So did you ever wonder how Alabama ended up with an elephant as its mascot? The majority of Bama fans know, or have an idea, but how about the newbies? Or others who just like trivia? Let's delve into how "Big AL" came to be.

     We must go back to the 1930 football season when Wallace Wade was the head coach of the Alabama football team. Coach Wade has recruited and coached up a great football team that season. On October 4th of that year the varsity squad took the field to battle the Ole Miss Rebels. Everett Strupper, Atlanta Journal sportswriter, was amazed at the size of the Bama boys as they began play. In his column the following week he wrote, "...the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed , 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity...men that i had seen play last year looking like they had nearly doubled in size."

     From that season game on Strupper and other sports writers continued referring to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants." The red, of course, alluding to the crimson color of their jerseys.

     And how did that 1930 Alabama football team fare? They posted a 10-0 record while shutting out eight of their opponents and only allowed 13 points for the entire season. That squad went to the Rose Bowl, rolling over Washington State 24-0 and declared National Champions.

     Now you know.

     2015 could be the year of Jake Coker. Sure, most thought when Coker transferred from Florida State prior to this past college football season the starting quarterback job was his for the taking. Despite the hype he lost that position to soon-to-be record-setting Blake Sims. But Sims is gone, and the man in the catbird's seat is Coker, having taken the majority of the snaps behind Sims as well as running the (insert something here) team to get Alabama's defense ready each week.

     This season it is not Sims with most of the backup experience; it's Coker. Yes, there is talent in the quarterback position with others awaiting should Coker falter. Besides Coker, there is Cooper Bateman, Alec Morris, David Cornwell, and Blake Barnett. But this year the position truly is Coker's to lose. And the return of Lane Kiffen as offensive coordinator should be a plus for him. (Kiffen had been one of the leading contenders for the offensive coordinator position with the NFL's San Francisco 49ers.) Coker has an edge in experience as well as knowing somewhat what to expect and what to do in the Kiffen offensive system.

     Being familiar with many of Alabama's receivers should also give Coker a leg up. After all, quarterback and receivers must be attuned to one another which takes practice. At least the current crop of receivers will be familiar to him leaving only the new signees coming to campus this summer. Chris Black, Robert Foster, Cam Sims, and ArDarius Stewart will be Coker's targets during the spring, all of whom have touches provided by the arm of Jake Coker.

     This year Coker is familiar with the system, with the playbook, and with the tendencies of the offensive coordinator, all of which were new to him last season putting him at a disadvantage to the other quarterbacks in the rotation.

     Now it is known the overall 2015 offensive scheme will pretty much be the same one executed week in and week out in 2014. Several of Bama's 2014 receivers are returning. The playbook has been learned. There is now experience in battling for the starting position in the Crimson Tide offense. And during the off season time spent with the offensive coordinator will be a big plus.

     Yes, this  could be the year of Jake Coker. His time to shine. But it is no gimme.
   

     ESPN reports the odds are stacked against newly enrolled Blake Barnett to start as a true freshman at the quarterback position at the University of Alabama. I would have to agree with that, although no one gave record-setting QB Blake Sims a chance after his spring game performance. Setting records during the 2014 season proved what Offensive Coordinator Lane Kiffen saw in him.
     Barnett, now having officially enrolled at the University of Alabama can get a look at the playbook and be ready from the get-go when spring practice opens March 13th, culminating with the A-Day Game April 18th. Of course Jake Coker also has the playbook down, at least handling a few snaps last season as well as running the scout team. If he was heralded as the front-runner last pre-season, he certainly will be this pres-season. Of course Cooper Bateman and several others are looking to stake their claim to this prestigious position at college football's latest dynasty.
     The 6' 5" 205 pound Barnett is certainly not lacking confidence. He came into this year's signing day as the number 1 rated pocket passer, reportedly able to fire the pigskin 70 yards down field. As a high school senior he showed some double-threat ability rushing for 479 yards and seven touchdowns. He did, however, tell ESPN his focus was "getting down with the playbook, getting stronger and preparing myself for the season ...as much as possible." He did go on to say he intended to compete for a spot. Incidentally, head coach Nick Saban has said he would not rule out the possibility of a start for a true freshman.
     Saban, however, has never awarded a true freshman the starting position at quarterback anywhere he has coached. Seems likely that won't change next season either. He did, however, while at LSU, allow redshirt freshman Jamarcus Russell to start 4 games back in 2004. However these duties were mainly handled by two juniors, a senior, and a sophomore.
     This will be Saban's 20th season as a college coach and it's likely he'll stick to what has worked for him all these years. But don't rule out the possibility. After all, he did say he disliked the hurry up type offenses yet Bama went to it several times this past season.
     A chance this season for Barnett to start? There is. But don't go making book on it.

     Yes, I'm an Alabama fan. The father of an Alabama graduate, one would expect me to be a fan of the Crimson Tide. I, however, am a life-long Bama fan, long before the birth of my lovely daughter, Brooke. The fact that she is a proud graduate of THE University, an avid fan herself all her life, and still attends games despite being the mother of a 3 year old and 5 1/2 year old. Oh, and did I mention she's the wife of an Auburn graduate?
     I, myelf, am a former sports editor of the State Gazette in Dyersburg, Tn and voted on the Associated Press polls for the in-state schools back during that time. I have also served as darkroom technician of the same newspaper, as well as Circulation Manager there and also Circulation Director of the Greeneville Daily Sun in Greeneville, Tn.
     Later I went into the broadcast industry full time after being a part-time DJ at WASL-FM, WTRO-AM and WDSG-AM in Dyersburg, Tn. Later I moved back to my home state of Alabama and began my full-time radio career as DJ, advertising salesman, Sales Manager, Operations Manager, General Manager, and eventually an owner in radio.
     Now, you have my general background. I began several years ago picking Southeastern Conference football games, and then added the Top 25 to the list. Over the years I've been pretty successful at this and will soon begin a blog and other sites for that particular purpose. For now, it's going to be Alabama. And mostly football at that. However there will be other sports from our beloved University also being mentioned here.
     So, for now that is all. Soon I'll begin in earnest and look forward to your feedback. I still have to learn exactly how to do this, so I will also be grateful for any help you offer there also.
     Having been a sports writer and editor I hope to report things here in a fair manner, possibly even angering some Bama fans from time to time. But, alas, I admit that my Bama bias will come through. After all, this blog is directed toward what I believe to be college football's not only latest dynasty, but also the greatest dynasty. (Not taking anything away from the Notre Dame, Southern Cal, Ohio State, etc. fans.)
     Thank for for dropping by...and tell your friends.