Alabama 32, Florida 13

My beloved Crimson Tide has won its 22nd SEC title, and will play for its 13th national title on January 7.

Congratulations, thank you, and Roll Tide!

We had a great time taking in yesterday’s game at Casa BamaDan’s.  What an epic dismantling.  I thought Alabama had a good chance to win, but I had no idea I’d never even worry watching the game.  Ladies and gentlemen, Florida was never in it.  (For 59 seconds in the second quarter, they only trailed by two; if you want to call that “in it,” then there you go.  Heh.)

The stats tell part of that story.  Alabama held the ball for two-thirds of the game, which was beautifully manifested by a 17-play, 88-yard drive that ate almost nine minutes of the second half.  Alabama was penalized once for five yards.  Alabama did not turn the ball over.

But as well as Alabama played in all phases, they didn’t quantitatively shut Tebow down.  He still wound up with impressive numbers.  What the Tide defense did do was disrupt him enough (catch the four down men on the D-line to start the game?  didja see what happened to that shovel pass on the first snap?) to keep him from finding any rhythm.

But hey, Florida finished with 335 yards of offense.  And did you realize they averaged 6.7 yards per offensive snap?  Sounds like enough to win, doesn’t it?  But the Gators only posted 13 points, and none in the second half.  That’s what I’m talking about.

Thing is, Tebow could have played the game of his life, and it still wouldn’t have been enough, because the Alabama offense absolutely held the ball at will on the nation’s #1 defense.  I said—millions said—coming into this game that the key to an Alabama victory was going to be holding the ball and keeping Tebow on the sideline, and I liked their chances to do that.  What I didn’t expect was that the Alabama offense would be able to hold the ball so suffocatingly.  The Tide offense ever look rattled to you?  McElroy got hurried a couple of times, but did you ever see any nerves?  I didn’t.

You know that cold, emotionless stare on Arnold’s Terminator when he’s mowing down victims?  Oh, the clock ticked so gloriously in that second half!

This was the most complete and well executed game Alabama has played in recent memory.  This team, with this mentality, will leave Pasadena 14-0.  The responsibility of keeping the team focused falls to Saban, more than any other person.  Do you like his chances of having these young men prepared for one more game?

Texas, you’re next.

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