It's Finally Game Week!
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics/Kent Gidley |
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - It's finally here! The opening of the 2017 football season. It's the first game week of the year, and the Crimson Tide is now in full Florida State mode. University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban and a select group of players met with the media at noon on Monday, before the Bama boys put in a two-hour practice session in full pads at the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility later in the afternoon.
Running back Josh Jacobs practiced yesterday, but is still somewhat hampered going through drills.
He is still listed day-to-day.
Defensive lineman Raekwon Davis wasn't present at practice. He is recovering from a gunshot wound to the right leg. He, too, is day-to-day.
Monday was the first of four practices before the No. 1 ranked Crimson Tide travels to Atlanta, Georgia to do battle with the Florida State Seminoles in the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game on September 2nd. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. CT kickoff at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The game will be broadcast on the ABC network, with Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Maria Taylor and Tom Rinaldi calling the game.
Three more practices remain before the Tide winds its way to Atlanta on Friday. At that time Bama will have an opportunity to become acclimated with the venue with a walk-through, touring the facility and locker room.
Saban met with the media on Monday afternoon prior to the day's practice session. Here is a look at his opening statement:
"This (season-opening game) is a great opportunity for our team to play in a great environment, at a new stadium in Atlanta, against one of the top teams in the country. Florida State has a lot of returning starters on both sides of the ball, especially at skill positions, and their quarterback. They have 10 or 11 guys coming back on defense, which was one of the top defenses in the country a year ago. Both of these teams probably are going to be well-prepared to play this game. I know our guys have done a really good job in preparation for this game. We're pleased with the progress that we've been able to make with a lot of players. We've had a couple good days of work in Florida State prep, which we will continue today. Each player kind of knows what their job is and what their challenges are. Each player knows that the player that he's playing against is a really good player, and he's going to know his number too; that's what makes it a great challenge and a great opportunity for our team. This game is going to come down to who can play with the most discipline and execute for 60 minutes in the game – that's how a lot of first games are. Who's going to make the most mental errors? Who's going to take care of the ball the best? This is always the challenge in an opening game.
"With the Raekwon Davis situation, we're still gathering information. It doesn't seem like our players were guilty of anything other than being out late, which doesn't make me happy. He has been released from the hospital. He's here, and he's getting treatment. He'll be day-to-day, and we're still gathering information. What his status is moving forward will be a medical decision...not something that we can really comment on...here right now."
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics/Kent Gidley |
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics/Kent Gidley |
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Nick Saban Press Conference
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| Press HERE to view press conference |
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Nick Saban & Crimson Tide Release Official Depth Chart
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TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - Alabama Crimson Tide football head coach Nick Saban released Bama's official 2017 depth chart on Monday. Here's a look at how he has it set:
Quarterback:
1. Sophomore Jalen Hurts, 2. Freshman Tua Tagovailoa
Running back:
1. Junior Bo Scarbrough/junior Damien Harris, 3. Freshman Najee Harris/sophomore Josh Jacobs
Wide receiver (Z):
1. Junior Calvin Ridley, 2. Redshirt junior Derek Kief/freshman Henry Ruggs
Wide receiver (X):
1. Redshirt senior Robert Foster, 2. Freshman Devonta Smith
Wide receiver (H):
1. Senior Cam Sims/freshman Jerry Jeudy, 3. Junior Xavian Marks
Tight end:
1. Junior Hale Hentges, 2. Sophomore Irv Smith
H-back:
1. Smith, 2. Sophomore Miller Forristall
Left tackle:
1. Sophomore Jonah Williams, 2. Freshman Alex Leatherwood
Left guard:
1. Redshirt junior Ross Pierschbacher, 2. Redshirt junior Josh Casher/junior Dallas Warmack
Center:
1. Redshirt senior Bradley Bozeman, 2. Redshirt sophomore Brandon Kennedy
Right guard:
1. Junior Lester Cotton, 2. Senior J.C. Hassenauer, 3. Redshirt freshman Deonte Brown
Right tackle:
1. Redshirt sophomore Matt Womack/freshman Jedrick Wills, 3. Redshirt freshman Scott Lashley
Nose tackle:
1. Junior Da'Ron Payne, 2. Senior Josh Frazier/redshirt junior Johnny Dwight
Defensive end:
1. Senior Da'Shawn Hand, 2. Junior Isaiah Buggs
Defensive end:
1. Sophomore Raekwon Davis/Frazier, 3. Redshirt freshman Quinnen Williams
Outside linebacker (Jack):
1. Redshirt sophomore Anfernee Jennings, 2. Redshirt junior Jamey Mosley/freshman Chris Allen
Outside linebacker (Sam):
1. Redshirt junior Christian Miller, 2. Sophomore Terrell Lewis
Inside linebacker (Mike):
Senior Shaun Dion Hamilton, 2. Sophomore Mack Wilson
Inside linebacker (Will):
Senior Rashaan Evans, 2. Redshirt junior Keith Holcombe/freshman Dylan Moses
Right cornerback:
1. Redshirt senior Anthony Averett, 2. Redshirt senior Levi Wallace
Left cornerback:
1. Sophomore Trevon Diggs, 2. Sophomore Shyheim Carter
Star:
1. Senior Tony Brown, 2. Carter
Free safety:
1. Junior Ronnie Harrison, 2. Redshirt sophomore Deionte Thompson
Strong safety:
1. Junior Minkah Fitzpatrick, 2. Senior Hootie Jones
Kicker:
Redshirt senior Andy Pappanastos/freshman Joseph Bulovas, 3. Senior JK Scott
Punter:
Scott
Kick returners:
Diggs/freshman Henry Ruggs/junior Xavian Marks
Punt returner:
Diggs, 2. Marks/Ruggs
Holder:
Scott
Long snapper:
Redshirt freshman Scott Meyer/freshman Thomas Fletcher
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Soccer's Taylor Morgan Is SEC Freshman Player Of The Week
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Alabama freshman forward Taylor Morgan has been named the SEC Freshman Player of the Week. The announcement was made by the Southeastern Conference office on Monday afternoon. Taylor scored the game-winning goal to defeat No. 6/4 Florida State on Sunday.
Morgan helped lead the Crimson Tide to victory over Alabama head coach Wes Hart's former school. Hart has served as a Florida State assistant before joining Bama as head man. This is the first win over Florida State in the series between the two programs, and is only the second win for the Tide over an ACC school. It is also the first top-10 victory in program history.
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Raekwon Davis Update
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| Photo taken from Bing.com |
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - According to The Tuscaloosa News, Alabama defensive lineman Raekwon Davis has suffered what is termed "a minor gunshot injury" due to an incident in the parking lot of a Tuscaloosa bar on early Sunday morning. He also, reportedly, not only did not practice on Monday, but was not even at the practice session.
Davis was hospitalized with a leg injury he received from a stray bullet, but, according to investigators, he was not the target. The Tuscaloosa News also reported that "the victim was uncooperative with investigators."
Alabama football head coach Nick Saban said in a Monday press conference they continue to look at the situation. Saban said it appeared "non of our players were guilty of anything other than being out late." He further stated that the situation didn't make him happy, but that it "is what it is."
Davis has been released from the hospital, according to Saban, and is listed as "day-to-day." He also said "We are still gathering information, and what his status is moving forward will be a medical decision...not something we can really comment on here...right now."
The Crimson Tide will open the 2017 season this Saturday in Atlanta, Georgia against the Florida State Seminoles.
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Remembering Tom Jones Of UA
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| Tom Jones seen here with Gene Stallings Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
Jones served in a variety of capacities including vice dean, professor emeritus as well as legal consultant to the Board of Trustees for The University of Alabama Systems.
He was a man both loved and respected, holding impressive credentials. Jones received his Bachelor of Science degree in commerce from the University of Kentucky in 1959 and later earned his Juris Doctorate from Kentucky in 1961. From there, he was a law instructor at the University of Michigan from 1961-62 where he earned his master of law degree.
Throughout his educational career, Jones was honored by his peers. As a student at Kentucky he was named Phi Eta Theta, Beta Gamma Sigma, was associate editor of the Kentucky Law Journal and Order of the Coif (law honorary). He was chosen Omicron Delta Kappa at The University of Alabama and was also named to the Outstanding Educators in America from 1972-75, Who's Who in the South and Southwest and Who's Who in America. He was a member of the Kentucky, Alabama and American Bar Associations.
Jones was married to the former Shelley Edwards, an educator and elementary school principal in Tuscaloosa and recipient of the 2017 Distinguished Alumna Award presented by The University of Alabama National Alumni Association.
He will be greatly missed, and remembered.
