Preppin' For The Trojans
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| Photo Credit: USA Today/Erich Schlegal |
Practice yesterday was in shells, but was no less intense. In fact, The University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team put in a solid practice for approximately two hours at the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility. Outside, it was a hot and sunny 97-degrees.
The top-ranked Crimson Tide will face the USC Trojans in Arlington, Texas this Saturday, September 3rd in the AdvoCare Classic. The game will be held in AT&T Stadium with a 7 p.m. CT kickoff planned. The game can be seen on ABC.
The team worked on specifics for the game, working toward proper execution and assignments.
Junior linebacker Rashaan Evans is back at work. He was going through footwork drills during the media viewing period. He's been having to deal with a pulled muscle, but head coach Nick Saban says that Evans should be ready to go Saturday.
Quarterbacks continued their rotations in all phases of their game. Cooper Bateman and Blake Barnett were paired together, as would be expected according to the earlier Tide-Trojan game-day selections made by Saban. Both were throwing well during the media viewing period. Jalen Hurts and David Cornwell were also paired off.
Friday is travel day for Alabama, and one more practice is scheduled to this afternoon at 3:30 p.m.
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| Photo Credit: RollTide.com |
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Saban Addresses Media On Wednesday
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Saban Addresses Media On Wednesday
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| Photo Credit: RollTide.com |
Short and sweet.
University of Alabama Crimson Tide head football coach Nick Saban addressed the press yesterday to provide a bit of insight to how things look heading into the Tide's season-opener with the USC Trojans.
Saban said he and the coaching staff are expecting a tough, physical game on Saturday with the Trojans.
Concerning the Tide's two freshman running backs, Saban says that the pair remain a work-in-progress in their pass blocking. He commented, "We've got two guys (Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris) who have been in the system for awhile and do really well. The young guys are making progress and we want them to continue to get a better understanding of what they need to do on a consistent basis. It's probably really important on third down because that's where you get different sorts of front looks, pressures, whatever. But we're pleased with the progress. Not satisfied, but we're working on it. We're thinking both of those guys are going to make a contribution to us in the future."
Concerning injuries, Saban brought up Rashaan Evans, saying that the young man has missed some time with a pulled muscle but expect him to be 100 percent on Saturday. He also commented that Evans has had a good camp and expected him to contribute on Saturday.
Saban said it is important that the players are "able to stay focused on what they need to do to execute the play well" in the contest with USC. He spoke of the excitement of being able to find out where the team is and "what we need to do to continue to improve and get better."
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Crimson Tide Cross Country Opens Season This Saturday
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| Photo Credit: RollTide.com |
The 2016 cross country season begins this Saturday, September 3rd for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide men's and women's cross country teams. Bama travels to Memphis, Tennessee to compete in the Brooks Memphis Twilight Classic at Christian Brothers High School. Both collegiate and high school races will be held at the event. The women will run a 5-kilometer race set to start at 9:20 p.m. (CT), followed by men's 4-mile race set for a 10 p.m.
(CT) start. A total of 24 men's teams and 27 women's teams will be competing in the event.
The Crimson Tide will be sending a total of 21 athletes to Memphis, consisting of twelve women and nine men will be making the trip. Competitors for the women are senior Hannah Waggoner; junior Caroline Barlow; sophomores Calli Coggins, Nicole Gardner, Sarah Mohan, Rachael Reddy and Kaitlin York; freshmen Rebecca Buteau, Alexa Cruz, Elisabeth Danis, Haley Wright and McKenzie Yanek. Competing for the men are Antibahs Kosgei, Evan Prizy and Conner Thompson; juniors Andrew Bull, Garrett Bull and Josh Short; sophomore Clay Austell and freshmen James Brinyark and Elliott Miller.
Crimson Tide cross country head coach Dan Waters commented, "This weekend will be a good opportunity for several of our freshmen to get a taste of college competition for the first time and learn what it takes to rebound quickly as we will also be running next weekend as well. It's also an opportunity to get our veteran group on the course for the first time this season. I know everyone is looking forward to running in Memphis and kicking off the season. We've had a good summer and it's time to see what we have."
The next meet for Bama will be the Powerade Invitational coming up on Friday, September 9th in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Tide's men have a five kilometer race in which to compete while the women will be battling the other squads in a two-mile race.
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| Photo Credit: RollTide.com |
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*State of Alabama Recruits/Commitments
2017 Football Commitments For Alabama Football
The University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team currently has 21 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 9/01/16:
- Najee Harris, RB (6-1, 210), Antioch, California
- Alex Leatherwood, OL (6-4, 300), Pensacola, Florida
- Chadarius Townsend, ATH, (6-0, 180), Tanner, Alabama*
- 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 (Kansas) 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 (California)
- Mac Jones, QB (6-2, 185), Jacksonville, Florida
- 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
- Akial Byers, DL, (6-4, 275), Fayetteville, Arkansas
- Jhavonte Dean, (6-2, 189), Homestead, Florida
- Brannon Hunter, (6-4, 290), Cullman, Alabama*
- Jerry Jeudy, ( 6-1, 177), Deerfield Beach, Florida
- Kyriq McDonald, DB (5-11, 185), Madison, Alabama*
- Kendall Randolph, OL (6-5, 290), Madison, Alabama*
- Kedrick James, TE (6-5, 250), Waco, Texas
*State of Alabama Recruits/Commitments
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4-Star Anthony McFarland Includes Tide In Top 5
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4-Star Anthony McFarland Includes Tide In Top 5
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| Anthony McFarland, Jr. Twitter Photo |
Four-star prospect Anthony McFarland, Jr. out of DeMatha Catholic (Maryland) High School has announced his top five schools. The 5' 9", 203-pound all-purpose back made his announcement last night as so many others have recently, via Twitter. McFarland lists, in no specific order, The University of Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Miami and Maryland.
McFarland is the third-ranked all-purpose back, as well as the second-ranked prospect from the state of Maryland in the 2017 class.
The youngster is currently recovering from a broken fibula he received during a recent scrimmage.
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| McFarland's Top 5 Twitter Graphic/Photo |
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Crimson Tide Soccer Heading For The Sunshine State
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| Photo Credit: RollTide.com |
The University of Alabama soccer team is heading southeast for a trip state of Florida for two road contests scheduled over the next three days. Alabama begins their two matchups Tampa, Florida this evening to do battle with 20th-ranked South Florida at 6 p.m. CT. The Crimson Tide will then make their way to Fort Meyers, Florida for a contest on Sunday, September 4th. Alabama will take on Florida Gulf Coast for a noon CT kickoff.
You can watch for updates via Twitter by following @Alabama Soccer.
The Crimson Tide soccer team is sitting pretty in more ways than one. Bama is 4-0 on the young season, the best start since 2012 when the Tide opened the season at 5-0. Alabama has now scored a total of 14 goals this season, also the most since 2012 when they opened with 16 that year. Last season the Crimson Tide only scored a total of two goals through it's first four games, and didn't hit the 14th until later in the year, October 23rd in a contest with the Missouri Tigers (the 17th of the year).
The Crimson Tide ranks in the top 10 in four major offensive categories after only two weekends of play. Bama ranks fourth in shots per game, averaging 26.5. The Tide is sixth in total goals scored with 14. Bama also ranks sixth in total points with 40, and is ranked eighth in assists with 12.
The Bama gals lead the SEC in six offensive as well as two defensive categories after the first two weekends of play. Alabama's offense leads the league in shots (106), goals (14), assists (12), points (40), goals per game (3.50) and assists per game (3.0). The Tide also boasts league-leading numbers in shutouts (3) and goals allowed (2). Lacey Clarida and Abbie Boswell lead the league in game-winning goals (3) and assists (5), respectively. Boswell also leads the Southeastern Conference in assists per game (1.25), while Clarida is second in points (13), points per game (3.25), goals (6) and goals per game (1.50). Alabama has now racked up a total of 33 corner kicks, which ties for third with the Texas A&M Aggies and South Carolina Gamecocks.
The squad is showing dramatic improvement in the second season under head coach Wes Hart.
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247Sports Top 10 Recruiting Team Rankings
Here is a look at how 247Sports ranks the top 10 recruiting classes for 2017:
1. Ohio State
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
3. LSU
4. Oklahoma
5. Georgia
6. Notre Dame
7. Clemson
8. Florida State
9. Miami
10. Michigan
Three schools from the SEC made the list, with Alabama ranked the highest at No. 2, followed by LSU (3) and Georgia (5).
