Week 5 - Florida

Tide Fans –

Domination: supremacy or preeminence over another. This is the definition according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. I believe they hit the nail on the head, and no other word best describes what happened in Tuscaloosa on Saturday night. The Alabama Crimson Tide destroyed the Florida Gaytors, and I enjoyed every single second of it! There is nothing better than crushing the team, and the cocky, cheesy, “jort” wearing fans from Gainesville. The night sky was buzzing with deafening roars from Bryant-Denny, and everyone in Crimson was having the time of their lives. Bama rolls big…and I’m not sure anyone can stop us!

What a beautiful day for college football in Alabama…the weather could not have been more perfect! My day started with an early rise for an 8:00 gymnastics meet in Bessemer, Alabama. Yes – once again I start my game day off rushing to get kids dressed and shoved into the minivan in time to make the 7:45 check in time for the level 3 Mountain Brook Pirates team. Nothing like having to wake up at 6:00 on Saturday to drive to Bessemer and sit in a gym on hard bleachers…ahhh can’t beat it! The only good thing about the very early meet was that it would not interfere with my planned departure time for Tuscaloosa…and that is something I take very seriously. Thankfully they made it worth the drive as the team stayed undefeated! A big shout out to my daughter, and the entire team – way to go girls!

My plan was to drive back to my parents, meet my friend Bill, my cousin in-law Joe, his girlfriend Becca, and all ride down together in one car. My dad had threatened not to go earlier in the day saying he wasn’t feeling well. My response to that was “Dad, it’s the Florida game – so please get your ass in the car and let’s go!” After a series of cooler shifting, discussions on who should sit where, and who was driving, we hit the road. Within 2 minutes we had already pulled the car over and switched drivers…after I finally convinced my dad that if he wasn’t feeling well, then he should not be driving. Surprisingly enough the rest of the trip down was smooth sailing!

Not long after arriving on campus I saw the first set of Gaytor fans and immediately wanted to vomit in my mouth. I really dislike Florida’s fan base, and seriously just cannot get along with them as much as I try. Their culture is completely different from the rest of the SEC, and it just irritates me. The clothes they wear, the hairstyles, the weird accents…it’s just not my cup of tea. This is probably why I enjoy beating them almost more than any other school! To see their fans all cocky and acting like complete tools before the game, and watching them try to make excuses as to why they got crushed afterward is hilarious. My section (which is truly an all Alabama section) for some reason had several Florida fans in it, which really bothered me. A quick note to anyone else that sits in section GG – selling your tickets to opposing team fans is ridiculous. Selling your tickets to a Florida fan is downright ludicrous, and you seriously should be removed from Tide Pride. I am serious – that is absolutely ridiculous. There are millions of Tide fans you could have sold your tickets to…and you sell them to a Florida fan…unbelievable. The only good thing about it was that I got to see several of them squirm as we crushed them all night long!

In 2005 when we played Florida at Bryant-Denny was the loudest that stadium has ever been. This past Saturday came very close. I love it when we are so loud that the opposing team gets all confused and our defense just swarms them – it is powerful. It wasn’t the loudest, but it was definitely rocking Saturday night in Bryant-Denny! Just to reminisce – the other two loudest moments in our stadium were in 2007 when JP Wilson threw the game winning touchdown to Matt Caddell in the final seconds against Arkansas, and last year when Cody blocked the field goal…damn that was loud! I love a loud stadium, and wish the crowd would be more consistent with their volume in all games.

This game was just delightful to watch! I knew we would beat Florida, but I did not think it would be that easy. The high fives were flying in our section as we watched The Tide score on practically each possession in the first half – we could do no wrong. Running, passing, and scoring defensively…it was beautiful. Seriously, if our defense plays like this every game – I do not think anyone will even score a touchdown on us. We were flying all over the field, and constantly pressuring the quarterback, leading to several interceptions. Huge shout outs go to Dareus, Upshaw, CJ Mosley, and Dre (Primetime) Kirkpatrick! I just hope we can keep up the intensity like this every week, because our schedule just doesn’t get easier.

Offense was equally impressive. The balance of our running and passing game is truly a force. We have so many weapons – Ingram, Richardson, Julio, Hanks, Maze!! I LOVE the play were Marquis threw the touchdown pass out of the wildcat formation – it was perfect! I have to give huge props to our guys up front in the trenches – they are truly incredible. Everything starts on the line, and these guys play like professionals. They are very well coached, and are just machine like in getting their job done. McElroy had all day on most of the pass plays…all day. The Tide looked so smooth and almost unstoppable throughout this game – we played championship football, and Florida got swamped!

Leaving Tuscaloosa late at night is never easy after a long day of tailgating and watching the Tide. Everyone in our group was exhausted…hell I was still exhausted from last week! I knew traffic was going to suck after the game, so I decided to take another route out of town. I had done some map research earlier in the week and was convinced I had found the way out of Tuscaloosa that would avoid a major chunk of traffic. Unfortunately I forgot the map I had printed and highlighted to get us out. I decided I could remember it from memory, as I turned the opposite way that everyone else was turning (much to the dismay of everyone in the car). I was convinced I could remember the streets I was supposed to turn on for my new route out. We are now on the outskirts of Tuscaloosa in the town of Holt. I proceed to drive down very dark and somewhat narrow roads with literally no traffic. There were some groans coming from the back seat and some “where the hell are you going” comments. I drove with confidence…until we hit a dirt road. At this point I had lost all confidence on where I was going. I was thinking...great I have really screwed up now...I had to leave my map at home...how stupid! After a quick U turn in Bubba’s driveway (if you can call it that), we headed back the direction we came. Thankfully Bill noticed the sign I was looking for right before we hit the dirt road and directed us back. A few more tense miles, and finally we popped out onto the main road heading home – awesome!! My new route worked like a charm, minus one wrong turn! Everyone was happy to see smooth pavement and other cars. We made it home in record time seeing as we didn’t leave until the game was over! I was pumped, and no I am not telling you my new route…it’s a secret!

Once again we have another huge game this week Tide Fans! South Carolina is coming off a loss to Auburn, and will be rested and ready to play the defending national champs. Every team we play for the rest of the season will be rested and ready to play us. Every week we will face another team wanting to take down number 1. Our schedule is brutal, but we have to stay focused and push through. I have been very confident about most of our games, but I will admit that I am a little nervous about going to South Carolina. Not because of the team we are playing, but the fact that we will be on the road again after a huge win – I just hope we don’t have a hangover in Columbia. If we do, it could be a tight game like Arkansas. I do not think the Gamecocks can even come close to hanging with us physically for 4 quarters, but if we do stupid things, and keep them close in the game, their crowd will be fired up, and they will play us tough. If our same defense that we saw this week shows up – they have no chance. I will not be making the trip to Columbia this week, so if you are going, yell extra loud for me!

Enjoy the win over Florida Tide fans, but we need to get focused and ready for our next opponent. In my mind – this is the game that assures our spot in Glendale…we win this one, and I don’t think anyone beats us from here on out. Let’s keep the championship repeat dream alive and crush the Gamecocks!

Until next week…Roll Tide!

Jason