Chat Sports Alabama Crimson Tide writer Eric Taylor joins me for a multi-part series previewing the most anticipated game of the 2012 college football season, the Cowboy Classic, Alabama vs. Michigan.
You can find Eric's great work covering the Tide here - Eric Taylor
Here are his answers to questions I posed to him, raw and unedited:
1. Tell us about the personnel losses from last season?
The NFL Draft supplied a peak into the challenges Alabama will face in 2012 as far as the talent, experience (1 SEC Title, 2 National Championships) and leadership they are losing. Trent Richardson, Mark Barron, Dre Kirkpatrick, Courtney Upshaw, and Dont’a Hightower are just the five household names ‘Bama loses. There are other guys who were not rated so highly on the draft boards, but were key components to the championship caliber football that’s been played in Tuscaloosa since 2008. Tight end Brad Smelly, the “other” cornerback DeQuan Menzie, and center William Vlachos will be missed as well. However, see question 2.
2. How do Alabama fans feel about the players replacing those guys?
I’d say the fans are pretty excited about the 2012 version of the Crimson Tide. If Hoke continues to recruit like he has for the 2013 class, Michigan will understand the remaining answer to this question in four years from now.
Nick Saban has taken the expectation levied upon him by the rabid fan base, chewed it up and spit out No. 1 recruiting every season since 2008. It has gotten to the point in Tuscaloosa where the fans don’t mind Trent Richardson leaving a season early because they want to see what guys, like Eddie Lacy, T.J. Yeldon, and Dee Hart can do out of the backfield.
The amount of talent in Tuscaloosa is unprecedented and there’s no debating that fact. The 2011 team, in my opinion, was the best Alabama team to ever take the field in the history of football at the Capstone. Is it cocky? Maybe. But I think it’s more of a “reveling in the moment.”
Michigan, much like the ‘Tide in the early- and mid-2000s, has seen its fair share of horrible football. Not from the hack homecoming opponents, but from the home team. It’s never fun to watch bad football, but it is absolutely unacceptable for teams with the rich and illustrious histories of Alabama and Michigan. Say Alabama and Michigan. What comes to mind? Two states or two of the best college football teams in the history of the game? Exactly.
I write all that to say this -- Players leaving for the NFL can sting in Tuscaloosa for the lack of experience (see 2010 season), but it is exciting because the fans finally get to see those 5-star guys everyone was going nuts over two Februarys ago.
3. Is there a “championship or bust” mindset in Alabama these days?
Yes. It started somewhere around 1892.
The fans have reason to be excited in 2012. Some of these guys were around in 2010 to learn that another national title will not be handed to them because of the championship that was won in 2009. Also, it is no secret that although Alabama is the National Champion, LSU is still the champion of the best conference in college football. Getting to and winning in Atlanta still holds a lot of weight amongst SEC brethren. Alabama wants the belts unified. No more winning a national championship without winning the West.
4. What is the perception of Michigan by Bama fans or players/coaches?
Honestly, I’m afraid it’s a little lax. This game has 2008 Clemson written all over. However, every sports writer in Alabama and Michigan will probably mention that about five times a week over the next two months, so that factor may be removed.
The perception of Michigan better be a perception of very much respect. I’m not saying the 2008 Clemson team was as talented or well coached as this Alabama team, but if the players and fans walk onto the field vs. Michigan on September 1st believing it is their birthright to leave Dallas on Sunday morning with a 1-0 record, it won’t matter if they are more talented than the 1985 Bears.
5. How has that perception changed from a couple years ago when the game was announced? (when Michigan sucked)
I may be wrong, but I recall this game being announced shortly before or after Denard Robinson’s “untied shoelaces” game against Notre Dame in 2010. My dad and I went to the Penn State game in Tuscaloosa. We get back to the hotel to eagerly await the Sportscenter highlights of the game we just spent four hours watching live from the bleachers of Bryant-Denny Stadium. All they showed was this kid with 3.7 speed making Notre Dame defenders look like Bambi mama right before she was shot. What? Too much? Sorry. But anywho, it was at that time that many of the Alabama writers were discussing Robinson only being a sophomore and he’d be a senior for the Alabama game in 2012 if he stays at Michigan.
Here we are. Denard is still there. To answer the question with a yes or no, it is a resounding yes. Rich-Rod and Michigan was as natural a match as, oh, I don’t know, Alabama and Rich Rodriguez.
6. Would Rich Rodriguez have had more success if he accepted the Bama job in 2007 than he did at Michigan?
This is a great question. The answer is, no. Rich-Rod’s cover as a great coach would be blown in Tuscaloosa instead of Michigan had he not changed his mind. Oh, how we praise him for changing that mind of his. He fit West Virginia because he could do his thing and really never be questioned in his little corner of the world. He went to a fishbowl school in Ann Arbor and proved he couldn’t get away with what he thought were little infractions like he did in Morgantown.
7. If you were a gambling man, who would you wager money on this game? Alabama is a 16 point favorite
I’m not a gambling man because I’d be dead by now, but if I had to bet against the spread here, I’d take Michigan. It’s the first game of the season and Alabama has guys that have playing experience, but not leadership experience. If Alabama does cover the spread, it will be because of a late touchdown run after wearing down Michigan’s front seven (see Trent Richardson TD run versus LSU in BCS Championship Game).
8. Who is one Tide player to watch out for that most Michigan fans haven’t heard of?
T.J. Yeldon -- Freshman RB -- Watch a replay of Alabama’s spring game and he won’t be a guy no one has heard of, but I’ve been giddy about this guy since he decommitted from Auburn and pledge his allegiance to the ‘Tide. I was so excited on signing day that I wrote this piece for our beloved Chat Sports website http://www.chatsports.com/alabama-crimson-tide/a/2012-Signing-Day-and-Beyond-Running-Backs-10-143-414
9. How has Alabama handled dual threat QB’s in the Saban era?
Since 2008’s SEC Championship game versus Tim Tebow and the Sugar Bowl against Brian Johnson, they have been very good. No one could really stop Tebow in 2008 after his “promise” to never lose a game again in the history of ever, but he was successful in that game against Alabama.
Saban made a point to never let Tebow beat his team again if they matched up in Atlanta in 2009. Saban’s preparation paid off and Alabama destroyed the read option all afternoon while posting a 32-13 victory.
I guess the right answer here would be that Alabama handles dual threat QBs just fine when Saban has time to prepare and game-plan for said QBs. Jordan Jefferson came into the game for LSU in the first meeting with ‘Bama and ‘Bama made him look like Michael Vick at times. Then Saban had 40 days to prepare for Jefferson again. Les Miles commenced to running the same exact offense and ‘Bama’s defense gladly dominated, allowing LSU to cross midfield late in the fourth quarter. Who says Saban doesn’t have a heart?
10. What does Michigan have to do to win this game?
Misdirection, misdirection, misdirection, and a little option with misdirection and short passes for 12 yards at a time to tight ends. Then a little misdirection on offense. The defense needs to be good, but more importantly, they need to be well conditioned. If not, Alabama pulls away late.
If Denard can buy enough time and allow his receivers to get creative and get behind Alabama’s secondary, Michigan could be in business. This first game is a great opportunity for Michigan to expose Alabama’s green secondary. By mid-season, ‘Bama should be more than great at corner and safety, but vulnerabilities will be aplenty in September and early October.
11. This is Alabama’s most important out of conference game since _____?
Clemson 2008.
Reason being, Alabama does not need to be a spring board to announce Michigan’s return like Clemson was for Alabama in 2008. Since that game, Alabama has lost five games.
12. What is your prediction for the game?
I’m going to say Alabama wins a close game where the score doesn’t do the game justice (see Florida’s 31-20 win over Alabama in the 2008 SEC Championship Game). Final score -- Alabama 28 Michigan 17
13. Tell us about what to expect from Alabama fans, band, etc before, during and after the game in Dallas.
98 percent of Alabama fans are great. The other two percent really don’t show up to games like this. They love to talk about old games like they just happened yesterday. They believe in Southern hospitality. There’s a respect factor there for Michigan because Michigan has tradition.
The Million Dollar Band is just an extension of the football team. Anything and everything related to the ‘Tide football team on game day is Alabama Football.
Some fans will be talking about this game like it’s payback for the 2000 Orange Bowl. Maybe they’ll cuss Tom Brady and talk about how he is jealous that Alabama has been so successful since he threw for close to 7,354 yards in that game. Who cares about Gisele and his Super Bowl rings.
Some fans will try hard to make you believe they have something to do with everything good that has happened since 2008. They are very entertaining, but you get worried when you start trying to understand how they could afford to get to Dallas, much less buy a ticket to the game.
The majority of fans, though, will be awesome and leave a positive impression. It takes all these fans to make up the passionate fan base, so I have to accept them as family. Kind of like that embarrassing family member, but that crazy uncle is a good dude and makes the family reunion entertaining every year.
I just hope our crazy uncle is happy and bragging about being 1-0 when he leaves Dallas on Sunday, September 2.
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