Tide Tidbits – May 25, 2009

A Look Ahead: Alabama
Nick Saban thinks things will be different this year. That’s not a threat or a promise regarding the success of his Alabama Crimson Tide football team. Saban, beginning his third year as Bama coach, said the difference this year is that Alabama will have a target on its back. “Last year no one had Alabama circled on the schedule,” Saban said. “This year, everyone will.”

First SEC Get Together This Week
It is time for the conference to dole out the cash, make that wads of cash and introduce three new football coaches. After the checks are distributed, the next agenda item will be centered upon how to the conference will use it’s new blockbuster deals with CBS and ESPN that were signed late last summer. The complex nature of the talks is that the two 15 year deals are worth billions of dollars. Beginning this year, every SEC football game that is not picked up by CBS is to be shown on ESPN’s family of networks. Deciding how that is to

Monday with Mike: Chance to make a statement
Sometimes, there’s more at stake than a mere victory when teams get together. Sometimes, what happens on the field can resonate for a while. In that vein, here’s an elite eight of “statement games” in the first month of the season: 2. Alabama vs. Virginia Tech in Atlanta, Sept. 5: Last season, Clemson went into a season-opening game against Alabama in Atlanta as the prohibitive ACC favorite. The Tigers left Atlanta with their tail between their legs, and the ACC’s reputation took a big hit. Clemson coach Tommy Bowden eventually was fired in the aftermath. As the season played out, though, what seemed like an upset at the time instead became an example of how quickly Alabama had rebuilt under Nick Saban. This season, Virginia Tech will go into the game as the preseason ACC favorite, and you can bet the Hokies will be far better prepared than the Tigers were last season.

SEC offseason produces as much fun as in the fall
In 2004, the SEC passed the so-called Fulmer Rule, which established guidelines for turning over information about possible rules violations. Two years ago, the SEC developed the Saban Rule, which banned head coaches from off-campus recruiting during the spring evaluation period. Now, get ready for the Kiffin Rule. Commissioner Mike Slive plans to inform league coaches in no uncertain terms that they are to refrain from publicly criticizing or questioning the actions of each other.

SEC’s hot seat could be surprise
The presence of Saban at Alabama and Urban Meyer doesn’t help Richt. They come across as tougher, more intense coaches, who are obsessed with winning. Moreover, both won big last season against Georgia. Never mind that Georgia beat Alabama and Florida in 2007. SEC fans have short memories. In a league as competitive and high-paying as this one, there are only two ways for a coach to avoid criticism: win the most recent national championship game or take Vanderbilt to a bowl game.

LIKE IT IS : Consistency key to being top 10 football school
Just for fun, here’s one man’s view of the top 10 college football programs of today, three that have slipped, and 10 more that look ready to be a weekly regular in the Top 25. 10. ALABAMA Granted, Nick Saban seems to have had a very successful personality bypass, but he knows how to win and he turned the Tide around much quicker than anyone expected.

Roll Tide!

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