Five Bama Footballers On Watch Lists
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - Five University of Alabama Crimson Tide football players have been named to preseason award watch lists. The announcements came on Monday.
UA sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts, junior wide receiver Calvin Ridley, junior defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick and junior running back Bo Scarbrough were all named yesterday to the list for the 81st Maxwell Award. The award, named in honor of Robert W. "Tiny" Maxwell, is presented annually by the Maxwell Football Club. Alabama led the nominees with its four, followed by Texas with three.
In addition to the Maxwell Award, the Maxwell Football Club also announced its watch list for its 23rd annual Bednarik Award, presented annually to the College Football Defensive Player of the Year. The award is named after college football and NFL Hall of Fame player Chuck Bednarik.
Named to the Bednarik Award Watch List from Alabama were Fitzpatrick and defensive lineman Da'Ron Payne.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game Sold Out
ATLANTA, Georgia – Since its inception, the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game has been nationally televised on the first Saturday of the college football season, and always features two elite football programs. This season it's no secret that two of the best for the upcoming 2017 season will face off there. It's probably the most anticipated college football game of the season – the University of Alabama and Florida State University. This season, the classic matchup has officially sold out almost two months before the Seminoles and Crimson Tide are set to meet on September 2nd.
The possibility exists that when the two teams meet in September, it could be a contest between the two highest-ranked teams to ever play on opening weekend. It speaks volumes since college football has been played now for nearly 150 years. Neither team has been ranked lower than number four in the numerous preseason polls, while both have shown up in the number one slot.
According to RollTide.com, the CEO and president of Peach Bowl, Inc., Gary Stokan, said, "We're calling this game the GOAT, the Greatest Opener of All Time, because of the projected rankings, the dominance of these two programs and the fact that this is the toughest ticket I have seen in my 20 years in college football. To possibly have #1 against #2 in the first game of the season is a credit to the programs that Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher have built and their willingness to play this game shows their desire to compete at the highest level."
Percy Vaughn, chairman of Peach Bowl, Inc. said, "We knew this was going to be a special game, but I'm not sure we fully expected it to reach historic levels like this."
The Crimson Tide is 4-0 in its games played in Atlanta in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game and will be looking to make it a perfect 5-0 when it faces the Seminoles in less than two months. This will be the first season for FSU to play in Atlanta on opening weekend. Alabama has won its last 15 season-opening contests, while Florida State has a record of six consecutive victories in season-openers.
The Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game is slated for a 7 p.m. CT start on Saturday, September 2nd and will broadcast nationally by the ABC television network. The two teams have previously met on four occasions dating back to 1965, with the most recent meeting in 2007 resulting in a 21-14 FSU victory. The Crimson Tide holds a 2-1-1 series advantage over the Seminoles. Together the two teams hold five of college football's last eight national championships, with four of those owned by Alabama.
The Chick-fil-A Game is the nation's longest-running kickoff game, and has now sold out nine of its 12 contests. The game attendance averages 67,645, which is higher than the attendance of 35 bowl games last year, and has an average payout of $4.7 million which is higher than 27 bowl games last year, according to numbers provided by Peach Bowl, Inc. Television viewership averages more than 47.4 million viewers since its inaugural game in 2008.
Besides the season's probable No. 1 ranking following the contest, the teams will be battling for The Old Leather Helmet Trophy, one of college football's newest rivalry-style icons. Traditionally, winners of The Old Leather Helmet don the helmet on the field after the game, starting with the head coach and then rotating from player to player as the team celebrates the big win.
------------------------------------------------------------------
UA Softball To Face Alabama Stars
In Exhibition Doubleheader At Rhodes Stadium
 |
| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – The University of Alabama women's softball team will face the USA Softball Women's National Team in an exhibition doubleheader as part of its summer schedule. The USA Softball Women's National Team will face a selection of current
local college players in an exhibition doubleheader is scheduled to be played at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa on Thursday, July 20th starting at 6 p.m. CT.
Among the 20 athletes currently on Team USA's roster is former Alabama softball standout Haylie McCleney
(2013-16), a four-time All-American from Morris, Alabama Team USA will
face the Alabama Stars, a roster of current college players from seven
different programs, including Alabama, Mississippi State, South Alabama,
Jacksonville State, North Alabama, Alabama-Huntsville and Montevallo. Reagan Dykes, Caroline Hardy, Bailey Hemphill and Alexis Osorio
will be representing the Tide on the Alabama Stars' Tuscaloosa
roster. Then just two days later, Team USA will face a different Alabama Stars
roster for a scrimmage at Jane B. Moore Field in Auburn, Alabama.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Cajuan Smith Decommits From Florida
Crimson Tide Could Be In The Mix For His Services
 |
| CJ Smith Twitter Photo |
It would appear that the University of Alabama still has a shot at four-star safety Cajuan Smith. This past week Smith announced his decommitment from the Florida Gators via his Twitter account.
Smith is listed as a four-star safety, the No. 15 player in the class of 2018 at his position, as well as listed as the No. 139 overall player in the country according to Scout.
As mentioned in his announcement, Smith thought it best for him to decommit. He has a wide range of offers from numerous schools in the SEC, ACC, Big 12 and B1G 10. Those in which he has shown some interest are the University of Alabama, LSU and Michigan. Others are also in mix, so expect visits to various schools the remainder of this summer.
Smith stands 6' 3" and weighs in at 190 pounds, a great size for the safety position. He is skilled at forcing turnovers and is a real playmaker in the defensive backfield.
