Bama primed for takedown

The Alabama Crimson Tide are the best college football team in the country. They have an absolutely outstanding defense that is littered with players who will keep NFL offensive coordinators up at night. Bama is the heavy favorite to be crowned National Champions next month.

While the Tide have one of the most dominant defenses in recent memory and special teams unit that can change the course of a game in seconds, it has a pedestrian offense.

Don't get sucked into the media hyperbole that this is arguably the greatest team of all time. It's an argument you'd quickly lose if they were to face off against the all time great teams.

Alabama has very solid running backs but you won't find a Derrick Henry, Trent Richardson or Mark Ingram in the backfield. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is the most explosive athlete Nick Saban has had under center, but he doesn't scare teams with his arm.

The Tide have phenomenal athletes at receiver but none the caliber of former stars Amari Cooper and Julio Jones.

Alabama absolutely boat raced their SEC foes.

However, their is not one team in the SEC outside of the Tide that even sniffed the College Football Playoff. This is likely the weakest the conference has been in a decade. The SEC is traditionally the sports most powerful conference.

This season it may be the sport's third or fourth best.

Should Alabama be favored to win the national title? Absolutely yes, but this team is not bulletproof.

Ohio State or Clemson's best shot may take down the Tide.

Contact Lockport's Ethan Randall at ethanjamesrandall@yahoo.com.

Cornerstone Arenaskating events set

The Cornerstone CFCU Arena is offering several upcoming public skate sessions during the holiday season

The arena will be closed on Christmas Day.

The times and dates are as follows.

• “Cheap Skate,” 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Monday, Dec. 19

• “Cheap Skate,” 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Friday, Dec. 23

• “Ice Jam,” 8-10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23

• “Christmas Eve Public Skate,” 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24