Bulldogs may be cure for Tide's LSU blues

TUSCALOOSA | In sports, they call it the hangover.

It’s the time period after an emotionally draining loss, which, if not overcome can last weeks, if not the duration of a season.

Despite everything else the University of Alabama football team will do this week, from game-planning to recovering from bumps and bruises, it’s the Crimson Tide’s absolute top priority — finding a way to put Saturday’s 41-34 loss to LSU at Bryant-Denny Stadium in the rear-view mirror.

“I think the most important thing moving forward is that we learn from our experiences that we had in this game,” coach Nick Saban said. “We can’t be down or disappointed. We can’t be hang-doggin’. We can’t be wounded. We’ve got to get ready for the next game.”

If only it were that easy, although this team has already been though it with the 26-23 overtime loss to Georgia, which suddenly turned into a two-game losing streak after the 21-14 defeat to Florida State.

Perhaps an even better example in college football is South Florida, which has seen its season tailspin since the 30-27 loss to Rutgers three games ago (all losses).

“It’s hard to pull positives when you have a loss like that, when you had it in the fourth quarter and end up losing it,” senior guard Justin Britt said, later adding: “It’s extremely tough. It still is tough. We would have been in the driver’s seat for the SEC West championship. So yeah, it was really tough, it really was.”

But Alabama still has a lot to play for, including a potential January bowl appearance if it can get back to its winning ways, LSU could stumble, and there’s always Auburn.

Consequently, Saturday might be the perfect time to face Mississippi State, which last year pulled out a 24-16 victory that had Sylvester Croom enjoying his homecoming to the Capstone, where he was an All-American lineman.

“Losing to those guys just down the street, they’ve had a chance to brag for a whole year now,” junior safety Rashad Johnson said. “It’s finally back around, so we have to take advantage of it.”

Johnson himself couldn’t last year after sustaining an ankle injury in the first quarter, which sidelined him until the Independence Bowl. Meanwhile, not only did Alabama lose to Mississippi State, but its final three games as well.

“I haven’t had a chance to think about it, what happened. I think it caused a lot of changes around here. …” Johnson continued.

Um, changes? Like how many believe the loss was a clincher in the decision to fire Mike Shula?

“The season just changed completely,” he answered, picking his words carefully. “We lost two games in a row and then the Auburn game and the bowl game. The attitude of the players, it just seemed like a big down for us.”

Although Bulldogs quarterback Michael Henig passed for two touchdowns, the key to the game was Mississippi State pounding the ball behind Anthony Dixon, who had 121 rushing yards on 25 carries.

“He’s huge,” senior linebacker Darren Mustin said. “What, 250 [pounds]? And he’s fast. He’s one of those big boys who can move. He’s one of those types of backs who you need to hit with 11 players every time. I don’t care who you are, you can be Jerome Bettis, and you’re going to go down if 11 people hit you at once.

“It’s going to be won up front. There’s so secret about this game. There are no schemes.”

But here are some other eye-opening numbers to consider:

n MSU’s victory last year snapped a 23-game SEC road losing streak, including an 18-game stretch against Western Division rivals.

n The Bulldogs were 2-7, and a two-touchdown underdog.

n Alabama hasn’t scored an offensive touchdown against Mississippi State since 2004. Last season, the Tide’s lone TD came on Jeffrey Dukes’ 24-yard interception return.

“They wanted it more than we did last year,” Britt said. “That was it.”

This year’s Bulldogs are 5-4 overall, and with another win can secure enough wins to receive a bowl invitation, which would be its first since 2000 (Independence Bowl, a 43-41 overtime loss to Texas A&M). Mississippi State is also coming off a bye after winning at No. 15 Kentucky on Oct. 27, 31-14.

Yeah, the Tide can use this as motivation, not so much because it wants to, because it has to.

“I think everyone has a chip on their shoulders,” junior linebacker Ezekial Knight said

“I think it does [help us],” Johnson said. “Maybe guys didn’t look at Mississippi State as a team that actually could beat us last year. They looked it as a challenge to beat us. Now, they have a great team, they’ve beaten good teams, beat Auburn and a couple of other good teams.

“We need to play really well, we can’t just take this game lightly. It’s not just a win we can mark up on the schedule any more.”

So as per Saban’s 24-rule, which is the limit he’ll discuss the previous game, from here on in the talk will be about Mississippi State, and trying to shed whatever necessary from the LSU loss.

“It’s hard, but we have to,” Johnson said. “We have more games to play. I wouldn’t say it’s a revenge thing, we need a win.”

Tide-bits

n Sophomore left tackle Andre Smith (ankle) was in black for Monday’s practice, indicating no hitting, and did not participate in drills. Taking his place was senior Chris Capps.

There were no other changes to the starting offensive line, with suspended starters Antoine Caldwell and Marlon Davis continuing to work with the third-unit/scout team.

n Britt said that his mother is close to being released from the hospital. Vera Britt sustained head injuries after falling backward from a golf cart a month ago today.

n When asked if he was still sore physically from Saturday’s game, Mustin said: “The only people who aren’t sore are the fans the benchwarmers. If you’re not sore that means you didn’t play.”

Reach Christopher Walsh at christopher.walsh@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0196.