Certainly the worst performance by a Bama team with something to play for.
What do you think of Bama finishing 9-3?
- Thread starter notlaw63
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A roller-coaster season with wins against UGA and skull-dragging LSU, but wholly unprepared for Vandy and OU.
Preseason, I expected 10-2 with losses to Georgia and UTe. We never should have lost to either Vandy or OU, but were physically beaten by the Dores and got skull-drug ourselves by OU.
A puzzler of a season. Hope DeBoer and the staff have learned something.
Preseason, I expected 10-2 with losses to Georgia and UTe. We never should have lost to either Vandy or OU, but were physically beaten by the Dores and got skull-drug ourselves by OU.
A puzzler of a season. Hope DeBoer and the staff have learned something.
Remember a few years ago when "Alabama was two plays from being undefeated" and those same fans never bothered to say, "Alabama was ALSO two plays from being 8-4"?
That's basically what this year was like.
Let me put it like this: if we were 9-3 this year but the losses were to UGA (one play) and SCAR (one play), but we had beaten Vandy and OU, I think folks would feel "better" about the direction of the program and the new hire. That would mean we lost to three GOOD teams out of the East (this year at least for SCAR).
For the first time in my life, I went to Canada this year. My mother and I entered at Niagara Falls (and saw the Canadian side) and came out by Detroit, so I was on that road for what, 2-3 hours? That was during the Vandy game, so I had no internet access due to the international phone thing, and I couldn't get text messages.
When we crossed the border into the USA, my phone blew up with text messages, Facebook PMs, and news story links about Vandy shocking Alabama. My waning interest in CFB began waning even more.
That's basically what this year was like.
Let me put it like this: if we were 9-3 this year but the losses were to UGA (one play) and SCAR (one play), but we had beaten Vandy and OU, I think folks would feel "better" about the direction of the program and the new hire. That would mean we lost to three GOOD teams out of the East (this year at least for SCAR).
For the first time in my life, I went to Canada this year. My mother and I entered at Niagara Falls (and saw the Canadian side) and came out by Detroit, so I was on that road for what, 2-3 hours? That was during the Vandy game, so I had no internet access due to the international phone thing, and I couldn't get text messages.
When we crossed the border into the USA, my phone blew up with text messages, Facebook PMs, and news story links about Vandy shocking Alabama. My waning interest in CFB began waning even more.
Better than 8-4. Seems most fans here predicted 9-3. But thought UGA would be one of the 3 losses. I'm ok with it as it was DeBoer's first year. New coaches. New systems. Many new players. He had a lot on his plate, along with the pressure of winning at the best program in the nation. He had some awfully big shoes to fill. I think we see improvement next year, as long as we have a winning quarterback. I'm still not convinced Ty Simpson can take Bama to the playoffs and win.
Not excusing vandy or Oklahoma but this does put things in perspective. It was never going to be as easy as some on here thought it was going to be.
I still say we got the right guy.
my positive takeaway is that we beat georgia, lsu, and the barn. also, we crapped the bed in spectacular fashion a few times, but didn't give up, got back up and took care of business.
eta: despite all of the frustration, our d was the best it's been since pruitt. and our d was a duct tape and wd-40 operation most of the year. we had a lot of players really step up on the d side of the ball and i hope that carries into next season
eta: despite all of the frustration, our d was the best it's been since pruitt. and our d was a duct tape and wd-40 operation most of the year. we had a lot of players really step up on the d side of the ball and i hope that carries into next season
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At least we cost the schools of all three losses some money that, I hope, won't be spent for NIL. Making lemonade, you know. 
Preseason
Expectation was 12-0, that will never change
my Prediction was 10-2 , 9-3.
just because they hit that , doesn’t mean it is acceptable, just forgivable because it is year one with a lot of moving pieces. As meaningless as it is, Coach DeBoer better win the bowl game, I can’t deal with a 4 loss season with all that talent. . My expectation for 2025 is 12-0, that will never change.
Expectation was 12-0, that will never change
my Prediction was 10-2 , 9-3.
just because they hit that , doesn’t mean it is acceptable, just forgivable because it is year one with a lot of moving pieces. As meaningless as it is, Coach DeBoer better win the bowl game, I can’t deal with a 4 loss season with all that talent. . My expectation for 2025 is 12-0, that will never change.
Let’s not forget. Dabeor is having to navigate this new NIL and transfer portal stuff himself. New conference, new system, completely different game.
For a transition year I think it was an excellent finish. I think I predicted 8-4. I really didn't see anything different from last year on the offensive side of the ball. It will be interesting when CKD get's his system in place. On defense, I think we exceeded where I thought we would be as compared to last year. This year we finished 33 in Total Defense, and last year 18. But, we gave up less points this year. I really liked the improvement that I saw as far as intensity and we started getting some pressure on the QB towards the end of the year.
I think it's because of all our impressive wins. I've always weighted good wins higher than bad losses, and it seems the committee is also
Actually back in July when a preseason prediction thread was posted I said we'd have 9 wins and sneak into the playoff since a 3 loss team has been among the Top 12 on Selection Sunday 60% of the time. The thing I got wrong of course was who we'd lose to.
I have to admit disappointment. Never thought we would be on the outside looking in during the 12 team playoff era. Yea, we have a new coaches, schemes, player turnover, etc. but I expected more. That is what Nick has taught us. But we also have some carry over from the QB he recruited bleeding into the situation so I remain patient and optimistic going forward.
I thought 10-2 was going to be our record with loses to Georgia and UT, I always thought LSU was a fraud but sure didn't think we would lose to Vanderbilt and Oklahoma , overall all not bad considering transition year
As noted above, the thing that bothers me about the season is how unprepared, and even worse - uninterested - Alabama seemed against Vandy and Oklahoma. If Alabama loses those games but played well and just had some fluke things happen, that's one thing, but for the team and coaches to appear to not even care is another. What was happening the week before those games? What happened during those games? Where was the coaching.
Yes regarding all the transition stuff, and NIL, LANK, and following a legend, etc., etc. But none of that is a reason to look so terrible against Oklahoma. That's just straight up coaching. And with everything to play for. Super concerning.
Regarding the UGA game, that felt like two games to me, one Alabama won (first 20 minutes) and one it should have lost (last 40 minutes). If it weren't for two almost miraculous plays, that game is a loss, and a devastating one (given the lead going into the half). The fact that Alabama appeared to make no adjustments from the half on is concerning - again, just straight coaching.
All in all, a good first season, certainly not a terrible one, but one with several big (and concerning) questions going into year #2.
Yes regarding all the transition stuff, and NIL, LANK, and following a legend, etc., etc. But none of that is a reason to look so terrible against Oklahoma. That's just straight up coaching. And with everything to play for. Super concerning.
Regarding the UGA game, that felt like two games to me, one Alabama won (first 20 minutes) and one it should have lost (last 40 minutes). If it weren't for two almost miraculous plays, that game is a loss, and a devastating one (given the lead going into the half). The fact that Alabama appeared to make no adjustments from the half on is concerning - again, just straight coaching.
All in all, a good first season, certainly not a terrible one, but one with several big (and concerning) questions going into year #2.
Its interesting gauging this boards reaction. Two years ago the common complaint was we lost to the only two good teams we played. This year we have played 4 teams with 9 wins or more and beaten 3 of them. We also played 9 bowl eligible teams. Now the complaint is that we lost to two teams we should have beaten. Just food for thought. I do agree the preparation for vandy and oklahoma was baffling. I always tend to give a mulligan on year one. I don't care how good of a situation you come into. Transition creates difficulty And losing 39 guys to the portal along with coaches was never going to be easy to overcome.
I disagree on the 39 transfers. , losing malcontents is actually doing you a favor as a coach. They lost 39, but still had 82 on scholarship which tells me most of those guys would have left anyway. I only can think of 3 real losses. Plus losing that many allows you to bring in players already familiar with your schemes.
I think it affects team chemistry. But that's just my opinion.
The way it came about is unacceptable and extremely disappointing.
I'm soured to the entire staff.
I'm soured to the entire staff.
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