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"Tennessee Hate Week" Practices Underway
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Head football coach Nick Saban said, "(Head coach) Butch Jones has done a really good job. They've gotten better and better every year and could arguably be an undefeated or one-loss team easily this year. Two teams came back and beat them late in games, and they came back and beat somebody when they were behind 24-3. They're obviously a pretty good team."
Concerning the Tennessee offense, Saban said, "They've got two really good running backs. Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara have both done a really good job for them. Joshua Dobbs, the quarterback, is a very diverse guy playing the position with his running and passing abilities. They have created a lot of issues, a lot of problems for the opposition that allowed them to score a lot of points this year."
The Crimson Tide hosts the Volunteers at 2:30 p.m. CT. The game will air live on CBS with Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson and Allie LaForce on the call once again. This will be the second consecutive Crimson Tide game broadcast by CBS.
Tennessee owns a 3-3 overall record, 1-2 in the SEC. They've a week off to prepare for the Tide. The previous week the Volunteers came back to defeat the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens, Georgia. This is the third year with Butch Jones at the helm of the Volunteers and is 15-16 overall.
Alabama leads in the storied series with Tennessee, 51-38-7 (52-37-8 actual record). This will be the 98th meeting between the two schools. The Tide has won the last eight contests, with last year's score in Knoxville 34-20.
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Saban Recaps A&M Win, Looks To Vols
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Alabama head football coach Nick Saban conducted his weekly Monday press conference. In his opening statement, Saban said, "After looking at this last game, it was certainly a tough, hard-fought game, and I'm certainly proud of our players for the way they responded to some very difficult circumstances and situations in a very tough atmosphere and environment. I thought we did some good things in the game, especially up front on the offensive line and defensive line. We were able to control the line of scrimmage, affect the quarterback, and run the ball effectively. We also did a nice job with turnovers. The big thing that I think we need to focus on is not having the kind of mistakes and breakdowns in a game that really create momentum for the other team. Whether it's not covering a punt correctly, fumbling a punt return, getting a penalty on a punt return that causes great field position - we had 30 or 40 yards of field position lost - getting a punt blocked, making mistakes on defense in the secondary by allowing them to make big plays and go score, or whether its having negative plays on offense because we don't execute correctly. So to me, the focus needs to be on how to stay locked in and focused in the game regardless of the circumstance or situation, and be able to execute correctly. (Execution and focus) is what we're really what we're trying to get accomplished here this week."
Concerning the two players receiving honors from the Southeastern Conference office Saban commented, "Derrick Henry was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week and Minkah Fitzpatrick the SEC Freshman Player of the Week, and they both had outstanding performances in terms of what they were able to accomplish. Our players of the week, all of those guys did a really good job for us."
Saban then spoke of the upcoming game with the University of Tennessee Volunteers. He said, "I think the Tennessee game is a special game to a lot of people in the state of Alabama because of the tradition and the rivalry that has existed here for a long time, as well as the history that the game brings. It's most certainly a special game to us, and our team will get ready to play a very good game against a very good Tennessee team. (Head coach) Butch Jones has done a really good job. They've gotten better and better every year and could arguably be an undefeated or one-loss team easily this year. Two teams came back and beat them late in games, and they came back and beat somebody when they were behind 24-3. They're obviously a pretty good team. They have good players, and offensively they're very good. The quarterback does a good job, the offensive line does a good job, and they're nationally ranked in a lot of categories. They've got two really good running backs. Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara have both done a really good job for them. Joshua Dobbs, the quarterback, is a very diverse guy playing the position with his running and passing abilities. They have created a lot of issues, a lot of problems for the opposition that allowed them to score a lot of points this year. Defensively I know they've got a couple guys that have been nicked up, but they play hard, physical, and for the most part have been hard to score on. I feel that being able to control the ball will be a key for us in the game and is really important to how we play against this team. They are also very sound and solid with their specialists and on special teams, so I think Butch Jones has done a really good job and this is the best team that they have had in a while."
Alabama hosts the Volunteers this Saturday in Bryant-Denny Stadium at 2:30 p.m. CT. The game will air live on CBS with Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson and Allie LaForce on the call once again.
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Henry-Fitzpatrick Take SEC Honors
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The Southeastern Conference announced its SEC Player of the Week selections yesterday, and two Crimson Tide players are on that list. Junior running back Derrick Henry and freshman corner back Minkah Fitzpatrick played an outstanding game this past Saturday in Bama's 41-23 victory over then No. 9/10 Texas A&M to earn the honors. For three consecutive weeks now at least one Crimson Tide player has brought home the honor.
This is the third time that Derrick Henry has been named Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Week. He received the honor this time for electrifying performance Saturday, rushing for 236 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries. Both the number of carries and total yards are new career highs for the young man. He has extended his school record of consecutive games with a rushing touchdown to 12. He is also the first Alabama running back to run for more than 200 yards in a single game since Trent Richardson did it back in 2011.
This is the first time that Minkah Fitzpatrick has received the honor as being named the Southeastern Conference Freshman Player of the week. This young man had a career performance himself, returning two interceptions for touchdowns this past Saturday against Texas A&M. One of those touchdowns came on a 33-yard return, and the other on an exciting 55-yard pick six. He is the only player in Alabama history to return two interceptions for touchdowns in the same game, quite a feat for the young man. He also had two solo tackles in the contest. Fitzpatrick was also recognized as the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week.
Football Coaches Honor 9 For A&M Performance
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The University of Alabama football coaching staff recognized nine Crimson Tide players for their performances in Saturday's 41-23 win over 9th-ranked Texas A&M. All those recognized had an excellent game this past weekend.
Honorees on the offensive side of the ball are Jake Coker and Derrick Henry. Reprensenting the defense are Jonathan Allen, Eddie Jackson, Reggie Ragland and Minkah Fitzpatrick. For special teams Adam Griffith, Bradley Sylve and Maurice Smith have been selected.
Quarterback Jake Coker had a great performance, and showed he had some chops when it came to running the football when it was necessary. His size allowed him to bowl over some would-be tacklers, including putting one of the opposing DBs out of the game momentarily. Coker was 19 of 25 in passing for 138 yards.
Junior Derrick Henry had his first 200-plus yard game, while at the same time setting the Bama record for consecutive games with a rushing touchdown at 12. Henry had a total of 254 yards, accounting for just over 64% of the Tide's offence.
In his second consecutive week to be honored, Ragland again led the Tide in tackles with a total of nine.He had one tackle for loss and one sack. Ragland has led in tackles for six out of seven games thus far in the season.
Allen had five tackles for Bama, inluding two sacks.
Jackson finished with two big interceptions with 119 return yards, including one for 93-yards which was the third-longest pick in Bama history.
Freshman Fitzpatrick was honored for his first two touchdowns in his career, both of which went for touchdowns.
Griffith seems back on track, connecting on both his field goal attempts against Texas A&M. He also made all five of the extra points. He also averatged just under 64 yards on eight kickoffs, including five touchbacks.
Sylve had three tackles and instrumental in helping to shut down a potent A&M aerial attack that barely got off the ground last weekend.
Smith assisted on three tackles on punt coverage in the game last Saturday.
Quarterback Jake Coker had a great performance, and showed he had some chops when it came to running the football when it was necessary. His size allowed him to bowl over some would-be tacklers, including putting one of the opposing DBs out of the game momentarily. Coker was 19 of 25 in passing for 138 yards.
Junior Derrick Henry had his first 200-plus yard game, while at the same time setting the Bama record for consecutive games with a rushing touchdown at 12. Henry had a total of 254 yards, accounting for just over 64% of the Tide's offence.
In his second consecutive week to be honored, Ragland again led the Tide in tackles with a total of nine.He had one tackle for loss and one sack. Ragland has led in tackles for six out of seven games thus far in the season.
Allen had five tackles for Bama, inluding two sacks.
Jackson finished with two big interceptions with 119 return yards, including one for 93-yards which was the third-longest pick in Bama history.
Freshman Fitzpatrick was honored for his first two touchdowns in his career, both of which went for touchdowns.
Griffith seems back on track, connecting on both his field goal attempts against Texas A&M. He also made all five of the extra points. He also averatged just under 64 yards on eight kickoffs, including five touchbacks.
Sylve had three tackles and instrumental in helping to shut down a potent A&M aerial attack that barely got off the ground last weekend.
Smith assisted on three tackles on punt coverage in the game last Saturday.
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Routliffe-Daniell Take Doubles Title
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Two Alabama women captured the doubles title at the 2015 USTA/ITA Southern Regional Championships. After securing the win yesterday, junior Erin Routliffe and freshman Andie Daniell have earned a spot in the 2015 USTA/ITA National Collegiate Indoor Championships coming up in November.
The duo defeated Abby Owens and Skylar Kuykendall in yesterday's championship match in straight sets 6-4, 7-5.
The 2015 USTA/ITA National Collegiate Indoor Championships will be played at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York coming up November 12-15.
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