Alabama shuts out Chattanooga, 45-0

The Alabama Crimson Tide got off to a fast start and never looked back in a 45-0 win over Chattanooga.

Alabama scored three touchdowns in the first quarter and two more in the second frame to turn it into a blowout by halftime.

It was an impressive yet all to predictable performance from the nasty Alabama defense, which had no problems with Chattanooga.

The Crimson Tide now just need a win in their season finale to set up the big showdown with Florida in the SEC championship game.

The winner of that contest will move on to play in the national championship while the loser is out of luck.

Friday, November 27, 2009 at 11:14 am by steve

Tide sprint past UTC as Ingram churns along

By Bud L. Ellis

It looked every bit like a walk in the park on the schedule.

Mark Ingram made it a sprint to a huge lead for second-ranked Alabama Saturday, moving up three spots on the school’s single-season rushing chart and sparking the Crimson Tide to a 45-0 rout of Tennessee-Chattanooga.

This one ended shortly after it began, with Ingram ripping off touchdown runs of 25 and 40 yards. His 102 yards rushing give him 1,399 this season, 72 behind Bobby Humphrey’s single-season mark of 1,471, set in 1986.

Alabama, with sights set firmly on the Iron Bowl on Friday and the SEC Championship showdown with No. 1-ranked Florida on Dec. 5, pulled most of its starters early in this one. It didn’t matter, as the Tide outgained UTC 422-84 and forced three turnovers.

Javier Arenas set an SEC record, returning his seventh career punt for a touchdown.

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Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 11:56 am by bud

Tags: Alabama, Auburn, Bobby Humphrey, Florida, Javier Arenas, Mark Ingram, Southeastern Conference, Tennessee-Chattanooga

Alabama gets past LSU, 24-15

Yet again, it wasn’t easy for the No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide, but in the end they got the job done.

Alabama pulled away in the second half for a huge, 24-15 victory over the No. 9 LSU Tigers in a game with many implications.

LSU put up a good fight, but an injury to starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson really slowed their offense.

The win gives Alabama the clear inside track to the SEC championship game against what will likely be the Florida Gators.

At the same time, it keeps them right on track to appear in the national championship game if they can win out.

Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 11:51 am by steve

Best of the West again, Alabama punches ticket to SEC title game

By Bud L. Ellis

Alabama is Atlanta-bound, again.

Riding a strong defense and the big-play ability of Julio Jones, the Crimson Tide outlasted gritty LSU on Saturday in Tuscaloosa, earning a 24-15 victory over the ninth-ranked Tigers and punching Alabama’s ticket to the SEC Championship Game.

Champions of the SEC West for the seventh time, Alabama advances to take on Florida in the conference title contest, Dec. 5 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. But there is much more to play for if Alabama wants to get to the BCS championship game.

Alabama, which moved back to No. 2 in the BCS standings Sunday, got the offensive jolt it needed from Jones, who took a screen pass and raced 73 yards down the sideline in the fourth quarter, pushing the Tide into the lead and toward Atlanta. Jones finished with 102 yards receiving.

Running back Mark Ingram added 144 yards on 22 carries. Unbeaten Alabama next faces Mississippi State on Saturday in Starkville.

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Monday, November 9, 2009 at 8:55 am by bud

Tags: Alabama, Florida, Georgia Dome, Julio Jones, LSU, Mark Ingram, Mississippi State

Bama drops to third in AP rankings

By Bud L. Ellis

Crimson Tide Nation surely howled when they saw The Associated Press rankings come out Sunday.

Idle this weekend, Alabama nonetheless dropped a spot from No. 2 to No. 3 in the AP rankings as Texas slid into the No. 2 spot behind top-ranked Florida.

But fret now, Alabama fans. The Crimson Tide likely will be back at No. 2 and, more importantly, in line for a berth in the SEC title game, with a victory this week over LSU.

The SEC West showdown between the No. 9-ranked Tigers and Crimson Tide will be in Tuscaloosa. The winner likely heads to the Georgia Dome for the SEC title game Dec. 5, against Florida. That game’s winner probably earns one spot in the BCS title game.

Still, seeing Texas move ahead of Alabama had to be a bit jarring to the Crimson Tide Nation. Texas looked impressive in its 41-14 win at Oklahoma State Saturday, a factor cited by many of the AP voters in their decision-making process.

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Sunday, November 1, 2009 at 7:25 pm by bud

Tags: Alabama, BCS title game, Florida, LSU, Oklahoma State, Southeastern Conference, Texas, The Associated Press