Bama 2010 Not the Stuff of Legends: This Team Fades Into Mediocrity

Death Valley was the venue. All hopes faded as Alabama lost to the Bengal Tigers on the road. No postseason championships for this 2010 team, no glory to cast into bronze. The only trophy left is the Iron Bowl, and the chance of winning that game seems bleak considering all that has been seen this season, particularly this weekend.

While Cam Newton and the Auburn Tigers put on a clinic on how to run a productive offense, the Alabama Crimson Tide bumbled, stumbled and finally fumbled their chances for a dream season over to the second best team in the SEC West division.

Jordan Jefferson made the plays he needed to make, and when knocked out of the game, Jarrett Lee stepped in and keyed a drive for a much-needed first down that put the game out of reach for the Tide. Alabama fought valiantly until the final seconds, but it simply shouldn't have played out the way it did if it truly was the better team.

Hats off to the Mad Hatter and his Bengal Tigers. LSU will finish second in the West, Alabama third. Don't count on Alabama to slow down the Cam-train enough to take away their hopes for a championship. Cam Newton has proven to be a winner, and winners finish strong.

While the victory is a great win for the LSU program, it is not enough to dispel the criticism of Les Miles and his gaffes that have become his trademark. But, win he did this weekend. Congratulations, again.

Nick Saban now needs to regroup and play for 2011. Unfortunately with Greg McElroy at the helm, A.J. McCarron will have to wait until next season to take over the leadership role on the offense. Wide receiver Julio Jones, though not the best in the country at his position, is good enough for a look at the NFL. Mark Ingram will likely have another year in college considering the setbacks he has faced in 2010. Trent Richardson will be back as well.

That's right Bama fans, while the season has three games remaining, it's time to shut down the smack and let the others who are leading revel in their teams' successes. It's time to take a back seat.

Don't misunderstand, the Alabama program is not down—far from it.

But they have missed the mark for achieving this season's goals. The struggle for the remainder of the season will be to show up against Mississippi State and let the Bulldogs know that Bryant-Denny is sacred ground and a win does not come easy in Tuscaloosa for the opposition.

And win or lose against Auburn, the War Eagle will play in Atlanta. All that Alabama can do now is crush the dreams of the cross-state rival. No a bad proposition, not a bad consolation for a hard-fought, long season on the gridiron.

The Alabama football program is in excellent shape. Alabama fans have much to be proud of as this program has returned to prominence from the ashes, much like the mythical Phoenix.

It is certainly great to be from Alabama.

Fans, show class in defeat as in victory. It is what this program deserves. More can be told about the character of a person, team and fan base from how they respond when they are down than when on top.

Take time to show class on every post and in response to taunts, as they will surely come from across the SEC, Big Ten, Pac-10 and Big 12. Roll Tide Roll.

Alabama will find the path to the championship road in 2011, but now is the time to watch and see what it takes to get there. Imprint these lessons and respond better in the future. Championships do not come easy. They never do.