Saban Talks Quarterback Battle At Bama
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Last week during SEC Media Days Alabama Crimson Tide head football coach Nick Saban talked about the pride he had in this year's squad because of their hard work, determination, and commitment to doing the right things.
Monday, Saban answered some criticisms tossed his way by a former Michigan State player, as well as others in the media and coaching ranks. Saban was also asked about Alabama's current quarterback battle for the starting position.
The former four-star recruit from Oklahoma, David Cornwell, has been looking really good this summer, as has been working with a well-respected quarterback coach to improve his timing, speed, footwork, and decision-making.
Saban said, "David Cornwell is a young player who is very smart, understands the offense extremely well, does a good job of executing, has arm talent. But with all these guys, the speed of the game changes how they perform. If they don't make quick decisions, process information quickly and be able to get the ball out of their hand so that they don't create negative plays by holding onto the ball and waiting to see (receivers) open. This is going to be the thing for the young quarterbacks...and all our quarterbacks."
The starting job for 2015 appears to be a duel between young Cornwell and Florida State transfer Jacob Coker. Many expected Coker to waltz into Tuscaloosa last year and take the job. Of course, Blake Sims had other ideas and took the job himself. And Coker, while appearing to having a slight edge this season, is in yet another battle with Cornwell this time.
Saban defended Coker on ESPN on Monday. He said there were "unfair expectations for Jake Coker a year ago. He spoke of Coker not getting any spring practice in, no experience in the Tide offense, no first-hand game-time knowledge of the playbook, etc. So he says that it's "a much more level playing field for him this year, and he's made progress in the spring and done a good job this summer."
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Greatest Names In Bama Football History
Perhaps in this day and age our next player for the University of Alabama is not as well known, yet he will remain one of the greatest names in Alabama football history.
Frederick William Pickhard, Jr. was born in Mobile, Alabama on July 20, 1906 to Frederick William Pickhard and Estella Guise.
Pickhard was a tackle for the Crimson Tide, was selected All-Southern and second-team All-American in 1926 and 1927, and was instrumental in several Alabama victories. He blocked the punt against Sewanee in 1926 that led to the safety that secured the win and Bama's undefeated season. He also blocked two punts by LSU in the following game which led to two scores. There were only 16 blocked punts that resulted in scores that year in all of college football, and Pickhard had three of them.
Pickhard was captain of Bama's 1927 team, and was selected Most Valuable Player in the 1927 Rose Bowl in which the Crimson Tide tied Sanford.
When his football career ended, Pickhard moved to Oregon in 1938 and married Lucile Hoober. The two had three children and nine grandchildren. He died of heart failure at home on April 11, 1993 and is buried at the Portland Memorial Mausoleum.
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Saban Addresses Criticism
Alabama head football coach Nick Saban appeared on two ESPN programs yesterday, addressing some issues/fallout from some of last week's comments during SEC Media Days.
Saban dealt kindly concerning Plaxio Burress, one of Michigan State's stars when Saban was head coach there. He disagreed with Saban's comments concerning "players chasing the NFL", and said point-blank that his former coach lied about his departure from East Lansing when he left to take the head coaching job at LSU in 1999.
Saban said, "Plaxico Burress was a great player for us. He was a fantastic player. He had a great career. He made the right decision to go out for the draft. He was a first-round draft pick. He had a great career as a pro player. I'm proud of what Plaxico Burress has been able to accomplish.
"I've never knowingly told a player an information that I get from someone else. And I can't even remember the conversation. I actually left Michigan State right after the Penn State game. I didn't stay for the bowl game when I went to LSU and that was Plax's senior year. We're proud of what he's been able to do and we're happy to see him have as much success as he's had," Saban said on ESPN's First Take.
Later Saban spoke on "The Herd" and and said that he had not ever "knowing or willingly not told the truth to any player." Burress claimed that Saban told him to stay at Michigan State, but as everyone knows he did not and was the No. 8 pick in the 2000 draft.
Saban addressed the wide range of criticism he's faced, saying it's the time in which we live. He said, "I think our focus is on doing the best we can to help our players personally, athletically, and academically...and help them launch their careers when they leave so they get the best opportunities in life. I want our players to focus on the vision they have, not on the circumstances they're in.
"So sometimes, this criticism needs to be deflected on me and I'm fine with that. But I also think there are some things that need to be said, whether people want to hear them or not. I still think they need to be said and I'm going to say them. If there's going to be some criticism...I don't think every body's going to agree with everything I say, but with social media and the way things are right now, I think when you make statements sometimes, some body's going to take issue with it."
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Crimson Tide Picks Up 4-Star RB B.J. Emmons
It would appear Alabama football has picked up another commitment for 2016.. This one from four-star running back B.J. Emmons out of Freedom High School in Morganton, North Carolina. According to BamaOnline, the decision to commit to the University of Alabama came after an unofficial visit to the school last week.
From all indications he really enjoyed the coaches at Alabama during his visit and that played heavily into his decision to go ahead and make the commitment now. It is understood that not only did B.J. make the trip to Bama, but was accompanied by his family.
Emmons had formerly committed to Georgia and backed off. Tennessee and Alabama were both going after him pretty hard. Bama came up the winner.
The 5' 10", 232-pounder is rated by 247Sports Composite rankings as the number four running back in the nation, as well as the number eight overall player.
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Bama Football Now Has18 Committed For 2016
This is the complete list of the 18 University of Alabama football commitments for 2016 class as of July 20, 2015.
- T.J. Simmons, WR (6' 2", 185 lbs), Clay-Chalkville High School, Pinson, Ala.*
- Deonte Brown, OL (6' 3", 330 lbs), Austin High, Decatur, Ala.*
- Riley Cole, LB (6' 3", 210lbs), Oneonta High Schol, Oneonta, Ala.*
- Quinnen Williams, DL (6' 4", 265 lbs), Wenonah High School, Birmingham, Ala.*
- Chris Owens, OL (6' 3", 312 lbs), Lamar High, Arlington, Texas
- Shyheim Carter, CB (6' 0", 185 lbs), Kentwood High, Kentwood, La.
- Raekwon Davis, DT (6' 7", 315 lbs), Meridian High, Meridian, Miss.
- Jonah Williams, OL (6' 5", 283 lbs), Folsom High, Folsom, Calif.
- Brendan Scales, TE (6' 4", 230 lbs), Lafayette, Ballwin, Mo.
- Joshua Perry, DB (6' 3", 190 lbs), Amite High, Amite, La.
- Kendell Jones, DT (6' 4", 360 lbs), Shoemaker High, Killeen, Texas
- Charles Baldwin, OL (6' 5", 305 lbs), ASA College, Brooklyn, N.Y.
- Jalen Hurts, QB (6' 2", 208lbs), Channelview High, Channelview, Texas
- Jaquan Yulee, LB (6' 0", 252 lbs), Indian River High, Chesapeake, Va.
- Eddy Pineiro, K (6' 1", 180 lbs), ASA College, Miami, Fla.
- Miller Forristall, TE (6' 5", 220lbs), Cartersville High School, Cartersville, Ga.
- Khalid Kareem, DE (6' 4", 260 lbs), Harrison High, Farmington, Mich.
- B.J. Emmons, RB (5' 10", 232 lbs), Freedom High, Morganton, N.C.
*In-state commitments
