Print Page - The Thrilla in Manilla(Baton Rouge)

In boxing history, one of the most famous and remembered fights ever was between two of the greatest fighters ever in boxing history. Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier put on a show that will never be forgotten as each of them fought with all of their might until the final bell that ended the fight. Ali, being the favored, hit Frazier with all he had but Frazier wouldn't go down and then Frazier did some hitting of his own. Ali won the fight but both fighters were beaten to a pulp but the champion Ali prevailed.

This was somewhat what happened in Baton Rouge last night. Bama being the favorite to win the game, came into a crowd of angry Tigers that were still fuming over their loss to the Crimson Tide in the BCSNCG last Jaunary and the Tigers wanted revenge.

LSU, a team that was being ranked very high in preseason forecasts, had really struggled most of the year except for a big win at Texas A&M. Bama on the other hand had pretty much waltzed through their schedule with ease. This set up the rematch between the two heavyweights with a lot of folks(including myself) believing that Bama would go down there and do what they usually do, get a win with maybe a good struggle by LSU.

Wrong. LSU was anything but a tame group of Tigers and they hit Bama with all they had ,as Ali and Frazier did in their fight, until the horn sounded to end the game. Bama got off to a decent start and had a 14-3 lead going into halftime and looked to have the game in hand, but LSU had other thoughts. They came out the second half and whipped Bama in every aspect of the game and had a 17-14 lead with the ball in Bama territory with less than two minutes left in the game. On a fourth down play, LSU decided to try a field goal that barely missed to the left and Bama took over with 1:24 left in the game and Bama needing 65 yards for a score.

There have been many people ask the question as to how good is A.J McCarron. The question had been asked many times if McCarron could bring Bama back from the jaws of defeat if he ever had to. Well, that time had arrived. McCarron brought his team out and began to march the team toward the end zone with an ease that Bama had not seen the second half of the game. With Bama in field goal range to tie the game with a kick, McCarron brought the team to the line of scrimmage with a screen pass called to go to T.J Yeldon and what happened next will go down in Bama football history. Yeldon took the pass and with great blocking in front of him, raced to the end zone giving Bama the lead with about 50 seconds left in the game.

Bama's defense had been treated all night like they had not been treated in a couple of years, very bad, and now they were faced with their biggest challenge of the year. Bama attacked LSU this time with results, the LSU QB couldn't do the magic that he had done for most of the night and the Tide held on for the win.

Both of these teams left everything on the field last night as Ali and Frazier did in their historical fight many years ago, and this game will go down in Bama's historical records as one that Bama folks will always remember. As ESPN said last night, McCarron has now proven that he can bring his team back from the jaws of defeat and his name will now always be remembered for the what he accomplished in the final minute and a half of the game last night.

Kudos to all of the players and coaches for the win and I think Bama now knows that there are tougher times ahead for them to win another national championship. I'm sure the practices for the upcoming game with Texas A&M will have a new meaning this week after the big scare last night. ;) Roll Tide!!!

Crimson Red Sports

Around Campus => The Quad => Topic started by: Jamos on November 04, 2012, 06:23:42 AM