Tide Tidbits - September 28, 2008

Alabama looks to the future after 41-30 thrashing of No. 3 Georgia
It's not Southern California, who lost on Thursday night to Oregon State. It's not Georgia, the preseason pick who lost to Alabama 41-30 on Saturday night. It's not Florida, who was upset at home by Ole Miss on Saturday. Maybe it's Alabama, who joins Oklahoma and LSU as three of the top contenders for the top spot in this week's Associated Press poll.

Tide leaves Bulldogs black, blue
The Alabama Crimson Tide turned the blackout into a knockout. Just don’t tell Nick Saban that he’s got a national championship contender, not even after a decisive victory over third-ranked Georgia. “After five games?” Saban said with a tone of disbelief late Saturday night. “Let’s see when we get a full body of work at the end of the season.”

Crimson Tide flow early, bury Georgia
Backed by a dominant defense and John Parker Wilson's accurate passing, No. 8 Alabama raced to a stunning 31-point lead by halftime against self-destructing Georgia and held on to beat the third-ranked Bulldogs, 41-30, last night in Athens, Ga., establishing Nick Saban's team as a national championship contender in his second season.

Tide rolls right over Georgia
Forget the blackout. This was an early knockout. Eighth-ranked Alabama, backed by a dominant defense and John Parker Wilson's accurate passing, raced to a stunning 31-point lead by halftime against self-destructing Georgia and held on to beat the third-ranked Bulldogs, 41-30, on Saturday and establish Nick Saban's team as a national championship contender in his second season.

Rebuilt Alabama Unveils Its Power
It is getting harder for Nick Saban to be grim. He tried to keep the parade floats padlocked after the Crimson Tide’s rout of No. 9 Clemson in the season opener, and he was back wagging a finger of warning here Saturday night after an impressive victory over No. 3 Georgia. To the talk of Alabama’s vaulting into the top five in college football this week and becoming part of the national championship discussion, Saban, Alabama’s coach, had a terse response. “I’m not interested,” he said.

Tidal wave blacked out Georgia’s hopes
Forget Corso and Herbstreit. Forget Holtz and May. Forget, for that matter, anything you might have read in this space about Georgia being really good this year. For guidance in matters concerning college football, you had only to read the financial magazine Forbes, which last month proclaimed Nick Saban “the most powerful coach in sports.” Once again, Bama football matters. And Georgia? Never has a band of Bulldogs so good been made to look so bad as in this first half.

Blackout a bust as Tide controls game from start
Alabama left Georgia black and blue and beaten down at its latest "blackout" Saturday night. Georgia's color scheme wasn't the problem but moving the ball against Alabama's 3-4 defensive scheme certainly was. And so was a red-hot Crimson Tide quarterback John Parker Wilson.

Roll Tide!