The thing is, though, when the Tide reached the bottom of their latest journey down the foliage, they wiped themselves off and yet again revealed a team that is unbroken, unbeaten and looking wholly unbeatable.
Proving once again that a stifling defense combined with a punishing running game is the new Southern sexy, Alabama removed any doubt that they are the real deal in dispatching No. 9 LSU 23-14 24-15 in Tuscaloosa.
The best defense in the nation -- regardless of where any stat places them -- held LSU to just 253 yards of offense in the win. To further drive home the point, the Tide defense held the Bayou Bengals to just 3.3 yards per rush and 5.9 yards per pass attempt in suffocating any hope the visitors had in pulling the upset and throwing their name in the title game ring.
Additionally, the 'Bama offense awoke at the most opportune time, putting up 452 yards while eating up nearly 33 minutes of the clock.
Running back Mark Ingram continued to state his Heisman case very loudly, rushing for 144 yards on 22 carries. He was at the top of most Heisman lists entering the game, and did nothing but solidify his top spot among the contenders.
With the win, Alabama remains unbeaten at 9-0 and on track for an undefeated SEC title game showdown for the ages with Florida.
'Bama has Mississippi State, Chattanooga and Auburn remaining, while the Gators have Vanderbilt (tonight), South Carolina, Florida International and Florida State.
Once those gnat-like inconveniences are summarily swatted, it's a Dec. 5 date in the Georgia Dome that has "instant classic" written all over it.
Mark your calendars accordingly...
John,
Nice bias again with, "The best defense in the nation -- regardless of where any stat places them -- held LSU to just 253 yards of offense in the win. To further drive home the point, the Tide defense held the Bayou Bengals to just 3.3 yards per rush and 5.9 yards per pass attempt in suffocating any hope the visitors had in pulling the upset and throwing their name in the title game ring."
Recall, the Gators went to LSU and held them to 3 points, 162 total yards, 2.2 per rush and 5.6 per pass.
Do you now understand why some of us call you a Gator-hater? How in the world can you call Bama's the best D over the Gators? How? Bama is a great D to be sure, but to put them over the Gators so emphatically based on nailing LSU at home is illogical.
....what game where u watching? LSU was a contested interception call away from having the ball and enough time to call any number of plays on offense. On top of that, if Peterson doesnt have a case of the cramps, that touchdown by Jones never happens. Maybe you should watch the game again.
@ gator_prof: We need all the hits and page views we can get, but you might want to push yourself away from the CFT table for a bit.
Praising 'Bama's defense is not a knock, or a shot, or a jab at the Gators in any way, shape or form. My apologies that you see it that way.
Praising it is one thing, but calling it "The best defense in the nation -- regardless of where any stat places them" based on their performance versus LSU at home is hyperbole and inaccurate as I explained.
@ gator_prof: Your loyalty is admirable, and I respect it.
I'll now recuse myself from this thread and try to find another fan base to piss off. ;-)
I have no delusions that LSU has national championship team this year. (Though I think they are better than the credit that they receive.)
I also thought that they would lose this one.
But this was a tough loss to watch. And I'm not talking bad calls, injuries, etc. (Everyone whose team loses think the refs cost them the game.)
To see my Tigers put up a good fight and lose tonight really hurt. I just hope they can put it together for the rest of the year and get a nice bowl bid.
(sniff) Geaux Tigers!!!
New SEC rule. You must get 3 feet in bounds for an interception to count against Alabama.
Oh my, I come home and check in to find the boys are having a donnybrook! What fun! And of course, the losers are crying about contested calls and what iffin' about injured players (Is that as predictable as sunrise in other conferences, too, or is it an SEC specialty? It's so embarrassing. We Southerners used to be known for our Rebel Yell. Now it's the SEC Whine.)
John, what were you thinking? Didn't you know that a compliment to any team other than Florida is considered a back-handed insult to the tunnel-visioned swamp-dwellers? :-)
My only request is that you cut back on the references to "gnat-like inconveniences." Unlike the "prof"--who has been reveling in the third Meyer trophy Urban has yet to earn--I don't count victories until after they're won on the field. But thanks for the props to our D ;-)
@MGN ... You are a credit to LSU, the SEC, and the South. Thank you for the rare lesson in sportsmanship.
Uh, the final score was 24-15, not 23-14.
Sure, Florida's defense throttled LSU in even more impressive fashion, but is it really more impressive to do that to LSU at home at night than it is for Alabama to do it at home? ;)
Both teams have suffocating defenses. I have no problem with anyone who thinks either one is the best in the nation, not that my permission means anything. All I know for sure is that we'll get to see them face off again this season in Atlanta, and if it's half the game that last season's game was, it's Must-See TV.
When you play the game you have to play all 60 minutes, one play does not make the game, ask any coach. I coached for 13 years with a record of 121 wins, 14 losses.
Florida fans did not want to meet Bama in the SEC Championship game, but here comes Bama.
Which one has the best defense is something we will have to determine when they meet Dec. 5th. Florida should be ranked number one, until someone beats them.
Has any of you ever been a ref, it is not as easy as it looks on the cameras. I have had bad calls against me, but that is part of the game.
Have a great day Florida fans!
New SEC rule: if LSU is driving on Alabama, just call a phantom penalty on LSU. You can't let LSU win! Too much money is at stake. The SEC needs two teams in the top-5, no matter what the officials have to call on the field to make it happen.
And whatever happens, don't let any SEC team play Boise State in the regular season. They are S-C-A-R-Y good. Sure, Boise State would play any team, anywhere, any time, but the pansies at SEC especially the little girls at Alabama and Florida should not play the Broncos, which plays the real man version of football.
Don't play Boise State! Stay on the wussy side, SEC.
Actually, as a Florida fan, I definitely preferred to face Alabama than LSU. It would be a letdown to have two teams this good miss out on playing each other. It makes the path to the SEC title and possible BCS title more difficult, but that's what makes championship teams special.
And yeah, I'm one who thought it was clearly a pick. I think the video was extremely clear. But LSU had their opportunities to make plays, and it wasn't an official that pushed them into the punter, or that gave up a long TD on a WR screen, or that couldn't move the ball with their backup QB with the game on the line.
Leatherneck: Florida's schedule is plenty tough enough. Of the 11 BCS titles that have been awarded, two belong to Florida and four others belong to teams that Florida plays every season in home and home games, including one that's a non-conference opponent. They won the title last year despite having played the toughest schedule in the country.
Read it again. There were 11 crystal footballs awarded. Florida owns or plays the owner of more than half of them every year.
@Gator Prof
ARK put up 20 at UF and only 7 at UA. See how your argument makes no sense? Is Alabama's offense better than UF's? I mean they did put up 450 yards and scored 24 points against LSU? Take a chill pill. We will see what happens in ATL.
Are you serious about Boise State?! Bama played VT, Auburn played WV, Florida plays FSU and on and on and on. Every SEC team schedules a big non conference opponent, most of which would beat the snot out of Boise i.e. VT, Clemson, Oklahoma State ect. Hell, Alabama opens next season versus Penn State. You really want to say they are scared of B.S.? I don't think so.
I mean really? Boise State? When a win against Oregon is, "the biggest win in school history" you aren't THAT special.
@CoffinofChaos ... Oh, don't pay any attention to leatherneck. He's on here every week pouting about how he hates the SEC, Bama, and Florida. For someone who thinks they're girly teams who don't pay "real man" football, he sure spends a lot of time obsessing over them. LOL
Texas has the #1 Defense in the nation.. You say Bama and Coach Meyer was quoted as saying "I think we have the number one defense in America".."if not it should be". It's not AL or FL and it's NOT in the sec...
sec is soooo overrated. Let's not help them - as you can see from urban's words, they don't need the media's help...