Not Such a Fantastic Finish

Glenn Coffee (38) rushes past UK defender on his way to a career high 219 yards

After Alabama jumped to a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter as a result of Kentucky's quarterback, Mike Hartline's, fumble near his own endzone and Alabama's defense rumbling in for six and Glenn Coffee's 78 yard touchdown run, an eerie feeling of complacency seemed to come over the team and the entire stadium.

Heck, I even found myself feeling confident, even after all of the disappointment and disgust I have been put through over the last ten years. It was hard not to say to yourself, "Hey, we should have scored on every drive!"

“We’re certainly happy with the win,” Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban said. “But we put on a clinic for how to keep the other team in the game.”

Kentucky's defense was very physical. It seemed as if when we hit them in the mouth, they hit right back. This is something the 2008 Alabama Crimson Tide has not been accustomed to.
If Alabama is to gain the success all Tide fans long for in this 2008 season, games like this will go a long way toward them doing so.

A great coach said, "You show me someone who is successful, and I'll show you someone who has gone through adversity" - Lou Holtz

In previous years, the Tide would have lost this game. We would have completely lost our focus and execution for such a length of time that we would have gift wrapped a win for the Wildcats and sent them riding an impressive 5-0 record and a defeat of the number two team in the country all the way back to Lexington.

But there comes the difference in mindset Saban has infused into our players. We no longer run from adversity, we embrace it.

The Tide showed heart on Saturday night, a champions heart. One many Tide fans haven't seen since Ben Matlock ruled the Hollywood courtroom.