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TIDE GOES TO 5-0 BUT...

        Light your torches. I fully expect many of you to flame me again. After five games it is clear that Alabama has some serious defensive problems. The only real question Tide fans need to concern themselves with is whether Tua and company can outscore every team on the schedule.

        Hats off to offense once again. Tua Tagovailoa had another afternoon that showed the nation what a great quarterback plays for Alabama. Despite the fact, that Devonta Smith, one of the Four Amigos, setting receiving records for touchdown passes in a game, an uneasiness won’t about this team won’t go away. The defense isn’t even average.  The defense is simply bad.

       It isn’t just the linebackers who are young and lost.  The defensive line isn’t playing well. Anferee Jennings had an outstanding day. Finally, Raekwon Davis looked better. Despite those two having 17 tackles between them the Ole Miss Rebels ran the ball for 276 yards. The Rebels had 476 total yards for the day including 25 first downs.  Alabama gave up 88 offensive plays. I don’t care how much Crimson Kool Ade you drink, those are unacceptable for a team who wants to win another National Championship.

      I thought the defensive backs played well. The Rebels outfought Tide defenders for a couple of jump ball passes but any team will lose some of those. The defense gave up far too many yards to a   freshman quarterback who merely kept the ball and attacked the edges of the Tide defense. Alabama is now 5-0 on the season. Luckily, the Tide has an open date next week to see if some of the problems can be addressed. Perhaps all college defenses are a dying breed. The offenses have been given too many advantages by the rules committee. Or perhaps, Alabama doesn’t have a defense that can stop anyone. Let’s be  honest. The Tide has played five bad football teams. The good teams are coming up. LSU and Auburn are coming up. Texas A&M is on the road, and Kellen Mond is a dual threat quarterback. I don’t even know if Alabama will make it to the SEC Championship game unless the defense steps it up. I think the defense can get better. I hope offensive line improves. Still, it seems to me that the best hope for Bama is that offense just keeps it up.

        Light your torches. I fully expect many of you to flame me again. After five games it is clear that Alabama has some serious defensive problems. The only real question Tide fans need to concern themselves with is whether Tua and company can outscore every team on the schedule.

        Hats off to offense once again. Tua Tagovailoa had another afternoon that showed the nation what a great quarterback plays for Alabama. Despite the fact, that Devonta Smith, one of the Four Amigos, setting receiving records for touchdown passes in a game, an uneasiness won’t about this team won’t go away. The defense isn’t even average.  The defense is simply bad

       It isn’t just the linebackers who are young and lost.  The defensive line isn’t playing well. Anferee Jennings had an outstanding day. Finally, Raekwon Davis looked better. Despite those two having 17 tackles between them, the Ole Miss Rebels ran the ball for 276 yards. The Rebels had 476 total yards for the day including 25 first downs.  Alabama gave up 88 offensive plays. I don’t care how much Crimson Kool-Ade you drink, those are unacceptable for a team who wants to win another National Championship.

      I thought the defensive backs played well. The Rebels outfought Tide defenders for a couple of jump ball passes but any team will lose some of those. The defense gave up far too many yards to a   freshman quarterback who merely kept the ball and attacked the edges of the Tide defense. Alabama is now 5-0 on the season. Luckily, the Tide has an open date next week to see if some of the problems can be addressed. Perhaps all college defenses are a dying breed. The offenses have been given too many advantages by the rules committee. Or perhaps, Alabama doesn’t have a defense that can stop anyone. Let’s be honest. The Tide has played five bad football teams. 

    The good teams are coming up. LSU and Auburn are coming up. Texas A&M is on the road, and Kellen Mond is a dual-threat quarterback. I don’t even know if Alabama will make it to the SEC Championship game unless the defense steps it up. I think the defense can get better. I hope the offensive line improves. Still, it seems to me that the best hope for Bama is that offense just keeps it up.

Life in Mississippi...

    

      I lived in Mississippi when I was young. Each time Alabama plays Ole Miss in football or basketball in brings back memories. I love basketball. It isn’t easy being a round ball man in an oblong ball land. Don’t get me wrong. I like Alabama football, but my heart beats a little stronger when the Tide takes to the hardwood. Loving basketball isn’t the standard bill of fare in the Deep South. Down here, football is king. There is no doubt about which sport rules the unique area we call home. And there was no doubt my family were 'Bama fans. 

    Basketball has always been my favorite game.  I learned to play hoops in Jackson, Mississippi. My family wasn’t rich. We weren’t poor, but there wasn’t a lot of money to spend on extra things.  Back then, your mother opened the back door to let you out to play with your friends after breakfast. She said don’t coms home before lunch or be back by dark. The difference in me and the kids on my block was I had a basketball tucked under my arm and not a football.   All the white kids played football. I played basketball. We lived a block or so from the black neighborhood. It was literally across the railroad tracks. Most of my friends were black because of basketball.  We played basketball on asphalt courts. The rims had no nets.

    When I was eight,  a couple of older black kids said I shouldn't play with them because I was white. They told me it was better to play with the white kids. I told them it didn't matter.  Eventually, I was just another kid who wanted to play basketball. The white kids called me names, said some things I  will not write here. My mother and father explained this was the way the world was. But our family treated everyone the same and told Mississippians what we believed.    It was a good lesson to learn in 1955. It wasn’t a popular one, however. That was 64 years ago. The world hasn’t changed as much as it could have.  People still hate. Ignorance abounds, but hope lives on. Basketball taught me a lot more than making baskets.  I’m still that little kid that goes outside with a basketball under his arm. You can’t see that basketball, but it’s there.  I still hear my parents telling me that everyone is my brother and sister.  I still know most of my black buddies from that asphalt court. We talk from time to time, mostly at funerals now.  They still call me “little cracker”.  Back in 1955, I learned to shoot the rock from downtown, dribble behind my back, and throw a no-look pass. It was a magical year in more ways than one. 

Coach inks a five-star transfer …

     Yesterday, Nate Oats pulled off a stunner. He signed Jahvon Quinerly, a five-star Parade All-American guard who is transferring from Villanova. A lot of us had been told this was a strong possibility a month or so ago. A week ago, we knew it would happen. 

      It is difficult to put into words exactly how much progress that Oats has made since coming on board at Alabama. Jelly, as Quinerly is known by his friends, is one heck of a player. Don't be fooled by his limited play at 'Nova. This kid is going to make Alabama a better player. I have been told his time at Villanova was difficult. The Eastern team played a very structured offense that was centered on great shooters. Great shooters lead to a lot of points. Jelly, can shoot the rock. He is a perfect fit for Oat's four out and one in offense. 

      If the young player can get his NCAA waiver approved Alabama's offense is set to take off. I can visualize the Tide's offense. My hunch is Alabama will have two point guards on the floor, two forwards who can shoot it, and one inside player. Rumor has it that Alex Reese has an inside edge to be the inside player. Why? He can shoot from the outside. Honestly, I have no idea how this offense is going to look, but it's going to be wide open. 

Roll Tide Roll 

Way, way to early report on Nat Oats...

     Before a single game has been played, before a single basketball has been scored, and before we've seen Nat Oats coach a single game, I'm going to grade him on what we have seen so far.

1. Oates accepting the Alabama jobs convey s a message to Tide fans  he thinks the program can succeed, and

2.  He told us what caused him to leave his Buffalo program which was becoming highly successful, and

3. He brought a First-Team JUCO All-American with him from that program

4.  He signed a dynamic guard from West Virginia which will be a welcome addition to the team.

5.  His player from Buffalo waited until a player chose LSU and a highly controversial coach. That speaks highly of the loyalty of James Rojas. Don't think for a minute that Oates was going to sign that kid. Now he doesn't have to create a space.

6. He recruited Petty and Lewis and insured that they would play at Alabama. Those are two five star kids.

7. His staff has faith in the new Coach. That is important.

8. He is beating the recruiting bushes for five-star recruits and transfers. They all have national prominence.

9.  This man is fired up. He is ten-star fired up. 

10. His Buffalo teams hold themselves accountable for their effort on the floor. 

Those are 10 things I find significant before Coleman Coliseum is filled for game one. Now we will see how this hard work pays off. He has some talent. If a post player develops in this offensive sets the Tide will have a good team.  I think he'll have one, and don't be surprised if it is a Freshman.


The thing that excites me most is the concept of the team first. 

Mack is out. Opens a spot. Good luck to a well-traveled young man. 

Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn...

     Count me totally unimpressed with Trendon Watford and horse he rides out of town on. I am so glad to get rid of the punk. He transferred from his high school to Mountain Brook. I went hmm... Now he goes to LSU. Double hmm... He'd better to highly successful at LSU because he is finished in the State of Alabama. 

          His ego outweighs his common sense.  He selects a school the entire basketball world believes pays for players. Why would he do that? It is really simple. He doesn't give
a tinker's damn about what anyone else thinks or believes.  That might be good in some situations. Not this one. What was that old song? "Take the money and run?" And that is what makes him totally unsuitable to play for Nate Oats. Oats is about the team and hard work. Harsh words? Perhaps, they are. True words? History will tell. If Will Wade was able to keep working despite the leaked FBI wire, it says a lot about the SEC, NCAA, and the players LSU recruits. Time will tell. 

           Alabama just signed JUCO First-Team American, James Rojas. That is no small feat. He committed to Oats at Buffalo and now has a chance to play at Alabama him. The 6-8 forward is a gazelle on the fast break. He is exactly what Oats needs for his four out and one in style offense. Huge signing for the Tide. More to follow on James later.

Watford Alabama, Memphis, and LSU
     My old Memphis basketball buddy, the knower of all things Tiger, told me an interesting story. He said the info flying around Memphis is that Watford was waiting on Precious to decide where he would attend. Was Watford told he had an offer only if the latest Memphis commitment went elsewhere?  Princes Achiuwa picked Penny's number 1 recruiting class this season. I have no idea if this is true. But, it is interesting that it has gained traction with Tiger fans. By my count, Memphis has one spot left. I could be wrong. 

        I think LSU has him. If Watford picks LSU it will forever be tucked in the minds of basketball fans whether he has already turned pro. I'm not saying he has been paid, nor do I have any information to support that question. The LSU coach was caught on tape talking about making a big-time offer to an LSU player. Later, another LSU player is involved with some type of payment. LSU suspends Wade. Wade hires a lawyer who puts the stranglehold on LSU. Wade is reinstated with a couple of new provisions regarding LSU ability to fire him for "cause" if Wade is ever found in violation of level one and two offenses by the NCAA. 

     Perhaps Watford is waiting to see if Wade is found in violation. If he is a one and done player he would be long gone before the NCAA makes a ruling. Even an expedited hearing could be prolonged to allow Wade to have a fair hearing.  I'd repeat what I've written before. I am not sure he is a one and done. 

     Here is the problem with all one and done players. They are already pros. None are amateurs in a strict sense. They have been wined and dined in AAU basketball. AAU basketball is a cesspool of wrongdoing. If the NCAA  really wanted to clean up basketball they need to eliminate AAU involvement however possible. I don't think the elimination of AAU basketball is a constitution issue so to speak. The NCAA is a private club for members. Fortunately or unfortunately players fall into the same category as the schools. College basketball isn't about amateur sports.  It is about money, ego, and selfishness far too often. Not everyone should be painted with a broad brush, and I'm sure a lot of players are involved in pursuing an education. But it is not just the money paid under the table to players. Greed is widespread. 

    The truth is that NCAA football and basketball have gotten out of hand. High School players should be allowed to go straight to the pros if they are able. I see no reason to have colleges and universities be a developmental league. We all want to see our favorite teams win. Is there a point where all involved should take a more honest and moderate approach to NCAA sports? If we want non-professional sports we can have them. If colleges are driven by wanting to make money they need to form some kind of minor league system with the professional teams. Today's system is ripe with corruption and the NCAA seems to be okay with the fact. So do college administrators.  So do fans. We all have our fingers in the proverbial pie. 

Let's find good four year players...

    I love watching Sexton playing basketball. He was a wonder on the hardwood. He is one of a kind. Not only was he a great player he was an excellent student. He has been an ambassador for the Alabama basketball program. If you sign a player like Sexton it is a once in a lifetime event. Trendon Watford? Not so much in my opinion. 

    Watford is a very good basketball player. He will help any team he chooses. I hope Alabama lands him, but I doubt they will. And frankly, I don't care. He isn't a Sexton or a Zion. I doubt he is one and done. I strongly doubt he is a one and done player. Maybe he'll make me eat crow and I've dined on the black bird before. I wish him luck. Everyone that knows him says he is a wonderful person. If he stays in state he might become  a legend. if he goes out of state he is done in this state. I'm not saying that's fair, but it is true. If he goes to Memphis it will be interesting. If he goes to LSU he will be the most hated basketball player in Alabama. Antonio Lang left state  and virtually now one knows who is was, or is it better to say who he is?  That is sad for Lang, but there is only one team for Bama fans. Bama fans are not objective and not reasonable. They have no desire to be. 

   Gonzaga became a national power with a new coach and four year players.  I  think Bama might try that. Alabama shouldn't have to beg five star in state players  or hit the hardwood in Tuscaloosa. Rick Barnes did just fine in Knoxville with no five star players. Cole is going to UCONN. It was remarkable that Oats got him on campus. Rojas is a first team JUCO All American. Sign him if he is still interested. End the circus. Alabama can use him. I'd love to have him. I'd love Watford as well. 

    Today is the final day of basketball signing. Thank God.