Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Scott Cochran To Remain At Alabama; Women's Basketball Wins 69-47 Over North Florida; 5 Alabama Players Named AutoNation FWAA All-Americans; Bama Football Places 9 On AP All-SEC Team; Tide Places 5 On AP All-AmericaTeam


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Scott Cochran To Remain At Alabama

Strength & Conditioning Coach Scott Cochran
Photo Credit: RollTide.com

     The rumors and speculation surround University of Alabama football's strength and conditioning coach has been settled. Head coach Nick Saban announced yesterday that Scott Cochran would indeed be staying at UA and would remain in his current position. Cochran has been a part of the Alabama football program for nine seasons now.

     Saban said in the announcement, "I'm very happy that Scott Cochran will continue to lead our strength and conditioning program. He's an important part of our program and does an outstanding job. The players really respond to him, and his role has been a big part of what we have been able to accomplish in terms of our success here both on and off the field."

     In his own statement Cochran said, "I appreciate everything The University of Alabama has done for me and my family during our nine years here. It's a privilege and an honor to work at such a special place. What makes it so special are the people here and all of the fans who support the Crimson Tide. I'm just fired up to be a part of this program and helping to continue the success we've had. I'm grateful for the chance to work with our players each day, and that's what this is really about. Coach Saban has been great to us, and I want to thank him for all the opportunities he has given us. Roll Tide!"

     Rumors had been rampant that Cochran would join new Georgia head coach Kirby Smart in his move to Athens following the end of the Crimson Tide's quest for the National Championship.

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Women's Basketball Wins 69-47 Over North Florida

Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Daniel Melograna


     Alabama Crimson Tide women's basketball (9-1) celebrated a 69-47 win over North Florida (3-7) yesterday in Coleman Coliseum for the ninth annual 5th Grade Fastbreak game. Three Bama players were in double figures for the contest, as well as forcing 20 turnovers.

     Tide head coach Kristy Curry commented, "I just want to thank all of the schools in the area that came out to support us today. What an incredible environment. Those 5th graders hopefully left here having a fun day, and they'll come back and see us play. We just appreciate the support of the event from our administration and facilities, everyone who helped make this possible, promotions and marketing. What a great morning for them, and I hope they had a great day. As far as the game, I thought we were not very good from the start. I guess ugly counts, but we have a lot of improving we need to do. I'm trying to get their attention and focus on our basketball team improving, yet them enjoying the holidays at the same time. With 10 out of 13 players being freshmen and sophomores, we've got to quickly react to that. I hope we come out in the morning and continue to grow and get better."

     Alabama was 24-of-65 from the floor with 43 rebounds as compared to 16-of-57 from the floor for North Florida with 45 rebounds. The Tide led in assists with 15, committed only eight turnovers and had 11 steals to their credit. 

     Hannah Cook led Bama with 17 points, followed by Breanna Hayden and Meoshonti White with 10 points each. White also recorded her first career double-double with 10 rebounds. Nikki Hegstetter  had 13 rebounds to lead the Tide, followed by Knight. 

     Next up for Alabama is a road trip to Atlanta, Georgia to take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Friday, December 18th. Tip off is 6 p.m. CT.

Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Daniel Melograna

Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Daniel Melograna

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Alabama Football

5 Bama Players Named AutoNation FWAA All-Americans




     Five players from the University of Alabama SEC Championship football team were selected to the AutoNation FWAA All-America team. The announcement came yesterday afternoon from the Football Writers Association of America.

     Four of the five were named to the first team, more than any other school in the nation. Those named first team are Heisman Trophy recipient Derrick Henry, A'Shawn Robinson, Ryan Kelly and Reggie Ragland. Being named to the second team was junior Eddie Jackson.

     Henry is the winner of three major awards this season, with those being the Heisman Trophy, the Maxwell, Doak Walker and Walter Camp Player of the Year. He now holds the SEC record for rushing yards at 1,986 as well as 23 rushing touchdowns. Besides leading the nation in rushing yards and touchdowns he is second in average rushing yards per game with 152.8. This particular first team selection to All-American is his fourth. The others are USA Today, Walter Camp Football Foundation and Associated Press All-American.

     Reggie Ragland has also won four first-team All-American selections. He has served as the captain of the Alabama defense this season, and is a finalist for the Bednarik, Butkus and Nagurski awards. Ragland leads the Tide with 90 tackles, including 6.5 for a loss and 2.5 sacks. He has caused six pass breakups six quarterback hurries and forced two fumbles on the season.

     The 2015 Rimington Trophy Winner, Ryan Kelly, has now received three All-America honors including FWAA, USA Today and Walter Camp. He has graded out at an average of 88.4 percent overall. He has missed only eight assignments in 948 snaps while not allowing a sack the entire season. In addition to his three first team selections he was name to the second team of the A.P. All-America team.

     Robinson has to his credit now two first team selections, with this one being the most recent as well as from the Associated Press. He also was named second team to the USA Today and Walter Camp teams. Robinson has a career-high 42 tackles this season, which includes 7.5 for a loss and 3.5 sacks. He also has recorded nine quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, a fumble recovery and one blocked PAT.

     Named to the FWAA second team is Eddie Jackson. Besides this one, he has been named a second team selection by Walter Camp and named to the third team by the Associated Press. Jackson leads the Southeastern Conference with five interceptions and 230 return yards that included two pick-sixes. Those 230 return yards set the Alabama record for a single season and ranks second nationally.


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Bama Football Places 9 On AP All-SEC Team


Photo Credit: RollTide.com

   
     Nine University of Alabama football players have been named to the Associated Press All-SEC Team. The announcement came yesterday afternoon from the Southeastern Conference office.

     Not only did the Crimson Tide have the most All-SEC selections with nine, but also had a league-leading seven honorees making the first team.  Alabama football finished the 2015 regular season at 11-1 overall and 7-1 in the SEC as well as winning the 2015 Southeastern Conference Championship.

     Being named to the AP All-SEC First Team on offense is Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry, the Remington Award-winning senior center Ryan Kelly and sophomore lineman Cam Robinson. On first-team defense are senior lineman Jonathan Allen, junior lineman A'Shawn Robinson, senior linebacker Reggie Ragland and junior safety Eddie Jackson. These same seven were also selected for the All-SEC First Team by the SEC coaches last week.

     Being named to the second-team are junior defensive lineman Jarran Reed and freshman wide receiver Calvin Ridley. Ridley had received a couple of other honors last week, being named on the second team by the SEC coaches and also as a freshman all-conference player.

     Alabama football is no stranger to having numerous players receiving numerous awards and honors. Derrick Henry and Reggie Ragland both received individual honors this year from Associated Press voters. Henry received the Heisman Trophy, The Walter Camp, Doak Walker, and Maxwell Award as well as being unanimously chosen at the SEC Offensive Player of the Year. Ragland was named as the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Both were also selected by the SEC coaches as the offensive and defensive Player of the Year.



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Tide Places 5 On AP All-America Team


Photo Credit: RollTide.com


     The 2015 Southeastern Conference Champion Alabama Crimson Tide football team has placed five players on the All-America Team list as selected by the Associated Press. Derrick Henry, A'Shawn Robinson and Reggie Ragland were named to the first team, with Ryan Kelly named to the second team, and Eddie Jackson was chosen for the third team. 

     Derrick Henry is Alabama's second Heisman Trophy winner since Mark Ingram won it back in 2009. In addition he's been named the recipient of the Doak Walker, Maxwell and Walter Camp Player Of The Year trophies as well. Henry rushed for an SEC record 1,986 yards this season, as well as an FBS-leading 23 touchdowns. This is the third first-team selection for Henry this post-season, as well as having been named to the USA Today and the Walter Camp Football Foundation All-American teams also.

     Ragland earned his third first-team selection as well. He has played a major role in the nationally-ranked defense of the Crimson Tide. He led Bama in tackles this season with 90 which included 6.5 for a loss and also six quarterback hurries. He is a finalist for the Bednarik, Butkus and Nagurski awards.

     Robinson has been a major cog in what is one of the best, if not the number one, defenses in the nation. He has a career-high 42 tackles in the 2015 season, including 7.5 for a loss as well as three sacks. He also has nine quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, a fumble recovery as one as one blocked point-after-touchdown. He was also named to the second team by Walter Camp and USA Today. 

     Kelly is the 2015 Rimington Trophy winner and has been named to the second team. He graded out at an 88.4 percent average on the season while missing only eight assignments in 948 snaps, as well as not allowing a quarterback sack all season. He made first team on the Walter Camp and USA Today teams.
   
     Jackson was named to the third team by Associated Press voters, as well as being honored as a second team selection by Walter Camp. He ranked second defensively in defending passes with 81, third in pass breakups with 65 and leads the SEC with five interceptions and 230 return yards, including two pick-sixes. Those 230 yards are an Alabama single-season record as well as giving him second place nationally.

     Congratulations, gentlemen!

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Bama Basketball's Retin Obasohan SEC Player Of The Week


Retin Obasohan
Photo Credit: RollTide.com


     Senior Guard Retin Obasohan, the 6'3" 215-pounder with the University of Alabama basketball team has been named an SEC Player of the Week. Obasohan, from Antwerp, Belgium, pumped in a season-high 23 points in the win yesterday against the Clemson Tigers, as well as pulling down five rebounds and three assists to win the honor. Not only was his point output a new career high, so was the number of field goals he put in, 9-of-16, and in three-pointers at 4-of-7.

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