Rosenbush Cafe

By Henry B. Rosenbush

The Alabama Crimson Tide remained in second place at 6-0, 3-0 and 4th in the coaches poll, USAToday after their nail-biter Saturday against the Kentucky Wildcats (4-1, 1-1). The 17-14 win assured Alabama a second consecutive week behind Oklahoma (5-0) in AP and Oklahoma, Missouri (5-0) and LSU (4-0) in USAToday.

Alabama has a week off to recalibrate the team which looked very beatable yesterday and although they held off a second half rally by Kentucky there must be plenty of fine-tuning in all phases of the game before Ole Miss (3-3, 1-2) comes to town October 18th. The Tide was heavily penalized (10-92 yards), missed two field goals, an extra point (it was good after a defensive penality gave the kicker a second chance), three turnovers and mental lapses at the kick return position.

The defense did not disappoint with their quick touchdown on a quarterback fumble inside the 4 yard line. The run defensive held Kentucky to 35 rushing yards on 20 carries, however, after holding QB Mike Hartline in check for the scoreless first half, the secondary was torched for two TDs of 26 and 48 yards. Hartline finished 20/42 241 1 TD 1 INT, 1 FUM while Tide QB John Parker Wilson threw his second interception of the season and ended 7/17 102.

In other SEC action, Auburn (4-2, 2-2) missed an extra point and was upset at Vanderbilt 14-13. Congratulations to the Commodores; the last time they were 5-0 (1943) we were in the midst of WW II.

Florida (4-1, 2-1) had no trouble with Arkansas (2-3, 0-2), 38-7 while Georgia and LSU were idle.

AP Top 25
1. Oklahoma 5-0
2. Alabama6-0
3. Missouri 5-0
4. LSU 4-0
5. Texas 5-0
6. Penn State
7. Texas Tech 5-0
8. USC 3-1
9. Brigham Young 5-0
10. Georgia 4-1
11. Florida 4-1
12. Ohio State 5-1
13. Vanderbilt 5-0
14. Utah 6-0
15. Boise State 4-0
16. Kansas 4-1
17. Oklahoma State 5-0
18. Virginia Tech 5-1
19. South Florida 5-1
20. Auburn 4-2
21. Wake Forest 3-1
22. North Carolina 4-1
23. Michigan State 5-1
24. Pittsburgh 4-1
25. Ball State 6-0
Others Receiving Votes: Wisconsin 96, Tulsa 85, Illinois 81, California 80, Northwestern 78, TCU 70, Georgia Tech 59, Kentucky 49, Florida State 36, Notre Dame 6, Fresno State 5, Arizona 5, Oregon 4, Boston College 3.
Dropped From Rankings: Wisconsin 18, Fresno State 22, Oregon 23, Connecticut 24

USA Today Poll
1. Oklahoma
2. Missouri 5-0
3. LSU 4-0
4. Alabama 6-0
5. Texas 5-0
6. Penn State 6-0
7. Texas Tech 5-0
8. Brigham Young 5-0
9. USC 3-1
10. Georgia 4-1
11. Ohio State 5-1
12. Florida 4-1
13. Utah 6-0
14. Vanderbilt 5-0
15. Kansas 4-1
16. Boise State 4-0
17. Oklahoma State 5-0
18. Virginia Tech 5-1
19. Michigan State 5-1
20. South Florida 5-1
21. Wake Forest 3-1
22. Northwestern 5-0
23. Auburn 4-2
24. Wisconsin 3-2
25. California 4-1
Others Receiving Votes: North Carolina 88, TCU 84, Tulsa 76, Ball State 75, Florida State 61, Georgia Tech 56, Kentucky 51, Pittsburgh 32, Illinois 25, Fresno State 19, Cincinnati 18, Arizona 16, Oregon 15, Notre Dame 11, Connecticut 8, Maryland 7, Boston College 6, Duke 1, Minnesota 1, South Carolina 1. Dropped From Rankings: Oregon 20, Fresno State 21, Connecticut 23