SEC titles, National Championships, my good friends this will all come, but not next year. Getting a Coach like Saban was a great piece to the football puzzle. But it isn’t the only piece. Alabama has no depth on the defensive line and by the time we run into the LSU’s and Auburn’s that will hurt us. Saban is going to need time to recruit; he is going to need time to build. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither is a championship football season. Saban is going to need some time. So enjoy the summer and don’t just wish it away for the fall. The fall will be here soon enough, it will be a good one, Bama will win some games it shouldn’t. Look for an 8 win season. (Maybe 9.)

~Cheap Seats

Wow! That is all I can say or just about anyone for that matter. 92,138 is what the books say. But it was a great deal more than that. The Bama Nation came out in droves and welcomed our new leader Coach Nick Saban. A great deal has happened to the Tide since Coach Stallings left. But make now mistake about it. The Tide is now back. With Coach Saban I see great opportunities ahead. With that said it will not be overnight. These things take time. But given some time Coach Saban will have Bama back on Top. I can’t wait. Enjoy the ride folks. It is going to be a good one. Later.

~ Cheap Seats

Been away for a good while. Nice to be back. A lot has happened since I have been away. Bama went and got themselves a great coach in Nick Saban. Spring Football is almost here and A-day should be electric. The Basketball team was a huge disapointment. If Gottfried doesn’t get this thing turned around he could be next in the unemployment line. Baseball team is just getting started. I have a good feeling about baseball this year. All and all it is just good to be Back. Hello Bama!!!! Roll Tide Roll!!!

~ Cheap Seats

Alabama’s coaching search took a big hit this past Friday when Rich Rodriquez decided to stay at West Virginia. As a lifelong Bama fan I have always thought the Alabama job was one of the most attractive jobs in the nation. It is very hard to admit that as of right now it is not. Why is Bama having such a hard time landing a quality coach? Well I think there are two problems. One is the fact that the BOT is to involved in day to day operations of the Athletic Dept. The BOT needs to back off and let the folks that get paid to do their jobs do it. The second reason Bama is having trouble finding a new coach is well me. Me and you, you and I, Bama Fans in general. We have become a bunch of old women who are happy with nothing and gripe about everything. Complain, complain. If we won the National Championship some would complain that we didn’t win it by enough points. Others would complain that the players celebrated too much at the end of the game and that show a lack of discipline and of course some would complain that if we won the National Championship this year why then couldn’t we have done it last year. I am not asking to settle or except mediocrity. I am just saying we need to be more realistic. Otherwise why Coach at Alabama? The fans will never be happy.

~Cheap Seats

I believe because Rory Turner “waxed the dude”. I believe because Van Tiffin was “good, he made it”. I believe because Coach Bryant said “he ain’t never been nothing but a winner.” I believe because Linnie Patrick believed. I believe because Dennis Riddle believed. I believe because we are The University of Alabama. Throw out x’s and o’s. Just do one thing this weekend. BELIEVE! I believe Alabama 28 Auburn 7. I believe.

Roll Tide!

Welcome Ladies and Gentleman to the Third Saturday in October. The Classic college football rivalry between the University of Alabama and their neighbors to the north, the University of Tennessee. This game has all the makings of a classic. I could see it being a nail biter down to the finish. However, that just ain’t gonna happen. Not to sound like every other Media outlet, but taking my Crimson Glasses off, it looks as if the Tide’s chances are not very good. The Crimson Tide is in a rebuilding mode while the Vol’s are slowly becoming one of the best teams in College Football this year. Putting my Crimson Glasses back on, I think the Tide comes out strong and take a lead into the lockeroom at the half. But in a year when the D has not been consistent, they will give up some long plays in the 2^nd half. What would have been a great game doesn’t look that way on the Scoreboard. Vols 35 Bama 14

Well I can’t believe we are at the half way point for the season. Time flies when your mad at your coaches playcalling!!!! This game should be a cake walk for the Tide. Look to see the reserves getting in the game early. Our red zone offense will look good this week. This needs to be a good week to get some folks healthy. Ole Miss is in town next week and that one will be a lot tougher. Bama rolls over the Blue Devils and gets ready for the Rebels.

Bama 40 Duke 7

~ Cheap Seats

As we close in to Saturdays game versus Florida I can’t help but be reminded of 1999 and our trip to the swamp. Bama had just come off a heart breaking loss to Louisiana Tech. I remember I was involved in another event that day and could not watch the game. I wasn’t to upset by that because I didn’t give Bama too much of a chance. Well as the day progressed I was getting game updates from my wife on my pager. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The game was so close. Finally towards the end of the event I had made my self scarce and found some folks listening to it on the radio a couple of blocks away. What an exciting game that was. What a shock. Bama went on that year to win the SEC title.

This year is looking almost identical, Bama coming off a heartbreaking loss, heading into the Swamp and no one giving us a chance at all. I wish I could say I see another shocking upset in store but we are missing two things this time. Shaun Alexander and Chris Samuels, these two gentlemen overcame the coaching legacy that would be Mike Dubose and pulled the team together and won in spite of it all. Now I am not saying that Mike Shula is a Mike Dubose, but Shula does have some work in terms of play calling and at times understanding that going away from the playbook and going with what works is not always a bad thing. Until then we need a Shaun or Chris to pull this team together and will Bama to win regardless of coaching philosophies. We just don’t have that right now. That will be the difference. Florida 28, Alabama 14. Sure hope I am wrong. I was in 1999.

~ Cheap Seats

What’s wrong with Alabama? I think it is simple. Coach Shula is way too stubborn. Here is my thinking. Let’s go back to last year. Last year Coach Shula was determined that Brodie Croyle was going to be our savior back to the promise land. Now while Croyle was a great QB it was obvious towards the end to the year that the passing attack was not going to be what won ballgames for us. Our line and Croyle himself were just to beat up. But because we had made Croyle the hero in the spring and fall practice we were going to live and die by Croyle regardless. I have always felt had we tried to establish the run against the barn that we still may have lost but we would have been in the game. Fast Forward to this year. JPW has little experience but we have Darby coming back. What do we do? We put Darby up on the pedestal and we are bound and determined that we are going to win with 34 toting the rock. Never mind that he isn’t getting the job done and at times JPW looks better than Croyle. That doesn’t matter cause that isn’t what we practiced for in the fall and spring. That ain’t in Coach Shula’s game plan. He’s running the ball this year between the tackles and no one knows but him. I like Coach Shula I really do. But at Alabama we play to win. I feel like we are not even playing to lose but just playing to keep it close. Winning means you make the adjustments and go with what works. Winning means you see the mistake you are making and correct them. Right now we are not doing either. The great thing about all this is that it isn’t too late. Florida is next, a win in the swamp could change the whole season. Roll Tide.

~ Cheap Seats

Thank Goodness it’s Arkansas! Well folks this is the week. The week to see if we are a good SEC team, middle of the road SEC team, or cellar dwellers. Tell you the truth I think middle of the road is pretty accurate right now. Alabama’s competition up to this point has left us with a lot of questions and we will get a lot of answers this weekend. Couple of things I will be looking for:

Still looking for a running game. Some Bama fans declare that our running game was found against ULM. I say it was ULM and Hoover High could run on them. Let’s see what we do this week.

Better play calling. Last week 1^st and goal at the 3 and pass, pass. The one time we need to use the jumbo package and we don’t. Are you kidding me? The week before against Vanderbilt we pull out the most hideous fake field goal attempt I have ever seen. We could have used those 3.

TACKLING! TACKLING! Good grief we are piss poor at tackling. Need to get better with that quick.

So will I see these things this Saturday? I think so. Will Bama win? Yes. This win is important with a trip to the swamp next week. Have to have it. Alabama 28 Arkansas 14.

~ Cheap Seats