Ro Tide: Notes from Bama-UK; SEC Network; Aubs (uh-oh); Kiffin (lost ball in high weeds)

Rolando McClain played his ass off. The consensus on talk radio this morning seemed to be that Bama was lucky to get four turnovers against the Cats. Well, that may be so. But the defense made those breaks: Barron's INT - pressure; Ro's INT - pressure; Anders' INT - great heads-up play by Ro; Upshaw's FR for TD - another great play by Ro. Sometimes you have to get some luck. Ro Tide anyway.

Thumbs up on SEC Network. I thought Dave Neal and Andre Ware did a very good job on the broadcast, particularly Ware, who was extremely well-prepared. Neither one has Chris Schenkel's pipes or Keith Jackson's infectious enthusiasm, but they got the job done without any axes to grind and without distracting the audience from the football game with inane crap, value judgments or gaffes. Ware's immediate comparative references to plays and situations from prior games (even prior seasons) evidenced the fact that he had done his homework on both teams.

Ware was also able to point out quarterbacking mistakes without seeming overly critical or condescending a la Danielson. In my book, his Heisman Trophy gives Ware a little more NCAA cred than Danielson. Ware also played for the Detroit Lions, but doesn't seem to have a chip on his shoulder about it, Gary.

Neal's play-by-play work was very good (I watched it twice). His only flat spot came when he made a flippant, self-deprecating "dumb jock" comment about a shot of the UK library coming out of a commercial. Something like "Andre, you and I never spent much time at the library, did we?" Andre seemed to bristle at this one, replying that yes, he actually did spend quite a bit of time at the library. Andre - it's obvious that you spent time in the library, the classroom, learning your craft and getting ready for Bama-UK Saturday. Thanks!

Cara Capuano is not up there in lofty Jill Arrington territory with Erin Andrews or ex-WSFA sideline babe Alex Flanagan, but she did okay. All-in-all, the SEC Network, with its ESPN production quality, is a huge step up from the Lincoln Financial/Jefferson Pilot days.

Why play football at UK? I guess a Kentucky football player and an Alabama basketball player can relate. Wildcat football has played second fiddle to hoops since, well, since forever. I was amazed that UK fans were camping out to get tickets for a basketball practice at Rupp Arena -- but probably no more amazed than the UK fans were when 92,000 Bama fans showed up for a football practice at Bryant-Denny. Oh well. UK is the same school that gave Coach Rupp a new Cadillac for winning the SEC basketball title the same year Coach Bryant won the SEC title in football. A grateful UK gave Bryant a nice cigarette lighter.

Auburn. Just like a bad penny. The pesky Tigers looked fantastic against the hated Vols. I loved seeing Lane Kiffin go all deer-in-the-headlights on national TV. It reminded me of another coach we Bama fans used to know and, uh, love. It is obvious now that Chris Todd's shoulder really was bunged-up last season and the Tigers are playing with confidence. Who knew?

Regarding Kiffin, I advise him to go see the Coen Brothers movie about SEC football, No Country for Young Coaches with Hot Wives. Bama fans have all seen it before... it's violent and has a dissatisfying ending.