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BCS Crown

D DockurtngMember
Alabama's crown doesn't fit quite right

Staff Writer
Posted: 01/07/2010 11:38:12 PM

The nation's No.1 team, your national champion for the 2009 season, tried a fake punt from its own 20-yard line in the first quarter of the BCS title game, so help me Bill Belichick.
It began the game playing like Vanderbilt, not the unbeaten SEC champ.

It did its Crimson best to blow a 24-6 lead and led by three points with three minutes to go and the ball in the opponent's hands.

It did this against a team that played all but 4:06 of the BCS title game without its starting quarterback, Colt McCoy, who had played virtually every meaningful down for Texas since 2006, and was forced to use a redshirt freshman.

Does this matter? Not to anyone in Alabama. From Tuscaloosa to Choctow County, this title will be celebrated like any other, and the specifics won't be considered. The Crimson Tide won their 13th national title and the BCS championship game Thursday at the Rose Bowl and finished the season 14-0 and owner of that crystal football, in all its fragility, after a 37-21 victory over Texas.

Nick Saban now can sit for a portrait of Alabama coaching greats who have won a national title. But an imperfect system basically crowned another imperfect champion.

No team can be considered a classic champion when it can't put away a team that was forced to use a backup quarterback who had been a caddy all season. Garrett Gilbert was 3 for 11 for 11 yards in four appearances against Big 12 opponents this season. He was 1 for 10



with two interceptions in the first half in relief of McCoy, including a shovel pass that Alabama returned for a touchdown with three seconds left in the first half.
He did produce two touchdowns and a two-point conversion that got Texas to 24-2l with 6:15 to go.

Any title won when the opponent's top weapon - its only weapon - is unable to play 54 minutes of a 60-minute game has to be considered within that context, and perhaps doubly so when the opponent in question is McCoy, who has won more games as a starting quarterback as anyone in NCAA history.

McCoy, who was 45-7 as a starter in four seasons coming in, went out of the game with a badly damaged right shoulder suffered on a hit while running an option play on Texas' fifth offensive play.

Alabama is a fine team, but you'll have to forgive critics of the BCS system for just stating the obvious, that you can't crown a true national champ without a playoff. Alabama, like other BCS title winners before it, won the title simply because it doesn't have any more games to play.

Alabama was favored to win, and it definitely showcased a powerful running game that might have beaten Texas with McCoy. But of all the ways anyone envisioned the game playing out, this wasn't one of them.

For five minutes, Texas had the Tide reeling, not rolling. They sacked Greg McElroy on the game's second play, intercepted a pass off a fake punt and was at the Texas 11 and about to go in for the game's first score.

McCoy ran an option, was hit by Marcell Dareus and ran off the field with his right arm dragging. Texas got a field goal, and a second after Alabama botched another special teams play by not covering a short kickoff.

But even on that drive, one could sense this was all the pause Alabama needed.

Whatever one wants to make of the BCS, there was one element that was fascinating. In a crowd of 94,906, there couldn't have been more than 906 locals in the house. Every person seemed to be wearing Crimson or burnt Orange and definitely had an allegiance.

It was quite a contrast to the Rose Bowl game, which locals still attend, and especially so when Pasadena hosted the Miami-Nebraska title game in 2002 and the locals in the crowd more or less shrugged.

Aesthetically, then, it was a success. Crown-wise, well, let's just say it sits on Alabama's head with a little bit of a tilt.
Last edited {1}
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thomaswayne0907thomaswayne0907Post Master
you said it. Alabama didnt play like the number team, especially against UT and AU, and its obvious they had an advantage against texas when Colt got hurt. but, its a W, and i know plenty of Alabama fans, and they couldn't care less about how the W is achieved. next year will definitely be very interesting. will they be as lucky as they were this year? only time will tell.
J JOY4567Hall of Famer
quote:
No team can be considered a classic champion when it can't put away a team that was forced to use a backup quarterback who had been a caddy all season.

Ho Hum.

Look at the final standings. Bama handed the #2 team its only loss. Bama handed the #3 team it's only loss. Oh, Bama also beat the #10, #17 and #20 teams. Bama beat 10 bowl-bound teams. Read that one again. Bama beat TEN bowl-bound teams.

Congrats to Bama. Alabama - the undisputed 2009 National Champions!

Roll. Tide.
.
I injunjoe83Member
It's too bad that Texas isnt use to the speed and power of bama's defense. What happened happened, why cant you accept that bama was the better team? Of course they tried some trick plays that arent their normal style but that was the intent of the plays-to confuse Texas. Bama's defense got to McCoy and he was out...they got to Gilbert and he almost went out the first time they sacked him...Bama is tough, Texas couldnt handle it. What if bama would have punted the ball, what if bama would have recovered the kickoff? Texas would have 6 points less is what. Roll Tide Roll!!
thomaswayne0907thomaswayne0907Post Master
quote:
Originally posted by JOY4567:
quote:
No team can be considered a classic champion when it can't put away a team that was forced to use a backup quarterback who had been a caddy all season.

Ho Hum.

Look at the final standings. Bama handed the #2 team its only loss. Bama handed the #3 team it's only loss. Oh, Bama also beat the #10, #17 and #20 teams. Bama beat 10 bowl-bound teams. Read that one again. Bama beat TEN bowl-bound teams.

Congrats to Bama. Alabama - the undisputed 2009 National Champions!

Roll. Tide.
.


very true...but to say that they played like the BEST TEAM IN THE NATION would be ridicolous. they definitely had luck on their side and they should be thankful that they even got considered for the BCS title when they barely beat 2 unranked teams. of course those teams were from the SEC, the strongest conference, but still. like i said the first time. wait until next year and see if they play like a true #1 team or lets see if they get lucky a few more times like they did this year. had they dominated every game the way they have in the past then yea i could say they were the best and couldn't nobody stop them. but face it, they got lucky. now if they can repeat next year then i will definitely change my opinion.
J JOY4567Hall of Famer
quote:
Originally posted by thomaswayne0907:

very true...but to say that they played like the BEST TEAM IN THE NATION would be ridicolous. they definitely had luck on their side and they should be thankful that they even got considered for the BCS title when they barely beat 2 unranked teams. of course those teams were from the SEC, the strongest conference, but still. like i said the first time. wait until next year and see if they play like a true #1 team or lets see if they get lucky a few more times like they did this year. had they dominated every game the way they have in the past then yea i could say they were the best and couldn't nobody stop them. but face it, they got lucky. now if they can repeat next year then i will definitely change my opinion.


First of all, your statement that they were fortunate to be considered for playing in the National Championship game is funny. Look at who beat who. ALMOST is for losers.

And, not to be a jerk, but it doesn't matter what you think. We don't need to convince you. Bama is the undisputed National Champion. We beat the #2 team in December in Atlanta, then beat the new #2 team in the BCS Championship game.

By the way, who is "your" team?
ferrelljferrelljOld Faithful
In todays world teams don't dominate every single opponent. Look at every national champion and you'll find a few close games and a bit of luck in every one of them. Hard work gives you a few more instances of good luck than other teams. You can always argue if this is the best Alabama team ever. Maybe, maybe not. What you can't argue is that this is the best Alabama season ever. 14-0, National Champions, Heisman Trophy, Butkus Award, 6 All Americans (first time ever for any team). Personally, I can't wait till next year.
pineywoodscatpineywoodscatHall of Famer
quote:
Originally posted by thomaswayne0907:
you said it. Alabama didnt play like the number team, especially against UT and AU, and its obvious they had an advantage against texas when Colt got hurt. but, its a W, and i know plenty of Alabama fans, and they couldn't care less about how the W is achieved. next year will definitely be very interesting. will they be as lucky as they were this year? only time will tell.


Between you and Dukorng or whatever, ya'll said a whole lot of stuff that doesn't mean SQUAT!
Get in the world, its a football game. folks enjoyed it and our team won. We are proud of it and what is your problem. ROLL TIDE!
teyatesteyatesOld Faithful
If "ifs" and "buts" were candy and nuts, we's all have a Merry Christmas. I think the crown looks just fine sitting right where it is at for the next 365 days. Its nice to be hated, it must mean you are doing something right.
Sounds like lots of sour grapes to me, from Texas and Auburn. Course you are not hearing from Florida, they seem to be true champions and know how to take a loss.
BFred07BFred07Hall of Famer
quote:
nuts, we's all have a Merry Christmas. I think the crown looks just fine sitting right where it is at for the next 365 days. Its nice to be hated, it must mean you are doing something right.
Sounds like lots of sour grapes to me, from Texas and Auburn. Course you are not hearing from Florida, they seem to be true champions and know how to

So now we have the Excuse that Texas lost because McCoy was hurt? Never mind that on Bama's team McCain was playing with the flu, Ingram was out of the game for a while with an injury and was not 100% for the rest of the game, and the Tide's QB was playing with cracked ribs.
Even without the Tide's setbacks the final score was not even close enough to talk about the "what if" factor. This game was about the best TEAM was best, not about Colt McCoy or any other individual. Don't forget the Longhorns backup QB did pretty well, several passes right into the hands of his recievers that could not catch the ball.
im4uhoneeim4uhoneeHall of Famer
Seems to me the National Championship went to the number one TEAM not the number one player in the country. There is no 'I' in team but Texas seemed to forget that when they bet the farm on Colt McCoy. If Alabama had a player injured it would not have had the same effect. Their back-up QB was a true freshman, had Ingram been hurt Trent would have stepped up and if Trent was put out of the game then Upchurch was on hand.

Had Texas, Florida, Auburn or Tennessee been the number one TEAM in the country then they would have a crystal football to carry home with them. Texas and Florida both had ONE outstanding player surrounded by average teams, Auburn uses trick plays and deception to keep up and have become nothing but Bama rejects and Tennessee recruits players from the most wanted list at the US Post Office, they need to change from UT to TU (Thug University)!
midknightridermidknightriderHall of Famer
quote:
Originally posted by thomaswayne0907:
Alabama didnt play like the number team, especially against UT and AU


Champions can't play like champions every game...but they can when they need to. Bama did it against UT (both of em) and they did it against AU. When it came to "crunch time" ...Bama came through Texas and Auburn didn't. That's why we have another National Championship and Auburn fans have dreams of "next year".
ccriderccriderFamiliar Face
Did someone say #1 defense? Lets not forget alabama was nearly beaten by a freshmen QB. That to me does not say much for the #1 defense. And folks don't forget about the perfect season AU had and did not even get a mention for the national title that year. I guess we, unlike alabama, did not have have enough money to buy the title.
J JOY4567Hall of Famer
quote:
Originally posted by ccrider:
Did someone say #1 defense? Lets not forget alabama was nearly beaten by a freshmen QB. That to me does not say much for the #1 defense. And folks don't forget about the perfect season AU had and did not even get a mention for the national title that year. I guess we, unlike alabama, did not have have enough money to buy the title.
So, you admit to being an Auburn fan. Are you a little jealous? A lot jealous?

Of course there were a few tip-offs. Like the silly assertion that Bama paid for the win. Do you have any idea how silly and immature that makes you sound? What, are you 13 years old?

See, Bama is Bama. We go undefeated, we win the National Championship. Auburn goes undefeated, and they cry. That's what you get for playing The Citadel.

If it makes you feel better,

Auburn almost beat Kentucky.
Auburn almost beat Geogia.
Auburn almost beat Alabama.

Sadly, ultimately, it was a big FAIL.

Alabama, undisputed 2009 BCS National Champions.
.
Last edited by JOY4567
WT William TurnerHall of Famer
quote:
Originally posted by ccrider:
Did someone say #1 defense? Lets not forget alabama was nearly beaten by a freshmen QB. That to me does not say much for the #1 defense. And folks don't forget about the perfect season AU had and did not even get a mention for the national title that year. I guess we, unlike alabama, did not have have enough money to buy the title.


Maybe they need to charge more for their tickets.
pineywoodscatpineywoodscatHall of Famer
quote:
Originally posted by midknightrider:
quote:
Originally posted by thomaswayne0907:
Alabama didnt play like the number team, especially against UT and AU


Champions can't play like champions every game...but they can when they need to. Bama did it against UT (both of em) and they did it against AU. When it came to "crunch time" ...Bama came through Texas and Auburn didn't. That's why we have another National Championship and Auburn fans have dreams of "next year".


Folks just gotta understand this, "Some days you are the piegon, other days you are the statue"
Deal with it!!!!!!!
O only14uEverybody Knows My Name
oh, the bitterness of the auburn nation. Your team has had their fair share of inmates in the past couple of years. You make it sound like all of the players on your team are going to be engineers, architects and vets. Sorry to bust that bubble - they are NOT!!

Get over it! Alabama won all the games - some by alot, some by not much - but guess what? They don't have a comment section on the scoreboard or in the NCAA record book.

Roll Tide! National Champions 2009
ccriderccriderFamiliar Face
The fans are coming out of the woodwork is what you mean. win a national title and you have everyone behind you. have losing seasons since the mid 90's and no one knows or wants to know who you are. i find it so funny that half the people in this state cannot spell the word ALABAMA yet can tell you how many national championships the team has. pathetic to spend that much money on a coaches salary and we have a 10% unemployment rate. but alabama was willing to sale its soul to the devil to "regain glory."
teyatesteyatesOld Faithful
quote:
Originally posted by ccrider:
Did someone say #1 defense? Lets not forget alabama was nearly beaten by a freshmen QB. That to me does not say much for the #1 defense. And folks don't forget about the perfect season AU had and did not even get a mention for the national title that year. I guess we, unlike alabama, did not have have enough money to buy the title.

Let's see he was the backup quarterback, heavily recruited, to the #2 team in the nation, playing with one of the most explosive and productive receivers (Shipley) in the leagues, and you wanna discount our defense?

Auburn barely squeaked by NORTHWESTERN, who put up over 600 yards of offense on the Barn, and still had to go to overtime to win it. I don't think you wanna discount Bama's defense. They played as a team, hurt or otherwise, and WON every one of their games. It does not matter if you run the score up, the one with the most points in the end still wins. Bama is the BCS champion, something Auburn will not see this decade. It is a sad state of affairs when you guys are trying to discount your big sister with your pathetic record.
teyatesteyatesOld Faithful
quote:
Originally posted by JOY4567:

If it makes you feel better,

Auburn almost beat Kentucky.
Auburn almost beat Geogia.
Auburn almost beat Alabama.

Sadly, ultimately, it was a big FAIL.

Alabama, undisputed 2009 BCS National Champions.
.

I guess they need to change their name to AulMost. Like in we AulMost beat ya'll.

You don't think Saban's salary pays for itself, several times over? Football program at Alabama generated about $40M, the first year, and that was profit. I would say it was a pretty good investment. When you get 92,000 fans in afor a spring practice game, I would say you have support.
J JOY4567Hall of Famer
quote:
Originally posted by ccrider:
Well I always said, alabama has the best team money can buy or get out of jail. Which ever way you want to look at it. They are helping the economy, and keeping would be inmates out of the system, at least temporarily. Personally I would be happy with supplying engineers, architects, and vets.

Want to talk about Cam Newton?
DHS-86DHS-86Hall of Famer
quote:
Originally posted by ccrider:
Did someone say #1 defense? Lets not forget alabama was nearly beaten by a freshmen QB. That to me does not say much for the #1 defense. And folks don't forget about the perfect season AU had and did not even get a mention for the national title that year. I guess we, unlike alabama, did not have have enough money to buy the title.


Actually, unlike Alabama, Auburn was on probation with no postseason appearances as part of the punishment. You're an idiot.
J JOY4567Hall of Famer
quote:
Originally posted by DHS-86:
quote:
Originally posted by ccrider:
Did someone say #1 defense? Lets not forget alabama was nearly beaten by a freshmen QB. That to me does not say much for the #1 defense. And folks don't forget about the perfect season AU had and did not even get a mention for the national title that year. I guess we, unlike alabama, did not have have enough money to buy the title.


Actually, unlike Alabama, Auburn was on probation with no postseason appearances as part of the punishment. You're an idiot.
Oh yea, when Terry was there! That's WHY Terry was there Dye/Auburn got caught cheating...
ccriderccriderFamiliar Face
People does it really matter what team I am for? yes, i prefer AU over alabama. however, i am a Tarheel thru and thru(basketball). i think it is funny how you still compare yourself to AU especially when AU had no dog in the race. and Joy please be quite grown people are talking!! i was referring to the perfect season of 2004, you know the one where AU was screwed and did not get the national title. next time you open your mouth make sure something intelligent comes out honey.
J JOY4567Hall of Famer
quote:
Originally posted by ccrider:
People does it really matter what team I am for?
Yes. Yes it does - especially when you came on here saying "but Bama almost got beat", whine, snivel, cry. It all comes across as jealousy.

(And, contrary to your claim, auburn WAS mentioned in National Championship discussions in 2004. Too bad they played "sisters of the poor' like The Citadel, and were deemed unworthy to compete in the Championship game by the voters. Don't you remember the "Auburn" self-proclaimed National Championship parade in Auburn? Surely you remember the trailers pulled by tractors! [This REALLY happened!] That is why I thought you were talking about the undefeated season when Bowden was there. I just misundersttod your "Auburn whine" about how unfair everything is to Auburn.)

I understand as an Auburn fan that you live off of "almosts". Auburn almost beat Kentucky. Auburn almost beat Georgia. Auburn amost beat Alabama. Hence, Auburn almost had a winning record in the SEC. Hence, Auburn almost won the SEC West and went to Atlanta. Therefore Aubuen almost when to the BCS Championship game.

It's only logical as an Auburn fan you'd use "almost" again to get through Bama winning YET ANOTHER National Championship by saying "Bama almost got beat".
Last edited by JOY4567
hammaknockahammaknockaEverybody Knows My Name
quote:
Originally posted by teyates:
quote:
Originally posted by ccrider:
Did someone say #1 defense? Lets not forget alabama was nearly beaten by a freshmen QB. That to me does not say much for the #1 defense. And folks don't forget about the perfect season AU had and did not even get a mention for the national title that year. I guess we, unlike alabama, did not have have enough money to buy the title.

Let's see he was the backup quarterback, heavily recruited, to the #2 team in the nation, playing with one of the most explosive and productive receivers (Shipley) in the leagues, and you wanna discount our defense?

Auburn barely squeaked by NORTHWESTERN, who put up over 600 yards of offense on the Barn, and still had to go to overtime to win it. I don't think you wanna discount Bama's defense. They played as a team, hurt or otherwise, and WON every one of their games. It does not matter if you run the score up, the one with the most points in the end still wins. Bama is the BCS champion, something Auburn will not see this decade. It is a sad state of affairs when you guys are trying to discount your big sister with your pathetic record.
i'm not calling anyone out on this,because i've been guilty of it myself,i'm just giving an opinion and stating my observation: is all this bickering necessary? regardless of our allegiance,it makes us all look bad.i know there are reasonable people on both sides (tide & tigers) of what i believe is the best rival in all of sports and it's really not hard to show a little respect and good sportsmanship to one's opponent. if we're gonna do it with class,we ought to do ALL of it with class.as much as i love football,it is still a GAME. thanks
budsfarmbudsfarmOld Faithful
Congratulations to Bama on winning the NC. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Roll Tide. They started the season strong against Virginia Tech and finished strong against Texas. Champions that represented the SEC well. When it came to recruiting and coaching literally starting with nothing, you can’t take anything away from Saban.

Let’s see how he’s doing with recruiting after winning the NC…

As of 1-19-10, Rivals has 1-Florida, 2-Texas, 3-Alabama, and 4-Auburn.

http://footballrecruiting.riva...teamrank.asp?SID=880

And Scout has 1-Florida, 2-Oklahoma, 3-Texas, 4-Alabama, and 5-Auburn.

http://recruiting.scout.com/a....&c=14&view=1&yr=2010

ESPN: 3-Alabama, 9-Auburn.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/recruiting/

Hmmm. Well, not what one would think following on the coattails of a NC, but then look what happened after Bama’s ‘92 NC. Anyhow, somebody’s working hard after an 8-5 record just like another new coach did.

Joy4567…you contend AU playing The Citadel in 2004 was the reason why AU wasn’t considered for the NC game. You say…

“Too bad they played "sisters of the poor' like The Citadel, and were deemed unworthy to compete in the Championship game by the voters.”

Compare that to Bama’s 2009 53-7 whupping of the University of North Texas [2-10]. Troy beat them 50-23. If you think it makes a difference going to the NC who you play outside the SEC, what’s the difference here?

Just to set the record straight, the two also undefeated teams selected to play for the 2004 NC came from conferences which were deemed by the “voters” to be stronger than the SEC that year. It’s the same reason why undefeated Boise State did not play for the NC this year.

BTW, you neglected to mention in 2004 on the way to a perfect season AU also beat UT twice that year - once in the regular season and again for the SEC championship. UT was obviously a much stronger team then than the mediocre team in 2009 and both times AU beat them by a lot more than a blocked field goal. But thank you for your interest in Tiger football.

WdE
teyatesteyatesOld Faithful
Yet, I am still amazed how Auburn who went from #40 in recruting last year, to #4 in some polls, with a coach who has never had much of a winning record, has managed to stay off the radar of the NCAA thus far, but that may change soon. There have been some "slight" irregularities in the Big Cat weekends, and some other rumors that may catch the attention of the NCAA before all is said and done.
I would not worry too much about Alabam's recruting, if your stable is already full there is no need to go out looking for better horses. Sometimes you cantake a plow horse and turn him into a champion. Where was Ingram on the rankings?
I don't take anything away from Auburn, but they need to be more worried about Aubrun football and forget UA. There are classless fans on both sides of the aisle that is for sure, but lets not take anything from Bama this year, they earned their championship. I was rooting for AU during their undefeated season, but was dissapointed, I wanted them to play for the championship. The more whining I hear from the Auburn nation now, the more I regret my decision.
J JOY4567Hall of Famer
quote:
Originally posted by budsfarm:

Joy4567…you contend AU playing The Citadel in 2004 was the reason why AU wasn’t considered for the NC game. You say…

“Too bad they played "sisters of the poor' like The Citadel, and were deemed unworthy to compete in the Championship game by the voters.”

Compare that to Bama’s 2009 53-7 whupping of the University of North Texas [2-10]. Troy beat them 50-23. If you think it makes a difference going to the NC who you play outside the SEC, what’s the difference here?

The difference is that Alabama had the #2 most difficult schedule in the country in 2009. PLUS, they have the respect of voters. As hard as it is for Auburn fans to accept. Bama goes undefeated = shot at "all the marbles" in the BCS Championship game. Auburn goes undefeated = hope for a shot at "all the marbles" in the BCS Championship game.
big_black_catbig_black_catEverybody Knows My Name
quote:
Originally posted by BFred07:So now we have the Excuse that Texas lost because McCoy was hurt? Never mind that on Bama's team McCain was playing with the flu, Ingram was out of the game for a while with an injury and was not 100% for the rest of the game, and the Tide's QB was playing with cracked ribs.
Even without the Tide's setbacks the final score was not even close enough to talk about the "what if" factor. This game was about the best TEAM was best, not about Colt McCoy or any other individual. Don't forget the Longhorns backup QB did pretty well, several passes right into the hands of his recievers that could not catch the ball.

And McElroy had two cracked ribs.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/...ews/story?id=4807296

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