Alabama Football Hosts Annual Fan Day
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| Crimson Tide Football celebrates 2017 Fan Day Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - It was a good day, for family, friends and fans of Crimson Tide football. The University of Alabama football team held its annual Fan Day at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday afternoon, with an estimated 2,500 fans in attendance for the practice and festivities. Fan Day featured a two-hour open practice followed by a 45-minute autograph session for and excited group of attendees.
The open practice on Saturday lasted approximately two hours with the team working in shells (helmets, shoulder pads and shorts) in the heat and sunshine. This was just the third practice session for the Tide, and the team focused on basic offensive, defensive and special teams drills during the workout. Both players and coaches signed autographs to conclude the day's festivities shortly after the conclusion of practice.
Overall the open practice was a good one. Quarterback Jalen Hurts tossed a really pretty long ball for a completion. Several of the new guys, like Najee Harris, had a really good day. It should also be noted that linebacker Keith Holcombe practiced in a black, non-contact jersey on Saturday, as was freshman linebacker VanDarius Cowan.
Bama will hold a total of 25 practices in preparation for the 2017 college football season, and more specifically for the season-opening contest with third-ranked Florida State in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The matchup between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Seminoles is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on ABC.
Several of the players took time to make statements, such as Bama quarterback Jalen Hurts. Concerning his focus during the offseason, Hurts said, "My focus is on my craft. Every day you go out there and try to improve, to be a better quarterback. Whatever your position is whether it's defensive back, running back; whether it's the DC or the OC; whatever your role is on the team, your goal is to improve every day."
Concerning the offense, Hurts commented, "The key to being dynamic is that you have to execute. We can't do anything if we don't execute. That's the key to all this stuff. If you execute, the sky's the limit."
Crimson Tide wide receiver Calvin Ridley, concerning his relationship with new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, said, "He's bringing that NFL style. I like him a lot. I actually love him. He's a good coach, and he respects all the guys. I think we're doing really well with him."
Concerning the Alabama offense, Ridley commented, "I love this offense, and I love this team this year. We've got a little chip on our shoulder, and we're all hungry. We come out here every day to get better."
Linebacker Rashaan Evans, commenting on fall camp thus far, said, "The intensity has been great. A lot of these guys come out to practice and they're ready to work. I'm just excited for this whole team and ready for the season to start. We're looking forward to the first game."
When it comes to taking an active leadership role, Evans said, "I think I'm ready for this role, especially after being around guys who've been seniors like me. Coming up under Reuben Foster and guys like him last year, learning how they went about things, that really helped show me the role that I need to fill as a team leader this year."
Tide punter JK Scott had this to say concerning his experience at Alabama heading into his senior year, "It's been fun. I'm so thankful that I came to Alabama, and it is way beyond football. Football's been a lot of fun. We've had a lot of really cool experiences as a team, but I'm so thankful for the people I've met, the growth I've had. It's been an amazing three years. I wouldn't trade it for anything, honestly."
Concerning being a leader, linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton said, "I'm ecstatic about the opportunity. I'm embracing the challenge and the role that the guys before me have set. I'm going to try to step in and be just as good as they were, and I want to be just as good of a leader as they were."
The Crimson Tide scored a lot of non-offensive touchdowns during 2016, both on defensive and special teams. Defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick had this to say concerning scoring defensive touchdowns, ""It's great when a defense can do that. For one, it takes a lot of pressure off of the offense, and the team as whole. It also hurts the other team when a defense is scoring touchdowns because you really can't stop it. It just knocks them down a little bit and cuts their morale down when you can score on defense. When we do that, it's a real plus for us."
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| Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban signing autographs Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
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| Excited family headed for autographs & photos Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
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| Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts giving an interview Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
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| It's still about the hard work - practice & preparation! Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
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| 2017 University Of Alabama Crimson Tide Football Team Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
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Nick Saban Press Conference
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| Click HERE to view Nick Saban presser |
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Crimson Tide Men's Basketball In Canada
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
The University of Alabama men's basketball team is currently enjoying our neighbor north of the border, Canada. Bama is currently on an eight-day trip to Canada, featuring three games against local Canadian universities, as well as team activities and site-seeing. The Crimson Tide departed for Canada on Friday, August 4th and is scheduled to return to The Capstone on Friday, August 11th. The UA men will be making stops in Montreal, Quebec (August 5-8¬) and Ottawa, Ontario (August 8-11) before returning home to Tuscaloosa.
The Crimson Tide will play a total of three games against three Canadian Universities while away. The first contest will be played on August 7th against McGill University at 6 p.m. CT in Montreal. The Tide will then play a pair of games in Ottawa, beginning with the first game on August 9th at Carleton University at 6 p.m. CT, followed by Bama facing the University of Ottawa on August 10th at 5:30 p.m. CT.
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
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Four-Star DE Cameron Latu Commits To Tide Football
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| Cameron Latu Photo Credit: Student Sports |
The Alabama Crimson Tide football program picked up its ninth commitment of 2018 when four-star defensive end Cameron Latu said he wanted to play for Bama! He is listed as the No. 8 weakside defensive end and No. 149 overall player in the class of 2018.
The 6'5", 236-pounder committed to the Tide over USC, Nebraska, Utah and Washington in a ceremony held at his local high school. He was a one-time BYU commit.
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The University of Alabama football program now has 9 solid commitments in its class of 2018 recruiting, moving the Crimson Tide up to No. 32 on the recruiting rankings. That's an eight-place jump with the latest recruit, from No. 40, according to 247Sports.
Klatt said, "Nick Saban is the greatest coach in our sport’s history. Period. Just like I think Belichick is the greatest coach in NFL history because it’s harder to dominate now than it ever has been at the pro level and the college level."
Enter Skip Bayless. He mentioned the five super bowls in which Belichick has competed, and the fact he has won all five with Tom Brady as his quarterback. It was surmised that this Brady factor takes away some of the recognition that Belichick should get. Klatt responded with the fact that having Brady actually made it easier. Klatt said, "Which makes Saban even more impressive, because he’s had to do it over cycles and cycles and cycles of recruits.
Some are saying that there are actually two different arguments in play. The first argument is that Saban is the best coach in college football history. True, he doesn't (yet) have as many national championships as UA's Paul "Bear" Bryant, nor the wins (yet) of FSU's Bobby Bowden, but Klatt projects that he has done a better job in winning the national championships in such a short period of time, as well as in a time of greater parity and restrictions in college football. He's won the last three Southeastern Conference Championships while having lost only two SEC game during that period. Add to that the fact he's made the College Football Playoffs every single season of its existence and it's a sure thing.
Turning to the Saban versus Belichick argument, one might say that Saban has more control over his roster since there are no "salary caps" with which to contend. However, Saban has to contend with unwanted transfers of athletes as well as early departures to the NFL, as well as the expected graduation numbers each year.
So, whether the best now, the best of all-time, the best in sports history...well, Saban is just doing his thing...enjoying coaching and winning.
2018 University Of Alabama Football Commits
The University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team currently has 9 student-athletes who have committed to furthering their football careers at the Capstone. As new commits and signees are announced the list will be updated and released.
Here is the complete list of 2018 commitments and signees to UA as of 08/05/17:
- Jordan Davis, DE (6-6, 240), Memphis, Tennessee
- Xavier Williams, WR/ATH (6-1, 185), Hollywood, Florida
- Quay Walker, OLF ( 6-4, 220), Cordele, Georgia
- Jalyn Armour-Davis, CB (6-0, 160), Mobile, ALABAMA*
- Skyler DeLong, P (6-4, 180), Ft. Mill, South Carolina
- Stephon Wynn, Jr., DE (6-4, 285), Anderson, South Carolina
- Tommy Brown, OT (6-5, 313), Santa Ana ,California
- Slade Bolden, ATH (5-11, 192), West Monroe, Louisiana
- Cameron Latu, DE (6-5, 236), Salt Lake City, Utah
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Tide Football Moves Up To 32 In 2018 Recruiting
The University of Alabama football program now has 9 solid commitments in its class of 2018 recruiting, moving the Crimson Tide up to No. 32 on the recruiting rankings. That's an eight-place jump with the latest recruit, from No. 40, according to 247Sports.
The SEC has only three teams in the Top 10. They are Tennessee (6), LSU (7) and Florida (8). Four more fall inside the Top 25, including Texas A&M (13), Kentucky (18), South Carolina (21) and Mississippi State (23).
Here is a look at where all Southeastern Conference teams fall in the recruiting rankings for 2018:
6. Tennessee
7. LSU
8. Florida
13. Texas A&M
18. Kentucky
21. South Carolina
23. Mississippi State
30. Vanderbilt
32. ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
33. Auburn
36. Missouri
44. Arkansas
57. Georgia
86. Ole Miss
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Is Nick Saban The Best Coach In Sports?
Joel Klatt Of Fox Sports Thinks So
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| Alabama Football Head Coach Nick Saban Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
There is really no disputing among the college football gurus that Alabama head football coach is one of the best, if not THE best, college football coach ever. But Joel Klatt of Fox Sports says that Nick Saban is "the greatest coach in our sport's history period."
Klatt made this, and other comments, when he appeared on FS1's Undisputed. He says because of the rigors of the modern game, as well as the cycling out of players, Saban's run of four national championships in the last nine seasons at Alabama is even more impressive than - get this - the five Super Bowls won by Bill Belichick.
Klatt said, "Nick Saban is the greatest coach in our sport’s history. Period. Just like I think Belichick is the greatest coach in NFL history because it’s harder to dominate now than it ever has been at the pro level and the college level."
Enter Skip Bayless. He mentioned the five super bowls in which Belichick has competed, and the fact he has won all five with Tom Brady as his quarterback. It was surmised that this Brady factor takes away some of the recognition that Belichick should get. Klatt responded with the fact that having Brady actually made it easier. Klatt said, "Which makes Saban even more impressive, because he’s had to do it over cycles and cycles and cycles of recruits.
Some are saying that there are actually two different arguments in play. The first argument is that Saban is the best coach in college football history. True, he doesn't (yet) have as many national championships as UA's Paul "Bear" Bryant, nor the wins (yet) of FSU's Bobby Bowden, but Klatt projects that he has done a better job in winning the national championships in such a short period of time, as well as in a time of greater parity and restrictions in college football. He's won the last three Southeastern Conference Championships while having lost only two SEC game during that period. Add to that the fact he's made the College Football Playoffs every single season of its existence and it's a sure thing.
Turning to the Saban versus Belichick argument, one might say that Saban has more control over his roster since there are no "salary caps" with which to contend. However, Saban has to contend with unwanted transfers of athletes as well as early departures to the NFL, as well as the expected graduation numbers each year.
So, whether the best now, the best of all-time, the best in sports history...well, Saban is just doing his thing...enjoying coaching and winning.
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UA Coaches Raises Announced
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - Raises have been handed out for several University of Alabama coaches this summer. Coaches receiving raises and/or extensions include the sports of men's basketball, track & field, gymnastics, swimming & diving as well as men's & women's golf. In addition to these, the baseball coach's salary was announced.
Crimson Tide men's head basketball coach Avery Johnson received a $100,000 a year raise, as well as a contract extension through 2023. His annual salary now will be $2.9 million.
In addition to Johnson, associate head coach John Pelphrey also received an extension and raise. Pelphrey's contract now will run through 2019 with an annual salary of $425,000. That amount is up from $325,000.
Track & Field head coach Dan Waters received a 13.5 percent raise, up from $185,000 to $210,000 annual, with an extension to 2021.
Swimming & Diving head coach Dennis Pursley picked up a $20,000 annual raise, up to $180,000.
Men's head golf coach Jay Seawell received a contract extension through 2022, and a raise of $15,000 to $240,000 annually.
Women's head golf coach Mic Potter received an extension through 2021 and a $10,000 a year raise making his annual salary $215,000.
UA gymnastics head coach Dana Duckworth received both an extension (2021) and a hefty 20 percent pay increase. She will now receive $195,000 annually.
New baseball head coach Brad Bohannon received a contract identical to former head coach Greg Goff. It's a five-year deal worth $265,000 in addition to a $160,000 signing bonus called a talent acquisition fee.
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Most Important Coordinators In The SEC
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| Gene Chizik SEC Network Twitter Photo |
Who are the most important coordinators in the Southeastern Conference headed into the 2017 football season? The SEC Network analyst, and former Auburn head coach, Gene Chizik lists his.
According to Chizik, this season John Chavis of Texas A&M (5), Brian Naboll of the University of Alabama (4), Jim Chaney of Georgia (3), Matt Canada of LSU (2) and Chip Lindsey of Auburn (1).
Chizik says there's a lot of discussion as to what Naboll "brings to the table" at Alabama. Chizik said, "The bottom line is, he brings a resume." He spoke of how working with Bill Belichick and being around Tom Brady means "this guy has to be doing a lot of things right."
