From: davem@uvmark.uucp (Dave Meeks)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college
Subject: Congratulations to Alabama...
Date: 2 Jan 93 04:41:43 GMT
Article-I.D.: uvmark.1993Jan02.044143.36952
Organization: VMark Software, Inc.

Well, as a die-hard, to the death Canes' fan... I gotta hand it to Alabama.
It is still the 3rd quarter as I write this, but I can't see Miami getting
back into this one.  Alabama is going to be the National Champions and they
deserve it, beating the Canes'...

How did Alabama do it???  Well, they are going to win this game for 3 reasons..

1) First and foremost... Defense..  We've heard about the mighty Bama defense
all year long and some people have questioned how they would do against a 
really good team.  Well, they showed the world tonight, just dogging Miami...
They stopped the run (not surprising), held the passing in check, and most
importantly...

2) Caused Turnovers...  Whether you blame Gino, the receivers (especially
Lamar Thomas... 1 critical fumble that stopped a potential scoring drive, and
another that nullified a great play...) or give credit where it is due (to
Alabama and especially to the coaching staff), turnovers are what killed 
Miami tonight...  At this point, Alabama has scored 27 points, 21 of which
were the result of turnovers by Miami..  1 Miami turnover stopped a good 
looking drive.  Another led to a great play not counting.  But, those two
interceptions really killed Miami.  Being down only a touchdown, this game
is anyone's game.  Even after the first one and being down two touchdowns,
Miami could still get back into it.  But, giving Alabama a 3 touchdown lead
will just not cut it...  

3) Coaching...  As much as I hate to say it, Erickson and staff just plain
got out coached.  Stallings had his team EXTREMELY well prepared, either 
completely confusing Gino or knowing the Miami tendencies so well that they
seemed to be reading Miami's mind.  The Miami offense did a couple of things
that worked, but then just didn't do them any more.  It seemed that when 
passing, they always decided to go long.  Whenever they tried the short stuff,
it seemed to work.  But, then they would go back to the long stuff.  
The quick slants and WR screens were working pretty well all night, but they
only tried them occasionally.  Erickson and staff did a horrible job of
adjusting to the Bama offensive and defensive schemes.  

Well...  It is pretty simple...  when you are out-coached, out-played,
and have game killing turnovers, it is damn near impossible to win..

(just as I type this, Miami returns a punt for a TD... only a 2 TD lead now.
Could Miami work more 4th quarter magic... I doubt it, unless the defense gets
a score soon..  Too bad their previous drive didn't work, getting the ball
down to the 20 or so, but no points...  )

ANyway, barring a minor miracle for Miami, congratulations to Alabama for
a great season and a well deserved National Championship...


Dave
-- 
David T. Meeks            || "New shadows tugging at the corner of his eye
VMark Software, Inc.      ||  Jostling for attention as the sunlight flares
uvmark!davem@merk.com     ||  Through a curtains tear, shuffling its beams
davem%uvmark@merk.com     ||  As if in nervous anticipation of another day"