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Who Will Be Alabama's Starting QB In 2016?
Who will be Alabama's starting quarterback this coming season?
The more intelligent ones among you will be thinking, "Really? Please! We have several good quarterbacks available so why should be pick just one now?" Good thought!
Let's face it, it's been three season's ago that we went into a football campaign knowing who the starting quarterback would be. That, of course, was A.J. McCARRON. Two seasons ago everyone, okay MOST everyone, thought JAKE COKER would come into spring practice and emerge as the Crimson Tide's starting quarterback. Not only did he NOT do that, no one did. It took getting ready to play in the fall to settle for sure on BLAKE SIMS. Then last year, everyone was wondering because now the confidence level among a lot of fans was lower since Coker didn't win the job the previous year. Hence, Coker got the job, but lost it for the one Ole Miss debacle, then had the job back and did a marvelous job of doing just what needed to be done to win another Southeastern Conference Championship and the Tide's 16th National Championship.
Now, what about 2016? Who will be the starting quarterback coming out of spring practice and start for the Tide in the fall?
Probably no one.
That's right. If history has taught us anything the contest will go down to the week of the opening game. Sure, there will be certain guys "leading" this week, another next week, back to the original one, but do you really expect the most important position to be filled in only 15 days of practice?
Thank you.
Okay, perhaps right now most are putting their money on redshirt freshman BLAKE BARNETT. Barnett stands 6' 5" and weighs in at 205 pounds and is out of Corona, California. Touting him as "the leader" doesn't really mean anything right now, but that seems to be the name I'm hearing more from some of those "near" the university. If you aren't part of the coaching staff, however, "near" doesn't really mean much.
Alabama QB Blake Barnett
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Also up for the job is redshirt junior COOPER BATEMAN. Bateman is a 6-3, 220-pound junior out of Murray, Utah. He actually has the most experience in the group. Unfortunately part of that experience was the loss to Ole Miss early in the season. But, hey, he has game experience.
Alabama QB Cooper Bateman
Photo Credit: ChatSports.com
Also in the mix is 6' 5", 221 pound redshirt sophomore DAVID CORNWELL out of Norman, Oklahoma, and everyone knows he has the tools. As do the others.
Alabama QB David Cornwell
Photo Credit: BleacherReport.com
The newest addition to the mix is true freshman JALEN HURTS, a 6' 2", 212 pounder from Channelview, Texas. Hurts enrolled early and was instrumental in helping the Tide prepare for the National Championship game this past season. His dual-threat capabilities allowed him to step us to play the part of Clemson's DeShawn Watson on the scout team to help prepare Bama's defense. Now most expect that he, too, will have the term "redshirt" applied to his name at some point.
Alabama QB Jalen Hurts
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Leadership ability will be key for whoever wins the job. In fact, without that particular skill one will not start as quarterback for the University of Alabama. Making decisions, the right decisions, ranks right up there next to leadership ability. The starter must know when to "eat" the ball, throw the ball away, and which receiver gives the offense the best opportunity to advance the ball as he surveys the field as 250-350 pound linemen and linebackers are bearing down on him to make him eat turf.
Another important factor needs to be considered. Alabama will have a new center. Breaking in a new center as well as quarterback will exhaserbate things a bit.
Best advice? Enjoy the spring practice. No starting quarterback, however, will emerge.
Roll Tide!
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Bama Men's Basketball Meets Creighton
Crimson Tide men's basketball under first-year head coach AVERY JOHNSON meets the Creighton Bluejays tonight in the opening round of the 2016 National Invitational Tourment in Omaha, Nebraska tonight at 8 p.m. on ESPN. Alabama is the No. 5 seed in the tournament facing the No. 4 seed.
This will be the second meeting between the two programs, with the first coming in the 2012 NCAA Tournament second round. The Bluejays defeated the Tide 58-57 in Greensboro, North Carolina.
This will be the 14th overall appearance for the Crimson Tide in the National Invitational Tournament. Bama is 24-26 (.600) in the NIT and has won seven of its last 10 contests.
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Tide Headed To Women's National Invitational Tournament
Graphic Credit: RollTide.com
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Tide Headed To Women's National Invitational Tournament
The University of Alabama women's basketball team will be making its fifth appearance as they face Tulane in New Orleans, Louisiana in the first round of the 2016 Women's National Invitational Tournament. The game will be played tomorrow, with the time to be announced sometime today.
Concerning being invited to the WNIT, Alabama head women's basketball coach KRISTY CURRY said, "We are excited for the opportunity for postseason play. It is a step forward in our process with one of the youngest teams in
the SEC. Our players have already benefitted from the additional
practice days and time together, and we look forward to Wednesday."
34 teams were awarded an at-large bid, joining the 30 automatic berths to make up the 64-team field, of which Alabama (15-15) is a part. The Crimson Tide and Tulane Green Wave will be meeting for the 11th time in program history and the first time since 2007. Alabama leads the series, but Tulane has won the last two contests.
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Burks & Green Named 1st-Team All-America
More honors for University of Alabama track and fielders QUANESHA BURKS and JEREMIAH GREEN. Burks, long jump, and Green, triple jump, were named First-Team All-America following outstanding performances at the 2016 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships held in Birmingham, alabama. The announcement came yesterday by the U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Burks completed her 2016 indoor season by breaking her own school record on her final attempt at the NCAA meet. She had already clinched the title when she came up with another jump of 22-3 3/4 (6.80m) which also set a new facility record.
Green's best mark of 52-10 (16.10m) came on his second attempt of the the triple jump at the NCAA Championships, assuring him of a place in the finals. He finished eighth in the event, giving him a spot on the First Team.
Athletes who place in the top eight at the national meet this past weekend were all designated at First-Team All-America. Those remaining finishers were named Second-Team, and those not finishing or disqualified in an event were named Honorable Mention.
A total of 103 from the SEC received First-Team honors, the most of any conference.
Green's best mark of 52-10 (16.10m) came on his second attempt of the the triple jump at the NCAA Championships, assuring him of a place in the finals. He finished eighth in the event, giving him a spot on the First Team.
Athletes who place in the top eight at the national meet this past weekend were all designated at First-Team All-America. Those remaining finishers were named Second-Team, and those not finishing or disqualified in an event were named Honorable Mention.
A total of 103 from the SEC received First-Team honors, the most of any conference.
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Baseball Meets Southern Miss
Alabama Crimson Tide baseball is in Hattiesburg, Mississippi tonight and will face Southern Mississippi for the 103rd time in the series history. The Tide and Golden Eagles go at it starting at 6 p.m. CT. Alabama leads the series 72-30 with a 26-17 record in Hattiesburg.
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3 More Tide Relay Swimmers To NCAAs
Three more relay swimmers from the University of Alabama have been added to the upcoming 2016 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships. In addition to the four swimmers who have earned individual berths (EMMA SAUNDERS, BRIDGET BLOOD, MIA NONNENBERG and MARIAN YURCHISHIN), now CAROLINE KORST, TEMARIE TOMLEY and HANNAH MUSSER join the Tide at the championships in Atlanta, Georgia March 17-19.
