Crimson Red Sports

Whew, it's bad enough when you lose but when it's 1:30 in the morning before you get home from the game and you only live 10 miles from the stadium, you know it's been a bad night.

Where do you start when you want to write/talk about what were the reason(s) for the bad loss to Ole Miss last night? I know that everyone that watched or listened to the game has a list about the size of a grocery shopping list of the reason(s) that possibly/probably knocked Bama out of any championship consideration this football season. With Bama's tough schedule, you would have to think though that this one loss shouldn't keep them out of any consideration but the media world isn't in love with the team as the Bama fans are and only time will have the answer to Bama's fate. There are many games to play yet in this season and I'm sure there will be more of the things happen that happened to Bama last night.

Now, where do we start? I saw a team last night that seemed to waiver on the line of being a decent team and one that was very average. Mistakes, and it doesn't take many, can make any team look very average or below average. Also, there is the ole horseshoe adage as well, having some good luck.

I'll start with the mistakes reason. This game started with a serious mistake and it ended with mistakes. You can't give a good team any kind of an advantage and expect to win and Bama started the game giving Ole Miss a golden opportunity and Ole Miss took full advantage of it. The game ended pretty much like it started with Bama, down by less than a touchdown, having control of the ball with enough time on the clock to win the game but again a big mistake ended that drive and the game.

Now let's talk about the luck factor. Say what you want about luck but I thought there were two lucky plays in the game that ended up costing Bama the game. The first play was an Ole Miss pass that was no more than a Hail Mary pass caused by a Bama tackler that ended up in the hands of an Ole Miss receiver and was somehow knocked loose from the receiver by a Bama defenders helmet into another Ole Miss players hand and he raced untouched for a touchdown. The other lucky play was near the end of the game when Ole Miss threw a pass for a touchdown that seemed to show the QB was over the line of scrimmage when the pass was thrown. I must say that I had seen a play just like this one earlier in the day in the Auburn and LSU game. In that game, the QB was past the line of scrimmage except for his back foot and the rule states that the whole body has to be past the line of scrimmage and his foot was not. When they showed the replay of the Ole Miss QB and his back foot was on the line of scrimmage I knew then that it would be ruled a touchdown which to me sealed the victory for Ole Miss. I always thought that if the ball was past the line of scrimmage when thrown it was illegal but I learned something yesterday, it's not.

There were many, many more reasons why Bama lost the game but I tried to find the "nail in the coffin lid" type situations that I felt happened when Bama still had a good shot at winning the game. A true championship caliber team will overcome adversity and find ways to win the close games and now Bama is faced with that very situation. The big question is can this team grow from this experience and become a championship caliber team or will they regress and falter to the tough schedule ahead of them. I saw nothing to give me a good feeling about the teams future for the rest of this season as there were so many mistakes in every facet of the teams performance last night, something that is very unusual for a Nick Saban team. I'm not abandoning the ship by no means but just stating that this team's play needs a lot of heavy duty improvement to survive the difficulty of what's ahead for them. Can they do it, sure but it's going to take more than just coaching, it's going to take some players playing up to what they are capable of playing and that's not just happening right now.

I'll be there next Saturday rooting them on as though they were still undefeated, I'm not a quitter and I hope the players feel the same way. "Mother Luck" will surely need to find her way to help our team in the games ahead because we are going to need some. RTR!!!

I don't have much to add.  That was the worst game I've seen Bama play in a long time, combined with some awful bad luck.  Still, they only lost by 6 to a very good team.  I don't know if that's an encouraging sign or not.

Last year, after the loss to Ole Miss and horrible performance against Arkansas the next week I don't think anyone thought Bama would be in the playoff.  But then they found an identity against A&M and never slowed down until the 2nd half of the OSU game.

There's a long season still ahead, but unfortunately there is no more margin for error.  Bama must win every game the rest of the way to stay in championship contention.  We'll find out if this team has it in them or not.

The QB had part of his body behind the line, but an offensive lineman was 5 yds downfield on the play. So much for the refs paying closer attention to those plays.

I agree and it was the same way in the LSU/Auburn game as well, linemen downfield and not called. I thought the infamous added ref was going to take care of that problem. :wall:

There was a proposal to limit linemen to one yard down field, because allegedly it's too challenging for refs to distinguish linemen down field at the three yard mark, but it hasn't been approved yet.

Bama lost the game because (1) lucky bounces and (2) five turnovers.  It was nice to see the team fight back.  I hope they learn from this game.

Is there a Lane Kiffin jinx?  

I've seen brilliant play calling, but then last night had me scratching my head, what were we doing early in the game. There was an element of Bama not being Bama, especially  on offense.  Sometimes for a big game coaches overthink it, change what they do to attack a perceived weakness on the other team.  (Ironically, Hugh Freeze spoke about this pregame in response to a preparation question, how he had done it in the past for some big games but learned his lesson and wasn't changing who Ole Miss is for Bama.)  Bama may have done that on offense v. Ole Miss.  I wasn't sure why insert Bateman for his first start on such a big game, why try so many toss sweeps (especially around the end zone), why insert a zone read option (but then never use it for a QB run), why not just keep doing those things that had been successful....   Once Ole Miss built a lead Bama was strictly in the 2 minute offense for the rest of the game, which would have happened regardless.

The rule was actually approved by the committee but the NCAA decided against the rule and overruled that and added an extra ref instead. CNS rolled his eyes when told us of this.

Lots and lots of reasons for the loss.  But a -5 turnover margin will kill most any team.

Good post Jamos.  Think  you said it all.

If there's one point where I slightly differ, it's on coaching.  After MTSU, I thought our team did not look well coached.  Last night = more of same.  True, some of this is on the players, but all of it???  Wayyy too sloppy a performance.

To me, one of the biggest differences was QB play.  Can't say the OM QB had a teriffic night, but our QBs at times looked they were in a neighborhood sandlot game.  Almost making it up as they went along.  I'm sure this was not the case but both Cooper & Jake looked lost too much of the time.

I don't know where Blake B is in his development.  But if we're going to suffer through an off year, then my vote (as if I had one!) is to go with Barnett and let him learn/develop.  Then we'll have an established QB going into next year.

They didn't just bounce back. They played with intensity and determination the whole game. Long after me a 50K others left because midnight was approaching and we couldn't take it emotionally, they fought and fought and fought, just like it says in the song. I thought they showed tremendous character. Moving into the future I wouldn't trade that  tenacity for the turn-overs. Obviously, the turnovers have to be fixed, of course, but that's easier than re-adjusting the mindset of a whole team.

Aha, thanks for the clarification. 

Extra ref?  How's that working?   :eyeroll:

I wouldnt mind seeing the NCAA add a rule to help the referee's be better able to see when a lineman is down field. They could be required to wear slightly different color, or shade of jersey. Seems like that would help them to stand out when a team is passing so that extra reference could easier do what he is there for...

In pee wee football the players that have numbers not normally associated with being an offensive lineman are required to wear a " penny" jersey over their regular jersey whey on offense.

I am going to pull for Bama just like the days when we were lucky if we won 3 games a year. They are the only team I ever pulled for in sports and always will be. I just don't understand, if w have won the recruiting battle 3 or 4 years in a row those 5*'s should be 3 or 4 years into college ball.
Are we being out coached or what is going on? I just have to admit I am totally confused and I can't find a blind squirrel in this situation.
Yes I have read all the dynasty is over which i don't think we had one did we? Miami had one one time but it was like 4 or 5 years of winning to find out they cheated, so. Now back to my question we see people like Georgia and LSU put together wins that should not be and they don't have the talent we have so, I don't know. I did however, see CNS cussin with some mouth words that I know is not going to win games it might just put a downer on the kids. Shoot, I was so confused I actually can not think of who we play next week, rofl. God Bless Bama. RTR!

My take on the QB rule for being over the line of scrimmage is that they should change that rule to make it more consistent with all of the other football rules.  The rule should be if the ball breaks the plane of the line of scrimmage before it leaves the QB's hand.  That is much easier to judge in live action by both the refs and the defensive players.  You know, the DB does not have the benefit of watching a replay to see if the QB is past the line of scrimmage or not.  And now that we know the rule is that he actually can be past the line of scrimmage when he throws so long as he has one sliver of a shoe string on the line of scrimmage I have no idea how a defense is supposed to stop that play.  If you stay back on the receiver you are essentially conceding at least a 5 yard run by the QB.

Ouch!  Expect more of this, folks.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2015/09/20/nick-saban-lost-his-invisible-juice-two-seasons-ago/

I just don't understand the call of the QB not considered across the line of scrimmage on the touchdown that beat us. If a player puts any part of his body across the line of scrimmage on the snap of the ball is he not considered across the line of scrimmage and off sides. Well what is the difference when they are running the ball and cross that same plane, is it not the same principle when any part of the body has crossed that plane. To me this is one more of the NCAA rules that has an unnecessary twist to it that only complicates the game even more than it is.

Hey OT I couldn't get the link to open. RTR!

Sorry, Preacher. I just opened it above on your message. Give your computer a kick or two.  The article says Saban has lost his touch since our last lost to Auburn.

I'm with you on this one j.  I saw the same rule applied in the Barn game and thought that was nuts too.  Very inconsistent between the rules.  A lineman puts his nose in the neutral zone and it's a penalty.  But the QB only has his dangling foot behind the line and it's OK????  Crazy.

I'm guessing (hoping) this gets addressed in the off season.

I wonder if this could light a fire back in the team now. If the Forbes are getting in on Alabama football. RTR!

Wow, Old Tider I went to the Forbes site and found it. They think CNS lost his juice when Davis run the auburn field goal miss back to win the game. How in the world does this make sense? But, as you said you will see more of this, well if we are not winning NC games then the whole world is disappointed. Everybody expects us to win them, well I have to admit I like to win them also. I know we are going to lose games we are not perfect, I don't think anybody in the SEc is although I may be mistaken. Our SR. Pastor this morning was preaching and talking about CNS using the GD word on TV. This will not condone but I didn't see it so I can't argue. RTR!

I hope we never play another 8:15 game. Jamos got home early compared to me. It was 2:15 when I got to Homewood to drop my daughter off at her apartment. It was so late I crashed on her sofa until about 7:30 this morning and finally made it back to Decatur about 9:30 this morning.

It was HOT. It was terrible walking around the Quad and tailgating all day with temperatures in the 90's.  The temperature was not bad at kickoff but it was very humid and no breeze at all. It seemed worst to me than an afternoon game with temps in the 90's.

Give Ole Miss a little credit for the win. They are a solid football team in all three phases of the game. Still they should not have beat us. The only way they could beat us was if they get a few breaks and we turn the ball over. We all know what happened.

We won most of the stat lines except the important turnover stat. We turned it over 5 times to Ole Miss 0. I think they got 24 points off of our mistakes. There were positives in the game. We had 29 1st downs to their 16. Ole Miss only converted 4-14 3rd downs for 29%. We converted 55%. We had 503 total yards to their 433 with 143 of their yards coming on freak plays. We only punted 2 times. Ole Miss had the ball 24:34 minutes to our 35:26.

We should all remember that the season is not over. We lost to Ole Miss last year and still won the SEC and made it to the 4 team playoff. If we learn from this lost and clean up our mistakes we can do it again this year. There is no quit in this team. There were times last night when Ole Miss had all the momentum and a big lead but we found back almost put this game, when nothing went right for us, in the win column. There is not a team on our schedule that is looking forward to playing us.

I have been seeing, other places, about the fall of the Bama dynasty.  This could be further from the truth.  Bama gave a game away.  It will be up to the coaches and players to decide if they want it enough.  LSU will beat OM and it should come down to the Bama/LSU game to determine the West Champion.

100% agree.


I do not think Coach Bryant would be happy with a former ut head coach at BAMA.


I have always thought he was average at best.


That is exactly what occurred last night.  Bateman is proof.


This is what makes no sense.

(https://images.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia-cache-ec0.pinimg.com%2F736x%2F55%2Fe5%2F6b%2F55e56ba61f5b8a05f758f914300fb468.jpg&f=1)

We are going to need more help than just LSU beating OM.  OM has to lose 2 conference games for us to get back to Atlanta...

                                                    (http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NDcxWDQ3MQ==/$(KGrHqYOKiYE6MvLd2FEBOkbf9dkH!~~60_35.JPG)

Nice theory that would have worked if we were still undefeated.  We DO NOT control our own destiny now and just winning all of our games from here on is not enough.

I saw it.  It happened when the ball bounced off the DB's head and they scored the TD.

We can only control our schedule. If we win out good things will come to this team regardless of what Ole Miss does the rest of the season. If Ole Miss wins the SEC undefeated or with 1 loss they will make the playoff. We can clean up our mistakes and go undefeated the rest of the way there is a good change we will also make the playoff. Worst case at 11-1 for Alabama we miss the playoff and go to a major bowl. I can live with going 12-1 and our only loss to a playoff team early in the season.

Just win baby!

This rule has been in existence for some time, and I noticed its application a few years ago is a non-SEC game.  But you are right, it makes no sense.  It does not allow the defense to stop the quarterback run until he is completely across the line.  Given OL being downfield (and not being called) and the QB being allowed to mostly cross the line of scrimmage before passing, it puts the D in bind and gives too much advantage to today's offensive schemes with QB options to run or pass.

I think if Ole Miss, Bama, & LSU all have only one loss then Bama takes the West.

Tiebreaker is highest ranked?  Should be Bama with its tough schedule if all have one loss.  I think that might be a big if --have to continue rooting for LSU until they play Bama.

I haven't thought of this scenario.  I was thinking the tie went to the team that hasn't been to the championship game in the longest amount of time, which obviously rules out Bama.  If it is highest ranked then that is awesome.

I hate to say this but I am rooting for MSU, LSU, and TA&M to take out OM. Then if we win out we should be where we need to be. I do think the GA and LSU games are going to be the hardest test we will have all year. RTR!

As in:

ole piss beat BAMA
lswho beats ole piss
BAMA beats lswho

Who is then SECW Champ?

Head-to-head is first tie-breaker, correct?

Then margin of victory would be the decider?

The tie breaker for 3 way ties is in the quote below. It is way too early to be trying to figure out who comes out as the West representative in case of a 3 way tie.


http://www.secsports.com/article/11145479/sec-divisional-tie-breaker

That has changed quite a bit since the last time I looked at it.  That is way too complicated to try to decipher.  I'm sure CNS will let us know if we make it.  :lol2:

I really like everyone's idea of Bama winning out the rest of the season but I'm not so sure just how it's going to play out for the conference by the end of the season. There's a lot of parity in the conference now and it's possible the SEC champ might have 2 loses. Would the SEC even have a team in the playoffs?

If most of the other teams have one loss, it opens the door. There might be 2 undefeated teams at the end of the year. All the other conferences are so weak the SEC would be the prime choice.



 :D

The only undefeated teams or team rather at the end of the year I can see is ohio state or michigan state. I will say this if OM goes through the SEC undefeated they will be in the playoff and win the playoff and I will be pulling for them to win the NC game. RTR!

Margin of victory solves it the first time.

Unless, everyone loses by the same amount. Highly unlikely.

The fact that it is a 3-way tie seems to make A - C irrelevant.

E and D should swap places.

Coin flip.  Really?

So;
1) Margin of victory
2) Margin of victory against common divisional rivals
3) Margin of victory against all common non divisional teams
4) Horseshoes

I hope the SEC is visiting this site.

Hey RTR good to see ya back in discussion. Hey everybody that is anybody comes here to get the truth in my belief. So, yes I would say some of the SEC people probably slip in here under disguise to see what is honestly and really reported or said about what is going on in the SEC. JMHO. RTR!

I think a two-loss SEC champ goes to the playoff as long as both losses are to SEC opponents. Just can't see SEC being left out given that the SEC is generally regarded as the best conference and Championship record over the past 10 years.