I loved the game and how they played, but I do not like what I saw..........

[thunderz7]

I also saw on the replay the player drawing back his fist, ( I though it was #3 TR that was the Bama player on bottom) and we never saw the outcome.
It wasn't the play #10 was so excited on though, it was the Fluker being swung at and missed.
Can U say "couldn't hit the broad side of a barn".

Through my playing and coaching time, I have seen that nothing frustrates a trash talker/cheap shooter more than being ignored, it always comes down to an individuals point of self control.
I don't like trash talk and dirty play, always best to be on the ignoring side, let the trash talkers draw the flags.

 

[CoastGhost]

I remember years under different coaches where our players got roughed up with dirty tricks, under the pile stuff, eye pokes etc and did not respond. And I remember those teams looking intimidated and getting whipped in the second half. I have no problem giving like we get and a little bit more. If both teams have to finish the game with freshmen scrubs, so be it. I saw some dirty play by UF last night and our guys responded by kicking the crap out of them. Did you see that guy punch AJ in the throat last night?

No problem here with our boys getting physical, however the opponent wants it, just shows me this team is a winner. If we lose a game, we'll know it is because the other team truly whipped our butts ... my kind of football.

 

[HoundstoothHigh]

Well, when you (Florida) go from averaging 259 yards a game to 15 yards a game...your momentem and enthusiasm die down while your frustration and irritability rise. In that atmosphere, it does seem inevitable that grown men will be prone to having testosterone-induced confrontations. Especically when you're being outplayed and seemingly embarrassed.

However, I do agree that our boys need to maintain a classy attitude regardless of the circumstance. They're coached well and I have all the faith that the issue will be discussed and taken care of.

At least...fingers crossed

 

[bamaoldtimer]

1. The kick catch interference with DQ menzie.
2. Jawing with the other team after the play. Trent, John Fulton, and Upshaw during the Arkansas game.

Even though I loved the game and how we played. but the overall attitude with our players and some of the bonehead penalties, potential penalties, we NEED TO STOP. If we were not as good as we are the penalties would be worse for us. and to be honest they will kill us down the road. When someone gets to capitalize on stupid Boneheaded antics it will make us lose a game.

I hope you think the same way. I just think we need to act like we have been here before. However, Florida and Arkansas could have instigating it I am not naive but we need to just walk away from the goading they do to get us get a unsportsmanlike penalty.

David Orr

The OP has good points but my take is different. This squad is the most talented Alabama team I have ever seen. Bar none. I have watched Bama football over 40 years. CNS must exert his dominance when needed. The emotions could and can cause us trouble at the most inopportune momment. AJ is going to become the next great Alabama QB once his gets his head adjusted. CNS knows this and is working with him. Football as we all know is a mental game as well as physical. We have a team of Type A+ personalities who need to let that emotion out and Saban is just the person to harness that energy in the proper fashion. Good job Coach and great win men. RTR.

 

[CAgirl]

Florida started with the thug behavior right from the very beginning - got a personal foul right in the first few minutes. Alabama is not now or has never been known for its swagger or threatening, trash-talking behavior, but once another team starts that crap, it's just human nature to jaw right back with them and try to put them in their place. Yes, it can get out of hand, but Coach Saban will decide when it does and put a stop to it right away, as he did last night. He knows his team's temperament better than any of us - he's with these guys constantly, so let's just trust the Jedi's judgement and stop doing our own. He's definitely "in control" of our team, thank goodness - unlike Will Muschamp - who had NO control of his team last night. They looked like lost little puppies.

 

[bamanix]

sorry, but, i am so glad to see bama flex and muscles, let fla know they cannot intimidate bama. its this nastiness that tells me we have a great defense. i am sure some of you have heard or seen the chicago bears in the day with dick butkus, and were called the monsters of the midway. well i think bama is becoming the monsters of the sec. they are dominating, and maiming people, and not in a dirty way. fla after they scored first started sneaky, dirty play. we just decided to not take it any more. trent showed the whole state of fla what real back is showing toughness, and talent. coach will do what ever is necessary to prevent dirty play. he let the world know, that one of his players will not make bonehead plays. he is the best coach in the game now. and i hope this style of football continues.

 

[BamaGoose]

Least penalized or not. I think losing our composure is not the thing to do. I know as well as everybody that Football is a emotional part. and Alabama's psychological game to the other team is to get into their heads and make them not play their game. I understand that. But... You can play the game without having bonehead situations.

BTW, there were several times i think Mark Searles (head ref) should have ejected people for blatant PF penalties on Florida's part.

And you wonder why the good guys got upset and got emotional? Bottom line the Tide is great team and will not be pushed around or bullied. I would rather be showing emotion than be a team like Kentucky who was the Gators little female dog last week.

Also, Florida is a reflection of their hot headed coach IMO..

 

[Johnwants#15]

3 things....

1. I saw the player pull his hand back in the pile on the "swing and miss play".. Someone with me said it was drawing back for a punch but I didn't think so...
Upon further review... the player was trying to strip the ball away from our guy laying in the pile. He made a swiping motion and as the camera shot changed his hand was drawn away,, his fist was not fully closed nor was he coiled to punch. Just a failed ball strip.

2. Saban's comments for AJ to calm down were in response to AJ getting in Easley's face ,,, Easley took a cheap shot and AJ stepped up to him. Barret Jones found it quite funny but did say AJ "is a qb ,,he doesn't need to be taking on a 300# dl."

3. As a former long time official, I can say that Saban's actions regarding Fulton are a really good thing...
Actually if I were reaching for a flag and saw the coach approaching and making a point to discipline his player, keep control and be really averse to the unsportsmanlike activity.. I would hesitate on tossing the flag (depending on the situation of course). many times the coaches ire is way more effective than a penalty. When the coach is apathetic to the behavior is when I felt I had to be more aggressive in maintaining order and control to prevent a worse situation from developing...


Just my 2 cents....

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Football is a game of inches and explosions, not just in terms of the plays on the field, but also in terms of how the players' emotions come out. Most players are going to learn to keep themselves put together and use their focus and emotion to beat the guy across from them (inches), but you will nearly always see a burst of excitability, either in celebration or frustration or anger, at various points in the game (explosions).

So long as the players learn to have controlled explosions, it's fine, and I believe this is what the coaching staff tries to instill in them - not to play stoically, but to learn how and when to allow their emotions to fuel their play. That learning process goes on off the field, in practice, in meetings, in the weight room and there's no reason to expect that it won't go on on the field of play during a game. Let's try to be realistic about who these young men are and not worry so much about the occasional emotional outburst. They are young, highly competitive men. They are not automatons.

Hear! Hear! The psychiatrist speaks...

 

[Relayer]

All due respect to the OP, if the things mentioned were any kind of trend, I might be concerned. Saban has this team playing aggressively and with a mean streak. But they play under control. On the rare occasion when one gets out of line, Saban is there to "get their attention". I love it. Bama doesn't have and will not have a thug mentality or reputation.

Keep up the great work!

 

[ART]

I won't start worrying until there are several late hit or helmet to helmet contact penalites. The hit by Menzie did worry me a tad, but we all know that is NOT what our team is about and CNS will take care of it. This game will be forever remembered by me as "FIRE in the Swamp"!!

 

[Ldlane]

Boy, for those of you don't think "jawing" goes on in football you don't know much about sports. It happens, in every sport and is part of the game. You just don't hear the "hidden" dialogue on the field or court. Football is an emotional game. I like to see the enthusiasm.

 

[Ole Man Dan]

The DeQuan Menzi kick catch interference penalty was bang-bang. If you watch it again, he's actually going to make the hit as the punt returner is sticking his hands. Not the way to do it, but understandable. Otherwise, this team as done a pretty good job avoiding penalties.

One thing that's becoming apparent with this squad - if they make a mistake, it's too much aggression. I'd rather the err that way.

I watched it in slo-mo and came to the same conclusion you did.
It's easier for me to take the aggression than the 'Jawing'.

One of my long standing gripes:
I spent years fussing over the CMD and CMS pious expressions and polite clapping,
when we got the short end of the stick...
I was much happier with CGS and now with CNS.
I wont players and coaches with fire in the belly.
(Football is a violent sport, with strong players with strong personalities.
Occasionally they do become aggressive. We attempt to channel the aggression and keep the emotions in check.)

I know my opinion is probably a minority opinion, but it's my opinion...

 

[Rueben]

1. The kick catch interference with DQ menzie.
2. Jawing with the other team after the play. Trent, John Fulton, and Upshaw during the Arkansas game.

Even though I loved the game and how we played. but the overall attitude with our players and some of the bonehead penalties, potential penalties, we NEED TO STOP. If we were not as good as we are the penalties would be worse for us. and to be honest they will kill us down the road. When someone gets to capitalize on stupid Boneheaded antics it will make us lose a game.

I hope you think the same way. I just think we need to act like we have been here before. However, Florida and Arkansas could have instigating it I am not naive but we need to just walk away from the goading they do to get us get a unsportsmanlike penalty.

David Orr

You can stop if you want, but the team needs to stay jacked up.

 

[Leeroy]

It ain't 1960-70s anymore. Game is different, players are different. It is, what it is, and it ain't checkers. Enjoy the win.:biga:



Roll Tide

 

[Bamaparrotheads]

I'm thinking after Florida realized they could not hold on to the lead some serious frustration set in.......

Yeah, I agree with this. I told my wife during the game that the Gators got frustrated really quickly last night.

 

[Ldlane]

It ain't 1960-70s anymore. Game is different, players are different. It is, what it is, and it ain't checkers. Enjoy the win.:biga:



Roll Tide

The thing is that "jawing" has been going in college football since the game was invented. Some just feel that there was something "pious" about sports when the game was played earlier decades. Thuggery, Jawing, has been happening since the game began! It isn't a new concept! There has always been attempts to hurt the other star player, etc...... throughout the history of sports.

 

[Padreruf]

Coach Saban rarely blows his cool. That's why when he does jump a players case the player realizes he means business.

I'll guarantee you A.J. won't be taunting the crowd again any time soon.

Personally, not only do i not have a problem Coach Saban sometimes losing his temper.......I like it. A lot.

The man gets results.

Amen! No one ever achieved anything without a little passion...and sometimes that means a "controlled losing it!"

BTW, someone earlier said that this team has a "mean" streak. It really does -- in a good way. They love to hit hard and clean and take pride in it. After a while it starts to intimidate the other team. They only team that has come close to matching us was PSU -- while they were tough they were not talented enough to handle us. I would sure hate to have #30 or #41 hit me...they are the best combination of strength and speed and attitude I have seen in a long time.

 

[TideFan40]

As far as the jawing back and forth goes, I think anyone would be hard pressed to watch any football game, ever, from pop warner all the way to the NFL where there wasn't a little back and forth going between the players. More over, There aren't many sports period where players don't trash talk to some degree. As long as they keep it under control then I don't have a huge problem with it. Moreover, it's the coach's and officials' responsibility to make sure things don't get out, and I think we have the best guy in the country on our sidelines to make sure it doesn't get much past words. Trash talk is part of sports and frankly, it helps some guys to get themselves fired up and play harder.

 

[bamabelle1991]

I started not to say anything....but...

Although I am not qualified to say anything CNS needs to be a little more careful. He is getting real close to letting his emotions get the best of him. I would like to see him jack up the assistant coaches rather than run out on the field after a player but I'm hopeful he knows best.

I have just seen to many coaches (recently) get in a world of trouble over one single act.

Coach we love ya, please be careful.

He looked like a good parent (coach) to me. If people don't like seeing kids get a "heavy hand" when they do something wrong, they may need to start watching more HGTV/Lifetime and less football. JAMHO (Just A Mom's Humble Opinion).