In honor of Alabama’s 14th national title, we’re taking a look back at the 2011 season in several parts. This week, we examine Weeks One through Four of the 2011 campaign.
Coming off a BCS Championship in 2009, the Crimson Tide was poised to finish among the college football elite again in 2010, but youth and inexperience on defense proved to be too much to overcome.
The Tide was rolling going into the game against South Carolina, but came out flat and played uninspired football against the Gamecocks, raising questions about complacency and whether they had the necessary desire to bring home another title. The next two losses, to LSU and Auburn, were much the same; the Tide failed to finish and were relegated to a disappointing three-loss regular season.
On New Year’s Day, following a disappointing regular season, the Tide would give the college football world an appetizer of things to come with a 49-7 assault on Michigan State, the Big Ten conference Co-Champions. Alabama brought in the new year on a high note, but according to some, the loss of four first-round draft picks would keep the Tide from another championship season in 2011.
The Tide came into the 2011 season preparing for another championship run, but with no starting quarterback, no Julio Jones and no proven starter along the defensive line it looked to be a daunting challenge. The biggest storyline proved to be the ongoing battle between AJ McCarron and Phillip Sims, and the fact that neither had any real game experience at the college level. JUCO transfer Jesse Williams was creating buzz along the defensive line, and Trent Richardson was poised to prove he could handle the starting role at running back. These new faces were question marks at the beginning of the season, but they would answer the challenge in impressive fashion.
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Week One brought Nick Saban’s alma mater Kent State to Tuscaloosa for Alabama’s season opener and despite the Tide winning 48-7, many questions about the team’s identity would remain. Kent State players would be the only opposing team to receive a standing ovation upon entering the stadium, for the players’ cleanup efforts following Tuscaloosa’s tornado tragedy.
Both Sims and McCarron both played significant snaps in the first game, but neither looked impressive, with each throwing two interceptions. On top of not having solid quarterback play, Tide running back Trent Richardson had the lowest total yards of any game in his college career, (37). Staring at a Week Two matchup with No. 23 Penn State in Happy Valley, the No. 3 Crimson Tide were still facing many unknowns and were clearly a long way from being a championship team.
Week Two was bound to tell us a lot more about the identity of this Alabama football team, with the Tide heading into hostile Happy Valley to take on a stingy Nittany Lion defense. McCarron got the nod at quarterback over freshman Sims due to having an extra year in the program, and he delivered a solid performance; one very different than his effort in the season opener.
McCarron didn’t light up the scoreboard, throwing for only 163 yards and one touchdown, but he managed the game better than expected, and more importantly threw no interceptions. The offensive line finally found the cohesiveness lacking in Week One, and Richardson answered doubters with a 111-yard rushing effort on top of finding the end zone twice in the Tide’s 27-11 non-conference win.
The Tide played host to North Texas during Week Three in what would prove to be a record-setting day for Richardson and Eddie Lacy. Alabama’s dynamic duo became the first running backs in Alabama’s storied history to run for over 160 yards each in the same game, racking up an astonishing 328 rushing yards between them.
Alabama’s stifling defense recorded its first shutout of the year, keeping the Mean Green off the scoreboard in a 41-0 win, giving the country a taste of things to come. McCarron cemented himself as the Tide’s starting quarterback with his poise and decision making, and the Alabama offense was beginning to find its identity.
In Week Four Arkansas and their SEC-leading passing attack trotted into Bryant-Denny Stadium with revenge on the menu for the heartbreaking loss to the Tide in 2010.
Alabama was sporting a new defensive mindset, one of domination with a motto of “Never Again,” but the doubts surrounding the offense and the loss of key players in the offseason would raise questions among media members once again.
Alabama’s defense was smothering and hard-hitting and the entire team showed up to prove they were the class of the SEC with a 38-14 whipping of the Razorbacks. The surprise stat of the week was the 200 yards passing by McCarron; 15 yards more than Tyler Wilson, who many had labeled as the SEC’s best quarterback.
Following the game Arkansas fans lashed out at Coach Bobby Petrino for pulling Wilson for fear he would suffer an injury at the hands of the Tide’s swarming defense. For the first time in 2011, Alabama dominated every facet of the game on offense, defense and special teams.
On Wednesday, we’ll continue this look at the Tide’s magical 2011 campaign by traveling to Gainsville with the Tide as they take on the Florida Gators.