CoachHal.com

About 30 minutes before his announcement today, he received a phone call and then switch to the Barn with an Alabama banner hanging. See quotes below leading up to commit.

Spencer Regions switches commit to Auburn
By Andrew Bone Special to The Tuscaloosa News Published: Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 12:07 p.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 12:07 p.m.
The University of Alabama picked up a big commitment for its class of 2011, but it didn't last very long

Offensive lineman Spencer Region committed to Alabama head coach Nick Saban earlier in the week and was set to announce the commitment Saturday, but instead announced he was committing to Auburn.

The 6-foot-6, 350-pound prospect from Cullman High School is a member of the Scout.com 300 watch list for the class of 2011.

"I am going to Alabama," Region told Scout.com before the announcement. "My family knew that's where I wanted to go. They thought it was a good idea. Coach (Nick) Saban said to commit if I wanted to. Coach Saban was really excited. He said he has big plans for me."

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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.

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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.

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

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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?

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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.

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