In Downtown Franklin, Tennessee, you bump into history just about everywhere you turn. Historic preservation is such a priority in Franklin, that no fewer than four different charitable organizations exist to promote it.
We are only two months shy of the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Franklin, fought during the War Between The States. At last night's Heritage Ball-an annual gala that raises money for the largest of the four preservation groups-volunteers were dressed in period themed costumes, and banners depicting people made famous by The Battle decorated the enormous venue erected in the vicinity of historic Carnton Plantation on Eastern Flank Battlefield Park.
The most common topic of conversation last night was history. Not the bloody slaughter to preserve the Union, but the history-making contest between the premier universities of the states of Florida and Alabama.
How about these historic achievements:
Alabama gained 645 yards of total offense.....more yards than any Gator defense has ever yielded to an opponent in the history of Florida football.
Alabama has won 23 straight SEC openers dating back to the Tide's 25-8 victory over Vanderbilt on September 25, 1992. This is the longest active opening game win streak in the conference and is the longest in Tide history.
Blake Sims set a career high mark for passing yards with 445 [335 in the first half alone] to put him in second place in school history behind Scott Hunter [484] for most passing yards in a game.
Amari Cooper set a school record with his 6th straight game of more than 100 receiving yards and set career records for both yards in a game [201] and TD receptions [3].
Cooper is the 4th player in Crimson Tide history to have 3 TD receptions in a single game.
Cooper also holds the school record for TD receptions in a career [20] surpassing Dennis Homan who set the historic mark of 18 during his career between 1965-1967.
Alabama's offense achieved the historically rare trifecta of a QB who threw for more than 400 yards [Sims], a receiver who gained more than 200 yards receiving [Cooper], and a running back who gained more than 100 yards rushing [Henry].
Over the last four games, the Tide has gained 2370 yards of total offense, eclipsing the historic record of 2243 set by the 1973 team in the four games played between October 20 and November 17.
So what does all this history-making tell us about the 2014 edition of the Crimson Tide? I am not really sure. The 42-21 whipping of Florida was only as close as it was because of Tide turnovers. As well as the offense played, too many drives ended with something other than a kick. The defense may have played its best game of the year, but Florida might not be all that much better than it showed two weeks ago when Kentucky took the Gators to three overtime periods. So it is way too early to make a judgment about this team's place in Tide history.
All I can tell you is: here is how I grade the game:
Offense: B+ I can hear the critics now: this grade is unreasonably low given the history-making numbers compiled by the offense. Rubbish. You do not earn a grade in the A's when you lose three fumbles and throw an interception......you also do not beat very many good teams when you do that.
The Tide earned 28 first downs, compiled 645 yards of total offense [196 rushing] and controlled the ball for 39:16 including a spirit-killing, will-imposing, 22:16 in the second half. Alabama converted 12 of 16 third downs including 7 of 8 in the second half, with the single conversion failure coming as an act of coaching mercy at the end of the game.
Blake and Jake combined for 28 completions on 35 attempts for 449 yards, 4 TDs, and a pick.
Cooper was the leading receiver with 10 catches for 201 yards and 3 TDs including a brilliant grab of a jump-ball from Jake to seal Florida's fate in the 3rd quarter. DeAndrew White added 48 yards on 6 catches, OJ Howard and Jalston Fowler had 2 receptions apiece and 8 different players caught passes, including Kenyan Drake's 89-yard TD reception on Alabama's opening possession.
Derrick Henry gained 111 yards on 20 carries and was a battering ram in the second half. By the fourth quarter, Florida defenders wanted nothing more to do with number 27. TJ added 59 yards on 18 tough runs, Drake gained 15 on 4 carries and Blake gained 12 on 8 runs from scrimmage.
Alabama had 8 sustained drives [87, 52, 79, 56, 66, 80, 60, 42] that produced 6 TDs, a missed FG and a turnover on downs at game's end.
Defense: A+ Florida's offense only scored twice, both on short fields. The Gators gained only 200 yards total offense [107 rushing], completed only 9 of 28 passes, and suffered two interceptions and a lost fumble. The Tide defense was especially good on third downs, allowing the Gators to convert only 2 of 13 possession downs. By getting off the field when they had the opportunity, the Tide defense allowed Florida only 20:44 of possession time for the game, which is less time than Alabama's offense held the ball in the second half alone.
Reggie Ragland led all defenders with 8 tackles [5 solo]. Trey DePriest recorded 7 stops, while true freshman DL Jarran Reed and the stellar Landon Collins both were credited with 5 tackles.
The Tide defense recorded 4 tackles for lost yardage, 1 fumble recovery, 2 interceptions, 4 pass break-ups and 3 hurries.
The pass rush was the best it has been in four games, and the play in the secondary was likewise the best of the season. On that point, it is worth noting that true freshman, Tony Brown [6-0, 198, Beaumont, Tx.] started the game at corner.
Special Teams:
Punting: B JK Scott punted twice for a net average of 33.5 yards. He kicked one punt in excess of 50 yards that went for a touchback. The return game netted 17 yards on two returns of 4 Florida punts.
Kickoffs: B Adam Griffith netted an average of 47.1 yards on 7 kicks one of which was a touchback. The coverage unit played well; the Gators net return average was only 17 yards. The Tide return game averaged 23.3 yards.
Place Kicking: B Griffith missed his only FG attempt [47 yards] but was perfect on PATs.
Coaching: A The Tide gained 744 all-purpose yards. Cooper's 201 receiving yards was good enough for first place in AP yards as well. Penalties are still an issue with this team. Against the Gators, the Tide was flagged 11 times for 80 penalty yards. The participation report lists 62 players who saw action, including Nick Perry who returned from his red-card suspension to play safety in the second half. The rotation of players was excellent with many young players including several true freshmen and walk-on TE Michael Nysewander from Hoover seeing the field. No doubt, ball security will be an item of emphasis by the coaching staff during the upcoming by-week.
In my opinion, Lane Kiffin called a really great game. My only issue with the play calling was the decision to throw on first and goal from the 6. The pass was incomplete and a penalty put the Tide completely behind the down and distance formula. Amari Cooper's athletic catch of Jake's jump-ball pass in the front corner of the end zone saved the possession, and slammed the door on the Gators.
Alabama was not the only team making history around the league. Vanderbilt, got ahead of the Fighting Chickens by double digits only to revert to historic form and cough away the game. LSU set a historic mark of sorts, losing to Mississippi State in Baton Rouge for the first time since before the turn of the 21st Century. And Mizzou failed to hold up the SEC's historic dominance of the Big 10, falling to Indiana 31-27.
The Tide has a bye this coming Saturday, followed by a pair of road games. This should provide some much needed relief to the grass on the Quad. When Bama plays Ole Miss at Oxford in two weeks, your Commissioner will be celebrating the wedding of his oldest daughter. For that reason, Our Correspondent From The Tire Store will take over The Grades. Regular readers will know that the quality of the analysis will only improve with Andy at the keyboard.
Whether the 2014 Crimson Tide will add yet another national championship to the program's legacy still remains to be seen. The picture,however, is coming into focus. Some key elements are falling into place. And one of the most important is Blake's play at quarterback. Add to that, improvement on defense, continued stellar performance at the skill positions, and an increasingly potent and imposing offensive line.......it is from these elements, dear friends, that history might be made.
Roll Tide, Y'all.....
The Commissioner
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