Tonight's The Night
Alabama - Wisconsin Kick It Off
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Naturally questions remain. The biggest, of course, is who will be the starting quarterback. Until recently all five were in play. Technically, in a sense, they all still are. Then it was narrowed to three. Then there were two, though Saban would say who those "two" were. Well, tonight we find out the two, and the one...the one he has chosen to actually start the game for the 2015 edition of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team.
Last year's quarterback battle was between one proclaimed the next "crowned prince" of quarterbacks for Bama and one who had been shifted from quarterback to another position, then brought back to the QB position. As we all know, the crowned prince, Jacob Coker, had his crown knocked off and taken from him.
The crowned prince is back, but the crown has only been on display in its case and not placed upon his head. As this time he found himself in a five-way battle. Then there were three. Now, is he one of the two? More than likely he is, but we'll know for sure soon. Very Soon. One thing is certain. That being Saban and quarterback whisperer Lane Kiffin have the quarterback(s) prepared. Now it's time to execute.
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Everyone know Coker has great arm strength and physical ability. Where he may be lacking is his ability to make the necessary reads a quarterback has to be able to make. Like the defensive alignments, blitz reads, coverage drop offs or double teams and the likes. Lane Kiffin can only do so much of that for him from the sideline and send the necessary signals. The quarterback lining up under center is on his on once that ball is put into his hands and play has begun.
Could Alec Morris be the other one of the "two"? Saban has offered up praise more than once on this young man's leadership abilities and his grasp of the offense. Sure, he doesn't have the arm strength that Coker has but he does fit the mold of Bama quarterbacks past. That is the game manager mold. And nothing wrong with a game manager as we found out from the best the Tide has put on the field in recent years, A.J. McCarron.
Regardless of the who at quarterback, Alabama will have to be able to run the football. The offensive line has gelled and should provide the needed protection for both quarterback and the running backs. The guys are big, they're strong, and have been showing steady improvement according to the coaches and what little are said by the players. The big uglies should be able to create the openings needed.
Everyone knows what Derrick Henry can do. With a good offensive line performance, good management by the quarterback, and good routes by the receivers to take some pressure away, Henry should gain good yardage tonight. The same for Kenyan Drake. With these two, Wisconsin will be forced to defend the run.
When the Badgers go after the run, what about the passing game? Receivers? Drake will sometimes be used on the field as a receiver rather than running back as both he and Henry will be on the field at the same time in various plays the team has been working on. This could cause a little confusion to the Badger defense according to how Saban and Kiffin choose to line them up. For the most part this is a new receiving corp for 2015. Very few passes were caught this past season from anyone in this group. But newbies as well as returners have been getting some good marks from the coaches.
Now, the group that is believed to be who will win the day for the Crimson Tide, and especially in the opener. The defense. True, they got ripped several times last season, including the last outing against those northern guys. But word is that they have only gotten better. This defensive line is arguably the best in college football this season. Additions to the defense this off season seem to work. In the scrimmages they worked well together. Expect the defense to come up big for the Tide tonight.
Saban, defensive coordinator Kirby Smart, and the rest of the defensive coaching staff have stressed schemes, coverages, and focused on take-aways. Bama wants to again step up and be the defense that doesn't break. Coaches have worked the guys on stripping the ball, causing and recovering fumbles. And the ability to make the reads to get those interceptions. Perhaps this year the Tide returns to the top of the defensive stats. We're about to find out. Tonight.
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Game time tonight is 7 p.m. CT. The Alabama-Wisconsin game can be seen live on ABC.
It's finally here.
Roll Tide!
Graphics Credit: ESPN College Game Day
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Alabama Double-Digit Favorite Over Wisconsin
As of yesterday even, the 3rd-ranked University of Alabama Crimson Tide was a 10.5-point favorite over the number 20 Wisconsin Badgers in tonight's season opener in Arlington, Texas. Game time tonight is 7 p.m. CT and will be aired on ABC.
Other SEC schools odds-to-win today are:
New Mexico State at Florida (-35.5)
UL-Monroe at Georgia (-35.5)
Auburn (-13.5) at Louisville
Arizona State at Texas A&M (-3)
Mississippi State (-20.5) at Southern Miss
Bowling Green at Tennessee (-21.5)
UL-Lafayette at Kentucky (-17)
UTEP at Arkansas (-33.5)
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2nd Scoreless Tie For Tide Soccer
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
The University of Alabama soccer team played to its second scoreless tie of the season against the Harvard Crimson last night at Soldiers' Field Soccer Stadium. The Tide's record now falls to 1-2-2, while Harvard is now 1-1-1.
Once again senior goalkeeper Emily Rusk stepped up tying her season-high seven saves in the Tide's third shutout in the young season.
Alabama saw Harvard leading in the shooting department last night, 18-9.
The road trip continues for Bama on Sunday when Bama travels to Kingston, Rhode Island to do battle with the University of Rhode Island Rams. Game time is 6 p.m. CT.
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Women's Cross Country
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
The University of Alabama men's and women's cross country teams are in Memphis, Tennessee today for the Brooks Twilight Classic. Christian Brothers University hosts the meet, featuring collegiate as well as high school races.
The women are first in a 5-kilometer race that is set to begin at 9:20 p.m. CT. The Men will run a 4-mile race scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. CT. 30 women's teams and 28 men's teams are set to compete.
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Bama Volleyball Sweeps Northwestern State
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
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Comparing Bama & Badgers
Today's match up of the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Wisconsin Badgers is a game of two teams used to winning, although Bama knows more about that little tune. Bama and Wisconsin are two of the five teams with an impressive number of wins, at least 10 in the past six seasons. The Tide has won 72, topping them all. Wisconsin stands at 60 wins over the same time frame.
The Crimson Tide enters their season-opener in fine shape, with Saban a master of season-starters. In neutral site games, Saban has led the Bama boys to an 11-4 record during his tenure at the Capstone. Most prognosticators believe it goes to 12-4 after tonight's contest. Wisconsin had boasted 16 straight season opening wins until they hit the LSU buzz saw last years.
The only meeting between Bama and Wisconsin is so far back that it has absolutely nothing to do with this modern-day match up. None-the-less, Wisconsin took a home win against the Tide back in 1928. More relevant is the Tide's 67-week run ranked in the Associated Press Top-10. It's the longest active streak, and right now comes in seventh-longest overall.
Now the internet rumor. Saban laid to rest that big ol stinkin' thing a couple of days ago. Probably started by a Wisconsin-sympathizer. "We are happier than ever that we are here from a family standpoint especially," Saban said on his radio show. "Our children both live in Birmingham, our grand baby is in Birmingham, we have a business in Birmingham. We have more friends in Alabama than we've ever had at any place we've ever lived."
So the Bama fans that are prone to conspiracy theories and believing that if it's on the internet it must be true can now relax. Really...you can relax. Saban has compelling reasons to stay at Alabama. Besides, it's my hope that the day he does decide to retire he'll want the Athletic Director position when Bill Battle decides to step down. Be nice to have him around for well on into the future.
