Alabama vs FIU

Florida International Panthers

Alabama Crimson Tide

Coming off the huge win for Alabama to open the season against Virginia Tech, they would face off with Florida International from the Sun Belt. Last year, following Alabama ’s huge win over Clemson in the Georgia Dome, they came out flat against Tulane last year, so this year they were looking to avoid the same miscues against Florida International. The problem for Alabama would be that this was the opening game for the Golden Panthers, so Alabama had no film on this team. FIU on the other hand had the time to sit back and watch the Tide’s game against Virginia Tech, and saw the weaknesses the Tide had. Regardless, Tide fans weren’t expecting a game as the Tide played FIU for the home opener.

In front of a sold out crowd in Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa of 92,138 fans, Alabama played for the first time in front of this capacity crowd for the 2009 season. Is there any better place than Bryant-Denny stadium for football? There is soft spot in my heart for this place. It is a beautiful, electric atmosphere, and a great way to spend a Saturday. It is going to be even better when they lift the other endzone, and Alabama pushes to over 100,000 fans. The expansion of the South endzone is expected to be completed and ready for the start of the 2010 football season. Alabama holds an all time record of 187-32-3 in Bryant-Denny. Since the 1988 season, Alabama has sold out every game that has been played inside of the confines of Bryant-Denny Stadium. Through the ups and the downs, you can always be assured that each given Saturday the Tide plays at Bryant-Denny, there will not be an empty seat in the house.

Kickoff was set for 6 PM CST, and Dustin Riverst for FIU kicked off to begin the first game inside Bryant-Denny since the Iron Bowl. On the first drive for the Crimson Tide, they looked like the #4 team in the land, as they almost effortlessly drove the ball down the field with a nice mixture of run and pass. On a 3^rd down play from the FIU 6, Julio Jones was unable to hang on to a touchdown pass, so the Alabama drive stalled and they had to rely on a 23 yard field goal attempt by Leigh Tiffin. This is a problem I have seen in the first two games from the Tide so far, the inability to convert in the red zone and have to settle for field goals. Against the upper echelon teams from the SEC like LSU and Ole Miss, Alabama is going to need to put the ball in the endzone, and not settle for Tiffin field goals. Tiffin did convert on the 23 yard attempt to put the Tide on the board at 3-0. Alabama had FIU pinned inside their own 5 yard line on a 3^rd and 21. Then, FIU QB Paul McCall completed a 46 yard pass to Greg Ellingson. Another early season problem for the Tide has been being beat over the top on those kinds of pass plays. After that big play, FIU was unable to gain another yard due to three consecutive incomplete passes, and would have to punt. Alabama would begin a methodical 7 play 80 yard drive led by the precision passing of Greg McElroy, who looked even better this week. Greg McElroy drilled a pass to Mike McCoy that he took 24 yards into the endzone to put Alabama ahead 10-0. On the ensuing kickoff, Alabama would show another problem that needs to be addressed before they start SEC play. TY Hilton took the kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown to cut the Bama lead to 10-7. This was the 2^nd consecutive week that Alabama has given up a kickoff return for a touchdown, and that is a problem I saw last season as well. It is definitely something Alabama needs to fix, because while giving up a kickoff return for a touchdown has not affected the result of the first two games, how long do they want to play with that kind of fire? The first quarter would come to a close as Alabama couldn’t convert on a 3^rd and long inside the FIU 20 yard line.

So, to begin the 2^nd quarter Leigh Tiffin would come on and hit a 29 yard field goal to extend the Crimson Tide lead to 13-7. Alabama ’s special teams would make another mistake on the kickoff, but this time it was Leigh Tiffin making the mistake by kicking the ball out of bounds and giving the Golden Panthers the ball at the 40 yard line. Once again, a special teams mistake would prove costly for the Tide as FIU capitalized on the mistake with an 8 play 60 yard touchdown drive capped off a 9 yard touchdown pass from Paul McCall to Greg Ellingson. And, with under 11 minutes to go in the half, FIU took a 14-13 lead over the 4^th ranked Crimson Tide. On Alabama ’s next drive, they showed great resolve, and did not panic to being behind. This team has been able to overcome adversity better than ever before, and that is my favorite thing about this team. Alabama struck back fast on the heels of a 5 play 64 yard touchdown drive led by Greg McElroy and Mark Ingram. Mark Ingram finished off the drive with a 2 yard touchdown run to give Alabama the lead back at 20-14. Neither team could get a good drive going the rest of the half, and we would head to the locker rooms with Alabama leading by that same score.

It was definitely not the first half Alabama was hoping for. They had just a 6 point lead over the Sun Belt foe in Florida International. Earlier in the day, Florida had pounded the favorite in the Sun Belt Troy, 56-6, and now Alabama was struggling with a team that wasn’t even as good. It was definitely a frustrating half for the Crimson Tide, with special teams mistakes being the reason this was a game. I’ve heard Saban was a fiery halftime speaker, and this would be one of those times I would not want to be in that locker room listening to what was being said. Whatever he said, it lit a fire under Alabama , who came out with a dominating second half.

Alabama ’s defense made a statement at the beginning of the 3^rd quarter with a three and out, but Alabama ’s offense had their own three and out right after that. For the first half of the third quarter, neither team could muster up anything. But then, you knew that FIU wasn’t going to keep Alabama down long. The Tide showed why they are a top 5 team as they went on a 7 play 50 yard drive capped off by Trent Richardson’s first career touchdown on a 9 yard run. Seeing the freshman Richardson punch one into the endzone really has to put a smile on your face if you are a Tide fan. Just shows a sign of things to come in what looks like a great career that lies in front of him. Immediately after his touchdown, Richardson went over and hugged each one of his offensive lineman, and that was a great show of respect by this kid. He didn’t gloat and talk about how it was all him, and pound his chest and celebrate by himself. He went to where it all starts on run plays, and thanked them individually. Alabama would go for two to try and get a two touchdown lead, but the conversion attempt failed as Alabama couldn’t extend the lead past 26-14.

That would be the only score of the third quarter, as the clock winded down with Alabama heading to the 4^th quarter with a 12 point lead, but not at all comfortable. Alabama ’s defense was dominant in the third quarter, and did not allow FIU to get the ball into their territory.

Alabama would make the lead comfortable on the first play of the 4^th quarter with a 35 yard touchdown run by Trent Richardson, his 2^nd of the day. Following the extra point by Leigh Tiffin, Alabama would push the lead to 33-14. On the next possession for FIU, they finally put a drive together, for the first time of the 2^nd half. They put a 9 play 31 yard drive into Alabama territory, but the Tide defense held strong and forced FIU to go for it on 4^th down for the 2^nd time on the drive. This time, FIU couldn’t convert, and Alabama would take over. Alabama made FIU pay, after runs of 10 and 12 by Trent Richardson, Terry Grant took the ball 42 yard yards to the endzone for another Alabama touchdown. Bama’s lead extended to 40-14, and that is where it would stay.

It took a while for Alabama to feel comfortable in this game, a lot longer than what was thought before kickoff. It wasn’t until Richardson ’s 2^nd touchdown run that Alabama could breathe a sigh of relief with a 19 point lead. Alabama really buckled down in the 2^nd half, and won the game comfortably. In this game, Greg McElroy set an Alabama record with 14 consecutive completions, and really showed a much firmer grasp of the offense, and he seems to have the kinks worked out. Trent Richardson also looked great in this game with 118 yards on 15 carries with 2 touchdowns. The future looks bright for Alabama with him running the ball, but the present looks bright as well. Alabama suffered a big loss injury wise with Julio Jones injuring his knee in the first quarter, and spending the rest of the game on the sideline with ice on his knee. But, the prognosis looks good, because it is just a bruise, and he is listed as probable for the game Saturday against North Texas . Alabama has one more week to sure up the question marks that I discussed earlier before they start off SEC play against Arkansas . Alabama is 2-0, and face North Texas on Saturday.