USA TODAY Reports Lane Kiffin Leaving Bama
Accepts Head Coaching Position At FAU
 |
| Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
Notice I'm naming my source. Especially since USA TODAY and Fox Sports reported a few days ago that Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin was headed to Houston as their new head coach. Now, it appears, Kiffin and FAU may have worked out their differences after talks reportedly broke down on Friday night.
The newspaper gian is reporting that Kiffin and FAU have worked out a deal, that they did offer, and that he has accepted. Thing is, it's not official. It has been "leaked" by "a person with knowledge of the situation." Since the deal has not been made public the person only would speak if guaranteed anonymity. Katrina McCormack, the FAU athletics department spokesperson, said that FAU "has no official announcement at this time."
Kiffin served as the head coach of the Oakland Raiders back in 2007 following a six-season stint on staff at Southern Cal. He was terminated in 2008. He was then hired by Tennessee as head coach of the Vols in 2009 posting a 7-6 record, but then left for his "dream job" as head coach at USC after one season. His best season was in 2011 with a 10-2 record, but was fired midway through the 2013 season on the tarmac of an airport of all things.
He was then hired by Alabama head coach Nick Saban as offensive coordinator, and has done a great job helping add a passing flair to the Crimson Tide offense, and is responsible for having developed three quarterbacks into SEC-calibre players at the position.
Kiffin is expected to remain with the Tide through the playoffs.
----------------------------------------------------------
Bama Men's Basketball Falls To No. 24 Oregon
 |
| Graphics/Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
"Losing a heart-breaker" or a "heart-breaking loss" has probably been a bit over-used in sports circles. Of course so has the phrase, "If the shoe fits..." so I suppose we'll just have to go with that.
After having called a players-only team meeting, working hard to close well in a contest, another one slipped away from the Alabama men's basketball team yesterday in Eugene, Oregon. No, it was a valiant effort. The boys from Bama traveled across the country to face the 24th-best team in America and were oh so close to pulling off the upset. Ultimately, the Crimson Tide fell to the Ducks on Sunday night 65-56 at the Matthew Knight Arena. With the loss, Alabama now falls to 4-4 while Oregon improves to 8-2.
The game was actually closer at the end than the score indicates, but fouls that are necessary to try to get the ball back were made, but the Crimson Tide's shots were not as they tried to fighter their way back after giving up a small lead with only minutes to go. It would have been a huge win for Bama, the team that would stop the nation's fourth-longest home-winning streak. But it wasn't to be, as the Ducks extended that streak to 31 games.
The leading scorer for the Crimson Tide was sophomore forward Donta Hall with a 7-of-9 night from the floor, a game-high seven rebounds and five dunks for 14 points. Junior Ar'Mond Davis also scored in double-figures, coming off the bench to account for 10 points.Redshirt freshman Dazon Ingram finished with eight points, all of which came after the halftime break. Braxton Key contributed six points for the Tide.
Alabama men's head basketball coach Avery Johnson said, "We had to expend so much energy getting back in the game; we didn't have a great first half at all. I mean, 11 turnovers (in the opening half), we didn't shoot the three well and they shot the three better than us. But to our credit, we fought all the way back and gave ourselves a chance to win the game and then we got stuck there again at the end. We've just got to find ways to get quality shots."
The Bama men turned in an energetic performance, but in the end things just didn't fall for them. Though it is another loss for the Tide, Johnson sees some daylight.
"A turnover, then (Tyler) Dorsey comes down and makes a three and even (Dylan) Ennis makes a three with one second left on the shot clock with us contesting the shot," Johnson said. "Tough break, but I'm still encouraged about some of the signs I saw from our team in a really tough place to play."
The Crimson Tide struggled throughout the night from beyond the arc, just not able to get the ball to fall right. Bama only hit on a season low 2-of-19 shots (10.5 percent) from 3-point land. In addition, not helping the cause, the Tide committed a season high 18 turnovers giving the Ducks a 21-12 advantage in points off turnovers.
Alabama was 41 percent from the field, and outrebounded Oregon 33-27. Both the Crimson Tide and the Ducks picked up 19 points off its bench, just the second time this season Bama didn't outscore its opponent's bench.
The Crimson Tide will host USC Upstate on Thursday, December 15th at Coleman Coliseum. Game time is set for 7 p.m. CT and will be televised on SEC Network+.
| Game Stats | UA | ORE |
|---|---|---|
| FG% | .414 | .442 |
| 3FG% | .105 | .400 |
| FT% | .667 | .786 |
| RB | 33 | 27 |
| TO | 18 | 13 |
| STL | 7 | 9 |
 |
| Graphics/Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
 |
| Graphics/Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
-------------------------------------------------------
5-Star LB Dylan Moses Signs Financial Aid Papers With UA
 |
| Dylan Moses Signs Financial Aid Papers With Alabama Photo Credit: 247Sports |
Despite a last-ditch effort by LSU, as well as an official visit to Baton Rouge, five-star linebacker Dylan Moses has signed his financial aid papers with the University of Alabama and plans to enroll at The Capstone sometime in early January, according to BamaOnLine.
According to the 247Sports Composite, Moses is rated the country's number one outside linebacker.
Though the 6' 3", 235-pound Moses has signed the papers, they don't bind Moses to the university. However, the Crimson Tide coaching staff now has unlimited contact available with Moses with the signing of the paperwork right on up to his enrollment.
---------------------------------------------------
Alabama Women's Basketball Loses First Game Of Season
Falls To Georgetown 70-59
 |
| Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
It was a great start to the 2016-17 season. The 7-0 undefeated season turned to a 7-1 season yesterday when the University of Alabama women's basketball lost for the first time this season 70-59 to Georgetown University in McDonough Arena. The Hoyas improve to 8-2 overall.
Alabama head coach Kristy Curry said, "It's all about coming on the road and having toughness. You need to make plays on both ends of the floor and do that with consistency, and we didn't do that today."
It was Alabama junior Hannah Cook leading the team in scoring with 11 points, followed by junior Ashley Williams, sophomore Shaquera Wade and freshman Jordan Lewis with 10 each. Three Bama women finished with a team-high seven rebounds, Lewis, fellow freshman Ashley Knight and junior Meoshonti Knight. Lewis also contributed a season-high six assists in today's effort.
The Crimson Tide hit 19-of-63 for 30.2 percent versus the Hoyas' 30-of-59 for 50.8 percent from the floor. Alabama, however, did out-rebound Georgetown 47-33. The Tide also took more free throws, 28-9.
Curry said, "At the end of the day we just have to finish plays. They made shot after shot, and we didn't. We outrebounded them, 22-6, on the offensive boards. Those are energy statistics. We have to be able to make the shots on the road though, and today, we didn't."
Next for the Tide will be Georgia State on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. CT, followed by a Saturday contest with Georgia Tech at 2 p.m. CT.
Alabama has a real opportunity to bounce back in both games this week, playing at home in Coleman Coliseum. The Tide should be rested before playing again in four days after the long trip to D.C.
Though Gibbs has family heavily into Tennessee and Georgia, he is looking at Alabama as a business decision, especially with the success rate of the program. He has been looking more closely at the Crimson Tide since his official visit to Tuscaloosa back during the Texas A&M contest.
The 6' 2", 204-pounder is rated as the No. 3 safety as well as the No. 40 overall player in the country, according to the 247Sports Composite.
| Game Stats | UA | GU |
|---|---|---|
| FG% | .302 | .508 |
| 3FG% | .250 | .286 |
| FT% | .643 | .667 |
| RB | 47 | 33 |
| TO | 19 | 16 |
| STL | 7 | 8 |
-----------------------------------------------------
DB Deangelo Gibbs Places Bama In Top 5
 |
| Twitter Photo |
Another 2017 recruit has listed the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in his Top 5. Crimson Tide defensive back target Deangelo Gibbs last night tweeted out his list of top schools from which he will make his decision and announcement on January 1st at the Under Armour All-America game.
Gibbs' top five are, in no particular order, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Auburn and Florida. He is obviously an SEC type of guy.
Though Gibbs has family heavily into Tennessee and Georgia, he is looking at Alabama as a business decision, especially with the success rate of the program. He has been looking more closely at the Crimson Tide since his official visit to Tuscaloosa back during the Texas A&M contest.
The 6' 2", 204-pounder is rated as the No. 3 safety as well as the No. 40 overall player in the country, according to the 247Sports Composite.
--------------------------------------------------
Celebrity Birthdays
12/12/16
Alfred Morris, Football player, 28
Frank Sinatra (1915 - 1998), Pop singer & actor
Lincoln Melcher, Actor, 13
Dawin Polanco, Pop singer, 26
Devyn Nekoda, Actress, 16
Kate Todd, Actress, 29
Mayim Bialik, Actress, 41
Bob Barker, Game show host, 93
Regina Hall, Actress, 46
Jennifer Connelly, Actress, 46
Bill Nighy, Actor, 67
Dionne Warwick, Gospel & Pop singer, 76
Sheila E, Pop singer, 59
Cathy Rigby, Gymnast, 64
Tom Wilkinson, Actor, 68
Connie Francis, Country & Pop singer, 78
Luma Grothe, Model, 23
