The Crimson Tide Discipline Comes into Effect against Mississippi State
After a penalty-fueled loss last week to Tennesee, the Alabama Crimson Tide limited its penalties tonight in a 30-6 win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Last week, the Crimson Tide gave the Volunteers 130 free yards off of 17 penalties. This week against the Bulldogs, the Crimson Tide only had three penalties for twenty total yards.
"Well it been something that we have been emphasizing all year long," said Alabama head coach Nick Saban. "You know finally today, we had a little better discipline but I also think we had a little better disposition about energy, enthusiasm, and playing with no anxiety. And sometimes when you play with a lot of anxiety you make bad decisions because you get a little too emotional about what you are doing and you decide to hit a guy in the back or you hold a receiver. I do not think that is the way you want to compete in a game. You want to have high achievement motivation and low anxiety and make good decisions. I think the players did a lot better job today".
All sides of the ball, especially on defense played with lots of energy and motivation. All the cornerbacks played lockdown coverage, the offensive line kept their men in front of them, and no one jumped when the Bulldogs tried to draw them offsides.
The real test of Bama discipline will be in the next three weeks. After an off week to rest up, the Tide travel on the road to play the LSU Tigers, who have one of the loudest stadiums in college football, on Nov. 5. After Death Valley, they travel to Oxford to play the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) Rebels on Nov. 12.