Aw Golly fellas, Alabama's just lucky to be here. I'll be happy if we can just stay on the field with Texas. And man, I sure am glad that Florida took pity on us and let us win that game last month. It sure was good of Tim and those guys. I mean heck this almost exactly like last year, oh wait, Florida lost a regular season game last year so that can't be right. Since Florida lost to Ole Miss last year and Alabama was undefeated that must mean that Alabama let Florida win. So I guess Florida was returning the favor this year. :roll: Seriously, I am expecting a relatively low scoring, defensive game. I don't think Texas should be an underdog at all. I wouldn't give points.
kp, you are totally misreading what I am saying. I am saying that every team has highs and lows during the season. Alabama had a number of highs during the season, Va Tech, Georgia and Florida to name three. That's no insult and in fact says positive things about your coaching. Every team has some lows also, in Alabama's case I would submit Tennessee and Auburn. I might also include S. Carolina until the 4th quarter. Frequently these things can also have a lot to do with the team on the other side of the ball. I really didn't mean, and don't think you should read it that way, as a negative. I could also say something very similar about the Gators in 2006. We saved our best performance of the year for Ohio State. If we had played at that level all year long we would not have had as many close games as we had. But no one can preform their best every game.
As we all know, sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. Most championship teams need a healthy dose of luck to go all the way. Just ask Clint Stoerner.... :wink:
KP, i think obviously most everyone reasonably would agree that every week is different for every team. To Bama's immense credit.....much like Fla last year.....the Tide this year was very, very focused and determined to beat Fla. Last year it was Fla with that focus. I will say that last year Bama was much more into the game than UF seemed to be this year. I cannot explain it.....only the players know what was up that day but I do think Dunlap.s absence was strongly felt. In any event the Gators just did not stand up to Bama and the Tide took advantage....to their credit.
As smart as I look in the bragging rights pool I still don't know for certain what may go down in this game. I can't get a handle on how Alabama approaches this game and also a real key is if McElroy can handle a defense that is hitting on all cylinders.....if Texas does bring it on D which I suspect they will. UF...w/o pass rushing supreme Dunlap and a generally lackluster pass rush otherwise never really tested McElroy's ability to withstand the heat as did Tenn. etc. so I don't know where the kid is at in his progress. Maybe he had the game of his life vs. UF and will come back down to earth or maybe he is the next Heisman winner at Qb.....who really knows. I do think if Bama plays at the same level as they did vs. Fla then Texas will have to play lights out just to make it a game. If Bama lightens up....doesn't take Texas as seriously as they should then the Tide could lose. Again though.....for me the key player in the game is McElroy much more so than McCoy. With McCoy you know what you get.
AJ, I have been saying the same thing about McElroy as what MCG said today. Those are not seeds of doubt, just acknowledging that Texas is a formidable opponent. I have also been saying there should not be a favorite. These teams both have superior defenses and that means that one mistake could be the difference. I think Alabama will win, but it isn't going to be easy.
I know that Senior Chief, you know me by now, I'm just here to keep the party interesting.... Respectfully submitted, Conrad Dobler... BTW, your welcome that I changed my pick to TX.... :wink:
KP. I know you are looking forward to the game this evening, I always tend to get a bit antsy when my Buckeyes are involved. However, when the outcome involves two neutral teams, I throughly enjoy just seeing a good close game. May the best team win and hopefully no serious injuries for the Tide or Longhorns. Keep in mind only two teams made it to the game! Don