http://www.postherald.com/ba111001.shtml
One final chance Tide, seniors have no breathing room By Greg Wallace BIRMINGHAM POST-HERALD TUSCALOOSA — When Jason McAddley, Freddie Milons, and the rest of their senior classmates entrusted their careers to the University of Alabama one cold February afternoon, they surely had vivid dreams of roaring crowds and a rousing sendoff from Bryant-Denny Stadium as revered football legends on this day, their last in the Crimson Tide's true home. If you had suggested they'd be fighting for their postseason lives and trying to win just their fourth home game in two seasons, they'd have dismissed you as crazy, foolish, or an Auburn fan. But as Alabama (3-5, 2-4 SEC) prepares to face Mississippi State (2-5, 1-4 SEC) at 11:30 a.m. today, these are the stinging realities: Today's loser will be eliminated from postseason play, and if Alabama falls, it will clinch its first consecutive losing seasons since 1955-57. Furthermore, the Tide has won just three of its past seven games in Bryant-Denny Stadium. All of which has McAddley flustered and searching for solutions. "I think we've played well," he said. "We've gotten the worst of circumstances. Sometimes the record doesn't show how good a team is. Our record is lot better than it shows. But we go out on game day, and it doesn't happen. It's like, 'What are we doing wrong?' " Four consecutive SEC losses — including three games where Alabama blew a fourth-quarter lead — have pushed the Tide to the edge of bowl elimination. To qualify for a bowl game, Alabama must win its last three games — today, at Auburn, and against Southern Miss Nov. 29 at Legion Field — and hope a bowl committee deems it worthy. Even with three victories, it is possible Alabama won't qualify for one of the seven SEC bowl slots and will have to hope for an at-large bid. No room for error; every game is a must. "Even if we win it, the next game's still going to be a sudden-death match for a bowl or no bowl," McAddley said. "We have to win out if we want to go to a bowl. This week's big in that aspect, just like the next week will be big, and the week after that will be big." Mississippi State provides the perfect remedy; after beating Memphis in the season opener, the Bulldogs lost five consecutive before rallying past SEC patsy Kentucky last week. Four-year starting quarterback Wayne Madkin has struggled, and was pulled at halftime last week, watching sophomore Kevin Fant rally the ÃDogs to victory. MSU Coach Jackie Sherrill says the two will split time today, but the starter is unknown. Injuries in the Bulldogs' offensive line and to star tailback Dicenzo Miller have turned the MSU run attack from strength to liability. Overall, MSU averages only 125 yards on the ground, 11th in the SEC, and its scoring offense is last in the nation at 12 ppg. Momentum careened out of Sherrill's control, with the ebb a 21-9 homecoming loss to I-A newcomer Troy State. "After you look at all of our circumstances this season and the way certain things have happened, it's not tough to believe that we are entering this game fighting for our postseason lives," he said. "A lot of people like to immediately point to coaching. But there has just been things we couldn't control happen to this team." Expect MSU, as usual, to pound the ball at Alabama's defensive front, which would be a relief to Alabama defensive coordinator Carl Torbush, whose job security became questionable this week after LSU scorched his defense for 611 yards, an Alabama-worst. MSU averages only 195 yards per game passing. If Sherrill steps out of character and lets his quarterbacks heave it, the secondary — which gave up 528 passing yards last week — must show improvement. "The key for us is making sure that we put those guys in the very, very best position to have a chance to be successful," Torbush said. "And then when we do, they have to tackle well and make some plays." The secondary's struggles have been blamed on youth, a common trait on this team. Of the 22 seniors making their Bryant-Denny farewell today, only McAddley, Milons, Terry Jones Jr., and Neal Thomas will start, and few others have lent significant contributions. Alabama Coach Dennis Franchione said they won't know what they had until it is gone. "It's a hard time young men have at this age," he said. "You have to lose what you have to appreciate it. We talk lot about that. Enjoying four years, enjoying each game, enjoying the grind because it won't always be there." Milons isn't concerned with a home finale; he just wants the next two weeks to matter. "A win would mean so much to me," he said. "To the players, to the whole program, to get a win. Get over the hump. All I know is wins. I don't want to make a habit of losing." Alabama scouting report WHO: Alabama (3-5, 2-4 SEC) vs. Mississippi State (2-5, 1-4 SEC). ALL EYES ON: Alabama receiver Freddie Milons. This is Milons' Bryant-Denny farewell, and he has plenty of motivation, starting with the opponent. Milons is 1-2 against hometown MSU, and would like nothing better than evening the score and ending an up-and-down career with a flourish. BY THE NUMBERS: 90. That's the difference between Alabama's rushing game and Mississippi State's. The difference is, Alabama holds the advantage, rushing for 214 ypg to MSU's 124, a shocking stat, considering MSU's historical allegiance to three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust offenses. Franchione's two-pronged run attack (Tyler Watts and Ahmaad Galloway or Santonio Beard) has been surprisingly effective. OUT OF BOUNDS: Today's regional telecast by JP Sports marks the 13th consecutive time this rivalry has been televised. Why? THE BOTTOM LINE: Normally, this would be a situation any Alabama fan would love: backs against the wall, pressure to perform, and a very willing victim. But this team handles pressure about as well as a 2-year-old handles jackhammers during nap time, folding late in its past four outings. Jackie Sherrill had ample time to watch the videotape from last week's embarrassment, but he's a Bryant-era traditionalist (re: run). How about a traditional result? PREDICTION: Alabama 35, Mississippi State 13. — Greg Wallace ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/. To unsubscribe from this list just send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a BLANK subject line and the single word "UNSUBSCRIBE" (without the quotes) in the body or visit http://www.RollTideFan.net
