JK Scott Is Semifinalist For Ray Guy Award
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| JK Scott UA Punter Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – University of Alabama football senior punter JK Scott has been selected as a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award. The Augusta Sports Council made the announcement on Thursday.
Thus far this season Scott has punted 36 times for 1,533 yards to average 42.6 yards per boot. The longest punt of the season is a 59-yard kick, and a total of 11 of his punts have been for 50-plus yards. Scott's accuracy has allowed him to put 20 of his kicks inside the opponent's 20-yard line while allowing just three returns all season totaling just two yards.
Scott holds the all-time Alabama record for career punting yards with 10,287 on 225 attempts. He is one of 10 players on the prestigious list recognizing the nation's top punter. Joining Scott as semifinalists are: Corey Bojorquez (University of New Mexico), Drue Chrisman (Ohio State University), Joseph Davidson (Bowling Green State University), Michael Dickson (University of Texas), Corey Fatony (University of Missouri), Cody Grace (Arkansas State University), Cameron Nizialek (University of Georgia), Yannis Roustas (University of Texas-San Antonio), Mitch Wishnowksy (University of Utah).
The 2017 Ray Guy Award winner will be announced at the annual Home Depot College Football Awards Show hosted by the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia on December 7th.
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Alabama Football
Crimson Tide Completes Prep For Mercer
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - The final practice session to prepare for Mercer for the University of Alabama football team was completed yesterday afternoon with a 90-minute practice session in shells. Practice was held in the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility at The Capstone in Tuscaloosa.
Minkah Fitzpatrick has been at practices wearing a black non-contact jersey. At the time of this writing it still isn't clear whether or not he will play on Saturday, but it has been intimated that he would be held out of the game in order to fully heal up. Earlier this week coach Saban had said that Fitzpatrick was "day-to-day."
In his weekly radio show last night, Saban said that linebackers Terrell Lewis and Christian Miller are in the "functional stages of rehab" and still are not yet cleared to play.
Saturday is Senior Day for the football team at Bryant-Denny Stadium, where Bama's senior players will be recognized along with their families. The Crimson Tide and the Bears will meet for the third time in the series history, with UA capturing both of the previous wins. The game is set for 11 a.m. CT, and can be watch on the SEC Network. It will be Tom Hart, Jordan Rogers and Cole Cubelic calling the action.
Alabama football head coach Nick Saban was selected as one of 16 semifinalists for the George Munger Collegiate Coach of the Year, the Maxwell Football Club announced on Thursday. Three finalists will be selected in voting that will take place between November 17th and December 11th. Voting for the 2017 winner will take place beginning on December 12th, with the winner to be announced on December 27th. Saban was the winner of the 2016 George Munger award.
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| Nick Saban UA Football Head Coach Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
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University Of Alabama Rowing Team
Christens Boats In Honor Of Robert E. Witt & Bill Battle
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
University ofAlabama rowing head coach Larry Davis said, "It was a perfect day to christen two boats and honor two gentlemen who have had a major impact on the University, the athletic department and the rowing program.
Dr. Witt served as President of the University of Alabama starting in 2003 and transitioned to Chancellor in 2012 before retiring in the fall of 2016. Witt was instrumental in the development of the University of Alabama achieving record levels of enrollment, academic stature, infrastructure enhancement and national visibility. Modeled on the success of the Tuscaloosa campus, Witt assisted UAB and UAH in implementing similar strategies that also resulted in record enrollment numbers for both campuses. Upon his retirement, a statue of Dr. Witt was unveiled in his honor.
Bill Battle served four years at the UA Director of Athletics from 2013-16, with the department achieving unprecedented success, both athletically and academically. The Crimson Tide earned three national team championships and 15 individual NCAA titles along with 10 SEC team championships. Alabama also boasted 43 Academic All-Americans, leading the nation in that category in both 2014 and 2015.
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
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Alabama Swimming & Diving Teams
Have Big Opening Day At Georgia Tech Invitational
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
Bama freshman Leonie Kullmann got things started for the Tide opening the individual events in Thursday's finals by setting a new Alabama record in the 500 freestyle, finishing at 4:41.95 for the victory. Kullmann finished more than three seconds ahead of the field on the way to setting the new mark, with her time now ranking in the top-10 nationally this season and first overall among freshmen swimmers.
Tide junior Robert Howard dropped his career-best time...twice! In the 50 freestyle he went 19.32 in preliminaries but then bettered it again in the finals, winning the event with a 19.11. His latest time of 19.11 ranks him second all-time for UA swimming.
In the 200 freestyle relay for the UA men it was sophomore Zane Waddell, Howard, senior Luke Kaliszak and junior Laurent Bams clocking a 1:16.68 to pick up the victory for Bama. The Tide had the second fastest relay time this season coming into the weekend before dropping more than two seconds off its previous best on Thursday to take the top spot.
But Bama wasn't finished yet. Already the nation's top-ranked 400 medley relay team, the Crimson Tide men lowered their season-best time by nearly three seconds, with a 3:07.04 from Kaliszak, Bams, Waddell and Howard to take the win.
Also on Thursday, the Tide was 2-3 in the women's 50 freestyle with senior Bailey Scott coming in second place with a time of 22.36 while freshman Flora Molnar, swimming a season-best 22.33 in prelims, then swam 22.46 for third position. Senior Lindsay Morrow was on her game on Thursday dropping a career-best 22.43 to win the consolation final of the 50 freestyle. Her time ranks her third all-time at Alabama.
Bama sophomore Alexis Preski scored a career-best 1:59.82 in the 200 individual medley, good for third place and seventh all-time at Alabama. Sophomore Daniel Kober finished at 4:23.03 in the 500 freestyle to take third overall. Senior Christopher Reid was third-place, picking up the bronze in the 200 individual medley with a time of 1:46.39.
Alabama is back at it today with the 400 individual medley, 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke and 100 backstroke as well as men's 1-meter and women's 3-meter diving.
