art of the 2008 season and beaten 41 of them, a .7

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Alabamas bottom line under Nick Saban hasnt changed one iota.The No. 1 Crimson Tide are still winning at a head-spinning clip, still collecting national championship hardware and still beating Tennessee every year. But to say its the same, old Alabama would be like saying its the same, old Godzilla.The worlds most feared lizard is still wreaking havoc and still breathing fire on the silver screen. Hes just a little more refined, a little sleeker and a little more with the times.The same goes for Alabamas football machine, which once again turned the Third Saturday in October into its own little gala with a 49-10 drubbing of the Vols at Neyland Stadium, the Crimson Tides 10th consecutive victory in a rivalry that really hasnt been much of one for the last decade.Its not so much that Alabama handed Tennessee the second most lopsided defeat in the history of this series (Alabama won 51-0 way back in 1906). Its the way the Crimson Tide did it, and the way they continue to evolve as they keep winning games. Their overall winning streak is up to 19 straight games now, the longest active streak in the FBS.You play the way you need to play under the rules the way they are, Saban said. If you dont, youre going to get left behind.Think about it. Did anybody really see Saban playing a true freshman quarterback five years ago? For that matter, did anybody see Saban breaking away from his pro-style approach and running the quarterback as much as Alabama is with Jalen Hurts, who torched the Vols for 132 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries?But heres the clincher: The Tide are going hurry-up on offense, using tempo, not huddling and spreading out the defense, the style of football Saban was railing against as recently as three years ago.For a guy who has been accused more than once of being stubborn and a creature of habit, Saban is as progressive as they come when it comes to his football team.He flashes a wry smile when asked how it feels to officially be one of the fastball guys, Sabans term for the coaches who run hurry-up offenses, the same offenses that were allegedly his kryptonite on defense when he had the audacity to go two straight years in 2013 and 2014 without winning a national championship.The reality is offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin is the one who has transformed Alabamas offense, but Saban is the one who brought Kiffin in and gave him that license. Yes, their animated exchanges on the sideline are priceless -- what Saban calls ass-chewings when Kiffin gets a little too far out there on the plank. But its a fact that Hurts, an explosive athlete, adds a whole different dimension to the Alabama offense with his ability to run the zone read, make people miss and also throw the ball on the move.And as Saban notes, Hurts is growing and only getting better each week.One of the things Saban likes best about Hurts is hes not averse to hard coaching. Saban jumped on Hurts pretty good a couple of times in the first half after the freshman committed turnovers against Tennessee, but Hurts was unfazed, took the tongue-lashing and came back and played that much better.Its not Kiffins first rodeo, either. He knew during the preseason that this wasnt going to be an elite Alabama offensive line. Its a line thats improving, but simply isnt on a par with some of the dominant offensive lines the Crimson Tide have had in years past. So a quarterback who can extend the play, run around and put pressure on a defense with his legs was probably going to be this offensive lines best friend.Saban was on board, even though that quarterback was a true freshman.The hardest quarterback to face is a dual-threat quarterback, Tennessee defensive back Rashaan Gaulden said. (Hurts) exploited us being able to get around the edge and deliver on the long ball when needed. Where he hurt us the most was being able to get around the edge and provide explosive plays for his team.Even on defense, which has long been Alabamas backbone under Saban, the Crimson Tide have a different makeup.Go back and look at the Alabama defense on that 2009 national championship team, or even the 2011 and 2012 national championship teams. The defensive linemen were bigger and bulkier. Its hard to believe, for instance, that Terrence Cody would be able to play on this defense and in this age of college football. Alabama is leaner across the defensive front, and its speed on defense is the best its ever been under Saban.Were faster at every position, but that was something we went out and addressed on defense in recruiting because of the way everybody is playing now on offense, Saban said. Its been a couple of years in the making.Already this season, seven of Alabamas 11 defensive starters have scored touchdowns, and the Tide have scored 11 nonoffensive touchdowns as a team, including special teams touchdowns. The only touchdown they gave up to Tennessee on Saturday was after Hurts was sacked and lost a fumble at the Vols 11.We made it a point of emphasis this offseason for a bunch of guys to shed a little bit of weight, get a little smaller so we could play these speed-ball teams, Alabama defensive end Jonathan Allen said. Weve done a good job of stopping that this year.Tennessee, which was missing several starters due to injury, averaged just 2.6 yards per play. Alabama, meanwhile, churned out 438 rushing yards, the most the Crimson Tide have gained on the ground since the 1986 season.We saw they didnt have a lot of depth on defense, and we just kept fast tempo all game, and they got tired, Alabama tight end O.J. Howard said.The rest of the country may be tired of Alabama winning all the time, and Saban is the last person whos ever going to take winning for granted.Thats why hes constantly adapting, constantly tweaking and constantly looking for different and better ways to do things.Even if it means becoming a quasi-fastball guy. Adam Oates Jersey . Now, correct me if Im wrong but I saw one official distinctly pointing at the net indicating a good goal but after an inconclusive review they overturned the goal. Shouldnt the ruling on the ice (good goal) stand after an inconclusive review? Why was this overturned? 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The Lightning are 2-0 so far on a four-game road trip, giving the club five straight wins as the guest and improving Tampas away record this season to 11-8-2. TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama breezed through most of its early schedule with lopsided wins and one big comeback.Now, the top-ranked Crimson Tide enters the meat of its schedule with three straight games against Top 20 teams, two of them on the road. The stretch begins Saturday at No. 16 Arkansas, with the Tide then going to No. 9 Tennessee before a home game with No. 8 Texas A&M.The next three weeks will be a grinder, center Bradley Bozeman said Monday.A grinder, indeed. Alabama (5-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) has been tested only once this season, though its taken a quarter or so to get going in several games.That lone challenge, incidentally, came in the only SEC road game so far. Thats when Alabama overcame a 24-3 deficit and a late charge to edge No. 14 Mississippi snare a 48-43 and end a two-year losing streak to the Rebels. Three of the next four are road games, closing with a trip to LSU.`Bama stampeded its only other ranked opponent, then-No. 20 Southern California, 52-6 in the opener at Arlington, Texas. Besides Ole Miss, the Tide has won the other four games by an average of 37.5 points and leads the SEC in scoring offense while ranking second in scoring defense. With seven touchdowns, Alabamas special teams and defense have actually outscored three of the first five opponents.That came against teams like Kent State and Western Kentucky, though. The offense figures to improve along the way with three key freshmen -- quarterback Jalen Hurts, tailback Joshua Jacobs and right tackle Jonah Williams -- banking some experience. Jacobs started in place of an injured Damien Harris (ankle) against Kentucky and rushed for 100 yards.Williams has started every game and Hurts has so clearly solidified the starting job that opening-game starter Blake Barnett left the team and withdrew from school last week.ddddddddddddNow comes the toughest part of the schedule, though. After these four games, Alabama faces struggling SEC West opponents Mississippi State and Auburn and FCS team Chattanooga.It really is nothing new since the Tide has faced 53 Top 25 teams since the start of the 2008 season and beaten 41 of them, a .773 winning percentage.Pretty much every year we have a long SEC stretch, so Im pretty used to it now, defensive end Dalvin Tomlinson said.Tide players are also accustomed to tuning out the hype and adhering to Tide coach Nick Sabans message about staying grounded and not being satisfied with your performance.There is room for improvement.The passing game wasnt clicking in the first half against Kentucky. Botched execution also led to a fumble when tailback Bo Scarbrough bumped the arm of quarterback Jalen Hurts.I think our team is making progress, but I think we need to continue to do that and continue to work because every week in the SEC youve got a real challenge and a real test and that certainly wont be any different playing on the road this weekend against Arkansas, Saban said.NOTE: Wide receiver ArDarius Stewart is returning to practice after missing the past two games with a knee injury sustained against Mississippi. Were hopeful that hell be able to get through the week and make the kind of progress he needs to be able to contribute in this game, Saban said. ' ' '