A Quick Kill on the Plains

Now we know how the Gators felt.

Way back when, back when the Bama offense was rip roarin’ and the Tide was on the cover of Sports Illustrated, Florida’s hopes for a road win went out the window with one mighty blow.

Bam!
Bam!
Bam!

Just like that, Auburn did the same to Alabama. It was over about the time it got started. Before you could get settled in your seat (especially if you were among the thousands stuck in traffic before the game), the Tigers dealt three quick shots to the Tide’s hopes of grabbing its 10th regular season win.

Three possessions. Three short drives. Three touchdowns. It was basically over at that point.

The Alabama defense would force a turnover on Auburn’s fourth drive, and the Tide would turn it into points on the other end. But when Bama’s defense got a stop on the Tigers next series, and the Crimson Tide offense was unable to cut further into the lead, the last good chance was gone. Another score before halftime eliminated any drama for the second half. The game was over, and everybody knew it.

To the players’ credit, Alabama refused to give up. You would expect no less from Mike Shula’s team, yet it still was encouraging to see the Tide fight until the bitter end.

Unfortunately, what you also saw was Brodie Croyle get sacked time after time. You know that kid had to wake up hourly Saturday night and into Sunday morning, drenched in perspiration, battling the shakes after suffering such unmerciful abuse. It got to the point where you almost wished to see a holding call on an Alabama offensive lineman, just to break the monotony of sacks and illegal procedure penalties.

It was tough to swallow, but we’ll have to for another year. The gap has clearly closed between Alabama and the SEC elite. In fact, the Tide deserves to be considered in that class. But there is still more work to be done before Alabama is TRULY back – back to where we all want, hope, and know it will be.

That day is getting closer. It’s coming. It’s just not there yet. And it clearly wasn’t Saturday.

What we don’t have to wait until next season for is to feel extremely proud of the young men who have battled through so much to put this program back to a level of respectability – both nationally and within the conference.

CBS salivated at the opportunity to broadcast that many Tide games this season. It was great to play so many afternoons at 2:30, the time God intended for college football games to begin.

We’ll save a complete look ahead to next season for the week following the bowl game (likely in Dallas for the Cotton). It is, however, safe to say the cupboard does not immediately become bare once this senior class leaves campus.

For now, its back to work to correct what went wrong on the plains in time for a bowl game. And isn’t it nice to make plans to go BACK to a bowl game for the second consecutive year? That’s something I hope we never take for granted again.

Speaking of bowl appearances, I also believe you should look for positives wherever you can. Saturday certainly wasn’t a total loss.

Way to go Vanderbilt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chris Stewart is the pre and post game host for the Crimson Tide Sports Network's coverage of Alabama Football. In addition, he hosts a talk show each weekday morning from 7 until 9 on Tuscaloosa's Sports Radio 1420, The Tusk. Stewart is also the radio play-by-play announcer for University of Alabama men's basketball.   Bama Fever is a company devoted to providing University of Alabama Crimson Tide merchandise. We have stores in Birmingham, Tuscaloosa  and Huntsville and have now created an online catalog for Crimson Tide fans all over the world searching for that hard to find merchandise. We carry over 7,000 items in our stores and have posted many of these items right here in our online catalog.

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Read all of Chris's 2005 Game Recaps