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Alabama Football
Tide Continues Preparation For Spartans
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Kent Gidley
The University of Alabama football team held their second of seven bowl practices before the holiday break yesterday afternoon. In all, the Crimson Tide will put in 11 practices prior to the College Football Playoff Semifinal game against Michigan State. Bama put in two hours Thursday inside the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility on the campus at UA.
The Tide is going through fundamentals, continuing strength and conditioning and getting back to a routine since being off after the big win over Florida in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game in Atlanta.
Alabama head coach Nick Saban said everyone practiced and there were no injuries during the practice itself. Wide receiver Raheem Falkins, however, remains in a black non-contact jersey.
The Crimson Tide's new defensive coordinator, Jeremy Pruitt, has been attending practice sessions in an observer's role only. Saban said the Pruitt isn't allowed yet to coach but is allowed to observe practices and can actively recruit for the Crimson Tide football team.
The Alabama Crimson Tide and Michigan State Spartans will meet in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl to be played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington Texas. The game is scheduled for Thursday, December 31st with a 7:10 p.m. CT kickoff on ESPN. Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Heather Cox will be handing all the announcing duties.
This will be only the second meeting between the two national powers. The first meeting was in the 2011 Capital One Bowl, with the Tide coming away with a 49-7 win.
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Kent Gidley
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Kent Gidley
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Nick Saban Named Finalist For
Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach Of The Year
Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Kent Gidley
The tune to this song is starting to sound quite familiar isn't it? One of those you don't mind getting stuck in your head, though.
University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban has been selected as one of seven finalists for the Paul "Bear" Bryant Collegiate Coach of the Year Award. The announcement came Thursday by the American Heart Association (AHA) and title sponsor Marathon Oil Corporation.
Saban last won the prestigious award in 2003. This season he has the Crimson Tide poised to take their 16th national title after a 12-1 season and a Southeastern Conference Championship victory over the Florida Gators. Alabama is currently ranked second in the country, holding down the No. 2 spot in the College Football Playoff final rankings.
This is the eighth consecutive season the Tide has won at least 10 games under Saban's direction, and the fifth straight with at least 11 victories. Bama also became the first team in 17 years to win back-to-back Southeastern Conference Championships, taking the crown in 2014 and 2015.
Saban and the other finalists will attend the 30th anniversary awards banquet on January 16, 2016 at the Hilton Americas Houston. The winner is to be announced live. The Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award is the only college coaching honor determined after all bowl games are completed. The award is voted on by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA).
As finalists, these coaches join an elite group of men recognized for their outstanding leadership in the college football arena. Finalists will attend the 30th anniversary awards banquet on Jan. 13, 2016, at the Hilton Americas Houston, where the winner will be announced live. The American Heart Association’s Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award is the only college coaching honor determined after all bowl games are concluded and is voted on by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA).
The Bryant Awards have raised more than $6 million for the American Heart Association since 1986 in order to fund research, advocacy and educational programs across the country aimed at the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. The Bear, himself, dies of a heart attack in 1983. The 2016 even marks the 30th anniversary of the American Heart Association's participation in the prestigious award and ceremonies.
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Focus Is Key To This National Semifinal
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
While the University of Alabama football team is the only school of the four semifinalists to have been in the College Football Playoff, head coach Nick Saban says they are handling things a little differently this time around. "We certainly didn't do a good job last year," Saban stated. "I felt like our players did not approach the game like a playoff game. They approached it more like a bowl game, which was obviously not our intention, not what we tried to sell to them as far as what they needed to do. I think they felt a little entitled when they won the SEC championship and just didn't really want to...look this is a new season."
According to Saban, this team has had a positive mental attitude all season, and has remained focused. He has praised them numerous times throughout the season, as well as before and after the SEC Championship game.
Saban said, "This team seems to really be focused on the opportunity that they have. I didn't feel like this team was as committed at this point last year, and we obviously didn't show that in how we prepared and how we played in the game."
The only stumble on the season was the loss to Ole Miss at Bryant-Denny Stadium this season. Five turnovers were not typical Alabama football. Most times those indicate a lack of focus, concentration. Things have been different since that game as the media across the nation were writing the Crimson Tide off as a national contender for the 2015 season.
The players have bought into "the system" for sure. That fact is evident from interviews and off-the-cuff comments made throughout the season, especially of late. Quarterback Jake Coker said, "I think we just needed to stay focused on what we had to do. And we kind of lost sight of that and we had to pay for it."
The Alabama Crimson Tide and Michigan State Spartans will meet in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl to be played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington Texas. The game is scheduled for Thursday, December 31st with a 7:10 p.m. CT kickoff on ESPN. Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Heather Cox will be handing all the announcing duties.
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Bama Women's Basketball Faces Georgia Tech Tonight
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
The University of Alabama women's basketball team (9-1) is in Atlanta, Georgia tonight to face the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (8-3). Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT inside McCamish Pavilion.
This will be the fourth matchup between the the Tide and Yellow Jackets, although this is the first meeting in 23 years. The is the second time the pair have played in Atlanta. The last time the two met Alabama came away with a 103-101 overtime victory.
Alabama's last win was a 69-47 victory over North Florida, while the Tech Yellow Jackets posted a 96-48 win over Prairie View A&M.
