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Crimson Tide Enjoys Senior Day 2015
Defeats Charleston Southern 56-6
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Alabama fans were able to take a look at pretty much every player on the Alabama football roster today.
Derrick Henry continued to set records. Cyrus Jones set an Alabama record. We got to see new running backs. We saw the second and third teams get playing time.
Oh yeah, in case you missed it, the Alabama Crimson Tide played Charleston Southern like a fine instrument, taking a 49-0 lead into halftime. The second half saw the Tide somewhat coasting with backups, winning the Senior Day contest 56-6 at Bryant-Denny Stadium with pretty much the entire Alabama roster getting playing time.
Cyrus Jones did something no Alabama player has ever done. He took two punts and returned them for touchdowns in the same game. The first was a 43-yard punt return for touchdown, and the second as an electrifying 72-yard return for a touchdown.
Jones was also named the Player of the Game by the announcing crew from the SEC Network. Jones finished the night, in addition to the two punt returns for touchdowns, with three tackles, three tackles for loss, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and intercepted a pitch out by the opposing quarterback.
Derrick Henry continued his streak of scoring at least one rushing touchdown in consecutive games, now at 16. He also tied Trent Richardson for the most rushing touchdowns scored in a single season with 21.
Kayce Smith, sideline reporter for the SEC Network spoke with Alabama head coach Nick Saban immediately after the game ended. She asked him how he felt that the team did keeping their focus.
Saban responded, "I'm pleased with the way we played in the game really. You like to keep momentum, so it was good that our players played...a lot of guys got to play. I'm happy with the way we competed in the game."
Smith complimented the defense on another "dominant performance" and asked Saban where they could continue to get better. He said, "Well, you know, we're going to be challenged every week, and we've got to make a lot of adjustments. I'm happy about the way our guys played today, and hopefully we can continue to build on that."
The subject of Auburn and the Iron Bowl being next week came up next, and Smith asked Saban, "How do you prepare for Auburn?"
"Well you know, the Iron Bowl is one of the biggest rivalries," Saban commented. "We have a lot of respect for those folks, and you know we're going to have to play really well on the road to get it done...and hopefully we can take some things we did today and improve on them.."
Next up was an interview with Cyrus Jones, and Smith asked him, "What does this day mean to you?" He responded, "It means the world, man, just to come out here...you know, the last game at Bryant-Denny...it's been a long, enjoyable four years. I just treasure this experience and it just felt good to get out there and make some plays in my last game."
Smith then asked Jones about the message this team has sent to the college football world and how that translates into building on that heading into the Iron Bowl. Jones said, "It's just a good stepping stone on to the Iron Bowl. We know what type of rivalry and what type of game that's going to be. The atmosphere is going to be crazy so we're just going to take this one and enjoy it and get back to work and get ready for Auburn on Saturday."
Speaking of today being Senior Day at the University of Alabama, there were 25 seniors playing their final home game.
There will be more to report later concerning tonight's contest, as well as the press conference held by Coach Saban this evening. For now, savor the win.
Alabama 56-6 over Charleston Southern.
