Arenas Leads # 1 Tide Over Mississippi State

Once again it wasn't all that pretty, but it was not close and we won. Kick returner/DB Javier Arenas stole the show last night as he and a stout defense lead # 1 Alabama over Mississippi State, 32-7, to take Alabama to 11-0 on the season and keep their hopes of a national title alive.

Mississippi State (3-8) came out ready to go and took a 7-5 lead in the first quarter after a long Tyson Lee touchdown pass. While Alabama did not have the offensive performance many Tide fans were hoping for, Alabama's third phase of the game, special teams, came to play. It started early in the game when DB Kareem Jackson came in on a punt block untouched, blocked the punt, and it rolled out of the end zone for an Alabama safety. Arenas then stole the show as his first punt return opportunity was returned to the two yard line setting up an easy Tide touchdown. Arenas later returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown, setting off MSU coach Sylvester Croom. Kicker Leigh Tiffin added 3 field goals to complete the special teams sweep for Nick Saban's club.

LB Rolando McClain had 11 tackles on the evening and led an impressive defensive performance as the Tide shut down a pesky Mississippi State team that has beaten Alabama the past two seasons. Alabama finally figured out the Sly Croom riddle and now moves to an open date with arch-rival Auburn coming to Tuscaloosa in two weeks.

Now for some random commentary. It was a another "workmanlike" performance for a workmanlike team. That is just what we are. We win ugly, we are the Tennessee Titans of college football. Watching College Gameday yesterday morning Chris Fowler made the comment that some bookies said Alabama would be a 8 1/2 point underdog if the SEC Title game were played yesterday, which I see as good news. Florida is the beautiful homecoming queen that everybody is in love with. She has it all, no flaws. Alabama on the other hand is the 300 pound girl with warts on her face that nobody wants to dance with. She could probably out bench press everybody else at the party but people are not impressed with that. They want beauty and flash.

I am not saying Alabama will beat Florida Dec. 6 in the Georgia Dome. I have no idea if we can beat them. But I do think we will challenge Florida physically more than anybody else has this year. I think we will protect the ball and make them stop us from running the ball. The best thing that can happen to Alabama is for every talking head out there to pick Florida. To say there is no way Alabama can beat them. This team responds to challenges and plays its best when they are challenged, underdogs, or in a tough environment (i.e. Clemson, Georgia, Tennessee, and LSU). Unless Florida stumbles against The Citadel or Florida State it looks like that is what we will have, and it could not be a better situation for the Crimson Tide.

Saban Fired Up

This video is from Hey Coach last night, Coach Saban's weekly radio show. It is pretty motivational overall but gets really hot around the 2 min. 45 second mark.

I think he wants Tide fans to be ready this Saturday. Enjoy.


Saban Fired Up

Bryant-Denny Expansion One Step Closer to Reality

The University of Alabama Board of Trustees Physical Properties Committee heard a presentation from the University of Alabama today regarding the proposed $80.6 million expansion of the south end zone of Bryant-Denny Stadium.

After the presentation the Board unanimously approved the project to move into the third of four stages, the fourth being final approval to begin construction and bring the
facility to a capacity of more than 101,000 seats.

As you can see by the picture, this place would be sweet.

Game 11 Preview: Mississippi State Bulldogs

Starkville, MS is a beautiful town. No I am kidding Starkville is horrible, but it is home to our next opponent the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Coming off a Liberty Bowl appearance last year the hype around Bulldog football was a little higher than normal this preseason but these Dogs have failed to live up to the hype.

Sly Croom's team enters this matchup riding a two game winning streak against Alabama but this is a different year. This State team is 3-6 overall and 1-4 in the SEC. The lone SEC victory came against Vanderbilt at home a few weeks back 17-14. That lost started a current four game losing streak for the Dores. The problem for State has not been on the defensive side of the ball but putting points on the board.

34 points is the highest point total of the season and that came against football superpower Southeastern Louisiana. State is yet to break the 25 point barrier against a SEC defense. On the flip side their defense is fairly stout as evident by their 3-2 classic against a potent Auburn offense earlier in the year. On offense the Bulldogs are led by QB Tyson Lee who enters the game completing 114 or 183 passes for 1119 yards and 4 touchdowns. 4 touchdowns for your QB through 10 games is not a good sign. Their best returning skill player coming into the year was RB Anthony Dixon but he has had a disappointing year with 647 yards and 6 touchdowns on 155 carries. To compare those stats to Alabama's RB, Glen Coffee enters the game with 1020 yards and freshman Mark Ingram has 539. Both of Bama's RB enter the game with 8 touchdowns.
On the defensive side of the ball Starkville's finest is often put in terrible spots by the offense. The defense is giving up an average of 21 points per game but the Dogs only average 16 points per game. Ouch.

In his Tuesday press conference, Mississippi State head coach Slyvester Croom (pictured below in a stunning leather jacket) knows the opportunity his team has.

"It's a great opportunity for us as a football team," Croom said. "It's rare that you get a chance to play the No. 1 team in the country during the course of the season. That opportunity has been afforded us and we're going to prepare as best as we possibly can and go over there and play as well as we possibly can in the hopes of winning a game, on the road, in Tuscaloosa, against the No. 1 team in the country."

A win over # 1 Alabama in Tuscaloosa would make State's season. It would make their third win in a row over the Crimson Tide and would put Croom (a Tuscaloosa native) back in brighter light in Starkville. Fortunately for us, it shouldn't happen. The last two seasons turnovers have doomed the Tide in this game. If we run the ball and play defense like we have all year and do not give the Bulldogs easy points we will win this game. Alabama is on a mission to make the national title game and will not overlook this team.

Tide Still # 1 in Latest BCS Rankings

Another win. Another week at # 1.

Alabama remained the top ranked team in the country this week in every major poll and held off # 2 Texas Tech in the latest BCS poll that was released last night. The complete rankings are listed below. # 1 Alabama returns to Tuscaloosa this Saturday to take on their SEC West rival, the Mississippi State Bulldogs.




BAMA # 1 Again

Ramma Jamma in Death Valley...It Gets Better Every Time

After Alabama's win at Tennessee a few weeks ago, we gave you a video of Alabama fans signing Ramma Jamma in Neyland Stadium, and it was sweet. Well this one is no different as Tide fans celebrate our victory yesterday in Baton Rogue. Enjoy and Roll Tide!


Oh and in case you were still wondering, Nick Saban is better than Les Miles.


Ramma Jamma in Tiger Stadium

# 1 'Bama Wins SEC West, Face Gators in Title Game

Hello Tim Tebow.

With # 1 Alabama's road win at # 15 LSU yesterday the Crimson Tide locked up the SEC West title and will play in the SEC Championship game December 6th in Atlanta. On the same day Alabama won the SEC West, the 5th ranked Florida Gators took care of business at Vanderbilt and clinched the SEC East title.

That means we will have a sudo-college football playoff. Alabama and Florida will be playing a national semi-final to see who will move on to the national title game. Being ranked # 1 currently, if Alabama wins out against its remaining schedule of Mississippi State, Auburn, and Florida they will be in the title game for sure.

Florida's remaining slate has South Carolina, The Citadel, and Florida State before they meet Alabama. If the Gators win out they should also be sitting pretty to play for it all in January.