WHAT? I JUST SPENT 1.5 HOURS COMPILING A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF INFORMATION ABOUT OUR 2008 SIGNING CLASS IN ORDER TO POLITELY SHED LIGHT ON AN ISSUE THAT IS FREQUENTLY DISCUSSED ON THIS BOARD AND IMPROVE MY OWN THREAD, ONLY TO HAVE IT DELETED IN THE NAME OF MAIZE AND BLUE IGNORANCE AND BLIND ASTERISK-HUGGING CENSORSHIP?
OH MY FREAKING GOD!
I PLAY BALL THE WAY YOU GUYS WANT WITH GREAT INFO AND SPECIFIC EXAMPLES, AND YOU DISMISS IT BLIDNLY. MICHIGAN MEN CARE NOTHING ABOUT THE TRUTH, ONLY THE SOUNDS OF THEIR OWN VOICES AS THEY SPEW HOT, IGNORANT AIR. I HAD RESPECT FOR YOUR FANBASE. I NO LONGER DO. WHAT AN INCREDIBLE JOKE! YOU PEOPLE SO BLINDLY HOLD TO YOUR IGNORANCE AND CENSORSHIP THAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY EVIL. EVIL, EVIL PEOPLE. I'M DONE. GOOD DAY.
SEE YOU ON SATURDAY! HOLD TO YOUR FAKE OVERSIGNING ASTERISK. THE REST OF CFB LAUGHS AT YOU FOR IT.
The number of LOI's Alabama has given out is not the number of scollies given out, and this is due to signing-and-placing non-qualifiers hoping they'll return, kids choosing baseball, and simple non-academic qualifiers who we had hoped would be able to make the grades but did not. You guys think that difference is because kids are being pushed out - no. The kids never make it to campus. I desperately wish that I could get you guys to understand that LOI's have nothing to do with scholly numbers, given the myriad of things a kid can do after his signs his LOI. There is no evidence that Saban has ever pushed a kid out, and to continue along this line of logic by completely misinterpreting the numbers game is simply illogical.
For example, we gave out 32 LOI's in 2008, Saban's first full year of recruiting. 2 kids played baseball and have never returned, I believe 3 were sign-and-place, I think we had another 1 or so simply not qualify. The number of kids who set foot on campus was about 25-27, and a few back-counted to the previous year. We had schollies available for every single kid and didn't push a single player out. I know that Mich does things differently, and the number of LOI's you give out is the number of kids you bring in. But given the state of high school academics in the areas we recruit, this is not the way it's done in the South. The number of LOI's given out is never the number of kids who are coming to campus, and it's known long before NSD.
Each and every year since then, you need to subtract about 2 from the number you see on Rivals or Scout for Alabama's incoming class size, cause those kids will not be on campus that year, and the coaching staff and HS athlete both had known that for months.
It's simply a much different recruiting situation in the South. No one is being pushed out at Bama. Your explanantion isn't reality. What I've wriiten above is. Please understand that I'm not flaming nor trolling, but rather trying to help you guys understand the situation. It's much different in the South because of the HS academic situation.
To be fair, I wouldn't ncecssarily put the % of Bama fans who'd cheer for auburn any higher than 20% either, although I'd put the percentage of our clasy fans at about 50%.
The Alabama fanbase is made up of 2 very different groups: educated and uneducated. Given that our fanbase is a good bit larger than auburn's and actually is of very respectable size as compared to any fanbase of any sport nationally. This is due to the fact the Alabama has no pro sports teams; everyone including men, women, children, pets, and inanimate objects love football; football ranks right under Jesus and your Mama of things your instinctly love; the uni's are classically cool; and we're a traditional power.
I say all this to say that while I must admit that Bama has our share or idiots, it's because they are part of the large, uneducated, extremely vocal, and staunchly Southernly-prideful half. The other half of our fanbase very much prides itself and hangs it's hat on being the classiest group of fans in the world. Cursing is not appropriate in a team motto, cupcake teams get standing ovation for walking into our stadium, we never wish anyone to ever get hurt, gloating after a win is shameful (except for Rammer Jammer, which is simply a tradition, although I know many people who leave out the curse word), and tearing down goalposts is for lesser teams. Heck, even our idiots know the last one.
I can desire auburn to win for Bama's benefit and/or if I loathe the other team, but I cannot actually root for them play by play as their uniforms make me sick.
As a Bama fan and Southerner, I might be able to help here.
Generally speaking, at least 50% of any particular SEC fanbase is physically unable to root for a hated rival, and they also feel this way about a select few other teams for various reasons. Alabama fans, in particular, detest tennessee and auburn as rivals, but also loathe ND and michigan. They loathe their rivals for obvious reasons, hate ND for reasons dating back many decades (including being over-ranked forever), and Mich mostly because of a missed XP.
I personally hate in this order 1a) auburn 1b) tenn 2) USC (I detest everything about LA), BoiseSt (the blue field and SOS), and OSU (for being perpectually over-rated for the last 15 years or so and taking up space in nat'l title games, IMO. Also, what's a buckeye? A nut? I've got 2 nuts right here and you don't see me bragging about it.). I like Mich cause I liked your uni's when I was young. ND is irrelevant in all ways.
Having said all that, I can desire one of my hated rivals to win one of their games if it helps Bama, but I unable to actually ROOT for them during the game. I do generally, like most SEC fans, pull for SEC teams, but that's mostly due to my desire for the teams on our schedule to be reanked as high as possible when we play them. Personally, it's much more enjoyable to crush the hopes and dreams of an auburn or tenn when they're good as oposed to beating them when they're doormats.
In summation regarding the OP, the auburn fans without class (the majority) will be actively cheering for Bama to lose, lose badly, suffer as many injuries as possible, and then hope the team plane crashes into the side of a mountain. Their jealousy and subsequent hate creates a neglected-stepchild syndrome unrivaled in CFB. Their classy fans, of which there are some, will dispassionately root for Bama simply because it's an in-state school and they often have friends or loved ones they want to vaguely support. I'd put the % of auburn fans rooting for Bama at 20%. I'd put the % of their fanbase with class at about 30%. auburn defines success as beating Alabama; Alabama defines success as winning championships. Therein lies the difference. auburn is your MichSt.
I do agree with the posters who say that SEC fans are more likely to cheer for other SEC schools, but this is because they take pride in all things Southern, not so much because of supporting the conference per se.
I have since realized that I mixed up my years. I've pasted this from another part of this thread:
My sincerest apologies. I mixed up my years. However, in looking at Florida's resume for that year, they beat 4 ranked teams in route to a one loss season, and you beat 2 (I'm giving you Iowa). Their resume was much better than yours. You shouldn't have played in the game. No question about it, and it has nothing to do with the fact of who you lost to. It's who you beat, which wasn't enough.
My sincerest apologies. I mixed up my years. However, in looking at Florida's resume for that year, they beat 4 ranked teams in route to a one loss season, and you beat 2 (I'm giving you Iowa). Their resume was much better than yours. You shouldn't have played in the game. No question about it, and it has nothing to do with the fact of who you lost to. It's who you beat, which wasn't enough.
Genuine thanks to everyone for an enjoyable thread. I will continue to check it for discussion, and thanks to the mods for letting it survive. Otherwise, I will do my best to fade back into the background on this board, as I don't want to ruin game week for you guys. I very much understand how internet forums can add to the CFB experience for each and every fan, and I don't want to ruin yours.
If we lose, I will return to eat a bit of crow, should some exist. If we win, I will not gloat, as that is not my style.
Take care everyone, and safe traveling to the game for all those going. As many have said before, here's to a hard fought, injury-free game, and may the best team win. Roll Tide, and God Bless.
I agree and understand how the emphatic nature of the way I express myself can irritate some people. It's simply the way I speak. I never meant to offend nor troll.
1) LOI stands for "Letter of Intent". It is not a scholarship. And I didn't say that no one in the SEC has oversigned - I said Saban hasn't. Additionally, Saban has signed and placed a number of kids, many of whom return. A few have played baseball. A few didn't qualify academically. And so and so forth... LOI's mean nothing with regard to scholly numbers.
2) Alabama's medical scholly issue is with our Sports Medicine Department. That question would be better answered by James Andrews, who oversees that program. Saban publicly and repeatedly has said he plays no role whatsoever in medical schollies, and in fact it has bitten us in the butt a few times, most notably when our doctors wouldn't clear a returning all-conference outside linbacker to play after he had a hole repaired in his heart about 4 years ago. His name was Ezekial Knight. We despeartely needed the kid, and he was cleard by some outside physicians, but Andrews and crew ouldn't clear him. Losing that kid was big loss.
Alabama has only had one kid complain about medical schollies since Saban arrived, and he was a lineman several years back who had been physically unable to practice for more than a year due to multiple surgeries. He didn't want to give up his dream, but he couldn't contribute to our team even at practice. If I get my lips cut off, can I keep my same band scholly? Other than him, what evidence do you have of a kid being forced to take one, other than simply looking at the numbers and crying foul on general principle. Where's the hard evidence of abuse of the system?
You guys really hang your argument hats solely on the numbers game, when there's a much, much larger reality at play.
I don't believe I put "actually" in all-caps, italics, or underlined it. I don't believe I did anything to imply emphasis on that word at all, as you are implyhing I did. If you read it, you chose to. In retrospect, I should have left that word out to lessen the chance of folks here being offended. Nonetheless, your sentence and mine are drastically different, given your caps and my lack of them.
1) I'm perfectly confortable with both the words I've chosen and tone inherent in each and every post iIve made in this thread. I've kept it civil while being obviously confident in what I think. If you expect me to defer to your fanbase with regard to the strength of how I express my thoughts, then you are expecting me to be a different person. This is who I am, and I stand by it and sleep well at night.
2) I do not care what passes for correct vernacular when refering to one's team with your fanbase. That is not the way it is where I come from, and I will continue to refer to my beloved Crimson Tide in any way I see fit. I mean no disrespect by that, just telling you the way it is. I, and most Alabama fans, subscribe to the notion that with donations to the university, purchasing of Bama merchandise, and creating an inhospitable environment during the game with our voices, very much makes us a part of the team, and that sentiment is very much encouraged by the coaching staff and Southern culture as whole. If it's different for you guys, so be it - but that has no effect on me whatsoever.
In life, if what I choose to say is different from what you choose to hear - well, that sounds like a you problem. Keep in mind, however, that reading my words rather than hearing them being spoken allows the reader more room to misinterpret. This is inherent in the internet and cannot be separated from it.
I'm not sure about exact stats, but I believe he had 2 TD's in the first 3 minutes.
Wow, me asking a question to get info about your WR corps was met with a lot unnecessary derision from you. Jumping to such conclusions and speaking to me as you have reflects very poorly on you. Take care, my man. I will not stoop to your level.
I'm not looking for answers - I'm looking for discussion, and I've very much enjoyed this thread, and it seems a number of others have also. If you have such a problem with this thread, peruse elsewhere or ask a mod to block my IP. However, I think I've behaved myself well enough to be allowed to stay and talk football, despite the fact that my opinions differ from yours. Take care.
Me not thinking you'll score 2 TD's is neither condescending nor an insult. Games involving certain SEC teams are much lower scoring than you realize for a myriad of reasons, and Alabama is one of those teams. Heck, we lost last year to LSU when they didn't score a single touchdown. I also firmly believe Bama will be the best defense you face this year. Ergo, I don't think you score 2 TD's. I also don't think you'll win, either, but it could happen, as could your 2 TD's. But I simply don't think it will happen, and I'm not trying to insult your team nor fanbase by giving my opinion.
I answered this question in another part of this thread, but here goes...
I believe in looking at the total resumes of the teams, with emphasis on quality wins - and losses, of course. With this in mind, I think LSU had a better resume than you did, despite having 2 losses, as you had only 1.5 quality wins to LSU's 3 - Iowa counts a a half quality win in my eyes as they weren't ranked by eveyone. Having said that, I remember thinking what a sham it was for LSU to get to the game with 2 losses. Frankly, I don't think either of you proved that you were undeniable the 2nd best team in the land up to that point. Who should have played, I dunno. However, I think it's beyond the universe of a moot point, given that you got smoked by USC in the bowl game.
In summation, you definitely have an argument for getting to play in the game - I don't think you have a leg to stand on in saying you were one of the 2 best teams in CFB that year.
I do not subscribe to the idea that the CFB regular season, as currentlt constructed, should be considered like a playoff. I think that a team should be judged on it's overall resume, and strength of schedule with wins and losses should be paramount.
I don't for a second think OkSt had a better resume than Alabama. They lost to Iowa State, we lost to LSU. Our signature wins were also better than theirs. Simply because we previously lost to the team who happens to be playing in the title game is irrelevant, IMO.
There's definitely an argument for Bama and LSU having to play a 3rd game to crown a winner, and I'd have supported that.
Having said all this, the only way to fix it would be for the 60-70 best D1 teams to form a league, play ra andomly-generated schedule, and then have an 8-team playoff at the end. Until that happens, I think the 2 (or 4 in a few years) teams with the best resumes should vie for it all.
If you continue to disagree with your line of reasoning, then you are destroying your argument for getting a rematch with OSU a half decade ago.
I will not at all be surprised if the game is very close. I also won't be surprised if we win our 3rd Championship in 4 years this year, and those 2 statements are not mutually exclusive. Mich has a good team. Anything can happen, and that's why we play the games.
I never said, implied, alluded to, nor thought that Denard would be simply an above average QB in the SEC. I literally have no idea what you are talking about.
My opinion of Robinson:
Denard Robinson is the most electrifying player in CFB with the ball in his hands, and is the fastest player in CFB. And despite the fact that he has excellent arm strength, his mechanics and subsequent innacuracy, his lack of height, and his poor decision-making when thowing at times, particularly on 2nd- and 3rd-and-long, make him a very pedestrian thrower on average. He can make all the throws without question, but arm is both an asset and liability at times, and that liability affects his general rating and effectiveness in my eyes. Robinson is an excellent football player, a fine young man, a great leader, and hands-down the best player you have and your biggest asset by a country mile. That doesn't make him an elite CFB QB is my eyes, however. He would be an asset to any CFB team in the country, although his talents would be better served at different positions depending on the team. I believe this to be a reasonable and fair assessment, and I base this opinion on having watched a lot of Mich football recently.
I didn't get upset - the guy above me did. Since when does asking a person why he's upset constitue my being upset? Weird.
I never said I wouldn't be nervous or that I defintiely expected to hit it, just that my confidence level is not as low as yours. If that's bothersome for you, so be it. If the number 65% is annoying, change it to 51%. I still don't fear the scenario.
Thanks for not trying to insult my intelligence with a Math joke. That shows aplomb on your part, and attacking me about intelligence would be losing endeavor on anyone's part, save the 2% of the human population smarter than me. Yes, Southerners are just as smart as the rest of the world. Unfortunatley, our idiots have such a funny accent in which to sound stupid. It makes for good laughs, I admit.
Yes, that was me. I changed my mind after adjusting my board settings and finding a few decent topics to contribute to. (This website is surprisingly difficult to navigate and view porperly. Much more so than any other forum I visit. The software must be written oddly.) Sue me. I've recommended this board to a number of folks, but they couldn't stand the format and bolted. I understand why.
I think the spread is a bit too high, also. However, the spread is meant to generate betting in certain ways, and is not at all indicative of how experts see the game playing out.
I think Bama has the talent to play you out, but I don't expect it. I also think you guys have the talent and coaching to win, but i don't expect that either. Mich is a traditional power, and is intimidated by no one. You guys will bring your share of playmakers to Arlington, and I expect a battle.
Overconfidence for Alabama is definitely a concern, but squashing that has been the over-riding theme by everyone associated with Bama since the clock hit zeros against LSU last year. While it's a legitimate concern of mine, it's not at the top of the list.
Also, Denard being 100% healthy is a big thing for you guys, but it might not stay that way long. I can, however, guanartee no cheap shots or dirty play from Alabama.
Excellent post, and I generally agree with your assessment of how Mich can win. I disagree about Saban in the NFL, as I neither think he failed nor succeeded. He left the Dolphins 'cause they didn't give him control over personel, and after he was forced to take Culpepper over Brees by the Miami Brass, he had had enough.
I do disagree, however, that you will need us to turn the ball over to be in the game. I think you have enough talent to play stingy enough in the red zone to keep us from scoring many TD's, and if you get the big plays, you will be in the game, no doubt. I think Mich has enough talent to play with us for 3 quarters reasonably well, but I don't know if you'll be as fresh as us in the 4th. Depth will play a major role.
I als very much think Robinson has to throw the ball accurately. Not necessarily throw it 35 times, but simply be accurate when he does. If that happens, the playing field becomes much, much more level.
14) This was a joke - I know he turned us down, and it was meant as good-natured ribbing. I don't dislike him personally, although his wife is a terrifying species of banshee-hooker.
Regarding, SEC dominance, I very much agree that the difference is academic standards gives many teams an edge over teams with higher academic standards. That is a legitimate point. However, unless you fellas want to go play Ivy League or demand that teams like Alabama spot you points to start the game cause your academic standards are higher, it's ridiculous to argue. Many, many, many non-SEC and non-Big-10 teams have acadeimc standards similar to the SEC, and I'd call those standards the norm, and yours not the norm
Also, cheating happens in college football, is a problem, and needs to be stopped. I don't, however, for a second think that the SEC cheats more than any other conference, with auburn being the lone exception. The ACC is likley the worst cheating conference by a wide margin, and I'd put every else at about the same level.
I think oversigning is the weakest of your arguments, so much so that I think it makes your fanbase look like crying little boys who are about to "take their ball and go home." I truly mean no offense, but to continue holding on to this crutch like it's a legitimate asterisk for the Big10 only having a few championships in the last half century simply makes you look wimpy and pathetic.
I think most of the reason that the SEC has been so dominant is better athletes in the region and better coaching.
The rest of the country is playing bigboy football. Play it with us and stop crying, or start your own league. Just my 2 cents.
I've heard nothing but "this isn't last year" from this entire board when trying to discuss the strength of our current defense. If that's the case, and last year doesn't affect this year, then your argument is flawed to it's core. You can't talk out of both sides of your mouth and have it both ways.
Also, maybe it's the climate difference or something, but you guys act like a 52 yard FG is some kind of leprochaun triple-play rare type event. Sure, it's a serious boot, but we've got 3 different kickers who can get it that far, although one would have a low trajectory from that distance and might ge it blocked. I simply have faith enough in their year to year improvement to not be terrified of kicking a 52 yarder for the win. I wouldn't expect us to hit it, but I would be fairly confident in seeing it go through the uprights.
Kickers often mprove a lot from year to year, at least they have with us in the last 15 years. Sure, I'm using Bama logic in believing they'll improve, but it's the same logic you're using for a number of your players. Kicking is no different.
I don't remember saying any of those things, nor do I remember any Alabama fan clamoring for LSU to make it there. I distinctly remember that I, and everyone I knew, were saying that LSU didn't deserve to be there, but also that Michgan's resume wasn't better than LSU's, either. I remember screaming for a playoff. Nonetheless, the games played proved that LSU was better than any Big10 team that year.
Michigan only beat 1 ranked team that year, 2 if you count Iowa as they were ranked by some folks. Alabama beat 4 ranked teams and lost in overtime to the unanimous best team in the land. You lost to OSU in regulation.
Bama had the comparative better resume to argue for a rematch. You then went on to get smoked by USC, wheres we beat the suposedly best team in the land. Where's your argument?
I'm not saying that our kickers on campus now will hit a 52 yarder witha 65% success rate. They need to have improved. What I'm saying is, is that Saban somehow finds kickers and coaches them up to be very good kickers as their careers progress, and based on past history, it's not unreasonable to assume that we will have a good chance at hitting it if Saban chooses to try one. If our kickers aren't good enough, we simply won't try it.
Heck, our kicker hit a 54 yarder and a 52 yarder against Clemson in 2008 in the same game. Granted, it wasn't at the end of the game, but a good modern kicker should have range to about 55 - again, if he's good.
We also have a true freshman kicker with range into the 60's. How consistent he is, I dunno. But we've signed the highest rated HS kicker 2 of the last 3 years. Hopefully, someone will progress.
If you guys expect your LB's and DB's to improve from one year to the next, I can expect the same of my kicker.
6) Do you expect, and I mean expect, to have - at minimum - 2 offensive TD's in the game? YES. Alabama lost some great players to the NFL. The guys replacing them might have the talent, but don't have the experience yet especially in the first game to be as good.
I disagree, simply because we don't know. Our secondary could, in theory, be better simply beacuse of that fact. I do think that there's info info available with the returning starters and the info from fall camp, coupled with the quality of coaching and scheme, to expect them to be quite good in game one. It is obvious that they will be better later in the season, and for this reason, I agree with many posters here that you are getting us at the right time.
13) Do you have enough talent to rotate 2 groups on your Dline and still play high quality run defense as well as rush the passer, thereby being reasonably fresh for a 4th Q battle? I don't think we'll have enough talent to go two deep at every DLINE position and have a good pass rush. However, I don't think Alabama is going to be able to just line up and run over our defense. I think our D will be better against the run than people are expecting. I think Alabama will do some damage with play action passes over the top. I don't have a lot of faith with our DB's being left alone on a island. Countess isn't proven in my opinion. I just hope they have improved in one on one situations.
Based on what I'm hearing from your fall camp about getting more size up front on D with lineup adjustments, I actually expect you guys to be pretty solid against the run. You guys do play sound, fundamental D, tackle well, and do have quiet a bit of talent on your team, despit what some posters here think I imply with my questions.
14) Saban would have taken an SEC job. He's kind of said as much since.
1) I don't think Saban oversigns, as the number of kids you sign on Nat'l signing day depends on the number of schollies that WILL be available come fall, not based on the number of schollies available on that November date. As long as Saban is not forcing kids out, I see no problem, and there's no evidence of that happening, depsite how much you believe it. I can't say the same for the rest of the SEC, but Saban doesn't engage in immoral roster management. Kids leave, usually in search of playing time, and get hurt, etc.. It doesn't make him the devil.
Ovresigning is an isuue in CFB, but Saban is not that issue's poster boy, and in fact is universes from it.
2) There is one Nat'l championship that Bama claims and should not, 1961 I believe. However, there are a few others that wo could and/should count and don't, most notably 1966. 14 is a fair number.
3) I care nothing about protecting the rest of the SEC. I care about discussing the facts as they relate to Alabama. auburn has been paying players for 3 decades, and Les Miles and Houston Nutt have oversigned in the past.
Utah beat us using 5-wide in 2009, scoring 21 points in 5 minutes, and it's an achilles heel of Saban's. But you have to have talent to do it. It was a legitimate question.
Me thinking that our starting DB's are more talented than yours is not condescending. It's a declarative statement of the fact of my opinion. Should I just lie and say that all of your players are as good as Bama's just to be polite, when I don't think it's true? Some of you fellas are very sensitive about someone saying a player, unit, or team is better than Miichigan's. Why? We're just talking football. Geez.
Dude, if you think I implied condescension, I can't help you. My OP was perfectly pleasant, forthright, and honest. I asked those questions of your fanbase given my conversations with one of my best friends whose a Mich grad. The only question you interpreted correctly was my 3rd question. I very much think you guys have more issues than us, despite that fact that you guys have a good football team. I'll address a few others:
A) I do think Robinson will have a modicum of success running the ball. However, I don't for a second think that he will simply have his way running the football, like he's playing Indiana or something, and I disagree with the littany of posts I've seen on this board in the last 2 months implying he'd have his way. I very much think he'll have the statistically worst running game of his season, and potentially his career, as I think this Bama defense is the best defense he'll face in a Michigan uniform. I think he'll have to win it with his arm, which he has the talent to do.
C) No, I don't think you will score 2 offensive TD's. It's not an insult, but rather a prediction based on what I see. If you had an all-American FG kicker, I think the spread should drop by 8 points. I do think that you can score 1 TD, however, and still win the game, assuming you can kick a handful of FG's.
D) I asked this question with no rungame implications. I think we're going to throw it a lot, and was asking about the individual athletic talent of your starting secondary.
And in summation, your angst against me is misguided. They were just questions, and good questions at that, as evidenced by the excellent discussion in this thread. Good day.
1) I would love for Bama to play in the snow, and I'm all for Bowl games being played in cold weather climates. I think It'd be great for the sport. Regarding SEC speed in the game, I think our speed would be affected the same as the speed on the other sideline. I think the difference would be in the psychological advantage for the home team, and Bama's performance would be determined by managing the psychological aspect of playing in such conditions. I'd love for Bama to have a home-and-home with a cold weather team, but due to our conference schedule, it's difficult to do that late in the year. Our big OOC game is always early in the season. Excellent question.
2) I believed Alabama deserved to play in the game only after Stanford and OkSt lost. Had those losses not happened, one of those teams should have played against LSU instead of us. Having said that, I never once thought LSU was a better team than us, even after we lost to them, as we outplayed them six ways to Sunday in the first game and it was obvious to everyone, which is why Herbie said so during the Nat'l Champ game. Nonetheless, the scoreboard is the only thing that matters.
I do not think that winning your Conference or Division should have anything to do with playing for it all. If the 2 best teams are in the same conference or division, so be it. The 2 best teams should play, regardless of conference affiliation. And I assume that it was obvious that Alabama was the best team in the country after such a systematic destruction of LSU. Only shutout in a BCS game ever. Never finished a drive beyond midfield. I think it was obvious.
3) There's definitely an argument for that, but I think LSU's resume was better than yours that year even with 2 losses, given who they beat and who you beat. Had your loss come in the beginning of the season, you would have definitely played for it all with one loss. You also lost your bowl game badly, so...
4) Yes, the 2 best teams should play regardless of conference affiliation. The SEC uses a divisional system, not a round robin format. If the SEC used a round robin format, then last year's SEC championship game would have been Bama versus LSU again.
5) I'd say the bottom academic 10-15% of our football team would not qualify for Michigan out of high school. I think that is mostly to blame on the piss-poor high school academic situation in much of the South. I think each and every one of our football players, if they could get into Michigan, would stay academically eligible throughout their careers if they applied themselves. This is coming from a highly educated person who attended both undergrad on full academic scholarship and a world-renowned medical school. Please don't think I don't understand what quality academics are. Michigan is an excellent school, no doubt. But a hard working person of average intelligence can stay eligible athletically at Michigan.
Regarding Bama players success in the NFL, I don't know. I don't follow the NFL very closely and frankly, the NFL's irrelevant to this discussion. But thank you for acknowledging that our players are ultra-talented.
Hey, I let you guys' words speak for themselves. The inferiority complex was aimed at one specific poster, so why do you all feel that I meant it about everyone? I've read enough of this board to know that the SEC is a ridiculously frequent topic of discussion, and it's overwhelmingly derisive. That obsession is based on something. What it's based on, is for each and every man to decide. Nonetheless, on this issue, me thinks thou dost protest too much. :-)
Dude, why the hostility? I simply feel like we have a slightly better than 50% shot of hitting a 52 yarder for the win, and it's based on having watched my team play for the last several years. Geez, you data nerds get all worked up over little stuff. Geez, Louise.
You do realize that we will have 6 players drafted off this defense after this year (assuming Mosley leaves, drafted players will be WIlliams, Square, Johnson, Mosley, Milliner, and Lester), and likely 9 of our 11 starters in base will be drafted in next or future years. Hence, reloading, not rebuilding, and I don't think you guys will see paydirt twice as a consequence. But we'll see on Saturday.
For the win, I think we'd hit 65 of a 100, yes. We kick a lot of FG's, and routinely try them from 54 and shorter. We're admittedly not quite as good at that this year as we've been the last 10 years or so. We've been quite spoiled with good kickers for the last decade.
Recent Comments
WHAT? I JUST SPENT 1.5 HOURS COMPILING A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF INFORMATION ABOUT OUR 2008 SIGNING CLASS IN ORDER TO POLITELY SHED LIGHT ON AN ISSUE THAT IS FREQUENTLY DISCUSSED ON THIS BOARD AND IMPROVE MY OWN THREAD, ONLY TO HAVE IT DELETED IN THE NAME OF MAIZE AND BLUE IGNORANCE AND BLIND ASTERISK-HUGGING CENSORSHIP?
OH MY FREAKING GOD!
I PLAY BALL THE WAY YOU GUYS WANT WITH GREAT INFO AND SPECIFIC EXAMPLES, AND YOU DISMISS IT BLIDNLY. MICHIGAN MEN CARE NOTHING ABOUT THE TRUTH, ONLY THE SOUNDS OF THEIR OWN VOICES AS THEY SPEW HOT, IGNORANT AIR. I HAD RESPECT FOR YOUR FANBASE. I NO LONGER DO. WHAT AN INCREDIBLE JOKE! YOU PEOPLE SO BLINDLY HOLD TO YOUR IGNORANCE AND CENSORSHIP THAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY EVIL. EVIL, EVIL PEOPLE. I'M DONE. GOOD DAY.
SEE YOU ON SATURDAY! HOLD TO YOUR FAKE OVERSIGNING ASTERISK. THE REST OF CFB LAUGHS AT YOU FOR IT.
Bama fan here without flames or trolling:
The number of LOI's Alabama has given out is not the number of scollies given out, and this is due to signing-and-placing non-qualifiers hoping they'll return, kids choosing baseball, and simple non-academic qualifiers who we had hoped would be able to make the grades but did not. You guys think that difference is because kids are being pushed out - no. The kids never make it to campus. I desperately wish that I could get you guys to understand that LOI's have nothing to do with scholly numbers, given the myriad of things a kid can do after his signs his LOI. There is no evidence that Saban has ever pushed a kid out, and to continue along this line of logic by completely misinterpreting the numbers game is simply illogical.
For example, we gave out 32 LOI's in 2008, Saban's first full year of recruiting. 2 kids played baseball and have never returned, I believe 3 were sign-and-place, I think we had another 1 or so simply not qualify. The number of kids who set foot on campus was about 25-27, and a few back-counted to the previous year. We had schollies available for every single kid and didn't push a single player out. I know that Mich does things differently, and the number of LOI's you give out is the number of kids you bring in. But given the state of high school academics in the areas we recruit, this is not the way it's done in the South. The number of LOI's given out is never the number of kids who are coming to campus, and it's known long before NSD.
Each and every year since then, you need to subtract about 2 from the number you see on Rivals or Scout for Alabama's incoming class size, cause those kids will not be on campus that year, and the coaching staff and HS athlete both had known that for months.
It's simply a much different recruiting situation in the South. No one is being pushed out at Bama. Your explanantion isn't reality. What I've wriiten above is. Please understand that I'm not flaming nor trolling, but rather trying to help you guys understand the situation. It's much different in the South because of the HS academic situation.
one more thing:
To be fair, I wouldn't ncecssarily put the % of Bama fans who'd cheer for auburn any higher than 20% either, although I'd put the percentage of our clasy fans at about 50%.
The Alabama fanbase is made up of 2 very different groups: educated and uneducated. Given that our fanbase is a good bit larger than auburn's and actually is of very respectable size as compared to any fanbase of any sport nationally. This is due to the fact the Alabama has no pro sports teams; everyone including men, women, children, pets, and inanimate objects love football; football ranks right under Jesus and your Mama of things your instinctly love; the uni's are classically cool; and we're a traditional power.
I say all this to say that while I must admit that Bama has our share or idiots, it's because they are part of the large, uneducated, extremely vocal, and staunchly Southernly-prideful half. The other half of our fanbase very much prides itself and hangs it's hat on being the classiest group of fans in the world. Cursing is not appropriate in a team motto, cupcake teams get standing ovation for walking into our stadium, we never wish anyone to ever get hurt, gloating after a win is shameful (except for Rammer Jammer, which is simply a tradition, although I know many people who leave out the curse word), and tearing down goalposts is for lesser teams. Heck, even our idiots know the last one.
I can desire auburn to win for Bama's benefit and/or if I loathe the other team, but I cannot actually root for them play by play as their uniforms make me sick.
auburn fans are classless, jealous stepchildren. LSU fans are uber-classless criminal derelicts who want revenge.
As a Bama fan and Southerner, I might be able to help here.
Generally speaking, at least 50% of any particular SEC fanbase is physically unable to root for a hated rival, and they also feel this way about a select few other teams for various reasons. Alabama fans, in particular, detest tennessee and auburn as rivals, but also loathe ND and michigan. They loathe their rivals for obvious reasons, hate ND for reasons dating back many decades (including being over-ranked forever), and Mich mostly because of a missed XP.
I personally hate in this order 1a) auburn 1b) tenn 2) USC (I detest everything about LA), BoiseSt (the blue field and SOS), and OSU (for being perpectually over-rated for the last 15 years or so and taking up space in nat'l title games, IMO. Also, what's a buckeye? A nut? I've got 2 nuts right here and you don't see me bragging about it.). I like Mich cause I liked your uni's when I was young. ND is irrelevant in all ways.
Having said all that, I can desire one of my hated rivals to win one of their games if it helps Bama, but I unable to actually ROOT for them during the game. I do generally, like most SEC fans, pull for SEC teams, but that's mostly due to my desire for the teams on our schedule to be reanked as high as possible when we play them. Personally, it's much more enjoyable to crush the hopes and dreams of an auburn or tenn when they're good as oposed to beating them when they're doormats.
In summation regarding the OP, the auburn fans without class (the majority) will be actively cheering for Bama to lose, lose badly, suffer as many injuries as possible, and then hope the team plane crashes into the side of a mountain. Their jealousy and subsequent hate creates a neglected-stepchild syndrome unrivaled in CFB. Their classy fans, of which there are some, will dispassionately root for Bama simply because it's an in-state school and they often have friends or loved ones they want to vaguely support. I'd put the % of auburn fans rooting for Bama at 20%. I'd put the % of their fanbase with class at about 30%. auburn defines success as beating Alabama; Alabama defines success as winning championships. Therein lies the difference. auburn is your MichSt.
I do agree with the posters who say that SEC fans are more likely to cheer for other SEC schools, but this is because they take pride in all things Southern, not so much because of supporting the conference per se.
You hurt me deep, Diesel. Real deep.
Seriously, glad you made it out. Good to see your internet self, diplomatic as always.
We lost to LSU at home last year. We go to Death Valley this year.
And I'll answer my phone win or lose, and you know it.
The depth chart came out 2 days ago. Starting corners are Dee Milliner and Deion Belue (JUCO). John Fulton will play the nickel.
I'm not sure what you mean, but...thank you?
I have since realized that I mixed up my years. I've pasted this from another part of this thread:
My sincerest apologies. I mixed up my years. However, in looking at Florida's resume for that year, they beat 4 ranked teams in route to a one loss season, and you beat 2 (I'm giving you Iowa). Their resume was much better than yours. You shouldn't have played in the game. No question about it, and it has nothing to do with the fact of who you lost to. It's who you beat, which wasn't enough.
Even if the obvious number one team is the team you lost to? Does losing to number 1 in overtime mean you can't be number 2?
My sincerest apologies. I mixed up my years. However, in looking at Florida's resume for that year, they beat 4 ranked teams in route to a one loss season, and you beat 2 (I'm giving you Iowa). Their resume was much better than yours. You shouldn't have played in the game. No question about it, and it has nothing to do with the fact of who you lost to. It's who you beat, which wasn't enough.
Question: How many rushing yards do you expect against us, excludiing minus yardage from sacks?
Had a Michigan roommate.
Genuine thanks to everyone for an enjoyable thread. I will continue to check it for discussion, and thanks to the mods for letting it survive. Otherwise, I will do my best to fade back into the background on this board, as I don't want to ruin game week for you guys. I very much understand how internet forums can add to the CFB experience for each and every fan, and I don't want to ruin yours.
If we lose, I will return to eat a bit of crow, should some exist. If we win, I will not gloat, as that is not my style.
Take care everyone, and safe traveling to the game for all those going. As many have said before, here's to a hard fought, injury-free game, and may the best team win. Roll Tide, and God Bless.
I agree and understand how the emphatic nature of the way I express myself can irritate some people. It's simply the way I speak. I never meant to offend nor troll.
1) LOI stands for "Letter of Intent". It is not a scholarship. And I didn't say that no one in the SEC has oversigned - I said Saban hasn't. Additionally, Saban has signed and placed a number of kids, many of whom return. A few have played baseball. A few didn't qualify academically. And so and so forth... LOI's mean nothing with regard to scholly numbers.
2) Alabama's medical scholly issue is with our Sports Medicine Department. That question would be better answered by James Andrews, who oversees that program. Saban publicly and repeatedly has said he plays no role whatsoever in medical schollies, and in fact it has bitten us in the butt a few times, most notably when our doctors wouldn't clear a returning all-conference outside linbacker to play after he had a hole repaired in his heart about 4 years ago. His name was Ezekial Knight. We despeartely needed the kid, and he was cleard by some outside physicians, but Andrews and crew ouldn't clear him. Losing that kid was big loss.
Alabama has only had one kid complain about medical schollies since Saban arrived, and he was a lineman several years back who had been physically unable to practice for more than a year due to multiple surgeries. He didn't want to give up his dream, but he couldn't contribute to our team even at practice. If I get my lips cut off, can I keep my same band scholly? Other than him, what evidence do you have of a kid being forced to take one, other than simply looking at the numbers and crying foul on general principle. Where's the hard evidence of abuse of the system?
You guys really hang your argument hats solely on the numbers game, when there's a much, much larger reality at play.
I don't believe I put "actually" in all-caps, italics, or underlined it. I don't believe I did anything to imply emphasis on that word at all, as you are implyhing I did. If you read it, you chose to. In retrospect, I should have left that word out to lessen the chance of folks here being offended. Nonetheless, your sentence and mine are drastically different, given your caps and my lack of them.
1) I'm perfectly confortable with both the words I've chosen and tone inherent in each and every post iIve made in this thread. I've kept it civil while being obviously confident in what I think. If you expect me to defer to your fanbase with regard to the strength of how I express my thoughts, then you are expecting me to be a different person. This is who I am, and I stand by it and sleep well at night.
2) I do not care what passes for correct vernacular when refering to one's team with your fanbase. That is not the way it is where I come from, and I will continue to refer to my beloved Crimson Tide in any way I see fit. I mean no disrespect by that, just telling you the way it is. I, and most Alabama fans, subscribe to the notion that with donations to the university, purchasing of Bama merchandise, and creating an inhospitable environment during the game with our voices, very much makes us a part of the team, and that sentiment is very much encouraged by the coaching staff and Southern culture as whole. If it's different for you guys, so be it - but that has no effect on me whatsoever.
In life, if what I choose to say is different from what you choose to hear - well, that sounds like a you problem. Keep in mind, however, that reading my words rather than hearing them being spoken allows the reader more room to misinterpret. This is inherent in the internet and cannot be separated from it.
We'll see you on Saturday. Take care.
I'm not sure about exact stats, but I believe he had 2 TD's in the first 3 minutes.
Wow, me asking a question to get info about your WR corps was met with a lot unnecessary derision from you. Jumping to such conclusions and speaking to me as you have reflects very poorly on you. Take care, my man. I will not stoop to your level.
I'm not looking for answers - I'm looking for discussion, and I've very much enjoyed this thread, and it seems a number of others have also. If you have such a problem with this thread, peruse elsewhere or ask a mod to block my IP. However, I think I've behaved myself well enough to be allowed to stay and talk football, despite the fact that my opinions differ from yours. Take care.
Me not thinking you'll score 2 TD's is neither condescending nor an insult. Games involving certain SEC teams are much lower scoring than you realize for a myriad of reasons, and Alabama is one of those teams. Heck, we lost last year to LSU when they didn't score a single touchdown. I also firmly believe Bama will be the best defense you face this year. Ergo, I don't think you score 2 TD's. I also don't think you'll win, either, but it could happen, as could your 2 TD's. But I simply don't think it will happen, and I'm not trying to insult your team nor fanbase by giving my opinion.
I answered this question in another part of this thread, but here goes...
I believe in looking at the total resumes of the teams, with emphasis on quality wins - and losses, of course. With this in mind, I think LSU had a better resume than you did, despite having 2 losses, as you had only 1.5 quality wins to LSU's 3 - Iowa counts a a half quality win in my eyes as they weren't ranked by eveyone. Having said that, I remember thinking what a sham it was for LSU to get to the game with 2 losses. Frankly, I don't think either of you proved that you were undeniable the 2nd best team in the land up to that point. Who should have played, I dunno. However, I think it's beyond the universe of a moot point, given that you got smoked by USC in the bowl game.
In summation, you definitely have an argument for getting to play in the game - I don't think you have a leg to stand on in saying you were one of the 2 best teams in CFB that year.
I do not subscribe to the idea that the CFB regular season, as currentlt constructed, should be considered like a playoff. I think that a team should be judged on it's overall resume, and strength of schedule with wins and losses should be paramount.
I don't for a second think OkSt had a better resume than Alabama. They lost to Iowa State, we lost to LSU. Our signature wins were also better than theirs. Simply because we previously lost to the team who happens to be playing in the title game is irrelevant, IMO.
There's definitely an argument for Bama and LSU having to play a 3rd game to crown a winner, and I'd have supported that.
Having said all this, the only way to fix it would be for the 60-70 best D1 teams to form a league, play ra andomly-generated schedule, and then have an 8-team playoff at the end. Until that happens, I think the 2 (or 4 in a few years) teams with the best resumes should vie for it all.
If you continue to disagree with your line of reasoning, then you are destroying your argument for getting a rematch with OSU a half decade ago.
I will not at all be surprised if the game is very close. I also won't be surprised if we win our 3rd Championship in 4 years this year, and those 2 statements are not mutually exclusive. Mich has a good team. Anything can happen, and that's why we play the games.
I never said, implied, alluded to, nor thought that Denard would be simply an above average QB in the SEC. I literally have no idea what you are talking about.
My opinion of Robinson:
Denard Robinson is the most electrifying player in CFB with the ball in his hands, and is the fastest player in CFB. And despite the fact that he has excellent arm strength, his mechanics and subsequent innacuracy, his lack of height, and his poor decision-making when thowing at times, particularly on 2nd- and 3rd-and-long, make him a very pedestrian thrower on average. He can make all the throws without question, but arm is both an asset and liability at times, and that liability affects his general rating and effectiveness in my eyes. Robinson is an excellent football player, a fine young man, a great leader, and hands-down the best player you have and your biggest asset by a country mile. That doesn't make him an elite CFB QB is my eyes, however. He would be an asset to any CFB team in the country, although his talents would be better served at different positions depending on the team. I believe this to be a reasonable and fair assessment, and I base this opinion on having watched a lot of Mich football recently.
I didn't get upset - the guy above me did. Since when does asking a person why he's upset constitue my being upset? Weird.
I never said I wouldn't be nervous or that I defintiely expected to hit it, just that my confidence level is not as low as yours. If that's bothersome for you, so be it. If the number 65% is annoying, change it to 51%. I still don't fear the scenario.
Thanks for not trying to insult my intelligence with a Math joke. That shows aplomb on your part, and attacking me about intelligence would be losing endeavor on anyone's part, save the 2% of the human population smarter than me. Yes, Southerners are just as smart as the rest of the world. Unfortunatley, our idiots have such a funny accent in which to sound stupid. It makes for good laughs, I admit.
In your opinion, yes. However, your opinion is not fact. As a corollary, neither is mine.
Yes, that was me. I changed my mind after adjusting my board settings and finding a few decent topics to contribute to. (This website is surprisingly difficult to navigate and view porperly. Much more so than any other forum I visit. The software must be written oddly.) Sue me. I've recommended this board to a number of folks, but they couldn't stand the format and bolted. I understand why.
This is definitely true, but I've tried to behave myself on this board while I have been here. I've succeeded most of the time.
Nice post, and I agree with several points.
I think the spread is a bit too high, also. However, the spread is meant to generate betting in certain ways, and is not at all indicative of how experts see the game playing out.
I think Bama has the talent to play you out, but I don't expect it. I also think you guys have the talent and coaching to win, but i don't expect that either. Mich is a traditional power, and is intimidated by no one. You guys will bring your share of playmakers to Arlington, and I expect a battle.
Overconfidence for Alabama is definitely a concern, but squashing that has been the over-riding theme by everyone associated with Bama since the clock hit zeros against LSU last year. While it's a legitimate concern of mine, it's not at the top of the list.
Also, Denard being 100% healthy is a big thing for you guys, but it might not stay that way long. I can, however, guanartee no cheap shots or dirty play from Alabama.
Excellent post, and I generally agree with your assessment of how Mich can win. I disagree about Saban in the NFL, as I neither think he failed nor succeeded. He left the Dolphins 'cause they didn't give him control over personel, and after he was forced to take Culpepper over Brees by the Miami Brass, he had had enough.
I do disagree, however, that you will need us to turn the ball over to be in the game. I think you have enough talent to play stingy enough in the red zone to keep us from scoring many TD's, and if you get the big plays, you will be in the game, no doubt. I think Mich has enough talent to play with us for 3 quarters reasonably well, but I don't know if you'll be as fresh as us in the 4th. Depth will play a major role.
I als very much think Robinson has to throw the ball accurately. Not necessarily throw it 35 times, but simply be accurate when he does. If that happens, the playing field becomes much, much more level.
Thanks for your replies.
14) This was a joke - I know he turned us down, and it was meant as good-natured ribbing. I don't dislike him personally, although his wife is a terrifying species of banshee-hooker.
Regarding, SEC dominance, I very much agree that the difference is academic standards gives many teams an edge over teams with higher academic standards. That is a legitimate point. However, unless you fellas want to go play Ivy League or demand that teams like Alabama spot you points to start the game cause your academic standards are higher, it's ridiculous to argue. Many, many, many non-SEC and non-Big-10 teams have acadeimc standards similar to the SEC, and I'd call those standards the norm, and yours not the norm
Also, cheating happens in college football, is a problem, and needs to be stopped. I don't, however, for a second think that the SEC cheats more than any other conference, with auburn being the lone exception. The ACC is likley the worst cheating conference by a wide margin, and I'd put every else at about the same level.
I think oversigning is the weakest of your arguments, so much so that I think it makes your fanbase look like crying little boys who are about to "take their ball and go home." I truly mean no offense, but to continue holding on to this crutch like it's a legitimate asterisk for the Big10 only having a few championships in the last half century simply makes you look wimpy and pathetic.
I think most of the reason that the SEC has been so dominant is better athletes in the region and better coaching.
The rest of the country is playing bigboy football. Play it with us and stop crying, or start your own league. Just my 2 cents.
I've heard nothing but "this isn't last year" from this entire board when trying to discuss the strength of our current defense. If that's the case, and last year doesn't affect this year, then your argument is flawed to it's core. You can't talk out of both sides of your mouth and have it both ways.
Also, maybe it's the climate difference or something, but you guys act like a 52 yard FG is some kind of leprochaun triple-play rare type event. Sure, it's a serious boot, but we've got 3 different kickers who can get it that far, although one would have a low trajectory from that distance and might ge it blocked. I simply have faith enough in their year to year improvement to not be terrified of kicking a 52 yarder for the win. I wouldn't expect us to hit it, but I would be fairly confident in seeing it go through the uprights.
Kickers often mprove a lot from year to year, at least they have with us in the last 15 years. Sure, I'm using Bama logic in believing they'll improve, but it's the same logic you're using for a number of your players. Kicking is no different.
I don't remember saying any of those things, nor do I remember any Alabama fan clamoring for LSU to make it there. I distinctly remember that I, and everyone I knew, were saying that LSU didn't deserve to be there, but also that Michgan's resume wasn't better than LSU's, either. I remember screaming for a playoff. Nonetheless, the games played proved that LSU was better than any Big10 team that year.
Michigan only beat 1 ranked team that year, 2 if you count Iowa as they were ranked by some folks. Alabama beat 4 ranked teams and lost in overtime to the unanimous best team in the land. You lost to OSU in regulation.
Bama had the comparative better resume to argue for a rematch. You then went on to get smoked by USC, wheres we beat the suposedly best team in the land. Where's your argument?
I'm not saying that our kickers on campus now will hit a 52 yarder witha 65% success rate. They need to have improved. What I'm saying is, is that Saban somehow finds kickers and coaches them up to be very good kickers as their careers progress, and based on past history, it's not unreasonable to assume that we will have a good chance at hitting it if Saban chooses to try one. If our kickers aren't good enough, we simply won't try it.
Heck, our kicker hit a 54 yarder and a 52 yarder against Clemson in 2008 in the same game. Granted, it wasn't at the end of the game, but a good modern kicker should have range to about 55 - again, if he's good.
We also have a true freshman kicker with range into the 60's. How consistent he is, I dunno. But we've signed the highest rated HS kicker 2 of the last 3 years. Hopefully, someone will progress.
If you guys expect your LB's and DB's to improve from one year to the next, I can expect the same of my kicker.
Fair enough, but there's a difference between true "confidence" and "thinking you have a decent chance at hitting it." Perhaps I worded it poorly.
Those who know me would not totally disagree.
As Bear Bryant said, "I am winner. I've never been nothin' but a winner," and my personality reflects such.
If Mich wins on Sat, I'll be the first to congratulate you guys. Win with honor, lose with honor, and act like you've been there before.
6) Do you expect, and I mean expect, to have - at minimum - 2 offensive TD's in the game? YES. Alabama lost some great players to the NFL. The guys replacing them might have the talent, but don't have the experience yet especially in the first game to be as good.
I disagree, simply because we don't know. Our secondary could, in theory, be better simply beacuse of that fact. I do think that there's info info available with the returning starters and the info from fall camp, coupled with the quality of coaching and scheme, to expect them to be quite good in game one. It is obvious that they will be better later in the season, and for this reason, I agree with many posters here that you are getting us at the right time.
13) Do you have enough talent to rotate 2 groups on your Dline and still play high quality run defense as well as rush the passer, thereby being reasonably fresh for a 4th Q battle? I don't think we'll have enough talent to go two deep at every DLINE position and have a good pass rush. However, I don't think Alabama is going to be able to just line up and run over our defense. I think our D will be better against the run than people are expecting. I think Alabama will do some damage with play action passes over the top. I don't have a lot of faith with our DB's being left alone on a island. Countess isn't proven in my opinion. I just hope they have improved in one on one situations.
Based on what I'm hearing from your fall camp about getting more size up front on D with lineup adjustments, I actually expect you guys to be pretty solid against the run. You guys do play sound, fundamental D, tackle well, and do have quiet a bit of talent on your team, despit what some posters here think I imply with my questions.
14) Saban would have taken an SEC job. He's kind of said as much since.
1) I don't think Saban oversigns, as the number of kids you sign on Nat'l signing day depends on the number of schollies that WILL be available come fall, not based on the number of schollies available on that November date. As long as Saban is not forcing kids out, I see no problem, and there's no evidence of that happening, depsite how much you believe it. I can't say the same for the rest of the SEC, but Saban doesn't engage in immoral roster management. Kids leave, usually in search of playing time, and get hurt, etc.. It doesn't make him the devil.
Ovresigning is an isuue in CFB, but Saban is not that issue's poster boy, and in fact is universes from it.
2) There is one Nat'l championship that Bama claims and should not, 1961 I believe. However, there are a few others that wo could and/should count and don't, most notably 1966. 14 is a fair number.
3) I care nothing about protecting the rest of the SEC. I care about discussing the facts as they relate to Alabama. auburn has been paying players for 3 decades, and Les Miles and Houston Nutt have oversigned in the past.
Utah beat us using 5-wide in 2009, scoring 21 points in 5 minutes, and it's an achilles heel of Saban's. But you have to have talent to do it. It was a legitimate question.
Me thinking that our starting DB's are more talented than yours is not condescending. It's a declarative statement of the fact of my opinion. Should I just lie and say that all of your players are as good as Bama's just to be polite, when I don't think it's true? Some of you fellas are very sensitive about someone saying a player, unit, or team is better than Miichigan's. Why? We're just talking football. Geez.
Dude, if you think I implied condescension, I can't help you. My OP was perfectly pleasant, forthright, and honest. I asked those questions of your fanbase given my conversations with one of my best friends whose a Mich grad. The only question you interpreted correctly was my 3rd question. I very much think you guys have more issues than us, despite that fact that you guys have a good football team. I'll address a few others:
A) I do think Robinson will have a modicum of success running the ball. However, I don't for a second think that he will simply have his way running the football, like he's playing Indiana or something, and I disagree with the littany of posts I've seen on this board in the last 2 months implying he'd have his way. I very much think he'll have the statistically worst running game of his season, and potentially his career, as I think this Bama defense is the best defense he'll face in a Michigan uniform. I think he'll have to win it with his arm, which he has the talent to do.
C) No, I don't think you will score 2 offensive TD's. It's not an insult, but rather a prediction based on what I see. If you had an all-American FG kicker, I think the spread should drop by 8 points. I do think that you can score 1 TD, however, and still win the game, assuming you can kick a handful of FG's.
D) I asked this question with no rungame implications. I think we're going to throw it a lot, and was asking about the individual athletic talent of your starting secondary.
And in summation, your angst against me is misguided. They were just questions, and good questions at that, as evidenced by the excellent discussion in this thread. Good day.
Great questions all:
1) I would love for Bama to play in the snow, and I'm all for Bowl games being played in cold weather climates. I think It'd be great for the sport. Regarding SEC speed in the game, I think our speed would be affected the same as the speed on the other sideline. I think the difference would be in the psychological advantage for the home team, and Bama's performance would be determined by managing the psychological aspect of playing in such conditions. I'd love for Bama to have a home-and-home with a cold weather team, but due to our conference schedule, it's difficult to do that late in the year. Our big OOC game is always early in the season. Excellent question.
2) I believed Alabama deserved to play in the game only after Stanford and OkSt lost. Had those losses not happened, one of those teams should have played against LSU instead of us. Having said that, I never once thought LSU was a better team than us, even after we lost to them, as we outplayed them six ways to Sunday in the first game and it was obvious to everyone, which is why Herbie said so during the Nat'l Champ game. Nonetheless, the scoreboard is the only thing that matters.
I do not think that winning your Conference or Division should have anything to do with playing for it all. If the 2 best teams are in the same conference or division, so be it. The 2 best teams should play, regardless of conference affiliation. And I assume that it was obvious that Alabama was the best team in the country after such a systematic destruction of LSU. Only shutout in a BCS game ever. Never finished a drive beyond midfield. I think it was obvious.
3) There's definitely an argument for that, but I think LSU's resume was better than yours that year even with 2 losses, given who they beat and who you beat. Had your loss come in the beginning of the season, you would have definitely played for it all with one loss. You also lost your bowl game badly, so...
4) Yes, the 2 best teams should play regardless of conference affiliation. The SEC uses a divisional system, not a round robin format. If the SEC used a round robin format, then last year's SEC championship game would have been Bama versus LSU again.
5) I'd say the bottom academic 10-15% of our football team would not qualify for Michigan out of high school. I think that is mostly to blame on the piss-poor high school academic situation in much of the South. I think each and every one of our football players, if they could get into Michigan, would stay academically eligible throughout their careers if they applied themselves. This is coming from a highly educated person who attended both undergrad on full academic scholarship and a world-renowned medical school. Please don't think I don't understand what quality academics are. Michigan is an excellent school, no doubt. But a hard working person of average intelligence can stay eligible athletically at Michigan.
Regarding Bama players success in the NFL, I don't know. I don't follow the NFL very closely and frankly, the NFL's irrelevant to this discussion. But thank you for acknowledging that our players are ultra-talented.
Hey, I let you guys' words speak for themselves. The inferiority complex was aimed at one specific poster, so why do you all feel that I meant it about everyone? I've read enough of this board to know that the SEC is a ridiculously frequent topic of discussion, and it's overwhelmingly derisive. That obsession is based on something. What it's based on, is for each and every man to decide. Nonetheless, on this issue, me thinks thou dost protest too much. :-)
Dude, why the hostility? I simply feel like we have a slightly better than 50% shot of hitting a 52 yarder for the win, and it's based on having watched my team play for the last several years. Geez, you data nerds get all worked up over little stuff. Geez, Louise.
That's a very small data point to try and negate the statement of being generally blessed with kickers for the last decade, no?
Fair point, but I wasn't implying that I thought your LB corps would be a liability simply by asking about them. It was just a question.
You do realize that we will have 6 players drafted off this defense after this year (assuming Mosley leaves, drafted players will be WIlliams, Square, Johnson, Mosley, Milliner, and Lester), and likely 9 of our 11 starters in base will be drafted in next or future years. Hence, reloading, not rebuilding, and I don't think you guys will see paydirt twice as a consequence. But we'll see on Saturday.
For the win, I think we'd hit 65 of a 100, yes. We kick a lot of FG's, and routinely try them from 54 and shorter. We're admittedly not quite as good at that this year as we've been the last 10 years or so. We've been quite spoiled with good kickers for the last decade.