For head coach Clark Lea, quarterback Diego Pavia and all of Vanderbilt Soccer — beforehand 0-60 in opposition to top-five opponents — it was a consequence out of a dream that from the skin appeared laughably too large, however from the within … possibly not.
For Alabama, No. 1 and recent off an exciting victory in opposition to Georgia, it was a nightmare efficiency that would have postseason implications even right here within the expanded 12-team playoff.
Vandy 40, Alabama 35… and a celebration within the social gathering city of Nashville.
Lea has slowly constructed up the Commodores. However 4 years into his tenure, he was in determined want of a credibility victory that went past what hardcore followers may see. Vandy went 0-8 in SEC play a 12 months in the past, in any case.
In Pavia, the gritty New Mexico State switch, he might have discovered his good match — a 6-foot, 210-pound, balled-up fist of combat that noticed the vaunted Crimson Tide as a chance. How is 16 of 20 for 252 and two touchdowns passing? How is one other 57 speeding?
Vanderbilt didn’t simply beat Alabama; it bulldozed the Tide. It outgained Alabama (418-394) and out-rushed Alabama (166-84). It transformed 12 of 18 third downs and went one-for-one on fourth. A few of them had been straight effort performs, runners churning for further yards.
Vanderbilt dominated time of possession, holding the ball for 42:08. Marinate on that for a second.
“It is a dream …,” Lea mentioned on the SEC Community after. “An excessive amount of to precise proper now. I’m pleased with our workforce. I imagine in our workforce. I imagine in what we’re constructing. There’s extra for us than this. This isn’t a end level but it surely’s a hell of an arrival.”
This was no fluke. That is what Lea desires Vandy to be and is aware of it may be. It’ll by no means have the 5-star attraction of the Tide, however line up and combat and he’ll take his probabilities.
And which may be essentially the most terrifying half for Alabama.
If it could actually’t bodily dominate Vanderbilt, then can it maintain up throughout the remainder of the season? Only a week in the past it gained an epic conflict with Georgia, but it surely got here after giving up a 28-0 lead and required the otherworldly acrobatic abilities of freshman Ryan Williams(who was at it once more in opposition to Vandy).
Is that this Tide workforce — is that this Kalen DeBoer workforce — constructed for the battles forward, together with what’s at the very least three rounds of playoffs and, maybe now for Alabama, 4?
One among Nick Saban’s best traits was getting his workforce to give attention to the duty at hand — irrespective of the opponent, irrespective of the play, irrespective of the state of affairs. It’s how he gained and gained and gained, together with all 4 instances his Alabama groups performed Vanderbilt. They gained by a mixed 172-13.
“I really feel we’ve obtained a terrific soccer workforce,” DeBoer mentioned. “We weren’t at our greatest in the present day. We’re going to search out out actually how a lot we care about one another.”
With all of Alabama awaiting clues.
It is a completely different Commodore workforce but in addition a unique Alabama workforce; looser and extra inventive offensively. It may be enjoyable. Over the lengthy haul, it ought to produce lots of victories. The requirements are the requirements, although — and watching Vandy storm the sphere isn’t one in every of them.
Alabama isn’t achieved by any means. It’s 1-1 within the SEC although, with little margin for error now, and the Tide nonetheless has Tennessee and a highway recreation at LSU on the slate. Nobody is aware of how the choice committee will issue so-called “unhealthy losses” — that’s if 3-2 Vanderbilt winds up nearer to .500. Possibly Vandy begins peeling off victories and this doesn’t look so unhealthy. The Tide can solely hope.
New coach, new workforce, new period and new emotions — or at the very least ones not skilled since earlier than Saban arrived.
How good are these guys? How dependable are these guys? If Vandy can muscle them, what in regards to the Vols and Tigers and so forth? Ryan Williams can solely be so dominant.
Alabama arrived No. 1 total. Vandy, after 10 consecutive losses to top-ranked groups, turned its program on its ear with a efficiency for the ages.
Now it’s Alabama with all of the questions, and nobody sure of the solutions.
