Thursday, January 31, 2008

Spring start date set

Alabama football coach Nick Saban announced on Thursday that the Crimson Tide will begin spring practice on March 13, but will have its workout schedule interrupted by spring break.

The Crimson Tide will practice both March 13-14, then take the following week off for spring break. Practice will resume on March 24, with three workouts per week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) leading up to the April 12 A-Day game.

The reason for the split is to avoid conflicting with a triathlon event scheduled for Tuscaloosa on April 19. The two events coincided last year as well, but that didn't stop the Crimson Tide from drawing a record crowd of 92,138.

The spring practice schedule is less than ideal for another reason as well. March 13 is also the opening day of the SEC basketball tournament.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Tide hires McElwain as offensive coordinator

Per UA Media relations:

TUSCALOOSA --- Alabama head coach Nick Saban announced the hiring of Jim McElwain as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach on Wednesday.

McElwain served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Fresno State last year after spending the 2006 season in the NFL as quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders. McElwain made an immediate impact in his first season at Fresno State as he helped lead the Bulldogs to a 9-4 record, a significant turnaround from the previous year in which Fresno State posted a 4-8 mark.

“Jim is a phenomenal coach and we are thrilled to have him on board,” said Alabama head coach Nick Saban. “He did an outstanding job last year at Fresno State. Their improvement on offense, especially in the play of their quarterback, was tremendous. They had an impressive showing offensively against a very good Georgia Tech defense in their bowl win. In terms of production, they upped their offensive numbers significantly compared to the previous year. He’s worked with some great coaches including Pat Hill, John L. Smith and Scott Linehan. He also brings NFL experience working with quarterbacks, which is another big plus. We talked to a large pool of coaches when we interviewed for this position and Jim was absolutely the best candidate we spoke to.”

McElwain’s offense at Fresno State averaged 419.5 yards per game (38th nationally) and 32.9 points per game (32nd) last season. That was a significant increase from the 2006 campaign when the Bulldogs averaged 338.2 yards per game in total offense and 23.0 points per game in terms of scoring offense. After Fresno State rolled up 571 yards of total offense and defeated Georgia Tech 40-28 in the Humanitarian Bowl, McElwain moved up to No. 18 in the Rivals.com national power rankings (offensive coaches). His quarterback, Tom Brandstater, finished 2007 with a passing efficiency rating of 140.5, which ranked 23rd in the country. Brandstater showed remarkable improvement under McElwain’s watch as he had posted a pass efficiency rating of 106.7 (89th) the previous year.

“I’m excited as heck about the opportunity to join the staff at the University of Alabama,” said McElwain. “I’m looking forward to the challenge and I’m ready to hit the ground running as soon as I arrive in Tuscaloosa. Coach Saban and his staff have the Alabama football program on the rise and I want to do my part to continue that momentum. I’m leaving a great place at Fresno State and appreciate all that Coach Hill, the players, the staff, and the fans did for me and my family while we were there.”

McElwain served as the assistant head coach, receivers coach and special teams coach at Michigan State from 2003-05. The 2003 team reached the Alamo Bowl behind a receiving corps that set school records for receptions (312) and yards (3,510). He coached 2004 All-America punter Brandon Fields and kicker Dave Rayner, who led the Big Ten Conference in scoring. In 2005, five Spartan receivers had at least 28 receptions and the group combined to a set another school record with 24 touchdown catches.

“Jim is a great coach and I think he’s going to be an outstanding head coach one day,” said Fresno State head coach Pat Hill. “We’ve lost some good assistants over the years and our offensive coordinators have gone on and done well, including Jeff Tedford at Cal. That’s the nature of the business. I never want to hold anyone back from better opportunities. Jim did a great job for us and we wish him and his family all the best.”

Prior to his stint at Michigan State, McElwain spent three seasons (2000-02) at Louisville as the receivers coach and special teams coach as the Cardinals earned bowl bids in each of those three seasons. He coached four first team All-Conference USA selections at Louisville and also tutored three of the Cardinals’ all-time leading receivers, including Deion Branch and Arnold Jackson.

From 1995-99, McElwain was the offensive coordinator, quarterbacks and receivers coach at Montana State. Under his direction, quarterback Rob Compson threw for nearly 7,000 career yards and a school-record 54 touchdowns. McElwain also coached the Bobcats’ all-time leading receiver Chip Hobbs, who caught 144 career passes for 2,060 yards and 18 TDs. Montana State led the Big Sky Conference in scoring in 1998, averaging 31.6 points per game.

McElwain was at Eastern Washington from 1985-94 in a variety of capacities, starting as a graduate assistant and working his way up to quarterbacks and receivers coach. The Eagles made two NCAA Division I-AA playoff appearances (1992 and 1995) and earned a share of the Big Sky Championship in 1992. McElwain coached EWU’s all-time leading receiver, Tony Brooks (2,969 career yards), who earned third team AP All-America honors in 1993.

An all-state quarterback at Missoula (Montana) Sentinel High School, McElwain played quarterback at Eastern Washington from 1980-83 and earned his degree in Education from EWU in 1984. He and his wife, Karen, have three children, JoHanna, Elizabeth and Jerrett.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Caldwell to announce plans on Monday

TUSCALOOSA --- Alabama offensive lineman Antoine Caldwell has scheduled a press conference for noon Monday to announce his status for the NFL draft.

Caldwell, a junior from Montgomery, has one year of eligibility remaining at Alabama, but said in December that he was considering forgoing his senior year. The deadline to enter the NFL draft is Tuesday.

Caldwell started nine games at four different positions for the Crimson Tide in 2007, but sat out four games due to a suspension for violations related to textbooks. He started at center in the Dec. 30 Independence Bowl, and is expected to play that same position in the NFL.

Caldwell filed paperwork with the NFL draft advisory board last month, and received word last week. He is believed to be projected as a third- or fourth-round pick should he enter the draft.

Caldwell has already graduated from Alabama, having received his degree in human environmental sciences last May. He began work on a second undergraduate degree in financial planning this past fall.

Alabama has not had a player leave early for the NFL since 2003, when both offensive lineman Justin Smiley and defensive end Antwan Odom departed after their junior seasons. Both Smiley and Odom were second-round picks, Smiley by San Francisco, Odom by Tennessee.

Friday, January 11, 2008

A-Day set for Saturday, April 12

Per Alabama media relations. No start date for spring practice has yet been set:

TUSCALOOSA --- The University of Alabama football program will hold its annual A-Day Spring Football Game on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at Bryant-Denny Stadium. A kickoff time remains undetermined. Further details about Alabama’s Spring Practices and all A-Day weekend activities will be released as they are finalized.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

The rest of the story

A little more on the story that we ran on the page 5C dealing with the future of a playoff system in college football.

From the AJC story ...

Here is how the other presidents responded when asked which of four categories best summarized their stance:

It’s time for a playoff but I’m not sure about this particular model.
— Henry Bienen, Northwestern
— Richard Brodhead, Duke
— Jack Hawkins, Troy
— Robert Khayat, Ole Miss
— Steadman Upham, Tulsa
Brodhead said an eight-team playoff “makes the season too long” but “we might well support a four-team playoff.”

I’m not sure what the right answer is, but it’s time to at least talk about a playoff.
— James Barker, Clemson
— Scott Cowen, Tulane
— Robert Foglesong, Mississippi State
— Judy Genshaft, South Florida
— James Ramsey, Louisville
— Martha Saunders, Southern Miss
Said Ramsey: “On the surface, I think there needs to be careful analysis of a playoff - and if the analysis supports such a playoff, I would be in full favor.”

I think college football should stick with the BCS.
— David Ashley, UNLV
— Ray Authement, Louisiana-Lafayette
— Brady Deaton, Missouri
— Dave Frohnmayer, Oregon
— Jo Ann Gora, Ball State
— John Hennessy, Stanford
— Richard McCormick, Rutgers
— Sean O’Keefe, LSU
— Graham Spanier, Penn State
— Marlene Strathe, Oklahoma State
— Lee Todd, Kentucky
— John White, Arkansas
— John Wiley, Wisconsin
Robert Witt, Alabama

Adams is sure to meet the most resistance from his fellow presidents at Big Ten and Pac-10 schools, who prefer their traditional arrangement with the Rose Bowl. He also could face an uphill battle in his own conference. Among the naysayers were four SEC leaders.

Jeff D’Alessio writes for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. E-mail: jd’alessio@ajc.com.

Major (Applewhite) vacancy?



Looks like Mack Brown could be prying around on the other side of the state now in attempts to bring a legend back to Austin.

But don't get your seat cushion in a wad just yet. It's just a (unlikely) rumor according to Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman.

With rumors swirling about the possible return of Longhorn legend Major Applewhite to Austin as new running backs coach with a possible title attached, here’s what we know.

Check the rest of it out here.

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Rolando McClain, All-American

Courtesy Alabama media relations:

NEW ORLEANS, La. --- University of Alabama true freshman linebacker Rolando McClain has been named to the 2007 Freshman All-America team by the Football Writers Association of American (FWAA) at the organization’s annual awards breakfast on Tuesday.

McClain, a native of Decatur, started in nine of the team’s 13 games in his initial collegiate season. He became the first true freshman since Saleem Rasheed in 1999 to start the season-opener at the linebacker spot in Alabama’s 52-6 win over Western Carolina on Sept. 1.

A 2007 Coaches Freshmen All-Southeastern Conference selection, McClain finished the season with 75 tackles, good for fourth-best on the team. He added five tackles for loss, one sack, four pass breakups and two interceptions.

McClain had 15 tackles in the regular-season finale at Auburn and picked off a pass in the second quarter, the first interception of his career. Against Colorado in the PetroSun Independence Bowl, McClain tallied five tackles and picked off another pass on the Buffaloes’ first play from scrimmage despite playing with a fractured thumb.

For his efforts in the class room, McClain earned the team’s Academic Excellence Award at the team awards banquet in early December.

Monday, January 7, 2008

Should Caldwell go?

Alabama center Antoine Caldwell has until Jan. 15 to decide whether or not he'll give up his final year of eligibility and enter the NFL draft. Perhaps expediting Caldwell's decision, however, is the fact that spring classes at Alabama begin on Wednesday.

So look for Caldwell to make his decision in the next 48 hours. But until then, should he stay or should he go?

It's an interesting debate, particularly in Caldwell's case.

On the "go" side, he's already graduated from Alabama, so staying in school to get his degree isn't an issue. There's also the constant specter of serious injury next season, which would obviously affect Caldwell's draft prospects for 2009.

On the "stay" side, Caldwell could probably improve his stock if he stays in school, particularly if Alabama has a good season on the field. A big senior year --- he's a likely preseason candidate for all-conference and All-America recognition, as well as some individual awards --- might vault him into the first couple of rounds.

Centers and guards don't usually go that high in the draft; you have to be an exceptional player to do so. Since 2003, there have been 33 interior linemen drafted in the first three rounds of the NFL draft --- 13 centers and 20 guards.

Only six of those --- two centers and four guards --- have been taken in the first round, and none before the No. 19 overall pick.

Here's the complete list (number in parentheses is overall draft order):

2007 (6 --- 2 C, 4 G)
First round

(29) Ben Grubbs, G, Auburn --- Baltimore
Second round
(35) Arron Sears, G, Tennessee --- Tampa Bay
(39) Justin Blaylock, G, Texas --- Atlanta
(59) Ryan Kalil, C, Southern Cal --- Detroit
(60) Samson Satele, C, Hawaii --- Miami
Third round
(88) Andy Alleman, G, Akron --- New Orleans

2006 (7 --- 4 C, 3 G)
First round

(23) Davin Joseph, G, Oklahoma --- Tampa Bay
(29) Nick Mangold, C, Ohio State --- N.Y. Jets
Second round
(41) Deuce Lutui, G, Southern Cal --- Arizona
(51) Ryan Cook, C, New Mexico --- Minnesota
(56) Chris Chester, C, Oklahoma --- Baltimore
Third round
(65) Charles Spencer, G, Pittsburgh --- Houston
(75) Jason Spitz, C, Louisville --- Green Bay

2005 (6 --- 2 C, 4 G)
First round

(32) Logan Mankins, G, Fresno State --- New England
Second round
(33) David Baas, C, Michigan --- San Francisco
Third round
(79) Evan Mathis, G, Alabama --- Carolina
(81) Richie Incognito, C, Nebraska --- St. Louis
(94) Adam Snyder, G, Oregon --- San Francisco
(100) Nick Kaczur, G, Toledo --- New England

2004 (7 --- 2 C, 5 G)
First round

(19) Vernon Carey, G, Miami --- Miami
Second round
(34) Chris Snee, G, Boston College --- N.Y. Giants
(45) Jake Grove, C, Virginia Tech --- Oakland
(46) Justin Smiley, G, Alabama --- San Francisco
Third round
(66) Nick Hardwick, C, Purdue --- San Diego
(83) Stephen Peterman, G, LSU --- Dallas
(84) Sean Locklear, G, N.C. State --- Seattle

2003 (7 --- 3 C, 4 G)
First round

(21) Jeff Faine, C, Notre Dame --- Cleveland
Second round
(33) Eric Steinbach, G, Iowa --- Cincinnati
(38) Al Johnson, C, Wisconsin --- Dallas
(50) Bruce Nelson, C, Iowa --- Carolina
Third round
(72) Vince Manuwai, G, Hawaii --- Jacksonville
(81) Derrick Dockery, G, Texas --- Washington
(87) Taylor Whitley, G, Texas A&M --- Miami

There are a lot of good players on the that list, but just as many guys who are no longer in the league.

Caldwell has played four positions in his college career, but his pro future probably lies at center. And an average of a little more than two centers per year have been drafted in the first three rounds since 2003.

Caldwell is rated among the Top 5 centers for this year's draft --- alongside such players as Arkansas' Jonathan Luigs, Bowling Green's Kory Liechstenstein, Wake Forest's Steve Justice and Cal's Alex Mack. Luigs and Mack, like Caldwell, are juniors who have yet to make their intentions known.

I honestly don't know what I would do if I was Caldwell.

Poll results

What do you think about Alabama's trip to the Independence Bowl?


Shreveport again? No thanks.
4 (7%)
They're lucky to be in a bowl at all
27 (51%)
UA was robbed. They should be headed to the Liberty Bowl
1 (1%)
At least it's not the toilet bowl
7 (13%)
The teams are even, so it should be a good game
13 (25%)

The results seem to show well grounded fans. Don't forget to vote on the next poll.
-aj

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Edwards picks LSU

Tyler Edwards, one of Alabama's top remaining targets of the recruiting season, verbally committed to LSU on Saturday. The four-star tight end prospect from Monroe, La., made his announcement during ESPN's broadcast of the Under Armour All-Star game.

No surprise there. Edwards' older brother, Eric, was a tight end on the Tigers' 2003 national-championship team, and most considered the younger Edwards ticketed for the Tigers from the beginning.

But largely due to the Edwards family's relationship with Nick Saban, Alabama made Edwards' final 3 along with LSU and Florida. But in the end, Edwards went with his heart, and I don't suppose you can blame him for that.

Friday, January 4, 2008

Independence Bowl photo gallery

Kevin got some good shots at the bowl game. Check out the gallery.

Clemson game official -- UPDATE

We'll have a more complete story up later and on the print edition, but a few nuggets from today's press conference announcing the Alabama-Clemson game in the Georgia Dome to begin 2008:

* The game will be a 7 p.m. (Central time) kickoff on either ABC or ESPN on Saturday, Aug. 30. As with Alabama's game against Florida State in 2007, it's a one-off game, meaning there are no future games between Alabama and Clemson scheduled.

* There will tentatively be a 50/50 ticket split for the game, approximately 33,000 tickets allotted to each school. The Georgia Dome seats a little over 71,000 for football, meaning there will only be about 5,000 tickets set aside for the general public.

* Alabama will release its full schedule later today, but athletic director Mal Moore confirmed that the Western Kentucky game (originally scheduled for Aug. 30) will now be played on Sept. 13. That means Alabama's four non-conference games are Clemson (Aug. 30), Tulane (Sept. 6), WKU (Sept. 13) and Arkansas State (Nov. 1). The Crimson Tide will have open dates on Oct. 11 (between Kentucky and Ole Miss) and Nov. 22 (between Miss. State and Auburn).

* Though the game is technically a neutral-site contest, Clemson will serve as the home team and dress in its purple jerseys, with Alabama the visitor dressed in white.

* The game will be sponsored by Chick-fil-A, with the Chick-fil-A Bowl's staff handling game-day management. Chick-fil-A Bowl president Gary Stokan said he hopes the game will become an annual affair, with two major schools meeting every year in the Georgia Dome to kick off the season.

One more thing, Ron Middleton to Duke is now official. Here's that link.

Thursday, January 3, 2008

A rumor ends, a coach leaves

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that West Virginia will name interim coach Bill Stewart as the permanent replacement for Rich Rodriguez. Here's that link.

Update: Stewart's hiring is now official. Link.

This is important for our purposes because it means we can put the "Nick Saban to West Virginia" rumors to bed. Thank goodness.

It's not like I or anyone in this state every really though Saban would leave, even given his strong ties to his home state. He would have had to take a 50 percent pay cut to take the West Virginia job, for one thing.

But now that the Mountaineers apparently have a coach, Alabama fans (not to mention sportswriters who cover the Crimson Tide) can stop looking over their shoulder and enjoy the offseason.

In other news, Alabama tight ends/special teams coach Ron Middleton is expected to be named to a similar position at Duke some time this week. Middleton previously coached under new Blue Devils coach David Cutcliffe at Ole Miss.

The timing of Middleton's departure isn't exactly ideal, given that recruiting is about to really heat back up (the NCAA dead period ends Tuesday). Middleton was one of the stronger recruiters on the staff, instrumental in the recruitment of current verbal commitments Terrence Cody and Jermaine Preyear and current top target Alonzo Lawrence.

Don't look for any confirmation from Alabama anytime soon. In the past, Saban has waited until the new coach is in place before announcing anything official.

Alabama can probably make due without Middleton for a few days, but probably needs to have Middleton's replacement in the fold by next weekend at the latest.

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Zeke Knight, record-breaker?

Here's a note to file away for next season ...

I hate to post this and jinx the man, but this is just too cool to wait until the fall. Wedowee's own Zeke Knight, who just finished his junior season at Alabama, is on pace to set the Crimson Tide career record for games played.

Knight has played in 41 games in his Alabama career, 11 away from the record of 52 set by former Tide fullback Tarrant Lynch from 1990-94. If Knight plays in all 12 regular-season games in 2008, he'll break Lynch's record by one (fittingly, he'd do so against Auburn in the final home game of his career). If the Crimson Tide makes a bowl game and/or plays in the SEC championship game, Knight could extend his own record.

Of course, to break the record, Knight will have to stay healthy. Ironically, it was a medical situation that put him in position to surpass Lynch's mark in the first place.

After playing in all 12 Alabama games in both 2004 and 2005, Knight played in just four in 2006 before being sidelined by a medical condition that was eventually diagnosed as a heart murmur. He received a medical redshirt from the NCAA, and was thus a junior for the second straight year in 2007.

Knight played in all 13 games this season, finishing sixth on the team in tackles with 60, and second in tackles for loss with 11.5. He also added three sacks, two interceptions and five quarterback hurries in his first season at linebacker.