Thoughts from the Chick

Just how much I love Nick Saban???

My fav parts of this post-game press conference are Saban’s use of the term “boo boo’s” when describing the special teams problems.  Ha!  I sooooooooo would not expect to hear that term from him.  Love it.

I love the champion’s characteristics - honor, courage and perseverence.

I love the response to the black jersey question.  Love it. 

And I also love that he’s a self-proclaimed “traditionalist.”  Tradition is what makes Alabama different from the other dominant teams in college football right now, and Saban seems to get that - appreciate that - and it seems to really fit with who he is as a person and as a coach. 

What I love most of all is that he has told our players that he believes that Alabama’s best football is somewhere ahead of us.  I can’t wait to see it…

I’m so glad that we beat the shit out of Mississippi State this weekend. 

That game was good.  Really, really good.

Especially after Tony Soprano, I mean Dan Mullen, was Mr. Cocky this week. 

Especially after their fans (from what my sources have told me) ran around on Saturday thinking that they were going to come in there and beat us that night.

Especially after their players were dancin’ around on ESPN actin’ like they were going to just run all over us.

Especially after some joker decided to sucker punch Mark Ingram.

After all that - I am really glad that we just beat the doo doo out of them.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.

It was good to see Greg McElroy have a good game and shake off whatever has been eatin’ at him.  (By the way - Greg - please don’t let what people say on Finebaum get to you.  You are smart enough to recognize that 99% of them are certified idiots.  Don’t worry about it.  Just do your thing, man.  Do your thing and make plays like you know you can.) 

It was great to see Julio make some big plays.  We love us some Julio, don’t we???

It was great to see Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson bounce off of defenders and run all over the State. 

Dre Kirkpatrick (#21 pictured above) made a great play on special teams, downing the ball on the MSU 2 yard line.

It was awesome to see our defense play the way they did.  Mark Barron put the business on the dogs and deserves big-time props.  Of course, The Man - Rolondo McClain, was stellar as usual.  Marquis Johnson had some great plays.  Marcel Dareus was his usual bad-ass self.

I loved it. 

So, anyone know anything about UT Chattanooga???  I guess I have some reesearch to do, huh? 

Or does Dan Mullen remind you a little of Tony Soprano??? 

Well, I’m glad he wasn’t a “killa” tonight, although his guys played dirty (excuse me, what were you thinking with that sucker punch on Mark Ingram?  Mr. MSU player, you should be ashamed of yourself.). 

Fuggedaboudit -

Sucker punch or not, the Tide Rolled tonight. 

Looks like I was nervous for nothin’ earlier this week and today…now got to wait to play UT Chatt next week, then Auburn, then Florida… Yikes!    Roll Tide!

Anyone who saw Anthony Dixon on the sidelines before the Kentucky game, knows that he means business.

And Dan Mullen has this State team playing with some confidence.  So much so that he’s said, “When we beat Alabama this weekend…” 

Alabama is coming off of a big win over LSU and needs to stay on track against Mississippi State this weekend to be able to accomplish the goals that the team set forth at the start of the season. 

Man people have said this week that State is a “trap game.”  Well, Coach Saban says he doesn’t know what a trap game is. 

Let’s hope that he’s right. 

For a look at the AL vs MSU gameday fact sheet - click here and you can also download a PDF of it.

“Drink some Milk!!!!” - an Alabama fan sitting behind me when the LSU “injuries” kept piling up  (and I’m not talkin’ about the serious injuries, I’m talking about the ones where the player was out for 1 play and then back on the field)

“Get a strength & conditioning coach!!!” - probably the same fan mentioned above 

“Meeting Cory Reamer was like meeting Bear Bryant or Jesus or something!” - an Alabama Puma

“I might be 5′ tall, but I was ready to kick his ass!” - another Alabama Puma ranting on an LSU fan who was not a nice loser after the game, and continued to state the point, “At least I don’t have to go to school here!”  Apparrently, while her husband wasn’t thrilled by the prospect of getting into a fight, another Bama fan “had her back!”

When asked by the Bama Puma, “We’re probably the oldest women who’ve asked to have their picture taken with you tonight.”  Cory Reamer replied, “Not by a long shot…”

And finally, the one that has really peaked my interest and is causing me some stress about this weekend’s game at State: “When we beat Alabama this weekend…” - Dan Mullen, Head Coach, Mississippi State University

November 7, 2009 - Tuscaloosa AL

After the Tide’s win over the LSU Bayou Bengal Tigers, #13 Cory Reamer, was attacked by a pack of 30′ish cougars while enjoying a post-game tailgate.

Afterwards, Reamer was heard saying - Man, those Bengal Tigers were tame compared to the coug’s that came after me post-game!

Click this link for a great article by Ivan Maisel on ESPN.com on THE MAN Rolondo McClain

Well, the bye week turned into the bye week and a half for me. 

After the heart-attack finish of the Tennessee game, I had to seriously re-evaluate my emotional investment into the Tide.  Because a grown woman crying in the stands at Bryant Denny 2 weekends ago, would not have been a pretty sight, and it almost happened.

But it didn’t! 

And after re-evaluating my investment over the past week and a half - I’ve decided that IT’S WORTH IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And I’m ready to do it all over again this Saturday.  Aren’t you????  Isn’t that what college football is all about???

So, here’s what I’m hearing -

I’m hearing that this is going to be a close game.  That it could go either way.  That LSU is hitting their stride.  That Charles Scott is a force - one of the best backs, if not THE best back, that Alabama has faced so far this year.  I’ve heard all about the receiving corps, led by senior Brandon LaFell.  I’ve also heard that LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson is ready for another shot at Julio Jones.  I’ve heard about Jordan Jefferson and his ability to scramble.  I’ve heard it all. 

And what I’m hearing makes me nervous about this game.  Anxiety is high for The Chick and it’s only Wednesday. 

But I have to say after watching Coach Saban’s press conference from this afternoon that he actually seemed happy!  I know, amazing, right?  And I honestly don’t know what to think about that, because I love the Nick Saban who yells at the press! 

I couldn’t get the video to embed - so click here if you want to see the press conference.

And I know it’s wishful thinking, but maybe Coach’s comments toward the end of the clip will shut Paul Finebaum up!