Top-Ranked Crimson Tide Preps For No. 6 Aggies
Alabama Hosts Texas A&M This Saturday
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| Alabama's Calvin Ridley in practice Photo Credit: AL.com/Vasha Hunt |
And move on they have. The University of Alabama football team has begun a new week of practice sessions for a new game this week, a big game this week. The Crimson Tide put in approximately 75 minutes of work in 86-degree heat yesterday afternoon in shells at the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields in preparation to host the sixth-ranked Texas A&M Aggies in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Though he wasn't in a black, no-contact jersey, right guard Alphonse Taylor stood on the sidelines watching practice during the open media viewing period. Saban had commented that Taylor was still "day-to-day" earlier yesterday in his press briefing. Taylor is still recovering from a concussion received a couple of weeks again in the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks. Lester Cotton is once again prepping for the start this week.
Saban said, "We'll continue to evaluate his circumstance and situation and always have the player's safety in mind as to when the medical staff makes a decision and he's cleared to be able to practice and play. He's going to do some individual stuff today but no contact."
Another player seeing limited action in practice yesterday was Damien Harris. While the other running backs were working, he was spotted off to the side watching.
Texas A&M comes to town with an offense and defense that has kept the Aggies undefeated, and catapulted them to a No. 6 nation ranking and a tie for the lead in the SEC West with the Crimson Tide. Kickoff this Saturday is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast live on the CBS network for the second consecutive week. Verne Lundquist will again be handling the play-by-play, Gary Danielson on color commentary and Allie LaForce walking the sidelines once again with interviews and on-the-spot updates on injuries, strategy and more.
The Tide and Aggies have numerous foes in common of course, both being in the same conference as well as same division. The most recent common foe for both was the Tennessee Volunteers. Just a couple of weeks ago the then-ninth ranked Vols took the Aggies into double-overtime before A&M finally put down the pesky visitors 45-38. Alabama, of course, man-handled the Volunteers last week in Neyland Stadium 49-10.
Kevin Sumlin and the Texas A&M Aggies were able to get in some rest this past week, having drawn a bye, so-to-speak, with an off-week to heal and recover as well as work on a game plan to come to Tuscaloosa in hopes of upending the top team in the land. Sumlin is 42-16 at Texas A&M in his fifth season.
Alabama leads the overall series with the Aggies 6-2, with the first meeting coming back in the 1942 Cotton Bowl. The Crimson Tide has won the last three meetings, with the last one being last season which Bama won 31-23 in College Station. The last victory by the Tide in Tuscaloosa was the previous year, 2014, which Bama handily won 59-10.
Several members of both the Alabama football team and coaching staff were honored yesterday. Saban was named the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week (see accompanying story), freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts was named to the Davey O'Brien "Great 8" list for the second consecutive week as well as being named an SEC Player of the week for two weeks in a row and offensive lineman Jonah Williams was named as an SEC Player of the Week. (See accompanying story on the Hurts/Williams honors.)
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What Saban Said At 10/17 Press Briefing
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| Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban held his usual Monday press briefing with reporters and broadcasters yesterday afternoon. Saban talked about last week's performance against the Tennessee Volunteers (which everyone knows Bama won 49-10 but only added it because love seeing it), this week's contest with Texas A&M as well as the challenges the Tide will face. Here is what he had to say in his opening statement:
"Well, after watching the last game, we probably approached playing the most complete game all year. There are obviously many things we can improve on. I think the question is: Do you rest on your laurels, or do you stay hungry to try to improve on the things you did correctly and fix the ones that you didn't? You can either build on it or rest on it. I think with the challenges that we have, like I said that's one game, so we need to move on to the next game, which is a very challenging team.
"Texas A&M probably presents as many issues as any team we have played all year. They are very well-coached; Kevin Sumlin has done a really good job there on offense, defense and special teams. They are highly ranked in a lot of categories, whether it's turnover ratio, scoring defense or their ability to run the ball. They have a very high-powered, balanced offense. Trevor Knight has done a really good job at quarterback for them implementing their offense. Trayveon Williams, who is a freshman, has been a very dynamic running back, probably the best we've seen all year. They have a talented receiver core. They really have some dominating players on defense in Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall, the two defense ends that create a lot of problems in terms of being great edge rushers. They've been really opportunistic on defense in terms of getting turnovers. So, there are a lot of important things for us to do well in the game, and it's going to take all phases doing well to have a chance to be successful"
Coach Saban was honored yesterday by being named the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week for the overall coaching job done in the dismantling of the Tennessee Volunteers 49-10 last Saturday in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Nick Saban Wins Dodd Trophy Coach Of The Week Honors
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| University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
The University of Alabama athletic department is used to winning awards. Especially football awards.
Crimson Tide head football coach Nick Saban has been named the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week for his leadership in the dismantling of then-No. 9/11 Tenneessee 49-10 this past Saturday in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Saban and his staff coached Bama to a complete victory this past weekend, picking up scores in all phases of the game: offense, defense and special teams.
Congratulations, Coach Saban.
Roll Tide Roll!
Alabama Coaches Recognize 10 Players This Week
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| Graphic/Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
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Hurts & Williams Named SEC Players Of The Week
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| Graphic/Photo credit: Alabama Athletics |
This is Hurts second-consecutive week to earn the Freshman of the Week honors from the Southeastern Conference, and his third conference selection overall. This is the first offensive lineman award and second conference player award for Williams.
Hurts picked up 132 rushing yards as well as 143 passing yards in directing the Crimson Tide to a 49-10 thrashing of the Tennessee Volunteers. He averaged 11.0 yards per carry on his 12 rushing attempts and scored three touchdowns. His 143 passing yards came via a 16-of-26 pass completions.
Williams was a workhorse on the offensive line at right tackle, helping to open the holes and protect the quarterback in the Tide's sensational win last week. He posted a grade of 90 percent from the coaches for his performance, and didn't allow a single quarterback hurry or sack as well as not committing any penalties.
Congratulations to both young men.
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| Graphic/Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
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Andie Daniell And ErinRoutliffe
Clinch 2016 ITA Southern Regional Championship
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| Daniell (left) & Routliffe (right) Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
It was another big win for the Crimson Tide tennis duo of Erin Routliffe and Andie Daniell. The University of Alabama women's tennis' No. 34 nationally ranked doubles pair won in straight sets to clinch the 2016 ITA Southern Regional Doubles Championship at the Alabama Tennis Stadium yesterday.
This is the second Routliffe and Daniell have captured the ITA Southern Regional Doubles Championships. With the victory, the duo earns automatic entry into the 2016 ITA National Collegiate Indoor Championships to be played at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York on November 3-6.
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| Daniell (left), Bill Battle (center), Routliffe (right) Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
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This Week In UA Athletics
Here is a look athe the upcoming athletic events for The University of Alabama Crimson Tide:
5 p.m. CT – Soccer at Florida (Gainesville, Fla.)
Friday, October 21
7 p.m. CT – Volleyball at Arkansas (Fayetteville, Ark.)
Saturday, October 22
2:30 p.m. CT – Football vs. Texas A&M (Bryant-Denny Stadium)
All Day – Rowing at Head of the Charles Regatta (Boston, Mass.)
Sunday, October 23
1 p.m. CT – Soccer at LSU (Baton Rouge, La.)
1:30 p.m. CT – Volleyball at Ole Miss (Oxford, Miss.)
All Day – Rowing at Head of the Charles Regatta (Boston, Mass.)
Thursday, October 27
7 p.m. CT – Soccer vs. Vanderbilt (UA Soccer Complex)
Want to enjoy The Tide on TV? Here is a listing of athletic events scheduled through the weekend to be aired on the SEC Network, with some to be aired on SEC Network +.
(All times listed are Central Time)
Thursday, October 20
5 p.m. – Soccer at Florida (SEC Network +)
Friday, October 21
7 p.m. – Volleyball at Arkansas (SEC Network +)
Sunday, October 23
1 p.m. – Soccer at LSU (SEC Network +)
1:30 p.m. – Volleyball at Ole Miss (SEC Network +)
Monday, October 24
8 p.m. – REPLAY: Football vs. Texas A&M (SEC Network)
Tuesday, October 25
11 a.m. – REPLAY: Football vs. Texas A&M (SEC Network)
Wednesday, October 26
11 a.m. – REPLAY: Football vs. Texas A&M (SEC Network)
Thursday, October 27
4 a.m. – REPLAY: Football vs. Texas A&M (SEC Network)
7 p.m. – Soccer vs. Vanderbilt (SEC Network +)
Friday, October 28
6 p.m. – Volleyball at Tennessee (SEC Network)
Friday, October 28
10 a.m. CT –Cross Country at SEC Championships (Fayetteville, Ark.)
7 p.m. ET – Volleyball at Tennessee (Knoxville, Tenn.)
All Day – Women's Golf at The Landfall Tradition (Wilmington, N.C.)
All Day – Men's Tennis at USTA 10k Futures (Weston, Fla.)
All Day – Women's Tennis hosts the Roberta Alison Fall Classic (UA Tennis Center)
