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Game Over ... Hogs Rally Over Tide 31-34 In 2 OT

guest analyst Jim Dunaway - (sports director NBC 13 Birmingham, host of Mike Shula Show)

This postgame analysis was provided by Jim Dunaway, sports director at NBC 13 in Birmingham ...

Tide Home Games ... What’s your initial reaction to the game tonight? It was another tough loss.

Jim Dunaway - Coming in, I didn’t think Alabama would play this team very well. They didn’t match up very well. Arkansas is very senior oriented along the offensive and defensive lines. They've got some real play makers and are ranked number 9 in the country. Then Alabama jumps out to the 21 point lead, and I guess I was kind of like most fans and thought the hay was in the barn and it was over with. But Arkansas had something to say about it, and came back and made this a classic game. Unfortunately, you don’t make the best games in Alabama history by losing here. Arkansas scores a great win 34-31. The unsportsmanlike conduct call was huge in overtime. It made the drive a little tougher and the kick a little tougher, and then Brian Bostick ends up missing it. I thought that ended up being a huge call, as were some of the turnovers in regulation.

What was your feeling on the unsportsmanlike conduct call? It’s one of those rules that are left to the referee’s discretion.

You grow up in this state and up try to remember old Bear Bryant quotes ... one of them is “Act like you’ve been there before”. I think there’s a happy medium between showing no emotion and running to the sideline compared to some celebration. I’ve seen it on tape and they were not taunting the other team, which in my mind is unsportsmanlike conduct. But they were celebrating. At that point it’s a judgment call by the official. Was it an unsportsmanlike or a celebration penalty? They called it an unsportsmanlike penalty.

It was a contrast to the reaction Dre Fulgham had when he scored his two touchdowns. He didn’t celebrate at all and ran right back to the sideline.

I know Tri(andos Luke) points to God and gives thanks to God. So different people celebrate in different ways. I know there’s been a long debate about the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty possibly being a slant against some kids who show emotions more than others. Some say it was a rule made by stuffy white men at the NCAA … and I guess there’s an argument there. But in a game like that and a situation like that, I think it’s an unfortunate call that happened. I may be seeing that through the eyes of someone who lives in the state of Alabama. I’m sure the Arkansas folks agree with the call. (laughs) But I don’t think that was really taunting an Arkansas player, and I think that’s what the rule was designed for.

Brian Bostick was in some serious emotional pain after the game.

What a gutsy guy. He comes out and faces us and still does interviews and stuff. I remember the guy (Ryan Pflugner) who missed the field goal in the 2000 Orange Bowl (loss to Michigan 35-34) did the same thing. You know, it was a tough kick, but you’re up three touchdowns in the third quarter … it shouldn’t come down to an overtime field goal. I’m sure Brian Bostick feels bad he didn’t win the game for Alabama, but by no means did he lose the game.

Brodie Croyle left the game at one point with what looked like a serious injury. Is he going to make it through the season?

Well, he’s always one hit away and he’s had that bruised shoulder since the South Florida game. He’s playing with pain. He played great in the second half I thought. They go to Georgia now and that’s not an easy place to play. They surprised me tonight, so we’ll see if they surprise me again next week. I don’t expect them to do well there.

And what do you expect against a tough Georgia team in their home stadium?

Alabama fans expect to win every single game. But realistically, I would say Georgia is an 11 or 12 point favorite at home. It would be a tough task for this team to bounce back again and win. But that’s why they play the game.

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Click on the name for parts of their post-game interviews ..
Coach Mike Shula (Alabama Crimson Tide Head Coach)

Coach Dave Rader (Alabama Offensive Coordinator, quarterbacks coach)

Shaud Williams (#21 Sr. TB, 5-8 191 lbs. Andrews, TX - Texas Tech transfer)

Anthony Bryant (#97 Sr. LDT, 6-3 336 lbs. Newbern, AL - Sunshine High)

Anthony Madison (#9 Jr. RCB, 5-9 180 lbs. Thomasville, AL - Thomasville High)

Brian Bostick (#22 Jr. PK, 5-10 213 lbs. Cullman, AL - Cullman High)

Brodie Croyle (#12 So. QB, 6-3 200 lbs. Rainbow City, AL - Westbrook Christian High)

Postgame Analysis from Jim Dunaway - NBC 13 Birmingham, host of Mike Shula Show

Jim Dunaway (sports director NBC 13 Birmingham, host of Mike Shula Show)

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