Offense Is Rule-Of-The-Day In Annual A-Day Game
 |
| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – It all came down to one final play. University of Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts spiked the football to kill the clock with a mere three seconds remaining in the 2017 Golden Flake A-Day Spring Football Game on Saturday. That play set up JK Scott's 30-yard field goal to give the Crimson team a 27-24 win over the White team in front of a crowd of 74,326 at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Scott's field goal capped a 58-yard drive in eight plays to complete a come-from-behind victory for the Crimson which had trailed the White by 14 points twice in the first half.
It was freshman wide receiver Jerry Jeudy hauling in five passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns (26.8-yard average) to lead the White offense. In all, the white amassed 358 passing yards, and a mere 61 yards rushing for 419 total yards. For his efforts, Jeudy earned the Dixie Howell Memorial Award which is given to the most valuable player of the Crimson Tide's spring game. Earning the Dwight Stephenson Award giving to the most valuable lineman of the spring game was defensive lineman Raekwon Davis, who had a team-leading seven tackles with one quarterback sack to lead the White team's defense.
Racking up a game-high 313 yards on 17-of-29 pass completions and one interception was White team freshman quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, another early enrollee. The White team had a total of 61 yards on 25 attempts, although Najee Harris himself ran the ball 17 times for a total of 70 yards.
Turning to the Crimson team, quarterback Jalen Hurts passed for 301 yards while completing 16-of-25 passes with two scores and one interception. Wide receiver Robert Foster had two catches for 115 yards and a touchdown, while Calvin Ridley grabbed four passes for 102 yards and a touchdown. The White was held to just eight rushing yards on 27 attempts on the day.
While the offensive seemed to draw most of the attention, there was some good defensive play in yesterday's contest. White team linebacker Keith Holcombe led all tacklers with 10 total, including three solo tackles and two quarterback sacks. The White team recorded nine total sacks on the day, led by linebackers Holcombe, Rashaan Evans and Christian Miller with two apiece.
JK Scott recorded 11 punts in the game (both teams combined), with an average of 45.3 yards. He was able to place three of those punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line, and four punts went for more than 50 yards with a long of 55 yards. Mark Bernier punted once in the game for 38 yards.
Scott was also responsible for field goal duty in the game, and nailed three-of-four in field goal attempts, kicking for both teams. He made attempts of 37, 30 and 20 yards while missing only one from 45 yards out. Andy Pappanastos attempted and missed on two field goal tries, one from 31 and another from 38.
As usual, the A-Day Game format was very similar to that of a normal game. The game clock was one change, with the contest consisting of four 15-minute quarters with a running clock. The clock stopped only following scoring plays, penalties, and changes of possession. Regular clock rules were used during the final minutes of the second and fourth quarters. Halftime lasted 12 minutes. Those players wearing black jerseys (quarterbacks and injured players) were considered as "tag-off" players and were not treated as live players, merely needing to be touched to be stopped. The kickoffs and kick returns were also listed as "tag-off" plays, with the ball being placed on the 30-yard line.
 |
| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
 |
| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
 |
| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
 |
| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
---------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama Football Freshman Roll At A-Day Game
 |
| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - There is no doubt that Alabama football will have more firepower next season. Sure, this was just an A-Day Game. Sure, the defense wasn't using all it's packages, thus hampering them a bit in what it could do. Sure, numerous players were in black, no-contact jerseys, thus not only were they not tackled but also handled with "kid gloves."
But that's the way it is every A-Day. However, usually the offensive units are a bit behind the defensive squads. This spring, the offensive units held their own. Last year the score was a mere 7-3. This season was a scoring-fest, 27-24 in favor of the Crimson squad, thanks to JK Scott's field goal as three seconds ticked off the clock.
More than 600 air yards occurred in yesterday's A-Day game. Both true freshman Tua Tagovailoa and sophomore starter Jalen Hurts put up more than 300 passing yards apiece. Robert Foster was the favorite receiver of the day, pulling down two passes for approximately 115 yards.
There were a total of 16 early enrollees taking part in yesterday's A-Day, several of which had really good days. Of course three of the Crimson Tide running backs, namely Bo Scarbrough, Damien Harris and B.J. Emmons were sitting out the game recovering from injuries, thus giving newcomers a chance to shine.
True freshman Najee Harris had his opportunity in the backfield to showcase himself in front of the assembled crowd at Bryant-Denny. He picked up 70 yards on 17 carries in the contest.
Jerry Jeudy was able to snag a tipped or batted pass from Tagovailoa and run it in for a 25-yard score. In all the freshman snagged five passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns.
Though beaten a few times earlier in the contest, Trevon Diggs was able to intercept a Hurts pass in the end zone on a perfectly-time grab to end the second drive. Terrell Hall was able to pick off a pass himself and return it 60 yards for a touchdown. Kyriq McDonald was able to grab an interception himself, this pass coming from the hand of Mac Jones.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama Softball Loses To 11th-Ranked Washington
 |
| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
The Tide stranded eight runners on base while the Huskies blasted three home runs on just four hits in the contest. UA's Sydney Booker was two-for-three in the game, with Elissa Brown, Peyton Grantham and Chandler Dare accounting for Bama's three remaining hits. Taking the loss for the Tide was starting pitcher Sydney Littlejohn (14-4) tossing 5.0 innings, while Taran Alvelo (21-6) earned the victory with 5.2 shutout innings.
Washington immediately put a runner on, with the leadoff, Ali Aguilar, blasting the the very first toss of the game right over the center field fence to take a 1-0 lead. The Crimson Tide batters/runners had a tough time of it, stranding a runner on base each of the first three innings. In the fourth, Bama managed to place two on, one on second and another on third base with just one out. However, a lineout double-play ended the threat leaving Washington with at 1-0 advantage.
It was the top of the fifth when the Huskies' Julia DePonte slapped another ball over the fence for a solo homer of her own. It was then that the game had to be delayed for just over 90 minutes due to lightning in the area. That did the Tide no favors, as in the top of the sixth inning Washington sent Sis Bates to the plate who promptly knocked another solo home run to give the Huskies a 3-0 lead in the contest.
The Tide wasn't able to counter in the sixth, and after holding Washington scoreless in the seventh, was unable to score itself. Three batters up and three batters down ended the final inning for the Crimson Tide, and the game ended 3-0 in Washington's favor.
Alabama next heads up the road to Birmingham, Alabama to battle Samford on Tuesday, April 25th at 6 p.m. CT. Following that contest the Tide will be heading to Oxford, Mississippi for a three-game series against the Ole Miss Rebels beginning on Saturday, April 29th at 2 p.m. CT.
 |
| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
 |
| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
 |
| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
 |
| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crimson Tide Women's Golf In Seventh
Heading Into Final Round Of SEC Championship
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crimson Tide Women's Golf In Seventh
Heading Into Final Round Of SEC Championship
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – The Alabama women's golf team turned it up a notch on Saturday. Bama rebounded from a slow start on Friday in the opening round of the 2017 Southeastern Conference Women's Golf Championship by shooting a 3-under par round on Saturday at the
par-72 6,202-yard Legacy Course at Greystone Golf & Country Club in
Birmingham, Alabama.
The Crimson Tide enters today's final round in seventh position. UA has thus far carded a 4-over par (295-285/580) heading into today's final round of the tournament.
Holding the lead in the tourney is Florida with a 12-under par (284-280/564). Georgia (287-282/569) is second at
7-under par after a 6-under par second round. Arkansas (283-287/570) is
third at 6-under par. Texas A&M (282-290/572) is fourth at 4-under
par. Georgia, Tennessee (287-286/573) is sixth at 3-under par and South
Carolina (286-290/576) is sixth at even par.
University of Alabama women's head golf coach Mic Potter said, "We were 10 shots better today so I'm pleased with that. But we could have finished the round better. Now we just have to
go out and shoot a low round tomorrow and see what happens."
Crimson Tide freshman Kristen Gillman
(72-69/141) once again led Bama on Saturday with a 3-under par 69 taking her to ninth place in the individual standings. Tied for 23rd at 1-over par is sophomore Cheyenne Knight (75-70/145). Sophomore Lauren Stephenson (74-72/146) is now tied for 28th after an even-par round Saturday. Senior Mia Landegren (75-74/149) is tied for 40th with a 2-over par round. Junior Lakareber Abe (74-80/154) was 8-over par on Saturday and is now tied for 61st overall.
Alabama will be paired today in the final round with LSU, and is set to tee off at 10:08 a.m. CT.
2017 SEC Women's Golf Championship
Greystone Golf & Country Club Legacy Course
Birmingham, Alabama
Team Standings
1. Florida- 284-280/564 (-12)
2. Georgia- 287-282/569 (-7)
3. Arkansas- 283-287/570 (-6)
4. Texas A&M- 282-290/572 (-4)
5. Tennessee-287-286/573 (-3)
6. South Carolina- 286-290/576 (E)
7. ALABAMA- 295-285/580 (+4)
Alabama Third Round Tee Times
10:08 a.m. (CT): Lakareber Abe
10:16 a.m.: Mia Landegren
10:24 a.m.: Lauren Stephenson
10:32 a.m.: Cheyenne Knight
10:40 a.m.: Kristen Gillman
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bama's Quanesha Burks Shines
At War Eagle Invitational
 |
| UA Track & Field Standout Quanesha Burks Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
Burks posted a season-best mark of 22-0 ¾ (6.72m) on her first jump of the competition that held up as the winning mark in the long jump competition. Later in the day, she then racked up a time of 11.18 in the 100 meters, finishing as the top collegian in the race. The time is a personal-best and sixth-fastest ever run at Alabama.
Here's a look at how the Crimson Tide athlete's fared:
Men's Event Summaries – War Eagle Invitational- Day 2
Finals
110-Meter Hurdles – Junior Ruebin Walters won the men's 110-meter hurdles with a time of 13.53 in his outdoor season debut. Junior Angelo Goss finished fourth in 14.17.
400 Meters – Freshman Will Allen finished sixth in the men's 400 meters in a time of 47.46.
100 Meters – Freshman Alize Ford (10.58) and junior Terry Jernigan (10.61) finished 12th and 13th in the prelims of the men's 100 meters and did not advance to the finals.
800 Meters – Senior Andrew Harris (1:55.67) and freshman Noah Karr (1:56.14) finished ninth and 10th, respectively, in the men's 800 meters. The time for Karr is a personal-best.
200 Meters – Junior Terry Jernigan finished sixth in the 200 meters in 21.42.
High Jump – Freshman James Williams finished eighth in the men's high jump with a personal-best clearance of 6-5 ½ (1.97m).
Alabama Series
James Williams- 6-3 ½ (1.92m) (xo); 6-5 ½ (1.97m) (xxx)
Discus – Sophomore Daniel Haugh finished second in the men's discus with a throw of 182-9 (55.70m).
Alabama Series
Haugh – 175-2 (53.39m); 180-4 (54.98m); 182-9 (55.70m); 179-11 (54.85m); 180-9 (55.09m); Foul
Women's Event Summaries – War Eagle Invitational- Day 2
Finals
100-Meter Hurdles – Senior Vanessa Clerveaux was the first collegiate finisher in the women's 100-meter hurdles in a time of 13.36. Clerveaux qualified for the final with a season-best time of 13.28.
400 Meters – Junior Nicole Sassaman finished 15th in the women's 400 meters in a time of 57.98. Freshman Hope Mazi was 17th in a personal-best 59.24.
100 Meters – Senior Quanesha Burks was the first collegiate finisher in the women's 100 meters in a personal-best time of 11.18, the sixth-fastest time in school history.
400-Meter Hurdles – Sophomore Jada Jackson finished seventh in the women's 400-meter hurdles in a personal-best time of 1:06.03.
200 Meters – Senior Diamond Gause (23.21) and freshman Takyera Roberson (23.22) finished third and fourth in the women's 200 meters.
Long Jump – Senior Quanesha Burks won the women's long jump with a season-best mark of 22-0 ¾ (6.72m) on her first jump of the competition.
Alabama Series
Burks- Quanesha Burks, 22-0 ¾ (6.72m); Foul; 21-5 ¼ (6.53m); 20-10 ½ (6.36m); 21-8 (6.60m); 21-4 (6.50m)
Discus – Freshman Hannah Chappell equaled her personal-best in the discus with a throw of 152-1 (46.35m) on her attempt of the competition to finish fourth in the event. Sophomore Holly Julifs finished 10th at 131-7 (40.11m)
Alabama Series
Chappell – 152-1 (46.35m); 143-1 (43.63m); 148-5 (45.24m); Foul; 149-5 (45.56m); 148-0 (45.12m)
Julifs – 124-4 (37.91m); Foul; 131-7 (40.11m)
High Jump – Sophomore Stacey Destin posted the top collegiate clearance in the women's high jump with a personal-best mark of 6-0 (1.83m), which equals the eighth-best leap in Alabama history.
Alabama Series
Destin- 5-3 (1.60m) (Pass); 5-5 (1.65m) (Pass); 5-7 (1.70m) (Pass); 5-8 ½ (1.74m) (o); 5-9 ¾ (1.77m) (o); 5-10 ¾ (1.80m) (o); 6-0 (1.83m) (o); 6-1 ¼ (1.86m) (xxx)
Phillips- 5-3 (1.60m) (xxx)
War Eagle Invitational (Auburn University)
Saturday, April 22, 2017
Alabama Results
Men
Prelims
100 Meters- 12. Alize Ford, 10.58; 13. Terry Jernigan, 10.61
Finals
200 Meters- 6. Terry Jernigan, 21.42
400 Meters- 6. Will Allen, 47.46
800 Meters- 9. Andrew Harris, 1:55.67; 10. Noah Karr 1:56.14 (PB)
110-Meter Hurdles –1. Ruebin Walters, 13.53; 4. Angelo Goss, 14.17
High Jump- 8. James Williams, 6-5 ½ (1.97m) (PB)
Discus- 2. Daniel Haugh, 182-9 (55.70m)
Women
Prelims
100-Meter Hurdles – 2. Vanessa Clerveaux, 13.28 (SB) (Q); 11. Passion Gamble, 14.25
100 Meters- 1. Quanesha Burks, 11.34 (Q) (PB); 4. Diamond Gause, 11.53 (Q); 8. Olivia Fotopoulou, 11.65 (q); 9. Janel Pate, 11.67 (q); 12. Takyera Roberson, 11.78
Finals
100 Meters- 1. Quanesha Burks, 11.18; 5. Diamond Gause, 11.40; 6. Olivia Fotopoulou, 11.58; 7. Janel Pate, 11.64
200 Meters- 3. Diamond Gause, 23.21; 4. Takyera Roberson, 23.22 (PB); 8. Janel Pate, 23.83; 20. Amanda Crawford, 24.70; 26. Nicole Sassaman, 25.19 (PB)
400 Meters- 15. Nicole Sassaman, 57.98; 17. Hope Mazi, 59.24 (PB)
100-Meter Hurdles – 1. Vanessa Clerveaux, 13.36
400-Meter Hurdles – 7. Jada Jackson, 1:06.03 (PB)
Long Jump- 1. Quanesha Burks, 22-0 ¾ (6.72m) (SB)
Discus- 4. Hannah Chappell, 152-1 (46.35m); 10. Holly Julifs, 131-7 (40.11m)
High Jump- 1. Stacey Destin, 6-0 (1.83m) (PB); NH. Esme Phillips
Alabama Superlatives
School Top-10 Performances
Men
5,000 Meters- 6. Alfred Chelanga, 13:53.07
Women
100 Meters- 6. Quanesha Burks, 11.18
High Jump- 8. Stacey Destin, 6-0 (1.83m)
Personal Bests
Men
1,500 Meters- Oliver Rigg, 3:53.66
1,500 Meters- J.P. Brinyark, 3:59.55
5,000 Meters- Alfred Chelanga, 13:53.07
5,000 Meters- Robbie Farnham-Rose, 14:26.25
5,000 Meters- Garrett Bull, 14:50.54
High Jump- James Williams, 6-5 ½ (1.97m)
800 Meters- Noah Karr 1:56.14
Women
1,500 Meters- Caroline Brooks, 4:49.59
5,000 Meters- Kaitlin York, 17:21.06
100 Meters- Quanesha Burks, 11.12
200 Meters- Takyera Roberson, 23.22
200 Meters- Nicole Sassaman, 25.19
400-Meter Hurdles- Jada Jackson, 1:06.03
Season Bests
Men
1,500 Meters- Connor Ferrentino, 4:10.05
Women
100-Meter Hurdles- Vanessa Clerveaux, 13.28
Long Jump- Quanesha Burks, 22-0 ¾ (6.72m)
High Jump- Stacey Destin, 6-0 (1.83m)
PB- Personal best
SB- Season best
SR- School record
NB- National best
NM- No mark
NH- No height
DNF- Did not finish
DNS- Did not start
Q- Qualified for final with heat win
q- Qualified for final on time
*Statistics provided by RollTide.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crimson Tide Football Picks Up
4-Star OL Pierce Quick On Saturday Morning
 |
| Pierce Quick (left) Brenty Key (right) Photo Credit: 247Sports |
Not only was Quick recruited by the University of Alabama, but he holds offers from Auburn, Georgia, LSU and Tennessee.
Speaking to 247Sports, Quick said, "Well, I grew up an Alabama fan, and to have the opportunity to play there ... the day I figured it out it was one of the best days of my life. Now to say that I am a commit (to) the University of Alabama, it's incredible."
Quick is the second recruit to commit to Alabama from the Class of 2019. (Five-star running back Trey Sanders is the other, committing last April.)
---------------------------------------------------------
Lane Kiffin Disagrees With Saban's Assessment
Of Jalen Hurts Being "Protected" Last Year
 |
| Former UA Football Offensive Coordinator Lane Kiffin Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
Kiffin was asked on The Opening Drive on WJOX in Birmingham about his personal thoughts on the now-sophomore QB Jalen Hurts' development during the course of the year. He said he has absolutely no doubt that Hurts will improve as a quarterback from last fall heading into next season with Bama.
"I would think he would improve a lot year one to year two, " commented Kiffin. "It is a big year for improvement. Did we protect him? Well, I think the last time I checked, the job was to win the games we play, and we won every game when we were there that he played in. He was the SEC Offensive Player of the Year. If that is protecting him, I hope we protect our quarterback here like that."
Kiffin further commented that Hurts is "a great kid," and that he did "a great job." Kiffin added, "Our job is to win the game. When you have probably the best defensive personnel in the history of college football last year on one team, the goal is to not turn the ball over with a true freshman. So we didn't throw the ball down the field in games as much."
As to whether or not the pair of coaches, Saban and Kiffin, are taking shots at each other may be open to debate. Back on Tuesday Kiffin was asked by SiriusXM College Sports Nation's Greg McElroy if he would talk to his assistants the same way he was talked to in Tuscaloosa, to which Kiffin replied, "I'm not really big on humiliating assistant coaches in front of everybody."
Kiffin says he wasn't taking a shot at Saban but merely responding to a question.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Deionte Thompson Situation Still Up In The Air
 |
| Deionte Thompson Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - Though back at The Capstone, defensive back Deionte Thompson isn't exactly in "the clear" right now. The junior is back in classes in Tuscaloosa after having been in Texas concerning a legal situation concerning a felony assault warrant due to a spring break fight back on March 18th in Crystal Beach, Texas.
University of Alabama football head coach Nick Saban said that Thompson continues to be "cooperating with law enforcement." Saban commented further that they'd leave it at that for now. He said, "I still don't have a lot of facts surrounding this
circumstance and situation and what went on. Until we find
that out, I really have no intentions of taking action until I know
what I'm taking action for or about. But he is back and he did cooperate
but we're just going to let him to continue to take care of those issues and
we'll address it when he get more information."
Upon learning of the arrest warrant, Thompson turned himself into the Tuscaloosa jail on April 14th and returned to his home state to meet with the police.
