Alabama / Auburn Iron Bowl 2003 postgame analysis with Tommy Deas ... also read interviews with Brodie Croyle, Brandon Brooks and others

These comments came during a post game interview with Tommy Deas of The Tuscaloosa News ...

Tommy Deas ... Obviously, it was all Auburn early. But they should have put Alabama away, and it should never have been close at the end. When you're up 18-2, and drop a wide open touchdown pass, then you fumble another one away and then you throw an interception in the end zone ... that was three chances to put this game away. They nearly paid the price for it, although they didn't lose in the end.

In the second half, did you see any adjustments or corrections Alabama was able to make?

Yeah, I also saw the team that I've seen all year ... a team that won't quit. Anytime they've faced adversity, they've tried to bounce back. They came up short in the end, but they battled to the very end. They made a few plays, and obviously made a few mistakes. You have a touchdown called back three minutes before you score at the end ... that could have changed everything. You don't execute on the onside kick when you have a chance to. There's a lot of things Alabama could have done better, but none of it is related to guys not trying as hard as they could.

Talk about the effect of probation on this team including the loss of scholarships.

I think that’s a big thing, especially when you have a lot of injuries. You start out about ten scholarships short of everyone else. Even bigger than that was recruiting over the last three or four years with the cloud of the NCAA over you. There were guys like Carnell Williams and Ben Obomanu who made plays in this very game who may have been wearing an Alabama uniform if there had not been a probation issue.

How big of an effect do you think the Iron Bowl has on recruiting in the state of Alabama?

Everybody says, and I tend to believe, that it doesn’t have a lot of effect. Certainly not as much as NCAA probation. In this state, you pretty much grow up wanting to play for one school or the other, and if you’re given that chance you take it. I don’t think it has a huge effect on recruiting. I hear Alabama is doing real, real well in state. We’ll see how that goes, but I don’t think tonight’s game will decide too many guys … probably none.

I’m looking forward to being there most of all (laughs). I fear for Alabama because Hawaii is one of the better passing offenses in the country. I don’t believe they’ve been beaten at home all year. They’re a team that if they can pile 70 or 80 points on you during a game on TV, as they did with BYU a few years ago, they’ll absolutely do it.

Click on the name for their post-game comments ...
Coach Mike Shula (Head Coach)

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

Brandon Brooks (#5 So. SE, 5-4 163 lbs. Birmingham, AL - Shades Valley High School)

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