Tide Tidbits - November 17, 2008

SEC's top coach is ...
Alabama's Nick Saban and Florida's Urban Meyer have their teams in position to give the Southeastern Conference its third consecutive national championship. Meanwhile, Vanderbilt's Bobby Johnson has his team headed to a bowl game for the first time in 26 seasons. These three coaches stand out in what has been a tough season for some of the most accomplished headset-wearers in the SEC.

Hurry up and wait, Alabama, Iron Bowl is next
Now, Alabama waits. The top-ranked Crimson Tide has the perfect record intact, the Southeastern Conference Western Division title in hand and a shot at the national championship within reach. "We're definitely confident going into the game," Johnson said. "If we play our game, we've got to win. We've got to determine what happens, rather than adjust to what they do. It's definitely an important game. It means a lot to us seniors. It means a lot to the team, too, being 11-0 now."

Fitzgerald and special teams shine against Mississippi State
It’s not very often that good things happen after a punter touches the ball, but the University of Alabama’s game against Mississippi State was hardly normal Saturday night. Two of junior P.J. Fitzgerald’s first four punts were downed by senior co-captain Rashad Johnson near the goal line and helped lead to nine points in the 32-7 victory. “I think that’s the best thing we’ve done tonight, is play on special teams,” Coach Nick Saban said at halftime. “We’re not blocking very well offensively; we’re not moving the ball; we’re not sustaining drives running or passing. We’ve got to execute. We’re not playing with the intensity we need to execute the game plan.”

Alabama keeps top ranking in college football's BCS standings
The University of Alabama, among eight of the top 10 college football teams that played and won yesterday, stayed atop the Bowl Championship Series standings that showed little change from the previous week.

Roll Tide!