This is Alabama Football!!!!!!!

Vince Lombardi was once asked why his teams did better than other teams. His answer was simple, "We do the little things that nobody else does,or hardly notices."

Well, one Ole Miss fan noticed why Alabama seems to be a lot better than other teams. He saw something small and, being a sports enthusiast, he noticed. This is what he saw and wrote about when he watched the Alabama players doing something as simple as getting off the bus: "When Alabama arrived yesterday, they looked like cloned,disciplined, suited warriors. Their whole demeanor is one of order and discipline. They were wearing coats and ties (like Alabama did years ago) and they looked like individual parts of a machine. There was no 'individuality' displayed at all. Just a body. A body of soldiers. It was really impressive."

That is Alabama this year. One machine with many fail-safes. Stop one part of it and the others will simply compensate to make up the difference. It's not about individual glory.

One reporter has written: "I've interviewed players who only want to reference the work of others and the team as a whole, downplaying any individual effort. I heard Rolando McClain tell me a tackle he made in the backfield was not his accomplishment, but Cody occupying two offensive linemen and Eryk Anders putting pressure on the other side that chased the back to him to give him the easy shot.

"When everybody does their job, sometimes it makes just one of us look good," McClain told me, "but if you were really looking, you'd see it was a team effort."

The reporter went on to say, "I saw a Mark Ingram, a running back, take in a pass and go the distance. He then did not jog, but ran back up the field to hug a receiver who made the key block that made it possible. No end-zone dance for him. He simply wanted to thank the real hero that never got a stat for it."

This is Alabama football in its purest form. The team with all the championships and no Heisman champions. It's team ball or, This is Alabama Football!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Andre Slithers Into the Draft

We'll never know unless Andre decides to write a memoir. Regardless, what's done is done, and we know that whatever was Andre's motivation, he lacked the courage and character to keep the team at heart. Yes, he demonstrated courage on the field, but when it came to standing up for convictions, facing his team, and the Bama fans, he slithered away into hiding. His self-motivation for personal gain was paid for by the Crimson Tide, the University of Alabama, and the fans.

Of course, the reality is his fan base will no longer be a factor. Offensive lineman in the NFL aren't touted as stars and at the center of attention. Now he's going to have to compete among men to keep a job. Granted he'll sign a big contract and make $$$$ immediately. Meanwhile his actions have left a bitter taste in the mouthes of many of the Bama faithful.

Will he decide he should make a monetary donation to the University of Alabama as many of the former and great Bama players have? I'm not going to hold my breath.

Rudderless and Anchorless Tide Did Not Roll

The reality is that Andre Smith's absence was immense because it created a weak link in the offensive line. Hence, the lack of chemistry, the lack of adequate time playing together created a Grand Canyon of a vacuum on the offensive line on both sides of the center because of having to slide the other linemen around to fill this void.

Instead of a smooth, oiled and operating line to stay on the field and keep the ball away from an extremely talented Utah offensive team, Bama was left rudderless and without an anchor. Hence, the Tide did not Roll.

Like it or not, the impetus that led to the collapse of the Bama offense was Andre Smith's absence. Whether he's to blame or his parents or an uncle or whomever, the entire team and the fans paid the price for that selfish act of instantaneous gratification.

Will we forgive him? Probably, but suffering takes time to heal, and to pretend we will forget this selfish greed on the Smith side of the problem in the immediate present is extremely unrealistic.

Andre should go on to the pros because he has already made a rotten decision that generated unbelievable devastating ripple effects at the University of Alabama. It has now become a question of his character and lack of judgment. It will be interesting to see how he adjusts to the brutality of fan bases in the NFL. Good luck, Andre. Yes, thanks for a great ride...but we hope you understand why some of us lost faith in you.

No Rammer Jammer in New Orleans

Granted, Andre is not totally to blame. However, the void that his absence created on the offensive line generated a weak link in the chain of pass protection and run blocking. Hence, the offense could not stay on the field for a prolonged period to keep the explosive Ute offense off the field. In addition, his departure from the team left the remaining players stunned and numbed at a crucial point in team preparation.

Andre considered himself a leader, and he chose personal interests first over the team unity. If you're going to be a public figure who wants recognition, and if you claim you are a leader, then when things fall apart, you must step up and take responsibility.

JPW played the best one could expect when you were constantly being attacked by a very aggressive and speedy defensive unit.

So when will Andre step up to the microphone and make a public apology to his team, his coaches, the University, and the fans?

Andre Smith

What a shame for someone who brought much to the Tide to bring disappoint to so many fans who cheered him throughout his career. Alabama reacted promptly, authoritatively, and judiciously because the institution is bigger than any one player. The Tide will, hopefully, rise to the challenge of the occasion because the Tide Rolls Forever...RTR!

The Tide Keeps Rolling

The honors keep rolling, just like the Tide. Congratulations to Andre Smith for the nation's top interior lineman of the year, and a much deserved congratulations to Coach Nick Saban, Home Depot Coach of the Year!

Bama must prepare as determined and committed as they did all season for the Utes of the University of Utah. The Utes will look eerily similar to the Gators and Arkansas State with their spread offense.

Underestimating the Utes because they aren't from a big conference will be a mistake. Remember what they did to Oklahoma in a bowl game only a few years ago. The process, the commitment, the dedication, and the desire to get back to winning is essential in Bama's preparation for the Sugar Bowl.

The honors the Tide and the players have received this season will be meaningless unless they win the Sugar.

ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!

Show Your Pride in the Crimson Tide

Cecil Hurt's got it right: Bama and the Fans who love Bama cannot wallow in self pity, which is self-destruction. Having had the privilege of knowing Coach Bryant through my Dad and the privilege of tutoring some of his players while a student at Bama, bellyaching and complaining would not have been tolerated by Coach Bryant.

Support the team and Coach Saban by showing our pride and appreciation for a stellar season. The Tide is Rising, and now the Tide must prepare to play a team that once was coached by Urban Myer...get ready Bama...FOCUS, PREPARE...you can be the first team in Bama's history to win 13 games. You have made us proud and not complainers...not bad-mouthers...oh, how Coach Bryant would have loved this team...He would have walked on the field and tipped his houndstooth hat to the team for a job well done like I saw him do when Bama had a second brilliant goal-line stand at Penn State.

Let's show our Pride in the Crimson Tide....ROLL TIDE!