PRESS PICKS (Week 4): Tide woes bring out the naysayers

STAFF REPORT

Clockwork.

It happens every time Alabama loses or comes close to a loss. The naysayers come out of the woodwork, ready to strike.

Here are a couple of examples…

Matt Hayes - "Want to blame someone for the wildly un-Alabama performance against a Texas team that will struggle to gain bowl eligibility this season? Look no further than the king himself, Nick Saban.”

Paul Finebaum - “There are a lot of concerns… the defense was sloppy. Will Anderson made a lot of mistakes. The idea of a beatdown resurrected itself and you are hearing this and seeing it all over the place. You are playing Texas that has been nothing in 15 years so it’s hard to mentally get up for that game.”

There are plenty more examples but the point is made. The national media continues to make the point that Bama is not the Bama of old and will suffer for it this season.

Only, this was the discussion last year when it struggled early against Florida and eventually lost to Texas A&M.

It was the story when Clemson clobbered them in the 2018 national championship game. Or when they lost to Auburn on a couple of occasions. It goes on and on and on…. But when the smoke clears, Bama is still standing.

Yes, there are issues, some of the same from last year. The offensive line needs work. The receivers are not living up to their five-star potential.

But it’s foolish to doubt Nick Saban. But everybody keeps doing it. Bama will be back, to what degree remains to be seen. The stretch of games in October will be a test and chances are one of those opponents might find a way to beat the Crimson Tide. But when the dust settles and we are looking at who goes to the playoffs, chances are this team will be in the discussion. You may not agree after watching the performance at Texas, but history says so.

Graham Dunn stays on top in the standings.

2022 Overall Standings (Last Week) 

1. Graham Dunn  39-11 (11-4) .780

2. Doug Amos  37-13 (10-5) .740

3. Tim Gayle 36-14 (10-5) .720

Wesley Lyle 36-14 (12-3) .720

5. Michael Butler 35-15 (12-3) .700

6. Mike Peacock  34-16 (9-6) .680

Rick Hendrick  34-16 (11-4) .680

8. Rosie Langello 31-19 (9-6) .620

9. Barry McKnight  30-20 (11-4) .600

Graham Dunn (River Region Sports)  
39-11 (11-4) .780

G.W. Carver at Stanhope Elmore – Carver

Pike Road at Eufaula - Eufaula


Park Crossing vs. Sidney Lanier – Lanier


Andalusia at Montgomery Academy – Andalusia

Marbury at Tallassee - Tallassee


UL Monroe at Alabama-Alabama

Penn St at Auburn– Auburn

Troy at Appalachian St- Appalachian St

Miss St at LSU - Miss St

Miami, Fla at Texas A&M – Texas A&M

Georgia at South Carolina - Georgia

Florida St at Louisville (Fri) - Louisville

Oklahoma at Nebraska - Oklahoma

BYU at Oregon - BYU

Michigan St at Washington - Washington

Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket & Fox 20)  
37-13 (10-5) .740

G.W. Carver at Stanhope Elmore – Carver

Pike Road at Eufaula - Pike Road


Park Crossing vs. Sidney Lanier – Lanier


Andalusia at Montgomery Academy – Andalusia

Marbury at Tallassee - Tallassee


UL Monroe at Alabama-Alabama

Penn St at Auburn– Auburn

Troy at Appalachian St- Appalachian St

Miss St at LSU - LSU

Miami, Fla at Texas A&M – Texas A&M

Georgia at South Carolina - Georgia

Florida St at Louisville (Fri) - Louisville

Oklahoma at Nebraska - Oklahoma

BYU at Oregon - Oregon

Michigan St at Washington - Washington

Tim Gayle (River Region Sports & Montgomery Independent) 
36-14 (10-5) .720

G.W. Carver at Stanhope Elmore – Carver

Pike Road at Eufaula - Eufaula


Park Crossing vs. Sidney Lanier – Lanier


Andalusia at Montgomery Academy – Andalusia

Marbury at Tallassee - Tallassee


UL Monroe at Alabama-Alabama

Penn St at Auburn– Auburn

Troy at Appalachian St- Appalachian St

Miss St at LSU - LSU

Miami, Fla at Texas A&M – Texas A&M

Georgia at South Carolina - Georgia

Florida St at Louisville (Fri) - Florida St

Oklahoma at Nebraska - Oklahoma

BYU at Oregon - Oregon

Michigan St at Washington - Washington

Wesley Lyle (River Region Sports & al.com)  
36-14 (12-3) .720

G.W. Carver at Stanhope Elmore – Carver

Pike Road at Eufaula - Eufaula


Park Crossing vs. Sidney Lanier – Lanier


Andalusia at Montgomery Academy – Montgomery Aca

Marbury at Tallassee - Tallassee


UL Monroe at Alabama-Alabama

Penn St at Auburn– Penn St

Troy at Appalachian St- Appalachian St

Miss St at LSU - LSU

Miami, Fla at Texas A&M – Texas A&M

Georgia at South Carolina - Georgia

Florida St at Louisville (Fri) - Florida St

Oklahoma at Nebraska - Oklahoma

BYU at Oregon - Oregon

Michigan St at Washington - Michigan St

Michael Butler (WTLS 106.9&94.7 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)  
35-15 (12-3) .700

G.W. Carver at Stanhope Elmore – Carver

Pike Road at Eufaula - Pike Road


Park Crossing vs. Sidney Lanier – Lanier


Andalusia at Montgomery Academy – Andalusia

Marbury at Tallassee - Tallassee


UL Monroe at Alabama-Alabama

Penn St at Auburn– Auburn

Troy at Appalachian St- Appalachian St

Miss St at LSU - Miss St

Miami, Fla at Texas A&M – Texas A&M

Georgia at South Carolina - Georgia

Florida St at Louisville (Fri) - Florida St

Oklahoma at Nebraska - Oklahoma

BYU at Oregon - BYU

Michigan St at Washington - Michigan St

Mike Peacock (River Region Sports) 
34-16 (9-6) .680

G.W. Carver at Stanhope Elmore – Carver

Pike Road at Eufaula - Pike Road


Park Crossing vs. Sidney Lanier – Lanier


Andalusia at Montgomery Academy – Andalusia

Marbury at Tallassee - Tallassee


UL Monroe at Alabama-Alabama

Penn St at Auburn– Auburn

Troy at Appalachian St- Appalachian St

Miss St at LSU - Miss St

Miami, Fla at Texas A&M – Texas A&M

Georgia at South Carolina - Georgia

Florida St at Louisville (Fri) - Florida St

Oklahoma at Nebraska - Oklahoma

BYU at Oregon - BYU

Michigan St at Washington - Washington

Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA for Montgomery Biscuits) 
34-16 (11-4) .680

G.W. Carver at Stanhope Elmore – Carver

Pike Road at Eufaula - Pike Road


Park Crossing vs. Sidney Lanier – Park Crossing


Andalusia at Montgomery Academy – Montgomery Aca

Marbury at Tallassee - Tallassee


UL Monroe at Alabama-Alabama

Penn St at Auburn– Auburn

Troy at Appalachian St- Appalachian St

Miss St at LSU - LSU

Miami, Fla at Texas A&M – Texas A&M

Georgia at South Carolina - Georgia

Florida St at Louisville (Fri) - Louisville

Oklahoma at Nebraska - Oklahoma

BYU at Oregon - Oregon

Michigan St at Washington - Michigan St

Rosie Langello (Sports Director - WSFA Ch. 12) 
31-19 (9-6) .620

G.W. Carver at Stanhope Elmore – Carver

Pike Road at Eufaula - Eufaula


Park Crossing vs. Sidney Lanier – Lanier


Andalusia at Montgomery Academy – Andalusia

Marbury at Tallassee - Tallassee


UL Monroe at Alabama-Alabama

Penn St at Auburn– Penn St

Troy at Appalachian St- Appalachian St

Miss St at LSU - LSU

Miami, Fla at Texas A&M – Texas A&M

Georgia at South Carolina - Georgia

Florida St at Louisville (Fri) - Florida St

Oklahoma at Nebraska - Oklahoma

BYU at Oregon - Oregon

Michigan St at Washington - Michigan St

Barry McKnight (SportsRadio 740 /Voice of Troy Trojans) 
30-20 (11-4) .600

G.W. Carver at Stanhope Elmore – Carver

Pike Road at Eufaula - Pike Road


Park Crossing vs. Sidney Lanier – Park Crossin
g

Andalusia at Montgomery Academy – Montgomery Aca

Marbury at Tallassee - Tallassee


UL Monroe at Alabama-Alabama

Penn St at Auburn– Auburn

Troy at Appalachian St- Troy

Miss St at LSU - Miss St

Miami, Fla at Texas A&M – Texas A&M

Georgia at South Carolina - Georgia

Florida St at Louisville (Fri) - Louisville

Oklahoma at Nebraska - Oklahoma

BYU at Oregon - BYU

Michigan St at Washington - Michigan St