Alabama Crimson Tide

[10ac]

Mind your head

[GBJs]

Wow, apparently it lives on the intertubes!

It was a blustery and frozen night as I entered the dank, austere surroundings of the Liberty Bowl on the late December night of 1982. Slow barges lumbered down the Mighty River. Blues bands played as if they were heralding in a fresh lamb to the slaughter.

The Mighty Fighting Illini were big. They were strong. They were mean. The wounded and much-beleaguered Crimson Tide team formed a thin red line as they headed onto the tundra that night.

The rifle-armed All-American, Tony Eason, set his angular jaw against the gale-like, frozen winds on that dark Memphis night. Like a gridiron Baryshnikov, Eason’s 6’4” frame danced nimbly through the pregame warm-ups as he focused his mind on the task at hand: Embarrassing – no humiliating – the great, but terminally ill Paul Bryant and his rag-tag band of undersized and injured players...

Head Coach of the Mighty Fighting Illini, Mike White, knew a pro career lay ahead of him. He chuckled slightly as he perused the gameplan and thought to himself, “This is Bryant’s last game. I’ll make him wish he’d quit sooner.”

The ailing Bryant grimaced as he slowly emerged from the tunnel. Heart disease was killing him and he knew his doctors had warned him about coaching this game, especially considering the extremely harsh weather. He struggled to keep from letting his family – the players – see him in such mind-searing pain as he covertly placed a nitroglycerin tablet under his tongue. He never wanted this game to be about him. He simply wanted the players to hold their heads high and compete honorably for the University, their families, and most importantly, themselves. “Make your mamas proud," he grumbled, as the last of the players and trainers ran from the tunnel.

Somehow, Alabama had managed to keep the game close through most of the game; however, Illinois quarterback Tony Eason was driving his team for what should have been the winning score. But Alabama's defense came through ... one last time for Bryant. Afterward, Mike White, the young Illinois coach, said that he had never seen a team hit as hard as Alabama that day. They were outgunned and out-manned, but they played with incredible heart and won the game for Bear on desire and grit alone.

That fateful Liberty Bowl was played on December 29, 1982. Less than one month later, on January 26, 1983, Bryant would die of heart disease. Coincidentally, less than one month after that, his beloved wife of 59 years, Mary Harmon Bryant, would die, too.

From the time Bryant first prowled the sidelines at the University of Alabama in 1958, until the day he died in 1983, no other team in the Nation won as many games, had as high of a winning percentage, or as many championships. No one was really even close.

Thank goodness it was safe. The photo, even a day late, would have been near hollow without it.

[GBJs]

Here's hoping you've all had a good New Year's Eve... and here's hoping for a safe, healthy and prosperous new year for all.

[hedge]

that's clearly passive-aggressive....

[Professor Tiger]

Says here spelt is a hardy wheat grown primarily in France and Belgium.

I hear the Scots actually invented spelt.

[AlabamAlum]

If it's not Scottish, it's crap.

[Professor Tiger]

Skip to 5:00

[youtube]n4WlkJXWzmE[/youtube]

[Professor Tiger]

Are there any Krystal's stores in Miami near the stadium?

[10ac]

The subdivision next to the stadium, Lake Lacerne I believe, was built by ADH construction. My dad was superintendent on that job. I would go to work with him in the summer and pick up coke bottles for 2 cents each. That was when people still spoke English down there.

[Professor Tiger]

Ellos no hablan Ingles hoy.

[hedge]

"I would go to work with him in the summer and pick up coke bottles"

With your sphincter...

[Professor Tiger]

Here is Professor Tiger's official BCSCG analysis and prediction:

ND has a stout front 7, and they will hang with Bama's offense for three quarters. But Bama's O-line is strong and deep, and will wear down the Irish D in the fourth quarter.

On the other side of the ball, ND's offense has never seen the speed and complexity of any SEC defense, much less Bama's. The Tide's one vulnerability is their pass defense, but Golson is no Manziel or Murray, and he won't be able to attack that lone vulnerability.

So, unless the Bama starters experiment with LSD before the game, like they did in the 2009 Sugar Bowl against Utah: Bama 28 Notre Dame 13

[dave_rickart]

Bammer?

[Orangefreak]

::runs in::

ROLL TIDE!!

::runs off before anyone notices::

[Jungle Rat]

Did somebody fart?

[The Gray Ghost]

Here is Professor Tiger's official BCSCG analysis and prediction:

ND has a stout front 7 against weaker competition , and they will hang with Bama's offense for three plays. Bama's O-line is strong and deep, and will wear down the Irish D in the 1st half of the 1st quarter.

On the other side of the ball, ND's offense has never seen the speed and complexity of any SEC defense, much less Bama's.

So, unless the Bama starters experiment with LSD before the game, like they did in the 2009 Sugar Bowl against Utah: Bama 28 Notre Dame 0 after one half.

TFTFY

[Professor Tiger]

The NCAA should just go ahead and award the BCSNC to the winner of the SECCG. Bama or aTm are #1 and #2, and UGA is #3. Let everybody else compete for the table scraps.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Ah fuck that. It's really just Bama right now that's unstoppable. Auburn's 2010 season is forever tainted by everyone knowing Cam was bought and paid for. And the rest of the SEC really isn't that overwhelming, cept for a certain frosh QB.

Congrats to AA and GBJ and any other Bammers lurking about. Saban and Bama are just at another level. And next year could be 4 out of 5

[10ac]

If not for the first half we'd have a 14 - 14 tie game folks.

[Professor Tiger]

Auburn's 2010 season is forever tainted by everyone knowing Cam was bought and paid for.

You have evidence that that Miss. State boosters tried to buy Cam and failed. You have no evidence that Auburn did anything wrong in the recruitment Cam. The NCAA looked and didn't find any either.

That "everyone knowing" is based on nothing but their own imaginations.

Nice fantasy, though.