Alabama Football
Crimson Tide Fine-Tuning For Razorbacks
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - The University of Alabama Crimson Tide finished up another two hours of practice in full pads on a hot Wednesday afternoon at the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields in Tuscaloosa. Bama continues to ready for this Saturday's contest with the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Wednesday's main focus was implementing the game plan the Tide will be using to counter the fifth-ranked offense in the Southeastern Conference. The game is scheduled to be broadcast live on ESPN this Saturday, October 14th beginning at 6:20 p.m. CT. Covering the contest will be Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit in the both with Maria Taylor working the sidelines.
During the Wednesday press conference Saban said that the team was "focusing this week on being more consistent." He also said that Da'Shawn Hand would miss this Saturday's contest with Arkansas. Backup center Brandon Kennedy didn't practice and will be out for the remainder of the year with a broken leg.
Both cornerback Trevon Diggs (foot) as well as wide receiver Calvin Ridley (thigh bruise) were both again practicing yesterday. Tony Brown (knee sprain) also returned to practice on Wednesday wearing a knee brace. Brown's status is listed as day-to-day.
The will be the 28th meeting between the Crimson Tide and Hogs with Alabama holding a 17-8 (after vacations) advantage. UA head coach Nick Saban is 13-2 (12-2 after vacations) in his career against Arkansas, including a 10-0 slate (9-0 after vacations) at The Capstone. Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema is 0-4 all-time against the Crimson Tide.
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What Saban Said...On Wednesday
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| Click HERE to view press conference via Tide TV |
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Brandon Kennedy Out For Remainder Of Football Season
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| Brandon Kennedy Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
The backup center is a redshirt sophomore having played in three of the UA's first six games. Kennedy played in seven games as a reserve guard during the 2016 season.
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Alabama Men's Basketball Hosts First Pro Day
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – Crimson Tide head men's basketball coach Avery Johnson and the University of Alabama men's basketball team hosted its first Pro Day this week. The gathering included nearly 50 scouts representing 28
of the 30 NBA teams all gathered inside the Coleman
Coliseum practice gym.
It was a big day, with NBA scouts and executives in attendance to watch the team go
through a two-hour practice on Tuesday afternoon. Johnson had his squad ready, offering a variety of elements for the brass to observe during the practice session, including drills, in-game
situations and an inter-squad scrimmage.
Coach Johnson commented, "It was an amazing event. It was the first-ever Alabama Pro Day for basketball and all
these scouts didn't come to see me, they came to watch our players. Our
guys did a great job and were able to showcase their talent.
"We want all of our players to graduate from the University of
Alabama with a degree. Those that have NBA-talent, we want to help
facilitate that as well."
Crimson Tide sophomore forward Braxton Key said, "It was an awesome experience. The intensity was great and we just competed as hard as we could. This was good experience for us and our program."
Coach Johnson led the team through a sophisticated texting format leading up to the Pro Day, providing detailed information for the scouts in
attendance including vertical leap, bench press, height, hand and reach
measurements, as well as reaction, sprint and agility times, among other
detailed measurables.
The families of the members of the men's basketball team were also included in the event. NBA Players Association executive
vice president Chrysa Chin back on October 2nd to sort of help kick things off. He spoke to the players as well, talking about career goals for both on and off
the court and what it was like as a professional basketball player. Coach Johnson is determined to take Alabama basketball to another level, and this is part of the overall plan being implemented to accomplish that.
Johnson noted, "We had a blend of almost every NBA facet represented on our campus. For all of these scouts and executives to come to
Tuscaloosa and watch our student-athletes, visit with our coaching staff
and see all of the great facilities we have, it's really special for
us. They are looking for a young man who will help them take a next step
in their franchise. We are so glad they thought enough of the talent we
have on our roster that one of those young men could potentially be
that type of person on their team."
Coach Johnson is certain doing all the right things, using innovative ideas, to bring University of Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball once again into the upper echelon of Southeastern Conference basketball as well as spotlighting the program on the national state.
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Former Alabama Football Head Coach Gene Stallings
Selected As UA's 2017 Southeastern Conference Legend
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| Former UA head football coach Gene Stallings Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
Coach Stallings is a native of Paris, Texas, and served as the Crimson Tide head coach from 1990-96. He led Alabama to the SEC Championship and the school's 12th National Championship in 1992, completely humiliating a Miami team that everyone had picked to win. Stallings' Tide teams won four SEC Western Division titles as well as earning five bowl victories. His teams also finished in the top 10 in the national rankings four of his seven-years as head coach at The Capstone.
It was under Coach Stallings that the Crimson Tide posted a 28-game winning streak, spanning 1991-93 seasons. In 1992, he won the Paul 'Bear' Bryant Award, AFCA Coach of the Year, Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year, Walter Camp Coach of the Year and the George Munger Award. He was also a two-time honoree as SEC Coach of the Year.
Stallings completed his career with Alabama with a 70-16 record, as well as being enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame as part of the 2010 class. He also served as an assistant coach at Alabama under Bryant from 1958-64, a part of the "Junction Boys" lore before being named the head coach of his alma mater, Texas A&M, in 1965. He led the Aggies to the Southwest Conference title in 1967, then became an assistant coach for the Dallas Cowboys from 1972-85. He then became head coach of the St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals from 1986-89 before transitioning back to college football take the reins of the Tide.
The class will be honored at the 2017 SEC Football "Weekend of Champions" scheduled for December 1-2 in Atlanta, Georgia. The annual SEC Legends Dinner presented by AT&T will be held on December 1st at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta, and the group will also be recognized prior to the SEC Football Championship Game, which will be held at the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 2nd.
