Speaking of his field goal kicker, Leigh Tiffin: "He just got a slight concussion and they would not clear him at the time," Nick Saban said. "He was not capable of . he cleared up and was OK at halftime, so he was able to kick. But that was a tough management situation. I probably didn't manage it very well because it didn't work. We didn't execute it correctly."
I worked in juvenile corrections public administration for 34 years and this is the best evidence of the adolescent mind justifying a mistake (meaning no learning has taken place) that I've encountered. Either that, or he considers his audience total fools. A. Leon Polhill FlaNative1845 330 NW 45th Street Gainesville, FL 32607 (352) 367-4642 -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Oliver Barry Sent: Monday, December 08, 2008 12:04 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [gatornews] More Tide Kicking themselves Two special teams miscues by Tide help Gators take halftime lead <http://www.tidesports.com/article/20081207/NEWS/812060255/1016/NEWS?Title=K icking_themselves> (Tuscaloosa News / Robert Sutton) Alabama's Javier Arenas (28) loses his helmet during a kick return in the first half. By Christopher Walsh Sports Writer Published: Sunday, December 7, 2008 at 6:01 a.m. Last Modified: Saturday, December 6, 2008 at 11:57 p.m. ATLANTA | When the University of Alabama football team looks back on Saturday's SEC Championship Game, a host of things will stand out as contributors to the 31-20 loss at the Georgia Dome, like Florida's two fourth-quarter touchdowns, quarterback Tim Tebow's efficiency, and the Gators reaching the red zone (inside the 20) six times and scoring points on five trips. Related Links: * Tide lets <http://www.tidesports.com/article/20081207/NEWS/812060261> game slip away to Gators * Jones, <http://www.tidesports.com/article/20081207/NEWS/812060257> other freshmen, come up big in the clutch * Tide <http://www.tidesports.com/article/20081207/NEWS/812060253> likely New Orleans bound for Sugar Bowl * Zoned out <http://www.tidesports.com/article/20081207/NEWS/812060219> * Tide <http://www.tidesports.com/article/20081207/NEWS/812060217> grabs momentum, but can't hold on * Loss <http://www.tidesports.com/article/20081207/NEWS/812060215> tough on Tide players * CECIL <http://www.tidesports.com/article/20081206/NEWS/812060259> HURT: This one's going to sting for some time But special teams did in the Crimson Tide as much as anything. "Those two special teams errors in the second quarter I think were critical in the game," Tide coach Nick Saban said. Both were what the coach called "mental mistakes." The first came early in the second quarter, when Alabama had the momentum and a 10-7 lead. With a 40-yard drive stalled at the Florida 32, the coaching staff had to make a crucial decision because even though it was well within Leigh Tiffin's range, the junior kicker was on the sideline due to an injury sustained on a kickoff return. So with freshman Corey Smith lined up, junior holder P.J. Fitzgerald tried to run for the first down even though it was fourth-and-9. He was stopped at the line of scrimmage. "When we called the fake, the fake is based on the look," Saban said. "They weren't in the right look for us to run the fake, so we should have kicked the field goal." Tiffin was able to return and, in addition to his 30-yard field goal late in the first quarter, made a 27-yard attempt in the third quarter. "He just got a slight concussion and they would not clear him at the time," Saban said. "He was not capable of . he cleared up and was OK at halftime, so he was able to kick. But that was a tough management situation. I probably didn't manage it very well because it didn't work. We didn't execute it correctly." Florida then drove 67 yards and tied the game at 10 on a field goal. On the subsequent kickoff, junior return specialist Javier Arenas caught the ball and stepped out of bounds at the Alabama 4. "I was mad for about 3.4 seconds," Arenas said. " I went to the sideline to get ready (to play defense). "Stupid play." After the Tide failed to get a first down, Florida quickly took advantage again. Starting at its own 43, and aided by a horse-collar penalty on senior safety Rashad Johnson, the Gators needed nine plays to reach the end zone and take a 17-10 lead into halftime. "We can't give them that," Saban said. "We can't give them good field position." Arenas had a 41-yard kickoff return in the second half, but Florida junior Brandon James had five kickoff returns for 121 yards, to set a new SEC Championship Game record (108, Florida's Bo Carroll in 1999). "I fell like we played pretty good," James said. Reach Christopher Walsh at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or at 205-722-0196. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
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