Print this story | E-mail story | This story has 3 comments Add your own | iPod friendly
Now is not the time to boast
Published Sunday, November 9, 2008
For Alabama fans, now is the time to be wary.
Two games out from the SEC title game — assured by Saturday’s overtime win over LSU — it appears there are no speed traps or bumps on the horizon for No. 1 Alabama.
But that’s what the 1980 team thought too. Allow me to provide a brief history lesson.
Fresh off national title in 1979 — No. 6 under Paul “Bear” Bryant — the Tide entered 1980 atop the polls and rolled to a 7-0 start.
Alabama was primed for a remarkable 3-peat as it traveled to Jackson, Miss. to take on Mississippi State.
Notre Dame was the only noticeable speed bump on the schedule the rest of way and Bo Jackson had yet to grace the Plains at Auburn.
Then the Bulldogs eeked out a 6-3 win.
Some in attendance claimed the win was the hand of God, though the 1980 Bulldogs fielded a better product than the team Alabama will face on Saturday. The Tide was just a part of Mississippi State’s 5-game winning streak to cap a 9-2 campaign and advance to the Sun Bowl.
The Tide had a better fate ahead, but not the destiny it had sought. A 30-2 Cotton Bowl win over Baylor just couldn’t provide enough salve for a team that let history slip away.
The loss to the Bulldogs handed the 1980 SEC title to Georgia, who would go on to claim the national title by beating the other team the Tide fell to — Notre Dame.
Now, fast forward to 2008. The Tide is No. 1 again, and who’s next on the schedule? Mississippi State.
Is it unlikely that ‘Bama will fall to the Bulldogs? Of course. In fact, the mere suggestion is laughable. Predict a Mississippi State win to anyone in this state and an odd look will be returned.
MSU has not caught the breaks it did on its way to the Liberty Bowl in 2007, and this is not the same Alabama team that fell to the Bulldogs the last two years.
But the Bulldogs are coming off a bye week, the win over LSU was emotional, and any opponent sandwiched between LSU and Auburn has a shot.
And one never knows when the hand of God will strike.
Comments
Posted by JoeBingo (anonymous) on November 9, 2008 at 7:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL ... The writer sounds as though the "hand of God" is a bad thing. Remember, it has been said that "God made the vegetables, but the Devil made the meal" ... LOL. It is true, that God has given Alabama all the talent and tools they need to go undefeated. It is up to "chef" Saban, his staff and the Alabama Crimson Tide to serve it up now. It will not be easy. God is "striking" those other teams too you know ;). Regardless, Alabama has had a truly remarkable year, to be where they are from a preseason number 24 or 25 or something. But, as the writer pointed out, it ain't "done" yet ... so go get some, Bama ... ROLL TIDE ROLL !!! ... oh, and Thanks Nick, Outstanding Job !!! and of course, Thank You too God !!!
Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on November 10, 2008 at 11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It certainly isn't a time to boast, but it IS certainly time to hold our head high and enjoy this season. Who would have thought Bama would be #1 this soon? Not me. I'm proud though for what ever comes of this season. Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer!!!!
Posted by tiredofthistown (anonymous) on November 11, 2008 at 9:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
All hope will be shattered once Alabama takes on Florida in Atlanta. Florida is playing above every team in the country right now. As long as they haven't peaked yet, they should run the table and knockout Texas Tech, or Texas in the BCS Championship game. Oh yeah, gotta get past them stubborn Auburn Tigers also. WAR EAGLE!!!
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)