re: What's the general feeling of the fanbase going into this season.

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I think 9-3 is the absolute floor and thats losing a game we had no business losing. 10-2 is very realistic and also 11-1. Im excited for Grubb and I think we see a significant improvement on offense which in turn helps out defense.

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This is how I'm seeing it. I expect a loss or two, just from a difficult schedule and that going undefeated is just simply a rarity, even with elite level teams.

One thing I'm feeling good about is that I think this team will be much more consistent from play-to-play and game-to game. Without the wild up and down swings, it makes it more likely that they avoid the clunker type games like the ones that doomed them at Vandy and Oklahoma.

Also, year two things at least seem much ore settled and DeBoer will have his long time partner back as OC, so there will a greater level of comfort and communication there.

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I would add South Carolina whipped us physically and I don't remember the last time that happened.

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I don't remember getting physically whipped by South Carolina on either side of the ball.

I remember us up 14-0 late in the 2nd qtr and them having 4th and 9 and a coverage bust from a freshman (Mincey maybe?) leading to a 30 yard TD followed immediately by a terrible safety and terrible INT from Jalen. 12 pts given away in roughly 90 seconds.

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I remember us up 14-0 late in the 2nd qtr and them having 4th and 9 and a coverage bust from a freshman (Mincey maybe?) leading to a 30 yard TD followed immediately by a terrible safety and terrible INT from Jalen. 12 pts given away in roughly 90 seconds.

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I was watching this on my phone about to board a plane. Had to seriously control myself so as not to look like a nut job, but easier said than done. Was fairly certain we were losing that day.

Defense definitely stepped up with a couple of turnovers in the second half if I remember right.

Extremely confident. In the NIL era...there will be losses. This applies to every team. Alabama has a great roster and a great coaching staff. Thats a recipe for a good season

South Carolina is being talked up a lot and I get that. But the trip to Mizzou can’t be overlooked. They have a pretty good defense and any time you travel in this conference you have to be careful. 11 AM kickoff, too.

extremely hopeful, with caution. i'm terrible at prognostication but i think 11-1. however i think the 1 will leave us all scratching our heads. have no factual reason for feeling this way, except the vandy catastrophe.

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I’m cautiously VERY optimistic.

If OL is good to very good, and QB is very solid, I think we’re the best team in the country.

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IMO, both of those are true, with Ty likely better than solid. Nevertheless, that may not make Alabama the best team in the country. However, it may be Alabama's best team since '20. Ryan Grubb has already made a big difference and will likely continue to do so throughout the season. If Alabama has solved its running QB problem on D, not sure that there is a weakness on the team, assuming their kickers are at least adequate. Even if they are not, it shouldn't make a big difference.

Alabama needs to up its pass rush and get good rushing from the RB room, which has depth but no alpha runner, although Jam is an alpha all-around back. We've got to see Ty under fire, although the way he has taken control of the team is impressive. Grubb has been an incredible boon to the QBs. The team is already extremely sharp with 2 1/2 weeks left in the preseason. They rarely make a mistake, even with all of the motion and shifts they employ. The QBs rarely throw picks, although they are going against possibly the best secondary in college football, which is especially good at taking the ball away.

It APPEARS only injuries can derail this team, and there's pretty good depth in most rooms. But who knows until the bullets start flying. But I've not been this excited about the team since '20, even with Bryce, who was a magician.