Thoughts from the Chick

I was nervous about the Florida game. 

But man, that was a beatdown.   And I bet John Brantley is feeling it this morning.  That guy got rocked.  Sandwiched.

Last week I said that our defense needed to get it together.  Well, looks like they did just that.  They are starting to really come together.  Courtney Upshaw looked great.  Nico Johnson had a good game.  Marcell Dareus looked like the Marcell Dareus we were all hyped to see this year. 

And you gotta love Marquis Maze.  Wildcat throw for a TD.  Probably my favorite play of the whole night.

And you have to mention -

Ewwwww Georgia.  Really?  Getting beat by Colorado?  Not good.  Not good at all.

And what the hell Tennessee and LSU?  Goodness.  You’d think that maybe LSU would practice what to do with no time outs left and only seconds left on the clock.  I mean, haven’t they been in that situation in the past couple years?

Well, I’ve actually had a whopping 2 people tell me that I needed to start writing again, so here it goes -

After 4 weeks of college football this year (yes, it’s already gone by that fast), here are just a few thoughts… 

I’d first like to thank James Madison U for making Boise State’s schedule look even weaker, if that’s possible.  I think it’s great what BSU has goin’ on out there, piling up all those wins, but I think that their schedule is just that - BS.

Ole Miss - I’m sorry for ya.  I really am. 

To all the Tennessee fans out there - we Alabama fans have been there - in turmoil.  And I gotta tell ya - get ready for the long haul, cause it’s gonna suck.  Just no other way to say it.  It’s gonna suck.  But please UT nation, let’s be realistic.  Don’t tell me how a lightning storm ruined your chances to beat Oregon.  They whooped ya.  Lightning or no.

I don’t know that I’ve felt as bad for a QB as I did for Clemson’s Kyle Parker last week against Auburn.  That was just painful to watch. 

Texas - yikes!  What happened?!

And Georgia, Lordy. 

And let me just say - The Alabama / Arkansas game had been hyped up for the past 2 weeks.  I wasn’t super worried.  I thought: “Our offense is on fire.  Their defense isn’t great.  Our defense will show up.  Marcel Dareus will roll.”  But when we were behind and had to punt it away early in the 3rd quarter, I started to get worried.  That game was WAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY too close for comfort. 

Defense, you gotta get it together.  Seriously.  Get. It. Together. Ok?  Please? 

Anyone else missing Rolando McClain about now?  I know I am.  

But hey - those guys came back, they made the plays, and won.  A win is a win.  So, RTOTA!!!

It’s good to see people - especially those who can influence others - doing GOOD things and helping people!

Link to article on Barrett Jones’ trip to Haiti

If anyone is actually reading this - you’ve noticed that I’ve taken quite the hiatus.

It’s hard to write about football when there’s not much going on other than the combine and draft chatter.

But spring practice has started and there’s life on the football front!

I checked out al.com’s Alabama Football page and looks like there are lots of good experiments going on over there - even Julio Jones on (are you ready for this?) defense?! 

Saban says offense looks good, defense needs work.  But Mark Barron was quoted last week saying that the 2010 defense could be better than 2009 - if they lived up to their potential. 

Now that, I can’t wait to see.

And just a couple of random thoughts for ya -

I wish people would step off of Anthony Grant.  Give the guy some time.  Were we good this year in AL basketball?  No.  But give him some time to do what he needs to do, then let’s judge.

And I seriously think that Urban Meyer should consider some medication.  And if you’re going to go threatening everyone who criticizes Tim Tebow, you better get ready for a long haul. 

Happy Spring everyone.

And I know at least one person has been waiting on my PILFs from the National Championship game - look for those soon. 

Phillip Sims - QB signee

He’s an early enrolee at Alabama, and got to talk to the media yesterday on signing day. 

He seems like a cool dude -

Click Here for an article on Brandon Ivory - largely unrecruited nose tackle who signed with Alabama yesterday.

Sorry guys - this one will probably be lost on you.  But ladies - doesn’t signing day kind of remind you of bid day?

I don’t know why I thought about that this morning, but as excitement builds to see which big 5-star recruit commits to whom, I was reminded of those days of old when we called friends, family, etc to see, “Who’s their top choice???” 

There’s a lot of that going on today as the media tries to get an early idea of where those last remaining unknowns are going.

And I’d almost venture to say that there’s just as much drama involved with football recruiting as there was with rush (see Lane Kiffin, Urban Meyer, Ed Orgeron, Keenan Allen, Markieth Ambles, etc).

Now, if we could only get Rolondo McClain, Terrence Cody, Mark Ingram & Julio Jones to learn a skit or do a door song….

(Think about that one, ladies, and if you don’t get a laugh, then you really need to have yourself checked out for “lack-of-sense-of-humor-itis”.)

Cool article for those of you who are interested in the personal side of recruiting and not just the numbers.

In the words of a good friend of mine, “Haters gotta hate.”

And a couple of the players who participated in the Senior Bowl learned that very well this week.

Tim Tebow, who has been the golden boy of the media, is now learning that the media can jump bandwagons just about as quickly as he can quote the gospel.

And I actually feel a little sorry for him.  He’s had a week to learn a new system and basically try to change everything he’s been doing for the past 4 years.  And now that he had a bad game, suddenly his stock is dropping and he’s actually getting - shocker - criticism.

And look at Terrence Cody.  This is a guy who had become a rock-star on campus.  He jokes with the media.  He has embraced the fans.  He’s just a cool guy. 

When he came to Alabama he weighed over 400 pounds and has worked to get into playing shape.  Let’s not forget, he’s supposed to be big - he’s a nose guard. 

So c’mon, people - did anyone really expect him to have a six-pack? 

But since the photos of his weigh-in from the Senior Bowl hit the internet - he’s had a lot of hate thrown his way. 

Even Nick Saban - who no one can really criticize legitimately for what he’s done at Alabama - has taken shots this week from folks who want to blame him for Cody’s weight.

So, haters gotta hate, but only because they don’t have anything better to do. 

Finally the UASports Channel on Youtube has the videos from the 2009 season back up. They have also added a few as well from the National Championship - this is just one of them.