This is an opinion column. ___________________ Two days later and Alabama’s historic loss to Vanderbilt remains tough to digest. For Auburn, things are somehow even less palatable after loss number eight in a row to rival Georgia.

Saban liked to use the phrase “rat poison,” as a way to get his players not to feel too good about themselves, to avoid letdown performances like the one we just saw from the Crimson Tide. It was frequently mocked, but it also worked.

Stephen A. Smith explains why he is so critical of Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer after the Crimson Tide's loss to Vanderbilt.