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Alabama Football
Coach Saban Addresses The Press
Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban addressed the press yesterday as per his custom. He spoke briefly of the Iron Bowl victory and turned to player-recognition and the upcoming Southeaster Conference Championship Game.
In his opening statement, Saban said, "Just a quick comment about the last game. Not necessarily our best
consistency and execution when it comes to just how we play each play in
and play out on offense, defense and special teams. But the players
really competed well in the game, overcame a lot of adversity, hung in
there and kept grinding to come out with the win."
Saban then turned to recogizing several key players from last weeks victory over Auburn in the 2015 Iron Bowl, saying, "It's always great to have SEC Players of the week , Derrick Henry and Adam Griffith. Both guys are very deserving. Our players of the week were Derrick Henry, Ryan Kelly and ArDarius Stewart on offense; Reuben Foster, Marlon Humphrey and Jonathan Allen on defense; and on special teams Adam Griffith and Keith Holcombe."
Coach Saban had praise for Alabama's next opponent, the Florida Gators. He said, "I
don't really have any updates or anything new on injuries, but this is a
great opportunity for our team to get to play in the SEC Championship
Game. This is something that we still feel is very, very important and
something that's a significant accomplishment because of the quality of
our league, including winning our division and getting an opportunity to
play against a really good Florida team. This is a talented team that's
extremely well-coached. Jim McElwain has done an outstanding job there.
They've won 10 games this year, and they're probably the best overall
team that we've played against all year long. They're a great defensive
team - probably the highest-ranked defensive team we've faced all year
long from a national standpoint. They also do a great job of taking care
of the ball and getting turnovers; they have a very positive turnover
ratio. Very talented players on offense, their quarterback Treon Harris
is a dual-threat kind of guy that can make plays passing or with his
feet and reminds me a lot of Blake (Sims) in terms of his style of play.
Kelvin Taylor is an outstanding running back, probably as good as we've
played against all year. They have some very talented receivers and
good skill guys that can make big plays, and this is one of the most
talented special teams. They've struggled a little bit on field goals
this year, but other than that they have one of the highest net punt
averages in the country. They have a great punt return guy, kickoff
returns have been very good for them... so this team is really, really
good on special teams. This is an outstanding team we're playing, and
they wouldn't be in the SEC Championship Game if they weren't. I think
anybody out there that thinks this is not going to be a real challenge
and a real test for our team...well I don't know what you're thinking
is. I really don't get it."
The Alabama Crimson Tide and Florida Gators square off this Saturday, December 5th in Atlanta, Georgia. Game time is 3 p.m. CT.
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SEC Football Championship
Tide Prepares For Gators
It's Southeastern Conference Championship week, and the Crimson Tide football team is busily preparing for the matchup with the Florida Gators this Saturday. Bama worked out in shells for just over an hour yesterday.
Alabama went through their usual game-week practice regimen, though a shortened one for the first workout of the week. Individual drills, ball handling and light contact was the norm.
Kenyan Drake seems to be recovering nicely from his broken arm. He was again practicing yesterday. He is still being watched closely by the trainers. Not practicing, however, was outside linebacker Denzel Deval who sprained his knee in the game against Auburn this past Saturday.
The SEC West Champion Alabama Crimson Tide faces the SEC East Champion Florida Gators this Saturday for the 2015 edition of the Southeastern Conference Championship Game. Game time is 3 p.m. this Saturday, December 5th. CBS will broadcast the game live, with Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson and Allie LaForce handling the game.
The Gators fell to their in-state rivals, Florida State, this past Saturday 27-2. Florida enters the contest with a 10-2 overall record, 7-1 in the SEC.
Alabama leads the series with Florida 23-14. In their most recent contest in 2014 the Tide came out on top 42-21 during the regular season in Tuscaloosa.
As far as the SEC Championship Game, it is the eighth time these two national powers will meet to decide the winner, and the third time in the past 10 years. Alabama has 10 championship game appearances while Florida has 11. They also are the two opponents with the most appearances in the game. That first contest was 1992, with Alabama winning 28-21.
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SEC Names Henry, Griffith Players Of The Week
Derrick Henry
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
The Southeastern Conference has named Alabama junior running back Derrick Henry and junior placekicker Adam Griffith as their SEC Player of the Week for their performances in this past Saturday's 29-13 Crimson Tide win over the Auburn Tigers.
For the fifth time this season Henry has been selected as the SEC Offensive Player of the Week. Henry rushed for a career-best 271 yards on 46 carries and scored one touchdown shortly before the end of the game. He also surpassed Bo Jackson's 256-yard output in 1983 for the most yards rushed in an Iron Bowl game. Incidentally, this was Henry's fourth time to rush for over 200 yards, and is only the third SEC player to do so.
Henry also set a new SEC record for rushing yardage in a single season at 1,797 yards, surpassing Trent Richardson's 1,679 yard performance set in the 2011 season. Henry has now scored at least one touchdowns in 17 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the country, as well as being the most by any SEC player in the past 20 years. Henry has scored a total of 22 touchdowns this season, and again surpasses the previous Trent Richardson mark of 21.
Junior Adam Griffith received his second Special Teams Player of the Week honor this season. He kicked and made five field goals in this past Saturday's game. Three of those field goals were from 40 yards or more. He also hit both extra-point attempts, scoring 17 points of the 29 this past weekend.
Alabama faces Florida this Saturday in the SEC Championship in Atlanta, Georgia. Kickoff is at 3 p.m. CT.
Adam Griffith
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
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Alabama Football
Alabama Football
Tide Coaching Staff Recognizes 8 Players
The University of Alabama Crimson Tide football coaching staff has recognized eight players following this past Saturday's 29-13 victory over the Auburn Tigers in the 2015 Iron Bowl. On offense, the coaches recognized Derrick Henry, Ryan Kelly and ArDarius Stewart for their contributions. Defensively, Reuben Foster, Marlon Humphrey and Jonathan Allen were recognized. It was Adam Griffith and Keith Holcomb being named from the special teams.
With only 26 seconds remaining in the Iron Bowl game, Derrick Henry rushed for 25 yards and paydirt, bringing his season total to 22 touchdowns and the all-time leader for a single season in Crimson Tide history. It also extended his consecutive games with a rushing touchdown to 17, the longest active streak in the country and the most in the SEC in over 20 years. He moved to third place in the most yards rushed in a single game with 271 yards, and is the first player since 1966 to go over 250 yards in a single game. Henry set the Alabama record for the most carries in a single game at 46, and is only the third player in SEC history to rush for at least four 200-yard games in a single season. (Herschel Walker and Bo Jackson are the other two.) Henry also is the national leader in rushing touchdowns, rushing yards, and also leads the Southeastern Conference in scoring.
This is Ryan Kelly's second consecutive week to be honored by the Crimson Tide coaching staff. He is a leader on the offensive line as well as the team. He hasn't allowed a sack in three consecutive weeks now. He was graded out by the coaching staff at 90 percent.
ArDarius Stewart led the Crimson Tide this past weekend in receptions. He had had catches for 81 yards. A couple of those receptions were key in putting the Tide in position to score. Stewart is Alabama's second-leading receiver this season with 536 yards, averaging 10.7 yards per catch.
Turning to the defense, Reuben Foster had six tackles for Bama in Saturday's contest with the Tigers, tying for second with Marlon Humphrey. Foster also had one pass breakup and a quarterback hurry.
Humphey's six tackles came mainly on sweeps and tosses on runs from the Auburn offense. He provided excellent secondary coverage.
Jonathan Allen was key in Alabama's defensive front in Iron Bowl. He recorded five tackles himself, with three of those coming on the same drive.
Turning to special teams, Adam's Griffith's five field goals and two extra-points put 17 points on the board for the Crimson Tide. He connected on kicks of 26, 40, 26, 50 and 47 yards, and ties the Alabama record for the second most field goals in a single game. Griffith is perfect on the season with PATs. He had an average of 65.0 yards on his eight kickoffs, recording seven touchbacks.
Keith Holcomb earned his first shout out from the coaching staff this week. He recorded one tackle and was instrumental in limiting the Auburn punt return team to only one return this past weekend.
This is Ryan Kelly's second consecutive week to be honored by the Crimson Tide coaching staff. He is a leader on the offensive line as well as the team. He hasn't allowed a sack in three consecutive weeks now. He was graded out by the coaching staff at 90 percent.
ArDarius Stewart led the Crimson Tide this past weekend in receptions. He had had catches for 81 yards. A couple of those receptions were key in putting the Tide in position to score. Stewart is Alabama's second-leading receiver this season with 536 yards, averaging 10.7 yards per catch.
Turning to the defense, Reuben Foster had six tackles for Bama in Saturday's contest with the Tigers, tying for second with Marlon Humphrey. Foster also had one pass breakup and a quarterback hurry.
Humphey's six tackles came mainly on sweeps and tosses on runs from the Auburn offense. He provided excellent secondary coverage.
Jonathan Allen was key in Alabama's defensive front in Iron Bowl. He recorded five tackles himself, with three of those coming on the same drive.
Turning to special teams, Adam's Griffith's five field goals and two extra-points put 17 points on the board for the Crimson Tide. He connected on kicks of 26, 40, 26, 50 and 47 yards, and ties the Alabama record for the second most field goals in a single game. Griffith is perfect on the season with PATs. He had an average of 65.0 yards on his eight kickoffs, recording seven touchbacks.
Keith Holcomb earned his first shout out from the coaching staff this week. He recorded one tackle and was instrumental in limiting the Auburn punt return team to only one return this past weekend.
