Tide Tidbits - January 7, 2009

Utah No. 1? Ute got to be kidding me
The U.S. sports media has a new flavor of the month, and it's Utah. Which means it's up to you, readers and listeners and sports fans all over, to say no to this nonsense. I mean, come on. Utah? From the Mountain West? There's an awful lot of momentum for Utah to be crowned king in the final Associated Press poll, the final one of the 2008 season, which comes out shortly after the ostensible national championship game between Florida and Oklahoma on Thursday night. The AP poll has that kind of freedom, considering it has cut ties with the Bowl Championship Series. The AP poll could make a stand for Utah, and against the BCS, all in one motion by erecting the Utes as the No. 1 team in college football.

Trojans, Utes show how dumb the BCS is
Maybe Florida or Oklahoma will be more impressive in the national title game than Utah was in the Sugar, or USC in the Rose. But I doubt it. And so you can watch the former and be satisfied that the winner is the best team in the land. Not me. I think the latter has just as strong a case, but with lousier timing (USC) and lousier perception (Utah). Not to flog a horse that’s not only dead but skeletal, but if USC and Utah aren’t the best arguments yet for a college football playoff, I don’t know what is.

Memo to Switzer: Utah was unbeaten
Having graduated to studio color analyst for Fox, Switzer was priceless before, during and after Utah's 31-17 Sugar Bowl conquest of Alabama. Switzer said no one on Utah's recruiting list could play as a freshman for Alabama. When it was over, Switzer sheepishly said, "Well, I told you Utah couldn't run on Alabama," which is true because the Utes barely tried to run the ball, with a 349-208 advantage in total yards.

Recruiting: The Final Two
Brandon Moore, Scout.com four-star offensive tackle from Montgomery-Carver, (Ala.), has two schools still standing for his signature. Moore talked about the finalists and what has his attention with each program. "I have decided to narrow my list down to just two schools," said Brandon Moore. "They are Alabama and Florida. I am going to visit Florida this weekend, and then go to Alabama the next."

Saban wins Robinson Award
The University of Alabama’s Nick Saban took a step closer to nearly sweeping the national college football coach of the year honors when he was named the winner of the Eddie Robinson Award for the second time in six years on Tuesday night in Fort Lauderdale. “Nick Saban has proven to be a winner wherever he has gone,” FWAA president Ron Higgins said in a release. “He has re-established Alabama as a national power in quick fashion. He was an overwhelming choice by our members for this very prestigious award.”

Roll Tide!