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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — It might be the most important question regarding the entire College Football Playoff: What’s the mood of the University of Alabama football team?
The Crimson Tide players are being asked almost exclusively about one of two defeats, the season-ending Iron Bowl or the 2017 National Championship Game against Clemson. They haven’t played for a month, and there has been widespread criticism that’s only snowballed over time.
So, is the team mad? Sad? Glad? Is it wounded or hungry?
Junior defensive end Da’Ron Payne had a different word in mind, one that Crimson Tide fans should be excited about.
Eager.
“I think we’re just ready to go out there and prove ourselves and just show the world what we can do, that we’re not just a team that’s going to lay down,” he said. “We’re going to come out and fight.”
For the most part, Alabama’s been quiet this season, in part because it didn’t see any point in adding any bulletin-board material prior to games. However, the same can’t be said for some of the Crimson Tide’s opponents.
Remember Florida State’s president before the season opener, with “I shouldn’t talk too much trash, but I think we’re gonna beat Alabama pretty bad.” The Seminoles lost the game, lost their quarterback and have since lost their coach as Jimbo Fisher bolted for Texas A&M.
How about Vanderbilt senior defensive lineman Nifae Lealao? After the Commodores pulled off an upset over visiting No. 18 Kansas State, he said the wrong thing during a brief postgame interview on the field.
“We expected to get this,” he said. “When you come to our house we show you how to play some SEC ball.
“Alabama, you’re next.”
The final score a week later: 66-0.
Ole Miss didn’t even have to say anything.
The Crimson Tide still remembered the back-to-back losses to the Rebels, 23-17 and 43-37 in 2014 and 2015, respectively, and fans storming the field at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium.
Nick Saban had warned everyone by saying that the ultimate disrespect is when “someone quietly thinks they have your number.”
Alabama’s answer was 66-3.
For the last month, though, everyone’s been heaping on to the Crimson Tide, from the running game to passing defense, just about everyone has been universally criticized like the first 11 wins didn’t happen. Even Saban has shown annoyance at questions about the play calling.
That’s on top of the Iron Bowl, not playing in the SEC Championship Game and the controversial selection into the College Football Playoff. Getting another shot at Clemson would be enough motivation for any team, but Alabama can pick and choose.
Senior linebacker Rashaan Evans said Alabama has had its best practices in a long while. Junior tight end Hale Hentges used the word “hungry.” Sophomore linebacker Anfernee Jennings talked, as former player D.J. Fluker would have put it, like someone took his lunch money.
“You seen the vote,” said Jennings, his emotions rising while trying to explain it. “You seen how everybody was. We all we got. So we understand that, and we’re going to do what we have to do.
“We’re ready to get after it.”
Continue reading...
The Crimson Tide players are being asked almost exclusively about one of two defeats, the season-ending Iron Bowl or the 2017 National Championship Game against Clemson. They haven’t played for a month, and there has been widespread criticism that’s only snowballed over time.
So, is the team mad? Sad? Glad? Is it wounded or hungry?
Junior defensive end Da’Ron Payne had a different word in mind, one that Crimson Tide fans should be excited about.
Eager.
“I think we’re just ready to go out there and prove ourselves and just show the world what we can do, that we’re not just a team that’s going to lay down,” he said. “We’re going to come out and fight.”
For the most part, Alabama’s been quiet this season, in part because it didn’t see any point in adding any bulletin-board material prior to games. However, the same can’t be said for some of the Crimson Tide’s opponents.
Remember Florida State’s president before the season opener, with “I shouldn’t talk too much trash, but I think we’re gonna beat Alabama pretty bad.” The Seminoles lost the game, lost their quarterback and have since lost their coach as Jimbo Fisher bolted for Texas A&M.
How about Vanderbilt senior defensive lineman Nifae Lealao? After the Commodores pulled off an upset over visiting No. 18 Kansas State, he said the wrong thing during a brief postgame interview on the field.
“We expected to get this,” he said. “When you come to our house we show you how to play some SEC ball.
“Alabama, you’re next.”
The final score a week later: 66-0.
Ole Miss didn’t even have to say anything.
The Crimson Tide still remembered the back-to-back losses to the Rebels, 23-17 and 43-37 in 2014 and 2015, respectively, and fans storming the field at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium.
Nick Saban had warned everyone by saying that the ultimate disrespect is when “someone quietly thinks they have your number.”
Alabama’s answer was 66-3.
For the last month, though, everyone’s been heaping on to the Crimson Tide, from the running game to passing defense, just about everyone has been universally criticized like the first 11 wins didn’t happen. Even Saban has shown annoyance at questions about the play calling.
That’s on top of the Iron Bowl, not playing in the SEC Championship Game and the controversial selection into the College Football Playoff. Getting another shot at Clemson would be enough motivation for any team, but Alabama can pick and choose.
Senior linebacker Rashaan Evans said Alabama has had its best practices in a long while. Junior tight end Hale Hentges used the word “hungry.” Sophomore linebacker Anfernee Jennings talked, as former player D.J. Fluker would have put it, like someone took his lunch money.
“You seen the vote,” said Jennings, his emotions rising while trying to explain it. “You seen how everybody was. We all we got. So we understand that, and we’re going to do what we have to do.
“We’re ready to get after it.”
Continue reading...
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