Alabama Crimson Tide Hosts Kentucky Wildcats Tonight
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| Bryant-Denny Stadium At Night Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
The University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team will host the Wildcats of Kentucky this evening in Bryant-Denny Stadium for the school's annual Homecoming celebration. No one really expects Kentucky to win the game, but there are those who believe the 'Cats could make things interesting for the Tide.
Alabama is 4-0 on the year, and ranked number one in the nation riding a 16-game winning streak, as well as winning 22 of the last 23 games at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Kentucky (2-2) has now won two games in a row, and Cats coach Mark Stoops expects his team to compete.
The Crimson Tide is again a legitimate title-contender for the College Football Playoff, while Kentucky could possibly be on track for a bowl bid this season. Maybe. If they can improve on the defensive side of the ball. Today will certainly be an indicator.
Alabama leads the all-time series 36-2-1, including an undefeated 9-0 in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide also leads the series 17-1-1 over the Kentucky when Alabama is nationally-ranked.
The game will be broadcast live on ESPN at 6:05 p.m. CT, with Dave Pasch handling play-by-play duties. Former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy will serve as game analyst and Tom Luginbill will handle the sidelines.
Here is a look at events happening today on Homecoming 2016 at UA:
Here is a look at events happening today on Homecoming 2016 at UA:
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Alabama Volleyball Picks Up 2nd SEC Victory
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Defeats Georgia 3-1 In Four Sets
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| Crimson Tide Volleyball Wins Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
It was a great road win for the Alabama Crimson Tide volleyball team last night, defeating the Georgia Bulldogs in four sets in Athens, Georgia. The Bama Belles took the first two sets 32-30 and 25-15 before the Dogs managed a rally to pick up the third set 21-25. Then it was the Tide's turn once again, winning the fourth set by a score of 30-28. Alabama improves to 13-3 overall, 2-1 SEC while Georgia falls to 12-4, 0-3 SEC.
Leading the Bama offense last night was Krystal Rivers with 38 kills, tying a career high, along with a .485 hitting percentage. She also had one ace and two blocks. Shannon Mikesky and Abolanle Onipede each also maganged season highs. Mikesky had six blocks while Onipede picked up four. Brittany Thomas wasn't far off the mark for a double-double with eight kills and 11 digs. Thomas also had two aces and one block. Leah Lawrence contributed five kills and five blocks in the victory.
Alabama will next face Mississippi State (9-7, 1-1 SEC). That contest is scheduled for tomorrow at 3 p.m. CT in Starkville, Mississippi and will be broadcast live on the SEC Network.
| Game Stats | UA | UG |
|---|---|---|
| Kills | 68 | 58 |
| Errors | 22 | 25 |
| Hitting % | .307 | .220 |
| Points | 81.0 | 72.0 |
| Aces | 3 | 7 |
| Blocks | 10.0 | 7.0 |
| TA | 150 | 150 |
| Assists | 62 | 56 |
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Bama Swimming & Diving Wins A Pair Yesterday
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| Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
Crimson Tide head coach Dennis Pursley said, "I thought we had a good meet out there today." We came out with a lot of enthusiasm and our men's team gave our ladies great support. Overall, we put up some times that were a little ahead of where I thought we'd be at this point in the season. Now we just have to keep working hard and building as we get deeper into the regular season."
Alabama swept all relay and individual swimming events for the second consecutive meet, while also picking up first place honors in one of the diving events. Friday's meet was also the start of Alabama Athletics' 2016-17 Power of Pink schedule of events, which is designed to help raise awareness in the fight against breast cancer.
Opening the meet with a victory in the 200 medley relay were seniors Caroline Korst and Bridget Blood combined with juniors Hannah Musser and Bailey Scott with a time of 1:42.70. Juniors Temarie Tomley, Musser and Scott along with sophomore Morgan Fleming closed out the meet with a time of 1:32.77 to win the 200 freestyle relay.
Winning the first individual event of the day was freshman Alexis Preski in the 1,000 freestyle with a 10:08.05. This was Preski's first win with the Tide. Scott won the 50 freestyle, with a time of 23.11, and Tomley secured first place in the 100 freestyle with a 50.72.
It was a first through fourth sweep of the 200 freestyle with junior Mia Nonnenberg (1:50.81) winning the event. Nonnenberg also won the 500 freestyle with a 4:53.20 and the 200 individual medley with a 2:02.99.
Blood was victorious in the 100 breaststroke, swimming a 1:02.77, while sophomore Justine Macfarlane won the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:16.14.
For the second meet in a row, Musser won both the 100 and 200 butterfly. She picked up the 100 with a time of 55.06, and captured the 200 with a time of 2:01.64.
It was freshman Lexi Souther winning the 100 backstroke with a 57.10, while freshman Kacey Oberlander (2:03.16) earned the win in the 200 backstroke. Sophomore Ayanna Woods won the 1-meter springboard with a score of 299.10.
The Alabama men's and women's teams will be back in action on October 14th in their first road meet of the season. Bama will head to Colombia, Missouri to take on the Missouri Tigers.
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Crimson Tide Soccer Falls To Mississippi State 1-0
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| Alabama Freshman Nealy Martin Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
The winning goal came just 36 seconds into the second half, when the Bulldogs' Johanna Hamblett converted from 15 yards out.
All-in-all, the Crimson Tide took 12 shots, five of which came on frame, and six corner kicks in the 90 minute contest. Between the posts, Kat Stratton totaled three saves. Her overall record drops to 7-4-1 and 2-2-1 in conference play.
Tori Gann took three shots, one shot on goal; Abbie Boswell had two shots, one on goal; Emma Welch took two shots, two shots on goal and Jordan Meier took one shot for the Crimson Tide.
This is only the third time this season that the Tide has finished a match scoreless.
Alabama soccer returns to action on Thursday, October 6th, when the Tide hosts Ole Miss at the Alabama Soccer Complex at 7 p.m. CT. Following that contest, Bama will head to Columbia, Missouri on Sunday, October 9th, to battle the Missouri Tigers at 1 p.m. CT.
| Game Stats | UA | MSU |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 0 | 1 |
| Shots | 12 | 8 |
| Shots on Goal | 5 | 4 |
| Saves | 3 | 5 |
| Corners | 6 | 4 |
| Offsides | 0 | 1 |
| Fouls | 5 | 7 |
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Bama Cross Country Teams Post Top 20 Finishes
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| Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
The Alabama men's and women's cross country teams both posted top 20 finishes yesterday at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitation at South Bend, Indiana. The men finished 17th yesterday afternoon, while the women brought home a 15th-place finish. This was the third meet of the season for both squads.
Bama senior Antibahs Kosgei was the Crimson Tide's top runner yesterday in the men's five-mile race, finishing sixth in a time of 23:53.4. Kosgei now has three top 10 finishes in three meets already this season. The second and third finishers for the Alabama men were seniors Robbie Farnham-Rose (24:49.00) and Conner Thompson (24:58.4). Also scoring for Alabama were junior Garrett Bull (25:31.7) and senior Evan Prizy (25:32.3).
Other men's finishers for the Alabama men were sophomore Josh Short (25:59.3), freshman James Brinyark (26:06.9) and junior Andrew Bull (26:09.8).
Turning to the Crimson Tide women, it was senior Hannah Waggoner coming in as the top runner for Bama in the 5,000 meter race, finishing 47th in a personal best time of 17:06.7. Waggoner has been the Tide's No. 1 runner in both of her appearances this season. Freshman McKenzie Yanek was Alabama's second finisher, coming in 69th in 17:21.2. Sophomore Rachael Reddy came in 76th at 17:27.3. Freshman Rebecca Buteau (17:50.5) and junior Emily Edwards (17:51.00) completed the scoring for the Tide.
Also finishing for Alabama were junior Caroline Barlow (17:54.00), freshman Elisabeth Danis (18:12.1), sophomore Calli Coggins (18:12.6) and freshman Alexa Cruz (18:27.5).
Next up for the Crimson Tide is the Crimson Classic on October 14th at Harry Pritchett Running Park in Tuscaloosa. The men's 8,000-meter race will take place at 9 a.m. CT, and will be followed by the women's 6,000-meter race scheduled to begin at 9:45 a.m.
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Tide Men's & Women's Basketball To Open Season Together
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| Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
Alabama women's basketball head coach Kristy Curry begins her fourth season at the helm of the Tide basketball squad. Four starters and seven letterwinners return from last season's WNIT team.
The head coach of the men's squad, Avery Johnson, begins his second season leading the young men. Seven lettermen return from last season, and one injury and another ineligible will be ready to help the squad this season.
Tickets to watch both games are just $6 each. Single-game tickets will go on sale beginning October 24th.
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What Saban Said..."Hey Coach"
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| Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
Thursday night was interesting on "Hey Coach" with Alabama head football coach Nick Saban. He talked about the upcoming game with the Kentucky Wildcats, alluded to the Blake Barnett transfer and transfers in general in speaking with former Alabama quarterback and ESPN analyst Greg McElroy, injuries and more.
Saban's first comments were directed to media guest, Greg McElroy. Or was it? Saban mentioned how McElroy waited and worked for three years before getting his chance to start at the University of Alabama as quarterback, and then won a national championship to top it all off.
The coach talked about the "external noise" all around, but that everyone inside the program was focused.
Talking about this week's opponent, the Kentucky Wildcats, Saban said that they played a more physical game than the previous three weeks. It paid dividends, too, as Kentucky defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks 17-10. He then went on to say how it is harder to run inside against the UK 3-4 defensive scheme.
Concerning the "transfer-culture" that seems prevalent these days among the so-called gifted athletes, Saban spoke of how they look to transferring out of a program when and if things don't work out as quickly as they had hoped. He also mentioned that he would have been kicked out of the house as a kid if he quit the team.
Saban had praise for the latest addition to the Tide football staff, Steve Sarkisian. He talked of Sark's organizational skills and how he has been huge in that regard and in getting meetings set up.
The subject of running back Damien Harris came up. Saban said he hoped that Harris will be able to play on Saturday.
Saban offered a little insight into a talk that Jeremy Pruitt gave to the team prior to the USC game that he believed gave a new perspective. He reminded the young men that there was a state full of people who would struggle sleeping because they were worried about the game. It helped remind them what it means to the state of Alabama.
When asked about what the Tennessee game meant to him, Saban actually replied in a calm manner. Though he did say it was important to the players, he said that he was worried about the Kentucky game this weekend first. He did add that the Alabama-Tennessee matchup was the rivalry the players looked forward to the most every season.
Saban said that this game, and all games for that matter, were about sustaining sixty full minutes of play and concentration. He mentioned how there had already been so many second half comebacks this season.
