The TIDE Racks Up In Recruiting-- Again!

The University of Alabama Crimson Tide completed another stellar recruiting season, and although they weren't a consensus recruiting champ again, most rankings had them in various top-5 spots. ESPN ranked them at #3, behind Florida & Texas. Rivals has us 5th, behind USC, Florida, Texas & auburn. Scout has us rated 4th, behind Florida, Oklahoma & Texas.

By the way, did I mention that BAMA beat Florida, Texas and auburn on the field this year...? Coach Saban has a process and a thoroughly-prepared menu of what he's looking for, so I am pretty sure he got what he wanted, with one exception.

As the success continues, and the winning and championships pile up, look for The TIDE to continue to pull in top talent.

ROLL TIDE!

MARK INGRAM TIDE'S FIRST HEISMAN WINNER!

WOW! Tailback Mark Ingram became BAMA's FIRST Heisman Trophy winner last night! In the closest voting EVER, he emerged the victor! Some 'talking heads' in the media say he was undeserving, or somebody else was better, blah, blah, blah....!
He was the BEST player on THE BEST TEAM IN THE COUNTRY! Deal with it!
Roll Tide!

The Crimson Tide Is Making Me FAT!

Okay, here's the deal. I have three truths that I have realized:

1. College Football needs a playoff
   
2. NOBODY in Virginia can EVER say ANYTHING about people in Alabama being rednecks or hicks, or make a tobacco-chewing or hunting joke


3. The University of Alabama Crimson Tide is making me FAT.

The first truth can easily be proven and summarized by simply watching the games and endless ESPN reviews this season. Of course, if ALABAMA wins out I say screw a playoff! Roll Tide! If we lose a game, we will join an ever-growing list of one-loss teams crying for a chance to earn some respect on the field!

The second truth can be seen first-hand by simply taking a drive through the region. Once you get out of metropolitan D.C., it's a hillbilly hoe-down waiting to happen! Don't get me wrong... I admit there ARE plenty of red neckerson's in the South. They just are not solely restricted to the Dixie region.

The third truth will require some elaboration and back-story. (For those of you unfamiliar with the term 'back-story', it relates to what goes on before or leading up to an event or episode. Usually for a fictional literary or Hollywood character.) Every football season, my lovely wife Alice and I host gatherings to watch Crimson Tide Football. Usually this involves a couple of televisions-- inside big-screen, outside 27 or 31-inch set up on the carport for space purposes and for rowdier, outdoorsy types. I typically have my little beer fridge stocked. Everyone who attends usually also brings beer or some other alcohol. Navigation through a sea of beer-filled ice-chests and coolers is routine.

I normally will have the grill going, or the smoker. If a large crowd is to be expected, more food is cooked and the neighbors even haul over their gas grill for optimum cook-time efficiency. In other words, we throw down. This just generally has become accepted as the norm, and with the arrival of Cole & Wade Ellis, aka "The NEW Bama Twins", camping at the house is now an integral part of our gameday experience.

So, anyway, Alice and I are travelling with The New BAMA Twins and their family to Virginia and Washington, D.C. to visit family for Thanksgiving. As with any two-day drive, conversational subject matter can be very diverse. Topics range from the best route, the weather, the kids, politics, traffic, and (of course) Alabama football. As Wendell and I were discussing our appropriate attire for the week, we were both lamenting our inability to schedule sufficient exercise and our expanding waist-lines. His work schedule, along with coaching his 9-year-old son Jared's football team and helping Tina with the twins makes it hard to run or to work out. I, on the other hand, work my regular job at the tire distribution center, then draw Mardi Gras designs and commission work usually well into the night. Being 44 years old with an occasional back-pain or sciatic nerve issue tends to thwart any real effort on my part, as well.

He made the statement that college football was making his jeans tight, and we both had an epiphany: ALABAMA Football is making us fat.

There's really no argument. We cook. We drink beer. We eat. We watch football. If it's an exciting game, the beer tends to go down easier. If Bama's winning, even moreso. If there are other good games on, which this year has unusually been the case.... well, you get the picture. This year has been a cardiologist's dream. Sausage. Beer. Chips & Salsa. Steak. Wine. Cheese Dip. Crackers. Barbecue. Taco Soup. Venison. Hamburgers. Hot Dogs. Chili. Potato Chips. Gumbo. Shrimp. You name it, we probably ate it.

But here's the catch. It's a formula that has worked well so far. ALABAMA is undefeated and ranked Number One. Who are we to argue with success...? Our routine has bourn fruits of which three months ago we could only have hoped. Sure, it seems a bit superstitious. 11-0 speaks volumes. As long as The TIDE is feasting, so are we. We can diet and exercise after the season. ROLL TIDE.

By the way, on our way up, we saw a white "Hazzard County Sheriff" car up on a rollback. Yep. From "Dukes of Hazzard". Looked authentic. We figured someone probably got it at an auction. Again, the camera was packed away, so I didn't have the brains to snap a pic with my cel phone. Genius.

Coach Saban's Pep Rant

Here is the infamous Thursday night pre-game rant from "Nick Saban's Hey, Coach!" Radio Show. He was responding to a fan's question about how Bama matched up "on paper"....! Enjoy!

SABAN Returns With TIDE To LSU

Do you smell corn-dogs...? If you've ever been to the cesspool that is Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, you KNOW what I'm talking about. That place just smells funny.

And the home crowd is the rudest, most vulgar and inhospitable bunch you'd ever want to meet. They are openly hostile and verbally abusive. I would not recommend visitors take their families to a game there, especially at night after LSU fans have had all day to get liquored-up. Lucky for The Tide it's a day game, so maybe everyone wearing purple and gold won't be cursing, falling down, and puking...!

They have always hated Alabama. (A 20-year home losing record will do that to ya!) Sure, they've had some recent success-- barely-- and now they fear us. We're on the rise, and Saban's recruits are graduating...! They try to lay all the blame on Saban, but he left their cupboard full of talent. They act like he left straight from Baton Rouge to Tuscaloosa, conveniently forgetting that HE LEFT THEM FOR THE NFL!

Anyway, I know the 'tigahs' will be fired up, but ALABAMA is just too strong and talented. LSU may keep it close early, but a superior CRIMSON TIDE will shut them down. Heck, we might even hold them to a goose-egg..! Look for the home sides of the stadium to empty out early.

ALABAMA 38, LSU 14

This Week's College Football Picks

Well, here we are again! Another Saturday, another tough SEC matchup between The University of Alabama Crimson Tide and the tennessee "vile: in tears". ESPN will showcase the contest of hated rivals to a national audience, and the hostile crowd and hot-seat that is phat fil phulmer's will be on display. ON display for Big Al to poop on!
Many of the so-called 'experts' have predicted a trap game or an upset, but don't look for that to be the case. Even without Terrence Cody, the defense should get to the viles quarterback early and often. Our coverage looks to be strong enough to keep whoever is under center back long enough for a sack or two.
Coach Saban has been preaching to The TIDE all week about a second-half letdown, so don't look for that to happen again. With so much now at stake, I doubt the players will let up.
As a BONUS, ESPN's Lee Corso picked tennessee, so we're a safe bet to Roll...!
ALABAMA 42, tennessee 14

Now for the rest of this week's SEC picks:

Kentucky matches up pretty good, but the Gators are just too much. And too strong. Looks like Florida 45, Kentucky 24

Houston Nutt makes his first trip back to Little Rock since bolting for Ole Miss. The Razorbacks are improving but still a little wobbly. The Rebels have looked strong against everyone so far. OLE MISS 31, Arkansas 10

Vanderbilt hosts Duke in what could turn out to be an entertaining game. The Commodores need this one badly if they want a bowl game, as they will enter a tough SEC stretch next. I say VANDERBILT 28, Duke 17

Georgia travels to LSU for a 2:30 slugfest. LSU is cocky and over-confident (even after the pasting they took from Florida), and Georgia is desperately trying to prove they aren't as bad as the first half of the BAMA game. I think patience and skill will win out over bravado and risk. GEORGIA 31, LSU 21

Nationally, I'm thinking...
TEXAS 38, Oklahoma State 28
PENN STATE 28, Ohio State 24
Oklahoma 42, Kansas State 27
Southern Cal 49, Arizona 17
Texas Tech 42, Kansas 38

Possible Logo Variations for "Cow College"

Here are a couple of new possibilities for the logo for the auburn tigers:

Or how about THIS...?:

Either one would be appropriate after the miserable start and Thursday night's letdown at West Virginia after jumping out to a hefty lead. Wonderful.

Please check out the "Gump for Heisman" link in the column to the right.

First Picks of October

Ah-ight. Last week is over, The TIDE is #2, and an undefeated Kentucky Wildcat team is coming to visit in a nationally-televised SEC matchup. Alabama has been reminded and lectured all week about the second-half letdown in the Georgia game, so don't look for anyone to come out flat. Kentucky has been opportunistic if un-spectacular, but they ARE 4-0. Not sure how well they'll do if we can stop them outside of the red zone. We have to avoid giving up the big plays.
The 'Cats match up pretty well at skill positions, but will be out-slugged and mugged by our big D. Look for Bama to pull away in the second half.
ALABAMA 42, Kentucky 14.

Okay, here's the rest of the picks:

Tebow & the Gators take out their frustrations on a reeling Razorback squad. Arkansas should be able to finally score a few points, but not nearly enough. Will Petrino last the season...? Florida 54, Arkansas 14

tennessee is just not very good. It's obvious that David Cutcliffe has always been the one responsible for much of tennessee's success. The 'viles' should get some relief against Northern Illinois. But not much. Will fatty fulmer's time finally be up....? If so, who's next in line...? tennessee 14, NI 10

The Gamecocks visit The Rebels in a wacky match-up that's anybody's ball game. Spurrier is not very happy with the lack of progress by South Carolina's squad. If he can't find a quarterback to run his offense, might the Ol' Ball Coach reeeeally consider making a move over to Knoxville...? Ole Miss 21, Carolina 13

Now the UGLY: Isn't that 'spread offense' something...? auburn better hope they get it together. ESPN's Gameday is in Nashville for the first time EVER! To see -- this is not a typo-- an UN-DEFEATED VANDERBILT host the tigers/war-eagles/plainsmen/whatever. The Commodores are ranked and rolling while making very few mistakes, and tubby's tigers have been less-than-impressive so far this season. Will the Vandy Cinderella story continue...? Or will auburn find their footing and bring the 'Dores back down to Earth...? Can the tigers overcome their own ineptitude...? Will they implode on national tv..
And don't be surprised to see THIS guy outside the stadium in Nashville. If things go as they have all season, he MAY just have a job by halftime...!
Not likely. auburn 21, vanderbilt 17

The TIDE is ROLLING IN...!

That's right, Georgia. Black makes you look sexy. Assume the position. Accept your fate. Now, go clean yourself up and fix Big Al a drink and some dinner, bitch! The SEC, as well as the rest of the nation, has been served notice.
The following photo was sent to me by Scottie Willis, fellow Tide fan and purveyor of All Fine Things Crimson:

Thank you, Scottie!

After last nights destruction of the Georgia Bulldogs, The University of Alabama Crimson Tide can no longer fly under the radar or be overlooked. After yet another dismantling of a pre-season top-10 team, folks are paying attention. And wondering just what to think.
To upcoming opponents, I offer a word of advice: Take some pain medication. At least a half hour before kickoff. Maybe it will ease the oncoming trauma.
Until, that is, YOU REALIZE 'THE PROCESS' IS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE! In other words, get used to it. All the haters and naysayers, please shut your pie-holes. You'll get your turn.
Roll Tide.

Today's S.E.C. PICKS

Now it REALLY starts. After a surprisingly easy win over Arkansas, The Crimson Tide rolls into Athens for a big game on ESPN on the national stage for the second time this season. ESPN's Gameday crew will be on hand for the Georgia game to hype/promote/report/jump on the bandwagon. (As an aside, to see some of the best ESPN Gameday signs held up behind the set go to http://www.bustedcoverage.com/?p=7340 . And yes, I suggest you look up the meaning to any words about Corso style reference!)

Last year, an under-manned heavy underdog Alabama took a young Bulldog squad to the wire, losing in overtime. The young squad of Saban recruits this year have kicked it up a notch, and are seemingly putting it together earlier than anticipated. We match up pretty well on both sides, and this looks to be a great contest with several great matchups all over. It will be exciting, but I think The Tide will be ready. The Dawgs will be unable to top Mount Cody, and I think we will see some different offensive looks from Bama. We should be able to pressure their quarterback enough to make up for the height advantage they have over our speedy defensive backs. Again, we should see something different. Tide rolls, moves into Top 5.
ALABAMA 31, Georgia 20

Okay, now to the rest of the Conference:

auburn faces tennessee in a freakish orange clash which the tigers/plainsmen/war-eagles (MAKE UP YOUR F*****G MIND!) should prevail. Another nail-biter. cow college 14, vols 7

KENTUCKY 34, Western Kentucky 10 Kentucky should break into the Top 25.

Gamecocks get much-needed practice. Spurrier may finally get to see his offense play close to what he envisions. SOUTH CAROLINA 31, UAB 14

LSU 45, Mississippi State 14 Tigers are too much for these Bulldogs.

In a make-up game from a hurricane delay, the Arkansas Razorbacks travel to take on the Texas Longhorns. I don't think the Hogs are as bad as Bama made them look last week, and some of their mistakes will be corrected. This one, surprisingly, will be closer than many people think. Texas 21, Arkansas 20

Ole Miss IS steadily improving and Nutt has a few tricks up his sleeve, but I don't think the Rebels will be able to sneak up on Florida this time. They always play the Gators tough and took them to the wire last year, but I believe it will end up Florida 45, Mississipi 17

Nationally, Penn State should top Illinois 28-10. They say Joe Paterno has one foot in the grave, but if that's the case he has the other one on somebody's throat!

On a side note, I was shocked--SHOCKED-- that once again the highly-touted 'possibly-the-greatest-team-in-college-football-history-EVER' USC Trojans were upset by the OREGON STATE BEAVERS. I was honestly surprised, but it has happened before. And it is quite satisfying after hearing the hype annually about how invincible Southern Cal is.

Tide Cooks up Hogs in Fayetteville: This Week's Picks

Normally, you could say this would be an old-fashioned, grind-it-out-up-the-middle contest, but now real life ain't that way. Sure, you'll see Ingram and Coffee and Upchurch and Grant get some carries, but look for this to be an aerial affair. Heck, if the Arkansas passing game is as good as they say, this could look like a flea circus with JP Wilson linging to Julio, BJ Scott, Stover and the gang! The guess here is that our "D", with Cody whipping their All-American center and friends all day, will keep the Razorbacks off their rhythm.
ALABAMA 28, Arkansas 17

Is the offense of the Plainsmen playing opossum...? tubby better hope not, and the chant will be "Whoa, eagle...!" If the tigers from this state aren't saving up, and the offense is as sluggish here as it was last week, this could get ugly fast. I look for it to be closer than what many expect:
LSU 24, auburn 20

The Gators ARE this much better....
Florida 48, Tennessee 14

The Bulldogs should stroll into next week undefeated and ripe for pickin'....
Georgia 28, Arizona State 17

The Jackets aren't nearly as good as auburn.....
Mississippi State 10, Georgia Tech 7

Although Spurrier will want more points, this is just what the 'Cocks need:
South Carolina 35, Wofford 7

This could be the most interesting SEC game this weekend!
Ole Miss & Vandy= Toss-up!

NEW BAMA TWINS MAKE DEBUT AS TIDE WINS BIG!

Wade and Cole Ellis made a splash in their Gameday BAMA attire Saturday night as they watched their first Crimson Tide victory! The matching 'onesies' were a necessary gift from Aunt Alice & Uncle Brent. (Regrettably, I forgot the 'Breathe-Rites' for their noses and the grease paint for their cheeks.... Oh, well...! There's always next week...!)



Above is a snapshot taken before kickoff, and the one below (doctored by Uncle Brent) is after The TIDE administered the proverbial whipping:

Undoubtedly, this will be the first of many entertaining and victorious University of Alabama football contests these men will enjoy in their lifetimes! Much cheering and glad tidings in abound, as a houseful of friends, neighbors and relatives enjoyed the season-opening entry in the "W" column. There were a few confused looks and some startling moments for the new guys, but they were real troopers until they inevitably nodded off.

And, by the way, my prediction was dangerously close....! Matter of fact, most of my picks panned out this weekend! So far, only Mississipi State has let me down.....

RTR!

Even Auburn's OWN Guard Dogs Don't Like 'Em! (I WANT THIS DOG!)

Ha! Auburn may have beaten The TIDE again, but they STILL get no respect-- even from THEIR OWN SECURITY K-9!



This was a classic moment. Even though Bama lost in a very boring and uneventful game, there was a highlight. Unfortunately, that was it.
I wonder how much they want for the dog....? Now I want it! Or one just like it!

IRON BOWL WISH

ALABAMA PLEASEpleasePLEASEpleasePLEASE PLEEEEEEEEEEEASE
BEAT auburn......!
I'm still so full of turkey & dressing that I can hardly move.
Hopefully, The TIDE can end this string of embarrassing losses and 'right the ship'.
Arkansas (barely) beats LSU (in 3OT) to end the Tigers' national championship hopes. LSU will still represent the West in the SEC Championship game. MSU comes from behind to beat Ole Miss and send Orgeron packing. Kentucky and Tennessee looks to be a good matchup, and with a win the vols can be right back in the SEC Eastern driver's seat. Crazy season!

Good Local High School Football on ESPN2 (And LOU..!)

Wow! Two local (well, regional, since they're in Baldwin County) teams squared off with a national ESPN2 audience last night. I watched most of it, and at first I thought it was going to be 'The JULIO JONES Show'. Which would have been fine with me. This kid makes it look easy. And he played both ways! I sure hope he comes to THE University of ALABAMA.
And we got to see and hear Kenny 'Snake' Stabler at the game. But the announcers talked more about Mobile than either Foley OR Daphne. Weird.
Now, usually, I hate to watch Lou Holtz's halftime rants. This washed-up 'Granny Clampett' look-a-like who sounds like Sylvester (excuse me-- 'thoundth like Thylvethter) is such a homer and Notre Dame apologist that I just can't sit through his insane 'pep talks'. I mean, he literally rambles incoherently and makes such vague references that even I sometimes can't make them remotely relevant.
Last night, however, during the South Carolina-Kentucky game, he did this:

I LOVE the old 'tearing paper' trick.

ANYhow, The Tide should take care of the Houston Cougars handily. It's Homecoming, so maybe they can put on a show for everyone. And win big. Hopefully, the mistakes can be corrected. If so, this game should be just what Bama needs.
PREDICTION: ALABAMA 38, Houston 14

Florida visits LSU in a good night-game matchup that could get ugly if the Gators play like they did against auburn. LSU has typically started their games slowly, but I think they'll come out clawing Saturday night. And what's with Les Miles and that 'trucker hat'...? That thing sits a mile on top of his head! The Bayou Bengals fans will have been drinking all day, so look for some ugly behavior if Florida comes out on top. It'll be a close one.
PREDICTION: LSU 38, Florida 28

Okay, honestly, I don't care about any of the other games, and as evidenced by last week's picks I obviously don't know much about college football, either. ROLL TIDE.

CRAP! Corso Picks BAMA

Well, hopefully it's not the usual 'kiss of death'. Normally anytime that hack from ESPN, Lee Corso, picks us when we host ESPN Gameday, we roll over. And lose. On national tv. With the college football world watching. (My favorite Corso moment is when he questioned Gene Stallings about his strategy, and Coach Stallings replied "Well, I guess that's why I'm coaching a championship team and you're announcing or analyzing or talking about it.....")
Except this time it's different. I think The Tide is better prepared and hungry for another victory at home over a ranked opponent on national television. It's about time. I believe we are about evenly matched with the Georgia Bulldogs, but I think we can actually claim (legitimately) home-field advantage for a change.
I think the oddsmakers' 31/2 points us about right.
Prediction: ALABAMA 28, Georgia 24

My OTHER Picks:
WHY in the world would anyone outside of Gainesville actually want to see this? Fortunately, due to technical difficulties, no one will have to, as it is mercifully pre-empted. Apologies to Glover and the Rebel nation......
FLORIDA 1,000,000 Ole Miss 3

Spurrier's pretty sneaky, but I think the Bayou Bengals are just too strong....
LSU 31, South Carolina 28

The Razorbacks nearly pulled another one out over the Tide last week. Do they have enough in the tank to stop The Wildcats? History says probably not.
Kentucky 31, Arkansas 28

Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions are just a little too strong for the enigmatic Wolverines.
PENN STATE 24, Michigan 10

Irish will finally score......to no avail
MICHIGAN STATE 28, Notre Dame 3

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while......
auburn 5, New Mexico 3

2 Days 'Til Kickoff!

Well, here we are, only 2 days away from ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE Football...! I am very excited, and can hardly wait! Tonight, SEC Football premieres on ESPN as the highly-overrated LSU Tigers visit the Mississippi State Bulldogs in a nationally-televised much-expected spanking.I sure hope that Sylvester Croom's Bulldogs can make a game of it. I would like for them to win, but that is highly unlikely.
PREDICTION: LSU 41, MSU 14

The Crimson Tide will take to the field for an expected drubbing of a cupcake opponent in a PPV telecast Saturday night. At least now we as fans don't have to be apprehensive about games we're SUPPOSED to win....! The Nick Saban era will begin, and hopefully will bring back the confidence and optimism in the team and program that has been missing.

Injuries and suspensions aside, The Tide simply will be too much for an out-manned and out-muscled Catamounts squad
PREDICTION: ALABAMA 49, West Carolina 7

Out of respect for tradition, I am also posting the Classic Alabama Logo, the one with which we ALL grew up, and my brother had prominently displayed in our bedroom when I was a kid:


ROLL TIDE!

PRIORITIES

Well, only 4 days 'til kickoff! (Only 2 for SEC college football, as ESPN will have a Thursday night SEC game featuring LSU and Mississippi State...!) As an ardent fan, I appreciate "All Things Bama", and wanted to share with you an image from someone whose priorities are CLEARLY in order.
Luke Coley, a University of Alabama Law School grad, got married recently. Below is a photo of his groom's cake:


I WANT ONE! Not necessarily a 'groom cake', but I like the idea of anything chocolate with a big ol' BAMA Logo! (Not sure how it will go with the customary beer and sausage on the menu Saturday, though.....) Maybe I'll get a cake decorating kit and start making and selling them.........!!
ROLL TIDE!