Crimson Tide To Play Huskies In CFP Semifinal
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| Alabama Crimson Tide 2016 SEC Champions Set To Play Washington Huskies Dec. 31st Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
After spending the entire season sitting atop the major college polls, including first to last CFP Committee Poll (where it counts), the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide is set to face the No. 4 ranked Washington Huskies in the College Football
Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in the Georgia Dome in
Atlanta, Georgia. The game is set to be played on Saturday, December 31st with a 2:00 p.m. kickoff.
University of Alabama Crimson Tide head football coach Nick Saban commented, "We are excited to be returning to Atlanta for the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and the College Football Playoffs. The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl is a first-class event run by a
first-class organization. Our team and our fans have enjoyed several
trips to Atlanta over the years, and the city has always been a great
host. We are looking forward to playing there once again."
The Crimson Tide has faced the Washington Huskies four times previously. The most recent matchup between the pair was back in the 1986 Sun Bowl when Alabama defeated Washington rather handily 28-6. The Crimson Tide went 9-3 that season.Saban complimented the Huskies, saying, "Washington has a very good football team and we are looking forward to the challenge. They have some outstanding players on offense...great skill players, a great quarterback, very good offensive line and they play tremendous defense."
This semifinal game is one of two, with the second-ranked Clemson Tigers to face the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes in the Playstation Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona in the second matchup of December 31st. The winners of these two semifinal games will then go on to play each other at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on January 9, 2017 in the CFP National Championship Game.
With this being its 65th appearance in a postseason game, the Crimson Tide has played in more bowl games, and earned more postseason victories, than any other school in college football history. This is Nick Saban's 10th season at the helm of the Tide and the 10th postseason appearance. This is Alabama's 13th consecutive season in postseason play.
Since coming to Alabama, Saban is 7-3 in postseason games, with victories over Clemson (2016 CFP National Championship Game), Michigan State (2016 CFP Semifinal Game at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic), Notre Dame (2013 BCS National Championship Game at the Orange Bowl), LSU (2012 BCS National Championship Game at the Sugar Bowl), Michigan State (2011 Capital One Bowl), Texas (2010 BCS National Championship at the Rose Bowl) and Colorado (2007 Independence Bowl). Oddly enough, the Tide's losses have all come in the Sugar Bowl, falling to Utah in 2009, Oklahoma in 2014 and, most recently, Ohio State in 2015.
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| Southeastern Conference Championship Trophy Alabama victorious again Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
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Tide Linebacker Reuben Foster Wins 2016 Butkus Award
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| Reuben Foster Receiving Butkus Award Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
University of Alabama senior linebacker Reuben Foster has brought more hardware and national attention to the Crimson Tide. Foster is the recipient of the 2016 Butkus Award, presented annually to the nation's top collegiate linebacker.
The award's namesake, Dick Butkus himself, presented Foster the award on Sunday evening during the Alabama Football Team Banquet held at the Birmingham Sheraton. Foster is now the fourth Crimson Tide football player to win the coveted award. The other Bama three are Derrick Thomas (1988), Rolando McClain (2009) and C.J. Mosley (2013).
Foster has been a wrecking ball on defense, delivering a team-high 94 tackles while adding 12.0 tackles for loss (-56 yards) and four sacks (-33 yards) on the season. He has also added eight quarterback hurries and a pair of pass breakups for the 2016 season, with more to come.
Foster had some stiff competition for the Butkus Award, and was chosen over fellow finalists Kendall Beckwith (LSU), Zach Cunningham (Vanderbilt), Jarrad Davis (Florida) and Josey Jewell (Iowa).
The award recognizes linebackers at three levels of competition while helping spread the word about Butkus' 'I Play Clean' initiative, which encourages teens to eat well, train hard, and play with attitude instead of resorting to steroids and performance-enhancing drugs.
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Alabama Women's Basketball Bests Kansas
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| Bama Women's Basketball Overtime Thriller Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
University of Alabama women's head basketball coach Kristy Curry said, "This was a good experience for us, one that was much needed. We really had some things that we didn't do well there in the first half and got in some foul trouble. We came back out the second half and just kind of stayed the course. We didn't shoot the ball well and, on a day when you don't shoot the ball well, you just keep shooting it. We kept telling them we had a lot of confidence in them, and the free throws and threes we missed earlier in the game, I guess you can say we made them when they counted the most, so that's what's important."
Leading the Crimson Tide yesterday was junior Quanetria Bolton with 18 points and nine rebounds. Junior Meoshonti Knight contributed 17 points and Cook added 10 points in the overtime victory. Freshman Ashley Knight finished the contest with seven points and six rebounds of her own off the bench.
"I loved the poise," commented Curry. "You could tell that our kids never believed that they wouldn't win, and I thought that their maturity down the stretch and some of the things we work on daily for special situations really paid off today."
Alabama shot 30.7 percent (23-75), while Kansas was 31.1 percent (23-74) from the floor. The Crimson Tide, however, was outrebounded for the first time this season 59-54.
Alabama will now play its first road game of the season against the Georgetown Hoyas this coming Sunday, December 11th. Game time is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. CT.
| Game Stats | KU | UA |
|---|---|---|
| FG% | .311 | .307 |
| 3FG% | .167 | .238 |
| FT% | .789 | .625 |
| RB | 59 | 54 |
| TO | 18 | 14 |
| STL | 4 | 8 |
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Alabama Football Holds Annual Awards Banquet
Numerous Awards Handed Out
Numerous Awards Handed Out
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| 2016 Football Captains: Allen, Foster, Jackson & Robinson Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
The University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team held its annual awards banquet on Sunday evening at the Birmingham Sheraton, with numerous players winning honors.
Alabama football head coach Nick Saban was his usual jovial self in such settings as he addressed an audience that included members of the team, coaching staff, administration and support staff following the awards session. The head man spoke of the 2016 football season and commented concerning the coaching staff and team goals for the upcoming College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl to be played on December 31st.
Four captains were named by the Crimson Tide on Sunday as representatives of the 2016 squad, with those being seniors Jonathan Allen, Reuben Foster, Eddie Jackson as well as junior Cam Robinson.
Here is the complete list of award winners at Sunday's awards banquet:
Unsung Hero Award
To the player who has made significant contributions to the success of the team and received the least recognition for it:
Tony Brown, Rashaan Evans, Hootie Jones, Cam Sims
Outstanding Senior Scholar
To the senior with the highest GPA:
Dakota Ball, Brandon Greene
Commitment to Academic Excellence Award
To the player who has demonstrated the greatest commitment and achievement in his academic endeavors during the previous year:
Keaton Anderson, Cooper Bateman, Josh Casher, J.C. Hassenauer, Hale Hentges, Christian Miller
Iron Man Award
To the player(s) who have shown the most dedication to the individual and team goals of the Crimson Tide's year-round strength and conditioning program:
Josh Jacobs, Anfernee Jennings, Korren Kirven, Bo Scarbrough
Most Inspiring Player
To the player who affects the whole team by his attitude as well as his performance (voted on by the players):
Eddie Jackson
Pat Trammel Award
To a senior player whose character and contributions to the Alabama Football Team most personify the All-American youth of today and has reflected qualities of Integrity, Character, Importance of Academics and Inspirational Leadership during their time at Alabama:
Gehrig Dieter, Dalvin Tomlinson
Outstanding Defensive Performer
To the player with the most tackles/points:
Jonathan Allen, Ryan Anderson, Reuben Foster, Ronnie Harrison
Up-Front Award
To the outstanding lineman from each unit:
Bradley Bozeman, Ross Pierschbacher, Da'Ron Payne, Dalvin Tomlinson
Defensive Achievement Award
To the player who has played a critical role in the effectiveness of this unit:
Anthony Averett, Shaun Dion Hamilton, Da'Shawn Hand, Eddie Jackson, Tim Williams
Offensive Achievement Award
To the player who has played a critical role in the effectiveness of this unit:
Damien Harris, Jalen Hurts, Cam Robinson, Jonah Williams
President's Award
To a player from each unit who has shown perseverance in making outstanding contributions to the team's success:
Minkah Fitzpatrick, Marlon Humphrey, O.J. Howard, Calvin Ridley
Jefferson County Distinguished Alumnus Award
A former player who has exemplified the principles, values, character and attitude that make a person successful either during a particular life experience or over a period of time:
Bill Battle
Special Teams Player of the Year Award
To the most valuable special teams player:
Adam Griffith, Keith Holcombe, Cole Mazza, JK Scott
Offensive Player of the Year Award
To the most valuable offensive player:
Cam Robinson, ArDarius Stewart
Defensive Player of the Year Award
To the most valuable defensive player:
Jonathan Allen, Ryan Anderson, Reuben Foster
Most Valuable Player Award
To the overall most valuable player on the team (voted on by the players):
Reuben Foster
Captain Awards
To the players elected by their teammates as permanent team captains (voted on by the players):
Jonathan Allen, Reuben Foster, Eddie Jackson, Cam Robinson
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College Football National Rankings
Associated Press, Coaches Poll, CBS & CFP
Crimson Tide No. 1 In All Major Polls
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Alabama QB Cooper Bateman To Transfer
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| Cooper Bateman Photo Credit: AP/Butch Dill |
It is reported that University of Alabama backup quarterback Cooper Bateman will transfer, according to a report from AL.com. According to the report, Bateman was actually granted his transfer last week, and is now "unclear" as to whether or not he will remain with the team through the duration of the playoffs/postseason. It appears that decision could be up to the when the school to which he transfers might need him on campus.
Bateman is a redshirt junior at the university, and has been the backup since the transfer of Blake Barnett early in the season. Barnett, remember, started in the Crimson Tide's opening game against USC, but the true freshman, Jalen Hurts, came in and became Bama's "unofficial" starter.
Other than backup quarterbacking duties, Bateman handles holding the ball for field goal attempts, which is something that Alabama head coach Nick Saban prefers his backup quarterbacks to do because of their ball-handling abilities. He has had only limited snaps this season, but has played in 13 games while completing 12-of-24 passes for 119 yards and one touchdown.
If Bateman does leave, the Tide will have only two scholarshipped quarterbacks on this year's squad, those being Hurts and sophomore David Cornwell. Incidentally, Cornwell has no actual game experience.
More information will made available as it is learned.
