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Spring Football Practice Resumes
Head Coach Nick Saban At Monday's Practice
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Robert Sutton
The second full week of spring football practice got underway yesterday for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Bama worked out for approximately two hours in full pads on the Thomas-Drew Practice fields under sunny skies in beautiful "Sweet Home" Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Yesterday's practice was the fifth of 15 spring practices (including the A-Day Game). The first scrimmage of the spring "season" will be held this Saturday, April 2nd inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. The scrimmage, however, will be closed to the public. There will be a second and final scrimmage the Saturday before the A-Day game.
There has been no real "news" or rumors concerning the starting quarterback battle as was the case the past two years. Sure, a mention or two, but perhaps reporters and fans are starting to see this as "the norm" with the defending national champions. That being said, head coach NICK SABAN did comment in his press conference that COOPER BATEMAN has the most knowledge of the offense, and has gotten the most reps with the first-team offense. He also stated there was still a lot of work to do.
Saban also commented on DAVID CORNWELL, saying he is having a good spring...and that he has as much arm talent as anyone on the roster. He also said he has good accuracy.
Concerning other players and positions Saban said that Da'SHAWN HAND has done a nice job this spring. He spoke of the fact that he and DALVIN TOMLINSON have been getting all the reps with the first team while JONATHAN ALLEN has been out.
Saban said that LESTER COTTON and KORREN KIRVIN have been developing. He said Cotton is having a good spring at both left and right tackle. He did say he wants to give everyone enough turns to figure out who would make the best starting five.
ROSS PIERSCHBACHER continues to work at the center position and seems pretty much ready to settle-in to that spot. How exactly that impacts the rest of the offensive line remains to be seen.
For a second consecutive week RASHAAN EVANS was working out with the middle linebackers.
The 2016 A-Day Game is scheduled for Saturday, April 16th at 2 p.m. CT inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. The game is once again free to the public. ESPN will air the game live.
Starting Quarterback-hopeful Cooper Bateman
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Robert Sutton
O.C. Lane Kiffin & Receivers Coach Billy Napier
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Robert Sutton
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Alabama Softball Defeats Missouri 16-2
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
The University of Alabama softball team has really been banging the bats this season, and last night was no exception. The Tide (29-6 overall, 3-3 SEC) pounded out hits, but mainly took advantage of walks, wild pitches and errors to handily defeat the Missouri Tigers (24-6 overall, 3-3 SEC) by a score of 16-2 in five innings at Rhoads Stadium to take the series victory.
Tide softball head coach PATRICK MURPHY said, "It was of those games where we had a ton of runs off only a few hits. That hasn't happened a lot this year. We just took advantage of
every walk, wild pitch, error and hit. When we do that, this is what
happens."
Bama's 16 runs scored is the most for a Crimson Tide softball team in a Southeastern Conference games since 2012 when the Tide scored 19 against the South Carolina Gamecocks. The 14-run margin of victory is the largest for Bama in an SEC contest since 2013 when the Tide rolled over the Kentucky Wildcats 14-0. Alabama scored three runs in the first inning, but the ladies plated another 12 runs in the second inning on six hits and two Mizzou errors. Alabama's final run came in the fourth inning. The Tigers were able to score their two runs on a two-run homerun in the third inning.
Pitcher SYDNEY LITTLEJOHN (12-2) earned the victory, allowing just two runs on four hits.
Alabama faces the No. 1 Florida Gators (33-1 overall, 8-1 SEC) this next weekend in Gainesville, Florida for a three-game series. Game one will be played Friday, April 1st at 5 p.m. CT. Game two will air live on ESPN2 on Saturday, April 2nd at 2:30 p.m. CT, and the final game will be played on Sunday, April 3rd.
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Gymnastics Trio Earn All-America Honors
Three members of the Alabama gymnastics team earned regular-season All-America honors. The National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women made the announcement.
Senior LAUREN BEERS, junior AJA SIMS and sophomore KIANA WINSTON earned the regular-season honors. It was Beers earning second team honors on the vault, Sims garnering a first-team selection on the balance beam while Winston made the first team for her work on the uneven bars.
Alabama gymnasts will host the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional Championship this Saturday, April 2nd. The tournament will get underway at 4 p.m. CT.
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Women's Basketball Picks Up New Player
University of Alabama Crimson Tide women's head basketball coach KRISTY CURRY announced yesterday that three-time Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Week DaiJai RUFFIN will join the Bama women's basketball program after playing 17 games at UT-Martin.
Curry said, "We are excited to welcome DaiJia and her family to our program. DaiJia brings a unique versatility with her size and
strength on the offensive end that we feel will complement our current
roster, and we look forward to her continued development wearing crimson
and white."
The 5' 9" guard out of Louisville, Kentucky averaged 14.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.8 steals last season for the Skyhawks. Ruffin scored in double figures in 14 of her 17 contest last season. Her season high was 22 points, which she accomplished twice. In a game against her new team, Ruffin scored 21 points, had eight rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal.
Ruffin was a finalist for the 2014 Kentucky Miss Basketball award while playing high school ball at Sacred Heart Academy. She played in 35 games as a senior in high school, averaging 21.1 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.1 steals. Ruffin was first team All-State in 2014, and a member of the second team in both 2012 and 2013.
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Bama Baseball Begins 4-Game Road Trip
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Faces In-State Rival Auburn Tonight In Montgomery
Graphic/Photo Credit: RollTide.com
The Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team hits the road for their next four contests, starting tonight with in-state rival Auburn. The Tide and Tigers hook up for the annual MAX Capital City Classic for the eighth consecutive in a non-conference matchup. First pitch tonight is at 7 p.m. CT and will air on the SEC Network. Mike Morgan and Gabe Gross will handle announcing duties for the network.
Alabama and Auburn will meet for the 283rd time, with the Tide holding a 155-127 advantage in the series. Senior lefty JON KELLER has been tapped for the start for Bama.
