Daily Archives: January 10, 2012

We’re Tuscaloosa bound after being the proud final survivors to leave the media hotel work room.

It’s been a dizzying week in one of my favorite cities on earth. If you’ve never been here, do yourself a favor and book a trip.

This would have been a good week for a visit if you favor the Crimson Tide. We didn’t make it down to Bourbon Street last night, but I can imagine it was bananas.

But the fun (and a little work) comes to an end. Well, the work doesn’t.

So we drive back to Tuscaloosa a few pounds heavier and the calendar marked for a New Orleans return trip for the SEC basketball tournament.

The rematch of the century was also a ratings bonanza for ESPN. The early ratings for Alabama’s 21-0 win over LSU in the BCS title game made it the second-most viewed game in cable television history.

An average of 24,214,000 viewers tuned into the prime time broadcast to earn a 16.2 national rating.

Only last season’s BCS Championship Game bettered last night’s numbers. An average of 27,316,000 viewers watched Auburn beat Oregon for a rating of 17.8. ESPN also had that broadcast.

The Birmingham market was the most tuned-in nationally. It had an average rating of 61.2 Monday night.

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This is a tradition on The Daily Bama Blog. The game time-lapse video came out pretty cool from last night’s BCS title game. Take a look for yourself.

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On news stands this week.

This couldn’t come as a surprise, but I forgot how quick the turnaround was. A Monday night game and a midweek mailing meant quick work.

The cover was posted on the SEC website this morning. I’d say it’s representative of the 21-0 pounding of LSU in the Superdome.

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Anniston Star knocks it out of the park

Newspapers across the state are keepsakes today with the big, bold headlines and incredible photos.

The Anniston Star had the best headline. It’s all in the comma. Very well done by the copy desk.

Click here to see the rest on the Newseum website. All the Alabama pages are at the top thanks to alphabetical order.

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Greg McElroy and William Vlachos in the locker room.

This was the scene in the locker room after Alabama beat LSU 21-0 in the BCS title game. Former quarterback Greg McElroy and center William Vlachos enjoyed a moment after a second championship in three years.

Vlachos had the game ball in his hand and a message for the New York Jet backup quarterback.

“You stole it  in ’09,” Vlachos said. “I got it this year.”

Vlachos, a fifth-year senior, was the starter on both of the last two Alabama national championship-winning teams.

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I hope I got everything into this one. Nothing beats unreasonable deadlines (totally kidding) on the biggest night of the year.

NEW ORLEANS — A year of tragedy and rebirth in Alabama ended Monday night with extra redemption.

And a 14th national title.

The Crimson Tide left no questions when the stakes were raised in Round 2 with LSU. A 21-0 pounding in the BCS title game saw Alabama avenge a November loss — winning with the kicking game that doomed it the first time.

Kicker Jeremy Shelley nailed five field goals, while the Tide defense flattened the LSU offense in front of an evenly split Superdome crowd. The top-ranked Tigers managed 92 yards to Alabama’s 384 and didn’t cross the 50 until middle of the fourth quarter, when the outcome already was decided.

Senior linebacker Courtney Upshaw was named most outstanding defensive player, with seven tackles and one of four Alabama sacks.

“I don’t see how it can get any better than that,” said senior safety Mark Barron, who had two tackles and a sack. “We had a goose egg on the board, and we finished the whole way. I just feel like we came out and dominated.”

The historic defensive effort capped a surreal year for people in Tuscaloosa and around the state.

Click here to read the rest.

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Here it is, hot off the presses, the final AP poll after Alabama won the BCS title game 21-0 over LSU. The Tide easily took the top spot, but it wasn’t unanimous.

Others receiving votes: BYU 49, Auburn 40, N. Illinois 33, Missouri 22, Texas 15, Rutgers 3, N. Dakota St. 2, Penn St. 2, Virginia 1.

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