It didn’t look like Alabama was rushing that effectively in the 3rd quarter, when they couldn’t get a first down. They also wouldn’t have had such a big lead. It would have been more of a shoot out with McCoy in the game.
Yes, injuries are a part of the game, but it’s obtuse to deny the significance they can have. The Tide caught a break, and got to play against an impaired offense.
They caused the impairment with a clean hit. They’re entitled to benefit from that, and they did.
So, according to you, no matter who played QB for Texas, Alabama was going to win and it was just a matter of how they would have won? Or am I misreading you?
I think Texas would have had a better chance of winning with McCoy, but on balance I do think Alabama was the better team either way.
I’ll give Bama their props. After the way Florida demolished Cincinnati, that SEC championship win looks even more impressive.
I guess the only thing I could criticize Alabama for is giving up those long TD passes. You obviously want to force the freshman QB to have to beat you, yet they knew Texas had no choice but to air it out. Regardless, I think it was less a matter of Alabama not being that good and more a matter of Texas playing out of their minds with their backs against the wall. Their defense kept them in the game most of the night.
So props to Bama and props to Texas for not giving up.
Christ, what made you people so damn bitter and dejected? Is it the SEC 4-peat?
They shut down the offense to play field position ball. This was admittedly a mistake, but Ingram eventually got the offense going again to drain clock.
Impossible to say. The fact is that Saban and company prepared specifically for McCoy’s style of play. I could just as easily say that Saban, Smart, and McClain would have dialed him in and shut him down. No? Prove me wrong.
What is it with you? They didn’t “catch a break”. They knocked McCoy the fuck out of the game on a clean defensive play.
And let’s not forget: McElroy played the entire game with two cracked ribs. Every throw he made must have been excruciating, and he took some hits as well. But he never made a stupid decision, he never turned the ball over, and he got up after every sack and led the offense to a win.
With a Heisman winning running back, against a team with no QB.
I’m definitely glad Bama won, but that was ugly game. Lots of turnovers, the McCoy injury, blown coverages. Not exactly college football at its finest.
And? It’s not like McCoy was injured during practice, and couldn’t play the game. The Alabama defense hit him hard enough to knock him out. It happened DURING the game, and was a direct result of Alabama’s actions. I just don’t understand how anyone can think it was anything but tough, hard-nosed play that won the game.
Anyway, the SEC team always wins.
While I made a healthy profit on the game (thank you Tide defense!), I was disappointed to see Colt hurt. He’s always seemed like a great kid to me, and really deserved better. He devoted much of his life to getting to this game. When he came out with his pads back on, knowing that he wouldn’t be playing, I was even more impressed. He maintained his composure for his team, and I never saw a single tear. Even his constant “praise the lord” comments aren’t overly annoying or self-serving, as opposed to Tebow (who clearly envisions himself as a rock star).
But…
I think that Bama would still have dominated Texas, and probably by even a bigger margin, if Colt stayed healthy. Alabama seemed more deflated than Texas after the half, on both sides of the ball. They shut off the engines too quickly, thinking that the game was in the bag. And it’s very hard for an offense to get its timing back after shutting down like that.
Even though I won some $$$, I would much rather have seen a good game with both teams at full strength. I suppose its symbolic of this year’s bowl season as a whole. I love college football and look forward to bowl season every year. This was one the most boring seasons ever.
You can’t remember back four years? The Vince Young Show was perhaps the best National Championship game ever. FWIW, I am not a Texas fan, was pulling for Bama, and think this game gest no asterisk (Bama crushed McCoy and sent him to the training room - that’s what good defenses do, they cruch their opponents, legally)
Yeah, the Vince Young game was far better than this one. This one got a little bit interesting towards the end, but nothing like the wire to wire drama and performances in that Texas-USC game.
For values of “recent history” < 1 year, perhaps.
I think you’re right. Add to that the fact that the competitor’s fans will find a game more entertaining that someone with no stake. Hell, Florida had two goal line stands and a blocked field goal to upset Oklahoma. That game didn’t have the “drama”/storyline that this one did, but it was closer.
Wha? Huh?
You know. Nevermind. Maybe the Colts will smarten up and start Painter instead of Manning to give themselves that better chance.
Don’t you know how much better a team plays without their starting QB?
[QUOTE=Gonzomax]
Don’t you know how much better a team plays without their starting QB?
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I see that reading comprehension is still an issue in SD sports forums. Can either of you point me to the portion of my post that states or implies that Texas played better without McCoy?
Oh, you can’t?
Then should I point out the major flaw in your logic, or would you rather do it yourselves?
Nah, I got your point right away. Alabama would have played much better, so much better in fact that any additional value McCoy would have brought to the game instead of the rookie QB who threw for 4 interceptions and a had a fumble, would have been laughingly overcome.
I got the point. It’s just a baffling stupid point, and one that deserves much mocking.