Alabama schadenfreude. But I kinda respect them
I couldn't help myself and wandered over to the Alabama forum this morning. Gotta admit, they are so much more mature than what you find on RCMB or 11warriors. Granted, that's some faint praise. But it's something.
A couple snippets:
"Have to give UM a little credit for that though. They created situations to cause some confusion about who was supposed to be where.
Yea {sic} clearly they had a few plays they knew would give us trouble"
"I don't disagree with not getting the best version of Bama, but Michigan is also just really good.
Their veteran leadership made the difference. Our immature mistakes as well."
Peruse if you're into this sort of thing:
https://www.tidefans.com/forums/threads/official-postgame-thread-bama-vs-michigan.335817/
January 2nd, 2024 at 10:32 AM ^
Alabama had already lost earlier in the season. So did Texas. Now both teams that the CFP coddled at the cost of FSU are out of the playoffs, whereas FSU basically boycotted their bowl game.
If this season proved anything, it's that this country is reality-free, where anyone will make up any sort of shit to justify their beliefs, so this win doesn't change anything for them.
The only thing that matters is that Michigan's season continues, and Alabama's doesn't.
January 2nd, 2024 at 11:59 AM ^
Prior to the semi-finals, Bama was 2nd most likely to win the NC in Vegas futures betting, just slightly behind Michigan.
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:21 PM ^
For the record, I am VERY glad we played Alabama and not Georgia. We always had an asymetrical shot against Alabama because of the high variability of Milroe. Georgia was not a matchup in our favor.
January 2nd, 2024 at 4:50 PM ^
Yeah, I was asked today, "What if you had played Georgia?" I just responded with, "I'm glad we played Alabama."
January 2nd, 2024 at 10:21 AM ^
Bama has had the most talented roster in college football for a decade or more. I believe they have been ranked first in talent for seven of the last nine years - and, in the two years they weren’t first - they were ranked second.
Nothing negative about the Bama fans I know personally. On the web - well, it’s the web and there are a lot of “less than intelligent” commenters.
I enjoy watching Team 144 and am glad they have one more game to play this season.
January 2nd, 2024 at 10:23 AM ^
There’s a big difference between starting in the batters box versus on third base.
January 2nd, 2024 at 10:28 AM ^
It's really a refreshing change to win a game and have the other team acknowledge you won the game.
Feels like a low bar, but it's been a year.
January 2nd, 2024 at 11:09 AM ^
Haven't had that since the Minnesota game. Ferentz may have, but I honestly have no idea.
January 2nd, 2024 at 10:28 AM ^
Not a vintage Bama team, but Michigan deserved the win
January 2nd, 2024 at 10:36 AM ^
As many have stated / noted - this is probably Saban's best coaching job. Bama developed and grew a lot this season.
I believe you need to look at both sides of the coin. One side is Bama - their roster, development, coaching staff, game plan, etc. - and, the other side is Michigan.
Michigan deserves credit - the players have put in the effort - and, it hasn't been for "a few months" - IMO, this team has been on a mission since the start of the 2021 season. Players, Coaches, staff - everyone who touches the program has made a difference.
IMO, Michigan did not have its best game offensively or on special teams in the Rose Bowl - but, the D was lights out. The schemes / play calling were fantastic to see. Go Blue!
January 2nd, 2024 at 10:28 AM ^
I'm over bama. BEAT WASHINGTON
January 2nd, 2024 at 10:40 AM ^
I don’t. I still don’t see anyone giving Michigan its proper due. It’s all various arrogant versions of Bama wasn’t the best version of themselves and overachieved to get to the playoff, how did we lose to Michigan of all teams. No one that I saw mentioned that if Michigan didn’t mess up themselves we would have beat them in regulation by probably a couple of scores. No, it was all Bama‘s bad passing game, not our good defense. Yada, yada, yada…
January 2nd, 2024 at 10:50 AM ^
eff them. We won.
January 2nd, 2024 at 10:45 AM ^
I have no real beef with Bama or their fans. It's the OSU/MSU/Petiti schadenfreude that I crave.
January 2nd, 2024 at 10:53 AM ^
There's been a few douchey Alabama fans I've run into online (my favorite being the one who claimed "Michigan needs to be humbled," which is rich coming from that fan base).
However, the group of Alabama fans my wife and I sat with yesterday at the Rose Bowl were lovely people to chat and chat football with. And much nicer than the drunk jerka** Michigan fans on the other side of us who kept screaming "WAR DAMN EAGLE" all game and cheered at/insulted the Alabama punter when he was injured.
January 2nd, 2024 at 10:54 AM ^
Honestly I'm pretty happy this is the program that has owned this sport for the past 15 years, all things considered. One of the LEAST obnoxious ones out there. And as always they're even better in person.
Sorry to my buddy Tim if you read this. War Eagle Bama Sucks I love you bro
January 2nd, 2024 at 11:32 AM ^
Bama certainly deserves respect for their performance last night, and they played a class game.
We didn't see a lot of penalties, there weren't dirty plays, and the errors they made were no more egregious than the errors our guys made. We owned the first half, they owned most of the second half. As Wellington admitted after Waterloo, " it was the nearest-run thing you ever saw in your life".
Let's enjoy the win and not bash the other guy's fans. We're no better than them.
Well, except for the classy folks with the 'Ohio State supporting Bama' T shirts who had to slink out of the stadium doing the walk of shame. They got beaten twice.
January 2nd, 2024 at 11:40 AM ^
You can be a little more levelheaded and respectful as an Alabama fan because you know that as long as Saban is around, you’re going to be contending for titles and be in the playoff every single year. They’ve also won six national championships with him, so they can’t be too mad.
they can all sit there and say “oh well, we’ll have our shot again next year.”
January 2nd, 2024 at 11:47 AM ^
I think that if you had visited Bama board after Auburn game if Milroe hadn't completed 4th and 31, the tone would have been a lot different. More like OSU.
January 2nd, 2024 at 11:48 AM ^
I have no truck with fans of Alabama. But, when it comes to fans of Kentucky or South Carolina, or Vanderbilt chanting S-E-C, you can be g-d certain I've gotta list and checking it twice about any of those who crossed my path and said something to me. Remember the North.
Alabama is going to be fine. In fact the teams that probably had almost as big a loss yesterday is Georgia and Ole Miss, b/c 2024 Bama will be better for this. Milroe in the press conference sounded like he has it together to use it as a means towards improvement.
And oh yeah, I can't help myself but the last few days, even this morning, I'm checking in with some Buckeye schadenfreude. YouTube thinks I'm a fan.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:30 PM ^
Ended up sitting in the Bama section. Wasn't bad as there were a lot of Michigan peeps around. The Bama fans around us were all respectful and cheered hard for their team as I would expect them to. No trash talking no funny business. I have respect for their fan base.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:38 PM ^
Most of the 'Bama players seem like decent guys, too.
January 2nd, 2024 at 10:42 PM ^
One of my co-workers and I made a bet before the game a few weeks ago. He said if Bama wins then I wear a Bama jersey. If Michigan wins he wears a Michigan beanie. Respect for the program and the game he did wear the cap, and I put on the jersey anyways and we shared a picture. All the Bama fans there and he appreciated it and we had a great laugh. Sports can be competitive and fun.
Go Blue!!! And what an epic game it was.
January 3rd, 2024 at 7:36 AM ^
Every fanbase has a lunatic fringe, which is not large in percentage terms.
I would say, however, that most lunatic Michigan fans do not hang out here, but a lot of lunatic OSU fans are at 11W, and the most toxic of the MSU fans seem to frequent RCMB. That biases our perception of them.
As for Alabama fans, most of the ones I've met/interacted with are aware that they're fans of football royalty, conscious of how lucky they are, and have a modicum of noblesse oblige and are willing to give credit where credit is due.