Thursday, November 13, 2008

Memories of 1980 Mississippi State loss still hurt

TUSCALOOSA — The memories are not pleasant for former Alabama quarterback Don Jacobs. When Jacobs, the football coach at Elkmont High, talks with his Alabama teammates about their years playing together, the 1980 game against Mississippi State never comes up.
“We talk about the good times,” Jacobs said. “We don’t talk about the bad times.”
On Nov. 1 of that year, the then-No. 1 Tide came to Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson, Miss., undefeated and riding a 28-game winning streak. It eyed its third consecutive national championship and an 8-0 record. But the Bulldogs stuffed the Tide, allowing 180 total yards in a 6-3 win.
“It was as tough a loss as any I had ever been around,” Jacobs said. “We had won a bunch of games, we had not gone through a loss and having to feel those emotions.”
Before this year, that day was the most recent time Alabama was ranked No. 1 in the regular season.
If Alabama wins this year’s game, it will not bring any kind of retribution or closure for members of the 1980 team. That loss has its own place in their personal histories.
“It’s a new day. You are talking about different coaches, players, offenses and defenses,” former Tide running back Major Ogilvie said. “That game is what it is. Going back 28 years, that’s a long time, and a lot has changed since then.”
If there is one constant between the two games, it’s the fact that Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom will be a part of each one as a coach. In 1980, he was Alabama’s inside linebackers coach.
“It was disappointing to lose that game because I think that was definitely a national championship-caliber team,” Croom said. “Mississippi State ended that.”
• DAVIS NO LONGER IGNORED: Right tackle Drew Davis is kind of the forgotten man on Alabama’s offensive line. He did not start before this season, and most of his playing time before 2007 came in mop-up duty.
But last Saturday Davis was a key contributor in preventing LSU from sacking quarterback John Parker Wilson. The coaching staff named Davis one of the offensive players of the week for his play.
“I've always been confident. Coming through the spring, I just felt comfortable,” Davis said. “I think we've stepped up. I think we've continuously gotten better, and I think we'll continue to get better.”
• GRANT WILL GET TOUCHES: With running back Roy Upchurch still nursing a neck injury, Tide coach Nick Saban reiterated that running back Terry Grant could see more action Saturday against the Bulldogs.
Last year, Grant led the Tide with 891 yards rushing, but has seen himself fall behind Glen Coffee, Mark Ingram and Upchurch at running back.
“You have to be ready to take advantage of the opportunity when you get it,” Saban said. “He has worked hard and done a good job the last few weeks, and will probably have a good chance to have an opportunity some in this game.”
• CODY CANNONBALLS HURT: Imagine how much this would hurt: 6-foot-5, 365-pound nose tackle Terrence Cody diving on a pile of players. Of course, it would hurt the most if you are at the bottom of the pile.
“He loves to play football, he loves to hit, he loves to fly around. As big as he is, he runs to the ball, dives on piles and everything,” defensive end Brandon Deaderick said. “He dove on me once or twice last week.”
— Josh Cooper

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Saban stays mum on Presidential election

TUSCALOOSA — Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban had a stake in last Tuesday’s elections. While Saban did not say whether he voted for Barack Obama or John McCain for President, his good friend, West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin, won reelection. Manchin defeated Russ Weeks.
“All I know is, there are a whole bunch of people who voted for the guy who won and a whole bunch of people who voted for the guy that lost,” Saban said. “So why would I talk about either one of them? Seems to me like I’d be making a mistake with a whole bunch of people.”
On Tuesday night, players crammed in front of their televisions to watch the eventual outcome.
“That was a big time for our country, and a lot of guys paid attention to it,” left guard Mike Johnson said. “A lot of people were like, ‘Come to my house to watch the election.’ Like it was a football game or something.”
• SABAN SHINES LIGHT ON MILES: Saban tried to put to rest the talk of LSU coach Les Miles living in his shadow.
“I like Les Miles. He’s won more games there than I’d have won if I had stayed,” Saban said. “I don’t know why anybody is upset that I left, because they’ve done better since I left than when I was there.”
In this three-plus years at LSU, Miles has a 40-8 record. In four years at LSU, Saban finished with a 48-16 record.
“Les might not like me, but I have no personal problems with any of this stuff,” Saban said.
• SMITH ALMOST WENT TO LSU: Left tackle Andre Smith said he came close to choosing LSU over Alabama. In 2006, when Smith made his choice to play with the Tide, the Tigers were his second selection.
“(Alabama) was close to home, and I was able to go to church on Sundays back home, and my family would’ve had to drive five hours if I was at LSU,” Smith said, adding with a smile, “Nothing is like my church.”
• DAVIS READY FOR RETURN: Alabama defensive end Luther Davis has good reason to be nervous for his family, for himself and for his football future.
In 2007, Davis, a native of West Monroe, La., publicly committed to LSU, took back his commitment and went with Alabama after visiting Tuscaloosa. Tigers fans called him a traitor, and Davis says his father, who worked for LSU fans, almost lost his job.
“It was pretty emotional, just for my family experiencing things every day,” Davis said. “Just having the whole city and state turn their back on you, treating you all kinds of ways, calling you names, just because you didn’t do what was best for them, but best for yourself.”
Davis said that when he informed LSU coach Les Miles of his decision, Miles referred to Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban as the devil. Miles refuted the claim and said that Davis has reached out to LSU in the past year, though he did not specify the reasoning. Davis was suspended for spring practice for an undisclosed reason.
“I know (Davis) has tried to communicate with this program several times since he’s been at Alabama,” Miles said. “Emails, texts. We have not communicated with him. We just wish him the very best.”
Davis said he is not nervous about his return. In fact, he has received ticket requests from as far west as Washington and California.
“I’ve been trying to get myself prepared for it for about a year now. I’m trying not to think about it, but at the same time, I know what’s going to happen is going to happen, so I’m just trying to bear with it the best I can.”
• LSU DEFENSE A PROBLEM FOR LSU: In its past three SEC games, the Tigers have allowed 120 points to Florida, South Carolina and Georgia combined. Does that sound like an LSU defense?
“You don’t expect that from an LSU defense at all,” quarterback John Parker Wilson said.
The Tigers might have lost first-round NFL pick Glenn Dorsey, but it still has several talented players in defensive ends Tyson Jackson and Ricky Jean-Francois, as well as linebacker Darry Beckwith. Despite the bad numbers, it still has the talent to be a top defensive unit.
“We’re going to go in there expecting that they’re the best team we play,” Wilson said. “They’re going to be the best defense we’ve played and we’ve got to go at them.”
• MOUNT CODY RETURNS?: Nose tackle Terrence Cody is expected back after missing the past two games with a strained right knee ligament.
Saban said the amount Cody plays depends on how much stamina he can build up as the Tide prepares to face the Tigers. But Cody’s return might not matter all that much. Without Cody, Alabama allowed 173 total yards to Tennessee and 158 total to Arkansas State. But LSU brings a better running attack than either of those teams. The Tigers average 186.13 yards of rushing offense per game.
— Josh Cooper

Sunday, November 2, 2008

LSU coach Miles happy he's not in Saban's position

TUSCALOOSA — LSU coach Les Miles said can’t imagine what it would be like to coach against a team he had an emotional bond with. He never has, but he almost did. In 2006, LSU could have played the Michigan Wolverines, Miles’ alma mater, in the Rose Bowl, had Florida not gone to the national championship game that year. Instead, LSU played Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl.
“When it fell through I can't tell you how happy I was,” Miles said. “I just was relieved. It would not have been something I would have enjoyed.”
• TIDE STRUGGLE THROUGH AIR: Within its dominating 35-0 victory, Alabama did have one trouble spot — it’s ability to pass the ball with consistency.
Quarterback John Parker Wilson completed 15 of 28 passes for 152 yards. He was also picked off in the end zone for his fourth interception this season.
“We didn’t throw the ball like we are used to,” Wilson said.
Added Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban, “I think they played a little bit of a match-up coverage at times and that forced (John Parker) to hold the ball. And they played man-to-man a few times and our guys didn’t get away from them as well as we need to.”
• TIDE WON’T FORGET LOSS TO LA.-MONROE: Even with Alabama’s victory against the Red Wolves, the signs representing the Crimson Tide’s 2007 loss to Louisiana-Monroe will remain throughout Alabama’s football complex.
While the Tide might have dominated Arkansas State, Saban said he wants to continue sending a message to his team. But he understands that there are more players who follow his program than last year, and that has lent to Alabama’s undefeated record.
“We have more guys getting it,” Saban said. “We’re starting to develop that attitude of ‘Be as good as you can be,’ and ‘Don't play to your opponent.’”
• TIDE STILL HEALTHY: As it has most weeks this season, Alabama came out of Saturday’s game with Arkansas State in relatively good health.
Running back Glen Coffee bruised his bicep and fellow back Mark Ingram bruised his knee on his 17-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Saban said that both injuries were nothing major.
— Josh Cooper

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Notes from Saturday's game

Ingram returns to form: After Alabama’s victory against Tennessee, Saban said, freshman running back Mark Ingram did not look like himself. Against Arkansas State, Ingram looked every bit like the player who ranks second on the Tide in rushing yards. He led Alabama with 113 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
“He is a warrior,” running back Glen Coffee said. “He is a great football player and a great addition to the team.”

What offense?: Arkansas State entered Saturday ranked No. 22 in total offense, averaging 435.7 yards per game. It didn’t even achieve half of that against Alabama, as the Crimson Tide allowed 153 yards to the Red Wolves.
Arkansas State quarterback Corey Leonard had averaged 260.4 total yards per game, and finished Saturday with 48. The only bright spot for the Red Wolves offense was running back Reggie Arnold, who gained 72 yards on 15 carries.
“You can tell why they are No. 2 in the country,” Leonard said. “They don’t make many mistakes.”

McCall and McCall: After the win against Arkansas State, Alabama tight end Travis McCall had a little family business to attend to.
His cousin, Gregory McCall, plays on the Red Wolves defensive line and had a sack against the Tide. The two did not talk much during the week leading up to Saturday’s game, but Saturday night, Gregory stayed with Travis.
“It was fun. I didn’t get to block him that much,” Travis said. “I did have to block him once on a punt. That was pretty cool.”

Saban praises, retracts praise: Saban made a slight mistake Saturday during his post-game news conference: He referenced Alabama’s 9-0 record.
Saban often refuses to comment on his team’s record, or success, but when asked about next Saturday’s impending game with LSU, Saban acknowledged Alabama’s dominance.
“This team is 9-0 and has played extremely well all year long,” Saban said.
Later Saban corrected himself when it was brought to his attention that he had said Alabama’s record.
“Well, I shouldn’t have mentioned that,” Saban said.

Cody to practice: Saban said that nose tackle Terrence Cody should practice with the team, starting this week. Cody, who injured his right knee ligament against Ole Miss, did not play Saturday, and walked up and down the sidelines wearing his crimson Alabama warm-up pants and his crimson jersey.
“He is day-to-day and I don’t anticipate anything,” Saban said. “But we feel like he has progressed in his rehab enough that he should be able to do some practicing this week.”

Eva Longoria Parker in the house: Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria Parker watched Saturday’s game in Tuscaloosa. Parker, who is married to San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker, is friends with country singer Sara Evans, wife of former Crimson Tide quarterback Jay Barker.
Evans and Parker were on the sidelines before the game wearing matching Alabama jerseys. The back of Evans’ said “Mrs. Barker” and the back of Parker’s said “Mrs. Parker.”

— Josh Cooper