And In This Corner...
 |
| Paul Finebaum & Alabama Head Football Coach Nick Saban Photo Credit: SEC Network |
By now everyone has heard of the heated exchange, both on and off the air, between the SEC Network's Paul Finebaum and The University of Alabama Crimson Tide head football coach Nick Saban. The topic? Cam Robinson and Hootie Jones.
Or was it?
Was it more about controversy? More about ratings?
Now, I'm not saying that Finebaum expected at all what came from Saban, but he knew it would at least somewhat "rankle" Alabama's head coach. That's what Finebaum does.
Remember years ago when Finebaum was a sports columnist in Birmingham? Then eventually went on the air with a local radio sports program? He was the man all of the Alabama and Auburn fans loved to hate. Controversial comments. He thrived on it and parlayed it into national radio and now network television.
One wants ratings. One wants to mold men.
This won't be the end of the conversation. Like the issue of the satellite camps, the discipline issue with Robinson and Jones isn't going away anytime soon.
The country knows Saban as a strict disciplinarian. But he is also known as one that doesn't just "put it all out there."
The pair aren't facing prosecution, yet Saban has instituted disciplinary action. And it's not over. The decision still has not been made concerning whether one or both players will be suspended for the first game of the season. Most believe Saban pretty much ruled that out in his comments, but he was clear that how the pair handle themselves will determine whether they play or not (More than likely they ARE going to play).
Former University of Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy was asked about the situation and responded, "It might night reflect well as far as public perception is concerned, but you know what, at the end of the day, Nick Saban doesn't care about public perception. He cares about the guys that he has to mentor back in Tuscaloosa, and he cares about the 16, 17 and 18-year-olds that are going to make up his team in the future. That's what he's trying to protect, that relationship that he has with his guys, so I think he got a point across today, and I would imagine by those players, it was very well received."
When asked if he was Nick Saban and what he would do about this particular situation, Marcus Spears of the SEC Network said, "I'm defending my players because I understand that relationship. We in the media need answers. We've been on both sides of these conversations. There is much more responsibility taken within the facility. You don't need people to know about what these guys will deal with as far as consequences within your program or your facility. Coach Saban defended his player, and if I'm a player sitting in Tuscaloosa, and I'm looking at Coach Saban talking about Cam Robinson with Paul Finebaum, I love my coach. My coach is defending players based on the information that he has that we probably don't have access to, and I love Paul Finebaum for challenging that. You need both, bascially is what I'm saying."
Whatever the coach ultimately decides, it will be what is best for the players' futures.
A football coach, yes, to build and hone the abilities of his players. But also a builder of character.
------------------------------------
CB Kyriq McDonald Places Bama In His Top 7
 |
| Kyriq McDonald Twitter Photo |
Three-star cornerback Kyriq McDonald out of James Clemons in Madison, Alabama has trimmed his list of colleges to seven. McDonald tweeted these seven, in no particular order:
Alabama Crimson Tide
Vanderbilt
Mississippi State
South Alabama
Louisville
Tulane
Florida State
Here is the tweet that McDonald sent out yesterday:
"First off I would like to thank God for blessing me with the ability to play the game..I am very thankful for all the coaches that have been recruiting me and it has truly been a blessing. With that being said I would like to announce my Top 7 Schools!!
"#GodBless"
Saban and The Tide offered McDonald last month.
-----------------------------------
*State of Alabama Recruits/Commitments
2017 Football Commitments For Alabama Football
The University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team currently has 15 student-athletes who have committed to furthering their football careers at the Capstone. As new commits are announced the list will be updated and released.
Here is the complete list of 2017 commitments to UA as of 7/14/16:
- Najee Harris, RB (6-1, 210), Antioch, California
- Alex Leatherwood, OL (6-4, 300), Pensacola, Florida
- Chadarius Townsend, ATH, (6-0, 180), Tanner, Alabama*
- Xavier McKinney, DB (6-1, 170), Roswell, Georgia
- Brian Robinson, RB (6-2, 210), Tuscaloosa, Alabama*
- Aaron Sterling, DL (6-1, 270), Stone Mountain, Georgia
- Gary Johnson, LB (6-2, 225), Dodge City (Kan.) Community College
- VanDarius Cowan, LB (6-4, 217), Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
- Tua Tagovailoa, QB (6-1, 210), Honolulu, Hawaii
- Elliot Baker, OL (6-7, 295), City College of San Francisco (Calif.)
- Mac Jones, QB (6-2, 185), Jacksonville, Fla.
- Markail Benton, LB (6-2, 245), Phenix City, Alabama*
- Brandon Ruiz, K (5-10, 165), Gilbert, Arizona
- Tyrell Davis, LB ( 6-6, 202), Lewisville, Texas
- Thomas Fletcher, C (6-2, 220), Bradenton, Florida
*State of Alabama Recruits/Commitments
-----------------------------------
Crimson Tide Places 2 On Biletnikoff Watch List
 |
| Graphic/Photo Credit: RollTide.com |
The University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team has placed two players on the preseason watch list for the coveted Biletnikoff Award, which is given annually to the nation's top wide receiver. The Tallahassee Quarterback Club moments ago released a list of 53 prospective winners, though more will join the list over the course of this season.
Senior Gehrig Dieter and sophomore Calvin Ridley were two names on the list with 31 seniors and 16 juniors, the six sophomores.
The list will be cut down to 10 semifinalists in mid-November, with a trio of finalists announced a week later. The winner will be revealed during the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN on Dec. 8th.
