Ever since the summer, Vanderbilt has tried to convince itself that it could compete with Alabama.

The Commodores' head coach Derek Mason told reporters at SEC Media Days in July he didn't fear anybody, including the Crimson Tide. Then, eight days ago, Nifae Lealao -- overcome with exuberance in the afterglow of a surprising victory over Kansas State -- called out the No. 1 team in the nation with the bravado of a pro wrestler.

"You're next," Lealao shouted into a television camera.

It was a cheeky remark -- one that may have been dismissed amid rounds of laughter in the past.

Yet some were willing to buy into the hype percolating around Vanderbilt, which had the No. 1 scoring defense in the country, won its first three games and hovered just outside the Top 25 in both polls before Saturday.

These Commodores, they believed, were different. Even CBS was willing to give Vandy its day in the sun, bringing its cameras and satellite truck to Nashville for the first time in two years to showcase the SEC Game of the Week.

But then everyone was reintroduced to reality soon after kickoff.

Alabama was still the dominant, fearsome outfit it's been for years while the Commodores were the overwhelmed SEC team they've been throughout their forgettable existence in the football-mad South.

These roles have long been established and reinforced season after season. Vanderbilt hasn't defeated Alabama in 33 years and on Saturday it never even posed a threat to the Tide, which walloped the Commodores in a 59-0 rout. The Tide set records in the process, picking up more first downs -- 38 -- than it ever has before in a game. It also amassed 599 yards more than Vanderbilt -- the largest margin Alabama has posted against an opponent in its long history.

"At Alabama, we want to be respected," said quarterback Jalen Hurts. "Usually we are. I guess we felt like we didn't have the respect that we kind of wanted coming into the game. So we came out and tried to play Alabama football."

For the Commodores, that meant they were going be subjected to 60 minutes of pure misery. Alabama was determined to blast through Vanderbilt's defense by opening gaping holes for its stable of talented running backs. The Tide ran for 496 yards, trampling the Commodores in the opening quarter when it scored three touchdowns and set in motion an onslaught of the ages.

Alabama also was relentless in its pursuit of Commodores quarterback Kyle Shurmur. The Tide consistently dented his pocket, forcing him to rush his throws. Shurmur, who had the highest efficiency rating in the SEC before this weekend, passed for 18 yards and completed only four of his 15 attempts before he was yanked when all hope was lost early in the second half.

By then, Vanderbilt had surrendered against a scorned Alabama squad, which conceded only three first downs and didn't allow Vanderbilt past its own 44-yard line.

"We don't like when when folks do all that talking and stuff," said defensive lineman Da'Ron Payne. "We just like to go out and play."

Alabama, in the most clinical way, stripped away the Commodores' confidence -- peeling it off in cold fashion with its precise offensive execution and stinginess on defense. The Tide controlled the ball for 42 minutes, 55 seconds and had Vanderbilt in a death grip from beginning to end.

"We knew we could come out fast, we knew we could make big, explosive plays," said running back Damien Harris said. "But it's about finishing."

It was more than that. It was about making a statement with the destruction of a traditionally-weak conference opponent that dared to think it could stand up to the Tide.

Describing Alabama's mission this week, Hurts didn't mince words.

"To dominate," he said. "To dominate."

And remind everyone that Alabama is still Alabama and Vanderbilt is still Vanderbilt.

Rainer Sabin is an Alabama beat writer for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @RainerSabin