Here’s something Nick Saban is bad at. Winning the coin toss. In three games this season against Division I teams, the Tide has lost the toss every time. But it doesn’t matter. Because Miami, Florida and Southern Miss all deferred to the second half, giving Alabama the ball to start the game.
If I were the referee in charge, I would turn on my microphone and say, “Southern Miss has won the toss and elected to fall behind by a touchdown before their offense ever takes the field.”
The decision is stupid. You’re playing Alabama. The goal is to stay in the game long enough to make your players believe they can win and sew some doubt in the Tide players.
Who cares who gets the ball to start the second half? The game is already over by then.
Southern Miss didn’t get its offense or defense on the field before falling behind 7-0 on the opening kickoff. That wouldn’t have happened if Southern Miss had elected to receive. Who knows, the game might have still been in doubt with 10 minutes left in the first quarter.
Coaches, Tighten Up and at least try to snap the Tide’s current 53-quarter streak of never being behind.
For Threaded Fasteners, I’m Randy Kennedy with Tighten Up.