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All We Do Is Win

Posted on 12/27/11 at 9:09 am
Posted by Chris Warner
Perdido Bay
Member since Jan 2009
5575 posts
Posted on 12/27/11 at 9:09 am
All We Do Is Win
The SEC Riviera Roundup National Championship Edition
By Chris E. Warner
December 26, 2011

WARNING: This column will certainly disturb devout Alabama football fans. Those pulling for the Crimson Tide on January 9 should avoid reading it at all costs, as it will make their wait excruciating, casting a looming shadow of doubt over their already slim chances at victory.

The national championship rematch of what was previously hyped as college football’s “Game of the Century” has confounded fans and challenged the long-term viability and fairness of the embattled, NCAA-sanctioned, BCS system that created it. In the process, the one-loss Alabama Crimson Tide has become the orphaned BCS poster child who royally backed its way into the national championship game. However, while Crimson Tide fans are elated to find themselves in the Superdome on January 9th, they should be gravely concerned about the matchup, as the Tigers are 4-0 in BCS games in New Orleans—a place where all they do is win.

In this featured holiday piece we will focus on the game that must attempt for the media’s sake to eclipse in entertainment value the avalanche of pre-game hype produced by its November 5th predecessor. We will break down each program, the coaches and players, and their eventual chances for success in the ultimate clash for the crystal; as well as take our regular, year’s end, armchair quarterback tour across the nation’s toughest conference, the SEC.

Backing Into the National Championship Game

Consider for a moment that if it had been LSU--and not Alabama, who lost November 5th in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Would a one-loss LSU—having played the nation’s toughest schedule—have received a mulligan like the Crimson Tide? It is doubtable.

Leading to the BCS Championship Game selection on December 4th, ESPN (Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) shamelessly promoted a rematch, even though they benefited financially much more from an LSU-Alabama rematch. In this sordid BCS episode, what was better for ESPN’s bottom line was more important than what was best for American college football; which is all the more reason why ESPN should only be in the business of influencing public opinion regarding who will win the national championship playoff, instead of which two teams are deserving of playing in a single national championship game.

It is hard to fault Alabama for winding up in the National Championship Game. Obviously their home loss against the greatest team in college football history in front of a most hostile, sellout crowd was the year’s most impressive; and certainly deserving of a rematch for a shot at all the marbles, regardless if it ensured an SEC National Championship monopoly at the price of ESPN’s profit. Therefore, if you are upset over the final pairing, blame an obviously flawed, media-influenced system that is not without unjust political influence as well.

The NCAA a year ago turned a blind eye to Auburn winning the national championship with the help of what effectively was a semi-professional athlete in Heisman winner Cam Newton, whose father effectively shopped him around to not one, but two different SEC schools. Recently the NCAA announced that it would not punish Auburn for ostensibly destroying any remaining credibility the organization had. Today, the NCAA is a bad joke, led by a puppet, Mark Emmert, the biggest phony to ever pose as an LSU academician; and the current NCAA President.

Therefore, as this game approaches, understand that it is merely the creation of a well-oiled, financially-biased, politically jaded machine that well serves its originators—a cadre of colluding, compromised NCAA and SEC officials who have used their unprecedented national clout to bring fortune and fame to a region weaned on, and criminally addicted to, winning college football.

LSU already is the nation’s best team—having beaten Alabama in its own back yard during the all-important regular season and the University of Georgia in the conference championship. Playing Alabama again does not negate these irrevocable facts.

Nothing to Show For the Season for Alabama

SEC Champion LSU enjoys the conference crown, an undefeated record and all the holiday spoils of victory associated with a team in its position. Conversely, Alabama, a team with only a single blemish on an otherwise stellar record, has had nothing to brag about over the holidays except an impending matchup against a team that it already succumbed to inside the confines of vaunted Bryant Denny Stadium. Now they must play that same damn strong team in New Orleans, where the voo doo of Marie Laveau is as real as LSU’s head football coach. Alabama players and fans have only the cruel, elusive hope of redemption on a mystifying foreign soil.

Saban Versus Miles

Les Miles, a coach who just a season ago was labeled a moron by the media elite, is now the proverbial daddy of the darling of the media. Miles is Saban’s daddy. When Saban needs to pee he calls Les Miles to ask if it is okay. After he loses a third straight time to Miles on January 9, Saban will be Miles’ bitch. Therefore, when Les wins a fourth straight time in Baton Rouge in November 2012, a crazed Alabama fanbase will call incessantly for his statuesque head.

Richardson Versus the Honey Badger

Trent Richardson is casually referred to as a beast. In the African bush, the honey badger commonly brings down carnivorous beasts many times its diminutive size. While these two players receive most of the media attention, there are many other outstanding players worthy of the praise. Nevertheless, Trent and Tyrann are the heart and soul of their respective teams, as their games most typify style of play. The Honey Badger has momentum on his side, lately posting an uncanny, almost newfound ability to masterfully return punts, to go along with his ever-innovative ball-hawking skills. Richardson is coming off a dominating Auburn performance. Mathieu is college football’s premier playmaker. Had he not smoked the fake bake he would have certainly improved his early Heisman showing. Next year he will be a Heisman favorite, LSU’s first in many years. Richardson is assuredly a professional draft lock, as he will be a first-rounder.

Around the Nation’s Most Dominant League

Arkansas - Bobby Petrino made a deal with the devil. He promised to exercise little to no public decorum or professional courtesy while seeking the ever-elusive national championship. In exchange the devil of course promised an imminent crystal ball. Petrino is dumb and crude enough to trust the devil. And the heaven is in the details. Petrino easily wins the jerk of the year award in college football for flipping off and dog cussing Coach Miles and then refusing to shake his hand after the Razorbacks’ 41-17 loss in Baton Rouge. Hog fans are slowly realizing that defense wins championships. Good luck on the recruiting trail Bobby. Arkansas plays Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl.

Auburn – Somebody in the Athletic Department didn’t like Auburn Offensive Coordinator Gus Malzahn. Whether it was Gene Chizik or one of his de facto bosses will likely remain a mystery. Malzahn oddly will take over newly-crowned Ole Miss Head Coach Hugh Freeze’s position at Arkansas State in beautiful Jonesboro, where he will share space with former LSU Basketball Coach John Brady. Auburn plays Virginia in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl.

Ole Miss – Houston Nutt has disappeared into the abyss of college football coaching, succumbing like so many others before him to the most prolific coaching black hole in the SEC. Go ahead and add Hugh Freeze to this long, dud-studded list of the coaching disappeared. Ole Miss grads who passed math now realize, with the addition of Texas A&M and Missouri, that statistically their chances of winning the league for the first time since 1963 just decreased considerably. Ole Miss cleans the toilet bowl.

Mississippi State – State Coach Dan Mullen is still trying to bring a legitimate division one quarterback to Starkville. Had they taken Cecil Newton’s reasonable offer, this certainly would not be the case, as Mullen would likely be coaching somewhere else by now after winning the national championship over Oregon. During an expansion year the Bulldogs will be feeling the pressure to recruit well and maintain precious program momentum. Mullen and his fans only hope to continue to grind out wins. Mississippi State plays Wake Forest in the Music City Bowl.

Georgia – Mark Richt is your ten-win friend minus the trophy. Many Georgia fans find this acceptable. Seemingly an equal number do not. This debate will continue. Richt’s team this year was the best of a lousy Eastern Division by SEC Western standards, evidenced by their 42-10 steamrolling at the hands of LSU. Best of the worst is the current state of the state of University of Georgia football, a bittersweet title indeed. Georgia plays Michigan State in the Outback Bowl.

South Carolina – Steve Spurrier seems to be regaining his recruiting swagger. Jadeveon Clowney is just the beginning. A fierce competitor, Spurrier appears poised for another championship run—and it could be just around the corner for the aging Ole Ball Coach. The Gamecocks are 10-2 with losses to Western Division upstarts Auburn (16-13) and Arkansas (44-28). The Cocks play Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl.

Florida – Will Muschamp? Only time will tell if he can. However, after year one it is highly doubtful, as the other Saban protégé’ (Dooley) looks equally frustrated and ineffective in his pursuit to lead Florida to even respectability. The Gators looked out of sync and befuddled on both sides of the ball for most of the year, hardly a shell of their former invincible selves. The Gators play Ohio State in the Gator Bowl.

Tennessee – Dooley’s hair dye trickery, fancy pants and bamboo motivational chants have yet to incite an implosion of Volunteer Football fandom, but orange you glad he’s not your coach? Tennessee seems caught in the reeling effects of compounded bad recruiting classes. Dooley must reinvent himself in the offseason yet again to impress prospective recruits. He may want to leave the citrus slacks at home. The Vols’ season ended with their first loss to Kentucky in 27 years. As a result, they will stay home this year like the Black Bears.

Kentucky – The Wildcats finished 5-7 after defeating the Tennessee Vols in their final game of the season, spoiling the Vols’ expected bowl participation by giving them an identical 5-7 record. Like every year, the Wildcats have a great hoops team.

Vanderbilt – Most SEC grads work for Vandy grads. Their coach, James Franklin, is considered a bright and shining star among the young coaching ranks and will most certainly land a big-time coaching job when the near timing is right.

What to Expect in the National Championship Game

Alabama fans weakly profess to have gobbled up more than half of the available championship game tickets. Authenticated TicketMaster reports predict otherwise—that Tiger fans will ultimately hold a decisive 65-35 home field advantage. Further, the Gumps forget that their beloved Tide must spend the entire week in what is supposed to be neutral ground. The only problem is that this neutral ground is in New Orleans, Louisiana’s biggest city, and home to untold thousands of Tiger fans. By game time the Alabama players and coaches will know well that they are no longer in T-Town.

Les Miles’ LSU bowl record is 5-1. Given considerable extra time to prepare, Miles seems to be at his best, always producing a ripple that serves to confound his opponent. In the November 5th game Miles appeared to be in Saban’s head, forcing the usually ultra-conservative coach to pull the trigger on a rare trick pass, resulting in the game’s most pivotal play, a goal line interception by safety Eric Reid.

Alabama is good at running the football against most teams. In the first game, LSU ran the ball better, exercising the speed option late to exploit Alabama’s heavier linebackers, who tired from having to run the width of the field. In this game, expect more scoring as the speedier Tigers will likely open up the offense with a bevy of unforeseen passing routes and plays. In short, Saban has had over a month to prepare for what he doesn’t know Miles will do.

As in the first game, quarterback play and turnovers will be pivotal. LSU has two experienced senior quarterbacks. Alabama has redshirt sophomore AJ McCarron and a virtually unknown backup with minimal playing time against shoddy competition. Additionally, LSU also has home field advantage, a more complete team, an edge in special teams play and forced turnovers; and of course, coaching. It is for these reasons why Les Miles is so honored to once again play the Alabama Crimson Tide, as his men now possess the superior fighting ground.


LSU 27
Bama 13

*Chris Warner is the author of “A Tailgater’s Guide to SEC Football, Volume III,” “The Wagon to Disaster” (The untold story of HealthSouth), and the forthcoming, “Bushwhacked at the Flora-Bama” (April 2012). He is a double LSU graduate who lives part-time at the Flora-Bama on the Alabama and Florida State Line.














Posted by Swoopin
Member since Jun 2011
22030 posts
Posted on 12/27/11 at 9:10 am to
tl;dr
Posted by mostbesttigerfanever
TD platinum member suite in TS
Member since Jan 2010
5016 posts
Posted on 12/27/11 at 9:11 am to
Posted by GoCrazyAuburn
Member since Feb 2010
34862 posts
Posted on 12/27/11 at 9:12 am to
quote:

Auburn – Somebody in the Athletic Department didn’t like Auburn Offensive Coordinator Gus Malzahn. Whether it was Gene Chizik or one of his de facto bosses will likely remain a mystery



lol wut?


I'm guessing he is using some creative journalism here?
Posted by GarmischTiger
Humboldt County
Member since Mar 2007
6608 posts
Posted on 12/27/11 at 9:15 am to
2,000+ words to say LSU will win while demonstrating proficiency with a thesaurus.

Oy.
Posted by Honkus
Member since Aug 2005
51039 posts
Posted on 12/27/11 at 9:17 am to
quote:

Consider for a moment that if it had been LSU--and not Alabama, who lost November 5th in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Would a one-loss LSU—having played the nation’s toughest schedule—have received a mulligan like the Crimson Tide? It is doubtable.


I'm calling bullshite on this, Chris. w/ our OOC schedule & only losing to bama on the road, we would certainly be in the rematch. I don't think this is even debatable.
This post was edited on 12/27/11 at 9:18 am
Posted by Funky Tide 8
Tittleman's Crest
Member since Feb 2009
52633 posts
Posted on 12/27/11 at 9:21 am to
Na the guy is just an idiot who thinks typing two thousand words makes him a sports journalist. Anyone who commends him is as stupid as he is.
Posted by Broke
AKA Buttercup
Member since Sep 2006
65043 posts
Posted on 12/27/11 at 9:22 am to
You jinxing mf'er
Posted by arlo
Member since Oct 2007
12376 posts
Posted on 12/27/11 at 9:28 am to
quote:

WARNING: This column will certainly disturb devout Alabama football fans. Those pulling for the Crimson Tide on January 9 should avoid reading it at all costs, as it will make their wait excruciating, casting a looming shadow of doubt over their already slim chances at victory.


Posted by Dribble
Hey, nice marmot.
Member since Jun 2008
9576 posts
Posted on 12/27/11 at 9:31 am to
quote:

expect more scoring as the speedier Tigers will likely open up the offense with a bevy of unforeseen passing routes and plays. In short, Saban has had over a month to prepare for what he doesn’t know Miles will do.
:secretplaybook:
Posted by Alahunter
Member since Jan 2008
90738 posts
Posted on 12/27/11 at 9:32 am to
quote:

I'm calling bullshite on this, Chris. w/ our OOC schedule & only losing to bama on the road, we would certainly be in the rematch. I don't think this is even debatable.


+1

Ended the reading there.
Posted by GoCrazyAuburn
Member since Feb 2010
34862 posts
Posted on 12/27/11 at 9:33 am to
quote:

secretplaybook:



Still option to near side. Its a double secret play.
Posted by bencoleman
RIP 7/19
Member since Feb 2009
37887 posts
Posted on 12/27/11 at 9:33 am to
drivel
Posted by Alahunter
Member since Jan 2008
90738 posts
Posted on 12/27/11 at 9:35 am to
quote:

*Chris Warner is the author of “A Tailgater’s Guide to SEC Football, Volume III,” “The Wagon to Disaster” (The untold story of HealthSouth), and the forthcoming, “Bushwhacked at the Flora-Bama” (April 2012). He is a double LSU graduate who lives part-time at the Flora-Bama on the Alabama and Florida State Line.


Alahunter is laughing at the use of third person reference at the end of Chris Warner's article. Alahunter finds it amusing, and would never do anything like that.
Posted by Dribble
Hey, nice marmot.
Member since Jun 2008
9576 posts
Posted on 12/27/11 at 9:36 am to
quote:

He is a double LSU graduate who lives part-time at the Flora-Bama
Posted by AUnite
The Tragic City
Member since Nov 2010
14828 posts
Posted on 12/27/11 at 9:40 am to
quote:

who lives part-time at the Flora-Bama


Who would want to live at that dump?
Posted by Alahunter
Member since Jan 2008
90738 posts
Posted on 12/27/11 at 9:44 am to
Double Lsu grads.
Posted by gatordmb89
Member since Dec 2009
30458 posts
Posted on 12/27/11 at 9:45 am to
Ultimate homer article.

Something I would expect Alahunter to post.
Posted by arlo
Member since Oct 2007
12376 posts
Posted on 12/27/11 at 9:50 am to
quote:

The NCAA a year ago turned a blind eye to Auburn winning the national championship with the help of what effectively was a semi-professional athlete in Heisman winner Cam Newton, whose father effectively shopped him around to not one,


The author is very effective in effectively using the word "effectively" in this effective sentence.
Posted by arlo
Member since Oct 2007
12376 posts
Posted on 12/27/11 at 9:51 am to
quote:

Who would want to live at that dump?


It's Kenny Stabler's mailing address.
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