This issue of Alabama Weekly is being sent to over 1950 Tide fans in 45 states and 13 countries worldwide, with dozens of new subscribers added weekly! Help us grow to all 50 states and more countries by forwarding this issue to your Crimson Tide friends and family around the globe and have them sign up at http://TideFans.com!

This week we bring you another review of the La Tech game, the Arkansas game previews, predictions for the weekend, analysis of the goings-on in Tuscaloosa, and a new depth chart for the Arkansas game. Look for our next issue on Tuesday, September 28rd, with reviews of the Arkansas game and more!

Also, if you like what you read here in the Alabama Weekly be sure to look for articles online at TideFans.com that are not found in the Weekly.

ROLL TIDE!

***
TIDE LOOKS TO PUT THE BAD BEHIND THEM AGAINST ARKANSAS
By Jess Nicholas
Editor-at-Large

At this time last week, the biggest question on most Tide fans’ mind was for which bowl destination to make hotel reservations. This week, the question is will the Tide win another football game in 1999.

Alabama got the biggest shock since the 1987 loss to Memphis State when the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs beat them for the second time in three years. On a Hail Mary pass. On 4^th down and forever. With nine seconds left on the clock.

The resulting fallout has left Tide fans wondering who will coach the team past 1999 and when they will be minus a Finus; meaning, when the University will hire a permanent athletic director to replace interim AD Finus Gaston who replaces Bob Bockrath, who was ill-suited for the Alabama job in the first place. Whew!

Arkansas is this week’s opponent. If attempting to put the off-the-field distractions behind them weren’t incentive enough to win, then trying to exact revenge for a 36-point spanking last year in Fayetteville is. Let’s see how the teams match up.

QUARTERBACKS

Alabama’s Andrew Zow is in some form of a sophomore slump. All the dropped passes against LaTech aside, Zow has not read the field as well as he did in 1998, and his passing numbers have been fair to mediocre at best. Reserve Tyler Watts played one series against the Bulldogs after seeing his role increased against Houston. The Tide has serious questions to answer here. Meanwhile, things aren’t all wine and roses in the Arkansas camp. Starter Clint Stoerner, who is as forgettable as a ham sandwich but still finds a way to beat you, will be playing with a damaged right shoulder, if he plays at all. If Stoerner was healthy, Arkansas would win this category hands down. However, there is an equal chance that Arkansas will be forced to go to reserves Robby Hampton or Gary Brashears, both freshmen. In that case, Alabama probably holds a slight edge. For now, we will go under the assumption that Stoerner starts the game. Advantage: Arkansas (Alabama if Stoerner is out)

RUNNING BACKS

Alabama has Mr. Everything, Shaun Alexander, running behind the punishing fullback duo of Dustin McClintock (who is becoming a useful runner in his own right) and Marvin Brown. Arkansas, meanwhile, counters with the tailback duo of Chrys Chukwuma and freshman sensation Cedric Cobbs. Cobbs is averaging over eight yards per carry in limited work. Arkansas uses a fullback by committee, with no clear-cut rushing threat among them. Alabama also has Shaun Bohanon at its disposal, but he carried the ball only twice against Vanderbilt and had no carries against Louisiana Tech, suggesting that his near-100-yard outburst against Houston is indicative of a player who only plays in blowouts. While Arkansas has great talent---especially the newcomer Cobbs---Alabama has more experience and Shaun Alexander is simply one of the best in the business. Advantage: Alabama

WIDE RECEIVERS

No team in the SEC has as much depth and quality as the Arkansas Razorbacks. Reports in recent days suggest that star receiver Anthony Lucas is banged up and might not play much, but until those reports become wholly accurate, Arkansas has the edge in this category hands-down. In addition to Lucas, Arkansas has Michael Williams, Hubert Loudermilk, Emanuel Smith, Sparky Hamilton, and Marcellus Poyrdras, among others. The Razorbacks also boast tight end Joe Dean Davenport, easily one of if not the best tight ends in the SEC. Davenport has not been used much this year, but he was instrumental in the Razorbacks thrashing of Alabama 1998. Alabama, meanwhile, counters with Freddie Milons, a crafty playmaker who is maddeningly difficult to cover. Freshman Antonio Carter got his first two career catches against Louisiana Tech, and seems primed for big things. Senior Tim Bowens is beginning to emerge as a go-to guy, while Shamari Buchanan and Jason McAddley provide depth. Tight end Terry Jones, Jr. remains in the plans, and defensive end Shawn Draper has begun working here as well. Still, Arkansas has more depth, and if Lucas is healthy, also has a 2000 1^st-round NFL draft pick playing for them. Advantage: Arkansas

OFFENSIVE LINE

Center Paul Hogan will likely return for Alabama this week, solidifying a line that has played, for the most part, up to and beyond expectations for 1999. Hogan’s return would allow Griff Redmill to shift back to guard and would free up Marico Portis for spot duty. Alabama’s Chris Samuels remains the best offensive lineman in the conference, while freshman Dante Ellington has been superb. Arkansas, meanwhile, is thin here, with only tackle Bobby Williams having a great amount of experience coming into this season. While Alabama’s line still has much room for improvement, they have allowed Alexander to run with ease this season and have provided the quarterbacks with much better pass protection. Advantage: Alabama

DEFENSIVE LINE

Alabama has recorded 18 sacks in the first three games, and that is attributable to an improved pass rush from the defensive line and linebackers. Alabama’s D-line is, for the first time in quite a while, deep and talented, enough in fact that Shawn Draper has received work at tight end in the past two weeks. Kenny Smith, Cornelius Griffin, Kindal Moorehead, and freshman Kenny King have provided the Tide with a real weapon to use against high-powered opponents. Arkansas, meanwhile, has talent, but has yet to build a pass rush to the same degree that Alabama has. This will be each team’s first shot at a physical opponent. Advantage: Alabama

LINEBACKERS

Alabama has found much improvement over last year’s performances, thanks largely to the efforts of two freshmen, Marvin Constant and Saleem Rasheed. Having said that, Arkansas’ unit is much better not only in terms of talent, but also in experience. Any one of the Razorbacks’ starters will have more experience (3 years) than the entire Tide threesome combined (1 year, two redshirts). What that means in a practical sense is that Tide fans can expect to see Arkansas’ unit provide seamless rush support and pass coverage. Alabama has the horses to be better, but not this year. Advantage: Arkansas

DEFENSIVE BACKS

This one is barely a contest. Aside from strong safety Marcus Spencer, Alabama’s secondary has had more than their share of problems this year. What’s worse is that the Tide actually regressed from Houston to Louisiana Tech. While some of that can be blamed on Louisiana Tech’s high-powered passing offense, Alabama still has not learned to conceal coverage schemes and that will hurt them against Arkansas’ talented receivers. The Razorbacks, meanwhile, will counter with a veteran unit that possesses a truly nasty temperament when it comes to opposing receivers. Ontraia Moss, Kenoy Kennedy, Jeromy Flowers, and David Barnett headline a unit that can totally squelch an opponent’s passing attack. Depth is the only issue for Arkansas, but it is not much worse than Alabama’s situation. Advantage: Arkansas

SPECIAL TEAMS

This was the one aspect of Alabama football that got decidedly better against Louisiana Tech. Whether it was Shaun Alexander’s kickoff return for a touchdown, Patrick Morgan’s punting, or the kicking of Lane Bearden and Chris Kemp, Alabama played a good game all-around. Arkansas, meanwhile, had problems on special teams going into this season just as Alabama did, and like Alabama, seems to have corrected most of them. They have not missed a kick and have punted for more than a 40-yard-per-kick average. Still, Alabama’s unit looks to have become a real weapon, which separates them from Arkansas. Advantage: Alabama

OVERALL

Each team holds and advantage in four categories, and Alabama might hold an advantage in the quarterback category, depending on the status of Stoerner. What doesn’t show just by looking at how many categories each team leads in, however, is the sizeable advantage Arkansas holds in receivers and defensive secondary. If this game were played on a neutral site on a normal Saturday afternoon, Arkansas would probably win.

But this won’t be a normal Saturday afternoon, and this game is in Tuscaloosa, not a neutral site. Alabama has had enough off-the-field problems this past week to last them a lifetime. Head coach Mike DuBose is likely coaching for his job. The players remember last year’s spanking in Fayetteville and want revenge. And in what may be the biggest incentive to win, the team wants to show the fans that all the criticism that has been received following the Louisiana Tech loss may have been unjustified.

Arkansas is a good team. They will be up for Alabama. The question is, will Alabama be up for them? The most likely answer to that question is "yes." Several Tide players have talked about "circling this game on the calendar," and although the team has undergone much controversy recently, controversy sometimes has a way of making you play better than usual just to spite everyone else. It is in this regard that the deciding factors for this game may be found. Who has the most talent? Probably the Razorbacks. Who has more to play for? Definitely Alabama.

Alabama 28

Arkansas 24

***

PREDICTION DEPARTMENT STILL LICKING ITS WOUNDS
By Jess Nicholas
Editor-at-Large

Last week: 4-4
Percentage: 50.0%
Season total: 24-4
Percentage 85.7%

Last week was like a bad blind date for me---it started bad, got worse, and by the time I realized what was going on, it was too late to go home and get out of it. I finished 4-4, correctly picking Auburn and Florida as winners, but coming up snake eyes in the most important game of all---Alabama versus Louisiana Tech. This week should be a little easier. Only two close matchups are on the docket---Arkansas at Alabama and Ole Miss and Auburn. Here’s a look at how I think things might come out:

FLORIDA AT KENTUCKY

Let’s play a little game: First person to spot a running play wins a free batch of Otis Spunkmeyer cookies. Florida pulled a fast one on us all in its first two games, fooling everyone, including this writer, into believing that their defense was taking on water like contestants in a chili pepper-eating contest. Then, Florida emerged from its cocoon and proceeded to nail Tennessee in the Swamp in an ambush for the ages. Kentucky finally looked halfway decent last week, beating Indiana on the road and keeping the Hoosiers under forty points. Maybe Kentucky is breaking out their real defense, too. On second thought, probably not. This one should never be close, except at the opening gun. Kentucky simply has too few athletes on defense and too little beef on the OL to make much of a difference.

Florida 52
Kentucky 28

CENTRAL FLORIDA AT GEORGIA

Central Florida did a good job against Florida and now turns its sights towards upsetting the Georgia Bulldogs, who are moving steadily up the Top 25. Georgia is prone to fits of mediocrity, but has a ton more talent than the Golden Knights, especially on defense. This should be a good tune-up for the Bulldogs before they start a string of seven consecutive SEC games.

Georgia 38
UCF 17

SOUTH CAROLINA AT MISSISSIPPI STATE

South Carolina has looked truly hapless on offense these first few weeks. Defensively, the Gamecocks have improved by leaps and bounds, but their offense is as bland as generic-brand oatmeal. Gamecocks head coach Lou Holtz looks more and more likely each week to burst a gasket, and he’ll have plenty of opportunities to work on his steam-boiler impersonations this week. Mississippi State beat Oklahoma State handily last Saturday and has the ability to run flat over you when they get going. The Bulldogs are experiencing quarterback difficulties, but will that matter? MSU could win this one with Jackie Sherrill’s castrated bull running the show. South Carolina’s confidence level must surely be slipping with each passing week. This week’s game may send it under for good.

Mississippi State 40
South Carolina 7

MEMPHIS AT TENNESSEE

This is not only a revenge game for Tennessee, it is also the week after a loss to Florida, and the Volunteers will be looking to not only beat the Tigers, but to embarrass them as well. What Tennessee is likely to find out quickly, however, is that Memphis has a better defense than anyone might think. Tennessee should still win this one, although they should have won in Memphis a couple of years back with Peyton Manning at the helm, too. Look for the Vols to try to win back some BCS favor in this lopsided contest.

Tennessee 38
Memphis 6

VANDERBILT AT DUKE

Vanderbilt isn’t the Commodores---they’re the "Cybils". Vandy played Alabama tough in week one, then proceeded to nearly get upset by MAC nobody Northern Illinois. Then, just when everybody was writing them off again, they upset a heavily-favored Ole Miss team in Oxford. Which Vanderbilt will show up this week? Duke is much more akin to Northern Illinois this year than Ole Miss or Alabama, but the Blue Devils have been known to pull the odd upset from time to time, and this is a home game. Plus, the opposition is still Vanderbilt. The Commodores, however, are sniffing bowl bid for the first time since the fall of communism, and Woody Widenhofer is very unlikely to let his troops fall asleep in Durham.

Vanderbilt 30
Duke 20

ARKANSAS AT ALABAMA

See our extended preview!

MISSISSIPPI AT AUBURN

Who has been the biggest bust in the Southeastern Conference this year? Not Alabama. Not even LSU. Try Ole Miss, picked by this writer to win the West due to their boatload of talent and intelligent new coach. However, a first-week near miss with Memphis and the subsequent home loss to Vanderbilt has dashed most of the hopes for this young Rebel team. Auburn, meanwhile, opened the season 3-0 and opened SEC play by demolishing LSU. At first blush, this looks like a big Tiger win, but there is one intangible factor to consider: Revenge. Ole Miss bitterly despises the way Tommy Tuberville left them to become head coach at Auburn, and they would probably rather be bitten by a moccasin than to have the Tigers beat them in Jordan-Hare stadium and allow Tuberville to bask in the glory. For the Rebels to win, they must tighten up the defense and not get bogged down on offense. Auburn has not been without troubles this week, having seen quarterback Gabe Gross quit the team and switching workhorse fullback Heath Evans to defense. Auburn may prove to be the better team this year, but Ole Miss has more to play for in this one.

Ole Miss 27
Auburn 21

IDLE: LSU

***

DISMISSAL OF BOCKRATH COULD BE WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED
By Jim Morris
Features Editor

Officials with The University of Alabama confirmed Tuesday that Athletic Director Bob Bockrath has resigned his position effective immediately. Andrew Sorenson, President of UA said Tuesday that he and Bockrath had been negotiating a change at the AD's position for about a month. "Bob and I have been talking for a while about him stepping down as Athletic Director," Sorenson said from his office Tuesday. "We finally negotiated terms that both The University of Alabama and Bob could live with."

Sorenson said no one event cost Bockrath his job. "I felt that it was the right time for us (UA) to make a change in the Athletic Department's leadership. The direction of Athletics at the University had taken a negative dive."

Efforts to reach Bockrath at his office and residence were unsuccessful. In a prepared statement sent out by the University, Bockrath stated that he was appreciative of the opportunity Dr. Sorenson and The University of Alabama gave him during his tenure as Athletic Director. He further stated that he wished the University, the Athletic Department, and supporters of Alabama, the best. Bockrath will take sick leave from the University until the first of October. After which time he will be retained by Alabama as a special consultant to the president.

Reaction From Former Tide Players

Many supporters of The University of Alabama have expressed delight in the departure of Bockrath on Tuesday. In an exclusive interview, a lettermen with the Crimson Tide in the 1960's said it was time Alabama made a change. The Huntsville businessman speaking on the condition of anonymity said, "The events over the last couple of years necessitated this move. The direction from the top had become non-existent. When people inside the Athletic Department loses respect for their boss, it's time for a change."

Asked whether or not a certain event caused Bockrath's problems at Alabama, the former All-American said, "Well, the ticket screw-up with the bowl last year didn't help. But it was a number of things. Some that folks know about and some that will be learned later. Right now, I don't think I am at liberty to tell everyone what has occurred."

What is known is that Bockrath never attempted to make the Alabama Family feel comfortable during his administration. "We all sorta felt like we weren't welcome down there by him. I have supported the University for many years and continue to support them today. I don't ask for much I just want someone that will recognize us guys that paid the price years ago."

Former Tide All-American and NFL Hall of Famer Lee Roy Jordan also showed his displeasure at the current direction at the University. "I personally don't think that the University's Athletic Department is being ran the way it ought a be. Football has been put on the back burner for too long. We don't need to be like the Oklahoma's and Texas' that restructure the way things are done then find that they didn't need changing to begin with." In response to whether or not he was interested in the Athletic Director's position Jordan said, "I am not interested in the job, I have my own business to run. But I will continue to support the University of Alabama."

Jordan went on to say that he could never repay The University of Alabama for the what it had done for him. "I was in Dallas for 14 years and Tuscaloosa for 4. Alabama is my home; the people there are my family. When your family is in trouble or has a need you want them to call you. That's all I want, just let me know what I can do to help. For six years now, that has not happened."

Both former players said that they felt the Athletic Department was in good hands with interim director Finus Gaston. "Finus loves the University, he has literally grown up at the University. He has moved up the ladder within the Athletic Department, he knows what he's doing."

As for a permanent replacement both say they support current Associate Athletic Director Mal Moore.

Terms of Contract Buyout

Former Athletic Director Bob Bockrath's contract was settled for $336,000 that will be paid in three installments. Because of Alabama laws, Bockrath must remain on the staffing roster at the University in order to receive the installments. This is the reason for Bockrath staying with the University of Alabama as a special consultant. If he should accept a position with another university during the time in which the installments will be paid he would forfeit the remaining balance left unpaid. The installments will be paid over the next year and a half.

Meanwhile, Alabama's football team continued preparation on Wednesday for their game against Arkansas on Saturday. The Crimson Tide and the Hogs will battle at 2:30 Saturday afternoon at Bryant-Denny Stadium; CBS will handle television coverage.

***

BAMA UPDATE - WEEK 3
By David Ozment

Alabama vs. La Tech
La Tech 29 – Alabama 28

Losing hurts and so it should, but this week’s loss to Louisiana Tech seems to hurt a little more than usual, or at least it hurts a little differently. Perhaps it has to do with the improbability of such a loss. Perhaps it is simply the sheer impossibility of how the loss came to be. Or perhaps it is an understanding of just what such a loss represents, a sort of forced acknowledgement that the future of our once proud program is farther from its past than we had hoped.

Defensively

Last Saturday our defensive unit was an enigma than seemingly only La Tech’s wonder-boy QB Tim Rattay (Sr.) could solve. On the one hand, we sacked Rattay 6 times (FSU and Texas A&M combined for only 2 sacks against these same Bulldogs). However, Rattay managed to shred our secondary despite our use of up to 8 DBs. Time and time again, we would force a 3^rd and long and Rattay would step under center, cold as ice, and fire a laser to a receiver wide open in the midst of double…or triple… coverage. When the additive effect of our punishing pass rush drove Rattay from the game with injury, an able bodied backup strode onto the field and coolly tossed a 4^th and 20+ completion to secure the contest with under 10 seconds remaining on the clock.

Tech’s superior passing attack represented a perfect mismatch for us defensively. While our D-line is a team strength and our linebackers are already on the road to exceeding our wildest expectations, the defensive backfield is chock-full of youth and relative inexperience. Originally, I was eager to see how our young but athletic DBs would handle the task of defending the field against such a talented passer, however, now such thoughts only seem masochistic.

Defensively, we failed to play all 4 quarters with a consistent level of intensity. Likewise, we continued to lose our concentration after a big play. This proved most fatal on the final drive of the game when Tech drove the length of the field in less than 2 minutes, converting multiple 3^rd and longs and ultimately the 4^th and 20 for the game. We had ample opportunity, on the sideline, in the press box, and ultimately on the field to make a play and we just came up short.

Offensively

On the offensive side of the ball we didn’t fare much better. It was obvious from the beginning that we thought we could pound the ball up and down the field against a largely suspect defense. This plan was actually working until we started coughing up the football, thereby, stalling multiple drives. At least 2 times we fumbled inside Tech’s 35 and another time we turned it over near midfield after driving from the shadow of our endzone.

Because moving the ball against the Bulldogs didn’t seem to pose much of a threat, we employed a largely vanilla offensive game plan. To no one’s surprise, RB Shaun Alexander (Sr.) was the major beneficiary of this the tactic. Shaun contributed well over 200 yds total offense and his now obligatory 3 TDs. However, the rest of the offense failed to get on track. Several receivers dropped sure catches, costly penalties, and lost fumbles occurred with great regularity.

Other Observations

The play of the day was precipitated by the call of the day. La Tech’s kicker repeatedly tried to ‘sky kick’ the ball on kickoffs. This usually results in an up man fielding the kick, which can lead to turnovers. Having been burned by this tactic early, RB coach Ivy Williams suggested we insert Shaun Alexander into the position to which most of the kicks were sailing. The rest is history, as they say, as Shaun juked, cut, spun, and sped his way to a near 70 yard KO return for the touch.

WR Antonio Carter (Fr.) made 2 super catches Saturday. AC proved himself our surest receiver of the day and showed why he was so highly regarded in recent recruiting wars.

QB Andrew Zow (So.) may be tipping some of our plays. Close examination shows a tendency for Zow to lean out from the center when he is pulling for a rollout or sweep. However, he is perfectly still when dropping straight back in the pocket. Its very subtle but its there.

OLB Saleem Rasheed (Fr.) and DE Kenny King (Fr.) continue to play beyond their years. Go ahead and start making room in your hearts and minds Bama fans, these young men will assume significant places in Alabama lore.

I just can’t say enough about Shaun Alexander. A friend with whom I attended the game suggested that we all take a minute to really enjoy watching Shaun play the game because "we won’t have another one like him at Bama for a long time". I concur. After playing his heart out on the field in a losing effort, Shaun led the traditional midfield post game prayer. Later, Shaun gave a rousing speech in the Bama locker room challenging his teammates to learn from this loss and to let the hurt fuel our charge to fulfill our season’s goal: Winning the SEC West and competing for the SEC title. This young man is a natural leader.

RB Santonio Beard (Fr.) touched the football for the first time as a Crimson Tider in Saturday’s game. As a kick returner, Beard returned a kick to near midfield and nearly broke the games final play for a miracle score. After La Tech took the lead, they were forced to kick the ball back to Bama with 2 ticks remaining. Shaun fielded the kick and ran towards the left sideline, drawing over the coverage team. In what looked like a called return play, Shaun lateraled the ball to Beard who reversed field and was forced out of bounds by the final defender near Tech’s 30 to end the game. Afterward a dejected Beard remained on field until after the crowd had began to disperse. In fact, he was the LAST Tider off the field. This young man has heart and will be a star in the coming years.

I need an explanation. For the last 2 years I have wondered about a new technique we appear to be teaching our DBs. Traditionally, DBs will blanket their receiver then look to the ball and try to make a play on the ball. However, our DBs have not been turning to the ball, but simply running with the receiver and watching the receiver look to the ball. Not only does this open the DB for up more pass interference calls (contact can occur only if both players are making a play for the football), but it just plain leads to more catches for the receivers.

A Look Ahead

This Saturday Alabama will host its first game of the season in Tuscaloosa as the Razorbacks of Arkansas come to town. We’ll need every advantage we can muster as we attempt to avenge last year’s humiliating defeat. To our benefit, Arkansas QB Clint Stoerner is no Tim Rattay even when 100%, which he is not. However, look for Arkansas to skew their balanced attack towards the pass this week. On the other side of the field, watch how this Bama squad responds to adversity. I think we may all be surprised.

***
ALL IN THE FAMILY
By John Hinds

BOSTON--Whether you sit in Tuscaloosa, Caribou, Maine, San Diego, Seattle, or Key West the goings on in the Athletic Department at The University of Alabama are a source of displeasure. In the words of All-American running back Shaun Alexander, "Sometimes it takes something to shock you to wake you up."

Well the shocking events culminated last Saturday afternoon in Legion Field when the Tide, a two-touchdown favorite was beaten on a 32-yard pass play by Louisiana Tech.

The events of the past week are disturbing if not shocking. Athletic Director Bob Bockrath was reassigned within the University and there are rumors that University President Andrew Sorenson and Head Football Coach Mike Dubose may well soon be gone.

Dubose's inappropriate relationship with a University employee, his 13-13 record as a head coach, and loss to a Division IAA school are unacceptable.

But what’s equally unacceptable is the way alumni and fans have responded. Booing, name calling, finger pointing and throwing objects onto the playing field cannot and must not be tolerated.

Twenty seven penalties in three games, seventh place standing in the SEC in scoring offense, scoring offense, scoring defense, rushing offense and total offense is a clear indication that this year’s team is not getting the job done.

The Tide is ninth in turnover margin, opponent’s first downs and passing-defense efficiency. We rank 10^th in opponents fourth-down conversions, eighth in passing defense and 11^th in penalties. Those are not numbers that a program with 13 national championships, countless All-Americans, and even more All-SEC stars is familiar with.

A quarterback with a roughly fifty percent completion percentage in two years, a defense that seems handcuffed on long passes and a coaching staff that has difficulty in getting plays in on time are all indications that things are sadly out of control.

With Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi State and even a trip to Auburn waiting for the Tide this season things look anything but bright.

Maybe people are right when they say a coaching staff that has yet to win three consecutive games, win a game after an off week, and looks dismally unprepared needs to go. However, there are two ingredients that have made the University of Alabama and its football team champions both on and off the field. Those intangibles are Confidence and Class.

This football team will not return to champion status until and unless it gets back that confidence. That certainly won’t happen against an Arkansas team that has beaten Alabama the last two years. Arkansas pasted the Tide 42-7 last season. This year’s Alabama team with a home crowd supporting it has the talent to turn the tables.

But that team can only achieve their desired results with confidence. That confidence comes from within. It starts with a coaching staff stepping up and showing leadership it has lacked the last three years. It continues with players dedicated to making a difference. That translates to stopping the penalties and the turnovers, six in the first three games, and executing their plays. Last but by far not least it means the fans cheering the effort and giving these 18, 19 and 20 year old young men encouragement.

What seems to be lost in all this dismay is we are Alabama. Fans around the SEC and the country used to respect us for the class we showed. A return to that class and a genuine show of confidence is the best we can count to turn this all around.

It’s an old adage but it starts with each one of us, Alabama has always been a family.

***
ELEPHANTS’ MEMORY
MYTH, MENTAL TOUGHNESS AND SUGAR-CURED HAWG
By William Webster
Staff Writer

Of course, there are worse things than losing to Louisiana Tech. But I can’t think of very many of them right now. For the record, last Saturday’s disappointment marked the fourth time in five years that Alabama has dropped the third game of the season. The Tide just seems to have some sort of third-game curse. Or maybe it’s because Bama usually plays Arkansas in the third game of the season and the Razorbacks have won three of the last four. Speaking of which, the Hawgs come calling Saturday, and a repeat of last Saturday’s performance would spell certain disaster against Houston Nutt’s deep and confident squad. But how to encourage a team slipping into cardiac shock after last week’s dog biting? Fortunately, the Elephants’ Memory has some inspiration in the form of sugar-cured hawg that is as sweet as a trip to Dreamland. Walk with me….

I’m sitting here looking at Volume 21 of Bama’s Greatest Games, a joint production of the good folks at the Alabama Sports Network and The Paul W. Bryant Museum. Some of you may have one of your own. It’s a superbly-rendered video showing highlights of the 1979 Sugar Bowl, in which the Tide knocked off #1 ranked Penn State on the strength of the nationally recognized "goal line stand." You don’t have to be a Bama fan to appreciate the significance of that game, but I can assure you that being a Bama fan enhances the effect.

But the thing that catches my eye is the caption on the front and sides of the box: "Bama’s goal line stand stops Penn State and wins Coach Bryant his last national title." Oops. Before I continue, let me say that the error by Bama’s Greatest Games is one of the least egregious, albeit most salient, examples of what has been a growing but, I am convinced, unconscious attempt to rewrite history. The full myth goes something like this: "Bear Bryant’s 1979 Alabama team went undefeated, winning 12 games, culminating in a Sugar Bowl victory over top-ranked Penn State to capture the national title." False. The truth is, the 14-7 victory over Penn State in the 1979 Sugar Bowl, which followed the 1978 season, gave Coach Bryant’s 11-1 Tide the national title. Coach Bryant’s last national title came the next year, when Bama went 12-0 and capped off that perfect season in the 1980 Sugar Bowl against not Penn State but…Arkansas.

The 46^th Annual Sugar Bowl pitted an undefeated Tide against Lou Holtz’s 6^th ranked Razorbacks, runners-up of the Southwest Conference. Alabama had been ranked #1 since mid-season, when a 21-21 tie with unranked Stanford unseated the Trojans of Southern California. But Bama was unceremoniously dropped to #2 in both polls following a less-than-dominant 25-18 victory over probation-bound Auburn. Alabama somehow put together a clock-eating, backbreaking 98-yard drive in the fourth quarter to vanquish the surprising 14^th ranked Plainsmen, but it wasn’t good enough for the Tide-weary pollsters. After all, Bama had won the title last year, remember?

Ushered into the top slot instead were the Buckeyes of Ohio State, flush from a victory over the highly regarded Michigan Wolverines. A Rose Bowl victory over the once-tied but undefeated U.S.C. Trojans would seal the national championship for the Buckeyes. But then, on the afternoon of January 1, 1980, the boys from Columbus, OH, were edged 17-16 by John Robinson’s indefatigable Trojans. The stage was set for what would truly be Coach Bryant’s last national championship.

A pensive Holtz stalked the Razorbacks’ sideline prior to kickoff. It would be his first-ever tilt with the Bear. His boys were good, but how good? After many years of stumbling in postseason match-ups, Coach Bryant had mastered the technique of winning big bowl games. Alabama had looked vulnerable against Auburn; would the Tide turn or would its late-season miscues continue? One thing was sure: if Bama played Arkansas like it had played Auburn, the more experienced Hawgs would be the Tide’s undoing. Holtz had prepared his team well; now he could only stand on the sidelines, call a few plays, try to keep the team motivated, and wait.

Holtz thought he had his answer early in the first quarter, when a Don McNeal fumble on the opening kickoff gave Arkansas the ball deep in Tide territory. It appeared that Bama’s jittery, unfocused outing against Auburn was in full repeat mode. But the legendary Bama defense stiffened, and the Hawgs got no closer than the 17-yard line, settling instead for an Ish Odonez field goal. Still, Arkansas was up 3-0.

But then, Alabama reverted to the uncanny discipline and drive that had made it great. Starting from its own 18 yard-line, Major Ogilvie calmly marched the Tide downfield to a workmanlike touchdown, culminating in the quarterback’s 22-yard scamper into the endzone. Moments later, Bama regained possession of the ball when Arkansas quarterback, Kevin Scanlon, fumbled the snap from center. Bear’s boys took over on the Arkansas 20 and quickly pushed in another TD. Alabama had regained control. With an Alan McElroy field goal in the second quarter, a happy Crimson Tide took a 17-3 lead into the locker room.

The second half was a tale of two quarters. An inspired Arkansas came out snorting and scored a touchdown on an 80-yard drive on its first possession of the half, while holding the Tide scoreless throughout the remainder of the quarter. But for a batted-down pass from Scanlon on the Razorbacks’ two-point conversion attempt, Arkansas would have been within a touchdown of the lead. But in the fourth quarter, as the men in crimson so often have done, Bama reached deep inside itself and pulled out a handful of sheer glory. Pinned deep in its own territory and clinging to an eight-point lead, the Tide produced yet another of its patented, clock grinding 98-yard drives to go ahead 24-9. The game now firmly in hand, Alabama turned to its flawless defensive secondary as the Hawgs aired it out in a last-ditch effort to get back into the game. But it was too little, too late, and the Tide notched a solid victory to secure a perfect 12-0 season and the national championship. Holtz’s Hawgs dropped to 8^th, and Lou lost his one and only chance to upend the Bear.

Mental toughness. It was something within that 1979 Alabama team that emerged when the pressure was at its greatest. It was a team that knew that it knew that it knew it would win, regardless of the odds, regardless of the challenge, regardless of the impediments. In fact, particularly in the big games, the 1979 Tide seemed to invite the challenge – the bigger the better. Again and again, the Tide fed on adversity – some of its own making – to fuel a game-breaking score. Something tells me that this year’s team could use a healthy dose of that sort of attitude, especially given the events of this past week.

Although recent history may be against the Tide, there are some encouraging signs. If it’s any help, Alabama has not lost the fourth game of the season in more than ten years, and is a respectable 17-7 since 1990 when coming off a loss. This may not be a season about which myths arise, but can the Tide win Saturday? Definitely. Will it? That depends upon the team and the coaches, and, in particular, upon the amount of mental toughness they (team and coaches) are able to generate this coming Saturday afternoon. With all the talk focused on other sectors of the program, there has descended on Tuscaloosa an unsettling quiet about the upcoming game. But maybe, somehow, the Elephants’ Memory will be with this year’s edition of the Tide, and the boys will be given a glimpse backward to an Arkansas game that took place before some of them were even born. Perhaps they will receive from some houndstooth angel an inspiration from the past, an epiphany of insight, on that great hawg-roast that was the 1980 Sugar Bowl, and in doing so, will find the courage to pull out a 98-yard drive, figuratively speaking, to beat the dread Razorbacks and salvage this tarnished season. They need it. We need it. Alabama needs it. So, fire up the barbecue, boys, it’s time to start cooking.

ROLL TIDE!!

***

Depth Chart for Arkansas Game (F=true freshmen)

(Check online @ TideFans.com for any changes)

OFFENSE

SE 84 Shamari Buchanan 7 Sam Collins 25 Dennis Bonga

FL 15 Freddie Milons 8 Tim Bowens 26 Arvin Richard

TE 82 Terry Jones, Jr. 38 Shawn Draper 89 Theo Sanders

QB 5 Andrew Zow 14 Tyler Watts 18 Luke Tucker

FB 30 Dustin McClintock 6 Marvin Brown 43 Alex Malone

RB 37 Shaun Alexander 28 Shaun Bohanon 29 Ahmaad Galloway

DEFENSE

RE 54 Kindal Moorehead 98 Reggie Grimes 94 Derek Sanders

RT 97 Cornelius Griffin 90 Jamie Carter 67 Kelvis White

SS 41 Marcus Spencer 19 Jason Jones 32 Phillip Weeks

P 16 Patrick Morgan 44 Lane Bearden 3 Jason Kellen

AND THE BAMANATION SAID: "ROLL TIDE!"

PUBLISHING INFORMATION

All Alabama Weekly issues are available on TideFans.com after publication in the email newsletter.

Newsletter published by: Brett Young and Jess Nicholas

Alabama Weekly / TideFans.com Staff:

-------------------------------------------------

Jess Nicholas, Editor-at-Large

John Hinds, Bama in Boston

Grif Carden, Baseball / Basketball Editor

Chris Depew, Football Editor

Jim Morris, Feature Editor

Kelly Brewer, Freelance Writer

Soup Campbell, Joke Master

David Ozment, Staff Writer

Chris Van Steenberg, Staff Writer

William Webster, Staff Writer

Brett Young, Managing Editor

TO SUBSCRIBE:

Just log on to http://www.TideFans.com - enter your email address and click "Sign me up!" and discover the best Bama newsletter delivered directly to your email. Best of all, it's "By the Fans, For the Fans!" and IT'S FREE!!

TO UNSUBSCRIBE:

You are receiving this update because you registered with TideFans.com / Alabama Weekly. If you would like to unsubscribe, simply send an email to BamaNation-unsubscribe@listbot.com with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the subject and/or body.

_________________________________________

(c) 1999 TideFans.com(tm) / Alabama Weekly(sm)

DISCLAIMER:

All content courtesy of the respective authors and is the property of Alabama Weekly / TideFans.com. Features may not be the official position of TideFans. However, TideFans does have ultimate editorial authority, so it's pretty much in line with how we feel! ;) ROLL TIDE!

BamaNation, BamaNation Citizens, TideFans.com, and Alabama Weekly are trademarks or service marks of BamaNation Partners, LLC.

All rights reserved.