🏈 A day later, I ponder if we’re overreacting to Alabama’s loss at FSU.

Two teams who had very underwhelming seasons and a program who just came off a 2-10 season. We looked for improvements in year two under DeBoer, but unfortunately, it looks like the same problems persists. Self-inflicted penalties that extend drives; poor leadership; and obvious lack of preparation. All the talk of accountability seems to have gone out the window.

 

[bamatommy]

View attachment 31922

 

[Crimson&WhiteGecko]

In terms of giving effort and such, yes, absolutely. I didn't do a great job with it, but I was referring more to an overall blanket situation (how to prepare, how to act, what to say [and what not to say], etc). Example: you'd think those that have been around and know the recipe to a championship team could reach a handful of players, get in their ear, and instill in them that leaders also need to be enforcers. There are guys on this team that give a shit... there just doesn't seem to be any enforcers that will rock the boat. Maybe it was a red flag when all the talk came out a few weeks about about how close knit this team was. And maybe like effort, you can't really create boogeymen, it's just a DNA thing. But from personal experiences on teams, even much smaller teams than a football team, there's always someone willing to be the bad cop.

Good discussion here.... There can't be a bad cop if the leadership isn't going to truly back him. The legendary instance of Jonathan Allen Vs Tony Brown wouldn't have happened had there been any doubt the staff would have intervened. Consciously or subconsciously Allen knew CNS had his back. PERIOD.

Can a bad cop exist on this roster? I don't know. Some want to say the college football landscape doesn't allow that anymore. We'll see. What I do know is that looking at every National Champion back to LSU 2019, they all had clear, dominate leaders on their teams. A no non-sense, results only leaders. And those teams were hungry too. FSU was damn starving for a win last Saturday. You can't fake that. They were ravenous all game long. And lets be honest..... when is the last time we saw a starving 'Bama team? Entitled, yes but starving?

 

[Slickmullet]

Nobody at the time of the hire was saying that. Nobody. In fact, it was being lauded by most. Beyond that, Bryne alone didn't give/approve that contract... several did, including the entire BOT. Thirdly, if Bama ends up cutting ties and hiring another proven coach (that doesn't have baggage), the next contract will be of similar stature, especially if it's a Sexton client.

If this is the case nowadays then these programs are doomed for years if they make the wrong hire. 5 losses in, and with the roster we have (loaded on paper at least), I am comfortable saying that may be the case for us.

 

[bamatommy]

The reality is it is a perfect storm of NIL entitlement, soft coaching, and changing culture at Alabama. Fans just need to realize college football has completely evolved. How does FSU go from a total dumpster fire last year to looking like they did on Saturday? Simple, last year was a bust in the portal for them and this year looks like they hit correctly.

Pull up the top 10 portal teams and look at the top 15 teams and the country and also how they played. At this point I think a winning recipe is dump money to the portal for veteran players and don’t worry about the highscoolers as much. We were 61st in portal ranking by the way.

Unfortunately for Alabama our AD was an absolute idiot and tied us to a coach that is extremely soft and not built to handle modern college football. Worst contract ever! How freaking desperate. We’re likely screwed for several years

No, we are NOT overreacting!

 

[musso]

And lets be honest..... when is the last time we saw a starving 'Bama team?

Scarcity begets hunger. Sustained hunger begets starvation. Are we starving yet after only five years from our last Natty? In today’s age of technology, we are only one click away from rewatching our favorite past games, highlight reels, or listening to podcasts featuring past Bama greats retelling stories of past glory. Think of how much harder it was to remember and reminisce past national championship seasons before the internet and hand-held devices. I’m afraid to say, we may not be truly starved for championships for quite a while longer.

 

[24and7]

 

[Kamikazi18627]

When was the last time Bama lost 3 of its last 4??

I guess it was 2007.

 

[Nothing_But_A_Winner00]

 

[Scrape&Search1032]

Not feeling good about this whole thing

 

[Krimson]

I'm not pointing to the health aspect here. This isn't "myocarditis" has affected how the ILB approaches the game or life.

One thing I am pointing to his the lack of structure during that time. There were players that didn't attend school in person, didn't practice or play in a game during that stretch. But when it came to schools signing players those missing developmental steps have shown their ugly heads.

It's not just those juniors and seniors. Imagine yourself as a ninth grader where you are beginning to distinguish yourself. Who you are. What you're made of. How do you do that with your peers when you only see them in virtual settings? Or, at best, a few days a week?

It's my contention those two years severely damaged the maturation of all the school kids. We're just seeing it and talking about it as it relates to this form of entertainment; football.

I don't disagree, at all. I think context is warranted.

Take the two years mentioned earlier in this post. How were parents equipped to handle their '2.5's' education when both are at work and now both kids are at home?

You bring up points like our parents didn't know where we were. These kids we're talking about? Their parents did. The kids were at home instead of school; instead of the practice fields.

My mom didn't have to know where I was either. I hung out with two other guys who lived on the street. Unfortunately, EVERYONE knew where we were!

I don't care for the smart phone being used as a root problem. It's just another iteration of Atari; in a smaller form. No doubt a part of the bigger picture.

It goes back to what I'm saying here. These kids were forced to communicate through smart devices in the virtual reality they were told they had to live in for a long stretch of their developmental years.

Answers? You and I both know you can't "snatch a knot out of his head" as a form of getting attention. That's why I'm of the opinion Saban's coaching style doesn't work any longer.

I understand it was different for them, as it was for everyone really, but I can't see how 1 year had that much affect on someone. Home school kids do a lot of virtual classes and they may not have the same social skill set that kids who go to traditional school do but I've met a lot who weren't socially awkward or noticeably different, usually they are better mannered if anything.

Personally would've loved a year to hang out with my friends, fish, hunt etc and do part time school. I don't think it would've had much of a negative effect on me but no way to know for sure.

I brought up the point about our parents not knowing where we were to say that we were more autonomous in our daily activities. We didn't have life 360 and a way for our parents to call us at any time.

Everyone knew us and would call us out and then call our parents if we acted ignorant but my parents literally knew we were somewhere within a 10 mile radius of whoever's house we were around but there's no telling how long it would've taken someone to find us as about the only limits that were placed on us was to give them an idea of where we might be, creek, riding 4 wheelers, river, etc.

I don't think that Atari and cell phones are anywhere near the same. We played video games a few hours a week but most kids are tied to their phones. Thankfully we didn't have to worry about social media and people recording and posting us all the time. We had to figure things out or at least ask someone who may know, we couldn't youtube how to do anything we wanted to. How many people remember how to get somewhere that you don't go often now? I don't, Google tells me how to get there but I used to remember. Same with numbers, addresses, etc. It's changed the way people think, I wouldn't say Atari did that.

These kids prefer to communicate through smart devices. I cant get my teens to strike up a conversation with people they don't know, it was common for us. I've seen groups of teens texting each other while sitting in the same room, doesn't make sense to me.

I think kids still need a knot snatched out of them and deep down they want structure, rules, and consequences because they know what to expect then. I don't think I was born with my work ethic, it was something I was taught. You worked for things you wanted and it made you feel proud when you earned it. Same with football. Every coach I had demanded everything I had and they busted your butt if you loafed. I don't ever remember loafing in a game, it meant too much to me.

I'm not saying covid had no effect but I think parenting has a far greater one.

 

[24and7]

Ballou has gotta go IMO.

Ballou has gotta go IMO. - Almost as important to fire him as it is Wommack. We have gotten softer and softer every year since him became our S&C coach….including

www.secrant.com

 

[Scrape&Search1032]

Ballou has gotta go IMO.

Ballou has gotta go IMO. - Almost as important to fire him as it is Wommack. We have gotten softer and softer every year since him became our S&C coach….including

www.secrant.com

SEC rant? I very shortly was in that site before realizing I didn't want to be in there anymore, lol.

 

[24and7]

SEC rant? I very shortly was in that site before realizing I didn't want to be in there anymore, lol.

Tidefans much worse...

 

[TerryP]

Not feeling good about this whole thing

My only question.

Why would people take the word of a Michigan DL coach allegedly quoting a former Bama player who was far from living up to his billing when he arrived on campus?

Seriously. The last time Payne was wearing Crimson he played in every game, I believe: 2023. Did he have a solo tackle on the entire season? I'll bet ya his total (solo and assisted) out of 14 games was less than a dozen. Hell, I'd be shocked if he was in on 10 tackles in '23.

Is Payne carrying a chip on his shoulder about defensive lineman and their development at Bama? IF so, rightfully so. I don't believe the story as it's being portrayed considering teams in the league have had high compliments on Dr. Ballou's department.

 

[Rolltide24]

Payne had 3 tackles, 2 solo and 1 tackle for loss in his first game with the Wolverines. Be interesting to see how he does throughout the season. Michigan has beat us the last 2 seasons head to head so hard to argue they are not the better team at the moment.

 

[Kamikazi18627]

So we are soft. Great.

 

[BamaFan334]

I understand it was different for them, as it was for everyone really, but I can't see how 1 year had that much affect on someone. Home school kids do a lot of virtual classes and they may not have the same social skill set that kids who go to traditional school do but I've met a lot who weren't socially awkward or noticeably different, usually they are better mannered if anything.

Personally would've loved a year to hang out with my friends, fish, hunt etc and do part time school. I don't think it would've had much of a negative effect on me but no way to know for sure.

I brought up the point about our parents not knowing where we were to say that we were more autonomous in our daily activities. We didn't have life 360 and a way for our parents to call us at any time.

Everyone knew us and would call us out and then call our parents if we acted ignorant but my parents literally knew we were somewhere within a 10 mile radius of whoever's house we were around but there's no telling how long it would've taken someone to find us as about the only limits that were placed on us was to give them an idea of where we might be, creek, riding 4 wheelers, river, etc.

I don't think that Atari and cell phones are anywhere near the same. We played video games a few hours a week but most kids are tied to their phones. Thankfully we didn't have to worry about social media and people recording and posting us all the time. We had to figure things out or at least ask someone who may know, we couldn't youtube how to do anything we wanted to. How many people remember how to get somewhere that you don't go often now? I don't, Google tells me how to get there but I used to remember. Same with numbers, addresses, etc. It's changed the way people think, I wouldn't say Atari did that.

These kids prefer to communicate through smart devices. I cant get my teens to strike up a conversation with people they don't know, it was common for us. I've seen groups of teens texting each other while sitting in the same room, doesn't make sense to me.

I think kids still need a knot snatched out of them and deep down they want structure, rules, and consequences because they know what to expect then. I don't think I was born with my work ethic, it was something I was taught. You worked for things you wanted and it made you feel proud when you earned it. Same with football. Every coach I had demanded everything I had and they busted your butt if you loafed. I don't ever remember loafing in a game, it meant too much to me.

I'm not saying covid had no effect but I think parenting has a far greater one.

Come to my hometown and set up a set of skills challenges for the Class of 2018 through 2030 and I bet you would see a CLEAR difference. @TerryP is absolutely correct that the coronovirus bullcrap held an entire group of kids back. Truly break down how much a kid develops between the age of five and ten and then take away their ability to learn during a couple of those years, cancelled sports, teach yourself from home, no interaction depending on where you live and the beliefs of your friend's parents, lockdowns, closed businesses, the financial implications of so many families and how it affected those kid's home lives. Oh it absolutely took a toll on these kids.

My son is a solid athlete. His class though, is effing terrible. They missed their entire 7-8 year old season when it came to sports and I can personally tell you it killed a lot of their futures and they are so far behind they will likely never touch a school sport and if they do our school will be terrible. My son was the only position sixth grader to make the baseball team last year in middle school, one of two overall (other a pitcher). He was one of twelve seventh graders this year to make the football team, fourty-six total, seventy-six tried out, and they only kept fourty-six because they were the only ones that could protect themselves and knew what they were doing. It is truly pathetic out there how those developmental yeats were taken and how they still to this day haven't gotten back as a group.

On top of that, go watch a travel baseball tournament. Even Perfect Game. Some talent in areas, but as a whole you'll see so much bad coaching, players not knowing what to do, and lack of fundamentals it'll make you mad, not sad. It's all falling a part.

 

[Krimson]

Come to my hometown and set up a set of skills challenges for the Class of 2018 through 2030 and I bet you would see a CLEAR difference. @TerryP is absolutely correct that the coronovirus bullcrap held an entire group of kids back. Truly break down how much a kid develops between the age of five and ten and then take away their ability to learn during a couple of those years, cancelled sports, teach yourself from home, no interaction depending on where you live and the beliefs of your friend's parents, lockdowns, closed businesses, the financial implications of so many families and how it affected those kid's home lives. Oh it absolutely took a toll on these kids.

My son is a solid athlete. His class though, is effing terrible. They missed their entire 7-8 year old season when it came to sports and I can personally tell you it killed a lot of their futures and they are so far behind they will likely never touch a school sport and if they do our school will be terrible. My son was the only position sixth grader to make the baseball team last year in middle school, one of two overall (other a pitcher). He was one of twelve seventh graders this year to make the football team, fourty-six total, seventy-six tried out, and they only kept fourty-six because they were the only ones that could protect themselves and knew what they were doing. It is truly pathetic out there how those developmental yeats were taken and how they still to this day haven't gotten back as a group.

On top of that, go watch a travel baseball tournament. Even Perfect Game. Some talent in areas, but as a whole you'll see so much bad coaching, players not knowing what to do, and lack of fundamentals it'll make you mad, not sad. It's all falling a part.

If your son wasn't affected as much doesn't that go back to parenting?

Was it covid or have coaching styles changed because you can't hurt their feelings anymore?

 

[TerryP]

If your son wasn't affected as much doesn't that go back to parenting?

To add on here...or their school?

 

[TerryP]

Was it covid or have coaching styles changed because you can't hurt their feelings anymore?

I see both being true. COVID didn't create the "coaching style changes," but it certainly accelerated the whole thing.

In my view I see a generation, or two rather, that grew up in "everyone gets a trophy" and then they were removed from competition and interactions completely. Subconsciously, how can they not think "got a trophy, didn't do anything" when they were passing grades at the same time?

Thank god wasn't a confused generation to begin with...