Crimson Tide Football Puts In 2 Hours Sunday
 |
| UA Photo |
Sunday's practice was the third of seven practices set before Christmas break, and the third of 11 total scheduled before the semifinal matchup. Alabama and Washington will face off in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, December 31st. The game will air live on ESPN at 2 p.m. CT, with Joe Tessitore handling play-by-play, Todd Blackledge on color/analysis and Holly Rowe walking the sidelines with updates and various reports.
The No. 1 ranked Crimson Tide enters the contest undefeated, boasting a 13-0 record and the champions of the Southeastern Conference. Alabama defeated the Florida Gators to insure their trip to the playoffs. Washington is 12-1 overall and the Pac-12 champion, having defeated 8th-ranked Colorado to earn its playoff berth.
The New Year's eve contest will be only the fifth meeting in the history of these two schools, with the Crimson Tide having won all four previous games. The most recent game was in the 1986 Sun Bowl which ended in a 28-6 victory for Bama.
Cornerback Tony Brown was spotted going through some drills during the limited media viewing period. He didn't participate in the actual plays, but was at least able to get some work in. Brown is recovering from a muscle pull, according to head coach Nick Saban. Shyheim Carter was lined up in the star position in his stead.
Defensive lineman Dakota Ball wasn't seen at practice during the media viewing period. Ball injured his finger in a hunting accident and is working through recovery. He hasn't been practicing so far during playoff prep.
Newly-appointed offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian is more visible during the practice sessions since his promotion. Lane Kiffin, however, remains the offensive coordinator through the playoffs prior to his departure as the new head coach at FAU.
--------------------------------------------------------
Tide Women's Basketball Set To Play Tonight
Participates In Inaugural Patrick Harrington Classic
 |
| Alabama Women's Basketball Stopping for some grub headed to Florida Kristy Curry Photo |
Two games remain for the Alabama women's basketball team (9-1) prior to Christmas break. The Crimson Tide will participate in the inaugural Patrick Harrington Classic, which is taking place at Northwest Florida State's Raider Arena. Bama will face McNeese State (5-4) on Monday, December 19th at 7 p.m. CT, and will then meet UTEP (2-7) on Tuesday, December 20th at 7 p.m. CT.
Both contests will be available on the Crimson Tide Sports Network, with Roger Hoover on play-by-play and Tyler Williams handling analyst duties.
The Alabama-McNeese State matchup will be the fourth in the series, with the Crimson Tide having won all three previous meetings. The last meeting was a 69-53 victory for the Tide back in 2010.
This will be the first meeting between Alabama and UTEP.
The Crimson Tide has held opponents to 15 or fewer points in 27 of 41 periods played this season. In fact, in 14 of those 41 quarters Bama's foes have put up only 10 or fewer points, and in four quarters five points or fewer.
The Alabama offense has been dominate in the first half this season, scoring 375 points thus far in the young season. At the same time, the Tide defense has held its opposition to just 227 points.
It should be noted that Alabama Crimson Tide junior Ashley Williams is only 123 points away from becoming Alabama's 25th 1,000-point scorer in program history. Should she reach that number this season, Williams will be only the 13th Bama student-athlete to accomplish the feat in three or fewer years.
Also of note, Williams just completed her undergraduate degree in criminal justice and is set to begin work on her master's degree in January. She will now be honored by sporting an SEC Graduate patch on her game jersey.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Men's Basketball Suffers Defeat In Birmingham
Falls To Clemson In 2016 BBVA Compass Vulcan Classic
 |
| UA Photo/Kent Gidley |
Alabama men's head basketball coach Avery Johnson said, "I thought we had way too many turnovers. We were competitive in the first half, but offensively – whether it's a missed shot, a careless pass, a wasted possession – something we've been talking a lot about but just didn't carry over from practice and our video session. In the second half, we had a little bit more energy. We're just not getting enough guys in double figures. We'll keep working on it; I thought our guys showed some fight in the second half."
Coming in off the bench, sophomore Avery Johnson, Jr. scored a career-high 17 points while going 5-of-11 from the field. Senior Shannon Hale added eight points, while sophomore Donta Hall pulled down a game-high seven rebounds.
Johnson, Sr. further stated, "It's not so much about toughness and grit as it is about leadership. We're starting to get some leadership on the floor. And guys that have the potential to lead, we want them to not be ashamed of their leadership ability."
Though Bama dropped this particular contest, the bench once again outscored the competition 34-23. The Tide even out-rebounded the Tigers 37-32, however it was the 16 turnovers for Bama versus 11 for Clemson that helped tip the scale. Clemson outscored Alabama in points off turnovers 19-12.
Shelton Mitchell led the Tigers with a game-high 18 points and contributed five rebounds. Gabe DeVoe added 11 points and a game-high four assists.
One injury to report for the Tide in the contest. The elder Johnson said that starting guard Corban Collins appears to have "some kind of groin issue" but offered nothing more. Collins was in obvious pains after hitting the hardwood late in the game.
Alabama is back on the hardwood on Wednesday, December 21st. The Crimson Tide will do battle with Arkansas State in the Rocket City Classic at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Game time is set for 8 p.m. CT, with the game airing on SEC Network.
 |
| UA Graphics/Photo |
----------------------------------------------------
Tide QB Commit Mac Jones Keeping Recruitment Open
 |
| 247Sports Photo |
After only a few days ago saying his commitment to Alabama football was strong, quarterback recruit Mac Jones has now said that he is keeping his recruitment open. Though he says he is not afraid of competition, he also stated that "it's a tough situation."
Jones said also that he no longer believes he will graduate early and enroll early at Alabama after all. Jones commented, "I don’t think I am graduating early
anymore. Missouri wants me to come up for an official
visit. That’s really the only other school coming after me right now.
It’s a possibility I could visit other schools. I have a lot of time,
but I know my Alabama official visit will be in January."
----------------------------------------------------------
Largest College Football Attendance For 2016
The University of Alabama placed fourth in college football attendance for the 2016 season, with the Crimson Tide averaging 101,821 fans per game at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. In all, five teams from the Southeastern Conference had the largest attendance in the country this season.
Here are the top ten schools in college football attendance for this season, in descending order:
10 Nebraska 90,200
9 Georgia 92,746
8 Texas 97,881
7 Penn State 100,257
6 Tennessee 100,969
5 LSU 101,231
4 Alabama 101,821
3 Texas A&M 101,917
2 Ohio State 107,278
1 Michigan 110,468
