Week 11 - UT-Chattanooga

Tide Fans –

Roll Tide! That is exactly how you are supposed to beat a team like UT Chattanooga – dominate them early, and get your 2nd and 3rd strings in by second half. This was a great game to get some fine tuning done before we head over to the plains for the Iron Bowl!
11 down and 3 to go…you are next Auburn.

The only thing I really like about playing lesser opponents is that I can actually take my kids to the game. Even if I have to get up 15 times for dippin’ dots, pretzels, hot dogs, or whatever the request may be, I don’t feel like I have missed something vitally important. A bad thing about these games is you never know who is going to be sitting next to you. Many people decide to sit these games out, leaving their tickets for other people to use, which is fine. This week I had the pleasure of sitting next to an older gentlemen with a houndstooth hat and some nice side burns. He was very nice, it’s just that for some reason he felt it necessary to repeat to me what had just happened after every play. For example: Terrance Cody comes into the game and I feel a nudge and hear “Hey, ‘ol Cody just came into the game...he’s number 62 – do you see him?” I just smiled and went along with it for a while, but seriously – every play he did this, and it got to be really old! When we made a good play, he would explain to me what had just happened (as if I hadn’t just seen it), and then do this little creepy old school Southern back woods country giggle. I really wish I had an audio clip of his laugh, because it was classic! “Hey looky there…’ol Julio caught it…he heee heee heeeeee hee heeeeeeeeeeeeeee!” I will never forget that laugh!

On to the game…we really only got to see our first string offense and defense in the first half, but everything looked good. Ingram had some Heisman Trophy like runs, and Julio made some nice catches. How awesome in Javier Arenas? I mean the dude just keeps getting better! It was great to see him break the SEC record for punts returned for TD’s on Senior Day, and I hope it was not his last! I am very glad to see us get out of this game without any injuries – I was worried about that. Our 2nd string guys did pretty good – especially on defense. I was not overly impressed with the play of Star Jackson at QB, I think there is a scary drop-off between McElroy and Jackson – let’s all hope we don’t have to rely on him this year. I think Star needs a little more time to mature and learn the offense. I’m not sure he will ever start as QB at Alabama – that job will belong to AJ McCarron after McElroy – just my opinion. It was great to see all the seniors get some playing time – much of it well deserved. Many of these guys practice hard all four years and never get to see the field. I tip my hat to all the seniors who have helped make our team what it is now!

It’s Iron Bowl week Tide Fans -Time to get pumped and get ready to beat Auburn! I believe our team had Auburn on their minds as soon as the clock ran to zero on Saturday. I know they say you can throw the record books out for this game, but I don’t believe that. This team is on a mission, and it does not end in Auburn. We have an awesome team, with a ridiculously good defense. Any time I get nervous about an upcoming game I think about the defense. If you get nervous this week, think about the defense and how punishing they are. Chris Todd will throw at least 2 picks if we pressure him, and I’m pretty sure he will get some pressure! Visions of Marcel Dareus swallowing the quarterback, and Javier on a corner blitz are running through my mind…ahhhhhh! The only thing I am a little concerned about if kickoff coverage. We do not need to let them get big chunks of yardage on kickoff, or God help us return one for a touchdown. The barn may hang around with us for a little while at the start of the game due to crowd noise and adrenaline, but we will begin to out play them by no later than the 3rd quarter. I see this game going kind of like the Miss. State game did, and that turned out just fine for us. They will use all kinds of smoke and mirrors, and probably a few gay trick plays, but they will not be able to hang for 4 quarters. The Tide is high my friends, and last I heard there was a High Tide warning in Auburn!

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving, and let’s all remember the many things we should be thankful for. Say a prayer for our soldiers who will not be home for the holidays, and continue to fight for our freedom. Enjoy your time with friends and family and everyone please be safe if you are traveling!
Until next week…Roll Tide!

P.S. – I still need SEC Championship tickets!!!!!! Please – somebody help a brother out!

Jason