Alabama Football makes statement and sets records against Vandy

Alabama football made a strong statement Saturday as it took down the Vanderbilt Commodores 59-0. The Tide also set some new records in the process.

Alabama football fans sang Rammer Jammer after the Tide annihilated the Vanderbilt Commodores. Fans of opposing teams hate the arrogance suggested by the long-time Alabama football victory celebration. On Saturday in Nashville, there were not many Commodores fans left in the stadium to be offended.

Nonetheless, on Saturday Rammer Jammer more than anything was redundant. Alabama football beat the hell out of Vanderbilt for roughly 59 minutes of the game. And that is being generous to Vandy.

Had Nick Saban so chosen, the score could have easily been much higher. Vanderbilt beat the Tide 78-0 in Nashville in 1906. Yesterday the Tide could have done the same.

College football, especially early in the season, can have some surprising results. After the next two weeks, taking on Florida and Georgia, we will learn about Vandy. Their Kansas State victory may have been an early season fluke. Until then we guess Vanderbilt is not as bad as it looked yesterday. In a similar vein, Alabama football is probably not as good as it looked either.

How good Alabama football can become in 2017 will not be answered soon. Perhaps the answer will come in November or December. Or maybe not until January.

Records and Milestones against Vanderbilt

• Alabama’s 30 quarters with no turnover is the longest in Tide history, based upon available stats going back to 1940.
• Saturday’s 677 total yards is No. 2 in Alabama football history.
• The 38 first downs is a new school record.
• The margin in yards gained – 599 yards, is a new school record.
• The 78 yards gained by Vanderbilt is the lowest amount in the Saban-Alabama era.
• While a long way from A.J. McCarron’s record, the 150 passes without an interception by Jalen Hurts is something to watch going forward.

Here are other stats of note after the Vandy game. Alabama football is now No. 7 in the nation in Total Defense and No. 5 in Rushing Offense. The Crimson Tide is also No. 3 in Turnover Margin; tied for No. 4 in Scoring Defense and No. 5 in Rushing Defense.

As someone who always pulls for the Dores in everything but a contest against the Tide, closing with Nick Saban’s words seems appropriate.

"“There’s a difference in winning and defeating your opponent … I think they earned a lot of respect today.”"

Next: 10 Alabama Football records that will never be broken

It is time to start focusing on Ole Miss. The Rebels-Black Bears have a stellar QB and a fastball offense. We will discuss Ole Miss football on and off the field in the coming week.