2011 Georgia Southern at #3 Alabama (Highlights)

The 9-1 (FCS #2) Georgia Southern Eagles traveled to Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL to face the 9-1, #3 Alabama Crimson Tide. Georgia Southern managed the most points and yards of any team to face Alabama in 2011. This led Nick Saban to go on a rant in a press conference 4 years later, famously saying "They ran through our ass like shit through a tin horn." This is often cited as an example of Saban's perfectionism and insistence on focusing on all opponents equally.

[@BamaRewind]

I call this "The Tin-Horn Bowl." GS gave Bama their second most competitive game of the year this season, and I had great interactions with their fans. Always root for them in Sun Belt play.

[@keeganklepper1301]

Nick Saban was hilarious 4 yrs later as he rants and raves about this game.

[@jeffgorham8819]

This game also helped Bama beat LSU in the "rematch" NCG a few weeks later. LSU saw what happened in this game, and tried to install an option offense in the three weeks prior to the NCG. IIRC, the writeup in Sports Illustrated said that Bama was counting (even hoping) on that, knowing that it would be too short a time to put in an effective option attack. The LSU offensive output (or lack thereof) for that game speaks for itself.

[@BamaRewind]

I agree, I thought about that when making the video.

[@rolltide5922]

I was at this game in the GS section. Feels like yesterday

[@BamaRewind]

There are many connections between Alabama and Georgia Southern. Georgia Southern's greatest coach, Erk Russell, was a Birmingham native, and he played End for Auburn from 1946-1949. Thus, Russell was a player on the 1948 team which saw the resumption of the Iron Bowl following a long hiatus. Obviously, the uniforms are very similar, though in Georgia Southern's case this was apparently the result of budgetary constraints. Georgia Southern was known as the "Blue Tide" from 1924-1941. Georgia Southern has more FCS national titles and playoff victories than any other team, Alabama has more FBS national titles and bowl victories than any other team. Georgia Southern has had two Walter Payton Award recipients, Alabama has had two Heisman Trophy winners.

[@Shawn6751]

Imagine a NY6 Bowl between Georgia Southern and Alabama.

[@nicholaskling2425]

I just realized that Ga Southern had Super Bowl winning HB, Jerick McKinnon. Goes to show how good that team was

[@thedungeondelver]

Mad props to Ga. So. for this game, they took punches straight to the teeth and never quit.

[@peytonnamath9382]

The announcer of this game did an outstanding job all the way through.

[@apfelsnutz]

Good game, GS much better than I thought !

[@joshuagann8026]

Turnovers won it for BAMA. Well turnovers kept it from being a barnburner anyways. Bammer may have still got the W without the turnovers , but it'd have been a hell of a game.

[@richardpierce4908]

Very scary game. It is tough to prepare for an unorthodox offense like that when you rarely see it.

[@BamaRewind]

I would like to see Bama work in some option looks when they have a dual-threat QB.

[@richardpierce4908]

When they do the quick hit to the dive man that is lethal! From what I've read, stopping the belly read is key to slowing the option down.

[@chuckittyduckitty]

Wishbone option and wing t are the most orthodox offenses in football.