Doubting Alabama and predicting Alabama's downfall only makes you look foolish (Josh Pate 1-18 segment)

[Tenntiderman]

Not sure if it was mentioned, but let's not forget the not so famous words of Colin Cowdung about how Gus was going to run Saban out of the SEC in five years. Yeah, that turned out to be not so accurate now did it?

Hey...count me in on piling on to Cowcrap. One of those guys who never seems to earn his pay. Of all the Great Americans who are between jobs? Not a fan.

 

[Tenntiderman]

What makes Nick Saban different is that he truly care about the mission more than the results. The results are nice and make no mistake he wants to win, but the mission (process) is what drives him. With all these other coaches, lose a game like that 2015 Ole Miss game, and it shakes them to the core. It bleeds into the next week and the next. Suddenly one loss turns into three, the season is ruined, and the next season suffers from the hangover. With CNS, he just goes to work the next day because nothing has changed. The process must go on as planned.

That’s why these talking heads always get it wrong. They still don’t understand what truly makes Nick Saban tick. He’s just going to keep coming back to work everyday, working to make that day the best possible day it can be. He does not get rattled.

Saban DOES get motivated into extra achievement mode sometimes when he hears about how his team has been cornered, exposed, and passed by. Comes out during cynical conversations to the media. "According to YOU guys..we are 6' feet under....DONE...". HE owns them

 

[Tenntiderman]

Every team has its own personality and chemistry. Every year you get a new group of players, returning players and players that have exited to the league or out of eligibility, creating an entirely new team from the previous year. That team may not have had good chemistry and many times it is because the players aren't friends off the field. I've played for teams where there were players on that team that just plain couldn't stand another player or two on the team. It ends up showing up on the field when that happens.

True in EVERY sport, and in every business org IMO.

 

[BamaNation]

Only WE can destroy US. This is done by hiring in-over-their-head coaches like Dubose, Hold-the-Rope, Shula and Price, and incompetent administrators like Bockrath and Sorensen. RichRod would have been in the same category. Thank you Coach Mal Moore for doing whatever it took to get CNS to get on that plane! Thank you Dr. Witt for keeping it going.

 

[BamaNation]

@Tenntiderman are you up early ... or late?

 

[Tenntiderman]

@Tenntiderman are you up early ... or late?

I take lots of naps

 

[BamaNation]

I take lots of naps

Leonardo, is that you?

 

[TideEngineer08]

Saban DOES get motivated into extra achievement mode sometimes when he hears about how his team has been cornered, exposed, and passed by. Comes out during cynical conversations to the media. "According to YOU guys..we are 6' feet under....DONE...". HE owns them

It's just another tool in his toolbox.

 

[ALA2262]

Don't forget Pollack's "Alabama's done" remark after Waddle went down.

 

[Tenntiderman]

Leonardo, is that you?

Nope....all my sketches are on machinery. Couldnt do the hand or eye things

 

[dtgreg]

He talks out of both sides of his mouth about Saban and Alabama. One minute he loves them, the next he is saying something negative.

I was so glad Cowherd moved to Fox Sports. I never have to hear or see that ridiculous blow-hard. Bliss.

 

[The Ols]

I was so glad Cowherd moved to Fox Sports. I never have to hear or see that ridiculous blow-hard. Bliss.

She moved?

 

[bvandegraff]

Kannell was just trying to be the contrarian that Finebaum and Bayless are. The problem is that he went way too hard and didn’t allow it to seem like he truly believes what he says.

I've never thought for a moment that Bayless believes anything he says. He just takes any issue, finds the most nonsensically contrarian position on it and just repeats it at ever-increasing volume. He understands that portraying a heel keeps his bank account flush. Just one small part of the WWE-ization of American life.....

 

[81usaf92]

I've never thought for a moment that Bayless believes anything he says. He just takes any issue, finds the most nonsensically contrarian position on it and just repeats it at ever-increasing volume. He understands that portraying a heel keeps his bank account flush. Just one small part of the WWE-ization of American life.....

Pretty much and he is good at it.

 

[bamagradinATL]

Saban is the factor in the Bama run. Not Smart, or Pruitt, or Cochran, or Sarkishan.....Sure, all of these were a factor, but Saban is the master chef using his ingredients to make the recipe. I think more people are realizing this now especially this year. I recall more than one talking head speak of how it is incredible to sit down and listen to his football knowledge. One that blew me away was Joey Galloway. The day of the national championship game he was talking about how he loves to get paid to go to places like Miami to enjoy the big game but that he would go for free to the Alabama ”A-day” game just to get to stand with Saban and learn some of his football knowledge.

There is an old song “One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show.” These guys Smart, Pruitt & Cochran may come and go. As long as Saban is running things, we'll be fine.

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

Trolling Bama fans is a lazy way for talking heads/columnists to get some quick buzz/attention/clicks/ratings. Although it does seem to be getting way past the point of diminishing returns. Danny Kanell is harder to find these days than Carmen Sandiego.....

Jesse Palmer is too busy shilling for Rooms to Go

 

[selmaborntidefan]

"Do you remember where you were February 24, 2021?" (at the 8:21 mark)


My God, EVEN I don't know where I was on a day that hasn't even happened yet......

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

"Do you remember where you were February 24, 2021?" (at the 8:21 mark)


My God, EVEN I don't know where I was on a day that hasn't even happened yet......

I know where I will be........ if this Covid garbage goes away

 

[selmaborntidefan]

The 2015 dismissal at least had something that we could call substantive evidence that might at least push a REASONABLE pundit to say "the dynasty is over." Clay Travis said the dynasty was over - but he also hedged his bets by saying "this doesn't mean Alabama won't win another national title - they probably will." But he was projecting the whole fear element of facing us was about to become a thing of the past.

Dan Wolken was more strident. However - in light of how utterly awful we looked that particular night, it was NOT necessarily a bad take.

Consider:
1) from opening day 2011 through the 2013 Iron Bowl, we lost a whopping total of 3 games - 2011 LSU, 2012 ATM, and 2013 Auburn. Anyone watching those games objectively would have conceded we were the better team in all 3 games but circumstances beat us. Even the loss to Oklahoma could be written off as "well, one team wanted to be there and had a lot of reason to play for conference pride - and the other didn't care."

2) But we were NOT impressive in 2014 by any stretch of the imagination.
a) we lost to Ole Miss - you can debate whatever, but we lost the game
b) we scraped by Arky on a missed PAT and didn't look very good doing it
c) it took a flat out miracle to beat LSU
d) we climbed off the mat against Auburn, but we also gave up 44 points
e) we were heavy favorites and blew a 21-6 lead to Ohio State and lost

Yes - in coming years we will see that was a much better Ohio St team than folks thought - but there was no way to know that when we looked terrible for the last 2 1/2 quarters.

And then in Saban's specialty - the revenge game - we not only didn't get any so-called revenge, we didn't even play particularly well. You can give all the reasons/excuses you want - but we didn't.

The cold, hard reality is that Alabama lost back-to-back games to OLE MISS.
Not LSU. Not Clemson. Not Ohio State. OLE MISS.

Thinking this signaled the end of the dominance was NOT an unreasonable conclusion. At least in the other losses during the run, we had still shown flashes of brilliance combined with stupid decisions, emotional letdowns, and just plain bad luck. That was NOT TRUE (not totally) of the 2015 Ole Miss loss.


Clemson 2018 is a different animal altogether that brings together two typical reactions of people that watch college football:
a) overreacting
b) overconcluding

It's always amazing to me how the very same pundits can look at the NFL and dismiss a 30-point regular season win with how things have changed since the previous game. But they look at college ball and evaluate it with a borderline fundamentalist, absolutist zeal that fails to accept nuance or the reality that change among 18-21 year olds might be just as easily imposed with an effective coach.

Yes, Clemson blew out Alabama, 44-16. We had a nationally televised panic attack, and Clemson both deserved to win the game and to be the champions. But the part that makes no sense to me is this - why is Alabama giving up 44 points ONCE "the end of the dynasty" but Clemson gives up 42 points and then 49 points and goes 0-2.....and is ranked #1 AGAIN in the "way too early 2021 rankings" by ESPN.

Skip Bayless loves to rant and rave that Nick Saban isn't nearly the defensive genius that everyone wants to believe - and starts listing 40-plus point games other offenses put on us (most of which involve multiple turnovers that shorten the field and keep the defense on too long).

In 2006, Ohio State was "one of the great teams of all-time" when they beat Michigan. They get blown out by Florida and it becomes "Ohio State turned out to be overrated" - they NEVER say "we pundits are guilty of not knowing what we're talking about." No, Ohio St wasn't being considered with 2001 Miami or the other list, but they were being touted by pundits, most of whom graduated from Northwestern and latched onto the coattails as something next world special. (At least I can understand the hype around 2005 USC or 2016 Alabama or even 2019 LSU).

Scott Cochran leaving - number of people with brains who actually gave a damn about this: zero. Saban has lost far more important pieces of the engine over the year than Cochran.

 

[81usaf92]

The 2015 dismissal at least had something that we could call substantive evidence that might at least push a REASONABLE pundit to say "the dynasty is over." Clay Travis said the dynasty was over - but he also hedged his bets by saying "this doesn't mean Alabama won't win another national title - they probably will." But he was projecting the whole fear element of facing us was about to become a thing of the past.

Dan Wolken was more strident. However - in light of how utterly awful we looked that particular night, it was NOT necessarily a bad take.

Consider:
1) from opening day 2011 through the 2013 Iron Bowl, we lost a whopping total of 3 games - 2011 LSU, 2012 ATM, and 2013 Auburn. Anyone watching those games objectively would have conceded we were the better team in all 3 games but circumstances beat us. Even the loss to Oklahoma could be written off as "well, one team wanted to be there and had a lot of reason to play for conference pride - and the other didn't care."

2) But we were NOT impressive in 2014 by any stretch of the imagination.
a) we lost to Ole Miss - you can debate whatever, but we lost the game
b) we scraped by Arky on a missed PAT and didn't look very good doing it
c) it took a flat out miracle to beat LSU
d) we climbed off the mat against Auburn, but we also gave up 44 points
e) we were heavy favorites and blew a 21-6 lead to Ohio State and lost

Yes - in coming years we will see that was a much better Ohio St team than folks thought - but there was no way to know that when we looked terrible for the last 2 1/2 quarters.

And then in Saban's specialty - the revenge game - we not only didn't get any so-called revenge, we didn't even play particularly well. You can give all the reasons/excuses you want - but we didn't.

The cold, hard reality is that Alabama lost back-to-back games to OLE MISS.
Not LSU. Not Clemson. Not Ohio State. OLE MISS.

Thinking this signaled the end of the dominance was NOT an unreasonable conclusion. At least in the other losses during the run, we had still shown flashes of brilliance combined with stupid decisions, emotional letdowns, and just plain bad luck. That was NOT TRUE (not totally) of the 2015 Ole Miss loss.


Clemson 2018 is a different animal altogether that brings together two typical reactions of people that watch college football:
a) overreacting
b) overconcluding

It's always amazing to me how the very same pundits can look at the NFL and dismiss a 30-point regular season win with how things have changed since the previous game. But they look at college ball and evaluate it with a borderline fundamentalist, absolutist zeal that fails to accept nuance or the reality that change among 18-21 year olds might be just as easily imposed with an effective coach.

Yes, Clemson blew out Alabama, 44-16. We had a nationally televised panic attack, and Clemson both deserved to win the game and to be the champions. But the part that makes no sense to me is this - why is Alabama giving up 44 points ONCE "the end of the dynasty" but Clemson gives up 42 points and then 49 points and goes 0-2.....and is ranked #1 AGAIN in the "way too early 2021 rankings" by ESPN.

Skip Bayless loves to rant and rave that Nick Saban isn't nearly the defensive genius that everyone wants to believe - and starts listing 40-plus point games other offenses put on us (most of which involve multiple turnovers that shorten the field and keep the defense on too long).

In 2006, Ohio State was "one of the great teams of all-time" when they beat Michigan. They get blown out by Florida and it becomes "Ohio State turned out to be overrated" - they NEVER say "we pundits are guilty of not knowing what we're talking about." No, Ohio St wasn't being considered with 2001 Miami or the other list, but they were being touted by pundits, most of whom graduated from Northwestern and latched onto the coattails as something next world special. (At least I can understand the hype around 2005 USC or 2016 Alabama or even 2019 LSU).

Scott Cochran leaving - number of people with brains who actually gave a damn about this: zero. Saban has lost far more important pieces of the engine over the year than Cochran.

2018- We had people on here believing that Clemson overtook us that night. In some cases it felt like a few here were mildly happy about the supposed “paradigm shift”. But anyone that wasn’t Tua drunk had reservations about the 2018 team after the MSU game. It really wasn’t an all time great team as a whole and we actually had subpar coordinators that year. Anyone that believed Clemson overtook us that night after 2 months to get over it probably doesn’t know football as much as they think. Alabama has too many things that it has overcame to really put doubts off of one game. It’s almost like the KC massacre of the Patriots when everyone believed the Patriots were done. People are too focused on being the person that predicts the end to make good conclusions to what they actually saw.