A woodshedding, a beat-down, or downright destruction, name what happened yesterday afternoon in Orlando whatever sports cliche you like. The Crimson Tide dominated the Capital One Bowl Saturday, leading Cecil Hurt, the venerable sports writer from the Tuscaloosa News, to make the title of his story "Capital Punishment." And a writer from the Detroit Free-Press offered this snarky take on the game: "It is hard to pinpoint exactly when this Capital One Bowl started going poorly for MSU, but it was probably the moment Marcell Dareus was born."
49-7.
And the touchdown Alabama gave up in the fourth quarter was on the second/third team defense, which had walk-ons playing in the secondary.
Yesterday's bowl game was one of the most dominating performances by the Crimson Tide against a solid opponent since the '08 Iron Bowl. With key players finally healthy (notably RG Barrett Jones, DT/DE Marcell Dareus, and Jack LB Courtney Upshaw featured above) after a tough regular season and the Tide finally playing a complete game, the total yards differential came out to be Alabama's 546 yards to Michigan State's 171 yards. The Spartans had -48 yards rushing.
The leading rusher for Alabama was third string tailback Eddie Lacy, who will probably take over as the second team RB behind Richardson next season if Ingram doesn't come back for his senior season.
Now the fans of the Crimson Tide wait to hear on whether important student-athletes in the junior class will go to the NFL next season. Ingram is one, and I suspect he'll go pro. On ESPN's ticker during the game, Todd McShay has him ranked as the number 1 RB in the draft, which I found surprising. But when I think about it, I can't think of a better running back in college football right now except maybe Richardson.
Julio Jones, one of the most best wide receivers in college football, might also take advantage of early entry into the NFL along with the bear-like Marcell Dareus. We'll see what happens, but the Tide should have another strong team ready to take the field next season, but the team plays in the most difficult conference division in college football: the SEC West.
As spring practices begin and culminate with the annual A-Day game, the most important competition will be at quarterback with A. J. McCarron and Phillip Sims battling it out for the starting QB position, a battle that might not get resolved until fall practices break.
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