🏈 2009 team similar to the 2011 team ??

[Southern Bama]

There are a few similarities between these two teams.....First year starting QB, Experienced RB with a talented freshman RB, Solid Offensive line, and a potentially very good defense with a highly experienced LB and safety. Obviously in 2009 we had Julio and Im not sure if we will have anyone close to that this year...but we have some good wide outs for sure.

 

[psychojoe]

They differ in that in 2009 we had a lot of blue collar guys who had a chip on their shoulder and wanted to prove something. I hope this year's group, loaded with four and five stars, can play with "attitude" like the 2009 bunch did.

 

[gumboman]

Amen! That will be the difference. If this group has the same grit and work ethic, as the 2009 team, we will beat the pants off of anyone we line up aganst. You have to have "it" to win it all. Last year, we were a leader or two shy of having "it." The kids are saying the right things. We will soon see if they can walk the walk.

 

[bama29fan]

They differ in that in 2009 we had a lot of blue collar guys who had a chip on their shoulder and wanted to prove something. I hope this year's group, loaded with four and five stars, can play with "attitude" like the 2009 bunch did.

This.....

 

[Hoos4Tide]

They differ in that in 2009 we had a lot of blue collar guys who had a chip on their shoulder and wanted to prove something. I hope this year's group, loaded with four and five stars, can play with "attitude" like the 2009 bunch did.

What the heck does that even mean? If it makes any sense to me at all, it means that throughout the season we found ways to win, i.e. Rocky Block and The Drive vs. Auburn, but those things were proven throughout the season, its not like this time 2 years ago we all said "hey, this year we have a bunch of blue collar guys with chips on their shoulders-- that's good." And if we had a chip on our shoulders after 2008 what in heavens name do we have now?? Blowing a 24 point lead to Auburn, losing to Les, and getting beat by the Cocks, only to prove that when we play well we can beat a power conference champ by 100, that is a chip. Additionally, do you think the guys stepping in to fill Julio's spot, Greg's spot, even Ingram's spot (though the replacement does have experience) don't have something to prove themselves?? Or do you think Dont'a doesn't have something to prove after last year's less than stellar season? Or the secondary-- who may or may not have been unrightfully blamed for everything??? Yes, I would most definitely equate this year's TEAM to the TEAM going into the 2009 season, attitude is not what OP was asking, but I hope it is the same, as it rightfully should be. ...And, can you show me what "white collar" college football players look like if GMac wasn't one???

 

[Duder]

Hoos, I think the difference is personnel. All of the "superstars" were back in 2009. They had a chip on their shoulder and felt they needed to atone for blowing a lead in Atlanta with a real shot at the BCS title and then ended bowl season with an embarrassment.

That being said, I feel like you guys are closer to the 2008 team. A mixture of proven talent and incoming stars. So much leadership is gone though. Loads of talent but you guys need an identity, for lack of a better word. If they can find a strong core of leaders, you guys will be lethal. At worst, still a top ten finish at worst unless something just falls apart.

 

[planomateo]

losing to Utah....losing to Auburn, worse chip on your shoulder if you ask me.

 

[Hoos4Tide]

Hoos, I think the difference is personnel. All of the "superstars" were back in 2009. They had a chip on their shoulder and felt they needed to atone for blowing a lead in Atlanta with a real shot at the BCS title and then ended bowl season with an embarrassment.

That being said, I feel like you guys are closer to the 2008 team. A mixture of proven talent and incoming stars. So much leadership is gone though. Loads of talent but you guys need an identity, for lack of a better word. If they can find a strong core of leaders, you guys will be lethal. At worst, still a top ten finish at worst unless something just falls apart.

You're right to say all the superstars were back in '09... If you don't want to count Andre Smith, or Glen Coffee, or the quarterback who held almost every legit record in Bama history. But hey, how did '10 finish? Blowing a lead somewhere on I-85 and then an embarrassment in the bowl game. Close enough!!

EDIT: Well actually, you're really not totally right to say "all the superstars were back" b/c Julio had been "a contributor" in '08 but I think that's about it, Ingram had been a back up to Glen Coffee, who you would call "the superstar" of '08 and GMac hadn't started a game yet. And on defense Ro was back but he wasn't the Rolando McClain of '09 yet, much like Dont'a Hightower coming back this year possibly... so yes the superstars were "back" but they weren't superstars yet...

 

[Duder]

Was that post just for the sake of argument? Who didn't think Ingram was one of the best backs in football going into 09. JPW wasn't a superstar. McClain and Hightower were pretty good in 08. Again, it was obvious they could perform.

 

[Hoos4Tide]

Was that post just for the sake of argument? Who didn't think Ingram was one of the best backs in football going into 09. JPW wasn't a superstar. McClain and Hightower were pretty good in 08. Again, it was obvious they could perform.

See, by retorting my "the superstars weren't really back in '09" comment, you totally proved my point. Thank you. And I'll respond to that, so as not to beat into the proverbial ground the argument about who counts as a superstar.

Who didn't think Ingram was one of the best backs in football going into '09?
'09: Well, I would say a lot of people didn't think that, he had proven to be a great back up and was probably ready to take over the reigns from a great back in Glen Coffee. I doubt anyone was just super worried about the RB spot tho.
'11: Trent Richardson has proven to be a valuable asset as a back up to a great back in Mark Ingram and is ready to take the reigns. I don't think anyone is super worried about the RB spot tho.

JPW wasn't a superstar.
'09: GMac takes over for a QB in JPW that, though the Aub, Duder, doesn't think was a superstar, by way of his stats he established himself as a QB that will forever be in the history books at a school that has seen Snake Stabler, Bart Star, and Joe Namath come through. JPW probably never won a game for Alabama, but he sure didn't lose them and set records in the process.
'11: Sims/ McCarron takes over for a QB in GMac that will never be called the greatest QB in Alabama history, and he probably never really won a game for Alabama, though he did what he was supposed to do and never lost a game for sure, while setting records in the process.

McClain and Hightower were pretty good in '08.
'09: McClain and Hightower were pretty good in '08 as a junior and freshman respectively. I wouldn't say they were larger than life figures yet though. They were ready to step onto the bigger stage for sure.
'11: Hightower and Mosley were pretty good in '10 as a junior and freshman respectively. I wouldn't say they were larger than life figures yet though-- at least with respect to their performances in 2010. They were ready to step onto the bigger stage for sure though.

No similarities b/t '09 and '11...

 

[JoshB]

Was that post just for the sake of argument? Who didn't think Ingram was one of the best backs in football going into 09. JPW wasn't a superstar. McClain and Hightower were pretty good in 08. Again, it was obvious they could perform.

Outside of Alabama fans barely anyone paid attention to Ingram before the South Carolina game in '09, so I have no idea what ur talking about.