TIde Got Beat But Dont Count Them Out!

Well folks Alabama's hard and tough schedule finally caught up with them yesterday as they played the South Carolina Gamecocks in yet another tough ranked team battle. With that being said I dont believe that no one else in college football teams can even compare to Alabama as schedule strength. We played 5 or 6 ranked teams in the top 25 and have to play 6 teams with a bye week.

What a game it truely was to watch as the Tide battled back into the game but the defense just couldn't seem to keep the offense of the Gamecocks off the field. I know that our defense is young and learning but with another tough ranked team and another road game it will wear on you.

Looking at the stats for the game the Tide clearly lead in most of them except the scoreboard. McElroy for 315 yrs and 27 of 34 in the air is most impressive considering the tempo of the game.The Tide racked up 351 total yds and 21 first downs, but the thing that hurt theTide was 5/13  on 3rd down conversions and 36 total rushing yard from Richardson and Ingram. The Tide did manage to keep the ball for 32:27 total time of the ball game. Alabama did seem to get away from its running game and it fact the last three losses we have had the Tide had under 40 yds rushing. Alabama should have kept to its running game as they did against Arkansas.  That is what the team is built on and when you don't use weapons like that in a game it only puts more pressure on the team because you come out of your comfort zone.

Alabama controls their own destiny at this point with just 1 lose. We all know that Alabama would jump Boise State and TCU even with one lose because their schedule strength. Alabama still has LSU and Auburn left to play and they will be two top ten teams when the Tide faces them. I still believe that Alabama is the strongest and toughest team of the SEC and that they will be back in Atlanta for the title again for the third straight year. As far as who we play it will be either Florida which Alabama already man handled or a rematch with the Gamecocks upon which i am sure the Tide want to seek revenge upon.

McElroy has said he "promises to do everything he can to put this lose behind them and get them ready to go next week". On the defensive side Hightower has said "we hadn't had this feeling in a long time and we dont want it again"!!

The Tide clearly had defensive issues against the Gamecocks but on another note the offensive line allowed to may sacks and hurries and missed key blocks as well.

Time will tell all as the Tide gear up to meet the Ole Miss Rebels next week. I am pretty sure that Saban and the leaders on the team will put this behind them because they are still at #8 in the latest AP Poll.

Here is a look at the latest poll. OHIO STATE, OREGON, BOISE STATE, TCU & NEBRASKA round off your top 5. OKLAHOMA, AUBURN, ALABAMA, LSU, SOUTH CAROLINA round off the top 10.

This is why I said the Tide control their own fate at this point cause they will face LSU and Auburn and possibly and rematch with South Carolina. As we all know and have seen to many times a 1 lose team can make it into the BCS Championship game and with Alabama schedule strength who could deny them that right to defend the trophy this year.