BOL Round Table

I am sure that the title of this thread will tempt some to downvote and that is your constitutional right, however, I started this thread not as a knee-jerk angry reaction to yesterdays' loss, but more as an observation of a pattern that has continued for three straight Novembers.

We all have seen what a tremendous job CNS and staff have done in building this program into the paragon of excellence in college football and none of us would dare question the methods that have been established to that end. But, this is the third staight November where our team has inexplicably faltered in home games when it had every chance to win and even when momentum has been on its side in each game.

Because of the resulting losses to AU in 2010, LSU in 2011 and TAM in 2012, it seems that we have mental fatigue going into November and I wonder if the team begins to wear down mentally with all of the growing pressure that the players feel. Look at what the break in action did for the players the last two years. A total dismantling of Michigan State in 2010 and then the complete dominance and payback in BCSNCG in 2011. It comes with the territory of being a perennial championship contender but from what I have seen our team not only starts to show the physical toll of the season (Like everyone else) but also has certain mental breakdowns.

Whether it be dropped passes that result in interceptions or simply throwing it to the wrong team or laying it on the ground, The Tide seems to do those things at an alarming rate at home in November. Someone can check the stats on that but in these critical home games in November in the last three years, the aforementioned errors along with untimely penalties, missed tackles, missed field goals and general unawareness in critical situations, (Remember the fumble right before halftime in the 2010 IB when a UA player didnt realize the ball was laying at his feet and allowed an AU player to recover it?) have been the Tides' undoing.

Now, not all of the errors that have occurred in these games have been mental. And the other teams' performance has had a lot to do with the resulting losses. But despite this, in each game, UA has had multiple opportunities to win, but hasnt been able to do so.

The reasons for these mental lapses can be explained. After all, these are kids that dont get a break from football during the season or the off-season and are being compared to NFL teams and hearing all sorts of lofty praise from every direction. How many tweets and texts did TJY receive this past week telling him how great he is? What about AJ? There is so much hype surrounding CNS and this team by this time of year that it would have to cause a loss of focus for several players. I can definitely feel that the fans have gotten a "take it for granted" attitude as i saw people whining about the fact that at least one media member actually picked TAM to win the game. (How dare they!) I have always felt that the team does take on a little of the fans attitude and why wouldnt they? With 31K rabid students and social media allowing for the closest interaction with the players that has ever been, it is understandable that the players would start believing the hype. How many times do these guys hear praise just walking around campus? How easy is it to read on the internet or in the paper about how great you are playing?

It might help if part of "The Process" included a class called "Keeping an even keel emotionally even when everyone around you is getting sized up for their championship rings in November."

By the way, it aint over 'til its over...RTR!