Bama vs LSU in the News

ed.- bumped from the fanposts. muchos gracias to our peruvian connection for the link rundown.

In case you thought that election thing that occurred yesterday was all the news going on anyone was interested in you would be sadly mistaken. Seems a number of folks have decided to fill their sports sections with features and such on the Crimson Tide in anticipation of the showdown in Death Valley this weekend.

It seems the unholy mix of the new number one team in the land and the bad blood expecting to be spilled in Saban’s return to Baton Rouge are something of a siren song for mid-week sports pages.

The New York Times, FoxSports and the Associated Press all weighed in and a rundown of the higher profile ones follows after the jump…

The New York Times looks at the dominance of this team and lays the credit to the fearsome offensive line. According to the Grey Lady, their ability to boss around opposing defenses has ignited a powerful run game and invigorated a previously-mediocre quarterback.

Saban saw the arc of this team, even before the season. He told his line before the opener with Clemson, a 34-10 victory, that it could create an identity for the season with its physical presence and its emotional and mental toughness. “He said that, but we had already put that hat on ourselves in the summer,” said [Andre] Smith, a junior.

Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press pens an ode to hate in a column on FoxSports. His focus is the enmity Saban seems to generate by being good and going elsewhere.

“I don't know if you call this is a talent or just a knack, but whatever it is, Saban is good at it. He has the rare ability to lead football teams to extraordinary heights, and the even rarer ability to be loathed for it shortly afterward.”

The Associated Press has its usual boilerplate distillation of the bad blood between LSU and their former coach that touches on all the key points but does so in that humdrum manner that makes it palatable to the most average sports page in Anytown, America.

The news service also has a by the basics roundup with quotes from Saban and JPW talking about what sets the Tide apart in the game. Maturity and mentality, it seems. Or something like that.

The Monroe News Star has a couple of stories from their local wires on the contest - the feature one being about the dislike of the LSU fanbase for Saban. It’s the usual nonsense but does have a pretty good summary of the timeline of events. And those wacky quotes we’ve come to expect from such articles (and the picture above).

Oh, and Les Miles did not compare Saban to Satan as Luther Davis allegedly alleged. So there’s that.

Lastly, the Atlanta Journal Constitution notes that prize recruit Kellen Williams attended the Arky State game and plans to show up at the Iron Bowl. He’s not optimistic about the Tide’s chances for the MNC. The 6-4, 300-pound tackle’s official visit to the campus isn’t slated till January.