Tide Rolls: Defending Champs Rout Wolverines, 41-14, In Dallas

Denard Robinson was really looking forward to the 2012 college football season. Then his Michigan Wolverines opened the season against the Alabama Crimson Tide. The (former?) Heisman hopeful went 11-for-26 with two interceptions on Saturday. His struggles in the 41-14 loss were nothing but pleasure-fuel for cross-town rivals the Michigan St. Spartans.

As Diamond Leung of MLive reported, Spartan players kept up the smack-talk on Twitter all day Saturday, ripping Robinson to shreds. Leung gathered some of the choicest quotes.

We all have a different definition of what balance is in college football. For virtually every television announcer, balance is gaining the same number of yards on the ground and through the air. For Washington State head coach Mike Leach, “Balance, whether you run it or throw it, is getting contribution from all the skill positions.“

To me, though, it’s slightly different. I tend to take the approach to balance that the movie version of Oskar Schindler took to power. ”[Balance] is when we have every justification to [run/pass], and we don’t.” Balance isn’t what you do, it’s what you can do. It’s what a defense, in watching film and game-planning, has to respect.

Related: VIDEO: Michigan Vs. Alabama Highlights Are Really Just Of The Crimson Tide

Countess emerged as a valuable part of Michigan’s defense during the latter portion of the 2011 season -- he appeared in all 12 games, but started each of the final six. Countess finished the season with 44 tackles and also broke up six passes. He will use 2012 as a redshirt season and return as a redshirt sophomore in 2013.

Coming off a season which produced a National Championship, eight selections in the NFL Draft and one of the top-ranked defenses of all time, Alabama faced the challenge of finding an identity independent of the successful teams of the past. How simple it could be for this team to get lost in shadow of the 2011 squad.

Eric Prisbell of USA Today writes that Alabama has no intentions of drifting out of the spotlight.

Another potential move in the rankings could be between the fourth and fifth spots in the poll. Oklahoma had an unimpressive 24-7 victory over UTEP, while Oregon obliterated Arkansas State with a 50-point first half and cruised to a 57-34 victory. The incredible early offensive proficiency by the Ducks might be enough to swap them with the Sooners at the fourth spot.

Talk about college football rankings with Alabama fans at Roll Bama Roll, with USC fans at Conquest Chronicles, with Michigan fans at Maize N Brew, with Oregon fans at Addicted to Quack, and with Oklahoma fans at Crimson and Cream Machine.

Despite a bevy of new starters on defense, Alabama was dominating throughout a game that never lived up to it’s hype. The Crimson Tide picked up right where they left off by beating a Big Ten team that many felt could be a dark-horse to make a run at the National Championship.

Things weren’t so rosy for Denard Robinson. The Heisman hopeful endured a miserable night completing just 11-of-26 passes for 200 yards, including two interceptions and a touchdown. He also rushed for 27 yards.

Here is what $1.2 billion and a few new coats of paint gets you:

Now if only we could find a way to get college football played there all the time and get rid of those pesky ‘Cowboys.’

Toussaint was suspended after being arrested for drunken driving and pleaded guilty to a lesser charge on Tuesday. Clark was suspended for his involvement in an alleged laptop theft.

Head coach Brady Hoke said in a release that the decision was made in the best interest of the program and the players themselves, according to the Detroit Free Press.