Game Prep For National Championship Begins
 |
| UA Photo |
This is the first practice of six for the Crimson Tide since defeating the Washington Huskies in the College Football Playoff Semifinal 24-7 at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia on December 31st. Next venue: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida for the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
This was the first Alabama practice session for Steve Sarkisian as the Crimson Tide's new offensive coordinator, replacing new FAU head coach Lane Kiffin. Sarkisian also serves as Bama's quarterbacks' coach, just as Kiffin did.
The Tide welcomed three of Alabama's mid-year enrollees, and they were also taking part in the practice session. Defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs, athlete Chadarius Townsend and defensive back Kyriq McDonald were ready to man-up. Though eligible to practice, the three aren't eligible to play in the national championship contest.
Though wearing a brace and wrap on his right knee, linebacker Keith Holcomb was practicing with the team. Defensive lineman Da'Shawn Hand was out of his walking boot and able to practice also.
The Crimson Tide will enter the championship game undefeated, with a 14-0 record in the 2016 college football season. The Tigers come in with a 13-1 record. This will be the 17th meeting between the two programs, with Alabama leading the series 13-3. The last Tide victory over the Tigers came in last year's national championship matchup, 45-40, to capture Alabama's 16th National Championship.
The game will be broadcast live on ESPN television on Monday, January 9th beginning at approximately 7:15 p.m. CT. Chris Fowler will be handling play-by-play, Kirk Herbstreit on commentary/analysis and Samantha Ponder and Tom Renaldi working the sidelines.
Crimson Tide Tuesday Practice Highlights:
 |
| Click HERE to view Tuesday's practice highlights Courtesy of Tide TV |
----------------------------------------------------
Alabama Men's Basketball Wins SEC Opener
Defeats Mississippi State 68-58
 |
| Avery Johnson & Crimson Tide win SEC opener UA/Robert Sutton Photo |
STARKVILLE, Mississippi - It's always good when it's a win. Especially when it's an Southeastern Conference win. Especially when it's the first game of the SEC "season."
Leading Bama was redshirt freshman Dazon Ingram 13 points, nine rebounds and four assists, while sophomore Avery Johnson Jr. also pumped in 13 points as well as hauling down five rebounds. Junior Riley Norris contributed 11 points to give the Crimson Tide three players in double figures.
Alabama head coach Avery Johnson said, "We got off to a really slow start tonight. We couldn't dig in defensively, but we started to get into a rhythm somewhere after the 15-minute mark in the first half. Our guys just locked in defensively, and it was fun to watch."
The Crimson Tide now improves to 8-5 overall, 1-0 SEC on the season, while the Bulldogs fall to 9-4 overall, 0-1 SEC.
Bama was 35 percent from the field in the first half, with 16 of its 32 points coming at the free throw line. The 'Dogs shot on 25 percent in the half.
Johnson continued, "We went into halftime with a 12-point lead, and I didn't know if that was good or bad. Sometimes we can't protect leads, but we showed some maturity tonight. I thought that our non-conference portion of the schedule was strong enough that we could survive some adversity through the course of a game, and we did that tonight. We finished the game strong, and I thought these two guys (Riley Norris and Dazon Ingram) played some outstanding defense on some perimeter players from Mississippi State. I'm really proud of our team and our coaching staff for getting our players ready to play."
Overall the Crimson Tide shot 44 percent from the field while dominating the rebounding game 43-26. Bama scored 38 of its points in the paint, while limiting the opposition to just 24 points.
Alabama will be back in action this Saturday, January 7th, when the Vanderbilt Commodores come to Coleman Coliseum for its SEC home opener. The game begins at 6 p.m. CT and will be aired on ESPNU.
| Game Stats | UA | MS |
|---|---|---|
| FG% | .444 | .365 |
| 3FG% | .231 | .190 |
| FT% | .773 | .800 |
| RB | 43 | 26 |
| TO | 17 | 13 |
| STL | 3 | 7 |
 |
| UA/Robert Sutton Photo |
 |
| UA/Robert Sutton Photo |
------------------------------------------------------------
Kiffin Story Begins To Sinketh
 |
| Time to move along, Lane UA Photo |
The weirdness concerning the surprise early departure of former Alabama offensive coordinator from his position, team and town just got even weirder. Seems he "thought" he might still be "helping" the Crimson Tide in the national championship matchup with the Clemson Tigers on December 9th. Kiffen, on the Mike and Mike show on ESPN radio yesterday said that he, Kiffin, planned to remain with the team (Alabama) in some capacity following his departure as offensive coordinator on Monday.
So strange. Saban killed that right away only hours later when he said, "It's not even really possible from a legal standpoint for him to do those things. So, that's not something that we're interested in pursuing."
So Kiffin claims that what he's talking about is basically switching "jobs" with new offensive Steve Sarkisian who would coach the offense from the sideline while he, Kiffin, goes to the press box and basically be an "analyst."
Really, Lane? This story you are weaving is getting stranger and stranger. It seems you had commented the day before that the job of trying to be head coach and handle duties at Alabama was too difficult. Kiffin had before said, "... it became apparent that both programs would be better served by me giving ALL MY TIME AND EFFORTS to being head coach at FAU."
I still had some respect for Kiffin until Tuesday when all this came spewing forth, despite "holes" in his story the day before. No ONE has been a more staunch supporter and defender of Lane Kiffin than myself, even to the point of angering people on this blog and some of my Twitter posts. But this? This is mackerel left too long in the sun on a 100+ degree day with high humidity in an enclosed space. It's nasty. It stinks. It's dumb.
Kiffin did comment that they didn't know "legally whether we can do that." He further stated, "Sidelines for sure would not, but the press box would be ideal because that would exchange Sark and I what his role was and what my role was. Then he can come down to the field and coach the players.
Pretty far-fetched, and Saban quickly killed the notion quite sufficiently. No way would Kiffin be doing anything with Alabama concerning the upcoming national championship game. He was basically told to get his butt to Florida Atlantic."
If Kiffin was having to divide time between the two programs, affecting his performance for both Alabama and FAU, why not move on? In fact, why not have moved on from the moment Saban and Kiffin had the discussion? Why "waste" time better given to finding coaches for FAU and looking over player profiles of those student-athletes who have expressed an interest in playing for Atlantic rather than appearing or speaking to various sports outlets about a position that no longer exists for him at the University of Alabama?
It's time to ride off into the sunset, cowboy.
 |
| FAU Graphics/Photo |
------------------------------------------------------
Bama Coaches Name 10 Players Of The Week
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - The University of Alabama coaching staff has recognized 10 Crimson Tide players for their outstanding performance in Bama's 24-7 victory over the Clemson Tigers in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
The coaches recognized Bo Scarbrough and Jonah Williams from the offensive unit, and named Ryan Anderson, Anthony Averett, Reuben Foster and Ronnie Harrison from the defense. Special team honorees were Keaton Anderson, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Adam Griffith and J.K. Scott.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Dabo: Bama Gonna Dance With Who Brung 'Em
 |
| Bing.com photo |
Clemson head football coach and former Alabama wideout Dabo Swinney just doesn't see any big changes to the Crimson Tide offense now that Lane Kiffin is out and Steve Sarkisian is in as Alabama's offensive coordinator. The head man of the number two team in the nation things that number one is still going to basically be the same team its been all season.
There are those who think the change coming so late will have a big effect on the national title game scheduled for January 9th in terms of the continuity established this season on offense and working with one particular man, Kiffin, all season. Especially with less than a week for the new man, Sarkisian, to get players ready for what has to be at least a change in coaching style if not the play-calling itself. But, Dabo really doesn't see it that way.
In the Tuesday teleconference, Swinney said, "I guess you got some nuances that might be a little different, maybe, from a play call or something like that. But it's not like they're gonna come out and run the tripple option. They're gonna dance with who brung 'em. That's just as simple as that. Maybe it's be a little bit different if they had a month to get ready, like that first game, but you got basically a game week to prepare.
"You're not gonna vary too far, and why would they? They've been really, really good. They've won 26 in a row. I don't think they're gonna do much different. Like I said, there may be some little nuances here and there, but it'll be within the framework of who they are offensively. And again, why would they change? Nobody's stopped them.
"They've been incredibly successful. The quarterback has played very, very well. They've run him. They've got outstanding backs, they've got the best receivers we've seen, great tight end. So they're gonna do what they do. They're gonna play within the scheme of their system...As far as just the scheme, they'll do what they do."
Of course as Swinney knows, the position of quarterback, especially one that is held by a true freshman like Jalen Hurts, would be the most affected by the change. That would be true even if the change had come at a more opportune time, but especially with less than a week before the biggest game of his young college career. Lane Kiffin helped develop him, and has basically been there to "hold his hand" the entire season. This offense was set up to work around his abilities and weaknesses, especially as the season progressed. He was talked through the nuances, and groomed by the one offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach.
But Hurts is no dummy. He was groomed by his dad, his coach, before coming to Alabama. It was here he learned his poise, first developed his craft and learned the game of football and position of quarterback. He knows how to listen and follow instructions, then turn those into real plays on the field directing the other ten into a cohesive play-making machine.
Swinney knows what playing a freshman is like. He has developed his own Deshaun Watson from a freshman, and knows the challenges. He knows the steps, the progressions, a young quarterback must make.
Swinney said, "I don't care how good a player you are as a freshman, you're gonna be better as a junior. You just get better with time. So I think you gotta be smart, and I think that's what Alabama has done. But he's not a freshman anymore. I mean, the guy's played, what, 14 games. Heck, he's well on his way into his junior year. I mean, this guy has played a lot of football. More football than some of the guys that start as a junior in college.
"So he's not a freshman anymore. He's got a ton of experience. He's been there, done that. He's played, he's handled adversity, he's made big plays in big moments, on the road, at home, ou name it. I think he's an excellent young player that's just gonna continue to mature.
"But I think they've done a great job in bringing him along and giving him what he can handle early and then kind of grow in that through the season. He's definitely solidified himself as an excellent player and obviously a great leader for them."
There you have it...both praise and propaganda from Alabama's national championship opponent. But he's right, Hurts has grown, and has an entire season under his belt. He's not that "kid" that is wide-eyed at the thought of playing quarterback at the University of Alabama. Okay, so maybe playing for Alabama he is, but not as much as some. He's grown.
The number one-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide will face off with the second-ranked Clemson Tigers this coming Monday, January 9th inside Raymond James Stadium for the national championship of college football.
Of course as Swinney knows, the position of quarterback, especially one that is held by a true freshman like Jalen Hurts, would be the most affected by the change. That would be true even if the change had come at a more opportune time, but especially with less than a week before the biggest game of his young college career. Lane Kiffin helped develop him, and has basically been there to "hold his hand" the entire season. This offense was set up to work around his abilities and weaknesses, especially as the season progressed. He was talked through the nuances, and groomed by the one offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach.
But Hurts is no dummy. He was groomed by his dad, his coach, before coming to Alabama. It was here he learned his poise, first developed his craft and learned the game of football and position of quarterback. He knows how to listen and follow instructions, then turn those into real plays on the field directing the other ten into a cohesive play-making machine.
Swinney knows what playing a freshman is like. He has developed his own Deshaun Watson from a freshman, and knows the challenges. He knows the steps, the progressions, a young quarterback must make.
Swinney said, "I don't care how good a player you are as a freshman, you're gonna be better as a junior. You just get better with time. So I think you gotta be smart, and I think that's what Alabama has done. But he's not a freshman anymore. I mean, the guy's played, what, 14 games. Heck, he's well on his way into his junior year. I mean, this guy has played a lot of football. More football than some of the guys that start as a junior in college.
"So he's not a freshman anymore. He's got a ton of experience. He's been there, done that. He's played, he's handled adversity, he's made big plays in big moments, on the road, at home, ou name it. I think he's an excellent young player that's just gonna continue to mature.
"But I think they've done a great job in bringing him along and giving him what he can handle early and then kind of grow in that through the season. He's definitely solidified himself as an excellent player and obviously a great leader for them."
There you have it...both praise and propaganda from Alabama's national championship opponent. But he's right, Hurts has grown, and has an entire season under his belt. He's not that "kid" that is wide-eyed at the thought of playing quarterback at the University of Alabama. Okay, so maybe playing for Alabama he is, but not as much as some. He's grown.
The number one-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide will face off with the second-ranked Clemson Tigers this coming Monday, January 9th inside Raymond James Stadium for the national championship of college football.
