Paul Finebaum: Alabama fans approaching DEFCON 1-level reaction amid 'hot garbage' play

Alabama suffered their second loss of the regular season after falling to Tennessee, 24-17, on the road this weekend. It’s just the third time in the last 10 seasons that the Crimson Tide have dropped more than one game in the regular season.

The retirement of Nick Saban paired with the championship-or-bust expectations set during his tenure and the team’s recent setbacks have called for panic and outrage from Alabama’s fanbase. Those feelings are were epitomized by diehard ‘Bama fan “Legend,” a notable caller on The Paul Finebaum Show who recently expressed his frustrations with the program in a lengthy, viral rant.

“Everybody can say Legend is way out there, but he was not. He was fairly normal yesterday in terms of the reaction,” Finebaum said. “It’s not DEFCON 1, but it’s getting very close, and that’s how quickly it’s gone.

“And why is it going this way?” Finebaum added. “Because Alabama beat Georgia, everyone saw the potential, and since the first half of the Georgia game, it has been hot garbage.”

Alabama has seemingly struggled since its 30-7 halftime lead over the then-No. 1 Bulldogs, allowing 27 second half points in a close win over Georgia. But that was immediately followed by an upset loss to Vanderbilt, a narrow home win against South Carolina, and this past weekend’s rivalry loss at Tennessee.

And while the Crimson Tide are hoping to run the table and make the College Football Playoff as a potential two-loss team, college football insider Heather Dinich believes their play on the field is the team’s biggest threat against an uncharacteristic postseason omission.

“Here’s one thing that hasn’t changed about the College Football Playoff Selection Committee, and it’s they want to see teams look like national title contenders, and Alabama doesn’t,” Dinich said. “It is not the number of losses right now that’s the dagger, it’s how Alabama is playing. 15 penalties for 115 yards, this is the third straight game with multiple turnovers, it’s the third straight game that Jalen Milroe has been sacked multiple times, a total of nine times in the last three games, and it’s the third straight game that they’ve been out gained on the ground. The first time that’s happened since 2007.

“So forget the number of losses, if they want to be in the playoff conversations, which they’re not, they have to start looking like a playoff team.”

There’s no doubt the remainder of Alabama’s season will be fascinating to watch, but the aftermath and reaction to whatever goes down in Tuscaloosa may be even more worth watching given the expectations of one of college football’s most storied programs.