CoachHal.com

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

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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?

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Dear Coach,

Here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly of Cali since we last spoke:

The good: Another glorious day in Southern California. Watched the sun rise over Mount Hollywood while enjoying some West Coast morning coffee. Breakfast at Bob’s Big Boy (one of the original Big Boy restaurants built in 1949). Then off to the beach – Santa Monica and Venice Beach.

Took the scenic route down by the Hollywood Bowl and then on to Santa Monica Blvd. Parked on the Santa Monica Pier. The bulk of the pier is made of wood and it ‘creaks’ as you drive along it – both charming and unsettling. At the front of Pier there’s a large wooden Merry Go Round – one of the oldest in America. Further down is Pacific Park with the Roller Coaster and the only Ferris Wheel built on a pier. Beyond that is the fishing area and a nice little Mexican restaurant on the end.

The day was spectacular. Sunny and breezy. The only thing missing was the Alabama fans.

Which brings me to the bad: I’m getting about a 30% return rate on “Roll Tide” for the few fans I’ve seen in So Cal. (meaning I say Roll Tide when I see a Bama Fan and about a third of them return the Roll Tide). Are they distracted? Too much clutter? Think I’m going to hit them up for $? Not sure what the problem is but hopefully come game time we’ll be cheering as one.

And then there was the ugly:

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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:

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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.

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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."

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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.

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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.

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