CoachHal.com

Bama's iron will on display in comeback
By Ivan Maisel
ESPN.com

AUBURN, Ala. -- Lord knows, Nick Saban tries. The Alabama coach never claimed to be a poet of the podium. When he speaks to the media, he edits as he goes, interrupting his own rhythm, thoughts doing to him what his defenses do to opposing quarterbacks.

The emotion that burst forth from the coach of the No. 2 Crimson Tide on Friday after the 26-21 comeback over Auburn hit some heartfelt notes, if not always in the right order.

"I've never probably been prouder of a football team than I am proud of our guys in this game," Saban said. "… The character we showed, and the adversity we showed, to overcome the adversity we overcame in the game, on the road, getting behind, I don't think you can say enough about the competitive character this team showed today, and that's what I'm most proud of."

But to his team? That's another story. Saban speaks with all the comfort of broken-in loafers. This is what he said to the Crimson Tide after the game:

"Only the strong survive," Saban said. "But the strong still get their ass whipped."

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We have said this for years, so we are glad the media has figured it out...Coach

Alabama's SEC opponents enjoy scheduling edge
By Chase Goodbread Sports Writer

TUSCALOOSA | University of Alabama Director of Athletics Mal Moore will advocate for adjustments to the Southeastern Conference’s 2010 football schedule in hopes of bringing relief to a UA schedule that includes six SEC opponents that will not play the week before facing the Crimson Tide, Moore told The Tuscaloosa News.

SEC teams vs. idle-rested opponents (2007-10)Alabama, 16
LSU, 5
Florida, 4
Tennessee, 4
Georgia, 4
Vanderbilt, 4
Auburn, 3
Kentucky, 2
Ole Miss, 1
Miss. State, 1
S. Carolina, 1
Arkansas, 0

A look at the teams each SEC school will face after idle weeks in 2010:
Team vs. after idle
Alabama LSU
Arkansas Texas A&M
Auburn Alabama
LSU Alabama
Miss. St. Alabama
Ole Miss Alabama
Florida Georgia
Georgia Ga. Tech
Kentucky Vanderbilt
S. Carolina Alabama
Tennessee Alabama
Vanderbilt UConn

Following the 2010 football season, UA will have played more than three times as many games against SEC opponents coming off an idle week than any other team in the league over a four-year period, research by The News revealed.

Auburn will be the third opponent this season to have an open date prior to facing Alabama. AU coach Gene Chizik minced no words about the value of his team being idle last weekend.

“It was big. I think that not just physically, as I have said even earlier in the week, I think mentally, just mentally for our guys just being able to walk away for a couple days and then come back and refocus,” Chizik said Tuesday.

“I just think that’s a big part of rejuvenating yourself. I think it came at a time when we needed it.”

A wide array of circumstances brought about the four-year discrepancy, preventing the finger of blame from being pointed in a single direction. Among them are schedule changes and the effects of the NCAA’s switch to a 12-game format in 2006. In addition, SEC schools hold a measure of control over their own idle dates, which for the Crimson Tide means that facing well-rested opponents may simply be part of the price of being the team other schools would most like to beat.

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By Paul Gattis -- The Huntsville Times
November 24, 2009, 11:43AM

By Friday night, will Auburn coach Gene Chizik be the conquering hero? If so, it'll take an exceptional performance.You study the SEC standings and you realize there are actually three divisions now.

For lack of creative names, we'll just dubbed them 1, 2 and 3.

1) Alabama, Florida

2) Vanderbilt, Mississippi State

3) Everybody else

What does this mean for Auburn in Friday's game against Alabama? Nothing good.

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Let's hope the jinx is not for real.

Fellow tailgaters,

This week it is Thanksgiving and the Iron Bowl. Lots of action. Before Coach makes his prediction, what should we all be thankful for football wise? Let’s get to it:

1. Alabama Thank Yous:

a. Mike Shula: Thank you for your efforts at Alabama. Coach loved the retro jersey and the waves/handshakes you gave us at the old Sheraton (now the Capstone).

b. Coach Shula again: Thanks for the recruits we all have seen become excellent players. It is a long list, but includes: Big Dre, Caldwell, Ro, Javy, Mike J, Rashad, etc.

c. John Parker Wilson: Thank you for keeping the crowd off of this year’s starter. Folks yelled and yelled for the back up QB last year, and now they have the back up QB…so they can’t criticize as much anymore.

d. Rolando: For being that force in the middle, the coach on the field, and a first team All-American. Good luck at the next level.

e. Mount Cody- For being the life of the party and one of the most popular players Coach has seen in a while.

f. Julio – For staying steady through injuries, and fighting triple teams and uncalled pass interferences. And thanks for wearing Coach’s favorite number. Juuullllliiiioooo.

g. Javy – Thoroughly entertaining player. Really going to miss him returning punts as he has been a mainstay since 2006. Remember when he would not ever take a fair catch?

h. Mark Ingram – Love your gracious attitude, your initial burst of speed, and your hard hitting style. Just glad we get to have you and Trent together one more year in the backfield.

i. Coach Nick Saban: Too much to say. You have improved Alabama as a program. You have willed the SEC and other teams to improve. You have made UA much better and also AU, UT, and MSU. You won two titles for LSU, and one was when you weren’t even coaching there. That is power.

2. Auburn Thank Yous for Nick Saban:

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Fellow tailgaters,

The next home tailgate is A-day 2010. Don’t fret. It is less than 5 months away. On to commentary after a great day and game against UTC:

1. As Coach has said many times, the Iron Bowl is not really enjoyable to attend or watch unless you are winning…let’s hope this year is enjoyable. Coach and Bobby will be on the 2nd row Friday next to the Million Dollar Band, so look for us on TV.

2. Amazing how positive communication helped our relationship with Gene Hallman’s Bruno Event Team. Nothing for Coach to bring but praise after this last week. Hallman’s folks across the street helped us get parked and directed traffic around our tailgate folks as we unloaded.

3. The next regular season game at Bryant Denny is against San Jose State and will probably be a night game. It will also be the debut of the new addition to the end zone, and the debut of a new satellite and tent for the tailgate. That will be a great day. Then Alabama plays Penn State the next week, with some combination of CBS, ESPN, and ESPN Game Day. We have Penn State folks that will be coming by, and they are one of our favorite teams and fan bases. Right up there with Oklahoma. Coach is definitely tailgating ahead…sorry DtM.

4. James Spann, and all the weather guys, were halfway right on Thursday, wrong on Friday, and then correct…when it was SATURDAY MORNING. Note to Coach: listen to John W. and Jerry Seinfeld. Open the door, look out, and just deal with it.

5. Perfect weather, great tailgate and a solid game. The post game tailgate was a thing of beauty and the essence of teamwork. Did you see everyone chipping in to clean up? One way we can keep our tailgate site is to keep it cleaned up and leave no trash behind. We did great with that this season.

6. Back to UA Game Day Operations and Gene Hallman. They reached out to Coach and we appreciate that. So Coach, what were the results?

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