CoachHal.com

It’s definitely the most wonderful time of the year. Time to see the Crimson Tide suit up in 101,000 seat Bryant Denny Stadium. Time to see Wee-merts on the grill. Time to see Bobby and Beebo holler ‘Next’ over and over. Unfortunately, we will not get to see the Heisman winner in action. But, as we have said before, Heismans are not what we play for here. We play for championships. I’m glad Ingram will be getting this chance to heal. We do not want to jeopardize his season or his NFL career down the road.

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What an offseason it has been for Coach Hal (Please follow Coach on Twitter at https://twitter.com/CoachHal ). The Ole' Tailgate Coach has been sitting back and soaking up all the fun and smelling the roses. But now it is time to turn the page as we head toward the second leg of the BCS Grand Slam. For those new to the site, Coach Hal is not Coach Saban. Coach looks ahead (see reserved rooms in Atlanta and Glendale already) and is definitely affected by clutter, ­but Coach and Coach both agree on the Process of being a champion. We just do it with our group on the tailgate level. On to the opening tailgate plan, powered by vitaminwater, after some preseason commentary by Coach:

1. Let Coach leave no doubt. We love the target on Alabama's back. This is the way it should be, and Coach thinks opposing fans that talked to Coach the last few years now see what we were discussing. On the opposite end of that fellow Alabama fans, you can't get upset every time a small story about Alabama becomes a big story. It comes with the hype, and you have to accept the good with the bad.

2. The documentaries on Alabama and Coach Saban have given the University of Alabama and the state of Alabama very positive images to the country. If you do not believe it, you should travel a bit. Coach's favorite part of all the press? First, the dead on imitation of Coach Saban was classic. But Coach's favorite part and person in the Alabama program is Strength Coach Scott Cochran. For those around Alabama the last 3 1/2 years, you could hear his "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, YEAH" all the time, but he was quite a hit on the recent ESPN special. And you can count on the fact that Coach will be screaming Cochran's lines at the team this year as they board the bus. One last thought on Cochran: ­Does he remind you of a screaming Newt?

3. Let Coach be the first tailgate coach out there to say it: Plan on giving Joe Paterno a standing ovation when he enters Bryant Denny in our second game next week.

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Have to like the comment about college football's Fort Knox.

There have been many bizarre reactions to Nick Saban and Alabama's 13th national championship since last January.

However, the most ridiculous has been the over-the-top and borderline insane reaction to Mal Moore's very appropriate decision to honor the coach with a statue on the Wall of Champions outside Bryant-Denny Stadium.

There are four other bronzed statues outside the stadium -- Wallace Wade, Frank Thomas, Bear Bryant and Gene Stallings. And they all have one thing in common with Saban other than coaching at Alabama: They've won a national championship.

So why not honor Alabama's current coach while it can be enjoyed by fans, family and friends? Why not celebrate now when it can have the maximum impact?

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Hungry, Hungry, Hippos

10:32 am August 26, 2010, by Mark Bradley

Tim Tebow's jorts have been stolen, so to speak. (PhotoShopping courtesy of loserswithsocks.com)
Our inaugural ranking of the SEC’s most obnoxious fans was presented in 2008, and much has changed over 24 months. Mississippi State has switched coaches. Auburn has switched coaches. (Then again, when doesn’t Auburn switch coaches?) Tennessee has switched coaches twice. Kentucky’s coach quit. Vanderbilt’s coach just quit. Florida’s coach quit and un-quit.

Amid such flux, it’s only fair that our rankings don’t remain static. Indeed, I’m proud — actually, I’m not sure if “proud” is the proper word — to note that our new rankings are completely different. Not one of the 12 positions has gone unchanged, which says … well, I don’t know what it says. But there we are.

A note: I asked for your input the other day, and I have taken your thoughts under the deepest advisement. Indeed, the results of our little poll are included herein. But I must stress that these are my rankings, and I’m a neutral. (Full disclosure: I’m a graduate of Kentucky, which hopes one day to start a football program.)

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2nd to None

Gene Stallings to be honored during this season's Alabama-Florida game

Published: Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 1:35 PM
Updated: Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 1:41 PM
Gentry Estes, Mobile Press-Register

The University of Alabama will honor former Crimson Tide coach Gene Stallings in conjunction with the The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame during an "On-Campus Salute" for Alabama's Oct. 2 home game at Bryant-Denny Stadium against Florida.

Stallings will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame later this year as a member of the 2010 class.

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Pretty good read on Super Fans. We thought we were dedicated. Multiple Alabama fans and #1 overall.

By Jim Weber
Special to ESPN.com

If the NFL is considered America's new religion, the college game is our nation's biggest cult. The most rabid U.S. sports fans, millions of them, fill stadiums across the country each fall Saturday and literally live and die college football.

In what other American sport can you find a fan like Giles Pellerin? The greatest college football super fan ever, he viewed 797 consecutive USC football games -- home and away -- before passing away at the age 91 in the parking lot of a Trojans game.

It's been a decade of dancing for Utah super fan Terri Jackson.
Or how about Cecil Samara? When Oklahoma's super fan passed away in 1994, he was buried in his trademark red jacket, an OU tie and a Sooners belt buckle. He had "Boomer Sooner" played at his funeral, but his family decided against Samara's wishes to have his index finger put in the "No. 1" position in his casket.

Whether they have ridiculously long attendance streaks, dress up like it's Halloween, have become performers on game days or complete other acts of sheer lunacy, all these super fans ask is to be recognized for their dedication.

Here's our list of the top 20 college football super fans based on their passion, loyalty, flair and celebrity status on campus.

20. Barry Erickson (Washington) Washington football could have used a superhero the past couple of years, but unfortunately "Captain Husky" is in the stands, not on the field.

Barry Erickson plays the part with a costume that includes a cape, an aviator hat and a giant "W" on his chest. He's done this for every home game except two since the 1986 season, right after he graduated from UW.

His ritual is to put on the costume and lead the stadium in spelling out H-U-S-K-Y after the first score of the second half. But things got so bad during the Tyrone Willingham era that he had to do it during a late TV timeout a couple of times because UW failed to score. That's dedication.

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Alabama's SGA dramatically changes student block seating for 2010 football season

Published: Friday, August 20, 2010, 12:04 PM
Updated: Friday, August 20, 2010, 12:35 PM

Tuscaloosa, Alabama -- The University of Alabama's Student Government Association is taking a dramatic new approach to its student block seating system for the 2010 football season, the Crimson White student newspaper reports.

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This is hilarious...Coach

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/08/here_it_is_video_of_walk-on_wr.html

Read below and check out the link for the picture. There is an Alexander City connection in here...

Bessemer mayoral candidate Dorothy Davidson claims Nick Saban endorsement, passing out fliers with altered photo

Published: Wednesday, August 18, 2010, 6:30 AM Updated: Wednesday, August 18, 2010, 9:11 AM
Anita Debro -- The Birmingham News

For a political hopeful in Alabama, it could be the ultimate endorsement -- a show of support from University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban.

Bessemer Councilwoman Dorothy Davidson, who is running for mayor of the city, claims she secured Saban's endorsement of her campaign three weeks ago. Davidson printed it on a color campaign flier that shows her and the coach smiling side by side on a golf course.

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For Immediate Release: Coach Hal Granting All Access to Online Network
8:00 PM 8/16/10

Reports out of Hoover and Tuscaloosa tonight are that CoachHal.com has granted Youtube.com full access to the tailgate this season. Word is the show will mirror the football version of "Alabama All-Access" that has been shown on ESPNU this summer. Rumors of a reality show started last year in Tuscaloosa. The new tailgate show, the first of its kind, will center around behind-the-scenes footage of the tailgate crew. Planning, pregame, post game and during game activities will be recorded.

There have been some early negative comments regarding the new show. Most, if not all, have come from one of the tailgate's own staff. This summer, Beebo Davis reportedly demanded to be called "The Situation" on the new all access tailgate show. After producers refused to allow Beebo to show his loyalty to his favorite "Jersey Shore" cast member, he has since come out with full force. Here are just a few of his comments:

1. "Does Coach realize that youtube.com is free and we will have to televise this ourselves?"

2. "Are we getting paid? By the way Einstein, that was a rhetorical question."

3. "I guess they can pay to see me play corn hole, that would be alot better than listening to Coach talk his nonsense."

4. "Does Coach realize there is no such thing as a tailgate coach?"

5. "Why does Coach talk in third person?"

Coach Hal had this to say when reached at home tonight:

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For those of you that travel like me and missed some of these.

Click Here

CBS: SEC ratings may be down without Tebow
Published: Tuesday, August 10, 2010, 1:26 PM Updated: Tuesday, August 10, 2010, 1:29 PM
Jon Solomon -- The Birmingham News

The voice on the other end of the phone can't help himself. It's early August, he's fed up with the 100-degree weather in New York, and he's talking like a self-admitted "cheerleader" of SEC football, yakking non-stop about how the season might play out.

Worried about Florida's quarterback situation? Don't be, according to Mike Aresco, who believes new starter John Brantley is "going to be a breakout star. I've seen him put in certain situations and, boy, can he throw."

Aresco is CBS Sports executive vice president of programming. He's the man who will help decide each week what time you're tuning in to your favorite SEC game and on what channel. He's the man who helped move the Iron Bowl to the Friday after Thanksgiving -- which Aresco says won't continue next season.

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Contracts to be signed on Monday.

Alabama vs Michigan to open 2012 season in Jerry World in Dallas, TX. Saban vs Miles or Harbaugh?

This is why the Bama vs Ga Tech Home and Home was cancelled. Look for 2013 in Jville or ATL. More to come.

Update to original report from same guy.

**** On the report Alabama will play Michigan in 2012 Reply

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We've confirmed that there have been discussions, but the two sides aren't close to signing the deal.

TYSONS CORNER, Va. -- Defending national champion Alabama is No. 1 atop the USA Today preseason coaches' poll.

Boise State will begin the season ranked No. 5. The Broncos, like Alabama, finished last season 14-0. They beat TCU in the Fiesta Bowl.

The Crimson Tide got 55 of 59 possible first place votes. The other four went to Ohio State, which is No. 2 in the newspaper's ranking.

Florida is third, followed by Texas, which lost to Alabama in the BCS title game in January.

Virginia Tech was sixth, followed by TCU, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Iowa to round out the top 10.

Nos. 11-15 are Oregon, Wisconsin, Miami, Penn State and Pittsburgh. They were followed by LSU, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Arkansas and Florida State, which will be without Bobby Bowden as coach for the first time in 35 years.

Georgia is No. 21, Oregon State No. 22, Auburn No. 23 and Utah and West Virginia tied for No. 24.

The coaches' poll is part of the BCS formula used to determine its national champion.

Good video that features, Saban, Dye, Manning, Farve, Madden, and the greatest of them all, Bear, to end it.

Video

Published: Wednesday, August 04, 2010, 9:51 AM
Don Kausler Jr., Birmingham News
The casting process still has not begun, making it impossible to dedicate a statue of Nick Saban before the Sept. 4 start of Alabama's 2010 football season.

The statue commemorating the coach who led the Crimson Tide to the 2009 national championship will be dedicated during the season at a date to be determined by the university, said Thad Turnipseed, Alabama's director of athletic facilities.

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Game Changer Indeed

Hope GMAC was careful with that Crystal.

UA: Mark Ingram was cleared for trip, not being investigated
Published: Thursday, July 22, 2010, 2:18 PM
Updated: Thursday, July 22, 2010, 2:38 PM
Gentry Estes, Mobile Press-Register

A University of Alabama athletics spokesman has denied a report today by TMZ saying the NCAA wants to speak with Crimson Tide tailback Mark Ingram about attending a May 12 party in Washington, D.C., involving recent NFL draft picks like Florida standout Joe Haden.

UA's response, through a spokesman, is that the NCAA cleared the trip in advance and is not investigating Ingram's involvement now.

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Sources: Dareus says he's only Alabama player who attended Miami party
Published: Wednesday, July 21, 2010, 3:59 PM
Updated: Wednesday, July 21, 2010, 4:04 PM
Kevin Scarbinsky -- The Birmingham News

Marcell Dareus has told Alabama officials that he was the only Crimson Tide football player who attended a Miami Beach party that's under NCAA investigation and that he was unaware the party allegedly was thrown by a sports agent, according to sources familiar with the school's internal investigation.

The junior defensive lineman from Huffman High School, the defensive MVP of the BCS Championship Game victory over Texas, has acknowledged to Alabama officials that he attended the party in May, the sources told The Birmingham News.

Share ESPN.com first reported that the NCAA is investigating the party because it may have been thrown by an agent and may have been attended by a number of college football players from different schools. The NCAA would be interested in who paid for the players' transportation to Miami and for their meals and lodging there, which could mean violations of the NCAA's rules against extra benefits.

Alabama coach Nick Saban addressed "this whole Marcell Dareus thing" Wednesday at SEC Media Days.

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Penn State Football: Breaking News - No White House In 2010
July 18, 2010 2:50 PM
by Greg Cohen

After dropping the 2009 White House game to Iowa, Penn State will have to wait for 2011 to seek redemption before 110,000 white-clad fans, Paternoville President Alex Cohen said.

Cohen, citing a high-ranking official within the athletic department, confirmed in a text message that the next White House game will be Sept. 10, 2011, against Alabama.

“The White House is a tradition that everyone can agree should be saved for only certain games and certain opponents,” Cohen wrote in a text.

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Updated: Thursday, July 01, 2010, 12:21 PM
The Associated Press

Alabama and Georgia State have agreed to play two days earlier to help the Crimson Tide avoid a short week of preparation for the Iron Bowl.

The two teams will meet on Thursday, Nov. 18, ahead of Alabama's regular-season finale against Auburn the following Friday. Kickoff time hasn't been set.

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Pretty good stuff. Work them hard early.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWlYehKCaY0[/youtube]

Finebaum: Nick Saban tops SEC coach rankings
Published: Tuesday, June 29, 2010, 6:01 AM
Paul Finebaum

Share A year ago, Urban Meyer was the chosen one. The debate over who was the best head football coach in the SEC had seemingly ended a few months earlier at the Georgia Dome. Some in the news media were pushing Meyer as perhaps, the greatest coach ever.

Today, a new (but familiar) man sits atop my annual rankings of SEC coaches:

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So, in a very bad economy, the NCAA wants to prevent schools that can afford it from creating jobs. What is wrong with the world? I will stop before I bring politics into this. Also, a tie to Alex City in the article.

Jon Solomon -- The Birmingham News

This article appeared Wednesday, June 23 in The Birmingham News

Increasingly, unique job titles are popping up within major col­lege programs, including at Ala­bama and Auburn. The NCAA no­ticed.

The Division I Recruiting and Athletics Personnel Issues Cab­inet proposed Tuesday capping support personnel at four for I-A football teams, two for I-AA foot­ball teams and one each for men's and women's basketball teams. Alabama appears to have seven football support staff mem­bers who would be counted to­ward the rule if it passed, and Au­burn appears to have four in football.

The issue mainly boils down to competitive equity as the finan­cial gap between the haves and have-nots grows. Some universi­ties can sustain extra staff more than others. Those that can't must assign extra responsibilities to assistant coaches to keep up.

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Don Kausler Jr. -- The Birmingham News

Jadeveon Clowney (Rivals.com)
The No. 1 college football prospect in the nation visited Alabama last week. How impressed was Jadeveon Clowney, a 6-foot-6, 247-pound defensive end from Rock Hill, S.C.? That remains to be seen.

But Clowney's high school coach accompanied the player on the visit, and Bobby Carroll seems to be sold on the Crimson Tide.

"It was the most incredible thing I've seen in 28 years of coaching," Carroll, the head coach at South Pointe Hight School, told TiderInsider.com in reference to Alabama's football program.

"The whole genre of Alabama football -- the facilities, the loyalty and the commitment of their coaching staff -- is a special thing. We even saw the coaches wives hanging around the football offices encouraging people. I tell you man, they have something special down there.

"Alabama, that's a tradition there. When I walked down that hall and saw those 13 national championship showcase cabinets and then you spin around and there sits the Heisman Trophy, that's pretty breath-taking right there.

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This is nice if you are having others encroach on your seats and do not have chairback seating...Coach

https://www.ispstadiumseating.com/crimsontideseats/

Saban statue to be completed within 2 weeks
900-pound bronze sculpture will be unveiled in August

By Chase Goodbread Sports Writer Published

TUSCALOOSA | Sculptors expect to finish a bronze statue of University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban, planned for placement on the Walk of Champions plaza outside Bryant-Denny Stadium, within two weeks.

For now, the statue remains in Oklahoma City, where artist Jack Nortz is leading a group of sculptors in putting final touches on the 900-pound likeness.

“At different points we thought we had it, but it's gone through some updates and change,” said project manager Corey Beltz of MTM Recognition. “Some of the people at the university involved with it wanted to see a couple of different looks, but it's 95 percent sculpted at this point.”

Beltz said MTM Recognition has met with Saban regarding the design, adding that Saban's wife, Terry, and UA Director of Athletics Mal Moore are among those who have had a hand in planning the sculpture.

Moore has said the unveiling of the statue, planned for August, will also serve as a dedication for the south end zone expansion that will push the stadium's capacity to more than 100,000. The project is being funded by the Crimson Tide Foundation, according to documents released by UA. The final price is not yet available, although the price for the Saban statue is estimated at $50,000. A resolution on the sculpture, as well as a national championship plaque for the stadium's North Entrance Plaza, will be addressed at the UA board of trustees meeting on Thursday. According to a letter from the university's Office of Financial Affairs to UA President Robert Witt, the statue will be 150 percent life-sized and will stand on a granite pedestal with a chamfered edge.

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Coach certainly hopes this happens. There is so much history with Alabama and A&M. And now our Aggie friends Patrick and Tyler could be our SEC rivals..Coach

Sources: Texas A&M close to joining SEC
Kevin Scarbinsky -- The Birmingham News

If the increasing number of media reports are true, at least four more Big 12 schools — Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State — will join Colorado in moving to the Pac-10.

Texas A&M, in the delightfully stubborn tradition of one of our favorite regents, Gene Stallings, the former Alabama football coach, may be just ornery and independent enough to go its own way.

Barring political intervention in the Lone Star State, two well-connected SEC insiders told The Birmingham News today, Texas A&M is going to leave the Big 12 and join the SEC.

The announcement could be made in a matter of days.

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By Kevin Scarbinsky -- The Birmingham News
June 06, 2010, 5:57AM

When Nick Saban speaks, everyone should listen. (The Birmingham News / Joe Songer)Nick Saban sends out almost as many messages as aol.com. The Alabama football coach issued three more last week that should’ve made more noise than all the cowbells in Mississippi.

One, he’s not going anywhere anytime soon.

Two, Star Jackson is, with Saban’s blessing.

Three, he still hates the Saban rule.

This is not the kind of news designed to make even a healthier and well-adjusted Urban Meyer sleep well at night.

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Also, note ruling on artificial noise makers.

By Jon Solomon -- The Birmingham News
June 04, 2010, 3:21PM

The final numbers are in. The first year of the SEC's new TV deals with ESPN and CBS allowed the conference to distribute approximately $209 million to its 12 members, an average of $17.3 million per school. That's a 57-percent increase from a year ago, when the average was $11 million.

Fifty-two percent of this year's revenue came from football television contracts, which totaled $109.5 million. Other revenue came from basketball television contracts ($30 million), bowl games ($26.5 million), NCAA championships ($23.5 million), the SEC football championship game ($14.5 million) and the SEC men's basketballl tournament ($5 million).

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It has a count down for a minute but watch and enjoy.
Click Here

By Bob Hertzel
CNHI News Service

FAIRMONT, W. Va. — You can, as Jed Clampett learned, discover oil by accident.

You can put a dollar up and win a $100-million lottery with nothing more than blind luck.

What you can’t do by accident or by luck is win a national collegiate football championship, let alone win two at two different schools.

Nick Saban will tell you it takes something far more important than luck, something they don’t sell in stores or pitch on the Home Shopping Network. It comes from a world shaped in Marion County, West Virginia.

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By Cecil Hurt Sports Editor Published: Friday, May 14, 2010 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 11:21 p.m.
( page of 3 )

TUSCALOOSA | The University of Alabama athletic department has agreed to a lucrative extension of its contract with equipment/apparel provider Nike through the 2018 season, a deal that could net as much $30 million in cash and equipment for UA, making it one of the largest such deals in all of intercollegiate athletics.

“We’re very pleased,” UA director of athletics Mal Moore told The Tuscaloosa News on Thursday night.

“In dealing with Kit Morris (Nike’s Director of College Sports Marketing), my input was that the University of Alabama deserved to be at the very top because of our tradition, our history and the great success we have had right through the (BCS) national championship this season,” Moore said. “Nike responded in a way that I think really reflects that.”

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How about Alabama vs. Miami in a 2012 opener at the Georgia Dome?
By Don Kausler Jr. -- The Birmingham News
May 03, 2010, 1:26PM

played in the 2008 and 2009 Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Games at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Now there's talk of the Crimson Tide returning in 2012.

Gary Stokan, president of the Chick-Fil-A Bowl, told the Miami Herald that he would like to match Miami against Alabama in the 2012 kickoff game. If not Alabama, he said, Auburn, Georgia or South Carolina would be opponents to consider.

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Scab even gets that Bama will be (if not already) the center of college football world.

By Kevin Scarbinsky -- The Birmingham News
April 25, 2010, 5:30AM

Alabama's Nick Saban coaches one of his two 2010 NFL first-round draft picks, Kareem Jackson, in this August 2009 photo. (The Birmingham News / Michelle Williams)Now that the NFL Draft is done, it’s fair to say that Nick Saban’s domination of college football, coming and going, is not complete.

Not yet.

Sure, he’s got two recruiting national championships at Alabama, which led to one actual national championship, which may be just the first in a series, but he’s still searching for a draft national championship.

Alabama finished tied for second this time, just behind a school that knows what’s coming when it sees crimson in the rearview mirror.

Final score: Florida 9, Alabama 7, Oklahoma 7, USC 7.

Which one of those programs is on the rise?

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My "sources" indicate this is about what Alabama is attempting to do with their schedule. It appears trips to Dallas may be in the works with a couple of higher profile teams. Perhaps teams that hired new coaches this year.

By Gentry Estes, Mobile Press-Register
April 30, 2010, 10:35PM
Alabama's future two-year football series with Georgia Tech has been postponed by agreement of the two schools, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting tonight.

The original deal called for the schools to meet on Sept. 14, 2013 and Sept. 13, 2014. Make-up dates have not been announced.

Alabama has played Georgia Tech 52 times in school history, winning 28, but the schools have not played since 1984.

The Tide is set to host Penn State this season and return the trip in 2011. Alabama is also down to host Michigan State in 2016 and visit Spartan Stadium in 2017.

Wonder what schools were quoted in this?

April, 23, 2010 Apr 232:44PM ETEmail Print Share By Chris LowDuring my travels around the league this spring, I've had several administrators at schools tell me they didn't see any way the SEC schedule would be changed next season in order to give Alabama some relief from having to face six teams coming off byes.

Two different athletic directors told me they flatly refused to move games.

Nonetheless, SEC associate commissioner Charles Bloom says the league has not closed the door on being able to make a couple of changes for the 2010 season and is still exploring different scenarios.

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You already know what Coach Hal thinks...

Finebaum: Can Alabama go 12-0 next year?
By Paul Finebaum
April 20, 2010, 6:01AM

Can Alabama possibly go three straight regular seasons without a loss? The Tide went 12-0 in 2008 and 2009. And the Tide will be the preseason pick for No. 1.

Alabama also went undefeated in the regular season in 1973 and 1974, losing in the bowl game both times. Interestingly, from 1971 to 1974, Alabama lost only one time during the regular season -- the infamous 17-16 loss to Auburn. Speaking of the Tigers, Alabama's last regular-season blemish was at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Nov. 24, 2007 -- a 17-10 defeat.

This is one man's opinion of how the 2010 regular season shapes up:

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April 17, 2010
By Dennis Dodd
CBSSports.com Senior Writer


TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- There is a small plot of land outside Bryant-Denny Stadium that, if not for the historical significance, would be a fire hazard.

The plot contains mostly dead grass at one end of Alabama's Walk of Champions. The empty semi-circle bordered by concrete looks more like a burial ground than sacred ground. The only evidence that the area might someday be something special is a plastic box flush with the turf in the middle marked with the word, "ELECTRIC."

A statue for Nick Saban? 'I want this to be a team thing,' the coach says.
All depends on how you define your statues of coaching immortals. In three short years, Nick Saban has energized Alabama, but it's only a coincidence that his likeness will sit atop that power box in the fall. There's a big difference between winning and being electric doing it.

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If Alabama's defense, with its losses, can beat its offense, then it can beat anyone
The defensive unit will be treated to a steak dinner after its 23-17 victory
Continued improvement on defense will be the key to another national title

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The Alabama first-team defense, the best unit on teams that went 26-2 the past two seasons, never enjoyed a post-spring steak dinner. When Crimson Tide players gathered to close the book on spring practice the past three years, the defenders always ate from the plates of beans reserved for the losers of the annual A-Day Game.

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“Do what we do and be who we are.” That is exactly what Coach Saban told the team before the BCS title game, and he reminded everyone of that during the post game celebration as we soaked it up on that magical night in Pasadena. And folks, our tailgate is no different. The Ole’ Tailgate Coach has some thoughts on the BCS Grand Slam, the national title, the Saban Statue, sippy cup drinking bikers, the Bruno Event Team, and that’s all before the tailgate plan (powered by vitaminwater).

1. Yea, Coach said it. This A-Day Game is simply a start to the 2nd leg of the BCS Grand Slam for Alabama. Here is your itinerary Alabama fans http://www.bcsfootball.org/news/story?id=4809833 . Glendale next year (we already have our hotel room in Atlanta and there), then New Orleans the next year, and we plan to be there to complete the ‘Slam in January 2013 in Miami. You gotta believe…

2. The National Title and the Statue

a. Coach (like an elephant) remembers the sneers from opposing fans when Alabama was talking to Nick Saban. Coach remembers the opposing fan who told Coach “You Alabama fans are like the scene in ‘Dumb and Dumber’ when Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carrey) asks Mary Swanson (Lauren Holley) what his chances are and she says ‘…like a million to one’…to which Lloyd responds ‘So you’re telling me there’s a chance…’” Uhh…Wonder what the guy who said that to Coach was thinking when Coach Saban was holding up that crystal trophy in January???

b. Coach heard many opposing fans say to us (and many more behind our backs) “Why in the world do you have an empty space set aside for another statue? You are all ridiculous. You are idiots. You live in the past. You are…” Fill in the blank. Well well well, how times have turned.

c. Coach remembers the laughs when opposing fans saw how many people we brought to that first Saban spring game. Coach now sees how many of these schools have much bigger days of their own for spring games, even televising those games also.

d. Basically, we told everyone that we had a reserved spot in the north endzone for a statue of our next national title winning coach, we got made fun of for that, and now we are going to put one up. Simple as that. No apologies. Get over it. Coach mentioned it in the tailgate plan before Pasadena. So remember folks, they are jealous…let ‘em be mad…let them focus their mental energy on being against something rather than being for something. Do what you do and be who you are, act classy, smell the roses, and enjoy this ride.

e. With all that said, many opposing fans were very nice and congratulatory. They know who they are and Coach appreciates them.

3. Duke and Butler – The national media is so predictable. Coach predicted that many writers would immediately compare the NCAA tournament finale to the BCS and somehow invoke Boise State…and wha’ la…within 12 hours national writers were on it. Was it a good story because Butler did well? Yes, but it was over the top coverage. And remember, the finale had better ratings because Butler played DUKE. DUKE. People are jealous of well earned success, which seems very un-American doesn’t it? Also, do not get Coach started on the media and how college football is totally different than college basketball and pro football. That is for another day…

4. Sippy Cup Bikers – Coach has railed for years about bikers and Coach has been approached by some to clarify my position. So here goes:

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SEC shooting to fix schedule problem by month's end

By Chase Goodbread
Sports Writer Published: Friday, April 9, 2010 at 4:17 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, April 9, 2010 at 4:17 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | If the Southeastern Conference office has its way, the University of Alabama’s 2010 football schedule will be changed to lower the Crimson Tide’s number of idle-rested opponents by the end of this month, SEC Associate Commissioner Charles Bloom said Friday.

“We would like to have that done by the end of the month if possible,” Bloom said. “The schools need to know who they are playing and when.”

Alabama's current schedule includes six games against SEC opponents who have open dates the week before, by far the most in the league. The SEC has sought a means of relief for the issue, both for Alabama in 2010 and for the entire league in the long term, for several months.

Last November, after a story by The Tuscaloosa News illustrating a four-year trend in which Alabama faced more than three times as many idle-rested opponents as any other SEC school, UA Director of Athletics Mal Moore said he would seek support among his league peers for legislative changes that would rectify such imbalances. About three weeks later, Moore was successful in persuading other league athletic directors for changes when the 12-member group held a regularly-scheduled meeting at the conference's Birmingham office.

At the time, Bloom said the vote was unanimous in approval for Moore's request.

Read more! »

Junior safety Robby Green ruled ineligible for 2010 season by NCAA
By Don Kausler Jr. -- The Birmingham News
April 09, 2010, 4:23PM

TUSCALOOSA -- Junior safety Robby Green has been declared ineligible to participate for the 2010 season by the NCAA, Alabama announced this afternoon.

No reason for why he is ineligible was cited.

Green will be eligible for practice and will remain on scholarship during the suspension, Alabama said in a news release.

"Even though we are very disappointed we will continue to support Robby in every way possible," coach Nick Saban said in the news released.

"He'll practice and do all the other things with our team in terms of classes and workouts, but just won't be eligible to play in any games this fall. His attitude has been outstanding through this and his effort in practice has been very good as well.

Read more! »

Will Bama get relief from scheduling problem?
8:39 am April 9, 2010, by Tony Barnhart

It’s Friday which means the floor is open for discussion on any topic you choose, football or non-football. Here are some random thoughts to get the party started. Your input is welcomed:

**–I’m not sure the SEC is going to be able to do a whole lot to give Alabama some relief from a huge scheduling hiccup. In case you missed it, Alabama is not very happy with its SEC football schedule for 2010 and with good reason. Alabama’s last six conference opponents, beginning on Oct. 9 against South Carolina, will all play the Crimson Tide after an open date. How does that happen? Actually it’s easier than you might think.

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A-Day capacity will be 'around 92,000'

By Tommy Deas Executive Sports Editor Published: Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at 11:24 a.m.

TUSCALOOSA | A full house for the A-Day Game won't break any records for the University of Alabama, but it could come close to equaling the record of 92,138 set for the 2007 spring football game.

Read more! »

Guess Coach Tubby will walk in with "Guns Up"...Coach

Tech-Tide taking shape

By Don Williams on March 29th, 2010

Texas Tech appears likely to play Alabama in the Red Raiders’ 2012 football season opener, Tech athletic director Gerald Myers said Monday.

Myers said Dave Brown, a vice president of programming for ESPN, ”brought us together on this.’’

Read more! »

Julio Jones at safety? Saban says it's a possibility
By Don Kausler Jr. -- The Birmingham News
March 27, 2010, 5:14PM

TUSCALOOSA -- In the middle of talking about flipping wide receivers Brandon Gibson and Kendall Kelly back and forth between offense and defense this spring, Alabama coach Nick Saban threw out an interesting possibility Saturday.

What about star wide receiver Julio Jones taking some snaps at safety?

Read more! »

Chris Low Breaks down Best SEC RBs

Hint: Bama in GREAT shape.

Preliminary sketch for the BCS title game Daniel Moore print, "Crimson Tradition" is now up on http://newlifeart.com/

Florida-Bama CBS night game
SEC finalists will meet again Oct. 2

By: David Paschall

CBS has targeted the Oct. 2 game between Alabama and Florida at newly expanded Bryant-Denny Stadium as its prime-time telecast for the 2010 football season.

The Crimson Tide and Gators have not met during the regular season since 2006 but have collided the past two years in the Southeastern Conference championship game. Alabama won last year's meeting 32-13 and then defeated Texas in the BCS championship game, after Florida won the '08 encounter 31-20 before beating Oklahoma for the BCS crown.

"How do you argue with that?" CBS executive vice president Mike Aresco said Thursday. "It's developed into the rivalry du jour. It's clearly now the biggest game, and this is almost like a rubber match, although they may end up playing again in Atlanta."

Read more! »

Changes could be coming to SEC schedule
March, 11, 2010 By Chris Low

There’s a reason the SEC hasn’t released the league schedule for the 2010 season.

That’s because some games could be switching dates.

Charles Bloom, an SEC associate commissioner, said Thursday that the league is trying to provide some relief for Alabama so that the Crimson Tide won't have to play six of their eight conference games next season when the opponent is coming off a bye week.

As it stands now, Alabama’s final six SEC opponents during the 2010 season are scheduled to have bye weeks prior to facing the Crimson Tide.

Those six teams are South Carolina, Ole Miss, Tennessee, LSU, Mississippi State and Auburn.

Read more! »

McClain reveals he has Crohn's disease

March, 10, 2010
8:21PM
By Chris Low

Former Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain had a shortened workout for NFL scouts Wednesday during the Crimson Tide's pro day.

McClain said he ran in the 4.6 range in the 40-yard dash, but the biggest news to come out of the workout was McClain's revelation that he has battled Crohn's disease since he was a freshman in high school. McClain said he takes four or five pills a day to help him manage the disease, which is a chronic inflammation of the intestines.

Read more! »

Obama: 'The Tide is back'

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama honored the national championship University of Alabama football team on Monday at a White House event where the president punctuated his remarks by declaring, "Roll Tide."

Obama congratulated the team for its undefeated season and invoked Alabama coaching legend Paul "Bear" Bryant as he recognized the program for its first national title in 17 years. He said the team's newfound success is due in large part to the efforts of coach Nick Saban, who quickly turned the program around after arriving in Tuscaloosa and won a championship in his third season.

"I think it's safe to say that the Tide is back," Obama said, to the occasional "Roll Tide" chant from his audience.

Read more! »

White House confirms Tide trip to D.C.

By Chase Goodbread Sports Writer
Published: Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at 10:46 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at 10:46 a.m.

TUSCALOOSA | The University of Alabama's national championship football team will visit President Barack Obama and the White House on Monday, and the trip will include a service project for the Crimson Tide, a White House official told The Tuscaloosa News.

The Crimson Tide defeated Texas, 37-21, in the BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 7 to earn its 13th national title. National championship teams typically are invited to visit the President for a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden in the months after football season. The Crimson Tide is expected to arrive at the White House late Monday morning for a visit with Obama, and a tour that is expected to include the Blue Room, the Red Room, the Green Room, the China Room, and other historically ceremonial rooms on the White House's East wing.

Past championship teams, both pro and college, have conducted service projects on visits to the White House, including care packages for troops overseas, clinics on healthy lifestyles, and other such philanthropy. According to a White House official, the Crimson Tide will meet with local D.C.-area youth on the importance of staying in school and making good choices. The youth group will attend the White House ceremony with the team.

Read more! »

Coach was worried most of the season about Kareem leaving, but you have to be happy for him. Best part of the article here:

"Intangibles: Highly competitive player that puts in time in the film room. Asked for his grade from the NFL Advisory Committee, but didn't read it upon receiving it. Jackson gave the unopened envelope to Nick Saban to hold until after the BCS National Championship game so that the contents wouldn't be a distraction.

Javier Arenas or Kareem Jackson: Which Alabama CB would you draft?
By Don Kausler Jr. -- The Birmingham News
February 28, 2010, 11:30AM

INDIANAPOLIS - Defensive backs get a day all to themselves at the NFL Scouting Combine. The day they will work out before watchful NFL eyes will be Tuesday at Lucas Oil Stadium.

In that group of 58 defensive backs, of which 35 are cornerbacks, will be two Alabama teammates: Javier Arenas and Kareem Jackson.

Together they helped the Crimson Tide to an undefeated 2009 season that ended with a 37-21 victory over Texas in the national championship game.

Arenas was one of a record six Alabama players who were first-team Associated Press All-America selections.

And yet Jackson is rated higher as an NFL draft prospect.

At 5-foot-9, Arenas is 1 inch shorter than Jackson. Arenas' pre-Combine 40-yard dash time is listed at 4.6 seconds. Jackson's time is listed at 4.55 seconds. That isn't much of a difference, except in the eyes of NFL coaches, executives and scouts. The top prospects -- Florida's Joe Haden and Boise State's Kyle Wilson -- have 4.4 speed.

So what is the lowdown on Arenas and Jackson?

Read more! »

Great NFL compliments for Saban and staff in this article...Coach

System, Saban give Alabama players an NFL edge
By Don Kausler Jr. -- The Birmingham News
February 26, 2010, 8:54AM

INDIANAPOLIS -- Spread of­fenses and 4-3 defenses are com­mon in college football. Pro-style offenses are so named because they are standard in the NFL, and the 3-4 defense is spreading through pro football.

Alabama runs a pro-style of­fense and a 3-4 defense. Does that give Crimson Tide players an advantage as pro prospects?

It certainly doesn't hurt, said Scot McCloughan, the San Fran­cisco 49ers' general manager.

"It makes it easier for us to fig­ure out what they can and can't do, on tape," he said after talking to reporters from a podium at the NFL Scouting Combine. "It doesn't mean there can't be a tight end flexed out in the spread who can't come in and be a blocking tight end.

"It's just a system. But it makes my life easier when you watch an Alabama or a USC, you can see them more at a position where they would be playing for us."

But the real advantage Ala­bama players have is Nick Saban, their coach who has extensive ex­perience in pro football as well as the college game.

"He gets them not just ready from a standpoint of understand­ing offense and defense, but mentally, he makes them tough, he makes them competitive, he makes them strong," McCloug­han said.

"That's what's so impor­tant for young guys coming into the league," McCloug­han said. "It's not that the physical doesn't fit in. It's the mental toughness. It's the hard work. It's the un­derstanding that each day is a new day and you've got to bust your (rear), which is what Nick instills in them. That's great.

"You feel better about taking a guy like that know­ing what you're getting for sure."

Read more! »

ESPN to televise A-Day
By Chase Goodbread Sports Writer
Published: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 2:31 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 2:31 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | ESPN will televise the University of Alabama's annual spring game, A-Day, on April 17, the school announced.

Read more! »

Kiper: Cody could still be a first-rounder; Tebow should have skipped Senior Bowl
By Mike Herndon
February 17, 2010, 2:20PM

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper held a two-hour teleconference with assorted media members today and dropped a variety of pointed opinions on the upcoming NFL draft.

Among the most interesting was his expectation that massive Alabama nose guard Terrence Cody, relegated to second-round status or worse by many pundits after weighing in at 370 at the Senior Bowl last month, still will be selected in the first round.

"It's going to fluctuate with him," Kiper said of Cody's weight. "He's the clogger, the space-eater, that I think certain teams in the first round will target. ... He's the one guy who will filla role that you're not going to find at the nose tackle spot.

"There is value with Cody. I personally think he's a late-first-round pick."

Also, Kiper said Tim Tebow, whose stock seems to have dropped since a sub-par performance while battling illness at the Senior Bowl, should not throw at the NFL combine later this month and should never have come to Mobile.

Read more! »

Nick Saban's 'one voice' philosophy spreads to other programs
By Gentry Estes, Mobile Press-Register
February 15, 2010, 1:15PM

Interesting post last night from Andrew Carter, who covers Florida State for the Orlando Sentinel.

Basically, what was expected now that coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher -- a Nick Saban disciple from the LSU days -- has taken over for Bobby Bowden is happening.

Florida State, traditionally one of the more media-accessible programs under Bowden, will not be that way under Fisher, who is opening up Saban's playbook in all areas for the Seminoles. That includes the "one voice" approach where assistant coaches and freshmen players are typically not allowed to speak publicly.

Per Carter's post ...

Saban, who recently led Alabama to the national championship, is well known for being a brilliant defensive strategist and for his maniacal attention to detail. He's also known, perhaps, as the one college football coach who has inspired countless others to limit media access to their programs.

Read more! »

Mal Moore: Bryant-Denny Stadium expansion set to be completed by July 1
By Gentry Estes, Mobile Press-Register
February 13, 2010, 1:31PM

The ongoing south end zone expansion of Bryant-Denny Stadium is scheduled to be completed July 1, University of Alabama athletics director Mal Moore told fans today at the inaugural BBQ Cook-Off held at the stadium.

That's more than two months before the Crimson Tide opens the 2010 season Sept. 4 with a home game against San Jose State.

Read more! »

Sports columnist Mike Herndon: Bill Belichick links championship seasons by Tide, Saints
By Mike Herndon
February 10, 2010, 5:07AM

Roman Harper, like the rest of his teammates, was all smiles after New Orleans' 31-17 win over Indianapolis on Sunday in Super Bowl XLIV. But then, Harper's been smiling for the better part of a month.

The former Alabama safety's affinity for his alma mater is well-known in New Orleans. He's often asked about recent Crimson Tide performances in the locker room after Saints games and never disappoints. After Alabama beat LSU in November, Harper jokingly answered questions as though he was still a senior in Tuscaloosa.

Now he and his alma mater have won championships in the same year.

Mike Herndon "I was out there (for the BCS championship game in Pasadena)," Harper said Sunday. "It was great being out there watching those guys play the way they did. Sorry for (Texas quarterback) Colt (McCoy), but it wouldn't have mattered. ... (Now) I'm a world champion. I just can't wait to get a ring and actually see what it's like to say, 'I'm No. 1.'"

The Saints and the Crimson Tide have vastly different histories and play under vastly different expectations. Alabama's trophy case is filled with national championship hardware and its fans expect more. Until Sunday, New Orleans hadn't made the Super Bowl in its 43-year history. Its fans, though loyal, have grown to expect disappointment.

Read more! »

Season Records

Alabama - 34 Virginia Tech - 24

* The 34 points scored against VT was the most the Hokies allowed all season (next most was 28 to Georgia Tech).
* The 10-point defeat was the largest margin of victory recorded against the Hokies in 2009.
* One would have to go back to September 8, 2007 to find the last time a team scored 34+ points on the Hokies (LSU, 48).
* Alabama put up 498 yards of total offense. That was the most given up by the Hokies in 2009.
* VT was held to 155 yards of total offense. That was the fewest yards gained by the Hokies in 2009.

Read more! »

Former Browns' GM Phil Savage hired by Philadelphia to help with NFL draft
By Tommy Hicks
February 05, 2010, 5:30AM

Phil Savage is back in the NFL, at least for a while.

The Fairhope resident and former Cleveland Browns general manager was hired this week as a player personnel consultant by the Philadelphia Eagles through April's NFL draft.

"It's a great opportunity for me to get back into the league, at least on a limited basis,"

Savage said in a telephone interview from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Thursday. "As it stands right now, (the job) is just through the draft. I'll primarily work from Fairhope, attend some meetings and go wherever they need me to go, maybe to pro days and the combine."

Savage, 44, said he will still be in the booth to provide radio color commentary for Alabama's A-Day game and he looks forward to his second season in that capacity with the Crimson Tide Sports Network.

Read more! »

Alabama recruiting capsules: Player by player from Deion Belue to Jay Williams
By Gentry Estes, Mobile Press-Register
February 04, 2010, 7:59AM

Read more! »

Finebaum: Barack Obama, Orrin Hatch should not mess with BCS
By Paul Finebaum
February 02, 2010, 6:01AM

You've got to hand it to Barack Obama. If nothing else, he's got chutzpah.

The president just celebrated his first anniversary in office, which by all accounts was not a good one. His party just lost the safest seat in the Senate to the Republicans. His standing among world leaders appears to be in a free fall. His popularity among the electorate is tumbling.

So what's he do? Obama has declared war on the BCS.

On Friday, it was revealed that the Obama Justice Department will review the legality of the BCS. This comes after Utah ornery Senator Orrin Hatch -- who is still steaming from his home-state Utes not being given consideration for the 2008 BCS title -- demanded a review into whether the college football system violates antitrust laws.

Most of the time, this would generate a collective yawn around the nation. Doesn't the big guy at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue have better things to do? But that's the problem.

Obama is not getting much done on the so-called important issues. And he knows he will get gobs of coverage and fawning press attention on the subject since most national commentators also hate the BCS. In fact, the sports media is about the only part of society where Obama still commands rock star status, so why not take advantage of it?

Read more! »

Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010
Alabama's Nick Saban uses personal touch with recruits
By MICHAEL CASAGRANDE - sports@ledger-enquirer.com

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Over the years, Nick Saban’s reputation never painted him as the happy-go-lucky football coach like Bobby Bowden.

Stern — downright grumpy at times — comparisons typically involve close friend Bill Belichick. After all, Saban’s famous for a viral video in which he made a NFL player cry in his stint with the Dolphins.

So how does he consistently wrangle top recruiting classes with the sometimes-sour face seen by the public?

It’s simple really.

The frown disappears and the smiles emerge as a different persona appears when the Alabama football coach steps in the living rooms of prospective recruits.

Whatever he’s doing, it is working.

Alabama is on the verge of finalizing its third straight top-five recruiting class when national signing day arrives Wednesday.

Those who’ve seen Saban’s recruiting up close and personal describe a much different coach than the one who throws headsets. Former Crimson Tide tight end Colin Peek went so far as to say one meeting with Saban left him “smitten.”

He’s genuine; others say — concerned more with post-football success more than anything else.

That’s hardly unique in the cutthroat world of recruiting.

But there’s just something different about Saban’s approach, said Brian Vogler, a tight end from Brookstone, who committed to the Tide over the summer and will sign Wednesday.

Read more! »

Coach wondered aloud before we went out west...A-Day is a good choice. Going to be a good day and tailgate.

Nick Saban statue already in progress, could be unveiled on A-Day, report says
By Press-Register staff
January 29, 2010, 6:13AM

The statue of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban already is in progress and could be done in time for the annual A-Day spring game, the Tuscaloosa News reports.

University of Alabama athletics director Mal Moore said soon after Alabama won the national championship that the university likely would place a statue of Saban outside Bryant-Denny Stadium in an area called the "Walk of Champions."

The plaza already has statues of other coaches who've won national championships at Alabama.

Read more! »

Finebaum: Urban Meyer should win the Waffle House's Man of the Year award
By Paul Finebaum
January 26, 2010, 5:01AM

A week from now, most of the Internet sites will declare the University of Florida as national champs in recruiting. It's a small consolation since the Gators, everybody's pick to win a second straight BCS title back in August, were rolled in Atlanta by Alabama, shattering their hopes and dreams.

Don't be surprised if Waffle House also has a big announcement: That Urban Meyer will receive the chain's "Man of the Year Award" for the person who did the most waffling in the past 12 months.

Just in time to put a spin on his epic recruiting class, Meyer nonchalantly announced Saturday night at halftime of a meaningless basketball game that he was returning to coach spring practice. In his first public comments since the Sugar Bowl, Meyer said he's gained 20 pounds and is feeling better.

How many middle-aged men do you know who see gaining 20 pounds as a good thing?

The statement, coming exactly four weeks after he announced his resignation, has given the frenzied and fraught Gator Nation reason to finally rejoice.

Pardon me if I'm not buying anything Flipper has to say.

This is the part of the column where protocol usually prompts one to say that he respects Meyer and wishes him the best. I'm supposed to say I don't know what's going on his head because I am not a psychiatrist.

But I'll leave that for the rest of the media.

Call me crazy, but I believed Flipper the first time when he said he was resigning and I haven't bought anything he's been shoveling since.

Read more! »

Schlabach Looks ahead

Preview of the next decade in the SEC
January, 22, 2010
By Chris Low

We’ve spent so much time looking back this week. Why not look ahead?

The SEC won five national championships last decade. Any reason to believe that dominance won’t continue?

One thing we’ve come to know about the SEC is that change is inevitable. And when the winds of change blow through this conference, they blow fast and often times without warning.

Here are 10 things to watch for next decade in the SEC:

1. At least two more national titles for Alabama: Repeating might be tough, but Nick Saban will add to Alabama’s already crowded trophy case next decade. You can count on that. Saban’s as close as it gets to a guarantee in college football. He recruits like a madman. He’s just as good at developing players. He runs his program like a Fortune 500 company, and the only thing he thinks about is the next challenge and what it takes to get there.

2. Crowds at Saban’s statue: Alabama athletic director Mal Moore has already said they plan to construct a statue of Saban to go along with the Crimson Tide’s other national championship-winning coaches at the Walk of Champions. Bear Bryant’s statue will continue to draw the largest crowds. But as the titles mount next decade at the Capstone, look for the crowds gathered around Saban’s statue to give the Bear’s statue a run for its money.

Read more! »

SEC coaches of the decade
January, 21, 2010
By Chris Low

There’s only one coach in college football in the AP poll era (since 1936) who’s won national championships at two different schools.

And he did it in the SEC.

Nick Saban has won national championships at two SEC schools. It’s safe to say that coach -- Nick Saban -- is our coach of the decade. Here’s how the top 10 came out:

1. Nick Saban, Alabama/LSU: He’s rebuilt two proud programs in the SEC into national championship teams. He did it at LSU in 2003 and Alabama in 2009. Saban also won a third SEC title in 2001 during his second season at LSU. He’s an easy choice to top this list and is really just getting started at Alabama.

2. Urban Meyer, Florida: Meyer looked a like a cinch to top this list until Saban ran the table this season and won the national title. Still, Meyer has won two national titles in his five seasons with the Gators, who reeled off a 22-game winning streak over the last two seasons. He also revolutionized the league to a degree with his spread offense.

Read more! »

As we prepare for the tailgate and celebration on Saturday, Coach has a few thoughts:

1. Thanks to so many who have contacted us and congratulated us.

2. The situation in Haiti really makes you think about what is important doesn’t it? The photos are terrible. Thoughts and prayers go to all involved with this horrific situation.

3. Have you noticed that when a head college football coach is reckless in his treatment of his own team’s rivals, that coach is actually showing his lack of respect for part of his own school, fans, and administration? Kiffin, Franchione, and Tubberville come to Coach’s mind. In no way are the latter pair close to Kiffin at all, but it is just a thought.

4. One thing that has made Coach laugh is the incessant chatter about Colt McCoy not playing in Alabama’s 14th victory, and how people are so sad he did not play. Well, a couple of points:

a. This is not “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective”. It is not like Coach kidnapped McCoy and Bevo, and then hid them like Ray Finkle did with Dan Marino and Snowflake the Dolphin.

b. HE DID PLAY IN THE GAME. Coach repeats. Colt McCoy did play in the title game. And he got knocked out of the game because he was running the ball against a very physical defense that is designed to physically punish the opposition. We had been saying that for a month; in fact, we have been saying that all year. Saban also basically said this in his opening press conference in January 2007. It is football.

Read more! »

9:20 am January 14, 2010, by Mark Bradley

Watching Lane Kiffin’s wretched introduction at Southern Cal last night — delayed 45 minutes by traffic, it should have been canceled to spare everyone involved– the thought occurred: “This guy is the biggest rat I’ve ever seen.”

Then, a bit later, another thought: “Wait a minute, son. Didn’t we in Atlanta happen across a rodent of our own not long ago?”

Well, yeah. His name: Bobby Petrino. He fled the Falcons in same harum-scarum manner that Kiffin left K-Town. And that terrible memory got me to thinking: “Kiffin or Petrino — who’s the bigger rat?” Here’s where I attempt to answer myself.

Category: Truthfulness. Petrino reaffirmed to Arthur Blank the day before he headed over the Ozarks, “You’ve got yourself a coach.” According to Tennessee AD Mike Hamilton, Kiffin at least informed him last weekend that he’d be interested in the USC job. Bigger lying rat: Petrino.

Read more! »

By Adam Jones, Staff Writer
Published: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 4:54 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 4:54 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | The idea of a parade to celebrate the Crimson Tide's national championship was nixed because of a host of factors, including logistics, weather and visibility of the parade route.

Read more! »

For a sneak preview Click Here
Next SI Cover

Special Championship Issue

Tide Exploits Texas Weakness to Claim Title: Shock & Outrage Abound. by Richard Cotner

Written on January 09, 2010
Stephen Dunn/Getty Images As the final seconds ticked off the clock in Pasadena Thursday night, the Alabama Crimson Tide found itself in possession of the BCS National title and a whole boat load of criticism for having won it.

Apparently winning the BCS title is only going to be considered a worthwhile endeavour if the winning team is comprised entirely of moderately athletic blind players from the Sun Belt Conference and the game features a last minute come from behind victory by the "blind guys" over a Hall of Fame team straight out of Canton Ohio.

Armed with the information that this game did not meet those criteria, we can begin to understand why the University of Alabama had so many critics claiming they were not worthy of the title.

Read more! »

Tailgate plan will be posted once we see the weather forecast closer to Saturday...Coach

National title celebration to be held on Saturday

Published: Monday, January 11, 2010 at 6:31 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, January 11, 2010 at 6:31 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | The University of Alabama will hold it national championship celebration on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium to honor the football team's victory over Texas in the BCS National Championship Game.

Bryant-Denny will open on Saturday at noon.

The festivities will begin at 2 p.m. and last an hour. The first 50,000 people into the stadium will receive a poster of the championship team at the Rose Bowl.

UA also announced there will be no parade or Walk of Champions. Also no autographs will be given.

The event is free to the public and seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis with the entire celebration occurring inside the stadium.

Parking options and street options will be similar to A-Day games. Streets on campus will be closed at approximately 11 a.m.

Concessions will be available in multiple locations in the lower level of the stadium and licensed merchandise will be for sale outside the stadium.

http://www.tidesports.com/article/20100111/NEWS/100119924/1011?Title=National-title-celebration-to-be-held-on-Saturday

Thank you Rolo.

http://blog.al.com/bamabeat/2010/01/rolando_mcclain.html

http://blog.al.com/bamabeat/2010/01/nick_saban_says_kirby_smart_ha.html

Fellow tailgaters and tweeps,

The Process is complete.

Let get to Coach’s post BCS National Title Game thoughts (powered by vitaminwater):

1. As Coach sat in the stadium for two hours with Bobby before the game, he thought to himself “It doesn’t get any better than this.” Coach just sat and soaked up the setting of Pasadena and the Rose Bowl. The beauty of the pristine field, the San Gabriel Mountains in the background, a great traditional program in Texas, the paratroopers, the pregame show, the two college bands, the star singers, the flyover, the fireworks, the calls and texts of encouragement from colleagues and friends, the perfect weather, etc…it was emotional. Not a crying type of emotional. But a very fulfilling type of emotional.

2. And then Alabama won the game and completed the loop. From 1926 to 2009. Coach Nick Saban and his team delivered and it was emotionally overwhelming for the Alabama faithful. As the band stirred up “Yea Alabama” just after the game, the words echoing throughout the Rose Bowl got louder…and louder…and louder: “…And if a man starts to weaken, That’s a shame! For Bama’s pluck and grit have Writ her name in Crimson flame. Fight on, fight on, fight on men! REMEMBER THE ROSE BOWL WE’LL WIN THEN!!!!” LOUD. Folks with smiles and tears at the same time. Texas fans acknowledging the destiny. Alabama fans living the dream. Coach will never forget that moment. Never.

3. Coach plans to purchase some of the Rose Bowl turf that will be sold in the coming weeks. We understand that 3 inch by 3 inch squares of the field will be available; first to the players and then the fans.

4. Coach is so thankful to have been at this game. Thank you to my bride and the First Lady of the tailgate, Sharon, for encouraging Coach to go to the game and allowing Coach to live a dream. At one point during the post game celebration, Coach actually thought he was dreaming and was going to wake up to hear Sharon saying “Hal, Hal, Hal…WAKE UP…you are snoring again…”

5. After that moment, Coach, Bobby, and Kumar moved down to the front row of the Rose Bowl and watched the postgame celebration. That field is immaculate. We were congratulated by security staff on the win, and discussed the fan that ran onto the field during the game. We snapped pictures, cheered, hugged, soaked it all in, and we were literally forced to leave about an hour after the game. But not after Coach scarfed up some confetti. To say the least, this was a season that will be tough to top.

6. As Coach Hal looked ahead prior to the BCS title game at the Rose Bowl, his two questions involved the timing of the parade and when would Saban’s statue go up outside the North End Zone.

a. Sounds like there will be a celebration inside Bryant Denny or a parade next weekend. We will have a tailgate for this event and details will follow later this week.

b. As far as the statue, the greatest coach in current college football has agreed to support the statue being erected sometime in the near future in the open spot outside Bryant Denny. Coach is glad the University planned ahead when the new north upper deck opened in 2005. If the unveiling of the statue is a public event, we will have a tailgate for that also.

7. As far as our trip to Tinsletown, it was jam-packed and entertaining with this eclectic tailgate and group of people. Details follow:

8. Tuesday:

a. Coach was very anxious about traveling out to LA by himself, and Beebo agreed to be Coach’s “Travel Daddy” for the trip. Beebo had no idea the effect of this until Coach got confused in the parking area, but everything was pretty smooth after that.

b. Coach had a kung-fu grip on the tickets but was not patted down by TSA security. We were told by a Georgia fan/security agent that he should pat us down since we were Alabama fans. He said he would cheer for us, but wanted us to know that UGA was coming after Kirby Smart, so it’s all good.

c. There is nothing more humbling than seeing soldiers going back overseas after their short time home.

d. We ran into John Parker Wilson and Ross Wilson in the airport. Coach finally had his chance to tell John Parker what he thought, and here it is exactly:

Read more! »

A long way away

Best team ever

As everyone knows, UGA has offered KS the DC job. My understanding is that KS will be staying with Alabama and that a raise is already agreed upon.
IMO, it would not make any sense for KS to take the UGA DC job and help save MR's job when he could possibly have the head job at UGA in 2 years.

Ingram Overcomes Heisman Jinx

Click here

The National Championship Game. This is what we play for here at Alabama. One game for all the marbles. In my opinion, Saban has accomplished what we hired him to do. He has gotten the team in a position to win the National Championship. It will be up to the players to win the game or not. The Tide is in a position to stay at this level for the foreseeable future. But opportunities like this will not come along every year, regardless of how good we are. Enjoy this moment, Tide fans. With a victory over Texas, this could be the best season in Crimson Tide history. Think about it – an undefeated regular season, a victory over the undefeated Gators with Tebow and Urban Meyer at the helm, Bama’s first Heisman Trophy, followed by our first ever victory over Texas in the Rose Bowl no less. How can it get better than that?

Read more! »

Coach will be tweeting during the trip to Pasadena. Follow Coach on Twitter at https://twitter.com/CoachHal and include yourself on our fun in Pasadena, A-Day 2010, the 2010 season, and beyond. It’s easy to sign up (less than a minute, Coach promises). Roll Tide.

Fellow tailgaters,

Finally, what we have waited for since 1993. Time for Coach Hal’s BCS National Title Game thoughts (powered by vitaminwater):

1. “Remember the Rose Bowl, we’ll win then”. Pinch Coach and wake him up. This is a dream come true for every generation of the Alabama fan base. The fight song, adopted in 1926 after Alabama’s historic win over Washington, ingrains this game into our very crimson being and fandom. Alabama’s team has brought the entire essence of “This is ALABAMA FOOTBALL” full circle with this historic run, which includes the school’s first Heisman Trophy. The historical and personal significance of this game and its location cannot be overstated for the best fans in college football. There may never be a chance like this in the Rose Bowl again, since we may have a playoff within the next 10 years. At that time, traveling to 2 or 3 different spots after the SEC title game may be impossible for many.

2. So ENJOY THIS TIME Alabama fans. Take a breath, soak it in, and smell the roses…literally.

3. Coach Hal is not quite Coach Saban, as the Ole’ Tailgate Coach looks ahead – big time. We plan to have a full tailgate for the national title game parade and celebration in Tuscaloosa. More details once the Tide pulls through, and we will rope off the night before the celebration.

4. And when will Saban’s statue go up in the open spot outside the north end zone? A-Day? Fan Day? First game next year? Iron Bowl? When he retires? You gotta believe folks…

5. In the unfortunate event the Tide does not bring home this particular title, please know that this year has been quite a ride and we have memories for a lifetime. It starts back up either way next season, and we already have reservations for Atlanta and Glendale. We should be 12-0 and playing the Florida Gators again in December 2010.

6. While there are many different itineraries, Coach’s is jam packed:

a. Coach arrives at LAX Tuesday afternoon, and Beebo has secured a Lincoln Town Car to pick Coach, Beebo, and Bobby up at the airport. Beebo loves that the sign will say “Beebo Davis” and not “Coach Hal”.

b. We might go to Santa Monica that night, or maybe Burbank, or we may stay in Pasadena. Can you believe these are our options? Life is good. Our final destination depends on how long it takes to get checked in to our nice accommodations in Pasadena.

c. Wednesday starts with box seats at the Santa Anita Horse Track. This is where the infamous Seabiscuit raced, and we plan to enjoy the perfect weather and fun at the horse track. Know that Coach will have some jack on the #8 (Juuuulllllliiiiioooooo!!!).

d. Kumar arrives that afternoon, and we will meet him and head to a Lakers game at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.

e. This is quite a “man-cation” isn’t it?

f. We plan to be tailgating by 8 AM PST/10 AM CST at the Rose Bowl.

g. We are flying out early Friday and Coach plans to be at home with the First Lady Sharon and Claire that night.

7. The playing surface for the Ohio State/Oregon Rose Bowl was beautiful. And did you know it was brand new sod and now they have taken that sod and replaced it? We will be playing on a pristine surface in a pristine environment. This is a dream, simply put.

8. We are so happy to play the University of Texas. Great program and great tradition. Some interesting thoughts:

Read more! »

BCS news and notes: 'It's starting to kick in with everybody now. We're getting close'
By Gentry Estes, Mobile Press-Register
January 03, 2010, 9:58PM

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- Alabama's team continued workouts today at two fields near the campus of Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa.

"I think it's starting to kick in with everybody now," place-kicker Leigh Tiffin said. "We're getting close."

Weather has been flawless the past two days, with temperatures in the 70s and barely a cloud in the sky.

"This is about as good as it gets," Saban said.

Cornerback Marquis Johnson (thumb fracture) continued to practice with a cast on his left hand, though he was able to catch passes. Tailback Terry Grant, who has been bothered the second half of the season with an abdominal strain, was wearing a black, no-contact jersey at the end of practice.

----------------------------

THE STOOPS VISIT: Like Saban, Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kirby Smart downplayed Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops' visit to Tuscaloosa to catch an Alabama practice on Dec. 23.

"He came to our practice, but we never even saw him until we got on the field," said Smart, whose 34th birthday was that day. "We got to break for Christmas after that, so I certainly wasn't hanging around with Bob Stoops at our place."

Read more! »

Send in Coach Saban to close the deal Governor...Coach

Gov. Bob Riley, industry officials use Tide title game to recruit businesses
By Michael Tomberlin -- The Birmingham News
January 03, 2010, 8:40AM

Gov. Bob Riley and Alabama industrial recruiters will use Thursday's national championship football game to try to score some economic development victories for the state.

Riley will join economic developers from across the state on a trip to California beginning Tuesday and ending Friday.

The center of the trip is the Bowl Championship Series game between the University of Alabama and the University of Texas at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. But the goal is to lure thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in investment to the state.

Jeff Emerson, Riley's spokesman, said having a team from the state playing for a national title provides a unique opportunity "to showcase and promote the state and recruit new industry. ... The governor didn't want to let go by."

Around 25 corporate site consultants, executives and heads of companies are scheduled to be the state's guests in California. The state's delegation of economic developers and corporations will also total about 25, according to Neal Wade, executive director of the Alabama Development Office.

Wade said ADO has planned an itinerary to take full advantage of the governor's presence and a captive audience. "We have filled up his schedule as much as we could with events to work with consultants, prospects and executives in a variety of different ways and different settings."

On the schedule:

>> Wednesday night dinner at LA's Palm Restaurant, where the menu boasts prime rib and giant lobsters.

>> Thursday tailgating in the "Alabama Village" near the Rose Bowl.

>> All 50 seats of those in the Alabama delegation are together near the 10-yard line in the stadium for Thursday's game.

"The governor is coming to all of the events and he also has some meetings with prospects," Wade said.

Those meetings are with companies that have significant projects considering Alabama.

"We have a project that is based in Los Angeles that is looking at the state that could bring 1,000 jobs," Wade said.

Read more! »

Jan 2nd, 2010

Dear Coach,

I’m happy to report I’ve arrived in Southern California and ‘the process’ leading up to the ultimate Tailgate continues on the West Coast.

Woke up in Birmingham today and had an early morning flight to Burbank (by way of Las Vegas). Thought I'd be the only one heading out West this early -- but much to my surprise, the plane was packed with Bama fans. Even more to my surprise, the flight crew was Texas-based and all but one were ‘Horns (the other was an Aggie). Even though there was some light-hearted jabbing both ways, we were treated great and even given a chance for a plane-wide ‘Roll Tide!’ near the end of the first leg.

Flew over the Grand Canyon, whose top was covered in snow, and also the Hoover Dam. Landed in Vegas, dropped $30 in about 20 mins at the airport slot machines (gotta love Vegas) and headed to the gate to come on to Burbank.

Read more! »

After Ohio State and Oregon tear it up on Friday, new turf will be -- laboriously -- rolled out for the Jan. 7 BCS title game.

By Sam Farmer

January 1, 2010

At 9 tonight, about three hours after the Rose Bowl game has ended, another high-pressure game begins.

The stadium's world-class grounds crew will "scalp" the existing field, cutting the grass to a mere quarter-inch, then roll out a brand-new field on top. The goal: to ensure the playing surface for the Bowl Championship Series title game Thursday is equally lush and pool-table smooth.

It will mark the first time two new fields have been installed at the stadium for consecutive games (a new one was installed after UCLA's last home game Nov. 21), and it underscores the pride Rose Bowl representatives take in their 2 1/2 -acre slice of heaven.

"We want people to say, 'That's the Rose Bowl field,' " said Will Schnell, the stadium's turf superintendent. "We want the big 'Wow!' It's our stage."

What's more, after the BCS title game, the Alabama and Texas end zones, as well as the midfield logo, will be parceled into 3-by-3-inch sections, freeze dried and preserved under glass, then sold as game-used collectibles. The first batch of mementos will be made available to the players and their families.

Read more! »

Marquis Johnson had a club on his left hand (thumb), but no injury surprises that I could tell (via @BamaBeat)

BamaBeat:
Entire 2-deep present and accounted for at practice. Looks like everyone else came. Hightower, Griffin and Square were out in black jerseys
2 minutes ago from Echofon

ChaseGoodbread:
with some help from @bamabeat, entire UA 2-deep accounted for at practice.

http://blog.al.com/bamabeat/2010/01/video_greeting_alabama_in_cali.html

...missing Dan, Newt, and crew yelling for the team.

Tide's Rolando McClain: 'Everyone on this team is focused on winning a football game'
By Gentry Estes, Mobile Press-Register
January 01, 2010, 7:13PM

UA media relations has released comments from two team captains -- linebacker Rolando McClain and left guard Mike Johnson -- upon today's arrival in Orange County, California.

"It's good to get out here to California and begin our final preparations for the game," McClain said. "It was a great flight out today but everyone on this team is focused on winning a football game. Tomorrow we will get back to the practice field and continue to work on what we came out here to do."

Alabama's team will visit Disneyland tomorrow, one of the few planned on-site activites before Thursday's national title game.

"The flight out this morning was a little long but good," Johnson said. "The Newport Beach area is nice and we have a pretty good setup at our practice facility. I'm excited to get back to work tomorrow and then go over to Disneyland. I've never been to Disneyland, and I'm looking forward to having a little fun. But this is a business trip and everything we do is pointed toward playing our best possible game against an outstanding Texas team on January 7 at the Rose Bowl."

http://blog.al.com/bamabeat/2010/01/tides_rolando_mcclain_everyone.html

Fellow tailgaters,

Our BCS preview and plan will be posted by Tuesday, but first we will take a trip down 2009 memory lane. Please add your thoughts to the list (powered by vitaminwater):

1. The Sugar Bowl against Utah

a. It was exactly what we worried about in the weeks leading up to the game. But we still had some great memories.

b. We enjoyed time and music on Bourbon Street and at Harrah’s our first night.

c. We all stayed in great hotels right in the middle of the action, and had good times interacting with Utah fans.

d. We went to Pat O’s pregame, and saw many folks there.

e. The game was terrible. Utah came out motivated, and we came out flat.

f. We could tell Coach Kevin Steele was leaving during pregame warm-ups.

g. And we sat by a Johnny-come-lately fan at the game, which seemed to be a reoccurring theme throughout the year. Coach politely yet firmly told him to get off of John Parker Wilson's back during the game. He obliged.

h. The drive back in the rain took over 8 hours. Tough way to end last season.

2. A-Day

a. Always a fun time, and we attended for the 12th year in a row.

b. We headed to Buffalo Wild Wings Friday night. Then we stayed in a hotel since we had to protect our tailgate site from the poachers that always come to the spring game.

c. Spent most of our time on the sideline, and saw our good friend Todd B., who was allowed to be a guest coach for the game. Great stories from him.

3. Off-season

a. Coach joined the social networking sites Facebook and Twitter. Coach has now corresponded with several national writers and loves Twitter.

b. We had interviews with ESPN and www.collegesportsmatchups.com, and there is one still pending with the Houston Chronicle.

Read more! »

UA_Athletics What a way to start 2010…The Tide is in the air on their way to Pasadena! Happy New Year and Roll Tide Roll!!

Coach Hal understands that Coach Saban wants a big crowd. Try to go if you can...Coach

Charter Business BCS Championship Game
Preview Show with Nick Saban

Alabama head coach Nick Saban’s Radio Show
Set for January 5 at Hilton Costa Mesa.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama head coach Nick Saban will take his pregame radio show on the road next week as part of the Charter Business BCS Championship Game Preview, scheduled for Tuesday, January 5, in Costa Mesa, California. The show will take place at the Hilton Costa Mesa, and will be carried live from 5 to 7 pm (Pacific) and 7 to 9 (Central) by Alabama radio affiliates.

Joining Coach Saban on the show will be Tom Roberts, Eli Gold, Phil Savage and Barry Krauss. There is no charge for admission and fans will be able to participate in the show with questions for Coach Saban. In addition, there will be a free raffle for (2) tickets to the Penn State, Florida and Auburn home games in 2010. Other items to be drawn for in the free raffle will be a game-used football jersey, Eli Gold’s book “Peanuts to the Press Box” as well as Alabama hats and t-shirts. Fans will also have a chance to meet the broadcast crew during the show.

Food and beverages will be available. For more information, check www.rolltide.com for a link to the show which will include directions to the Hilton Costa Mesa.

"Passengers traveling within the United States should give themselves extra time to check in and proceed through the security checkpoint before their flight."

TSA Guidance for Passengers on Heightened Security Measures in Place Following Dec. 25 Incident
News & Happenings

December 27, 2009

On Dec. 25, 2009, an individual on board Northwest Airlines Flight 253 set off a device and was subdued by passengers and crew. TSA wishes to acknowledge the heroic efforts of those individuals.

As a result of this incident, TSA has worked with airline and law enforcement authorities, as well as federal, state, local, and international partners to put additional security measures in place to ensure aviation security remains strong. Passengers traveling domestically and internationally to U.S. destinations may notice additional screening measures.

The American people should continue their planned holiday travel. TSA encourages passengers to remain observant and aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious behavior or activity to law enforcement officials.

Q: What additional security measures is TSA taking domestically?
A: TSA has a layered approach to security that allows us to surge resources as needed on a daily basis. We have the ability to quickly implement additional screening measures including explosive detection canine teams, law enforcement officers, gate screening, behavior detection and other measures both seen and unseen. Passengers should not expect to see the same thing at every airport.

Read more! »

Can you imagine being on the front row with a Mount Cody Lambeau Leap? Bobby and Coach could have been smothered down in AU on the front...Coach

Legend of Alabama Crimson Tide's Terrence Cody growing into super-hero status
By Gentry Estes, Mobile Press-Register
December 30, 2009, 7:00AM

TUSCALOOSA -- The two-time All-American, potential NFL star and the player currently keeping Texas coaches up at night shuffled through the Alabama football complex Monday wearing shorts with cartoon images of Superman.

"My back-to-school shorts," Terrence Cody explained with a laugh. "I've been a Marvel (Comics) fan, man, since I opened my eyes. I love super heroes. I love the (Incredible) Hulk, Wolverine, Spider-Man."

Cody is listed at 365 pounds. Both literally and in the minds of many Alabama fans, that may not be big enough.

In college football, there is only one Mount Cody. The nickname and its unique owner have been a symbol of the rapid rebirth of Alabama's football program. In reality, the graduate of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is still just a big kid, but he's also become his own kind of super hero.

Feats are legendary. He can indeed dunk a basketball. Others say he's capable of doing a somersault, and the excitable Cody once said he'd like to try a "Lambeau Leap" into the crowd if he scored a touchdown.

Read more! »

Survey says most fans want a playoff. So?
9:16 am December 30, 2009, by Tony Barnhart

Nobody asked me but:

This just in: A new poll says that 63 percent of college football fans want to scrap the BCS system and institute a playoff system like college basketball.

Well, duh!!!!!!!

This same polling group found that 95 percent of the people surveyed believe that the sun rises in the East. Okay, I made that up.

I’m not trying to be a smart aleck here but what exactly is the purpose of such a survey? So 63 percent of the 1,849 people surveyed by Quinnipiac University want to have some kind of college football playoff. They are not asked how to accomplish it, who gets to play in it, where the games will be played and when the games are played. They just know that they want it.

I don’t understand the point of such a survey. If 63 percent of the people want something, does that mean it is supposed to happen? What are we supposed to do with that information?

I imagine 100 percent of those same people surveyed would like to buy a Cadillac for $10,000. But I don’t think General Motors is going to start selling them for that.

Here is my point. I want a four-team playoff. The teams should be seeded with 1 playing 4 and 2 playing 3 on New Year’s Day at two of the BCS bowls. A week later the two winners will play for the national championship.

Let’s do a survey on that proposal or give people several playoff options and choose the one they like. That would make some sense.

I just don’t like mindless surveys that don’t advance the ball.

Read more! »

Nick Saban: 'I'm trying to keep my day job, because I would be working just as hard at home.'
By Gentry Estes, Mobile Press-Register
December 28, 2009, 7:12PM

The stress Alabama coach Nick Saban encounters at his workplace isn't nearly as frightening as what he'd get at home.

This was Saban's tongue-and-cheek answer tonight to a question about the Urban Meyer situation at Florida and how high-profile coaches deal with stress.

"I can work here and take the stress here or I can retire and go home and work for Terry and take the stress there," Saban said. "So far, I'm trying to keep my day job, because I would be working just as hard at home.

"That's kind of my motivation. I don't really feel like I have an out right now, so I'm willing to hang in there."

Read more! »

Come on Coach Saban...even Coach Hal has a tough time buying this one...

What was Oklahoma's Bob Stoops doing in Tuscaloosa again?
By Gentry Estes, Mobile Press-Register
December 28, 2009, 6:14PM

Given that whole Red River Rivalry thing, Texas fans became a bit interested when word leaked in recent days that Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops visited Alabama's football complex exactly 15 days before the Crimson Tide will take on the Longhorns in the BCS national title game.

Stoops, as you may recall, visited Tuscaloosa this past summer with a couple of assistants to talk shop with Nick Saban.

Read more! »

Tide left tackle James Carpenter missing from today's practice
By Don Kausler Jr. -- The Birmingham News
December 28, 2009, 2:37PM

James Carpenter TUSCALOOSA -- After practicing Sunday night following a three-day Christmas break, the top-ranked Alabama football team is back on the practice today, working outdoors on a sunny, cold afternoon.

But starting left tackle James Carpenter appears to be missing.

Redshirt sophomore Alfred McCullough was taking snaps with the first-team line in the early part of practice, during an eight-minute stretch that members of the news media were allowed to watch.

Alabama coach Nick Saban will speak today after practice. We'll find out then what's up with Carpenter.

There was no media access to practice or to coaches or players afterward on Sunday.

Alabama (13-0) is preparing for its Jan. 7 national championship game against second-ranked Texas (13-0) on Jan. 7 in Pasadena, Calif.

http://blog.al.com/tide-source/2009/12/tide_left_tackle_james_carpent.html

Fellow tailgaters,

Let’s get to Coach’s thoughts (powered by vitaminwater):

1. Coach is intrigued by the Urban Meyer situation. Coach totally understands moving away from football and the stress. Money isn’t everything (see Coach’s compensation for being tailgate coach). Here are some things Coach has learned in the last couple of days during this situation:

a. Paul Finebaum somehow knows things ahead of time. Don’t know if he has sources, or if he throws stuff against the wall and it sticks almost all of the time. He knew something was going on the entire fall.

b. The national media has preconceived notions of every program, but especially Alabama. If Alabama had two top coaches leave (or take a leave) due to missed expectations, burn out, health, etc…you would see the quotes listed below. For the record, Coach believes that UF should not be treated like this, but we know they would do it to Alabama. :

i. “With the son of the Bear on the Board, Alabama still can’t keep a coach on board.”

ii. “Alabama fans can not have the Bear, and their collective obsession keeps running off the next best thing.”

iii. “Expectations and an irrationally rabid crimson fan base drive another one away.”

iv. “Alabama fans believe their birthright is national championships…but their birthright may be that they overwhelm coaches.”

v. “Youths wearing houndstooth should be a warning sign to any new hire.” (Forget the fact that US Weekly recently had shots of different celebrities wearing houndstooth…thanks to Sharon for that note and sorry for the break-in commentary from Coach)

c. Twitter is better than any news site or blog for breaking news. Coach urges you to join. It is totally worth your time, and you are the one missing news if you don’t join.

d. Coach thought back to his conversation with Pat Dye a few months ago. He told Coach that “the most important thing you have is your health. If you don’t have that then you don’t have anything.” How true.

2. Have you heard about the UA Compliance Department floating around the Birmingham area? If what Coach hears goes the wrong direction, it could affect the game.

3. The absolute agony of many opposing fans makes Coach heartily laugh, to wit:

Read more! »

Scarbinsky: Can Florida find a coach to measure up to Meyer and stand up to Saban?
By Kevin Scarbinsky -- The Birmingham News
December 27, 2009, 5:30AM

Not that he needed it, but Nick Saban, the man who has everything, just got another Christmas present.

His nemesis just said, ‘‘No mas.”

His biggest rival just threw in the white towel.

The only man standing between him and world domination has decided to step aside and sit down.

Urban Meyer’s shocking resignation as the Florida coach, for health reasons, is an unhealthy development for SEC football.

It took Meyer just two years at Florida to take control of the nation’s best conference and, as a by-product, the nation.

It took Saban just three years at Alabama to catch and pass Meyer, but as long as Meyer was in command in Gainesville, Saban would have at least one worthy adversary.

No two coaches in the league, and maybe the sport, so closely resembled each other as driven and relentless winners.

Meyer’s legendary drive may have driven him out of the game, at least temporarily, at age 45.

Three weeks ago, hours after returning to Gainesville after losing the SEC Championship Game, he was taken to a local hospital.

He later told the Gainesville Sun he’d been suffering from chest pains.

Now comes word from The New York Times that the man who poured his heart and soul into his job lost consciousness that night. Meyer told the paper ``there was no heart damage,'' but his medical issues, while apparently not life-threatening, were severe enough to help end one very important chapter of his life.

Saban always portrays his competition with other coaches as business, not personal. His statement Saturday about Meyer, one of his few true peers, echoed that thought.

Read more! »

BCS title game: Alabama players ready to get back to work after taking break for Christmas
By Gentry Estes, Mobile Press-Register
December 27, 2009, 6:00AM

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Before the confetti fell in Atlanta's Georgia Dome, Alabama's team already understood it was headed to California to play for the national title.

But it sure is taking a long time to actually get there.

A total of 33 days will pass between Alabama's SEC championship game and its BCS national championship game. And while teams across the country have arrived in recent days at bowl sites to await games in the coming days, the Crimson Tide remains on its campus through the end of 2009.

"As a coach, you want to make sure you do everything you can to help those players get back to playing their best football," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "It's a challenge with this much time off."

Saban's preparation for the Jan. 7 BCS title game against Texas has been divided into thirds. Alabama practiced five times before breaking two days before Christmas.

Today begins a string of five more post-Christmas workouts in Tuscaloosa before the team jets to the West Coast on New Year's Day, leading to five more practices at Orange Coast College near the team's hotel in Costa Mesa. The final walk-through is set to take place Jan. 6, one day before the showdown.

Read more! »

Meyer's resignation makes Alabama's domination more likely
By Kevin Scarbinsky -- The Birmingham News
December 26, 2009, 8:11PM

It took Nick Saban three years to catch and pass Urban Meyer as the alpha male among SEC football coaches.

Now, given Meyer's sudden and shocking resignation as the Florida head coach, due to health reasons, who's going to stop Saban and Alabama from dominating the league for a decade as Bear Bryant and Alabama did in the 1970s?

Read more! »

Pete Thamel NYT BREAKING NEWS: Urban Meyer explains his reasons for stepping down in an NYT phone interview.

Meyer Says He’s Quitting as Coach of Florida

By PETE THAMEL
Published: December 26, 2009
The night that Florida lost to Alabama in the Southeastern Conference title game, Florida Coach Urban Meyer awoke in the middle of the night with severe chest pains.

He had suffered from severe chest pains the past two years, but this time was different. He lost consciousness, went to a hospital in an ambulance and underwent more than nine hours of testing.

That night was the tipping point for Meyer, 45, who stunned the college football world Saturday by announcing that he was stepping down from coaching.

“There was no heart damage,” Meyer said. “But I didn’t want there to be a bad day where there were three kids sitting around wondering what to do next. It was the pattern of what I was doing and how I was doing it. It was self-destructive.”

Meyer said in a telephone interview late Saturday night that that the hospital trip prompted weeks of soul searching that ended on Christmas night. He told his family he would be leaving his job at Florida. He said that his 18-year-old daughter Nicki hugged him and said, “I get my daddy back.”

“I saw it as a sign from God that this was the right thing to do,” Meyer said of his daughter’s reaction. “I was worried about letting people down. I was feeling so awful and concerned about my health. That was among several other signs that said it’s time to back away.”

Meyer led Florida to two of the past three national titles and has a career record of 95-18, including a 56-10 mark at Florida.

If there was a hallmark to Meyer’s coaching style, both on and off the field, it was his relentlessness. He said he found himself e-mailing recruits in church. He said that his 16-year-old daughter had told him that she had not felt like she talked to him in the past two years. In a 10-day period around the SEC title game Meyer said that he had lost 20 pounds.

“When your health flashes before your eyes, what’s before you means more than anything,” he said. “I have a strong faith that there’s a reason for everything, and God has a plan for us. I just don’t know what it is.”

Asked if he would return to coaching in the future, Meyer said he had not thought about it. But it appeared clear that he would not return anytime soon. He said his main concern was winning the Sugar Bowl against Cincinnati on Jan. 1 and making sure he took care of his coaches and his players.

Read more! »

Urban Meyer's Resignation Has Numerous Ramifications

12/26/2009 7:52 PM ET By Clay Travis

It's been barely an hour since news broke that Urban Meyer was resigning for health reasons as head coach of the University of Florida. Immediately Meyer's resignation became the second biggest story of the college football bowl season -- second only to the Alabama-Texas BCS title game, and maybe not even second to that. Meyer's resignation sets off the kind of coaching dominoes collapse that means only the most shrewd of coaching prognosticators can predict where it will all end.

Immediately, my e-mail flooded with gloating fans of rival SEC programs who have perished under the harsh beat downs administered during Urban Meyer's 56-10 tenure at Florida.

"Christmas came late, but oh so perfectly!!!!" gushed one Bulldog fan.

A Tennessee fan wrote as follows, "Christmas has never been more joyous in my household."

If you ever doubted how much college football turns on the men at the top of the coaching pyramid, Meyer's resignation should erase all doubt. He single-handedly turned what was on pace to be the slowest sports news day of the year into a Twitter explosion. But now it's time to consider the ramifications of Meyer's departure. Here are 11 immediate questions worth pondering as the college football universe spins out of control.

1. What becomes of the power structure in the SEC east?

Suddenly, the world looks entirely different in what is typically the most competitive division in major college football. Georgia's Mark Richt, rebounding from the worst year of his tenure and bound for a bowl game in Shreveport, is on shaky footing and without a defensive coaching staff. Tennessee's Lane Kiffin, just completing his first season, is a wild card, Kentucky and Vandy are still Kentucky and Vandy. Meanwhile, Florida has not just lost their head man,they've also lost Charlie Strong and Dan Mullen in the past year or so.

So who's the big winner in the SEC east as 2010 looms?

Here's one vote for South Carolina and Steve Spurrier.

Because suddenly South Carolina might be the favorite in the SEC east.

Stunning, right?

That's how quickly things can change in the SEC.

But in the longer term?

Man, it's completely wide open.

2. Is the war for Florida's football fate wide open as well?

Read more! »

2009 season took its toll on Meyer
7:35 pm December 26, 2009, by Tony Barnhart

Little surprises me any more but I was stunned tonight to learn that Urban Meyer would resign as the head coach at Florida after the Sugar Bowl.

It was widely known in the football community that this season was a very stressful one for Meyer, who is only 45. The pressure of defending the national championship, being No. 1 for the entire season, and various off the field problems eventually took their toll on Meyer.

Read more! »

Coach Mack Brown is motivating his players with this talk. Don't think for a minute that he, Muschamp, Applewhite, or the players believe this...Coach

Watching film of Tide is like a horror movie, says UT's Brown
12:04 AM CST on Thursday, December 24, 2009
Column by CHUCK CARLTON / The Dallas Morning News | ccarlton@dallasnews.com

Texas doesn't get much of an opportunity to be an actual underdog, so coach Mack Brown has already decided to make the most of it.

Alabama has been made a four-point favorite in the Citi BCS National Championship game on Jan. 7. If you believe Brown's take this week, it could be, maybe should be, more.

The Alabama game film has been the stuff of nightmares, Brown suggested.

Think of a cross between the original Jawsand highlights of Ndamukong Suh in the Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship.

"We're not able to sleep," Brown said. "They've got three Suhs up front. That's the problem. Everywhere you look, they've been knocking people down. We've been afraid to show it to our kids."

Read more! »

Good information for folks going to the game and also thinking about tailgating...RTR and Merry Christmas...Coach Hal...

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Game officials from the Big East? And a funny quote from Javy...Coach

By Gentry Estes, Mobile Press-Register
December 22, 2009, 8:06PM

TUSCALOOSA -- While there aren't too many statistical gaps between the two teams in the Jan. 7 BCS national championship game, one jumps off the page.

Texas has been penalized for 180 more than yards this season than Alabama. The Longhorns rank 81st nationally in penalties committed per game. The Crimson Tide is 17th, having not had more than five penalties in a game since October.

Of Alabama's 64 enforced penalties this season, 11 have been for false starts, with personal fouls (nine) and pass interferences (eight) not far behind.

But it's worth noting that the Crimson Tide's offense has not been flagged for an illegal block since the Oct. 24 Tennessee game.

And perhaps more impressive, it has now been 34 quarters since a holding penalty was last assessed against an Alabama offensive lineman. The most recent enforced holding penalty on an offensive play was during the Kentucky game in early October (Four holding flags since then have all been on the kickoff team).

Players credited offensive line coach Joe Pendry for the trend.

Read more! »

By Gentry Estes, Mobile Press-Register
December 21, 2009, 10:35PM

You knew it was coming.

Mellow at the start of bowl practice, Alabama coach Nick Saban finally got a little worked up during this evening's post-practice press conference.

First it was at a question asking if the fact the Tide is playing for the national title has sunk in yet (that's focusing on results, not process) and then at the previously unspoken (in the room) notion that Texas is a heavy underdog Jan. 7 in Pasadena.

"I've really already said that I am not worried about winning the national championship," said Saban, his voice rising at the podium. "I don't want our players to worry about it either. I would appreciate it if you didn't ask them, although I know you will. What I want our players focusing on is playing their best football and assume that they are going to play the best football they have ever played and they are going to be playing against the best players they have ever played against."

"That's what they should be working to do and that's what they should be focused on. So what you're talking about is clutter and I'd rather them not be worried about that. The game is still going to get played on a 50-yards wide and 100-yards deep field and how they play in that game. And I don't care what award they won, or how many made All-American or how many we had. None of that's going to matter when the game starts."

Saban often launches demonstrations like this in order to get the clip replayed on television and radio for the benefit of his players.

Read more! »

By Gentry Estes, Mobile Press-Register
December 20, 2009, 5:17PM

Alabama junior cornerback Kareem Jackson said today that he has submitted his paperwork to receive a grade from the NFL's draft advisory board.

"Yeah, I did it," Jackson said. "I sent it in a couple of days ago. I guess I'll just wait until it comes back and see what it says."

Read more! »

By Don Kausler Jr. -- The Birmingham News
December 18, 2009, 7:08AM

The 91,000-seat Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, Calif., will be the site of the Jan. 7 national championship game between No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Texas.TUSCALOOSA -- The last 2,000 of 91,000 tickets available at face value to the Jan. 7 national cham­pionship game in Pasadena, Calif., sold in a matter of minutes Tuesday morning. And then the flurry turned to fury.

"If we had a 500,000-seat sta­dium, I could fill it," said Mitch Dorger, the CEO of the Tourna­ment of Roses, which is managing the BCS title game between top­-ranked Alabama (13-0) and sec­ond- ranked Texas (13-0).

"We're sold out."

Yet, that doesn't mean tickets are unavailable.

The market merely has switched from direct sales through the schools and the Tournament of Roses to a boom­ing secondary market.

RazorGator.com is the official ticket exchange site, but it is far from the only player in this multi­million-dollar game. Sam Soni, the executive vice president of procurement for RazorGator.com, estimates that more than 1,000 businesses or individuals operate Web sites that broker hard-to-get tickets.

Players include online giants eBay and Craigslist, general cy­bermarkets where tickets can be sold and bought. Other sites such as StubHub.com specialize in ticket sales.

On RazorGator.com on Thurs­day alone, 563 tickets were for sale ranging from $773 to $2,697 each.

One group of 19 tickets in row 35 of a corner section is available at $910 each. At the $275 face value, those tickets are worth $5,225. The markup means a profit of $9,632 for the seller and $2,413 for Razorgator.com.

"The secondary market operates in a strange and mysterious way," Dorger said. "They get tickets from sources I'm un­aware of. It's like concerts. It's like every sporting event. These guys make a busi­ness out of getting the tickets."

Is he troubled by that marketplace?

"In a way," he said. "It's people who are making money off of something that I'm not making money off of."

Outraged fans

Read more! »

Finally, after we have discussed this for years...Coach

Tuscaloosa News Published: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | University of Alabama Director of Athletics Mal Moore has persuaded his Southeastern Conference peers to ask the league office to make adjustments to the SEC's 2010 football schedule, as well as it's upcoming 10-year release of future schedules, to bring more equity to the number of games each team must play against an opponent coming off an idle week.

Following a story by The Tuscaloosa News that revealed the Crimson Tide will have played more than three times as many idle-rested SEC opponents as any other school in the league over a four-year span ending in 2010, Moore said he would bring the issue to the attention of the league's athletic directors at their next meeting.

That meeting took place Tuesday morning in Birmingham, and SEC Associate Commissioner Charles Bloom said his office will now seek to make necessary changes.

Read more! »

Fellow tailgaters,

Times are good for Alabama fans. For Coach’s thoughts on Santa and Pasadena, Tim Tebow, Mark Ingram, the Heisman, and bandwagon fans, please read on:

1. Coach chatted with Santa this weekend while Claire discussed her preferred list with him. Coach said “Santa, we need some more tickets to the big game in Pasadena.” Mr. Claus looked Coach right in the eye and said “If you can find any, tell ‘em the Big Man needs two.” Classic moment.

2. We have reserved our hotel rooms for next year’s SEC Championship Game in Atlanta and also the 2011 BCS title game in Glendale, AR. You gotta believe…

3. Tim Tebow is the real deal. Can you imagine acting like Tebow did Saturday night if you had just had your heart ripped out the previous week? This guy is a total class act and Coach respects him tremendously. From Cecil Hurt’s Sunday article:

Tebow said he tried to help Ingram deal with the emotions that were clearly weighing on him going into the ceremony.

“I’m a realist,” Tebow said. “I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to win. But I saw that Mark was really nervous and I asked him if he wanted to pray and he did. So we found a private room and we prayed, just the two of us. We prayed for him to find peace, not for someone to win the trophy.”

4. Mark Ingram. What a story of how he got to Alabama and the connections of Saban and his parents. Very proud for him and his speech showed a humble side.

Read more! »

Voters Get it Right

The next time somebody tells you that the Heisman Trophy is nothing more than an overhyped award that lost its luster a long time ago, mention the name Mark Ingram.

There was no hiding his emotion Saturday in the Nokia Theatre. He slowly exhaled several times, doing his best to compose himself. His voice cracked, and then he cried.

Admittedly overwhelmed, Ingram thanked everyone -- Nick Saban, his parents, his teammates, his sports information directors, even his teachers at Alabama.

He understood unequivocally how historic the moment was in the realm of Alabama’s proud football history.

Of all the great players who’d come before him – Joe Namath, Ken Stabler, Ozzie Newsome, Cornelius Bennett, Lee Roy Jordan and Shaun Alexander – Ingram became the first Alabama player to hoist the Heisman Trophy as his own.

Sure, there probably have been better players to come through Alabama than Ingram, the third straight sophomore to win college football’s most prestigious individual award.

Read more! »

Mark Ingram makes Alabama history with Heisman

NEW YORK (AP) — Mark Ingram completed the trophy case at Alabama, delivering the first Heisman to a school that boasts one of the richest histories in college football.

Read more! »

Report: McElwain interviews
By Chase Goodbread
Published: Friday, December 11, 2009 at 9:02 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, December 11, 2009 at 9:02 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | University of Alabama offensive coordinator Jim McElwain has interviewed for the head coaching vacancy at San Jose State, according to the Bay Area NBC television affiliate, along with Stanford offensive coordinator David Shaw.

Read more! »

Fellow tailgaters,

Finally. Alabama got redemption after the get wrenching loss in 2008…now on to the summary after a great weekend.

1. We enter the BCS final at 13-0. Alabama and Texas. Beebo and Beevo. Saban/Smart and Brown/Muschamp. Applewhite. Etc. This is going to be quite a month of anticipation and smelling of the roses.

2. We have our hotel and plane tickets already booked for LA. Hope to catch a Lakers game while out there, maybe some horse racing, some time on the Pacific, and then the big one is Thursday night.

3. We have our hotel reservations secured for next year’s SEC Championship Game in Atlanta. You gotta believe…

4. We stayed in a hotel right by the Dome and Centennial Park this weekend. When we saw Lane Kiffin arrive on the ESPN Gameday set, we decided to head out into the cold and see the game picks from Corso, Herbstriet, and Kiffin. We were not disappointed as Kiffin talked trash (“Florida has the better players, Alabama has the better coaches”) and then Corso put the Big Al head on when he picked Alabama.

Read more! »

By Dan Wetzel, Yahoo! Sports
Dec 5, 10:26 pm EST

ATLANTA – Back in Tuscaloosa, to one side of the walkway in front of Bryant-Denny Stadium, stand four statues of Crimson Tide coaching greats, including Gene Stallings and, of course, Bear Bryant.

Closest to the stadium there is a space set up for coach No. 5, an empty spot that’s served as a figurative gap in this storied program for more than a decade. Four different coaches tried to fill it. All failed, often disastrously. All they left was a powerhouse desperate for a leader.

Then came Saint Nick Saban three falls ago and if they want to sculpt an unlikely, if telling, image of the man, they might choose his flying hip/chest bump with Tide running back Mark Ingram conducted in the final seconds of his program’s masterpiece performance here Saturday.

“I don’t know what we were doing,” said Ingram, as surprised as anyone that a man generally known to be as fun as the flu would suddenly loosen up. “I didn’t know he’d do it. I saw him coming to me with a chest bump.”

Alabama 32, Florida 13, Tim Tebow tamed in tears and the Tide rolling onto Pasadena, Saban actually celebrating despite being 60 minutes from the ultimate glory.

Read more! »

By Damon Young
December 06, 2009, 5:57AM
Confetti and streamers fell from the rafters, tears dropped from Tebow's eyes, and cheers of Rammer Jammer erupted from the Alabama faithful. The domination and dismantling of the Florida Gators was complete and finally after two undefeated regular seasons, Alabama had something to show for it: 2009 SEC Champions.

Going into the game you just kept hearing about how even these two teams were. Great defenses, great skill players, but the difference would be at quarterback. Well, one difference would be at quarterback and another would be at the line of scrimmage and another would be the coaching staffs.

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UA places four on AFCA team
By Chase Goodbread

TUSCALOOSA | University of Alabama football players Mark Ingram, Mike Johnson, Rolando McClain and Javier Arenas have been named to the 2009 American Football Coaches Association All-America team.

The 25-man squad included three other Southeastern Conference players - Tennessee safety Eric Berry, Florida cornerback Joe Haden and Georgia kicker Drew Butler.

Ingram has 1,429 yards on the season and is a candidate for several postseason awards, including the coveted Heisman Trophy. He is averaging 119.1 yards per game. Johnson, Alabama's left guard, earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors following UA's 31-3 win over Mississippi State, and was named to the initial watch list for the Outland Trophy as the nation's top lineman.

McClain leads UA in tackles with 96 and is a finalist for the Butkus Award. McClain was the SEC's Defensive Player of the Week twice this season after wins over Kentucky and Auburn.

Arenas has emerged as one of the nation's top defensive backs and was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. He has made 64 tackles on the season, and his 12 tackles for loss tie him for the team lead. Also a dangerous return man on special teams, Arenas is 37 yards short of the NCAA's record for career punt return yardage (Wes Welker, Texas Tech, 1.761 yards).

http://www.tidesports.com/article/20091203/NEWS/912039950/1011?Title=UA-places-four-on-AFCA-team

Fellow Tailgaters,

Technically, it’s the BCS championship game played at the Rose Bowl, but that’s not in the Alabama Fight Song. This is the game we have all looked toward since the heartbreaking 4th quarter at the Georgia Dome last December. On to the plan after some thoughts from the Ole' Tailgate Coach:

1. Interesting to see Chris Rushing talk about biggest heartbreakers, because Coach was discussing this with First Lady Sharon earlier this week. The most heartbreaking game Coach had ever attended was the 1995 Iron Bowl in Auburn, which included a post game visit to Toomer’s Corner. Guhh. But that was the worst until Tim Tebow and crew ripped Coach’s heart out in early December 2008. Very difficult loss. We had the lead in the 4th quarter with a national title game berth on the line. Tebow absolutely willed them to a victory, with help from some questionable play calling and mistakes (remember the fake field goal and the penalties?).

2. We shook hands with dozens of Gator fans last year and each side always said, ‘See you next year” or “This is how it should be”…Coach booked our hotel room for this weekend right after we returned.

3. To sum it up, UA and UF have a very unique relationship. We are true SEC rivals that do not root against each other week by week.

4. 30 years ago, there would be no SEC Championship Game this weekend. We would probably be playing in the Sugar Bowl against Florida on 1/1/2010, and Texas would be in the Cotton or Orange Bowl. Newt, please check Coach on that. We would probably have a split national title, and there would be no chance of TCU, Cincinnati, or Boise State even being considered. So they had some things right and some things wrong. Kind of like now.

5. If Coach Shula had won the recruiting battle for Tebow, how different would the SEC be right now?

Read more! »

Nick Saban does revenge like The Godfather

By Kevin Scarbinsky -- The Birmingham News
December 02, 2009, 1:35PM

Fool Nick Saban once, shame on you.
Fool him twice ...

Fool.

Don't you know you can't fool him twice?

Not unless you're a legend, or a legend in the making.

Urban Meyer will try to become just the second coach to beat Saban in two straight meetings since Saban first came to the SEC.

The one and only so far: A former Bull Gator, Steve Spurrier.

Spurrier and Florida were superior to Saban and LSU in 2000 and 2001, Saban's first two years in the conference.

Otherwise, 13 different teams have beaten Saban one year and gotten the chance to do it again that year, like Tennessee in the 2001 SEC Championship, or the next.

Saban is 13-0 in those return matches, and so 13-1 overall since he came south.

The man does revenge like Michael Corleone in The Godfather Part II.

Read more! »

McElroy doesn't mind being 'other' QB
December, 2, 2009 Dec 2
12:33PM ET
By Chris Low

No matter how you slice it, Alabama's Greg McElroy is the “other” quarterback in Saturday's SEC championship game.

But, then, just about anybody paired against Florida's Tim Tebow is going to be the “other” quarterback.

On paper, Tebow vs. McElroy may look like a mismatch. And you're already hearing the invariable, “Who do you like best if the game comes down to the fourth quarter?”

It almost certainly will come down to the fourth quarter, and nobody has forgotten what Tebow did in those final 15 minutes a year ago against the Crimson Tide.

But if you put McElroy's passing numbers up against Tebow's passing numbers this season in SEC games, they're very comparable.

In fact, McElroy's touchdown-to-interception ratio is better, and he also passed for more yards. McElroy threw 11 touchdown passes and just three interceptions against SEC defenses, while passing for 1,484 yards.

Tebow threw just seven touchdown passes this season against SEC defenses and was intercepted four times. He had 1,305 passing yards.

Granted, a huge part of Tebow's game is running the football, a dimension that McElroy doesn't possess.

And this is also familiar territory for Tebow. He led the Gators to fourth-quarter wins in both the SEC championship game and BCS National Championship Game a year ago.

But McElroy also comes off arguably the most important drive of his career last week against Auburn.

Read more! »

Good article from a good guy...Coach

SEC Rewind: Upchurch’s big moment
by Chris Rushing
chrisrushing@collegesportsmatchups.com

I’ve done my best to hide my bias all season, and for those of you who don’t know me, I hope you still have no idea where I went to school and obtained my journalism degree.

However, after last weekend, I have racked my brains trying to figure out how I could write an accurate recap while hiding my affections. The truth is, I have failed in coming up with a way. Friday afternoon, I left Jordan-Hare Stadium as devastated as I have ever been after a football game.

Sure, there was Ben Obomanu’s drop against Ole Miss in 2003, eliminating the Tigers from the Southeastern Conference Western Division race. Just last year, LSU went in and commandeered the lead with just over a minute left on the clock and escaped with the first victory for the road team this decade in one of the SEC’s most budding rivalries.

However, when Roy Upchurch hauled in Greg McElroy’s toss and scampered into the end zone, my heart sank deeper than either of those two evenings. Don’t get me wrong, I know that Alabama is the better team and the better team wins the Iron Bowl 9.9 times out of 10. It’s great that Upchurch can etch his name in Bama lore despite his injury-plagued career after signing with Mike Shula out of high school.

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Finebaum: Nick Saban has waited all year for another shot at Florida
By Paul Finebaum
December 01, 2009, 6:01AM

For Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide, the last 52 weeks have been bookended by championship battles with Florida for the SEC Championship.Doesn't it seem like Alabama just left the Georgia Dome following a crushing loss to Florida? Could it have really been 52 weeks ago?

There was the Sugar Bowl, a return trip to Atlanta for Virginia Tech and close calls against Tennessee, LSU and Auburn. However, Florida has always been on Alabama's mind.

And now on to Atlanta again. The two biggest marquee names in the league. The two best coaches. And perhaps, the most significant game in the history of the Southeastern Conference.

College football has had some precious moments in its indelible history. However, Alabama can't afford to get caught up in the Super Bowl-like mania this week and lose sight of the opportunity presented.

Fans can point to the future and talk about the stockpile of talent being assembled by Nick Saban. However, many said the same of Southern Cal and Oklahoma last year. You never know when injuries will wipe out your chances or a bizarre bounce of the ball will lead to a stunning upset.

I hate to wax poetic here. But in many respects, this is Alabama's moment. Last year, it appeared the train pulled into Atlanta a little early and the Tide didn't have enough to finish. However, this year, it's pulling into the station right on time.

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Well finally it is here!!

Maxwell Finalists - Mark Ingram - Tim Tebow
Bednarik Finalists - Terrence Cody - Brandon Spikes
Lou Groza Finalist - Leigh Tiffin
Ray Guy Finalist - Chas Henry
Davey O'Brien Finalist - Tim Tebow
Jim Thorpe Finalist - Joe Haden
Butkus Finalist - Rolando McClain - Brandon Spikes
Lombardi Finalist - Terrence Cody
John Mackey Finalist - Aaron Hernandez
Bronko Nagurski Finalist - Terrence Cody
Heisman Finalist - Mark Ingram - Tim Tebow

I think we have the right players in this game.

Coach Nick Saban - 2003 & 2008 Coach of the Year; 2003 National Champion
Coach Urban Meyer - 2004 Coach of the Year; 2006 & 2008 National Champion

I think we have the right coaches in this game.

Alabama 12-0 Florida 12-0

I think we have the right teams in this game.

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium - listed capacity 88,548 - every game sold out
Bryant-Denny Stadium - listed capacity 92,012 - every game sold out

I think we have the right fans in this game.

Read more! »

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Monday, November 30, 2009

It is the most anticipated game of the season, the showdown college football fans and prognosticators predicted long before Florida and Alabama actually clinched their respective SEC divisions. No. 1 Florida and No. 2 Alabama will clash for the second consecutive year in Saturday's SEC Championship Game, with a trip to the BCS national title game on the line. The winner goes to Pasadena, Calif. The loser to the Sugar Bowl. It's that simple. "It's probably the biggest week we've ever had here," said coach Urban Meyer, now in his fifth season with the Gators. The Gators and Crimson Tide have met six times before in the SEC Championship Game, with Florida winning four. In fact, every time Alabama has played in the title game, it has been against the Gators. A look at past Florida-Alabama meetings in the SEC title game:

Read more! »

Fellow tailgaters,

What a day. Great friends, a perfect tailgate location which included another run-in with Coach Pat Dye, and terrific seats which allowed back and forth banter with Big Al, Aubie, media members, the refs, Terry Saban, etc.

What else? Yup, the game was pretty good too. On to commentary for the 2009 Iron Bowl:

1. We enter the BCS semifinal at 12-0. Whew…let’s just get that comment out of the way and let it soak in. Two years in a row. Smell the roses this weeks folks, this is fun.

2. The day after the Iron Bowl is so much more fun when you are on the winning side. Not even close.

3. Auburn’s crowd knew we were driving to win. Coach has been to 20+ games at Auburn and has never seen a crowd so sure of a loss on a drive like that. The score by Upchurch was right in front of us, and it was great to be there for that after 3 straight losses down there.

4. At Jordan Hare Stadium, row 2 is actually the 1st row, so we sat in the most entertaining spot in the stadium. Everyone sitting there were seniors at the University of Alabama…except the old guys at the club, Coach and Bobby. We had a blast, and here are some of our various run-ins:

a. Coach told the head referee as he came on the field that “we need a call Ref, come on brother.” He just smiled and had to be wondering why that guy (Coach) in his mid-thirties was still in college.

b. Big Al gave us fist pumps several times during the game. Then the peak moment of the day occurred during the winning drive: Coach called the pachyderm over, pointed at my forehead, and Coach Hal and Big Al proceeded to perform a big time head butt. One of Coach’s favorite moments as an Alabama fan.

c. Aubie also taunted Coach and Bobby with a huge container where he was making “Elephant Stew”. He offered some to us, and then took a bite himself, which put him into convulsions on the field. He is a very funny opposing mascot, and we had quite a good back and forth.

d. We were down there with Finebaum, Cecil Hurt, Dennis Dodd, Dunaway, Dubberly, etc.

e. We high fived Drew Davis after the game, but all in all the team did not really celebrate very much after the game. Also, Coach noticed that a few seniors came back out for a picture, and GMc and Julio were with them. Why is that? Our best guess is that those guys know they will not play on the Plains again. Julio knows he is gone after next season and wanted to savor the memory. Little tidbit from Coach for you to keep in your back pocket.

f. Lastly, Mrs. Terry Saban came by, waved, and wiped her brow to show relief. Coach loves the houndstooth Terry.

5. How about more on the game Coach?

Read more! »

Bama's iron will on display in comeback
By Ivan Maisel
ESPN.com

AUBURN, Ala. -- Lord knows, Nick Saban tries. The Alabama coach never claimed to be a poet of the podium. When he speaks to the media, he edits as he goes, interrupting his own rhythm, thoughts doing to him what his defenses do to opposing quarterbacks.

The emotion that burst forth from the coach of the No. 2 Crimson Tide on Friday after the 26-21 comeback over Auburn hit some heartfelt notes, if not always in the right order.

"I've never probably been prouder of a football team than I am proud of our guys in this game," Saban said. "… The character we showed, and the adversity we showed, to overcome the adversity we overcame in the game, on the road, getting behind, I don't think you can say enough about the competitive character this team showed today, and that's what I'm most proud of."

But to his team? That's another story. Saban speaks with all the comfort of broken-in loafers. This is what he said to the Crimson Tide after the game:

"Only the strong survive," Saban said. "But the strong still get their ass whipped."

Read more! »

We have said this for years, so we are glad the media has figured it out...Coach

Alabama's SEC opponents enjoy scheduling edge
By Chase Goodbread Sports Writer

TUSCALOOSA | University of Alabama Director of Athletics Mal Moore will advocate for adjustments to the Southeastern Conference’s 2010 football schedule in hopes of bringing relief to a UA schedule that includes six SEC opponents that will not play the week before facing the Crimson Tide, Moore told The Tuscaloosa News.

SEC teams vs. idle-rested opponents (2007-10)Alabama, 16
LSU, 5
Florida, 4
Tennessee, 4
Georgia, 4
Vanderbilt, 4
Auburn, 3
Kentucky, 2
Ole Miss, 1
Miss. State, 1
S. Carolina, 1
Arkansas, 0

A look at the teams each SEC school will face after idle weeks in 2010:
Team vs. after idle
Alabama LSU
Arkansas Texas A&M
Auburn Alabama
LSU Alabama
Miss. St. Alabama
Ole Miss Alabama
Florida Georgia
Georgia Ga. Tech
Kentucky Vanderbilt
S. Carolina Alabama
Tennessee Alabama
Vanderbilt UConn

Following the 2010 football season, UA will have played more than three times as many games against SEC opponents coming off an idle week than any other team in the league over a four-year period, research by The News revealed.

Auburn will be the third opponent this season to have an open date prior to facing Alabama. AU coach Gene Chizik minced no words about the value of his team being idle last weekend.

“It was big. I think that not just physically, as I have said even earlier in the week, I think mentally, just mentally for our guys just being able to walk away for a couple days and then come back and refocus,” Chizik said Tuesday.

“I just think that’s a big part of rejuvenating yourself. I think it came at a time when we needed it.”

A wide array of circumstances brought about the four-year discrepancy, preventing the finger of blame from being pointed in a single direction. Among them are schedule changes and the effects of the NCAA’s switch to a 12-game format in 2006. In addition, SEC schools hold a measure of control over their own idle dates, which for the Crimson Tide means that facing well-rested opponents may simply be part of the price of being the team other schools would most like to beat.

Read more! »

By Paul Gattis -- The Huntsville Times
November 24, 2009, 11:43AM

By Friday night, will Auburn coach Gene Chizik be the conquering hero? If so, it'll take an exceptional performance.You study the SEC standings and you realize there are actually three divisions now.

For lack of creative names, we'll just dubbed them 1, 2 and 3.

1) Alabama, Florida

2) Vanderbilt, Mississippi State

3) Everybody else

What does this mean for Auburn in Friday's game against Alabama? Nothing good.

Read more! »

Let's hope the jinx is not for real.

Fellow tailgaters,

This week it is Thanksgiving and the Iron Bowl. Lots of action. Before Coach makes his prediction, what should we all be thankful for football wise? Let’s get to it:

1. Alabama Thank Yous:

a. Mike Shula: Thank you for your efforts at Alabama. Coach loved the retro jersey and the waves/handshakes you gave us at the old Sheraton (now the Capstone).

b. Coach Shula again: Thanks for the recruits we all have seen become excellent players. It is a long list, but includes: Big Dre, Caldwell, Ro, Javy, Mike J, Rashad, etc.

c. John Parker Wilson: Thank you for keeping the crowd off of this year’s starter. Folks yelled and yelled for the back up QB last year, and now they have the back up QB…so they can’t criticize as much anymore.

d. Rolando: For being that force in the middle, the coach on the field, and a first team All-American. Good luck at the next level.

e. Mount Cody- For being the life of the party and one of the most popular players Coach has seen in a while.

f. Julio – For staying steady through injuries, and fighting triple teams and uncalled pass interferences. And thanks for wearing Coach’s favorite number. Juuullllliiiioooo.

g. Javy – Thoroughly entertaining player. Really going to miss him returning punts as he has been a mainstay since 2006. Remember when he would not ever take a fair catch?

h. Mark Ingram – Love your gracious attitude, your initial burst of speed, and your hard hitting style. Just glad we get to have you and Trent together one more year in the backfield.

i. Coach Nick Saban: Too much to say. You have improved Alabama as a program. You have willed the SEC and other teams to improve. You have made UA much better and also AU, UT, and MSU. You won two titles for LSU, and one was when you weren’t even coaching there. That is power.

2. Auburn Thank Yous for Nick Saban:

Read more! »

Fellow tailgaters,

The next home tailgate is A-day 2010. Don’t fret. It is less than 5 months away. On to commentary after a great day and game against UTC:

1. As Coach has said many times, the Iron Bowl is not really enjoyable to attend or watch unless you are winning…let’s hope this year is enjoyable. Coach and Bobby will be on the 2nd row Friday next to the Million Dollar Band, so look for us on TV.

2. Amazing how positive communication helped our relationship with Gene Hallman’s Bruno Event Team. Nothing for Coach to bring but praise after this last week. Hallman’s folks across the street helped us get parked and directed traffic around our tailgate folks as we unloaded.

3. The next regular season game at Bryant Denny is against San Jose State and will probably be a night game. It will also be the debut of the new addition to the end zone, and the debut of a new satellite and tent for the tailgate. That will be a great day. Then Alabama plays Penn State the next week, with some combination of CBS, ESPN, and ESPN Game Day. We have Penn State folks that will be coming by, and they are one of our favorite teams and fan bases. Right up there with Oklahoma. Coach is definitely tailgating ahead…sorry DtM.

4. James Spann, and all the weather guys, were halfway right on Thursday, wrong on Friday, and then correct…when it was SATURDAY MORNING. Note to Coach: listen to John W. and Jerry Seinfeld. Open the door, look out, and just deal with it.

5. Perfect weather, great tailgate and a solid game. The post game tailgate was a thing of beauty and the essence of teamwork. Did you see everyone chipping in to clean up? One way we can keep our tailgate site is to keep it cleaned up and leave no trash behind. We did great with that this season.

6. Back to UA Game Day Operations and Gene Hallman. They reached out to Coach and we appreciate that. So Coach, what were the results?

Read more! »

A very enjoyable trip back to the ole alma mater for Newt. State fans were definitely jacked up for this one. It was the best atmosphere I have ever seen in Starkville. The jumbotron is incredible – and is actually HD.

Read more! »

What gives for Tide with one less day to prepare for Auburn?
By Don Kausler Jr. -- The Birmingham News
November 19, 2009, 8:02PM

TUSCALOOSA -- Next Monday will be Tuesday for the Alabama football team. That's what Alabama coach Nick Saban said Thursday on his weekly radio show.

Because it has a bye this week, Auburn has an extra week to prepare for its home game against Alabama next week.

Because that game is on Friday instead of Saturday, Alabama will have one less day to prepare than usual. Saban said he will move the team's schedule up one day, but he still will not hold a Sunday practice. Instead, players and coaches will hold meetings on Sunday.

During a normal week, Monday is not a rough practice day. The heavy contact comes on Tuesday and Wednesday. So next week, the pads will pop on Monday and Tuesday.

The Wednesday practice will start and end a little earlier than usual so players who live within two hours of Tuscaloosa can go home for a pre-Thanksgiving meal with their families. But they will be expected back in Tuscaloosa by noon Thursday. The team will travel to Montgomery later in the day.

Players who don't go home on Wednesday evening will divide up and eat at coaches' homes.

http://blog.al.com/tide-source/2009/11/what_gives_for_tide_with_one_l.html

Fellow Tailgaters,

Is it difficult for the Ole’ Tailgate Coach to get the team up for this game and tailgate? No way, because as DtM says, we don’t tailgate ahead. This is one tailgate at a time. On to the plan after some thoughts from Coach:

1. Will there be more changes to the parking and tailgate areas this week? Let’s hope not. Coach hears that the roped-off footprint for the LSU game is the preliminary plan from the school for next year with the added seats. Keep your fingers crossed, thank GA Nick for securing our spot, and get there early.

2. Attend this tailgate or game if you can, mainly for those seniors. From Javy, to Mount Cody, to Marquis, etc…there are stories behind each of them. Most likely junior Rolando McClain is gone too, and possibly junior Kareem Jackson. Time to reload next year, Saban style.

3. Same thing for the tailgate. This is the last game for the bucket, sugar bags, huge satellite, and Coach’s old tent. John has built and rebuilt the satellite and it has served us well, and Coach’s tent has seen better days. We will be replacing these items for next season, hopefully by the A-Day tailgate.

4. Coach met Courtney Upshaw’s mother this week. She runs the kitchen of a women’s shelter in downtown Birmingham. Very tough job. Miss Lisa spoke to Coach when Coach mentioned his playing days with TO. She laughed and didn’t really believe Coach…but who would? We spent time talking about her son and Alabama. Interesting conversation.

5. Speaking of TO, it is amazing to look back and remember Terrell Owens in his pre-UTC/NFL playing days. He used to start over Coach in basketball, basically dunking and dominating Coach Hal daily at practice. Hard to believe that TO dominated CH isn’t it? Coach is kidding of course. But it is interesting to know that Terrell was not even the best receiver on Benjamin Russell his senior year, but ended up working hard and making it happen in college and the pros.

Read more! »

It will be bittersweet to see these guys, and possibly Rolando and Kareem, for the last time in Bryant Denny...Coach

By Tommy Deas Executive Sports Editor

TUSCALOOSA | They came to the University of Alabama from as far away as San Antonio and Sarasota, Fla., and from as near as Hoover and Muscle Shoals.

Most of them signed after the Crimson Tide's appearance in the Jan. 2, 2006, Cotton Bowl against Texas Tech, although a few joined a year earlier, after Alabama lost to Minneosta in the Music City Bowl, and sat out a season as redshirts. And a couple — junior college transfer Terrence Cody and tight end Colin Peak, who transferred from Georgia Tech before last season — were later arrivals.

Alabama's seniors, whatever paths they took to UA, will leave a program far different from the one they found when they arrived. They have won back-to-back Southeastern Conference Western Division championships and 22 straight regular-season games, and returned the Tide to national recognition.

The vast majority of the seniors have gone through a coaching change, from Mike Shula to Nick Saban, and back-to-back trips to the Independence Bowl with a two-year 13-13 record before playing a major role in turning the program around.

All will play their final game at Bryant-Denny Stadium this Saturday.

Read more! »

Iron Bowl a warm-up for Bama
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
With the Iron Bowl finally on the horizon, I was talking to a friend recently about the big game.

"You are mighty high on the Tide," he quipped. "But don't you think it's worth remembering that anything can happen in the Iron Bowl?"

I had to laugh. Actually, I almost choked. I wanted to say, "Hey buddy, have you seen Alabama play this year?" But I saved my breath.

You've heard the old cliché about this game: Throw out the record books. My advice this year: Throw out the clichés.

Read more! »

By Gentry Estes, Mobile Press-Register
November 16, 2009, 11:20AM

There was some confusion when the SEC released its lineup for this Saturday, since two games are set to be broadcast at the same time by the league's new SEC Network.

That means some folks are bound to be unhappy, as Alabama's game against UT-Chattanooga and Arkansas-Mississippi State will both begin at 11:21 a.m., meaning the SEC Network will air both on a split basis.

First off, if you live in the state of Alabama or most parts of eastern Tennessee, you should be fine for receiving the UA game.

But if not, here's a list released by Mississippi State that shows the 49 SEC Network affiliates that are airing the ARKANSAS-MISSISSIPPI STATE game. So if you live in the following areas, you may want to check into it.

Read more! »

Fellow tailgaters,

After a tailgate in perfect weather right next to Mississippi State’s stadium, Coach and a few others enjoyed an electric atmosphere and great win. On to commentary and review of the day, and also a preview of our last home tailgate next Saturday:

1. On a serious note, Coach Hal has to say that we will never forget our MSU friend Big Jerry. We loved Big Jerry Grissom and miss him tremendously.

2. When Coach says an electric atmosphere, he means it. That place was rocking just like stadiums in Tuscaloosa, Athens, or Auburn, and folks were literally hanging from the rafters. The HD screen is HUGE and gaudy...and way too big for that stadium…and Coach loves it. It is worth a trip there just for that. You can fully see it from two miles away. The sound system was pumping, and the fans were jacked and filled the stadium for a record crowd. Coach really enjoyed the day, and would put the atmosphere last night up there with anywhere, especially when their team came out of the field house. And then we have the cow bells.

Read more! »

http://espn.go.com/college-football/rankings/_/week/12

Really??? Don't like posting about the Barn but ran across this and could not resist. Guess time will tell.

Morris News Service
Friday, November 13, 2009

The frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy may be a running back from Alabama, but another player from the state who is piling up rushing yards isn't conceding anything.

Auburn senior Ben Tate doesn't think he needs to take a backseat to Alabama's Mark Ingram.

"I know I'm the best back in the state," Tate said. "I bet if you went and broke down film and asked teams in the SEC who is the best back in the state, I mean I feel like it's me."

Tate has rushed for 1,142 yards, just 6 less than Ingram, albeit with one more game played this season. They each have run for eight touchdowns.

"Don't get me wrong, he's a good running back," Tate said. "He's a very good running back. He's only a sophomore and he's having a great year, but at the same time, his team is winning, they're undefeated so of course, he's going to be talked about."

Read more! »

By Kevin Scarbinsky -- The Birmingham News
November 14, 2009, 11:15PM

It wasn't a prediction or a premonition, a threat or a promise, but the words Nick Saban uttered not long after Alabama 31, Mississippi State 3 should scare Chattanooga.

And Auburn,

And Florida.

And Texas.

And yes, that was a prediction, and no, I didn't stutter.

Read more! »

By Kevin Scarbinsky -- The Birmingham News
November 15, 2009, 6:15AM

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- You can change your shirts, change your colors, change your stripes.

You can hang up a big, honking, high-def TV and crank up the volume till your guests’ ears bleed.

You can invite everyone you know to the party, turn your head if they bring cowbells and play dumb when they ring them till the cows come home.

Almost anything is possible if you’re a football program in the Southeastern Conference and Alabama’s coming to town.

Anything but this.

Read more! »

Sorry Florida, Texas: Bama's NFL-like talent worthy of No. 1 spot
Rick Cleveland • November 15, 2009

Mississippi State's Bulldogs took the field in black jerseys for the first time in anyone's memory Saturday night, much to the delight of the mostly maroon-clad partisans.

Turns out, funereal black was most appropriate. Third-ranked Alabama's so-fast, so-quick, so-strong defense turned the lights out on the Bulldogs in a convincing 31-3 Crimson Tide victory.

Which brings to mind this question: Two teams in this country better than Bama?

Really?

Not this side of the NFL.

Read more! »

Replace Tulsa's name with LSU's. Coach predicts off season changes in the rules due to this...Coach

An ode to courage, cunning or cheating?

First, an apology to anybody who comes around these parts expecting it to be all Houston Cougars all the time.

Some things transcend school colors and allegiances.

If you have a heart, you'll join me in paying tribute to the valor of two players from another school. If Conference USA is on the ball, it is huddling at this moment to figure out a suitable tribute to Tulsa Golden Hurricane defensive ends Cory Dorris and George Clinkscale.

Co-Comeback Players of the Year? What they did during Saturday's 46-45 defeat against the Cougars was as close to the phoenix rising from the ashes as any of us are ever likely to see.

Again and again, Dorris and Clinkscale went down with disabling injuries that required the referees to stop play. Again and again, Dorris and Clinkscale mustered the strength and courage to come back from their afflictions — sometimes returning to the game on the next play. Again and again, Tulsa defenders were so distraught by the sight of their fallen comrades that they gathered with the coaches on the sideline for guidance and spiritual support.

With no regard to their personal safety or well-being, Dorris and Clinkscale re-injured themselves and returned to the field until what turned out to be a bitter end for the home team. Tulsa coach Todd Graham apparently had no regard for the safety or well-being of Dorris and Clinkscale, either, because he allowed them to keep playing despite repeated injuries.

Either that, or Graham was coaching his players to fake injuries so Tulsa could gain what amounted to illegal timeouts. It has to be one or the other. So what is it, Tulsa fans? Either your coach has no regard for the ethics of the game, or he callously sends players into the game at great risk to their well-being.

Read more! »

Social media empowering fans to impact game like never before
Stewart Mandel

On the afternoon of Oct. 31, I was sitting in the Autzen Stadium press box prior to that night's USC-Oregon game, checking my Twitter feed, when the following tweet popped in from a user named @hometimrunner.

"Did you see Brandon Spikes trying to poke out [Washaun] Ealey's eyes on the play before UGA's 2nd TD?"

I had not. With the outcome of the Florida-Georgia game long since decided, I'd stopped paying attention to the broadcast playing on a nearby television.

But Shawn Walsh was still watching. From his home in Hershey, Pa., the 22-year-old recent college grad noticed Spikes' attempted eye-gouge at the end of an otherwise innocuous running play and grew incensed CBS' announcers had not mentioned it.

"It was the typical announcer not pointing out an egregious act," said Walsh, a UConn fan with no rooting interest in the game. "So I rewound it, recorded it and put it on Twitter."

About 20 minutes after that first Twitter mention, @shawnpwalsh included a link to his video in this tweet sent to myself and ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach: "Video of dirty Spikes play that you've been getting some mentions of from your followers." Upon watching the play, I could tell immediately it would soon become a news story. I re-tweeted it to my 6,000-plus followers, many of whom then re-tweeted it themselves.

Within three hours, the video had received more than 1,000 views and made its way to Twitter's "Currently Popular Twitvids." The Orlando Sentinel later embedded it on its Web site. The video -- which would eventually garner more than 19,000 views -- helped bring national attention to a disturbing act that had gone undetected not only by Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson, but also by a press box full of reporters covering the game in Jacksonville.

Read more! »

UT Players Arrested - Click Here

Funny because he gives great publicity for the Vols during arrest.

Funny thing is Janzen Jackson suspended last week for failing drug test sometime in the previous month. Rumor has it 3 weeks ago, but played against Bama and S. Carolina. He was suspended this past week vs Memphis.

Nu'Keese Richardson was the guy who Urban called while on an official visit to UT last year. He also tweeted (Hal's favorite past time) about wanting to transfer due to lack of playing time a couple of weeks ago and skipped a Sunday practice. Kiffin's response was to play him more this past week.

Get what you deserve Kiffin. Brag about stealing UF and LSU recruits now.

So many things going on, so little time. Coach and a few others will be in Starkville Saturday. Before we talk about that, let’s look at some other commentary.

1. The UT arrests are funny and bad at the same time.

a. Funny because of some of the jokes out there…Coach’s favorite is the South Carolina fan who cracked “So we pump the gas, and then you rob us?” rebutting Kiffin’s comment to the recruit last winter.

b. Bad because it really keeps the train rolling about the perception of the SEC right now. Interested to see the media’s response to this.

2. What does Publix do with all those non-purchased cookies and bread loaves every night? They cook fresh every day supposedly, and Coach’s inherited genes from Big Hue see a food deal. Big Hue used to negotiate with Winn Dixie in AC and the Humphreys ate a lot of chicken from that deli.

3. Look for every team to play no huddle against Alabama. The pre-snap coaching and formation changing by Alabama will not be allowed by MSU, AU, UF, or a bowl team. It worked for Utah, and it worked a bit for LSU. Coach wonders why more teams have not done that. Just ask Bobby, Coach gets a tad bit irritated when we are pointing and shuffling around and aren’t set to play. Man, play some football.

4. Can we please stop showing our offensive formations and personnel grouping during TV timeouts? Please?

Read more! »

News and notes: Tide's McCarron has moved up the depth chart
By Gentry Estes, Mobile Press-Register
November 11, 2009, 7:55PM

Alabama true freshman quarterback AJ McCarron, a former St. Paul's standout, has been promoted from his earlier role on Alabama's scout team and is now preparing each week for live action.

"He's one of the three quarterbacks that takes reps every week to get ready and prepare for the game," Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said tonight after practice.

Star Jackson has served as the backup this season to starter Greg McElroy. While McCarron has not played in a game and appeared destined for a redshirt. Saban's comments indicated the possibility exists for McCarron to play if needed.

Read more! »

The Houston Texans' Antoine Caldwell drops by Alabama's practice field ...
By Gentry Estes, Mobile Press-Register
November 11, 2009, 5:25PM

Former Alabama standout Antoine Caldwell is playing center and guard as a rookie with the NFL's Houston Texans.Antoine Caldwell wore a nametag and stood on a sidewalk in a polo shirt, smiling at the popping of pads and coaches' shouts before him.

"I see the intensity hasn't slowed down around here, has it?" Caldwell said.

Alabama's former center and team captain the past two years, Caldwell got a bye week break from his new employer - the NFL's Houston Texas - to return home and catch the Crimson Tide's practice today.

Read more! »

Slive may have to adjust rule on coaches
8:35 am November 11, 2009, by Tony Barnhart

Nobody asked me, but SEC Commissioner Mike Slive may eventually have to rethink and readjust his position on the coaches and their comments on officiating.

When Slive decided to get tough on coaches who commented negatively on officiating, it was absolutely the right thing to do at the time. And for the rest of this season the threat of fines and/or suspensions should stay in place. The atmosphere is just too toxic and every time there is a controversial call, like the one in last Saturday’s LSU-Alabama game, it just gets worse. So the rule needs to stay in place to keep a lid on things for the rest of this season.

But in the offseason when things calm down, the commissioner may need to take a second look at this policy. Here’s why. Somebody I respect a great deal in this business made this point to me. He didn’t give me permission to use his name so I won’t. But he did change my thinking on this issue.

Read more! »

This could be fun: "Moore said Jacksonville, New Orleans and New York could be possible sites for a game against Notre Dame."...Coach

Tide vs. Fighting Irish back in talking stages
By Don Kausler Jr. -- The Birmingham News
November 09, 2009, 10:00PM

TUSCALOOSA -- A future Alabama-Notre Dame football game, possibly at a neutral site, has been the subject of casual discussions, officials at both schools say.

The preliminary talk appears to be more than wishful thinking but far from becoming reality.

"Is it a deal we would like to see? Yes," Notre Dame Athletics Director Jack Swarbrick said Monday.

"Will we be able to? That's a lot less clear."

Notre Dame's contract with NBC and the Southeastern Conference's contracts with CBS and ESPN present obstacles. Notre Dame is committing to play seven home games, four road games and one game at a neutral site in future seasons. NBC owns the rights to the neutral-site games through the end of its contract, in 2015.

Alabama Athletics Director Mal Moore says 2012 would be the earliest a game against Notre Dame could be arranged.

Read more! »

Credibility, integrity at stake for SEC

Watching two of the most powerful people in college sports — SEC commissioner Mike Slive and Mike Aresco, the executive vice president of programming for CBS Sports — standing on the sidelines toward the end of the epic LSU-Alabama game and wearing their best Mount Rushmore stares reminded me of that old story from the Wizard of Oz.

You remember when Dorothy's little dog, Toto, breaks away from the pack and rips the giant curtain open with his white fangs? Immediately, everyone sees a little man frantically smashing all the buttons and levers, to no avail.

"Oh, you're a very bad man," screamed Dorothy, learning the truth about the wizard.

"Oh no, my dear," he said softly. "I'm a very good man. I'm just a very bad wizard."

I think Slive is one of the finest men I've ever met in this business. I don't know anyone with more intelligence or integrity. I met Aresco for the first time Saturday, and the Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Tufts (he has a masters and a law degree as well) seemed first rate. Could these two men — who together hammered out a 15-year, $3 billion deal between their respective employers — be pulling the strings this year on college football behind the big curtain?

Saturday afternoon, CBS got what it wanted — another instant classic, a thriller which went down to the final minutes with the game, the division, the season (mankind and life itself) hanging in the balance.

The SEC got what it what wanted as well, a chartbuster title game in Atlanta that could rank as one of the most momentous in modern college football history.

Everyone's happy, right. Not really.

Read more! »

SEC television schedule for Nov. 21

November 9, 2009 2:12 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

Here's the SEC television lineup for the Nov. 21 weekend:

Chattanooga at Alabama, 12:21 p.m. ET, SEC Network/ESPN Regional
Mississippi State at Arkansas, 12:21 p.m. ET, SEC Network/ESPN Regional
Florida International at Florida, 12:30 p.m. ET, Pay per view
LSU at Ole Miss, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS
Vanderbilt at Tennessee, 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU
Kentucky at Georgia, 7:45 p.m. ET, ESPN or ESPN2

http://espn.go.com/blog/sec

Fellow tailgaters,

After an interesting start to the day, the tailgate and game were both incredible. It is great to know that the torch has been passed from LSU to Alabama in the SEC West. That is what hard work is all about. Now let’s get to commentary and the review of the day:

1. One championship game down, two more to go. The BCS quarterfinal is done. Now we have to win two very tough road SEC games and one cupcake game if we want to enter the BCS semifinal game. Finish.

2. Coach is very glad that he did not jinx Alabama last December by securing a hotel right next to the Dome for this year’s SEC championship game. We will be in Atlanta on midday that Friday and look forward to this battle with the Gators at 3 PM CST that Saturday. Remember that Alabama gets an extra day of preparation this year after the Iron Bowl. This is what it is about folks, and as Tony Giles always says: “THIS IS ALABAMA FOOTBALL.”

3. Picture this: It’s 6:30 AM on a perfect fall day. Coach, First Lady Sharon, and Kumar are driving past the Mercedes exit, secure in the knowledge that the tailgate site and parking are safe. What came next is the phone call that no tailgate coach ever wants to receive…

Read more! »

http://espn.go.com/college-football/rankings

Details when they come out.

We all certainly got to witness an amazing moment two weeks ago at Bryant Denny. Seeing a 350 pound man block two field goals in one game is an incredible sight, regardless of what some say.

Read more! »

Fellow Tailgaters,

This is why you tailgate, this is why you go to games, and this is why you love being an Alabama fan. Saturday will bring us the biggest game in college football, perfect weather, Big Head Les and his team, and a great tailgate with friends from all over the country. On to our plan after a few comments from Coach:

1. BRING IT to the game folks. This is the SEC West Championship Game, and the 1st of what we hope are 3 total championship game wins for Alabama (SECW, SEC, and BCS). Maybe call it a BCS quarterfinal?

2. How will Gene Hallman screw up game day and traffic this weekend? Come back to the website on Monday for Coach’s summary.

3. We have some Texas A&M Aggie fans visiting the game and our tailgate as they are doing their version of Tour the SEC. They want to see some serious SEC football, and boy did they choose the right game. Thanks to Rob C., a friend of ours, who helped them with tickets. Coach hears there are fans from all over the country coming down to this game. Fans are coming in from Michigan State, Oregon, Oregon State…etc. Roll Tide to all these folks.

4. LSU – What a fan base they have. 95% of them are fun loving and peaceful and we love hearing them call us “Tiger Bait”. BUT, it is the other 5% that ruin it for many and who were the folks that treated us horribly at the Independence Bowl after the 2007 season when we played COLORADO. Think about that statement. As we did two years ago, let’s see if we can go 7 for 7 again predicting the following actions by the bad 5% of Tiger fans:

Read more! »

McClain's football smarts off the charts
By Ivan Maisel
ESPN.com

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- If the Big Defensive Coordinator in the Sky wanted to sculpt the modern middle linebacker, No. 3 Alabama junior Rolando McClain just may be his prototype: He is 6-foot-4, 258 pounds, and the way his cable-like limbs are connected by a strong torso, he could be mistaken for a small forward. Senior cornerback Javier Arenas described what it's like as a tackler when McClain arrives to finish off the guy with the ball.

"You black out for a second," Arenas said, "and try to figure out what truck hit you. You see him walking away. OK, it's him."

Crimson Tide H-back Preston Dial makes room for Heisman candidate Mark Ingram. Dial knows how to open holes. It is his station in life to block McClain three days a week. He's considering an easier line of work, like being Brock Lesnar's sparring partner.

"Not only are his legs real strong," Dial said of McClain, "but he's so physical with his hands in shedding blockers. He never stays blocked. You have to stop the linebacker's charge and switch his momentum. He's so violent when he comes and meets you in the hole, all you hope for is a stalemate. Instead of the running back picking his hole, Ro makes the decision for the running back which way he is going to go."

Yet McClain's physical skills are not the main reason he leads one of the nation's best defenses with 57 tackles. His ability to deliver a blow isn't why he's a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award.

There are moments on the practice field when McClain takes a play off. That's not to say that McClain would ever line up and not give everything he can possibly give, whether it's Saturday in Bryant-Denny Stadium against No. 9 LSU, Tuesday on the practice field or a July Wednesday in a 7-on-7 drill. McClain would take his uniform off before he would take a play off.

But there are times in practice when the coaches take McClain out of a drill to give a younger guy some work. McClain takes the play off. On those occasions, more often than not, McClain will not trot over to the sideline, grab a water bottle and chat up his teammates. McClain will walk to the middle of the field to stand alongside head coach Nick Saban.

Saban will watch the drill with his arms crossed. McClain will watch the drill with his arms crossed.

Read more! »

As long as Coach Big Head Les does not call Coach Hal...

By Gentry Estes, Mobile Press-Register
November 03, 2009, 8:32PM

Here's a little news from the didn't-you-know-this-was-coming department ...

It appears that LSU students and fans are living up to their reputation and appear to be targeting Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy (and probably a few other Tide players) with cell phone calls and text messages on a big game week.

Read more! »

Thankfully Etheridge is OK. This was a scary moment on TV.

This is a good writeup and worth your time.

Good luck to this young man...Coach

Auburn's Zac Etheridge back with his teammates, says it's a miracle he can walk
By Charles Goldberg -- The Birmingham News
November 03, 2009, 3:40PM

Auburn defensive back Zac Etheridge says he tore ligaments in his neck and cracked his fifth vertebra in last Saturday's game, but says he plans to return to return to play for the Tigers next season.

Etheridge met with the media Tuesday, three days after he was wheeled off the field after a scary injury against Ole Miss in Jordan-Hare Stadium. Etheridge, his head and neck immobilized in a harness-like brace, said he felt blessed he could walk.

He said he would have to wear the harness around the clock for three to four months.

"I'm feeling pretty good,'' he said.

Read more! »

We certainly hope that this is championship game #1 of 3 for the Tide...Coach

Tuesday, November 03, 2009
It has come to this. Again.

LSU and Alabama. Alabama and LSU. Doesn't matter how you phrase it, this is the game now on the schedule.

Some of my brethren waxed poetic recently about the Alabama-Tennessee rivalry. True, no series in the SEC has more history. In a few weeks, we'll flip the automatic switch and start fawning about Iron Bowl games from way back when. Yet that contest hasn't really been important on both sides nationally in years.

However, on the western side of the Southeastern Conference, Alabama and LSU are the two heavyweights — Ali and Frazier. For you non-boxing fans, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier met three times for the heavyweight title. The first, in 1971, was billed as the "Fight of the Century" at Madison Square Garden. Frazier handed Ali his first defeat as a professional, thwarting his riveting comeback after having the title stripped because of draft evasion.

The second fight was less memorable, with Ali beating Frazier, setting up arguably the most unforgettable fight in sports history — the Thrilla in Manila — won by Ali. Unfortunately, the damage both fighters received in this brutal brawl haunts the two men today.

Which brings us to back to LSU-Alabama. Les Miles vs. Nick Saban. The first encounter in 2007 was eagerly anticipated for obvious reasons and won by the eventual national champ, LSU, 41-34. In the rematch last year, with another national championship shot hanging in the balance, Saban won an overtime thriller in Tiger Stadium.

Read more! »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDOy-RMIpF0&feature=related

The University should worry about Gene Hallman and his cronies, not Daniel Moore...great win for Moore...Coach

Judge rules artist Daniel Moore needs no University of Alabama license for paintings
By Bob Sims -- The Birmingham News
November 02, 2009, 4:58PM

Daniel Moore, the artist beloved by University of Alabama football fans for preserving some of the Crimson Tide's most memorable exploits, won the right to keep painting without having to be licensed by UA.

A federal judge today said in a memorandum opinion that Moore's art does not violate any UA trademark.

Read more! »

Coach's information on the 11:00 CBS timeslot was correct, but his guess of who would fill it was wrong. Look forward to a good full day of tailgating in Starkville with good friends...Coach

TV Selections - November 14

Read more! »

Link is at the bottom...Coach

Maximum Block

We are proud to announce Daniel A. Moore's next release, Maximum Block. This masterwork in oils will document Alabama’s historic, last-second field-goal block that sealed its win over Tennessee on October 24 at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Moreover, Maximum Block is, as the artist puts it, his portrayal of “… the Maximum defensive effort given, by the Maximum number of players on the field, in order to preserve a win of Maximum importance.” Not to mention, the Maximum size of the player who blocked the field goal attempt!

Read more! »

LSU can officially focus on Bama now
By Chase Goodbread Sports Writer

BATON ROUGE, La. | Les Miles and his Louisiana State University players might have said they were focused on Tulane over the last week, but it might have been hard to look the questioner in the eye.

A longtime traditional series with the in-state punching bag is coming to a close. But closing the book on the nostalgia of the LSU-Tulane series was understandably the last thing on Tigers’ minds this week. That’s because the Tigers’ road trip to Alabama next weekend will make or break the season here.

The front page of Saturday’s Baton Rouge Advocate summarized the atmosphere perfectly: it depicted Crimson Tide mascot Big Al looming over the newspaper’s advance coverage of the Tulane game, with a headline: “The Elephant in the Room.”

Read more! »

Check out Slive's letter to Kiffin

By Kevin Scarbinsky -- The Birmingham News

October 31, 2009, 11:05AM

The Freedom of Information Act is a wonderful thing. Knoxville radio host Jimmy Hyams, for my money the best reporter among talking heads in the South, used it to get a copy of the reprimand of the week SEC commissioner Mike Slive sent to Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin.

Wow.

Bam.

Pow.

Ouch.

But don't take my word for it. Read some juicy segments for yourself. I added the italics for emphasis.

Read more! »

Alabama pulls off rare feat in the SEC
October 31, 2009 10:00 AM
Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

No. 2 Alabama is off this weekend, and based on what the Crimson Tide accomplished the last five weeks, they probably deserve a break.

Alabama’s narrow 12-10 win over Tennessee didn’t score a lot of points with the pollsters and has been cause for concern there in Tuscaloosa, but the Crimson Tide actually accomplished something that’s extremely rare.

They won against SEC competition for the fifth consecutive week.

According to the folks at ESPN Stats & Information, that’s only been done one other time this decade in the SEC. Alabama also did it in 2002.

Again, that’s winning five consecutive SEC games without a bye or nonconference game mixed in somewhere. The fact that only two teams have accomplished that feat this decade magnifies how difficult it is to win in the SEC, not to mention how difficult it is to make it through unscathed.

Read more! »

Updated: October 30, 2009, 1:01 PM ET
SEC threatens fines, suspensions
Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Southeastern Conference coaches will face stiffer penalties from now on for complaining in the media about officiating.

Commissioner Mike Slive told The Associated Press in a phone interview Friday that coaches who violate the conference's ethics rules against criticizing officials in public will face a fine or suspension instead of receiving merely public reprimands when they first act up.

"On rare occasions over the last seven years there were several private reprimands and that took care of the matter," said Slive, in his eighth year as the SEC's leader. "On occasion there were public reprimands and that took care of it. It became clear to me after last week that I was no longer interested in reprimands and the conference athletic directors and university presidents unanimously agreed.

"For the foreseeable future there will be no reprimands," Slive added. "We will go right to suspensions and fines."

Read more! »

Two reasons why I love college football. The passion for the game and the thrill of winning is amazing.

Coach does not normally read the Cullman Times, but this is a good article. Thanks to our friends at collegesportsmatchups.com for finding it...Coach

ALABAMA FOOTBALL: Saban says Tide playing not to lose
By Justin Graves

TUSCALOOSA — Nick Saban has noticed a trend in recent weeks, and it’s one the Alabama football coach isn’t particularly pleased about.

Instead of playing to win, second-ranked Alabama looks more like a football team that’s trying not to lose.

It’s not necessarily a good thing, especially when every opponent typically brings its best against a Crimson Tide team that’s been played up as one of the three favorites in the Bowl Championship Series national title race.

“We’ve played with a lot of anxiety,” Saban said following practice Tuesday afternoon. “We certainly don’t want to play that way. I want us to play aggressive, with guns a-blazin’.

“It’s like running a 10K race, a six-mile run. You get this far ahead, and you get 100 yards from the finish line and trip. Then you realize that you haven’t put enough distance between yourself and everybody else, and you have to scramble and make a heck of a play at the end to win.”

Read more! »

Taking up the challenge from Coach Hal, here is my stab at the bowl possibilities for Alabama. Keep in mind I only had an hour for lunch to do this.

Read more! »

Very interesting information.

Challenge to Newt: Scenarios for each, and there are some good and some bad.

Got this information from a friend and have not confirmed prices...Coach

Read more! »

Published: Monday, October 26, 2009 at 10:46 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, October 26, 2009 at 10:46 a.m.

CBS has announced the matchup between second ranked Alabama and No. 9 LSU will kick off at 2:30 p.m. November 7.

The game has major national title implication, with the winner controlling their own destiny in the SEC Western Division.

http://www.tidesports.com/article/20091026/NEWS/910269982/1016/NEWS?Title=Alabama-LSU-set-for-2-30-kickoff

Fellow tailgaters,

Whew…what a tailgate. Hard to believe we pulled that one off. It was the largest gathering we have ever had (easily 75-100), and the crowd was diverse as ever for this pre game, during game, and post game tailgating bonanza. We had folks from the south of Florida, New York City, Alex City, and all points in between. The game? Pretty good too.

On to the UT tailgate review after a few thoughts from Coach:

1. More detailed thoughts on the game come later from Coach, but remember: we won the game and should have won by 20, it is our 3rd victory in a row over UT, and 4th win in the last 5 games against the Vols. Remember this when you hear moral victory lovers from UT tell you that Kiffin is the man. Coach actually thinks he is a lot like Shula when you look at his coaching on the field. See the game management at the end of the Alabama/Arkansas game in 2006 and compare it to UT this last Saturday. Both coaches did a great disservice to their kickers, but only one ran his mouth after the game…and that would be Kiffin. Enjoy Shreveport Baby Lane, but remember that there is an age limit at the casinos, so take your daddy Monte with you.

2. Gene Hallman’s game day management insanity was again horrible. Coach has been pointing this out for 3 years, and it will be worse next year when the new seats are added. If this were Facebook, Coach would start the “Fire Gene Hallman and the Bruno Event Team from Alabama gameday operations forever” wave or club. Do you want 3 more examples on top of the already presented evidence?

Read more! »

The Block and Rammer Jammer !!!

I will give you 3 guesses. Pretty good stuff.

*Just ordered my tickets to the Pappa Johns Pizza Bowl
*I can't believe I just researched to see "how good" Furman is
*we're a swimming school**
*When it's all said and done........we simply do not have much talent...
*Trott laughing the whole game,,makes me sick,...
*We've won 1 SEC championship since 1990
*Malzahn part of the offensive problem?
*I would say we have our stagger back.
*Football is making me sick, let's talk about basketball...
*Ledge Jumpers
*Time to start playing for next year.
*Only game we will win is Furman.
*Yall that are always wanting to compare our program with
bama's
*It's tough to be an Auburn Tiger.....
*pull all redshirts let's see what we got
*Coaching is the worst we've had in a while. Our high school offense has---
*Seriously, are we the worst team in the SEC?**
*11th or 12th Best Team in the SEC...
*No discipline in any phase of the game...
*Is Iowa State's resurgence because of the right things CGC in
place or...........
*Why am I waking up at nite in a cold sweat.....

Can it get worse for SEC officials?

JACKSON, Miss. -- Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen called for disciplinary action against the Southeastern Conference replay official who worked the Bulldogs' 29-19 loss to Florida after a Gators touchdown that might have been a fumble was not overturned.

Mullen said Sunday it's understandable if a field official makes a mistake because of the speed of the game, but the replay official can take his time and should be held accountable.

"I don't even know why we have replay right now in the Southeastern Conference if they're not going to utilize it," Mullen said.

Read more! »

TGFMI. Thank goodness for Mark Ingram. I knew he had a good night last Saturday, but I really did not imagine that he had almost 250 yards rushing until I heard it on the postgame show. He had several good runs, but usually to put up those kinds of numbers, you have to have a run of 60 yards or greater. To me, that makes his performance all the more impressive. And while you often hear “run it til they stop it” you rarely actually see it put into practice like we did with the Wildcat on the last drive. How impressive is it to do that on a night when McElroy has his worst performance and the defense knows what’s coming? I will enjoy Ingram’s Heisman buzz while it lasts, but those awards are not what we play for here at Bama.

Read more! »

Fellow Tailgaters,
Isn’t it great to be #1 with our most hated (but not biggest) rival coming to town? On to the plan after some thoughts from the Ole' Tailgate Coach:

1. Coach is glad to see that UT asked permission about the orange jerseys. A few thoughts on that matter: Did UT ask permission when Phat Phil put his fat finger on the recorder? Did UT ask permission when Lance Thompson lied to the recruit in Atlanta to get him to decommit from Alabama? For that matter, did UT contact Alabama and ask permission to talk to Lance Thompson before they flew in to Tuscaloosa? You think Coach is fired up? Coach just bought a pacifier for Lane Kiffin yesterday at Publix. Coach will be taunting Kiffin at the game and will bring an extra one for Kiffin’s daddy Monte to give him during the game.

2. Coach ran into Paul Finebaum at lunch this week and can confirm that he is in on the joke. As Coach quizzed him about his callers and their insanity, Finebaum gave Coach a big smile and a thumb's up. Finebaum was pleasant and nice as always.

3. Thanks for the interview about our tailgate on collegesportsmatchups.com, which should be up later today. Chris Rushing is a good friend of the tailgate, and he describes our first encounter perfectly and mentions many of you who tailgate with us.

4. Coach went to the Birmingham Museum of Art for a short time this week. What a wonderful place that we have in Birmingham, and it is the first museum that Coach has visited in years that is not Bryant related. Coach received some culture this week folks.

5. How far has Spurrier fallen that he has gone from “Free Shoes University” and “can’t spell Citrus without UT” to tape on the field for field goals? His pokes aren’t quite as good as they used to be, but then again neither are his teams.

Read more! »

News and notes: Back-and-forth continues between Saban and Spurrier
By Gentry Estes, Mobile Press-Register
October 21, 2009, 7:57PM

Steve Spurrier, shown here during Saturday's 20-6 loss at Alabama, notified the SEC office that the Crimson Tide used a small piece of tape to mark the spot on extra points and field goals. Nick Saban didn't deny the claim, but turned it back on the Gamecocks (AP photo).Anyone getting tired of this yet?

After practice in Columbia this evening, South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier responded to Nick Saban's comments earlier today on the tape issue first raised yesterday by Spurrier.

"If we did that last year, why didn't they turn us in?" Spurrier said, growing irritated by the subject "Shoot, I'm available to turn in for anything if it's illegal."

South Carolina's holder also told reporters that he couldn't remember using material to mark kicks the past two seasons.

Meanwhile, back in Tuscaloosa, Saban was again asked about the issue. His response was humorous and dripping with sarcasm ...

Read more! »

By Jon Solomon -- The Birmingham News
October 21, 2009, 4:53PM

The officiating crew from last Saturday's Arkansas-Florida game will be removed from its next scheduled assignment on Oct. 31 and won't be assigned a game until Nov. 14, SEC Commissioner Mike Slive announced today.
"A series of calls that have occurred during the last several weeks have not been to the standard that we expect from our officiating crews," Slive said in a statement. "I believe our officiating program is the best in the country, however, there are times when these actions must be taken."

The suspended officials are referee Marc Curles, umpire Ronnie Jones, linesman Randall Kizer, line judge Michael Shirley, back judge Michael Watson, field judge Greg Thomas and side judge Jesse Dupuy. The SEC acknowledged the crew made a mistake by calling an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Arkansas last week. That came two weeks after the SEC said the same crew should not have called an excessive celebration penalty on Georgia in a game against LSU on Oct. 3.

Read more! »

Steve Spurrier: Guardian of virtue
by tommy.deas

Good thing the Southeastern Conference still has Steve Spurrier around. If he wasn’t at South Carolina, who would we have to protected the game of football from tape-carrying holders?

The revelation Tuesday that Spurrier was complaining to the Southeastern Conference office that P.J. Fitzgerald, Alabama’s holder on placekicks, may have used a piece of tape to mark the spot on the turf to place the ball in last weekend’s game might be laughable if it weren’t so pathetic.

Here’s one of the greatest coaches in the history of college football, certainly in the history of the SEC, fighting to be relevant while the game passes him by. Spurrier needs attention so badly that he’s willing to turn himself into a caricature of Gomer Pyle, running to the league office yelling, “Citizen’s arrest, citizen’s arrest!!!”

Read more! »

"Saban also said he was aware of South Carolina doing the same in a 2008."

Saban responds to Spurrier allegation
By Chase Goodbread
Published: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 10:57 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 10:57 a.m.

TUSCALOOSA | University of Alabama coach Nick Saban said he was unaware that holder P.J. Fitzgerald was using an object to mark the spot for kicker Leigh Tiffin's field goals and extra points, and added that it won't happen again going forward.

Read more! »

Joseph Person

USC coach Steve Spurrier on Tuesday questioned the legality of a piece of tape Alabama used to mark the spot on Crimson Tide kicker Leigh Tiffin’s extra points and field goals in Alabama’s 20-6 win last weekend.

During his weekly press conference, Spurrier said he planned to contact the SEC office to see if the use of a mark on kicks is legal.

According to the NCAA rule book, it is not.

Rule 6-3(d) states that “any device or material used to mark the spot of a scrimmage place kick or elevate the ball makes the kick illegal.” Tiffin was 2-for-2 on extra points and 2-for-3 on field goals against the Gamecocks.

Read more! »

By Don Kausler Jr. -- The Birmingham News
October 19, 2009, 8:13PM
TUSCALOOSA - Alabama has denied a request by Tennessee to wear its orange football jerseys Saturday.

A new NCAA rule permits visiting teams to wear jerseys other than white, but the rule also states that the home team must approve.

Tennessee had received permission from the Southeastern Conference to wear orange jerseys as the visiting team in the 2:30 p.m. game at Bryant-Denny Stadium, returning to the way things were until the late 1960s.

But Alabama wants the Vols to wear white jerseys.

Read more! »

By Paul Finebaum
October 20, 2009, 6:00AM

Can we just hit the fast forward -- please?

Enough of these silly nail-biters like Arkansas-Florida when you know what's going to happen. Enough of these mind-numbing cat and mouse games like South Carolina-Alabama when you know how it's going to end. Enough of Georgia-Vanderbilt and Kentucky-Auburn because they are simply irrelevant and a pain to watch.

Can we just skip ahead to Dec. 5 and get this over with?

Florida will be heavily favored to win the remaining six games on its schedule. Can hardly wait for Georgia-Florida in Jacksonville? The only thing in doubt will be whether Mark Richt can keep his fourth loss of the season under 39 points (the difference in last year's contest). Some of the experts say Alabama's schedule is more formidable. But is it really?

Read more! »

Bama -16 vs UT
LSU -8 vs AU
UF -22 vs Miss St
Ole Miss -5.5 vs Ark

October 18, 2009 2:27 AM

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Coming off Saturday night's 20-6 victory over South Carolina, maybe it’s premature to call Alabama the best team in the country, the No. 1 team in the country or even the team that deserves to be No. 1 in the country.

But there’s not a team in college football right now that has mastered the art of winning any better than the Crimson Tide.

They beat you when junior quarterback Greg McElroy is on top of his game. They beat you when he’s not on top of his game.

They beat you with senior starters (Javier Arenas) watching from the sideline. They beat you with budding sophomore superstars (Mark Ingram) having the best rushing performance Bryant-Denny Stadium has ever seen.

Read more! »

October 19, 2009 12:11 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- If you think Nick Saban is going to stop for a nanosecond to enjoy Alabama’s football resurgence, think again.

He’s not wired that way.

There’s always another meeting, something else to plan for, a defensive breakdown to correct or a key recruit to call.

Spend a little time in Alabama these days, and you’ll hear it often.

“We’re back!”

Saban, who wrote the book on living in the present, cringes at such talk.

Read more! »

Fellow tailgaters,

From storm troopers with GMc jerseys, to dinner beside the ESPN crew, to a run in with an SEC referee, to fried bird, etc…it was a full weekend capped off with a win. For more on the tailgate, the game, and the Ole’ Tailgate Coach’s thoughts, please read on:

1. As Coach ran into head referee Hubert Owens at the hotel Friday night, Coach realized that the refs are actually human. Owens was with his daughter and is a very pleasant person. Coach apologized for all of you “people out there that yell at refs” (:-D). We later saw him at Wings…

2. …where Saturday night Coach and Bobby ran into the entire ESPN TV crew. They were enjoying a late dinner, and please know that they had a HUGE security guard. Note to self (and Wings staff): if the guard wants extra ranch, let him have it.

3. Great to run into Javy’s family before the game. Nice folks who gave us the story of #28 coming to Alabama and details on his injury. We were worried about Javy playing after talking to them, and we hope he is OK.

Read more! »

AP - Bama #1

Coaches - Bama #2

Harris - Bama #2

BCS - Bama #2

Fellow tailgaters,

Glad to be back for a home game after two weekends away. We should have a great day of tailgating that will include the homecoming parade. On to the plan after a few thoughts:

1. The Ole’ Tailgate Coach welcomes the Ole’ Ball Coach back to Tuscaloosa this weekend. Coach Spurrier is one of Coach Hal’s favorites, and Coach hopes you all know that this is the last time we will see this legend coaching in Tuscaloosa. Coach sees no way this hall of fame coach will still be around in 4 years when South Carolina comes back to Tuscaloosa.

2. As always, we will fry a bird in honor of our feathered opponents. You should see the look in the eyes of opposing fans when you hold up that bird and drop it in 350 degree oil…

3. A sign that Alabama is playing well: A diehard Auburn fan told Coach that after all the “Bama is Back” magazines he has had to endure, he does not see any of those magazines now that he actually believes that the Tide is Rolling.

4. Did you know that The Fish Market in Hoover opens at 10 AM during the week for LUNCH? Who eats lunch at 10:00 in the morning? Coach thought it was a typo and asked the staff…and they confirmed there are several regulars, and their names are not Gayle and Huey.

Read more! »

By Jon Solomon -- The Birmingham News
October 15, 2009, 12:59PM

This story appears in the Thursday, Oct. 15, edition of The Birmingham News.

With Florida and Alabama separating themselves from the rest of the SEC and sitting atop the national polls, CBS plans to keep riding them to higher TV ratings.

By late November, Florida or Alabama will likely have appeared on CBS in nine of the 11 weeks the network broadcasts SEC regular-season games. Florida figures to be on CBS six times and Alabama will be on five or six times.

"Our ratings are through the roof," said Mike Aresco, vice president of programming for CBS. "We've got star power. We've got two teams in the top two or three. Life is good at the moment, knock on wood."

Read more! »

We are truly getting back to being Bama fans again. A nineteen point win on the road, in a stadium we never play well in, against a team which has had this game circled since last season ended. What do we do about this?

Read more! »

October 14, 2009 11:02 AM

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

Was that really the Head Ball Coach we saw at his press conference Tuesday or just an impostor?

His No. 22nd-ranked South Carolina team is getting ready for a huge game on Saturday, as the Gamecocks take on No. 2-ranked Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium. But it sounds like the game Steve Spurrier is really fixated on is that Vanderbilt game in two weeks.

That’s right … Vanderbilt.

Maybe he’s trying to reel in Alabama. Maybe he’s just being realistic.

Read more! »

Let's see one guy is using Julio's shoulder to jump, the other is hitting him low, and the third along for the ride on his back. Are SEC refs Really this Bad?

Reviewing the SEC
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
The college football season has reached its midpoint and in the SEC, it's looking like déj vu all over again.

There are seven weekends of games remaining, but the only one that seems to really matter is one not on the schedule — the expected Alabama vs. Florida tilt for the SEC title. Did I just see a promo already running on CBS?

Other than that, here are some of the other highlights (and lowlights) of the first half of the SEC season:

--BIGGEST STORY: Tim Tebow. Coming in, he was the story of the year, and following his frightening concussion at Kentucky, the spotlight has intensified. With neurosurgeons popping up on ESPN almost as often as recently fired head coaches, the buildup for the Florida-LSU game reached Super Bowl status. And with everyone from Lee Corso on down encouraging Urban Meyer to sit Tebow, the senior quarterback played and played well.

Read more! »

Also, Ingram is on the front page of SI.com

Rock-solid defenses separate Florida, Alabama from pretenders

BATON ROUGE, La. -- As the clock wound down on No. 1 Florida's 13-3 win over No. 4 LSU on Saturday night, I stood on the Gators' sideline with several writers, one of whom -- Dave Curtis of the Sporting News -- used an adept basketball analogy to describe the current national landscape.

"You know how in the NCAA tournament you have those years where the Final Four has two No. 1 seeds on one side and a four and a six on the other?" he said. Well, if the Dec. 5 SEC Championship were a national semifinal, Florida and Alabama would be those dueling No. 1 seeds. The latest AP poll confirmed that sentiment Sunday by listing the two conference rivals No. 1 and 2 in the country.

Read more! »

Alabama vs. Tennessee set for CBS at 2:30 p.m.
From staff reports
Published: Monday, October 12, 2009 at 10:11 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, October 12, 2009 at 10:11 a.m.

TUSCALOOSA | The second-ranked University of Alabama's game against Tennessee on Saturday, Oct. 24, has been picked up by CBS for its 2:30 p.m. television slot.

Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson will call the game, with reporter Tracy Wolfson on the sideline.

http://www.tidesports.com/article/20091012/NEWS/910129984/1011?Title=Alabama-vs-Tennessee-set-for-CBS-at-2-30-p-m-

Fellow tailgaters,

Coach is finally back in a normal routine after five nights at the beach, two nights in Nashville, and two nights away for the game at Ole Miss. It was an entertaining trip to Oxford (to say the least), and we had a great time over the weekend. For more on the trip to Oxford, plans for homecoming, a brief recap of Coach’s encounter with Pat Dye, and Coach’s thoughts on football, please read on:

1. Coach’s trip to Nashville last week led him to another conclusion. You don’t have to settle for just one cookie at the Doubletree. Ask and you shall receive, my friends. Coach got two at check in, two the second night, and two for the ride home…

2. Coach has been asked by many for a full run down of his one on one conversation with Coach Pat Dye last week. Coach can relay several things, and some he can not. Just know that Coach Dye thinks Alabama is the best team in the country, has tons of respect for RoLo, thinks Saban is the right fit, loves Japanese maples, etc…talk to Coach sometime for a full download. It was an extremely entertaining conversation.

3. As Coach has reported since the second game of the season, Julio is obviously frustrated that he has not been able to contribute more with catches. And Coach wondered aloud recently in this space about how the staff and Julio would handle this situation. Need more evidence than GMac throwing 15 passes to #8 on Saturday, with many in double or triple coverage? Concern from Coach still exists.

Read more! »

By Paul Gattis -- The Huntsville Times
October 11, 2009, 8:20AM

APOle Miss quarterback Jevan Snead can't escape Alabama defensive back Javier Arenas.This story appeared in today's Huntsville Times

OXFORD, Miss. -- Alabama inflicted mental warfare on Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead.

Once the Crimson Tide invaded between Snead's ears, it knew it had victory.

"We just knew he would get rattled easy and he doesn't really trust his offensive line," linebacker Eryk Anders said. "We just kept the pressure and attacking, attacking, attacking."

Read more! »

Bama opens at -17 vs South Carolina.
UF opens at -24 vs Arkansas.
AU opens at -13.5 vs UK.

Are Alabama and Florida the best in the nation? No doubt.

Combined LSU and Ole Miss converted 1 3rd down this weekend. That is crazy.

TUSCALOOSA | The University of Alabama's homecoming game against South Carolina on Saturday will kick off at 6:45 p.m. ESPN will televise the game.

Arkansas at No. 1 Florida will be televised by CBS at 2:30 p.m. CT. The network used a six-day exemption to decide which game to carry as its featured afternoon game.

Other SEC times for the coming weekend (all times Central):

Georgia at Vanderbilt, 11:21 a.m., SEC Network

Mississippi State at Middle Tennessee State, 11:30 a.m., ESPNU

UAB at Ole Miss, 6 p.m., FoxSports South

Kentucky at Auburn, 6:30 p.m., ESPNU

Scarbinsky: Looking into my crystal ball, I see a crystal football in Bama's future
By Kevin Scarbinsky -- The Birmingham News
October 11, 2009, 5:30AM

Alabama linebacker Cory Reamer (13) celebrates his fumble recovery with Rolando McClain (25) and Javier Arenas (28) in the third quarter of Saturday's rout of Ole Miss at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford. (The Birmingham News / Mark Almond)OXFORD, Miss. -- Nick Saban probably didn’t notice it, being on a business trip and all, but it’s likely he wouldn’t have liked it if he had.

There’s a certain banner in the South end zone at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. It’s one of 10 banners denoting the University of Mississippi’s seven conference championships and three national titles.

Here’s all you need to know about the Ole Miss program: Only one of those banners celebrates something that has happened since 1963, and that sign isn’t telling the whole truth.

Read more! »

Evidence so far points to Alabama as No. 1

October 11, 2009 2:09 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

Well, there's no doubt who the best two teams in the SEC are. We had a pretty good idea going into Saturday's games. Now we know for sure.

It's Alabama and Florida and then everybody else.

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AP - Bama #2
Coaches - Bama #3
Fan Poll - Bama #1 (Hal did you vote all night?)

Full Polls

October 11, 2009 2:21 AM

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

BATON ROUGE, La. -- You can see it from a mile away.

We’re not even to the midway point for some teams in the SEC, but you can see it coming.

Alabama and Florida are on a collision course to meet again in the SEC Championship Game.

And after the most anticipated Saturday of the season in the SEC, it’s hard to discern at this point who has the better team.

They both made convincing arguments.

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Alabama's steady rise in the rankings has left the Crimson Tide with a clear view of No. 1 Florida.

Alabama jumped Texas into second-place behind top-ranked Florida in the AP Top 25 on Sunday, giving the Southeastern Conference the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in the country.

The Crimson Tide moved up one spot after rolling over Mississippi 22-3. Texas, which had been No. 2 all season, slipped a spot after sputtering early in a 38-14 victory against Colorado.

The Gators and Tim Tebow beat LSU 13-3. They have been an overwhelming No. 1 since the preseason, but support for Alabama has steadily grown.

Florida received 50 of 60 first-place votes from the media panel, a season low. The Crimson Tide received 10 first-place votes, up from five last week.

It's the second time in the past two seasons that Alabama and Florida have held the top two spots in the rankings. Last year, the Crimson Tide was No. 1 and the Gators No. 2 for two weeks before they played in the SEC title game.

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Bama Dismantles Ole Miss

Quotes from Nutt:
"Very few people score points against Alabama," Nutt said. "… We ran into a real wall today."

"This was the fastest defense if you went from 1-11," Nutt said. "It's from the cornerbacks, to the safeties, to the linebackers, to the D-line. They're the best I've ever seen."

Ole Miss OC, Kent Austin:
"It's not just their speed. It's their size. They're great tacklers," said Ole Miss offensive coordinator Kent Austin. "They're the best defense we've faced by far. Easily."

A workman-like win for the Tide over a determined Kentucky squad. Bama looked solid on offense with McElroy and Mark Ingram. It took a while to get going, but once it did there was no stopping it. The defense obviously missed Hightower. McClain played an outstanding game. The tip to keep a ball live for an interception was an amazing play. The strip to Courtney Upshaw was also a thing of beauty. I love hearing concern over an 18 point win on the road. This is a team that we beat last year by 3. So this year we only beat them by 18? This is a reason for concern?

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Fellow tailgaters,

While Coach could say that he missed tailgating last weekend, he would be lying. Coach, Sharon, and Claire have been in Fort Morgan and enjoying the October beach weather. For more on the beach, Coach’s encounter with Pat Dye, unleashed dogs, Kentucky post game thoughts, Ole Miss tailgate plans, etc., please read on:

1. Has it been a while since you disconnected from work and the internet? Coach did it for about 6 days, and it is the best thing Coach has done in a while. No Twitter, no Facebook, no gmail, no work, no Coachhal, and no Tidesports. Coach watched a couple of football games, hung out on the beach and with the family, and our nightly grilling menu was the most difficult decision of the day.

2. Coach and the family were completely idled in I-65 North traffic due to a wreck on Tuesday while we were coming back from the beach. And guess who steps out of the car next to us and is trying to find out what is going on? Coach Pat Dye. Coach Hal jumped out of the car, and quickly spoke with Coach Dye and brought him over to meet Sharon and Claire. He was extremely nice, took a picture with Coach and Claire, and very open about many subjects that Coach will report back on later this year. For 45 minutes we discussed items such as Alex City, Coach Saban, Coach Chizik, Finebaum, Japanese maple trees (yes, Coach Hal and Coach Dye), and many other items. Coach especially appreciated how nice Coach was Dye was to our family.

3. Coach is always amused that people who don’t leash their dogs are totally amazed when their dogs escape from them and run for their canine life, especially at the beach. The incredulous and quizzical look from the gentleman in the beach house next door as he yelled and called for his dog made Coach laugh. First, he was calling the dog with the screams that so many of us in the South have heard: “Heee-Ugh, Heee-Ugh HEEE-UGH”. Second, Coach purposely set the guy up by watching him yell “Heee-Ugh” for about five minutes and then Coach asked “Dog loose”? The guy gave Coach his best Bill Engvall's “Here’s your sign” look. Great moment.

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Interesting stuff here focusing on one of my pet peaves.'

http://www.cw.ua.edu/changing-tides/game-day-time-lapse-shows-when-students-arrive-at-stadium-1.1938587

I have a confession to make. I was not totally sold on some of the hype coming from Crimson Tide land.

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News and notes: UA linebacker Cory Reamer 'not the only one who's moving around'
By Gentry Estes, Mobile Press-Register
September 29, 2009, 8:07PM

Cory Reamer is one of Alabama's options to move to 'Will' linebacker in place of Dont'a Hightower.

Senior linebacker Cory Reamer is again the utility player in Alabama's defense.

Reamer said he practiced at three different positions today as the Crimson Tide searches for the right combination to replace 'Will' linebacker Dont'a Hightower, who was lost for the season Saturday to a knee injury.

"We're doing some different things, trying to figure out who fits best where," who was the Tide's starting 'Sam' linebacker before Hightower's injury.

Going off the media's viewing period, practice began with Reamer at the 'Will' position, Eryk Anders at 'Sam' and Courtney Upshaw at 'Jack,' which was the alignment Alabama used to finish Saturday's victory over Arkansas. Rolando McClain is a mainstay at the 'Mike' spot.

But Alabama coach Nick Saban cautioned Monday that such a lineup "will be a part of what we do," but not all of it when the Crimson Tide visits Kentucky at 11:21 a.m. Saturday.

According to Reamer, the shuffling today resembled preseason camp. Reamer said he alone played 'Will,' 'Sam' and the 'Money' dime-back spot.

"But I'm not the only one who's moving around," he said. "We had other guys playing different positions. We lost a good pass rusher as well, so we're trying to develop some of those guys."

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According to the article linked below, CBS will wait until next week to fill the 2:30 time slot on October 10th. The LSU-Florida game has been chosen for the 7:00 P.M. primetime game. Ole Miss/Bama will either go at 2:30 or 11:21. There are no ESPN SEC games that week. CBS has exclusive rights to both the 2:30 and 7 time slots.

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2009/sep/28/kickoff-time-ut-uga-delayed-one-week/?breakingnews

Fellow tailgaters,

Another rain-soaked tailgate did not damper the fun and frivolity for our tailgate and the surrounding groups. The game wasn’t too shabby either. For more on the tailgate, the game, and Coach’s thoughts, please read on:

1. About 7:20 AM Saturday, as we hooked up our power and were putting up the tents on the hallowed spot next to the beloved Oak Tree, strong winds seemed imminent and we decided to temporarily take down the tent covers. No big deal, right? But then a lightening strike occurred out of absolutely nowhere, and it loudly hit very close. And we are talking close. There was the really bright light and then - BOOM. Guhh. Bobby and Rob proceeded with what they were doing with the tents, but Beebo and Coach ran like two frightened school girls. Coach quickly went to the 4 Runner, and Beebo “sprinted” and did his best Usain Bolt imitation as he ran to the Sheraton. Tough start.

2. Is anyone else frustrated that you have to walk down that certain small sidewalk as you exit and walk east around the south side of the stadium (construction area)? After Coach looked at the situation, he spoke with Hallman’s employees and pointed out that they were forcing a much larger crowd down a much smaller and FLOODED sidewalk. While they acknowledged Coach was absolutely correct, they had no answer other than “that is what we were told to do”. Coach wants the University of Alabama to know that people were able to get around the campus for a long time before this power hungry company took over game day “operations”. This is getting ridiculous, and many around Coach were very frustrated and they let the staff know it. Get ready because it is going to be much worse next year with the end zone addition…just hope we can walk on the bigger sidewalk again.

3. Coach noticed that our friends at Nino’s Italian Restaurant received an excellent review in the Birmingham News. Congrats to friends of the tailgate Eli and Claudette Gold. Nino’s is located right off of Highway 31 in Pelham. Some friends checked it out last week and gave it another raving review, and Coach hopes you will try it out. Ask for Walter while there, he is quite a character.

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CBS Recap

Notice Willie Carl watching Trent Run

Lots of Bama

Sporting News Article

Good information, thanks Michael. They have not been 3-0 in 20 years? 5-0 since before JFK was shot?...Coach

Ole Miss can’t play with the target on their back. Here’s a quote from an article in The State newspaper:

Offensive tackle Bradley Sowell, who watched Norwood run past him much [sic] of the night, insisted he did not care about losing his team’s No. 4 ranking.

“I’m glad it’s gone so we can get back to working and win some ball games,” Sowell said. “You can’t really pay attention to that anyway. I’m glad it’s over with so everybody can just stop talking about it and play ball.”

AND

The last time Ole Miss started 3-0: 1989
The last time Ole Miss started 4-0: 1970
The last time Ole Miss started 5-0: 1962

http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sec/mississippi/yearly_results.php?year=1960
http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sec/mississippi/yearly_results.php?year=1965
http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sec/mississippi/yearly_results.php?year=1970
http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sec/mississippi/yearly_results.php?year=1975
http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sec/mississippi/yearly_results.php?year=1980
http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sec/mississippi/yearly_results.php?year=1985
http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sec/mississippi/yearly_results.php?year=1990
http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sec/mississippi/yearly_results.php?year=1995
http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sec/mississippi/yearly_results.php?year=2000
http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sec/mississippi/yearly_results.php?year=2005

Makes a stop in Tuscaloosa and good interview with Saban.

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