Settled in at Bryant-Denny where Nick Saban is speaking on the video screens int the four corners of the stadium. He cursed again, but itwas a tape, a curse from last year I think.
There was lots of cheering when I exited the garage and got out into the open. I was humbled, but then I realized Arkansas had scored again down at Auburn.
It seems as though Arkansas is being a bit secretive with Ryan Mallett's injury. On the drive over I heard knee, ribs, shoulder and head, the last being attributed to coach Bobby Petrino.
His status for Ole Miss next week will be evaluated daily, I'm sure. What they look for in the after-effects are headaches and that sort of thing.
The Rebels are walking across the turf in sweats right now. Leave your observations below. I'll leave mine.
TOtal offense: Ole Miss 66-243, Alabama 59-319
Rushing: Ole MIss 34-100, Alabama 26-133 (Tide ran for 200 on Ole Miss last year with the same backs)
Passing: Ole Miss 18-for-40, 1 INT, 1 TD, 110 yards; Alabama 17-for-25, 0 INT, 2 TD, 219 yards
Ole Miss had four sacks of Bama QB Greg McElroy. He was sacked 7 times last week at South Carolina.
He doesn't throw picks, but he doesn't get rid of the ball either.
Nice game for Gerald Rivers, 4 tackles, 1 1-2 sacks.
Secondary broke up two passes, compared to six for Bama.
Rebels missed a golden opportunity to make a difference in the game late in the first half when Joel Kight did not come up with the pick six. COuld have been 13-10 at half but was 16-3.
Field position hurt play-calling early on, then he just started passing no matter where he was. Had a drop by Summers early on that stopped a drive.
I also though Masoli was a little wild. He knew he was going to get rushed hard, and that affected some throws.
Bottom line, when the pressure was off and the Tide was up 23-3, the Ole Miss offense looked better but not enough to mount a serious comeback.
Offense showed a pulse in the second half but it was too little too late.
If there's a silver lining it's in the performance of the defense. Pretty good coverage in the secondary, decent pass rush but the rush wasn't consistent. Still a lot of work to do there.
I thought the move of LaMark Armour to DE worked well and will probably continue.
Best performance from the front seven this season.
Having seen Alabama for a full game, it's now hard to imagine this team losing at South Carolina and losing again somewhere.
We'll see.
I won't get back to Tupelo until way late. Look for Day After Observations tomorrow in the afternoon instead of the morning.
4:33
1 A 21 Incomplete to Harris, ball tipped, nearly picked
2 21 Timeout Alabama 4:27
2 21 Masoli keeps left plus 2
3 8 19 Scrambling right, to Grandy, plus 7
4 inches Bolden at middle, plus 3
1 9 Ugly, way short to Bolden
2 9 Timeout Ole Miss 2:55
2 9 Masoli plus 3, delivers a hit on Lowrey.
3 6 First play with a fullback, it was Bolden. Masoli plus 1
4 5 Rose FGA is good from 23.
1:28 Alabama 13-3
8 plays, 16 yards, 23-yard field goal
More bad field position as we sit through more commercials. Rebels back at their 5 after the punt rolled dead. I don't think they're about to drive out of this hole.
The Bama field goal drive.
BAMA
3:56
1 43 To Richardson. Plus 3 (Sawyer)
2 46 To Jones on the sideline, Plus 8. (Fon Ingram)
1 OM 46 Richardson through a hole on the right side. Plus 12
1 34 Wayne Dorsey in at left DE. Richardson minus 5 (Brown, land shark sign)
2 39 Jones drops pass on a slant.
3 15 39 Thompson and Rivers the ends, Armour at tackle. To Richardson, quick drop, pass left, plus 8.
4 31 49 FGA by Foster barely has the leg but has it. 10-0 with 58 seconds left in the first.
54-yard punt, 19 on the returnable
13:31
1 OM 46 McElroy plus 9
2 37 Incomplete, short drop for McElroy, good coverage McGee on Hanks.
3 1 37 Ingram left plus 1 (Ingram, Cornell)
1 36 Ingram left plus 7
2 29 Ingram right side, gets past Rivers, plus 9
1 20 Incomplete deep to Hanks, good coverage McGee. Jason Jones at end.
2 20 Incomplete to Maze out of bounds, Temple covering. Maze stays down. Good coverage.
3 20 Thompson at end, Armour at tackle. Incomplete to Jones, open, off his hands.
4 20 37 FGA is good by Shelly. Drive kept alive roughing the kicker.
1 10 Defense had seemingly held.
1 10 Richardson plus 1, Armour. Lined up at left end that time.
2 9 False start. Minus 5
2 14 Complete. Temple gives Maze big cushion. Plus 7.
3 goal 7To Dial in back of end zone. TD. Gets past Johnny Brown.
Kick good. 8:57
11, 46, 4:34