Posted on 12/01/2016 1:35:52 PM PST by blam
Bill Connelly
December 1, 2016
This might be Nick Saban’s best team ever. But some of college football’s best teams ever have dropped games before.
Is it possible for an Alabama team to be underrated? Have we just gotten bored with talking about Nick Saban's Tide?
Most of the talk regarding college football's Championship Weekend has centered around the fun matchups in Penn State-Wisconsin, whether Colorado or Virginia Tech has a shot at an upset, or what the Playoff committee might do about Michigan.
But we haven't had much to say about Bama, defending national champion and winner of four of the last seven titles. The Crimson Tide are heavy favorites to roll against Florida to their third consecutive conference title. And they would be significant favorites against whoever they might play in the semifinals of the CFP.(College Football Playoffs)
What else is there to say? Bama has recruited and developed players better than any team in the sport, and the Tide are on a magnificent run because of it.
But that doesn't go far enough.
This isn't just a good Bama team. This might be the best Bama team. This might be the best team, period, since World War II.
(snip)
(Excerpt) Read more at sbnation.com ...
Lyricist Donald Fagen has denied the claim in at least two interviews that I know of, one The Wall Street Journal, the other Rolling Stone.
In Rolling Stone, he said this: [I was talking to Walter and he said] 'You mean it's like, 'They call these cracker a--holes this grandiose name like the Crimson Tide, and I'm this loser, so they call me this other grandiose name, Deacon Blues?' and I said 'Yeah!' He said, 'Cool, let's finish it.'"
We must agree to disagree. I think they have played nobodies in what (this year) is a weak conference. We’ll play the games and find out.
The Browns would probably open as a 10 point underdog, and I doubt they could cover that.
Unfortunately, it’s not true. The Deacon was inspired by Deacon Jones and not by Wake Forest, according to Donald Fagen.
Well since you asked, per ESPN:
USC - 20
Ole Miss - 19
Arkansas - 16
Tennessee - 9
Texas A & M - 6
LSU - 13
Auburn - 13
So 5 top 20 teams and 2 top 10 teams
And they still have to face #15 Florida.
Looks like you’re from Ohio...so how many ranked teams did Ohio State play?
Oklahoma - 14
Wisconsin - 8
Nebraska - 10
Michigan - 3
So 1 top 20 team, 2 top 10 teams, and 1 top 5 team...and no more teams to play before the playoff.
I think you're undermining your argument there...
Best response yet.
Art is not linear. It is not logical. It is mysterious. :)
I’d happily take Wisconsin and 17 1/2
I agree they are beatable. I don’t think Michigan is a team that would do it. Not enough offense.
Agree Clemson would have the best shot. I have doubts whether they ‘ll beat VT though.
I agree that the passing game (especially long passes) has not been great...and it has concerned me all year. Compounding that (and I can’t believe more people don’t point this out) ‘Bama doesn’t have an Eddie Lacey or Trent Richardson type this year, who can run the ball on a dozen consecutive plays.
I was pleased to see Hurts through a few balls over the defense against Auburn...and I think he has a lot of potential to get better.
Looking at the here and now (Florida), I watch some of their game against Florida State - and they can’t contain the edges on runs. So I look for ‘Bama to not put Hurts in a situation where he might throw another interception. Read options to run, jet sweeps, and shovel passes to the speedsters - A lot like the Mississippi State game.
It wouldn’t be the first time I’d root for the team playing OSU!
Penn State was ranked 8th when they beat Ohio State.
"The song was largely written at Fagen's house in Malibu and was prompted by his observation that "... if a college football team like the University of Alabama could have a grandiose name like the "Crimson Tide" the nerds and losers should be entitled to a grandiose name as well." [1] The song's protagonist has been described by Fagen as "autobiographical in that it reflected the dreams of both Fagen and Becker about becoming jazz musicians while they were living in the suburbs". Characterized as a "loser" by Fagen, the song's subject was meant to reflect "... a broken dream of a broken man living a broken life".[1]
The name "Deacon" was influenced by Deacon Jones, a professional football player who played for the NFL's Los Angeles Rams.[1]
Now.... Go to 3:59 on this version of Deacon Blues and you'll read about the Wake Forrest Deamon Deacons football team and their 1-10 record, etc.
Here, I'll do your research for you:
Tennessee was ranked 9th when Bama beat them 48-10;
Texas A&M was ranked 6th when Bama beat them 33-14;
Auburn was ranked 13 when Bama beat them 30-12;
USC was ranked 20th and picked tto win the PAC-12 when Bama blew them out, 52-6;
Arkansas was ranked 16 when Bama beat them 49-30
By comparison, Ohio State, for example, lost to unranked Penn State, while barely squeaking by Wisconsin and Michigan in OT
Not SUPER special like the defense, but pretty special. There aren't many O-lines out there as good as Bama. And I think we may finally have a modern quarterback. True Freshman Hurts may be the first Bama quarterback to play on Sunday. Note I said PLAY, as in start - not wear headphones. Scarborough is also a force to contend with.
I’ve been to just one Steely Dan concert. It was wonderful.
That’s fine, and means nothing. A youtube poster continues to propagate an urban legend that the songwriter himself has denied.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.