CoachHal.com

Coach has troops on the ground in LA...DtM just got settled in Burbank...and the tailgate plan is coming together...RTR...more tomorrow...

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! »