Bama Football Moves Into Game-Plan Mode
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| Alabama football head coach Nick Saban Practice makes perfect, so let's get it right! Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
The University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team has made the customary practice-shift from workouts, fundamentals and the like to the game-plan mode. Bama practiced for two hours in full pads yesterday afternoon in preparation for this Saturday's contest with the No. 13 LSU Tigers.
Alabama right guard Alphonse Taylor continues to be hampered in healing from a concussion suffered several weeks ago against the Arkansas Razorbacks. He wasn't spotted on the field during the media viewing period yesterday. Lester Cotton was again in Taylor's position on the offensive line.
Minkah Fitzpatrick continued to work in his new position at safety.
The Crimson Tide had various players in the roles of LSU players to help get Bama ready for this week's contest.
Alabama leads the all-time series 50-25-5, and is currently enjoying a five-game win streak that began with the Tide 21-0 victory over the Bengal Tigers back in the 2012 BCS National Championship. Last year Bama beat LSU 30-16 in Tuscaloosa.
The game will be broadcast live on the CBS Network beginning at 7 p.m. CT this Saturday, November 5th. Verne Lundquist will be handling the play-by-play live from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Gary Danielson will be tasked with color commentary/analysis and Allie LaForce will work the sidelines.
Check out the highlights from yesterday's practice by clicking on the link below:
Tuesday, November 1st Crimson Tide football practice (click to view)
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First 2016 College Football Playoff Rankings Released
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First 2016 College Football Playoff Rankings Released
The wait is over. The first edition of the College Football Playoff Rankings was released
on Tuesday afternoon, and with one surprise to the list. Of course, what wasn't a surprise was the Alabama Crimson Tide sitting on top of the rankings.
Five Southeastern Conference football teams made this initial Top-25 Poll released last night by the College Football Playoff Selection Committee. They are The Alabama Crimson Tide (1), Texas A&M (4), Auburn (9), Florida (11) and LSU (13).
Five Southeastern Conference football teams made this initial Top-25 Poll released last night by the College Football Playoff Selection Committee. They are The Alabama Crimson Tide (1), Texas A&M (4), Auburn (9), Florida (11) and LSU (13).
Alabama is the defending National Champion, having won last year's national title, remains undefeated on the 2016 season
with a perfect 8–0 record. The Crimson Tide, however, faces a tough test against No. 13 LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Saturday night.
The Clemson Tigers also undefeated at 8–0, will likely go on to win the ACC title with little trouble. Of course Dabo Swinney's team reached the national championship last year but fell to the Crimson Tide.
The Michigan Wolverines are looking at making their first College Football
Playoff, if they can get past their matchup with the Ohio State Buckeyes on November 26th.
The Texas A&M Aggies (7–1) are ranked fourth despite their one loss. That loss, of course, came at the hands of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Most expected that last position would go to the Washington Huskies, but the strength of the SEC and the Aggies' schedule gave them the last slot in this first ranking.
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Bama Men's Golf Defeats Georgia At Cypress Point
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| Cypress Point at Pebble Beach Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
Alabama head men's golf coach Jay Seawell said, "What an amazing experience we had. We played one of the greatest golf courses in the world and we were able to compete in a match play tournament, which was a great learning experience. To that end, the trip was a huge success. I wish we would've played better (Monday), but beating Georgia (yesterday) was a good way to finish."
Alabama suffered two losses on Monday, before making the come-back yesterday.
"Hopefully (yesterday's) performance will give us a little momentum as we head into the offseason," Seawell said. "We are still a team in transition a little bit, trying to find the confidence and ability to play at a high level. We will use our offseason to work on that."
Next up for the Crimson Tide will be the competition at the Puerto Rico Classic on February 19-21, marking the first tournament of the spring season.
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Kickoff Set For Alabama-Mississippi State
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| Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
The Crimson Tide leads the series 78-18-3 against the Bulldogs. Alabama is riding an eight-game win streak against the Bulldogs.
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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 11/02/16:
- 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*
- 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 Shavers, 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
- Hunter Brannon, (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
- Dylan Moses, LB (6-3, 235), IMG Academy, Bradenton, Florida
- Major Tennison, TE (6-6, 230), Bullard, Texas
*State of Alabama Recruits/Commitments
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Alabama Gymnastics Season Tickets On Sale
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| Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
Current season ticket holders still have a limited amount of time to renew while new season ticket holders can select their seat locations online at RollTide.com. Season ticket package prices are $48 while UA faculty and staff and groups (four or more) may purchase season packages for only $39.
Tickets can be purchased at the Alabama Ticket Office, located in the main lobby of Coleman Coliseum, by phone at 205-348-2262 and online at RollTide.com.
All five of the Crimson Tide's 2017 home meets are set for Friday evenings this season. Alabama, which finished last season No. 3 in the nation, opens its home season against the LSU Tigers on Friday, January 20th in Coleman Coliseum.
Alabama will also host the Florida Gators in Tuscaloosa this season. The two teams will meet on February 3rd and have accounted for the last eight Southeastern Conference championships, with four each. The Crimson Tide and Gators have also won five of the last six NCAA titles.
Bama will then close its 2017 home schedule with three meets in just four
weeks. Auburn comes to Coleman on February 17th, followed
by Boise State on February 24th and finally Iowa State on March 10th.
But Orgeron didn't stop there with the head coach. He was also high complimentary of Alabama offensive coordinator (and former boss) Lane Kiffin. He spoke of Kiffin's great game-day play calling, and how he is able to see things that develop on field really fast. He also mentioned that Kiffin knew how defenses operate. Of course growing up with the game, and a defensive mind like Monte Kiffin as a father and mentor didn't hurt either, helping him to study the game his entire life.
Concerning the Crimson Tide offensive line, Orgeron said he likes it...because it's "nothing fancy." He said that "they just execute."
Defensively, Orgeron says that Bama has "one of the best defenses in college football history," saying they are an efficient squad and take every opportunity available when it comes to turnovers.
Don't think the head man at LSU didn't have something to say about Alabama's true freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts either. Orgeron compared the youngster to a wildcat that can throw the football.
Much has been said concerning the comment made by LSU safety Dwayne Thomas' comment this past week. Thomas, in his exuberance, emphatically stated that LSU would dominate Alabama's offense. Orgeron did say that it was wrong of Thomas and that he shouldn't have said it, and then told of having a talk with the youngster.
Orgeron, of course, talked about what LSU needed to do to win this Saturday's matchup with the top-ranked Crimson Tide, but that is another story. Obviously they will have to play their best game of the season.
One thing is for certain. This is one team that won't be able to blame a loss on their injury situation. Orgeron said that LSU is in the best shape, injury-wise, than they have been all season.
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What Ed Orgeron Had To Say About The Crimson Tide
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| Photo Credit: AP.org |
With less than a week from the elections for President of the United States, the U.S. House and Senate, Governors, Mayors and the like it's a pretty safe bet that most everyone is tired of politicians. But coaches have been playing "politics" for decades now. Case in point, what each usually has to say about the opposing team the week of a big game.
It's not like only a handful of coaches do it. They all do it. Well, to be honest, it would be kind of crazy for a coach to up and say how terrible a team is that they have to play that week. Or how terrible a coaching job the staff is doing. Or the low-calibre of players that they have.
No, when it comes to facing the media and talking about the opposition, coaches have to be "politically correct" and provide no fodder for the other team to use as a catalyst to play their best game. "Kill 'em with kindness" is the phrase, I believe.
The interim head coach of Alabama's opponent this week knows how to play that game. Ed Orgeron was very complimentary this week of the University of Alabama football team, individual student-athletes and the coaching staff. Here is some of what he has had to say.
Orgeron said he wanted to tell the truth, and "the truth is this is a great Alabama team." He went on to compliment head coach Nick Saban saying that Saban was "one of the best college football coaches in football history."
Concerning the Crimson Tide offensive line, Orgeron said he likes it...because it's "nothing fancy." He said that "they just execute."
Defensively, Orgeron says that Bama has "one of the best defenses in college football history," saying they are an efficient squad and take every opportunity available when it comes to turnovers.
Don't think the head man at LSU didn't have something to say about Alabama's true freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts either. Orgeron compared the youngster to a wildcat that can throw the football.
Much has been said concerning the comment made by LSU safety Dwayne Thomas' comment this past week. Thomas, in his exuberance, emphatically stated that LSU would dominate Alabama's offense. Orgeron did say that it was wrong of Thomas and that he shouldn't have said it, and then told of having a talk with the youngster.
Orgeron, of course, talked about what LSU needed to do to win this Saturday's matchup with the top-ranked Crimson Tide, but that is another story. Obviously they will have to play their best game of the season.
One thing is for certain. This is one team that won't be able to blame a loss on their injury situation. Orgeron said that LSU is in the best shape, injury-wise, than they have been all season.
