Player of the Weak: Alabama Crimson Tide
November 19th, 2007 at 12:28 pmBy Chris
This past week, we had a number of nominees for this prestigious award. We had Barry Bonds and his indictment, Stephon Marbury and his brilliant handling of Isiah Thomas’ personnel decisions, and the Michigan Wolverines with their empty performance against Ohio State. However, this week’s Intentional Foul Player of the Weak award recognizes one of the biggest displays of SEC football ineptitude since the University of Kentucky lost to lowly Ohio University:
The University of Alabama (and their $4 million-a-year coach) lost to Louisiana-Monroe, a 5-6 team from the Sun-Belt conference (they were 4-6 coming in to the game) by the score of 21-14. The jaw-dropping loss puts Bama’s record at 6-5 and gives the Tide a ton of momentum heading into the Alabama/Auburn match-up, wouldn’t you say?
What stood out to me was Bama didn’t even score a point in the second half against a team ranked 79th in overall defense, making the Tide’s ineptitude all the more puzzling. Fan reaction to the loss was about what you would expect. Over at the Roll, Bama, Roll blog, poster outsidethelines offers this compelling thought:
“Bottom line: This loss is as bad as it seems, and probably worse. It could be the worst single loss for Alabama since the arrival of Bear Bryant.”
Much to his credit, the 4 Million Dollar Man — AKA Nick Saban — took the blame for loss. Nevertheless, I’m not sure if Bama fans thought this kind of result would come from a team coached by the highest paid coach in Division 1 (sorry, no Football Bowl Subdivision for me, thanks).
Congratulations Tide fans, your team and your coaching staff is our collective Player of the Weak… not an award you want to win heading into one of the biggest rivalries in sports. Do you think Coach Tuberville and the rest of the Auburn Tigers smell blood in the water?
November 19th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Yeah this is a pretty bad lost considering it is Bama and they are one of those football schools. Like Michigan(weak), Florida State(garbage), and Miami(horrible) none of these team are playing for anything important just like Bama.
My vote (even though this isn’t my site) goes to Pittsburgh Steelers. How can anyone respect you when you haven’t been beat by a legit team yet. Denver, Arizona, and the J-E-T-S are horrible. let me guess Steeler fans you were looking ahead to New England. STOP IT!
November 19th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
I definitely see your point about the Steelers and I considered them too, but in the NFL are there really any upsets (except if the Pats lose this year)? That whole “Any Given Sunday” is cliché but it does have merit… how else do explain the Cleveland Browns.
November 20th, 2007 at 9:52 am
Bad as it is, this loss isn’t nearly on the scale of the steaming pile Michigan left in the Big House on opening day against Appy State. Unless you’re a Bama fan, in which case the sun just detonated in your little part of the world.
November 20th, 2007 at 9:55 am
the 4 million dollar coach got beat the by the 130,000 dollar coach. money ain’t everything, evidently.
November 20th, 2007 at 10:59 am
[...] his Crimson Tide football team was embarrassed by a 4-6 Sun Belt team that would’ve had Mike Shula fired on the spot, Coach Saban referenced [...]
November 20th, 2007 at 11:14 am
[...] his Crimson Tide football team was embarrassed by a 4-6 Sun Belt team that would’ve had Mike Shula fired on the spot, Coach Saban referenced [...]
November 20th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Not to beat a dead horse but Cleveland wasn’t good example considering they third best scoring them in the whole NFL. Like I said this isn’t my site so that’s why Bama won the award.
I’ve also noticed that teams that normally dominate are losing in NCAA. USC 40 point favorite lost to Stanford at home. Louisville 38 point favorite lost to Syracuse at home. The Michigan game was already mentioned. So Alabama losing a meaningless game isn’t that important. Actually only to their fans. My last post. Just trying to get my point across.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
Everybody was point spread shav-ing
These teams are really caving
Upsets have got fans raving
Coach’s jobs they ain’t saving.
Yeah.