First I would just like to congratulate the FL Gators on a well played game. If a few bounces had gone our way or JPW had completed some 2nd Qtr passes it might have been a different story. Either way I was very proud of how our team conducted themselves and it was truly a championship caliber game. It was decidedly NOT a blowout and I was glad of that. Our defense showed its mettle and our offense had spots where we truly had our way. Tebow was stopped on many plays where usually he has big gains and we did great stopping his passing game as well.
Good luck FL in the Natl Championship and our bowl game will still be a sweet treat. I dont have the "official" word at this time but it looks like we will be bowling in the Sugar against the UTAH Utes. Another great Alabama game soon to come!
ROLL TIDE & HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Coach Saban The Next Bear??? Too Early To Tell...
My local newspaper the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer picked up an article recently comparing Nick Saban to the bear. I agree they have similar coaching styles & philosophies but lets not get carried away this early.
I want to start out by saying of course I think Coach Saban is exactly what Alabama needed after all those coaching & recruiting fiasco's of the past few seasons. We need a fierce leader who is big on discipline & coaches great defense & strong stalwart offense. He embodies the style of our revered Coach Bryant & though we can compare him all day its still much too early to call him the 2nd coming.
A comment on this article basically said the same thing. Yes it was posted by an Auburn fan still hurting from both the Iron Bowl loss & the loss of Coach Tubberville from the Auburn program but he was still pretty much on the money saying it was too soon to make this judgement.
I encourage all you fans out there to try to keep the insults against Auburn to a minimum no matter how childish or mean some of them sound when talking about our program. They are hurting from a double loss. No one expected Coach Tubberville to bail on them after one bad season. He had many many great seasons coaching Auburn and its a shame he has decided to part after one sub-par season. Im sure his replacement will be quite dangerous as well. I respect Auburns team & love the fact that records are always out the window when we play our rivalry games. Both schools programs always put 110pct on the field that saturday we all look forward to year after year.
For now I will leave you with this final thought .... ROLL TIDE ROLL BEAT THEM GATORS!!!!!!!!
Tide Pride
I want to start out by saying of course I think Coach Saban is exactly what Alabama needed after all those coaching & recruiting fiasco's of the past few seasons. We need a fierce leader who is big on discipline & coaches great defense & strong stalwart offense. He embodies the style of our revered Coach Bryant & though we can compare him all day its still much too early to call him the 2nd coming.
A comment on this article basically said the same thing. Yes it was posted by an Auburn fan still hurting from both the Iron Bowl loss & the loss of Coach Tubberville from the Auburn program but he was still pretty much on the money saying it was too soon to make this judgement.
I encourage all you fans out there to try to keep the insults against Auburn to a minimum no matter how childish or mean some of them sound when talking about our program. They are hurting from a double loss. No one expected Coach Tubberville to bail on them after one bad season. He had many many great seasons coaching Auburn and its a shame he has decided to part after one sub-par season. Im sure his replacement will be quite dangerous as well. I respect Auburns team & love the fact that records are always out the window when we play our rivalry games. Both schools programs always put 110pct on the field that saturday we all look forward to year after year.
For now I will leave you with this final thought .... ROLL TIDE ROLL BEAT THEM GATORS!!!!!!!!
Tide Pride
Thursday, December 4, 2008
TA TA Tubberville..... :)
Well I guess he couldnt bear to stay now that Bama Blew him away. Would say I'll miss ya tommy ... but alas I wont. Good luck and hope you find a home far away from the SEC.
Now on to the gators .... the media/press/bookies have the tide as 10 point dogs in this game. I can see why they might as Florida is racking up the points on their opponnents. However, alabama has racked up some great points for a team that is mostly a running juggernaut. When you run the ball the clock keeps running meaning you have less time to score. When your constantly making big plays and many passes the clock stays much fuller.
I think when all is said and done both Alabamas defensive line & offensive line will tame these gators and if we do lose the game it will NOT be by a large blow out margin. Our great defense will keep them honest and our running game will make the clock OUR friend.
Just my 2c.
L8ter
Now on to the gators .... the media/press/bookies have the tide as 10 point dogs in this game. I can see why they might as Florida is racking up the points on their opponnents. However, alabama has racked up some great points for a team that is mostly a running juggernaut. When you run the ball the clock keeps running meaning you have less time to score. When your constantly making big plays and many passes the clock stays much fuller.
I think when all is said and done both Alabamas defensive line & offensive line will tame these gators and if we do lose the game it will NOT be by a large blow out margin. Our great defense will keep them honest and our running game will make the clock OUR friend.
Just my 2c.
L8ter
Sunday, November 30, 2008
McElroy Takes A Knee!!! Undefeated Regular Season!
Congratulations Alabama you have finished the first phase of three for the National Crown. Next Phase 2 is to Demolish the Gators in the dome. Phase 3 will be whooping the next in line for a butt whooping for the National Championship! Roll Tide and here is a great article from yesterdays game.
Notebook: Tide, Gators set to collide
Chase Goodbread
BamaOnLine.com
Twenty-four hour rule?
How about the 24-minute rule.
No sooner did the Alabama football team dispatch rival Auburn 36-0 to complete a perfect regular season than attention turned to the 11-1 Florida Gators, who will await the Crimson Tide in next week's Southeastern Conference championship game. UA coach Nick Saban has a rule that his players are to celebrate a victory no more than 24 hours before turning their attention to the next opponent. But despite a 36-0 win over rival Auburn that could only be described as the Tide's most satisfying victory of the season, players said no time will be wasted given the conference championship stakes that await in Atlanta's Georgia Dome.
"I think as soon as the game's over, guys in the locker room talk about Florida and about what we've got to do," said quarterback John Parker Wilson. "We know what's in front of us."
Saban commented on the contrasting styles that will meet for the SEC title on Saturday.
"They've got a lot of speed, a lot of good return people, a lot of good skill guys on offense," Saban said. "... We've got two different, contrasting styles. It'll be interesting to see how those styles affect the outcome of the game. ... We are who we are. The way we play is our style, and they're going to have to match that style. And we're going to have to match their style in terms of their speed."
Florida handled its rival, Florida State, 38-15 in Tallahassee, Fla., Saturday. Considered the nation's hottest team with a string of routs since its home loss to Ole Miss, UF will likely be favored by oddsmakers despite facing an undefeated, No.1-ranked team.
"We're not done yet. Florida's a big game - my dad went to Florida. I want to keep him quiet at Christmas dinner," said Alabama defensive end Bobby Greenwood.
GREENWOOD COMES UP BIG - Senior Bobby Greenwood blocked a 40-yard field goal to the the first half, preserving a shutout for the Crimson Tide and maintaining a 10-0 UA lead.
"[It hit me] right in the facemask," Greenwood said. "It's good to have a big head."
Auburn kicker Wes Byrum converted a 40-yarder only moments earlier, but the Alabama coaching staff called a timeout just before the ball was snapped, resulting in a dead ball and a re-kick.
CODY BACK ON OFFENSE - Noseguard Terrence Cody made his second appearance of the season on offense against the Tigers, lining up as a goalline blocking back on a short touchdown run by Mark Ingram. Cody ran into the endzone without being taken on by an AU defender.
"I came off the ball and nobody wanted to run into me," Cody said. "They ran the other way and stuff."
Cody also led the way on a touchdown plunge against Ole Miss earlier this season.
ETC. - Among the bowl representatives at Bryant-Denny Stadium Saturday was Ronnie Burns from the Sugar Bowl. The connection? Burns is the brother of Crimson Tide running backs coach Burton Burns. ... Former Alabama players Ezekial Knight and B.J. Stabler were honored during pre-game Senio Day ceremonies. Neither have been on Alabama's roster since last season; both had their careers ended a year early for medical reasons. Knight started at strongside linebacker last season but was disqualified with a heart condition, while Stabler, a reserve offensive lineman, suffered from chronic knee trouble. ... With a fourth-down conversion in the first quarter, Alabama is now a perfect 7 for 7 on fourth-down tries this season. ... Alabama's 36-0 win was the largest margin of victory for UA in the series since a 38-0 win in 1962. ... Alabama's 13-game win streak, dating back to the Independence Bowl, is tied for the nation's longest with Utah. ... Glen Coffee's 144-yard night gives him 1,235 yards for the year on 199 carries, ranking seventh on UA's single-season list.
Notebook: Tide, Gators set to collide
Chase Goodbread
BamaOnLine.com
Twenty-four hour rule?
How about the 24-minute rule.
No sooner did the Alabama football team dispatch rival Auburn 36-0 to complete a perfect regular season than attention turned to the 11-1 Florida Gators, who will await the Crimson Tide in next week's Southeastern Conference championship game. UA coach Nick Saban has a rule that his players are to celebrate a victory no more than 24 hours before turning their attention to the next opponent. But despite a 36-0 win over rival Auburn that could only be described as the Tide's most satisfying victory of the season, players said no time will be wasted given the conference championship stakes that await in Atlanta's Georgia Dome.
"I think as soon as the game's over, guys in the locker room talk about Florida and about what we've got to do," said quarterback John Parker Wilson. "We know what's in front of us."
Saban commented on the contrasting styles that will meet for the SEC title on Saturday.
"They've got a lot of speed, a lot of good return people, a lot of good skill guys on offense," Saban said. "... We've got two different, contrasting styles. It'll be interesting to see how those styles affect the outcome of the game. ... We are who we are. The way we play is our style, and they're going to have to match that style. And we're going to have to match their style in terms of their speed."
Florida handled its rival, Florida State, 38-15 in Tallahassee, Fla., Saturday. Considered the nation's hottest team with a string of routs since its home loss to Ole Miss, UF will likely be favored by oddsmakers despite facing an undefeated, No.1-ranked team.
"We're not done yet. Florida's a big game - my dad went to Florida. I want to keep him quiet at Christmas dinner," said Alabama defensive end Bobby Greenwood.
GREENWOOD COMES UP BIG - Senior Bobby Greenwood blocked a 40-yard field goal to the the first half, preserving a shutout for the Crimson Tide and maintaining a 10-0 UA lead.
"[It hit me] right in the facemask," Greenwood said. "It's good to have a big head."
Auburn kicker Wes Byrum converted a 40-yarder only moments earlier, but the Alabama coaching staff called a timeout just before the ball was snapped, resulting in a dead ball and a re-kick.
CODY BACK ON OFFENSE - Noseguard Terrence Cody made his second appearance of the season on offense against the Tigers, lining up as a goalline blocking back on a short touchdown run by Mark Ingram. Cody ran into the endzone without being taken on by an AU defender.
"I came off the ball and nobody wanted to run into me," Cody said. "They ran the other way and stuff."
Cody also led the way on a touchdown plunge against Ole Miss earlier this season.
ETC. - Among the bowl representatives at Bryant-Denny Stadium Saturday was Ronnie Burns from the Sugar Bowl. The connection? Burns is the brother of Crimson Tide running backs coach Burton Burns. ... Former Alabama players Ezekial Knight and B.J. Stabler were honored during pre-game Senio Day ceremonies. Neither have been on Alabama's roster since last season; both had their careers ended a year early for medical reasons. Knight started at strongside linebacker last season but was disqualified with a heart condition, while Stabler, a reserve offensive lineman, suffered from chronic knee trouble. ... With a fourth-down conversion in the first quarter, Alabama is now a perfect 7 for 7 on fourth-down tries this season. ... Alabama's 36-0 win was the largest margin of victory for UA in the series since a 38-0 win in 1962. ... Alabama's 13-game win streak, dating back to the Independence Bowl, is tied for the nation's longest with Utah. ... Glen Coffee's 144-yard night gives him 1,235 yards for the year on 199 carries, ranking seventh on UA's single-season list.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Great Article on Coach Saban
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Nick Saban is a man in motion. Don't try to stop him. Just get out of his way.
There he goes, walking down a hall in the Mal Moore Athletic Facility with a purpose. He does everything with a purpose. Saban spies star sophomore linebacker Rolando McClain and stops to coach him up.
Alabama's Nick Saban never misses an opportunity to coach up one of his players."When we call that blitz, you have to jam up in there," Saban says. "Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir," says McClain, who nods and continues on his way.
Saban heads the other direction, resuming a gait that's almost a gallop. If you saunter, stroll or simply walk, Saban will leave you in his dust. He is headed to a meeting. And if there's one thing Saban loves, it's meetings. They dot his daily schedule, and his goal is to maximize every last tick of time.
Coaching is Saban's raison de etre. It's why God put him on earth. Saban's single-minded obsession often is misconstrued. Unable to relate or understand, outsiders label him a soul-less soldier who tramples those who impede his goal: building a championship team.
"Nothing good in life comes easy," Saban says. "You have to sacrifice."
Saban isn't a monster. He's a hard-driving man who is in pursuit of greatness. And that journey for football nirvana demands discipline, focus and dump-trucks full of hard work. For Pete's sake, this is a guy who had vertebrae in his neck fused in January to end years of pain – and was back at work within hours of the operation.
"I love the college game," Saban says. "The NFL? It is too much about self-preservation. It's hard to get everyone on the same page. And the league is too media-driven. I enjoy the college game more.
"And I like what we are building here."
Saban granted Rivals.com unprecedented access last week – staff meetings, practices, film sessions, speaking events – as the Crimson Tide prepared to play Mississippi State, We even went along with college football's most famous coach to get a haircut.
Come along – and see if you can keep up.
*** Wednesday, 9 a.m. ***
Nick Saban's cell phone rings. He glances at the caller ID. It's his daughter, Kristen, a high school senior.
"I wonder what she wants," Saban jokes. "She usually doesn't call unless she needs something. … Hello, Krissy."
Saban nods and smiles.
"That's great," he says. "And what did you get on the other part of the test? OK. I will see you tonight, honey, OK? Bye-bye."
This is the Saban that's rarely seen. Here is the coach of the No. 1 team in America jumping smack-dab into the reality of fatherhood. Saban laughs, is even playful. But work beckons.
Saban and his staff spent Sunday, Monday and Tuesday implementing a game plan for Mississippi State. Saban knows the world thinks Alabama should whip the Bulldogs. But he's treating Mississippi State like the USC Trojans. Why not? The Bulldogs have won the past two meetings in the series.
He scans a schedule of the day's activities on his desk. Saban loves schedules almost as much as he loves meetings. His world is a nice, tidy box of order, structure and purpose.
"A lot of people think we work crazy hours," Saban says. "But we don't. I get here at about 7 each morning, and we all usually leave by 8 or so. But when we are here, we work."
There are no noontime workouts. Going out for lunch? Forget it. It's catered in each day. Need a snack? Stop by the "Saban store" in a room that connects his office and a conference room. There you'll find Golden Flake chips, crackers and a mini-fridge full of soft drinks. A big glass jar on an adjacent counter is stuffed with Little Debbie Oatmeal Pies. But don't even think about touching those – Saban loves them.
Tight ends/special teams coach Bobby Williams steps in the office. He wants Saban to watch a video of a recruit.
Nick Saban has to go … there's work to do.
*** Wednesday, 5:35 p.m. ***
Nick Saban is agitated.
His team – his troops – grab a knee and gather around him. Practice is over. It's dark, chilly and a little rainy. Wearing a red Alabama pullover, tan khakis and a fedora, Saban raises his hands and begins to speak.
"These guys are trying to sit on your season," says Saban, almost growling. "Are you going to let it happen? And we owe these guys. It's all in the details. You have to focus and take care of what's in front of you at that moment. If you don't, you're cheating yourself."
The team worked out in full pads Tuesday. Today is the last full-pads practice of the week; the Tide will work out in shells Thursday and have a walk-through Friday. Mississippi State will be here in three days. And everything is on the line for the Crimson Tide – a No. 1 ranking, a shot at the BCS title game and a place in hound's-tooth lore alongside Bear Bryant's national championship teams.
But don't dare talk about that with Saban. Remember: It's all about focus.
Time and again this week, he utters the phrase, "What we have done matters … but it really doesn't."
Saban practices what he preaches, refusing to wear the national championship ring he won with LSU in 2003.
The players sprint off the field for a quick post-practice film session called "last reel," where players are asked to call out assignments and formations of the upcoming opponent. It's a way to leave one final impression on their brains before they leave.
Nick Saban has to go … there's work to do.
*** Wednesday, 6:17 p.m. ***
Nick Saban is thinking.
Saban admits that Alabama has become a national championship contender faster than even he expected.He's in his office, his sanctuary. On a table adjacent to his desk sits a game ball in a glass case, given to Saban by Miami Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas to commemorate Saban's first NFL victory – Sept. 11, 2005.
Near that is a Bear Bryant Coach of the Year Trophy won when Saban was at LSU. On top of a bookcase behind his desk, Saban has helmets from Alabama, the Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns and Houston Oilers, along with a picture of Eddie Robinson. A fat binder labeled "Practice Schedules 2008" rests on a circular table.
Sitting here before meeting the media after practice, Saban frets that his defensive line is hurting. And he's not sure if backup running back Roy Upchurch will be able to play.
"We are at that time of year when we are wearing down up front," he says. "I don't think Roy will play. [Defensive tackle Terrence] Cody can't really move. He has no short-area quickness. People still can't block him, but he has trouble getting off blocks."
Saban admits his rehab project is way ahead of schedule. No one anticipated a run at the national championship in his second season in Tuscaloosa, especially coming off a 7-6 debut that featured the Tide losing its last four regular-season games. Saban brushes a hand over his hair and stares at the floor.
"We have to keep these guys going," Saban says. "We have played some physical teams. The grind of the season is starting to show a bit on us. It's important to keep them focused on what's in front of them. They have to worry about just dominating the player in front of them, imposing their will. And instead of telling them to play for 60 minutes, we need to tell them to just play hard for the 5-6 seconds each."
Age has softened Saban – to a degree. Now 57, he no longer rips every player who jumps offside, drops a pass or just goofs up.
"I have learned," Saban says. "We still may need that guy to go back on the field and perform. He has to feel good about himself. I tend now to rub a guy on the back of the neck.
"If I need to yell, I usually try to wait until after a game."
Around the office, Saban remains calm while preparing for Mississippi State. Talking in a cool tone, Saban underscores his point by inflecting key words.
"Why did you get on that guy?" Saban says to an assistant during a staff meeting. "Next time, let me handle it, OK?"
And Saban doesn't need words. Nothing says "I'm disgusted" better than a sharp glance, a roll of the eyes or his cobra stare.
Assistant athletic director for football Jeff Purinton tells Saban the media is waiting.
Nick Saban has to go … there's work to do.
*** Thursday, 10:29 a.m. ***
Nick Saban is sipping coffee at the head of a long conference room table.
It's almost 10:30 a.m., time for Alabama's daily staff meeting. If you are part of the pulse of Crimson Tide football, you are sitting in this room.
Saban's staff rings a large table. There's Kevin Steele, Jim McElwain, Joe Pendry, Kirby Smart, Williams, Curt Cignetti, Burton Burns, Bo Davis and Lance Thompson. Football operations director Mike Vollmer is by Saban's side. Support staffers line the outside walls, which also include a poster with the score of last season's losses to Mississippi State and Louisiana-Monroe emblazoned with the words "Work, Commitment, Perseverance."
"The players have one of those hanging in their lockers," Saban says. "They can take it down if we win on Saturday."
Saban never misses a motivational trick. One included the logo of each Alabama opponent printed on a square, plastic box. If the Tide wins, players affix their signature to the box if they feel they played a role in the victory. The blocks are displayed on a wall leading to the practice field for the players to see as they pass by.
There is no mistaking who is in charge: It's the guy in red Alabama golf shirt, blue slacks and loafers with no socks. Saban adjusts his glasses, looks down at a note pad and runs down details of today's practice, which starts at 3:30 p.m. Of course, that practice will be preceded by a meeting.
For Saban, practices are about getting maximum reps at a quick tempo. And some of the practice features what Saban calls "good on good." Saban doesn't think his starters get enough quality repetitions in practice, making it necessary to line up the first-team offense against the first-team defense for several plays each practice.
That's the paradox of success. The moment you stop to enjoy it, you are in trouble. You have to keep moving forward. It's not what you have done that's important. It's where you are going.
— Alabama coach Nick Saban.
Again, Saban frets about his team's mental and emotional well-being.
"I have seen the Eagles about 20 times in my life," Saban says. "Those guys sing the same songs over and over. They have to be sick of them. But they still do it. We need to come up with ways to keep things fresh for our guys."
The staff reviews where it stands in recruiting. At one end of the room, the names, heights, weights, hometowns and 40 times of Alabama's top targets are neatly aligned on rectangular cards by position. Saban briefs the staff on the recruiting calls he made the night before. He also quizzes staff members on the status of other prospects and gets an update on who will be on campus for visits this weekend.
A screen on one end of the room is lowered. It's time to watch film of yesterday's practice. And it doesn't take long for Saban to get angry with the look the scout team is giving.
"What is that guy doing?" Saban says. "The kid didn't even drop into coverage. We can't have this. The guys on the scout team have to give us a better look than this. This is terrible. We need to talk about this."
The staff clears the room. Saban remains to watch film of recruits, scribbling notes and making grades about prospects on a form. A secretary enters the room to remind him of a meeting he has with Nike representatives.
Nick Saban has to go … there's work to do.
*** Thursday, 6:37 p.m. ***
Nick Saban is sitting in a salon chair with an apron on.
It's time to trim his hair, but it must be fast. Saban has to be at his weekly radio show at Buffalo Wild Wings on McFarland Road at 7 p.m.
"Don't give me that chair," he says. "I want the one I had before. That's where I sat the last time, and we beat Tennessee."
The workers at Headstart Hair Care, just outside of Tuscaloosa in Northport, Ala., seem unmoved by the presence of the state's most famous citizen. Saban is just a guy getting a haircut and he has been here before. But the few customers here at this late hour are understandably shocked to see Saban stride through the door. And it doesn't take long for an older man to strike up a conversation about an encounter he had with Bear Bryant years ago.
Saban smiles and plays along. It seems everyone has an Alabama football story, including the woman cutting his hair. Saban enjoys the banter, sharing the fact he has an aunt who attends all of Alabama's games – and always has play-calling suggestions.
Saban places two $20 bills near the register and heads for the door. Cedric Burns, a long-time member of Alabama's support staff who was hired by the Bear himself, waits behind the wheel of Saban's black Mercedes to whisk him away.
Alabama fans jump at the chance to see Saban during his weekly radio show.The scene at Saban's weekly radio call-in show at Buffalo Wild Wings is like a rock concert. In the mob scene, Jane from Northport is given the microphone and makes more of a statement than asking a question, gushing about how proud she is of Coach Saban. Vince from California calls in to wish Coach Saban the best. Saban even is posed questions submitted from the Internet, with Billy in Decatur wondering why Javier Arenas has trouble holding onto the ball. Saban never misses a beat.
During breaks in the show, which is broadcast to other BW3s across the state, Saban wades into the crowd to sign autographs. Afterward, Saban is mobbed as he heads for the door. Fans envelop him, shoving footballs, helmets, jerseys, even their babies at him. Two Tuscaloosa police officers serve as muscle men to help Saban navigate the crowd. Cedric Burns also does his part, politely asking fans to let the coach through because he has to make recruiting calls tonight. It works.
Still, it takes Saban more than 30 minutes to make it out the door. Once in his car, Saban is given a police escort complete with flashing lights.
Nick Saban has to go … there's work to do.
*** Friday, 11:43 a.m. ***
Nick Saban is slipping on a sport coat and fixing the knot in his tie.
An officer with the Alabama State Police is waiting to drive him to a "Nick at Noon" function for Tide Pride boosters at Tuscaloosa's Indian Hills Country Club.
"I'm not sure what I'm going to say to these people," Saban says.
On the way out of the office, a few autograph-seekers lurk. They always wait for Saban. During the ride in the unmarked police car, Saban sits shotgun and doesn't say a word, instead furiously making notes.
The parking lot is packed with Alabama worshipers. Suddenly, a pickup truck backs out in front of the police car.
"You should have thrown the siren on for that guy," Saban kids the officer. "You can't let that go on."
Saban enters the country club through a back door, winding by some offices and a room filled with older women playing bridge. The applause starts before Saban even hits the big ballroom. When Saban enters, everyone stands and applauds. Some cheer. It's as if royalty has entered the room. And, really, that's what Saban is in these parts.
Saban stands behind a small lectern at the front of the room and begins speaking. He may not enjoy these functions, but he's good at them. Saban is a small man, but his presence fills the room. In staff meetings at the office, he sometimes speaks in a soft, almost inaudible, tone. But here Saban's voice booms. He gestures vigorously with his hands and seemingly makes eye contact with everyone in a performance that any polished politician could admire. The man is a leader, the ultimate beta wolf who engages, charms and even intimidates in this setting.
Today, Saban regales his adoring flock with a story about the inner wolves that lurk inside everyone. One wolf embodies positive traits, the other negative traits. Which one will grow inside each of us? Saban asks. The one we feed.
"And that's what we are trying to tell our players," Saban says. "We need to stay humble and work hard."
A question-and-answer session follows, quickly morphing into a pep rally. It doesn't take long for someone to ask Saban a question about a comment he made on his radio show at Buffalo Wild Wings. In an attempt to stress the importance of the crowd for Saturday night's game, Saban had said he "didn't give a [expletive] who Alabama is playing; the fans better be in the stands and be there for the players."
"I apologize for using the word I did," Saban says. "But I was trying to stress how much we need people like you to help get us through."
Nick Saban has to go … there's work to do.
*** Saturday, 8:23 a.m. ***
Nick Saban is pacing.
Last night, the team watched the new James Bond movie at the Cobb Theatre. When it returned to the Hotel Capstone on Paul W. Bryant Drive, the offense and defense met, had a snack and bed check was at 11.
Game day is here. Saban and his staff meet at 8:30 a.m., and breakfast is served at 10:30 a.m. Every detail of this day is spelled out on a tiny laminated card that director of football operations Mike Vollmar has made and distributed.
At 11 a.m., the team takes a walk. It's all about staying up and about. Saban doesn't want his players lounging around their rooms for hours before the game. Upon returning, there are position meetings. At 2:15, religious services are offered. Catholics meet in the Fitz-Bagby room; non-denominational services are held in the Gayle-Murphy room. After a pregame meal at 2:45, the players have almost two hours to relax before a team meeting at 4:10. Buses depart for Bryant-Denny Stadium at 4:35, and the team conducts its "Walk of Champions" at 4:45.
The last item on the itinerary is most important: "6:47 Kick-Off: Beat Mississippi State!!!!!!!!!"
Saban and the Crimson Tide handled Mississippi State to move to 11-0.Nick Saban has to go … there's work to do.
*** Saturday, 9:57 p.m. ***
Nick Saban is jogging.
Heading toward the tunnel in the wake of a methodical 32-7 win over Mississippi State, Saban makes a U-turn to salute the fans. He holds a No. 1 finger up and points at the crowd. A roar erupts.
His players, his team, did it. Alabama is 11-0, fighting through a sluggish first half to bury the Bulldogs behind outstanding special-teams play and a stifling defense. But there is no post-game glow for Saban. True to form, his focus already has shifted to the next task: a Nov. 29 home game against archrival Auburn. After that, a date with Florida in the SEC Championship Game lurks. But Saban doesn't dare go there.
"That's the paradox of success," Saban says. "The moment you stop to enjoy it, you are in trouble. You have to keep moving forward. It's not what you have done that's important. It's where you are going.
"We aren't at our goal yet."
Nick Saban has to go … there's work to do.
He has a national championship to win.
There he goes, walking down a hall in the Mal Moore Athletic Facility with a purpose. He does everything with a purpose. Saban spies star sophomore linebacker Rolando McClain and stops to coach him up.
Alabama's Nick Saban never misses an opportunity to coach up one of his players."When we call that blitz, you have to jam up in there," Saban says. "Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir," says McClain, who nods and continues on his way.
Saban heads the other direction, resuming a gait that's almost a gallop. If you saunter, stroll or simply walk, Saban will leave you in his dust. He is headed to a meeting. And if there's one thing Saban loves, it's meetings. They dot his daily schedule, and his goal is to maximize every last tick of time.
Coaching is Saban's raison de etre. It's why God put him on earth. Saban's single-minded obsession often is misconstrued. Unable to relate or understand, outsiders label him a soul-less soldier who tramples those who impede his goal: building a championship team.
"Nothing good in life comes easy," Saban says. "You have to sacrifice."
Saban isn't a monster. He's a hard-driving man who is in pursuit of greatness. And that journey for football nirvana demands discipline, focus and dump-trucks full of hard work. For Pete's sake, this is a guy who had vertebrae in his neck fused in January to end years of pain – and was back at work within hours of the operation.
"I love the college game," Saban says. "The NFL? It is too much about self-preservation. It's hard to get everyone on the same page. And the league is too media-driven. I enjoy the college game more.
"And I like what we are building here."
Saban granted Rivals.com unprecedented access last week – staff meetings, practices, film sessions, speaking events – as the Crimson Tide prepared to play Mississippi State, We even went along with college football's most famous coach to get a haircut.
Come along – and see if you can keep up.
*** Wednesday, 9 a.m. ***
Nick Saban's cell phone rings. He glances at the caller ID. It's his daughter, Kristen, a high school senior.
"I wonder what she wants," Saban jokes. "She usually doesn't call unless she needs something. … Hello, Krissy."
Saban nods and smiles.
"That's great," he says. "And what did you get on the other part of the test? OK. I will see you tonight, honey, OK? Bye-bye."
This is the Saban that's rarely seen. Here is the coach of the No. 1 team in America jumping smack-dab into the reality of fatherhood. Saban laughs, is even playful. But work beckons.
Saban and his staff spent Sunday, Monday and Tuesday implementing a game plan for Mississippi State. Saban knows the world thinks Alabama should whip the Bulldogs. But he's treating Mississippi State like the USC Trojans. Why not? The Bulldogs have won the past two meetings in the series.
He scans a schedule of the day's activities on his desk. Saban loves schedules almost as much as he loves meetings. His world is a nice, tidy box of order, structure and purpose.
"A lot of people think we work crazy hours," Saban says. "But we don't. I get here at about 7 each morning, and we all usually leave by 8 or so. But when we are here, we work."
There are no noontime workouts. Going out for lunch? Forget it. It's catered in each day. Need a snack? Stop by the "Saban store" in a room that connects his office and a conference room. There you'll find Golden Flake chips, crackers and a mini-fridge full of soft drinks. A big glass jar on an adjacent counter is stuffed with Little Debbie Oatmeal Pies. But don't even think about touching those – Saban loves them.
Tight ends/special teams coach Bobby Williams steps in the office. He wants Saban to watch a video of a recruit.
Nick Saban has to go … there's work to do.
*** Wednesday, 5:35 p.m. ***
Nick Saban is agitated.
His team – his troops – grab a knee and gather around him. Practice is over. It's dark, chilly and a little rainy. Wearing a red Alabama pullover, tan khakis and a fedora, Saban raises his hands and begins to speak.
"These guys are trying to sit on your season," says Saban, almost growling. "Are you going to let it happen? And we owe these guys. It's all in the details. You have to focus and take care of what's in front of you at that moment. If you don't, you're cheating yourself."
The team worked out in full pads Tuesday. Today is the last full-pads practice of the week; the Tide will work out in shells Thursday and have a walk-through Friday. Mississippi State will be here in three days. And everything is on the line for the Crimson Tide – a No. 1 ranking, a shot at the BCS title game and a place in hound's-tooth lore alongside Bear Bryant's national championship teams.
But don't dare talk about that with Saban. Remember: It's all about focus.
Time and again this week, he utters the phrase, "What we have done matters … but it really doesn't."
Saban practices what he preaches, refusing to wear the national championship ring he won with LSU in 2003.
The players sprint off the field for a quick post-practice film session called "last reel," where players are asked to call out assignments and formations of the upcoming opponent. It's a way to leave one final impression on their brains before they leave.
Nick Saban has to go … there's work to do.
*** Wednesday, 6:17 p.m. ***
Nick Saban is thinking.
Saban admits that Alabama has become a national championship contender faster than even he expected.He's in his office, his sanctuary. On a table adjacent to his desk sits a game ball in a glass case, given to Saban by Miami Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas to commemorate Saban's first NFL victory – Sept. 11, 2005.
Near that is a Bear Bryant Coach of the Year Trophy won when Saban was at LSU. On top of a bookcase behind his desk, Saban has helmets from Alabama, the Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns and Houston Oilers, along with a picture of Eddie Robinson. A fat binder labeled "Practice Schedules 2008" rests on a circular table.
Sitting here before meeting the media after practice, Saban frets that his defensive line is hurting. And he's not sure if backup running back Roy Upchurch will be able to play.
"We are at that time of year when we are wearing down up front," he says. "I don't think Roy will play. [Defensive tackle Terrence] Cody can't really move. He has no short-area quickness. People still can't block him, but he has trouble getting off blocks."
Saban admits his rehab project is way ahead of schedule. No one anticipated a run at the national championship in his second season in Tuscaloosa, especially coming off a 7-6 debut that featured the Tide losing its last four regular-season games. Saban brushes a hand over his hair and stares at the floor.
"We have to keep these guys going," Saban says. "We have played some physical teams. The grind of the season is starting to show a bit on us. It's important to keep them focused on what's in front of them. They have to worry about just dominating the player in front of them, imposing their will. And instead of telling them to play for 60 minutes, we need to tell them to just play hard for the 5-6 seconds each."
Age has softened Saban – to a degree. Now 57, he no longer rips every player who jumps offside, drops a pass or just goofs up.
"I have learned," Saban says. "We still may need that guy to go back on the field and perform. He has to feel good about himself. I tend now to rub a guy on the back of the neck.
"If I need to yell, I usually try to wait until after a game."
Around the office, Saban remains calm while preparing for Mississippi State. Talking in a cool tone, Saban underscores his point by inflecting key words.
"Why did you get on that guy?" Saban says to an assistant during a staff meeting. "Next time, let me handle it, OK?"
And Saban doesn't need words. Nothing says "I'm disgusted" better than a sharp glance, a roll of the eyes or his cobra stare.
Assistant athletic director for football Jeff Purinton tells Saban the media is waiting.
Nick Saban has to go … there's work to do.
*** Thursday, 10:29 a.m. ***
Nick Saban is sipping coffee at the head of a long conference room table.
It's almost 10:30 a.m., time for Alabama's daily staff meeting. If you are part of the pulse of Crimson Tide football, you are sitting in this room.
Saban's staff rings a large table. There's Kevin Steele, Jim McElwain, Joe Pendry, Kirby Smart, Williams, Curt Cignetti, Burton Burns, Bo Davis and Lance Thompson. Football operations director Mike Vollmer is by Saban's side. Support staffers line the outside walls, which also include a poster with the score of last season's losses to Mississippi State and Louisiana-Monroe emblazoned with the words "Work, Commitment, Perseverance."
"The players have one of those hanging in their lockers," Saban says. "They can take it down if we win on Saturday."
Saban never misses a motivational trick. One included the logo of each Alabama opponent printed on a square, plastic box. If the Tide wins, players affix their signature to the box if they feel they played a role in the victory. The blocks are displayed on a wall leading to the practice field for the players to see as they pass by.
There is no mistaking who is in charge: It's the guy in red Alabama golf shirt, blue slacks and loafers with no socks. Saban adjusts his glasses, looks down at a note pad and runs down details of today's practice, which starts at 3:30 p.m. Of course, that practice will be preceded by a meeting.
For Saban, practices are about getting maximum reps at a quick tempo. And some of the practice features what Saban calls "good on good." Saban doesn't think his starters get enough quality repetitions in practice, making it necessary to line up the first-team offense against the first-team defense for several plays each practice.
That's the paradox of success. The moment you stop to enjoy it, you are in trouble. You have to keep moving forward. It's not what you have done that's important. It's where you are going.
— Alabama coach Nick Saban.
Again, Saban frets about his team's mental and emotional well-being.
"I have seen the Eagles about 20 times in my life," Saban says. "Those guys sing the same songs over and over. They have to be sick of them. But they still do it. We need to come up with ways to keep things fresh for our guys."
The staff reviews where it stands in recruiting. At one end of the room, the names, heights, weights, hometowns and 40 times of Alabama's top targets are neatly aligned on rectangular cards by position. Saban briefs the staff on the recruiting calls he made the night before. He also quizzes staff members on the status of other prospects and gets an update on who will be on campus for visits this weekend.
A screen on one end of the room is lowered. It's time to watch film of yesterday's practice. And it doesn't take long for Saban to get angry with the look the scout team is giving.
"What is that guy doing?" Saban says. "The kid didn't even drop into coverage. We can't have this. The guys on the scout team have to give us a better look than this. This is terrible. We need to talk about this."
The staff clears the room. Saban remains to watch film of recruits, scribbling notes and making grades about prospects on a form. A secretary enters the room to remind him of a meeting he has with Nike representatives.
Nick Saban has to go … there's work to do.
*** Thursday, 6:37 p.m. ***
Nick Saban is sitting in a salon chair with an apron on.
It's time to trim his hair, but it must be fast. Saban has to be at his weekly radio show at Buffalo Wild Wings on McFarland Road at 7 p.m.
"Don't give me that chair," he says. "I want the one I had before. That's where I sat the last time, and we beat Tennessee."
The workers at Headstart Hair Care, just outside of Tuscaloosa in Northport, Ala., seem unmoved by the presence of the state's most famous citizen. Saban is just a guy getting a haircut and he has been here before. But the few customers here at this late hour are understandably shocked to see Saban stride through the door. And it doesn't take long for an older man to strike up a conversation about an encounter he had with Bear Bryant years ago.
Saban smiles and plays along. It seems everyone has an Alabama football story, including the woman cutting his hair. Saban enjoys the banter, sharing the fact he has an aunt who attends all of Alabama's games – and always has play-calling suggestions.
Saban places two $20 bills near the register and heads for the door. Cedric Burns, a long-time member of Alabama's support staff who was hired by the Bear himself, waits behind the wheel of Saban's black Mercedes to whisk him away.
Alabama fans jump at the chance to see Saban during his weekly radio show.The scene at Saban's weekly radio call-in show at Buffalo Wild Wings is like a rock concert. In the mob scene, Jane from Northport is given the microphone and makes more of a statement than asking a question, gushing about how proud she is of Coach Saban. Vince from California calls in to wish Coach Saban the best. Saban even is posed questions submitted from the Internet, with Billy in Decatur wondering why Javier Arenas has trouble holding onto the ball. Saban never misses a beat.
During breaks in the show, which is broadcast to other BW3s across the state, Saban wades into the crowd to sign autographs. Afterward, Saban is mobbed as he heads for the door. Fans envelop him, shoving footballs, helmets, jerseys, even their babies at him. Two Tuscaloosa police officers serve as muscle men to help Saban navigate the crowd. Cedric Burns also does his part, politely asking fans to let the coach through because he has to make recruiting calls tonight. It works.
Still, it takes Saban more than 30 minutes to make it out the door. Once in his car, Saban is given a police escort complete with flashing lights.
Nick Saban has to go … there's work to do.
*** Friday, 11:43 a.m. ***
Nick Saban is slipping on a sport coat and fixing the knot in his tie.
An officer with the Alabama State Police is waiting to drive him to a "Nick at Noon" function for Tide Pride boosters at Tuscaloosa's Indian Hills Country Club.
"I'm not sure what I'm going to say to these people," Saban says.
On the way out of the office, a few autograph-seekers lurk. They always wait for Saban. During the ride in the unmarked police car, Saban sits shotgun and doesn't say a word, instead furiously making notes.
The parking lot is packed with Alabama worshipers. Suddenly, a pickup truck backs out in front of the police car.
"You should have thrown the siren on for that guy," Saban kids the officer. "You can't let that go on."
Saban enters the country club through a back door, winding by some offices and a room filled with older women playing bridge. The applause starts before Saban even hits the big ballroom. When Saban enters, everyone stands and applauds. Some cheer. It's as if royalty has entered the room. And, really, that's what Saban is in these parts.
Saban stands behind a small lectern at the front of the room and begins speaking. He may not enjoy these functions, but he's good at them. Saban is a small man, but his presence fills the room. In staff meetings at the office, he sometimes speaks in a soft, almost inaudible, tone. But here Saban's voice booms. He gestures vigorously with his hands and seemingly makes eye contact with everyone in a performance that any polished politician could admire. The man is a leader, the ultimate beta wolf who engages, charms and even intimidates in this setting.
Today, Saban regales his adoring flock with a story about the inner wolves that lurk inside everyone. One wolf embodies positive traits, the other negative traits. Which one will grow inside each of us? Saban asks. The one we feed.
"And that's what we are trying to tell our players," Saban says. "We need to stay humble and work hard."
A question-and-answer session follows, quickly morphing into a pep rally. It doesn't take long for someone to ask Saban a question about a comment he made on his radio show at Buffalo Wild Wings. In an attempt to stress the importance of the crowd for Saturday night's game, Saban had said he "didn't give a [expletive] who Alabama is playing; the fans better be in the stands and be there for the players."
"I apologize for using the word I did," Saban says. "But I was trying to stress how much we need people like you to help get us through."
Nick Saban has to go … there's work to do.
*** Saturday, 8:23 a.m. ***
Nick Saban is pacing.
Last night, the team watched the new James Bond movie at the Cobb Theatre. When it returned to the Hotel Capstone on Paul W. Bryant Drive, the offense and defense met, had a snack and bed check was at 11.
Game day is here. Saban and his staff meet at 8:30 a.m., and breakfast is served at 10:30 a.m. Every detail of this day is spelled out on a tiny laminated card that director of football operations Mike Vollmar has made and distributed.
At 11 a.m., the team takes a walk. It's all about staying up and about. Saban doesn't want his players lounging around their rooms for hours before the game. Upon returning, there are position meetings. At 2:15, religious services are offered. Catholics meet in the Fitz-Bagby room; non-denominational services are held in the Gayle-Murphy room. After a pregame meal at 2:45, the players have almost two hours to relax before a team meeting at 4:10. Buses depart for Bryant-Denny Stadium at 4:35, and the team conducts its "Walk of Champions" at 4:45.
The last item on the itinerary is most important: "6:47 Kick-Off: Beat Mississippi State!!!!!!!!!"
Saban and the Crimson Tide handled Mississippi State to move to 11-0.Nick Saban has to go … there's work to do.
*** Saturday, 9:57 p.m. ***
Nick Saban is jogging.
Heading toward the tunnel in the wake of a methodical 32-7 win over Mississippi State, Saban makes a U-turn to salute the fans. He holds a No. 1 finger up and points at the crowd. A roar erupts.
His players, his team, did it. Alabama is 11-0, fighting through a sluggish first half to bury the Bulldogs behind outstanding special-teams play and a stifling defense. But there is no post-game glow for Saban. True to form, his focus already has shifted to the next task: a Nov. 29 home game against archrival Auburn. After that, a date with Florida in the SEC Championship Game lurks. But Saban doesn't dare go there.
"That's the paradox of success," Saban says. "The moment you stop to enjoy it, you are in trouble. You have to keep moving forward. It's not what you have done that's important. It's where you are going.
"We aren't at our goal yet."
Nick Saban has to go … there's work to do.
He has a national championship to win.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
11-0 Lets Go Bama BEAT AUBURN!!!!!!!
Javier Arenas squirted through a gaping hole toward the sideline and there was no catching him from there.
Or No. 1 Alabama, for that matter.
Arenas ran back a punt 80 yards for a touchdown and set up a score with another long return, helping the Crimson Tide roll to a 32-7 comeback win over Mississippi State on Saturday night.
The Tide (11-0, 7-0 Southeastern Conference) scored the game’s final 27 points to turn back a team that had given ‘Bama fits the past two years.
Kareem Jackson blocked a punt in the end zone for a safety and Leigh Tiffin kicked three field goals to help keep Alabama on track for a perfect regular season leading up to a showdown with No. 3 Florida in the SEC championship game.
Mississippi State (3-7, 1-5) had won the past two meetings with coach Sylvester Croom’s alma matter. The Bulldogs, who were knocked out of contention for a second straight bowl trip, had also been the team to end Alabama’s last regular-season reign over the rankings back in 1980 when Croom was a Tide assistant.
Arenas effectively wiped out any fears of a repeat 28 years later. He darted through a gaping hole and raced down the right sideline for his fifth career punt-return touchdown early in the second half to break David Palmer’s school mark.
“Javy’s second return probably changed the momentum of the game as much as anything,” Tide coach Nick Saban said, calling it a “picture-perfect return” by the whole unit.
“We pretty much controlled the game after that.”
Arenas gained a school-record 153 yards on six returns.
“My guys are out there blocking for me, just a huge wall there blocking for me,” he said. “All of the guys set up a wall. I didn’t make any moves.”
Alabama trailed 7-5 when he turned in his first big runback and was in command after his second. His 46-yarder to the Bulldogs’ 2-yard line set up John Parker Wilson’s 1-yard sneak. It was the Tide’s first offensive touchdown against Mississippi State since the fourth quarter of the 2004 game, a span of some 210 minutes of play.
Mark Ingram added another 1-yard score in the fourth quarter.
The Tide turned in a workmanlike performance following an emotional overtime win at LSU that clinched the SEC West title, but still outgained Mississippi State 364-167. Alabama had only 212 yards entering the fourth.
“The first half we didn’t play especially well,” Saban said. “We made some mental errors on defense that were very costly—not like us. I thought we had a lot of energy, a lot of intensity, but we didn’t play very smart.”
Wilson completed 10 of 17 passes for 148 yards and set up scores with long passes to Julio Jones and Brad Smelley. Ingram ran for 78 yards and Glen Coffee had 71 for the Tide.
Mississippi State took the lead on Jamayel Smith’s 31-yard pass from Tyson Lee five minutes into the second quarter. The Bulldogs couldn’t produce much else offensively.
Lee completed 11 of 28 passes for 132 yards while the league’s top run defense held Anthony Dixon to 26 yards on 11 carries. That didn’t leave much margin for error on special teams.
“We gave up 16 points in the kicking game, and that’s pretty much the ballgame,” Croom said. “We can’t give those guys points. You can’t give them anything.”
Croom said defensive tackle Jessie Bowman appears lost for the season with a torn quadriceps muscle. The loss ended Mississippi State’s postseason hopes. Linebacker Dominic Douglas figures there’s plenty of blame to go around.
“We couldn’t get anything started, passing or running, offense or defense,” linebacker Douglas said. “We tried our best to stop them, but they kept kicking field goals that added to the score. We have to play better than we have been playing, and that is the bottom line.”
Alabama’s lone remaining game before the Gators is against struggling Auburn in two weeks.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
10-0 & Headed To The SEC Championship
YEA BAMA!!!!!!
It took longer than it should have ... it wasnt pretty at all ... but it was effective. Congrats LSU for giving us their very best and thank the lord that we were just a little better. As of this writing Bama is still #1 in the USA Today and AP Polls and fingers crossed should still be atop the BCS as well!!
ROLL TIDE & LETS KEEP ROLLING GUYS!!!!
It took longer than it should have ... it wasnt pretty at all ... but it was effective. Congrats LSU for giving us their very best and thank the lord that we were just a little better. As of this writing Bama is still #1 in the USA Today and AP Polls and fingers crossed should still be atop the BCS as well!!
ROLL TIDE & LETS KEEP ROLLING GUYS!!!!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Just Say No ... Mixed with a lil...Dr. Seuss?
Hey guys & gals just a quick note before we get ready to rock LSU into the bayou & make em cry. If you have a web cam and you drink heavily and you have a face only radio would love & a voice that would make Dusty Rhodes slap you .... maybe JUST SAY NO!!! Before deciding to make a youtube video hollering how great our wonderful crimson tide football team is. Now Im not really sure if he's serious about loving the tide or just decided to make all tide fan's look this way .... This video is not here to promote it ... on the contrary its here to serve as a stark reminder why you shouldnt let friends drink & cam ....
Following the video is a poem someone wrote (dr. seuss style) authored by our best buddy Former Tennesee coach ... Phil "fatasshole" Fulmer.
""Canned I Am" - A Poem from Phil Fulmer
Canned I am,
To my own ill.
Did you hear?
They canned Fat Phil.
I am canned.
Yes I am.
I am crying on the cam.
I am canned,
Canned I am.
I do not like it.
I love ham.
Do you like them without pause,
Do you like the UT Vols?
I do not like them,
Canned I am.
I do not like them,
Man-for-man.
I was canned by trustee troll.
I was canned by popular poll.
I was canned right from my goal.
I was canned right from my role.
I was canned from the job I stole.
Did you steal it,
Canned-I-am?
Did you steal it,
From within the fam?
I stole it just as I planned.
I stole it for two hundred grand.
I stole it before the UT band.
I stole it before the UT stands.
I stole it right from Johnny's hands.
I stole it because I had the balls.
I stole it to coach the UT Vols.
Will you coach them in a bowl?
Will you coach them up the poll?
I will not coach them in a bowl,
I will not coach them up the poll.
I will not coach them in the rain.
I will not coach them in a game.
I will not coach them to a loss.
I will not coach them as the boss.
I will not coach them run the ball.
I will not coach them, not at all.
I would not, could not, win a game
I would not, could not, take the blame
I would not, could not, if I tried.
I would not, could not, so I cried.
I could not, could not, save my hide.
I could not, could not, stop the Tide.
I am not happy.
I am full of regret.
I am not hungry.
Is it Thanksgiving yet?
Did you rat them,
Canned-I-am?
Did you rat them to the man?
I tried to rat them to my pop,
I tried to rat them to a cop.
I tried to rat them so they'd flop.
I tried to rat them so they'd drop.
I tried to rat to make them stop.
They tried to out-cheat Rocky Top.
Who will give my boys their aid?
Who will make sure they are paid?
Will you help them,
Canned-I-am?
Will you help them, to a man?
I will not cheat them to a sale.
I will not cheat them out of jail.
I will not cheat them to not 'Fail.'
I will not cheat them to make bail.
I will not buy them an Escalade.
I will not buy them to get paid.
I will not buy them a good grade.
How much for the marmalade?
Can you coach them,
Canned-I-am?
Can you coach them,
Ever again?
I cannot coach them,
Canned I am.
I cannot coach them,
Worth a d---.
I cannot coach them like a hick.
I cannot coach them like in a flick.
I cannot coach them at Red Stick.
I cannot coach them vs. Richt.
I cannot coach them vs. Nick.
I cannot coach them worth a lick.
I cannot rat when teams out-cheat.
I cannot bring myself to eat.
I cannot leave this KFC.
I cannot drink enough gravy.
I will drink it when I foam.
I will drink it when in Rome.
I will drink it in a Dome.
I will drink it in a halfway home.
Canned I am, I can't believe.
Canned I am, by bright-orange bees.
Canned I am, right to my knees.
Two more orders of cheese-biscuits please
Following the video is a poem someone wrote (dr. seuss style) authored by our best buddy Former Tennesee coach ... Phil "fatasshole" Fulmer.
""Canned I Am" - A Poem from Phil Fulmer
Canned I am,
To my own ill.
Did you hear?
They canned Fat Phil.
I am canned.
Yes I am.
I am crying on the cam.
I am canned,
Canned I am.
I do not like it.
I love ham.
Do you like them without pause,
Do you like the UT Vols?
I do not like them,
Canned I am.
I do not like them,
Man-for-man.
I was canned by trustee troll.
I was canned by popular poll.
I was canned right from my goal.
I was canned right from my role.
I was canned from the job I stole.
Did you steal it,
Canned-I-am?
Did you steal it,
From within the fam?
I stole it just as I planned.
I stole it for two hundred grand.
I stole it before the UT band.
I stole it before the UT stands.
I stole it right from Johnny's hands.
I stole it because I had the balls.
I stole it to coach the UT Vols.
Will you coach them in a bowl?
Will you coach them up the poll?
I will not coach them in a bowl,
I will not coach them up the poll.
I will not coach them in the rain.
I will not coach them in a game.
I will not coach them to a loss.
I will not coach them as the boss.
I will not coach them run the ball.
I will not coach them, not at all.
I would not, could not, win a game
I would not, could not, take the blame
I would not, could not, if I tried.
I would not, could not, so I cried.
I could not, could not, save my hide.
I could not, could not, stop the Tide.
I am not happy.
I am full of regret.
I am not hungry.
Is it Thanksgiving yet?
Did you rat them,
Canned-I-am?
Did you rat them to the man?
I tried to rat them to my pop,
I tried to rat them to a cop.
I tried to rat them so they'd flop.
I tried to rat them so they'd drop.
I tried to rat to make them stop.
They tried to out-cheat Rocky Top.
Who will give my boys their aid?
Who will make sure they are paid?
Will you help them,
Canned-I-am?
Will you help them, to a man?
I will not cheat them to a sale.
I will not cheat them out of jail.
I will not cheat them to not 'Fail.'
I will not cheat them to make bail.
I will not buy them an Escalade.
I will not buy them to get paid.
I will not buy them a good grade.
How much for the marmalade?
Can you coach them,
Canned-I-am?
Can you coach them,
Ever again?
I cannot coach them,
Canned I am.
I cannot coach them,
Worth a d---.
I cannot coach them like a hick.
I cannot coach them like in a flick.
I cannot coach them at Red Stick.
I cannot coach them vs. Richt.
I cannot coach them vs. Nick.
I cannot coach them worth a lick.
I cannot rat when teams out-cheat.
I cannot bring myself to eat.
I cannot leave this KFC.
I cannot drink enough gravy.
I will drink it when I foam.
I will drink it when in Rome.
I will drink it in a Dome.
I will drink it in a halfway home.
Canned I am, I can't believe.
Canned I am, by bright-orange bees.
Canned I am, right to my knees.
Two more orders of cheese-biscuits please
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Crimson Tide Path To #1
Thought I would throw together a video mix showing the tide's rise
to #1 this year.....not professional at all but here is my video!
to #1 this year.....not professional at all but here is my video!
Monday, November 3, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
#1 ALABAMA!!! ROLL TIDE!!!!!
Still waiting on the BCS computers to do their thing .... but as of right now .....
#1 in USA TODAY w/40 1st place votes
#1 in AP POLL w/46 1st place votes
#1 in Yahoo Users Poll
YEEEEHAW!!!!
#1 in USA TODAY w/40 1st place votes
#1 in AP POLL w/46 1st place votes
#1 in Yahoo Users Poll
YEEEEHAW!!!!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
9-0 Roll Tide, Up Next LS WHO?
Ingram, No. 2 Bama roll over Arkansas State, 35-0
By JOHN ZENOR, AP Sports Writer
No. 2 Alabama produced a shutout, a 100-yard rusher and a defensive touchdown in a game that would have been easy to overlook.
What the Crimson Tide didn’t have: a letdown.
Mark Ingram ran for 113 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries and Rashad Johnson scored on a 32-yard interception return in the Tide’s 35-0 victory over Arkansas State on Saturday.
Alabama (9-0) turned in a dominant all-around performance to set the stage for next week’s showdown at No. 15 LSU in the type of game that had been a stumbling block for recent Tide teams.
Think Louisiana-Monroe, another Sun Belt Conference team that upset ‘Bama last season.
“We’re starting to develop that attitude of be as good as you can be, don’t play to your opponent, all those kind of things,” said Tide coach Nick Saban, who is set to face his former team at LSU.
Did somebody say LSU? The team Saban once led to a national championship?
“I haven’t really thought about it yet,” he said of his return to Baton Rouge, “but it ain’t going to be about me.”
Well, not just about him.
Alabama, which can clinch the Southeastern Conference Western Division title with a win over LSU, managed its first shutout since a 17-0 victory over Mississippi State on Nov. 5, 2005. The Tide allowed only 158 yards on 54 plays against Arkansas State (4-4), which had scored 83 points against Texas Southern and upset Texas A&M earlier this season.
The Tide took its opening drive 89 yards on 16 plays for a touchdown to put aside any fears of a letdown like the one against Louisiana-Monroe. That game might have made it easier to focus in on this one.
“It’s pretty easy, especially compared to last year when we lost games that we should have won,” said tailback Glen Coffee, who scored on a 9-yard run.
Ingram scored on runs of 5 and 17 yards in the second half for the freshman’s first 100-yard game after managing just 1 yard on four carries against Tennessee last week.
“Mark Ingram, who has struggled a little bit the last couple of weeks, sure did look good today,” Saban said.
Coffee rushed for 56 yards and scored to cap that opening drive before sitting out the second half. Saban said he sustained a biceps bruise but didn’t expect him to miss practice time.
John Parker Wilson completed 15 of 28 passes for 158 yards and was intercepted once.
Wilson’s 12 consecutive completions dating back to last week’s game at Tennessee tied Andrew Zow’s school record set in 2000. The streak ended when Julio Jones couldn’t hold onto his second pass attempt.
The final score could have been even more lopsided, but the Tide was turned back four times on trips into Arkansas State territory, including an interception on the goal line and a missed field goal.
Arkansas State crossed midfield twice in the fourth quarter but the drives ended with a failed fourth-down play and a sack on third down.
“We did some good things, we just didn’t do enough of them, and they showed why they are the No. 2 team in the country,” Red Wolves coach Steve Roberts said. “They are a very, very powerful and very physical football team.”
Quarterback Corey Leonard passed for just 67 yards and was intercepted once and sacked four times, seldom getting time to find open receivers. Reggie Arnold gained 72 yards on 15 carries for the Red Wolves.
They converted just two of 12 third-down plays.
“When we would put one or two plays together, when it came to a big first down or something like that, they really would come after us and overpower us a lot of the times,” Leonard said.
The Tide led only 14-0 at halftime but breezed down the field to open the third quarter. Upchurch’s 22-yard run capped a four-play, 70-yard drive after Ingram tallied 43 yards on two runs.
Johnson, meanwhile, spearheaded the dominant defensive performance. He had 13 tackles and 2.5 stops for losses besides the interception return that made it 14-0 midway through the second quarter. It was the Tide’s fourth defensive touchdown of the season.
“It felt great,” Johnson said. “I’ve never scored before. It was a big play. We needed some momentum, and it boosted the offense, too. I looked up, saw it, reeled it in and then all I saw was the sideline.”
And now it’s on to LSU. It’s OK, Alabama. You can mention those three letters.
“We hadn’t looked or talked about LSU at all,” Wilson said. “Now we can.”
By JOHN ZENOR, AP Sports Writer
No. 2 Alabama produced a shutout, a 100-yard rusher and a defensive touchdown in a game that would have been easy to overlook.
What the Crimson Tide didn’t have: a letdown.
Mark Ingram ran for 113 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries and Rashad Johnson scored on a 32-yard interception return in the Tide’s 35-0 victory over Arkansas State on Saturday.
Alabama (9-0) turned in a dominant all-around performance to set the stage for next week’s showdown at No. 15 LSU in the type of game that had been a stumbling block for recent Tide teams.
Think Louisiana-Monroe, another Sun Belt Conference team that upset ‘Bama last season.
“We’re starting to develop that attitude of be as good as you can be, don’t play to your opponent, all those kind of things,” said Tide coach Nick Saban, who is set to face his former team at LSU.
Did somebody say LSU? The team Saban once led to a national championship?
“I haven’t really thought about it yet,” he said of his return to Baton Rouge, “but it ain’t going to be about me.”
Well, not just about him.
Alabama, which can clinch the Southeastern Conference Western Division title with a win over LSU, managed its first shutout since a 17-0 victory over Mississippi State on Nov. 5, 2005. The Tide allowed only 158 yards on 54 plays against Arkansas State (4-4), which had scored 83 points against Texas Southern and upset Texas A&M earlier this season.
The Tide took its opening drive 89 yards on 16 plays for a touchdown to put aside any fears of a letdown like the one against Louisiana-Monroe. That game might have made it easier to focus in on this one.
“It’s pretty easy, especially compared to last year when we lost games that we should have won,” said tailback Glen Coffee, who scored on a 9-yard run.
Ingram scored on runs of 5 and 17 yards in the second half for the freshman’s first 100-yard game after managing just 1 yard on four carries against Tennessee last week.
“Mark Ingram, who has struggled a little bit the last couple of weeks, sure did look good today,” Saban said.
Coffee rushed for 56 yards and scored to cap that opening drive before sitting out the second half. Saban said he sustained a biceps bruise but didn’t expect him to miss practice time.
John Parker Wilson completed 15 of 28 passes for 158 yards and was intercepted once.
Wilson’s 12 consecutive completions dating back to last week’s game at Tennessee tied Andrew Zow’s school record set in 2000. The streak ended when Julio Jones couldn’t hold onto his second pass attempt.
The final score could have been even more lopsided, but the Tide was turned back four times on trips into Arkansas State territory, including an interception on the goal line and a missed field goal.
Arkansas State crossed midfield twice in the fourth quarter but the drives ended with a failed fourth-down play and a sack on third down.
“We did some good things, we just didn’t do enough of them, and they showed why they are the No. 2 team in the country,” Red Wolves coach Steve Roberts said. “They are a very, very powerful and very physical football team.”
Quarterback Corey Leonard passed for just 67 yards and was intercepted once and sacked four times, seldom getting time to find open receivers. Reggie Arnold gained 72 yards on 15 carries for the Red Wolves.
They converted just two of 12 third-down plays.
“When we would put one or two plays together, when it came to a big first down or something like that, they really would come after us and overpower us a lot of the times,” Leonard said.
The Tide led only 14-0 at halftime but breezed down the field to open the third quarter. Upchurch’s 22-yard run capped a four-play, 70-yard drive after Ingram tallied 43 yards on two runs.
Johnson, meanwhile, spearheaded the dominant defensive performance. He had 13 tackles and 2.5 stops for losses besides the interception return that made it 14-0 midway through the second quarter. It was the Tide’s fourth defensive touchdown of the season.
“It felt great,” Johnson said. “I’ve never scored before. It was a big play. We needed some momentum, and it boosted the offense, too. I looked up, saw it, reeled it in and then all I saw was the sideline.”
And now it’s on to LSU. It’s OK, Alabama. You can mention those three letters.
“We hadn’t looked or talked about LSU at all,” Wilson said. “Now we can.”
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
RAMMER JAMMER INDEED!
Almost empty TN stadium being rocked by tens of thousands of bama fans who traveled to see the tide play screaming Rammer Jammer!
HEY VOLS!
HEY VOLS!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
RAMMER JAMMER!!!!!!!
No. 2 Alabama cruises to 29-9 win over Tennessee
By BETH RUCKER, Associated Press Writer Oct 26, 12:25 am EDT
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP)—Nick Saban has turned the “Third Saturday in October” rivalry back to Alabama’s favor, and left Phillip Fulmer with yet another ugly loss to explain to Tennessee’s many disgruntled fans.
The second-ranked Crimson Tide cruised to a 29-9 win over the Volunteers on Saturday night for its first back-to-back victories since 1991-92.
“This is a great rivalry with great tradition with two outstanding universities, and I’m really proud of the way our players played,” Saban said.
While Alabama (8-0, 5-0, Southeastern Conference) remained in the heart of the national championship race, Tennessee’s season grew sorrier. A lopsided loss to a bitter rival will only increase the pressure on Fulmer, who’s been a prime target for critics and disgruntled Vols fans this season.
This was a rivalry he dominated early in his career, winning seven straight 1995-2001. Alabama has won three out of the last four contests, and Saban owns a 4-1 record against the Vols (3-5, 1-4).
“It’s just a special rivalry and a special game to all of us involved in it in different ways. I’ll be back up tomorrow. I’m not down. I just got a lot on my mind right now,” Fulmer said.
Alabama, the SEC’s best rushing team, went to the air in the first half, gaining 117 yards compared to 32 on the ground.
Alabama started its final first-half drive on the Tennessee 34 after Daniel Lincoln missed a 51-yard field goal attempt. John Parker Wilson didn’t miss on the drive, completing passes of 19 and 35 yards to Julio Jones and a 4-yarder to Glen Coffee.
On fourth-and-1 at the 3, Coffee punched the ball into the end zone to give the Crimson Tide a 13-3 lead with 2:41 before halftime. Alabama is 5-for-5 on fourth down attempts this season.
Tennessee drove to the Alabama 14, but back-to-back penalties for illegal formation and pass interference pushed the Vols back 20 yards, and Lincoln missed a 43-yard field goal attempt to close the half.
“Them missing a field goal before the half was a real momentum thing,” Saban said.
After that, it was all Alabama for two quarters as the trademark Tide rushing game returned.
Roy Upchurch ran 35 yards of a 79-yard drive before Wilson drove the ball 1-yard for a touchdown to put Alabama up 22-3 with 6:25 in the third quarter. Wilson missed a 2-point conversion pass to Nick Walker.
Upchurch ran for much of the subsequent Crimson Tide drive and scored on a 4-yard run to make it a 29-3 game with 9:43 left. He finished with 86 yards rushing.
Alabama outgained Tennessee 366-173, and finished with 178 yards rushing. Jones caught six passes for a career-high 103 yards, and Wilson finished 17-for-24 for 188 yards.
The Vols’ defense gave Tennessee plenty of chances to stay in the game, limiting Alabama to its lowest first-quarter score of the season with six points. The Crimson Tide has outscored opponents 101-6 in the first 15 minutes.
Tennessee stopped Alabama twice just outside the red zone and once inside. Leigh Tiffin kicked field goals of 39, 43 and 30 yards.
“We didn’t start off the way we’ve been starting off,” Wilson said. “We kind of got behind and had to come back and score in the second half, and I think we did a really good job.”
But the Vols struggled to put together drives, reverting back to the inept offense which has plagued them much of the season. Tennessee went three-and-out seven times in 11 drives and missed two field goal tries.
The closest Tennessee got to the end zone in the first half was when Dennis Rogan recovered Javier Arenas’ fumbled punt return at the Alabama 5, but the Vols went backward 9 yards on the drive. Daniel Lincoln kicked a 31-yard field goal to tied the game at 3 with 6:28 in the first quarter.
Two Alabama pass interference penalties kept a Tennessee drive alive in the fourth quarter, and Nick Stephens found Josh Briscoe on a 10-yard pass to make it 29-9 with 7:26 left, well after the game was already out of reach.
Stephens finished 16-for-28 for 137 yards.
“I felt like we had every chance in the world coming into the second half the way our defense was playing. We stopped ourselves like we have in past weeks,” Stephens said.
By BETH RUCKER, Associated Press Writer Oct 26, 12:25 am EDT
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP)—Nick Saban has turned the “Third Saturday in October” rivalry back to Alabama’s favor, and left Phillip Fulmer with yet another ugly loss to explain to Tennessee’s many disgruntled fans.
The second-ranked Crimson Tide cruised to a 29-9 win over the Volunteers on Saturday night for its first back-to-back victories since 1991-92.
“This is a great rivalry with great tradition with two outstanding universities, and I’m really proud of the way our players played,” Saban said.
While Alabama (8-0, 5-0, Southeastern Conference) remained in the heart of the national championship race, Tennessee’s season grew sorrier. A lopsided loss to a bitter rival will only increase the pressure on Fulmer, who’s been a prime target for critics and disgruntled Vols fans this season.
This was a rivalry he dominated early in his career, winning seven straight 1995-2001. Alabama has won three out of the last four contests, and Saban owns a 4-1 record against the Vols (3-5, 1-4).
“It’s just a special rivalry and a special game to all of us involved in it in different ways. I’ll be back up tomorrow. I’m not down. I just got a lot on my mind right now,” Fulmer said.
Alabama, the SEC’s best rushing team, went to the air in the first half, gaining 117 yards compared to 32 on the ground.
Alabama started its final first-half drive on the Tennessee 34 after Daniel Lincoln missed a 51-yard field goal attempt. John Parker Wilson didn’t miss on the drive, completing passes of 19 and 35 yards to Julio Jones and a 4-yarder to Glen Coffee.
On fourth-and-1 at the 3, Coffee punched the ball into the end zone to give the Crimson Tide a 13-3 lead with 2:41 before halftime. Alabama is 5-for-5 on fourth down attempts this season.
Tennessee drove to the Alabama 14, but back-to-back penalties for illegal formation and pass interference pushed the Vols back 20 yards, and Lincoln missed a 43-yard field goal attempt to close the half.
“Them missing a field goal before the half was a real momentum thing,” Saban said.
After that, it was all Alabama for two quarters as the trademark Tide rushing game returned.
Roy Upchurch ran 35 yards of a 79-yard drive before Wilson drove the ball 1-yard for a touchdown to put Alabama up 22-3 with 6:25 in the third quarter. Wilson missed a 2-point conversion pass to Nick Walker.
Upchurch ran for much of the subsequent Crimson Tide drive and scored on a 4-yard run to make it a 29-3 game with 9:43 left. He finished with 86 yards rushing.
Alabama outgained Tennessee 366-173, and finished with 178 yards rushing. Jones caught six passes for a career-high 103 yards, and Wilson finished 17-for-24 for 188 yards.
The Vols’ defense gave Tennessee plenty of chances to stay in the game, limiting Alabama to its lowest first-quarter score of the season with six points. The Crimson Tide has outscored opponents 101-6 in the first 15 minutes.
Tennessee stopped Alabama twice just outside the red zone and once inside. Leigh Tiffin kicked field goals of 39, 43 and 30 yards.
“We didn’t start off the way we’ve been starting off,” Wilson said. “We kind of got behind and had to come back and score in the second half, and I think we did a really good job.”
But the Vols struggled to put together drives, reverting back to the inept offense which has plagued them much of the season. Tennessee went three-and-out seven times in 11 drives and missed two field goal tries.
The closest Tennessee got to the end zone in the first half was when Dennis Rogan recovered Javier Arenas’ fumbled punt return at the Alabama 5, but the Vols went backward 9 yards on the drive. Daniel Lincoln kicked a 31-yard field goal to tied the game at 3 with 6:28 in the first quarter.
Two Alabama pass interference penalties kept a Tennessee drive alive in the fourth quarter, and Nick Stephens found Josh Briscoe on a 10-yard pass to make it 29-9 with 7:26 left, well after the game was already out of reach.
Stephens finished 16-for-28 for 137 yards.
“I felt like we had every chance in the world coming into the second half the way our defense was playing. We stopped ourselves like we have in past weeks,” Stephens said.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Musclebound Chapman replaces Cody for ‘Bama
By JOHN ZENOR, AP Sports Writer Oct 20, 9:19 pm EDT
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP)—Opposing offenses won’t have to scale Mount Cody to get through the middle of No. 2 Alabama’s defensive line for a while.
Now, they get “The Incredible Hulk” instead.
With mammoth nose guard Terrence Cody out for at least two games with a knee injury, musclebound Josh Chapman will start for the Crimson Tide Saturday at Tennessee.
What that means for opponents: They will face Alabama’s strongest player instead of the biggest. The 6-foot-5, 365-pound Cody is expected to miss at least the next two games with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee.
Coach Nick Saban is hoping Cody will return in time for the Tide’s game at No. 11 LSU on Nov. 8.
The junior college transfer has been a formidable presence manning the middle of the Tide’s defensive line all season, earning the nickname “Mount Cody” and becoming a fan favorite.
“The impact was obvious,” cornerback Javier Arenas said. “Losing him won’t be so obvious, because we’ve got a guy stepping in who’s just as capable, a tad bit smaller. We’d really love to have Cody in there, as any team in the country would. We’ve just got to adapt and play our game.”
Chapman, a 6-1, 305-pound sophomore, has been a regular presence on Alabama’s defense, too. He has typically rotated in for a few snaps every five or six plays.
Cody has 15 tackles, including 3.5 for a loss. Chapman has six tackles, three of them behind the line, but knows he doesn’t quite present the same intimidating sight to opposing linemen.
“I think any opponent would be glad to see me instead of Cody,” he said. “That’s a whole big load.”
Both have been important fixtures in the league’s No. 2 rush defense, which has allowed only one touchdown on the ground in seven games.
“He plays with strength,” coach Nick Saban said of Chapman. “He’s got good power. He plays run blocks very well. He’s a true nose guard for what we want. He’s played all year. It’s not like you haven’t seen him. He’s out there on probably a third of the run down plays in every game.”
Whereas Cody has been notable for his size and impressive agility, Chapman’s strength is what draws attention from his teammates. He bench presses 485 pounds, squats 600 and draws a crowd in the gym whenever it’s time for the Tide strength coaches to measure how much each player can lift.
That’s why Arenas calls him “The Incredible Hulk” in the weight room.
“We don’t have enough space on the bar to put another weight on when he gets on it,” Arenas said. “When we’re maxing out everyone crowds around him. He’s a monster.”
Chapman said he benched 315 pounds as a ninth-grader at Hoover High School, when Tide quarterback John Parker Wilson was a senior at the state powerhouse.
Wilson saw him play whenever he went to see his little brother, Ross, play in Hoover games and said Chapman was already the Tide’s strongest player as an incoming freshman.
“He’s not as big as Cody but I think he’s stronger than him,” Wilson said. “I don’t think we’ll fall off much at all. He lifts more than anybody on our team and an absurd amount of weight. The bar starts bending. He squats more than all my lifts combined.”
Behind Chapman, Saban said defensive end Lorenzo Washington could at times move over to the position he manned last season. Sophomore Nick Gentry is a smaller (254 pounds), quicker player at nose guard who has mostly played special teams and doesn’t have a tackle this season.
Saban indicated he might even consider taking the redshirt off freshman Damion Square.
Chapman, meanwhile, is drawing unfamiliar attention in his role replacing Cody, who even lined up as a lead blocker on a touchdown run against Mississippi.
“I guess I could try to bring the same things he brings,” Chapman said. “He brings a lot of energy out there. Like him being big and funny; he’s a funny guy. I can throw a few little jokes in there for the team.”
He said coaches replayed a scene where Cody jumped on a celebratory pile a couple of times. Chapman isn’t likely to try to match it.
“Not like he did,” he said. “The way he jumped on the pile was like a frog out there. A big frog.”
And when he’s not doing that, Arenas said it’s fun to stand even with the line of scrimmage on the sideline and watch Cody work.
“If you watch from the sideline, you will see two guys on the line get pushed back 3 or 4 yards and there’s really nothing they can do about it,” Arenas said. “All-America, All-Globe, I don’t care what they are. It’s fascinating to watch them get pushed back because they’re huge but then you’ve got this huger guy putting them in the quarterback’s lap.”
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP)—Opposing offenses won’t have to scale Mount Cody to get through the middle of No. 2 Alabama’s defensive line for a while.
Now, they get “The Incredible Hulk” instead.
With mammoth nose guard Terrence Cody out for at least two games with a knee injury, musclebound Josh Chapman will start for the Crimson Tide Saturday at Tennessee.
What that means for opponents: They will face Alabama’s strongest player instead of the biggest. The 6-foot-5, 365-pound Cody is expected to miss at least the next two games with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee.
Coach Nick Saban is hoping Cody will return in time for the Tide’s game at No. 11 LSU on Nov. 8.
The junior college transfer has been a formidable presence manning the middle of the Tide’s defensive line all season, earning the nickname “Mount Cody” and becoming a fan favorite.
“The impact was obvious,” cornerback Javier Arenas said. “Losing him won’t be so obvious, because we’ve got a guy stepping in who’s just as capable, a tad bit smaller. We’d really love to have Cody in there, as any team in the country would. We’ve just got to adapt and play our game.”
Chapman, a 6-1, 305-pound sophomore, has been a regular presence on Alabama’s defense, too. He has typically rotated in for a few snaps every five or six plays.
Cody has 15 tackles, including 3.5 for a loss. Chapman has six tackles, three of them behind the line, but knows he doesn’t quite present the same intimidating sight to opposing linemen.
“I think any opponent would be glad to see me instead of Cody,” he said. “That’s a whole big load.”
Both have been important fixtures in the league’s No. 2 rush defense, which has allowed only one touchdown on the ground in seven games.
“He plays with strength,” coach Nick Saban said of Chapman. “He’s got good power. He plays run blocks very well. He’s a true nose guard for what we want. He’s played all year. It’s not like you haven’t seen him. He’s out there on probably a third of the run down plays in every game.”
Whereas Cody has been notable for his size and impressive agility, Chapman’s strength is what draws attention from his teammates. He bench presses 485 pounds, squats 600 and draws a crowd in the gym whenever it’s time for the Tide strength coaches to measure how much each player can lift.
That’s why Arenas calls him “The Incredible Hulk” in the weight room.
“We don’t have enough space on the bar to put another weight on when he gets on it,” Arenas said. “When we’re maxing out everyone crowds around him. He’s a monster.”
Chapman said he benched 315 pounds as a ninth-grader at Hoover High School, when Tide quarterback John Parker Wilson was a senior at the state powerhouse.
Wilson saw him play whenever he went to see his little brother, Ross, play in Hoover games and said Chapman was already the Tide’s strongest player as an incoming freshman.
“He’s not as big as Cody but I think he’s stronger than him,” Wilson said. “I don’t think we’ll fall off much at all. He lifts more than anybody on our team and an absurd amount of weight. The bar starts bending. He squats more than all my lifts combined.”
Behind Chapman, Saban said defensive end Lorenzo Washington could at times move over to the position he manned last season. Sophomore Nick Gentry is a smaller (254 pounds), quicker player at nose guard who has mostly played special teams and doesn’t have a tackle this season.
Saban indicated he might even consider taking the redshirt off freshman Damion Square.
Chapman, meanwhile, is drawing unfamiliar attention in his role replacing Cody, who even lined up as a lead blocker on a touchdown run against Mississippi.
“I guess I could try to bring the same things he brings,” Chapman said. “He brings a lot of energy out there. Like him being big and funny; he’s a funny guy. I can throw a few little jokes in there for the team.”
He said coaches replayed a scene where Cody jumped on a celebratory pile a couple of times. Chapman isn’t likely to try to match it.
“Not like he did,” he said. “The way he jumped on the pile was like a frog out there. A big frog.”
And when he’s not doing that, Arenas said it’s fun to stand even with the line of scrimmage on the sideline and watch Cody work.
“If you watch from the sideline, you will see two guys on the line get pushed back 3 or 4 yards and there’s really nothing they can do about it,” Arenas said. “All-America, All-Globe, I don’t care what they are. It’s fascinating to watch them get pushed back because they’re huge but then you’ve got this huger guy putting them in the quarterback’s lap.”
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Well ... A Win is a win.....right?
And John Parker Wilson Takes A Knee to seal the victory .......
Should be sweet words ..... but somehow they feel sour today. Today we saw what could be a season ending injury to one of the Tide's brightest young stars. Terrence "Mount Cody" Cody was involved in a play where another player got pushed into him and it looked like his knee got rolled up under him. From the massive look of pain on his face when they were working on him & the looks on the faces of the doctors I feel this must be a major major injury and a horrible blow to our defense.
Congrats guys for holding off the bad guys in the final minutes .... but I sure hope we find some rhythm before we run into LSU and Auburn.
ROLL TIDE 7-0 .... Let's all say a prayer for Mr. Cody.
L8ter,
Tide Pride
Should be sweet words ..... but somehow they feel sour today. Today we saw what could be a season ending injury to one of the Tide's brightest young stars. Terrence "Mount Cody" Cody was involved in a play where another player got pushed into him and it looked like his knee got rolled up under him. From the massive look of pain on his face when they were working on him & the looks on the faces of the doctors I feel this must be a major major injury and a horrible blow to our defense.
Congrats guys for holding off the bad guys in the final minutes .... but I sure hope we find some rhythm before we run into LSU and Auburn.
ROLL TIDE 7-0 .... Let's all say a prayer for Mr. Cody.
L8ter,
Tide Pride
Friday, October 17, 2008
ALABAMA-OLE MISS PREVIEW
Alabama-Ole Miss has flying shoes, big finishes
By JOHN ZENOR, AP Sports Writer
Unforgettable memories are forged on Southeastern Conference football fields. Big wins. Fantastic finishes.
Even flying footwear. That’s the first thing that pops up in the mind of Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson when he recalls last year’s meeting with Mississippi.
“Walking off the field, I was like, ‘There’s high heels on the field,”’ Wilson said. “I couldn’t believe it. We’ve had stuff thrown at us, but not shoes.”
For such a one-sided rivalry, Alabama-Mississippi has produced some wild ones leading up to Saturday’s meeting, none moreso than last year’s controversial but fashionably shod ending.
An apparent 41-yard touchdown catch by Shay Hodge with 7 seconds left was reversed after replay officials determined Hodge ran out of bounds before catching the ball. The result was a 27-24 Alabama win and some steamed Ole Miss fans—one of whom presumably left without her pumps.
The Tide (6-0, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) has won the last three meetings, each time by three points, on everything from a last-play field goal to an overtime touchdown, but has continued to own the Western Division series. Alabama is 22-1 in games played in Tuscaloosa and has won 18 of the last 21 meetings.
With the recent musical chairs at the top of the rankings, the SEC’s only remaining unbeaten team doesn’t want to join the crowd of upset victims. Mississippi (3-3, 1-2), a 13-point underdog, has already won at No. 5 Florida this season.
“Everybody knows Ole Miss can play,” Tide defensive end Lorenzo Washington said. “They’re no pushover team. No team in the SEC is, really.”
Neither of these teams is easy to push around. Alabama is the SEC’s top team at running and stopping the run, ranking second nationally in the latter category.
Tide coach Nick Saban said physical play is a trademark of Houston Nutt’s teams. Nutt coached Arkansas before taking over at Ole Miss this year. The Rebels have three sacks in each of the past two games and lead the SEC in tackles for loss.
“(Nutt’s) teams always play physical, they’re always tough, they always play hard,” Saban said. “They always compete well in a game. Never are they out of the game, as evidenced by some of the games we’ve had in the past with them, including last year’s game.
“They’re always hard to defend.”
One reason is the “Wild Rebel” formation that utilizes receiver Dexter McCluster, who is fourth in the SEC in receiving yards and has led the team in rushing the past two games.
The biggest change Alabama players cited from recent Ole Miss teams is likely quarterback Jevan Snead, who is third in the league in passing yards.
“In the past couple of years, after Eli (Manning) left, they’ve had trouble trying to find a consistent quarterback,” Washington said. “With Snead, I think they’ve definitely found a good quarterback. He’s made a couple of turnovers, but on the flip side he’s made a ton of good plays. Throwing the ball well and making plays with his feet, too.”
Snead might have to do both against a defense that has given up just 305 rushing yards all season. Tide cornerback Javier Arenas said Snead reminds him of Georgia’s Matthew Stafford with his willingness to thread the ball into tight coverage.
“He’s good at it, too,” Arenas said. “We’ve got to respect that, but at the same time we’ve got to respect all the misdirection, passes and reverses.”
Alabama counters with a more straight-ahead, power running game. Glen Coffee is coming off a career-best 218-yard game two weeks ago against Kentucky before both teams had an open date.
Wilson could have some opportunities in the passing game. Ole Miss is allowing a league-worst 229 yards a game through the air, matching Kentucky with the most passing touchdowns allowed (nine).
Then again, Wilson completed only 7-of-17 passes against the Wildcats.
Ole Miss defensive line coach Tracy Rocker doesn’t expect much finesse from the Tide.
“There’s one thing you know about Alabama, they’re gonna come dead at you,” Rocker said. “They’re the poster child of what the SEC is all about. They’re physical and they’re playing real football, the old traditional football, and that’s what I like about it. And I think that’s what intrigues everybody else about them.”
By JOHN ZENOR, AP Sports Writer
Unforgettable memories are forged on Southeastern Conference football fields. Big wins. Fantastic finishes.
Even flying footwear. That’s the first thing that pops up in the mind of Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson when he recalls last year’s meeting with Mississippi.
“Walking off the field, I was like, ‘There’s high heels on the field,”’ Wilson said. “I couldn’t believe it. We’ve had stuff thrown at us, but not shoes.”
For such a one-sided rivalry, Alabama-Mississippi has produced some wild ones leading up to Saturday’s meeting, none moreso than last year’s controversial but fashionably shod ending.
An apparent 41-yard touchdown catch by Shay Hodge with 7 seconds left was reversed after replay officials determined Hodge ran out of bounds before catching the ball. The result was a 27-24 Alabama win and some steamed Ole Miss fans—one of whom presumably left without her pumps.
The Tide (6-0, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) has won the last three meetings, each time by three points, on everything from a last-play field goal to an overtime touchdown, but has continued to own the Western Division series. Alabama is 22-1 in games played in Tuscaloosa and has won 18 of the last 21 meetings.
With the recent musical chairs at the top of the rankings, the SEC’s only remaining unbeaten team doesn’t want to join the crowd of upset victims. Mississippi (3-3, 1-2), a 13-point underdog, has already won at No. 5 Florida this season.
“Everybody knows Ole Miss can play,” Tide defensive end Lorenzo Washington said. “They’re no pushover team. No team in the SEC is, really.”
Neither of these teams is easy to push around. Alabama is the SEC’s top team at running and stopping the run, ranking second nationally in the latter category.
Tide coach Nick Saban said physical play is a trademark of Houston Nutt’s teams. Nutt coached Arkansas before taking over at Ole Miss this year. The Rebels have three sacks in each of the past two games and lead the SEC in tackles for loss.
“(Nutt’s) teams always play physical, they’re always tough, they always play hard,” Saban said. “They always compete well in a game. Never are they out of the game, as evidenced by some of the games we’ve had in the past with them, including last year’s game.
“They’re always hard to defend.”
One reason is the “Wild Rebel” formation that utilizes receiver Dexter McCluster, who is fourth in the SEC in receiving yards and has led the team in rushing the past two games.
The biggest change Alabama players cited from recent Ole Miss teams is likely quarterback Jevan Snead, who is third in the league in passing yards.
“In the past couple of years, after Eli (Manning) left, they’ve had trouble trying to find a consistent quarterback,” Washington said. “With Snead, I think they’ve definitely found a good quarterback. He’s made a couple of turnovers, but on the flip side he’s made a ton of good plays. Throwing the ball well and making plays with his feet, too.”
Snead might have to do both against a defense that has given up just 305 rushing yards all season. Tide cornerback Javier Arenas said Snead reminds him of Georgia’s Matthew Stafford with his willingness to thread the ball into tight coverage.
“He’s good at it, too,” Arenas said. “We’ve got to respect that, but at the same time we’ve got to respect all the misdirection, passes and reverses.”
Alabama counters with a more straight-ahead, power running game. Glen Coffee is coming off a career-best 218-yard game two weeks ago against Kentucky before both teams had an open date.
Wilson could have some opportunities in the passing game. Ole Miss is allowing a league-worst 229 yards a game through the air, matching Kentucky with the most passing touchdowns allowed (nine).
Then again, Wilson completed only 7-of-17 passes against the Wildcats.
Ole Miss defensive line coach Tracy Rocker doesn’t expect much finesse from the Tide.
“There’s one thing you know about Alabama, they’re gonna come dead at you,” Rocker said. “They’re the poster child of what the SEC is all about. They’re physical and they’re playing real football, the old traditional football, and that’s what I like about it. And I think that’s what intrigues everybody else about them.”
MOUNT CODY'S HUGE IMPACT
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – He's literally the biggest surprise of the season.
Alabama nose tackle Terrence Cody, a junior college transfer, wasn't close to being the most highly touted player in Alabama's top-ranked recruiting class. If it's possible for a 6-foot-5, 365-pound man to slip under the radar, Cody pulled it off. Yet he now is the center of attention in the SEC. After all, how can you miss him?
Massive defensive tackle Terrence Cody has been a huge difference maker for Alabama's defense.The behemoth in the middle of Alabama's defensive line has helped give the Crimson Tide the nation's second-ranked run defense while catapulting one of the nation's most storied programs back into title contention. Not even Cody himself expected to make this kind of an instant impact.
"I didn't think I was going to be this big," he said. "I've surprised myself big-time."
His extraordinary combination of size and athleticism already has made him a folk hero around campus, where he's hailed as "Mount Cody."
He has weighed as much as 420 pounds, yet he's athletic enough to dunk a basketball. He has the strength to withstand constant double and triple teams, but he also possesses enough stamina to jog up a 2½-mile mountain trail.
No wonder NFL scouts are drooling over his long-term potential.
"Defensive linemen are a hot commodity in the NFL," said former NFL executive Michael Lombardi, now a writer for nationalfootballpost.com. "Dominant defensive linemen are an even bigger commodity. He happens to be both."
Cody's sudden emergence as one of the most dominant defensive players in the nation is one of this season's most interesting stories. How he got here is perhaps an even better tale.
Cody, who's now seen as a potential first-round draft pick, wasn't playing football at all four years ago. He had to overcome tragedy in his family life and trouble in the classroom. And his excessive weight created questions about whether he could physically handle the demands of big-time college football.
"A lot of people passed on him just because of his size, which I thought was pretty funny," said Steve Campbell, who coached Cody last season at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, in Perkinston. "Normally when you get a guy that big, he can't move. They thought maybe if he lost some pounds, he could be an offensive guard. That was the comment I kept hearing. I thought he didn't have to lose a pound and he could be a dominant defensive tackle or nose guard."
Campbell wasn't the only one who believed that. Scott Jones, who coached Cody at Riverdale High School in Fort Myers, Fla., predicted this kind of success almost as soon as he saw Cody – then a 6-2, 275-pound high school freshman – roaming the halls. The problem was that Cody rarely gave himself a chance to show off his extraordinary potential.
Poor grades prevented Cody from playing football as a sophomore and junior, putting his career in jeopardy before it ever really got going. Jones has coached high school football since 1970 and couldn't remember any other examples of a kid who managed to regain his academic eligibility as a senior after sitting out two entire seasons. Cody was the exception.
"My freshman year, I was pretty good," Cody said. "They brought me up to varsity, and I was dominating. I let all that get into my head, that I was good and didn't have to go to class. My grades went down, and I had to miss two years. … My teachers talked to me every day. One day I just said, 'I've got to get back on the field.' "
Cody also wanted to improve his grades in order to become a better role model for his four younger siblings. Cody was 11 when his father died, forcing him to spend his teen years helping take care of his three sisters and one brother.
"It was real difficult because everything was on me," Cody said. "I had to do good. My sisters looked up to me. If I was doing bad, they were going to do bad. I had to turn myself around and start doing good."
TIPPING THE SCALES
Alabama nose guard Terrence Cody is one of only about a half-dozen players who weigh at least 350 pounds and start for a Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-A) program. His status as a defensive player also makes him an exception to the rule. Most of the 350-pound club's members are offensive linemen. Here's a rundown of players on FBS rosters who weigh at least 350 pounds. Starters are listed in bold.
Herman Johnson, LSU; G, Sr., 6-7, 386
Jake Johnson, Texas Tech; G, Sr., 6-7, 370
Steve Lightsy, San Jose State; G, Jr., 6-4, 370
Isaiah Williams, Arizona State; OL, Soph., 6-8, 370
Jordan White-Frisbee, Washington; G, Sr., 6-5, 368
Brandon Ware, Penn State; DT, Fr., 6-3, 367
Victor Unga, BYU; DL, Fr., 5-11, 366
Terrence Cody, Alabama; NT, Jr., 6-5, 365
Garrett Faulconer, San Jose State; G, Jr. , 6-7, 360
Ramsey Feagai, UNLV; OT, Soph., 6-2, 360
Nate Hartung, BYU; OL, Fr., 6-2, 360
Siosifa Moala, UNLV; OL, Sr., 6-1, 360
Eddie Tautolo, New Mexico State; OT, Fr.-RS, 6-4, 360
Brandon Bullock, Marshall; DT, Soph., 6-3, 355
Vaughn Dotsy, Arizona; G, Fr., 6-5, 355
Mark Jean-Louis, Ole Miss; OL, Jr., 6-2, 355
Jaron Odom, Louisiana-Lafayette; G, Fr., 6-8, 355
Rodrick Thomas, Tulsa; OT, Sr., 6-5, 355
Brandon Carter, Texas Tech; G, Jr., 6-7, 354
Brent Good, Arizona State; G, Jr., 6-2, 354
Anthony Jackson, Arkansas State; G, Jr., 6-4, 353
Calvin Wilson, Southern Mississippi; OT, Jr., 6-6, 353
Devan Cunningham, Fresno State; G, Soph., 6-6, 350
Chris Little, Georgia; G, Fr.-RS, 6-6, 350
Jonas Murrell, Florida International; DT, Sr., 6-2, 350
Dennis Zeigler, Indiana; OL, Fr.-RS, 6-7, 350
Once Cody regained his eligibility for his senior season, he wasted no time making a name for himself around campus. He earned a standing ovation from teammates by completing a 2.5-mile jog up a mountain – while weighing 400 pounds – during the Riverdale football team's preseason retreat in West Virginia. And Cody delivered such devastating hits that Jones instituted a rule preventing him from tackling teammates during practice, which led to a remarkable scene during one workout.
"This 240-pound fullback was running," Jones recalled. "(Cody) put his helmet on the kid's waist and lifted him up like he was a fireman carrying him on the shoulder. He brought him up to me and said, 'Is this what you want?' "
When Cody wasn't displaying brute strength on the football field, he was revealing his amazing athleticism on the basketball court. Cody averaged about eight rebounds and 12 points per game for Riverdale's basketball team. He showed remarkable footwork and change-of-direction skills for someone so large, though those skills didn't garner nearly as much attention as his occasional dunking exhibitions in practice.
"To all the other players, it was just so amazing, how he could run, stop, change direction and do everything," Riverdale basketball coach Herb Brown said. "He was just big and playful. I guess he never knew how amazing it was, what he was doing."
Cody's exploits made him a legend at Riverdale, but he remained a bit of a secret in the recruiting world. Cody's poor academic history was going to prevent him from playing for a Division I school as a freshman, but Jones still expected some big-time program to sign him, then place him at a junior college.
It didn't happen.
"I sent out film and talked to college coaches about him, but I think they were leery of his academic problems," Jones said. "I can understand that, but when you have a kid who's 6-6 (actually 6-5) and 380 pounds, you might want to take a hold of him."
Cody ended up at Mississippi Gulf Coast, where he helped the Bulldogs win a share of the national JUCO title last season and even ran for a touchdown out of a jumbo backfield on one occasion. Still, he was one of the lesser figures in Alabama's vaunted recruiting class. Rivals.com rated him as the No. 47 junior college recruit in the nation.
That didn't stop him from catching the attention of Alabama coach Nick Saban, who believed Cody's combination of power and quickness could make him an ideal nose tackle in the Tide's 3-4 defense.
"The big question was would he be able to manage his weight so that he'd be able to sustain his performance and get in the kind of condition he needed to play to his capacity," Saban said. "He's done a good job of it."
The weight issue also concerned Cody's new teammates, at least in the early going.
"During summer workouts, he maybe struggled at first," Alabama cornerback Javier Arenas said. "I was thinking, 'Man, this guy might be too big. Moving around (for) four quarters might not be his cup of tea.'
"But he adjusted fine. Probably by the second or third day of camp, he was out there doing his thing and I was thinking this guy might be the real deal."
Cody said he didn't really have to change what he ate. The problem was when he ate. He cut down on his late-night snacking and watched a couple of pounds disappear each day. The guy who once weighed well over 400 now is listed at 365.
Of course, that's still plenty big enough to clog up any running lanes opposing teams try to create between the tackles. That much became evident the night Cody made his college debut.
Alabama was facing Clemson's vaunted "Thunder & Lightning" backfield of James Davis and C.J. Spiller. They were considered the nation's top tailback tandem. Then they ran into Mount Cody.
Cody's physical presence helped limit Clemson to zero net rushing yards in the Tide's 34-10 rout. Davis and Spiller combined to run for 20 yards on eight carries.
"You shut down the two best running backs in college to only 20 yards, it's real exciting," Cody said. "I could see it in their eyes. They were looking confused. Everything they tried to do, we knew what they were doing because we had a scheme for it."
Cody has made things extremely difficult for opposing rushing attacks.That performance set the tone for the rest of the season. Alabama has faced two of the nation's top nine rushers (Tulane's Andre Anderson and Arkansas' Michael Smith) along with preseason Heisman candidate Knowshon Moreno of Georgia, and the Tide are allowing just 50.8 rushing yards per game and 2.3 yards per carry.
How tough is it to run on a defense that features Cody in the middle?
"It's almost like a guessing game," said Alabama running back Glen Coffee, who tries working his way around Cody every day in practice. "You want to press the hole, but you know he's going to be in the hole. Then when you cut it back, he's big enough and quick enough to get in that hole also."
Cody's numbers don't jump off the stat sheet. He only has 15 tackles through his first six games. Then again, the Tide aren't asking Cody to make a bunch of tackles. They want him to clog the middle to make it easier for the rest of the defense to make plays. He's accomplishing that task because of a combination of size and athleticism that leaves teammates grasping for comparisons.
"I really haven't heard about it in the college level," Alabama defensive end Lorenzo Washington said as he struggled to come up with similar players. "You see it sometimes in the NFL – but not with his stamina – with guys like Shaun Rogers, Dan Wilkinson, Gilbert Brown and older players like that."
It's no wonder Washington had to come up with the names of NFL players while discussing Cody's attributes. In the college game, Cody has no peers.
"Nobody is like him," said Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt, whose team faces Alabama this week.
Cody's unique skill set should earn him an NFL fortune at some point. The only question is when. As a junior college transfer, Cody is eligible to pursue a pro career after this season, though Lombardi said he believes Cody would benefit from staying in school for another year. Lombardi noted that Cody remains a raw prospect who could answer concerns about his weight and experience by playing one more year of college football.
Cody insists he isn't focused on the future just yet.
"I really don't think about it," he said. "People tell me, but I don't look at any message boards or anything like that. I just go out every Saturday and play my game. I'm thinking about really coming back for my senior year."
SEC running backs can only hope he changes his mind.
Alabama nose tackle Terrence Cody, a junior college transfer, wasn't close to being the most highly touted player in Alabama's top-ranked recruiting class. If it's possible for a 6-foot-5, 365-pound man to slip under the radar, Cody pulled it off. Yet he now is the center of attention in the SEC. After all, how can you miss him?
Massive defensive tackle Terrence Cody has been a huge difference maker for Alabama's defense.The behemoth in the middle of Alabama's defensive line has helped give the Crimson Tide the nation's second-ranked run defense while catapulting one of the nation's most storied programs back into title contention. Not even Cody himself expected to make this kind of an instant impact.
"I didn't think I was going to be this big," he said. "I've surprised myself big-time."
His extraordinary combination of size and athleticism already has made him a folk hero around campus, where he's hailed as "Mount Cody."
He has weighed as much as 420 pounds, yet he's athletic enough to dunk a basketball. He has the strength to withstand constant double and triple teams, but he also possesses enough stamina to jog up a 2½-mile mountain trail.
No wonder NFL scouts are drooling over his long-term potential.
"Defensive linemen are a hot commodity in the NFL," said former NFL executive Michael Lombardi, now a writer for nationalfootballpost.com. "Dominant defensive linemen are an even bigger commodity. He happens to be both."
Cody's sudden emergence as one of the most dominant defensive players in the nation is one of this season's most interesting stories. How he got here is perhaps an even better tale.
Cody, who's now seen as a potential first-round draft pick, wasn't playing football at all four years ago. He had to overcome tragedy in his family life and trouble in the classroom. And his excessive weight created questions about whether he could physically handle the demands of big-time college football.
"A lot of people passed on him just because of his size, which I thought was pretty funny," said Steve Campbell, who coached Cody last season at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, in Perkinston. "Normally when you get a guy that big, he can't move. They thought maybe if he lost some pounds, he could be an offensive guard. That was the comment I kept hearing. I thought he didn't have to lose a pound and he could be a dominant defensive tackle or nose guard."
Campbell wasn't the only one who believed that. Scott Jones, who coached Cody at Riverdale High School in Fort Myers, Fla., predicted this kind of success almost as soon as he saw Cody – then a 6-2, 275-pound high school freshman – roaming the halls. The problem was that Cody rarely gave himself a chance to show off his extraordinary potential.
Poor grades prevented Cody from playing football as a sophomore and junior, putting his career in jeopardy before it ever really got going. Jones has coached high school football since 1970 and couldn't remember any other examples of a kid who managed to regain his academic eligibility as a senior after sitting out two entire seasons. Cody was the exception.
"My freshman year, I was pretty good," Cody said. "They brought me up to varsity, and I was dominating. I let all that get into my head, that I was good and didn't have to go to class. My grades went down, and I had to miss two years. … My teachers talked to me every day. One day I just said, 'I've got to get back on the field.' "
Cody also wanted to improve his grades in order to become a better role model for his four younger siblings. Cody was 11 when his father died, forcing him to spend his teen years helping take care of his three sisters and one brother.
"It was real difficult because everything was on me," Cody said. "I had to do good. My sisters looked up to me. If I was doing bad, they were going to do bad. I had to turn myself around and start doing good."
TIPPING THE SCALES
Alabama nose guard Terrence Cody is one of only about a half-dozen players who weigh at least 350 pounds and start for a Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-A) program. His status as a defensive player also makes him an exception to the rule. Most of the 350-pound club's members are offensive linemen. Here's a rundown of players on FBS rosters who weigh at least 350 pounds. Starters are listed in bold.
Herman Johnson, LSU; G, Sr., 6-7, 386
Jake Johnson, Texas Tech; G, Sr., 6-7, 370
Steve Lightsy, San Jose State; G, Jr., 6-4, 370
Isaiah Williams, Arizona State; OL, Soph., 6-8, 370
Jordan White-Frisbee, Washington; G, Sr., 6-5, 368
Brandon Ware, Penn State; DT, Fr., 6-3, 367
Victor Unga, BYU; DL, Fr., 5-11, 366
Terrence Cody, Alabama; NT, Jr., 6-5, 365
Garrett Faulconer, San Jose State; G, Jr. , 6-7, 360
Ramsey Feagai, UNLV; OT, Soph., 6-2, 360
Nate Hartung, BYU; OL, Fr., 6-2, 360
Siosifa Moala, UNLV; OL, Sr., 6-1, 360
Eddie Tautolo, New Mexico State; OT, Fr.-RS, 6-4, 360
Brandon Bullock, Marshall; DT, Soph., 6-3, 355
Vaughn Dotsy, Arizona; G, Fr., 6-5, 355
Mark Jean-Louis, Ole Miss; OL, Jr., 6-2, 355
Jaron Odom, Louisiana-Lafayette; G, Fr., 6-8, 355
Rodrick Thomas, Tulsa; OT, Sr., 6-5, 355
Brandon Carter, Texas Tech; G, Jr., 6-7, 354
Brent Good, Arizona State; G, Jr., 6-2, 354
Anthony Jackson, Arkansas State; G, Jr., 6-4, 353
Calvin Wilson, Southern Mississippi; OT, Jr., 6-6, 353
Devan Cunningham, Fresno State; G, Soph., 6-6, 350
Chris Little, Georgia; G, Fr.-RS, 6-6, 350
Jonas Murrell, Florida International; DT, Sr., 6-2, 350
Dennis Zeigler, Indiana; OL, Fr.-RS, 6-7, 350
Once Cody regained his eligibility for his senior season, he wasted no time making a name for himself around campus. He earned a standing ovation from teammates by completing a 2.5-mile jog up a mountain – while weighing 400 pounds – during the Riverdale football team's preseason retreat in West Virginia. And Cody delivered such devastating hits that Jones instituted a rule preventing him from tackling teammates during practice, which led to a remarkable scene during one workout.
"This 240-pound fullback was running," Jones recalled. "(Cody) put his helmet on the kid's waist and lifted him up like he was a fireman carrying him on the shoulder. He brought him up to me and said, 'Is this what you want?' "
When Cody wasn't displaying brute strength on the football field, he was revealing his amazing athleticism on the basketball court. Cody averaged about eight rebounds and 12 points per game for Riverdale's basketball team. He showed remarkable footwork and change-of-direction skills for someone so large, though those skills didn't garner nearly as much attention as his occasional dunking exhibitions in practice.
"To all the other players, it was just so amazing, how he could run, stop, change direction and do everything," Riverdale basketball coach Herb Brown said. "He was just big and playful. I guess he never knew how amazing it was, what he was doing."
Cody's exploits made him a legend at Riverdale, but he remained a bit of a secret in the recruiting world. Cody's poor academic history was going to prevent him from playing for a Division I school as a freshman, but Jones still expected some big-time program to sign him, then place him at a junior college.
It didn't happen.
"I sent out film and talked to college coaches about him, but I think they were leery of his academic problems," Jones said. "I can understand that, but when you have a kid who's 6-6 (actually 6-5) and 380 pounds, you might want to take a hold of him."
Cody ended up at Mississippi Gulf Coast, where he helped the Bulldogs win a share of the national JUCO title last season and even ran for a touchdown out of a jumbo backfield on one occasion. Still, he was one of the lesser figures in Alabama's vaunted recruiting class. Rivals.com rated him as the No. 47 junior college recruit in the nation.
That didn't stop him from catching the attention of Alabama coach Nick Saban, who believed Cody's combination of power and quickness could make him an ideal nose tackle in the Tide's 3-4 defense.
"The big question was would he be able to manage his weight so that he'd be able to sustain his performance and get in the kind of condition he needed to play to his capacity," Saban said. "He's done a good job of it."
The weight issue also concerned Cody's new teammates, at least in the early going.
"During summer workouts, he maybe struggled at first," Alabama cornerback Javier Arenas said. "I was thinking, 'Man, this guy might be too big. Moving around (for) four quarters might not be his cup of tea.'
"But he adjusted fine. Probably by the second or third day of camp, he was out there doing his thing and I was thinking this guy might be the real deal."
Cody said he didn't really have to change what he ate. The problem was when he ate. He cut down on his late-night snacking and watched a couple of pounds disappear each day. The guy who once weighed well over 400 now is listed at 365.
Of course, that's still plenty big enough to clog up any running lanes opposing teams try to create between the tackles. That much became evident the night Cody made his college debut.
Alabama was facing Clemson's vaunted "Thunder & Lightning" backfield of James Davis and C.J. Spiller. They were considered the nation's top tailback tandem. Then they ran into Mount Cody.
Cody's physical presence helped limit Clemson to zero net rushing yards in the Tide's 34-10 rout. Davis and Spiller combined to run for 20 yards on eight carries.
"You shut down the two best running backs in college to only 20 yards, it's real exciting," Cody said. "I could see it in their eyes. They were looking confused. Everything they tried to do, we knew what they were doing because we had a scheme for it."
Cody has made things extremely difficult for opposing rushing attacks.That performance set the tone for the rest of the season. Alabama has faced two of the nation's top nine rushers (Tulane's Andre Anderson and Arkansas' Michael Smith) along with preseason Heisman candidate Knowshon Moreno of Georgia, and the Tide are allowing just 50.8 rushing yards per game and 2.3 yards per carry.
How tough is it to run on a defense that features Cody in the middle?
"It's almost like a guessing game," said Alabama running back Glen Coffee, who tries working his way around Cody every day in practice. "You want to press the hole, but you know he's going to be in the hole. Then when you cut it back, he's big enough and quick enough to get in that hole also."
Cody's numbers don't jump off the stat sheet. He only has 15 tackles through his first six games. Then again, the Tide aren't asking Cody to make a bunch of tackles. They want him to clog the middle to make it easier for the rest of the defense to make plays. He's accomplishing that task because of a combination of size and athleticism that leaves teammates grasping for comparisons.
"I really haven't heard about it in the college level," Alabama defensive end Lorenzo Washington said as he struggled to come up with similar players. "You see it sometimes in the NFL – but not with his stamina – with guys like Shaun Rogers, Dan Wilkinson, Gilbert Brown and older players like that."
It's no wonder Washington had to come up with the names of NFL players while discussing Cody's attributes. In the college game, Cody has no peers.
"Nobody is like him," said Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt, whose team faces Alabama this week.
Cody's unique skill set should earn him an NFL fortune at some point. The only question is when. As a junior college transfer, Cody is eligible to pursue a pro career after this season, though Lombardi said he believes Cody would benefit from staying in school for another year. Lombardi noted that Cody remains a raw prospect who could answer concerns about his weight and experience by playing one more year of college football.
Cody insists he isn't focused on the future just yet.
"I really don't think about it," he said. "People tell me, but I don't look at any message boards or anything like that. I just go out every Saturday and play my game. I'm thinking about really coming back for my senior year."
SEC running backs can only hope he changes his mind.
SEC POWER RANKINGS
Now before I copy & paste this ... I must warn you that I am not quite sure what the fellow from YAHOO was drinking ... because he has bowl projections showing 10 outta 12 SEC teams making a bowl ....... hmmmmm has that ever happened?
Power Poll
By Travis Reier, BamaOnLine.com Senior Analyst Oct 15, 1:20 pm EDT
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE POWER RANKINGS
RANK
1
Alabama Crimson Tide
Nick Saban can’t even enjoy an open week. Bama’s boss said he tried to watch the Oklahoma-Texas last Saturday game, only to throw in the towel after mentally matching up his defensive players against the Texas and Oklahoma offenses. I mean, really, why breakdown the Longhorns and Sooners when a dangerous Ole Miss team awaits?
Midseason bowl projection: BCS Championship Game
Up next: UA (6-0, 3-0 in SEC) hosts Ole Miss on Oct. 18 (2:30 p.m. CT/CBS).
2
Florida Gators
From the fringes of the BCS title hunt to squarely in the mix. From the outer edges of the Heisman race to top three candidate. That’s a day in the life Tim Tebow, whose team beat the defending national champions by 30 points in primetime. Since winning it all two seasons ago, the Gators (5-1, 3-1) have been largely without star power on the defensive side of the ball. They have that now in middle linebacker Brandon Spikes.
Midseason bowl projection: Sugar
Up next: UF hosts UK on Oct. 25 (12:30 p.m. ET/Raycom).
3
Georgia Bulldogs
Lost in Matthew Stafford’s career-high passing day in the win over Tennessee was the fact that he took way too many shots. And with the revolving door at left tackle welcoming another newcomer this week against Vanderbilt, I’m wondering if Stafford will be upright by the time Georgia Tech rolls around in late November.
Midseason bowl projection: Capital One
Up next: UGA (5-1, 2-1) hosts Vanderbilt on Oct. 18 (12:30 p.m. ET/Raycom).
4
LSU Tigers
My immediate thought following Florida’s hammering of the Tigers: Other than offensive coordinator Gary Crowton, is there a current LSU assistant that Georgia, UF or Alabama would really want? Think about it. Jimbo Fisher and Stacy Searels gone to Florida State and Georgia, respectively, after the 2006 season. Bo Pelini takes over at Nebraska following the 2007 campaign. Crowton was a nice hire, but can anyone outside the state of Louisiana name the Tigers’ current defensive coordinator? (Hint: There are actually two of them)
Midseason bowl projection: Cotton
Up next: LSU (4-1, 2-1) travels to South Carolina on Oct. 18 (8 p.m ET/ESPN).
5
South Carolina
The quarterback position at USC has produced SEC player of the week honors in each of the past two weeks. And in true Steve Spurrier fashion, two different signal callers have been on the receiving end. After taking offensive player of the week honors against Ole Miss, Chris Smelley was benched in favor of Stephen Garcia in the Gamecocks’ 24-17 win over Kentucky. Spurrier’s decision proved to be the correct one, because without Garcia, who went on to earn freshman of the week honors after leading a 10-0 fourth quarter surge in Lexington, Carolina (5-2, 2-2) would not be in favorable bowl position today.
Midseason bowl projection: Outback
Up next: USC hosts LSU on Oct. 18 (8 p.m. ET/ESPN).
6
Ole Miss Rebels
Can Ole Miss (3-3, 1-2) produce some more SEC road magic this week at Alabama? If quarterback Jevan Snead plays in Tuscaloosa like he did in the Rebels’ first two road games of the season, they’ll have a shot. Six of Snead’s nine touchdown passes have come on the road, while seven of his nine interceptions have come at home.
Midseason bowl projection: Liberty
Up next: Ole Miss travels to Alabama on Oct. 18 (2:30 p.m. CT/CBS).
7
Vanderbilt Commodores
Now that the Commodores’ magical run has come to an end, their bowl hopes may come down to one game: vs. Duke in Nashville on Oct. 25. Kentucky and Tennessee look to be winnable games, but it’s hard to hand out Ws to a team that mustered just 107 yards of offense in a loss to Mississippi State. Quarterback Chris Nickson defines the term student-athlete, but Mackenzi Adams gives this team its best chance to win. Bobby Johnson may have made that call a few quarters too late.
Midseason bowl projection: Chick-fil-A
Up next: Vandy (5-1, 3-1) travels to UGA on Oct. 18 (12:30 p.m. ET/Raycom).
8
Kentucky Wildcats
In a 24-17 loss to South Carolina, the strongest area of this team didn’t have an answer for an inexperienced quarterback—Stephen Garcia—coming off the bench. And to make matters worse, the Wildcats (4-2, 0-2) lost their top offensive player—Dickey Lyons, Jr. (knee)—for the remainder of the season. Now the load will fall almost entirely to running back Derrick Locke and athlete/quarterback Randall Cobb to give the offense some juice.
Midseason bowl projection: Independence
Up next: UK hosts Arkansas on Oct. 18 (7 p.m. ET).
9
Arkansas Razorbacks
Darren McWho? Maybe losing two running backs to the first round of the NFL Draft wasn’t such a bad thing after all. In leading the SEC in rushing, Michael Smith, fresh from a 176-yard performance in the Razorbacks’ upset of Auburn, has stepped into the Bigfoot-sized addidas cleats left behind by Darren McFadden and Felix Jones quite well.
Midseason bowl projection: None
Up next: The Hogs (3-3, 1-2) travel to UK on Oct. 18 (7 p.m. ET).
10
Auburn Tigers
Since last we met, the following has taken place down on the Plains: Tony Frankin was dismissed as offensive coordinator and the Tigers (4-3, 2-3) lost at home to an Arkansas team that I thought might take the collar in league play this season. For all the talk about this team’s offensive woes, the biggest red flag when looking at this team might be the 416 yards its heralded defense gave up to the Razorbacks. Tommy Tuberville was motivated enough to not only survive a coup attempt in 2003, but to take the program to unprecedented heights one year later. Five years later, there are questions about whether he has the same fire in his gut.
Midseason bowl projection: Music City
Up next: AU travels to West Virginia on Oct. 23 (6:30 p.m. CT/ESPN).
11
Tennessee Volunteers
The 26-14 final didn’t indicate the lengths at which Georgia dominated the Vols (2-4; 0-3), but stats like total yards (UT: 209; UGA: 458) and time of possession (UT: 17:56, UGA: 42:04) certainly did. If nothing else, the Nick Stephens experiment at quarterback has show us what Phillip Rivers would have looked like in a Tennessee uniform.
Midseason bowl projection: Papa John’s
Up next: UT hosts MSU on Oct. 18 (7 p.m. ET).
12
Mississippi State Bulldogs
So much for the much anticipated 0-fer bowl pitting State (2-4, 1-2) against Arkansas on Nov. 22. That’s right, on the same day that Tennessee, Auburn and LSU lost games, the Dogs and Hogs got league wins. In throwing for 81 yards and a touchdowns, Tyson Lee wasn’t prolific by any means—but he’s definitely a step up from Wesley Carroll.
Midseason bowl projection: None
Up next: The Bullies travel to UT on Oct. 18 (7 p.m. ET).
Power Poll
By Travis Reier, BamaOnLine.com Senior Analyst Oct 15, 1:20 pm EDT
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE POWER RANKINGS
RANK
1
Alabama Crimson Tide
Nick Saban can’t even enjoy an open week. Bama’s boss said he tried to watch the Oklahoma-Texas last Saturday game, only to throw in the towel after mentally matching up his defensive players against the Texas and Oklahoma offenses. I mean, really, why breakdown the Longhorns and Sooners when a dangerous Ole Miss team awaits?
Midseason bowl projection: BCS Championship Game
Up next: UA (6-0, 3-0 in SEC) hosts Ole Miss on Oct. 18 (2:30 p.m. CT/CBS).
2
Florida Gators
From the fringes of the BCS title hunt to squarely in the mix. From the outer edges of the Heisman race to top three candidate. That’s a day in the life Tim Tebow, whose team beat the defending national champions by 30 points in primetime. Since winning it all two seasons ago, the Gators (5-1, 3-1) have been largely without star power on the defensive side of the ball. They have that now in middle linebacker Brandon Spikes.
Midseason bowl projection: Sugar
Up next: UF hosts UK on Oct. 25 (12:30 p.m. ET/Raycom).
3
Georgia Bulldogs
Lost in Matthew Stafford’s career-high passing day in the win over Tennessee was the fact that he took way too many shots. And with the revolving door at left tackle welcoming another newcomer this week against Vanderbilt, I’m wondering if Stafford will be upright by the time Georgia Tech rolls around in late November.
Midseason bowl projection: Capital One
Up next: UGA (5-1, 2-1) hosts Vanderbilt on Oct. 18 (12:30 p.m. ET/Raycom).
4
LSU Tigers
My immediate thought following Florida’s hammering of the Tigers: Other than offensive coordinator Gary Crowton, is there a current LSU assistant that Georgia, UF or Alabama would really want? Think about it. Jimbo Fisher and Stacy Searels gone to Florida State and Georgia, respectively, after the 2006 season. Bo Pelini takes over at Nebraska following the 2007 campaign. Crowton was a nice hire, but can anyone outside the state of Louisiana name the Tigers’ current defensive coordinator? (Hint: There are actually two of them)
Midseason bowl projection: Cotton
Up next: LSU (4-1, 2-1) travels to South Carolina on Oct. 18 (8 p.m ET/ESPN).
5
South Carolina
The quarterback position at USC has produced SEC player of the week honors in each of the past two weeks. And in true Steve Spurrier fashion, two different signal callers have been on the receiving end. After taking offensive player of the week honors against Ole Miss, Chris Smelley was benched in favor of Stephen Garcia in the Gamecocks’ 24-17 win over Kentucky. Spurrier’s decision proved to be the correct one, because without Garcia, who went on to earn freshman of the week honors after leading a 10-0 fourth quarter surge in Lexington, Carolina (5-2, 2-2) would not be in favorable bowl position today.
Midseason bowl projection: Outback
Up next: USC hosts LSU on Oct. 18 (8 p.m. ET/ESPN).
6
Ole Miss Rebels
Can Ole Miss (3-3, 1-2) produce some more SEC road magic this week at Alabama? If quarterback Jevan Snead plays in Tuscaloosa like he did in the Rebels’ first two road games of the season, they’ll have a shot. Six of Snead’s nine touchdown passes have come on the road, while seven of his nine interceptions have come at home.
Midseason bowl projection: Liberty
Up next: Ole Miss travels to Alabama on Oct. 18 (2:30 p.m. CT/CBS).
7
Vanderbilt Commodores
Now that the Commodores’ magical run has come to an end, their bowl hopes may come down to one game: vs. Duke in Nashville on Oct. 25. Kentucky and Tennessee look to be winnable games, but it’s hard to hand out Ws to a team that mustered just 107 yards of offense in a loss to Mississippi State. Quarterback Chris Nickson defines the term student-athlete, but Mackenzi Adams gives this team its best chance to win. Bobby Johnson may have made that call a few quarters too late.
Midseason bowl projection: Chick-fil-A
Up next: Vandy (5-1, 3-1) travels to UGA on Oct. 18 (12:30 p.m. ET/Raycom).
8
Kentucky Wildcats
In a 24-17 loss to South Carolina, the strongest area of this team didn’t have an answer for an inexperienced quarterback—Stephen Garcia—coming off the bench. And to make matters worse, the Wildcats (4-2, 0-2) lost their top offensive player—Dickey Lyons, Jr. (knee)—for the remainder of the season. Now the load will fall almost entirely to running back Derrick Locke and athlete/quarterback Randall Cobb to give the offense some juice.
Midseason bowl projection: Independence
Up next: UK hosts Arkansas on Oct. 18 (7 p.m. ET).
9
Arkansas Razorbacks
Darren McWho? Maybe losing two running backs to the first round of the NFL Draft wasn’t such a bad thing after all. In leading the SEC in rushing, Michael Smith, fresh from a 176-yard performance in the Razorbacks’ upset of Auburn, has stepped into the Bigfoot-sized addidas cleats left behind by Darren McFadden and Felix Jones quite well.
Midseason bowl projection: None
Up next: The Hogs (3-3, 1-2) travel to UK on Oct. 18 (7 p.m. ET).
10
Auburn Tigers
Since last we met, the following has taken place down on the Plains: Tony Frankin was dismissed as offensive coordinator and the Tigers (4-3, 2-3) lost at home to an Arkansas team that I thought might take the collar in league play this season. For all the talk about this team’s offensive woes, the biggest red flag when looking at this team might be the 416 yards its heralded defense gave up to the Razorbacks. Tommy Tuberville was motivated enough to not only survive a coup attempt in 2003, but to take the program to unprecedented heights one year later. Five years later, there are questions about whether he has the same fire in his gut.
Midseason bowl projection: Music City
Up next: AU travels to West Virginia on Oct. 23 (6:30 p.m. CT/ESPN).
11
Tennessee Volunteers
The 26-14 final didn’t indicate the lengths at which Georgia dominated the Vols (2-4; 0-3), but stats like total yards (UT: 209; UGA: 458) and time of possession (UT: 17:56, UGA: 42:04) certainly did. If nothing else, the Nick Stephens experiment at quarterback has show us what Phillip Rivers would have looked like in a Tennessee uniform.
Midseason bowl projection: Papa John’s
Up next: UT hosts MSU on Oct. 18 (7 p.m. ET).
12
Mississippi State Bulldogs
So much for the much anticipated 0-fer bowl pitting State (2-4, 1-2) against Arkansas on Nov. 22. That’s right, on the same day that Tennessee, Auburn and LSU lost games, the Dogs and Hogs got league wins. In throwing for 81 yards and a touchdowns, Tyson Lee wasn’t prolific by any means—but he’s definitely a step up from Wesley Carroll.
Midseason bowl projection: None
Up next: The Bullies travel to UT on Oct. 18 (7 p.m. ET).
Monday, October 13, 2008
Unified #2 in both Polls, Report Card For Bama...
‘A’ is for Alabama Midseason report card shows
By Christopher Walsh Sports Writer
TUSCALOOSA If one were to try and find a signature moment from the first half of the University of Alabama football team’s 2008 season, there would be numerous choices.
Junior running back Glen Coffee’s long touchdown runs against Arkansas and Kentucky? True freshman wide receiver Julio Jones’ over-the-shoulder touchdown catch at Georgia? Junior cornerback Javier Arenas’ punt return for a touchdown vs. Tulane?
Those were all good, but not quite worthy.
More appropriate would be something like the offensive line blowing No. 9 Clemson’s defensive front off the line of scrimmage on the first snap at the Georgia Dome. Junior Terrence Cody pushing the Western Kentucky center back into his running back, forcing a fumble the nose guard recovered. All the brutal hits by players like sophomore middle linebacker Rolando McClain and senior tight end Travis McCall.
Above everything else, Alabama’s 6-0 start and rise to No. 2 is due to its toughness, mentally and physically. That includes few penalties, few costly mistakes, and domination of the lines and up the middle defensively.
“I think there are a lot of lessons to be learned as well,” coach Nick Saban said. “In what has happened in the first half of the season being intensity that has fueled our success. That is something we need to maintain in practice and preparation and improving over this bye week.
“We don’t need to be looking into the rear view mirror here. We need to be looking forward to the challenge ahead.”
With six regular-season games remaining, the Crimson Tide is half-way to representing the Western Division in the SEC Championship Game, and it will likely take at least three losses to keep the Tide from playing in an elite Bowl Championship Series game.
That’s a far cry from a year ago, when Alabama finished November with a four-game collapse, including the embarrassing 21-14 home loss to Louisiana-Monroe.
“I don’t see that happening,” junior running back Roy Upchurch said. “Everyone’s really into the season. Everybody wants to be that team.”
Here are the midseason grades:
Quarterbacks: One of senior John Parker Wilson’s most impressive decisions came on a play few people noticed. Alabama had first down at its own 37 during the second quarter at Georgia, and was in a three-receiver set with senior tight end Nick Walker in motion to the right. With the snap, Wilson looked right, where redshirt freshman Marquis Maze headed downfield and Walker was underneath. He then turned toward the middle, where Jones had run a clearing route. Still no one was open, so he went to option three, a dump pass to Coffee for a 6-yard gain.
Five plays after going through that progression, Wilson threw the spectacular touchdown pass to Jones, for a 31-0 lead against the No. 3 Bulldogs.
Something else most fans probably haven’t noticed is that his arm strength has significantly improved.
Although Wilson’s numbers are down from a year ago, he also hasn’t had to try and win a game. His consistency needs to be better, but his passing efficiency is actually up, and he’s had just two interceptions.
“We’re just taking care of the ball,” Wilson said. “That’s been a big point for me, from last year, and I think I’ve done a pretty good job of it.
“Just be smart with the ball.”
Grade: B+.
Running backs: Coffee is averaging 7.5 yards every time he takes a handoff, which is frightfully good. To put that into perspective, Arkansas’ Darren McFadden had a 5.6 average last year.
Coffee, true freshman Mark Ingram and junior Roy Upchurch have been a terrific rotation, and their blocking has been pretty good, too. But the fumbling is a concern. Alabama has had nine fumbles, losing five.
One has to wonder if the Tide will unleash Terry Grant on an unsuspecting opponent soon, but even Coffee said he would have been surprised by his numbers of 708 yards on 95 carries (118.0 game average) if told them before the season.
“I would have been excited,” Coffee said. “Right now, I’m not because it’s a grind. But before the season, I can’t lie, I would have been excited.”
Grade: A-.
Wide receivers: Jones is already Wilson’s top target, with 19 catches for 278 yards, but outside of senior end Nick Walker no one has more that seven receptions.
“He’s probably starting to play a little faster,” Saban said about Jones. “Probably playing with a little more confidence, still probably learning every day. There are some things he can still do better. I think he played extremely well in the Georgia game, made a couple of big plays in that game. But the one thing that probably stands out to me is the physical nature of the way he plays, especially when he goes and gets the long ball.”
While the young receiving corps figures to improve over the next six games, and must do a better job of getting yards after the catch, two major pluses are the unit’s blocking and diversity. So far, 15 different players have caught a pass and unlike in the past it’s almost impossible to tell if the play is a run by who’s in at wideout.
Grade: B.
Offensive line: All three players on the left side — Andre Smith, Mike Johnson and Antoine Caldwell — figure to receive major consideration for All-SEC honors. Junior Drew Davis has fared well against some talented defensive ends, while sophomore David Ross filled in when Smith and senior Marlon Davis missed a game due to injuries. The biggest concern is depth, but true freshman John Michael Boswell may be close to stepping in at right tackle if necessary.
The most underrated player on the team is McCall, who is like an extra offensive lineman, and Alabama’s two-tight end formation has been giving opponents fits.
“That’s a good set for us,” McCall said. “I like playing two tights.”
Grade: A.
Defensive line: No opponent has been able to run up the middle, where Cody has regularly attracted two, if not three, blockers. He’s a huge reason why Alabama’s rushing defense is second nationally (50.8 yards per game).
“As the season progresses, you start finding your strengths and your weaknesses, recognizing tendencies in the person you’re facing,” junior end Brandon Deaderick said. “It helps you perform better.”
The two-deep rotation at all three spots could pay huge dividends down the stretch, and junior end Lorenzo Washington is someone to keep an eye on. The defense has only 10 sacks, but expect more during the stretch run.
“We still have a lot of improvement (to go),” Cody said. “Just little things and stuff, we need to get better on. We’ve been affecting the quarterback and stopping the run.”
Grade: A-.
Linebackers: Sophomore Rolando McClain is emerging as a premier linebacker, one of the best in the conference. His 44 tackles are tops the Tide, while he has 3½ tackles for a loss and a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
Something new this year is calling audibles, sometimes more than one a play to answer offensive adjustments.
“Rol is really a bright guy and he has a good understanding of what we’re doing and what the other team is trying to do,” Saban said. “Between him and Rashad (Johnson) being the two signal callers, being able to do that really gives us an advantage.”
Considering three starters had to be replaced, the linebacker corps probably has no business performing this well. True freshman Dont’a Hightower got thrown into the fire while junior Brandon Fanney and Cory Reamer have been solid at the outside spots. Junior Eryk Anders’ development as a speed-rusher has been a nice surprise, while true freshman Courtney Upshaw is already forcing more playing time.
Grade: B+.
Defensive backs: Much has been made of the front-line pressure making it difficult for offenses to attack down field, but it’s also due to opponents respecting Alabama’s speed in the secondary and the awareness of senior safety Rashad Johnson.
Because the co-captain moves around so much and can quickly break on a ball, not to mention Saban’s complex zone scheme, quarterbacks have struggled to make accurate pre-snap reads. With junior safety Justin Woodall also improving, challenging the Tide over the middle can be incredibly risky.
“We have a lot of speed flying around back there, Javier, Kareem (Jackson), Justin, Marquis (Johnson),” Rashad Johnson said. “We’re all doing a good job of knowing what’s going on before the play even starts. The coaching staff, they teach us to look at the splits of the receivers and things like that to understand the routes that are going to be run. It’s a head start.”
The proof isn’t in the eight interceptions, but the pass defended. Rashad Johnson and Woodall are second in the SEC (1.33 average), while Jackson is tied for fourth (1.00).
“I need some picks,” Arenas said. “I can do better.”
Grade: B.
Special teams: Coverage on returns has been the team’s biggest weakness, while opponents want nothing to do with Arenas. Kentucky did a good job of playing keep away, and moving him around on punts returns which helped lead to the ball hitting blocker Marquis Johnson for a fumble.
“Good punter,” Arenas said.
As for his outlook from here on in, Arenas said: “It’s going down, for real. Anytime the ball is in my hands, I’m going to try and make something happen.”
Grade: B-.
Overall/coaching: The job Saban’s staff has done is remarkable, especially considering the Tide has nine scholarship seniors and there is a lack of depth. Unless Bobby Johnson can keep Vanderbilt winning, Saban could be named SEC Coach of the Year.
Grade: A.
By Christopher Walsh Sports Writer
TUSCALOOSA If one were to try and find a signature moment from the first half of the University of Alabama football team’s 2008 season, there would be numerous choices.
Junior running back Glen Coffee’s long touchdown runs against Arkansas and Kentucky? True freshman wide receiver Julio Jones’ over-the-shoulder touchdown catch at Georgia? Junior cornerback Javier Arenas’ punt return for a touchdown vs. Tulane?
Those were all good, but not quite worthy.
More appropriate would be something like the offensive line blowing No. 9 Clemson’s defensive front off the line of scrimmage on the first snap at the Georgia Dome. Junior Terrence Cody pushing the Western Kentucky center back into his running back, forcing a fumble the nose guard recovered. All the brutal hits by players like sophomore middle linebacker Rolando McClain and senior tight end Travis McCall.
Above everything else, Alabama’s 6-0 start and rise to No. 2 is due to its toughness, mentally and physically. That includes few penalties, few costly mistakes, and domination of the lines and up the middle defensively.
“I think there are a lot of lessons to be learned as well,” coach Nick Saban said. “In what has happened in the first half of the season being intensity that has fueled our success. That is something we need to maintain in practice and preparation and improving over this bye week.
“We don’t need to be looking into the rear view mirror here. We need to be looking forward to the challenge ahead.”
With six regular-season games remaining, the Crimson Tide is half-way to representing the Western Division in the SEC Championship Game, and it will likely take at least three losses to keep the Tide from playing in an elite Bowl Championship Series game.
That’s a far cry from a year ago, when Alabama finished November with a four-game collapse, including the embarrassing 21-14 home loss to Louisiana-Monroe.
“I don’t see that happening,” junior running back Roy Upchurch said. “Everyone’s really into the season. Everybody wants to be that team.”
Here are the midseason grades:
Quarterbacks: One of senior John Parker Wilson’s most impressive decisions came on a play few people noticed. Alabama had first down at its own 37 during the second quarter at Georgia, and was in a three-receiver set with senior tight end Nick Walker in motion to the right. With the snap, Wilson looked right, where redshirt freshman Marquis Maze headed downfield and Walker was underneath. He then turned toward the middle, where Jones had run a clearing route. Still no one was open, so he went to option three, a dump pass to Coffee for a 6-yard gain.
Five plays after going through that progression, Wilson threw the spectacular touchdown pass to Jones, for a 31-0 lead against the No. 3 Bulldogs.
Something else most fans probably haven’t noticed is that his arm strength has significantly improved.
Although Wilson’s numbers are down from a year ago, he also hasn’t had to try and win a game. His consistency needs to be better, but his passing efficiency is actually up, and he’s had just two interceptions.
“We’re just taking care of the ball,” Wilson said. “That’s been a big point for me, from last year, and I think I’ve done a pretty good job of it.
“Just be smart with the ball.”
Grade: B+.
Running backs: Coffee is averaging 7.5 yards every time he takes a handoff, which is frightfully good. To put that into perspective, Arkansas’ Darren McFadden had a 5.6 average last year.
Coffee, true freshman Mark Ingram and junior Roy Upchurch have been a terrific rotation, and their blocking has been pretty good, too. But the fumbling is a concern. Alabama has had nine fumbles, losing five.
One has to wonder if the Tide will unleash Terry Grant on an unsuspecting opponent soon, but even Coffee said he would have been surprised by his numbers of 708 yards on 95 carries (118.0 game average) if told them before the season.
“I would have been excited,” Coffee said. “Right now, I’m not because it’s a grind. But before the season, I can’t lie, I would have been excited.”
Grade: A-.
Wide receivers: Jones is already Wilson’s top target, with 19 catches for 278 yards, but outside of senior end Nick Walker no one has more that seven receptions.
“He’s probably starting to play a little faster,” Saban said about Jones. “Probably playing with a little more confidence, still probably learning every day. There are some things he can still do better. I think he played extremely well in the Georgia game, made a couple of big plays in that game. But the one thing that probably stands out to me is the physical nature of the way he plays, especially when he goes and gets the long ball.”
While the young receiving corps figures to improve over the next six games, and must do a better job of getting yards after the catch, two major pluses are the unit’s blocking and diversity. So far, 15 different players have caught a pass and unlike in the past it’s almost impossible to tell if the play is a run by who’s in at wideout.
Grade: B.
Offensive line: All three players on the left side — Andre Smith, Mike Johnson and Antoine Caldwell — figure to receive major consideration for All-SEC honors. Junior Drew Davis has fared well against some talented defensive ends, while sophomore David Ross filled in when Smith and senior Marlon Davis missed a game due to injuries. The biggest concern is depth, but true freshman John Michael Boswell may be close to stepping in at right tackle if necessary.
The most underrated player on the team is McCall, who is like an extra offensive lineman, and Alabama’s two-tight end formation has been giving opponents fits.
“That’s a good set for us,” McCall said. “I like playing two tights.”
Grade: A.
Defensive line: No opponent has been able to run up the middle, where Cody has regularly attracted two, if not three, blockers. He’s a huge reason why Alabama’s rushing defense is second nationally (50.8 yards per game).
“As the season progresses, you start finding your strengths and your weaknesses, recognizing tendencies in the person you’re facing,” junior end Brandon Deaderick said. “It helps you perform better.”
The two-deep rotation at all three spots could pay huge dividends down the stretch, and junior end Lorenzo Washington is someone to keep an eye on. The defense has only 10 sacks, but expect more during the stretch run.
“We still have a lot of improvement (to go),” Cody said. “Just little things and stuff, we need to get better on. We’ve been affecting the quarterback and stopping the run.”
Grade: A-.
Linebackers: Sophomore Rolando McClain is emerging as a premier linebacker, one of the best in the conference. His 44 tackles are tops the Tide, while he has 3½ tackles for a loss and a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
Something new this year is calling audibles, sometimes more than one a play to answer offensive adjustments.
“Rol is really a bright guy and he has a good understanding of what we’re doing and what the other team is trying to do,” Saban said. “Between him and Rashad (Johnson) being the two signal callers, being able to do that really gives us an advantage.”
Considering three starters had to be replaced, the linebacker corps probably has no business performing this well. True freshman Dont’a Hightower got thrown into the fire while junior Brandon Fanney and Cory Reamer have been solid at the outside spots. Junior Eryk Anders’ development as a speed-rusher has been a nice surprise, while true freshman Courtney Upshaw is already forcing more playing time.
Grade: B+.
Defensive backs: Much has been made of the front-line pressure making it difficult for offenses to attack down field, but it’s also due to opponents respecting Alabama’s speed in the secondary and the awareness of senior safety Rashad Johnson.
Because the co-captain moves around so much and can quickly break on a ball, not to mention Saban’s complex zone scheme, quarterbacks have struggled to make accurate pre-snap reads. With junior safety Justin Woodall also improving, challenging the Tide over the middle can be incredibly risky.
“We have a lot of speed flying around back there, Javier, Kareem (Jackson), Justin, Marquis (Johnson),” Rashad Johnson said. “We’re all doing a good job of knowing what’s going on before the play even starts. The coaching staff, they teach us to look at the splits of the receivers and things like that to understand the routes that are going to be run. It’s a head start.”
The proof isn’t in the eight interceptions, but the pass defended. Rashad Johnson and Woodall are second in the SEC (1.33 average), while Jackson is tied for fourth (1.00).
“I need some picks,” Arenas said. “I can do better.”
Grade: B.
Special teams: Coverage on returns has been the team’s biggest weakness, while opponents want nothing to do with Arenas. Kentucky did a good job of playing keep away, and moving him around on punts returns which helped lead to the ball hitting blocker Marquis Johnson for a fumble.
“Good punter,” Arenas said.
As for his outlook from here on in, Arenas said: “It’s going down, for real. Anytime the ball is in my hands, I’m going to try and make something happen.”
Grade: B-.
Overall/coaching: The job Saban’s staff has done is remarkable, especially considering the Tide has nine scholarship seniors and there is a lack of depth. Unless Bobby Johnson can keep Vanderbilt winning, Saban could be named SEC Coach of the Year.
Grade: A.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Go Texas?
GO TEXAS BEAT DEM SOONERS!!!!
#5 Texas VS #1 OU this weekend .... guess us tide faithful just need to hope Texas SQUEEKS out a victory .... that way they wont jump us in the polls. On another note .... GO whoevers playing Florida, LSU, & of course as always Awwwwburn.
Just thought I would toss this in as not much ALABAMA news this week. Good Ol'Saban keeping a tight lid on things.
L8ter Yall,
TIDE PRIDE!
#5 Texas VS #1 OU this weekend .... guess us tide faithful just need to hope Texas SQUEEKS out a victory .... that way they wont jump us in the polls. On another note .... GO whoevers playing Florida, LSU, & of course as always Awwwwburn.
Just thought I would toss this in as not much ALABAMA news this week. Good Ol'Saban keeping a tight lid on things.
L8ter Yall,
TIDE PRIDE!
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Coffee runs No. 2 Alabama past Kentucky, 17-14
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP)—Alabama discovered how precarious life at the top can be, sidestepping what could have been another top-five upset with a bruising drive and a late field goal.
Glen Coffee rushed for 218 yards, Leigh Tiffin kicked a 24-yard field goal with 2:12 left to put the Crimson Tide up 10, and No. 2 Alabama survived and advanced in the national title chase with a 17-14 win over Kentucky on Saturday.
Playing with its best national ranking in 15 years, the Tide survived three turnovers, a season-high 10 penalties, and a sputtering passing game a week after racing to a 31-0 halftime lead at Georgia.
The outcome, at least, was something coach Nick Saban could be happy with after top-five teams Georgia, Florida and Southern California were toppled last weekend.
“We’re certainly happy to win but we also put on a clinic today for how to keep the other team in the game,” Saban said.
Coffee and the Tide (6-0, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) pounded out a 15-play drive from their own 17-yard line to set up the clinching field goal. Coffee gained 57 yards on nine carries on the drive, which consumed 8:10.
Tiffin, who had missed two earlier kicks, drilled this one for a 17-7 lead, and the points proved necessary. John Parker Wilson had converted a fourth-and-1 with a quarterback sneak from the Kentucky 46 to keep the drive alive.
The Wildcats (4-1, 0-1) weren’t done yet. Mike Hartline hit DeMoreo Ford streaking down the right sideline for a 48-yard touchdown pass with 40 seconds left. The blown pass coverage had Saban fuming on the sideline over another mistake in a day full of them for the Tide.
“They never gave up and we never put them away, and we had some chances,” he said.
Kentucky’s onside kick attempt went out of bounds to give Alabama the ball and the game.
The Tide’s final scoring chance came after Coffee nearly lost his second fumble inside the Kentucky 10, but the ball dribbled out of bounds after the Wildcats had a clear shot to recover and Alabama kept possession.
“We had it and then we didn’t,” Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said. “That’s kind of the way the game went for us.”
Cornerback David Jones had the ball squirt from underneath him. “I tried to just fall on it and secure it, but it just slipped out,” he said.
‘Bama continued to dominate the series, moving to 34-2-1 overall and 20-0-1 in the state of Alabama. Kentucky was looking for its second huge upset in two seasons after beating No. 1 LSU in triple overtime last season.
Coffee had 25 carries, including a 78-yard touchdown, for the best rushing output for a ‘Bama back since Shaun Alexander gained a school-record 291 yards against LSU in 1996. Kentucky came in allowing just 73 rushing yards a game and hadn’t given up a TD on the ground.
The Tide ran for 282 yards.
“When I think about what I’ve done today, all I think about is the fumbles,” Coffee said. “The fumbles come to mind first. The fumbles affect the whole team.”
Hartline was 20-of-42 for 241 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. Alabama’s Wilson was just 7-of-17 for 106 yards and was intercepted once and sacked three times.
Outgained 253-60 in the first half, the Wildcats forced two turnovers in the third quarter and made it look easy on their first scoring drive.
Hartline dumped a pass over the middle to Locke, who scampered for a 36-yard gain. Dicky Lyons Jr. took a short slant pattern 26 yards for a touchdown on the next play to make it 14-7 with 5:49 left in the third quarter.
Hartline had just 66 yards passing before that drive, and Kentucky had gone three-and-out on five consecutive possessions.
Kareem Jackson then picked off Hartline’s underthrown pass after the Wildcats pushed across midfield.
The Tide had continued its string of fast starts, pushing its season first quarter advantage to 88-0 with a pair of touchdowns for the team’s only points until the final minutes.
Coffee raced 78 yards up the middle, going virtually untouched and managing to just outdistance Kentucky’s pursuing defenders. Then Hartline lost control of ball as he was cocking his arm for a throw and Rolando McClain scooped it up at Kentucky’s 4 for a touchdown, the third scored by Alabama’s defense this season.
“I think we had a legitimate shot at them, but they made those plays and we didn’t,” Brooks said.
It could have been worse but Tiffin missed a field goal, Coffee lost a fumble at Kentucky’s 6 and the Tide failed to score on two other trips across midfield in the first half.
Glen Coffee rushed for 218 yards, Leigh Tiffin kicked a 24-yard field goal with 2:12 left to put the Crimson Tide up 10, and No. 2 Alabama survived and advanced in the national title chase with a 17-14 win over Kentucky on Saturday.
Playing with its best national ranking in 15 years, the Tide survived three turnovers, a season-high 10 penalties, and a sputtering passing game a week after racing to a 31-0 halftime lead at Georgia.
The outcome, at least, was something coach Nick Saban could be happy with after top-five teams Georgia, Florida and Southern California were toppled last weekend.
“We’re certainly happy to win but we also put on a clinic today for how to keep the other team in the game,” Saban said.
Coffee and the Tide (6-0, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) pounded out a 15-play drive from their own 17-yard line to set up the clinching field goal. Coffee gained 57 yards on nine carries on the drive, which consumed 8:10.
Tiffin, who had missed two earlier kicks, drilled this one for a 17-7 lead, and the points proved necessary. John Parker Wilson had converted a fourth-and-1 with a quarterback sneak from the Kentucky 46 to keep the drive alive.
The Wildcats (4-1, 0-1) weren’t done yet. Mike Hartline hit DeMoreo Ford streaking down the right sideline for a 48-yard touchdown pass with 40 seconds left. The blown pass coverage had Saban fuming on the sideline over another mistake in a day full of them for the Tide.
“They never gave up and we never put them away, and we had some chances,” he said.
Kentucky’s onside kick attempt went out of bounds to give Alabama the ball and the game.
The Tide’s final scoring chance came after Coffee nearly lost his second fumble inside the Kentucky 10, but the ball dribbled out of bounds after the Wildcats had a clear shot to recover and Alabama kept possession.
“We had it and then we didn’t,” Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said. “That’s kind of the way the game went for us.”
Cornerback David Jones had the ball squirt from underneath him. “I tried to just fall on it and secure it, but it just slipped out,” he said.
‘Bama continued to dominate the series, moving to 34-2-1 overall and 20-0-1 in the state of Alabama. Kentucky was looking for its second huge upset in two seasons after beating No. 1 LSU in triple overtime last season.
Coffee had 25 carries, including a 78-yard touchdown, for the best rushing output for a ‘Bama back since Shaun Alexander gained a school-record 291 yards against LSU in 1996. Kentucky came in allowing just 73 rushing yards a game and hadn’t given up a TD on the ground.
The Tide ran for 282 yards.
“When I think about what I’ve done today, all I think about is the fumbles,” Coffee said. “The fumbles come to mind first. The fumbles affect the whole team.”
Hartline was 20-of-42 for 241 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. Alabama’s Wilson was just 7-of-17 for 106 yards and was intercepted once and sacked three times.
Outgained 253-60 in the first half, the Wildcats forced two turnovers in the third quarter and made it look easy on their first scoring drive.
Hartline dumped a pass over the middle to Locke, who scampered for a 36-yard gain. Dicky Lyons Jr. took a short slant pattern 26 yards for a touchdown on the next play to make it 14-7 with 5:49 left in the third quarter.
Hartline had just 66 yards passing before that drive, and Kentucky had gone three-and-out on five consecutive possessions.
Kareem Jackson then picked off Hartline’s underthrown pass after the Wildcats pushed across midfield.
The Tide had continued its string of fast starts, pushing its season first quarter advantage to 88-0 with a pair of touchdowns for the team’s only points until the final minutes.
Coffee raced 78 yards up the middle, going virtually untouched and managing to just outdistance Kentucky’s pursuing defenders. Then Hartline lost control of ball as he was cocking his arm for a throw and Rolando McClain scooped it up at Kentucky’s 4 for a touchdown, the third scored by Alabama’s defense this season.
“I think we had a legitimate shot at them, but they made those plays and we didn’t,” Brooks said.
It could have been worse but Tiffin missed a field goal, Coffee lost a fumble at Kentucky’s 6 and the Tide failed to score on two other trips across midfield in the first half.
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