If all eyes aren’t on Alabama in the SCRC, maybe they should be, as the Tide moved to 3-0 in the West division with a convincing 53-19 victory over Florida this past weekend.

The victory, and the 3-0 start, are both a manifestation of increased confidence for the Alabama program after a somewhat surprising playoff run last season.

Ignacio Guisasola

Heath Ross and the rest of the forwards pack down.

Playing well at a crucial time last year has helped a great deal this year, said Head Coach Mark Seitz

“The juniors and seniors have so much confidence,” said Seitz. “And they’ve really picked up the game in a short period of time. They have a good grasp of what the game is about and I don’t have to instruct too much, as the veterans helps tyne newer players. 

“The internet helps; they all watch games and discuss who saw what game and what did you see.”

Last year’s success also helped the Alabama rugby team get some better support from the rec sports department on campus. All of it is leading to more good performances on the field.

As for Saturday, the Tide and Gators battled to a close one at halftime, but it was Alabama that blew the game open in the second period.

“We hoped to stay strong in the pack and we did, even though we made a few mistakes and had two kicks charged down,” said Seitz. “But as time went on we opened it up and our backline ran really well. Florida couldn’t counter that.”

What Steitz also asks of his players is to give their all when the game is close to ending, or the player is about to be subbed out. Steitz told flanker Christian Abbatiello that he would be subbed out in ten minutes, so the loose forward ramped up the intensity, knowing he didn’t have to save his energy. The result was two tries in his final minutes.

“We did exactly what I ask players to do,” said Steitz. 

Meanwhile, young wing Taylor Carpenter torched the Gators on the wing and impressed all with his fitness - making one long run after another and coming back for more.

Coming back for more, of course, is what Alabama has been doing all fall. 

More: Tennessee got two tries from Dylan Craven and three from scrumhalf Travis Vickers - both sophomores - in a 69-3 rout of Kentucky to move to 3-0. And South Carolina were led well by captain Tim Hammill in the Gamecocks' 85-0 shutout of Vanderbilt.

October 10 SCRC Games