Sure-- just like last year, BAMA needed some help after a mid-season loss to get back in the picture, and just like last year-- they got it. Like I had said all year, Johnny 'Football' Manziel was the real deal, and dangerous. He made the plays, and Texas A&M's defense stepped up to the plate. Luckily, The TIDE fought their way back, teams ahead of them lost, and BAMA's back in the game-- this time as SEC Champs...!
With SIX teams in the Top Ten, it's a shame that the Georgia Bulldogs didn't even get a BCS Bowl bid. After that SEC Championship Game slugfest with BAMA, they deserved it. With Florida, LSU, South Carolina and Texas A&M, this was a pretty impressive showing. The Gators get the Sugar Bowl bid as next highest-ranked, and The Bulldogs are relegated to a lesser-tier bowl.
VS 
ON to THIS year's CHAMPIONSHIP Game. I remember learning to hate Notre Dame early on. As a child, I had perfectly good Christmas Holiday vacations RUINED-- two years in a ROW-- by the Fighting Irish. Two weeks out of school, Christmas gifts, fun-fun-fun. All wiped away by soul-crushing losses by BAMA to Notre Dame. The first time in the Orange Bowl, 24-23. The very next year was a repeat in the Sugar Bowl, 13-11.
As a child, I had become accustomed to The CRIMSON TIDE always winning. When they lost-- on a national stage, no less-- I was emotionally confused. Back then, there were only a few games televised every year. If you were lucky, you could see The TIDE twice, maybe three times in a season. Usually, you listened to games on the radio. TV games were a rare treat, but better when the outcome was a win.
Throughout the years, I've always harbored ill feelings for those bitter memories, as I'm sure thousands of fans have, as well.
I was never "over-the-top" like SOME, though. I remember that there was a gas station on Schillinger Road that was obviously owned by auburn fans. After every TIDE loss, they always would post something 'clever' and derogatory about The CRIMSON TIDE. After the '74 season, following the Sugar Bowl loss, they posted "THE TIDE GOT ROLLED" on their marquis. I knew it was a bad idea for them when I saw it. After the first day or so, someone broke (vandalized) their sign, but inexplicably THEY PUT IT UP AGAIN!
The following weekend, some bitter redneck burned the gas station to the ground! These lunatics took that stuff seriously even way back then...!
I will post my thoughts and prediction for the upcoming game in a week or so. In the meantime.....
ROLL TIDE!!
