Tide Tidbits - November 16, 2008

Tide’s Ingram makes Mark
Freshman running back Mark Ingram rushed for a team-high 78 yards on 13 carries, including a 40-yard run that was his longest of the season. Ingram’s 1-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter set a school record for touchdowns by a freshman. It was Ingram’s ninth TD of the season and broke Terry Grant’s record of eight he set last season.

Alabama Gets Revenge Against Miss St.
Javier Arenas squirted through a gaping hole toward the sideline and there was no catching him from there. Or No. 1 Alabama, for that matter. Mississippi State (3-7, 1-5) had won the past two meetings with coach Sylvester Croom’s alma matter. The Bulldogs, who were knocked out of contention for a second straight bowl trip, had also been the team to end Alabama’s last regular-season reign over the rankings back in 1980 when Croom was a Tide assistant. Arenas effectively wiped out any fears of a repeat 28 years later.

Big special teams plays lead Tide to win over Bulldogs
Javier Arenas ran back a punt 80 yards for one touchdown and set up a score with another long return, helping No. 1 Alabama roll to a 32-7 win over Mississippi State on Saturday night. The Crimson Tide (11-0, 7-0 Southeastern Conference) didn’t need a dominant offensive performance to turn back a team that had given ’Bama fits the past two years. Kareem Jackson blocked a punt in the end zone for a safety and Leigh Tiffin kicked three field goals to help keep Alabama on track for a perfect regular season leading up to a showdown with No. 3 Florida in the SEC championship game.

Tide Kicks Dogs Where It Hurts 32-7
Alabama won the coin toss and opted to receive, returning to their 29-yard line. On second down wideout Julio Jones broke two tackles after the catch for a 12-yard gainer. Mississippi State stopped the drive after one first down but P.J. Fitzgerald’s 46-yard punt was downed on the one-yard line.

Tide's Nick Saban says McClain won't be penalized
Alabama coach Nick Saban said he is "not going to penalize and punish" linebacker Rolando McClain, whose role in a Thursday night altercation with two fraternity members is being investigated by UA police. "We will discipline him and change his behavior so he does better, but that's about it," Saban said, "because he's done a lot for this university and a lot for our team. He's a great representative, and he's a great leader. And I'm proud that he's on the team."

Title talk as cheap as paper it's printed on
On paper, Alabama will be No. 1 again when the BCS rankings are released today. On paper, Alabama is in the middle of the program's longest winning streak since 1994. On paper, Alabama is the most accomplished team in the country's toughest conference and has a clear path to the national championship. But, as Nick Saban so passionately pointed out to his radio listeners last week, games and championships are not decided on paper.

Roll Tide!