No Doubt, No Split Title

As the controversy raged about the “re-match” between #1 LSU and #2 Alabama, many said that in a close game the Associated Press (AP) voters would still put LSU #1 on their final 2011 ballots. As it turned out, only one voter did that. In the Final Ballot, the AP voters gave 55 votes to Alabama, 1 to LSU and…4 people voted for Oklahoma State. 55 is a nice vote of confidence, I’d say.  Congratulations to the Crimson Tide, to the University and to the fans!

Were you as surprised as I about the 21 to 0 margin of victory for the Crimson Tide? It seems that many were. I won’t bore you with what I’m sure you’ve already heard about the dominance of the Alabama team and, I won’t bore you with stats or give you a commentary on the game. Most of you watched it or read about it.

The ESPN afternoon guys have called it a “terrible game” and bemoaned the lack of touchdowns and dearth of exciting offensive displays. Coach Gundy from Okahoma State (they got 4 AP 1st place votes-remember?) still maintains that if his team had played in the Championship game, it would have made for a much more exciting game. Is that what its about – entertainment?

I am more inclined to believe that it is about finding the best team in the nation.

Its not “made for television drama”; its not scripted nor is it designed for entertainment. It is the bowl game that is supposed to determine the best team in Division 1 Football! The announcers, the interviews with coaches and players, the bands and cheerleaders, the attractions of the host cities and even the advertisers provide the flash and the entertainment. The Game is just that – the Game. If it is evenly matched, we watch a well planned and intriguing contest. If it is not evenly matched, we watch a blow-out, a beating, or as Brent Musburger put it, “a mauling”.
Why didn’t LSU score? I  know why Alabama made 15 of the 21 points they had via Field Goals – it was because LSU’s defense kept them from scoring touchdowns: therefore, I’d assume Alabama’s defense must have done it’s job to prevent LSU from scoring. It was SEC Football; a defensive display of skill and intelligent play, a defensive front and secondary that didn’t allow the QB’s time to throw downfield to an undefended (uncovered) receiver, and a pass rush that kept the QB ever on his toes. Coach Gundy said he’d have had his QB throw it 50 times… I can’t get started on this comment – I’d go on forever!

It was a game between two good teams from the SEC. Alabama finished #1, LSU #2 and Arkansas #5 – isn’t that amazing?!! Three teams from the same conference AND the same Division! I am proud of that. The only way we will ever be able to prove the point is to play the “OK States” of the world and the other doubters that say they could have beaten the Southern teams. This year made a lot of racket go up about the BCS system; change will be coming. We will see it in the not-so-distant future but, we will just keep doing what we do in the South.
We’ll play good solid football and let the chips fall where they may.