Alabama Crimson Tide: Elite Bama not ‘back’ … Tide never left

The Alabama Crimson Tide made a statement Saturday night in Starkville. Elsewhere on Saturday much happened in college football. There was a major upset in Iowa City.  Oklahoma State outlasted Texas as the Longhorns faded again. Michigan State remained undefeated edging a two-win IU team. The Auburn Tigers got a big SEC road win over Arkansas. LSU and Florida played a bizarre game in which the Bengal Tigers prevailed, possibly delaying a later dismissal of Ed Orgeron. Then there was the fiasco in Knoxville, which would take too many words to explain. Ole Miss won and the tweet below gives a snapshot of the rest.

The photos above show items thrown by Tennessee fans at Ole Miss players and coaches. The game’s last minute was played after a long delay.

Saturday’s Biggest Story

The biggest story for Alabama Crimson Tide fans and other astute followers of college football came out of Starkville, MS. The Crimson Tide dominated a decent Mississippi State team in such convincing fashion, the rest of college football is forced to take note. To some ‘Bama’s back’ sums it up, though it is an exaggeration. Contrary to what many claimed, the Crimson Tide did not disappear from championship contention when it lost its first of 20 games. It lost by three points, on the road to a good SEC team. As was said at the end of Saturday night’s ESPN broadcast, there are teams ranked above the Aggies that could not beat them.

What Alabama Crimson Tide coach, Nick Saban said after the Mississippi State game gave a precise summary of his team.

"I think humility is a great thing for all of us to have … sometimes when you have success it is human nature to sometimes think you don’t have to do things the right way … you get sloppy … these guys have a lot of pride, there’s a lot of culture in the program here that our fans, our former players, people in the organization, people at the university expect us to compete at a certain level"

The Alabama Crimson Tide competed at that level Saturday night. Saban talked about how “really proud” he was of how his players competed in the game. The compliment that matters most was a simple one.

"We played a 60-minute game"

Saban has been demanding that 60-minute game all season. He finally got it in week seven, in a game defined by the Crimson Tide playing to its own standard. A standard of excellence that leads to championships.

Alabama Crimson Tide Still Elite

There is considerable work ahead for the Alabama Crimson Tide. There are teams that will present a tougher challenge than did the Bulldogs. But what is clear after Saturday, is Alabama Football not being on anyone’s list of college football’s four-best teams, is nonsense. For now and likely for the future there is Georgia, then Alabama, followed by teams that are not close to the Tide and the Dawgs.

Video of Saban’s post-game comments is below.

Purportedly one of the things thrown in Knoxville hit Lane Kiffin. It was a golf ball. And some of that classless bunch may be coming to Tuscaloosa next Saturday.