Was 2008 really a great season for the Alabama Crimson Tide?

Perhaps the greatest overstatement regarding the 2008 college football campaign was that Alabama had a great season. This simply was not the case. True, the program did enjoy a resurgence. The Tide won its first 12 games and spent time atop the college football polls. However, aside from a divisional championship, Bama did not accomplish much.

Alabama lost the SEC title game to Florida then got embarrassed by Utah in the Sugar Bowl. Since when does this qualify for greatness? Really, the Tide did not accomplish more than Tennessee did in 2007. The Vols won the SEC East in '07 before losing to LSU in the conference title game. Actually, the Vols did the Tide one better by beating a good Wisconsin team in its bowl game. Therefore, a person can make a compelling argument that Tennessee had a better 2007 season than Alabama did in 2008.

At this point, the Tide is entering the 2009 season on a two-game losing streak. And that does not define greatness.

I wonder what 'Bear' Bryant thinks of all this.

Did Utah expose Alabama during the Sugar Bowl?

(Editor's Note: The NCAA placed Alabama's football program on three-year's probation today. According to published reports, this could result in the Tide vacating up to 21 wins earned from 2005-07. Since the sanctions did not result in any loss of scholarships or a ban from appearing in bowl games, the punishment is pretty toothless. Still, it must be considered an embarrassment to the program and the Southeastern Conference).

Talk to any Alabama football fan, and they will enthusiastically talk about how last year's team marked a return to dominance for the program. After all, the team started 12-0 and was ranked number one for most of the season. Head Coach Nick Saban was living up to the expectations created by his $4 million a year contract.

However, what did the Crimson Tide really achieve? True, they did win their first 12 games and beat Auburn. After that, there was no dream ending to the magical season. Bama was clearly overmatched by Florida in the SEC championship game. More surprisingly, they were not competitive in their 31-17 loss to Utah in the Sugar Bowl.

The loss to Florida was excusable, but the loss to Utah was a stunner. Star offensive left tackle Andre Smith was suspended for the game, and by the time the offense found some rhythm, it was too late.

Did Utah expose Alabama? Bama's offense appeared only average without Smith. Mix that in with the loss of quarterback John Parker Wilson this year, and the Tide has a lot of questions to answer on offense.

If Bama's offense could not be competitive against Utah without Smith, how will they fare without him against SEC competition this year?

It is one of many compelling questions to be answered this fall.

The word for today is: 'flummox'

I like the word 'flummox.' Webster's dictionary defines it as: To confuse, confound, or perplex.

To illustrate this definition in a meaningful way, consider the following usages:

1. Alabama coach Nick Saban looked flummoxed as he watched the Crimson Tide lose to Utah in the Sugar Bowl, which embarrassed the entire Southeastern Conference.
2. The media in Miami appeared flummoxed when Nick Saban decided to take the job at Alabama after he insisted for weeks that he would not abandon the Dolphins, making Saban look bad.
3. Alabama coach Nick Saban was flummoxed when he had to suspend All-American offensive lineman Andre Smith before the Sugar Bowl for alleged inappropriate contact with a sports agent, which, if true, continued a long tradition of Alabama players violating NCAA rules.

You see, it really is a great word, but I guess it depends on how you use it.

Odds stacked against Tennessee as Alabama comes to Knoxville

Tennessee's 34-3 drubbing of Mississippi State last week couldn't have come at a better time for the Volunteers.

For the first time all year, both the offense and defense played well in the same game. The offense got off to its customary slow start, but settled down and produced four drives that had 10 plays or more. The defense registered five sacks and had three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns.

However, despite its win against Vanderbilt, Mississippi State is an average team at best. This week, Tennessee plays perhaps the best team in the Southeastern Conference when Alabama visits Knoxville.

In zooming to a 7-0 record, Alabama has jumped on opponents early. The best example was their racing to a 31-0 halftime lead against Georgia as they thoroughly outplayed the Bulldogs. They did the same against Clemson and Ole Miss.

Tennessee, on the other hand, has been plagued by slow starts. This is primarily because the offense has scored a total of 14 points in the first quarter all season. In last week's win, the Vols led only 6-3 at the half, but slow starts killed them against Florida and Georgia.

The Vols simply can't allow Alabama to jump on them early. The offense doesn't have the firepower to overcome a large deficit.

To win, Tennessee must control the game's tempo, which means the game must be an old-fashioned slugfest where the defense and special teams determine the flow of the game. If it becomes a shoot-out, Tennessee doesn't stand a chance.

The pick: Alabama 23 Tennessee 13

Other SEC picks: LSU over Georgia, Florida over Kentucky, Vanderbilt over Duke, West Virginia over Auburn, Mississippi State over Middle Tennessee, Mississippi over Arkansas.

Last week: 5-0 (1.000), Overall: 45-13 (.775)

Random thoughts from SEC action last weekend

Will the real Ole Miss please stand up? – Imagine what it must be like to be an Ole Miss fan this year. In the last three weeks, the Rebels have lost to Vanderbilt at home, beaten Florida at The Swamp, and lost to South Carolina at home. It is an obvious example of growing pains under first-year coach Houston Nutt, but it has to be maddening to the fans.

Twin sons of different mothers? – Is it just me or do Kentucky and Tennessee seem like mirror reflections of each other? Both have good defenses and bad offenses. If you are a Tennessee fan, this realization has to make you sad. Very sad.

Some teams thrive in the spotlight – Vanderbilt has had an amazing season so far, but things got taken up a notch last week. ESPN was on campus, and Auburn was clearly their toughest challenge so far. That said, their inexperience in big-time games really showed in the first quarter. They looked tentative and a step slow while falling behind 13-0. However, after that, they were clearly better than the Tigers in rallying to win 14-13. Auburn is starting to look more like Kentucky and Tennessee than LSU.

Up and then down, up and then down – I know Alabama is undefeated, but there can be no denying they have been erratic at times. After opening the season with a thrashing of Clemson, they struggled to beat Tulane the following week. Likewise, after embarrassing Georgia, they struggled at home against Kentucky. If this trend continues, it could cost them a championship.

It's no fun being young in the SEC – Arkansas is playing 16 freshmen on a regular basis, and they are getting pasted almost every Saturday. Last Saturday, they trailed Florida only 17-7 late in the third quarter, but collapsed late to lose 38-7.

One final note – Any Saturday is a good Saturday when Michigan loses.

Tennessee vs. Alabama is among college's best rivalries

The Southeastern Conference is the nation's best when it comes to college football, and one of the traits that make it so good is that the rivalries are among the deepest and most passionate in sports. Auburn vs. Alabama, Florida vs. Georgia and others are match ups that catch the attention of sports fans all over the country.

This week Tennessee visits Alabama in a match up that is of that magnitude. It is a bitter rivalry. Anybody who watched Alabama fans in recent years try to blame Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer for their program receiving substantial probation from the NCAA can testify to that.

This year, Bama Nation has been in a frenzy over the arrival of new head coach Nick Saban. So far, the Tide is experiencing success, but they have played a lot of close games. Conference games against Arkansas, Georgia, and Ole Miss all went down to the final seconds. Even their non-conference game against Houston ended with the Cougars passing the ball into the end zone with a chance to win in the final seconds. They didn't but it illustrates that Alabama's games have been a thrill a minute this year.

As for Tennessee, the Vols are slowly getting their act together. Tennessee has won three in a row, including their win last week at Mississippi State. Probably the most significant development during this streak is that we have run the ball well. Against State, we ran for 230 yards against a very physical defense.

Fulmer has been under a lot of heat this year, but one trump card he can always play is that he has been very successful against Alabama. He is 11-3 against them. This means a lot to Tennessee fans because one of the biggest knocks against his predecessor Johnny Majors was that he struggled against the Tide. Majors only had a 4-12 record against them and that seemed to always overshadow the many successes he had while at UT.

As for this year, all indications are that this will be another close game. The teams have split their last two meetings with the margin of victory being three points in each game.

It's going to be a close game that will make what's left of my hair turn gray.

The pick: Tennessee 27 Alabama 24

As for the Tennessee Titans, they couldn't quite pick up another ugly win against Tampa Bay last week. This week, the Titans visit divisional rival Houston. All divisional games are big, but if Tennessee can win, it will be their second divisional road win. They beat Jacksonville on the road in week one, and road wins like this are worth their weight in gold.

Of course, the big question is the health of quarterback Vince Young. He injured a quad (thigh muscle) against Tampa Bay, and the prospects of him playing are iffy. We are fortunate to have an experienced back up like Kerry Collins, but losing Young would be a big blow.

Still, I've got a good feeling about this game. The defense continues to blossom and deserved better last week. Expect another ugly game this week, but a different outcome.

The pick: Tennessee 17 Houston 16

Other SEC picks: Florida over Kentucky, South Carolina over Vanderbilt, Arkansas over Ole Miss, LSU over Auburn, West Virginia over Mississippi State

Other NFL picks: Indianapolis over Jacksonville, Dallas over Minnesota, Denver over Pittsburgh, New Orleans over Atlanta

Last week: 6-5 (.545), Overall: 62-20 (.756)