Alabama Crimson Tide Defense: a Proposed Nickname

The dictionary defines crucible as: 1.) A container of metal or refractory material employed for heating substances to high temperatures. 2.) Metallurgy a hollow area at the bottom of a furnace in which the metal collects. 3.) A severe, searching test or trial.

The third definition of “crucible” is one which may be absolutely perfect for describing the Alabama Crimson Tide's defense, or, as I like to call them, “The Crimson Crucible.” After reading Don Kausler, Jr's article "Nickname or no nickname, Tide's defense has been relentless," the nicknames themselves were relentless in their swarm inside my head. As soon as I thought of “The Crimson Crucible,” I knew that was the right nickname for me to propose.

Once in a while, in college football, a defense like the 2011 edition of the Crimson Tide arises. They fight for championships, and they fight with a mental and physical ferocity that most fans could not dream of possessing. Alabama's defense is a place where the men are separated from the boys out on the gridiron.

If you want to see how good your passing game really is, play 'Bama. If you want to see how good your running game is, again, play 'Bama. They will not allow anything less than excellence to score on them, and even then, not often.

The crucible is a severe, searching test or trial. 'Bama's defense is such a monster. It is not perfect, and it is not omnipotent. It is elite. It is elite enough to garner attention from all over the nation. It is elite enough that almost the entire college football nation is awaiting November 5^th, when LSU will be put through the Crimson Crucible for 60 minutes.

Assuming LSU and Alabama don't overlook any other games on their respective schedules, one of them will garner the respect of a nation as the undisputed greatest team of 2011. Whoever wins may very well have the toughest schedule in all of college football, and will have only four games between them and the National Championship.

As always, we on the sidelines enjoy the ability to look past certain games and proclaim the winner of November 5th the definite title contender for 2011. Les Miles and Nick Saban will assuredly not allow their players that luxury, for that is exactly how championships are lost, never to be regained.  Both teams are undefeated entering the game of the year to be played in Tuscaloosa on November 5^th.

Regardless of the outcome, you can bet your last dollar that I will own the DVD before the end of the year. This will be one of the most memorable games of my lifetime, and if Alabama wins out in the same fashion they have won so far, the “Crimson Crucible” will remain the yardstick by which future defenses fall short for many years to come.

--Jonathan McDanal  (Contributor, B/R)