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More Observations From Spring Football Practice
Alabama Head Football Coach Nick Saban
Photo Credit: Erich Schlegel/USA TODAY Sports
As reported yesterday, day one of spring practice, the 2016 opening day, went well. The Tide showed a lot of energy despite a light drizzle falling throughout. It was noted that there were six wearing no-contact black jerseys but all, with possibly one exception, should be ready to go by the time first game kickoff arrives. Here are just a few more observations from the opening day of spring football, as well as some of the comments made by head coach NICK SABAN in his first press briefing follow day one of practice.
Saban mentioned that defensive back TONY BROWN, while practicing and working with the safeties on Friday, was facing "some suspensions." There has been no time table as yet worked out for these suspensions, according to the head coach. No other information was forthcoming from Saban as to the nature of the infractions committed by Brown nor their severity.
Also, Saban mentioned some changes in coaching assignment duties during the off-season, which really has been no real secret. He said that BRENT KEY would be coaching centers and MARIO CRISTOBAL's area of concentration would be on tackles and ends. BURTON BURNS will handle special teams duties as well as coaching the running backs. BOBBY WILLIAMS is now said to be Saban's Special Assistant.
There have been three changes in jersey numbers for the upcoming season since those numbers have become available. Quarterback BLAKE BARNETT will revert to his old high school number 8, while ROBERT FOSTER will move to the number 1 and wide receiver CAM SIMS goes to number 17.
Of course this will be third year in a row Alabama is looking for a new starting quarterback. Two seasons ago it was BLAKE SIMS winning the starting role over JAKE COKER, who everyone thought would win the job after transferring from Florida State. The following year it was indeed Coker take the helm of the Crimson Tide offense and leading the Crimson Tide to National Championship number 16.
So, how are things looking for the 2016 football season. Most seem to think that the front runner for the job is redshirt freshman, BLAKE BARNETT. But let's face it, no one was "positively correct" as to who the starter would be at this time either of the last two seasons. Also competing is redshirt junior COOPER BATEMAN who is certainly no slouch, redshirt sophomore DAVID CORNWELL and the new early enrollee, JALEN HURTS, who helped the Tide prepare for the national championship contest against Clemson.
Barnett certainly battled Coker last season for the starting position, thus the speculation he is the early front-runner. He does possess the tools, but so do all the QBs the Tide has rarin' to be released from the stable. Bateman has the most experience, but will that experience translate into perform during the spring enough to make him a solid contender? He had that opportunity to start against Ole Miss last season, which ultimately was the only game the Tide lost in the 2015 season. Cornwell looked really good at times in practice last season, but wound up third string when the season got underway. The dual-threat skills of JALEN HURTS could provide excitement and a challenge as a true freshman this spring. However, it has been debated more than once as to whether or not Saban would allow a true freshman to take the reigns of the Alabama offense. More than likely Hurts will be as the others and redshirted once the season gets underway.
So football is back in Tuscaloosa. At least for the spring. It gives us footballers a little extra excitement this time of year, and a glimpse of the hoped-for glory to come this fall.
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Crimson Tide Softball Earns Huge 10-3 Win Over LSU
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
For the first time since the 2008 SEC Tournament the Alabama softball team has beaten the LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Crimson Tide (22-3) went on to win a 10-3 victory over the Tigers (22-3) following a rain delay in the fourth inning. The 10 runs are the most scored by a Bama team against LSU since the 13 scored back in 2005.
The Crimson Tide had an early 3-0 lead before bad weather caused the game to be delayed. LSU came roaring back with three-run homer to tie the game up after play resumed. Bama's bats and LSU errors allowed the Tide to then score seven unanswered runs to take the victory.
Alabama starting pitcher SYDNEY LITTLEJOHN (9-2) stayed in for the entire contest to take the win while allowing only the three runs on six hits.
The Tide's HAYLIE McCLENEY led the offense with a 3-4 performance. She scored three times as well as driving in two runs. Also turning in a three-hit performance for Bama was CHANDLER DARE. With her second home run of the season, MARISA RUNYON turned in a solid performance for the Tide.
The three-game series, currently knotted at 1-1, will conclude today with game three set for 2 pm CT. The game can be seen live on the SEC Network.
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Bama Baseball Loses 3-2 To Houston
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Daniel Melograno
It just wasn't to be. The comeback staged by the Alabama baseball team yesterday fell short as the Tide fell to No. 21 Houston on a wet and rainy Saturday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa. Alabama falls to 10-4 on the young season.
Alabama head baseball coach MITCH GASPARD said, "We just didn't do the job that we needed to when we got to their bullpen today. We felt like that was an area where we could do some damage in the
back of the game, and really, the opportunity presented itself just as
we thought in the eighth inning. We just weren't able to deliver in that
spot."
Tide pitcher JAKE WALTERS (1-2) suffered his second loss of the season. The sophomore went 5.0 innings, struck out six batters and allowed three runs on six hits with one walk. He tossed a total of 88 pitches before being retired on the day.
KEITH HOLCOMBE led Bama in hitting going 2-for-5 with one run RBI and a run scored. Both CONNOR SHORT and CHANCE VINCENT both went 2-for-3 in the contest.
Gaspard said, "When you face arms (like Houston's starters), you're typically going to get one or two opportunities. We had our shot
in the eighth, we just didn't deliver right there. It's a long season.
We've got some nice qualities as a team, but we've just got to continue
to get better as we approach conference play because the competition is
only going to continue to increase here in the next few weeks."
The series wraps up today at 1 p.m. CT.
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Green Finishes 8th At NCAAs
It was University of Alabama triple jumper JEREMIAH GREEN capturing eighth place yesterday afternoon in the 2016 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Indoor Championships at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Alabama. Green also earns First Team All-America honors for the second time in his career.
Green's best mark was a jump of 52-10 (16.10m) on his second attempt.
The Tide now moves from indoor to the outdoor season when they host the annual John Mitchell Alabama Relays on March 17th and continuing through the 19th at the Sam Bailey Track and Field Stadium.
