2009 Schedule per Tide Pride

[Stephen323]

Sept. 5 Virginia Tech* Atlanta
Sept. 12 Florida International Tuscaloosa
Sept. 19 North Texas Tuscaloosa
Sept. 26 Arkansas Tuscaloosa
Oct. 3 Kentucky Lexington
Oct. 10 Ole Miss Oxford
Oct. 17 South Carolina Tuscaloosa
Oct. 24 Tennessee Tuscaloosa
Oct. 31 Open
Nov. 7 LSU Tuscaloosa
Nov. 14 Miss. State Starkville
Nov. 21 Tennessee-Chattanooga Tuscaloosa
Nov. 28 Auburn Auburn

*Contract not finalized

 

[BamaMoon]

I know we are going to lose some studs to graduation and AS to the pros, but that schedule sets up very nice for another run next year. Get by VaTech early and the tougher games are at home with the exception of Ole Miss and Auburn. :BigA:

 

[Bama4Ever831]

Playing Ole Miss in Oxford will be a great game.

 

[JCase]

just one open date?

 

[BigEasyTider]

just one open date?

I think every SEC team only gets one open date next season.

Only thirteen weekends of football, and you must play twelve games, hence only one off week.

 

[Stephen323]

just one open date?

That is the norm. There are usually 13 weeks from Labor Day through Thanksgiving weekend, so a 12 game schedule leaves 1 open date. This year was an exception, with 14 weeks in the season.

 

[Alakablamo]

just one open date?

Labor Day 2008 - September 1st
Labor Day 2009 - September 7th

Season will start later than it did for us this year.

 

[bamapuppy]

Forgot to put the SEC Championship game in Atlanta..lol..lol..lol

 

[rolltidescott]

Ths does appear to be a very 'winable' schedule. Va Tech (with a green QB) could be tough, but it should help our QB mature early (if it doesn't traumatize him.)

 

[BamaBoy3684]

Depending on how well the line comes along, we could win out again.

 

[GA_Tide]

My biggest concern next year is the OL. I think this schedule is great. Assuming we can get past VT, we should have a few weeks to let the OL gel before being tested.

 

[CrimsonSnake]

Ths does appear to be a very 'winable' schedule. Va Tech (with a green QB) could be tough, but it should help our QB mature early (if it doesn't traumatize him.)

Personally I'd be more worried about VT's special teams. Beamer likes the blocked punts. Anyone remember the Music City Bowl debacle? (I was there freezing to death watching that crap.)

 

[Alasippi]

Guys......Gals....that schedule looks runnable to me...

 

[GreatDanish]

Boy, you know the SEC is changing when the scariest game on the schedule is in Oxford.

 

[JagTider]

Boy, you know the SEC is changing when the scariest game on the schedule is in Oxford.

Funny, but true! lol

 

[BigEasyTider]

Personally I'd be more worried about VT's special teams. Beamer likes the blocked punts. Anyone remember the Music City Bowl debacle? (I was there freezing to death watching that crap.)

I'm not sure that is a major concern. I know Beamer gets a ton of love from the talking heads for the vaunted "Beamer Ball," but the VT special teams were terrible this year.

They were 105 in the nation in punt return defense, 27th in kick return defense, 55th in punt returns, 67th in kick-off returns, and 90th in net punting. Moreover, it was a special teams failure (i.e. a blocked punt), that cost them a game against East Carolina.

The only strong point to the VT special teams this year was their placekicker, Dustin Keys. He had a good year, and performed well, but he is a senior and will not return in 2009.

Beyond that, we should have a pretty good special teams unit in our own right in 2009. We struggled there somewhat in 2008, and as a result I imagine it will be a major point of emphasis with the coaching staff going forward, and all of our key players (Arenas, Tiffin, and Fitzgerald) return. I imagine that Saban and company get the special teams units playing pretty well again next season, so that shouldn't be a problem.

However, as mentioned earlier, a green quarterback at a neutral site, going against an aggressive defense, that may be another story...

 

[dave12]

Schedule looks promising, But playing N. Texas, and Chatt. is a little lame. We'll get no props for that.

RTR:BigA:

 

[uafan4life]

Schedule looks promising, But playing N. Texas, and Chatt. is a little lame. We'll get no props for that.

RTR:BigA:

Win them all and we'll be Top 5. Then win the SECCG and we'll be top 2.

It's going to be a while before you see another undefeated SEC Champion not get to the NC game.

Heck, it may be a while before you see a 1-loss SEC Champion not get to the NC game.

 

[BigEasyTider]

Schedule looks promising, But playing N. Texas, and Chatt. is a little lame. We'll get no props for that.

RTR:BigA:

Oh well, we didn't get credit for Tulane and Western Kentucky either, but that worked out okay.

At the end of the day, it really doesn't matter. One way or the other, we're going to be judged on how well we came out against Virginia Tech and the eight conference opponents. As always, that is what will tell the tale, and that is what our ultimate ranking and positioning will be based on.

And besides, nine other SEC schools have Division 1-AA opponents, and of the two that don't (LSU and Tennessee), the former still probably has the easiest non-conference schedule in the conference, and the latter has Western Kentucky, who will have their first year in 1-A in 2009. It's not like we are the only ones...

 

[bamacon]

Boy, you know the SEC is changing when the scariest game on the schedule is in Oxford.

I'm not sure they will be as good with their coach going to Auburn and all