What a day to be in Tuscaloosa!
No, the opponent was not a conference rival, but, as the Office Manager for the crew from The Tire Store observed, “It’s great to just go out there and give somebody a good butt-whipping.” The weather forecast called for an 80% chance of rain, but the first drops didn’t fall until well after the last crab-claw and oyster had been consumed at Wentzell’s Oyster Bar in Northport. Bryant-Denny Stadium was sold out, but the Quad was no more crowded than it is on the morning after an LSU game, and we got to visit with several of our correspondents: Section G Row 10, The Tire Store, The FAB.
No, the opponent was not a conference rival, but, as the Office Manager for the crew from The Tire Store observed, “It’s great to just go out there and give somebody a good butt-whipping.” The weather forecast called for an 80% chance of rain, but the first drops didn’t fall until well after the last crab-claw and oyster had been consumed at Wentzell’s Oyster Bar in Northport. Bryant-Denny Stadium was sold out, but the Quad was no more crowded than it is on the morning after an LSU game, and we got to visit with several of our correspondents: Section G Row 10, The Tire Store, The FAB.
It was nothing short of a perfect day to be in Tuscaloosa. Especially, if you were a senior on the Alabama football team, or the Million Dollar Band.
I get a big kick out of Senior Day. There’s something really special about recognizing the accomplishment of endurance. As the senior players and their families lined up along the near-side hash-marks, there was symbolic parity between the starters and the guys who never made it off the scout team. The bond of shared sacrifice knits together the likes of Corey Reamer, and Hampton Gray, Brandon Deaderick and Alex Benson. Some of these seniors will play next year on Sundays. Others, have only three more games left in their careers. But yesterday in Tuscaloosa, they stood on equal footing as athletes who earned the right to wear those iconic crimson jerseys.
Senior Day also recognizes the players’ families; the people who helped make it possible for these athletes to stand on that field and receive the grateful applause of 92,000 fans. Just like the difference between the lettermen and the squad players, these families come in a variety of configurations. There is Leigh Tiffin with his parents; Leigh and his father are two generations of record-holding Alabama lettermen. There also is Javier Arenas with a middle-aged couple introduced as his “god-parents”; obviously not related to him biologically, but clearly bound to him with ties of meaningful affection.
And there was Terrence Cody. This man-mountain. The gargantuan defensive tackle who will forever be remembered in Alabama football lore. Generations of Tide fans will rank Cody’s two, fourth-quarter, blocks of Tennessee field goal attempts with The Goal Line Stand, and The Sack. After the game, he was the last Tide player to leave the field. It appeared that he wanted to take it all in one final time. After he shook hands with practically every UTC player, Cody stood on the field and waved to the Alabama fans. Only after the echoes of the last notes from the Million Dollar Band had faded into the afternoon, did he make his way to the tunnel that connects the field with the home locker room. The final image on the jumbo-tron, was Cody, as he made his way into the depths of the stadium. Those two numerals- “62”- seemed to fill up the screen.
What a day, indeed.
Here’s how I grade the game:
Because of the quality of opposition, and the fact that most starters only played a single half, it is inappropriate to award letter grades to yesterday’s contest. Therefore, for the first time in the history of the Bama E-Mail Group, the Grades will be on a pass/fail basis
Offense: Pass Alabama gained 422 yards of total offense (313 rushing), 26 first downs (22 rushing) and controlled the ball for 37:02 (22:36 in the second half). The offense sustained 5 drives of more than 40 yards (51, 69, 62, 50 and 72) that resulted in 4 TDs and a missed field goal. Even the drive that ended with the missed FG attempt accomplished a purpose; Bama ran 19 plays and consumed 10:14 of game time. GMac completed 6 of 11 pass attempts for 80 yards, a TD and no interceptions. He found Julio Jones deep on a 44 yard play-action pass that only Julio could grab, and later threw a bullet to Jones in the endzone.
Star Jackson, who started the second half, completed 4 of 5 pass attempts for 29 yards.
Julio led all receivers with 65 yards and a TD on 3 receptions.
Mark Ingram gained 102 yards on 11 carries (9.3 yard per rush), scored 2 rushing touchdowns and left the game with 9:53 to play in the second quarter. His two scoring runs showcased his immense toolbox of talent. The first was a 26-yard power run over left guard where he broke three tackles and carried two defensive players into the end zone with him. The second was an amazing display of cut and sprint ability where he weaved his way through the UTC defense for 40 yards. The play started over left guard, but Ingram made at least four changes of direction as he gashed the Mocs’ defense for 40 yards.
Sophomore, Demetrius Goode, gained 70 yards on 11 carries and freshman, Trent Richardson, gained 60 yards and scored a TD on 9 runs.
But this was Senior Day, so a special mention has to go to Senior, Roy Upchurch, who had more carries that any other Alabama running back (17). He gained 70 yards and scored a beautiful, 4th quarter touchdown over left-tackle from 21 yards out.
Here’s to you, Roy:
Defense: Pass The Mocs were held to only 84 total offensive yards and 5 first downs (2 by penalty).
Rolando McClain led all tacklers witih 7. He also recorded 3 hurries and broke up a pass. Nico Johson and Josh Chapman each were credited with 4 tackles. The Mocs QBs were hurried 9 times, 7 passes were broken up and 3 were intercepted. UTC’s quarterbacks only completed 7 passes on 27 attempts for a total of 36 yards.
Javier Arenas made a spectacular interception on a play where he broke up the pass and grabed the ball out of the air. He finished off the play by returning the pick 22 yards.
In honor of Senior Day, however, a special tribute is due to Senior linebacker, Corey Reamer, who made his first career interception in the first quarter to set up Alabama’s third touchdown of the day.
Here’s to you, Corey:
Special Teams:
Place Kicking: Pass Leigh Tiffin was perfect from 41 yards on his only attempt. Freshman, Jeremy Shelley, missed from 43.
Kickoffs: Pass Tiffin averaged nearly 69 yards on 7 kicks, two of which were touchbacks. Shelley managed only 57 yards on his lone kick.
Punting: Pass Fitz only punted twice. He averaged 39 yards per punt.
But this was Senior Day. And on this day, Senior Javier Arenas became the SEC’s record holder for most punts returned for a touchdown in a career and he is only 37 yards short of setting the league record for career punt return yards. Let’s plan on Javier adding to both records next week down in the Cow Pasture.
Here’s to you, Javier:
Coaching: Pass Alabama had 607 all-purpose yards and was penalized 5 times for 61 yards. Seventy seven players participated in the game. Although the staff had planned for the first-team offense to start the second half, the decision was made to start the second team offense when Justin Woodall intercepted UT transfer QB, B. J. Coleman, on the first play of the half to set the Tide in business at the UTC 32 yard line. Game situation experience is extremely helpful in developing younger players. And it was a good thing that Star Jackson got as many reps as he did. From what we saw yesterday, for Alabama to finish off Auburn this coming Friday, beat Florida and play for the BCS Championship, GMac needs to stay healthy.
I want to take a moment and say something about the Million Dollar Band. What would the Alabama football experience be like without those 400+ musicians and performers? I’ll tell you one thing, it wouldn’t be as spectacular as it is. Sure, there are the time-honored standards, like the “Alabama Medley” in the pre-game show, and the “Fourth Quarter Song”. But the half-time show just keeps getting better and better. The Big Band tribute the MDB performed on Saturday was nothing short of terrific. They were just giving it there all; and The Commissioner’s Wife wanted to get up and dance!
Now we must turn our minds to more serious matters.
Alabama is undefeated at 11-0. The Tide is in its third year of The Process, and it stands three-games away from winning its 13 national championship. There are 13 players on the roster who have graduated with eligibility remaining, including seven starters: Corey Reamer, GMac, Mike Johnson, Fitz, Eryk Anders, Drew Davis and Lorenzo Washington. If last season proves nothing else, it demonstrates just how hard it is to win a BCS Championship in the SEC. Coach Saban used the word “fragile” after the Tennessee game, to describe how tough it is to win every week. An undefeated season may very well be a fragile thing. But the individual players who make up the 2009 Crimson Tide are a tough and formidable group. Auburn stands between them and the chance for greatness. Auburn will be ready.
So will The Tide.
The Commissioner
I get a big kick out of Senior Day. There’s something really special about recognizing the accomplishment of endurance. As the senior players and their families lined up along the near-side hash-marks, there was symbolic parity between the starters and the guys who never made it off the scout team. The bond of shared sacrifice knits together the likes of Corey Reamer, and Hampton Gray, Brandon Deaderick and Alex Benson. Some of these seniors will play next year on Sundays. Others, have only three more games left in their careers. But yesterday in Tuscaloosa, they stood on equal footing as athletes who earned the right to wear those iconic crimson jerseys.
Senior Day also recognizes the players’ families; the people who helped make it possible for these athletes to stand on that field and receive the grateful applause of 92,000 fans. Just like the difference between the lettermen and the squad players, these families come in a variety of configurations. There is Leigh Tiffin with his parents; Leigh and his father are two generations of record-holding Alabama lettermen. There also is Javier Arenas with a middle-aged couple introduced as his “god-parents”; obviously not related to him biologically, but clearly bound to him with ties of meaningful affection.
And there was Terrence Cody. This man-mountain. The gargantuan defensive tackle who will forever be remembered in Alabama football lore. Generations of Tide fans will rank Cody’s two, fourth-quarter, blocks of Tennessee field goal attempts with The Goal Line Stand, and The Sack. After the game, he was the last Tide player to leave the field. It appeared that he wanted to take it all in one final time. After he shook hands with practically every UTC player, Cody stood on the field and waved to the Alabama fans. Only after the echoes of the last notes from the Million Dollar Band had faded into the afternoon, did he make his way to the tunnel that connects the field with the home locker room. The final image on the jumbo-tron, was Cody, as he made his way into the depths of the stadium. Those two numerals- “62”- seemed to fill up the screen.
What a day, indeed.
Here’s how I grade the game:
Because of the quality of opposition, and the fact that most starters only played a single half, it is inappropriate to award letter grades to yesterday’s contest. Therefore, for the first time in the history of the Bama E-Mail Group, the Grades will be on a pass/fail basis
Offense: Pass Alabama gained 422 yards of total offense (313 rushing), 26 first downs (22 rushing) and controlled the ball for 37:02 (22:36 in the second half). The offense sustained 5 drives of more than 40 yards (51, 69, 62, 50 and 72) that resulted in 4 TDs and a missed field goal. Even the drive that ended with the missed FG attempt accomplished a purpose; Bama ran 19 plays and consumed 10:14 of game time. GMac completed 6 of 11 pass attempts for 80 yards, a TD and no interceptions. He found Julio Jones deep on a 44 yard play-action pass that only Julio could grab, and later threw a bullet to Jones in the endzone.
Star Jackson, who started the second half, completed 4 of 5 pass attempts for 29 yards.
Julio led all receivers with 65 yards and a TD on 3 receptions.
Mark Ingram gained 102 yards on 11 carries (9.3 yard per rush), scored 2 rushing touchdowns and left the game with 9:53 to play in the second quarter. His two scoring runs showcased his immense toolbox of talent. The first was a 26-yard power run over left guard where he broke three tackles and carried two defensive players into the end zone with him. The second was an amazing display of cut and sprint ability where he weaved his way through the UTC defense for 40 yards. The play started over left guard, but Ingram made at least four changes of direction as he gashed the Mocs’ defense for 40 yards.
Sophomore, Demetrius Goode, gained 70 yards on 11 carries and freshman, Trent Richardson, gained 60 yards and scored a TD on 9 runs.
But this was Senior Day, so a special mention has to go to Senior, Roy Upchurch, who had more carries that any other Alabama running back (17). He gained 70 yards and scored a beautiful, 4th quarter touchdown over left-tackle from 21 yards out.
Here’s to you, Roy:
Defense: Pass The Mocs were held to only 84 total offensive yards and 5 first downs (2 by penalty).
Rolando McClain led all tacklers witih 7. He also recorded 3 hurries and broke up a pass. Nico Johson and Josh Chapman each were credited with 4 tackles. The Mocs QBs were hurried 9 times, 7 passes were broken up and 3 were intercepted. UTC’s quarterbacks only completed 7 passes on 27 attempts for a total of 36 yards.
Javier Arenas made a spectacular interception on a play where he broke up the pass and grabed the ball out of the air. He finished off the play by returning the pick 22 yards.
In honor of Senior Day, however, a special tribute is due to Senior linebacker, Corey Reamer, who made his first career interception in the first quarter to set up Alabama’s third touchdown of the day.
Here’s to you, Corey:
Special Teams:
Place Kicking: Pass Leigh Tiffin was perfect from 41 yards on his only attempt. Freshman, Jeremy Shelley, missed from 43.
Kickoffs: Pass Tiffin averaged nearly 69 yards on 7 kicks, two of which were touchbacks. Shelley managed only 57 yards on his lone kick.
Punting: Pass Fitz only punted twice. He averaged 39 yards per punt.
But this was Senior Day. And on this day, Senior Javier Arenas became the SEC’s record holder for most punts returned for a touchdown in a career and he is only 37 yards short of setting the league record for career punt return yards. Let’s plan on Javier adding to both records next week down in the Cow Pasture.
Here’s to you, Javier:
Coaching: Pass Alabama had 607 all-purpose yards and was penalized 5 times for 61 yards. Seventy seven players participated in the game. Although the staff had planned for the first-team offense to start the second half, the decision was made to start the second team offense when Justin Woodall intercepted UT transfer QB, B. J. Coleman, on the first play of the half to set the Tide in business at the UTC 32 yard line. Game situation experience is extremely helpful in developing younger players. And it was a good thing that Star Jackson got as many reps as he did. From what we saw yesterday, for Alabama to finish off Auburn this coming Friday, beat Florida and play for the BCS Championship, GMac needs to stay healthy.
I want to take a moment and say something about the Million Dollar Band. What would the Alabama football experience be like without those 400+ musicians and performers? I’ll tell you one thing, it wouldn’t be as spectacular as it is. Sure, there are the time-honored standards, like the “Alabama Medley” in the pre-game show, and the “Fourth Quarter Song”. But the half-time show just keeps getting better and better. The Big Band tribute the MDB performed on Saturday was nothing short of terrific. They were just giving it there all; and The Commissioner’s Wife wanted to get up and dance!
Now we must turn our minds to more serious matters.
Alabama is undefeated at 11-0. The Tide is in its third year of The Process, and it stands three-games away from winning its 13 national championship. There are 13 players on the roster who have graduated with eligibility remaining, including seven starters: Corey Reamer, GMac, Mike Johnson, Fitz, Eryk Anders, Drew Davis and Lorenzo Washington. If last season proves nothing else, it demonstrates just how hard it is to win a BCS Championship in the SEC. Coach Saban used the word “fragile” after the Tennessee game, to describe how tough it is to win every week. An undefeated season may very well be a fragile thing. But the individual players who make up the 2009 Crimson Tide are a tough and formidable group. Auburn stands between them and the chance for greatness. Auburn will be ready.
So will The Tide.
The Commissioner
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