10-23-2011, 10:57 AM
Real up close. Didn't know it at the time, but I married into an indirect, but lasting relationship with a former University of Alabama trustee, one that yields really, really good game tickets to Alabama games every now and then. This weekend was one of those times.
Paid very close attention to Trent Richardson in a game against Tennessee that was, unexpectedly, tied 6-6 at the half. Bama pulled away easily in the second half to win 37-6. For this game, Richardson had a decidedly un-Heismanlike outing.  Held to 35 yards in the first half, he ended up with only 77 yards or the whole game. 2 short yardage TDs. His two backups carried for more yardage on basically the same # of carries. No real long gains although he had 3 receptions or 33 yards. For the season he was averaging 6.8 yds. per carry. For this game 4.5 ypc. His receiving for this game in line with how they've used him in the last six games or so.
Beyond the stats, it was just not a dominant, star performance that stood out. Part of that was Tennessee was playing out of their skulls on defense on the first half and often stacked against the run. Richardson seems built more like a smaller Stewart but runs more like Taylor. Had to run inside in traffic for this game, so it wasn't a highlight reel. Had a couple of no-gain/TFLs. If anything, from my points of comparison, he runs a little tougher in traffic, and moves defenders back more once the first tackle is made. It will be interesting to see how he does against LSU's defense. Bama, in general, made its drives stay alive by the pass.Â
Other than that, the game day experience was otherworldly. Stadium now holds 100,000 + Not quite a sell out but the noise is mind blowing. Much more crowd noise, bigger, more engaged bands (from both sides) with the visitor's band drowned out by really annoying constantly repeated canned tunes played over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over. Retina-burning electronic message banners circle the entire stadium mezannine, endzone included, running non-stop ads. Hardly a moment of normal low level of noise. Non stop pageantry, flag girls, baton girls (almost R-rated moves) , dance girls, cheerleaders, four brobdingnagian video screens not only playing replays, but also nonstop messages exhorting the crowd to make noise...and the crowd obliges every time.
Glad I went, but wouldn't trade 20 of those Bama experiences for one good game watching a game I cared about at Stanford stadium, even with the late-arriving wine and cheese crowd.
Paid very close attention to Trent Richardson in a game against Tennessee that was, unexpectedly, tied 6-6 at the half. Bama pulled away easily in the second half to win 37-6. For this game, Richardson had a decidedly un-Heismanlike outing.  Held to 35 yards in the first half, he ended up with only 77 yards or the whole game. 2 short yardage TDs. His two backups carried for more yardage on basically the same # of carries. No real long gains although he had 3 receptions or 33 yards. For the season he was averaging 6.8 yds. per carry. For this game 4.5 ypc. His receiving for this game in line with how they've used him in the last six games or so.
Beyond the stats, it was just not a dominant, star performance that stood out. Part of that was Tennessee was playing out of their skulls on defense on the first half and often stacked against the run. Richardson seems built more like a smaller Stewart but runs more like Taylor. Had to run inside in traffic for this game, so it wasn't a highlight reel. Had a couple of no-gain/TFLs. If anything, from my points of comparison, he runs a little tougher in traffic, and moves defenders back more once the first tackle is made. It will be interesting to see how he does against LSU's defense. Bama, in general, made its drives stay alive by the pass.Â
Other than that, the game day experience was otherworldly. Stadium now holds 100,000 + Not quite a sell out but the noise is mind blowing. Much more crowd noise, bigger, more engaged bands (from both sides) with the visitor's band drowned out by really annoying constantly repeated canned tunes played over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over. Retina-burning electronic message banners circle the entire stadium mezannine, endzone included, running non-stop ads. Hardly a moment of normal low level of noise. Non stop pageantry, flag girls, baton girls (almost R-rated moves) , dance girls, cheerleaders, four brobdingnagian video screens not only playing replays, but also nonstop messages exhorting the crowd to make noise...and the crowd obliges every time.
Glad I went, but wouldn't trade 20 of those Bama experiences for one good game watching a game I cared about at Stanford stadium, even with the late-arriving wine and cheese crowd.
