Ticket punched: It’s Alabama v. Florida
There’s no doubt now. In a few weeks, Alabama and Florida will meet in the Georgia Dome for the chance to play for the national championship in Pasadena. Florida’s ticket was booked last week, while the Crimson Tide had to hold serve against No. 9 LSU to secure the SEC West title.
When Arkansas and South Carolina joined the SEC and the league split into two divisions, the Gators and the Tide seemed to always be meeting up in the conference championship game. Bama, which won the first two SEC titles, also claimed the first championship game. However, Steve Spurrier’s Florida teams usually got the best of Gene Stallings’ Tide squads. Alabama and the Gators have met six times in the SEC Championship Game, with Florida walking away with four of those.
But, really, goddamn, how ’bout beating LSU again? Crimson Tide running back Mark Ingram burnished his Heisman numbers by putting 144 rushing yards on the Bengal Tiger defense, quarterback Greg McElroy — the safety excepted — actually showed up, and, oh, Julio. There will be an entire generation of kids in Alabama named Julio. How Jones ended up in open space on that screen pass will vex us for years, and we’ve watched the replay a number of times. It was incredible. Catch, juke, gone. Strike up the band.
It was reported over the past week that Bama coach Nick Saban didn’t promise Jones anything when he recruited him. Mind you, Julio was considered by many as the top high school wide receiver in the nation at the time. All Saban said was, “We’re going to win, with or without you.” It is nice to have Jones on the team, though.
So, the first big hurdle is over. Last year, Alabama beat Tennessee, LSU and Auburn in the same year for the first time in forever. This year, two down, one to go. And, we’re getting a little giddy about it. Shit, Auburn let Furman score 31 points. Garbage time or not, that’s pathetic. The Plainsmen’s defense has been porous all season, and it hasn’t solidified. The 36-0 beating in Tuscaloosa last year was damn cathartic, but whipping those bastards in their own house will be even better.
