Tide Tidbits - October 27, 2008

Pride grows for this team
Tide's complete play in victory over Vols pleases Saban. As the poll numbers hold steady and the wins keep coming, Nick Saban understands the limitations of Alabama's overachieving football team. He also realizes the strengths. Saban has never been 8-0 as a head coach, and this Crimson Tide team continues to endear itself to a coach with roots in the tough, coal-mining region of West Virginia. "We're a blue-collar team," Saban said. "We've got to play good defense. We've got to be able to run it. We've got to be able to throw it." Saturday night provided a checkmark for all three.

Tide grinds out a complete game
Alabama coach Nick Saban said he has "never been proud­er" of his team for its gritty workmanlike performance in Saturday's 29-9 win over Ten­nessee, saying the defense's domination of the sputtering Volunteers and his offense's me­thodical approach were typical of the 2008 edition of the Crim­son Tide. "But we're a blue-collar team. We've got to play good de­fense, we've got to be able to run it, we've got to be able to throw it, we've got to have balance. We've got a lot of good players but when we don't have our in­tensity and we don't play with a sense of urgency, when you're trying to beat them up with toughness and being physical, it doesn't work out too well."

It Appears There is No Easy Way Out for Fulmer
After a 1-3 start, Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer truly believed he could turn the season around -- just as he had done last year after a similar start that included a 59-20 bashing by Florida. His words of optimism came this year after a 30-6 loss to Florida. Few believed him. Now, Fulmer is starting to realize what others have: It is going to be a long season.

Tide suffers some bumps and bruises
Alabama coach Nick Saban said the Crimson Tide emerged from Saturday's game with Tennessee battered and bruised but didn't expect any players to miss next week's game with Arkansas State because of injuries suf­fered in the game with the Vol­unteers.
"That was probably as physical a game as we've had all year long," he said. "We had some guys that got dinged up. Nick (Walker) bruised his arm (and) Marquis (Johnson) bruised his knee, but both those guys went back in the game after their in­juries and we don't feel like we have issues."

Roll Tide!