I Am The 12th Man: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
New Blog: Once A Metro covering Red Bull New York!

My Thoughts On The BCS Game

The BCS was created to pit the #1 and #2 team in the nation against each other. The winner of the game was supposed to be the best team in the country. I am not sure that we saw the #1 and #2 team face each other because I did not, and still do not believe that tu was the second best team in the country. I thought the SEC title game pitted the two best teams in the country against one another. The BCS game did prove which team was better between Alabama and tu. Alabama was obviously the better team.

I was actually quite surprised at how ill prepared Bama looked to start the game. After going on and on about "being who we are" in the month leading up to the game, Nick Saban took the ball after winning the coin toss, then passed on early downs and faked a punt on the first series of the game. That did not look like the conservative Alabama offense I saw all year long. Greg McElroy looked flustered early, and it appeared that his nerves got to him. Luckily it would turn out that McElroy was not needed for Bama to win the game.

Star-divide

I know all the tu fans are claiming that they would have won had McCoy not been injured. First off, injuries are part of the game and you have to prepare for that. McCoy was asked to carry the load running and passing the ball the past two years. tu is lucky that he lasted this long without a serious injury. All you tu fans who think tu was the better team but was not able to prove it because of the McCoy injury, ask yourself this: What happens if after McCoy is injured, Greg McElroy goes down to injury also? Would the game have been any different for Alabama? The answer is obviously no. Alabama won because they had a strong running game and a great defense. tu has not been able to consistently run the ball for the past two years. It finally caught up with them in a major way on national television. tu has been dinking and dunking on offense for two years. Once their triggerman was out, the game was essentially over.

I guess as an Aggie fan that I should not be too upset with our special teams since the number one team in the nation and major special teams gaffes in their bowl game also. As I said, this Alabama team did not look like the usual Nick Saban coached team. Too many mistakes on special teams and blown coverages on defense. That said, they made enough big plays to win the game and they are definitely the best team in the country this season. The real question is how good can Bama be next year if McElroy improves and they shore up their special teams issues?

There was much shock and gnashing of teeth across the nation when Nick Saban was hired at Alabama for $4 million per year. Was he worth it? Three years later Alabama is the best team in the nation and should only get better as long as Saban stays there.

I have said all along that Ndamukong Suh should have won the Heisman since he was the best football player in the country. I also felt that Toby Gerhart was the best RB in the country. After watching Mark Ingram against tu, I think I have hada change of opinion. Ingram was very impressive breaking tackles, and making the plays that need to be made to win the game. Alabama only loses two starters on the OL next year, and Ingram, Richardson, and Julio Jones will make them a threat to win it all again next year. 

You have to be able to run, and stop the run in order to win championships. tu could not run, which is why they are not national champions.

0 recs  |  Comment 8 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Don't recall where I heard it

But I heard the fake punk was an audible called by the team, not the coaches. They saw no one over the gunner and thought they had something, but obviously not. Not sure how much truth there is to that, though.

Texas doesn’t lack any talent at RB, it fact they probably have some surplus. Unfortunately, the OC only believes in running that read hand-off. Contrary to popular belief, I think Texas showed that they had more speed than that amazing Alabama D. Goodwin easily cut throw the defense when in open space, as did Monroe when he got to the edge fairly easily. Which is why I don’t get at all why GD didn’t try to go at the corner more even with basic tosses. Though, you have to give Alabama a ton of credit because if you don’t get a helmet on them they will sniff out the play and make the great tackle.

Another thing to show Alabama troubles with guarding Texas speed/quickness was watching them trying to guard Shipley. He was making that mighty secondary look like amateurs.

You have to give the Texas defense and Garret Gilbert a lot of credit for hanging in there (though, I’m sure you won’t). The D looked like they quit in the second quarter, which is when I believe the game was won for Alabama. But after halftime they manned up and put us in position to win the game.

With GG, I just liked the way he matured as the game went on. Obviously if you just look at the stats it’s anything but impressive, but if you actually paid attention to the game he really grew up as the game went on. I think that shows a lot of him to overcome those types of nerves as a freshman.

Sure, Alabama won thus proving they are the best team in the nation. But Texas did make a statement about the type of team they are, they showed a lot of heart, and made this a lot better game than the final score shows.

by randomguy on Jan 8, 2010 3:28 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

On the fake punt..........

I haven’t officially seen that anywhere, but at the time it happened, I totally thought that was a call made by the punter, not the sideline. Granted, I’m sure the coaches had given him the authority to make that call, if the gunner was ever left uncovered. But I highly doubt that he was sent in from the sideline with the instruction to fake the punt come hell or high water. And I was very surprised neither Herbstreit or Musberger made that observation.

TX did a nice job of disguising it though, the guy who made the pick was lined inside the formation and rotated out after the snap. Was actually a good read by the punter, seeing his gunner wide open at the snap — but an even better call by TX to have the guy rotating out.

by Greenville_Dawg on Jan 9, 2010 11:00 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I agree that tu did not give up so they showed some heart. I also think Bama made it easy on the tu defense by trying to simply run the clock out after halftime. Gilbert definitely had his moments. Shipley made me wonder why Bama was not rolling a safety over the top of him.

Now it comes out that McElroy was playing with broken ribs he suffered vs UF. No wonder his passing was so poor. I don’t think anyone argued that tu did not have speed. tu has no running backs that really impress me. A good OL would make their mediocre backs look good, but tu does not have a good run blocking OL.

by miketag on Jan 8, 2010 4:02 PM CST via mobile reply actions   0 recs

Regarding the O-Line

It’s something I’ve thought A&M suffers from often. They typically have good skill guys, but without that line that doesn’t really mean much. Something that really hurt Texas this year, and something that was a major strength for Alabama.

I hate playing the “what if” game as much as anyone, but it’s a part of football just as injuries are. Anytime you lose a close game, regardless of the opponent, you wonder about those couple of plays that changed the game… And what the outcome would be if those plays went the other way. Obviously the McCoy injury is going to be the most vocalized, but big ones include what if the Texas defense didn’t fold in the 2nd quarter? What if Texas killed the clock to end the half? What if that blitzing linebacker was picked up and GG had a chance to start a legacy? Obviously it is what it is, and the team that won did so because they made the plays. But the “what if’s” will always be there.

Personally, the biggest question I have involves McCoy not going down, but more of how Alabama would have responded given McCoy and the offense would of given the defense more/longer breaks, and kept the pressure on the Alabama O. Made it so it wouldn’t of been so easy to run the ball all game, but rather force McElroy to throw it more. Would he been able to do anything against the very good Texas secondary with his ribs? Or would Thomas and Gideon had a field day with him leading to a Texas victory? In which case Alabama fans would be asking “What if McElroy wasn’t hurt?”

by randomguy on Jan 8, 2010 4:35 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Did you just what if a what if? Impressive

by the12thman11 on Jan 8, 2010 6:35 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Our OL came together towards the end of the year, which was why we were able to
run the ball for 180 yds on ur number one ranked run defense. Should improve next year when we have real OTs on the field and not converted guards.

by miketag on Jan 8, 2010 8:32 PM CST via mobile up reply actions   0 recs

Moral Victories

Your hated tu is claiming no moral victories in this game, OP. Most simply state a sadness the comes from not knowing what would’ve been. Seeing as how we were down three with the ball at the end of the game, it is safe to assume that we would’ve been in a great position at full strength. No guaranteed win; it could’ve been worse, as Alabama surely practiced and schemed for Colt and the offensive plan that came along with him. That’s just it- we’ll never know. We claim no victory or glory for having done well in the face of adversity against a daunting opponent. Have fun fighting your tu punching bags or whatever y’all do in the offseason to keep the Aggy spirit alive. Football season is a mere 8 months away-

by Tackchevy on Jan 9, 2010 2:49 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Bama may have been in great position also if Greg McElroy was at full strength.

by miketag on Jan 9, 2010 3:25 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to the SB Nation blog about the Texas A&M Aggies.
Start posting about the Aggies »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

Connect_with_facebook

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

Iphone_017_small
Thoughts On What The Pro Day Means
Iphone_017_small
Thoughts After Reading The TM Article on Leach
Old_school_dome_logo_small
Video of Barrett Loux and other Aggie tidbits
Iphone_017_small
Ags Add OL Signee
Small
Ags Hire Three Coaches
Iphone_017_small
Ags Add Walkon Kicker
Iphone_017_small
No Decommits?
Iphone_017_small
Recruiting Note
Iphone_017_small
Still Waiting On DC Announcement
Iphone_017_small
Reaction From Tech Players

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

SBNation.com Recent Stories

Baylor coach Scott Drew celebrates a basket late in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas at the Big 12 tournament Thursday, March 11, 2010, in Kansas City, Mo. Baylor defeated Texas 86-67. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann) link

Baylor Pulls Away From Sam Houston State Late For 68-59 Win

Murray State guard Isaiah Canaan (3) dances in celebration as he's applauded by teammates (L-R) forward Danero Thomas (12), guard Jordan Burge,guard Picasso Simmons, guard Donte Poole (11), guard Jewuan Long, and guard B.J. Jenkins after their 62-51 victory over Morehead State in the NCAA college Ohio Valley Conference Basketball Championship game in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, March  6, 2010.  (AP Photo/Frederick Breedon) +1 updates

Welcome To March Madness: Murray State Nails Buzzer-Beater To Upset Vanderbilt

Villanova head coach Jay Wright instructs his team in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against West Virginia, Saturday, March 6, 2010, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Villanova Narrowly Avoids Massive Upset, Fights Back To Top Robert Morris In OT

More from SBNation.com >


Managers

651883037_small Beergut

Editors

Iphone_017_small miketag

2008_0913summer20080014_small wishiwasalonghorn

Banner_small MTAggie

Official Partner of CBS Sports