Who Will Be Alabama's New Defensive Line Coach?
UA Head Football Coach Nick Saban
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
It had been reported several days ago that it was expected that Alabama head football coach Nick Saban would be hiring long-time NFL assistant coach Karl Dunbar as the new defensive line coach for the Crimson Tide. It may be that the announcement, first broken by AL.com, may have been premature. While Davis could still be the new man, it appears others are being interviewed for the position vacated by Bo Davis when he resigned due to recruiting violations.
Saban indicated yesterday that a hire for the DL coach position didn't seem imminent. He said they have interviewed numerous candidates, but wasn't naming names.
"We are working on it," Saban said. "We have interviewed a few people.
Now is not really a great time for people to be looking for work and out
of jobs, and not a good time for anyone to leave the job they're in."
Since Dunbar is currently unemployed, it would appear at first glance that Dunbar isn't the coach of choice, at least at the moment. With spring practices having been completed and most coaching staffs pretty much solidified, many aren't looking to make a chance this time of year.
Saban stated, "We are doing the best job we can to do the due diligence of what's
available to us and we'll hire the best person that we can to develop
our players up front."
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Alabama Football Will Participate In Satellite Camps
Alabama Head Football Coach Nick Saban
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
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Alabama Football Will Participate In Satellite Camps
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban confirmed on Thursday that his staff will indeed participate in camps outside Tuscaloosa this summer "on a limited basis."
Saban stated, "We're still working on plans but we're going to really focus on
continuing to get kids to come to our camps here. Our
camps have always been about player development and doing a great job of
teaching and have a great staff here."
Samford University in Birmingham has already issued a number of advertisements and fliers stating that Alabama football coaches will be a part of its June 11th "Mega Prospect Camp."
The Alabama head coach said they are not allowed to promote which camps they would be
joining, so no other dates were discussed. Saban's focus was on and will remain on the traditional camps that Alabama hosts every summer on campus.
After the NCAA overturned the April 8 ban on satellite camps, the SEC dropped its restriction on the practice. Most SEC member schools are now planning or have booked satellite camps.
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Bama Baseball Hosts Auburn For Weekend Series
Graphics/Photo Credit: RollTide.com
University of Alabama baseball will welcome in-state rival Auburn for a three-game series this weekend at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa. This weekend series with the Tigers closes out the Crimson Tide's current six-game home stand.
Game one is tonight with a scheduled first pitch at 7 pm CT. Game two is tomorrow evening at 6 pm and the Sunday finale is slated for a 3 pm start. Tonight's contest is available on SECN+. The Saturday and Sunday games will be carried on the SEC Network. Mick Gillispie and Scott McClanahan will be handling first-game duties, and Mike Morgan with Gabe Gross calling the final two games.
Tonight's meeting will be the 284th between the two, with the Crimson Tide holding the advantage 155-128, including a 79-43 slate in Tuscaloosa. The Tiger captured the win in the last matchup at the MAX Capitol City Classic in Montgomery on March 29th with a 10-1 win.
Alabama will start three right-handers for the weekend once again, first with junior Geoffrey Bramblett opening the series on Friday night. Sophomore Jake Walters will follow on Saturday evening, before junior Nick Eicholtz closes out the series with the start on Sunday afternoon.
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Tide Women's Golf 7th After Day 1 Of NCAA Regional
WGO Regionals Team
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Robert Sutton
The University of Alabama's top-ranked women's golf team is in seventh place of the NCAA Regional after the first round yesterday. The regional is being held at the Shoal Creek Club in Shoal Creek, Alabama. Bama trails first-place Northwestern by 10 shots after shooting an 18-over par 306.
Alabama head women's golf coach Mic Potter said, "We're probably lucky to shoot what we shot. Just didn’t look like the team we’ve been all
year. In the end, I still like our team even though we struggled. As it
got windier, the greens got harder and faster then you’ve got to be real
careful with your putting. We didn’t put any pressure on the golf
course today."
Individual leaders for the Tide after round one are senior Emma Talley who sits in a tie for 15th place after shooting a 3-over par 75, senior Janie Jackson is tied for 25th with a 3-over 75, Cheyenne Knight is tied for 33rd after a 5-over 77 day, sophomore Nicole Morales is tied for 45th after shooting a 6-over 78 and finally Lakareber Abe is tied for 55th after a 7-over 79 day.
Northwestern is in first after day one after shooting an 8-over par 296. They are followed by FSU with a 299, Tennessee (300), Oklahoma State (301), Vanderbilt (302) and New Mexico State ( 303).
The Crimson Tide will begin today's second round in the first group off Hole No. 1 at 7:30 a.m. CT. Alabama will be grouped with 8th place California and 9th place Clemson.
Alabama Golfer Cheyenne Knight
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Robert Sutton
Alabama Golfer Emma Talley
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Robert Sutton
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4th-Ranked Tide Softball Hosts Georgia This Weekend
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
The fourth-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide softball team (43-10 overall, 14-7 SEC) will be hosting the No. 15/16 Georgia Bulldogs (39-14 overall, 11-10 SEC) at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa this weekend in the final SEC series of the season for Bama.
Game one of the three-game series is tonight at 6:30 pm CT. Game two is Saturday, May 7th with an 11 am first pitch and will be broadcast on ESPN. The Sunday finale is set for 1 pm CT.
Alabama leads the series 39-17 and is currently riding a two-game win streak.
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Three Bama Softballers Named Academic All-District
Graphics/Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Three members of the University of Alabama softball team have been named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team. They are senior Haylie McCleney, junior Sydney Littlejohn and junior Chandler Dare.
McCleney has now received the honor three times, while it is the first time for both Littlejohn and Dare. Though the Crimson Tide is one of six Southeastern Conference schools represented, Bama is the only one of those six with multiple honorees. At least three Alabama athletes have been named Academic All-District in four of the last six seasons with multiple honorees. The program's best season was in2012 with five honorees.
In order for a student-athlete to be nominated for the honor, one must be at least a sophomore in eligibility, must participate in at least 50 percent of a team’s
games at the nominated position and own at least a 3.30 cumulative grade
point average. For pitchers, they must have at least 10.0 innings
pitched. Academic All-District winners will be placed on the ballot for
Academic All-America, which will be announced on May 26th.
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It's Commencement Weekend At UA
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More Than 70 Student-Athletes Set To Graduate
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
The University of Alabama will graduate more than 70 student-athletes at this weekend's commencement ceremonies. Among those are two NCAA champions, 11 All-Americans from nine different sports and four Academic All-Americans.
You can see the list of graduates at RollTide.com.
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Lauren Beers Female Community Service Leader Of The Year
University of Alabama Gymnast Lauren Beers
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Alabama's Beers as well as Texas A&M track and field athlete Wade Karam were chosen by a committee of Faculty Athletics Representatives from Southeastern Conference universities. Both student-athletes will receive a $10,000 post-graduate scholarship apiece which is being provided by the SEC.
"SEC student-athletes are as active in their communities as they are accomplished in athletic competition and academic endeavors," Sankey said. "Lauren Beers and Wade Karam epitomize the commitment to a well-rounded college experience and they truly represent all that can be achieved by student-athletes in the Southeastern Conference."
Beers is a three-time NCAA Elite 90 Award winner and an All-American and Academic All-American, and is the fifth Alabama student-athlete to earn the honor since its inception in 1986.
University of Alabama Director of Athletics Bill Battle said, "Lauren Beers is a tremendous example of what is possible when you dedicate yourself to being the best you can be. A champion in the classroom and the gym, she has given generously of her scant free time to make a difference in the community around her. She is a young lady of impressive character and compassion, and we are very proud of what she has accomplished in all areas of the collegiate experience."
Alabama head gymnastics coach Dana Duckworth said, "Service to others, to have the heart of a servant leader, has always been one of the cornerstones of Alabama gymnastics and Alabama Athletics. It is an aspect of program that Lauren and all of our ladies really embrace and enjoy during their time at the Capstone."
The SEC Community Service Post-Graduate Scholarship is named for former Associate Commissioner Brad Davis who succumbed to cancer on March 2, 2006. He had been a member of the SEC staff since 1988, first serving as an assistant commissioner until 1994 when he was promoted to associate commissioner.
