TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama is 7-0, No. 2 nationally and off to its best start since its national championship season of 1992. So you would assume Tide Land is a virtual football fantasyland.
And you would be half-right. That's the first half.
For all of Alabama's success in only the second season under coach Nick Saban, there's an undercurrent of concern.
The concern was raised again last Saturday when the Tide overwhelmed Ole Miss 24-3 in the first half, then was outscored 17-0 in a bewildering second-half drop-off.
That's not an aberration. That's a trend.
In its last three games, Alabama has played a first half worthy of Bear Bryant and a second half worthy of Mike Shula. In those three first halves, Alabama has outscored opponents 69-3. In the second half, the combined count is an alarming 61-13 in favor of the opponents.
Theories abound.
On Saban's coaching show Sunday, he said, "Maybe they play with so much intensity, they can't sustain it."
There's merit to his theory, particularly if you zoom in on the first quarter. The Tide has answered the bell like Mike Tyson in his prime, outscoring seven opponents 95-3 in the first quarter.
Saban wasn't as kind in his assessment at Monday's press conference, during which he brought up "distraction," the eighth deadly sin according to most coaching gospels.
"The biggest thing is that we always get our focus on dominating on a particular play," Saban said. "Sometimes, we get affected by external factors. Sometimes, you lose sight of that. And I think that's critical for our team.
"Do the little things right. That helps you be successful. When we don't do that, we don't play as well."
You get the impression Saban has been delivering that sermon on a daily basis throughout his career. He delivered it once in January of 2003 before LSU won the national championship.
His message: "Don't worry about playing for the national championship. Worry about dominating the guy you have to play against. And assume that's the best player you will ever play against."
Alabama players apparently connect with the sermon. All-American offensive tackle Andre Smith has even confessed to the error of his ways.
"It's us looking at the scoreboard, getting complacent, thinking the defense is going to hold them," he said of the team's second-half doldrums.
But this also could be a depth issue, which not even a four-million-dollar-a-year coach can alleviate in two years of recruiting. The Tide has only nine scholarship seniors and has played 16 true freshmen.
That raises the question: Could the second-half fades be a precursor to a wobbly finish to the regular season? If so, the second-ranked Tide might be primed for an upset Saturday night at Neyland Stadium.
No one needs an upset more than Tennessee, whose marquee victory in a 3-4 season has been last Saturday's 34-3 win against 2-5 Mississippi State. An upset of Alabama wouldn't erase all the losses but it would leave an historical mark.
Alabama's second-half woes offer hope to the six-point underdog Vols. But they shouldn't ignore Alabama's first-quarter domination. That's not a trait of a team that takes anyone lightly.
Instead, it reflects a team that - as Saban's sermon goes - is intent on dominating the player in front of it, and assumes that player is the best player it has ever faced.
In fact, there's not a hint of arrogance in Alabama's sudden success. The Tide was dismissed in most preseason Top 25s, and it has no sense of having "arrived."
"We're not even thinking about that," cornerback Javier Arenas said. "Even though we're being talked about now, it's not always positive.
"ESPN will talk bad about Alabama, saying, 'It's a fluke.' We use that to keep us going."
The challenge is to keep it going from start to finish.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or >adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 79
hotrodvol writes:
Go back to he[[ satan, GO VOLS...beat bama make us proud this week.
murrayvol writes:
To paraphrase GerryOP - If we make it through the 1st quarter.
BigVolinCarolina writes:
Sure hope 'Bama doesn't put two halves together against UT. If so, it could get ugly--particularly on the high-definition big screen.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Hope, not faith, is a beautiful thang.
Especially when bouyed up pre-game by the nectar of the gods.
Lordy, I'm not sure I'm ready to view this outing.
blitzshoot writes:
3rd down. It's that simple and what the Vol OL will do.
It is time the Offensive Line stepped up and earned their keep.
DennisVols writes:
Beware of the lethal UT offense. It has been killing us all year/
ggriggs939#223122 writes:
Regardless of how well the VOLS play, the sec will not let them win the game. The bcs money is too much to pass up,
so the flags will fly every time the VOLS show some progress.
tenuscvol writes:
There is an uneasiness here in Alabama...Not hearing anything at work...not the norm as you might expect...
Even, Finebaum is lying low...Tubby seems to be keeping him preoccupied.....Of course the callers say easy win for UA.
If the elephants play the whole game like they did against GA there may not be much we can do but keep it respectable...
however,...if not, and most likely not, and we keep it close ...we win.
As coach sez the first 5 minutes are critical. (How many games have we had where we were down by 14 or more in the first quarter and fought a great fight the rest of the game but could not overcome the deficit?)
If we win the toss do we defer?....I think so...
There is also the chance of a UT win by 10...
(Was it Florida in the early nineties when we trounced Spurrier in the rain?...man that was fun...alas, I digress....)
UT 24
UA 20
JPW needs to eat turf and eat turf often!!!
GoVols!
tenuscvol writes:
A very good article Mr. Adams....
As indicated earlier, HOPE is a beautiful thing...
And I hope we kick there arses back to T-town with their tales tucked between their legs......
History awaits......
Please go to the game and do not sell your tickets to the elephant people!....
Thanks for your support...
volintexas writes:
The quality of writing and reporting at KNS has gone the way of the football program at UT. The days of Siler, West and other good sports journalists in Knoxville are long gone. It's Bama week. Mattingly should be posting an article every day on great UT/Bama games from years gone by. This series defined football in the South for many years. Come on guys, you can do better than this. Is better coverage provided by one of the Nashville paper websites?
EHSvols23 writes:
I really want to get up for this game, I just don't know how. If you think about it, after the Florida massacre, UT has played respectable. The defense played great since, minues the 4 qtr at Georgia. They were dead tired, I am sorry, but they were. I think the faithful are ready for one more go at this. I think I am too. I wouldnt be suprised if Foster gave us one more big game to avenge his fumble against Bama
GO VOLS
BEAT SOME BAMA A55
UT 17
UA 13
PaulTheVol writes:
After the Georgia game the Dawg defenders said they knew what play was coming by the personnel package and formation. I checked during the Miss. St. game and sure enough when we ran the ball it was always to the strong side - except for one play in the third quarter. In fact, a large majority of the pass plays were to the strong side.
Let's hope our overmatched offensive coaches rise to the occasion and lose the predictability that is hampering this offense. To beat a team like Alabama you have to play to win, not play to avoid losing.
ncvol writes:
Go Vols and let's make a showing that will surprise all our critics. The roll tide will be a defining game and I would prefer UT being the definer. Let's go Vols !
rickhillal#577233 writes:
If they lose, those boys better need oxygen at the end of the UT-Bama game or turn in their scholarships - nothing less will satisfy the UT faithful!
Take_Back_Knoxville writes:
Those guys don't feel Bama week. All they hear and talk about is in Baton Rouge.
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
Now here's a guy in touch with Reality. It will take a miracle to overcome this X Factor! Political Correctness, it's stuffin
the life out of our country.
BigVolinCarolina writes:
No doubt, these are the two factors which will determine the game.
The_Mayor writes:
As most of you know already from this site, I coach about 15 athletes every year towards Ironman. I usually work with athletes that have prior IM experience, but every year I have a few that join my program that are IM rookies. My requirement is that this athlete has some prior athletic ability in a competitive sports arena, usually one of our three sports. Some of my athletes have been working with me now for 4+ years. I don't really like to just help any athlete get to the finish line, I enjoy coaching those athletes that are looking for a boost, to get out of that grey area, that comfort zone, and try to achieve all they can at Ironman. Mostly these athletes are looking to qualify for Hawaii and enjoy working with someone who has qualified the past 7 years.
Triathlon is a sport that requires a few years of disciplined commitment before you will see the full results of all your work and time. You might be good now, but give yourself 2-3 more years and you might reach your own personal potential. I make this point because our body changes over this time period too. Your body will get leaner from the training. Your body composition will change from the sustained training and, you will develop a more efficient fat burning engine inside of you. Hence, be patient, don't force your body to look and be like some of the best athletes in our sport. Allow your own body to develop itself into the most efficient, powerful, lean machine that fits YOU and YOUR needs the best. A shorter body that has a strength in running will develop a slightly different body than a taller body that has a background in swimming. Never try to fit your body into the mold of another, build your own unique machine that propels your forward to the best of its ability.
The_Mayor writes:
Triathlon is a sport that goes through cycles. We cannot train at the same volume and intensity all year long. You have heard Gordo and I talk about that enough. But with that comes hopefully the understanding that our nutrition and body weight will go through cycles too. An athletes caloric needs will change in the off season vs. at the height of it - logic dictates this. I have athletes ask me every year how to lose weight for the coming season. They want to race 'lighter' - or lately I have been discussing more about how athletes want to increase their power to weight ratio. I struggle with these comments since why are athletes getting so ahead of themselves? If the training is properly built through the season, the weight will come off. The body will adapt to the nutrition it gets. If we are properly feeding the 'fire', it will burn it effectively, and as I once read, the hotter that fire burns, the more efficiently it will burn everything thrown in it. The point I am making here is to not try to lose weight in the off season, prior to all the work and volume. Don't try to lose weight before allowing the body to determine what it needs. Why start the main part of the season when the demands of the body are at its highest at a deficit, created by this off season weight loss? Let's not focus on the weight until we get closer to the race. Patience and your body will give you what you want and it needs. If you get in the training you are looking to do, take care of the body that is going to give your the performance you are looking for.
TNisPeerless writes:
I'm willing to mortgage the future of UT Football to beat Bama, even if it means keeping Phil!
shipperman#280095 writes:
BAMA 35 UT 10
shipperman#280095 writes:
Bama may be due for a butt kicking, but it won't be by us
ravensearay writes:
Don't forget everyone, when you're ranked the number 2 team in the country that is when you get upset........
I can't wait to see Saturday night that we have contributed to that fostering that JINX.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
If I thought shaking a tambourine would make any difference I would be willing to try it. I have introspected long and hard, trying to figure out a way to offset their advantages in the O and D lines.
Still reflecting, but the games are won at the line of scrimmage. You can't count on INT returns for points against a great team or the 2-9 stopping a good running game. That frosh WR (yes they are elgible to play) is a stud.
We make fun but John P Wilson has evolved into a better-than-average SEC QB. Of course, operating behind that line helps.
Colquitt kicking the stuffing out of the pig helps, but watch Arenas!
Still looking, but the thoughts of Satan vs Phixable at a chess board......
We can hope.
jsm67vol writes:
A win for UT this weekend would begin the unravelling of Saban at bama. Can you imagine the call in shows at bama if UT wins. The bama fans will start saying the bear would never have let a team that bad beat the tide. Saban doesn't seem to be the kind of guy who will put up with alot from the mulletnation. There has been nothing but over achievement in bama since Saban arrived. If they faulter in a big one it could really stir up some s*** down there.
richvol writes:
Do the little things right...dominate the man in front of you...run a play over and over with the intent to dominate...these are the trademarks of a Saban coached team. That's why he wins. Attitude and attention to detail.
The last 7 or 8 years Tennessee has not done one thing in an excellent way over a season. I realize we had 4 sacks last year but Ainge threw the ball so quickly there were hardly any opportunities to sack him. That eliminated any chance of throwing the deep ball.
In addition to the other coaching blunders,that have been pointed out numerous times,the execution and attention to detail is severely lacking. That's a big part of the problem.
Gerald Riggs said it best...complacency set in.
TheVolMan writes:
I read comments this summer on various boards about how "our Vols were going to whip the Gators in Knoxville this year." Yeah, right...
I see the same thing with this game. Yes, I would love for UT to derail UA and shock the world. I just don't see it happening. They have more talent and are better-coached. This is not written out of fear or hope - it is a fact. Perhaps Bama will fumble five times and the Vols get the upset. I see a final score of UA 31, UT 13. Go ahead and blast me now but be sure to also reply after the game.
blitzshoot writes:
Their special teams are playing very good. QB is playing very solid. Defensive line, solid. Wonder if UT took away the running game, it would give Berry a chance to make a play. It comes down to turnovers and 3rd down conversions.
The offensive line needs to make a stand. If I had to predict an outcome, my score would be today:
UA 35
UT 6
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Good read.
I've given this some thought and have decided that Phil will---
2.
utvolz#637682 writes:
Dude,
There's way too much football left to be played this season to already be counting BCS bucks!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
This is fairly interesting stuff in its own right, but I'm not clear on what it means in relation to UT beating, or at least showing up well against, Bama on Saturday. Either find a way to connect this more explicitly to football or post it to a triathlon article.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Our relative lack of success at both converting 3d downs ourselves and preventing opponents from doing so have been the defining factors of our last seven years or so of mediocrity. In both cases, it comes down to our lack of consistently physical line play. If we can't "out-physical" them, we have to out-trick them, but we lack the imagination and nerve to do it that way. Until we find a way to fix both lines, we will continue to become more and more irrelevant in big-time football.
GoVol writes:
With our infamous prevent defense and our inability to score touchdowns I'm sure it will be a party in K-town...by Bama of course.
It's sad that our players don't even have a chance because we'll be out-coached before and during the game. Fulmer's strategy - HOPE.
fedupvol writes:
I agree with last few posters...re: Philly Cheese lack of attention to details and likely results....complacency too...lack of enthusiasm, even when throwing clipboard down, he does it wimpy rather than just LET IT RIP! With that said, tide too organzied, attention to details, and fired up to let vols play with them....likely 3 td lead by the half and roll on to easy win...maybe 38-17.....3-5 with 4 games left....so "maybe" 6-6....7-5 just too much of a stretch with this coaching staff...I feel sorry for most of the players that are giving it their all....but just not good enough!
txsvol#372416 writes:
The headline writer is the only one fuzzy. Alabama is very good, and capable of blowing us completely away. I do agree with the poster about the KNS staff focusing on Baton Rouge rather than Tuscaloosa. As a 52 year Tennessee fan, beating Aladambama (usually on the third Saturday in October--this year, it's the fourth) is the single most important thing that can happen in the 365 day sports calendar to long-time fans! Go Vols! Beat Bama!SAVol
JayTee writes:
Their success is fuzzy alright. They feel all warm and fuzzy inside because they are 7-0.
We get to feel like the ugly step-sister who didn't go to the ball and there's not a glass slipper to be found.
byobbio writes:
Their success is fuzzy. Weren't they stripped of that '92 title?
tnbanker_govols writes:
Alabama is no way "fuzzy". Just like JayTee said, they may be warm and fuzzy because their 7-0 start but I watched this team destroy a Georgia team which beat us pretty handily. As much as I hate Alabama football, they are a very well coached and a very talented football team.
I'm telling you people, do NOT get your hopes up because this week's game is gonna be the worst beatdown of the year. It's gonna make the FLorida game seem like a moral victory. UT fans, don't be fooled by last week's victory against probably the worst team in the SEC. this UT football team is still the same meidocre team they've been all season.
shipperman#280095 writes:
EXACTLY
tnbigg writes:
Hey reality painter. Tickets avaliable at the ticket for sale TODAY for Tennessee vs Alabama...you know..."The third Saturday in October". What's your reality spin on theat? Gas prices? Garden Gnome clearance sale in Gatlinburg? Fiddlers festival for one arm fiddlers in Townsend? Spin baby spin!
djstatik writes:
Saturday can not get here soon enough. Let's flood the stadium and give JPW an earful! GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jandjhome#228397 writes:
Wonder if Hamilton can convince Fulmer to buy the Extra BAMA tickets?
VOLinATL writes:
What is funny in this article is that Bama perceives that ESPN hates them. Glad to see we are not the only thin-skinned fan base out there.
firefulmer (Inactive) writes:
I guarantee you that trend will not continue on Saturday. This game could be awful. Thank goodness Fulmer's days are numbered!!
pax_americana writes:
If Phil stays based on beating Bama, he goes 1-4 next five years against Bammer, 2-3 against Uga, and 1-4 against Fla.
Personally, I think he is gone no matter what based on attendance figures, but, I agree with you on this much, I physically cannot tolerate Bammer, and I'm hoping like heck we kick their azz.
UT - 24
Bama-23
vol03 writes:
Maybe- maybe not. You can bet your last dime that if Fulmer pulls this one off that Hamilton will come up with a way to keep him coaching our Vols(even if we finish @.500 or so.)
Oh well, we should know a little more after the game.
tnpterodactyl writes:
The cry to boycott sponsors apparently has been converted to boycott the game. I can't believe that Bama tickets are available today...and that some apologist acts like that is normal! YEAH RIGHT! Clever focus shift...NOT!!!
tnpterodactyl writes:
Bama ranked # 2 coming to Neyland Stadium and tickets are available three friggin' days before the game? SICK...
volguy41nlouisiana writes:
1st...Understand as a player that you can beat Bama
Coaches---Have a game plan to win, not to lose. Dont leave anything untried if its needed. Guess what? Brandon Warren is out there. Use him. Use Montario and Creer as well. THROW THE DAM N BALL DEEEEPPP....
O-LINE---you have to block. Keep blocking. Find your guy while hes taking a water break and block him some more. Our offense will go as you guys do Saturday. Period. The boys cant run if you dont and Nick cant throw if you dont.
Defense---play em tight and when theres a chance to lay a lick..BRING IT AND BRING IT HARD.
No mustang defense.
Here IMO is the ultimate key guys. Remember the Georgia and Arkansas game last year. Mirror that. Same intensity and jump on them when they get off the buses. YOU HAVE A NATION OF ORANGE BEHIND YOU!!! Give your all for Tennessee and we will give our all for you Saturday night. GO VOLS
blitzshoot writes:
Holy S### LMAO Smackdown the psychiatrist
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