bama concern - besides the one i wrote already

[radbag]

i wrote in that other thread about my bama concern in sliders thread about gettin screwed by the BCS...i'm starting a new thread because i didn't wanna hijack that thread...sorry slidey.

i wrote in that thread that i was concerned about bamas oline (specifically their left side) versus our dline and defending their running game...i believe saban will exploit this distinct advantage they do have over us...toothy brought up some solid points as well....check that thread out.




my MAIN concern i do have - moreso a florida concern than a bama concern - is that this year's team has yet to show me the ability to come back from adversity and the brink of despair on a micro level...i say micro as opposed to macro because we all know how tebow and company have fared since the loss at home to ole miss...on a macro basis, there is no one in the country that can dispute this teams mettle...granted, losing to ole miss was hardly catastrophic and we all agree, it might've helped our team with much needed focus and probably served as a proper wake up call for the remainder of the schedule....but on a MICRO level, i've not yet seen this team come from behind and prevail from the jaws of defeat....i've not seen this team HAVE to put a drive together to tie a game....i've not yet seen this team HAVE to make a fg to win...i've not yet seen this team HAVE to make a goal line stand to stay in a game...i HAVE seen this team however try to make a first down to extend a drive and we all know how that worked out for us....in that regard, we failed that test...we've come back though...but we've come back on a macro type basis....in 2006, we were pushed and we won ugly...that shows me that urbie and company FIND ways to win...shows character, shows flexibility in mindset on gameplans and objectives...fast forward to this year and we're blowing everyone out...this team has not yet been punched in the mouth yet...they've never been knocked out...how can we measure a teams ability to deal with adversity if they've never been challenged.

old wise man once told me that mike tyson, during his hey day, was NOT the best heavyweight ever...one can never be judged as such unless ones ever been knocked out...only then will one be able to be judged as one would be able to display the ability to bounce back after adversity...the gators have never been knocked down after that flash knockout that occured at the hands of ole miss...in fact, since that loss, we've been killing our opponents without breaking a sweat...don't get me wrong, blowouts are great...blowouts show superiority...not every game is going to be a blowout however...some games or aspects of games will be contested and it will be contested with ferocity and desire to prevail....how are we going to react to being down at the half by 17? how are we going to respond to giving up a kickoff for a touchdown and relinquishing the lead? how are we going to comeback to giving up a touchdown on a trick play on a critical 4th down in the 4th quarter giving up the lead? all stuff we've not yet seen and stuff i'd think need to be seen in order to qualify this team as a contender for the NC.

[slideman67]

Rad, you raise many good points. And you are right - we haven't faced that. But I think we can. I know I am biased, but I think we have the right mental attitude to do so.

And I don't think in any way shape or form that Bama will be an easy win. They didn't get where they are by being soft. But, I don't think they have faced as good a team as us talent wise. And we have beaten John Parker Wilson before.

[Toothy]

I know what you're saying. I differ on some levels. Triumphing over adversity shows a different side of a champion, and it certainly provides compelling narrative (which is why the 62-37 opera vs. Tennessee will probably always be my favorite Gator game).

But if UF blew out every opponent by 50 points, that trophy would still look as sweet in the case.

[Toothy]

(I love that game even more than 32-29, probably because I was there for 62-37 and 32-29 I watched on a postage-stamp TV with only my football-apathetic wife to holler at.)

[TheTodd]

I just want Florida to jump on them early and make them have to pass the ball. I want to see if Sarah Jessica Parker can pass under pressure. This game will simply come down to stopping the Bama run. It will be the most challenging game for the UF front 7 as this is certainly the best offensive line they've played. We will need Spikes to bring his A game.

[TheTodd]

rad, you need a job. Just chill and enjoy the fact that UF is in Atlanta playing for the SEC. They are playing a good Alabama team. That's what I'm going to do this weekend. If they lose, will I be disappointed? A little. But that just means I'll get to party in New Orleans and that is a pretty good consolation prize.

[G8rMom7]

I concur Todd...my hope for this season was to get to the SEC Champ Game...the icing on the cake is that we have a better than average chance of winning. I would be over-the-top happy if we made it the Nat'l Champ game but whether we win that or lose it, I will still think this team was one of the best in Gator history.

And I sort of think Arkansas wasn't as easy of a game as the others...we were away from home and really didn't have that game in hand until the 4th quarter. I realize we were not fighting back from being down, but I think that is the whole point for our coaches game plan...if you jump out in front then you DON'T have to fight back...and a win is a win (as Toothy said). For my nerves, I'm a lot happier with the blow-em-out early game plan. 2006 nearly gave me a heart attack...and I was pregnant!

[Toothy]

Yeah, 2006 was a crazy-ass year. To think UF came home with a national championship for that bunch of performances is kind of bizarre. I mean, we'll take it, but damn, that was nowhere near the best team in the last 20 years.