Two quick notes some 20 minutes before kickoff of Alabama-FSU:
* Jacksonville Municipal Stadium is in the heart of an area called the Jacksonville Sports Complex, which also houses the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville (home of the Southern League's Suns, the L.A. Dodgers' Double-A affiliate) and Jacksonville Memorial Coliseum (which currently has no pro sports tenant since the ECHL's Lizard Kings folded). It's not a bad area, but you can tell it's not used to hosting events of this nature.
There just aren't an abundance of restaurants and bars within walking distance. That's kind of suprising, given that the Super Bowl was here a few years ago.
The NFL's Jaguars play 10 home games a year (eight regular season, two pre-season), then there is the annual Florida-Georgia game and the Gator Bowl. But it's a decent venue, certainly more festive than some I've visited in recent years (I'm looking at you, Georgia Dome).
* Three key injured players for the Crimson Tide --- linebacker Darren Mustin (neck stinger), defensive tackle Brian Motley (ankle) and wide receiver DJ Hall (quad) --- are all dressed out and participating at full speed.
Motley and Mustin in particular would be huge additions for Alabama's defense, which has been soft against the run the last two weeks. Motley, a redshirt freshman, has yet to play in a game in his Alabama career, missing the first four weeks after breaking an ankle on the Tuesday before the season-opener with Western Carolina.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Of Tides, Red and Crimson
It's such an easy observation to make, that it's barely worth noting. But because it's such an easy observation to make, I'd be derelict in my duty as a reporter if I didn't make not of it.
What exactly am I talking about? The city of Jacksonville is being visited by not only the Crimson Tide this weekend, but by a red tide.
Those of you who didn't grow up in coastal communities have probably never heard of a red tide. Heck, I grew up in south Mississippi and I'd never heard of it until yesterday.
But here's the deal: the red tide is a periodic ecological phenomenon that occurs when red algae blooms near the coastline. According to this Florida Times-Union story, it hasn't happened in Jacksonville since 2002.
The red tide can be terrible for fishermen and fish in general, given that it secretes a toxin that can kill marine life in abundance. It also releases toxic gas into the air that causes throat and skin irritation along the beach area.
We got a lung full of the red tide's effects when we ventured down to Jacksonville Beach Friday night to check out the Lynyrd Skynyrd Freebird Cafe (which is run by Ronnie Van Zandt's widow and daughter incidentally). As soon as we got out of the car, we started coughing and wheezing as if someone had released a tear gas canister.
Just about everyone along the beach boardwalk was having similar problems. Since the Freebird Cafe had a live band Friday night and wasn't serving food, we ventured down to the Bleachers sports bar to watch West Virginia-South Florida.
It was there that we encountered the Crimson Tide in full force. There were at least two Alabama fans for every FSU supporter, an impressive showing considering that Tuscaloosa is 500-odd miles from Jacksonville, while Tallahassee is just 170.
Since the place was packed, we had to sit outside, exposing us to the red tide's effects once again. But it wasn't anything a cold Budweiser couldn't cure.
What exactly am I talking about? The city of Jacksonville is being visited by not only the Crimson Tide this weekend, but by a red tide.
Those of you who didn't grow up in coastal communities have probably never heard of a red tide. Heck, I grew up in south Mississippi and I'd never heard of it until yesterday.
But here's the deal: the red tide is a periodic ecological phenomenon that occurs when red algae blooms near the coastline. According to this Florida Times-Union story, it hasn't happened in Jacksonville since 2002.
The red tide can be terrible for fishermen and fish in general, given that it secretes a toxin that can kill marine life in abundance. It also releases toxic gas into the air that causes throat and skin irritation along the beach area.
We got a lung full of the red tide's effects when we ventured down to Jacksonville Beach Friday night to check out the Lynyrd Skynyrd Freebird Cafe (which is run by Ronnie Van Zandt's widow and daughter incidentally). As soon as we got out of the car, we started coughing and wheezing as if someone had released a tear gas canister.
Just about everyone along the beach boardwalk was having similar problems. Since the Freebird Cafe had a live band Friday night and wasn't serving food, we ventured down to the Bleachers sports bar to watch West Virginia-South Florida.
It was there that we encountered the Crimson Tide in full force. There were at least two Alabama fans for every FSU supporter, an impressive showing considering that Tuscaloosa is 500-odd miles from Jacksonville, while Tallahassee is just 170.
Since the place was packed, we had to sit outside, exposing us to the red tide's effects once again. But it wasn't anything a cold Budweiser couldn't cure.
Friday, September 21, 2007
6-for-6
Alabama fans have embraced the power of the Internet once again, with Matt Caddell's game-winning touchdown catch earning the "Pontiac Game-Changing Performance of the Week" through voting on ESPN.com.
Winning the weekly award earns Alabama $5,000 for its general scholarship fund and makes the school eligible for the $100,000 Pontiac Game-Changing Performance of the Year award at the end of the season. Alabama is now 6-for-6 all-time in Pontiac Game-Changer voting, telling us perhaps that whatever you might say about Crimson Tide fans, they certainly know their way around the Internet.
Alabama won four weekly awards in 2005, as well as the yearly grand prize. That honor went to Tyrone Prothro's memorable acrobatic catch against Southern Miss that season.
Winning the weekly award earns Alabama $5,000 for its general scholarship fund and makes the school eligible for the $100,000 Pontiac Game-Changing Performance of the Year award at the end of the season. Alabama is now 6-for-6 all-time in Pontiac Game-Changer voting, telling us perhaps that whatever you might say about Crimson Tide fans, they certainly know their way around the Internet.
Alabama won four weekly awards in 2005, as well as the yearly grand prize. That honor went to Tyrone Prothro's memorable acrobatic catch against Southern Miss that season.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Video-gate, Tuscaloosa style
Things got a little chippy during Nick Saban's Monday press conference when an Atlanta reporter asked a question about the recent NFL videotaping scandal involving Patriots coach (and Saban mentor) Bill Belichick. The reporter mentioned that Saban had been accused of something similar while head coach of the Miami Dolphins last season.
Saban didn't take too kindly to that. The following is an unedited transcript of Saban's response:
“Where did you get the information that I was ever accused of that? We were never accused of that and we never did it. We were never accused of that, that I’m aware of, and we never did it. We didn’t have any video cameras that were taping. We never got anybody’s signals. We had somebody watch their signals to see if they could figure them out, which we were never smart enough to do, either. I don’t know where that information came from.”
When the reporter acknowledged that "an editor" tipped him off about the allegations regarding Saban, the Alabama coach continued.
“First of all, I have all the respect and admiration in the world for Bill Belichick. Bill Belichick’s a good friend of mine. I think he’s a great coach. I think he’s done a great job for a long time. I hear people say in the business world sometimes, that we’re always trying to create a winning edge. We’re always trying to gain an edge that’s going to give us a competitive advantage. I think that, in sports, we all like to try to do that, but we have to be careful that we always have total respect to the rules, aight, in terms of how we go about it. Because creating an unfair advantage for yourself by breaking the rules is not something I think, that anybody wants to do or anybody should do.
“And maybe creating an unfair advantage for yourself is technically how you’ll get ahead in business, because there may not be any ethical rules about that. We have them in sports. We have the NCAA; we respect the NCAA rules. Do you make mistakes sometimes? Absolutely. Every school probably does. Are they intentional? Probably not. I don’t think anybody can respect anybody trying to gain an unfair advantage by breaking the rules.
“But Bill Belichick is a good friend of mine; I have a tremendous amount of respect for him. I worked with him a long time. I learned a lot from him. And we didn’t do those kinds of things when I worked with him and that’s really all I can comment about.”
The reporter then asked if there were rules against such practices in college football. Saban's response:
“We have rules against using photography and all kinds of stuff, and we try to abide by the rules that we have. We don’t use anything, any technology, from the press box during the game, taking pictures or videotaping.”
Though Saban was not exactly accused of using videotape to learn New England's snap counts before a December 2006 victory, two of his own players admitted that the team tried to do it. Press here for a 2006 blog entry on the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Web site, in which Saban responds to the allegations. (The original Palm Beach Post story quoting two unnamed players about the practice has apparently been removed from the Internet).
I'm not sure what to think about the way Saban reacted Monday. Judge for yourself ...
Saban didn't take too kindly to that. The following is an unedited transcript of Saban's response:
“Where did you get the information that I was ever accused of that? We were never accused of that and we never did it. We were never accused of that, that I’m aware of, and we never did it. We didn’t have any video cameras that were taping. We never got anybody’s signals. We had somebody watch their signals to see if they could figure them out, which we were never smart enough to do, either. I don’t know where that information came from.”
When the reporter acknowledged that "an editor" tipped him off about the allegations regarding Saban, the Alabama coach continued.
“First of all, I have all the respect and admiration in the world for Bill Belichick. Bill Belichick’s a good friend of mine. I think he’s a great coach. I think he’s done a great job for a long time. I hear people say in the business world sometimes, that we’re always trying to create a winning edge. We’re always trying to gain an edge that’s going to give us a competitive advantage. I think that, in sports, we all like to try to do that, but we have to be careful that we always have total respect to the rules, aight, in terms of how we go about it. Because creating an unfair advantage for yourself by breaking the rules is not something I think, that anybody wants to do or anybody should do.
“And maybe creating an unfair advantage for yourself is technically how you’ll get ahead in business, because there may not be any ethical rules about that. We have them in sports. We have the NCAA; we respect the NCAA rules. Do you make mistakes sometimes? Absolutely. Every school probably does. Are they intentional? Probably not. I don’t think anybody can respect anybody trying to gain an unfair advantage by breaking the rules.
“But Bill Belichick is a good friend of mine; I have a tremendous amount of respect for him. I worked with him a long time. I learned a lot from him. And we didn’t do those kinds of things when I worked with him and that’s really all I can comment about.”
The reporter then asked if there were rules against such practices in college football. Saban's response:
“We have rules against using photography and all kinds of stuff, and we try to abide by the rules that we have. We don’t use anything, any technology, from the press box during the game, taking pictures or videotaping.”
Though Saban was not exactly accused of using videotape to learn New England's snap counts before a December 2006 victory, two of his own players admitted that the team tried to do it. Press here for a 2006 blog entry on the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Web site, in which Saban responds to the allegations. (The original Palm Beach Post story quoting two unnamed players about the practice has apparently been removed from the Internet).
I'm not sure what to think about the way Saban reacted Monday. Judge for yourself ...
Closing the book on McFadden and the Hogs
A few more notes about Alabama's 41-38 win over Arkansas before we move on to talking about Georgia ...
* How good was Darren McFadden's 195-yard performance against the Crimson Tide on Saturday? It was the best individual yardage total for an Alabama opponent since Auburn's Carnell Williams rushed for 204 yards in the 2003 Iron Bowl in Auburn.
Arkansas' Cedric Cobbs also rushed for 198 yards against the Crimson Tide in 2003. The only other back in the last 10 years to total that many yards against Alabama was Mississippi State's J.J. Johnson, who torched the Tide for 237 yards in Starkville in 1998 and 198 yards in Tuscaloosa in 1997.
Arkansas also rushed for 301 yards as a team (with Felix Jones rushing for 96) Saturday, the first team to rush for 300 or better against the Crimson Tide since the Johnson-led Bulldogs piled up 371 yards in a 32-20 win in Tuscaloosa on Nov. 15, 1997.
The biggest difference between Saturday and those other four games, the ones involving Williams, Cobbs and Johnson? Alabama won.
* Surely you noticed a few low snaps from Antoine Caldwell to John Parker Wilson during the Crimson Tide's game-winning drive Saturday night.
The reason? Caldwell was playing with an injured right thumb, which got worse as the game went along.
"I kinda tweaked my thumb early in the game, you know, it bothered me a little bit, but everything was fine," Caldwell said. "Toward the end of the game, I could hardly feel it, so I was just snapping with these four fingers (the ones other than his thumb) right here, trying to get it back there to him. I feel better now, I'm fine. But winning cures a lot of it."
* Many were surprised to learn that Matt Caddell had no receptions this season before his 9-catch, 91-yard showing against Arkansas, which included the game-winning touchdown. Wilson said Caddell is different from most other receivers in that he doesn't complain when he doesn't get the ball thrown his way:
"Most receivers do that," Wilson said. "Receivers are open on every play. Every time they go out there, they're wide open. It doesn't matter if they've got three guys on them. He' doesn't do that, really. He'll go out there and he'll tell me what he's seeing, but he's not like, 'You have to throw me the ball. I'm open,' which most guys do."
* The thrilling finish to Saturday's game created an air of excitement at Bryant-Denny Stadium not seen in quite some time. Running back Terry Grant said that head coach Nick Saban encouraged the Alabama players after the game to enjoy the victory, but only for the prescribed 24 hours.
"He told us 'go celebrate hard and get it over with," Grant said. "Because when we come in here (Monday), we come back and focus on the next opponent."
And how did Grant celebrate at the end of a long, hard day?
"Going to bed," he said.
Speaking of Grant, he needs just one more rushing touchdown to tie Shaun Alexander's Alabama freshman record of six, set in 1996.
The Alabama freshman rushing yards record is 693 by Kerry Goode in 1983. Grant already has 403, good for fifth in Alabama freshman history.
* Alabama linebacker Darren Mustin was in rare comedic form on Monday, two days after he had missed the second half of Alabama's win due to a shoulder stinger suffered when a teammate collided with him as he was trying to tackle McFadden.
Among Mustin's highlights:
On fellow linebacker (and roommate) Keith Saunders also suffering a shoulder stinger in the second half: "I’m like, ‘Keith, man, do not come out. They won’t let you back in.’"
On why he missed the second half while Saunders was able to return to the game with a similar injury: "(The trainers) stole my helmet. They took my pads off. They took my helmet. All I had was my jersey — and I can’t go in there with a jersey. I wasn’t friends with the doctors and trainers. Still not, but they’re doing their job, so I can’t complain."
On tackling McFadden: "It’s an experience you’ll never forget. I mean, he’s a solid boy. It says he’s 6-2, 220, but he’s really solid. I don’t think I’ve hit anybody that solid lately. Feels good when you hit him in the hole and you go down with him. It gives you some confidence, like, ‘OK, he’s a Heisman candidate, but I can play with him; I can play with the best in the country.’"
On true freshman linebacker Rolando McClain: "I’m proud of him. True freshman. He’s just turned 18 years old. I have a little brother that just turned 18 years old. I would not trust him at all out there."
On a dropped interception by Zeke Knight late in the game, and his own interception in the first quarter: "The former wide receiver can’t catch. But he knocked it down. I’m proud of Zeke. Mine was a lot easier. Wallace (Gilberry, who tipped the ball) just said, ‘Here.’"
On Nick Saban's speech to the defense before Arkansas' final possession: "There were words said, and they weren’t pretty words said, but they were words that needed to be said. The words that were said were said."
Couldn't have said it better myself ...
* How good was Darren McFadden's 195-yard performance against the Crimson Tide on Saturday? It was the best individual yardage total for an Alabama opponent since Auburn's Carnell Williams rushed for 204 yards in the 2003 Iron Bowl in Auburn.
Arkansas' Cedric Cobbs also rushed for 198 yards against the Crimson Tide in 2003. The only other back in the last 10 years to total that many yards against Alabama was Mississippi State's J.J. Johnson, who torched the Tide for 237 yards in Starkville in 1998 and 198 yards in Tuscaloosa in 1997.
Arkansas also rushed for 301 yards as a team (with Felix Jones rushing for 96) Saturday, the first team to rush for 300 or better against the Crimson Tide since the Johnson-led Bulldogs piled up 371 yards in a 32-20 win in Tuscaloosa on Nov. 15, 1997.
The biggest difference between Saturday and those other four games, the ones involving Williams, Cobbs and Johnson? Alabama won.
* Surely you noticed a few low snaps from Antoine Caldwell to John Parker Wilson during the Crimson Tide's game-winning drive Saturday night.
The reason? Caldwell was playing with an injured right thumb, which got worse as the game went along.
"I kinda tweaked my thumb early in the game, you know, it bothered me a little bit, but everything was fine," Caldwell said. "Toward the end of the game, I could hardly feel it, so I was just snapping with these four fingers (the ones other than his thumb) right here, trying to get it back there to him. I feel better now, I'm fine. But winning cures a lot of it."
* Many were surprised to learn that Matt Caddell had no receptions this season before his 9-catch, 91-yard showing against Arkansas, which included the game-winning touchdown. Wilson said Caddell is different from most other receivers in that he doesn't complain when he doesn't get the ball thrown his way:
"Most receivers do that," Wilson said. "Receivers are open on every play. Every time they go out there, they're wide open. It doesn't matter if they've got three guys on them. He' doesn't do that, really. He'll go out there and he'll tell me what he's seeing, but he's not like, 'You have to throw me the ball. I'm open,' which most guys do."
* The thrilling finish to Saturday's game created an air of excitement at Bryant-Denny Stadium not seen in quite some time. Running back Terry Grant said that head coach Nick Saban encouraged the Alabama players after the game to enjoy the victory, but only for the prescribed 24 hours.
"He told us 'go celebrate hard and get it over with," Grant said. "Because when we come in here (Monday), we come back and focus on the next opponent."
And how did Grant celebrate at the end of a long, hard day?
"Going to bed," he said.
Speaking of Grant, he needs just one more rushing touchdown to tie Shaun Alexander's Alabama freshman record of six, set in 1996.
The Alabama freshman rushing yards record is 693 by Kerry Goode in 1983. Grant already has 403, good for fifth in Alabama freshman history.
* Alabama linebacker Darren Mustin was in rare comedic form on Monday, two days after he had missed the second half of Alabama's win due to a shoulder stinger suffered when a teammate collided with him as he was trying to tackle McFadden.
Among Mustin's highlights:
On fellow linebacker (and roommate) Keith Saunders also suffering a shoulder stinger in the second half: "I’m like, ‘Keith, man, do not come out. They won’t let you back in.’"
On why he missed the second half while Saunders was able to return to the game with a similar injury: "(The trainers) stole my helmet. They took my pads off. They took my helmet. All I had was my jersey — and I can’t go in there with a jersey. I wasn’t friends with the doctors and trainers. Still not, but they’re doing their job, so I can’t complain."
On tackling McFadden: "It’s an experience you’ll never forget. I mean, he’s a solid boy. It says he’s 6-2, 220, but he’s really solid. I don’t think I’ve hit anybody that solid lately. Feels good when you hit him in the hole and you go down with him. It gives you some confidence, like, ‘OK, he’s a Heisman candidate, but I can play with him; I can play with the best in the country.’"
On true freshman linebacker Rolando McClain: "I’m proud of him. True freshman. He’s just turned 18 years old. I have a little brother that just turned 18 years old. I would not trust him at all out there."
On a dropped interception by Zeke Knight late in the game, and his own interception in the first quarter: "The former wide receiver can’t catch. But he knocked it down. I’m proud of Zeke. Mine was a lot easier. Wallace (Gilberry, who tipped the ball) just said, ‘Here.’"
On Nick Saban's speech to the defense before Arkansas' final possession: "There were words said, and they weren’t pretty words said, but they were words that needed to be said. The words that were said were said."
Couldn't have said it better myself ...
Monday, September 17, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Nick Saban, master of preparation
In his Monday press conference, Alabama football coach Nick Saban was asked about how the fact that Arkansas is coming off a bye week might affect Saturday's game between the Crimson Tide and Razorbacks. Saban pointed out (as several others, including myself have also done) that Arkansas is in fact one of five teams that will be coming off bye weeks when it faces the Crimson Tide this season (Florida State, LSU, Mississippi State and Auburn are the others).
Saban noted that it "might make an interesting research project for someone" to look up how his teams had done through the years when coming off bye weeks. Done.
As a college coach, Saban and his teams are 8-5 when coming off bye weeks. Incidentally, Arkansas' Houston Nutt is 8-7 as Razorbacks head coach when coming off bye weeks.
But I thought it was far more interesting (and relevant for this week) to research how Saban's teams had done against teams coming off bye weeks. The results were startling.
In 11 seasons as a college head coach, Saban is 11-3-1 against teams that had a bye week the week before they faced his team (not counting season-openers and bowl games). In only two of those cases did Saban's team have a bye week as well the previous week.
The complete list:
at Michigan State
9/23/95 --- at Purdue --- T, 35-35
9/30/95 --- Boston College --- W, 25-21
11/11/95 --- at Indiana --- W, 31-13
10/5/96 --- at Iowa --- L, 37-30
11/9/96 --- Indiana --- W, 38-15
11/21/98 --- Illinois --- W, 41-9
10/2/99 --- Iowa --- W, 49-3
at LSU
10/21/00 --- Mississippi State --- W, 45-38 (OT)
9/29/01 --- at Tennessee --- L, 26-18*
11/3/01 --- at Alabama --- W, 35-21
12/1/01 --- Auburn --- W, 27-14*
10/5/02 --- La-Lafayette --- W, 48-0
11/23/02 --- Ole Miss --- W, 14-13
11/22/03 --- at Ole Miss --- W, 17-14
10/2/04 --- at Georgia --- L, 45-16
* --- Saban's team also had bye the previous week
You'll note that all three losses and the tie came on the road. Kind of bodes well for the Crimson Tide against Arkansas this weekend, wouldn't you think?
Saban noted that it "might make an interesting research project for someone" to look up how his teams had done through the years when coming off bye weeks. Done.
As a college coach, Saban and his teams are 8-5 when coming off bye weeks. Incidentally, Arkansas' Houston Nutt is 8-7 as Razorbacks head coach when coming off bye weeks.
But I thought it was far more interesting (and relevant for this week) to research how Saban's teams had done against teams coming off bye weeks. The results were startling.
In 11 seasons as a college head coach, Saban is 11-3-1 against teams that had a bye week the week before they faced his team (not counting season-openers and bowl games). In only two of those cases did Saban's team have a bye week as well the previous week.
The complete list:
at Michigan State
9/23/95 --- at Purdue --- T, 35-35
9/30/95 --- Boston College --- W, 25-21
11/11/95 --- at Indiana --- W, 31-13
10/5/96 --- at Iowa --- L, 37-30
11/9/96 --- Indiana --- W, 38-15
11/21/98 --- Illinois --- W, 41-9
10/2/99 --- Iowa --- W, 49-3
at LSU
10/21/00 --- Mississippi State --- W, 45-38 (OT)
9/29/01 --- at Tennessee --- L, 26-18*
11/3/01 --- at Alabama --- W, 35-21
12/1/01 --- Auburn --- W, 27-14*
10/5/02 --- La-Lafayette --- W, 48-0
11/23/02 --- Ole Miss --- W, 14-13
11/22/03 --- at Ole Miss --- W, 17-14
10/2/04 --- at Georgia --- L, 45-16
* --- Saban's team also had bye the previous week
You'll note that all three losses and the tie came on the road. Kind of bodes well for the Crimson Tide against Arkansas this weekend, wouldn't you think?
Alabama-Georgia --- 2:30 or 6:45 p.m.?
CBS has decided to take the dreaded six-day selection exemption before deciding which game it will broadcast on Sept. 22. The two games under consideration are Alabama-Georgia and LSU-South Carolina, with the announcement to be made Sunday.
It seems that CBS is waiting to see if Alabama beats Arkansas before it decides to show Alabama-Georgia. If the Crimson Tide loses, then CBS would probably show a match-up of unbeatens in LSU-South Carolina.
There's no other reason they would be waiting, given that Georgia, LSU and South Carolina are all facing non-conference teams they should beat easily on Saturday. Georgia hosts Western Carolina, LSU hosts Middle Tennessee State and South Carolina hosts South Carolina State.
Whichever game CBS decides not to show will be broadcast at 6:45 p.m. on ESPN. Other SEC games to be televised on Sept. 22 are Florida-Ole Miss at 11:30 a.m. on Lincoln-Financial Sports and Kentucky-Arkansas at 5 p.m. on ESPN2.
It seems that CBS is waiting to see if Alabama beats Arkansas before it decides to show Alabama-Georgia. If the Crimson Tide loses, then CBS would probably show a match-up of unbeatens in LSU-South Carolina.
There's no other reason they would be waiting, given that Georgia, LSU and South Carolina are all facing non-conference teams they should beat easily on Saturday. Georgia hosts Western Carolina, LSU hosts Middle Tennessee State and South Carolina hosts South Carolina State.
Whichever game CBS decides not to show will be broadcast at 6:45 p.m. on ESPN. Other SEC games to be televised on Sept. 22 are Florida-Ole Miss at 11:30 a.m. on Lincoln-Financial Sports and Kentucky-Arkansas at 5 p.m. on ESPN2.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Greetings from Nashville
A few quick things as I sit here some 35 minutes before kickoff of Alabama-Vanderbilt ...
* For those of you who haven't been here, Vanderbilt Stadium has a very small-college feel, similar to Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile or Independence Stadium in Shreveport. The stadium is starting to fill in and it's a literal sea of red and white, though there is some black and gold sprinkled throughout. Alabama fans are everywhere, including congregated outside the Vanderbilt student entrance. Not sure what that says, but it says something.
* Tried to go out see what was happening on Broadway last night, but traffic was a mess. We happened to hit the downtown area just as a massive Christian youth convention was letting out at the Gaylord Entertainment Center. Literally sat still on Demonbreun Blvd. for 20 minutes at one stretch. Not good times. Hope to head back downtown after the game, first to find a spot to watch Auburn-South Florida or LSU-Va. Tech, and then maybe for some honky-tonkin' at Tootsie's or Robert's Western World.
* Alabama is wearing crimson jerseys and Vanderbilt white for today's game. No one here seems to know exactly why.
* Alabama had to cut its travel roster to 70 for its first SEC road game, leading to a few tough decisions as to whom would travel and whom would sit home. Among the eye-openers:
-- Injured kicker Jamie Christensen did not make the trip, as he continues to recover from a strained quad muscle. Leigh Tiffin is the starting kicker for today, with Andrew Friedman the back-up. We'll see if that becomes an issue in the game.
-- I counted 18 scholarship players who did not travel, including Christensen. Most of those were true freshmen, including Marquis Maze, Brandon Gibson, Jeramie Griffin, Jeremy Elder and Patrick Crump. That could be a good indication those guys are likely to redshirt.
-- Matt Collins did not make the trip, a year after beginning the season as Alabama's starting middle linebacker. He moved to defensive end in the spring, but has had trouble cracking the depth chart. It's a shame for him because he's one of the nicer kids on the team, but it seems he just doesn't have the speed to play in Alabama's new defense.
-- Complete list of scholarship players who did not travel: WR Brandon Gibson, WR Marquis Maze, DB Tarence Farmer, FB Jeramie Griffin, LB Jennings Hester, DL Jeremy Elder, OL Patrick Crump, TE Chris Underwood, DL Alex Watkins, DB Tremayne Coger, LB Charlie Kirschman, WR Travis Sikes, DL Brian Motley (injured), OL Drew Davis, OL Alex Stadler, OL Cody Davis (injured), DL Matt Collins, PK Jamie Christensen (injured)
-- Wide receiver Keith Brown and Prince Hall are still not listed on the depth chart, although both are here and participated in pre-game warmups. Neither was in uniform or even on the sideline for last week's game.
-- Speaking of linebacker depth charts, true freshman Chavis Williams has moved up to second-team strongside linebacker behind Zeke Knight after the departure of Zach Schreiber. Hall's presence may affect that some, however, as perhaps one of the reserve inside linebackers --- perhaps Demarcus Waldrop or Marcel Stamps --- may work behind Knight at SAM.
-- In pre-game quarterback drills, Antoine Caldwell was snapping to John Parker Wilson, Evan Cardwell to Greg McElroy and David Ross to Nick Fanuzzi. Freshman William Vlachos did made the trip, but has been working at guard in pre-game.
* For those of you who haven't been here, Vanderbilt Stadium has a very small-college feel, similar to Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile or Independence Stadium in Shreveport. The stadium is starting to fill in and it's a literal sea of red and white, though there is some black and gold sprinkled throughout. Alabama fans are everywhere, including congregated outside the Vanderbilt student entrance. Not sure what that says, but it says something.
* Tried to go out see what was happening on Broadway last night, but traffic was a mess. We happened to hit the downtown area just as a massive Christian youth convention was letting out at the Gaylord Entertainment Center. Literally sat still on Demonbreun Blvd. for 20 minutes at one stretch. Not good times. Hope to head back downtown after the game, first to find a spot to watch Auburn-South Florida or LSU-Va. Tech, and then maybe for some honky-tonkin' at Tootsie's or Robert's Western World.
* Alabama is wearing crimson jerseys and Vanderbilt white for today's game. No one here seems to know exactly why.
* Alabama had to cut its travel roster to 70 for its first SEC road game, leading to a few tough decisions as to whom would travel and whom would sit home. Among the eye-openers:
-- Injured kicker Jamie Christensen did not make the trip, as he continues to recover from a strained quad muscle. Leigh Tiffin is the starting kicker for today, with Andrew Friedman the back-up. We'll see if that becomes an issue in the game.
-- I counted 18 scholarship players who did not travel, including Christensen. Most of those were true freshmen, including Marquis Maze, Brandon Gibson, Jeramie Griffin, Jeremy Elder and Patrick Crump. That could be a good indication those guys are likely to redshirt.
-- Matt Collins did not make the trip, a year after beginning the season as Alabama's starting middle linebacker. He moved to defensive end in the spring, but has had trouble cracking the depth chart. It's a shame for him because he's one of the nicer kids on the team, but it seems he just doesn't have the speed to play in Alabama's new defense.
-- Complete list of scholarship players who did not travel: WR Brandon Gibson, WR Marquis Maze, DB Tarence Farmer, FB Jeramie Griffin, LB Jennings Hester, DL Jeremy Elder, OL Patrick Crump, TE Chris Underwood, DL Alex Watkins, DB Tremayne Coger, LB Charlie Kirschman, WR Travis Sikes, DL Brian Motley (injured), OL Drew Davis, OL Alex Stadler, OL Cody Davis (injured), DL Matt Collins, PK Jamie Christensen (injured)
-- Wide receiver Keith Brown and Prince Hall are still not listed on the depth chart, although both are here and participated in pre-game warmups. Neither was in uniform or even on the sideline for last week's game.
-- Speaking of linebacker depth charts, true freshman Chavis Williams has moved up to second-team strongside linebacker behind Zeke Knight after the departure of Zach Schreiber. Hall's presence may affect that some, however, as perhaps one of the reserve inside linebackers --- perhaps Demarcus Waldrop or Marcel Stamps --- may work behind Knight at SAM.
-- In pre-game quarterback drills, Antoine Caldwell was snapping to John Parker Wilson, Evan Cardwell to Greg McElroy and David Ross to Nick Fanuzzi. Freshman William Vlachos did made the trip, but has been working at guard in pre-game.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Schreiber leaving Tide
By Creg Stephenson
Star Sports Writer
TUSCALOOSA --- Alabama linebacker Zach Schreiber has left the team with intentions to transfer, coach Nick Saban announced Tuesday.
Schreiber, a sophomore from Shreveport, La., played briefly in Saturday’s season-opener against Western Carolina on Saturday, but did not record a tackle. He was listed as the back-up to junior Zeke Knight at outside linebacker.
“Zach is a fine young man who worked extremely hard,” Saban said in a release issued by the school. “He wanted to go to school closer to home so we granted him his release.”
Schreiber played extensively as a redshirt freshman in 2006, compiling 13 tackles and a sack as a reserve defensive end and linebacker. He moved to linebacker exclusively in the spring.
It was not immediately known to where Schreiber will transfer, though speculation is that he is headed to Louisiana Tech. He would have to sit out the remainder of the season under NCAA transfer rules, but would have two years of eligibility beginning with the 2008 season.
Star Sports Writer
TUSCALOOSA --- Alabama linebacker Zach Schreiber has left the team with intentions to transfer, coach Nick Saban announced Tuesday.
Schreiber, a sophomore from Shreveport, La., played briefly in Saturday’s season-opener against Western Carolina on Saturday, but did not record a tackle. He was listed as the back-up to junior Zeke Knight at outside linebacker.
“Zach is a fine young man who worked extremely hard,” Saban said in a release issued by the school. “He wanted to go to school closer to home so we granted him his release.”
Schreiber played extensively as a redshirt freshman in 2006, compiling 13 tackles and a sack as a reserve defensive end and linebacker. He moved to linebacker exclusively in the spring.
It was not immediately known to where Schreiber will transfer, though speculation is that he is headed to Louisiana Tech. He would have to sit out the remainder of the season under NCAA transfer rules, but would have two years of eligibility beginning with the 2008 season.
Tide to face Clemson in Georgia Dome in 08?
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, it's being discussed for next season's opener ... Alabama has an open date for 2008 because it called off a game with UTEP in order to avoid any Mike Price storylines ...
Monday, September 3, 2007
My notebook runneth over
A few quick notes from Monday's Alabama football press conference that didn't make the print edition due to space considerations ...
SIX RECOGNIZED: Alabama’s coaching staff honored six players for their performances against Western Carolina on Saturday.
Center Antoine Caldwell and running back Terry Grant were named offensive players of the week after the Crimson Tide rang up 575 total yards and a school-record 35 first downs. Linebackers Zeke Knight and Darren Mustin shared the award on defense, while kick returner Javier Arenas and coverage specialist Rashad Johnson were recognized on special teams.
Knight had four tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in his first career game at outside linebacker. The Wedowee native moved to linebacker in the spring after spending two years at wide receiver and a year at defensive end.
"It feels great," Knight said. "But I feel like I’ve got a lot to improve on. I had a couple of big plays, but I think I can do a whole lot better."
Knight played in only four games last year before a season-ending injury. He totaled three tackles and forced a fumble as a back-up defensive end.
GRANT HONORED: Grant was also named the Southeastern Conference’s Freshman of the Week on Monday for his performance against Western Carolina.
The 5-foot-10, 188-pound redshirt freshman rushed for 134 yards and three touchdowns, including a 47-yard score on the Crimson Tide’s first play from scrimmage. He also became the first Alabama freshman to rush for 100-plus yards in his first career start since Kenneth Darby had 197 against Southern Miss in 2004.
"It felt pretty good," Grant said. "I have worked real hard and it has paid off. It is an honor. This is a great league."
Other SEC Player of the Week selections released by the conference office Monday: Vanderbilt wide receiver Earl Bennett (offense), Ole Miss defensive back Dustin Mouzon (defense), Arkansas kick returner Felix Jones (special teams), Georgia center Fernando Velasco (offensive line) and Auburn end Quentin Groves (defensive line).
SELLOUT: Vanderbilt football sports information director Larry Leathers reported Monday that Saturday’s game is a hard sellout, with all 39,773 tickets for the game at Vanderbilt Stadium having been bought.
--- Creg Stephenson
SIX RECOGNIZED: Alabama’s coaching staff honored six players for their performances against Western Carolina on Saturday.
Center Antoine Caldwell and running back Terry Grant were named offensive players of the week after the Crimson Tide rang up 575 total yards and a school-record 35 first downs. Linebackers Zeke Knight and Darren Mustin shared the award on defense, while kick returner Javier Arenas and coverage specialist Rashad Johnson were recognized on special teams.
Knight had four tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in his first career game at outside linebacker. The Wedowee native moved to linebacker in the spring after spending two years at wide receiver and a year at defensive end.
"It feels great," Knight said. "But I feel like I’ve got a lot to improve on. I had a couple of big plays, but I think I can do a whole lot better."
Knight played in only four games last year before a season-ending injury. He totaled three tackles and forced a fumble as a back-up defensive end.
GRANT HONORED: Grant was also named the Southeastern Conference’s Freshman of the Week on Monday for his performance against Western Carolina.
The 5-foot-10, 188-pound redshirt freshman rushed for 134 yards and three touchdowns, including a 47-yard score on the Crimson Tide’s first play from scrimmage. He also became the first Alabama freshman to rush for 100-plus yards in his first career start since Kenneth Darby had 197 against Southern Miss in 2004.
"It felt pretty good," Grant said. "I have worked real hard and it has paid off. It is an honor. This is a great league."
Other SEC Player of the Week selections released by the conference office Monday: Vanderbilt wide receiver Earl Bennett (offense), Ole Miss defensive back Dustin Mouzon (defense), Arkansas kick returner Felix Jones (special teams), Georgia center Fernando Velasco (offensive line) and Auburn end Quentin Groves (defensive line).
SELLOUT: Vanderbilt football sports information director Larry Leathers reported Monday that Saturday’s game is a hard sellout, with all 39,773 tickets for the game at Vanderbilt Stadium having been bought.
--- Creg Stephenson
This and That from T'town
TUSCALOOSA --- Word of Appalachian State’s stunning upset victory at Michigan spread quickly throughout the college football world on Saturday, and the Alabama locker-room was no exception.
The Mountaineers’ victory over the Wolverines might have carried special poignancy for the Crimson Tide heading into its season opener against Western Carolina, given that Appalachian State and WCU both play in the Southern Conference of the NCAA’s Football Championship Sub-division. But Alabama’s players were intent on focusing on their own performance, not that of the Wolverines.
“No, we were concerned about what we had to do,” cornerback Simeon Castille said. “We weren’t really worried about who we were playing. If we take care of our end, after 60 minutes, we’ll see what the scoreboard says.”
It’s worth noting that not all FCS teams are created equal, particularly in this case. While Appalachian State has won back-to-back Division I-AA national championships, the Catamounts went 2-9 last year and have now lost 10 consecutive games after Saturday’s 52-6 loss to the Crimson Tide.
KNIGHT’S NIGHT: Since Alabama opened the game in five-defensive-back alignment, linebacker Zeke Knight technically did not make his first career start for the Crimson Tide Saturday night.
But the Wedowee native did make his mark in the game. He had four tackles on the night, including a sack of Western Carolina quarterback Todd Spitzer that resulted in a 16-yard loss and a fumble. Freshman defensive tackle Alfred McCullough fell on the ball for Alabama’s first turnover of the game.
“We just ran a little blitz and they messed up on their blocks,” said Knight, a Wedowee native. “I came free and I was just trying to make something happen.”
Knight played in just four games as a defensive end in 2006 before his season ended due to complications from a previously undiagnosed heart murmur. He had corrective surgery in February and earned a starting job at outside linebacker in spring practice.
GIANT BLOCK: Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith turned in a rare highlight-reel play for a player at his position Saturday night, driving a Western Carolina defender nearly 30 yards down the field ahead of a 20-yard swing pass to running back Jimmy Johns.
Smith, one of the most celebrated offensive line recruits in college football history, earned a starting job as a true freshman in 2006. He had several memorable moments, including a crushing crack-back block against Arkansas defensive end Antwain Robinson last September.
His teammates are getting used to seeing that kind of thing from the 6-foot-4, 348-pound sophomore.
“That’s just Andre, he’s the most awesome offensive lineman I’ve seen since I’ve been playing football,” center Antoine Caldwell said. “I can’t say enough about him. He’s amazing. He does everything great players do.”
Smith, a Birmingham native, earned Freshman All-America and Freshman All-Southeastern Conference honors in 2006. He was a first-team preseason All-SEC pick this season.
--- Creg StephensonSunday, September 2, 2007
Check the Star's photo gallery
We got 63 photos into the Alabama photo gallery click the image above or click here to check out the gallery.We also have galleries for JSU, Auburn and high school.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Game time
The game has started and I'm not allowed to give posts during the game. Stay tuned to Anniston Star.com for more coverage. I'll try to get something up here as soon as the game is over. We'll also have a photo gallery on the web late tonight or early tomorrow.
-Andy
-Andy
A couple of shirts I saw
I saw plenty of Saban-related shirts today. One of them said "Saban's here. Grab a beer." There was also one that said "Got Nick?" like the "Got Milk?" shirts. Here are a couple of others.
Saban sighting
Inside the stadium now.
At 4:05 the student section began cheering. I wasn't sure what they were cheering about until Creg pointed out the gray suited figure walking down the field.
Nick Saban was escorted by two Alabama State Troopers as he walked around the turf. I don't know why or what he was doing, but the crowd liked it. They cheered until he went back into the tunnel.
His wife walked onto the field about 10 minutes later and they cheered her too. This is going to be a wild one.
-Andy
App State wins ... in HD
When Appalachian State blocked Michigan's field goal the mass of people that had gathered 'round the tailgaters' televisions erupted.
The reaction made me realize just how many televisions and satellites there were in the quad.
And these are nice TVs too.
These people have televisions in this field that are nicer than the one in my living room.
I can remember when it was cool to tailgate with a tiny TV and bunny ear antennas. Here it is all flat screen HDTVs.
A few people even have projectors and screens.
When I walked around the quad just before 3 p.m. I saw about five games on, mostly Georgia Tech and Notre Dame.
Michael Huffman, of Trussville, told me he planned on watched the Michigan--I mean Appalachian State--game first, then Tech and ND, and would watch the Cal-Tennessee game after Alabama.
He bought a 32-inch Vizio HD flat screen last night for the game today.
"There's not a place in the living room for it yet," he said.
Here are some more pictures of the TVs at the game. The biggest one was set up by the Game Day Operations staff, who had a giant screen out in the quad showing the Tech-ND game.
A groan
Michigan just scored a touchdown to pull ahead and all of the tailgaters here groaned. I don't think many people care about Appalachian State, but they probably all want Michigan to lose to help Alabama's chances of moving into the top 25.
-Andy
-Andy
Bad news for scalpers
Creg and I got to Tuscaloosa about 45 minutes ago. We've already seen plenty to blog about.
Here's a picture of one of the nicest tailgate tents I've ever seen.
Mostly everyone seems to be throwing football and watching the Michigan--App State Game, hoping that Michigan loses. Appalachian State is leading with 12 minutes to go.
We've seen a dog in a jersey and the Bear twins, but I couldn't get to the camera before we past them.
But back to the title of this post, I just talked to someone trying to sell tickets for today's game. He had two on the lower level on the north end zone side for $100 for both. I expected much higher prices. The tickets retail for $32 each, so that's not as big of a mark up as I expected.
I did see one scalper trying to sell an entire sheet of season tickets. I'll catch up with him later and try to see how much he is asking.
I'll also try to get a picture of the Bear twins-- two twin blonde students with houndstooth hats and short houndstooth skirts. That should increase traffic on this blog for sure.
Plenty of Saban-style wide brim straw hats. More on that later.
-Andy
Here's a picture of one of the nicest tailgate tents I've ever seen.
Mostly everyone seems to be throwing football and watching the Michigan--App State Game, hoping that Michigan loses. Appalachian State is leading with 12 minutes to go.
We've seen a dog in a jersey and the Bear twins, but I couldn't get to the camera before we past them.
But back to the title of this post, I just talked to someone trying to sell tickets for today's game. He had two on the lower level on the north end zone side for $100 for both. I expected much higher prices. The tickets retail for $32 each, so that's not as big of a mark up as I expected.
I did see one scalper trying to sell an entire sheet of season tickets. I'll catch up with him later and try to see how much he is asking.
I'll also try to get a picture of the Bear twins-- two twin blonde students with houndstooth hats and short houndstooth skirts. That should increase traffic on this blog for sure.
Plenty of Saban-style wide brim straw hats. More on that later.
-Andy
Bama fans, prepare to be ... 'Sabanized'
 |
| Alabama freshman Garner Mills of Mobile looks at the week-old Nick Saban exhibit at the Paul W. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa. Photo: Andy Johns/The Anniston Star |
TUSCALOOSA — Rib smokers at Dreamland Bar-B-Que have been through their share of football games, but even the veterans admitted Friday to not knowing what to expect from the throng of fans, "now that they've been Sabanized."
Dreamland employee Jeannette Bishop-Hall said she expected the normally wild crowd to be "crazy" today, as Tide fans welcome the start of football season and new head coach Nick Saban.
Tailgaters began arriving in RVs as soon as the lots opened around 11 a.m. Friday. Rani Christie of Millbrook, sitting in a crimson folding chair in the shade of his RV's canopy, said this year seems different than most openers because of the new coach. "There seems to be more excitement," he said. "It's going to be interesting to see how different it is inside (the stadium)."
Fellow tailgater Tom Sanford said he planned to save his ticket stub and snapshots of the coach's first game and display them in a montage. "I think it's the start of a new era," he said.
But Christie said the fans' fervor is not unconditional. He hopes for eight wins this season, he said, and expects at least seven. "Anything less than 7 and 5, and he'll be in trouble from the get-go," he said of Saban.
If fans' expectations aren't enough pressure, Saban shouldn't have to look far to remember whose shoes he's stepping into. The Paul W. Bryant Museum put up a Saban exhibit about a week and a half ago. Assistant Curator Brad Green said fans had been asking for a Saban exhibit all summer.
Standing at the exhibit around lunchtime Friday was Nick Mazza, who drove more than 14 hours with is wife and sons from Carbondale, Pa., to be at Saban's debut.
"For the boys, they definitely had to be part of history," said Mazza, who also drove down for the spring game.
Another museum visitor, Carla Breedlove of Salisbury, N.C., noted that the exhibit, which features a video, photo, and short biography of Saban, has plenty of room for trophies.
"And we want plenty of them," she said.
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