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A Few Notes

I'm moving today, so I won't be around much. My apartment is infested with ladybugs, and so my wife and I are transferring to a new unit this weekend. Apparently such ladybug problems are not uncommon in North Carolina, but they didn't include it on the visitor brochures before I moved here two years ago.

Congratulations to Alabama. You always take a national title any way you can get one, but between Virginia Tech, Florida, and Texas, the Tide has a very nice collection of wins for the season. The tandem of Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson will be lethal next year. At least, more lethal than this year.

I've seen a quite a few people say that Texas would have won if Colt McCoy hadn't gotten injured. Well, I would disagree.

The simple fact is that we don't know what would have happened if McCoy doesn't go out. It easily could have been 14-0 without the injury, but Bama's defense is very stiff and could have kept it at 6-0 anyway. It's very unlikely that Alabama would have taken its foot off the gas to the same degree in the second half even with the same lead had McCoy not gotten hurt. Yes, Texas could have won with McCoy. Texas also could have won with Garrett Gilbert without the shovel pass or fumble return touchdown. We can play counterfactuals all day.

Ultimately though, it doesn't matter. No one gets a redo at these things no matter the circumstances.

The truism that you don't have to be the best team, only the best team on the field was completely evident last night. In fact, you don't even have to be the better team for the entire game since each team appeared to take a quarter or more off. Alabama's offense looked more like UAB in the third quarter, and the Tide's special teams were atrocious throughout.

The Alabama that played in the SEC Championship would have beat either of those teams last night soundly. I'm fairly confident in saying that the Florida that played in the Sugar Bowl would have defeated Alabama and smoked Texas last night. Heck, Ole Miss on a good day could have beat either of those teams the way they played in Pasadena.

Again, none of the what-if games matter. You get one shot at every game, and your task is to be the better of two teams at that date and time. Not the best in the nation, your conference, or even the best you can do as a team. As parity continues to set in throughout college football, it's important to keep that in mind.

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Special teams

Bama’s kickoff returning was atrocious, agreed. But, our punt coverage was ridiculously first rate. Texas wasn’t seemingly starting every drive backed against their own goal line by accident. Fitzgerald was on fire and so was the coverage unit. In fact, the only thing Fitzgerald didn’t nail down was the fake punt … which contrary to popular opinion, wasn’t a bad call, but poorly executed. Step IN to the throw and follow-through, don’t be cute and aim.

"That rug really tied the room together."

by pantsfucious on Jan 8, 2010 10:14 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

what he said.

Roll Bama Roll - The Champagne of Bama Blogs.

by Todd on Jan 10, 2010 9:48 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

That's not fair.
Alabama’s offense looked more like UAB in the third quarter

UAB averaged a respectable 27.75 points per game this year. And we only wish Greg McElroy could run like Joe Webb, who averaged 118 rushing yards per game (6.3 ypc) as a QB.

by Nico2.0 on Jan 10, 2010 5:28 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Tide fans defending UAB

Now I’ve seen everything.

"So I want everybody to think here for a second, how much does this game mean to you? 'Cause if it means something to you, you can't stand still. You understand? You play fast! You play strong! You go out there and dominate the man you're playing against, and you make his ass quit! That's our trademark! That's our M.O.... as a team! That's what people know us as!" - Coach Nick Saban before the 2008 LSU game.

by 12NationalChampionships on Jan 11, 2010 4:48 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

In addition to my UA degree...

…I have one from UAB as well. Their a DISTANT second favorite, but I had to stick up for the team, and Joe Webb in particular, because that makes Ben Tate, what, the 4th best running back in the state?

by Nico2.0 on Jan 13, 2010 4:09 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

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