Was Arkansas the game?  The one that causes Mike Shula to finally wake up and realize how not to call a game. It happened to Mark Richt his first year at Georgia. I don’t remember who they were playing, but Richt, who had made many questionable calls that year, made a call at the goal line to run the ball with no time outs. The clock ticked away and Georgia lost the game. After that Richt became a better coach. He woke up and realized how to call a game. He actually got outside help on time management. He had to swallow some pride, but it made him a better football coach. Mike Shula’s Offense looked good at times on Saturday. There is potential, but this offense reminds me of Shula’s second year when Brodie got hurt. Not in talent, but in the way they just did enough to try to stay in the game, to have a chance to win in the fourth quarter. Well folks, this team is better that that. Bama was twice the team of Arkansas. The offense should have played like that instead of becoming ultra conservative in the red zone. Bear Bryant always told his team to play like they were behind. Saturday, Bama played like it was two touchdowns ahead. Come on Mike Shula, this team is good enough to overcome a mistake. Let them play. I think every young coach has a game they can look at and say that was the game that made them better. So was the Arkansas game the one for Shula? If not, it’s gonna be a long year. Shula, It’s time to Joe Pa or get off the pot. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. Bama Joe Pa’s on the gaturds.
Alabama 31 Florida 24

For this post I want to talk about something different. As you may have seen in our prediction contest I picked Arkansas to win. Some yahoo saw this and posted on the forum that Cheap Seat, Red Bama Hat, and I were Barners.  Well, this is news to me. I guess I had better get to work. First, I need to take down the elephants you see as you enter my house. Speaking of my house I need to find some orange bricks to replace the crimson ones. I can then take down the Prothro drawing of the catch that took me six weeks to complete. Dang, I  wasted my time, since I’m a barner.  I will then gather all the other Alabama stuff up that I have: Pictures, old papers, the TV guide that has Jay Barker on the cover, the piece of carpet that has the Script A on it that came from a room in the Stadium and many more things. Why did I collect all those things!  Maybe I can cross out The University of Alabama on my degree and write aubarn U on it.  Now I need to figure out how to get back all the tears I shed when I was a kid following a Bama Loss. I can then replace the things I broke when Bama played badly after I got older. I can’t believe I wasted all this time since I am a barn fan. Of course maybe this guy just doesn’t know what he’s talking about. But people wouldn’t unfairly judge someone they don’t know would they?  Maybe they would. Maybe I am a Bama fan.  Oh, I just found the problem. Of all the things I collected though the years, I never got a pair of Crimson Colored Glasses. Arkansas 21 Bama 17. I hope I’m wrong. Roll Tide!

This weeks’ game should be a breather, but you never know with this team. Gene Stallings said on the radio this morning that it worries him when you play a Vandy team that turns the ball over four times and you still win by only three. Well Coach, it worries me too. Tide fans claim that Bama plays down to the competition. That’s a terrible excuse. I’d rather hear we’re not very good but we are going to get better. Which is the truth. I think Bama takes a step forward this weekend and blows out Louisiana-Monroe. Bama 45 Louisiana-Monroe 10.

First, let me say that last weeks game went just as I expected, and I think I’m the only person not disappointed. I also think there will be a lot of disappointed folks this week also. Once again I’m hearing blowout and easy win, and once again I hope I’m wrong but I think Bama will struggle. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think this game will be as close as last week’s, but it won’t be a blowout. As usual Bama will struggle with its goal line offense. The Jumbo package, to no one’s surprise will be in. Vandy will load up to stop the run and Wilson will have another big day passing. On defense, Bama will not have much trouble stopping the Dores, but they will break a play or two. In the end Bama will win comfortably, but it won’t be by a large margin. Bama fans make out your Wills, call Jim Jones and pack your bags for Jonestown. Bama 21 Vandy 10.

Finally, the season is here, and the Crimson Tide is opening with a quality opponent. I know many of you don’t believe that from the scores I hear predicted. I’ve heard 41 – 10, 45 – 17, ECT, and I hope this is the case, but I’m afraid the fans are under estimating the Warriors. Of course as long as the Crimson Tide does not, they’ll be ok. People are looking at the Hawaii’s defense and saying they were the third worst defense in the country last year and everybody’s back. Were they ranked so low because of inexperience or just plain bad players?  If it were inexperience wouldn’t it stand to reason they’ll be a lot better this year. And believe me, they will blitz more than any team Bama plays for the rest of the year.  We all know the Hawaii offense is gonna throw the ball around, but they’re also going to try to pound it up the middle. Yes I said it; they are going to try to establish a running game. Of course the key word is try, but if they are able then its will be hard to watch. Don’t get me wrong, I think Bama could come out and blow the Warriors out, I’m just trying to warn the people who expect it. There is also that possibility Bama could lose this game, but I don’t think so. My prediction for the game: Bama 24 Hawaii 21. Let the B#%^^#ing and Moaning begin.

Roll Tide.

1. All SEC Teams will advance past the first round.
2. Only Tennessee and Florida will make it to the Sweet 16.
3. No team from the SEC will make it to the Great Eight.
4. Only one number 1 seed will make it to the Final Four.
5. North Carolina will be the top sleeper team and will make it to the Final Four.
6. Gonzaga goes out early.
7. The Final Four teams will be Duke, UCLA, North Carolina, Boston College.
8. Duke and North Carolina play for the title.
9. Duke wins.
10. I will miss most of these

Ah, Spring…….. A time for the birds to sing and new leafs on the trees. The warm wind is blowing on your face. (Insert screeching tire sound here) It’s freaking February. It’s cold. The only spring I know is one stabbing me in the back in my mattress. Yet, It is time for spring football. The second best sport at The University of Alabama. What can we expect this, uh, spring. Look for a faster defense to develop. Also look for John Parker Wilson to make us quickly forget about Brodie. Bama will be young, but talented. The Crimson Tide hit its target 10 times out of twelve shots last year. Now it’s time to reload the gun, but this time with Buck Shot!

Bama wins it’s meet with the Gymdogs and on the diamond there will be a lot of frozen baseballs.

Roll Tide

As you may have noticed from reading my post below, reading between the lines is much more accurate than any crystal ball, I’ve got a feeling, or just a dumb guess. Now, I’m not saying I’m gonna be correct on all these but my track record is pretty good. However, I am now leaning that we get Smith. Lines, Lines.

I have no inside info when it comes to recruiting but I can read in between the lines.

First let me say this about Jermacus Ricks. A lot of people are upset that he committed to the barn. This was no surprise. He had been a barn lean since the iron bowl and his brother goes to the barn. The people who are upset didn’t read between the lines. This was an easy one.

Tim Hawthorne. Rated the barn and Jawja visit as perfect Ten’s. He had a good time at his visit to Tuscaloosa but didn’t rate Bama at all. You know, if you don’t have something good to say don’t say anything at all. Read between the lines. He ain’t coming to Bama. Deal with it!
Peanut Whitehead. Bama’s only hope is to “Turn” him on his visit. These kids know where they want to go and if he’s a barn lean now that is where he’s going. Read inbetween we don’t get him.

Michael Goggans - He is going to make his decision after a Tennessee visit. He has already committed to them. Read it. We don’t get him either.

Now for the Big one!

Andre Smith - I’ve have no idea where he’s going and I’m not the only one. Only he and his family know. Yes like Tebow, he already knows. Hard to read but there’s something in the way he phrases things that has me worried. Don’t be upset Bama fans because we still have a great class but we don’t get Andre.

Also we will lose Ricardo Wright to Fla State.

Once again I have no inside info. Just a feeling. I hope I’m wrong.

Roll Tide