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The Ultimate Goal
2015 University of Alabama Cotton Bowl Champions
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
The University of Alabama football team has their eye on the prize...a trophy...a title. Alabama football is locked in on the National Championship of college football. On January 11th the Crimson Tide will battle the number one ranked Clemson Tigers just outside Phoenix, Arizona for the College Football Playoff national championship.
For a month Alabama was focused on the national semifinal game with the Michigan State Spartans, who they handily dismantled 38-0 this past Thursday night in the 2015 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. Now that focus shift to the Clemson Tigers.
Alabama head football coach NICK SABAN said, "The focus that they had for this game (Alabama-Michigan State) was completely different than we ever had before, and I think it paid off for them...and we're looking forward to try to do the same thing for the next game."
There aren't many players left on the team that played for the 2012 National Championship. However, Alabama center RYAN KELLY was. Kelly said, "Yeah, I was on the team. I played four snaps in the Miami game. But this team had a chip (on the shoulder) because of the bowl games we've lost. At the same time, I think it's my responsibility to teach these guys the preparation that needs to happen to be successful in these bowl games. There's a lot of guys in the leadership that were here in 2012. They set a really good example for the team."
Others on this squad that were around for the 2012 season are KENYAN DRAKE, REGGIE RAGLAND, CYRUS JONES, DENZEL DEVALL and D.J. PETTWAY. These are taking an active role in preparing the younger players for this post-season run.
Worried about the January 11th challenge? The Tide say they will be ready.
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Alabama Football
Bama Back Home, Begins Prep For Clemson
The Alabama Crimson Tide football team was so focused on their upcoming Cotton Bowl game with Michigan State on Thursday night that some didn't even know who had won the Clemson-Oklahoma matchup in the national semifinal game. Of course the Tide won 38-0 and will face Clemson for the national championship on January 11th after the Tigers dismantled the Sooners by a score of 37-17.
After the Cotton Bowl game, Alabama Crimson Tide safety EDDIE JACKSON asked who won the other game. He was quite surprised by the answer and score, and commented, "I thought it was going to be a good, close game. I didn't know it was going to be like that."
Jackson later commented he thought Oklahoma was going to win, but that both were two great teams.
Alabama got back to Tuscaloosa yesterday, but before departing head coach NICK SABAN met with the team to tell them how proud he was of them, and to outline the general direction they would take in the process of preparing for the national championship showdown with the Clemson Tigers.
Though the Tide hasn't seen much, yet, in the way of film or a breakdown of the Tigers games, they all know who the leader is...Deshaun Watson. He finished third in the Heisman vote, behind winner DERRICK HENRY and runner-up Christian McCaffrey. Watson has thrown for 3,699 yards and 31 touchdowns and only 12 interceptions this season. And you can add 1,032 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns to his resume also.
Crimson Tide safety GENO MATIAS-SMITH has played against Watson. Twice, in fact, in high school. Both Matias-Smith and Watson are from Georgia and their two respective schools faced each other when Geno was a junior and senior while Watson was a freshman and sophomore. Geno said that though his team won the matchups, you "knew he (Watson) had talent."
The Tide defense will be challenged by the Tigers, whose offense ranks 11th nationally in total offense. Watson and the Tigers put up 530 total yards of offense on Thursday afternoon against an Oklahoma defense that was tied at 29th nationally in total defense. Clemson, themselves, are ranked eighth nationally in total defense and also ranked eighth in sacks per game.
The Crimson Tide will face the Tigers on January 11th for the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship.
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Tide Men's Basketball Hosts Norfolk State Today
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
The University of Alabama men's basketball team defends its 14-game non-conference home win streak this afternoon as the Crimson Tide hosts the Norfolk State Spartans at 1 p.m. CT in Coleman Coliseum. This will be the last non-conference game for the Tide, and the first game of 2016. This is the first meeting between the two schools.
Alabama won its sixth out of seven games with a 67-59 overtime victory over Jacksonville State last Tuesday night. Bama has now won 14 straight non-conference games inside Coleman Coliseum, with the last loss there coming at the hands of Xavier back on December 21, 2013.
Concerning Norfolk State, head coach AVERY JOHNSON said, "They are a dangerous team, especially from behind the three-point line. They do a great job of drawing fouls, and they shoot practically 80 percent from the free-throw line as a team. We have to do a better job in guarding them in transition above the three-point line. we are going to have to do a great job of playing defense without fouling, and hopefully we can have some solid possessions on offense and string together a couple of great possessions. We tend to get stuck sometimes, and hopefully we won't get stuck in the game against Norfolk State."
Concerning today's contest, RETIN OBASOHAN said, "We expect to be ready. It's just preparation, day in and day out, we just have to come out there and give it the best we got. I'm expecting them to play their game, and as long as we come in and do the things that we're supposed to do, the rest will take care of itself."
Today's contest will air on the SEC Network with Dave Baker handling play-by-play and Barry Booker handling the analyst duties. You can also pick up the game on the Crimson Tide Sports Network with Chris Stewart and Bryan Passink.
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2016 Football Recruiting Class
This is the complete list of 17 prospects committed to the University of Alabama's 2016 football recruiting class as of 1/2/16.
- 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
*In-state recruits
