24 seconds.
That's my adaptation to the "24 hour rule" we've heard repeatedly. It took all of 24 seconds for me to get over the loss to Oklahoma last night. In fact, 24 seconds may be gracious.
I realize this is likely a case where I'm looking at this backwards when compared and contrasted to how a lot of Bama fans feel this morning. I've no issues with anyone who tells me my perceptions differ from other fansāeven if it's against the majority.
I'm reminded this morning of a quote from Oscar Wilde, ""Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life."
While I'm not a big fan of RAP music, the art of its poetry, I can't escape repeatedly hearing the lyrics from "Lose Yourself."
Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted. one moment
Would you capture it or just let it slip?
...
The clock's run out, time's up, over, bloah!
Snap back to reality
...
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime
This season had that once in a lifetime opportunity. It wasn't captured. Mentally, this 2013 team let is slip away.
The question isn't whether this Alabama team, and its fans, self-promoted themselves to believe they were the best team in the land. Perhaps all the recent success elevated the Tide's self perception to that level. It certainly would be easy to point to different media personalities as the cause.
The cause isn't the pertinent point. The effect is what needs to be focused on today. Today it's time to "snap back to reality."
Reality: There's a reason you haven't seen a team "three-peat" for the national title in college football. The odds alone should be enough to realize at the least it's dream. This dream could have come to fruition, if only...
Reality: Simply donning the Crimson jersey doesn't mean another W is chalked in the column.
Reality: This team thought this was the case.
Reality: As much as it may have grated on the nerves of some fans to be characterized as unappreciative of our success, the truth hurts.
I've maintained the opinion that if you listen to what Nick Saban says in his press conferences you can learn a lot about each team, each opponent. This statement from last night tells the story:
Reality: I don't need to remind anyone of the record this senior class has had in its time in Tuscaloosa.
Reality: Some obviously need to be reminded this wasn't a repeat of the Sugar Bowl in 2008.
Reality: Some need to ask themselves, "What is your impression of Saban's "Process?" Do you believe that this blueprint, the one that's led to this level of success, will bring this program back to the forefront? If you've answered yes, there's another question you must answer.
Do you honestly believe this program isn't on the forefront of the better college programs in collegiate football?
I do have some criticisms of fans reactions to end this season. However, I also firmly believe what Coach Stallings said years ago, "The expectation level is high at the University of Alabama and it should be. What's wrong with people expecting excellence?"
There's nothing wrong with expecting excellenceāas long as one realizes you have to put in the work to maintain that level.
That's the key lost in the 2013 season: expectations versus what excellence requires.
That's my adaptation to the "24 hour rule" we've heard repeatedly. It took all of 24 seconds for me to get over the loss to Oklahoma last night. In fact, 24 seconds may be gracious.
I realize this is likely a case where I'm looking at this backwards when compared and contrasted to how a lot of Bama fans feel this morning. I've no issues with anyone who tells me my perceptions differ from other fansāeven if it's against the majority.
I'm reminded this morning of a quote from Oscar Wilde, ""Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life."
While I'm not a big fan of RAP music, the art of its poetry, I can't escape repeatedly hearing the lyrics from "Lose Yourself."
Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted. one moment
Would you capture it or just let it slip?
...
The clock's run out, time's up, over, bloah!
Snap back to reality
...
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime
This season had that once in a lifetime opportunity. It wasn't captured. Mentally, this 2013 team let is slip away.
The question isn't whether this Alabama team, and its fans, self-promoted themselves to believe they were the best team in the land. Perhaps all the recent success elevated the Tide's self perception to that level. It certainly would be easy to point to different media personalities as the cause.
The cause isn't the pertinent point. The effect is what needs to be focused on today. Today it's time to "snap back to reality."
Reality: There's a reason you haven't seen a team "three-peat" for the national title in college football. The odds alone should be enough to realize at the least it's dream. This dream could have come to fruition, if only...
Reality: Simply donning the Crimson jersey doesn't mean another W is chalked in the column.
Reality: This team thought this was the case.
Reality: As much as it may have grated on the nerves of some fans to be characterized as unappreciative of our success, the truth hurts.
I've maintained the opinion that if you listen to what Nick Saban says in his press conferences you can learn a lot about each team, each opponent. This statement from last night tells the story:
āI just don't think that our players realized ... what it takes to win every game and that you never can take anything for granted. Everyone that plays us has something to prove. And they have to change the way they think, and that's difficult to do.ā
Reality: I don't need to remind anyone of the record this senior class has had in its time in Tuscaloosa.
Reality: Some obviously need to be reminded this wasn't a repeat of the Sugar Bowl in 2008.
Reality: Some need to ask themselves, "What is your impression of Saban's "Process?" Do you believe that this blueprint, the one that's led to this level of success, will bring this program back to the forefront? If you've answered yes, there's another question you must answer.
Do you honestly believe this program isn't on the forefront of the better college programs in collegiate football?
I do have some criticisms of fans reactions to end this season. However, I also firmly believe what Coach Stallings said years ago, "The expectation level is high at the University of Alabama and it should be. What's wrong with people expecting excellence?"
There's nothing wrong with expecting excellenceāas long as one realizes you have to put in the work to maintain that level.
That's the key lost in the 2013 season: expectations versus what excellence requires.
