Tide Tidbits - November 18, 2008

Repeat after me: Alabama is undefeated
Remember the phrases Alabama players were asked to say about themselves this summer? "I am an excellent pass blocker. My technique is perfect." Remember laughing at that goofy-sounding New Age pop-psychology class that Alabama coach Nick Saban required his players to go through? Who's laughing now? Certainly not Clemson. Or Georgia. Or Tennessee. Or LSU.

The Storied Tradition of Alabama Returns
With Alabama's almost meteoric rise back to the elite of college football, of which it was so very much a part, even before Bear Bryant; can the Tide win the SEC Championship for the first time since 1999? And should this happen, will they win the National Championship? If so, and with only nine graduating seniors, is a three-peat possible.

Former QBs talk Iron Bowl
Tyler Watts has been around the Alabama football program for 10 years, first as a quarterback and now as a TV and radio analyst. To him, the difference between the 2008 Crimson Tide and recent editions of the team is quite simple. "They look like football players now. They look like a football team," Watts said Monday night before sharing the stage with former Auburn quarterback Brandon Cox during "Iron Bowl Night" at the Montgomery Quarterback Club's weekly meeting.

COLLEGE BEAT
Alabama coach Nick Saban apologized Saturday for using what he called "potty words" during his weekly radio show on Thursday. But he did not apologize for the message in the 32-7 win over Mississippi State. Saban implored not to overlook MSU because of its record and to make sure to get loud. As he put it, "I don't give a (expletive) who we're playing." An Alabama team that refuses to even consider any opponents except the next one has no choice now. Sure, there is a bye this week. But the players can't escape talk of Auburn on Nov. 29.

Tide welcomes bye week to recharge their batteries
No. 1 Alabama is rolling along, needing just another win for its first perfect regular season since 1994. A gritty victory over LSU was followed by Saturday's blowout of Mississippi State, and one might think the Crimson Tide would want nothing to stop its run. One would be wrong. "It's a good time for us to be getting a little emotional break," coach Nick Saban said.

Roll Tide!