Big game against Georgia but Kentucky may be bigger!

[wastedmason]

I am not looking ahead of Georgia by no means, but I have to wonder, how this team will react after a big win or tough loss this weekend. I have no doubt that the guys have put the Arkansas game behind them with the mighty Bulldogs looming. I think they will be sky high.

That may be the hardest part for the coaches this week keeping them from getting too high. They need to be focused and well prepared as I believe they will be, but need not put everything into this one game mentally. Its going to take their best game of the season to win and even that may not be enough. But in the big picture this is only one game of a 12 game regular season.

The past few years, after we have won or lost a big emotional game against the big boys our team has had a letdown. Even this team did after the Clemson game, but last season after LSU, well you know what I am talking about.

I hope the coaches can keep the players grounded and help them understand that they have to get better each week as coach Saban has been trying to tell them. "You don't have to be sick to get better!" But these are young guys, and you know our past. Thats why I think while this game is big the Kentucky game could be bigger as far as the success of our season. I also think it will be a big test as to how far we really are into the process.

If we come away from the Georgia game, win or lose, and take care of business against Kentucky then we will be ahead of schedule as many on here and around the country think we are in the process of being. If we have a letdown and play bad, then it will probably mean that we still have further to go than we all hoped.

Of course we won't know anything until after this game, but if I was the coaches I would start this week in practice preaching that this game is just game number 5 on the season and nothing more. They need to keep working on bettering themselves and not working themselves up into an emotional frenzy about playing the preseason #1 and current #3 team in the nation. They don't need to go into game 6 of the season overconfident or devastated.

I guess I have just grown a little weary of these big hyped games over the past few years. Its going to be a test no doubt! About time we make an"A"!

 

[Bama Lee]

When you coach kids, you have to treat each weeks game as the only one on which to focus. The kids pick up on the emotions of both the coaches and to a lesser degree the fans. Quiet confidence is best. While treating the biggest and the smallest games with the same determination to simply take care of business.

 

[CrimsonCT]

Never thought I'd see the word "Kentucky" on here until Sunday...

 

[bamachile]

We talked before the season about the possibility of UK as a trap game, and it's a valid discussion--next week.

For now, I hope that the staff can get the D to wrap up tackles and get our passing game clicking for the O. If the players come out of this week's practice with good discipline, solid fundamentals, and a bit of a nasty mean streak we'll be fine. That sort of thing carries through week to week regardless of the opponent--which for this week, of course, is UGA.

 

[bamar]

this is true of every game here on out. we are in the meat of the sec schedule, and each game is so critical. i have no doubt, with the infusion of talented youth, saban now has the threat of more substitutions than last year. i think also, our young men know first hand what you have pointed out thus far. surely, they now realize there is no easy game, when you want to be a contender.

 

[dayhiker]

I think people forget that just because the players can't look ahead for performance reasons, that as fans, we can talk about anything we want. Me thinking about Kentucky has zero effect on anything. Yes, it's going to be big. I think on the schedule people expected UGA to be a L and Kentucky a W. Now UGA is looking like we have a decent chance and will UK be forgotten about. Could it be like the year that LSU beat us 2x. 05 I think it was. We were so emotionally and physically beaten up that we laid an egg in the Iron Bowl. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

 

[bayoutider]

I would rather take a loss to UK or even OM than Georgia, LSU or Auburn this year. I want to win them all, just saying.

 

[TDBama78]

win or loss after georgia, i think you'll find out for sure if Sabans buy in ,sell out or get gone statement to the team has taken root.either way the the sleep walkers on sat. are being delt with one way or another. i think the ky game ,just like tulane, is just another chance for Saban to zero in on more sleepwalkers on sat.

 

[wastedmason]

I would rather take a loss to UK or even OM than Georgia, LSU or Auburn this year. I want to win them all, just saying.

I understand that! But I think a loss to Kentucky after a big win over Georgia would prove we are not ready for the big time. A loss to Georgia followed by a win over Kentucky would just show that we are getting there and making progress. We are not "supposed" to beat Georgia but on the other hand we will be favored big to beat Kentucky. The perception that we can play great one game and sorry the next, which has been evident the past few years will continue. For us to progress in the "process" we need consistency. It would look worse to me to beat Georgia then lose to Kentucky than the other way around, thus the Kentucky game may be a bigger game. Either way I want to win them all. Especially Tennessee and Auburn!!!:mad2: I would take those 2 wins and call it a day. The "process" could wait another year, lol!!!

A big part of coach Sabans process though is knowing how to handle a big win or a tough loss and putting them in perspective relative to the teams goals and season as a whole. We can lose to Georgia and take care of business the rest of the way out and be right where we want to be at the end.

 

[uaintn]

I actually like this thread. It's only Tuesday and I'm tired of hearing about UGA. I agree that KY will be a milestone for how well the process is working and whether players are buying in. One good thing is that the week after KY is open so there's no one to look past KY to. KY's schedule has fallen out really strange. Alabama on October 4 is the first team where they should be the underdog. Win or lose at UGA, it will be very interesting to see how Alabama prepares for and plays against KY. Here's hoping for replays of the Arkansas game both times.

 

[rolltidescott]

The only game we can win this week is against Georgia. Let's win that one - then I'll worry about Kentucky. :biggrin:

(But I understand what you're saying, wastedm.)

 

[wastedmason]

The only game we can win this week is against Georgia. Let's win that one - then I'll worry about Kentucky. :biggrin:

(But I understand what you're saying, wastedm.)

You are absolutely right about this being the only game we can win this week. But I think the coaches know that there is more to learn this week than just winning Saturday night.

Win or lose Saturday night, how we react following such a big game will most likely define this season from here on out. For the most part it did last season. We lost to Florida State after our loss to Georgia last year and eventually tanked the season after another biggest game of the year against LSU. The Tulane game was another flash back from our past seasons as well.

Our guys will have no problems getting up for this week. But how will they respond the next week, win or lose? Thats what I am anxious to see.

 

[Alanbama27]

Had Coach Saban not had such recent history to point to (our beating Clemson and then playing poorly against Tulane) I would agree with you. However, this year and this team seems to have completely bought Coach Saban's process of ONE GAME AT A TIME and 24 hours to celebrate or dwell on the loss and then it's back to work!

I'm not suggesting anything by this, but don't forget that Coach Saban took over LSU after going 3-8 and won the SEC in year 2 and the MNC in year 4! This man, KNOWS what he's doing and I completely trust that he'll have them ready for UK regardless of the outcome of this game! Actually, should we lose this game I will feel sorry for Kentucky because we're likely to kill a few of them! This team takes everything personally and they DO NOT WANT TO LOSE!

 

[wastedmason]

Had Coach Saban not had such recent history to point to (our beating Clemson and then playing poorly against Tulane) I would agree with you. However, this year and this team seems to have completely bought Coach Saban's process of ONE GAME AT A TIME and 24 hours to celebrate or dwell on the loss and then it's back to work!

I'm not suggesting anything by this, but don't forget that Coach Saban took over LSU after going 3-8 and won the SEC in year 2 and the MNC in year 4! This man, KNOWS what he's doing and I completely trust that he'll have them ready for UK regardless of the outcome of this game! Actually, should we lose this game I will feel sorry for Kentucky because we're likely to kill a few of them! This team takes everything personally and they DO NOT WANT TO LOSE!

I sure am hoping you are right. While the excitement of this game is running at a fever pitch and I am right there with everyone, I sure hope we continue improving regardless the outcome. No doubt we will eventually but it would sure be nice if we see positive improvement and results in the Kentucky game. That to me would show maturity, and that would be no easy feat considering the youth of this team. But we do have the Master!!!! He will make these Grasshoppers understand!!!!

 

[RollTide12]

I feel that way also.
Kentucky will have 3 weeks to prepare for Bama. They were off last week and play Western Kentucky this week. So you know they have been practicing for Bama since Sept. 14th.
But, I expect a big Bama win anyway.:biggrin2:

RollTide12

 

[swamptroll]

I understand that! But I think a loss to Kentucky after a big win over Georgia would prove we are not ready for the big time. A loss to Georgia followed by a win over Kentucky would just show that we are getting there and making progress. We are not "supposed" to beat Georgia but on the other hand we will be favored big to beat Kentucky. The perception that we can play great one game and sorry the next, which has been evident the past few years will continue. For us to progress in the "process" we need consistency. It would look worse to me to beat Georgia then lose to Kentucky than the other way around, thus the Kentucky game may be a bigger game. Either way I want to win them all. Especially Tennessee and Auburn!!!:mad2: I would take those 2 wins and call it a day. The "process" could wait another year, lol!!!

A big part of coach Sabans process though is knowing how to handle a big win or a tough loss and putting them in perspective relative to the teams goals and season as a whole. We can lose to Georgia and take care of business the rest of the way out and be right where we want to be at the end.

I think CNS got everyone's attention after the Tulane game(although they were no cupcake). Alabama may not win every game but I now believe that it will take an opponents best effort to beat us. I don't think Bama will sleepwalk thru any games and give one away.:BigA:

 

[dayhiker]

Had Coach Saban not had such recent history to point to (our beating Clemson and then playing poorly against Tulane) I would agree with you. However, this year and this team seems to have completely bought Coach Saban's process of ONE GAME AT A TIME and 24 hours to celebrate or dwell on the loss and then it's back to work!

I'm not suggesting anything by this, but don't forget that Coach Saban took over LSU after going 3-8 and won the SEC in year 2 and the MNC in year 4! This man, KNOWS what he's doing and I completely trust that he'll have them ready for UK regardless of the outcome of this game! Actually, should we lose this game I will feel sorry for Kentucky because we're likely to kill a few of them! This team takes everything personally and they DO NOT WANT TO LOSE!

Agreed and I was actually glad the Tulane game played out like it did. I've never personally recieved the heaping helping of "I TOLD YOU SO!!!!," that the team had to have gotten on Monday. I hope I never do either.