Alabama's DJ Dale says No. 5 Crimson Tide has 'point to prove'

The Alabama Crimson Tide took one right on the chin last Saturday as they fell to SEC West rival Texas A&M. Their defense gave up four touchdowns against the Aggies; three through the air and one on the ground. Starting junior defensive tackle for the Crimson Tide, DJ Dale, believes now that Alabama has a point to prove.

In a press conference this week, Dale and other members of the team touched on their expectations going forward after the loss. Alabama went into the game as the nation’s top-ranked team. but after falling to the Aggies 41-38, they now sit at number five. To Dale that loss should be a wake-up call for the rest of the team. as he believes it puts a bigger target on the team’s back.

“It’s going to make a huge statement, said Dale. I feel like it should. I feel like a lot of guys, it should have opened their eyes from that game. Now we have a point to prove because everybody wants to beat us. And everybody probably feels like they can beat us now because of what we put on film and how we played.”

If coming into the season as the number one team in the nation and defending national champions was not a big enough target, Saturday’s loss amplifies that. Alabama already had nearly escaped the Florida Gators earlier in the third game of the season, 31-29. In that game, the Gators offense outpowered the Alabama defense. Florida had 439 yards of total offense, 244 on the ground. But the Gators couldn’t finish the job at home.

Then in their sixth game, they faced off against the Aggies. A team that many had written off after suffering back-to-back conference losses to Mississippi State and Arkansas. The Aggies did not dominate the Crimson Tide defense as the Gators did. The Aggies won the battle of field position and mistake-free football. In the game, Texas A&M committed six penalties for 50 yards, where Alabama had eight for 82 yards. The Aggies also won the turnover battle two to one. One of their forced turnovers was a fumble deep in Alabama territory, resulting in an Aggie touchdown. The other was on a drive in which the Crimson Tide was threatening to score. Alabama quarterback Bryce Young was intercepted in the endzone by Texas A&M defensive back Demani Richardson.

Dale is right to believe that the Crimson Tide has a point to prove after that loss. Alabama is the reigning king of the college football world and it’s just shown the world that even kings fall. It’s way too early to write them off for the season and they still have time to prove they’re still the best. But if they take one more shot the king’s title defense could end right there.