http://www.sunherald.com/sports/story/944763.html
Few men have a better understanding of Alabama’s place in the college football world than Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom.
Croom, after all, played for Bear Bryant at Alabama, where he was an All-SEC center, and also served as an assistant coach with the Crimson Tide for 10 years.
The Bulldogs (3-6, 1-4) have struggled through a dreary season over the last 2½ months, but they could certainly take some of the sting out of it with a victory over No. 1-ranked Alabama on Saturday night at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
The Crimson Tide (10-0, 6-0) has already punched its ticket to the SEC championship game.
“Playing the No. 1 team, particularly when it’s in your conference, will be exciting,” Croom said. “Everyone in the country will be watching, presumably to watch Alabama. It gives you a chance to showcase your talent. It’s like a bowl game.”
Croom was on the Alabama sideline for one of the biggest games in MSU history, when John Bond and State slipped past the Crimson Tide 6-3 on Nov. 1, 1980, in Jackson.
“It cost (Alabama) a national championship,” Croom said. “It was very disappointing. That was one of the better defensive teams in Alabama history.”
This year’s Alabama defense isn’t exactly chopped liver. The Crimson Tide used four interceptions, three by safety Rashad Johnson, to turn back upset-minded LSU 27-21 in overtime Saturday night at Tiger Stadium.
State had an open date last week, and Croom said the Bulldogs are “probably as healthy as we can be” going into the Alabama game. State has defeated Alabama in each of the last two seasons, including last year’s 17-12 upset in Starkville.
SunHerald.com
11/11/08
