Alabama football fans don’t need me (or anyone else) to speak for them – but sometimes it is warranted to use a platform and discuss what many feel. I have a strong sense many Crimson Tide fans are like me, fed up with the Crimson Tide gloom and doom fueled by national media.
I realize many predictions of Alabama Football not being Playoff-worthy in 2023 make valid points. I also realize they can be of value to the Alabama team. As the opposite of ‘rat poison’ Crimson Tide players are no doubt affected. Weeks ago JC Latham talked about disrespect and it being fuel to the fire.
Despite understanding the motivational value for Alabama players, I am so tired of Crimson Tide doubters, that my response rises to anger. It helps not one bit that other fanbases must experience something similar every season. How non-Alabama fans feel could not be further from my mind.
Why am I so churned up right now, more so than the preceding months of others undervaluing the Crimson Tide? Reasonably or not, CBS experts have so drawn my ire I wish they would go ahead and turn their full attention to the Big Ten.
The CBS guys are entitled to their not uneducated opinions. There are plausible arguments to pick LSU for likely being the SEC West’s best team. But the CBS group went beyond love for the Bengal Tigers and ranked Alabama Football as the most overrated team in the SEC West.
"Bama is replacing two of the first three players selected in the 2023 NFL Draft and both coordinators from a team that didn’t win the SEC West last season. Still, voters at SEC Media Days predicted the Crimson Tide to win the division over reigning champion LSU. Alabama also came in at No. 4 in the preseason AP Top 25 ahead of not only the Tigers but teams like USC and Penn State, each of whom have fewer personnel questions to answer than the Tide. Nick Saban is the G.O.A.T., but this depth chart is full of uncertainty and far from a lock to make the College Football Playoff."
Alabama Football Talent Level
The ‘toned-down’ explanation, perhaps written to not so inflame Bama fans, completely ignores a key fact. A month ago, I suggested the Tide’s talent level is so high, as in No. 1 in college football, that a plausible argument can be made for Alabama to go undefeated through the SEC Championship game.
The claim was based on data from another branch of the Paramount media empire, 247Sports. The data was the annual update of the Blue Chip Ratio showing Alabama has by far the most 2023 roster talent in college football.
I am less sure now about the Crimson Tide going undefeated. There will be growing pains. Texas has arguably the best group of wide receivers in college football. Without an effective pass rush, the game could become a shootout and I am not convinced the Tide offense will be up to a shootout in week two. Maybe Jimbo Fisher will let Bobby Petrino do his job and the Aggies can upset the Tide in College Station. But I strongly believe Tennessee and LSU will do down in Bryant-Denny, resulting in Alabama winning the SEC West and going to Atlanta.
My apology for a too-long rant that should be categorized as an opinion piece. But I am pretty sure at least some Alabama fans agree with me.