When a team hands you one of your few losses the previous year most would expect the defeated team to mark the next time these two teams play, and that exactly what Alabama has done for their matchup with Ole Miss this Saturday.
Last season inside Vaught–Hemingway Stadium the Rebels took more than just a chance at an undefeated season from Alabama, they almost took the fight away from the Tide.
In Oxford last season the Tide were defeated 23-17 in one of the biggest upsets of the year. In that game the Crimson Tide almost saw their complete identity disappear right before them. Alabama has always been known as a program with one of the best defenses in the country, a defense that many have tried and failed to defeat many times.
For the Rebels last season they knew that history was not on their side entering the game with a 9-42-2 record against the Tide all time. Ole Miss tossed all historical records aside and entered this game as if it were the first time they had ever faced the Crimson Tide.
The comfort of not fearing their opponents and being in the confines of their home stadium fueled the Rebels fire that day in Oxford. Bo Wallace led the Ole Miss offense with 251 passing yards and three passing touchdowns. Wallace and the Rebel offense torched the Alabama defense for 327 total yards of offense.
The Crimson Tide defense was left with many more questions than ever before especially in the secondary. A lot of confidence for the entire team was lost not only because of the loss on the scoreboard but also due to the season ending injury that was suffered by Kenya Drake in the contest as well.
The following week the loss of confidence could be felt throughout the entire team. In a match up against the unranked Arkansas Razorbacks. The Crimson Tide were outgained by over 100 yards and gave up 335 yards of offense to the Razorbacks.
The key difference for this game was half time. The Alabama coaching staff challenged their players to give all they had left to keep their College Football Playoffs hopes alive. The message was received loud and clear as the Tide rallied in the second half to defeat Arkansas 14-13.
With this victory the Crimson Tide took the fire that they found in Arkansas and carried it all the way to a SEC Championship.
Revenge is something that most teams don’t get a chance deliver. For the Crimson Tide they will get their shot at revenge early. The contest this Saturday is redemption for all that was lost in Oxford last season.
Kenyan Drake a player that had to be air lifted out of Vaught–Hemingway Stadium will not have any problem motivated for his team this week. The Alabama defense that got torched for 300 plus years will be looking to show that this year the Tide and ready and prepared for battle no matter who is standing across from them.
Coming into last season’s matchup the Rebels of Ole Miss had many question including at the quarterback position and many considered their game against the Crimson Tide as a measuring stick for the remainder of the season.
Flash forward to today and you have the exact situation set up for the Crimson Tide. After two game very little is still know about the 2015 Crimson Tide outside of the fact that Derrick Henry could break a lot of records this year for the Tide.
The question I propose to Alabama fans is this. If the Rebels could defend their home field with many unanswered question entering last seasons game then why can a much more talented Crimson Tide team do the same to the Rebels this Saturday inside Bryant-Denny Stadium?
Ivan L. White is a contributor for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @ilwhite1
