CECIL HURT: How UA ranked by the numbers

There are all sorts of ways to view the college football season that just ended, some telescopic and others microscopic. The best way is probably still good old common sense, that rarest of commodities in intercollegiate athletics.

One personal favorite in an admittedly geeky way is simply to look at statistics. With the final game of the college football season going into the books last Monday night, all the NCAA statistics for the 119 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision (the clumsy new name for what used to be called Division I) are complete. Statistics can be deceiving, but if used correctly, they are also interesting interpretative tools. In that spirit, here is a look at the statistics, with particular emphasis on how the University of Alabama ranked by the numbers.

For the most part, as you would suspect from a 7-6 team, Alabama ranked about in the middle of the Southeastern Conference, and the nation, in most categories. In fact, the Crimson Tide was amazingly average on offense, finishing exactly in the middle of Division I (sorry, NCAA, but I am going to use the old terminology for convenience's sake.) in both rushing offense (No. 59 of the 119 teams) and passing offense (No. 60 out of 119). That's right at the midpoint in both categories. Since it was outstanding at neither phase, the Tide was a little worse than average in total offense (No. 75) and scoring offense (No. 64). The numbers were roughly comparable to the 2006 offensive numbers, with the Crimson Tide doing a little better at running the fotball (after a No. 77 national ranking in 2006) and not quite as well throwing it (down from No. 49).

As it traditionally does, Alabama fared better in defensive statistics. The Crimson Tide was in the top 40 nationally in all the major categories – 28th in rushing defense, 38th in pass efficiency defense, 31st in total defense and 27th in scoring defense. Those aren't 1992 numbers, by any means, but given the available talent, those rankings are not too shabby. Some numbers were surprising. My general impression after watching the season was that Alabama turned the ball over far too frequently, but the Crimson Tide was actually 34th nationally in turnover ratio, one of the key statistics in any season. (If you don't think so, please note that the top two teams in that category were Kansas and LSU, teams that finished a combined 24-2.)

Looking a little more deeply, you could find some other striking numbers. The most interesting by far was that Alabama was the least penalized team in the SEC, and was No. 4 in the nation in fewest penalty yards per game. That statistic reflects on-the-field discipline and attention to detail. (Good news for America — the two least-penalized teams in the country were Navy and Army.)

There were some stellar performances on special teams. Leigh Tiffin led the conference and was third in the nation in field goals per game (1.92). Javier Arenas was second in the SEC and No. 7 nationally in punt returns (15.92 per attempt). The Crimson Tide was also No. 7 nationally in team kickoff coverage and did well in most other special teams categories with the exception of net punting (85th overall).

Another statistic that was surprising to me, although perhaps it should not have been — Alabama was second in the SEC and 34th nationally in tackles for loss. (That's not the same as quarterback sacks, in which Alabama was a middling No. 73). Wallace Gilberry was, in fact, No. 3 in the nation in tackles for loss, helped by his stellar Independence Bowl effort. The senior averaged more than two tackles per game behind the line of scrimmage. (In 2006, Alabama was 115th in sacks and 108th in tackles for loss.)

I know what has been said (either by Mark Twain, Disraeli or someone else, since a debate rages about attribution) about 'lies, damned lies and statistics.' No amount of number-shifting changes the only number that matters — the 7-6 record — but it is interesting to see how the various numbers added up for Alabama this season.

Cecil Hurt is sports editor of The Tuscaloosa News. Reach him at cecil.hurt@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0225.