Media Perception of Alabama vs Clemson

[Let's Roll Tide]

I was discussing this game with a friend of mine a few weeks back. He mentioned that even if Alabama won, no one in the media would consider Alabama a good team, they would just consider Clemson overrated. There have been some snide remarks from the media (ESPN & AJC) since our victory.

What is everyone else's perception on this? Must we win another national championship to get respect or maybe will an SEC championship do??

 

[RedStar]

I was discussing this game with a friend of mine a few weeks back. He mentioned that even if Alabama won, no one in the media would consider Alabama a good team, they would just consider Clemson overrated. There have been some snide remarks from the media (ESPN & AJC) since our victory.

What is everyone else's perception on this? Must we win another national championship to get respect or maybe will an SEC championship do??

Please elaborate. I've seen nothing of the sort, only tons of praise. Our picture was on the front page for a full 24 hours on ESPN.com, so I don't really know if I can say I agree with you. . .

 

[TideFan in AU]

I agree. If anything, they maybe be over hyping us a little now. If we are and GA are 4 - 0, anybody want to guess where Gameday might be on week 5?

 

[BamaLaw]

I agree. If anything, they maybe be over hyping us a little now. If we are and GA are 4 - 0, anybody want to guess where Gameday might be on week 5?

I'm right there with you on both points. I was already predicting that it is pretty darn likely that the Gameday bunch may well be looking to Athens that weekend. Isn't that game already slated for the ESPN PrimeTime spot?

 

[OrngAntipathist]

Once I learned that their O-Line was going to be nearly all freshman, and that their star LB was dismissed from the team and they had all new starters at LB, and then their star D-Lineman tore his ACL and was not going to play, and on top of all of that it was still Clemson who historically has bad games, I was very optimistic coming into this game. Now I wasn't optimisitic that we would dominated every phase of the game and route Clemson the way we did, but I felt before kickoff that we would win and should win. I have to scratch my head at the hype around ACC & Clemson. Do you think any SEC team would be highly ranked and predicted to win the conference with an all freshman O-Line and Defense missing several key LBs and Linemen? So as happy as I am with the way we played, the lack of mistakes, and the concentration from beginning to end, and even though we dominated the game, my perception is that our team was better prepared from top to bottom for that game and I can't help but feel that "it was only Clemson".

 

[cooleddie]

A short piece from foxsports.com

That Alabama fans are going to think the future has already arrived after the impressive 34-10 rout of No. 9 Clemson. We're not going to term 24th-ranked Alabama's victory as an upset. That was a couple of ranked teams with big reputations doing battle in Atlanta, and the Crimson Tide were better prepared for the season, and just plain better, period. That won't enhance Tommy Bowden's stature at Clemson, despite his new contract through 2014. As for the Tide, geez, did those guys come out and hit, or what? Two-hundred-thirty-nine rushing yards for Alabama, zero for Clemson? Yeow!

It sure makes a Bama fan proud to read that kind of print about our team again...and it was not only the Defense laying the wood, but the O was just as aggressive. Those kids deserve some good press after all of the hard work that they put in.

http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/8510414/?MSNHPHMA

 

[BamaInBham]

Once I learned that their O-Line was going to be nearly all freshman, and that their star LB was dismissed from the team and they had all new starters at LB, and then their star D-Lineman tore his ACL and was not going to play, and on top of all of that it was still Clemson who historically has bad games, I was very optimistic coming into this game. Now I wasn't optimisitic that we would dominated every phase of the game and route Clemson the way we did, but I felt before kickoff that we would win and should win. I have to scratch my head at the hype around ACC & Clemson. Do you think any SEC team would be highly ranked and predicted to win the conference with an all freshman O-Line and Defense missing several key LBs and Linemen? So as happy as I am with the way we played, the lack of mistakes, and the concentration from beginning to end, and even though we dominated the game, my perception is that our team was better prepared from top to bottom for that game and I can't help but feel that "it was only Clemson".

Not sure where you are getting your info but Clemson started 4 Srs and 1 Jr on the OL. 3 of them had started before, though only 1 was a starter at the end of the year last year. Clemson returned 7 starters, including most of the 'important' ones from last years nationally 9th ranked defense. They had 1 LB who many thought would be suspended, but he wasn't. I don't think there were any others - could be wrong on that one. They did lose the starting LBs from last year, but 2 of them missed the AU game anyway.

Clemson has a very athletically gifted defense, including some future NFL'ers. Their offense is filled with great speed and skill. Spiller and Ford have blinding speed, more than any Bama player, and more than almost any Bama will see this year. Kelly is the all time ACC leader in receptions. Davis is a load between the tackles. Harper is the preseason ACC offensive player of the year. They are loaded at the skill positions.

Bama was the cause of much of Clemson's problems.

 

[LCN]

I agree. If anything, they maybe be over hyping us a little now. If we are and GA are 4 - 0, anybody want to guess where Gameday might be on week 5?

Yep . I've already had more than my fill . We beat up on a soft ACC team coached by an incompetent staff .

 

[OrngAntipathist]

Not sure where you are getting your info but Clemson started 4 Srs and 1 Jr on the OL. 3 of them had started before, though only 1 was a starter at the end of the year last year. Clemson returned 7 starters, including most of the 'important' ones from last years nationally 9th ranked defense. They had 1 LB who many thought would be suspended, but he wasn't. I don't think there were any others - could be wrong on that one. They did lose the starting LBs from last year, but 2 of them missed the AU game anyway.

Clemson has a very athletically gifted defense, including some future NFL'ers. Their offense is filled with great speed and skill. Spiller and Ford have blinding speed, more than any Bama player, and more than almost any Bama will see this year. Kelly is the all time ACC leader in receptions. Davis is a load between the tackles. Harper is the preseason ACC offensive player of the year. They are loaded at the skill positions.

Bama was the cause of much of Clemson's problems.

Oline
OLink1: "Without question, the biggest mystery heading into the season is how well Tiger associate head coach and offensive line coach Brad Scott can replace the four departed starters on what was, at best, a mediocre offensive line.
Without question, the biggest mystery heading into the season is how well Tiger associate head coach and offensive line coach Brad Scott can replace the four departed starters on what was, at best, a mediocre offensive line."
OLink2

LB Link: "Similar to the offensive line, chemistry and depth were the two biggest things missing in the linebacker corps for the Tigers in the spring."

Forget the kids name that was injured on the DLine, but he was all ACC and was out for our game, maybe season, torn ACL I think.


I agree Bama was the cause, but that was due in large part to the areas of weakness I listed, along with many other 'analysts'. So at this point I will defer to the comment I read over on another thread...let's see how things look after 9/20 and 9/27. We will definitely know what we have by then...and I am VERY Cautiously Optimistic.

 

[BamaInBham]

Oline
OLink1: "Without question, the biggest mystery heading into the season is how well Tiger associate head coach and offensive line coach Brad Scott can replace the four departed starters on what was, at best, a mediocre offensive line.
Without question, the biggest mystery heading into the season is how well Tiger associate head coach and offensive line coach Brad Scott can replace the four departed starters on what was, at best, a mediocre offensive line."
OLink2

LB Link: "Similar to the offensive line, chemistry and depth were the two biggest things missing in the linebacker corps for the Tigers in the spring."

Forget the kids name that was injured on the DLine, but he was all ACC and was out for our game, maybe season, torn ACL I think.


I agree Bama was the cause, but that was due in large part to the areas of weakness I listed, along with many other 'analysts'. So at this point I will defer to the comment I read over on another thread...let's see how things look after 9/20 and 9/27. We will definitely know what we have by then...and I am VERY Cautiously Optimistic.

Do you think any SEC team would be highly ranked and predicted to win the conference with an all freshman O-Line and Defense missing several key LBs and Linemen?

I was responding to your comment that they had an 'all freshman O-Line' when that was not the case. In fact, not 1 Fr started according to Rivals, it was 4 Srs and Jr. Big difference. Also, on D, all teams lose some starters, but Clemson was returning 7 from the 9th ranked D, including most of their star players. Btw, Bama returned 5 starters on D and lost their top 2 sackers. Clemson has plenty of experienced talent.

 

[LCN]

Media perception ?

Try reading this brown-noser - http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=maisel_ivan&id=3561883

 

[TIDEFAN17]

Immediately following the game I know JPW was interview by ESPN, ESPN Radio, and Fox Sports radio. Antoine Caldwell was also interview by Fox Sports Radio. A host on the ESPN Radio talked about Alabama's impressive win for about 5-10 minutes, Jim Mora carried on with how thoroughly impressed he was with Alabama on FSR. Herbstreit gave Alabama a lot of praise, as did Corso, the Tide was the first highlighted game on sportscenter last night. And no, Alabama does not have to win a NC or SECCG to gain respect. Simply playing football like they did Saturday night, on a consistent basis, will gain them respect and make the opposition not look forward to playing them...

 

[bamanut_aj]

I was discussing this game with a friend of mine a few weeks back. He mentioned that even if Alabama won, no one in the media would consider Alabama a good team, they would just consider Clemson overrated. There have been some snide remarks from the media (ESPN & AJC) since our victory.

What is everyone else's perception on this? Must we win another national championship to get respect or maybe will an SEC championship do??

????

The media has been fawning over BAMA after that win. Doesn't hurt, either, that ESPN has the new contract with the SEC, so you'll plenty more good from their mouths.

and clemson was overrated, too.

 

[crains]

:BigA:When Saban took over he said I want every team we play to say I hate playing these guys! I am sure Clemson is saying that! Especially Bowden!:BigA:

 

[Crimson Cat]

I think the only teams the media is fawning over more this weekend is OSU and USC and rightly so.
Bama got everyones attention with that win but I think the media is also waiting to see if Clemson gets it together as the season goes on.
There's no doubt in my mind if Bama plays the way they did Sat., the media will continue to talk them up. We are in the best conference in the land.
I've heard a few in the media hint that Clemson might be over-rated but I think most believe they were just wrong on how good BAMA is.:BigA:

 

[AngryEwok]

We all know Alabama is better than Clemson... but we also know Clemson ain't no Top 10, or even Top 15 team. ESPN is looking at our schedule and seeing a Top 10 ranked, undefeated Alabama @ the #1, undefeated Georgia (4-0)... This is just a warm-up to the hype we'll be seeing if both teams collide in Athens with perfect records.

Take it easy, folks... The ACC's powerhouse is one thing, but we've got eight SEC teams to answer to.

 

[Bamafan78]

We'll continue to earn people's respect by winning games. While this game was great let us go lose to Tulane this weekend (or some other team we shouldn't), and we'll be the laughing stock of college football. What the media is saying isn't important.....dominating the teams that we play is!

 

[Roll_Tide_Gal]

Everyone else in the world must have forgotten that we slaughtered Phat Phil and then proceeded to drop 4 in a row last year. I'm surprised that Coach didn't mention that during his post-game rant about confidence.

 

[CrimsonGriff]

I agree. If anything, they maybe be over hyping us a little now. If we are and GA are 4 - 0, anybody want to guess where Gameday might be on week 5?

Yeah, your right, let's just hope Corso picks UGA to win like he did Clemson.....:biggrin:

:BigA:RTR:BigA:

 

[great2batidefan]

Everyone else in the world must have forgotten that we slaughtered Phat Phil and then proceeded to drop 4 in a row last year. I'm surprised that Coach didn't mention that during his post-game rant about confidence.

Very true with one exception...UT was able to run the ball against us. They got behind and went to the pass way too early. If they would have stayed with their game plan it would have been closer. We beat Clemson in every facet of the game. It gives me confidence that we are better than most thought. We still have a lot to prove against the SEC opponents.

Roll Tide!!!!!