Alabama Crimson Tide Football - The Top 3 Rivals

Football is one of the most popular sports in the United States, most especially among the universities. This is the reason why almost all universities in the country have their own football teams to represent their constituents. Aside from that, it has a long history that cannot be detached with the history of the different universities as well. This is also because some universities have been more popular because of their success in the field of football. For this reason, one of the most popular teams in the United States in the field of collegiate football is the Alabama Crimson Tide football team.

The Alabama Crimson Tide football team is the official representative of the University of Alabama in different football competitions. It has a very long history that can be traced way back in 1892. As a matter of fact, the team built a rivalry with at least three other teams through time. These three are the Auburn, LSU and the Tennessee football teams.

Alabama Crimson Tide Football and the Auburn Tigers at the Iron Bowl

On the one hand, one of the most hard-fought competitions in the field of football in the United States is during the Iron Bowl when the Auburn University and the Alabama University football teams face each other on the battle field. They are actually in-state rivals that always meet in a much awaited match. The name of the competition is "Iron Bowl" because this game is conducted in Birmingham, which is a town that played a major role in the steel industry.

Aside from that, the effects of this rivalry even transcend to the culture of the people in the state, most especially to the supporters of the two teams. One manifestation of this is that the calendars of the people there, especially the fans of both Auburn and Alabama Crimson Tide football teams, are already marked for the specific game between these two teams. Another manifestation of this is that the socialization in the state has been affected as well, most especially in the past. This is because it was once uncommon to befriending people who were in support of the opposing team. If two people support the different teams, then it was very unlikely that they would be in the same social bubble in years past. However, this has somehow diminishes in recent times.

Alabama Crimson Tide football team versus the LSU Tigers

The match between these two football teams has been deemed the Saban Bowl, which is another annual collegiate football rivalry competition. Specifically, this competition is between the Louisiana State University and the Alabama University.

The 3rd Saturday in October a Big day For Alabama Crimson Tide Football

The 3rd Saturday in October is a popular even when the Tennessee Volunteers take the field against the Alabama Crimson Tide football. This is actually another event during the year that is much anticipated by a lot of people, especially the supporters of the two teams. The intensity of this completion is as high as the rivalry between the Alabama Crimson Tide football and the Auburn football team.

This is important. 90% of the people reading this think they know all about University of Alabama Football. many of those are wrong. Take 2 minutes and read the next page to learn more about Alabama Crimson Tide football.

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2010 College Football Predictions - LSU

Les Miles is 51-15 with a national title under his belt in five seasons at LSU, but the school is far from satisfied. LSU is not at all happy about playing second fiddle to Alabama in the SEC West, especially since former LSU coach Nick Saban is the reason for Bama's re-emergence. Since winning a national title in the 2007 season, LSU has had no answer for Alabama, Florida or Ole Miss. In fact, the Tigers are 0-6 against these three schools the last two years. With Auburn and Arkansas also on the rise, 2010 is a critical season for Miles to show the school that he's capable of getting back to the top of the mountain.

Offense: LSU's offense was atrocious in 2009. The Tigers ranked dead last in the SEC, and 112th nationally, in total offense, averaging just 304.5 yards per game. In case you don't know, there are only 120 FBS teams in the country. From a scoring standpoint, the Tigers ranked No. 10 in the SEC, averaging just 24.9 points per game. Every good offense starts with a good offensive line, and that was something the Tigers did not have in 2009. LSU ranked No. 11 in the league in rushing offense, averaging 122.8 rushing yards per game, and No. 9 in passing offense, averaging 181.8 passing yards per game. This unit also allowed 34 quarterback sacks. With three starters returning up front there is reason to believe the line will be better, but I don't think it will be like night and day. Quarterback Jordan Jefferson is coming off a solid season, throwing for 2,166 yards and 17 scores with only seven picks. I can only imagine what he could do with a little more time. His primary target is Terrance Toliver, who caught 53 passes for 735 yards and three scored in 2009. Inside runner, Stevan Ridley, and the speedy Michael Ford figure to get most of the carries.

Defense: It's safe to say LSU wouldn't have won a lot of games last season if it wasn't for the defense. The Tigers boasted the 11th-best scoring defense in the country in 2009, only giving up 16.2 points per contest. While LSU does lose seven starters, it isn't expected to take a step back. Middle linebacker Kevin Sheppard and cornerback Patrick Peterson lead the defense. Sheppard returns for his senior season after leading LSU with 110 tackles. Peterson is a shutdown corner who will be playing on Sunday's soon enough. LSU's defense could have been even better a season ago if it had been able to get more heat on opposing quarterbacks. In fact, the Tigers only tallied 21 sacks last season. Defensive coordinator John Chavis expects to do much better in the pass rush department with the additions of Sam Montgomery, Barkevious Mingo and Ken Adams up front.

Prediction: 4th SEC West - The Tigers are a year away from having the level of talent and experience to challenge for a league title and more. Still, it would be nice to build some momentum with a strong campaign in 2010. But that might be difficult to do with a challenging schedule, and with the way Auburn and Arkansas have gotten back on the map. Check out my 2010 SEC football predictions to see how I have the rest of the league stacking up.

If you want winning college football picks to beat the football odds this fall, then get signed up for one of the premium packages on my site.

Forbes Touts Alabama's Nick Saban As the Most Powerful Coach in Sports

So who is the most powerful coach in sports today? Nick Saban of Alabama according to Forbes magazine (9-1-08 issue). Forbes wastes no time in anoiting Saban as the best of the best and ahead of the rest when it comes to being the most powerful sports coach in our time.

While God-fearing, rabid fans in Alabama recognize that Saban is not God, they certainly think he is a god in the sense that he is a superhuman being who has power over human fortunes, namely the Crimson Tide.

What is unique about Saban's stature, as Forbes points out, is that Saban's 8-year, $32 million contract gives him complete and absolute control over every aspect of Alabama's football program-recruiting, coaching, business administration and public relations. No other coach of any other sport enjoys such an advantage, if in fact it does turn out to be an advantage. Time will tell.

Until success becomes evident, Saban's contract also has some very special perks, like 25 hours for his private use of a university airplane, two cars and a country club membership, all extras that make his annual compensation package closer to $5 million per year. He can also leave the school at any time without financial penalty, a rarity in big-time college coaching contracts.

His contract remains among the highest after his first year on the job, and his contract is bigger than all but a handful of NFL coaches.

No coach, according to Forbes, can match Saban's combination of money, control and influence, and that includes all coaches in the professional leagues. Suffice to say that Saban, and his agent, James E. Sexton II, know a thing or two about how to negotiate an exceptional professional contract.

Alabama can afford Saban. The Crimson Tide football program generated $52 million in revenue last year (yes, college football is BIG business), and had an estimated $32 million in profit. Yikes, that is major profit. How would you like to run a business that generates $52 million in revenue and has a profit of 61%.

Taxpayers in Alabama can also relax as well since not a cent of Saban's contract is paid by student or taxpayer money, it all comes out of the university's football program budget, which also funds 77% of the athletic department, including nonrevenue producing sports.

It is Saban who has been tabbed to lift the fortunes of Alabama back to the glory years the Crimson Tide experienced under Paul "Bear" Bryant, who won 6 national championships and 13 SEC championships. When Bryant retired in 1982, Alabama's football success took a dramatic drop in national prestige.

So how much of an impact has Saban had after his first year? Well, the team went 7-6 and beat Colorado in the Independence Bowl. Saban's first spring practice game drew 92,000 fans (you read it right). The waiting list for season tickets tripled to 10,000 after Saban's arrival. His recruiting class this year was rated No. 1 nationally by a consensus of tracking services.

Saban is a control freak (Alabama football practices are all but closed, and he personally authorizes all interviews with his players and coaches), but he is also very successful at what he does. He resurrected football programs at Michigan State (from squat to a 9-2 season in 5 years with 4 bowl games) and Louisiana State (a 48-16 record in 5 years, 5 bowl games, 2 SEC titles and a national championship) before arriving at 'Bama.

University of Alabama's president, Robert Witt, is fine with everything going on in its athletic program. There have been 100,000 donors to the university's recent $500 million capital campaign, many of whom are ardent football supporters.

So how will Alabama do this year? Probably very well. With Saban, you either produce on the field or you will be nursing splinters on your backside riding the bench. Nick Saban expects to win, not occasionally, but every bloody time.

That is very hard to do in the SEC, but for $4 million a year you learn to outthink, outwork and out recruit your opponents. Saban has some talent coming, and nothing beats talent when talent shows up to play.

Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley

Read my other detailed, knowledgeable, interesting articles on college football, including:

"Nick Saban: A Great College Football Coach Who Might Bring Alabama Back to Greatness"

"Evaluating Three First-Year Coaches: Saban, Erickson and Dantonio - Part 1"

"If You Thought SEC Was the Toughest Conference, Think Again"

and my 14 consecutive weekly wrap-up articles on the 2007 College Football Season as well as wrap-up articles on all 32 College Bowl Games.

Find my Blog at:

http://www.edbagleyblog.com

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Best NCAA College Football Program of All Time

What comes to mind when you think of the best NCAA college football program of all time? Notre Dame; USC; Michigan? Sure, they are all up there. But, at the very top, in my book, is the University of Alabama Crimson Tide. Bama is, without a doubt, the greatest NCAA college football program ever.

Why do I say that? Well, of course Alabama football is right up there when it comes to wins and losses (ranked #8 with an all-time record of 802 - 319 - 43 (.707); championships (arguably the champ in 1925, 1926, 1930, 1934, 1941, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1991, 1992 and 2009); legendary coaches and players (over 90 first team all-American's); etc.

It's also important to note that Alabama plays in the Southeastern (SEC) conference; the toughest college football conference in America. How do I know that? Well, for starters, the SEC has won the past five BCS National Championship titles. Every year the SEC leads the pack in attendance, bowl games, recruits, and wins on the field. It's second only to the Big Ten in money earned (and this is debatable).

Ultimately, the reason I pick Alabama over the others is simply that no college football program has impacted as many people as much as the Alabama Crimson Tide football program. Indeed, its win over the Washington Huskies at the 1926 Rose Bowl gave pride to the entire southern region of America. Thanks to Alabama football, the state of Alabama was transformed and millions of lives given a new sense of pride and respect. No other football team can say that.

The height of the college football season is bowl season. The Crimson Tide has appeared in 52 Bowl games and claimed 30 bowl victories (with 3 ties) in it's history. That represents more victories and bowl appearances than any other NCAA team.

One last stat: which college has produced the most Super Bowl winning quarterbacks? Yep, you guessed it. Alabama with 3: Bart Starr, Joe Namath, and Ken Stabler.

So, for all these reasons, and more, I say the Alabama Crimson Tide has the overall best college football program in history.

Obviously the debate over which college football program is the best will never be settled. Some argue for Notre Dame; some for USC; and some for Michigan.

For my money, no NCAA football program has had as much impact on a state and region of the country as the Alabama Crimson Tide. That's why I pick Bama as the best ever.

Mo Johnson is the editor of The Best Football Blog which covers all levels of football from high school to college to the pros.

Alabama Crimson Tide Football - From Players to the Fans That Idolize Them

The Crimson Tide, the team of many names, has been referred to as the Crimson White, the Thin Red Line, and even the Red Elephants. With so many names, how do Tide fans know who they're talking about? From the Tide tradition, that's how. Alabama fans are proud of their past and pass their traditions on to their children at as young of an age as they can comprehend it! Roll Tide is a praised phrase as a child while the term War Eagle is considered right on up there with shut up and butt head. Yes, tradition is a special part of the Alabama experience that fans love to relive on game day and when walking through campus on a sunny autumn day. Little girls dressed in line with their hopes of one day being an Alabama Cheerleader. Young boys running across the Quad playing their own game of football before the real game begins. Grandparents, telling stories of Bama back in it's glory days with the Bear as coach and times when Alabama was a shoe-in for the National Championship Title.

Some are past players of the Bear and seem to always feel in the spotlight one last time when they step inside of Bryant-Denny Stadium, even if they had played at Legion Field, or elsewhere. The only thing that matters is where the Tide calls home. Today, that is Bryant-Denny Stadium named after the legendary Paul W. Bear Bryant whose name you can find in various places all over town, and Denny Chimes, who also has his legacy spread out over campus. Honoring them before were monuments, street names, and even museums, but having the stadium coined after them was quite an honor for those respective families. Anything that has to do with Alabama football has a serious reputation to uphold. With more National Championships, SEC Championships, Bowl Appearances, Bowl Wins, SEC Conference Wins, and most consecutive SEC Conference Championships than any other team in the NCAA, the Crimson Tide and it's players are looked upon by fans to continue this tradition and be the team to beat for years to come.

Alabama's historical rosters and current game attendants include Kenny, the Snake, Stabler, legendary Joe Namath, and Barry Krause among others. Stabler, Namath and one hundred and forty-five others are forever remembered along the Walk of Fame at Denny Chimes. A tradition since 1948, it immortalizes spectacular players like no other team and the tradition of doing so is one of the most important in Alabama history. Players of the Tide can be found on occasion greeting fans at the Paul W. Bryant Museum, signing autographs, and sometimes even sitting next to lucky fans at the games. At the University of Alabama, it's all about the fans, and the experience of Alabama Football. You can guarantee student tickets will be sold out within the first thirty minutes they're made available, and if you want to get your hands on one, it won't be a cheap buy. Fans of the Tide are dedicated, and some of the best college football fans out there! Roll Tide!

Writer and editor, Freddie Brister, is a former high school football coach of 25 years. His love of the game of football is reflected in his words and memories of growing up in the South and playing football in the back yard with his brother, cousins and neighborhood friends. His biggest thrill is watching former high school players he has coached play at the college level. His favorite pastime is watching college football on tv and attending the games in person every chance he gets. Freddie Brister is a huge fan of the SEC and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Check out his Alabama Crimson Tide Merchandise at Alabama Crimson Tide Belt or his Georgia Tech Grill Cover

Best Alabama Crimson Tide Football Tickets

Do you want to get the best Crimson Tide football tickets? If you follow Alabama and are looking for Alabama tickets so that you can cheer your team on to victory, the best place to get them is to go online. When you order your University of Alabama tickets online, you can take your pick of the best available seats to the best games.

You may think that you have to pay big bucks in order to get Alabama tickets. The Alabama Crimson Tide is one of the leading teams in the SEC Western Division. They play games every year against Auburn, LSU, Arkansas, Ole Miss and Mississippi State. They also play three teams that rotate each year from the SEC eastern division. There are plenty of games from which to choose when you are looking for Crimson Tide football tickets.

When you go online to purchase Alabama tickets, you can take your pick from the different games that are available as well as the best seats. You can expect to pay a lot less for tickets by purchasing them online than you would if you purchased them from someone standing outside the stadium. And you can have your football tickets delivered right to your door.

Most people today are learning that the internet is the way to go when it comes to purchasing tickets for any type of event, especially sporting events. This holds true when it comes to getting tickets to SEC games and getting Crimson Tide tickets. If you are a big fan of this team and think that getting tickets are too difficult or too expensive, think again. You can get a good price and decent seats if you take a few minutes and shop for Alabama tickets right online.

Do not miss another game - get out there and support your favorite college football team! Bama tickets are hot, but not so hot that you cannot get your hands on them. Log onto your computer and let your mouse do all the work for you. Take a look at the games that you want to see and choose the best Alabama Crimson Tide tickets for you. And if you know a Crimson Tide fan, then these Alabama tickets make the perfect gift!

Whether you follow the Alabama Crimson Tide yourself, or if you just want to make a fan of this great college football team happy, you can get Crimson Tide tickets for the best price possible online by going to Alabama Crimson Tide Football Tickets or Best All-Time Sports Tickets.

Isn't it Possible?

The Arkansas Razorbacks came into this season with a new Athletic Director, a new Head Coach, a new coaching staff, and a team made up primarily of either underclassman, with little on-field experience, or straight up freshman, that were playing football on Friday nights just last fall.

Along with the new coach (who is commonly touted as an offensive genius), came the new coach's playbook, which is reportedly voluminous and complicated. So, in addition to having a very green team, the few upperclassmen we held onto had to learn a completely new offensive strategy from a coaching staff that is very different from years past.

Throw in our schedule, which is the toughest we have seen in years, and it is understandable why the general consensus was that the Razorbacks would be lucky to win even half of our games in this season of rebuilding. After the first few games, most folks residing outside the 501/870/479 area codes were pretty sure we wouldn't see another win all year.

So it was no surprise to me last weekend, after beating #20 ranked Auburn, that all ESPN had to say was "How bad is Auburn? Even the Razorbacks could beat them!" It was no surprise, but it was still disappointing, because no one is seeing the big picture coming out of Fayetteville, Arkansas. Honestly, unless you have seen every game, you will probably write me off as another one of those delusional drink the Kool-Aid Razorback optimists. But I am here to tell you, if you have watched every game, we wouldn't seem nearly as delusional as everyone likes to believe.

First of all, yes, we were optimistic coming in to this season; primarily because of the much needed change in the coaching staff, as well as a few of the freshmen that they were able to pull into the fold right before signing day. Even in the midst of a last minute and volatile coaching change, we were able to not only keep ALL of our commitments to the former coaching staff, but were able to pick up Tyler Wilson (4 star QB), who was committed to Tulsa; and Joe Adams (4 star ATH), who was committed to USC. Both players have seen successful field time this year already.

In addition to those two players, we also had Ryan Mallett, Michigan's 5-star QB out of Texarkana last year, transfer to Arkansas. He is red shirting this year (because of the transfer), but we sure are excited to have him for next year. We also had D'Anthony Curtis, Matt Hall (6'9" 300lb OT), Jarius Wright, and Jericho Nelson; four 4-star freshmen coming in. The raw talent we have on our team right now is amazing. But they are young, and that was supposed to eclipse any prospect of having a competitive team in the 2008-2009 season. Sorry that us wee little piggies didn't buy into that.

We started our year out with two non conference games that should have been absolute blowouts. Western Illinois and Louisiana-Monroe proved to be a little tougher than even the team had planned on, and we ended up squeaking by each team in the 4th quarter.

If you saw the games (and I did), you would have seen that our boys never got wide eyed... even facing double digit deficits at points in both games. You would have also seen that we had some really complicated plays that we pulled off with ease. Our offense looked incredible for much of both of these games, although at times it was inconsistent and there were some very obvious freshmen errors, which were to be expected. Our defense was anemic at best. With two seniors suspended, the senior leadership was indeed lacking and it was very apparent. In the first game, we were also missing our junior running back, Michael Smith (keep an eye out for this little dynamo that has been living in the shadow of McFadden and Jones for two years).

Our third week, against long time rival Texas, got postponed due to Hurricane Ike. As soon as we got the news, Petrino and his staff had the Bama plans printed and distributed to all the players. It has been widely reported that they switched game plans with an hour's notice. THAT was impressive.

Unfortunately, having the extra time to prepare for Bama didn't really help us much. They slaughtered us...in every direction. That was a letdown because usually the Arkansas-Alabama game is a toughy for both teams; coming from the same conference, there is a lot of natural rivalry present. This was the game that we all started realizing just how much work still needed to be done.

Turning around the following week and playing the Texas make-up game, we didn't fare much better. They pretty much ran all over us as well. I didn't see this game (maybe thankfully) because I reside in North Carolina where ABC chose to air the Seminole game instead, but I did get to listen to it via RazorVision. It was dismal. The amazing part about this was how the players and coaches seemed as perplexed as the fans...they knew how they practiced during the week, but something just wasn't jiving when they took the field. At this point, from the interviews with the players, you could tell they were starting to get a little miffed.

The next game in our brutal series was against Florida. They had just been taken down by Ole Miss the week before and we knew that Tebow and the gatorboys were going to roll into Fayetteville with a chip on their shoulder. We didn't expect to win this game, especially after Bama and Texas steamrolled us, but what we saw during the game was certainly uplifting.

The final score really wasn't indicative of the game that was played. We were solidly in that game all the way through the 3rd quarter, at which point we imploded as a team and got blown out. However, overall, I was very pleased with our performance in this game.

Our O was dynamic, and our D did a great job of holding Tebow. We forced Timmy to throw his first interception in over 200 pass attempts. In the 3rd quarter, we were down by 10, we actually had a shot, things were going great, then it all fell apart in the 4th resulting in a final score of 38-7. I can tell you, we were certainly the happiest fans that ever got beat by 31 points. That is because we had been watching, and we knew it was a turning point.

Going into Auburn, even prior to Tuberville firing his offensive coordinator, we were feeling pretty good. Not wanting to get our hopes too high, we knew that we actually had a shot of pulling out a win, if we could just keep it together through the last quarter. We knew Auburn's offense was nowhere near as good as ours (mainly due to the fact that they can't decide on a QB and stick with it), but we knew their defense was definitely one of the best, ranked in the top 5 in the entire nation...and we weren't quite sure, as dynamic as our offense has proven to be, if we could take the physicality of their D. But we did. We did everything we were supposed to do...we played the entire game, even the 4th quarter. Both offense and defense stepped up and played VERY well...resulting in a 25-22 much needed victory for the Razorbacks.

Now, to anyone that hasn't watched Arkansas or Auburn play this year, the rational excuse here was that Auburn was in disarray over the abrupt dismissal of their O-coach, so of course Arkansas could take them. For those of us that have watched the Razorbacks AND the Tigers this year against varying opponents, Auburn did not play poorly compared to other games they have played this year. Their offense looked like it was getting tired in the third quarter, but they rallied back in the fourth. Tuberville, a master of the clock, made sure his Tigers had every opportunity for a come back up until the last seconds of the game.

Getting down to the last minute of the game, we were faced with punting the ball from our own end zone. Petrino knew that with our less than confident special teams unit, and a successfully blocked extra point by Auburn earlier in the game, that this was a risk we should not take. He decided it was a better bet to send senior punter, Jeremy Davis, out of bounds behind the end zone, giving Auburn a 2 point safety (putting them within a field goal of tying the game), than to risk a repeat performance of the earlier play. It was a wager that paid off. With less than a minute left on the clock, Auburn's offense started moving down field on us relatively quickly, until Matt Harris intercepted a pass with 29 seconds left on the clock, securing our 25-22 victory.

We showed up, we played hard, we pulled some great new plays out of our bag, and executed them stunningly. We won the old fashioned way; we outplayed them. Even after the game, Tommy Tuberville commented that Arkansas was a better team than Vandy, no question. And yet ESPN made not one mention of the vast improvement seen in Arkansas, to them we won for no other reason than Auburn sucked.

So, here are my questions...isn't it at least possible that Arkansas has a MUCH better team than anyone (besides us fans) realizes?

Does it not prove anything that the two teams that ran over us are ranked first and second place in the nation? And that those same two teams actually have an awesome chance of being the contenders in the National Championship this year?

Does it not prove anything that Florida, who looked down right sleepy against us, but looked rather bouncy against LSU, is ranked fifth in the nation and we were actually able to run with these boys for 3 quarters? Does it not prove anything that Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow both said that they played their best against us and Urban was quoted as saying that Arkansas has a very good offensive strategy?

Is it possible that the Razorbacks have turned a corner and while they still have a ways to go, could actually secure a bowl game this season??

Finally, is it possible that Arkansas can win the rest of its games?

In my opinion, yes. If you look at the remaining schedule, we still play a lot of well respected teams, such as Tulsa, who is still undefeated (albeit against a very weak schedule), Ole Miss (who is likely a much better team than anyone realizes as well), Kentucky, South Carolina, Mississippi State, and good ole LSWho. However, if we have really hit our stride, all of these games could well turn out in our favor.

At the beginning of the season, I optimistically called for us to get 8-9 wins. That is certainly not out of the realm of possibility. I believe that we can win most of our remaining games. Furthermore, I do not believe that LSU will be the ones to beat us. I truly believe we have the better team and with it being our last game of the season, our freshmen will have an entire season of experience securely behind them.

I do think that we may lose one or two more games (just due to our stunning shade of green), but I think it will be to less suspect teams like Mississippi State or Kentucky. But again, there is the possibility that we will pull the rest of them out. I just have to wonder at what point we will start feeling some love from ESPN ...probably never...at least not until we get a National Championship under our belts...which by the looks of things, may happen sooner than anyone thought possible.

One thing I know for sure, next year, we won't lose nearly as many key players as we did this year. Our QB is a senior and will be replaced with 5 star Mallett (6'7") who has almost a year of experience as a QB on a successful Division 1-A team. We already have a 5 star and several 4 star commits for next year and we will have a whole stable full of sophomores that have seen plenty of field action against some of the toughest teams in the country.

Our former coach, Houston Nutt had been long chastised for not being able to put a fence around the state of Arkansas and sign our in-state talent (like Kodi Burns at Auburn). Bobby Petrino will have no such problem, having already shown his skills in bringing in four and five star players from other states...many other states, not just the ones that border us.

And still, ESPN will continue to show their bias and give us no kudos. And because of that, our opponents won't be expecting much from us. And that might not be a bad thing.

2010 College Football Predictions - Arkansas

Arkansas is one of the more popular darkhorse picks to win this season's national title because of all the offensive fire power it brings back. But if you're a believer in defense winning championships, you may not be so quick to make Arkansas your sleeper.

Led by quarterback Ryan Mallett, the Razorbacks boasted the No. 1 scoring offense in the SEC last season. However, the defense ranked No. 12 in the SEC in total defense, giving up 401.2 yards per game. The offense will once again be tough to tame, but a defense that has ranked dead last in the SEC the last two years could keep the Razorbacks from a claiming an SEC West title.

Offense: Mallett led the No. 1 passing attack in the SEC last season, one that averaged 295.5 yards per game through the air. With one of the best wide receiver units in the country returning, Arkansas will be ready to air it out again in 2010. Head coach Bobby Petrino wants to be a little more balanced this season. Running the ball more will eat clock, which will help keep his weaker defense off the field. Mallett threw for 3,624 yards and 30 touchdown strikes with just seven picks in 2009. Returning wide receivers Greg Childs, Joe Adams, Jarius Wright and Cobi Hamilton combined for 2,490 of those yards and 22 of those touchdowns. Childs is the top returning receiver. He caught 48 passes for 894 yards and seven scores a season ago. The Razorbacks lost running back Michael Smith, but Ronnie Wingo Jr., Dennis Johnson, Broderick Green and Knile Davis are all talented backs. They will also benefit from an experienced offensive line which returns four starters.

Defense: If Arkansas is going to win the West, it's going to need improved play from a defense that allowed 25.1 points per game last year. The Hogs must especially improve their pass defense. They finished last in the SEC in defending the pass, allowing 248.5 yards per game last season. While the Razorbacks' gambling defense finished No. 2 nationally in turnover margin, it gave up way too many big plays in the process. I have no doubt that this unit will be better this season, but it's hard to think it will be drastically better. With guys like Jake Bequette, Patrick Jones, Zach Stadther and Tenarius Wright back up front, the Hogs should continue to improve against the run. But the true key to their success will be how well they defend the pass. Key personnel returns in the secondary, but the Razorbacks must be able to mount a better pass rush in order to keep teams from picking them apart through the air.

Prediction: 2nd SEC West - I won't be at all surprised if Arkansas finds a way to win the West, but I'm giving the early edge to defending national champion Alabama. Bama may have lost a lot of key players on defense, but coach Nick Saban has proven that he can reload. Bama looks to be the better defensive team, and that's why I'm giving the Tide the edge in the West. Check out my 2010 SEC football predictions to see how I have the rest of the league playing out.

If you want winning college football picks to beat the football odds this fall, then get signed up for one of the premium packages on my site.

Best Moments of Alabama Crimson Tide Football Games on DVD

DVD copies of the Alabama Crimson Tide football games are available at the following stores: amazon.com, footballfanatics.com, whateversports.com, netflix.com, bcsfootball.seenon.com, store.cstv.com, shop.collegegear.com, alabamafootballdeals.com, and football-fanshop.com.

Refresh the memorable moments of the Alabama team by getting a DVD copy of their legendary games. Grab a copy while supply last at different online stores like:

Amazon - amazon.com

A DVD format of the Legends of the Alabama Crimson Tide is available at Amazon at an affordable cost. They also accept trade-in DVD with additional credit rewards on gift cards on your next purchase.

Football fanatics - footballfanatics.com

Alabama Crimson Tide Fields of Glory DVD is sold at football fanatics for a very low price. It includes the celebrations with the team during their victory.

WhateverSports - whateversports.com

DVD features include the exciting and victorious games of the team's legendary football players.

Netflix - netflix.com

Defining Moment is a documentary of the greatest footage of the Alabama team. Parts of the series are the interview with the players, best photo-shots, and winning throws of the team.

Bowl championship series store - bcsfootball.seenon.com

Get a copy of the Crimson Classics from different years here at this series store. Revive the unforgettable moments in the Alabama history by grabbing a copy of their games.

Crimson tide sports network - store.cstv.com

The official online DVD store of the University of Alabama Athletics; here you can get a copy of all the football games of the Alabama team. The available DVD's include Crimson classics, specials, hall of fame, and most of the winning games way back several years ago.

Official gear shop - shop.collegegear.com

This is the official gear shop of the Alabaman Crimson Tide team where you can find all products related to the Alabama team like DVD, CD, books, decors, apparels, and more. The DVD games cost approximately $25 per copy, with the recent game at about $40 each copy.

Crimson tide football shopping deals - alabamafootballdeals.com

Cast your bid to get a copy of your favorite Alabama football game like the Crimson Tide DVD widescreen, Crimson Tide family, and more.

Football - football-fanshop.com

Grab a copy of the Alabama DVD games like the Crimsons classics starting 1945 and beyond. Also available are the Fields of Glory and Bama baby DVD.

For more information on Alabama merchandise, please go to: http://www.sportsfantreasures.com/alabama.htm

'Bama and Startups - Lessons From Coach Saban

Coach Nick Saban of the University of Alabama has done it -- he brought his elite college football team from relative disaster to the National title in three short years. He took over a sliding, desperate team in the midst of major NCAA violation issues -- usually a death knell for a decade or longer for a college sports team -- and turned out an undefeated powerhouse through the power of his own sheer will. How he did it, and the lessons from his long coaching career, are a template of the attitude and perspective every entrepreneur needs to build a business idea into a thriving company.

ESPN calls Coach Saban "The Grinder" because his leadership method involves The Process -- toiling out the basics until success is achieved. He refuses to make predictions about when his team will win or how long it will take to build a championship season. Instead, he is fixated on the fundamentals that are necessary to win, sharpening skills across the board. He is intense, obsessive, calculating. He has a plan and every task, every day revolves around executing that plan.

Coach Saban is hung up on teamwork and respect. He believes in the power of working together and focusing on a single purpose. He oozes resolve and dedication and expects the same from his superiors, his staff and his players. He expects everyone involved to completely buy in to his methods and purpose. His philosophy centers around The Process -- doing what it takes, however long it takes, to turn out champions.

The Process continues throughout Coach Saban's staff selections. He is famous for his exhaustive research into potential candidates -- he knows their personality, work style, and reputation before he even talks to them. And, he generally interviews far more candidates than most head coaches. He knows precisely what he is looking for and not just in general terms, but specifically and particularly for the role he is looking to fill. He isn't looking for someone to just fill the seat, he is looking for the perfect fit to take the team a step beyond. He is patient and will wait until the right guy comes through delivering the right message. Then, he will give the new hire the respect and autonomy to do what they do best.

He talks a lot about The Process, but not much about its details. Saban's players focus on the basics of conditioning and the nuances of the game. They study the opponents and make changes to exploit the weaknesses of those teams. They are taught to respect themselves, respect their teammates and their roles, and respect the rules. They are always working to be better, stronger and faster, even when the team is already winning. They aren't just encouraged to win but to absolutely, unquestioningly dominate. He expects them to be the best, so they expect the same of themselves and each other. And apparently, it works.

The Process matters in business just the same. Every entrepreneur has dreams of where the startup is going to take them -- to financial security, to autonomy over their work life, to power in their community. But the most critical aspects are the most mundane. Problems arise when founders get stuck on the rewards of positive results and ignore the process of business success.

Before the business is even launched, successful entrepreneurs put in the hours and the work to ensure it starts off right. They do their homework on the industry and the market. They find the best methods for the operations. They master the basics of accounting, marketing, financial planning, and customer service. They master each of these areas for themselves, even if they ultimately outsource the actual day-to-day tasks. They know how to read financial statements and how to identify and respond to any problems that pop up. They don't sit on the sidelines and see what happens, but strategize and orchestrate the next moves in a dogged pursuit of opportunity.

Successful entrepreneurs focus on the basics. They don't try to be all things to all consumers, but instead develop a singular focus. Whether the niche is a target market, a single line of products, or superior customer service, the culture revolves around this priority. Everyone involved with the business is expected to maintain the same steely resolve, the same dedication to the purpose of the venture. When the environment appears to be on the cusp of change, savvy entrepreneurs read the direction and make decisive choices based on the wealth and depth of their knowledge. When major alterations are required, they take bold steps to innovate and renovate.

Instituting any type of process provides a foundation for the culture of a group that works together. Just as Coach Saban spotlights teamwork and respect as the overarching characteristics of his teams, an entrepreneur's priorities develop into the character of the company. Smart founders create the culture they know will work rather than just allowing the culture to develop for itself. They project the essential aspects of character they want to see in the company in everything they do. And, they surround themselves with people and practices that promote those values.

Staffing the business, whether with internal employees or outsource professionals, follows a similar process as well. Before winning entrepreneurs post the Help Wanted sign they investigate the actual needs of the organization. They define the specific skill sets they are looking for and know the responsibilities the position will entail. They don't hire warm bodies, but wait for the right candidate. They design interviews that actually test what they need to know. They look for potential employees who will support and enhance the company culture. They use their well-honed networking skills to both identify possible candidates and vet the ones they don't know. They welcome new staff with open arms and high expectations, then keep an open door so no one is left flailing on their own.

The process is not always the same. Different leaders have different strengths, different abilities that guide their own process. The fundamentals, however, are always the fundamentals, and they are the core of every effective process. Developing an efficient process is the best, if not only, way to succeed (aside from a serious stroke of luck). Whether in athletics or in business, the basics matter the most. Focus on the basics and the winning will come!

-
K. MacKillop, a serial entrepreneur with a J.D. from Duke University, is founder of LaunchX and blogs about starting a business. The LaunchX System helps entrepreneurs focus on the basics when starting a business. It is a complete business startup kit that includes step-by-step instructions, key software, reference material, business coaching and more. Visit LaunchX.com to find out more.

2010 College Football Predictions - Alabama

Winning consecutive BCS titles will be no easy task for the Alabama Crimson Tide, but it is not out of the question when you consider head coach Nick Saban's track record. Under Saban, the Tide are 26-2 the last two seasons, including a perfect 24-0 during the regular season. Saban prides himself on putting together teams that play dominating defense and that take care of the football on offense. Despite a pretty conservative playbook, Alabama still averaged 32.1 points per game in 2009 (22nd nationally), and that number should go up this season. Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram is back, along with star wide receiver Julio Jones and exceptional game-managing quarterback Greg McElroy. After losing so many starters, we may not see the same defense that ranked No. 2 nationally in points allowed and yards allowed last season, but the caliber of Saban's recruiting classes suggest that we will still see a very respectable unit. The experience level may be down, but the talent level is up.

Offense - Ingram returns to lead the offense after rushing for 1,658 yards and 17 touchdowns a season ago, and defenses will get no chance to catch their breath when game-breaking backup Trent Richardson spells him. Because defenses will have to respect this duo so much, it should really open things up for McElroy through the air. McElroy threw for 2,508 yards and 17 scores with only four interceptions in 2009. Four of those touchdown passes went to the deep threat Jones, who should be poised for a big season after battling injuries last year. When teams stack the box, McElroy has the savvy to audible to passing plays. I also expect the Tide to be dangerous in the play-action game because of how much attention opposing defense will pay to the running game.

Defense - Safety Mark Barron, middle linebacker Dont'a Hightower and defensive end Marcell Dareus are the leaders of their respective defensive units. Barron makes plays all over the field. He is the team's top returning tackler (76), and he also picked off seven passes a season ago. Hightower suffered a season-ending injury against Arkansas, but he has made a full recovery. He should be the heart and soul of the defense the way Rolando McClain was last season. Dareus was the defensive MVP of Alabama's BCS championship game victory over Texas. He came up with 6.5 sacks last season, and that number should rise in 2010.

Prediction - 1st SEC West - Saban continues to bring in top notch talent, and that's why it is not out of the realm of possibility for his team to record its third straight perfect regular season. The offense should be better than it was a season ago, so if the defense can reload as expected I see no reason why Bama shouldn't win the West. College football odds makers have listed the Alabama Crimson Tide at +600 to win the BCS championship. Check out my 2010 SEC football predictions to see how I like the entire conference to shape up.

Jimmy Boyd's expert football picks will keep you cashing week in and week out through the BCS championship game! If you want winning college football picks to beat the football odds this fall, then get signed up for one of the premium packages on my site.

Free College Football Picks - NCAAF SEC Predictions

College football season is back and football fans couldn't be more excited. The tradition of college football is special. It is even more important for fans of the SEC. The SEC has long been thought of as the conference to beat in college football. While the Big 12 is gaining on them, they should still be the top conference in the land, yet again. So what does the most powerful of power conferences have in store for them this year? Check out these Free College Football Picks and find out.

1. Florida Gators- Is it really any surprise that they're picked to win the conference again? Everybody and their brother is picking them to win the National Championship, so how could they not win the conference. Every single starter from an amazing defense last year is back. Oh and did I mention that Tim Tebow is back? His press conference to announce that he was coming back is the stuff of legends, by the way (as if he didn't already have a pretty substantial legend growing). While nothing is for sure in the crazy world of college football, they're pretty much a lock to win the SEC. Prediction: 12-0

2. Alabama Crimson Tide- Can Nick Saban deliver the magic yet again? He definitely has a knack for building college football powerhouses. What he did at LSU in the past is slowly coming to fruition in 'Bama. I think they will again win the West division in a close battle with LSU. Saban has done some awesome recruiting, but it might be a little much for the new guys to think they can unseat Florida as the conference champs. They did lose John Parker-Wilson at QB and Andre Smith to the first round of the draft. Losing Glen Coffee isn't going to help matters either. However, I think he's got enough horses in the stable to plug them in and keep going. Prediction 10-2.

3. Ole Miss Rebels- Houston Nutt inherited a pretty solid team when he bolted Arkansas for Mississippi. He's also added a few pieces here and there to make a pretty solid unit. They have a great quarterback coming back in Jevan Snead. He should be able to lead the offense to some good times in the SEC. Perhaps the best thing they have going for them is their schedule. They should roll through most of the season with only a bump or two in the road. Prediction: 10-2

4. LSU Tigers- The Tigers have been one of the most successful programs in college football in recent years. They're just two seasons removed from a National Championship. However, they're still kind of rebuilding in Baton Rouge. They are very talented and they'll win several games this year, but they're not upper echelon just yet. Prediction: 9-3

5. Georgia Bulldogs- The Bulldogs are always a tough team and this year will be no different. However, losing your quarterback to the #1 overall pick in the NFL draft isn't an easy thing to overcome. Then you add into that the fact that you lost your starting running-back to the 1st round of the draft as well. They lost a lot of studs last year and it's going to be a transition period this season for the Bulldogs. Prediction 9-3.

6. South Carolina Gamecocks- Can the "Old Ball Coach" pull off a miracle turnaround and unseat Florida as the conference champions? Probably not. They're going to be better than they have in recent years, but they're still not going to get over the hump. Expect them to be up and down this year behind sketchy quarterback Stephen Garcia. Prediction: 8-4

7. Vanderbilt- Vandy has always been thought of as a secondary program in the SEC. For a while, the only thing they had going for them was that they produced Jay Cutler (at one point, that was a good thing). Then last season came along and they surprised a lot of the pundits. They made their first bowl game in two decades and ended up winning it. It was a welcome surprise for a much maligned program in Vandy. Expect about the same record as last year. Prediction: 7-5

8. Arkansas Razorbacks- Arkansas hasn't really recovered since they lost two running backs to the first round of the draft and Houston Nutt left town. They've had a pretty miserable run lately and Bobby Petrino hopes that he can turn it around. Can he get the job done? He's trying to build everything around talented quarterback Ryan Mallett. He's a good quarterback, but the defense is a little flawed at this point. Expect some shootouts in Fayetteville this year. Prediction: 7-5

9. Auburn Tigers- Auburn just traded in one of the most successful coaches in the country for one of the most unsuccessful. Hope it works out for you Auburn! They will probably struggle through the season and have moments that make you scratch your head. They've been a football powerhouse in recent memory, but this season will not fit into that category. Prediction:6-6

10. Tennessee Volunteers- The big news of the off-season was all about Lane Kiffin coming to town. He got a very public firing at the hands of Raiders owner Al Davis and now he brings his brand of football (whatever that is) to Tennessee. He then proceeded to alienate several players and anger many people along the way. This will be a tough first year for Kiffin even if he has his daddy there to support him. Prediction: 6-6

11. Kentucky Wildcats- Gone are the days of Jared Lorenzen and Andre Woodson at quarterback. Here are the days of Mike Hartline under center. He won't break any passing records this year at Kentucky. They're going to be pretty bad this year and it might not get better for a few years. Expect a losing season in Kentucky. Prediction: 5-7

12. Mississippi St. Bulldogs- The Bulldogs are pretty much going to be terrible this year. In fact, they've been pretty bad for a while now. Don't expect any miracles in this section of Mississippi. Expect another depressing year for Bulldog fans. Prediction: 3-9

Hopefully these free football picks will help with your College Football Betting through the SEC season. Expect a wild ride along the way with the Gators coming out on top yet again.

Check out Vernon Croy's Expert College Football Picks this season. Vernon Croy is the Owner/CEO of http://www.VernonCroy.com and he is one of the most reputable and respected professional sports handicappers in the world. Vernon Croy has won numerous handicapping awards and he is ranked as one of the top 10 handicappers in the world 100% documented by the Professional Handicappers League.

Your Friday Hoodoo Thread | Western Carolina

Your Friday Hoodoo Thread | Western Carolina - Roll 'Bama Roll @media all and (min-width: 599px) {.sbn-pl-sbn-dfl-comments-wrapper { min-height: 610px;}}.flipme .sbn-river-standard-chunk {direction: rtl;}.flipme .sbn-river-standard-chunk div {direction: ltr;}.flipme .sbn-river-standard-chunk div.sbn-river-standard-chunk-stack-col {border-left: 0;border-right: solid 25px #fff;}.flipme .sbn-river-standard-chunk.chunk-left {direction: ltr;} window.ooyala_player_id = "e7e908eebffd4efeb96a3096aa9b4bd0"; _umbel.push(['tag', 'profile.tags', 'sport:ncaa-football']);_umbel.push(['tag', 'profile.tags', 'team:Alabama Crimson Tide']);   Login Sign Up Roll 'Bama Roll, an Alabama Crimson Tide community Menu Items NFL NBA MLB NHL CFB CBB UFC Soccer NASCAR Fantasy Golf Tennis Video Local Cycling Boxing Horse Racing Running Water Polo Wrestling SB Nation View All 320 Blogs Humor Your Friday Hoodoo Thread | Western Carolina 53 By Todd on Nov 16, 9:23a

http://www.freidapintofan.com

Our weekly attempt to curry favor with the Football Gods by admitting our moral, intellectual, and cultural shortcoming in a very public manner.

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Folks, the Football Gods are testing our loyalty. We could go all Pedro Cerrano after last weekend's heart crushing loss but let's remember, it took an even greater miracle to get back into the BCS National Championship last year than we need this time, so throw yourselves on the mercy of the Football Gods and beg their favor on our beloved Crimson Tide's fortunes the rest of the year. Bring it in the comments with your admissions, oathes, rituals or whatever you've got. My standing pledge to read 50 Shades of Grey in return for an SEC Title (and perform and record a dramatic reading from said book for a BCS title) is still in effect. Roll Tide.

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

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