Monroe PD Issues Denial; Xavier McKinney Decommits From Tide; 2017 Football Commits Back To Just 14; Baseball Accepting Season Ticket Deposits; Same Song Three Years Running

Monroe Police Department Issues Denial

Finebaum & Saban
Photo Credit: SEC Network

In response to the reported claim by Paul Finebaum that University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban told him during commercial break that it was a disgruntled LSU fan or fans that initiated the arrest of Bama football players Cam Robinson and Hootie Jones issued a statement to that issue. 

Concerning the arrest, Monroe Police public information officer Chris Bates told The Montgomery Advertiser, "I can tell you for a fact that the first officer on the scene is not an LSU fan. He hates LSU. He doesn't like the color yellow or purple and gold. In fact, he's a Florida fan. If you mention LSU around him, he throws up in his mouth. Most of our officers are LSU fans, but we have some who are Arkansas fans and Georgia fans and Alabama fans. And I'll tell you this, the first officer did not even know those guys were players."

Robinson and Jones were arrested when found with two other people in a parked car in a public park in Monroe, Louisiana after hours. Police say they smelled a strong odor of marijuana, and subsequently found a bag of the drug along with a stolen gun. Robinson was then charged with a felony while Jones faced misdomeanor charges.

The district attorney in Monroe has since decided not to pursue prosecution of the pair.

Saban and Finebaum had a heated debate Wednesday, both on and off camera, concerning the disciplining of Robinson and Jones.


The police department spokesman simply said the first officer on the scene saw a vehicle in plain view with four occupants in the park after closing.

Bates said. "Our officer was doing his job. They were not supposed to be there. He called for backup, and the other officers arrived and made the arrest. We enforce the law based on the law."

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4-Star Safety Xavier McKinney Decommits From Tide

Xavier McKinney
Photo Credit: 247Sports

Another prospect has decommited.

Four-star safety Xavier McKinney yesterday announced his decommitment from Alabama football. The Georgia native had seemed to bond with the other Alabama commits last week at The Opening, even saying his commitment was "100 percent." He did, however, say he would be making visits to other schools such as Florida and Clemson.

McKinney tweeted that there is no timetable for a decision as to who his leaders are nor his actual commitment.

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2017 Football Commits Back To Just 14

Following the decommitment of Roswell, Georgia football prospect Xavier McKinney, 

The University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team is back to only 14 student-athletes who have committed to furthering their football careers at the Capstone. . 

Here is the complete list of 2017 commitments to UA as of 7/15/16:

• Najee Harris, RB (6-1, 210), Antioch, California 
• Alex Leatherwood, OL (6-4, 300), Pensacola, Florida
• Chadarius Townsend, ATH, (6-0, 180), Tanner, Alabama*
• Brian Robinson, RB (6-2, 210), Tuscaloosa, Alabama*
• Aaron Sterling, DL (6-1, 270), Stone Mountain, Georgia
• Gary Johnson, LB (6-2, 225), Dodge City (Kan.) Community College
• VanDarius Cowan, LB (6-4, 217), Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
• Tua Tagovailoa, QB (6-1, 210), Honolulu, Hawaii
• Elliot Baker, OL (6-7, 295), City College of San Francisco (Calif.)
• Mac Jones, QB (6-2, 185), Jacksonville, Fla.
• Markail Benton, LB (6-2, 245), Phenix City, Alabama*
• Brandon Ruiz, K (5-10, 165), Gilbert, Arizona
• Tyrell Davis, LB ( 6-6, 202), Lewisville, Texas
• Thomas Fletcher, C (6-2, 220), Bradenton, Florida

*State of Alabama Recruits/Commitments

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Bama Baseball Now Accepting Season Ticket Deposits

Sewell-Thomas Stadium
University of Alabama
Photo Credit: RollTide.com

Not only will football season be underway soon, but baseball isn't really that far away either. And The University of Alabama ticket office is now accepting season ticket deposits for the upcoming 2017 Crimson Tide baseball season at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

The season ticket deposits are a bargain to enjoy watching The Crimson Tide this upcoming season, and cost only $30 and ensure fans a first chance at securing the best seating locations inside the ballpark before season tickets go on sale to the general public. All season ticket holders enjoy exclusive benefits, including:

• The best seats inside Sewell-Thomas Stadium
• Guaranteed seats for the biggest games of the year
• First priority on any seat upgrades
• Significant savings over single-game ticket prices
• An exclusive opportunity to purchase SEC Tournament All-Session booklets at the conclusion of the 2017 regular season

Alabama baseball fans can make their 2017 season ticket deposit a by going to RollTide.com/tickets or by simply making a telephone call at (205) 348-4858. All deposits are non-refundable and must be used toward the purchase of a 2017 season ticket package. Please note that these deposits are to be for new season ticket customers only. Current season ticket holders will be receiving a renewal form in August and do not need to place a deposit at this time.

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Same Song 3 Years Running

For the third consecutive year it's the same song. This one doesn't even get a bullet. It will continue to play, and possibly into the season as it did last year.

Still no clear-cut leader for the position of starting quarterback at The University of Alabama. It really wasn't that much of an issue this year when Alabama head football coach Nick Saban spoke to the media and answered questions on Wednesday at SEC Media Days.

From the podium Saban said, "For the third year in a row, I'm standing up here talking about somebody's going to be a new quarterback for us. Somebody's got to win that job. Somebody's got to win the team. You know, that has not necessarily happened yet and, you know, I'm not going to sit up here and sort of try to, you know... I don't know the right word, but give you some statistics on who's winning the race and how the race is going and who's ahead, are they on the back stretch or in the final turn. That's something that's going to happen probably in fall camp. I hope in fall camp."

Last season it took until the season was underway before Jake Coker finally won the starting job.

Off-seson workouts are taking place right now. Quarterbacks, as well as players in all the other positions, are practicing to get better and secure a place as a starter on the 2016 edition of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team.

Saban later said, "Most of the time, judgement, decision making, leadership, some of these intangibles are important in terms of the guy winning the team over, which I think is important because teammates need to have confidence in the guy. So these are some of the same characteristics that we've always looked at, that we'll continue to look at. But I don't think it's something that you can force in terms of making a guy be that without earning that from his teammates."

Alabama tight end O.J. Howard touched on the subject, saying, "I think each quarterback is doing a great job right now. They're running the plays. They're being great leaders. There's not one guy that stands out more than the other, but right now we're not doing as much."

Once again it's a waiting game. One of the young men must step forward and claim the position. After all, this is Alabama. These young men win their positions in the battle.