This week we bring you previews of the Florida game, the Elephant's Memory on a great Florida-Bama game of the past, a look at the Bama Athletic Director search, and the depth chart for Bama. Look for our next issue on Tuesday, October 5th, with reviews of the Florida 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.

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CAN ALABAMA NAVIGATE THE SWAMP?
Jess Nicholas, Editor-at-Large

Alabama fans wanting to see wide-open offense got their wish last Saturday when the Tide pulled out all the stops against the Arkansas Razorbacks. While there is debate as to which seven-point victory margin is better---a 7-0 win or a 35-28 win---in this case, Alabama fans will take a win no matter what shape and color it came in. This week, those wanting to see explosive offense will again get their fill, but unfortunately, it may not come just from the Tide. Alabama will be in Gainesville playing yet another dangerous Steve Spurrier-coached Florida football team.

QUARTERBACKS

Florida has Doug Johnson, who has finally quit worrying about baseball and has concentrated on football. The move paid off, as Johnson is now starting to realize the potential that was touted for him three years ago. Johnson is a big guy (roughly 6’2", 220 lb.) who can run and pass. His athletic skills have never been in question---what had been in question was his ability to make good, clear-headed decisions. In this aspect, he has improved by leaps and bounds. Backup Jesse Palmer, who split time with Johnson last year, is headed for a redshirt if it can be helped. Alabama, meanwhile, counters with Andrew Zow, who showed signs of breaking out of his sophomore slump last week. Zow was intercepted three times, but made better decisions than against Louisiana Tech the week before. Tyler Watts will play some, but one has to wonder just how much he will play considering this game is in the swamp. Many still remember Tim Couch’s debut in Gainesville, and it wasn’t pretty. Zow and Watts could be stars of the future, but Johnson is a star of the present. Advantage: Florida

RUNNING BACKS

Florida has had questions here all year that didn’t get any better when Earnest Graham got banged up. Graham will probably still play a little, although Robert Gillespie will start and Bo Carroll will see more time than usual. There isn’t a lot of dropoff from Graham to Gillespie, anyway, so Tide fans might not notice. Rod Frazier, one of the finest fullbacks in the SEC, will be leading the way. As for Alabama, the Tide brings the best SEC back going right now in Shaun Alexander. Alexander has no peer in the conference in terms of receiving and rushing skills. Shaun Bohanon, Ahmaad Galloway, and Santonio Beard are listed as the backups, but probably won’t play in this one barring injury. Fullbacks Dustin McClintock, who continues to assert himself as a rushing threat, and blockmeister Marvin Brown will be there to lead the way for Alexander. Florida has good players here, but Alabama has the best, period. Advantage: Alabama

WIDE RECEIVERS

This one got a lot closer when Travis Taylor went down with an injury for the Gators. Taylor will not play, meaning Darrell Jackson becomes the go-to guy. The rest of the routes will fall to Alex Willis, Reche Caldwell, Brian Haugebrook, and John Capel, with tight end Erron Kinney also getting some attention. Alabama is a little banged up, with arguably their best possession receiver---Tim Bowens---injured and maybe out of this game. Bowens, however, is a tough cuss who will play if at all possible. The best receiver from either team is the Tide’s Freddie Milons, who looked spectacular against Arkansas. The Tide also has Shamari Buchanan, Jason McAddley, and Antonio Carter and tight ends Terry Jones, Jr., and Shawn Draper in the mix. While Milons is the best guy between the two teams, the depth at Florida is a little better. Look for Bo Carroll to get some time there as well for the Gators. Advantage: Florida

OFFENSIVE LINE

Like the receivers, this one is closer than a lot of Gator fans would like to believe. The tackle combination of Chris Samuels and Dante Ellington has been superb this season for the Tide, but they will get a challenge against Florida’s speedy defensive ends. The Gators, meanwhile, have a veteran group, although center Zac Zedalis is ailing. Tackles Cooper Carlisle and Kenyatta Walker, who has done more running with his mouth this week than his legs, are solid bookends in their own right, but neither have seen Kindal Moorehead and Kenny King yet. The center and tackle positions are a push, so the deciding factor here falls to the guards---where the Gators have a distinct experience advantage with Ryan Kalich and Cheston Blackshear. Advantage: Florida

DEFENSIVE LINE

Two words: Alex Brown. The sophomore defensive end for Florida bears an uncanny resemblance to Corey Moore, the smallish Virginia Tech defensive end who ate Will Cuthbert and Jason McDonald for dinner during last year’s Music City Bowl. While Brown doesn’t have a ton of experience, he’s got blazing speed and nine sacks so far. As far the rest of the line, though, Gerard Warren is one of the few that has approached the potential that was touted for this line. Buck Gurley, Derrick Chambers, Anthony Mitchell, and several others are around, but depth is minimal and the starters inexperienced. Alabama, meanwhile, counters with a front four that is shaping up to be one of the conference’s best. Kindal Moorehead, Kenny Smith, Cornelius Griffin, and superfrosh Kenny King really stepped up against Arkansas’ offensive line. However, the Hogs offensive line isn’t from the same planet that the Gators’ line is, and Alabama will find the going tougher. This is one area that the young Tide actually holds a depth advantage, with Reggie Grimes, Jamie Carter, Canary Knight, Kelvis White, and Todd Whitmore all capable. Alex Brown is probably the best player on either side, but the question is, does one player make the whole case here? No. Advantage: Alabama

LINEBACKERS

Both teams are young, they both make mistakes, but they both have a lot of potential here. For Florida, Andra Davis, Teddy Sims, Eugene McCaslin, Marcus Oquendo-Johnson, and Keith Kelsey are the names to remember. For the Tide, it’s Marvin Constant, Saleem Rasheed, Chris Horne, Darius Gilbert, and Miguel Merritt. The Tide linebackers are a much more athletic group than last year’s, which Florida never really figured out. The emergence of Horne as a viable, every-play player has got to make linebackers coach Jeff Rouzie smile. However, Miguel Merritt is injured right now, and will only play sparingly, if at all. If both teams possessed a fully healthy squad, this would be much closer, but Florida holds the edge in depth and health. Advantage: Florida

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Both teams are playing a lot of youth in their units. Florida is using true freshmen Daryl Dixon and Lito Sheppard along with sophomores Bennie Alexander and Robert Cromartie. Alabama has sophomore Reggie Myles starting at one corner, with a pair of true freshmen---Gerald Dixon and Hirchel Bolden---playing liberally in the nickel and dime packages. The defensive backfield has been the one sore spot for Alabama’s defense this year, while Florida’s has progressed quicker and is more athletic overall. Credit the Gator staff with getting a lot of young kids ready to play early. Advantage: Florida

SPECIAL TEAMS

If you had asked Alabama fans what they thought of their special teams before the season, you would have gotten many answers, all peppered with profanity. Since then, however, the Tide has been nearly flawless, save for one fumbled punt return against Vanderbilt that hurt nothing in the long run. Alabama has had good placekicking, surprisingly excellent punting, and kick coverage that would make the Bear smile. Florida isn’t bad themselves, with speedy John Capel returning kicks and Jeff Chandler and Alan Rhine handling kicking and punting, respectively. This appears, however, to be the one area that Spurrier never seems to catch a break. He always seems to be changing kickers and punters and never settling on one return man. Stability, if nothing else, is in the Tide’s favor. That, and return men Freddie Milons and Santonio Beard, who look to be on the verge of breakout seasons. Advantage: Alabama

OVERALL

Florida holds the edge in five categories, and Alabama holds the edge in three. Three categories---wide receivers, offensive line, and defensive line---are very close and hard to call. But there are two things not so close in this game---coaching and home field advantage.

Florida Field is a tough place to play. It can be impossible when the crowd is up and the Gators are building momentum. Alabama, for the first time since 1994, has comparable talent to Florida. Will it matter?

Not unless the Tide gets off to a quick start. The best way to get to Florida is build an early lead and make them catch up. Doug Johnson is still prone to fits of inaccuracy and bad decision-making, and Florida won’t win too many games with its kickers. The Tide must put pressure on Johnson, but they must first concentrate on stopping the Gators’ running game. Forcing Johnson to throw on every down increases the chances that a mistake will be committed.

Many are predicting a blowout in this affair, but that was what was supposed to have happened last year, and Alabama was beaten by only six points. Surely, Steve Spurrier is the better coach, so how could a close game such as last year’s happen? Well, football is an emotional sport, and Alabama has more to play for right now than do the Gators. The Tide is also better than last year, while the same cannot be said for Florida.

In the final analysis, though, this is a road game in the Swamp, and Alabama still has problems in the defensive secondary. The Tide quarterbacks are struggling a bit, and they have key injuries in spots (Miguel Merritt, Tim Bowens). The Gators, meanwhile, have injury problems of their own, but have the quality and often-experienced backups to handle such a situation. Alabama could very well pull this upset, but they would have to go up against major odds to do so. As with the Louisiana Tech game, the Tide’s opponents will score 28-35 points, and Alabama had better be ready to simply outscore them. The Gator defense, though, is too good for that.

Florida 35
Alabama 27

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SEARCH FOR A.D. BEGINS, PRESIDENT NEXT?
By Jim Morris, Features Editor

Now that President Andrew Sorenson has filled all the positions that encompass the Athletics Committee at the University, the search for Bob Bockrath's successor will begin immediately. The search for the new Athletic Director could take approximately three months while the committee interviews candidates from across the nation. Some names that have surfaced in connection with the position are, Steve Hardt of FSU (Bama Alum), Finus Gaston (interim AD), Mal Moore (Assoc. A.D.), Gene Stallings (former Head Football Coach), and Gene Hallman (executive director of the Alabama Sports Foundation).

Of the men listed above, it seems more and more each day that Mal Moore will be the choice of most of the Bama faithful. Former players and scholarship donors to the university are lining up in support of the former Offensive Coordinator.

The interim A.D., Finus Gaston also has a decent shot at the job. But according to one source, Gaston has made it known that he did not want the job permanently. It is known that Moore and Gaston are good friends and both have said publicly that they would support the other for the position.

Coach Stallings is the apparent choice of ESPN. They are the only people reporting that he is a candidate for this position. I cannot find anyone close to the situation that can confirm that "Bebes" is truly a serious candidate. Although these same contacts will not say he will not be considered. The feeling among more prominent alums is that Stallings would not accept the position it was even offered.

If you have heard of the Bruno's Memorial Golf Classic then you know Gene Hallman. Hallman is the mastermind of the Sr. PGA event held annually in Birmingham. Among other events he has orchestrated are the NCAA Tournament Regionals in Birmingham, Olympic Soccer at Legion Field, and many other sporting events across the south. Hallman is considered a genius in the sports marketing and production world, but has no experience within a collegiate athletic department.

The Athletic Committee met last Saturday before the Alabama/Arkansas game in what has been referred to as an organizational meeting. The committee will meet again Oct. 9th in Tuscaloosa at which time they will present the president of the university with three finalists. At that time the president will make the decision as to which candidate he will hire. With Sorenson's "thin-ice" status, he will most certainly hire the person the committee lists as its top man.

Sorenson Leaving?

Tuesday, Dr. Sorenson released the criteria the committee will use during their search process. From all indications, it sounds as if Sorenson will not have the luxury of hiring the next AD if the process takes two months or longer. Sources close to the situation tell Tidefans.com that a proposal to buy out the remainder of Sorenson's contract will be offered the first of next week. It is believed that it would take 225k dollars to buy the contract.

Tidefans.com/Alabama Weekly are close to both of these situations and will keep the BamaNation informed. Be sure to check TideFans.com for daily updates on the search for a new Athletic Director. We will also bring you the latest from the committee meeting on October 9th.

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ELEPHANTS’ MEMORY: ONCE AGAIN, IT’S GATOR TIME
By William Webster, Staff Writer

It’s time, Bama fans. Time to do what must be done or die trying. Time to put up or be put down. Time to see what this team is really made of. Time to put to rest those lingering fears about the invincibility of the Florida Gators when they’re playing at home. Time to show the nation what SA and company can do to the Gators’ vaunted defensive front. Time to pass the ball with authority and connection. Time to finish the big play defensively. In other words, it’s time to play a complete game with no regrets, no remorse, no reversals, just plain, pure, simple making-it-happen football. And, yes, it is time to prove that Arkansas was not a fluke and that La Tech was. Don’t get me wrong, Hawg and Bulldog fans, but last week was… last week, and the week before was… before that.

What am I saying? What I’m saying is – this isn’t then. This is NOW. And NOW is THE TIME. Time to go down into the dreaded Swamp to face a howling mob of Blue and Orange (no wonder we hate them so much) fans that make a horde of Saracen infidels brandishing scimitars look like the welcoming committee from the Lollipop Guild. Time to face the diabolical Steve Spurrier, whose celebrated play-calling wizardry has made him the gridiron equivalent of William Tecumseh Sherman (i.e., "war is football"). Time to face a brutal Gator squad that hit the road to Lexington last week and utterly dismembered a Kentucky Wildcats team that had not been held to ten points since Hal Mumme’s arrival, while, incidentally, recording not a single turnover. Ouch.

So with those images squarely on the horizon, it should come as no surprise that Alabama is a decided underdog in this contest. On paper, there is no question. Offensively and defensively, assessing both depth and talent, the Gators are the superior team. Recent history bears out Florida’s dominance as well. The Gators have triumphed over the unfortunate Tidesmen 7 of the last 8 times the two teams have met, and carry the gaudiest current winning streak in the SEC at home. Florida is ranked higher than Bama has been in five years, and has been ranked as high or higher in each of those five years. Thus, when Alabama plays Florida these days, the polite sports commentators say that Tradition is playing Transcendence. The less polished say that the Team of the Past is playing the Team of the Future.

Please don’t misunderstand. I am by no means saying that this game is unwinnable. But the fact that Alabama is plus 17 on the Las Vegas Boards should tell you that not too many people out there in objectiveland think that a seven-point victory over Arkansas at home leads inevitably to a win in Gainesville this Saturday. It could happen. It might happen. No, wait – it has happened – that is, it did happen, thirteen years ago. Not to say it WILL happen again, mind you. But simply for history and inspiration, walk with me….

They said Alabama wouldn’t be able to go into Gainesville and win, but it did. The year was 1986, the last time the Tide and Gators met when the game was not televised. The Tide came in ranked 4^th in the nation, while the Gators had been reduced to 13^th following a loss at home against Miami, the team destined to spend most of its season at #1 before losing 14-10 in a classic Fiesta Bowl match against Penn State. But despite the loss to the formidable Hurricanes, the Gators were by no means unglued. This was a poised group of young men who had weathered many storms. Galen Hall had directed Florida to consecutive top five finishes and a 17-1-1 record. In 1984, what would have been Florida’s first SEC championship had been won on the field, but was nevertheless vacated by the SEC, due to certain improprieties occurring under the leadership of Charley Pell (thus also, the lack of television coverage). Following the heartbreaking loss to the Hurricanes, Florida took a much-needed off-week and vowed to be ready when the Tide came calling.

Meanwhile, Alabama was a team still trying to emerge from the shadows of 1984, its first losing season in the modern era (circa 1958, for those whose blood flows crimson). And it was doing so in decent fashion. Two tough losses and a tie in 1985 tagged Bama as a rebuilding powerhouse, but with an unpleasant tendency to choke in big, close games. But the 1986 Tide was putting those notions to rest. Having upended the ninth-ranked Buckeyes of Ohio State by a score of 16-10 in Bama’s only appearance in the Kickoff Classic at East Rutherford, New Jersey, the Tide then quickly dispatched the Vanderbilt Commodores (42-10) and the Eagles of Southern Mississippi (31-17). Bama entered the Florida game riding the crest of newfound glory like the surfers on Hawaii 5-0. But perhaps a bit too much riding, and not enough push, said some of the old-timers. Wise heads saw a head-swollen Bama team going down to Florida Field (as it was then more regularly called) to tussle with a dangerous bunch of angry, once-bitten Gators looking for vindication and who had an extra week to plan the massacre. Meanwhile, the vast majority of Tide fans were already clamoring about a home date against Notre Dame. Not a good climate in which to focus upon the task at hand, said the prognosticators. Predictions teetered from Pick-‘em to Bama +1 to Bama +1 ½. Too many intangibles, they said, pointed to a narrow Florida victory.

One statistic that got very little air time until it was too late for the Gators, however, was Bama’s preternatural ability to win in the Swamp. The Tide had a better record in Gainesville than in Tuscaloosa against Florida. In fact, Bama was undefeated in Gainesville. And on the afternoon of September 20, a crowd of over 72,000 watched history repeat itself.

The day was unbelievably hot, even for mid-September in the South. In the early afternoon of that last full day of summer, the combination of high temperatures and humidity in Tuscaloosa reached unbearable levels. It was even worse down in Gainesville. There was no such thing as a heat index back then, but if there had been it would have registered in the danger zone. And the artificial surface of Florida Field only amplified the torrid conditions being experienced by the rowdy blue and orange faithful.

Stoic and unblinking as the captains approached midfield, Ray Perkins watched the heat rise from the baked tartan like demons escaping from the ovens of Hades. His intense mind played a well-worn refrain based on experience and incalculable logic: this day would belong to the better-conditioned team. Florida sported the prolific Kerwin Bell, the Gators’ best quarterback since a guy named Steve Spurrier had won the Heisman trophy in 1966. Perhaps better, some dared to whisper. Mike Shula would match up adequately with the more heralded Bell, but for this game, Perkins had a more traditional plan. He would go to the ground, and wear down the probation-bound Gators with superior depth in the second half. Perkins’ coaching staff had few more thoroughly air-tight plans during their three years on the Capstone, and this one worked to sweet perfection.

The two teams battled to a 7-7 halftime tie, with neither team able to get untracked. It was as if two snarling monsters were circling each other, waiting for the opportunity to take the kill. The opportunity came first to Alabama, and the Crimson Tide seized it. As surely as gravity, Bama came out of the locker room and scored two dagger touchdowns to pull away in the second half, while Cornelius Bennett and his associates kept Florida off balance throughout the remainder of the afternoon. Bell was never a serious threat. Shula, as predicted, turned in a solid performance, and actually outshined his more well recognized counterpart. But as he would on so many other occasions, Alabama's Bobby Humphrey provided the Tide with the necessary spark to put the game away. In his patently heroic manner, Humphrey deftly rushed for a total of 114 yards across the balmy rubber of Florida Field to keep the game safely out of reach of the outflanked Gators. The Tide went home a breezy 21-7 winner.

Two weeks later, Alabama would use its considerable defensive muscle to level Steve Beuerlein and the Lou Holtz-coached Fighting Irish at Legion Field, before succumbing to the eventual national champion Nittany Lions of Penn State on October 25. Alabama, then retreated into the obscurity of a 10-3 finish with frustrating home losses to LSU (14-10) and then Auburn (21-17) on Lawyer Tillman’s last-second gallop into the endzone on a broken play. But the luster of that solid win at Florida Field in the hot Gainesville sun would remain intact, although over time it would be somewhat ignored in favor of the more anticipated (and photogenic) victory over 5-6 Notre Dame.

The Swamp remained a safe place for Bama to play until that fateful night in early September 1991, when the snapping at Gene Stallings’ heels came closer than it did at any other time in his stint as Alabama’s head coach. Not only did the Tide lose; it was pummeled. Florida led by a paltry 6-0 at halftime, and then, with superior depth and talent, turned on the heat in the second half to administer a 35-0 spanking on the blushing Crimsons. Stallings’s record with the Tide fell to a remarkably average 8-6, and given the second half letdown, there appeared to be no reasonable assurances that Alabama could even be capable of maintaining mere mediocrity. However, it would be the last Tide loss for 31 games – an Alabama record.

What can we make of all this? Is this year going to be a 1986 or a 1991? What will take place on Saturday in Gainesville remains to be seen, but the Elephants’ Memory predicts that there will be no repeating either of those two years this go-around. This is not the Bama team of the past, but neither is it the Florida of the past. Bama has looked better than recently, but perhaps less impressive than at some times previously. The talent is definitely there, but it will take a total effort and nearly flawless execution of a nearly flawless game plan. Six turnovers will not be so easily overcome against the Gators in the Swamp. Florida, meanwhile, is quite good but apparently mortal. Even at home. Tennessee came excruciatingly close to undoing the Gators’ hard-won home winning streak two weeks ago, and despite their reputation as defending national champions, the Volunteers have likewise appeared vulnerable at times this year. But never discount Spurrier’s ability to get his team ready. The Gators remember the shallow victory over Alabama like most teams remember a loss.

The point is that, for both teams, this year is not 1991 any more than it is 1986. This is 1999. The present. Now. And now – RIGHT NOW– is the time. What happens right now will in many ways dictate how we will all look back on this season. This Alabama team has the ability to make something great happen Saturday. May it do just that.

ROLL TIDE!!!

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PREDICTION DEPARTMENT RECORDS ANOTHER PERFECT WEEK
By Jess Nicholas, Editor-at-Large

Percentage 88.6%

Every week that goes by makes me shake my head more and more. Georgia winning by ONE over Central Florida? Tennessee winning by ONE over Memphis? Following a week that saw Alabama lose by one to Louisiana Tech, it has come to me that there may yet be something to the whole parity argument in college football. This week will be the first time this year in which all twelve SEC schools will playing each other. It will also mark the first week in which I pick a Tide defeat. Here’s hoping I go 5-1 this time.

LOUISIANA STATE AT GEORGIA

No one knows what will happen when these two schizoids get together in Athens. Georgia may be the most overrated team in the Top 25 at this point, squeaking by a scrappy Central Florida team by a single point. LSU, meanwhile, is slowly but surely sending their fan base to the local loony bin, as they have had a week to think about a 41-7 pummeling at the hands of the Auburn Tigers. Georgia has Quincy Carter on offense, but no other weapon that could be considered reliable. LSU, meanwhile, has a revolving door at quarterback and a running back---Rondell Mealey---who may not be as good as originally thought. This will be a big week for both teams, with the real question being, which team will show up for each school? Assuming both schools either show up together or fail to show up together, Georgia should win closely at home. If one team decides to go AWOL, however, there could be a butt-whoopin’ of nuclear proportions.

Georgia 31
LSU 20

ALABAMA AT FLORIDA

See our extended preview!

ARKANSAS AT KENTUCKY

Both teams lost last week, albeit Arkansas’ game was much closer. Kentucky is starting to play a little defense to compliment its passing game, but the Wildcats still have not found five people who can play offensive line better than a good high school team. Arkansas has injury problems and questions on both offensive and defensive lines, but they have a good secondary and can balance their offensive game plan. Kentucky just has problems. One has to wonder how many more plantings the Kentucky quarterbacks can take before they give up football in the best interest of their long-term health.

Arkansas 34
Kentucky 24

MISSISSIPPI AT SOUTH CAROLINA

After four weeks, there are two things we know about South Carolina football: One, they can play defense. Two, they are quite likely to drive both the Holtzes batty with their total offensive ineptitude. Ole Miss turned an important corner last Saturday, beating Auburn in Auburn and giving themselves some confidence as the race for the SEC West commences. South Carolina will have the home field for this one, but does that mean anything? The only ray of hope for the Gamecocks is that Ole Miss’ defense can be exploited by a good offensive game plan. Having said that, South Carolina will still need a miracle in order to avoid another loss.

Ole Miss 24
South Carolina 14

AUBURN AT TENNESSEE

Auburn has problems. They are coming off a tough loss at home and their starting quarterback is out with an injury. Tennessee has problems. They are coming off a one-point game with a weak sister intrastate opponent that was almost a loss, their starting quarterback is banged up, and there are charges of academic improprieties just over the horizon. With all those elements swirling about, what will happen in the game itself? Tennessee still has a dominant defense, although potential problems have surfaced on the offensive line and in the receiving corps. Auburn is hoping like crazy that nothing happens to quarterback Jeff Klein, because the alternative is to take the redshirt off true freshman Allen Tillman. Doing so in a hostile environment like Neyland Stadium is a recipe for a certain and painful death. Auburn does indeed have a slim chance in this one, but Tennessee has both the home field advantage and a defense that can still dominate.

Tennessee 24
Auburn 10

MISSISSIPPI STATE AT VANDERBILT

This could prove to be the most intriguing game of the lot come Saturday. Mississippi State has a tough ground game and good defense. Vanderbilt brings a balanced offense with a good passing attack and a fairly good defense of their own. If Vandy wins this one, they will almost certainly qualify for a bowl game and with around 20 starters returning next year, they could be setting up to reestablish the good portions of their football history. Jackie Sherrill will find the going tough Saturday, and had better not take the Commodores lightly. Still, MSU has more athletes, and their ball-control attack and huge offensive linemen will give Vandy fits.

Mississippi State 35
Vanderbilt 24

***

FLORIDA
By John Hinds, Boston Bureau Editor

BOSTON—The Showdown in the Swamp this Saturday features a high powered Florida passing game versus a sound Alabama defense. Many say this could be a preview of the SEC championship game.

Florida has held it’s spot among the nation’s elite on the strength of a passing game. Of the Gators 22 touchdowns this season 13 of them have come through the air. Redshirt freshman quarterback Doug Johnson has completed 76 of 140 passes for 1137 yards and 12 of those TD’s.

Darrell Jackson has been Johnson’s prime target. Another freshman, Jackson has 25 catches good for 387 yards and four touchdowns.

The Gators don’t just throw the ball they also have a running game that is third in the SEC with eight touchdowns and 753 yards. They also have a potent defense that is second in the SEC in rushing and has 20 sacks.

Alabama started to show signs of coming out of its shell offensively against Arkansas. The run-pass mix is no where near what it will have to be to survive the remainder of the season. Forty-six first downs have come on the ground while a mere 28 have come via the pass. While the Gators have converted an SEC best 26 of 54 third downs the Tide is in the middle of the pack with 20 conversions on 52 attempts.

Shaun Alexander has carried the bulk of the offense through the first four games. With 117 carries good for 614 yards and a SEC best 153.5 yards per game. Andrew Zow on the other hand has completed 45 of his 85 passes but has thrown five interceptions to go along with his six touchdowns.

Where Bama has really crippled themselves this season is on turnovers and penalties. Six interceptions and six fumbles have stopped Alabama time and again and when you put that with 38 penalties for 310 yards the numbers are astounding.

Florida on the other hand has turned the ball over 12 times with eight of those being interceptions. The Gators have been penalized 35 times for 358 yards.

This will be a true test for a young Alabama team. It’s a team that is growing stronger every week on defense and more confidant as the weeks pass offensively. But there will be a huge home field advantage for Florida.

Nobody said we’d make it through the season undefeated. A win in this game and the Tide would be back on the national map. I just hope a loss, if it comes, won’t be either a blowout or one that we cause ourselves by penalties and turnovers.

My prediction is the Gators will win by around 10 points.

***

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

PK 20 Chris Kemp 44 Lane Bearden 22 Mark Wisniewski

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

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