While Penn State and College Football Fans struggle to get through the long, dead portion of the sports calendar, we bring you a guest post from a true Alabama insider.  Get geeked up for the Penn State vs Alabama game in September by reading his take on Alabama football, the Bama gameday scene, and the PSU vs Bama match-up.

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For those who have never been to Alabama, you are in for a real treat.  Alabama has an interesting place in SEC lore.  Obviously, it is the most successful program in SEC history.  Due to this, it is, at a minimum the #2 rival for every SEC team it regularly plays, if not its #1 rival.  Auburn and Tennessee both consider BAMA their number 1 rival.  With LSU, it is probably their #1.  For others, it is their #2 (Florida, Georgia and S. Carolina don’t play Alabama enough to consider it a major rival).

This is something that I have noticed about Michigan.  Everyone in the Big 10 (Mid 11 as it is called in the south – we may be slow down here, but we can still count) consider them a big rivalry.  So, everywhere Alabama goes in the SEC, there are strong opinions about it.  If you get a perspective of Alabama from one of those teams, expect for it to be heavily slanted.

But, Alabama obsesses about one thing, and one thing only.  National Championships.  A perfect example of this was the stadium renovation in 2006.  Behind the North End Zone expansion, Alabama put a statue of every coach that had won a National Championship there.  But, they also put an empty spot next to Gene Stalling’s spot (won after the 1992 season).  The message was clear.  When Alabama hired Saban, he knew what was expected from him.  He delivered, and the fan base is satisfied.

As far as the fans, you will meet all kinds.  I have a bit more unbiased perspective on Alabama since I was raised in a family of grads, but went to Georgia Tech.  Alabama, being the state university and dominate program in state, probably has 60% of the fans in the state.  One thing about the state of Alabama, EVERYONE picks a side.  Six year old girls will scream out ROLL TIDE or WAR EAGLE when asked who they pull for.

So, it means you meet all types of people at an Alabama game.  Alabama has the best med school in the deep south (excluding NC with Duke), has a good law school, etc.  That means there are wealthy donors.  But, you will see a large number of people that didn’t even go to college, and it makes for good people watching.

As far as game day events, the more responsible may want to hit the Bryant Museum.  This will give you a good perspective on Alabama’s football history.  Additionally, a place worth eating is Dreamland BBQ, regularly voted the best BBQ in the south.  They serve ribs, wonder bread, beer out of a can.  Not much for ambiance, but good food.  If you plan to go there on game day, good luck.

The main tailgating area on campus is under Denny Chimes, the signature building on campus.  It will likely be hard to set-up a tailgate there as an out of towner as it is usually packed, but worth walking through.  The easiest for the out of town crowd is the strip of bars on University Blvd just north west of the stadium.  One thing you will also notice is the Alabama ‘flee market’.  The term is meant to be derogatory as it is regularly used by my Auburn ‘friends’.  Basically, Alabama has a history of making t-shirts for every type of game, buttons, etc.  This ‘flee market’ is in full effect around the bars.

As for football analysis, here is a high level review of the defending National Champions:

Alabama Strengths:

• Offense – almost the entire offense returns with the exception of the guards.
• Undefeated QB – you have likely heard that McElroy hasn’t lost a game he started at the high school or college level, winning championships every year he started.  But, McElroy went through a mighty mid-year swoon last year, where Mark Ingram carried the team and eventually won the Heisman for his efforts during that period.  McElroy played really well in the second half of the Auburn game (orchestrating a come from behind drive to win the game), the SEC Championship against UF and the National Championship.
• Best Running Back Tandem in the Country – Trent Richardson, the #2 back behind the Heisman winner, was a 5 star recruit that showed he was every bit the athlete everyone thought he was last year.  He helped carry the Tide during the Auburn game when Ingram wasn’t as effective.  At 220 lbs, he is extremely strong and very fast for his size.  And he is the back-up, but would start on any other team in the country (and may start on this team over Ingram eventually).
• Front Seven – even though they are replacing a number of very talented players (Mt. Cody – NT, Rolando McClain – ILB #8 pick in the draft), DE Marcell Dareus is a one man wrecking crew (ask Texas), and Donta Hightower (ILB) returns from knee surgery last year.  Before his injury, his was considered in the same league as McClain.  Obviously, it will be interesting to see how bounces back from the injury.   The other LB’s are really talented.  Upshaw (LB) had the hit of the season ending Texas’ hopes for a comeback in the National Championship game.
• Recruiting – while I typically take this with a huge grain of salt, having the past two top classes (2009  #1, 2008 #1 per rivals) helps with depth concerns.

Alabama Weaknesses:

• Secondary – there is only one returning starter (#4 Mark Barron, S).  Kareem Jackson (CB) was drafted 20^th overall and the other CB (and stud return guy) Javier Arenas was drafted 50^th overall, but BJ Scott (5 star recruit – projected starter at CB), Dre Kirkpatrick (5 star recruit – projected starter at CB) are studs that played last year.  Robert Lester will likely man the other S position.  Additionally, DeMarcus Milliner (5 star CB) will push for playing time as he comes in (2010 recruit).  Finally, Saban coaches the secondary closely, and this area will likely be a strength by the end of the season with all of the talent there.
• Julio Jones – don’t believe the hype.  He is not Alabama’s best receiver, but has undeniable talent.  He is good at dropping the ball in critical situations.
• Kicker – Alabama lost one of their best kickers in school history, Leigh Tiffin.

Penn State vs Alabama Analysis:

• Penn State will likely have a hard time running the ball against Alabama.  I would expect that JoPa will be conservative with a new QB which protects the biggest weakness on Alabama’s team.
• Alabama has the ability to have a very balanced offense (assuming McElroy isn’t playing like his mid-season swoon).
• This will be a tough game to win for PSU.  I expect a closer game, but I think PSU will need some help in the turnover department to come out with a victory.

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