🏈 Controlling optimism...

[Big_Fan]

In y2k I got excited by some of the reports I was getting from Ttown around summer practice...and there was one person who I should have listened to who was preaching gloom and doom.

This summer I am hearing unbelievable things. I don't know that I have ever heard practice reports like I am hearing now...but I keep thinking back to 2000 and remembering what it felt like when UCLA drove down the field on us over and over again.

I want to get excited...but that memory has me worried.

Guys...help me. Should I calm down or get more excited?

Based on what I am hearing from Tech and what I am hearing from Ttown...I REALLY want to be confident.

 

[Kozlowski]

I was preaching preseason 2000 you dont just replace the best OLman in the country and the best RB in the country and suddenly improve.

I think Bama losing a serviceable and experienced QB and replacing him with VERRYY little game experience is reason to wonder. Throw in the best OLman leaving again (along with the top RB) and I see plenty of question marks.

Im not saying youll see a repeat of 2000 by any means (DuBose vs Saban being the most obvious) but I dont think this team will win the NC either.

I expect Bama to be involved in numerous games that could go either way. Bama will certainly win its share but I wouldnt be surprised to see us drop a game or 3 either.


Then again I didnt exactly see 12-0 coming last year either lol

 

[elbatider]

If we beat Virginia Tech we will be 1-0. Let's take them one at a time and enjoy it like we did last year. By that I mean you couldn't script a better regular season than we had last year. Assume we end up winning a SEC championship and bowl game but drop two games during the season and end up with the same record, will it be a successful season or not. It will for me, I am very happy with where we are and the opportunities at hand. Team chemistry and a little bit of luck will define our teams from this point on. You have plenty of reasons to be optomistic these days, we have a leader that knows chemistry is a process.:a:

 

[joeman546]

We did have some guys who were key leave last year. Itll hurt at the beggining, how much so remains to be seen.

However, it is pretty understood that these guys(with maybe the exception of the guy replacing Andre) have alot more upside. You dont need the best OLineman in college football for a team to get anywhere for example.

I hope for the same chemistry we had last year, and with the talent coming into play I see a stronger finish than last season.

But i agree with looking at each game individually. I do it myself, and I am able to be exited about whoever Alabama's opponent currently is.

 

[kc]

No way I am comparing this team to a Dumbose team. Ever.

 

[TerryP]

We did have some guys who were key leave last year. Itll hurt at the beggining, how much so remains to be seen.

However, it is pretty understood that these guys(with maybe the exception of the guy replacing Andre) have alot more upside. You dont need the best OLineman in college football for a team to get anywhere for example.

I hope for the same chemistry we had last year, and with the talent coming into play I see a stronger finish than last season.

But i agree with looking at each game individually. I do it myself, and I am able to be exited about whoever Alabama's opponent currently is.

Here's the thing...and BFan knows about this because of conversations we've had on the phone about replacing Andre.

I'm a huge, HUGE fan of James Carpenter.

He was unheralded as a recruit but what do you expect for a OLman in a class featuring players like Trent.

But, his former coaches have very high praise for JC. One interesting stat from last year is his team ran a balanced offense (he's had experience in spread based offenses as well) and threw the ball close to 300 times last season.

Carpenter didn't allow a single sack all year.

There are some things I see that gives JC a bigger upside than Andre. One specifically goes back to something Saban said to Andre last year when he questioned him if "he knew how good he could be?"

That teachable aspect Andre fell short in JC has in spades.

Big_Fan, your optimism isn't off base. Saban has talked about how this can be an outstanding football team if a few things come together. Talent, however, isn't one of them.

 

[psychojoe]

Of course we will know much more after game one, but it is hard not to be optimistic. How long has it been since Bama fans could say they would be disappointed with 9-3? How long since we could say we have depth of quality athletes at every position? Off the field problems have been minimized, and most players are buying into "the process". I am very optimistic about this season, and even more so about next year.

 

[Crimson&WhiteGecko]

Lack of institutional control was a constant thread of the 2000 season...

Does anyone think that is a material issue now? Not me.

 

[UAgrad93]

I agree with you psycho. With an inexperienced QB, we could stumble to a 9-3 or 10-2 regular season mark. Wouldn't that be terrible?

 

[BECandGrits]

Bama is way ahead of my expectations. I thought they would finish 7-5 last year and they ended up at 12-2. This year I think UA will end up a modest 10-2 and I will be very happy with it. Hell, I would be happy with 9-3.

 

[TideAlum05]

Controlled optimsim isn't fun. Drowning in the koolaid is.

 

[Kirk Van de Graaff]

Controlled optimsim isn't fun. Drowning in the koolaid is.

:td::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

 

[Victory]

Get excited

I recommend going ahead ang getting excited. We will do nothing but get better all year with experience and we have a favorable schedule.
1. This is not a Dubose team
2. We have weeded out most of the Shula blood
3. I consider this year the first year be a REAL Saban team. His first 2 years was spent just fixing what was done in the past and he did an excellent job with what he had.

We will probably have at worst a 9-3 season :hyper:...I am waiting for next year before I predict a NC run.

 

[BAMAFSTBACK]

No doubt next year an NC run is possible especially with Florida's inevitable fall off. The next time around would be 2012 with AJ at the helm. Regardless times are good and I'm lovin it! :a: :hyper: