Thank God For Nicholas Lou Saban and Alabama Football
By Kevin Brooks
The dust has settled on the 81st Iron Bowl, and all Alabama football fans can say is “thank God for Nick Saban”.
The dust has settled on the 81st Iron Bowl, and all Alabama football fans can say is “thank God for Nick Saban”. And Nick Saban is thanking God for these players he has, who have secured him his second-ever undefeated regular season.
After starting Saturday’s game as if their opponent was the JV squad of the Little Sisters for the Poor football team, Saban at the half said the right things to turn his team into the juggernaut that they are. Pretty much only the outstanding wide receiver play by ArDarius Stewart made up for a lackluster two-interception, five-fumble performance in the first half
But after that, the Crimson Tide came out like a Nick Saban Alabama squad always plays – fired up and ready to roll.
ICYMI: Hey Auburn, Thanks For The Memories
Tide offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin played cuties with the Auburn defense all first half before he and Lord Saban had the come to Jesus meeting at halftime. The offense totally changed after that – substituting a pass-happy, funky-handoff offense with the kind of scheme Lord Saban prefers. That would be beating up on Auburn instead of trying to trick them.
Live Feed
Betsided
It was evident that Saban wasn’t going to allow the nonsense to continue to start the third quarter, as the Tide engineered a drive with eight runs and just two passes for a tone-setting touchdown.
Speaking of setting tones, the Jeremy Pruitt-coached Alabama defense has continued to set the tone for the Crimson Tide. As Saban and Kiffin nursed along their very young lethal weapon Jalen Hurts, the defense needs no nursing – the only ones needing a nurse are the offenses that play against Alabama.
That Tide defense turned Auburn’s feared wildcat offense into the mildcat – holding the SEC leading rushing yards leader and his team to just 182 yards. The defense’s impact on the game was even felt on the offensive side of the ball, too, with the unveiling of the “Elephant Package” featuring very large defensive standouts Jonathan Allen and Da’Ron Payne.
Once the Alabama football offense got going, everyone put on a show – highlighted by the hard 90 yards worth of running from Bo Scarbrough. The reserve back was the hot hand, punishing Auburn defenders throughout the second half.
Auburn coach Gus Malzahn apparently drew straws this week in order to find out who was going to play quarterback before the game (I think even the water boy played a series or two). Gus Bus didn’t look like a offensive guru at all with his six-QB package that did nothing. The team MVP on Auburn’s squad was their turncoat kicker.
The Auburn defense is good and legit, but not good enough to slow down Jalen Hurts. Nobody is. Heisman Hurts is all business when its game time. Instead of celebrating after on-the-field success with jumping around and high fives, Hurts just walks back to the sideline – neglecting all the admiration from his teammates, he just sits down and gather his thoughts for what he wants the do on the next series.
I’ve never seen anything like Jalen Hurts. He is a football assassin. Sometimes I wonder if Saban puts a mirror under his nose just to see if he’s breathing, that is how relaxed he is at all times. It’s like he is playing the game in slow motion – and just think, Alabama football has him for another two years at least.
Next: Alabama-Auburn Iron Bowl Postgame Notebook
After securing Nick Saban’s second undefeated regular season and with the Heisman leaders recent two losses, that makes Heisman Hurts this writer’s No. 1 choice for the Heisman Trophy. All he does is score touchdowns and win.