[WRAP-UP] Tennessee wrap-up: Perfection – temporarily – triumphs over adversity

[JessN]

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Tennessee wrap-up: Perfection – temporarily – triumphs over adversity
By Jess Nicholas
TideFans.com Editor-In-Chief
Oct. 20, 2007

If you could overlook the clouds that began to build just before kickoff, when Alabama officials announced five players had been suspended for something to do with textbooks and improper benefits, what followed for four hours was basically the dream of every living Bama soul.

Alabama stomped Tennessee into the ground Saturday, turned the heel of the boot and ground the Volunteers six feet under the Bryant-Denny Stadium turf.

For the full story, click here.

[beatthemtigers]

And once again you called the game nice job. lets just hope you pick Bama in 2 weeks.

[silentsam74]

Awesome awesome win. I think this is the first time this season you've got the wrap-up done and posted before midnight if not 3 or 4 a.m. Must not have been able to wait to put together the story of todays game.

Bama must have borrowed UGA's hobnail boot!

[Andy]

Why is there always a black cloud around good things with us? Great game, most complete game we have had in years. Jess just a few questions, which may require speculation but here goes.

1. Is the text book problem likely to get us into trouble with the NCAA, probation, scholarships, etc.

2. Is it likely that we could have to forfeit games?

3. Is it likely the suspensions will be extended?

4. Can the players practice while suspended?

[Crimson Speed]

Great job Jess. Your game summary indicates you composed this with a big smile.

[JessN]

	Quote:	Andy
	Why is there always a black cloud around good things with us? Great game, most complete game we have had in years. Jess just a few questions, which may require speculation but here goes. 1. Is the text book problem likely to get us into trouble with the NCAA, probation, scholarships, etc. 2. Is it likely that we could have to forfeit games? 3. Is it likely the suspensions will be extended? 4. Can the players practice while suspended?

1. I do not know. I would be speculating there. Given the swiftness and severity of the response, my bet would be no.

2. No, this is not an eligibility issue, this is a benefits issue.

3. Again, just speculating -- probably.

4. I don't think so.

[BamaMoon]

Jess, I can't believe you blew this pick. Picking us by only three???

Seriously, I don't think any of us saw a total butt kicking coming. The Tide opened up a serious can and it was a delight to watch!

On the suspensions, is this a matter of isolated players using bad judgment? Would this fall under "repeat offender?" Does this have anything to do with a "lack of institutional control?" Just terms that scare me after the last ten years!!!

[GrayTide]

Thanks Jess, good read as usual. I will say this, while JPW played an excellent game and set passing records that are impressive, the one thing that stands out in my mind about his performance was he saved at least two scoring drives by turning a sack or a throw way into first downs by making a quick decision to run for the first down. That is the type play that has to be made to win games against top level teams. Looking forward to your next write up.

[exbama21]

this certainly has been one crazy year. correct me if i am wrong but didn't the "experts" pick us to finish 4th in the west. Phil Steele picked us to surprise but i think he was the only one. granted because of this bizzare year we could drop our last few and finish 4th but i feel confident enough that we at least beat ulm and miss state. i have had i feeling all year that we would beat lsu (but i also thought we would be the only ones who did).

[JessN]

	Quote:	BamaMoon
	Jess, I can't believe you blew this pick. Picking us by only three??? Seriously, I don't think any of us saw a total butt kicking coming. The Tide opened up a serious can and it was a delight to watch! On the suspensions, is this a matter of isolated players using bad judgment? Would this fall under "repeat offender?" Does this have anything to do with a "lack of institutional control?" Just terms that scare me after the last ten years!!!

I feel virtually certain there is no repeat-violator component to this. As for LOIC, Ball State was guilty of it in a similar case, but that charge was largely the fault of Ball State's lackadaisical response to the problem. Alabama had a system in place to guard against this, it worked, and Alabama hastily suspended the players known to be involved at that time. So I don't expect LOIC, either.

Gird your loins, though, for talk radio this week. For those of you who inexplicably listen to the tripe that most of that format is, the only thing you'll hear this week will be textbooks, textbooks, textbooks. You won't hear a peep about UA-UT or AU-LSU.

[silentsam74]

	Quote:	JessN
	1. I do not know. I would be speculating there. Given the swiftness and severity of the response, my bet would be no. 2. No, this is not an eligibility issue, this is a benefits issue. 3. Again, just speculating -- probably. 4. I don't think so.

I know this is bad news but, they seemed to play so much better without the suspended players. It doesn't make sense. Do you think everything is finally beginning to click or is it a situation where the players that were on the field, for what ever reason, had better chemistry together. Maybe they played the game with a 'backs against the wall' mentality after losing several starters for the game.

[bobstod]

I feel compelled to remind everybody that I predicted Tennessee would beat us by 20 points. I also predicted we would beat Ole Miss 41-14.

Just in case ANYONE would rely on anything I have to say in the future about the outcome of Bama games....

[JessN]

	Quote:	silentsam74
	I know this is bad news but, they seemed to play so much better without the suspended players. It doesn't make sense. Do you think everything is finally beginning to click or is it a situation where the players that were on the field, for what ever reason, had better chemistry together. Maybe they played the game with a 'backs against the wall' mentality after losing several starters for the game.

What worked in our favor was that no one knew there was a problem until just before the team meal Friday night. There wasn't really time to think about the fact that, "Oh goodness, we just lost three starters." It was more of a "battlefield promotion" sequence and no one had time to really digest it.

Here's the problem from here out: B.J. Stabler, who replaced Marlon Davis, is probably just as effective as Davis -- when he's healthy. Unfortunately, Stabler's knees are in bad shape, and if he has to play the next two or three games with no relief, I worry about his durability. Especially since MSU and LSU both have extremely physical, strong defensive lines.

Cardwell is a fine center, but with no Caldwell around we lose a good bit of leadership. I think everyone was just in a zone yesterday, but that probably won't be the case going forward.

Not having Coffee means we won't be able to rely on the power running game so much, but honestly, Grant did a good job between the tackles and Coffee's absence forced us to get more creative (mostly in the passing game) to compensate. The offensive package we chose for UT highlighted Wilson's strengths -- shotgun sets, quick hits, up-tempo play -- so maybe this won't be such a big loss after all.

Johnson is easily replaced in regards to his limited role. Rogers' absence may be the most noticeable strictly from a talent standpoint. He was becoming the next Lorenzo Ward on kick coverage, and while we covered kicks well against Tennessee, we lacked Rogers' explosiveness downfield.

Coffee's loss is troubling, Rogers' loss stings, and the OL losses hurt us mainly from a depth standpoint, but they hurt.

By the way, here was how the second-team OL lined up yesterday in pregame: LT Capps, LG Ross, C Vlachos, RG Pharr, RT D.Davis. Ross, however, is actually the backup at all three interior positions and Capps the backup at both tackles.