OK, week 2. The butterflies are gone, the anticipation has subsided a bit. Thankfully, we can all concentrate on football from here on out as opposed to fishing and laptops.
Florida International and their fans are experiencing the same feelings we did last week as this is their first game of the year. Third year head coach Mario Cristobal (sounds like a Shakespeare character) brings his Golden Panthers to Bryant-Denny on Saturday. He is a former Rutgers and Miami assistant coach trying to build this program from the ground up. The last time we played FIU was in 2006 and we steamrolled them 38-3. However, they did get up 3-0 on us if memory serves correctly.
FIU has some decent talent returning. Paul McCall is a veteran QB who holds the school’s single-season record for touchdown passes, throwing 15 last year. They have some good receivers led by T.Y. Hilton. He will be one of the quicker receivers we see all year. Really need to watch out for this guy on punt returns - Hilton was named to the Freshman All-American team as a punt return specialist by the Football Writers Association of America last year.
Defensively, FIU will be an experienced bunch in the back 7. Watch for a linebacker by the name of Scott Bryant. He can play. FIU has to replace their entire starting defensive line - UH-OH! That does not bode well against a physical run team such as Alabama.
Usually, the visiting team has to match the intensity of their home-standing opponent. However, I don't think that will be the case this week. We are coming off a nationally televised game of the week against the #7 team in the nation in the Georgia Dome. We are returning home to play a school that sounds more like an airline than a college football team. FIU has been working towards this game all summer and has had nothing but the thought of Alabama on their minds since last December. As a result, it is important for us to come out early and match THEIR intensity.
Even though all the signs point to us coming out flat, I believe we play hard, fast, and physical from the opening snap. The OL gets a good scrimmage as they continue to build their chemistry together. If you have been jonesing to see our Freshman and Redshirt Freshman - this is the game for you. Look for a lot of Trent Richardson in the 2nd half. We will also get our first look at Star Jackson in a regulation game.
Final Score: Alabama 45 FIU 7
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