(Mmmmmmmm. That Coke looks delicious. Would love a sip. But that would take six seconds of my time and distract me from The Process.)
It's easy to pile on Alabama every time it loses, which doesn't happen often.
The frequency is getting higher, though, and Dan Wolken of USA Today says this is what it looks like when dynasties start do crumble.
But a much more dramatic shifting of sands is happening under Saban's feet, whether he is willing to acknowledge it or not. Alabama no longer resides on a level above the college football mortals; it is now just another very good program that loses to other very good programs just about as often as it beats them.
Here are Alabama's last nine games against top-15 teams (at the time of the game) since blowing the doors off Notre Dame in the 2012 BCS championship: Beat Texas A&M 49-42, beat LSU 38-17, lost to Auburn 34-28 on the epic "Kick Six," lost to Oklahoma 45-31 in the Sugar Bowl, lost to Ole Miss 23-17 early last season, held off Mississippi State 25-20, beat Auburn 55-44, lost soundly to Ohio State while giving up 42 points in last year's playoff semifinal and lost Saturday to Ole Miss.
That's a 4-5 record in the biggest games while frequently giving up 40 or more points, even in some of the wins.
For all of its No. 1-ranked recruiting classes, Alabama can no longer dictate the way games are played. For all of the defensive talent that rolls through and shuffles off to the NFL, the Crimson Tide can no longer shut down good teams down. For all the time they had to replace AJ McCarron, they are now in the midst of a second consecutive season without a reliable quarterback.
A few Tuesday links:
-- Dak Prescott is confident about facing Auburn's defense. Well wouldn't you be?
Prescott accounted for 374 total yards (246 passing, 128 rushing) and three touchdowns in a 38-23 win over Auburn last season, but also threw two interceptions. As a team, the Bulldogs finished with 469 yards.
Auburn's defense has not improved since then. In fact, the Tigers' last nine FBS opponents have all gained at least 400 yards.
Under new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, Auburn's defense is allowing 421.5 yards per game this season. The 199.5 yards on the ground ranks 96th nationally while the 222 yards through the air ranks 80th.
-- From the You Can't Make This Up category: Two TCU players are arrested for stealing beer-flavored water, among other things.
TCU senior defensive end Mike Tuaua and redshirt freshman Andre Petties-Wilson were arrested Monday on felony robbery charges, Fort Worth police said in a statement.
The two were jailed on the charge of robbing three male students around 11:30 p.m. on Sept. 4., as well as stealing a case of Keystone Light.
A TCU spokesman confirmed that both Tuaua and Petties-Wilson have been suspended from the football program because of a violation of team rules.
In the statement, the students told the police that they were beaten outside a party and their case of beer was taken. One student told the police that after he saw three suspects "kicking and punching" another student while that student was "laying on the ground in the fetal position."
-- Art Briles says he lost some of his edge heading into this season.
The Baylor Bears have been mostly underwhelming in winning their first two games against modest competition.
Coach Art Briles on Monday cited a lack of fire in his team as the major concern. And he blamed himself, along with the human nature that comes with life among college football's blue bloods.
"It's something I haven't done a good job with this year," he said. "I did a little better last year, I think, of making sure we're still the hunter, and we're still hungry and determined and we still keep our edge.
"I think I lost my edge a little, quite honestly. It's something I don't want to happen. I'm not standing here because I was edgeless. I'm standing here because I had an edge about me for a long time as a person and as a coach. I don't want to lose that or let somebody take it away from me."
-- Pete Iacobelli of the AP says Deshaun Watson is looking for wins, not accolades.
“My mind is not on the Heisman right now. That’s going to take care of itself,” Watson said Monday. “I’m just here to do my part, do my job and get wins.”
So far, so good — even if it’s not always so pretty.
Clemson will look to clean things up during its bye week before facing No. 6 Notre Dame on Oct. 3. Right behind is No. 20 Georgia Tech on Oct. 10, a one-two punch that should go a long way toward determining Clemson’s championship hopes and Watson’s opportunity to win college football’s biggest individual prize.
If Watson is concerned about the accolades, he has not shown it, said offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain.
“I think he’s had (pressure) throughout his career,” Mac Lain said. “This is a kid who’s been successful at the college and high school rank. I’ve never seen Deshaun have a weak moment to where he’s too big or full of himself.”
-- Looks like Georgia Tech backup QB Tim Byerly is done for the season.
Georgia Tech quarterback Tim Byerly’s season is apparently over. On his radio show Monday night, coach Paul Johnson said that Byerly has decided to have surgery to repair a knee injury suffered in practice Sept. 7. As a result, Byerly is “probably through” for the season, Johnson said.
It was Johnson’s most definitive comment on the injury. After the Tulane game Sept. 12, Johnson said that Byerly’s status for the season wouldn’t be known for a couple weeks. Byerly, a fifth-year senior, can apply for a medical hardship waiver to have his final season of eligibility restored. Byerly meets at least two of the qualifications, as he played in less than 30 percent of his team’s games and suffered the injury in the first half of the season. The other two criteria are that the injury must be incapacitating – which it would appear to be – and that appropriate medical documentation must exist and be provided.
-- And finally, some dudes from Athens play a song from their new album:
LW
