ok. so, i am starting to get pretty excited.

i've been waiting a long time for this.

this is what four million dollars a year looks like, folks. it's not the record last year. it may not be the record this year. it's this photo. it's the stories, like jesus julio jones', that are pumping out of tuscaloosa this month. that this year's recruiting class could put 8-10 young (fresh)men in meaningful situations come the clemson game. one could argue that playing 10 freshmen is a good sign of a bad program, and i hear that argument. but one could also argue that alabama hasn't had 10 freshmen worth playing during their first year on campus in twenty years.

let's face it. alabama's schedule this season is brutal. they bookend the campaign with top-ten challenges (if auburn holds up their end). they go to georgia. they go to lsu. 8-4 means they don't trip on their way to taking care of the rest of their business outside of these games. maybe they pull an upset. maybe two. maybe they don't crap a gimme game away this year. it's all up in the air at this point, obviously.

but this picture is what four million dollars a year looks like, because if mike shula or somebody else not named nick saban is coaching the tide, this guy is probably catching passes from tim tebow or drew weatherford this year. and that is a fact my opinion.

god bless you, julio (and burton and jerrell and mark and mark and tyler and others). crimson and white suits you (all) quite nicely.