Alabama-Wisconsin Game Sets All-Time Ratings Record
Photo Credit: ESPN Saturday Night Football
The 3rd-Ranked Alabama Crimson Tide 35-17 beat-down of 20th-Ranked Wisconsin was the highest-rated college football game ever shown on television on a Saturday night. The game that aired on ABC received a 4.3 overnight rating.
The game received a 46.7 rating in Birmingham, Alabama according to AL.com. B'ham has been the highest rated televsion market for 14 straight years now. That makes the Alabama-Wisconsin game the highest-rated regular season game in ABC history.
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Notable Numbers
Here are some notable numbers concerning Alabama's win over Wisconsin this past Saturday in Arlington, Texas...
35 The number of points scored by the Alabama football team
17 The number of points allowed by the Alabama defense
0 The number of people who gave Wisconsin a serious chance to defeat Alabama
0 The number of Alabama injuries
0 The number of Alabama fumbles
0 The number of Alabama passes intercepted
3 The number of sacks recorded by UA (Jonathan Allen 2, Minkah Fitzpatrick 1)
2 The number of field goals missed by Adam Griffith
11.3 The number of yards averaged per run by Derrick Henry
1 The number of Wisconsin passes intercepted by Alabama
3 The number of pass interference calls against Alabama (2 defense, 1 offense)
15 The number of national championships owned by Alabama football
3 The number of sources to get these numbers (RollTide.com, ESPN.com, AL.com)
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Nick Saban Post-Game Interview
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
One thing is for certain. Alabama head coach Nick Saban will tell it like it is in his post-game interviews. He'll give you the good and the bad. Then he'll take Sunday off, so-to-speak, on the last game ups and downs and get ready to focus on the next opponent.
Concerning the game itself, Saban said, "You know, a lot of good things in the game today. Thought we played well in the line of scrimmage. We kind of dominated the line of scrimmage, were able to stop their run. I thought we played really well defensively. Didn't get the turnovers like we wanted. Never got off the field always on third down like we wanted. But I thought our guys really competed and played hard, and I was really proud of the way we came out, especially in the second half on both sides of the ball and kind of dominated the game. I thought that was a big difference in the game.
"Offensively, even though we started a little bit slow, that was kind of the plan, not to put a lot on the quarterback," Saban continued. "Ran the ball four or five times. Then when we opened it up and created some balance. I thought Jake (Coker) played really well. And, obviously, Derrick Henryhad a nice game. I thought the offensive line did a pretty decent job. Wisconsin has got a very good defensive front. We had some shots at some explosive plays that we missed that were sort of 50/50 balls that you think you would get some of them or half of them or whatever, and we didn't always come down with it."
When asked about Jake Coker's performance, and his decision-making as the game progressed Saban said, "Did a really good job. I think he was 14 for 21 and about four of the balls were long balls that we had a chance on. Didn't turn it over. We need to protect a little bit better. Couple times we got sacked early in the game. Not really his fault. But I thought he did a nice job. I thought he was accurate with the ball. He didn't make any poor decisions. He didn't put the ball into coverage anywhere. Did a nice job of executing what we wanted him to do. It created balance for us on our offense, and that was really good."
When asked about the importance of Derrick Henry in the overall game plan for last night's game Saban said, "Well, Derrick Henry has had an outstanding camp. I think he's a fabulous player. He usually plays better as the game goes on in terms of workhorse type guy. And it was good to see him make some good runs out there. We think the guy can be a fantastic player for us, and we want to get Kenyan Drake some more opportunities. We want to see Kenyan Drake do a little bit more too. And Damien Harris got to play mostly with the second offensive line, which didn't do a very good job in the game. But they had their first group in there. So it was a good experience for those guys, and they will learn, and it will help our depth down the road."
Saban was also asked about ball distribution to the various receivers and the importance of Coker in doing that, thus making Wisconsin defend the entire field. His response was, " Well, he threw the ball to the guys that he was supposed to throw it to. He made the right reads based on the call that was made and based on the way Wisconsin was playing. If you are playing split safeties, you are supposed to throw it to one side. If you are playing the middle of the field closed, you throw it to the other side. So it is not like Jake went out there and said, I am going to throw the ball to a lot of different guys. He threw it to the guy that he was supposed to throw it to all the time in the game, which was a very good thing. He was accurate for the most part, and we were pleased with the way he played."
So good and bad in the interview, as well as a little of the Saban sarcasm we've all come to expect. So he was pretty well pleased, yet realistic. Work begins again when the "24 hour rule" is over.
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Bama Men & Women Cross Country
Sweep Brooks Twilight Classic
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
It was a great Saturday night. Not just for Alabama football.
The University of Alabama men's and women's cross country teams both had big wins on Saturday night, coming away with the titles of the Brooks Twilight Classic in Memphis. the event, hosted by Christian Brothers University, featured a field of 26 teams.
Alabama head coach Dan Waters said, "Both teams really came out on a mission tonight. "We ran with a purpose, did a great job of pushing each other, and came away with results that we are expecting to see all season."
Not only did they take the title, but the Bama women had three runners finish inside the top 10, with all five scorers crossing the finish line inside the top 20.
In addition to the title, the women also had two runners to cross the finish line one and two. Four additional runners placed 19th or better.
Both the men and women will have three weeks before heading to Stillwater, Oklahoma for the Cowboy Jamboree being held Saturday, September 25th.
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Brooks Twilight Classic
Saturday, September 5th
Memphis, Tennessee
Men's Team Results (Top 5)
1. Alabama, 37 2. Central Arkansas, 99
3. Mississippi State, 109
4. Ole Miss, 142
5. Harding, 181
Alabama Individual Men's Results (4-mile)
1. Antibahs Kosgei, Jr. 19:49.75
2. Robbie Farnham-Rose, Jr. 20:07.89
6. Josh Short, So. 20:22.71
12. Conner Thompson, Jr. 20:30.42
16. Evan Prizy, Jr. 20:37.77
25. Eric Sivill, Sr. 20:48.14
29. Justin Ahalt, Sr. 20:51.40
43. Connor Ferrentino, So. 21:04.82
44. Chris Buechner, Fr. 21:06.39
53. Andrew Bull, So. 21:15.44
64. Garrett Bull, So. 21:27.16
82. Payton Ballard, Jr. 21:44.45
175. Jeff Edmondson, Jr. 23:24.57
Women's Team Results (Top 5)
1. Alabama, 292. Ole Miss, 61
3. Mississippi State, 77
4. Harding, 139
5. Arkansas State, 160
Alabama Individual Women's Results (5k)
1. Rachael Reddy, Fr. 17:06.26
2. Katelyn Greenleaf, Sr. 17:13.69
7. Rebecca Stover, Sr. 17:40.27
9. Hannah Waggoner, Jr. 17:46.68
10. Emily Edwards, So. 17:47.12
14. Allison Gregg, Jr. 17:59.30
15. Veronica Lyle, So. 18:01.56
18. Alison Ringle, So. 18:07.33
19. Meropi Panagiotou, Sr. 18:10.51
33. Caroline Barlow, So. 18:44.58
For more complete information on the meet, including individual participants, go to RollTide.com.
*Box scores courtesy RollTide.com
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Alabama Soccer Falls 1-0
The Alabama Crimson Tide soccer team fell to 1-3-2 after suffering a 1-0 defeat last night at the hands of the Rhode Island Rams. The match was played at the URI Soccer Complex. The Rams improved to 3-1-1.
Eighteen fouls were committed by both teams, with just six total shots on goal. The game winner came in the 82nd minute of play.
Alabama head coach Wes Hart said, "I do not blame our lack of results on effort. Our girls are playing hard, and they want to win. Their mentality is awesome. We are looking forward to getting back to work and preparing for the start of SEC play next week."
The Tide out shot the Rams 10-6 and were on the attack from the beginning to the end of the game. There was full effort throughout the contest.
"We continue to have some nice build ups, but our attack fizzles as we
get closer to the goal," said Hart. "We probably had a half dozen
quality crossing opportunities that we kicked out of bounds. We had
several good looks at goal where we either missed the target or just
shot to the goalkeeper."
Hart continued, "We made an aggressive adjustment in hopes of getting a goal and they found their way behind us and were able to capitalize."
The Crimson Tide will return to Tuscaloosa to face its first Southeastern Conference opponent of the season on Friday, September 11th. Bama will host LSU at the Alabama Soccer Complex, with the match set to begin at 7 p.m. CT. The game can be seen on SECN+.
