Peach Bowl Prep Continues For Bama
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Tuesday's practice was the ninth of 11 total practices for the Tide before the 2016 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Saturday, December 31st. The boys from Bama will face the Pac 12 champion Washington Huskies on New Year's Eve, with the winner earning the right to play the victor of the Clemson-Ohio State matchup in the 2016 CFP National Championship Game. The kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and will be broadcast live on ESPN. Joe Tessitore, Todd Blackledge and Holly Rowe will be calling the game.
It appears that Cam Robinson and Marlon Humphrey are pretty much back at full speed. Defensive lineman Dakota Ball, injured in a hunting accident, was once again not present.
Yesterday begain with an hour-long press conference featuring Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt, along with Jonathan Allen, Reuben Foster, Dalvin Tomlinson, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Marlon Humphrey at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The entire team then got the day started individual meetings at the hotel before boarding the bus to the Georgia Dome for the Crimson Tide's 12:40 p.m. CT practice.
This morning offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, as well as five members of the Crimson Tide offensive unit, will meet with the media at 8:30 a.m. CT. Bama will then practice for the third time at the Georgia Dome beginning about 1:20 p.m. CT. Then on Thursday the entire team and coaching staff will be meeting with the media for Media Day at the Georgia Dome beginning at 8:30 a.m. CT.
Saturday's contest will be the fifth meeting between the No. 1 Crimson Tide of Alabama and the fourth-ranked Washington Huskies. The Tide has won all four of the previous games, with the last one a 28-6 victory in the Sun Bowl back in 1986.
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Alabama Basketball's Jordan Lewis Named
SEC Freshman Of The Week
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| Jordan Lewis SEC Freshman of the Week UA Photo |
Lewis had an outstanding performance in last week's Alabama-UTEP contest, contributing a 2:1 assist/turnover ratio, finishing with six assists and only three turnovers in her 32 minutes of playing time. She also pumped in 17 points, 12 of which came in the first quarter.
It should be noted that Lewis is the only freshman in the Southeastern Conference ranked in the top five in the league in assists, averaging 4.4 per game.
Lewis is averaging 10.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.7 steals for the Crimson Tide in the 2016-17 season, and has started all 12 games at the point guard position for Bama.
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Tide Women's Basketball To Host Florida A&M Tonight
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This will be the fifth meeting between the two schools and the third time in Tuscaloosa. The first meeting was back in the 1986-87 season-opener, with the Crimson Tide coming away with an 81-60 win in the Southern Invitational in Atlanta, Georgia. Bama also won the last matchup between the pair, 60-44.
Junior Meoshonti Knight is the team leader in points per game with 12.9, followed by Hannah Cook (12.8 ppg), Shaquera Wade (11.7 ppg) and Jordan Lewis (10.7 ppg).
The Crimson Tide is off to its best start at 11-1 since the 2000-01 season when running up a 12-1 mark prior to the start of Southeastern Conference play.
Everyone attending tonight's game will receive 30 percent off Hoo's Q if Bama scores 30 points in the first quarter of Wednesday's contest. Tuscaloosa Toyota will also be giving away some nice prizes.
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Jeremy Pruitt Comments At Peach Bowl Press Interview
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It was Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt in the spotlight yesterday at the Peach Bowl press conference. Pruitt spoke and answered questions prior to the Crimson Tide's matchup this Saturday with the Washington Huskies.
Coach Pruitt said that the primary focus defensively is tackling and shedding blockers. He said that in a long layoff like the one between the Tide's SEC Championship Game win over Florida and this coming Saturday's contest with Washington, tackling and being able to shed blockers are the things that suffer most.
Concerning becoming a college coach, and coming to Alabama, Pruitt attributes much of it to the "right place at the right time" adage. Becoming the man at Alabama from a defensive coordinator in high school football was just that, according to him. Pruitt said that there might have been better coaches out there, but he got the right break.
Speaking of changes he's seen since his earlier stint with the Crimson Tide, then departing for Florida State and Georgia then back to The Capstone, Pruitt said that he has noticed how much head coach Nick Saban's offensive mindset has changed in those three years.
Speaking of his current Bama defense's work ethic, Pruitt said that this defense likes "to go to work." He said that when you like your job you do well.
Concerning the injured Eddie Jackson, Pruitt said you just "don't replace guys like Eddie."
Pruitt said that he does call the defensive plays during a game. But he did add that Saban would interject his own thoughts and calls when he felt he needed to do so.
He said that Washington does a good job at creating turnovers, can pick off some passes.
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Hugh Freeze Not High On Jalen Hurts' Passing Ability
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In an interview with Yahoo Sports, Ole Miss Rebels' head football coach Hugh Freeze said he doesn't believe that Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts can beat you throwing the football. Freeze commented, "I don't think he can beat you throwing, but he he's one heck of a competitor, and he can run. "
Freeze said that was the game plan back when Alabama and Ole Miss met earlier this season, make Hurts throw the ball and keep him contained...do not let him get loose to run the football. Of course we all know that didn't work out the way he planned, except for maybe one quarter. Hurts threw for 158 yards against Johnny Reb, and ran for 146 himself in the Tide's 48-43 win. This season, Hurts has 841 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.
Washington must shut down the lanes to stop Hurts from running the ball, Freeze says. The talented true freshman quarterback must be closed in on while in the pocket and not let him get loose. Make him throw and he can't beat you. Of course, in the SEC Championship game, the Florida Gators held Hurts to only one rushing yard in eight carries and passed for just 138 yards, yet the Tide blew out the Gators 54-16.
Freeze continued, "I'm not overwhelmed with their offensive line. They've
got two really good players (tackles Cam Robinson and Jonah Williams),
and their running backs are tough. But the quarterback run is the key.
Keep him in the pocket. I'm not sold he can win it all as a passer.
Their defense, though - they can win it all."
Freeze seems to forget their are enough weapons in the Tide's arsenal, both offensively and defensively, to carry the day. And don't forget special teams.
