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Alabama Football
National Championship Football Prep Begins
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
The celebration is over.
Temporarily.
The University of Alabama football team has come down from its College Football Playoff Semifinal high after defeating Michigan State 38-0 by going back to work. The Crimson Tide returned to the practice field last night, putting in a one-hour workout in shorts and helmets inside the Hank Crisp Practice Facility.
Last night's practice is the first of six practices in preparation for the Tide's fourth bid in seven years to become the national champions of the 2015 college football season. The College Football Playoff National Championship will pit the Crimson Tide of Alabama against the Tigers of Clemson at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Monday, January 11th. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN. Chris Fowler will handle the play-by-play duties, with Kirk Herbstreit, Heather Cox and Tom Rinaldi also handling broadcast duties.
This will be the 16th meeting between Alabama and Clemson, with the last contest a 34-10 win for the Crimson Tide in the 2008 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta, Georgia. That win gave Alabama head coach NICK SABAN his first victory over a top-10 opponent after his arrival at UA. Clemson was nationally-ranked at number nine heading into that contest. While the Tigers defeated the Tide in their first three contests, Alabama is riding a 12-game win streak over Clemson into the national championship game.
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Alabama-Clemson Comparisons
2015 University of Alabama Crimson Tide
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
This should indeed be the best matchup of the college football season.
Alabama and Clemson.
Here is how the two teams match up for the national championship game. Neither team is ranked in the top 10 nationally as far as their offenses are concerned. The Crimson Tide averages 204.4 ypg and is 29th in the nation in rushing offense, while Clemson is ranked 16th averaging 228.6 ypg. Clemson also had the advantage in passing, averaging 283.4 ypg (No. 26) to 219.4 ypg (No. 68) for the Tide. The total offensive yardage puts the Tigers just outside the top 10 at number 11 averaging 512.0 ypg compared to Alabama's 423.8 ypg (No. 51). Clemson averages 38.4 ppg (No. 16) while the Tide averages 34.4 ppg (No. 32).
Defensively the Crimson Tide holds the advantage, but not by as much as one would expect. Alabama's rushing defense is ranked first in the nation allowing only 70.8 ypg compared to 124.4 ypg for Clemson at number 18. Clemson leads in pass defense at 177.2 ypg (No. 9) compared to 186.0 ypg (No. 18) for Bama. Alabama is second in the nation in total defense allowing only 256.8 ypg with Clemson coming in sixth allowing 301.6 ypg. Alabama is again number one in scoring defense with 13.4 ppg compared to Clemson's 20.0 ppg at number 16.
Alabama is number one in sacks (defense) at 3.6 per game compared to the fourth-ranked Tigers with 3.1 per game. The Crimson Tide is 44th in sacks allowed with 1.5 per game compared to 1.1 game for the Clemson Tigers coming in at number 19.
Turning to the kicking game, Alabama is 22-for-31 while Clemson is 26-for-30. Punting, Alabama is 44.4 ypg and is ranked 27th while Clemson is number 111 averaging 38.6 ypg.
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Women's Basketball
Tide Wins SEC Opener 62-45 Over LSU
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Daniel Melograna
The University of Alabama women's basketball team opened the Southeastern Conference portion of their 2015-16 schedule yesterday afternoon with a 62-45 win over the LSU Lady Tigers inside Foster Auditorium on the UA campus. The Lady Tide (12-2, 1-0 SEC) picked up 24 points on 25 Tiger turnovers. This was Alabama's first SEC opening win since back in 2008. The LSU Tiger's record fell to 6-8, 0-1 SEC.
Alabama women's basketball head coach KRISTY CURRY said, "I'm incredibly proud for NIKKI HEGSTETTER, she comes off and says, 'You know, I've never done that (won and SEC opener).' She recognizes that. We all do. As we continue to progress forward, it's the next game. We want to win the next game. It's great to get off to this start (and) defend our home court. You have to do that in this league to be successful."
The Tigers were hot in the opening moments of the game, sinking seven of their first 11 shots. However, turnovers did them in. In the opening period alone there 17 total turnovers, 10 of which belonged to LSU. The Tide led the game at the half 29-26. The Tigers held a huge advantage in overall shooting percentage (59.1% to 39.3%), but their 15 first half turnovers as well as not sinking a single bucket at the free throw line did them in.
Alabama women's basketball head coach KRISTY CURRY said, "I'm incredibly proud for NIKKI HEGSTETTER, she comes off and says, 'You know, I've never done that (won and SEC opener).' She recognizes that. We all do. As we continue to progress forward, it's the next game. We want to win the next game. It's great to get off to this start (and) defend our home court. You have to do that in this league to be successful."
The Tigers were hot in the opening moments of the game, sinking seven of their first 11 shots. However, turnovers did them in. In the opening period alone there 17 total turnovers, 10 of which belonged to LSU. The Tide led the game at the half 29-26. The Tigers held a huge advantage in overall shooting percentage (59.1% to 39.3%), but their 15 first half turnovers as well as not sinking a single bucket at the free throw line did them in.
LSU would never get any closer than five points in the second half, and trailing by as many as 19. Tigers' shooting went frigid the second half, and especially the in the third quarter hitting only four of 14 shots. The Tide was hot in the fourth quarter, going on a 15-0 run while holding LSU scoreless for over eight minutes.
The Tide scored five straight points coming out of halftime and eventually extended its lead to nine at 41-32. The Lady Tigers would never get closer than five points after that. LSU went cold from the floor in the second half, converting only four of its 14 attempts in the third period.
MEOSHONTI KNIGHT led the Tide in scoring with 17 points, a career-high for her against a conference opponent. KARYLA MIDDLEBROOK was the only other player for Bama to hit double digits, pouring in 10 points. HANNAH COOK wasn't far off the pace with nine points.
Leading rebounder in the game was Hegstetter with six, while Cook, BREANNA HAYDEN and Middlebrook were just one behind with five each.
Middlebrook commented, "When we came out in warm ups and we saw all the fans there, we knew it was going to be a great atmosphere. We haven't had a crowd like that, I don't think, at all this season in Foster. It was really great. Every time we have a crowd like that and every time we step on the court we want to really play our hearts out for the fans who take the time out of the day to come out and support us. We really appreciate it. Awesome crowd."
Next up for Bama are the Kentucky Wildcats. The Crimson Tide travels to Lexington, Kentucky to face the Cats on Thursday, January 7th. Game time is 6 p.m. CT and will air on the SEC Network.
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Daniel Melograna
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Daniel Melograna
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4-Star WR Tyler Simmons Commits To Bama Football
Wide Receiver Tyler Simmons
Photo Credit: 247Sports
The University of Alabama football team is continuing to gain momentum in their recruiting of big-time talent for 2016. Last night four-star wide receiver TYLER SIMMONS out of McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia committed to the Crimson Tide. Simmons is 5' 11", 191-pounds and went from heavily-favoring Georgia to committing to the Tide. He was being recruited by more than 20 schools.
This now makes 18 commitments to the Alabama 2016 recruiting class. (See accompanying story.)
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2016 Football Recruiting Class
This is the complete list of 18 prospects committed to the University of Alabama's 2016 football recruiting class as of 1/4/16.
- Raekwon Davis, DT (6'7", 315 lbs), Meridian High, Meridian, Mississippi
- T.J. Simmons, WR (6'2", 185 lbs), Clay-Chalkville High School, Pinson, Alabama*
- Jonah Williams, OL (6'5", 283 lbs), Folsom High, Folsom, California
- Brendan Scales, TE (6'4", 230 lbs), Lafayette, Ballwin, Missouri
- Chris Owens, OL (6'3", 312 lbs), Lamar High, Arlington, Texas
- Deonte Brown, OL (6'3", 330 lbs), Austin High, Decatur, Alabama*
- Joshua Perry, DB (6'3", 190 lbs), Amite High, Amite, Louisiana
- Kendell Jones, DT (6'4", 360 lbs), Shoemaker High, Killeen, Texas
- Charles Baldwin, OL (6'5", 305lbs), ASA College, Brooklyn, New York
- Jalen Hurts, QB (6'2", 208 lbs), Channelview High, Channelview, Texas
- Jaquan Yulee, LB (6'0", 252 lbs), Indian River High, Chesapeake, Virginia
- Riley Cole, LB (6'3," 210 lbs), Oneonta High Schol, Oneonta, Alabama*
- Miller Forristall, TE (6'5", 220 lbs), Cartersville High School, Cartersville, Georgia
- Quinnen Williams, DL (6'4", 265 lbs), Wenonah High School, Birmingham, Alabama*
- B.J. Emmons, RB (5'11", 230 lbs), Freedom High School, Morganton, North Carolina
- Shawn Jennings, DB (6'2", 218 lbs), Dadeville High School, Dadeville, Alabama*
- Trevon Diggs, ATH (6'0", 186 lbs), Avalon School, Rockville, Maryland
- Tyler Simmons, WR (5'11", 194 lbs.), McEachern H.S., Powder Spring, Georgia
*In-state recruits
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