Oh, What a Blessed Night! Tide Survive the Fighting Kiffs
By: Dave in Tuscaloosa
Photo: Rogelio V. Solis, AP Photo
It was an epic game for the ages...two prolific offenses beating down opposing defenses, moving the football down the field at will drive after drive, and while the defenses on both sides gave a valiant effort, neither team’s unit had an answer. The contest was filled with quarterbacks slinging razor sharp passes through tight coverages, receiving corps that emerged as heroes and turned simple plays into great ones, and a few rookies who earned their stars by coming up with clutch plays throughout the game. The defenses, although filled with great talent, were outmatched and were unable to stop, or even slow down the offenses, leaving the end result in question late into the contest. The crowd, small, scattered, yet spirited, was treated to an offensive performance that will be hard to replicate, and as the fans left the field on a crisp, fall day, much excitement and anticipation for the next contest was palpable. The final score was a startling 105-77.
This, of course, was the synopsis of last Thursday’s much anticipated opening day of the middle school flag football season at my school in beautiful Charlottesville, Virginia. At the school, I serve on the administrative team and also double as middle school flag football league commissioner, where I’m known simply as the Commish (I run a tight front-office). Little did I know this flag football game of middle school boys and girls would serve as a precursor to the madness we would experience watching the Tide and the Rebels tussle in storm-soaked Oxford, Mississippi just two days later.
Members of the Ole Miss defense pose for a pregame picture ahead of their clash with Alabama, October 10, 2020.
Much like the middle school game, second ranked Alabama’s 63-48 victory over Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss Rebels featured incredible offensive performances against two defenses that looked overwhelmed and outmatched. The statistics speak for themselves: 1,370 total yards (723 by Alabama, the second highest total ever only behind the 1973 833-yard effort against Virginia Tech, and 647 by the Rebels, the most the Tide has ever given up), 23 combined possessions, and just three punts. It was a thrilling back and forth contest reminiscent of a heavy-weight championship fight. Quarter after quarter, one team would score and the other would counter. It produced one of the most entertaining and exciting games of this unusual season and pushed Alabama coach Nick Saban’s record against former assistant coaches to 21-0. It also was the 93rd straight victory for Alabama over an unranked opponent. Let that sink in: 93 straight without a slip-up. There is just one word for that: incredible.
The Rebels offense was a menacing machine of brilliance for which the usually vaunted Crimson Tide defense shockingly had no answer. Sophomore quarterback Matt Corral was spot on all night, going 21-for-28 for 365 yards and 2 touchdowns. No down and distance challenge was too hard for him as Corral and company converted first down after first down. Offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby and head coach Lane Kiffin called the game of their lives. The Rebels carved up the Tide secondary and ran through the ‘Bama defensive front, and to use a proverbial classic illustration, like a hot knife through butter.
On a quick side note, let’s put any thought of Lane Kiffin not being an elite coach to rest right now. Ole Miss is not there quite yet as their defense borders wouldn’t be able to stop grandma in the grocery aisle, yet the very best for this program is yet to come and the Fighting Kiffs will be factors in the SEC West a lot faster than many thought they would.
Photo: Ole Miss Athletics
Not to be outdone, Alabama gunslinger Mac “Daddy” Jones once again made Tide fans ecstatic at the redshirt junior’s emergence as a more-than competent replacement for the legendary Tua. He had a night for the ages himself, as his 28 for 32, 417 yard, two touchdown performance was Burrow-like. Quarterback Mac’s calm and cool demeanor continues to win over the Bama faithful. The Tide rushing attack came to life as the “big uglies” up front opened hole after hole for Tide backs Najee Harris (23 carries for 206 yards and an astounding 5 touchdowns) and Brian Robinson, who ran the ball well and gained 76 yards and added a touchdown. The Tide receiving trio of Jaylen Waddle, DeVonta Smith, and John “I’m from the Great White North” Metchie continued to dazzle and accounted for 359 collective yards. The porous Ole Miss defense had no chance as Alabama’s offensive machine scored touchdowns on nine out of eleven offensive possessions. In short, the Alabama offense proved that they can win in a shootout and can carry the team until the defensive unit comes around.
The stats from this game are stunning, and Alabama’s inability to make a stop on defense was even more shocking. However those realities play second fiddle to the fact that this football game was a ton of fun to experience. Even for die-hard Crimson Tide fans, who no doubt experienced near heart failure for stretches on Saturday night, the contest was an incredibly entertaining game, especially after it became clear that one defensive stop would decide the outcome (which came in the form of two field goals by the Fighting Kiffs in the fourth quarter, answered by touchdowns by the Tide).
When a squad, in any sport, wins as much as ‘Bama has under Nick Saban, the thrill of victory can easily be lost. On Saturday night, the Rebels pushed the Tide to the brink, and time after time, the boys in Crimson and White responded, thus reminding Bama fans what the thrill of a hard fought victory truly feels like. The collective respect for Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss program probably doubled on Saturday night, yet that respect will be countered soon by Tide fans as we realize that The Lane Train is here to stay, and future games with the Rebels will no doubt be highly contested.
Lane is here to stay, and so is this meme.
As an Alabama fanatic, I have to say thank you to Lane Kiffin, Matt Corral, and the Ole Miss faithful. You pushed our beloved team to the brink and created a contest that was memorable to say the least. Am I concerned with our defense? No doubt, yet I will give credit to Kiffin and Lebby and will think that it was a one-time deal...using a Leach-ism, no need to purge any malcontents, and here's saying that the Tide defense will perform far better next Saturday against Georgia. Do I think the Bama offense is special and a blast to watch? No doubt. Do I believe our special teams units are solid and could win games? Absolutely. Do I believe that Saban and company will get the boys focused and ready to go for the games that remain? Most certainly. Was I absolutely enthralled and excited that I had experienced the thrill of a Bama victory unlike so many in the past few years? No question.
However, for a few hours on Saturday night, the Alabama nation wrestled with the idea that our Crimson Tide might get beat. It probably will make this version of the Tide sharper, which would be great as the road ahead is filled with challenging opponents. And perhaps it served as a reminder to Alabama fans, players, and coaches what a thrilling, close, hard fought victory feels like...what a blessing indeed.
On to Georgia.