Armchair Talking Head

In 48 hours, the Tide will begin their 2008 campaign under the Dome in Atlanta.  Before we can talk about where the Tide will go in the second year under the “Nicktator,” we must take a look back at where we’ve been.

In the first year under Nick Saban, the story was “close, but no cigar.”  Every game in the first half of the season seemed to be a nail-biter, minus the Vandy game which wasn’t exactly a blowout either.  The first leg ofthe 2007 season featured a 3 point win over Arkansas, an OT loss to UGA, a touchdown loss to FSU, a near tragic 6 point win over Houston, and a 3 point scare at Ole Miss.  The turning point came against Tennessee.  Everything clicked for the Tide, and everything bombed for the Vols in a 41-17 Alabama win.  When everything was setting up for a late season run off the momentum of the Tennessee win, the house of cards came tumbling down.

A potential monumental upset fell by the wayside against LSU with a 1 touchdown loss.  The wind was completely let out of the Tide’s sail after a demoralizing loss in Starkville, followed by the LA Monroe debacle.  In the Iron Bowl, redemption was almost had, but slipped away by 7.  Even the Weed Wacker Bowl was a close one, with the Tide overcoming Colorado 30-24.

It was a roller coaster that I only survived thanks to Captain Morgan, and Jim Beam.  The old ABC theme, “The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat” never met a more appropos team.  The close wins were uplifting, the blowout was exhilarating, and the near losses, especially to State and LA Monroe were down right demoralizing.

If the 2008 campaign is to be more successful, the close losses have to go away.  To get where the program needs to be, we can’t lose any more games to cupcakes like LA Monroe, and the annual match up with Starkville Feed/Seed/Lawn Mower Repair and Junior College must be a guaranteed win.  When that happens, then we can talk about having enough in the tank to hold on against the likes of LSU, UGA, and Auburn in the 4th Quarter.

The “process” is well documented, and that’s just what this Saban experiment is; a process.  I think the “easy” games will come with relative ease.  Perhaps contending for an SEC West title is a year down the road, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel sweet Bammers, there’s light at the end of the long, dark, vile tunnel that stretches from DuBose to Fran; from Price to Shula.  The end of the long Bammer Nation nightmare is nigh.  A loss in the game Saturday with Clemson will be an understandable casualty of the “process” to achieve that end. A win in the Georgia Dome, however,  has the very real potential to set that end into motion at a breakneck pace.

It’s football season baby.  Despite the copious amounts of academic BS I’m doing right now, not even my law profs can take my joy away.

RTR.