I didn't know much about Clemson this season but assumed(mistake) their ranking might be valid. They did seem to have some very good players, but they don't seem to have a very good team. Either the wrong players are recruited, or the coach can't get them to work together. Either way, it's on Bowden's head and he will probably be in jeopardy if he does not win the ACC this year. Honestly, the ACC must be damn bad if that is their best. On the flip side, bama was a big reason for their continued disruption. They played technically sound, pushed hard on both lines, and just got in the heads of Clemson. JPW looked like the best QB in the SEC last night. I have never seen him so at ease and making so many correct decisions. The new OC has helped him tremendously. Bama also finshed strong. I never really saw them let up. Maybe Clemson was too highly rated but bama still beat the ever loving crap out of them. Might be too early for them to crow, but they have plenty to celebrate. Come November, we will see how they deal with teams that fight back. It appears they will be competitive this year. Good job bama.
The SEC so far has only lost one game this weekend. Let's hope Tennessee can win. I can't believe I just said that....:huh:
Good post, except for the part about Clemson's talent. CU has a clear definiciency along the LOS. I thought Alabama looked very good it is clear that CJM is a significant upgrade over his predecessor. I wasn't planning to wager on this game because of the clear unknowns about each team. Prior to the game, a local ATL reporter hinted that the Alabama team "looked like they wanted to be here, while the Clemson players do not." When I heard that, I immediately called my book. One thing you're wrong about though, bamabuzzard ...... hardly anybody is making this win out to be a joke, regardless of fanbase. Everybody witnessed a cohesive, well-prepared team that dominated a quality opponent. Likewise, ...... Bama won't be sneaking up on any of it's opponents this season. No, I'm afraid the few that are making this out to be a joke are the Clemson fans themselves ....... out of total embarrassment. One day we may look upon Clemson's performance in this game, and say, "that was the beginning of the end" for Tommy Bowden.
"Reaffirmation No. 1: Yes, Alabama will win the SEC West. In all candor, I had the Tide in the SEC West only because I’m not sold on the quarterbacks at LSU and Auburn, but after this impressive performance against Clemson, confidence in Alabama has been reaffirmed. Say what you want about Nick Saban the man; the guy can coach the pants off almost anyone else in the business." from cfn http://cfn.scout.com/2/557922.html we'll see
Let's see.....is this the 4th or 5th time bama has been back in the last two years. I said all along they were being underrated. I participate in three pick 'em contests and I picked bama in all three. But they have a long way to go to be able to win the West.
My remark about the "talent" is that they had plenty of talent to beat us. Not saying they had the talent to play for the BCS title game. We beat a Tennessee team last year with less talent and lord knows less depth than Clemson had Saturday night. And with regards to others making a joke out of our win. What I mean by that is we are being credited for the win more for what Clemson isn't rather than what Bama did. I agree that Clemson was and is WAY overrated but Bama still had to execute. Also, I'm tired of the "Bama's back" remark and I really do not know how that remark is even relevant in this day and age of college football and wish Bama fans would remove it from their terminoligy. I've been guilty of using it myself but it is really pretty silly. We need to just go out, start beating people on the field and shut up. If we do that we won't have to compliment ourselves.
I think Bama is back, not in the sense they have any right to be "team of the decade of the 'teens'", but they are back in the sense that you can't write a W down next to their name on your schedule. We'll have to earn it. Which is how we felt in 2000 and on. We wanted to get to the point that when you lined up against a top 10 team, you thought you had a decent chance to win the game, even in an upset, instead of being "sure you'd lose". In that sense, I think Bama is back.