Football: This blew my mind

[Matt]

in alabama, college football is LIFE.  specially their beloved TIDE.  it is the most identifiable thing in that whole state.  they have one of the biggest fan bases in all of college football.  it is the spring game, with one of the biggest names in college football today coming in to coach.  we will never have 92,000 for a spring game.  neither will 95% of the programs in the nation.

[Triple B]

Wow, in checking out a column on this game I came across this:

"We do a lot in practice, maintaining drives, and that's one of the things Coach Saban has preached with his Fourth Quarter Program," said White team center Antoine Caldwell,  who received the [highlight]Dwight Stevenson[/highlight] Award  as the game's most valuable lineman.  "Having that mental toughness to close out games. We did a great job on that last drive and all spring."

I guess The Birmingham News is more focused on Blazer football than Tide football to be really up on old Bama players.

Maybe one day we'll have an Andre "Haul" Award for our most valuiable running back ....  

http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/sports/1177230196264300.xml&coll=2#continue

[nukebull]

Wow, in checking out a column on this game I came across this:

"We do a lot in practice, maintaining drives, and that's one of the things Coach Saban has preached with his Fourth Quarter Program," said White team center Antoine Caldwell,  who received the [highlight]Dwight Stevenson[/highlight] Award  as the game's most valuable lineman.  "Having that mental toughness to close out games. We did a great job on that last drive and all spring."

I guess The Birmingham News is more focused on Blazer football than Tide football to be really up on old Bama players.

Maybe one day we'll have an Andre "Haul" Award for our most valuiable running back ....  

http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/sports/1177230196264300.xml&coll=2#continue

Good old Dwight was one of those who's career was cut too short, he was a great center and a true class act of a human. May be the best center to ever play and he is clearly the best the Dolphins ever had.  

UAB gets very little respect in Birmingham because of Auburn and Alabama and of course they are CUSA in a state used to BCS ball.

[HarveyGlass]

I compare Alabama football to UK basketball.

I think the biggest reason for the support and commitment to their football is that, historically, football was their connection to, and validation from the rest of the country.  Seventy years ago, there was no internet, there was even less to do in Alabama, and there was even less of a reason for the nation to care about Alabama.  Football became Alabama pride because they were great at it.

Today's passion and commitment stems from those times.

There are far fewer committed fans from big-city schools, even though the population difference is enormous, because USC fans don't need football to tell them they are important.

IMO.

[crambone]

WOW...

[smazza]

So where is USF football compared to this?

Alabama draws 92,000 for Saban's first spring game

How long is it going to take for USF football to crack at such a crazy number? They must not have anything to do in Alabama.

It isn't about wins and losses, is it? How did they do for spring when baby Shula was there?

92,000 Bulls fans for a spring game? I dream but I can't even dream that crazy!

the product isnt that exciting

no real success

home schedule isnt good

underachieving in major areas

\\no marketing of football program

\no connection with kids/parents

no wonder spring game  draws little

[smazza]

If we had a pro style offense we would have 92,000 at our spring game.

nfl fans arent going to be excited about a college team that offense has qb running up the middle most of the time

boo hoo hoo my point all you want but proof is in the lack of interrest

[smazza]

Haha, No thats my point. We'll get there, but many of those big tiume schools just have UNBELIEVABLE fanbases that are greatly committed.

that is what ftu/ou./oc said 20 years ago

there is no guarantee

usf needs to step up recruiting

[Joe]

[

nfl fans arent going to be excited about a college team that offense has qb running up the middle most of the time

boo hoo hoo my point all you want but proof is in the lack of interrest

Is that why Vince Young has been so polarizing?

Is that why Atlanta has some of the highest TV ratings when on nationally?

Is that why several NFL teams (Titans, Falcons, Patriots, Steelers, etc) have implemented parts of the spread into their offenses?

Is that why Bill Belichik, arguably the greatest coach in the NFL right now, personally has gone to Gainesville for a week each time during the last 2 summers to meet with Urban Meyer and discuss the spread with him?

Is that why despite the spread offense has won the last 2 National Championships?

While I'm not the biggest fan it is effective and gaining popularity.

Your an idiot Smaz...I'm sure you don't even know the basic principles or where the offense stems from, much less how its ran and how it can be effective...

[BDYZR]

So, I'm still wondering what 92,000+ Alabama rednecks will think when the guy that turned them down when Shula couldn't beat Auburn, home or away, takes his eleven year old in there and spanks'em?

Also, Nuke, if you to get out of 'bama, maybe he should work for the Chamber of Commerce somewhere in the Bay area.

GO BULLS!