The Third Saturday in October has always meant one thing... Alabama - Tennessee .
Below, is a classic scene from the series.
It's a great illustration of how the stoppages, the clock and the crowd work in football. This is it. The clock is down to 4 seconds...there won't be another play. If Tennessee makes it they win. If they don't they lose.
Not only is this one of the more bitter rivalries in the SEC but, at this point Alabama was undefeated and ranked number one in the country. Because of the way college football is structured one loss puts your entire season in serious jepordy...if, that is, you intend to play for a National Championship. Alabama plays for National Championships and in 2009 they hadn't won one since 1992.
Everything was on the line as Lincoln lined up for the kick.*
There's that damn cheer again.
Gary Danielson references the 2006 Florida - South Carolina game. Same situation, except the Gators had already lost one game and their National title hopes were barely alive.
We were there...in the clip below, we're sitting in the far upper left hand side of the field.
Warning: The clip below is loud...and then ear shattering.
Greatest game I've ever been to and like Alabama in 2009 the Gators went on to demolish Ohio State in the 2006 National Championship game.
Today, South Carolina comes to The Swamp. Against every pre-season prediction the Gators are undefeated and two games away from securing a spot in the SEC Championship...and beyond. South Carolina is also undefeated in the SEC East (they lost a heart breaker at LSU last week).
Of course, the The Greatest Gator of Them All will be coaching the Gamecocks....never easy to see. Never easy to root against The Ole Ball Coach but, he's gotta go down today.
*Apologies to Mrs. Ronnie who is a Tennessee fan.
ON YOUR A$$$$$$$$!!!!! Gator ball on the 3 yard line.
TOUUUUUUUUUUUUCHDOWN GATORS! Four plays into the game...
Gators 7 - Gamecocks 0
Dadgummit.
That's right...uncatchable.
That is the most ridiculous call I've ever seen.
Won't matter because Shaw is running for his life and the Gamecocks are gettin' stoned at the line.
Is this football or soccer???? He barely touched him...if at all. WT...
That was just a good call...freakin' Ball Coach.
They'd be better off tryin' to teleport into the endzone than trying to get the edge on this defense.
Kick your field goal...Cocks.
Gators 7 - Gamecocks 3...half the necessary yards due to unnecessary, ridiculous even, penalties.
Alright! Alright...short field. Do something with it.
Have mercy!!!
Christy is working on another MVP.
Yo turn to punt...from your own endzone!
One of the greatest catches I've seen all year erased by an idiotic call...another one.
This is the absolute worst officiating I've seen all season. End of 1st quarter..
Gators 7 - Gamecocks 3
Another pure SEC defensive struggle.
There goes Lattimore.
Artful coverage from Saunders.
BLOCKED...HAHAHAHHAHAHAHH!!!!!
YES. As long as Burton is anywhere on the field you are not safe Gamecocks.
ROCK N ROLL...ROCKNROLL.
Gators 14 - Gamecocks 3
About six inches from making it 21.
Gators 21 - Gamecocks 3! How 'Bout Them Gators!
They got these boys on the run right now.
Don't let 'em drag this out y'all.
Another terrible call wipes out a big play.
Great kick but, it's another gift from the refs.
Halftime...
Gators 21 - Gamecocks 6
Back at it.
Slow but steady.
Not so slow on that one...get 'em Patton.
Clowney is a beast.
Burton...Burton....he's too big for arm tackles Cocks. First DOWN!
Gators...GATORS...TOUCHDOWN GATORS!!!!
Way to stink that up.
Gators 27 - Gamecocks 8 (two points on the blocked extra point).
Still that was a great drive and a gorgeous play for the touchdown.
Have y'all noticed something...or the predictable absence of something...someone.
HAHSHAHAHAHAHH...they clowin on you now Cocks.
Gators 30 - Gamecocks 8.
Fowler...a true freshman just embarassed your tackle and...smoked yo a****!
Shank.
Another short field for the Gators.
ANOTHER TOUCHDOWN. They are hammering South Carolina!!!
Gators 37 - Gamecocks 8
Everybody from Muschamp to the Cokecola vendors is saying the Gators aren't back til they win a championship and there is something to that but, let's not be coy....the team is a Monster!
Start of the 4th...
Gators 37 - Gamecocks 8. One more quarter to go.
Gators with the ball again...main thing now is to keep Carolina from scoring. The Gators have only given up 10 points in the fourth quarter all year.
Don't let em score y'all.
gurhhhhhh...
Gators 37 - Gamecocks 11
Gators 44 - Gamecocks 11...It's gettin' ugly now.
Interception...Gator Ball.
Put in the books...
Gators 44 - Gamecocks 11.
I knew I'd catch hell...but I was absent for a decent reason this time: the Lord's work. The Missus is now the Youth Director at our church, and sadly, had scheduled an all-day affair for the youngsters. [That's right: on a football Saturday, of all days.] I was recruited to aid her in this endeavor...I had to listen to the game on the radio, or find a score on her super-phone whenever I could.
ReplyDeleteIt was a long day. [Not without one hilarious - in retrospect - vehicular incident involving my lovely wife's parking (in)abilities.]
Oh, and the deciding factor of the weekend was NC State's last minute triumph over Maryland. Big Al: 9 Lovely Missus: 8. I love watching her drop cash into that jar, I swear it.
Sorry I missed contributing. Better believe I'll be seated on my own couch, laptop in hand, this Saturday.
So you're blaming God and your wife for your absence...why don't you just throw little Dixie under the bus too.
DeleteJust be here..It's Georgia...Georgia.