

That was before the flame finally went out.

Now the streak is history and Alabama falls from the nations number one team to third place in the SEC west with one single loss.  Teams fall hard in the SEC.

Nick Saban said weeks ago that there were players on this team that have never seen the other team celebrating when they left the field.  They didn't know what that feeling was like. 

Now they know, but is it too late? 

The Tide didn't go through this offseason with a fire in their gut, they went through celebrating.  They worked hard, as they always do under Saban.  But sometimes it's that last rep you almost spit up on the rack in anger that is the most meaningful.  Not the 20 you did as part of the regular routine.

Seeing Alabama's defense get shreaded by the Gamecocks was no surprise.  Alabama's secondary is very young and the front seven has not played well all year. 

What is surprising is the offense.  Greg McElroy isn't finding open receivers,  he's getting beaten relentlessly despite fairly good pass protection, and the running game is suddenly ineffective. 

Considering the number of returning starters on that side of the ball its hard to understand what the problem is.

Alabama still controls its own destiny.  If they continue to win they will eventually win the SEC West and perhaps get another shot at the Gamecocks or whoever wins the SEC East.  This could still be a great year for the Tide.

But some things are going to have to change.

Yes, the defense needs to improve.  But they are young and if they stay healthy it's a good bet they will improve over time.

Offensively, however, the passing game isn't producing anything deep and the lack of a deep ball has teams loading the box to stop Alabama's running game.  They won't stop until Greg McElroy makes them pay.  But lately, he's either not seeing anyone open, or he's just become too timid to pull the trigger.

Just completing passes isn't enough,  you have to make plays and lately Greg McElroy and the receivers aren't doing it with enough regularity to scare anybody. 

Alabama needs to find the fire they have lost.  This is a turning point.  This loss will either ignite a fire that will carry them the rest of the season, or they will continue on this path and more losses will follow.  

It's been a great run for the Tide, but it is history now.  It's time to find a new motivation.