Daily Archives: October 29, 2011

Relive the ‘Rammer Jammers’ of Saturdays past

Posted on October 29, 2011 | Leave a comment

It’s become quite a popular feature here on The Daily Bama Blog. So we’re bringing you a retrospective of the first seven post-game celebrations from Alabama’s 2011 football season.

Remember Alabama opted against the traditional celebration after beating Kent State in light of the school’s assistance following the April 27 tornado.

Alabama 27, Penn State 11
Alabama 41, North Texas 0
Alabama 38, Arkansas 14
Alabama 38, Florida 10
Alabama 34, Vanderbilt 0
Alabama 52, Ole Miss 7
Alabama 37, Tennessee 6

While we’re at it, here are a few from the past.

After beating Miami in the NIT quarterfinals
After beating Auburn basketball last season
After Penn State game in 2010
After BCS national championship game

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The burning question we’re all asking

Posted on October 29, 2011 | Leave a comment

It’s easy to let the hype machine blow this Alabama/LSU game out of proportion. And I’m looking at myself there. Guilty as charged.

But the question remains. Answer it below.

Alabama linebackers are good

Posted on October 29, 2011 | Leave a comment

Dont'a Hightower (Montgomery Advertiser photo by Mickey Welsh)

It’s the only quiet Saturday of the fall, and honestly, I have no idea what to do with myself. Though the Crimson Tide doesn’t play today, there’s still a GameDay section in the paper. Here’s what I wrote:

TUSCALOOSA — Hunger wasn’t the issue in 2010. Health was.

Alabama linebackers Courtney Upshaw and Dont’a Hightower clearly weren’t themselves a season ago. Production suffered. And the hunger only grew.

By September, both had healed, and the Crimson Tide’s first eight opponents certainly felt their presence.

Hightower, back 100 percent after a torn ACL in 2009, leads Alabama with 47 tackles in a versatile role. Sometimes he rushes the passer. Sometimes he drops into coverage.

Upshaw sprained his ankle in the 2010 opener, slowing his pass-rushing explosion off the line of scrimmage. That’s hardly an issue this fall with his 4.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss leading the team by comfortable margins entering the Nov. 5 showdown with No. 1 LSU.

“Both of those guys are really good players and in our defense because we play a 3-4 you like guys who are a little bigger because they have to take on blockers,” Tide coach Nick Saban said. “You play a 3-4 you can get away with smaller, faster guys — they still have to be good football players — but maybe he doesn’t have to take on blocks quite as much. And these guys do a good job of that as well as they are very instinctive, play fast.”

Click here to read the rest.