AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2007 > July > 10 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSEC West burning questions
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here are my top five burning questions about the SEC West as we head into preseason practice. If you’ve got your own burning questions, let’s hear them.
1. After Alabama’s spring game, we know that Nick Saban can draw a crowd. But will he make Crimson Tide a contender in the SEC West in his first season in Tuscaloosa?
The first thing Saban must do is to teach the Crimson Tide how to win tough, close games. Of the 23 games Mike Shula’s teams lost in four seasons, 15 were by eight points or less.
Alabama may win more close games if it learns how to score touchdowns in the red zone. The Tide made 53 trips inside the opponents’ 20-yard line last season and scored only 20 touchdowns. That ain’t going to cut it.
‘Bama fans are going to like what new OC Major Applewhite brings to the table. Quarterback John Parker Wilson will thrive. But there are so many holes on defense, where only five starters return. Saban and DC Kevin Steele have some work to do. Starting Sept. 8, Alabama plays Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Georgia, and Florida State on four straight Saturdays. We’ll know a lot more after that.
2. LSU lost four-that’s right four-first round draft choices off an 11-2 team. So why is everybody picking the Tigers to win the SEC and contend for the BCS championship?
Two words: Defense and schedule. LSU returns eight starters from a defense that led the SEC and was fourth nationally in points allowed (12.4 ppg). QB Matt Flynn is no JaMarcus Russell but he can manage a game and get the ball to the talented skill people that LSU still has in abundance. And don’t minimize the impact of new OC Gary Crowton, who will bring some wrinkles the SEC defensive coordinators have not see.
The schedule was ridiculous last season with trips to Auburn, Florida, Tennessee and Arkansas. Tennessee comes off the schedule and the rest of the tough games — with the exception of Alabama on Nov. 3 — are in Baton Rouge.
3. Can Darren McFadden win the Heisman Trophy? And if he does, will things finally cool off for Arkansas coach Houston Nutt?
Nobody is more anxious to start playing games than Nutt, who has had an off-season that you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. And as long as No. 5 (McFadden) is healthy, the Hogs have a chance every Saturday. Arkansas has the deepest backfield in the country with McFadden, Felix Jones, and FB Peyton Hillis. The Hogs have one of the best wide receivers anywhere in Marcus Monk. Now the pressure falls on QB Casey Dick to make it all work. And if he doesn’t, the screams over Mitch Mustain’s departure to Southern Cal will continue. If Arkansas can find a way to win at Alabama on Sept. 15, the Razorbacks could be 5-0 when they host Auburn on Oct. 13.
4. Because of all the hoopla surrounding Alabama’s hiring of Nick Saban, Auburn has been kind of flying under the radar. Could the Tigers make some noise in the SEC West?
Any program that has gone 21-3 in the SEC the past three years cannot be ignored and it would be a mistake to ignore Tommy Tuberville’s bunch. OC Al Borges had to pull in the reins at times last season because QB Brandon Cox was just so beat up.
Auburn’s defense is (unfairly) remembered for a couple of meltdowns against Arkansas (L, 27-10) and Georgia (L, 37-15) but played well enough for Auburn to finish No. 3 in the SEC and No. 7 nationally in points allowed (13.9 ppg). If Cox can stay healthy and if Rod Smith and Tim Hawthorne step up to be the go-to receivers in place of Courtney Taylor, the offense will be fine. With Quentin Groves handling one of the ends, the defense will also be okay if a couple of linebackers rise to the occasion.
The problem is a schedule that includes trips to Florida, Arkansas, LSU, and Georgia. Even a great team would find it hard to go 3-1 in those games.
5. Sylvester Croom enters his fourth season at Mississippi State with a record of 9-25 (4-20 SEC). Is he on the hot seat?
Not really but this season will have a lot to do with his quality of life going into the 2008 season. Mississippi State came out of spring practice with its two-deep pretty much set, which is the first time that’s happened in a while in Starkville. Some answers have to be found on offense, where the Bulldogs finished 11th in the SEC in scoring (18.4 ppg). The biggest thing that could help the offense is to keep QB Michael Henig healthy. He broke his collarbone twice last season and has added some weight in hopes of protecting himself. Mississippi State must learn to start strong on defense after giving up 90 first quarter points a year ago. The Bulldogs won’t ease into the season as they open on Aug. 30 at home against LSU.
Bonus question: Ole Miss wanted to sign Brent Schaeffer so badly last year that it made him the starting quarterback before the ink was dry on the scholarship. Is this guy going to lose his job in 2007?
Let’s put it this way. Ole Miss had the SEC’s worst offense (15.7 ppg) last season and Schaeffer certainly did his part, completing 47.1 percent of his passes for only nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions. It looks like Ole Miss may turn to senior Seth Adams who is not nearly as athletic, but is certainly more dependable. With a 1,000-yard rusher returning (BenJarvus Green-Ellis), Ole Miss cannot have a quarterback who makes mistakes.
But in order to play a quarterback like Adams, who competed 16 of 20 passes in the Spring game, the Ole Miss defense (22.9 ppg last season) has got to get a lot better. John Thompson comes in at DC in an effort to shake things up. If Ole Miss gets behind early in games, the Rebels may have to go with Schaeffer, who is more capable of making big plays.
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Comments
By KR
July 10, 2007 8:49 AM | Link to this
I think the East was easier to predict than the West.
Contrary to ‘Bama fans’ beliefs, Saban does not scare anyone else in the SEC. He was easy enough to beat at LSU and it won’t be any different at UA. Unless Nick plans on suiting up, it’s going to be the same basic squad on the field as last year. And we know how well that worked…
Auburn can be their own best friend or their own worst nightmare. They have a lot of depth and a lot of talent. Plus, Tuberville has the uncanny ability of “winning ugly.” It all comes down to how well Cox plays and if he stays healthy.
LSU is good; but not the dragon slayers everyone thinks they are. Miles has a long-standing history of sleeping through at least one game each year, sometimes more. It will happen again this year.
Arkansas? Who knows. They could run the table or they could get slaughtered. As good as McFadden is, he can’t carry a whole team for the whole season. Not much else stands out for the hogs.
Ol’ Miss and Mississippi State are just hoping to break even. However, they both have the ability to get things together for one game and ruin the season for the front runners. Just ask Alabama.
My picks: 1. Auburn 2. LSU 3. Alabama 4. Arkansas 5. Ol Miss 6. Mississippi State
By Rodney
July 10, 2007 9:02 AM | Link to this
So you don’t feel that a new QB and a new OC at LSU will slow them down at all??? History does not support your conclusions.
Defense wins games/championships. Alabama’s defense will not keep them in games this year. They have NO backfield (nothing to speak about). Wilson is a good QB - not great - and they do have two pretty good receivers, but that s about it. They have no depth. Alabama should be about the same or worse than last year. New HC, new OC, new STAFF. Nope, not gonna happen.
Can’t wait to see Tebow take a snap and try to run this year. :)
By jeff
July 10, 2007 9:05 AM | Link to this
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODAWGS! SIC EM! WOOF WOOF WOOF!!!!
UGA will beat Bama and Auburn this year. And with a little luck they might even beat those Gators.
By Ol Ball Coach
July 10, 2007 9:11 AM | Link to this
Nobody likes Bama, I mean nobody.
By TiderinMS
July 10, 2007 9:12 AM | Link to this
KR,
If you’re scared, say you’re scared.
:)
By CCB
July 10, 2007 9:21 AM | Link to this
Winning ugly? More like losing ugly. Tuberville has a long-standing hisory of averaging right at 2.5 SEC losses per year. AU plays LSU in Death Valley this year (where AU hasn’t won since 1999), and where LSU is 24-3 at home since October 2001. Hogs have AU’s number as of late too (5-4 last 9). Won’t change this year…
1-LSU 2-Arkansas 3-AU 4-Bama 5-State 6-OM
By KR
July 10, 2007 9:24 AM | Link to this
TiderinMS: The only thing we’re scared of is that once we beat ‘Bama, our coach is going to want a salary higher than the ridiculous amount of money you guys had to pay to get Saban to go to Tuscaloosa. :)
Truthfully, after being an Auburn fan for so many years, I really can’t predict how things will turn out. I wouldn’t have thought we’d go unbeaten in 2004 and I wouldn’t have thought we could sack ‘Bama’s QB 11 times in one Iron Bowl. But they both happened…
I’m ready for college football to start!
By MM
July 10, 2007 9:40 AM | Link to this
Jeff,
Thank you for making me a little dumber this morning.
By Ryder
July 10, 2007 9:46 AM | Link to this
CCB you are on crack. I glad you are reminding us of a couple of Auburns SEC losses over the last few years. I guess you dont remember or just dont realize the Tigers have the BEST record in the SEC over the last three years of 21-3 as mr. Barnhart said. As for your hogs if my memory serves me correct the pigs lost 6 yes 6 SEC games in 2005 alone. Get a clue moron.
By Bobo
July 10, 2007 9:48 AM | Link to this
I can’t wait until Saban loses 5 games this season. But I can’t wait to watch Saban vs. Bowden. LSU wins the division easily. There schedule is perfect for them, all the tough games at home.
By Go Blue
July 10, 2007 9:48 AM | Link to this
Who cares about SEC football. Michigan wins the National Title this year. Saban may be the most overrated coach in the history of fottball.
By Croomilicious
July 10, 2007 9:58 AM | Link to this
Dear LUS Tigahs,
How can I convince you to be satisfied with a complete arse-whipping domination on 8/30 in starksville? Do you have to mortally wound our fur-wearing gangsta wanna-be QB in the process? How about we make him wear a black practice jersey; would that get the point across?
Coach Crooms
By LSUndefeated
July 10, 2007 9:59 AM | Link to this
Sure LSU has a new OC, but we do not have a new QB. Matt Flynn could have easily been the starter the last 2 years. It’s been said by Saban and Miles that they were neck and neck going into the season, but it was too hard to pass on Russell who was an impressive 6’6” 260lbs. He was more of an impressive physical specimen. But let’s not forget that Matt Flynn is 6’3” 200+ lbs. And is very very fast. He can throw that deep ball not as far as Russell but with WAY better touch (as proven in the Peach Bowl two years ago when he torched Miami’s Defense 40-3). He can also run the spread offense and option when necessary and scramble which works well in OC Crowton’s new scheme. LSU is 6 deep at running back, a GREAT O line and the #1 Defense in the nation with 2 or 3 first rounders starting. I believe Miles has control of things and LSU will easily win the SEC West and SEC.
By IamMichigan
July 10, 2007 9:59 AM | Link to this
Michigan is everywhere SEC fans. Even on your blogs. How you love that. IamMichigan
By gdawginkalamazoo
July 10, 2007 9:59 AM | Link to this
LSU with Auburn right on their heels. Too much turmoil at Arkansas. Bama at least two years away from competing. Give them at least that and 42 cents.
By Dorsey Hill
July 10, 2007 10:03 AM | Link to this
Anyone want to pitch in and buy Go Blue a bus ticket?
Take your Go Blue back to Detroit where it belongs.
By Bobo
July 10, 2007 10:05 AM | Link to this
I can’t beleive a Michigan fan is talking about something being overrated. Your team and conference are the ultimate example.
By Mike K
July 10, 2007 10:11 AM | Link to this
Not a SEC fan here. Go Blue, as a Michigan fan, you would certainly know about overrated coaches. (coughBOcough) At least Saban has won a national championship.
By CCB
July 10, 2007 10:15 AM | Link to this
Ryder, put down the pipe. Want to discuss records? LSU is tied with AU for the best record in the SEC since 2003 (26-6). We also have a NC to go along with that — unlike yourself. Your angst with having a losing record to the Hogs over the last decade is evident. Truth hurts, huh chump?
By ThaMan
July 10, 2007 10:15 AM | Link to this
Jeff, youare a moron, just like all mutts. A “little luck” against the Gators would be the fleabags losing by only 3 touchdowns.
By LSUndefeated
July 10, 2007 10:15 AM | Link to this
I don’t believe the lonely Michigan fan who keeps posting under different names understands what football in the south is and means. You don’t see any SEC fans crying in any Little 10 blogs do you??? SEC fans don’t care about Little 10 football because it’s like watching Arena League 2 games. Run along and go prepare for your match with Ohio State, and try to make it competitive for crying out loud.
By GradyGrad96
July 10, 2007 10:18 AM | Link to this
Hey IamMichigan, maybe you should go talk on the USC boards. Or better yet, just beat Ohio State for once. Go play with your turnip while we talk real football.
By Roll Tide
July 10, 2007 10:18 AM | Link to this
Georgia is not man enough to beat the tide in ttown again. It took a gift from god last time. Auburn’s run is over just like Bama’s probation. Not sure if you people remember, but Saban took a LSU team (LSU people) and won two SEC titles and a NC in four years. Bama Nat Champs in three years or fire Saban. Roll Tide!
By Bobo
July 10, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this
I still can’t beleive the nation bought into all of the Michigan, Ohio State rematch hype last year. Add Notre Name and a championship game and you can consider yourself to be equal to the SEC.
By Dorsey Hill
July 10, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this
FYI to Big 10 (aren’t there 11?) idiots: UGA has won 11 straight vs. the Big Ten conference. Suck on that. Better than that, suck on it on your way back north. You are not welcome here. Go away.
By Roswell Ed
July 10, 2007 10:26 AM | Link to this
Saban and Alabama deserve each other.
Unrealistic expectations meets an over rated coach.
By Bobo
July 10, 2007 10:42 AM | Link to this
Hey Roll Tide, didn’t they same the exact same thing 5 years ago that we were not man enough. The dogs are not intimidated by all of that 12 national championship bulls*. Do you remember what happened when yall came to Athens was that a gift from god. This a new generation of the sec and sorry, but the Tide is not included, no matter who your coach is or how much you pay your players.
By Dorsey Hill
July 10, 2007 10:51 AM | Link to this
Roll Tide,
Saban lost to UAB at home.
We hung 41 points on LSU in ‘04.
Granted he’s better than Shula, but so was Dubose, and Curry, and Fran, and Mike Price for that matter. In fact you could make the argument that Ray Goff was better than Shula. So congrats for going from 4th in the West every year to a possible contender over time, but you haven’t done anything yet. So shut up. The talent gulf is too big between contenders like UGA and pretenders like ‘bama for us to worry about.
And it didn’t take an act of God to win in T-Town last time. It took a couple of late scores by UA to even get in the game which had been controlled by UGA for 3 quarters.
A better example of the differnce between where we are and where you are was the following year in Athens. 31-0 at half. Ouch. That had to sting.
By Ryder
July 10, 2007 10:53 AM | Link to this
CCB you just show your stupidity every time you make a post. I could give two s** about having a losing record to the pigs. Congrats on your BS national championship in 03. Considering USC who was # 1 in both polls that year and did not even play in the NC game. As much as we got f*** when we went undefteated( something we have done twice in the last 14 years, and you f*** idiots have not done since 1958)in 2004 yall got equally as lucky to even be in the NC game in 03. It is simply a joke. See you Oct 20th in hell aka baton rouge.
By LB
July 10, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this
All you Bama-bashers need to get real. If you don’t think a championship-calibre coach like Saban can’t or won’t thrive in a football-loving school (and state) like Alabama, then you’re delusional. It may not be this year, but I GUARANTEE you Alabama will be mentioned with Florida and LSU for National Championships in a few years. (Notice I didn’t say UGA?)
By GC
July 10, 2007 10:56 AM | Link to this
CCB: Thanks for showing us you’re a stat dummy. The real Auburn stat is Barnhart’s — Auburn is 21-3 in the SEC over the last 3 years. Tubbs’s tenure at Ole Miss should mean nothing to a Tiger fan or to you. He’s made his mark at Auburn.
I’m concerned about the Tigers though. I’m concerned about four big road games. I’m concerned about exposure to a power running game. I’m concerned about midget LBs. I’m concerned about the OL. Overall, I couldn’t be upset with 9-3, given the schedule and the stack of concerns. On top of that, Auburn played with one quarterback last year, and you can’t do that in the SEC. Arkansas and Georgia whipped Auburn with freshmen under center. Auburn went 11-2 and got thrashed by two teams they were supposed to beat. That can’t happen either. But Auburn beat JaMarcus Russell and Chris Leak. It’s all about being up for the game.
By gdawginkalamazoo
July 10, 2007 10:57 AM | Link to this
LSUndefeated, I agree there on the Flynn kid, you guys won’t miss a beat at QB. Then you have Perriloux ? behind him who is supposed to be very good.
Please keep those Blue man troup guys down there. We got plenty up here. You see so many “M” being displayed up here. At least the week of the OSU game.
I am beginning to think that the big M stands for Might beat Ohio State someday.
By Truth
July 10, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this
Hey, since we had all those tornados this year can we use that as an excuse when LSU or the like drop a cool 37 points on us? I was also wondering, was AU’s defense hurt last year as well? How did that knee on the 1 yard line feel tiggers? Is there a real conference called the big 10? I thought it was a fable.
By Bobo
July 10, 2007 11:07 AM | Link to this
LB, the think you are forgetting is that Saban will not be at Bama long enough to make them a power. He will get fed up with the alums screaming for a NC every year. He will be gone in 3 and the Tide will be in the same spot they are today, talking about how Bear would have done it.
By CCB
July 10, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this
Ryder, you’re as dumb as they come. Your sorry a* wishes you could’ve played in the BCS NCG. At least you won the ‘Eufala Peoples NC’. Niiiice… Undefeated twice in the last 14 years and nothing to show for it. How pathetic. Looking forward to handing you f* tools yet another loss in BTR on 10/20.
By ABRCWR
July 10, 2007 11:09 AM | Link to this
CCB, 1 win in 4 tries. Thats Arkansas recond against AU in the past 4 seasons. Yes, I see how you can say that they have Auburn’s number. You apparently are a smart man.
By Quentin Conner (A real tide fan)
July 10, 2007 11:09 AM | Link to this
No one should have their first head coaching job at UA! Since Mike Shula came to Bama, we’ve been very predictable. He wasn’t aggressive enough. He coached like he was in the NFL. If we had a lead we would sit on it and hope the defense can come through. We have the same talent as anyone else in the country, but now we have a coach that knows what it takes to win games in the SEC! We haven’t had this since Coach Fran left. I’m not saying it will be like the Bear years but the SEC is on notice!!
Forget the Big Ten!! They don’t deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as the SEC!!!
By Quentin Conner (A real tide fan)
July 10, 2007 11:10 AM | Link to this
No one should have their first head coaching job at UA! Since Mike Shula came to Bama, we’ve been very predictable. He wasn’t aggressive enough. He coached like he was in the NFL. If we had a lead we would sit on it and hope the defense can come through. We have the same talent as anyone else in the country, but now we have a coach that knows what it takes to win games in the SEC! We haven’t had this since Coach Fran left. I’m not saying it will be like the Bear years but the SEC is on notice!!
Forget the Big Ten!! They don’t deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as the SEC!!!
By Quentin Conner (A real tide fan)
July 10, 2007 11:11 AM | Link to this
No one should have their first head coaching job at UA! Since Mike Shula came to Bama, we’ve been very predictable. He wasn’t aggressive enough. He coached like he was in the NFL. If we had a lead we would sit on it and hope the defense can come through. We have the same talent as anyone else in the country, but now we have a coach that knows what it takes to win games in the SEC! We haven’t had this since Coach Fran left. I’m not saying it will be like the Bear years but the SEC is on notice!!
Forget the Big Ten!! They don’t deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as the SEC!!!
By Dorsey Hill
July 10, 2007 11:15 AM | Link to this
LB,
The question isn’t whether UA can compete under Saban. They certainly can. The question is whether you idiots will ever be happy with winning a SEC West champ every few years. You idiot Bammers think that you can dominate this league. You can’t. It won’t happen. The best you can do is be in the mix every year with a shot. My guess is that you morons won’t be happy with that. Saban won’t be happy with you and then it’ll be over.
Bama’s problem is arrogance. Since you’ve been struggling to get respectable things have changed. UF, UGA and LSU are thriving in talent rich states and while Bama has good talent per capita it isn’t close to as talent rich as those other states. The question is going to be whether you can totally shut out Auburn in the state of Alabama and still reach out and get a few from other places. If you can you’ll be up there. If you can’t then you’ll be fighting for 3rd in the West every year.
By Dorsey Hill
July 10, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this
Quentin says: “We have the same talent as anyone else in the country.”
Do you mean like as talented as Temple? Or do you mean as talented as USC? As far as I know they are both “in the country,” but you are closer to Temple than USC in talent.
Sure coaching was abysmal under Shula, but if you think that Meyer could have won the NC with your squad last year you are smoking way too much dope.
By JV
July 10, 2007 11:22 AM | Link to this
Alabama’s talent is not as good as everyone seems to think - they have at best the 4th best talent the SEC West. There is no doubut that Saban’s recruiting will eventually get them there - if he stays long enough - but I don’t think he will. Saban lost more than he won to Tuberville when he had more talent - how is he going to win with less talent? I think it will be at least 2009 before he does - and that game may be do or die for him - Bama fans are neither realistic nor patient.
By LSU #1
July 10, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this
Saban may have lost more to Tuberville than he won, but who has the championship ring? Even when the kitties went undefeated they couldn’t get a title.
Geaux Tigers!
By gdawginkalamazoo
July 10, 2007 11:53 AM | Link to this
Dorsey Hill, I think Quentin meant COUNTY. Not country.
By Michael Gilder
July 10, 2007 12:00 PM | Link to this
I enjoy reading different post from our SEC rivals putting Alabama down. Please pile it on. Do it while you can. We know and so do you that we finally have a coach to match our expectations. He is a recruiting machine and a defensive guru. Our history was built on that. I know it hurts other schools that have very little football history to talk about. But let me assure you, if you had the history that we do, you would certainly be proud of it. We are and petty jabs at it only make us prouder. I know it’s hard to admit, but Alabama has always been the bell cow of the SEC. We represented Southern football before most of us were born. Ask some of the old timers that are still around, they might remember. Our history didn’t start with Coach Bryant, he just added to it, both as a player and then as our coach. I am humble as a fan. We have some awesome teams in our conference. We know who they are and I applaud their dedication and hard work. I respect what they have done. I don’t denigrate them like so many other fans do. We are coming back.
By CA
July 10, 2007 12:04 PM | Link to this
Shula was crappy at a lot of things but one thing he was not was recruting talent. Last two years Shula’s class have been in the top 20 in the nation. Nor was Shula a fool, all the up coming starters have plenty of game experience. Most of you forget that Bama has been recooperating from bowl bans and scholarship reductions. Those are gone now and Shula left Saban with a stock of great talent. With Saban as coach, Bama will be at least a nine win team this year and with Saban already stealing some great recuits from LSU and other places leaves only one conclusion: Bama is Back!
By SEC is Football
July 10, 2007 12:13 PM | Link to this
JV….let me give you a perspective from a realistic Alabama fan. Do I believe we will compete for the West title this year? No I don’t. I think our D will be a little too thin in the front 7. We do have 2 quality DE’s in Gilberry and Greenwood but the NT/DT position has not yet been established. At LB, we have a very good starter at MLB in Prince Hall. Outside of him, we are lacking in experience. We have some athletic guys that will be playing the OLB spots and we will be relying on a few incoming guys. Specifically Rolondo McClain. The DB’s are solid as Castille is probably the best cover corner in the league and the other spot will be a battle between several guys but I see Lionel Mitchell getting that. Mitchell was 2nd in INT’s last season with 4 I believe. We will be young/inexperience on D which could create problems early on. That said, I have little doubt that we will have one of the top offenses in the conference. John Parker Wilson proved to be a more than capable SEC QB and has one of the better receiving groups in the league with Hall, Brown, Stover, Oakley and Caddell. Our OL will be better as we will have better coaching at that position than we have had in recent memory. Smith is a potential All-American and Caldwell is a very good center who can play any spot on the line. At TE we are deep and it will be utitilized more in Applewhite’s offense. RB is a huge question as Shula was not very smart in playing Darby the entire season last year and not getting snaps to some of the younger guys. We have a lot of very talented RB’s and look for Terry Grant to start and for Coffee, Johns and Upchurch to also get carries. Saban will play them all until one steps ahead of the rest and we have enough talent to find a good RB.
Winning the west will be very difficult as all teams behind LSU will be playing for 2nd. LSU is loaded this year and have a favorable road schedule. If I were to take a guess at our final record at BAMA, I would say 8-4 is realistic and 9-3 is a possibilty of we stay healthy. We will win a few games we “should not” and build toward a solid run at the SEC West next year. JMHO. Can Sept 1 get here fast enough?
By SEC is Football
July 10, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this
JV….let me give you a perspective from a realistic Alabama fan. Do I believe we will compete for the West title this year? No I don’t. I think our D will be a little too thin in the front 7. We do have 2 quality DE’s in Gilberry and Greenwood but the NT/DT position has not yet been established. At LB, we have a very good starter at MLB in Prince Hall. Outside of him, we are lacking in experience. We have some athletic guys that will be playing the OLB spots and we will be relying on a few incoming guys. Specifically Rolondo McClain. The DB’s are solid as Castille is probably the best cover corner in the league and the other spot will be a battle between several guys but I see Lionel Mitchell getting that. Mitchell was 2nd in INT’s last season with 4 I believe. We will be young/inexperience on D which could create problems early on. That said, I have little doubt that we will have one of the top offenses in the conference. John Parker Wilson proved to be a more than capable SEC QB and has one of the better receiving groups in the league with Hall, Brown, Stover, Oakley and Caddell. Our OL will be better as we will have better coaching at that position than we have had in recent memory. Smith is a potential All-American and Caldwell is a very good center who can play any spot on the line. At TE we are deep and it will be utitilized more in Applewhite’s offense. RB is a huge question as Shula was not very smart in playing Darby the entire season last year and not getting snaps to some of the younger guys. We have a lot of very talented RB’s and look for Terry Grant to start and for Coffee, Johns and Upchurch to also get carries. Saban will play them all until one steps ahead of the rest and we have enough talent to find a good RB.
Winning the west will be very difficult as all teams behind LSU will be playing for 2nd. LSU is loaded this year and have a favorable road schedule. If I were to take a guess at our final record at BAMA, I would say 8-4 is realistic and 9-3 is a possibilty of we stay healthy. We will win a few games we “should not” and build toward a solid run at the SEC West next year. JMHO. Can Sept 1 get here fast enough?
By SEC is Football
July 10, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this
Dorsey….Saw what you want about who Saban won and lost to….but I recall him beating UGA 2 times in one season. The 2nd game was pretty much a blow out. Saban also won 2 SEC titles and NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP in 5 years. Not too bad for what some of you guys consider a bad coach!
By Boclive
July 10, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this
My picks: 1. Auburn 2. LSU 3. Alabama 4. Arkansas 5. Ol Miss 6. Mississippi State - I agree with all of that keeping in mind that Arkansas could finish first - or sixth.
ROLL TIDE!!!
By SoCalRazorThug
July 10, 2007 12:33 PM | Link to this
The turmoil at Arkansas has only made this team come together and become stronger. Darren McFadden, Felix Jones, & Peyton Hillis make up the best backfield in college football, mixed in with a wall of corn-fed o-linemen, Marcus Monk at WR…my God that’s a lot of NFL talent.
The Arkansas Razorbacks will represent the West again in Atlanta.
By Dorsey Hill
July 10, 2007 12:35 PM | Link to this
Didn’t say he was a bad coach. I’m simply saying that he’s not perfect or even great at this point. Tell me why he is better than Meyer or Richt or Spurrier? Is his winning percentage higher. No. Has he been involved in more championships? No. Do you morons think that he is the second coming? Yes.
My point isn’t that he isn’t a good coach. He is, but this conference is loaded with good coaching. The differences in success largely fall on talent. A bad coach can screw it up (See Goof and the Zooker) but a good coach can’t simply do it on his X’s and O’s and motivational tactics. He’s got to have the horses. He doesn’t yet.
By SEC is Football
July 10, 2007 12:55 PM | Link to this
Dorsey…I am glad you speak the opinions of EVERY Alabama fan out there and classify us all as morons. You are making generalizations based on comments on an AJC blog.
I seriously doubt many BAMA fans see Saban as the second coming. I seriously doubt many BAMA fans think that Saban will dominate the league the way Bryant did. Are we excited to have Saban as our coach? Yes. Results speak for themselves. He took an LSU team that won 7 games in 2 years and in his second year, he won SEC. He also won a national title. He has turned around every college team he has taken over. He has proven to be one of the best recruiters in the nation and is off to a great start. He has generated interest in the program from players who would not have considered BAMA in the past. I don’t feel at all that he is a better coach than Richt or Meyer or anyone else in the league. He is very much on the same level.
As for talent, I don’t think we will be as bad off talent wise this year as you want to believe. Shula was not a bad recruiter and brought in some talent. Unfortunately he neglected the DL and LB positions more than he should have. Saban has a good defensive staff and will develop the guys he has but there will obviously be growing pains. They are expected, especially with a new staff on board. Same goes for our offense but I would not trade my QB, WR’s, OL, or TE’s for anyone at UGA. I would however take Lumpkin or Brown over any of our backs at this point.
Very few BAMA believe what you are trying to imply. You believe what you want though. I do hope you end up disappointed on Sept 22 in Tuscaloosa.
By GatorGrad07
July 10, 2007 1:10 PM | Link to this
I hate to tell you Tide fans this, but Nick Saban is overrated…might i remind you that Ron Zook beat him AT Death Valley?
By Dorsey Hill
July 10, 2007 1:12 PM | Link to this
“You are making generalizations based on comments on an AJC blog.”
No, I’m making the generalization that “Bama fans are morons based on the fact that I’ve lived in Alabama for the last 14 years. Of course, I would agree that Auburn is much worse, just for different reasons.
The fact that you would take Wilson over Stafford proves my point.
By matt
July 10, 2007 1:39 PM | Link to this
Unless something changes dramatically..
By gdawginkalamazoo
July 10, 2007 1:40 PM | Link to this
I seriously doubt many BAMA fans see Saban as the second coming.
92,000 Generous fans (42 cents each) says a lot about what you guys “seen”.
Serioulsy, I used to respect Bama a lot more for the tradition, etc. Until that last move of desperation when you dumped a Tide and true guy like Shula who came in under difficult circumstances and turned the program around. He was a Bama man that was very capable. One year you give him an extension the next you fire him? If not for injuries last year you guys would have done well again and built upon that. I don’t know about Saban, very good coach obviously, but the way he has run his career is questionable. Ask any Michigan State fan, LSU fan, Miami Dolphin fan, and probably in a couple of years Bama fans, then some NFL team fan. Or is all that money you guys gave him guaranteed?
By James J.
July 10, 2007 1:45 PM | Link to this
there is nothing easy about the SEC. except to predict that Bama will be lousy again. and that it will be too sweet. war eagle (and damn our schedule)
By James J.
July 10, 2007 1:50 PM | Link to this
and i neglected that not much is expected of auburn which is when we are the most dangerous (2004 anyone). au will definitely be better than people think. top 10 for sure.
By Pago Pago
July 10, 2007 1:51 PM | Link to this
M Go Blue fans…..L. Carr had better win it all this year…or he’s gone!
By SEC is Football
July 10, 2007 1:56 PM | Link to this
Dorsey…I am not saying that Stafford is not a good QB. However, to say I would take him over Wilson would be foolish. Wilson had a better year statistically last season and he has a MUCH better group of receivers to work with. Stafford had one very good game against AU and was good against Tech. Your D won the game against VT…not your O. Stafford had a better record but I think JPW would have had the same record at UGA with Richt as his coach.
By LB
July 10, 2007 1:57 PM | Link to this
Whoa Dorsey! Relax! A bit harsh, don’t you think?
Just because we’re excited to have a competent coach and very optimistic in the future of our football team, doesn’t mean we’re all arrogant morons. Most reasonable Bama fans don’t think we should ‘dominate this league’ every year - even though we did once upon a time. We know there’s still work to do. We’re just excited that we now have the chance to compete with UGA, UF, LSU, & UT!
So give us Bama ‘idiots’ a break and let’s hope we have another great year of SEC football! Who knows what will happen?
By SEC is Football
July 10, 2007 1:57 PM | Link to this
Dorsey…I am not saying that Stafford is not a good QB. However, to say I would take him over Wilson would be foolish. Wilson had a better year statistically last season and he has a MUCH better group of receivers to work with. Stafford had one very good game against AU and was good against Tech. Your D won the game against VT…not your O. Stafford had a better record but I think JPW would have had the same record at UGA with Richt as his coach.
And let me also so that I have been in GA for the last 10 years. You have your share of GA fans here who are as ignorant as any BAMA fan. I guess though, I am smart enough not to generalize your entire fan base based on a group of idiots! You do as you please though.
By KR
July 10, 2007 2:03 PM | Link to this
I don’t see ‘Bama being lousy this year and anyone who thinks that isn’r really paying attention. I just don’t see them at the top of the West either. ‘08 or ‘09, maybe…
Let’s face it: a dropped ball here, a missed tackle there and any one of the top four could wind up in Atlanta.
By Quentin Conner (A real tide fan)
July 10, 2007 2:04 PM | Link to this
I’m sorry you idiots can’t see anything! Most games we lost we were leading into the fourth quarter. This is what makes me sick with you. Coaching had us beat. Tell me a game where we lost by more than 7 points. You act like we were blown out of our games. It takes a coach like Nick Saban to solidify a team.
By SEC is Football
July 10, 2007 2:12 PM | Link to this
Kalamazoo…You make some very good points. First of all…92,000 people at the spring game is nuts. However, I think it was a combination of the fact that we had a new coach and that no one knew what the team was going to look like since Saban closed all of the practices.
As for your points about Shula…Now be honest…Did you really think this guys was going to be able to consistently lead us to being a competitive team year in and year our? Yes, he won 10 games in 05. We won 10 games because of our D. We had a great game against UF and after Protho got hurt, our offense was packed away and put into the closet. We had some capable receivers in Hall and Brown but he went to a 80% running game and our D stepped up and won games for us that year. Last year, he was adamant about running Ken Darby and he was ineffective. We had Johns who was more effective when he had the ball in his hands and he continued to run Darby. In addition, he also had some capable young lineman but left Chris Capps in at RT. Capps should have had to buy tickets since he watched the QB get sacked so much. Shula’s play calling was terrible and predictable and he wasnt about to hire a competent OC to call plays. He wanted to do it himself. I respect Mike Shula for what he did as a player at BAMA (I am sure you remember his performance in Athens in 85). I respect that he took over the program during its worst time ever. But, I knew deep down he was a 4-5 year safe hire because he would not be able to make us a consistently competitive team. Are you more upset with how the situation was handled or that BAMA doesn’t have a bad coach anymore?
By gdawginkalamazoo
July 10, 2007 2:20 PM | Link to this
Am I wrong in thinking that Bama has had a very stout defense the last couple of years with little offense to go with it? If that is the case I don’t see you guys doing too bad this year. Depends on Applewhite and what he can conjure up. Just a lot of changes all the way around. It will be interesting.
Pago, you are correct. I forget what the exact change in his contract was but one was made last year that I think sets him up to “retire” if he doesn’t get it done this year.
By SNAKE
July 10, 2007 3:35 PM | Link to this
Alabama always had respect. You don’t see Mark Richt on the front of the Birmingham News website period.
Bama is back. It won’t all come together this year but the progress will be noticed by everyone.
Look out in 08
By SNAKE
July 10, 2007 3:35 PM | Link to this
Alabama always had respect. You don’t see Mark Richt on the front of the Birmingham News website period.
Bama is back. It won’t all come together this year but the progress will be noticed by everyone.
Look out in 08
By SNAKE
July 10, 2007 3:36 PM | Link to this
Alabama always had respect. You don’t see Mark Richt on the front of the Birmingham News website period.
Bama is back. It won’t all come together this year but the progress will be noticed by everyone.
Look out in 08
By jeff
July 10, 2007 3:41 PM | Link to this
to THAMAN, It has been years since UF beat UGA by 3 touchdowns. Call me a moron again and I will track you down and mess up you mullet hair do!
By cooter11
July 10, 2007 3:50 PM | Link to this
dogs would not win that easy west conf…just like they won’t win the east…too many picks from your qb
By Joseph
July 10, 2007 3:59 PM | Link to this
does anyone remember what happened when everyone said “Bama is back” back in 05 and actually that exact quote and a picture were on the front page of sports illustrated. Well I sure do they choked like little b*** and lost two out of three games. The fact of the matter is Bama fans will Always live in the past in their supposed 12 national championships(which when you really look at it is 6). Not even Saban himself can help that sorry excuse of a program and within 5 years Bama will have another head coach. I personally can not wait until the second week of October when the Tide already has 3 losses and the Tide nation will begin to realize this for themselves.
By Leslie
July 10, 2007 4:07 PM | Link to this
ROll TIDE!!!!!
By SEC is Football
July 10, 2007 4:18 PM | Link to this
Joseph…if you are looking forward to the 2nd weekend in Oct, that means you are an Ole P** fan since that is who we play that weekend. A team that BAMA has an overall record of 42-9 against. If you are a fan of Ole P**, I suggest you focus on your team and what that disaster of a program does before you call another one out. Ole P** has been a joke in the SEC for the last 30 years (at least). Yor coach is a complete idiot who will do more damage than good. So congrats in your 1 win and a couple of moral victories over Alabama this year. You have no shot at beating BAMA this year with a walk on QB. You want a guarantee…BAMA will compete for and SEC title again before Ole P** does. Hell, the Rebs have never even played in Atlanta! As the saying goes…Hotty Toddy Gosh a mighty who they hell are we? Flim Flam Bim Bam, Nobody gives a damn!
By gdawginkalamazoo
July 10, 2007 4:24 PM | Link to this
SEC, posted before your last one so I didn’t get to read it. I didn’t care for the way Shula was run out of town. Calling him a safe hire isn’t/wasn’t fair to him. I think he would have seen the light sooner or later and gotten you guys to where you belong. 10 win season then all the injuries can interrupt a lot of things on the team. As for the 85’ game, I was there and that was one of the best I have ever seen in person, regardless of the outcome. BTW, I prefer a strong competitive BAMA.
By SEC is Football
July 10, 2007 4:41 PM | Link to this
Kalamazoo…Ironic…2 of the best games I have seen were BAMA-UGA. In 1994 I was a student at BAMA and that games was incredible. Barker and Zire (SP?) both had great days and it came down to an All-American kicker to win it. 2003, both teams had good games and it came down to an All-American kicker for UGA to win it. Both incredible games.
I guess we have to respectfully agree to disagree about Shula as a coach. He is a good person and was a good face for our program while he was there. He took the job when few others wanted it. He had never been a head coach and was demoted from OC at Tampa Bay. The reason we stuck around in 05 was because of our defense. They were in the top 5 in the country all season. The offense has not been the same since Pro got hurt and there was no reason for that. Pro was a great player and God willing, he will play again (although I have my doubts), but we had other player makers on that team and there was no reason that Shula went so conservative. That cost us way too many games. Take the Ark game for example last year. Ark doesn’t convert in the 1st OT. We get the ball and Shula runs 3 plays (all the same play) and goes for the Extra Point with a freshman kicker who had already missed 2 FG’s and an extra point. It was consistent bad choices like that that ultimately doomed his HC career at UA.
By Muskie Jr
July 10, 2007 4:48 PM | Link to this
I’m not sure why most post don’t think Arkansas is good. McFadden, Jones, Hillis, Monk, Smith and the rest of the Razorbacks will show you that you are all worng for picking them 2, 3 or 4. These guys are for real. McFadden is no joke and we will see who is the joke after Mc and company run all over your teams.
By AFinPC
July 10, 2007 4:49 PM | Link to this
Let me start out with a WAR EAGLE! And, yes, that should elude to the angle I’m going to take on the rest of my piece. I like how Auburn fell off everyone’s radar last year despite beating two top 5 teams. I know, frustratingly so, the meltdowns that always seem to occur when you’re least expecting it i.e, Arkansas and UGA but that was systematic of a complex defense complements of Muschamp. Unfortunately for all the prognosticators, Auburn will go into LSwho and run the score up against the Bayou Bengals. We’ll also enjoy another victory in the Swamp a la ‘94 with Frank Sanders catching a td late in the game. The great thing about all of the question marks is that no one knows what’s coming and what to prepare for. My final note is for all of you Razorback fans that keep talking about the hogs backfield being the best in the nation… This is the SEC, everyone that matters has a good backfield, and Auburn’s is young and explosive! Just wait…
By JV
July 10, 2007 4:54 PM | Link to this
SEC is Football,
You admit that your defense has a lot of questions. I also think your OL does as well - 2 stellar lineman don’t make a stellar unit. You also admit your RBs are a ? - I think it is worse than that - Upchurch has had too many injuries and Johns should be a LB - I think 2 of the 4 potential RBs you mention will be non factors and the other 2 are unknowns. Good WRs don’t help much without time to throw and a running game to keep defenses off balance. Finally - you can expect a slow start - it almost always happens when you change systems and Bama is relying on a lot of young players.
By SEC is Football
July 10, 2007 4:58 PM | Link to this
AF…Not an LSU fan but I have to say that you guys will not have enough offense for the LSU D to “run the score up”. LSU is loaded on D this year and they have a solid O returning as well. AU is thin on experience at the WR spot. LSU’s DL and LB’s are solid and will shut down your running game. They will be able to pressure your inexperienced OL and the DB’s won’t have too much difficulty with your young WR corp. As for the Arkansas backfield, they are the best in the SEC BY FAR. None of AU’s RB’s would see any time in that backfield. It is similar to 04 when you guys had Williams and Brown.
By Muskie Jr
July 10, 2007 5:01 PM | Link to this
Auburn has good RB’s but not like Arkansas’s so please take a seat war bird.
By My View
July 10, 2007 5:02 PM | Link to this
Call me crazy, but I have a strange feeling that Miss St is going to make that 1st game of the season against LSU very interesting going late into the game before it is settled..
By SEC is Football
July 10, 2007 5:04 PM | Link to this
JV…I can’t dispute much of what you are saying but I can disagree with a few things. Our OL was ok last year but will get better. They will have better coaching than they had with Connelly and the strenth and conditioning programs is a lot more strict that it used to be. As for RB, like many other SEC schools, we have recruited several good backs. Terry Grant was a 4* kid who has 4.39 speed. He looks to be the starter. Coffee had a good spring as did Upchurch. We also have Jamar Taylor who enrolled in January from Lakeland and Demetrius Goode who was a 4* from Hargrave. We will be able to find at least 2 good backs to establish a running game. While I agree you need protection to get the passing game going, last year Wilson threw for over 2700 yards and Hall had over 1000 yards receiving. That will only improve with a QB in his 2nd year as a starter. As I said, I am not expecting an SEC title this year. But I also don’t believe we are going to be as bad as some people thing/hope for.
By pvbeachdog
July 10, 2007 5:11 PM | Link to this
Auburn vs. Georgia twice in 2007.
By superman
July 10, 2007 5:29 PM | Link to this
Mr. Barnhart
You asked the question - Can Darren McFadden win the Heisman? Then you proceed to ignore the question and not give a clue of an answer. Since you made no attempt let me answer for you.
Sure he can win it. He finished second last year while beginning the year with an injured toe. If he can stay healthy and get adequate play at QB (or play QB himself in the Wildcat formation) then he should win it.
By Tony Barnhart
July 10, 2007 5:49 PM | Link to this
Based on today’s conversation, I can tell we’re going to have a fun week when LSU goes to Alabama on Nov. 3.
And Superman, you’re right. I didn’t answer my own question about Darren McFadden. Of course he can win it, but he needs to get off to a good start. Sept. 15 against Alabama in Tuscaloosa could be a big day for him.
ACC Atlantic coming on Wednesday.
Thanks TB
By Big Dawg
July 10, 2007 5:54 PM | Link to this
Just like the Eastern Division there are 3 to 4 teams in the west that could win the SEC West. IMO I believe it will be Auburn, LSU, Alabama, Arkansas, Ole Miss and Miss. ST. I can’t wait for the season to start all of these great teams that are loaded with talent. The SEC could have 10 teams in bowl games this year. Its going to be interesting to see who gets the breaks as those usually decide the close games.
By ajacks04
July 10, 2007 7:27 PM | Link to this
yeah, and dubose beat spurrier in gainesville. doesnt mean he’s a good coach. everybody better get their shots at bama in now, because the clock is ticking. i’ll say this, if lsu doesnt win the sec and be in the bcs game this year then they need to fire miles. he’s done nothing with the most talented teams the past two years. i predict this to be the beginning of the end for miles.
and i know that lsu and au are a little worried about saban at bama. the pressure is on both of them. if either of you lose to us this year, there will be a supreme melt down. that i guarantee.
By ATLsupertiger
July 10, 2007 7:40 PM | Link to this
LSU should dominate the SEC but I don’t want to play UGA in the SECCG. UGA is tough in the dome.
By Wozzo the Wonder Dog
July 10, 2007 7:50 PM | Link to this
Remember everyone, when the topic shifts to ACC football, ignore it and simply discuss SEC football as if nothing has changed.
By hammondtiger
July 10, 2007 7:58 PM | Link to this
LSU will be be the team to beat in the SEC this year. Miles is 4-3 vs the top 10 in the last 2 years. Oh and by the way 3 of those games were on the road and one of the losses was immediately following a double hurricane. Not bad. Oh and and BCS win to boot. Auburn is good but comes to LSU, Ark can not throw the ball, Ole Miss and Miss St are well, Ole Miss and Miss St. Alabama is going to be improved but if fans want to look at a coach who losses a game or two every year he should not then his name is Nick Saban. Want proof? UAB amd Ark in 2000, OLe Miss in 01, 02 Aub and Ark (Aub was unranked),unranked Fla at home in 03, 04-Ga destroyed LSU, Iowa when the Def. genius allows them to throw a hail mary that was the worst Deffensed last second pass I have ever seen. Saban will win at Al but he is going for 2nd place in odd years behind LSU and in even years behind Au (who owned Saban).
By Bem
July 10, 2007 8:06 PM | Link to this
I am worried about how the UGA tickle piles will impact our play this year. Are they going to distract us too much?
By Jim
July 10, 2007 9:00 PM | Link to this
I don’t think we’ll be in the running for the West but it sure is fun having rivals try to convince themselves that we won’t.
Roll Tide
By AgentMulder
July 10, 2007 9:04 PM | Link to this
Whistling past the graveyard SEC fans? The Tide dominated the old Southern Conference and then the SEC for 75 years with great coaches Wallace Wade, Frank Thomas, and Paul Bryant. Stallings did OK too. It took Kramer, Fulmer, and Auburn Alums JS, CF, and BL all they could trump together to put Alabama thorough 2 devastating sanctions. It is obvious the rest of the SEC enjoyed it very much. But you know the party is coming to an end. Bama plus a great coach means championships. History proves it. We got the coach and the BS is over. It will take 2 to 3 years to recover from Coach Shula’s pitiful recruiting on defense. Enjoy yourselves this season because High Tide is coming and there there’s no ground high enough for the rest of you. Coach Saban is gonna make you cry. Roll Tide!!! (PS Dear little brother Aubie, I know you are very excited about a win steak against a Tide program devasted by back to back probations, but you really should start saving your nuts for a long cold winter. Coach Saban will let you know when your done.)
By Top Dawg
July 10, 2007 9:18 PM | Link to this
The West has always been the weak sister of the SEC.
By montanadawg
July 10, 2007 9:20 PM | Link to this
Bammer sucks.Keep talkin’ history while we win the east, and maybe the SEC. Go Dawgs.
By SEC is Football
July 10, 2007 9:28 PM | Link to this
HammondTiger…I love it how LSU fans have tried to diminish Saban as a coach by bringing up the UAB game in his 1st season at LSU after taking over a team that won 7 games in 2 years. I wonder now if you guys are going to take down your 2004 National Championship flag as well since it was won while SABAN was the LSU HEAD COACH. He brought LSU back from obsurity and built the foundation for which Miles has taken over. He will do the same at Alabama and will bring up back to being a competitive team each year. If you believe the SEC will be dominated by LSU and AU, I only know you will end up very disappointed. Hopefully Miles will be able to take all that talent and win a title. You know, the thing he should have done last year with a loaded team that had 4 2st round draft picks! If you guys do lose another couple this year we will all look for the excuses like blaming the refs as you guys did against AU.
By Cuz
July 10, 2007 9:29 PM | Link to this
Okay my turn. Shula was Bamma’s Ray Goff, a likeable fellow with a football problem.
Nick Saban is not the second coming of Bear Bryant. There can only be one Bear. I believe Bama retired the Houndstooth Hat. RIP Bear.
Saban will dump Bama just as he has dumped every other program. He is not a keeper.
Next year when you win the SEC West, he will move on to coach the Green Bay Packers.
I am sorry, you deserve better. Just aint gonna happen soon. Get a good coach, stick with him. That is the only way you will ever bring back the program.
By Cuz
July 10, 2007 9:35 PM | Link to this
Tickle piles are a Georgia Tech tradition, that and Star Trek conventions, Dungeons and Dragons, Slide rules, Pocket protectors and dating outiside the Trade School.
By Top Dawg
July 10, 2007 9:40 PM | Link to this
Note to “AgentMulder”: Back when Alleybammer was so “good”, there was was no NCAA oversight for the integrity of football programs. I will leave it at that.
As for modern history and going forward, the football situation in the state of Alabama is bleak and getting worse. The talent that is in the state is, for the most part, leaving for school. So, get your jollies at the Iron Bowl, but leave that silly Bama will-be-back-on-the-national-scene talk for the Tuscaloser newspaper’s blog. This blog is for realists only.
By Cuz
July 10, 2007 9:41 PM | Link to this
Saban would have one several championships if he had stayed at LSU. He did not and he is not the Superman he once was. The Kryptonite of the NFL has brought him back to earth with a shadow of his former powers. I just do not see Saban in the same league as that great football genuis CHAN THE MAN GAILEY. What an inspiration to us all.
Proud to be a founding member of the FANS OF CHAN!!!!
By Cuz
July 10, 2007 9:51 PM | Link to this
Comparing Nick Saban to Chan Gailey is like comparing rock salt to formica.
By Top Dawg
July 10, 2007 9:52 PM | Link to this
Cuz: And Reggie Ball as secretary/treasurer.
By AgentMulder
July 10, 2007 10:14 PM | Link to this
Top Dawg, you will leave it at that because you have nothing to back up your BS and Alabama was saintly compared to your Dawgs even back in the day. Puhleeze, everyone knows what a bastion of intergrity the Dawgs have been (not). As for your comments on talent in Alabama - pure nonsense. But Coach Saban likes the talent in Dawg land too, and from what I am hearing, the talent in Dawg land likes Coach Saban and the Tide too. He will let you know when he’s got enough of your would be Dawgs in Tuscaloosa. Keep ‘em coming.
By Cuz
July 10, 2007 10:43 PM | Link to this
Hey Top, you get it. Have you ever thought of joining the FANS OF CHAN. We are dedicated to keeping the greatest mind in all of sandlot football permanently at the North Avenue Trade School. Or their patent pending name, Nerds R Us.
Muhlder, your show got cancelled years ago when you kept on digging up the Bear and the hat kept falling apart. The best thing to happen to Bama football in the last ten years was Forrest Gump. When are you going to retire his jersey? How does it feel to know that the state you once owned is planning on changing it’s name to Auburn? You are now the third favorite school in the state, third behind UAB. Okay you got me on the 92,000 showing up for the halftime show of Jethro Tull performing “Living in the Past”. But you better rebuild your flux capacitor before you go back to the future. Whistiling past the graveyard, I got the Redcoat band dancing on your grave in the SEC. Write this down, Saban is there for two years, maybe three if he catches a cold. It is a long way to the top, if you want to rock and roll.
By Huskdawg
July 10, 2007 10:59 PM | Link to this
Agent M, contrary to popular belief, not every dawg fan on here hates everything bammer. I grew up right on the Ga line and saw mostly Auburn games growing up cuz we were so close(yeah I know, big deal, but it was in the state). I loved the Bear, my Dad loved him…..but he ain’t been there in a while. I hope you guys get your program back up to speed cause I miss those awesome Ga-Ala games from the late 60’s-70’s.
By Cuz
July 10, 2007 11:05 PM | Link to this
Pvbeach, I like your optimism. But first we have to get past the recent annual humiliation in Jacksonville. Last time I went we won, and the time before that and freaking so on. Going this year, maybe the luck will fall our way this time. I will eat Lucky Charms for breakfast.
By Cuz
July 10, 2007 11:16 PM | Link to this
Husk are you talking to me? Just kidding. I too respect the Bear, but the Bear aint there. And no matter how much they care, he aint there. They can wear Roll Tide undewear, they can win Elephants at the fair, they can go here, they can go there. But they will not, cannot have another Bear. Could they, should they, maybe so. Would they, could they, I don’t know. Will they ever, get another Bear. I don’t think so and I don’t care.
thanks to the late great Dr. “Whatcha got Loran” Seuss.
By TigersRule
July 10, 2007 11:19 PM | Link to this
Bama will be lucky to win 8 games this year. I see losses to Auburn, Tennessee, LSU, FSU, and Georgia at least. Maybe Arkansas too!
Also, Houston will not be a pushover for them. Remember Saban lost to UAB his first season at LSU!
By shane
July 10, 2007 11:36 PM | Link to this
the sec is best,no doubt. the coaches of the past were men of honor,bear, shug,the general,and on into more modern times.dooley and stallings,to name just two.uga did not give coach dooley the respect due him, and we may have a price to pay, but my god,the way ‘bama treated shula! do you people think bear would be proud of you? you had one coach disgrace the university,another bolt the program,then shula brought you back, taking the job no one wanted. you fired him. saban will leave when the money is right,hasn;t he always? the way you guys reward loyalty,you will get what you deserve!
By Gen Neyland
July 10, 2007 11:41 PM | Link to this
AAAhhhh, Grasshopper. You speak of Houston. Homecoming (a.k.a. Festival of the Inbred) for the Red Elephants…Lowe’s and Home Depot will mark down their brick by year’s end. We all know how those rabid Red Elephant fans love to toss bricks through HC’s windows…But I give Saban credit. He’s taken on a challenge. Three years sounds about right unless the bricks start flying…
By KR
July 11, 2007 12:14 AM | Link to this
“and i know that lsu and au are a little worried about saban at bama. the pressure is on both of them. if either of you lose to us this year, there will be a supreme melt down. that i guarantee.”
You have that backwards. The pressure is on Saban; with all of the hype and big talk coming out of ‘Bama fans, he’s the guy who has to actually back it up.
By shane
July 11, 2007 12:22 AM | Link to this
i was a little angry in my last post, so i forgot a few things. first i would say that though i am a dawg, and i bleed red and black i have, and have always had, much respect for the u of ala. i think you have made a mistake in hiring saban. I think lsu wins the sec championship,beating uf in atlanta. i don’t like the gators either,but they are champs until someome beats them, and lsu has the team to do just that.2008 belongs to the dawgs, then look out for the gators,two top classes in a row for them. i think saban will dump the tide in three years.
By derek
July 11, 2007 12:26 AM | Link to this
JUST FYI FOR YOU HOG HATERS, SINCE ARKANSAS JOINED THE WEST IN 1992 THEY’VE WON 3 WEST TITLES IN FOOTBALL, HMMM THE SAME AS LSU AND AUBURN. NOT TO MENTION NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS IN BASKETBALL, TRACK ETC. SO QUIT HATING AND RESPECT A LITTLE BEFORE MCFADDEN RUNS 200YDS ON YOU!LOL
By GEORGIA TECH FAN
July 11, 2007 6:08 AM | Link to this
I love it. The SEC is wonderful. I wish some of you “big” boys would come to over to one of out Tickle Piles.
By cooter11
July 11, 2007 7:35 AM | Link to this
hey Cuz, is your spooner qb on top this week? or Cox?
By gdawginkalamazoo
July 11, 2007 8:26 AM | Link to this
Today Barnhart’s doing a humor piece called the “ACC Atlantic”.
By Jim
July 11, 2007 9:08 AM | Link to this
Shane-
Have you ever heard of glass houses? What do you think about Jim Donannan or Ray Goff? Donnan was fired after 5 seasons and 3 straight 8-4 seasons and 4 of his 5 were winning. Talk about loyalty the way you showed Alumni-Ray Goff the door he had 5 winning seasons out of 7. By the way Shula had 1 winning season in 4 and was 2-14 against his top rivals. I think everyone agrees that Shula is a class act but he is not a head coach and if he was on another SEC team I would want him there just like I wanted Ray Goff to stay at UGA forever. So save me the sanctimonious bs.
By Big Al
July 11, 2007 11:46 AM | Link to this
The Tide Will Roll with the best offense in the SEC this year and Saban will take care of the defense. The defense will blitz from all sides and Stafford, Ainge, Flynn and Cox will find it difficult to throw from their back. 52 days to we start!!
By Chris
July 11, 2007 12:04 PM | Link to this
I love how Bama fans are always, and I mean always talked about being unrealistic and living in the past blah blah blah. I think MOST Bama fans understand talent level, rebuilding, post probation, obvious poor coaching in the past, etc. But, what’s wrong with expecting to be the best ALL the time? We know we’re not always going to be the best in the league, but the passion of Bama fans to be the best is what -helps- make the SEC so great. Just as any other fan in this league. Who wants to be mediocre, or just good sometimes? Nobody in this league.
Go SEC and Roll Tide
By shane
July 11, 2007 12:43 PM | Link to this
jim,you may not know this,but it has taken several years for richt to clean up the mess donnan left. there were problems in the classroom and off the field that cost uga because donnan recruited players that did not belong at georgia. i think donnan was as sleezy as fulmer.i have nothing bad to say about goff, except he was too close to his players. he would have been a great oc,and i think he is the best recruiter uga has ever had.he just didn’t get the job done. a head coach has to make some tough calls as to his players, and ray had a hard time making them. we gave him 7 yrs to try. i think a coach should be given at least 5 yrs so he can have his own players to work with. i don’t like saban,he will screw bama over just like he did the dolphins and lsu. bama is my second favorite sec school,and i really want you guys to do well. i was very upset with the way dr adams handled the dooley situation, i don’t think coach dooley was shown the respect due him and it did cost the program one of it’s bigest boosters. as i said,we may have to pay for that in the future.
By Gen Neyland
July 11, 2007 1:04 PM | Link to this
Alabama wants so bad to get back into the national spotlight. In CBB’s day, Alabama was the SEC to a large extent. Those were the days for the Red Elephants. Now, the variables have changed and parity has reared it’s ugly head. Sure, UT and Alabama have a history. A great rivalry ensued from years gone by and still plays out to this day. No matter how up or down our respective seasons are, the game will still be a war. Saban will come to know that the foaming-at-the-mouth typical Red Elephant fan will not cotton to years of successive losses to UT and Auburn. If Nicky goes 2-9 in 2007, but the two wins come against UT and Auburn, he’ll be treated to free T-Bones every day at the Waffle House…Go Vols
By shane
July 11, 2007 3:01 PM | Link to this
general,there are many games across this great nation that get the blood boiling,osu-mich,usc{the real usc]-ucla,tex-ok,and al-tenn has to be one of them. i know of no conference that compares to the sec. every game is a rivalry if you think about it, then there are the wars! the cocktail party in jacksonville,the iron bowl, al-lsu,ole miss-miss state,even you guys and vandy.i can’t wait ‘till sept!
By Nuthinbutawinner
July 11, 2007 3:08 PM | Link to this
You people banking on Saban to be gone in 3 years… just where do you think he’s gonna go? Every career move he’s made has been up, and since there’s virtually no chance of him going to the NFL now, and there’s really nowhere in the NCAA that will pay him better than UA, just where is he going in 3 years? I could see him retiring in 5-6 years or more, but with his ego and the money he’s making at UA, he’s not going anywhere til he at least puts the Tide in position to win a National Championship or two. So just keep telling yourselves that he’ll be gone soon if it makes you feel better.
By KR
July 11, 2007 3:26 PM | Link to this
Nuthinbutawinner: Most people would consider a move from the NFL to the college ranks (regardless of the school) to be a step backward.
Granted, he’s making a ton of money now. But, you haven’t bought a lifetime a service from Nick. All it has done is set the bar higher for the next round of coaching salary negotiations.
Saban had a clause at LSU that guaranteed he would be the highest paid coach in Division I if he won a National Championship. I’m betting other coaches have the same clause.
So, since ‘Bama isn’t going to win the National Championship this year, some other coach will soon be making more than Saban. Then, the rest of the coaches’ salaries will start moving up as well.
It’s called market adjustment. Think of it as an arms race using paychecks.
By Nuthinbutawinner
July 11, 2007 3:43 PM | Link to this
When I referred to each move as a move up, I was talking primarily in terms of total dollars. But I can see where some might view that as a step back going from the Dolphins to the Tide… that’s really apples and oranges to some degree I suppose.
Yes, I’m aware that there is an “arms-race” going on. But there are only a handful of schools (ND, USC, Tex, OK maybe) with the money and desire to pay what Bama will pay to win. The odds of him jumping to another college at this point in his career have to be fairly low. And if you think he’s going back to the NFL, you’re really kidding yourself.
By shane
July 11, 2007 3:55 PM | Link to this
where will saban go? who knows,and i don’t care. i am old school,after all i am an old dude,i was taught that a real man keeps his word,even if it costs him money. my family had very little money,but we had our pride and our honor,which money cannot buy. i think this salary war going on now in the sec is odscene. it is a part of the win now,win at any cost mind set. i hope uga learned a lesson from our late basketball coach that almost killed the program. i’ll just say,be careful ‘bama.
By Buzzman
July 11, 2007 4:39 PM | Link to this
Isn’t it GREAT that college football is right around the corner????!!!!!! I love this stuff.
By Don
July 11, 2007 8:54 PM | Link to this
I’m a Dawg, and I always pull for the SEC. I’ve seen games in every major conference, they are all good, but nobody has the passion, tradition or following we have. I say it’s AU in the West. They have a staff that gets the best out of the talent they have. Nobody’s perfect, they fell asleep for us and the Hogs. I was at both games. LSU has super talent, so they are next with ARK to follow. Bama has more NC’s than all of us put together. They are a sleeping giant. Saban will bring them back, not like Bear, but I agree he’ll win a NC in the next few years for them. Think about his track record, he won’t stay more than five years. He’ll get tired of the pressure (or get in trouble) and retire. Last thing from me, I predict we’ll have at least two losses, but we will beat Florida. 2008 could be the year.
By TideRolling
July 11, 2007 9:26 PM | Link to this
Roll Tide - In 2006 we lacked mental Toughness. That will all change THIS YEAR. MarK my word…. THE TIDE WILL ROLL… I GUARANTEE IT..
Ole Ball Coach and Coach Fulmer
By SOBEDAWG
July 11, 2007 10:51 PM | Link to this
Sylvester Croom and Miss State will SHOCK the West in 2007!
By Archie
July 12, 2007 7:00 AM | Link to this
I attended an “insiders only” meeting of x-Alabama players and fans earlier this week and I’ll say it, Alabama is in for a LONG year. The centerpiece of their D is a 5’11 FB converted to LB. The next best LB hasn’t played a down of college football. Their NG is a converted offensive lineman. Their top corner is too slowwww to out run a slow QB. Their D isn’t much better. Though their offensive line will be among the tops in the SEC they have ZERO running game, headed by a converted LB who can’t escape tacklers and STD’s. Consensus - Bama loses at least 5 games this year.
By Doug
July 12, 2007 8:10 AM | Link to this
I think anti Bama fans are running scared. I never have heard so much criticism. This must mean Bama is going to win a NC soon. It reminds me of 1992 when we beat Miami’s eyes out after they ran their mouths.
By Doug
July 12, 2007 8:24 AM | Link to this
Oh yeah I forgot…….ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLL TIIIDDDEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By SEC is Football
July 12, 2007 9:43 AM | Link to this
Archie….I am a bit confused by your analysis of Alabama. I am not sure who this convertered FB to line backer is you are speaking of. Our starting MLB is Prince Hall. He was recruited as a LB and was a Freshman All-American at that position last year. I am also confused on who this CB is who cannot out run a slow QB. Simeon Castille is now regarded as the best cover corner in the league this year. He has been a solid player since he was a freshman and as a senior I would not look for a decline in his play. While we are inexperience at RB, we have recruited plenty of talent at the position and we will have an effective running game. Add to that the some of the best WR’s in the league and QB who threw for over 2700 yards in his first year starting, I would say the BAMA O will be one of the best in the league. No question our D has a few questions marks but so do a number of other defenses in the league. We will be just fine on that side of the ball. BAMA has always been knows for its defenses and this year will be no exception. I would say 4 losses at the very worst!
By Little Nicky Satan
July 14, 2007 1:35 PM | Link to this
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLL TIDE!
By M T
July 16, 2007 2:59 PM | Link to this
It is funny how everybody says Saban isn’t anything….Why talk about him? Alabama will be competitive this year & begin to return to being the best in college football….Read the numbers: 12 national championships 21 SEC championships last one 1992 Let’s seethe other National Champions in the SEC..Auburn 1 1957 Georgia 1 Tennessee 2 Florida 2 LSU 1 (in the last 50 years) RollTide!!!!
By LSU #1
July 20, 2007 11:30 PM | Link to this
Every team in the SEC will be boys playing against men this year v. LSU!! GEAUX TIGERS!!!
By Potfiller
July 24, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this
Croom not on hot seat??? Dude, you’re out of touch. He makes a bowl game this year or he can start applying for RB coach positions again.
The AD loses his job and you think the losingest coach of the school’s big 3 sports is not on the hot seat??
Believe it — Croom has to win 3 conference games or he’s toast. Let’s see, MAYBE Ole Miss and then who? I’m waiting… Croom’s seat couldn’t be any hotter!
By sec#1
July 24, 2007 3:21 PM | Link to this
LSU fan here, but I have to say that Arkansas does look impressive. They ran the ball down everyone’s throat last year, including LSU (even though LSU won the game on a couple of big plays)who had the #2 defense in the nation. They have McFadden back along with most of that huge offensive line. I don’t see anyone stopping them from running the ball at will. If their defense improves any at all, they will be a load to handle.