Rolle Named Rhodes Scholar

I hope I don't lose my audience for reporting on a player not involved with the University of Alabama or the Tennessee Titans, but I feel a need to with all of the negative news reported about student athletes.

Florida State University Safety Myron Rolle won a Rhode Scholarship this morning. He is one of 32 students to be given the same award earned by the likes of Bill Clinton, Bill Bradley and Kris Kristofferson to name a few.

Rolle now has to chose between the NFL or going to study in Oxford for 2-3 years.

Iron Bowl Headlines

Will Alabama look ahead to Florida in the SEC Championship Game and lose it's seventh in a row to Auburn? If anyone has watched Dick Vitale broadcast a basketball game this week, you know that he is definitely looking past Auburn and to the SEC Championship Game. Mr. Vitale described Alabama's chances by saying, "They have no shot against the Florida Gators." Althought Mr. Vitale is looking past the Iron Bowl, I find it hard to believe that a team consisting of players that have never beaten their bitter rival will be looking past that team. I would chose a route canal over another loss to Auburn.


Rolando McClain might have some problems. This story died down fairly quickly, and that should be credited to Coach Saban who chose to handle this internally. No one knows what happened or who started what, but I am sure the gossip flowing smoothly from faternity row, across the quad and through the halls of Bidgood. I really doubt anything will come of this.


A National Championship and bowl eligibility both on the line for Alabama and Auburn. Nothing would make the Tigers happier than to play spoiler on the Crimson Tide's season. We all know that Auburn has never cared about winning National Titles. All Auburn has ever cared about is being the best team in the state of Alabama. Auburn's bowl eligibility is on the line, so with that gives Auburn a huge advantage and more to play for, but it evens out with Alabama playing for their first win in six meetings.


Can an Iron Bowl win save Tubberville's job? Nothing has made me more happy than to have Tubberville exposed for the smug ass that he is. A very relaxed and easy going guy when taking candy from a baby, but has had a very difficult time adjusting to Saban being in town. If Alabama comes out of this game with a win, Tubberville might be hesitant to talk about six in a row in order to save his job because the seven losses that would outnumber THE STREAK.

The Tide Turns

Today marks a new day for the Alabama Crimson Tide. The teams that went 0-8 over the past two Novembers and have failed to finish their seasons strong are in the past. Alabama showed the mentally and physically tough team that they are. There were not many things going in the favor of this young Alabama team, but they did not give up. The grinded it out and played old school hard nose football in a hostile environment.

This is the first SEC West Championship for the Crimson Tide since 1999, but the pressure is not off of the Tide. They still have a tough against a Sylvestor Coom led Mississippi State team. Croom always find motivation to get his guys to play tough against Alabama after being overlooked for the head coaching job that was later given to a under-qualified Mike Shula.

Then there is the big showdown with Auburn. The say the Tigers have had a disappointing season would be an understatement, but it's important to remember who Auburn really is -- a team that has never cared about winning SEC Titles yet alone a National Championship. The only thing Auburn ever cares about is being the best team in the state of Alabama. It's sad, but even in their prime all they have ever wanted to do is hold up one more finger than they did the year before after playing Alabama.

I am going to give you a ballsy statement: The Tide is going to blow out Auburn. The leaders on this undefeated Alabama team were juniors in high school at the oldest the last time Alabama beat Auburn. Let's not forget the fact Alabama has never beaten Auburn in Tuscaloosa. That will change this year. I am typically very skeptical with games like this because of the rivalry factor (meaning anything can happen in a rivary with as much tension as the Iron Bowl).

This is a new year and the Tide will turn coming the first Saturday after Thanksgiving, but the only ones having a feast this year will be a very hungry and angry Alabama Crimson Tide Team.

Tomorrow Tells All

There are too many story lines going into tomorrow's showdown with LSU, but none has been bigger than Saban returning to Baton Rouge with the #1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. The first thing I am going to look for is when the defense hits the field and Terrance Cody test the knee he sprained in the Ole Miss game more than two weeks ago.

I ran up on an interesting story on Deadspin about LSU finding out his cell phone number and calling him non stop. LSU fans are notorious for this, but let's hope JP plays like the other victims of these jokes - Knowshon Moreno, Matt Stafford and Tim Tebow. All of those players played major roles in each team scoring 50 points to lead their teams to victory over the Tigers.

Tomorrow could either seal the deal for the Tide's SEC West Championship or could make for a daunting task to stamp the Tide's tickets to Atlanta. If Alabama loses to LSU, they will have to beat Mississippi State, who have defeated Alabama two years in a row, and Auburn, who is on a six game winning streak against Alabama.

Tide Notes

Just in case you forgot how crazy the Alabama vs. LSU game was last year, this video will refresh your memory.

The Alabama Crimson Tide practiced for the first time as the #1 team in the nation -- the first time the Tide has been ranked #1 since 1980. Many wonder how Alabama will play with such a large target on their back, but this week be mostly be about Nick Saban's return to Baton Rouge -- no matter what Nick Saban says.

Terrance Cody fully participated in practice today and it appears he will at least play some role in this game. With Cody's ability to cause an opponent to have to change their game plan just for him, this is a big advantage for the Crimson Tide. The scary part is that Alabama has competed just as well without Cody by just allowing nine points in two games.

Rumors have been spreadingthat Nick Saban will be taking an unmarked car to the stadium and not ride in the charter bus with the team, but I strongly doubt these rumors. Coach Saban has is a stickler for routine and odds are he will not change this routine just before a game against his former team to clinch Alabama's first SEC West title since 1999.


Coach Saban is playing his vards well with this game by saying that it is about the team and not about him. He may be trying to make people believe that, but the Alabama players know this game is all about Nick Saban. Saban brought the Tigers a National Championship and basically handed Les Miles a Championship last year through incredible recruiting while at LSU. There is no reason for the LSU fans to hate Saban. He left the team for what he thought he wanted, a pro coaching career. He did not leave LSU to go straight to Alabama. The Tigers should welcome him, bit we all know that us SEC Fans are not the most rational people.

Story Lines for the LSU Game

The Alabama Crimson Tide travel to Baton Rouge for Saban's first trip back to LSU

It's no secret that LSU is a rough place with rough fans. Saban is downplaying his first game back in Baton Rouge and for good reason -- Alabama could clinch the SEC west title with a win this week. If Alabama fails to win this game, the SEC West race is going to become very interesting with Alabama having to win their next two games against Mississippi St. and Auburn. We all know about the struggles Alabama has had against those teams in the recent past. Although Alabama could clinch their ticket to Atlanta, don't expect the story to change from Nick Saban making his return to the bayou.


The Pressure of Being #1

Since breaking into the Top 10, Alabama has had a target on their back, but after a miracle drive by Texas TEch late Saturday night, that target only got bigger. Being the #1 team in the land really does nothing good for a team unless you are rated that high just after the BCS Title Game. Does anyone remember who was number one this time last season -- probably not, so therefore it doesn't matter. Being #1 after the season is the only thing that counts.

Terrance Cody is expected to play

"We feel like he's progressed in his rehab enough that he should be able to do some practicing this week," said Saban after the Arkansas St. game. This is great news. If this plays out well, meaning Cody was able to keep his weight down and had enough time to heal, Cody will be going into the LSU game with two weeks of rest.


The Alabama defense is for real

When Cody went down, the Crimson Nation held their breath in a Prothro like moment, but Cody's injury has not changed much for the Alabama defense. They had their first shutout since 2005 this past Saturday against Arkansas St., and has only allowed 165.5 yards per game in the two game without Cody. I'. excited to get Cody but, but it is relieving to know that our defense can still thrive without him.


2:30 game in Death Valley

This is huge help for Alabama. Death Valley is a much easier stadium to play in during the day as opposed to a night game. With what is at stake in this game, it should be a prime time game, but a 2:30 game will take the Tiger fans out of the game earlier.


Are Mark Ingram and Glen Coffee heathy

I would be shocked if both of these players did not play in what is going to become the most important game in Alabama history since 1998. Coffee and Ingram went out of last weeks game in the second half with a bruised bicep and a hurt knee. I would be surprised if one of these players is hurt for next weeks games and shocked if theyr were both inactive for the game.


If Cody does play will we see him at fullback for goal line situations

I hope so because he gives used a guaranteed 4 yards.