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Saban Praises Tide Freshmen
Alabama head coach NICK SABAN was very complimentary of three of his freshmen defensive players during a teleconference with Clemson head coach, and former Alabama alum and football player, DABO SWINNEY.
Saban was asked about cornerback MINKAH FITZPATRICK, defensive tackle DARON PAYNE and safety RONNIE HARRISON concerning their progress during the current season. He said, I think all three of those young men have shown a lot of maturity as freshmen to be able to sustain the season and stay focused on the things they need to do to play winning football for us, and we've been very pleased with the way those guys have played for us all year long. Certainly have contributed to the success that we have."
All three of the young men are defensive starters for the Crimson Tide. Former five-star recruit Fitzpatrick has 41 tackles to his credit, as well as two interceptions returned for touchdowns. He has played in 13 games this season, having missed one because of a knee injury. Payne was also a five-star get, and has 13 tackles this season and 0.5 sacks. Harrison, a four-star safety prospect out of high school, has 16 total tackles this season as well as two interceptions.
Saban continued, "I've been very, very pleased with those guys. I think a lot of times freshmen are really, really excited about getting the opportunity to play, but I think the ones that can focus on developing and stay focused on the things they need to do to be the kind of players they need to be to contribute to the team is really the most important factor, and all three of those guys have done that extremely well."
Fitzpatrick, Payne and Harrison are expected to play a crucial role in this coming Monday's national championship contest with Clemson. Game time for the January 11th game is 7:30 p.m. CT.
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Bama Defense Confident It Can Limit Clemson QB
In the 11 games the University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team has played since their loss to the Ole Miss Rebels, the Bama defense has given up only 11 touchdowns. Quite a feat.
Now the Crimson Tide defense must devise a plan to handle the number one ranked Clemson Tigers and their versatile quarterback Deshaun Watson. As so many have pointed out, the dual-threat quarterback is the type of quarterback that has typically given Bama problems.
Alabama defensive coordinator, and new Georgia head coach, KIRBY SMART, says, "Deshaun was from Gainsville, so I got to watch him play in high school. He's unbelievably talented, great leader, great kid. Everybody back home talks about him and what a great person he is. He's a different style quarterback than we just faced (Michigan State), so it's a great challenge for us."
Bama defensive lineman JARRAN REED, concerning Watson and just playing the championship game, "Everybody has heart. Everybody wants to finish. We determined. We got a goal to get to. One more to go. One more. We trying to be one and oh. One and oh every game. That's it."
Linebacker REGGIE RAGLAND concerning the talented Watson, "We've got to get to him. He's a good player and he put his team in a great position to play for a national championship. So we've got to get to him and keep him contained."
When pointed out that Watson was the dual-threat type of quarterback that Alabama typically has trouble with and that this one in particular would be bothersome, defensive lineman JONATHAN ALLEN said, "You guys perceive how you wanna perceive. We know what we can do. We just have to put the work in every day because we play this game a thousand times in practice."
The second-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide and the number one Clemson Tigers will do battle this coming Monday, January 11th for the championship of college football. The College Football Playoff National Championship will be played at the University of Phoenix, with game time at 7:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast by ESPN.
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ESPN's Kaylee Hartung Interview With Jake Coker
The young man is from Mobile, Alabama. He said as a kid he wanted to play for the University of Alabama. Then he committed and signed with Florida State. But quarterback JAKE COKER eventually made it to the Capstone. Sure, last season didn't pan out as expected. This season, however, is different. He landed his dream job and is making the most of it. He's on a title run.
Jake Coker and the Alabama Crimson Tide are going after the 16th National Championship for a school rich in heritage and tradition. Jake Coker has left a mark there. Now he wants a memorial. He wants to be known at the quarterback that led Alabama to its 16th national title by knocking off a previously undefeated team.
Kaylee Hartung of ESPN asked Coker, "How did it feel the first time you ran out out of the tunnel at Bryant-Denny, knowing you were the starting quarterback for the Crimson Tide?"
Coker answered, "It's finally here. It's one of those things I've always dreamed of and wished could happen, and then when it actually happens it's like, oh my gosh, this is once in a lifetime. This is unbelievable."
Kaylee asked Jake to take her through the "unconventional trip" to this point. Coker replied, "It's been a long five years. You know I'd have never thought five years ago I'd be in the position I am now, but I couldn't ask to be in a better spot right now. I grew up an Alabama fan, and I always cheer for them.
"Nobody understands how recruiting is," Coker continued. "It's kind of like you don't know whether you should make a business decision or go with your heart or whatever. And I don't regret I went to Florida State. I love Florida State and I love the coaches there...and I came here, and this year I wouldn't give anything to be where I am right now. It's a dream of mine and I'm just excited to be on this team."
Hartung was impressed with the "guys" Coker followed as a quarterback. She asked him to take her through the list he's been able to play with.
Coker said, "Yeah, in high school I was a sophomore when A.J. (McCARRON) was a senior, so I was three years behind him. And of course he comes here (Alabama) and does well. Then I go to Florida State and two starters I was behind were E.J. Manuel and then Jameis (Winston). So E.J.'s with the Bill's and Jameis is with Tampa Bay. So then I come here and then BLAKE (SIMS)...he's breaking all these records here so it's been uhh, I've had a lot of good examples to sit behind and watch an just see how they manage a team in situations. It's pretty incredible the guys that I've played with."
Hartung asked, "Could you share with me a lesson or two you've learned from a couple of those guys specifically that's impacted you and helped you grow?"
Coker replied, "There's a lot of things that those quarterbacks went through that you wouldn't even know they were going through the way they handled themselves, and the way they carried themselves around the team. So that's just kinda staying laid back and keeping on the task."
Hartung asked Coker about stiff quarterback competition to being named a captain this season by his team mates, and the significance of that honor to him.
Coker said, "That honor means the world to me. That's the biggest honor that I've ever received, you know, from anything. It means more to me than anything. This is the most unselfish team I've ever been on."
Monday night Jake Coker leads the Crimson Tide agains the Clemson Tigers in the College Football Playoff National Championship. The game is January 11th with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. ESPN will broadcast the game live.
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4-Star WR Richards Shows Interest In Bama
Former Miami commit Ahmmon Richards says the University Of Alabama is still in the running for his services. The four-star West Palm Beach, Florida wide receiver has narrowed his selection down to four schools: Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee and the school he decommited from, Miami.
Richards has an official visit planned for the Capstone on January 22nd. He has already been on the campus once this fall to see Alabama play. It appears he has a good relationship with receivers coach BILLY NAPIER.
The young man has already paid an official visit to the Auburn practice and enjoyed watching the Iron Bowl on his trip.
Richards says that Alabama really wants him, and that Coach Napier "messages me every day." He says Napier tells him that he wants to coach him.
He has an official visit planned for Tennessee on January 15th and wants to get to Miami to visit with the new head coach there, Mark Richt.
247Sports predicts Richards will end up at Alabama.
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Dabo Complimentary Of His Alma Mater
Clemson head coach DABO SWINNEY says that the University of Alabama football team has the best defensive front his Tigers have seen all season. Now, it that merely the coach of the opposing team speaking or a former player, coach, and true fan of the Tide? Probably all.
Everyone knows Dabo is a native of Pelham, Alabama and grew up an avid Alabama fan. He played football at the University of Alabama under the great GENE STALLINGS, and received his national championship ring for that 1992 National Championship team of which he was a part. He later served as an assistant coach there.
So now, in order for Dabo to capture his very first national championship as a head coach, who does he have to defeat to obtain it? Yep, the team he has loved his entire life. Yesterday Dabo said, "I think God has got a sense of humor. I really do. I think it's great."
Now Swinney is immersed in dissecting the Alabama football team. He is seeing for the first time just how daunting the task ahead will be...finding a way to stop Alabama running back DERRICK HENRY, the receiving corp, and also trying to find chinks in that top-ranked Tide defense.
Swinney says he wants to win the national championship against the best competition possible, and believes that is Alabama. Year in and year out Alabama is always in the mix.
Swinney said, "If I could just script it, you know, if I could just...if you say, hey, you're going to get a chance to play the National Championship game at some point, who do you want it to be against, I would pick Alabama, again, for the same reasons, because they're the best. They've been the best. They've earned that."
When talking about his friends and his and Clemson's run for the national title, Swinney admits not all of them want him to win. He said, "I've got a few of them that are conflicted. I've kind of found out where I stand with some of them, but it's a great matchup and the two best teams. That's just the way it's worked out, and I think that's special."
Alabama and Clemson, St. Nick and Dabo, will meet on the field of battle January 11th for the College Football Playoff National Championship. Game time is 7:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast live on ESPN.
