RickKarle's Blog

     Did you hear the latest after that Alabama smackdown of Clemson just the other night? Clemson head coach Tommy Bowden admits he called Nick Saban this past Monday to get his take on what happened to his team. Say What? Bowden loses by 24 and then phones the coach that whooped up on him to see if he can explain what went wrong? As John McEnroe has been known to say, "You have got to be kidding me!".

     Let's see- Bowden calling Saban for advice. Did Coach Bryant call General Neyland asking for advice? Does Roy Williams phone Mike Krzyzewski to get coaching tips? Does Kobe call Lebron for advice? Does Obama seek advice from McCain? UN-BE-LIEVABLE!

     Here's the sad thing about this. Tommy Bowden is clueless enough to let the media know that he did this. Hats off to Bowden for having a small enough ego to make the call, but this guy ought to be canned for being stupid enough for letting this news out.

    Really... I DO think it's nice that Tommy Bowden feels that he can go to various coaches to get feedback, and, while Tommy is not exactly Terry or Bobby on the personality scale, I have always liked him. But this one I just had to write about!

     Meanwhile... Nick Saban has tried his best to lower fan's expectations after the big win over Clemson. You've heard it ad nauseum from Saban:  "It's only one game", "We use the 24-hour rule", "Questions about expectations really *^%*^ me off!".  Just when Saban thought he had dumbed down the troops, out comes this week's issue of "Sports Illustrated". On the cover? Bama tailback Glen Coffee.  So much for muting the frenzy!

     Other items from a busy Tuesday:  Tommy Tuberville (as we suggested just last night on this blog) makes it official by naming Chris Todd his starting quarterback for this weekend. Now Kodi Burns is still nursing that leg injury, thus taking lots of heat off Tubs for his decision. Will both QB's play in the future? Of course- but Tuberville wants desperately for one quarterback to step up. He doesn't care which one- he just wants to go to a one quarterback system, the sooner the better.

    Tuesday Tidbits:   Dario Franchitti is heading back to Indy Car racing. The worst part about it? No more Ashley Judd sightings at Talladega...The Atlanta Braves beat the Florida Marlins Tuesday 16-14. The Braves at one time led 10-3 and allowed the Marlins to score ten unanswered runs. Imagine that...  Former Auburn tailback Rudi Johnson officially signs with the Detroit Lions only days after getting dumped by the Bengals... Where would the UAB Blazers be without quarterback Joe Webb? The Wenonah product accounted for over 300 yards of offense in a  45-22 loss to Tulsa last weekend. This week? The Blazers head to south Florida for a game against Howard Schnellenberger's Florida Atlantic team...   How times flies: It was over 50 years ago that Texas A&M star John David Crowe won the Heisman trophy. To this day, Crowe was the only player coached by Paul Bryant to have won the award.... I get a Heisman vote- any early favorites?....

     Gotta go get some sleep. See you on the TV side come Wednesday.  I'll be permeating the radio world Friday morning, and then I'll join Paul Finebaum in the radio studio Friday at 2:07 pm on JOX94.5FM.   And a reminder that our web cast this Friday starts at 1 pm. Yours truly, Finebaum, and the Fox6 sports guys will hold a round table discussion to preview what should be a fun college football weekend. Just go to MyFoxAl.com just before 1pm Friday, and be back on the TV side with us Saturday night at 9:35 for "College Football Saturday."  Sandwich your college football with  "Sideline 2008" Friday night at 10:10, and you no doubt will have your fill!  See you on the TV!