Saturday, December 19, 2015

Day 3 Of Michigan State Prep In The Books; Tide Women's Basketball Falls 70-58 Friday Night; 2016 Football Recruiting Class; Crimson Tide 1-1 Favorite To Win National Championship


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Day 3 Of Michigan State Prep In The Books


Photo Credit: RollTide.com


     Day number three of football practice for the University of Alabama football team is in the books. Only four remain before the holiday break, and a total of eight more before the Crimson Tide faces the Michigan Spartans  in the College Football Playoff semifinal. Bama worked out for approximately two hours on Friday in full pads inside the Hank Crisp Indoor Practice Facility.

     The Tide continues work on fundamentals and laying the groundwork for the game plan when the Tide heads to Arlington, Texas for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl inside AT&T Stadium to participate in their second consecutive playoff appearance in two years this December 31st. The kickoff is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. CT on ESPN. Calling the game will be Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit on play-by-play and color, as well as Heather Cox on the sidelines.

     Freshman running back Bo Scarbrough may be moving up the depth chart, as seen from his working behind first-team Heisman Trophy winner Derek Henry and second teamer Kenyan Drake. So, is it possible that Damien Harris  is moving to fourth team? Remains to be seen, as there is plenty of time before the playoff game for all that to be sorted out.

     The Crimson Tide defense must prepare for who Alabama head coach Nick Saban says, "...might arguably be the best quarterback we play against all year long." Michigan State quarterback Conner Cook has thrown fro an average of 243 yards per game with 24 touchdowns and only five interceptions in 12 games this season. 

     This will be only the second time the two teams have met. Alabama won that first meeting 49-7 in the 2011 Capital One Bowl. 


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Women's Basketball Falls 70-58 Friday Night


Photo credit: RollTide.com

     The University of Alabama women's basketball team made a run at a comeback, but fell short last night in the effort, losing 70-58 to Georgia Tech on Friday night in McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta, Georgia. The Crimson Tide falls to 9-2 on the season, while the Yellow Jackets improve to 9-3.

     Alabama head coach Kristy Curry said, Georgia Tech made shots, and we missed shots. They did a great job of making the extra pass, and we had trouble guarding it. You look at the stat sheet, and we get 62 and they get 63 shots. We out rebounded them by 13. We've got to make shots on the road. It's amazing what that does for you when you can come out here and get some make ins. You've got to credit those guys."

     The Yellow Jackets led by as much as 17 in the first half, largely due to a 19-5 run in the second quarter. The teams went into the locker rooms at the half with Georgia Tech leading by 15 points, 40-25.

     Coming out in the third Georgia Tech extended the lead to 23 with the long ball shooting. But in the fourth the Tide began pouring in buckets of their own, outscoring Tech 18-9 but never came closer than the 12-point difference when the final buzzer sounded.

     Leading the Crimson Tide in scoring on the evening was sophomore Meoshonti Knight pumping in 14 points. Eight of those 14 came in the final quarter of the game. Also scoring in double-digits was sophomore Hannah Cook scoring 11 points. Quanetria Bolton and Trista Magee put in eight points apiece, followed by Nikki Hegstetter with seven, C'Coriea Foy with four as well as Breanna Hayden and Shaquera Wade with three apiece.

     Hegstetter led in the rebounding department, pulling down 10 on the night. This was her second consecutive game in double-digit rebounding. She was followed by Knight with eight, Wade and Karla Middlebrook with six, Bolton with four, Hayden with three, Cook and Foy with two apiece and Magee with one.

     Alabama hit on 23-of-62 field goals (37%), while the Yellow Jackets were just a bit better at 26-of-63 (41%). Tech hit on 12 of those 26 from three-point land. The Crimson Tide led in rebounds on the evening, 44-31.

     Next up for Bama is a home game in Foster Auditorium this Sunday with Grambling State. The final game before the holiday break is slated for a 2 p.m. CT tip off.

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2016 Football Recruiting Class

     This is the complete list of 17 prospects committed to the University of Alabama's 2016 football recruiting class as of 12/18/15. The Tide recently lost kicker prospect/commit Eddie Pineiro out of Miami, Florida when he de-committed from the Crimson Tide and chose Florida.

  • Raekwon Davis, DT (6'7", 315 lbs), Meridian High, Meridian, Mississippi
  • T.J. Simmons, WR (6'2", 185 lbs), Clay-Chalkville High School, Pinson, Alabama*
  • Jonah Williams, OL (6'5", 283 lbs), Folsom High, Folsom, California
  • Brendan Scales, TE (6'4", 230 lbs), Lafayette, Ballwin, Missouri
  • Chris Owens, OL (6'3", 312 lbs), Lamar High, Arlington, Texas
  • Deonte Brown, OL (6'3", 330 lbs), Austin High, Decatur, Alabama*
  • Joshua Perry, DB (6'3", 190 lbs), Amite High, Amite, Louisiana
  • Kendell Jones, DT (6'4", 360 lbs), Shoemaker High, Killeen, Texas
  • Charles Baldwin, OL (6'5", 305lbs), ASA College, Brooklyn, New York
  • Jalen Hurts, QB (6'2", 208 lbs), Channelview High, Channelview, Texas
  • Jaquan Yulee, LB (6'0", 252 lbs), Indian River High, Chesapeake, Virginia
  • Riley Cole, LB (6'3," 210 lbs), Oneonta High Schol, Oneonta, Alabama*
  • Miller Forristall, TE (6'5", 220 lbs), Cartersville High School, Cartersville, Georgia
  • Quinnen Williams, DL (6'4", 265 lbs), Wenonah High School, Birmingham, Alabama*
  • B.J. Emmons, RB (5'11", 230 lbs), Freedom High School, Morganton, North Carolina
  • Shawn Jennings, DB (6'2", 218 lbs), Dadeville High School, Dadeville, Alabama*
  • Trevon Diggs, ATH (6'0", 186 lbs), Avalon School, Rockville, Maryland
*In-state recruits

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Tide 1-1 Favorite To Win Championship

     The Alabama Crimson Tide is the only school to return to the College Football Playoffs this season. The team with the experience currently leads odds-makers to win the 2015 National Championship of college football. 

     According to Las Vegas SuperBook, the number-2 seed Tide are receiving the best odds and are the 1-1 favorite, giving them their 16th national title. Oklahoma is next at 9-4, followed by Clemson at 11-2 and Michigan State at 7-1.