The Tide's Terrence Cody on the Iron Bowl: "It's big. It's big to go out as a Crimson Tide player beating Auburn your last year." (AP photo)

Now with the small matter of today's game against UT-Chattanooga out of the way, Alabama is free to focus on the big show.

Yes, six days from now, the Crimson Tide visits Auburn for this year's Iron Bowl.

During Alabama's postgame media interviews, it seemed more questions were asked about Auburn than UT-Chattanooga.

Of course, we'll have plenty on the blog in coming days about the Iron Bowl. In the meantime, before my own personal 24-hour rule is exhausted from today's game, here's a taste of what was said ...

Coach Nick Saban: "This will be a challenging game for us in every way. It's an important game for everybody that's involved in terms of our program here, that we do a good job of getting our players ready to play their best football. Our coaches will do whatever they need to do to get that done."

Quarterback Greg McElroy: "It's not going to be any pressure. It's just going to the same old team that we played last year. It's just another team. It can't be made out anything more than that. Obviously, they're a team that we face on yearly basis, and it's a team that we take a lot of pride in playing. ... It's a team that can't be overlooked. They're a very, very good football team. They really are."

Defensive back Ali Sharrief: "Those guys, they're going to come out and try to beat and destroy our dreams. I know everybody on this team wants to play them and win."

(AP photo)Alabama tailback Mark Ingram needed only 11 carries to reach 102 rushing yards and two touchdowns in today's blowout victory over UT-Chattanooga.

After that, Nick Saban decided his Heisman Trophy candidate didn't need any more.

"I'm sure we could have left him in today and he could have had a huge day, but he gained 100 yards," Saban said. "That's a good day's work when you come out with 10 minutes to go in the second quarter or whenever it was. Hopefully, that recovery will help him a little bit for what we have to get done in the future."

Ingram broke multiple tackles on touchdowns runs of 25 and 40 yards.

But he did not participate in the second half, as reserves Demetrius Goode (70 yards) and Roy Upchurch (70 yards) combined for 28 carries to dust off the victory and bring Alabama's overall total to 313 rushing yards.

The star sophomore said he enjoyed the chance to sit out it for a while, though he noted that, "You just had to go in there and take advantage of every opportunity you had, because you might not know if you might get in or sit out."

"Get in, get a good day's work, execute, have some success both in the pass and the run game, and then let other people get some playing that they, I think, deserve," Ingram said. "We all work hard every day in practice. I'm happy for all the players that got to go in and show what they've got."

Alabama's defense smothered Chattanooga - like Luther Davis (96), Marcell Dareus (57) and Josh Chapman did UTC back Shaun Kermah - en route to a 45-0 win on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium. (The Birmingham News / Mark Almond)

Associated PressAlabama coach Nick Saban talks with linebacker Jerrell Harris during the Tide's 45-0 win over Chattanooga on Saturday in Tuscaloosa.
The most important game of the year for many Alabama fans is coming up Friday, when the Tide travels to Auburn for the Iron Bowl. For others, it'll be a week later in Atlanta when the Tide tangles with Florida in the SEC championship game. If Alabama beats the Gators, an even bigger game, the national championship game, awaits in January.

But Nick Saban made a strong case to his players Saturday that no game was more important than Chattanooga.(ep)

"I think there are probably a lot of people in Alabama, whether they're Alabama fans or Auburn fans that probably equate the success or failure of the season based on what happens in this (Iron Bowl) game," Saban said after Alabama's 45-0 win over Chattanooga on Saturday. "I'm not sure that's exactly right.(ep)

"This game we had to play today was the most important game we had to play today. I told the players this: If we had lost this game today, there would be nothing else that could tarnish what you've accomplished more than that. You would someday be an NFL player with a Mercedes Benz and roll your window down and talk to a pretty girl and she'd say, 'You lost to Chattanooga when you played at Alabama.' Nobody would ever forget that."

Saban, whose Tide outgained Chattanooga 422-84, added that he meant no disrespect to the Mocs, who have won six games a year after winning only one in 2008.

"Their coach has done a fantastic job with that program this year," he said. "Still, it's the expectation out there that people have that creates that kind of thinking."

"I was pleased with the focus the players had and what they did. I think they showed respect for our opponent which was, I think, very important."

I've crunched the numbers.

I've studied the film.

I've looked at this thing from every possible angle and come to a shocking conclusion.

Alabama will not beat Auburn in the 2009 Iron Bowl ...

By as many points as it did in the 2008 Iron Bowl.

This Auburn team has more heart than last year's team.

This Auburn team has more fight.

This Auburn team has a semblance of an offense.

You know what that means.

This time, Auburn will score.

It'll be closer than some experts might think.

It'll be closer than last year.

But it won't be close.

It'll be Alabama 36, Auburn 10.

If it turns out that way, remember, you heard it here first.

If it turns out to be the biggest upset in Iron Bowl history -- which an Auburn victory would be -- forget you ever met me.

 

 

 

Alabama senior Javier Arenas returned a punt 66 yards to notch his first return touchdown of the season (UA photo).

TUSCALOOSA -- The week before the Iron Bowl featured no surprises and -- perhaps most important for second-ranked Alabama - no significant injuries.

The Crimson Tide rolled as expected today through overmatched NCAA Football Championship Subdivision visitor UT-Chattanooga, sending its seniors out with a 45-0 victory in their final contest at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

(View the final stats book here)

Alabama (11-0) reached the end zone on five of its first six possessions, taking a 35-0 lead about five minutes into the second quarter. The quick scores allowed the Crimson Tide go on cruise control in the second half, when a mixture of reserve players began replacing starters on both sides of the football.

"I was pleased with the focus that our players had in what they did," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "I think they showed respect for our opponent, which I think was very important. ... We got to play a lot of players."

Quarterback Greg McElroy (6-of-11, 80 yards, 1 TD) and tailback Mark Ingram (11 carries, 102 yards, 2 TDs) each did not return after halftime. Receiver Julio Jones was out after catching three passes for 65 yards, except for punt return duty in place of Javier Arenas, who returned a kick 66 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.

UT-Chattanooga (6-5) ended its first winning season since 2005 with a shutout, three turnovers and only 84 yards on 48 offensive plays. The Mocs reached the Crimson Tide's side of the field twice in the first half but came away without points on unsuccessful fourth-down conversions.

With win No. 11 in the bank, Alabama now can turn its full attention to Friday's 1:30 p.m. game at Auburn. The Tigers were off this weekend.

TUSCALOOSA - Stars shined for Alabama's offense in the first half and the defense dominated all day on Senior Day as the Crimson Tide romped to a 45-0 victory over Chattanooga on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

In its last game before taking on arch-rival Auburn (7-4) on Friday, the second-ranked Crimson Tide (11-0) led 35-0 at halftime in a game against the NCAA Division I-AA Mocs (6-5).

Alabama will try to cap its second consecutive undefeated regular season at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Senior Javier Arenas said he would like to go out with a bang in his last game on his home field, perhaps scoring a touchdown or two. He got one on a 66-yard punt return and added an interception. The touchdown was the seventh of his career, breaking the Southeastern Conference record that he shared with Kentucky's Derek Abney (2000-03).

Sophomore running back Mark Ingram, the Heisman Trophy front-runner, ran 11 times for 102 yards and two touchdowns. He scored on a 25-yard run in the first quarter on which he broke three tackles and carried a would-be tackler 5 yards to cross the goal line. He zig-zagged up the middle for a 40-yard TD run in the second quarter.

Sophomore Julio Jones caught three passes for 80 yards and a touchdown.

Leigh Tiffin kicked a 41-yard field goal to tie two school records: 25 in a single season, equaling the record he set two years ago, and 78 for a career, equaling Philip Doyle's record (1987-90).

Senior Roy Upchurch capped the scoring with a 21-yard touchdown run with four minutes left in the game.

The defense held Chattanooga to 84 yards in 48 plays. The Mocs brought a potent passing attack into the game but completed only 7-of-27 passes for 36 yards and had three passes intercepted.

Alabama had 18 first downs to Chattanooga's five. The Tide had 422 total yards in 72 plays, including 313 yards rushing on 56 attempts.

TUSCALOOSA -- Now that Alabama has improved its record to 11-0 with a 45-0 victory over Chattanooga, attention can turn to Auburn.

All that stands between the second-ranked Crimson Tide and a second consecutive undefeated regular season is a game at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Jordan-Hare Stadium against the Tigers (7-4).

And all that stands between the Tide and top-ranked Florida is Auburn. Alabama will meet the Gators on Dec. 5 in the Southeastern Conference championship game at the Georgia Dome.

What are your thoughts?

Alabama's Javier Arenas grabs a second-quarter interception of a pass intended for Chattanooga's Blue Cooper. (The Birmingham News / Mark Almond)TUSCALOOSA -- The fourth quarter is starting and Chattanooga only has 71 yards in 42 plays against the Alabama defense.

The Mocs have run 17 times for 36 yards. They have completed only 6-of-25 passes for 35 yards, and three passes have been intercepted.

Alabama has 18 first downs to Chattanooga's five.

The Crimson Tide has 306 total yards, including 204 rushing on 38 carries.

Mark Ingram ran for 102 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.

Tim Tebow ran for 102 yards and one touchdown in the first 30 minutes.

Greg McElroy threw a touchdown pass to Julio Jones.

Tebow threw a touchdown pass of his own.

Alabama scored 35 points in the first half.

So did Florida.

OK, so the Crimson Tide rolled up those numbers against Chattanooga to lead 35-0 at the break, and Florida ran up its totals on Florida International to cruise into the halftime locker room 35-3.

Looks like both teams are right on schedule for the game of the year/decade/century in two weeks in the Georgia Dome.

What are the odds that either team will put up those kinds of offensive numbers against the other's defense?

None and none. 

 

TUSCALOOSA -- Senior place-kicker Leigh Tiffin kicked a 41-yard field goal with 11:43 left in the third quarter to extend Alabama's lead to 38-0 over Chattanooga.

It was his 25th field goal of the season, tying the school single-season record that he set two years ago.

It was his 78th career field goal, tying the record Philip Doyle set from 1987-90.

TUSCALOOSA -- The second half began with an interception by Alabama senior free safety Justin Woodall, the Crimson Tide's third interception of the game.

Star Jackson then came in to play quarterback for Alabama, and Trent Richardson started at running back.

So starting quarterback Greg McElroy and starting running back Mark Ingram appear to be done for the day.

McElroy finishes 6-of-11 for 80 yards and one touchdown and no interceptions.

Ingram finishes with 11 carries for 102 yards and two touchdowns.

TUSCALOOSA -- Javier Arenas has a 66-yard punt return for a touchdown and an interception, and Mark Ingram has run 11 times for 102 yards and two touchdowns to lead Alabama to a 35-0 halftime lead over Chattanooga.

Alabama has dominated on offense and defense.

The Crimson Tide has 239 yards on offense, including 159 on the ground.

On 34 plays, Chattanooga has gained 67 yards. It has completed only 6-of-21 passes for 35 yards, and two passes have been intercepted. Fifth-year senior linebacker Cory Reamer got his first career interception for the Tide.

TUSCALOOSA -- It only took 20 minutes and seven seconds for Mark Ingram to rush for more than 100 yards against Chattanooga.

He just zigged and zagged his way down the middle of the field for a 40-yard touchdown run to give Alabama a 35-0 lead with 9:53 left in the second quarter.

The Heisman Trophy front-runner ran 25 yards for a first-quarter TD and now has 11 carries for 102 yards.

This guy could be the best player in college football. (Mark Almond / The Birmingham News) So I'm watching the Alabama-Chattanooga scrimmage, and this is what I see:

Third down for the Mocs.

Out goes Terrence Cody.

In comes Marcell Dareus.

Can someone please explain to me how a player who doesn't play every down could be one of the five finalists for an award that's supposed to go to the best defensive player in college football?

Bronko Nagurski must be forearm-shivering in his grave.

The Nagurski Trophy is supposed to go to college football's best defender. The other day, they announced the five finalists.

Cody was one of them.

His teammate, middle linebacker Rolando McClain, was not.

Can you say miscarriage of justice?

No offense, but  Cody is not the best player on the Alabama defense.

McClain is, by miles and miles.

Cody is very good at what he does, clogging the middle, stuffing the run and, when needed, saving a game and a perfect season by blocking field goals, but he isn't asked to carry a fraction of the burden McClain carries for the Alabama defense.

At least the people who chose the five finalists for the Dick Butkus Award, which goes to college football's best linebacker, got it right. They put McClain on their short list for the second straight year.

And the people who do the Walter Camp Award were just as smart. They cut the contenders for their honor down to 15, and they included McClain, along with Alabama running back Mark Ingram.

By the way, the Camp Award goes to the best player in the country.

Period.

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

That player, regardless of position or publicity, might be McClain.