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.