vanderbilt - the place where 'bama teams go to die...

      I want to set the record straight about why I hate Vanderbilt fans. They are mostly a bunch of elite white little snobs living off daddy's money. I remember going up to Vanderbilt in the salad days of the 1970s. Vanderbilt is a place where diversity means the very rich and ordinary rich with a few students from overseas. That night, Alabama was whipping the pants off the Commodores. Upsetting Vandy on their home floor was a big deal. The students started this racist chant - "that's all right, that's ok, you will all work for us someday." Alabama started five African-American kids who bled crimson just like you and me. A couple of faculty members apologized to the Alabama fans. I told them they didn't have to apologize for the actions of their KKK students. 

      My parents, now deceased, taught me that racism was immoral. It took root in my heart. Those unkind words were indicative of a lot of Southerners. Sadly, it appears the still are, and not just in the Deep South. Every year when the schedule is released my first glance is when do we play Vandy. To be fair, a lot has changed at Vanderbilt. But those students are now leaders in many fields. They still influence the lives of others. This weekend I hope we can put on the same show we did that cold night years ago. I will watch the game with an intensity like any other game.

    Alabama needs to win this game. The Tide played 30 minutes of good solid basketball against Georgia. Kira Lewis, Jr. and Tevin Mack played with a poise and polish. Mack showed some of the skills that made him so valuable to Texas prior to his transfer from Texas. Daniel Giddens played is his best game. He can help the Tide if he continues playing the way he did against Georgia. Kudos to John Petty. He played some hard-nosed defense when his shots didn't fall. He played well the last time he was in Tennessee. A win would move the Tide to 15-8 overall and 6-4 in the SEC

    Here are a few numbers to keep in mind. 4 will likely get the Tide into the Dance. But 19 wins don't guarantee anything other causing a dispute among fans. The Tide is in good shape with its NET at 44. That is still marginal but will improve if Bama beats MSU, LSU, and Auburn. I like our chances with Auburn and LSU at home. Alabama can beat South Carolina in Columbia. Same for Vandy and Florida at home. I see five wins. Bama can beat any team in the SEC at home or on a neutral floor. The Tide has 14th toughest schedule in the nation and an RPI of 36. All the numbers can get the Tide into the SEC. If the Tide finished in the top five in the SEC they are in. It is marginal with a 9-9 conference record. The Tide might need to win 2 in the SECT.  If Bama is in they are now playing for a better seed. Two publications have Bama as a 10. Stellar wins over MSU, Kentucky, and Ole Miss look good. How good depends on what each of those teams do as well. 

THE OFFICIATING IS ALWAYS A KILLER IN NASHVILLE

I like Bama by 3.