Link: (ESPN Article) This is why I hate playing games like Utah vs Bama.

[Bamabuzzard]

ESPN - Allstate Sugar Bowl boasts uneven matchup on and off the field - Independents and Others

This is why I personally hate playing games like the one Bama is about to play against Utah. The story that is being slowly built as the game gets closer of "David & Goliath" and the poor little Utah Utes going up against the Unstoppable Crimson Tide with the Utes seemingly having no chance in the world. Setting up a scenario of Bama getting nothing out of this by winning and humiliation by losing. And god forbid if it's a close and down to the wire and we squeak out with a win. That will be played out in the media about like a loss.

Why has the Sugar Bowl become the home for the non BCS teams?

 

[Bama4Ever831]

It is like being a Senior in high school and fighting a freshman. If you win no one will care, but if you lose......

Yeah I hate these matchups too. We have nothing to gain. Why can't we lure the Big 12 away from the Fiesta and try to set up an annual meeting much like the P10 and the B10 and the Rose Bowl?

 

[rolltidescott]

I agree. Dangerous situation with little - if anything - to gain and LOTS to lose. :mad2:

 

[Squirrely]

I won't lie..........:mad2:
I really wish Bama got Texas in a bowl game, but we got Utah. Can't hold this against Utah's program at all because they did go out & win all their games, but Bama has nothing to gain with this game. Hopefully Utah fans understand this, but with the huge chip I've seen from their fans. They will most likely hold it against Bama fans for feeling this way....

Utah fans get the super bowl feeling for this Sugar bowl, but we Bama fans don't get the same excitement from this game since we are playing Utah. Nothing against Utah, but Utah just isn't a big name in college football, and a win against them won't be huge like it would be against Texas, USC, or even Ohio St. If Utah was to pull this win out, it would be the biggest win in their history, but it wouldn't even make Bama's top 20 wins. I understand Utah fans feeling they are dissed with this kinda of stuff, and I feel for them, but I just ask them to try to understand things from the stage Bama has been on in our history.

Utah has got a pretty good team, but after just coming from playing for the title to this game. It would most likely be tuff to get up for this game, but I have faith in Bama's coaching staff & players to come out, and play hard. It's still a Sugar bowl win, and that will be good for these Seniors & other players to get for all the hard work they put in.........


:BigA: ROLL TIDE :BigA:

 

[Mamacalled]

This crap burns me up. Another reporter making things up in order to make CNS look arrogant with this:

Utah is an up-and-comer, but from the Mountain West, a conference that Alabama coach Nick Saban claimed wasn't a "real" conference during the SEC championship postgame press conference.

CNS never said that the MWC wasn't a "real conference".
After the game, CNS was interviewed and asked if he was disappointed with the team after losing to UF. He said that he was proud of Alabama because they were the only team from a BCS conference to go 12-0. Now, these piece of crap reporters takes this and reports it as CNS was slamming Utah.

 

[Pluck and Grit]

Southern Cal would've been happy to come to New Orleans. They are tired of just going crosstown to Pasadena every year. Would have been nice with Texas or Penn St. too. Or Ohio St.

People mostly gripe about how the 1 vs. 2 matchup is concocted, but I think the bowl system as a whole is somewhat broken. The automatic conference bids seem more anachronistic all the time.

 

[dave12]

Yeah this is a load of crap. Not Utah's fault, but we should be playing Texas instead. After such a good year to be put in a no win situation is rediculous.


RTR:BigA:

 

[Probius]

What is it with all of y'all that say we have nothing to win? We are in the Sugar Bowl, we have a lot to play for and a lot to win. I don't care who we are playing, it's the Sugar Bowl. If this doesn't get you excited then I don't know what will. Roll Tide!

 

[ChattTide]

Give me a break!!

When was the last time we were in a BCS bowl game? When was the last time was in one? The last time I checked Utah played AND WON a BCS bowl game more recently than us. We haven't been since 2000 and we lost on a missed PAT to Michigan.

Anybody who is not excited about our opportunity seems, in my humble opinion, to have NOT gone through some of the same turmoil the rest of us Bama fans have gone through the past MANY years. To see us return to the Sugar Bowl after being in some of the darkest times in Alabama Football history in the 2nd year of a coach we waited through 5 coaches to get right is amazing.

I'm sorry if some of us question who we are playing as "not up to par" or "not worthy of playing us". Fact is they EARNED a spot in the Sugar Bowl just like we did. They won every game they played. I know we were all hoping for more, but as my Dad said at the beginning of the year, "Let's not get delusions of grandeur this year." This is just the beginning folks.

I'm sorry if this offends. It is not my intention. I just get sick and tired of hearing people bicker about why we can't play somebody else. We got who we got, so go out and beat 'em. If you want to feel embarrassed about who you are playing, as someone here has already mentioned, go ahead a lose to 'em. Ask Oklahoma how they've felt for the past 2 years...

Roll Tide!!
ChattTide

 

[CrimsonSEC]

Give me a break!!

When was the last time we were in a BCS bowl game? When was the last time was in one? The last time I checked Utah played AND WON a BCS bowl game more recently than us. We haven't been since 2000 and we lost on a missed PAT to Michigan.

Anybody who is not excited about our opportunity seems, in my humble opinion, to have NOT gone through some of the same turmoil the rest of us Bama fans have gone through the past MANY years. To see us return to the Sugar Bowl after being in some of the darkest times in Alabama Football history in the 2nd year of a coach we waited through 5 coaches to get right is amazing.

I'm sorry if some of us question who we are playing as "not up to par" or "not worthy of playing us". Fact is they EARNED a spot in the Sugar Bowl just like we did. They won every game they played. I know we were all hoping for more, but as my Dad said at the beginning of the year, "Let's not get delusions of grandeur this year." This is just the beginning folks.

I'm sorry if this offends. It is not my intention. I just get sick and tired of hearing people bicker about why we can't play somebody else. We got who we got, so go out and beat 'em. If you want to feel embarrassed about who you are playing, as someone here has already mentioned, go ahead a lose to 'em. Ask Oklahoma how they've felt for the past 2 years...

Roll Tide!!
ChattTide

Hear! Hear!

I like the way the defensive coach for Utah put it:

"SEC is a great football. You know college football, you know about the SEC and the type of football they play. They battle every week," Utah co-defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake said. "Whether it's an SEC, Pac 10 or Big Ten team, I think these guys play the same -- with all their effort. If Alabama beats us, it is going to be because they are a better team, not because we got caught up in the whole spotlight of the game or any of the hoopla of who we are playing. We are looking forward to a great game and we will see how it works out."

If we lose we deserve the criticism. If we win, it's a springboard to next year.


BTW, Happy New Year Everybody!

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Give me a break!!

When was the last time we were in a BCS bowl game? When was the last time was in one? The last time I checked Utah played AND WON a BCS bowl game more recently than us. We haven't been since 2000 and we lost on a missed PAT to Michigan.

Anybody who is not excited about our opportunity seems, in my humble opinion, to have NOT gone through some of the same turmoil the rest of us Bama fans have gone through the past MANY years. To see us return to the Sugar Bowl after being in some of the darkest times in Alabama Football history in the 2nd year of a coach we waited through 5 coaches to get right is amazing.

I'm sorry if some of us question who we are playing as "not up to par" or "not worthy of playing us". Fact is they EARNED a spot in the Sugar Bowl just like we did. They won every game they played. I know we were all hoping for more, but as my Dad said at the beginning of the year, "Let's not get delusions of grandeur this year." This is just the beginning folks.

I'm sorry if this offends. It is not my intention. I just get sick and tired of hearing people bicker about why we can't play somebody else. We got who we got, so go out and beat 'em. If you want to feel embarrassed about who you are playing, as someone here has already mentioned, go ahead a lose to 'em. Ask Oklahoma how they've felt for the past 2 years...

Roll Tide!!
ChattTide

You're missing the entire point many of us are making. It has nothing to do with the excitement or lack there of from the fans or anything to do with the fans. It has everything to do with the Sugar Bowl being a huge event for any team that plays in it. Whether it be Utah or Alabama. This game SHOULD be a potential BIG VICTORY for BOTH teams. But unfortunately how it has been set up, played up and scripted up by the sports media and pundits Alabama has been put in a situation where we're not going to get the full enjoyment of it being a BIG WIN because of the "David & Goliath" scenario that's being painted. That is what I hate about games like this because I've seen how it plays out after wards. Bama is not credited for "playing anybody" and "should have won" and article after article is written about it, panel after panel drives the point home and next thing you know what SHOULD HAVE BEEN a great win for the program turns into a a let down. I've seen it too many times.

In cases like these the team that is the "favorite" gains absolutely nothing from winning and has the world to lose by losing.

You're right. THIS IS THE SUGAR BOWL!!! And it SHOULD BE a big game and the winner should be credited with a great win and being an excellent team and all the spoils that go with it. But again, in cases like this on, the accolades are only set up for if one specific team wins. That's what bothers me. Because be honest. If we win and Saturday morning you turn on the tv and or pick up the newspaper and all you read or hear is "Well, this was more of Utah not being that good more than Bama being that dominant.". You're not going to be a bit upset? Because the players, coaches, and administration see the same articles and tv shows. This staff, team and administration has worked to dang hard to not get the full showering of credit. But I can bet you anything if it turns out to be a freakin' blowout the focus will not be on how "good" Bama is but how undeserving Utah was and how they didn't play anybody during the year and this was another Hawaii vs Georgia.

 

[UA12NCS]

ESPN - Allstate Sugar Bowl boasts uneven matchup on and off the field - Independents and Others

This is why I personally hate playing games like the one Bama is about to play against Utah. The story that is being slowly built as the game gets closer of "David & Goliath" and the poor little Utah Utes going up against the Unstoppable Crimson Tide with the Utes seemingly having no chance in the world. Setting up a scenario of Bama getting nothing out of this by winning and humiliation by losing. And god forbid if it's a close and down to the wire and we squeak out with a win. That will be played out in the media about like a loss.

Why has the Sugar Bowl become the home for the non BCS teams?

I think you hit the nail on the head. We have little to gain and everything to lose. However, my question is since No. 1 is playing No. 2, why isn't No. 3 playing No. 4. Just my opinion but the BCS will never work until we have a true NC playoff.

 

[Squirrely]

I'm not saying Utah isn't up top par or a bad team at all, but the excitement factor of Bama's opponent is what got me sorta down with this game. I'm tickled pink that Bama is doing good again, and I've been watching Bama football since 1969. I especially happy for the seniors this year. They are going to a BCS bowl game for all the hard work they have done, but this opponent does no bring the excitement factor at for Bama's fan, and most of the nation either. That simple........

Sorry, but playing Texas would have everyone real excited, and this is why you have let down games during the regular season. Like it or not, but your opponent does effect the excitement with a game. This sorta goes with the thinking Bama has nothing to gain with the win. This would be not huge win in most college football fans eyes for us. We are expected to win this game, and the build-up tells us this.

You can not look someone in the face, and say Utah gives you the same feeling that playing Aubarn, LSU, or Texas would give us all for the build-up with this game. Now while the game is being played, I will be freaking out, and cheering Bama on like any other game, but the build up for this game isn't even close to other games Bama has played. Just be honest about this, and you would see it, but like they say. Different strokes for different folks, but I think the majority of the nation feels this way with this game.


:BigA: ROLL TIDE :BigA:

 

[Vinny]

Well, the folks that pair the BCS bowls put us vs Utah. I don't like it, but that is who we are playing. I'm sure CNS has beat this into our guys heads during practice. I would have liked to see us play USC, Penn State, or Texas, but we are not. Look at it this way, we have a chance of ruining Utah's run at a perfect season. Roll Tide!

 

[XXL TideFan]

Blow 'em out and end the year as the #2 team in the country. Take that on the recruiting trail.

 

[peteswell4]

I am not criticizing Utah. I think they are a very good team, but it is annoying that the Sugar Bowl has become the SEC v. the best non-BCS conference team. Look at Hawaii last year. An Alabama-Texas game would have made more sense for the Sugar Bowl as New Orleans is between Alabama and Texas. This game would be a much bigger draw, and even if Utah is better than Texas, a win over Texas would get much more national attention. I think Ohio State should have been left out of the BCS this year, since they lost two games, and Texas Tech should have taken their place even if that places three Big 12 teams in the BCS. A Texas Tech-Utah Fiesta Bowl would make sense, as would an Alabama-Texas Sugar Bowl.

 

[crimson fan man]

I agree with alot of what I read in this thread. I am proud that Alabama is in a bcs bowl. The excitement level is not near as high as if we were playing texas. Nothing to do with how good Utah is but how people perceive the game. Also on a side note all we are going to here pregame is about Andre Smith and his decision he made. With all of that I will be going crazy during the game. Roll Tide!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

 

[Tennessee]

ESPN - Allstate Sugar Bowl boasts uneven matchup on and off the field - Independents and Others

This is why I personally hate playing games like the one Bama is about to play against Utah. The story that is being slowly built as the game gets closer of "David & Goliath" and the poor little Utah Utes going up against the Unstoppable Crimson Tide with the Utes seemingly having no chance in the world.

Is this the same fan base that complained all year long about not getting any respect :tongue:

J/K

 

[ChattTide]

The most irritating thing about this BCS thing is that there are still bowl tie ins. If I'm correct, the Fiesta has taken a Big 12 team every year, the Orange an ACC team, the Rose... don't get me started, and the Sugar an SEC team. With the way things seem to be we will never see the Bama-Texas game or games of that nature unless they meet each other in the BCS NC game.

Roll Tide!!
ChattTide

 

[Squirrely]

That fact that the whole front page isn't full on today threads tells me all I need to know about he build-up to this Sugar bowl game. I think Utah got a pretty good team, but the build-up for this game is just sad for us & the rest of the nation except for Utah fans. This is their biggest game of the programs history....

When game time gets here. I will be going crazy like any other Bama game, and pulling for Bama to win, but I sure wish I could have at least seen Utah's team on TV more or something. I don't even know much about Utah at all. For what Utah has done the here lately. They deserved to be on TV more than they have been so the most college football fans knows them better.......


:BigA: ROLL TIDE :BigA: