tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76349527862369741712024-02-19T18:21:18.020-08:00Saban's SidewalkAlabama Football Blog Written By The Infamous "I Hate Auburn T-Shirt Guy", Eric Blackerby, with help from his beautiful wife and best friend, Amber.
Follow Saban's Sidewalk on Twitter @EricBlackerbyEric Blackerbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207353262505371952noreply@blogger.comBlogger120125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634952786236974171.post-61226126630803190852015-09-06T16:18:00.000-07:002015-09-06T16:18:50.175-07:00Alabama Vs. Wisconsin Wrap UpAlabama opened up the season in Arlington, TX against the 20th ranked Wisconsin Badgers of the Big Ten Conference. Wisconsin lost 59-0 to Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship game last year but then they beat Auburn in January, so you didn't really know 100% what to expect. My prediction was that Wisconsin would try their best to establish the run, which wouldn't work, and due to the fact that they don't have an athletic quarterback that can make things happen when a play breaks down, or a strong arm guy that can stretch the field and keep the safeties honest, all we'd have to do is load up on the run and we would dominate them.<br />
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I was more than correct on that.<br />
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Wisconsin averaged 320 yards per game on the ground last year, it's their bread and butter to establish the run with powerful backs and a huge offensive line. The trouble was that they never faced a front 7 like Alabama's last year, and this night they only rushed for 40 yards. Total. LOL. Hats off to A'Shawn, Reggie, and them boys for showing flashes of 2011.<br />
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There had been alot of talk about Alabama returning to it's roots of running the ball and dominating on defense, and sure enough 18 of the first 27 offensive plays were designed runs with Derrick Henry or Kenyan Drake. This is the style of football that most of us adore and want to see in Tuscaloosa. Everyone knows we have the backs and lineman to do very well with this philosophy, so I hope this keeps up and that it wasn't just what they felt they needed to do in the first game to get Coker comfortable before they open up a spread attack. Though at the end of the day, I will trust whatever Saban decides to do with his team.<br />
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My score prediction for the game was 38-13. Without knowing my prediction, my wife predicted 35-14. We were both pretty dang close to the actual score of 35-17.<br />
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Alabama had 9 rushes of 10+ yards, the most Wisconsin has allowed in a game since 2012 vs Nebraska.<br />
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Alabama had 3 sacks, 2 by Jonathan Allen and 1 by true freshman Minkah Fitzpatrick.<br />
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Nine true freshman played in the first game: Damien Harris, Calvin Ridley, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Shawn Burgess-Becker, Ronnie Harrison, Hale Hentges, Dallas Warmack, Daron Payne, and Lester Cotton. A total of 13 guys played for the first time. The previously mentioned true freshmen, plus Marlon Humphrey, Christian Miller, Richard Mullaney, and Keith Holcombe.<br />
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Alabama outgained Wisconsin 502-268, Derrick Henry had 147 yards on only 13 carries, and Jake Coker threw for 216 yards. These are awesome numbers that I didn't quite expect. Our offense is going to be fine.<br />
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WR Cam Sims played in the game, 5 months after tearing his ACL. I've never seen a faster recovery from that injury. Eddie Jackson was close a couple years ago when he tore his in April and was back at some point during the season.<br />
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Reggie Ragland led the team with 12 tackles. He should be a Butkus candidate this season.<br />
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Bobby Humphrey's son, Marlon Humphrey, got the start at CB for the first game of his redshirt freshman season. He made a few mistakes early on, but he looks like another Dre Kirkpatrick in training.<br />
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Wisconsin's head coach, Paul Chryst, was coaching his first game against Alabama.<br />
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Wisconsin's longest play of the night was a 25 yard run by RB Alex Erickson<br />
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Alabama has now gone 184 consecutive games without being shutout, the longest streak in school history.<br />
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In the past 3 games, Derrick Henry has rushed 46 times for 383 yards, for an 8.3 ypc average. He's also scored 6 touchdowns in those 3 games.<br />
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<br />Eric Blackerbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207353262505371952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634952786236974171.post-15565704268356088552015-09-01T14:17:00.001-07:002015-09-01T14:58:35.537-07:00Alabama Football 2015/Week One Depth Chart<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's finally the time of year we all spend 8 months waiting on. College Football is back, and this season promises to be one of the most exciting ones yet. There are 8 SEC teams ranked in the preseason Top 25, which is crazy. The entire SEC West thinks they are going to Atlanta in December. But only one can, and we all know who that's probably going to be. All the talk of Alabama's demise and the dynasty being over is mere wishful thinking on the part of opposing fanbases who can't wait for Bama to win less than 10 games in a season for the first time since 2007. But that's not gonna happen this year. We are replacing a lot of starters from the past couple seasons, but the new guys are all former top recruits who all have the talent to be at least as good as the guys they are replacing. Many of the first time starters played almost as much as the actual starters in 2014 and 2013, so most of them are veterans, even if it's the first time the public will know who they are. In a few spots, we will likely even be a little better with the change in personnel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I thought I would do my own basic team preview, by position, and talk about the players that we will be watching suit up for the Tide in 2015. The order I place them is based on the depth chart that Alabama released on August 31. So it's not set in stone. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><u><b>Quarterback</b></u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jacob Coker, Cooper Bateman, Alec Morris, Blake Barnett, David Cornwell</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVkx_A8LWE3BsChKULnMCmtoVUYDBxjAmudVf3i0TvWh2hVwTjLq35fyy3xEZeblURIcvrAIGYXUg2PSAzicaXxEikncrhe0TCz-b8vKPhQkNyQX3ipl1BYCZRrRiB9DhvR0STCmhaug/s1600/Coker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVkx_A8LWE3BsChKULnMCmtoVUYDBxjAmudVf3i0TvWh2hVwTjLq35fyy3xEZeblURIcvrAIGYXUg2PSAzicaXxEikncrhe0TCz-b8vKPhQkNyQX3ipl1BYCZRrRiB9DhvR0STCmhaug/s640/Coker.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jacob Coker</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is true that our quarterback situation has been cause for consternation among many Bama fans. There have been 5 guys competing for the job since the spring, and only this week did the competition get *publicly* narrowed down to three: Coker, Bateman, and Morris. It's been everyone's assumption for the past year that Coker would be our starting quarterback by now, but his failure to improve himself and "take the bull by the horns", as Saban put it, has provided for a much longer competition than should've been necessary to decide the starter. From the spring to the beginning of fall camp, it was widely known that David Cornwell was making a serious push for the job. Even to the point that many were predicting he would actually win the job. These predictions were being made as recently as three weeks before kickoff. But something changed. There have been many rumors about Cornwell, that he's too busy chasing girls, that he got an attitude with the coaches and cussed at Saban and Kiffin. I don't know if any of this is true, but it's certainly true that Cornwell has fallen out with the coaches. Saban hasn't even mentioned him much recently, and he has fallen to the bottom of the chart. For a little bit of time there, it looked like true freshman Blake Barnett might be making a real push for it. Everyone has raved about his ability and maturity at this point, and it looked like he might really have a shot for a minute there. But he had a bad 2nd scrimmage and fell back behind. He needs more development anyway before he is ready for the job. Even if he is the most talented QB Alabama has signed since the 60's. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then for the past week, Alec Morris had stepped up and alot of us were predicting he would win the job. But then we hear that Coker has "taken command". At this point, Coker will probably take the first snap against Wisconsin. After that, it's up to him how long he stays in cause it's almost a guarantee from Saban that at least two QBs are going to play in the first game. Morris and Cooper Bateman have both come on strong lately, we still don't know who *The Guy* is going to be, and really it's not exactly the problem that everyone thinks it is when you realize that Saban has three different QBs that he trusts to start. That's the fact of the matter, and a lot of teams would love to have that problem. I have confidence in whoever takes the first snap, the most snaps, the least snaps. I just trust in Saban on this issue.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbbqta3WLwqpBSl_yMgukSuZBYu3jsGtamD2R5NL9lr3LIo-Hya_YZhpdBs-BDv_m0Qi8mI5S3tti8Rpp3T8AG8zc8xzdeh2EBQsr-6GN7QhqNMiwYFy0BQdlWhbyeFm0ilDBzq08adPk/s1600/Bateman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbbqta3WLwqpBSl_yMgukSuZBYu3jsGtamD2R5NL9lr3LIo-Hya_YZhpdBs-BDv_m0Qi8mI5S3tti8Rpp3T8AG8zc8xzdeh2EBQsr-6GN7QhqNMiwYFy0BQdlWhbyeFm0ilDBzq08adPk/s400/Bateman.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cooper Bateman</span></td></tr>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Running Back</span></u></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Derrick Henry, Kenyan Drake, Damien Harris</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8DeVBlVz2OyVBrLyT7uPFh8BXvop2GA9u9Mv6S7vSDNUKe0gN4WfqU04ek05ZNVXMG4c3ISmM7IEuYHD8LeXTk-lso-E7Bl1ZMqUUeodG9annJ_G3eSmW9KuOKQbzZ7zR15z0gmHhuc/s1600/Henry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8DeVBlVz2OyVBrLyT7uPFh8BXvop2GA9u9Mv6S7vSDNUKe0gN4WfqU04ek05ZNVXMG4c3ISmM7IEuYHD8LeXTk-lso-E7Bl1ZMqUUeodG9annJ_G3eSmW9KuOKQbzZ7zR15z0gmHhuc/s640/Henry.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Derrick Henry at A-Day</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We should have one of the best RB groups in the nation, and in my opinion could be as good as or better than Georgia's by year's end. Derrick Henry is 6'4" 240 lbs yet runs like he's 50 lbs lighter. I don't think he gets the credit he deserves when the national talking heads, and even the SEC Network guys, get to talking about Leonard Fournette and Nick Chubb. They never mention Derrick in that conversation, but he'll put himself there before long. Kenyan Drake might be the most dynamic player on the team, and Kiffin has been using him a lot as a receiver too in practice, so I expect to see some Reggie Bush type stuff out of him. True freshman Damien Harris has impressed in fall practice and reminds literally everyone of Mark Ingram. Senior C Ryan Kelly said he runs just like Ingram and Trent Richardson did at Bama, a "big guy that can run fast", according to Kelly. Other guys that may see time in 2015 include walk-on Derrick Gore, who has come from nowhere and played well in practice. He has a legit shot to play some this year. Ronnie Clark was recruited in 2014 as a defensive back, but has since moved to RB, and played fairly well here in practice. Bo Scarbrough is another physical beast like Henry, but he is suspended for the first 4 games for NCAA violations. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig87iOOqFHbZqH5bWBNRk8pmbzRqneC_SgII4T6AWdb8MlgDiPVpxIdcIMHd3lGvAIzH1PuHKaeXSDY4Xa9LOrg6MOLEYSS5RgIe4B5mzSYr5Olw36E68vkMMqTCgGZ8rx-RXzKYsODso/s1600/Drake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig87iOOqFHbZqH5bWBNRk8pmbzRqneC_SgII4T6AWdb8MlgDiPVpxIdcIMHd3lGvAIzH1PuHKaeXSDY4Xa9LOrg6MOLEYSS5RgIe4B5mzSYr5Olw36E68vkMMqTCgGZ8rx-RXzKYsODso/s400/Drake.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Kenyan Drake</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Offensive Line</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">LT: Cam Robinson, Lester Cotton, Korren Kirven</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">LG: Ross Pierschbacher, Dallas Warmack, Isaac Luatua</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">C: Ryan Kelly, J.C. Hassenauer, Brandon Kennedy</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">RG: Alphonse Taylor/Bradley Bozeman, Richie Petibon</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">RT: Dominick Jackson, Brandon Greene, Matt Womack</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHNx4xw2r_Tk6Nqjlr1bJlsH25TNQMBbgZmUjPT3Jlf9fXYAvnKqeosPm0ESzlZ3BTBZPIA9ke5600WZ1hn1xJ2UL8Yux-t_i42vB-q-dUhdOzQt5By_MU4mX7Vu8IfsG_bd4LpbweGk/s1600/Cam+Robinson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHNx4xw2r_Tk6Nqjlr1bJlsH25TNQMBbgZmUjPT3Jlf9fXYAvnKqeosPm0ESzlZ3BTBZPIA9ke5600WZ1hn1xJ2UL8Yux-t_i42vB-q-dUhdOzQt5By_MU4mX7Vu8IfsG_bd4LpbweGk/s640/Cam+Robinson.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cam Robinson</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cam Robinson was a freshman All-American in 2014, and should be even better this year. As he is one of the best lineman in all of college football, we will lean a lot on running plays behind Cam. Ross Pierschbacher is a redshirt freshman who hasn't played yet, but has been the starting LG since the spring game and looks like he is a star in the making. Ryan Kelly is the leader of the group, a senior in his 3rd year as a starter. Alphonse Taylor and Bradley Bozeman are still battling for the RG spot, so that could go back and forth for awhile and both are really good players. I'm a fan of Bozeman though, so I hope he wins it. Dominick Jackson has a ton of potential on the right side. Even though we lost 3 starters from last year's team, this line has a chance to be better and could be on par with the 2012 OL that featured three 1st Rd NFL draft picks.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19UbN0TRPkUKq-MI5-b31zRPhsIre98X4Zu6KS3w2XbR0dnP7jzeKFOPJC3kFKLvYpoabduNEn2eWtZRvTyAY4eTy19NvIaXSeiFgtS0jxE3skhGmyoP8-lKEOP6JrcJDpwHhyphenhyphenvf5tFQ/s1600/Kelly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19UbN0TRPkUKq-MI5-b31zRPhsIre98X4Zu6KS3w2XbR0dnP7jzeKFOPJC3kFKLvYpoabduNEn2eWtZRvTyAY4eTy19NvIaXSeiFgtS0jxE3skhGmyoP8-lKEOP6JrcJDpwHhyphenhyphenvf5tFQ/s400/Kelly.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ryan Kelly</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Wide Receiver/Tight End</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">WR: Robert Foster/Calvin Ridley, Deionte Thompson</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">WR: ArDarius Stewart, Daylon Charlot/Cam Sims, Derek Kief</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">WR: Richard Mullaney/Chris Black</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2S4bJKOni8iZU-CV6Z73E67IQbpF5fvk5okf8y8fnYBAn3xJ-wdCFGU8hfuXdFpQZesgEvde2y5Pa5ttR3AsF6AC9b7O73afdE8OcgNFEg7D0BkuA1SVtnCf9QpZQsrtE-mfftwFq9Kc/s1600/Stewart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2S4bJKOni8iZU-CV6Z73E67IQbpF5fvk5okf8y8fnYBAn3xJ-wdCFGU8hfuXdFpQZesgEvde2y5Pa5ttR3AsF6AC9b7O73afdE8OcgNFEg7D0BkuA1SVtnCf9QpZQsrtE-mfftwFq9Kc/s640/Stewart.jpg" width="457" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ardarius Stewart</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anytime you lose a player like Amari Cooper, it's hard to be as good at a position as you were before. And Coop is one of the best to ever play for Alabama. Even so, I truly believe that this WR corp, in 2015, will be more talented across the board, and harder to stop. When a large majority of your passes go to one guy, even if that guy is as good as No. 9 was, you keep the group as a whole from living up to their potential. This season, there are at least 5 or 6 guys playing this position in Tuscaloosa that would start for almost any other SEC team. ArDarius Stewart will be the star of the group. Kiffin has pointed him out several times as the most talented guy we have, and Saban has praised him as well. He made a few plays last year, but didn't get the ball enough. Robert Foster is the other big name to be optimistic about. Richard Mullaney transferred in from Oregon State, where he was one of the best receivers in the Pac 12 last year. He's new here, but should provide a veteran presence and dependability. Chris Black should see a lot of time, and Cam Sims, who tore his ACL in the spring and was expected to miss the season, has already been practicing again and he might play sometime in September. He could be a star in the future as well. There are two true freshman who have broken into the rotation. Mainly Calvin Ridley, who was the top WR recruit in America coming out of high school this past spring. Ridley looks like the next Cooper. Daylon Charlot is another hot shot freshman who I expect to see this season, even if it's only at the end of blowouts. Everyone listed above will play this year, but another guy is Raheem Falkins. Falkins is a big target with good hands, but hasn't played much. Has flashed potential and it's about that time for him to show up, but maybe he's just buried on the depth chart now. It really is crazy how much talent we have at this position. People assume we lost everything with Cooper, but that's just cause he was a once in a generation player that you couldn't help but throw the ball to entirely too much. But we have at least 5 guys that have legit All-SEC potential and it only stands to reason that at least 1 or 2 of these guys will be big stars this year. This is the most talented group top to bottom in the SEC, in my opinion. Most wouldn't share this opinion at the moment cause there's no track record for most of these guys, but every last one of them is better than the best guy we had in 2007, DJ Hall. Think about that.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSVI8wUEhkrykDEDhqu_5weq6AOKnQkWxVrdAsPgPjGIPM9TjjEFK_koKvFV7zAzdEJJW14LWLb_R0A6mPvhIv5E7p1Jj5_h1t3S8KTe-SZU12zjsXqrqvFIYsY3hZMag6vgRg34_evs/s1600/Robert+Foster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSVI8wUEhkrykDEDhqu_5weq6AOKnQkWxVrdAsPgPjGIPM9TjjEFK_koKvFV7zAzdEJJW14LWLb_R0A6mPvhIv5E7p1Jj5_h1t3S8KTe-SZU12zjsXqrqvFIYsY3hZMag6vgRg34_evs/s400/Robert+Foster.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Robert Foster at A-Day</span></td></tr>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #363636; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">TE: O.J.Howard/Ty Flournoy-Smith, Michael Nysewander</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #363636; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">TE: Dakota Ball, Hale Hentges</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOPqloXpv9cVC-yjuKoLoahOL2O7IU5_Ghi2N74N3HNuvl-ZiaBSmXNfW9LRtpzHZdeF9HMW6w2l2Jt3LEuOh2_L54fOhfEVzQmIW_NlQPHFKXZPwnSl4L89KfLTnWWATes0tJWdLX_aM/s1600/OJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOPqloXpv9cVC-yjuKoLoahOL2O7IU5_Ghi2N74N3HNuvl-ZiaBSmXNfW9LRtpzHZdeF9HMW6w2l2Jt3LEuOh2_L54fOhfEVzQmIW_NlQPHFKXZPwnSl4L89KfLTnWWATes0tJWdLX_aM/s640/OJ.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">OJ Howard</span></td></tr>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #363636; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">OJ Howard was the top TE prospect coming out of HS in 2013, and several times he has shown why. He's insanely big for a guy that runs as fast as he does, he has great hands, and he has recently been improving his blocking to become a complete player. I believe he has the talent to be as good as anyone in the country, but the problem for him has been a lack of opportunity. In his true freshman season, cause he wasn't great at blocking or running routes yet, and last year because we just didn't throw the ball to him very often. If Kiffin places more of a focus on getting him the ball from time to time, he could be an impact player, but I expect just an occasional big play here and there, as the ball will probably be spread around to the receivers more than OJ. Ty-Flournoy Smith is a great pass catching TE and could really help us alot too. Dakota Ball is becoming a good player, and is probably the best blocker of the bunch, and true freshman Hale Hentges has done well enough in fall practice to earn a spot in the rotation, though I'm not sure we'll actually see him this year.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzB-7d90d0FmaGAllg66YkEQ3G60JN1wrJxS4DeGIFEGk69ALuUUNW6f6-jtBjGiHIZHBG-BKtT-SR0WIb0oMefP7PBZ_T0WZ_e-YTOCYQSWS1PhvONRkuT4B_Dc9vZVySjandGYVtjc/s1600/Flournoy-Smith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzB-7d90d0FmaGAllg66YkEQ3G60JN1wrJxS4DeGIFEGk69ALuUUNW6f6-jtBjGiHIZHBG-BKtT-SR0WIb0oMefP7PBZ_T0WZ_e-YTOCYQSWS1PhvONRkuT4B_Dc9vZVySjandGYVtjc/s400/Flournoy-Smith.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ty Flournoy-Smith</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Defensive Line</u></b></span><br />
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #363636; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">DE: A'Shawn Robinson, Jonathan Allen, D.J. Pettway</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #363636; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">NG: Darren Lake/Daron Payne</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">DE: Jarran Reed, Dalvin Tomlinson, Da'Shawn Hand</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCrb-0t82RC1s6NKIO6YXvZFS0IcAvXsfVebGHgFjpIuAaVK8CvxY-zTStBBTcheUzP2tFDPn0wWaIePnKJuIh39Ic89Xy1vwbmvPQBpXLUV_VUTcRLgtrDywomuFLhhZgos3foHcNUY/s1600/A%2527Shawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="537" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCrb-0t82RC1s6NKIO6YXvZFS0IcAvXsfVebGHgFjpIuAaVK8CvxY-zTStBBTcheUzP2tFDPn0wWaIePnKJuIh39Ic89Xy1vwbmvPQBpXLUV_VUTcRLgtrDywomuFLhhZgos3foHcNUY/s640/A%2527Shawn.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A'Shawn Robinson</span></td></tr>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #363636; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our defensive line is otherwordly. It's probably the best group we've had since 1992, and has a chance to be the best ever. Robinson, Allen, Lake, Reed, and Tomlinson all have All-SEC potential, and at least three of those guys have All-America potential. Daron Payne is a true freshman who has come into fall camp and played as good as Darren Lake, who is the starter in front of him. The coaches really love Payne, and some have said he is the next Marcel Dareus. DJ Pettway could start for 9 or 10 SEC schools as could probably Da'Shawn Hand, who is buried on the depth chart, but was the overall top DL recruit in America in 2014. We are seriously stacked at this position. 8 guys for 3 positions, and they are all studs. It doesn't get any better than this bunch in Tuscaloosa.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKBvMZ-o4BCR_M8vOrKO_FbhlynzDSJ7VJCjTojqJeQ3n6501CHGOc2fOEnrMqqOHbx8CjVzmNwhVe5SQqtZSGq4ZiLybzP3z-q1YLY6ZASxlUj61HRjqcmepDCCqZrWJRNPlkIEKMH4/s1600/Allen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKBvMZ-o4BCR_M8vOrKO_FbhlynzDSJ7VJCjTojqJeQ3n6501CHGOc2fOEnrMqqOHbx8CjVzmNwhVe5SQqtZSGq4ZiLybzP3z-q1YLY6ZASxlUj61HRjqcmepDCCqZrWJRNPlkIEKMH4/s400/Allen.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jonathan Allen</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Linebacker</u></b></span><br />
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #363636; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">OLB: Dillon Lee, Rashaan Evans, Christian Miller</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #363636; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">MLB: Reggie Ragland, Shaun Dion Hamilton, Walker Jones/Adonis Thomas</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #363636; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">MLB: Reuben Foster, Keith Holcombe</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #363636; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">OLB: Denzel Devall, Ryan Anderson, Tim Williams</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2asNRYRvAniPmKK42n9YTbOdAzPZ-qTcKlmaUWYJ5soKwXw8eYnkwhs91afxsawTPbXmxvIA836SMAfHt18Qh8auxQ-DMqi8u6DM1o7G71L9gUW4OgXIKjYsh_Lk7zFR8prgE8WFWDf8/s1600/Reggie+Ragland+and+Big+Al.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; clear: left; display: inline !important; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="417" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2asNRYRvAniPmKK42n9YTbOdAzPZ-qTcKlmaUWYJ5soKwXw8eYnkwhs91afxsawTPbXmxvIA836SMAfHt18Qh8auxQ-DMqi8u6DM1o7G71L9gUW4OgXIKjYsh_Lk7zFR8prgE8WFWDf8/s640/Reggie+Ragland+and+Big+Al.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Reggie Ragland with Big Al</span></td></tr>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #363636; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Everything I said about the DL group applies to the LB group as well. This will be one of the best groups in all of College Football. Reggie Ragland is the leader of the group and compares favorably to any of our recent stars at his spot, such as CJ Mosley, Dont'a Hightower, and Rolando McClain. Ragland can be a Butkus finalist, but he's not the biggest hitter on the team. That would go to Reuben Foster who has actually had to be coached not to tackle too hard, cause he kept hurting himself. The dude is just crazy and is probably gonna hurt someone this year. Devall is a steady veteran, Dillion Lee and Shaun Dion Hamilton can do it all, and we should have an improved pass rush from this level as well, with guys like Rashaan Evans, Ryan Anderson, Christian Miller, and Tim Williams, who are all great pass rushers. Over the past few seasons, there was always at least one weak link at LB or S and this is the first year that I feel comfortable that everyone we throw out there is an above average player and most can be star players. Hiring Tosh Lupoa is an improvement as well. Ryan Anderson said that he has learned more about playing outside linebacker from Coach Tosh this offseason than he had in the last 3 years.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibiY61RcfpDAtFIIAX9NJr0ht6x5QsObI-GOpU9zoEICIp1ybhrUucusL7-NdnuTYE-WINq2u06TTd5EHKJG5wbLhqrJPBWIZSEcj7PVrdj0Cl-uGcrikorvgT3QzTrks58pd7mkWNdgA/s1600/Reuben+Foster.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibiY61RcfpDAtFIIAX9NJr0ht6x5QsObI-GOpU9zoEICIp1ybhrUucusL7-NdnuTYE-WINq2u06TTd5EHKJG5wbLhqrJPBWIZSEcj7PVrdj0Cl-uGcrikorvgT3QzTrks58pd7mkWNdgA/s400/Reuben+Foster.JPG" width="273" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Reuben Foster</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Defensive Back</span></u></b><br />
<b><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></u></b>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #363636; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">CB: Cyrus Jones, Bradley Sylve, Maurice Smith</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #363636; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">CB: Marlon Humphrey, Tony Brown/Minkah Fitzpatrick</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #363636; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">S: Eddie Jackson, Ronnie Harrison, Shawn Burgess-Becker</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #363636; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">S: Geno Smith, Jabriel Washington, Hootie Jones</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #363636; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Star: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Tony Brown, Maurice Smith</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDQRNwGaPOv9GkH2kSHHwLaHIwJMBCsZKwIDQwyoGpLAOiS_3GX_zdFD4a1ZUVNoSN3YznfHY4iNXm-_eeMO5HZarNM3T3g0KftJxvoFQNAke5gtmREWHQpQLcc4VgyXate36Is8fQj8/s1600/Cyrus+Jones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDQRNwGaPOv9GkH2kSHHwLaHIwJMBCsZKwIDQwyoGpLAOiS_3GX_zdFD4a1ZUVNoSN3YznfHY4iNXm-_eeMO5HZarNM3T3g0KftJxvoFQNAke5gtmREWHQpQLcc4VgyXate36Is8fQj8/s640/Cyrus+Jones.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cyrus Jones</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #363636; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The secondary has been the problem in almost every game we lost the past two seasons. Giving up big plays on the back end has killed us and everyone knows it. Last year, we struggled a lot with Bradley Sylve starting, and Tony Brown was a mixed bag of occasional greatness. This year, Marlon Humphrey has stepped up and taken the spot opposite Cyrus Jones and all reports on him are that he is ready to be a star. He outplayed a couple guys who have started before, has done that all fall, and A'Shawn Robinson said that he is "the baller" out there. I think we will see more INTs from this group than last year, and that also goes to other newcomers, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Ronnie Harrison. Fitzpatrick earned the praise of Saban almost constantly through August, and almost immediately won a starting job his first couple weeks on the team. He should be the next guy in the Dre Kirkpatrick, Dee Milliner mold. Harrison looks like a 3rd year starter already. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #363636; line-height: 24px;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgkiTDpWT58CFo7UoiY33Wx7-911c_DZAVE8aJGkIZzsTMYIXcHOYA3SfLRTQPCWqUY6CN7VKSU3ZRcHX2uR4bUEQxmadN2pQkqFFCYtzy2Uj9bqMQkR6oYVBkFCQ6VuRPRFotT0Vsos/s1600/Marlon-Humphrey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgkiTDpWT58CFo7UoiY33Wx7-911c_DZAVE8aJGkIZzsTMYIXcHOYA3SfLRTQPCWqUY6CN7VKSU3ZRcHX2uR4bUEQxmadN2pQkqFFCYtzy2Uj9bqMQkR6oYVBkFCQ6VuRPRFotT0Vsos/s400/Marlon-Humphrey.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Marlon Humphrey</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKd2Fvb8xHU_fZwgvvtSrSyu1S3YCIz-yE8jUDylvKzd6r7y0erTNBVXNWYNNmH1Huwr8NBvW-AIl4uzuZbvxUDn5YmREYXE97SJb07wFr9q4vnQn9hsKn2Ep18VIsGXklg-FIf3FnV4/s1600/Eddie+Jackson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKd2Fvb8xHU_fZwgvvtSrSyu1S3YCIz-yE8jUDylvKzd6r7y0erTNBVXNWYNNmH1Huwr8NBvW-AIl4uzuZbvxUDn5YmREYXE97SJb07wFr9q4vnQn9hsKn2Ep18VIsGXklg-FIf3FnV4/s640/Eddie+Jackson.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Eddie Jackson</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Having Eddie Jackson and Geno Smith at safety, I think, will help on the back end when it comes to big plays as well, because they both are former corners and have more speed than the guys playing the position in years past. Another reason for optimism with these guys is the fact that Nick Saban and Kirby Smart gave up control of the secondary and went and hired a secondary coach, Mel Tucker, who is highly respected at what he does. So far, it looks like a great move, as the players have responded well to him and say that he has already taught them alot and they feel like they are already a lot better than last year, due to his coaching. And the future is very bright here, as all the freshmen and sophomores at these spots were top recruits who are doing very well so far.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7udt3Y0-5JBHxO2gNMxcZzJFUVaqeEzR39HJdD3gaINh3Nq0xS100DrL2xeeWQyNo09fvsqvqF-9wXZXLaXjXdIJjrmTnx0yj6S_sMt31qZONiu80Q_A25Q5TrvmJeds3gDmLKQmf5NU/s1600/geno-smith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7udt3Y0-5JBHxO2gNMxcZzJFUVaqeEzR39HJdD3gaINh3Nq0xS100DrL2xeeWQyNo09fvsqvqF-9wXZXLaXjXdIJjrmTnx0yj6S_sMt31qZONiu80Q_A25Q5TrvmJeds3gDmLKQmf5NU/s400/geno-smith.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Geno Smith</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Special Teams</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">K: Adam Griffith</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">P: JK Scott</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">KR: Kenyan Drake/ArDarius Stewart</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">KR: Cyrus Jones/Chris Black</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">PR: Cyrus Jones, Chris Black, Richard Mullaney</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oDFvvkQASPBYO6w8QqEMujcslNOjKEUpT7far6HkW3xKB6oWj9OHa2kYJkPNgtRK3T86zN1d0AymmrtMqAuahDxllUkeplmWeBZEmTp2Mfbsuf8Jjanj1h3PTwVbtJD_odLkPm_SzdA/s1600/JK+Scott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="555" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oDFvvkQASPBYO6w8QqEMujcslNOjKEUpT7far6HkW3xKB6oWj9OHa2kYJkPNgtRK3T86zN1d0AymmrtMqAuahDxllUkeplmWeBZEmTp2Mfbsuf8Jjanj1h3PTwVbtJD_odLkPm_SzdA/s640/JK+Scott.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">JK Scott</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">JK Scott is so clearly the best at what he does, it's ridiculous. As a true freshman last year, he averaged over 48 yard per punt, which not only led CFB, but would have also led the NFL. He will be the best punter to ever wear crimson, and as much as we all hope to see him as little as possible, it will be fun to watch him punt a ball 70 yards several times this year. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Adam Griffith has drawn the ire of alot of Tide fans over his first couple seasons. Everyone knows about the big field goals he has missed. But he was suffering from a back injury all last year and that is supposedly better now. He has hit several FGs in practice lately over 50 yards and they say he is doing good now. I'll wait and see. </span></div>
<br />Eric Blackerbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207353262505371952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634952786236974171.post-4583933865972246392014-12-07T15:38:00.001-08:002014-12-07T15:38:38.199-08:00Playoffs? PLAYOFFS!<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">A Look Back</span></b></u><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ole Miss Fans, Having Never Won Anything Before</td></tr>
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The last time I wrote here, back when my home computer allowed such things to occur, we had just lost to Ole Miss and I was trying to temper expectations and help some of y'all to feel like I did at the time. I was enjoying watching the progress of Blake Sims, and had come to the conclusion that we just weren't a championship team this year. And that was OK. I've spent a lot of the past year learning perspective and trying not to put so much energy into college football and not focus so much of my own happiness on its outcomes.<br />
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My God, what a difference 2 months makes.<br />
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After that fateful game in Oxford, TJ Yeldon got emotional and basically promised that we would not lose again. Shades of Tim Tebow in 2008 had me wanting to feel optimistic again. I admit that I wasn't as high on the future of this particular team that week. After Florida lost to Ole Miss in '08, Tebow cried on TV and promised that they would not lose again. And they didn't. And we haven't either.<br />
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It's fun that Ole Miss has to settle for that place in the world. But this is not about them anymore, other than that I would like to congratulate them for finally ending a season in Atlanta. The Peach Bowl is very nice for a lower tier school such as them. Have fun, Rebels.<br />
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The week after losing to Ole Miss, we had to travel to Fayetteville, AR, to play Bret Bielema's Razorbacks. I don't have time to talk about how much I love that big goofy bastard they have for a coach now. The dude is awesome, says crazy things from time to time, acts like a kid coaching a game, and wants to play the exact type of football that<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhThLCu7zouJuYV8ourez2ajD6cwUetV0qm1qBuMUsxBDmlqtYHpxtfSViRpdUzcPyf84em8U6RHGDjrkLrxAer7W91BFEOP6upvhbt_ANjUPuPPFlyrGjQ8fFEwrBq_95xop3bMwpZMUg/s1600/1xEs7o0.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhThLCu7zouJuYV8ourez2ajD6cwUetV0qm1qBuMUsxBDmlqtYHpxtfSViRpdUzcPyf84em8U6RHGDjrkLrxAer7W91BFEOP6upvhbt_ANjUPuPPFlyrGjQ8fFEwrBq_95xop3bMwpZMUg/s1600/1xEs7o0.gif" height="211" width="400" /></a> I adore. But I didn't adore it that night. Arkansas tore us up in the trenches and we could hardly run the ball. Blake Sims, and our offense as a whole, played as poorly and predictably as they have all year and we only won 14-13. Blake was lucky not to have thrown 4 or 5 INTs that night. We really should have lost. If not for Bielema inexplicably abandoning the run too early towards the end, we probably would have. Thanks, Bert!<br />
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So then we come home to play Texas A&M, and even though it's at home, I'm terrified. I'd never been so unsure of what the outcome of a Bama game was going to be as I was that day. I figured we could either beat the hell out of them or they could beat the hell out of us with their offense, which to<br />
that point had been a high flying operation. Our offense, which had looked dominant against Florida earlier in the year, was falling apart at this point, special teams play was laughable. Bobby Williams' job was being called for by pretty much everyone. Ryan Kelly and Kenyan Drake were out at the time and those were two huge problems. 59-0 later, we saw what Alabama was actually capable of this year if we played with the right attitude and leadership.<br />
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At kickoff of the Tennessee game in Knoxville, it had been 2,926 days since the Vols last beat the Tide and they just knew they were going to change that this year. Butch Jones was doing everything he could to become the next combination of General Neyland and God, according to UT fans, and with Lil Jon in their corner, they felt like they'd never fail to convert another third down again. They played Turn Down For What every single time they had the ball. Blake Sims and company were completely unfazed. Blake converted FOUR 3rd down conversions on one drive to put us ahead 34-17 in the 3rd quarter and that was pretty much that, with Tennessee tacking on a worthless FG to make it look better. 34-20. Blake threw for 286 yards and ran for 41 more in the game and Amari Cooper owned their secondary like always.<br />
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Congrats to UT on their moral victory, since they didn't end up losing by 40 or anything like usual. But shoutout to Josh Dobbs, who I think will make them alot better next year. But still, we woke up Sunday having not lost to Tennessee since Mike Shula's last season in Tuscaloosa.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfOEz_Ez8VYuN2ARzSgUe2nuYLgVlrfhWzAxhi2wfQ0hUafV6_Imv-82qm_eHSgenSFamnRWyIXSKZao8KAAcihpV8cC-MPZTUEbCMXf5ozP_f9s1PbtM1zREfVv6sFLRGOJIoA3oPys/s1600/10635897_10203627123331905_5284884376760668573_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfOEz_Ez8VYuN2ARzSgUe2nuYLgVlrfhWzAxhi2wfQ0hUafV6_Imv-82qm_eHSgenSFamnRWyIXSKZao8KAAcihpV8cC-MPZTUEbCMXf5ozP_f9s1PbtM1zREfVv6sFLRGOJIoA3oPys/s1600/10635897_10203627123331905_5284884376760668573_n.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a>LSU always scares the shit out of me and it doesn't matter that they had lost to Auburn by like 5 touchdowns earlier in the season. LSU always matches up well with us in the trenches and they are always ready to play their best game of the year against us. So of course, it would take OT to escape Death Valley with an emotion victory. TJ Yeldon fumbled at his own goal line at the end of the game and clearly LSU was about to score an easy TD and put the game away. It was over. We were going to lose. But then LSU OL Vadal Alexander shoved A'Shawn Robinson after the play was over and got flagged for it, which caused LSU to have to settle for a FG. Then LSU kicked the ball out of bounds on the kickoff, setting us up in great field position. Blake Sims was the stuff of legend on those final drives. We tied the game, then Blake won it with a TD pass to DeAndrew White in OT. LSU fans were so sad. And now we've beaten them 4 times in a row, which is astounding considering the history of this rival. Just another testament to the greatness of Nick Saban.<br />
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I was supposed to have gone to the Mississippi St game in Tuscaloosa, which would have been mine and my wife's first ever Alabama game to be there for, but it turned out we couldn't afford it. That all worked out ok though, cause a friend gave us tickets to the WCU game the next week and we had a blast. <br />
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The Bulldogs were having one of their most promising seasons ever, coming into this game undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the nation. But Vegas still had them as underdogs against Alabama. Funny how Vegas knows about these things sometimes. The final score of 25-20 doesn't tell the whole story. It was 19-3 Bama early in the game and 25-13 before Clown Shoes Mullen added a TD at the end just to make it look better. He wasn't even trying to win at that point. Typical loser mentality from a loser program. Congrats to them on ending their season in Miami though.<br />
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Western Carolina is a dirty ass team and that has always been the case. They are the team that tore Brodie Croyle's ACL in 2004. And in this game was no different. Jalston Fowler, Ardarius Stewart, Cam Robinson, Amari Cooper, A'Shawn Robinson, and Brian Vogler were all hurt in this game. A'Shawn was hurt on a blatantly dirty chop block play. And the refs did their part to give WCU a TD at the start of the game by blowing the whistle "accidentally" during a play, which gave them back the ball after Alabama had forced and recovered a fumble. Then the refs turns a blind eye to a WCU receiver pushing off Bama DB's and it was not a fun 1st quarter.<br />
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But I had a great time cause I was THERE for the first time in my life, in Bryant-Denny Stadium for an actual game. Singing Dixieland Delight in the 4th quarter and Rammer Jammer and making new friends of strangers. I loved seeing Tyren Jones get in the game and look every bit the part of the next great Bama back after Yeldon, Henry, and Drake. Altee Tenpenny could be that good too. I love seeing young guys play and show that they are going to be strong in the future.<br />
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The Iron Bowl would be a tale of two games for Blake Sims. After throwing 3 INTs in the first half, he led Alabama on 5 straight TD drives to bring the team back from a 33-21 deficit and turn it into a decisive 55-44 victory for us. 630 yards and 8 touchdowns would seem to be the stuff of a complete beatdown, but it's never enough for me when the opponent is Auburn. I'm still mad about Saban kneeling on the ball and NOT making it 56-0 in the 2012 Iron Bowl. And you can never count these fleas out of anything anymore either. Last year is a constant reminder of that, and the fact that we put up all that offense and 55 points and still only won by 11. I hope we score 70 in Jordan-Hare next year. <br />
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I still can't believe after we lost to Ole Miss and then looked like we did against Arkansas, that this team made it to Atlanta to even play in the championship game. Just about a month ago, it seemed like the SEC West was the State Of Mississippi's world this year. But, as has been the case for generations, the 50th best state in the Union doesn't get to sit at the big kids table for too long.<br />
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Georgia should've been the East representative in this game. They were the best team over there. But typical Mark Richt blowing at least one game a year that he shouldn't allowed a team that lost to INDIANA to be the SEC East Champion. Bad news for Missouri.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78oG21xmDsykLLg3f-Dyk3pM4CK231RnDwsNjG1ijc3wOdWR7LNY1XJrDTtPGSvfD6P2IF6SNVlDRKb1qGwgxGdWtD07l0k39sdooMZyFZWSbdUWqtur1fTaDsxFThiKGigOIRcAAK2Y/s1600/20141206_ChampionshipGAME_hs_1259_003_t_w600_h475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78oG21xmDsykLLg3f-Dyk3pM4CK231RnDwsNjG1ijc3wOdWR7LNY1XJrDTtPGSvfD6P2IF6SNVlDRKb1qGwgxGdWtD07l0k39sdooMZyFZWSbdUWqtur1fTaDsxFThiKGigOIRcAAK2Y/s1600/20141206_ChampionshipGAME_hs_1259_003_t_w600_h475.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a>Alabama was favored by 2 touchdowns and if Missouri players and fans wanted to think that was a joke, everyone who took Bama and the points made money. Blake completed his first 10 passes and Bama looked to roll early, but Missouri is a scrappy little team and went into the 4th quarter only down 21-13 to us. But then, Saban told Kiffin to #RunTheDamnBall and The Derrick Henry Show was in fast production. This group of Tigers had no answer to that level of a run game and Bama showed that they are the best team in college football at this point. My favorite moment of the night came after the game when Allie LaForce was interviewing Blake Sims at midfield and she asked Blake if he was ready to win the national championship. Blake didn't give a PC answer or hesitate, he just simply said, "I sho' am". Love you, Blake.<br />
<br />
BTW. Missouri's last national championship came in 1965. In Men's Indoor Track And Field. They ain't 'bout this life.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTxipodNs7Bu2OdUhVjGmdpMqRCtPWeCYS0B_Q0E3-vTJw0oX8prF4pwF9eSm0m51Z9cQECf6n92RoLQM7G9rWBajlfEkSSUuP7p4oJAdIRqflkNkkk7ZE2TPK1Izzd3eSWjxTl2fVUM/s1600/635534955870010412-USATSI-8255043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTxipodNs7Bu2OdUhVjGmdpMqRCtPWeCYS0B_Q0E3-vTJw0oX8prF4pwF9eSm0m51Z9cQECf6n92RoLQM7G9rWBajlfEkSSUuP7p4oJAdIRqflkNkkk7ZE2TPK1Izzd3eSWjxTl2fVUM/s1600/635534955870010412-USATSI-8255043.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b> </b></u></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Playoffs</b></u></span><br />
<br />
1. Alabama vs. 4. Ohio State. New Orleans<br />
2. Oregon vs 3. Florida State. Pasadena.<br />
<br />
I never thought I'd see this day. We actually have a playoff to decide the national champion of our favorite sport. I have no time for TCU and Baylor fans who are bitching about all this right now. Blame your own conference for not having a championship game or the intelligence to name a One True Champion, as it had stated it would. It played hardball wanting to get two teams in, and now you're both at home because of Ohio State, and you're mad at Bama? Just sit down.<br />
<br />
<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">All The Offense </span></b></u><br />
<br />
Hiring
Lane Kiffin now looks like one the best decisions of Nick Saban's
career, as the Alabama offense has set records almost nonstop throughout
the season. My first thought when the hire was made was that Amari
Cooper was going to lead the SEC in receiving and that expectation has
certainly been exceeded. I know Lane wants to be a head coach again and I
wish him nothing of the best when he does leave us, but I hope it's at
least a couple years from now. I want more than one season of this.<br />
Alabama
is averaging 37.1 points a game, which is 17th in the country out
of 128 teams, and allowing 16.7 points a game, which is 4th.<br />
<br />
Blake
Sims has thrown for 3,250 yards, which beats the previous record for
passing yards in a season, 3,063, set by AJ McCarron last year. Sims has
also thrown for 26 TDs and run for 6 more, averaging 4.4 ypc when he
runs it. Blake went 23-27 in the SEC Championship game, and that 85.1% completion % is the best ever in that game, breaking the previous record held by Jason Campbell a decade ago. His 281 total yards was also an Alabama record for yards in an SEC Championship Game.<br />
<br />
Amari
Cooper has been otherworldly, making Julio Jones's previous records
look pedestrian. Several years back, DJ Hall was the first Bama WR to
have 1,000 yards in a season. Julio set the standard in 2010 with 1,133
yards on 78 receptions. Cooper has
1,656 yards on 115 catches. He is the best to ever wear Crimson and will
probably owe Lane Kiffin a Christmas card every year for the rest of
his life.<br />
<br />
Nobody in SEC history has caught more passes in a season than Cooper and his 12 receptions in the SEC Championship Game is also a record. <br />
<br />
TJ Yeldon has 932 rushing yards and Derrick Henry has 895.<br />
<br />
It's
entirely conceivable that Alabama could end the 2014 season with a QB
that passed for 3,800 yards and 30 TDs, a 2,000 yard WR, and two 1,000
yard RBs.<br />
<br />
If Alabama is to win its 16th National Title, it will have done so by winning the SEC Championship, beating Ohio State and beating either Oregon or Florida State. This could go down as the greatest season ever if all that takes place.<br />
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And I think it will.<br />
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Random Tidbits</span></b></u><br />
<br />
In 2010, when Lane Kiffin left Tennessee for USC, he tried to get Blake Sims to go with him. He had tried to get Blake to play for him before in Tennessee and, in fact, Blake had been committed to Tennessee. He only switched to Bama when Lane left for Cali. Picture Blake as a Vol. Gross.<br />
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The University of Alabama decided to no longer play Dixieland Delight in the 4th quarter, after thousands of Bama students had been chanting "Fuck Auburn" during the song in the stadium for everyone to hear. So yesterday, during the SEC Championship Game in the Georgia Dome, Bama students sang the song anyway, without music, and with the offending words inserted. They ain't gonna be stopped.<br />
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At SEC Media Days in July, the media picked Alabama to win the SEC. They have only correctly predicted the SEC champ a few times in the past 15 years.<br />
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This is the 1st year of the SEC Network, the 1st year of the CFB playoff. Of course Bama would be the team to represent. How appropriate will it be for Alabama to win the 1st playoff? <br />
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"We ain't winning no championship with Blake Sims as our QB" - Bama fans in September. LOL.<br />
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God bless the child that can hold its own<br />
God bless Atlanta, Bama's second home<br />
God bless Missouri and that Tampa 2 Zone<br />
God bless Amari, Blake, and A'Shawn<br />
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<br />Eric Blackerbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207353262505371952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634952786236974171.post-70021959919724414172014-10-16T19:45:00.003-07:002014-10-16T19:53:29.011-07:00BAMMERS: Everything is OK. Really, it is.You thought you knew all about Alabama after the Florida game on Sept 20th. It's ok, I did too.<br />
<br />
I thought we were the same dominant team that we had been since the Clemson game kicked off on August 31, 2008.<br />
<br />
The Ole Miss game, despite the pile of utter garbage the refs were that day, proved that we weren't the team that we all thought we were. That we have come to feel we deserve to be. The Ole Miss game brought us back down to earth, didn't it? We no longer had delusions of 2014 grandeur, did we? Oh we did? Yeah, I know. I did too. I immediately got over the loss and turned my thoughts to the catastrophic destruction we were going to lay on the Razorbacks of Arkansas. This would be our comeback party. We'd beaten these sissies 52-0 each of the past two seasons. No way they would be a threat to us. I mean, they'll probably score, but there's no way they keep us under 40.<br />
<br />
Well, shit.<br />
<br />
So maybe we are not a championship team in 2014. And that's ok. Really, it is. Nobody wins it all every year and we are still in the middle of the greatest run in college football history. Nobody doubts we will win another title or two under Saban, depending upon how long until he retires. If he's here another decade, you can pencil us in for 2 or 3 titles in that period of time. And that's at the very least. And while looking forward to great success like that is fun, it also comes with the fact that there will be several seasons where we fall short. Mess up along the way. Lose to Auburn. Shit's gonna happen from time to time. But we will be the most consistent team in college football over the next decade. And that is one thing I am sure of.<br />
<br />
What I'm not sure of right now is the outcome of this season. But we shouldn't be written off either. Not by the experts, and certainly by our own fanbase. Alabama is still one of the best teams in the country. We are stocked with a roster full of the top recruits in the country over the past 5 years. While things have gotten shaky lately, we do have a brilliant offensive mind at the OC position. And a QB that can do many things. Most of them good. We will be ok.<br />
<br />
Even if we don't win it all this year. But don't think we have any worse chance than anyone else.<br />
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Roll Tide<br />
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P.S.- If I'm turning soft, it's probably because I am going to be a father soon. To a little girl. My first child. After my wife and I had been together and trying for over 5 years. It finally happened. So I apologize if not many things can happen in this game of football that will keep me down for too long.Eric Blackerbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207353262505371952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634952786236974171.post-60378201962051254352014-10-03T11:48:00.000-07:002014-10-03T11:50:17.585-07:00Bama-Ole MissA write this, it has been 3,998 days since The University of Mississippi's football team has beaten any Alabama team. Their last victory against The Tide came in Mike Shula's first season here. I hate to even remember those days. My wife is 27 years old and pregnant with our first child. She had yet to get her driver's license when that last defeat occurred, at the hands of Eli Manning.<br />
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In 2007, I was dating a girl who was a student at Ole Miss. I spent many a weekend in Oxford and the bed that I slept in had a picture on the wall above it: My girlfriend, with Eli Manning. Autographed. She was eat slap up with Rebel pride and I wish we had lasted at least until that football season started. I really enjoyed that town and that time. I brought a friend with me a couple times and we drove to Memphis and into Arkansas. Last I heard, she was married now and I hope her 2 little girls she had are healthy and happy. As for the woman, I hope she's absolutely miserable tomorrow. </div>
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Ole Miss has a 5th year senior at QB, who they misguidedly believe to be the SEC's best gunslinger. In truth, he's no better than Jevan Snead, their last "Heisman candidate".Ole Miss was also highly overrated in Snead's final season, and talking trash with expectations of beating Alabama. That worked out.</div>
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Before last year's game, Bo Wallace did several interviews in which he talked trash about Alabama. We had just beaten Texas A&M 49-42, and he took the opportunity to point out that he felt like Ole Miss had far better receivers and overall talent around him than the Aggies had, and therefore they would have no trouble putting up a lot of points on Alabama's defense. Then-freshman WR LaQuon Treadwell also promised that Ole Miss would upset Alabama. When it was all said and done, they tucked tail and drove back to Oxford with a 25-0 defeat. Keep talking, boys.</div>
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This year, you would think that Wallace and his cohorts would think that the right thing to do would be to remain humble, be confident but not boastful, and prepare with everything in them to actually beat Alabama. </div>
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You would be wrong. Wallace is again running his mouth. But so is everyone in the state of Mississippi. Ole Miss isn't the only team over there looking forward to a big game on Saturday. Mississippi St plays Texas A&M and they are looking to make a statement as well. The Secretary Of State actually went on the Paul Finebaum Show yesterday and declared this to be the biggest weekend in the history of the state of Mississippi, as far as college football is concerned. He said that when both their schools win, as he believes they will, that he should just make Monday a state holiday for everyone to celebrate. His employees should know that they are indeed going to be headed to work on that day. They are apparently going to have huge movie screens on the Grove for the fans to watch their expected victory over the best team in the land. ESPN's College Gameday is even going to be there to see this and you know they are all rooting for Alabama to fall. They always are.<br />
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After 4 games, Alabama is averaging 42 points and 500 yards of offense a game. Give Lane Kiffin the credit he is due, or ride the Sims Train like I have been doing since August, but no matter who you are, you can't deny that Alabama has an offense unlike any we have seen in Tuscaloosa in recent memory. While it is true that we have yet to face a team that was ranked higher than 75th in yards allowed, the obvious improvement is obvious. Alabama Football is no longer "football in a phone booth". Sure, we can line up and smash you while setting up play action here and there if we want. But we can also run the pistol, the HUNH, or hell even the wishbone if we chose. We can do anything we want right now, and with Kiffin calling the shots, we will probably see 50 different formations. That's an exaggeration, but you get the point. We've never seen a receiver like Amari Cooper get so many balls thrown his way, and everyone knows it coming. But they can't stop it. You can't just line up your best DB on Cooper and hope to shut him down, because as soon as you do, Kiffin will shift Coop to the other side of the field at the last moment or put him on a linebacker. Julio Jones was the most talented WR to ever play at Bama, and I can't even imagine what kind of numbers he could've amassed with this level of downright outscheming everyone that we are doing right now.</div>
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But if we can get past all the bravado and bragging about how good Alabama is, and talk about the actual matchup for a bit...</div>
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This is where I have to be fair to Ole Miss. They really do appear to be a little better than they usually are. It may not be the same song and dance for them as it has been for the past 50 years. Their defense has improved a lot and is probably the best they've had in several years. They are 4th in the nation in total defense. This will easily be the best defense Alabama will have faced to this point. Robert Nkemdiche is an NFL player right now, but the Rebels only rank 67th in sacks, which is 8th in the SEC. They will have to do better than that to get to Blake Sims, who has proven that just getting to him isn't a guarantee that you will stop him. Nkemdiche isn't the team leader in sacks though. That would be Marquis Haynes, who doesn't even play all the time. So we will have to watch out for him. But the Rebs are only 34th against the run, which is pretty terrible considering their Charmin soft schedule thus far. They've seen nothing like TJ Yeldon, Derrick Henry, Kenyan Drake, or even Altee Tenpenny. Tyren Jones tore a ligament and had to have surgery, or I'd put him in this mix for some late game carries as well.</div>
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Serderius Bryant, D T Shackleford, Denzel Nkemdiche (Robert's brother), and Keith Lewis are all solid players at linebacker, with Shackleford being the heaviest hitter, and Bryant the best at using his speed in open space. </div>
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Ole Miss has 3 DB's who will be missing this game, and their starting corner Senquez Golson might miss the game as well. So we might have a true freshman at one of the corner spots in this game for Sims to exploit. </div>
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<div>
Bo Wallace currently has a 71% completion rate and has thrown 11 TD's so far, but he also has thrown 6 picks. So I think we can expect a pick or two from him, which should make one of the major differences in this game.</div>
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The Ole Miss running game is almost worthless without Jeff Scott, and doesn't even earn much of a mention here other than to say that. </div>
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The WR's and their TE Evan Engram make up as fierce a group as Alabama should see this year, provided they can catch all the balls that Wallace throws at our DB's and LB's. LaQuon Treadwell is no worse than the 2nd best player in the SEC at his poition. Second only to our guy of course. But he's not all they have. They have 3 or 4 other guys that could fill the top role for them if they didn't have Treadwell. Eddie Jackson and Tony Brown will have to eat a few bowls of wheaties before this game, as this will be their first real test since West Virginia, when Brown didn't even play. </div>
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<div>
Ole Miss's offensive line is complete garbage outside of Laremy Tunsil. They are 52nd in sacks allowed, so we should be able to harass the QB plenty, which is another reason we should get a couple of picks out him, and probably the biggest reason they can't run the ball that well. I really think we could play dime and nickel and bracket their receivers the whole game and shut them down without even focusing on the running game. But that's just me.</div>
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The last time Ole Miss beat Alabama, George Bush was in his first term in the White House, Finding Nemo was in the theaters, Apple had just launched the itunes store, and Lebron James had yet to play in an NBA game.</div>
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Alabama is 51-8-2 all time against Ole Miss.</div>
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I think Bama will have to ride the first wave of emotion from Ole Miss. It wouldn't surprise me for Ole Miss to score first, but don't expect them to do shit after the 1st quarter. Might see something like 17-10 at halftime with a final score something like 31-13.</div>
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Roll Tide.</div>
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Eric Blackerbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207353262505371952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634952786236974171.post-50649620805097097642014-07-19T13:37:00.003-07:002014-07-19T13:37:36.893-07:00Alabama Players On Watch Lists For Postseason Awards<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Lombardi Award</b></span> </span><span style="font-size: large;">is presented annually by the Rotary Club in Houston, TX, to the nation's best college football lineman (offense or defense). This year's list includes two Alabama players: G <span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>Arie Kouandjio</b></span><span style="color: black;"> </span>and DE/DT <b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">A'Shawn Robinson</span></b>. In my opinion, A'Shawn has the best chance because he will be one of the most feared players in the nation at his position and should be a guy that gets 10 or 15 sacks and over 20 tackles for loss. I think he's the best in the SEC.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDLOAWsMhUnOSQ5dJ_zNZXhDIrPtgEWXfX8O2ipzlHaqpcxgWl86tJaULYIAA5_7Imrlvai20nndz5FU1cpdMBuwIdHkz0ajoViFE52pUopKPjX1tedIUa5iDMv7mNIimVoi7W_sRnnPM/s1600/A+Shawn+Robinson+LSU+v+Alabama+LtwSUeSfy1El.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDLOAWsMhUnOSQ5dJ_zNZXhDIrPtgEWXfX8O2ipzlHaqpcxgWl86tJaULYIAA5_7Imrlvai20nndz5FU1cpdMBuwIdHkz0ajoViFE52pUopKPjX1tedIUa5iDMv7mNIimVoi7W_sRnnPM/s1600/A+Shawn+Robinson+LSU+v+Alabama+LtwSUeSfy1El.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A'Shawn Robinson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last year's winner: Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Past Alabama Winners: Cornelius Bennett, 1986.</span><br />
<br />
Here are the rest of the SEC players on the list:<br />
<br />
A.J. Cann, South Carolina , G<br />
La'el Collins, LSU , OT<br />
Reese Dismukes, Auburn, C <br />
Trey Flowers, Arkansas , DE<br />
Leonard Floyd, Georgia, LB <br />
A.J. Johnson, Tennessee, LB<br />
Chris Jones, Mississippi State, DT<br />
Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State, LB <br />
Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss, DT <br />
Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M, OT <br />
Ramik Wilson, Georgia, LB<br />
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<br />
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">The Butkus Award</span></b> is named after the greatest linebacker of all time, Dick Butkus, and <span style="font-size: large;">is awarded to the best linebacker in the nation. LB is my favorite position on the field so I am always happy when Bama is represented here. This year's list includes two Bama players to watch out for: <span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>Trey DePriest</b></span> and <b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Reggie Ragland</span></b>. I can't help but think that Reuben Foster could make some noise, but that'll probably be in 2015. DePriest is expected to be the leader of Bama's front seven on defense, so he could have a huge year.</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46023uimDuA1GyEpUxmnpi-sJdViqEfndHFcR0YsLJVpmTjNjwV-9R_tHRMdRefLDeXhN2bSBmyjEvkRggDk9ZSdEOUPCHMbzzJCgcMGO09o3gdwUJDEw8ava2JTeJT_qA1wjWR9mnn4/s1600/reggie-ragland-johnny-manziel-trey-depriest-ncaa-football-alabama-texas-am-850x560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46023uimDuA1GyEpUxmnpi-sJdViqEfndHFcR0YsLJVpmTjNjwV-9R_tHRMdRefLDeXhN2bSBmyjEvkRggDk9ZSdEOUPCHMbzzJCgcMGO09o3gdwUJDEw8ava2JTeJT_qA1wjWR9mnn4/s1600/reggie-ragland-johnny-manziel-trey-depriest-ncaa-football-alabama-texas-am-850x560.jpg" height="421" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reggie Ragland</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last year's winner: CJ Mosley, Alabama. </span> <br />
<br />
Past Alabama Winners: Derrick Thomas, 1988; Rolando McClain, 2009; CJ Mosley, 2013<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Here are the rest of the SEC players on the list:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Leonard Floyd, Georgia
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
Kris Frost, Auburn</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jordan Jenkins, Georgia
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A.J. Johnson, Tennessee
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Braylon Mitchell, Arkansas
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Ramik Wilson, Georgia</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">The Nagurski Award</span></b> is given to the top defensive player in college football. The award is named after Bronko Nagurski, who played for Minnesota in college and for the Chicago Bears in the NFL. Alabama has never won this award, but this year we have three guys on the list: S <b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Landon Collins</span></b>, LB <span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>Trey DePriest</b></span>, and DL <span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>A'Shawn Robinson</b></span>. Again, A'Shawn is a beast. Expect big things from this man.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXXDRCHTfT2-QqaPJAFaGxhGrTHTMCz3ZX-fFkJAxu8Trn8kQKCgaxzGGVyEH-RskPMGE9OWlDeaZQlem5BC1WywCj8wiRxZbN2CrDN-1DGmeFlqAuSQueGRKzaZwnS9D2LPub9XCVe6g/s1600/Trey+Depriest+sUDMGK7SF4im.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXXDRCHTfT2-QqaPJAFaGxhGrTHTMCz3ZX-fFkJAxu8Trn8kQKCgaxzGGVyEH-RskPMGE9OWlDeaZQlem5BC1WywCj8wiRxZbN2CrDN-1DGmeFlqAuSQueGRKzaZwnS9D2LPub9XCVe6g/s1600/Trey+Depriest+sUDMGK7SF4im.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trey DePriest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last year's winner: Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Here are the rest of the SEC players on the list: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Alvin "Bud" Dupree, Kentucky, DE</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Trey Flowers, Arkansas, DE </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Leonard Floyd, Georgia, LB</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Dante Fowler Jr., Florida, DE/LB</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Markus Golden, Missouri, DE</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida, S</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jordan Jenkins, Georgia, LB</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A.J. Johnson, Tennessee, LB</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State, LB</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss, DT</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Cody Prewitt, Ole Miss, S</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Ramik Wilson, Georgia, LB</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Gabe Wright, Auburn, DT</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">The Outland Trophy</span></b> is named after John Outland, of the University of Kansas, who was named All American at two different positions in the very early days off football: offensive tackle and halfback. Can you imagine that these days? The award goes to the best interior lineman in college football(offensive or defensive). Alabama has three on this list: C <b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Ryan Kelly</span></b>, G <b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Arie Kouandjio</span></b>, and DL <span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>A'shawn Robinson</b></span>. I don't have to tell you which one of these guys I am highest on. However, 8 out of the past 11 years the award has gone to an offensive guy and Kelly has the chance to be a Barrett Jones type of leader and player this year and all of our past winners were O-Lineman.</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilynV6Mo1nb6aOuUhceZh8RpdpQ5nAR8HxGCNRinrEqKmgKqO-Tn_8vKGgxwS5iLToQk6WwHnk0Xs4jM8_S7Am8XSuHRD8Vo5whBjIeFq535Rr_Jz_hbP2vwuaqJx8qlBVlCV5McqSBWw/s1600/Arie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilynV6Mo1nb6aOuUhceZh8RpdpQ5nAR8HxGCNRinrEqKmgKqO-Tn_8vKGgxwS5iLToQk6WwHnk0Xs4jM8_S7Am8XSuHRD8Vo5whBjIeFq535Rr_Jz_hbP2vwuaqJx8qlBVlCV5McqSBWw/s1600/Arie.jpg" height="330" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arie Kouandjio</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Last year's winner: Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Past Alabama Winners: Chris Samuels, 1999; Andre Smith, 2008; Barrett Jones, 2011</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Here are the rest of the SEC players on the list:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Vadal Alexander</span><span style="font-size: large;">, LSU, G</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">David Andrews</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Georgia, C</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Evan Boehm</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Missouri, C</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A.J. Cann</span><span style="font-size: large;">, South Carolina, G</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">La'el Collins</span><span style="font-size: large;">, LSU, OT</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Reese Dismukes</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Auburn, C</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">D.J. Humphries</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Florida, OT</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Germain Ifedi</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Texas A&M, OT</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Alex Kozan</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Auburn, G</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Mike Matthews</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Texas A&M, C</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss, DT</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Cedric Ogbuehi</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Texas A&M, OT</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Corey Robinson</span><span style="font-size: large;">, South Carolina, OT</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Brandon Shell</span><span style="font-size: large;">, South Carolina, OT</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Laremy Tunsil</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Ole Miss, OT</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Gabe Wright, Auburn, DT</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Mackey Award</b></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> is given to the best tight end in college football who best exemplifies the
play, sportsmanship, academics, and community values of NFL Hall of Fame TE John Mackey. I think most people know who that is probably gonna be. <b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">OJ Howard</span></b> was an under-utilized man among boys in his true freshman campaign last season. Lane Kiffin knows what he has in this guy and whenever he's not trying to get the ball to Amari Cooper, it will probably be going to OJ Howard. OJ can play across the middle like a traditional tight end, and can block like a lineman, but this guy could line up at wide receiver and be one of the elite guys in the country there as well. Barring injury or the Apocalypse, I'm gonna just go ahead and predict that OJ Howard will be the first Alabama TE to win this award. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-YHuUFXgCpoQ_5NlJ0B_C2rFvjDg7yEwGXOslYc4vxrDjST0joEXx_LJPOORPC8oUqGKwgTi55SlDZaCOPAFGTRxkmLxt6uYbeCW5M_voj9NLcZDOcncJuXpBCGLyaIsP9LoEq4tpHY/s1600/OJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-YHuUFXgCpoQ_5NlJ0B_C2rFvjDg7yEwGXOslYc4vxrDjST0joEXx_LJPOORPC8oUqGKwgTi55SlDZaCOPAFGTRxkmLxt6uYbeCW5M_voj9NLcZDOcncJuXpBCGLyaIsP9LoEq4tpHY/s1600/OJ.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OJ Howard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last year's winner: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Washington. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Here are the rest of the SEC players on the list:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Rory Anderson</span><span style="font-size: large;">, South Carolina
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Evan Engram</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Ole Miss
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Hunter Henry</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Arkansas
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Malcolm Johnson</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Mississippi State
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jay Rome</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Georgia
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">C.J. Uzomah</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Auburn
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Rimington Trophy</b></span> goes to the best center in College Football, and is named for Dave Rimington who played center at Nebraska from 1979-1982. <span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>Ryan Kelly</b></span> represents Bama and should do well in 2014.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYq6Gmkssq4JHX0cw6bG23sAuLCApr2pittKClxAz7xZ50XLTe_TvWl1v95l5xi_Hu8ytH7zwRD6YFc3B52B4uj8tqw4dVA_4R5o5JRXTz64gekr3_DmZ9kZhxfaZIZriuhsSC1-Wn7k/s1600/Kelly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYq6Gmkssq4JHX0cw6bG23sAuLCApr2pittKClxAz7xZ50XLTe_TvWl1v95l5xi_Hu8ytH7zwRD6YFc3B52B4uj8tqw4dVA_4R5o5JRXTz64gekr3_DmZ9kZhxfaZIZriuhsSC1-Wn7k/s1600/Kelly.jpg" height="330" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ryan Kelly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Last year's winner: Bryan Stork, Florida State. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Past Alabama winners: Barrett Jones, 2012.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Here are the rest of the SEC players on the list:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">David Andrews</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Georgia
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Evan Boehm</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Missouri
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Dillon Day</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Mississippi State
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Reese Dismukes</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Auburn
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Max Garcia</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Florida
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Mike Matthews</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Texas A&M
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Elliott Porter</span><span style="font-size: large;">, LSU
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jon Toth</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Kentucky
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Joe Townsend</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Vanderbilt
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Cody Waldrop</span><span style="font-size: large;">, South Carolina</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">The Bednarik Award</span></b> is presented by the Maxwell Football Club to the best defensive player in college football and is named after Chuck Bednarik, who was one of the most devastating tacklers in the country for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1949-1962.. Alabama is well represented here with three guys: <b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Landon Collins</span></b>, <b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Trey DePriest</span></b>, and <span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>A'Shawn Robinson</b></span>. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgko3EbqUBd61tq6G-fY-Xp77R0TvPKjzV_SeaBEAuxLScI3AeyaUC9uadl4dp0RD7vic6R_OxMoQ1IruZr_QFtyu-s7_eO_ot8gofFlFWx95tAbKU3dGqUuZEcr_hD3EhaGIuZ7YfalPQ/s1600/52406cb73d059.preview-300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgko3EbqUBd61tq6G-fY-Xp77R0TvPKjzV_SeaBEAuxLScI3AeyaUC9uadl4dp0RD7vic6R_OxMoQ1IruZr_QFtyu-s7_eO_ot8gofFlFWx95tAbKU3dGqUuZEcr_hD3EhaGIuZ7YfalPQ/s1600/52406cb73d059.preview-300.jpg" height="640" width="510" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A'Shawn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Last year's winner: Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Here are the rest of the SEC players on the list:</span><br />
<ul><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></ul>
<span style="font-size: large;">Alvin "Bud" Dupree</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Kentucky, DE</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Trey Flowers</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Arkansas, DE</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Leonard Floyd</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Georgia, LB</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Dante Fowler Jr.</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Florida, DE/LB</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Markus Golden</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Missouri, DE</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Vernon Hargreaves III</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Florida, CB</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jordan Jenkins</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Georgia, LB</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A.J. Johnson</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Tennessee, LB</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Benardrick McKinney</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Mississippi State, LB</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Cody Prewitt</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Ole Miss, S</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Robenson Therezie</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Auburn, S</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Ramik Wilson</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Georgia, LB</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">The Maxwell Award</span></b> is named after Robert "Tiny" Maxwell, a Swarthmore College player and coach, and is given annually to the best player in college football. Alabama had never had a player win this award until last year, when AJ McCarron took it home. He should've taken home the Heisman too, but that's another argument for another day. Four Alabama players are on the preseason list this year: QB <span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>Jacob Coker</b></span>, WR <span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>Amari Cooper</b></span>, RB <span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>TJ Yeldon</b></span>, and RB <span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>Derrick Henry</b></span>. I have no idea why Coker is on here, since he's yet to take a single snap as a starter or in an Alabama uniform at all, but I guess it's just a testament to the respect that everyone has for Nick Saban that most people expect the Alabama QB to be a major player for this type of attention. I think Derrick Henry is the best in the country, but his ultimate candidacy for this award will depend upon how many carries he gets, splitting time with TJ Yeldon and a couple of other guys. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAaO39yThhyphenhyphen1vudcvIMJ2Eqiqwi71lj6pHkSnHPtwsQpIjbIwQc1kmJlVdghgEkY87kI26kPbvMuwVbPLV2-od8KJfNlJVvxtiXomOx5OGwNas9kOeGJD0zH8pOe0gxR2Rr-jjilPbbU/s1600/index.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAaO39yThhyphenhyphen1vudcvIMJ2Eqiqwi71lj6pHkSnHPtwsQpIjbIwQc1kmJlVdghgEkY87kI26kPbvMuwVbPLV2-od8KJfNlJVvxtiXomOx5OGwNas9kOeGJD0zH8pOe0gxR2Rr-jjilPbbU/s1600/index.jpg" height="431" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TJ Yeldon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Last year's winner: AJ McCarron, Alabama. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Past Alabama Winners: AJ McCarron, 2013</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Here are the rest of the SEC players on the list:</span> <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Sammie Coates</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Auburn, WR</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Alex Collins</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Arkansas, RB</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Mike Davis</span><span style="font-size: large;">, South Carolina, RB</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jeff Driskel</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Florida, QB</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Todd Gurley</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Georgia, RB</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Nick Marshall</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Auburn, QB</span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Dak Prescott</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Mississippi State, QB</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Bo Wallace</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Ole Miss, QB</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jonathan Williams</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Arkansas, RB</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">The Thorpe Award</span></b> is named after Jim Thorpe, and goes to the nation's top defensive back. <span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>Landon Collins</b></span> has a chance to be the best safety in college football and will have a very good shot at winning this award.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLgOO1zn5G-nq15f5A9A4cXlRn_G5k1njVpiGGSC_1gVoCNporf_q3pQ28CzHaip0_KgOs-2O6jUtRuJuW88vG9jiy87XsFI32ghL4cbvY_GZCjxXwhj2uMn3rqmVN965bSbnWELvbnI/s1600/Collins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLgOO1zn5G-nq15f5A9A4cXlRn_G5k1njVpiGGSC_1gVoCNporf_q3pQ28CzHaip0_KgOs-2O6jUtRuJuW88vG9jiy87XsFI32ghL4cbvY_GZCjxXwhj2uMn3rqmVN965bSbnWELvbnI/s1600/Collins.jpg" height="398" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Landon Collins</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Last year's winner: Darqueze Dennard, Michigan State. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Past Alabama Winners: Antonio Langham, 1993.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Here are the rest of the SEC players on the list:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Vernon Hargreaves, Florida, CB</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Cody Prewitt, Ole Miss, S</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Tre'Davious White, LSU, CB</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">The Biletnikoff Award</span></b> is given to the nation's most outstanding receiver, and is name after Fred Biletnikoff from Florida State. <span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>Amari Cooper</b></span> headlines any list of great receivers in college football right now and should have his best season yet, with Lane Kiffin on the sidelines.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdC2PxbS6kM-ewnkTNysYwNa9BcL9kmSlza4yCX_LpHOdhTpGCJZVrhDeiE1y8ew0qw1ePMoDbLNrUcD0yyKghm4C9G_jvm9zRJ4vEjHirKO-1HoU59gusfcmM-A6H96OKQYmO-0CoYn4/s1600/Coop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdC2PxbS6kM-ewnkTNysYwNa9BcL9kmSlza4yCX_LpHOdhTpGCJZVrhDeiE1y8ew0qw1ePMoDbLNrUcD0yyKghm4C9G_jvm9zRJ4vEjHirKO-1HoU59gusfcmM-A6H96OKQYmO-0CoYn4/s1600/Coop.jpg" height="330" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amari Cooper</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last year's winner: Brandin Cooks, Oregon State. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here are the rest of the SEC players on the list:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sammie Coates, Auburn</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jameon Lewis, Mississippi State</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: red;"><b>The Doak Walker Award</b></span></span> goes to the best running back in college football every year, and Bama has a couple guys on this list. <span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: red;"><b>TJ Yeldon</b></span></span>, and <span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: red;">Derrick Henry</span></b></span>. The SEC is well represented here, no thanks to Auburn, with 11 total backs. Roughly 1 in 5 RBs on the complete list are from the SEC, with none being from Auburn.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZVh6x9tE1BYHaHtuYe6XD4vWYyQUQjSsiqLGuC7QXVK6jD53sAA0eyTRFnbLhRvuusPEZwPA4pW7eJcTyTtGKpsarv2ZCUcnYVACxs1cvFegiGmSgoQ0cBIHSFMj3s1QRMrcMXTWnNcM/s1600/o-DERRICK-HENRY-facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZVh6x9tE1BYHaHtuYe6XD4vWYyQUQjSsiqLGuC7QXVK6jD53sAA0eyTRFnbLhRvuusPEZwPA4pW7eJcTyTtGKpsarv2ZCUcnYVACxs1cvFegiGmSgoQ0cBIHSFMj3s1QRMrcMXTWnNcM/s1600/o-DERRICK-HENRY-facebook.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Derrick Henry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last year's winner: Andre Williams, Boston College. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Past Alabama winners: Trent Richardson, 2011. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here are the rest of the SEC players on the list:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Tra Carson</span>, Texas A&M
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Alex Collins, Arkansas
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Mike Davis, South Carolina
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Todd Gurley, Georgia
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Terrence McGee, LSU
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Josh Robinson, Mississippi State
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Kelvin Taylor, Florida
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Jonathan Williams, Arkansas
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Trey Williams, Texas A&M
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: red;"><b>The Walter Camp Award</b></span></span> is awarded to the Player Of The Year in college football. Alabama places 3 on this list: <span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: red;">Landon Collins</span></b></span>, <span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Amari Cooper</b></span></span>, and <b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">TJ Yeldon</span></span></b>. I think Henry could be on the list later on in the season, but that will depend on how many carries he takes from Yeldon of course.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcSu9KNcAKJIYqM2jW0-UJZhjodCKHT11smHQENDXXGmqU6yis4LhGsoO2tdrDnoDFMwY8M5OfG4Fh9sUEaP4otBdc3tozV6dCuIRINw9AMEy00IUNjFxtFP0qtpW69ILGL6suUxUYpE/s1600/Amari+Cooper+Mississippi+v+Alabama+vlhLkUqPfJRl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcSu9KNcAKJIYqM2jW0-UJZhjodCKHT11smHQENDXXGmqU6yis4LhGsoO2tdrDnoDFMwY8M5OfG4Fh9sUEaP4otBdc3tozV6dCuIRINw9AMEy00IUNjFxtFP0qtpW69ILGL6suUxUYpE/s1600/Amari+Cooper+Mississippi+v+Alabama+vlhLkUqPfJRl.jpg" height="640" width="524" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coop</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last year's winner: Jameis Winston, Florida State.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here are the rest of the SEC players on the list: </span><br />
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Mike Davis, South Carolina, RB<br />
Todd Gurley, Georgia, RB<br />
Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida, CB<br />
Nick Marshall, Auburn, QB<br />
Cody Prewitt, Ole Miss, S <br />
Ramik Wilson, Georgia, LB<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">These are just preseason lists based on past performance and hype, so expect several of these players to fall off as the season goes on and many more players to be added by December. But Alabama is well represented with 10 total players on the preseason watch lists, and with a few of the young guys that should step up, added to the fact that we will be in the playoff, it's a safe bet that at least one of these awards will be heading to Tuscaloosa.</span><br />
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<br />Eric Blackerbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207353262505371952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634952786236974171.post-29933602488633450972014-07-16T12:52:00.000-07:002014-07-16T13:35:30.282-07:00Alabama vs USC, 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFJCw9zGPnpJAILVAlENoV7QEuwbNrRmUgVxZ4-N6LfO38t58U6vYCA8BZ5aIGTgl6GFsflJKqb8JJW3qdUP7QUE1zgd-LHO9OFL5rewY5jgXX0So7uOlwIKvddO1TKY9k6-dEZVciy0/s1600/Alabama-vs-USC-Cowboys-Stadium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFJCw9zGPnpJAILVAlENoV7QEuwbNrRmUgVxZ4-N6LfO38t58U6vYCA8BZ5aIGTgl6GFsflJKqb8JJW3qdUP7QUE1zgd-LHO9OFL5rewY5jgXX0So7uOlwIKvddO1TKY9k6-dEZVciy0/s1600/Alabama-vs-USC-Cowboys-Stadium.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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On Sept 3, 2016, the Alabama Crimson Tide will face off against the University of Southern California in Arlington, Texas.<br />
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The last time Alabama played in AT&T Stadium, Bama chicken-kicked Michigan 41-14 to start the 2012 season and this would be another great start to a championship run like that one was.<br />
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Alabama was supposed to play Penn State in this game, but according to Nick Saban Penn St "Bailed out on us".<br />
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Of all the big time non-conference games in recent years, this might be the biggest and most anticipated one of all. I know I've been wanting to play USC for about 10 years. Back when we'd have had no business thinking we could win against them. Back when Auburn thought they could beat them. I've always wanted these guys. And now we are going to get them.<br />
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This will be the 8th time in history Alabama and USC will have met. This will be the first time Alabama and USC will have played each other, barring a playoff matchup, in 31 years. Bama beat USC 24-3 in the Aloha Bowl in 1985.<br />
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Alabama leads the series 5-2. <br />
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Alabama and USC split the national title in 1978, even though USC beat Alabama that year. You can still piss off some old Trojan fans by bringing that one up.<br />
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USC is 21-11-1 all time against the SEC. But that won't matter on this night.<br />
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Alabama and USC have combined for 26 national titles, 66 bowl wins, 272 first team All-Americans, 797 NFL draftees, 52 College Football Hall Of Fame players, and 7 Heisman Trophy winners.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RZ-XrwOuBWJ4V1FQl0ok0sdrVr4fpu-VcDf3TtVj_fYSbqx2mvBf3z2IcRsUUH1EF60uPyeOdzMn4ClhlPz8BnqJE7Y0Z3gBwyvR6edcJ5MKTBtu_hABF2cCFinquDbLv0lKO3Ka63A/s1600/John-McKay_web-210x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RZ-XrwOuBWJ4V1FQl0ok0sdrVr4fpu-VcDf3TtVj_fYSbqx2mvBf3z2IcRsUUH1EF60uPyeOdzMn4ClhlPz8BnqJE7Y0Z3gBwyvR6edcJ5MKTBtu_hABF2cCFinquDbLv0lKO3Ka63A/s1600/John-McKay_web-210x300.jpg" height="200" width="140" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John McKay. USC Head Coach from 1960-1975.<br />
Won 4 national titles.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zM_QEqP8QoXFsUNfvlFP1nNTJRD3xL_DgvKWBtGemmhQ9vgXnW2sBIWn7E6_FVVaV114yGcwA_fD2ywbMh04r84dGB_xPpLusthidvJ4n0oRZp_mXz6wpy-pGcKkoFe0LMCgJPq0TwE/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zM_QEqP8QoXFsUNfvlFP1nNTJRD3xL_DgvKWBtGemmhQ9vgXnW2sBIWn7E6_FVVaV114yGcwA_fD2ywbMh04r84dGB_xPpLusthidvJ4n0oRZp_mXz6wpy-pGcKkoFe0LMCgJPq0TwE/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul "Bear" Bryant</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmHxmN4eH1GVnal4vcwaEofhL_qlDe5UnQxpfTZQVYK-uaUzfOPYzAzowP3XXWnzMFwiq4h6ssIC73KIwb3aElf-8EpUoj2er-S_AeK3mODnAzGTyaB2_Ynjh7KcsjmXF0mlMnrHu7og/s1600/imagesCAWW7LEA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmHxmN4eH1GVnal4vcwaEofhL_qlDe5UnQxpfTZQVYK-uaUzfOPYzAzowP3XXWnzMFwiq4h6ssIC73KIwb3aElf-8EpUoj2er-S_AeK3mODnAzGTyaB2_Ynjh7KcsjmXF0mlMnrHu7og/s1600/imagesCAWW7LEA.jpg" height="400" width="277" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">USC Fullback Sam Cunningham</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In 1970, the two schools played in one of the most important games in history. USC won the game 42-21, thanks to a huge game from African American fullback Sam Cunningham, who is credited with having a lot to do with college football becoming integrated in the south. Cunningham ran for 135 yards and 2 TDs on only 12 carries and the Trojans outgained Alabama by 300 yards. Bear Bryant personally sought out Cunningham after the game to congratulate him. Bryant already had one black player on the freshman squad, and people say that Bryant would have already had more black players on the team if he had thought it was socially acceptable at the time. Whatever the case may be, getting embarrassed in this way changed the way Bryant and Alabama saw things and paved the way for future Hall Of Famers like Ozzie Newsome to come along over the next several years. This game helped to reinforce what had already started and won over a lot of the ignorant fools who were going to fight it because they wanted the Tide to win and the message was clear that to win you needed to have the best players, regardless of the color of their skin.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLINQhN85pv8jRPwqfGLT2nXQCfThsHsYnfog-_hWcJBifHZ3Iu4oYPe7IOW-sZqv3Zq04Ou2gWkRab2d2FBEPQo3AwgOXYK2CL2evfRRjGQA3Sy6_OSldizYsHLnJeIJGj-KUJtYFh8/s1600/CowboysClassic_071614_650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLINQhN85pv8jRPwqfGLT2nXQCfThsHsYnfog-_hWcJBifHZ3Iu4oYPe7IOW-sZqv3Zq04Ou2gWkRab2d2FBEPQo3AwgOXYK2CL2evfRRjGQA3Sy6_OSldizYsHLnJeIJGj-KUJtYFh8/s1600/CowboysClassic_071614_650.jpg" height="196" width="640" /></a><br />
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The Cowboys Classic. Bama and USC. This will be awesome.<br />
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Lane Kiffin on the Alabama sideline. <br />
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Nick Saban coming off back to back titles. OK, I'm not gonna get carried away there.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOUbeRTiKCLXE4tTjmnoY1DUbJoTtpREkS9HVf6RYNmhLwcMgRLHMFYZhN_yJjqgWu7vdEVr-LNsA__eKQ0uzL8fLCKgMx7iBBGhhMfte5cxNBh8x9bX5paA-B_G8BnnWAME8Snkx4fg/s1600/imagesCAFA23Y4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOUbeRTiKCLXE4tTjmnoY1DUbJoTtpREkS9HVf6RYNmhLwcMgRLHMFYZhN_yJjqgWu7vdEVr-LNsA__eKQ0uzL8fLCKgMx7iBBGhhMfte5cxNBh8x9bX5paA-B_G8BnnWAME8Snkx4fg/s1600/imagesCAFA23Y4.jpg" height="270" width="400" /></a>“We are excited to participate in a game that is such an attractive matchup for the nation’s fans. The 2016 Cowboys Classic not only brings together two of college football’s most tradition-laden and successful programs, but teams that in 1970 played a significant role in shaping the history of the game. At USC, we have always tried to schedule as many outstanding nonconference opponents as possible because we believe that should be part of the experience our players get when they come here. The Trojans versus the Crimson Tide in Arlington will certainly be such a game.” <br />
- USC Coach Steve Sarkisian <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwaAAXxOrdVLmsqINReAqbMJb2xFCA9YsljIbxn3CNB0mObvxDjh1PytYYT1DbIfin8jBmsT8OVgaAtVtnvWKTaO7Z3iGGGM5KOGWrx2s5Kc1TB1vlaQ0VFdEsNAvUbUILGtlclHgKNn8/s1600/screen-shot-2014-05-14-at-10-39-27-am.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwaAAXxOrdVLmsqINReAqbMJb2xFCA9YsljIbxn3CNB0mObvxDjh1PytYYT1DbIfin8jBmsT8OVgaAtVtnvWKTaO7Z3iGGGM5KOGWrx2s5Kc1TB1vlaQ0VFdEsNAvUbUILGtlclHgKNn8/s1600/screen-shot-2014-05-14-at-10-39-27-am.png" height="174" width="320" /></a></div>
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Eric Blackerbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207353262505371952noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634952786236974171.post-1451647037512643482014-07-15T15:04:00.002-07:002014-07-15T15:38:02.040-07:00SEC Media Days: I'm Back<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_68Doy3sOry31bY-vzjXpyLLLsKrKxZPAgesuR5gEBXpRYEj8CEDvAGpwz05wUEcmwQr32pcSvHRqQ82LWLMP0oKOQvkXs6rqm0A-D0doVcelJYrPKA8q6O0gQnMH9tVp0QszI3yjAF0/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_68Doy3sOry31bY-vzjXpyLLLsKrKxZPAgesuR5gEBXpRYEj8CEDvAGpwz05wUEcmwQr32pcSvHRqQ82LWLMP0oKOQvkXs6rqm0A-D0doVcelJYrPKA8q6O0gQnMH9tVp0QszI3yjAF0/s1600/photo.jpg" height="318" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A lot has happened in the year since I was last able to write here. I won't bother with catching up on old times, since we all know the good and bad things that happened in 2013. I will just start from this week, my favorite week of the offseason.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">SEC Media Days is kicking in Hoover right now. This event will always hold an especially fond place in my heart, for obvious reasons. For those who don't know, or remember, go <a href="http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/07/i_hate_auburn_t-shirt_guy_its.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>. And you can also read <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/eye-on-college-football/24616308/they-said-what-best-quotes-from-past-sec-media-days" target="_blank">THIS</a> excellent article by <a href="https://twitter.com/JonSolomonCBS" target="_blank">@JonSolomonCBS</a> that will catch you up on the past craziness that has been SEC Media Days.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But they've already forgotten about me because of this guy:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDbF2QJX2jsPP6lrqsVjhv7oAkFCeW-2ew3rLnoivgS2zVuBlbfxZipcdSkfJqs6PvrolfCx4rH3-CCXPrpp47t7NwnVNPRlqSrogkqTEIbYZqEP7NaaiJLiILABTJ-4syOuGWTFAbAQ/s1600/bama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDbF2QJX2jsPP6lrqsVjhv7oAkFCeW-2ew3rLnoivgS2zVuBlbfxZipcdSkfJqs6PvrolfCx4rH3-CCXPrpp47t7NwnVNPRlqSrogkqTEIbYZqEP7NaaiJLiILABTJ-4syOuGWTFAbAQ/s1600/bama.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/07/alabama-fan-300-national-championship-ring-hat-sec-media-days?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=usatodaycomcollegefootball-topstories" target="_blank">Alabama Fan With $300 National Championship Ring Hat</a> </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u><b>Shenanigans</b></u></span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The past couple weeks, we've had to deal with a couple of off the field incidents, as is always the case during the summer for most major college football programs. Speedy back up running back Kenyan Drake had yet another brush with the law, and while this most recent case was much ado about nothing, it remains to be seen how it will affect his playing time and position on the team. Whatever happens, it should go without saying that Nick Saban will make the best decisions and we should respect whatever he does as he clearly knows what he is doing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavblmW3RAMsIMwMnpXW1rkvwgRzMXSELz7tT8kVoTceqtm13qTAnbfrEuzA372COKwj-P8txnOX4ab0yoLDUdBr6Xvfi0fhZZnYWDU6qQO3hkVVPeDebLy9FF4795IUiDo4jKtEJpSAs/s1600/1405278679000-JarranReed_medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavblmW3RAMsIMwMnpXW1rkvwgRzMXSELz7tT8kVoTceqtm13qTAnbfrEuzA372COKwj-P8txnOX4ab0yoLDUdBr6Xvfi0fhZZnYWDU6qQO3hkVVPeDebLy9FF4795IUiDo4jKtEJpSAs/s1600/1405278679000-JarranReed_medium.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Huge defensive lineman Jarran Reed was arrested for DUI after he crashed into a parked car in his 2011 Dodge Charger. The incoming JUCO transfer blew a .13 on the breathalyzer. Alot of fun was made of Auburn QB Nick Marshall after he was caught with marijuana in his car during a traffic stop in Georgia last week, but that has nothing on this. While Marshall's actions were idiotic considering the position he is in, he didn't put anyone else in danger other than himself, and that is of course debatable these days with the changing views on and more knowledge of marijuana. But what Reed did, without question, put himself and anyone else with him or around him in danger and I doubt we see him on the field for awhile this year. I have faith that Saban will punish him justly and that Reed will learn from this. As bad as it is, people do make mistakes, especially young people, and there is always room for forgiveness and this can be put in the past if Reed does whatever Saban has in mind for him from this point forward.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> "We are disappointed in Jarran's actions and this is obviously not the
kind of behavior we expect from our players," he said. "It is a
privilege to represent the University of Alabama and there are
responsibilities that go along with that privilege. We'll evaluate the
situation and determine the appropriate discipline so better choices and
decisions can be made in the future." - Nick Saban.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">RB Altee Tenpenny was cited for possession of marijuana back in April, and LB Dillon Lee was arrested for DUI also in April. These guys are all for sure in Saban's doghouse. Thankfully, we have plenty of depth and every single one of these guys, while very talented players, has at least a couple other guys who can take their spots without us noticing a difference.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"The time for leniency has ended. The use of “internal discipline” is no
longer enough. Nick Saban needs to tighten the reins on his program,
make an example of someone publicly, and send the message to every one
of his players that the offseason has ended, the time for work is here
and any instances of poor behavior will not be tolerated."
- Alex Scarborough. You can read his full article on all this <a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/85142/time-for-saban-to-send-message-to-players" target="_blank">HERE</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><b>Recruiting</b></u></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">As of this writing, Alabama has picked up 3 big time commitments for the 2016 class. Nick Saban is ridiculous and it is obvious that the man never sleeps. While Steve Spurrier is making jokes and pressing the flesh with the media, this is what Nick is doing: Preparing for future national titles. It is exactly why he is the very best there is.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>4 star DT Benito Jones, Wayne County HS, Waynesboro MS. </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">6'0 280</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Chose Bama over Ole Miss, Georgia, Florida State <b> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Those who have seen him in person say that his hand-quickness, strength, and ability will make him among the top 2 or 3 guys in the country at his position when he graduates.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>5 star CB Shyheim Carter, Kentwood HS, Kentwood, LA</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">6'0 185</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Chose Bama over Georgia, Clemson, Mississippi St</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Carter is considered the No. 1 DB prospect in the country in his class. Physicality is where is excels, so he fits the mold of a Dre Kirkpatrick of the future. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>5 star ATH Demetris Robertson, Savannah Country Day School, Savannah, GA</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">6</span>'0 165</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Chose Bama over Auburn, Clemson, Florida</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Robertson could be an elite talent at corner, safety, or wide receiver and is considered the No. 1 athlete in the country for 2016.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">All 3 of these guys should be in the overall Top 30 when those lists come out in the future. Robertson and Carter have already been invited to the US Army All American Game.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Keep in mind, these kids won't set foot on campus for 2 years, but this is how you build a program that competes year in and year out for the top spot in the land.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">News, Notes, and Links</span></b></u><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> </b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/84996/potential-2014-sec-villains" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Jacob Coker, Jeff Driskel Potential SEC Villians</span> </a></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">"He’s no McCarron. Let’s get that out of the way first. Unlike his
predecessor, Coker is about as unassuming as a major talent can get. He
started out as a humble three-star recruit, and his disposition has
remained the same. But with the runaway hype machine that’s surrounded
his landing at Alabama -- not to mention that he transferred to Alabama
in the first place -- you’ve got the perfect recipe for blind dislike."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Lane Kiffin also gets a mention of course. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2014/07/tracking_alabama_football_recr.html" target="_blank">Alabama's Flight Records Reveal Controlled Chaos Behind Securing The Nation's No. 1 Recruiting Class</a> </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Not even perhaps the most successful coach in the nation was immune to
becoming just another frequent flyer in search of new talent. To
determine just how frenzied this period was for Nick Saban, <a href="http://www.al.com/">AL.com</a>,
through the Freedom of Information Act, obtained the logs of the
24-year-old plane (N1UA) registered to the Crimson Tide Foundation — the
fundraising arm of the Alabama athletics department — that carried
Saban and his staff to their destinations."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/11217830/steve-spurrier-south-carolina-gamecocks-praises-nick-saban-alabama-crimson-tide" target="_blank">Steve Spurrier: Bama SEC Favorite</a></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Spurrier, who enters his 10th season leading the <a href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/2579/south-carolina-gamecocks">Gamecocks</a>,
called Alabama "the favorites" to win the SEC, in large part because of
its recruiting efforts. The Crimson Tide wrapped up their third
straight No. 1 class in February and have never finished outside of the
top three in ESPN's rankings since Saban's first year in Tuscaloosa in
2007. With 16 current ESPN 300 commitments, they are well on their way
to another top class."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2014/7/14/5899311/alabama-flag-kyle-field-texas-am-fired" target="_blank">Someone Hung An Alabama Flag In Texas A&M's Stadium</a> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Someone -- perhaps an Alabama fan working as a construction worker doing
renovations at Texas A&M's Kyle Field -- decided to have a little
fun with the Tide's new SEC rival Monday morning and flew an Alabama
flag outside of the stadium"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">He got fired for it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/85014/espn-projections-favor-alabama-to-win-sec" target="_blank">ESPN Projections For Each SEC Team Have Alabama Winning It All</a></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"The Crimson Tide is projected to win 9.9 games and has a 4 percent
chance of going undefeated. In addition to its 22.6 percent chance of
winning the SEC, Alabama has a 38 percent chance of winning the SEC
West. Alabama is the favorite in every game and has at least a 64.5
percent chance of winning all but the LSU (57.5) and Auburn (57.8)
games"
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Obviously, Alabama will win more than 10 games, but I like the way they crunch the numbers here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Auburn is the favorite to win every game this season except the Iron
Bowl, but the Tigers have only the fourth-best odds of winning the SEC
title for a second straight season."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">LOL </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2014/07/kirby_smarts_wise_beyond_his_y.html" target="_blank">Kirby Smart Is The Smartest Assistant Coach In College Football</a></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“My family’s so happy in Tuscaloosa,” Smart said. “My wife loves it.
We’ve got 6-year-old twins and a 2-year-old. We’ve been very fortunate. I
moved seven times the first seven years I coached. The last, I guess,
eight, going on eight, I’ve been in the same place, and my kids only
know one place. So for us that’s very comfortable.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2014/06/kirby_smart_lists_4_most-talen.html#incart_m-rpt-2" target="_blank">Kirby Smart Ranks 4 Best Alabama Players He's Coached</a> </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Marcell Dareus, Dont'a Hightower, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Javier Arenas. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://news.tidefans.com/2014/06/08/tide-2014-coker-needs-a-chance-not-crushing-pressure/" target="_blank">Tide 2014: Coker Needs A Chance, Not Crushing Pressure</a></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">"If Coker doesn’t come right out of the
gate looking like some combination of Joe Namath, Peyton Manning, Y.A.
Tittle, an M1A1 Abrams tank and Secretariat, the fan backlash could be
the biggest thing since … well, since the last second of the 2013 Auburn
game. There is no meltdown like that of an angry Alabama fan."</span><br />
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<br />Eric Blackerbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207353262505371952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634952786236974171.post-75651262763856955122013-07-06T18:29:00.002-07:002013-07-06T18:29:28.447-07:00Alabama's Superhuman Roster: QB's<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>AJ McCarron is entering his 5th year Senior season at Alabama, his 3rd year as the starting QB and leader of the team. He has 3 total National Championship rings, 2 as a starter, and could leave Alabama with more rings than any other QB in college football history. He already deserves to be discussed as one of the best to ever play at Alabama, and I think could go down as THAT GUY if he does it all again and even if he doesn't. AJ is a very underrated player in some circles. From the beginning of his time at Bama, he's had to fight off the Alabama QB reputation as a Game Manager who didn't do much more than hand the ball off to great running backs behind a great line and just not mess up. AJ has always been more than that and now it's obvious, he's poised to become much more than that. I think he already has proven himself to be a game changer and a superstar that can take over a game and make plays. He's taken his team down the field and won at every huge opportunity thus far. I think he will have a long career in the NFL and I think there is no doubt he is at the very LEAST the best QB to play for Bama since the 60's.</b></div>
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<b>Behind him, it's a huge confusion of talent. It's not a bad thing though. Alec Morris is the guy that I think will go into this season as the immediate backup and heir apparent to AJ. However, Cooper Bateman and Luke Del Rio are both very highly talented 4 star prospects that will be true freshman this season. I believe they will both redshirt, along with another true freshman, Parker McCleod. I see McCleod as a career backup, but you never know. Blake Sims is also still around as a situational backup.</b></div>
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<b><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">10 AJ McCarron</span></b></b><br />
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<b>6'4" 220</b><br />
<b>Senior</b><br />
<b>St. Paul's. Mobile, AL</b><br />
<b>3 time National Champion. 25-2 as a starter.</b><br />
<b>4 Star Recruit. Scout #17. Rivals #7. ESPN #4</b><br />
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<u><b>2012 Stats</b></u><br />
<b>2,933 Passing Yards</b><br />
<b>30 TD's</b><br />
<b>3 INT's</b><br />
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<b>Here is video of AJ being the best player on the field in the BCS National Championship Game against Notre Dame.</b><br />
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<b><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">14 Blake Sims </span></b></b><br />
<b>6'0" 200 </b><br />
<b>Junior</b><br />
<b>Gainesville. Gainsville, GA.</b><br />
<b>4 Star Recruit. Scout #42WR. Rivals #33ATH</b><br />
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<b><u>2012 Stats</u></b><br />
<b>77 Passing Yards</b><br />
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<b>Blake is the veteran backup to AJ, but I just don't see him being the pocket passer that we would need as the main guy if AJ went down, or after AJ leaves. I think that will be the next guy.</b><br />
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<b><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></b><b><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">11 Alec Morris </span> </b></b><br />
<b><b>6'3" 240</b></b><br />
<b><b>Freshman</b></b><br />
<b><b>Allen. Allen, TX.</b></b><br />
<b><b>3 Star Recruit. Rivals #30. Scout #37</b></b><br />
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<b><b>Alec has the inside track to take over for AJ at this point. He came in a little under the radar last fall and impressed everyone in practice. Has a HUGE arm and is a smart guy and a leader. He will have a couple of stud freshmen to hold off next spring, but right now he is AJ's immediate relief.</b></b><br />
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<b><b>This year, we brought in 3 guys who will be true freshmen. Luke Del Rio is a preferred walk on. He was an Elite 11 QB, a 4 star recruit, one of the top 10 QB's in the country. He had scholarship offers from dozens of big schools, but chose to pay his own way at Bama instead. It's like Bear Bryant is recruiting for this team again, but better. </b></b><br />
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<b><b>18 Cooper Bateman </b></b><br />
<b><b>6'3" 200</b></b><br />
<b><b>Freshman</b></b><br />
<b><b>Salt Lake, UT</b></b><br />
<b><b>4 Star Recruit. Top 5 in the country.</b></b><br />
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<b><b>15 Parker McCleod</b></b><br />
<b><b>6'3" 190</b></b><br />
<b><b>Freshman</b></b><br />
<b><b>Marietta, GA</b></b><br />
<b><b>3 Star Recruit. </b></b><br />
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<b><b>14 Luke Del Rio</b></b><br />
<b><b>6'2" 190</b></b><br />
<b><b>Freshman</b></b><br />
<b><b>Littleton, CO</b></b><br />
<b><b>4 Star Recruit.</b></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Future:</span></u></b></div>
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Looking ahead to next spring, we are poised to have one of the all time great competitions for the position. We are going to have Morris and Sims back, and Morris will have the most experience. But he will have to hold off Bateman and Del Rio, who will no doubt be ready to try and take it from Alec. </div>
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Also at that time, we will have yet ANOTHER stud QB to add to the mix. David Cornwell is the best high school quarterback in America this year, and will enroll early at Alabama. So he will be there too.</div>
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Whoever takes over after AJ leaves is guaranteed to be a super talented guy with all the ability to continue our championship winning and heart breaking ways. Unfortunately, I'm sure we will also see the transfer of one or more of these big time QB's. But that's just life when you are the best program in the country and all the top guys want to play for you. There just isn't room for every potential future Hall Of Famer that wants to be a part of the Crimson Tide. </div>
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<b><br /></b>Eric Blackerbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207353262505371952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634952786236974171.post-90459669938294028582013-07-01T20:46:00.000-07:002013-07-01T20:46:23.715-07:00Derrick Henry Q & A<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Derrick Henry is a 6'3" 240 lb running back who will be a true freshman this year at Alabama. He holds the all time high school rushing record.</b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Derrick is not only a crowd pleaser on football fields, but he's also a fan pleaser on Twitter. Recently, Derrick has taken questions from fans and posted the questions and answers on Twitter for all to see. </span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Why number 3?</span></b><br />
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<i>That's what Coach Saban gave me.</i><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Are you religious?</span></b><br />
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<i>I believe in God.</i><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Speed or power?</span></b><br />
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<i>Power! </i>(I love his emphasis on that with the exclamation point)<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Gimme the top 3 or 4 teams in college football.</span></b><br />
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<i>BAMA is all I'm worried about.</i><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Do you always thank your linemen?</span></b><br />
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<i>YES, they are the heart and soul of the offense.</i><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How did you increase your bench over the years?</span></b><br />
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<i>I do ALOT of pushups.</i><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What grade did you get your first college offer?</span></b><br />
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<i>9th.</i><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Love to win or hate to lose?</span></b><br />
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<i>Hate to lose.</i><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Will your leg be 100% before the season starts?</span></b><br />
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<i>YES</i>.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What team you want to go to in the NFL?</span></b><br />
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<i>Steelers</i><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What is your favorite movie?</span></b><br />
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<i>Love And Basketball.</i><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What's TJ looking like this year?</span></b><br />
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<i>Better than last year.</i><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Who is your best friend on the team?</span></b><br />
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<i>Jalston Fowler.</i><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Who is the fastest on the team?</span></b><br />
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<i>B Sylve.</i><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What do you think about the Florida Gators?</span></b><br />
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<i>They are a college team.</i> (LOL)<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What would you like the student section to do when you score a TD?</span></b><br />
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<i>Throw them 3's up!</i><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What do you like most about being at Bama?</span></b><br />
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<i>Continuing the tradition.</i><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What does it take to be a part of the Crimson Tide?</span></b><br />
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<i>Discipline, commitment, toughness, effort, and pride.</i><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Are you going to stay at Bama for 4 years?</span></b><br />
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<i>However long it takes to get a degree.</i><br />
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This guy is really gonna be something if he works hard and wants it bad enough.</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">ROLL DAMN TIDE</span></b></div>
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<br />Eric Blackerbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207353262505371952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634952786236974171.post-47030779753033501652013-06-17T21:46:00.000-07:002013-06-17T21:47:55.502-07:00Alabama Football: June 17, 2013<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Recruiting Never Stops.</span></u></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Since the beginning of the month, Alabama has gotten 6 really good commitments for the Class of 2014.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'll start with my favorite of the bunch.</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The nation's best QB, </span><b><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://247sports.com/Player/David-Cornwell-23813" target="_blank">David Cornwell</a>.</span></b></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Cornwell is 6'5" 230 lbs, from North High School in Norman, Oklahoma. This is what happens when you talk shit about us, Bob Stoops. We take the top player in the country right out of your back yard. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">David's HS coach Wayne Standley had the following to say:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Coach Saban runs a first class organization. They do things the right way. David is a very quick learner. He is constantly striving to get better. It's a good situation for him and the University Of Alabama"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Cornwell's biggest strengths are his size and arm strength. Those are things that can't be taught. His weaknesses are easily teachable things, accuracy and consistency.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He said the he is very happy to be done with the recruitment process and that he will be back on visits to Tuscaloosa to help recruit other top players to join his class to Bama.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's gonna be an unbelievable battle to see who takes over for AJ McCarron next spring. Alec Morris will be returning with the most experience but he will have to compete with two other 4 star QB's, Cooper Bateman and Luke Del Rio, as well as Cornwell.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I think a couple of guys are gonna transfer before or after next season and either way we will have a couple of great options to carry on with as we learn to deal with life without AJ. </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4 star WR </span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=6287188" target="_blank">Derek Kief</a>.</span></b></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kief is 6'5" 200 lbs, from Cincinnati, OH. Nick Saban is STILL taking Urban Meyer's lunch money. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you can watch that video and not IMMEDIATELY fall in love with this kid, then you need to go root for Auburn or something. Derek said he was tired of cold weather and wanted to play down here and not in Ohio. He spurned Ohio State! That's always awesome, now that Urb is up there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Julio Jones wasn't the end of superstar WR's at Bama. He was the beginning.</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One of the top 10 Offensive Centers in the nation,<b> </b></span><a href="http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=6245142" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">JC Hassenaue</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">r</span></b></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">.</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">JC is 6'3" 295 lbs, from Woodbury, MN. We got players all over AMERICA wanting to come play for the Tide!</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One of the top 10 Offensive Guards in the nation, </span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=6212281" target="_blank">Viane Talamaivao</a>.</span></b></span></li>
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6'3" 285. Corona, CA<br />
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<li><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The nation's top Punter,</span> <b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=6869936" target="_blank">JK Scott</a>. </span></b></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Denver, CO. We bad. We nationwide.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anytime a team offers a scholarship to a kicker, you know he's good. And Saban has made a point of giving scholarships to top kickers and it's worked out so far.</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3 star DT</span>, <b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=6869936" target="_blank">Johnny Dwight</a>.</span></b></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6'3" 295, Rochelle, GA.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yet another player that cited being comfortable and winning as his reason for loving Alabama. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>News And Notes</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Alabama has put a waterfall in their locker room. Because NOBODY ELSE HAS IT, DO THEY? </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Recruits are eating it up. So I'm cool with it. It does sound pretty awesome and it's just another example of how Nick Saban will stop at NOTHING to continually appeal to younger recruits year in and year out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Texas A&M AD, Eric Hyman, cracked a joke at a booster event: "What does the moon and Texas A&M have in common? We control the Tide".</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Apparently this man has not read his history books. He did see what Saban did to Timothy Richard Tebow in 2009, after losing to Tebow the year before. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He must not have seen what Saban did to Auburn in 2011 and 2012 after the epic 28-27 loss in 2010.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He must not have seen what we did to LSU in the BCS Championship Game rematch after losing in a BS field goal game, 9-6, in the regular season. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When your last name is the same as a female body part, you probably should shut the hell up and not poke a stick at the lion of the jungle when you are a tiny pussy cat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If I were head coach Kevin Sumlin, I'd be pissed that my boss is adding this offseason clutter and pressure on my program. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And no favors are being done for Heisman celeb QB Johnny Football. The weight of the world is on his shoulders to win it all this year, and the athletic director is fueling the enemy for you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">A<b>nd Johnny is cracking under the pressure!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Nobody knows what caused it to happen, but Manziel tweeted, "Bullshit like tonight is a reason I can't wait to leave College Station. Whenever that may be."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No matter the reason, he should know better than to put that out to the public.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He then deleted that tweet and followed up with, "Don't ever forget that I love A&M with all my heart, but please please walk a day in my shoes."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Poor Johnny. I don't know how he'll ever survive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Danny Sheridan said some ignorant garbage criticizing Nick Saban's utilization of his backup QB's. But nobody cared, so no reason to repeat it here.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Seriously, Alabama has won 3 out of the last 4 BCS national championships with Nick Saban calling the shots. I'll just continue to trust his judgment. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Tim Brando released his Top 10 for the season. He has Louisville No. 1. Alabama's isn't Top 5.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Brando has Ohio St No. 2</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Texas A&M, who he says will beat Alabama again this year, is No. 3</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Stanford is No. 4</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Georgia, who Timmy boy thinks will beat Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, is No. 5.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Clemson is No. 6. HOW THE FUCK IS CLEMSON AHEAD OF ALABAMA?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Alabama is No. 7. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Brando is an attention whore. And he can no longer hide his disdain for the Crimson Tide and the people of Alabama. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.tidefans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=197859" target="_blank">Go here to see an AWESOME video</a> that will get you punped for this upcoming season. It's so easy to see that we have the greatest program ever right now.</span></b><br />
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<br />Eric Blackerbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207353262505371952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634952786236974171.post-19089345765074835442013-04-21T01:13:00.000-07:002013-04-21T02:38:30.661-07:00My Final Thoughts On The Toomer's Trees. Some Bama Fans Won't Like This<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></b>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ok, Bama fans. I hope y'all just bear with me on this one. Or don't read it, if you are sensitive to me possibly showing some respect or a positive feeling in Auburn's direction. As for my Auburn followers and friends, this one is officially for you. Some of what will follow should come as a surprise to a lot of you, but I am just going to allow myself to be completely honest with everyone tonight. This is ALL me. Eric Blackerby. With no filter or concern for what anyone might think.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br />So I woke up this morning (Saturday, April 20), and honestly had spent the entire previous week, thinking I was going to be as classless and mean-spirited about the trees as I could be ALL DAMN DAY. Oh, I had so many jokes. It was gonna be great. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>"Auburn fans won't have a place to hang themselves after all their losses now".</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Also, I was gonna promote and laugh and joke unmercifully about Tuesday, April 23, being National Chainsaw Day. That is the day that the trees will be cut down. I was so looking forward to being a complete troll and pissing off a bunch of Barners. Most people have come to know that as one of my favorite things to do. I was so looking forward to it. And I made a few harmless jokes. I cracked on Facebook about the impossibility that Auburn would lose on the football field today, even though they are about to lose their trees. I was really anticipating reveling in the hatred I would get thrown at me and the hurt feelings I could possibly cause. If I'm being completely truthful here, I've just been MAD. I've been mad for a good while now. At Auburn. I've been mad since the 2010 [GAME THAT NEVER HAPPENED]. I've been mad that they ever won a National Championship in the first place. I had been bragging for years to my Aubie buddies that they would never win a National Title in our lifetimes. I was so offended by pretty much every outcome of the 2010 College Football Season. That season was the total opposite of everything that I ever thought was possible in College Football. And this was going to be my final gloat. That your precious trees were GONE. I really was going to be an asshole.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>But I thought about a lot of things and I finally realized, for the first time, tonight, how much those big beautiful oak trees meant to so many millions of people through the years.</b></span><br />
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For those who don't know, rolling the trees at Toomer's Corner, the corner of College and Magnolia on the campus of Auburn University, after a victory (Or anything negative happening to Alabama) has always been one of the most recognized traditions in College Football, no matter what you or I think of it.</b></span><br />
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If you haven't known me since this happened, or don't know this about me, the reason I have so many followers and the reason that so many people, including Nick Saban, know who I am, is what I did at SEC Media Days in July 2011.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>You can catch up on all that, if necessary, by clicking on at least one of the following links:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/07/i_hate_auburn_t-shirt_guy_its.html" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">al.com: </span><span style="font-size: large;">I Hate Auburn T-Shirt Guy</span></i></b></a></span><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/2011/07/22/%E2%80%98i-hate-auburn%E2%80%99-man-returns-home/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Shelby County Reporter: </span><span style="font-size: large;">"I Hate Auburn" Man Returns Home</span></a></span></i></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/07/put_this_on_an_iron_bowl_t-shi.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Kevin Scarbinsky: </span><span style="font-size: large;">Scarbo defended the HELL out of me. I was so happy about this one in particular.</span></span></a></i></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I got plenty of attention from Auburn fans over this.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.thewareaglereader.com/2011/07/i-hate-auburn-shirt-sellers-claim-to-have-given-shirts-to-bama-coaches-players/#.UXNZUKLiiSo" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">War Eagle Reader: </span><span style="font-size: large;">I Hate Auburn Shirt</span></i></a></b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.nevertoyieldfoundation.com/2012/the-cult-of-updyke-when-the-so-called-exceptions-become-the-rule/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Never To Yield: </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">They had some really fun things to say about me here</span></a></i></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you would like to read MY RESPONSE to the NTY article, </span><a href="http://sabansidewalk.blogspot.com/2012/01/never-to-yield-foundation-my-response.html" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">You can enjoy that here!</span></i></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I really had a great time writing this rebuttal </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For those who haven't known me very long or are not familiar with some of my past on a personal level, I will share why I am an Alabama fan with y'all, how serious I am about it, what it means to me, and why. I've shared the following with everyone before, but I will do it now, again, as an update:</span></b><br />
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I was 2 or 3 years old when I first said the words, "Roll Tide"</b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Those words were taught to me by JW Blackerby in the mid 1980's. Everyone around my small little southern town of Wilsonville, Alabama knew JW as "Little Man", one of the nicest and funniest people they had ever met. He was somewhat of a local legend and was adored, respected, and WELL KNOWN by everyone in Wilsonville, and in the adjacent town of Columbiana as well.</span></b><br />
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I just knew him as Granddaddy.</b></span><br />
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In the early morning hours of my childhood, he would wake me early enough to watch the sunrise on our front porch after I had watched my Loony Toons and eaten my PERFECT egg sandwich that he would make for me. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>We would head out to the porch while it was still dark and just sit there. In silence. He, in his rocking chair, and I in one of the plastic chairs that surrounded the table that was on the porch. He would drink coffee. I would drink hot chocolate, pretend it was coffee. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>He was an expert marksman in the Army and was an outstanding hunter all his life, but he had a heart and love for animals. Not a stray cat or dog ever came around that he didn't feed and accept as his own. As the sun rose, squirrels would come up to the porch, some even being so brave as to jump up ON the porch, and Granddaddy would feed them nuts and bread and stuff. He even took a pet squirrel at one point. A baby squirrel that he had gotten out of a nest and named Nutty Buddy. Nutty Buddy would sit on and run around on Granddaddy's shoulder all the time. He'd even go to the grocery store with him, and go inside with this little squirrel on his neck.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>He taught me how to shoot a BB gun but would tear my ass up if I shot any birds or squirrels that came around the house. He enjoyed getting up and all of the beautiful sounds of the wild animals rising as we just had. He didn't want me to run them off cause I was a bad kid and didn't listen to anyone.</b></span><br />
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He taught me how to fish. He taught me how to pray. And he taught me how to flirt. Granddaddy was the town flirt. But he wasn't a creepy old man, by any stretch. Everyone loved him. I'd ride to the store with him in the morning or to the Hardee's that was in Columbiana at the time, to get biscuits. And he would talk mess with anyone. He never met a stranger. He would talk to ANYONE like they were family or he had known them for years. He had the most outgoing personality I have STILL ever seen. He was just a hilarious old man.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-gQHSI8buVCX0BIfx5-XtsbWCjQ4-aRNsiy2Q9qqR1blvLlwwlCQae4X_PUnnipHdUopu-jjO-DwlhZ1AwfdIbRdYDejsMMAOsEz0fz8vh2WaklGh-Jj36pL8sMBo9uwFAoYSF6tfT0/s1600/531966_10152729996065055_1297740234_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-gQHSI8buVCX0BIfx5-XtsbWCjQ4-aRNsiy2Q9qqR1blvLlwwlCQae4X_PUnnipHdUopu-jjO-DwlhZ1AwfdIbRdYDejsMMAOsEz0fz8vh2WaklGh-Jj36pL8sMBo9uwFAoYSF6tfT0/s400/531966_10152729996065055_1297740234_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JW Blackerby, Private First Class, U.S. Army, early 40's</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Saturdays in the fall were Alabama Saturdays.</span></b><br />
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I would sit on the floor in the living room of his house that I grew up in and marvel at these heroes that I watched every week, and the colorful language my granddaddy used as he would yell instructions at them during the game.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
"<i>RUN, YOU SUMBITCH, RUN</i>"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
It was everything to him, and it was the only team I knew there was that was worth rooting for.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
I didn't know until I was a teenager that there really were serious Auburn fans, and that people really felt about Auburn and other teams the way I learned from Granddaddy to feel about Alabama.</span></b><br />
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I had only met a handful of AU fans when I was in middle school, and I didn't take them seriously at all.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
I was 9 when Alabama defeated the loud-mouthed Hurricanes of Miami in that awesome Sugar Bowl of 1993. The Alabama-Texas game following the 2009 season was the first time, as an adult, that I had known the feeling of The Alabama Crimson Tide being the National Champion.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
The man who loved Bama more than anyone I ever knew, who taught me the meaning of Saturdays in the south, died 13 years ago this August.</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJk6k7Jip-f7RY1fK0mVMcMRxsZ_3wx5SEaJkpYaqkSIwIOzzz9hrmpGI4ipYuRaWkv7BHq88axS6Tjv0ybvJD9GDFTb8gzMLK-WZP3NLxu3RH5dkJyZiQVPFRmTVHD5KVvAS26Xi8Nok/s400/487681_10152669260805055_417109336_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Granddaddy. Sometime around 1990.</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
I like to imagine he is in Heaven right now, with Bear Bryant, enjoying watching a modern day version of The Bear roam the sidelines in Tuscaloosa and I'm sure he is proud of his team. I hope he is proud of the man his youngest grandson has grown up to be.</span></b><br />
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**********</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Iron Bowl has always been a heated rivalry. One that had to be put to an end around the turn of the last century. The game wasn't even played for about 40 years because it had gotten too heated and violent.</span></b><br />
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For anyone who has been under a rock for the past few years, I will give a quick recap of what has happened and where we are at in this moment in time.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">About a week or so after the 2010 Iron Bowl, a man who called himself "Al from Dadeville" claimed that he traveled to Auburn, which was 30 miles from his home. Armed with Spike 80 DF, an herbicide used to kill trees, he claimed that he poisoned the Live Oaks at Toomer's Corner. He made these claims in a phone call to radio show host Paul Finebaum. Auburn University confirmed days later that samples sent off to a lab tested positive for very lethal amounts of the chemical. The trees were not expected to survive.</span></b><br />
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Now it is well known that the trees were in the last years of their lives anyway, and Auburn people knew as far back as 7 or 8 years ago that the trees would most likely not live another 10-20 years anyway.</span></b><br />
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But that isn't the issue tonight, at least not for me. The issue tonight, for me, is one of the greatest traditions in the history of College Football coming to an end.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now, as I have stated before, I can't love the University of Alabama any more than I do. And conversely, I can't HATE Auburn University any more than I do.</span></b><br />
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I want Auburn to lose every game they play. Ever. By 100 points.</span></b><br />
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I want them to get into trouble with the NCAA and be on probation.</span></b><br />
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I want all of their best players to be declared ineligible.</span></b><br />
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I honestly enjoy anything bad that can happen to Auburn's team, or football program in general.</span></b><br />
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But some things, however ridiculous they may seem to outsiders, are just sacred. College Football is treated like a religion in this country, and that is no more evident than in the south. We root for the team of our dad's dad and to hell with the team of yours.</span></b><br />
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We name our children after head coaches and players. We hold the very soil on these campuses to be sacred.</span></b><br />
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These college campuses are our churches. Our Holy Land. And we are faithful followers, whether we even attended the universities or not.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Whether the trees' collective deaths on their own was eventual or not, what Updyke did was wrong.</span></b><br />
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What Updyke caused is a damn shame. And it is in NO way a representation of the University of Alabama, or it's fans as a whole. Fans like myself, who wish every imaginable ill on AU most all of the time, but would NEVER stoop so low as to destroy or deface any of it's traditions, landmarks, or monuments. These things are sacred.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Obviously this is not a mere "game" for many fans. </span><i><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.thewareaglereader.com/2013/04/auburn-grad-pays-tribute-to-toomers-oaks-with-giant-back-tattoo/#.UXNjCqLiiSo" target="_blank">You can read the story that goes along with the tattoo below here</a></span></u></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vpdWj9oTjKc4xkmiGGvD-e7hjSc74lMhNEOMvkTIRvkFzdcyEcIiUGel4zxjwdq8CJpz1dZecYAcWrgw-JLAQrfC9YWT5-0zF5QF8ZzUP35916zBSojvYyAenhFPapu0xNZ5fbgvbc8/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vpdWj9oTjKc4xkmiGGvD-e7hjSc74lMhNEOMvkTIRvkFzdcyEcIiUGel4zxjwdq8CJpz1dZecYAcWrgw-JLAQrfC9YWT5-0zF5QF8ZzUP35916zBSojvYyAenhFPapu0xNZ5fbgvbc8/s320/4.jpg" width="279" /></a></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today, Auburn fans have been flooding the internet with stories of their memories of this tradition. But I can find nothing from this week that compares to what my friend </span><a href="http://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2013/2/4/3950886/toomers-corner-why-it-matters-to-me" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Aubielicious</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"> wrote for WarEagleReader a couple months ago.</span></b><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2013/2/4/3950886/toomers-corner-why-it-matters-to-me" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>YOU CAN READ THAT MASTERPIECE HERE</i></span></a></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b><b>I also have my own personal story. It was 2004. I had become friends with a guy that I was working with. His name was Ian and he had been a student at Auburn before that year. He wasn't anymore, but he still had tons of friends down there and he invited me to ride with him to hang out at this girl's apt for the weekend. It is still one of the most fun weekends I've had in my life. I met Jason Campbell at a party. And I assisted, as I like to put it, in rolling the trees after this big parade they had that day for their undefeated team.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I did wear an Alabama shirt the entire time, so my dignity wasn't completely lost. The point, though, is that as surprising as it may seem to alot of you, I actually have a fond personal memory of Toomer's Corner and those damn trees.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>So with all that said, Auburn fans, you have so much of my respect for how you showed up for this today, the last rolling of those trees before they are cut down, dead from Harvey Updyke's poisoning. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>And no matter which side of the fence you stand on, you can't deny the outright awesomeness and glory of the images below. This was Auburn fans coming together to roll the trees for the final time, before they are cut down in a few days. This is college football fandom at it's finest and most passionate. This type of mass adulation for a University and it's traditions are what make College Football the best sport that exists and why CFB fans are the best fans any sport can claim. Alabama still has the best fans in the country, and always will. But I tip my hat to Auburn fans for their turnout for today's important event. It was very Alabama of them, to show so much support for their university.</b></span><br />
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<br />Eric Blackerbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207353262505371952noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634952786236974171.post-46468491775428880672013-03-23T22:43:00.000-07:002013-03-23T22:43:57.962-07:00Spring Practice: First Week News And NotesThe first day of practice was last Saturday, March 16th. It's not a coincidence that March 16th is also my birthday. Nick is so good to me. <div>
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Anyway, that first practice was one of 15 practices before the A-Day Game on April 20th. There are 3 new assistant coaches this year.</div>
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Mario Cristobal is the most notable. He will be the O-Line Coach now. He came from Miami, where he held the same position, but he also has head coaching experience and is known as a great recruiter and teacher of his position.</div>
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Billy Napier is the new WRs Coach. He has been an OC at Clemson and has alot of recruiting knowledge as well.</div>
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Greg Brown brings 30 years of coaching experience to the defense, as the new DBs coach. Brown has coached in college and in the NFL and will no doubt be a good recruiter too, cause we all know how Saban goes about hiring.</div>
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Heading into the spring, Alabama has to find 3 new starters on the O-Line, 2 on the D-Line, and 2 more in the secondary. As we have seen in the past couple seasons though, we just keep losing 1st Rd talent and replacing it with more, so I'm not worried about this at ALL.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><b>Day One News And Notes</b></u></span></div>
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Every year, we always see several guys move around to different positions. Sometimes it's for experimentation and sometimes it's a sign of where they are going to play at the coming season.</div>
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Cyrus Jones was a freshman WR last year, but he was working at corner. This might stick as his new spot. Dee Hart, RB, and Christion Jones, WR, were also working with the secondary, but they are likely to move back to offense when all is said and done.</div>
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Jeoffrey Pagan, Brandon Ivory, and Ed Stinson were the 1st Team D Line, with LaMichal Fanning, Darren Lake, and Xzavier Dickson being the 2nd Team.</div>
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Dickson was moving back and forth though between DE and LB and could very well end up being a starter at OLB this season. I think he should and will be.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><b>Day Two</b></u></span></div>
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On Monday, the team practiced indoors due to nasty weather. It was found out that William Ming, Chris Bonds, and Jonathan Atchison were no longer part of the team, which was suspected earlier. The process, y'all.</div>
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Bradley Sylve is competing like hell with Deion Belue for the outside corner position opposite from Geno Smith. I think this battle will go into the fall and we'll be in good hands, regardless.</div>
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Landon Collins seems to be a sure starter to alot of people this year, but Jarrick Williams is looking really good and they are competing for that same spot. Another battle that might take awhile.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><b>Day Three</b></u></span></div>
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Wednesday was the first day in full pads.</div>
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Kellen Williams was getting a look at LG, behind Arie Kouandjio. Another good battle. I love all these battles we have going on between such greatly talented guys. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Day Four</u></b></span></div>
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On Friday, most everything was the same as has been mentioned above, except that we got to see Derrick Henry in some passing drills. Not so good yet. Dropped some passes. So there's an area that he will have to work on to move ahead of Drake and take that spot with Yeldon, though I fully expect by fall, he will have that locked down.</div>
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Eric Blackerbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207353262505371952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634952786236974171.post-66053947288542761762013-03-13T18:31:00.002-07:002013-03-13T18:33:15.353-07:00Nick Saban Laughs At Ole Miss's Great Recruiting ClassOle Miss surprised the world this year by having the best class they had ever recruited to Oxford. They got the No. 1 player in the entire nation, DE Robert Nkemdiche. They also got the No. 1 OT in the nation, Laremy Tunsil. AND they got the No. 1 WR in the nation, LaQuan Treadwell, along with a handful of other guys that were rated in the top 5 at their positions.<br />
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This type of shit just doesn't happen at Ole Miss.<br />
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Nick Saban's response: "Oh, I see what you did there. That's cute and all, but watch this".<br />
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<br />
Tonight, Saban hired Ole Miss's Director Of Recruiting Development, Tyler Siskey, away from them.<br />
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By the way, Siskey was also AJ McCarron's coach in high school at St. Paul's in Mobile.<br />
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<a href="http://www.olemisssports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/siskey_tyler00.html" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is a pretty good wrap up of Siskey's career.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></a> He's an up and comer and a future star in the coaching world. Hugh Freeze had him a good one, that led Ole Miss to their BEST RECRUITING CLASS EVER. But Saban, even though Alabama had the No. 1 class for the 4th time in 5 years, will stop at NOTHING to dominate all opponents in this aspect.<br />
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This is what happens when you get a little above your raising and start to think you can run with the big dogs. Nick Saban hands you a subtle reminder, that while you may do some cool things from time to time, you are NOT the big dog.<br />
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Since signing day, Saban has hired Kevin Steele back, to JUST focus on recruiting. He has been one of the best recruiters as an assistant coach in the country these past several seasons and he was when he was at Bama for a couple years at the beginning of Saban's run. But now, ALL HE HAS TO DO IS RECRUIT.<br />
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Saban also hired Mario Cristobal away from Miami to be our new OL coach. Cristobal has been an up and comer who should get a nice head coaching job one day. He already has head coaching experience at FIU. Steele has head coaching experience too at Baylor several years back.<br />
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At this point, Saban is just seeing other schools' recruiting success and raising them the hiring of their coaches that led to their recruiting class.<br />
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Nick Saban is GOD to me right now. It's getting ridiculous. I don't think anyone's gonna stop Alabama until he retires and I don't think that's gonna be for another decade.<br />
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Roll Damn Tide.<br />
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<br />Eric Blackerbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207353262505371952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634952786236974171.post-56287247141805216932013-03-08T23:36:00.002-08:002013-03-08T23:36:58.380-08:00Departing Alabama Players: NFL Draft Projections And Notes<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>***Alabama NFL Draft History***</u></b></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1st Round NFL Draft picks from Alabama in the 20 NFL Drafts from 1988-2007 under Bill Curry, Gene Stallings, Mike Dubose, Dennis Franchione, and Mike Shula:</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b></span><br />
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Derrick Thomas 1989</b></b></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Bobby Humphrey 1989</b></b></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Keith McCants 1990 </b></b></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>George Teague 1993</b></b></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>John Copeland 1993</b></b></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Eric Curry 1993</b></b></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Antonio Langham 1994</b></b></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Dwayne Rudd 1997</b></b></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Fernando Bryant 1999</b></b></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Shaun Alexander 2000</b></b></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Chris Samuels 2000</b></b></li>
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<b>Total: 11</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1st Round NFL Draft picks from Alabama in the past 4 NFL Drafts under Nick Saban:<b> </b></span></h4>
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<li><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Andre Smith 2009 </b></b></li>
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<b>Rolando McClain 2010</b></div>
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<b>Kareem Jackson 2010</b></div>
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<b>Marcell Dareus 2011</b></div>
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<b>Julio Jones 2011</b></div>
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<b>James Carpenter 2011</b></div>
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<b>Mark Ingram 2011</b></div>
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<b>Trent Richardson 2012</b></div>
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<b>Mark Barron 2012</b></div>
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<li><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div style="display: inline !important;">
<b>Dre Kirkpatrick 2012</b></div>
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<b>Dont'a Hightower 2012</b></div>
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<b>Total: 11</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b>
<b>Since 1936, in 77 NFL Drafts, Alabama has had a total of 46 players taken in the 1st Round.</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
Nick Saban has accounted for 24% of Alabama's total 1st Rd Draft picks in HISTORY. In only 4 drafts. If 3 Bama players are selected in the 1st Rd this April, as are expected to be (It COULD be 4 or 5), then Saban will have 14 of 49 all time. 28%. In a 5 year span.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
Bear Bryant had that same number of 1st Rd Draft picks, 14...in 25 years at Alabama.</span></b><br />
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<b><b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">***The NFL Combine***</span></u></b></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b>
<b>The NFL Combine is a yearly, week long event where players who are leaving college workout for NFL scouts. Alabama has several former stars showing their stuff in Indianapolis this week. </b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />10 departing Alabama players were invited to participate. As opposed to only 3 from Auburn, but I just added that because LOL. </span></b><br />
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Before I get into to those who <i>are</i> there, I would like to point out one big time guy who was <i>not</i> invited. Michael Williams, who was the best blocking tight end in college football the past few years, as well as developing into a solid trusted target for AJ McCarron, especially in the endzone. It is a travesty that the pride of Pickens County, AL isn't there to show what he can do. But he will have Alabama's Pro Day on March 13th to show NFL scouts why he would be a great addition to their teams.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
Of the ten that were invited, most aren't going to be able to participate because they are coming off of injuries or surgeries. That's what a grueling SEC season under the tough coaching of Nick Saban will do to you. You leave it all on the line. But our boys are tough. They will all be ready to make their marks by the fall.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
So this isn't gonna just be about the guys that are at the Combine, but all of our former players who will be drafted or could find their way onto an NFL team next year through free agency, if not.</span></b><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">***The Players***</span></u></b></h2>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For my purposes, I am listing them here in the order that I think they will be drafted. The order is my opinion only and I could be wrong about any of them. Especially with the existence of the Oakland Raiders in the NFL Draft. Because God knows, they might accidentally draft Burt Reynolds or something.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Dee Milliner</span></b></h2>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Millbrook, AL</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Stanhope Elmore HS</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">#1 rated cornerback recruit nationally, 2010.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chose Alabama over Auburn</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/profiles/dee-milliner?id=2540146" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: white;">nfl.com draft profile</i></span></b></a></h2>
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<a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1737099" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>CBS Sports Scouting Report</i></span></a></h2>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">2010:</span> Played in all 13 games as a true freshman, starting 11 games. Was named Defensive Player Of The Week 3 times by the coaching staff. 55 tackles, 1 INT, 8 PBU, and 1 forced fumble.</b></span><br />
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2011:</span> I refer to this as the "Lost Year" for Dee. For some reason, he was moved to 3rd on the depth chart behind DeQuan Menzie, who was great, but I always felt Dee should've started every game instead. I felt like he was better than Dre Kirkpatrick already, and Dre went in the top 10 of the NFL Draft after this season. Dee only started 6 games, even though he played in all of them. 27 tackles. 3 INTs, PBU. In the BCS Championship Game against LSU, he came off the bench to make a single tackle on special teams. I will always feel like he was shafted this year. But he's gotten his due, and then some by now. I hope he's drafted higher than Dre. Alot of people think he will be.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">2012: </span></b><b>Started 12 games. </b><b>54 tackles, 2 INTs, 20 PBU, and a 17 yard fumble return. </b></span><br />
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<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unanimous 1st Team All-American</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (<i>Defensive Player Of The Year</i>)</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finalist for the Thorpe Award (<i>Nation's Best Defensive Back</i>)</span></b></li>
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The Combine:</span> With a torn labrum that required surgery, Dee was thought to not be participating. However, Dee had heard the talk that he wasn't as fast as he claimed or athletic as NFL teams would like. So he chose to put off surgery in favor of running the 40 for everyone. And all he did was run a 4.31. Freaking ridiculous. By comparison, Dre Kirkpatrick ran a 4.51 a couple years ago. He is about to be Dee Millionaire very very soon.</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20130226/SPORTS01/130226030/detroit-lions-dee-milliner-nfl-combine-draft?odyssey=nav%7Chead" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Detroit free press: Attention, Lions. You need Milliner</i></span></a></h2>
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<b>SI's Peter King said if NFL teams want to draft DeMarcus Milliner, they will have to trade up ahead of the Lions who have the No. 5 pick. Detroit has long been rumored to have Dee at the top of their board and they desperately need a guy like him. He could be a day 1 starter for them, as well as many other NFL teams. I thought in 2010 that Milliner was a better cover corner than Dre Kirkpatrick and I still have no idea why he wasn't on the field half the time in 2011. But once he got his chance to be the leader of the pack at corner last year, he showed himself to be the best in the country at his position.</b></span><br />
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Self-confidence, stopping short of cockiness, is not something that DeMarcus has a problem with. He was asked by a reporter at the Combine what he would say to analysts who say he doesn't possess elite athleticism or top-end speed. His simple response: "Watch the Combine". He obviously knew what he was going to do LOL.</b></span><br />
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2012 Highlights</span></h2>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Where he could go:</span> 3rd to the Raiders (SHOOT ME), 4th to the Eagles, 5th to the Lions, 6th to the Browns (OH GOD PLEASE NO), 8th to the Bills, 9th to the Jets (AGAIN. PLEASE NO), 12th to the Dolphins, 13th to the Buccaneers</b></span><br />
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<b>Pretty much half of the teams in the NFL would gladly take Dee with their first pick, so he's unlikely to make it to Tampa. Unless someone goes crazy and trades way up, like the Falcons did for Julio Jones a couple years ago, I think the Lions will get our man.</b></span><br />
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"<i>I feel like I'm the best DB in all of this. No offense to all of them other DBs, just I believe in what I can do</i>" </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Dee Milliner, to NFL reporters at the combine.</span></b><br />
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<span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-style: italic;">"We know that he can bump and run. I love the fact that he's been working on his off coverage. That says alot about his expectation and what he's preparing himself for. I love his swag, man. I love his swagger. I love his confidence. I love the aura about him. When I spent some time with him yesterday, he had swag out of this world" </span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><b>- Deion Sanders, on the NFL Network</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Chance Warmack</b></span></h2>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Atlanta, Ga</span></b></h2>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Westbrook HS</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>#16 rated OG recruit nationally, 2009</b></span></b></div>
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<b>Chose Alabama over Auburn, Arkansas, Georgia</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/profiles/chance-warmack?id=2539194" style="text-align: right;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>nfl.com draft profile</b></i></span></a></h2>
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<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2013/1/31/3934774/chance-warmack-2013-nfl-draft-scouting-report" target="_blank"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: white;"><b>sbnation scouting report</b></i></span></a></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2013/1/31/3934774/chance-warmack-2013-nfl-draft-scouting-report" target="_blank"></a></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2009:</span> Played in 5 games as a backup. Didn't really do anything to get noticed much.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2010:</span> Started all 13 games, more than easily replacing the departed Mike Johnson, who was drafted by the Falcons. He never really garnered much attention, but he was solid for most of the year. People said he had the potential to develop into a possible All-SEC type of player down the road, but he was seen as just another guy by most at this point. Still, he was an unsung member of the line. He was named the SEC Lineman Of The Week against Florida in his 5th start ever. By the middle of the season, he was a dependable blocker that opened up alot of holes. But overall, he never really got noticed much that season because Bama threw the ball too much and alot of the focus was on Heisman-Winner Mark Ingram following up the season he had on 2009. We struggled throwing the ball, and as a result, we struggled running the ball and lost 3 games. Julio Jones was about the only member of the offense that year that did anything special.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2011:</span> Started all 13 games. Became a solid veteran on the squad and was honorable mention All American. Did not allow a sack. Not a flashy player, he rarely was noticed or appreciated for all that he did or how vital he had become to the line, but he played well enough that going into the next season, he was on the preseason "Watch List" for just about every award a lineman can get.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2012:</span> Once again, started every game. 37 pancake blocks (led team). Only 2 penalties all season. Only missed 7 assignments in almost 800 snaps. Allowed only 2 sacks.</span></b><br />
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<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unanimous 1st Team All-American</span></b></li>
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<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Twice named SEC Offensive Lineman Of The Week</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finished his career with 40 straight starts at LG</span></b></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Combine:</span> Chance only participated in two events: The 40, and the Broad Jump.</span></b><br />
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He ran the 40 in 5.49, which will cause at least one NFL GM to pass on him, because it's really important for offensive guards to be able to run really fast way down the field.</span></b><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-cowboys/headlines/20130226-former-cowboys-exec-alabama-guard-chance-warmack-should-have-larry-allen-type-of-career.ece" target="_blank"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Cowboys Exec Compares Warmack To Larry Allen</span></i></a></b></h2>
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<b>The last time an offensive guard was taken in the top 5 of the draft was 1975. Warmack probably won't pull that off, but it wouldn't be a surprise and he has a decent chance of it. Several teams with top 10 picks are really interested in him. Never do you see a guard get this much attention and buzz, but this is the one guy who deserves every bit of it. </b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />Chance weighed in at 6-2, 317 lbs. A few ignorant NFL scouts, who put too much stock in measurables, are saying his lack of "ideal" size is a negative. But then they go on to absolutely GUSH at how awesome he looks on tape and what a great player he is on the field. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">2012 Highlights</span></b></h2>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Where he could go: </span>There are rumors he could go as high as the No. 1 pick to the Chiefs. The Eagles will look at him long and hard at the 4th pick, as Chance's position coach at Alabama just took the same job at Philly. Todd McShay of ESPN says he will go 10th to the Titans. But if he's still around, the Rams will probably take him at 16.</span></b><br />
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I don't think he will make it past the Rams at 16, but he shouldn't make it that far. I'm gonna predict the Eagles and his old coach Soutland will take Warmack at 4th overall. But if not, then he will go to the Titans.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">DJ Fluker</span></h2>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Foley, AL</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Foley HS</span></b><br />
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<b>6-5 339</b></span></div>
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<b><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3 year starter</span></b></b></div>
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<b><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">#1 rated OL recruit, 2009</span></b></b></div>
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<b><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chose Alabama over Auburn, LSU, Oklahoma, Florida</span></b></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/profiles/d.j.-fluker?id=2540166" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>nfl.com draft profile</i></span></b></span></a></h2>
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<a href="http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2013dfluker.php" target="_blank"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: white;"><i>walter football scouting report</i></b></span></a></h2>
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2009: </span>Redshirted</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2010:</span> Started 9 games as a Redshirt Freshman at RT. Was an extremely hyped, popular guy that was showing the potential to live up to expectations. He certainly looked like a 24 year old NFL vet from his first day on the field at Bama.</span></b></div>
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<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Freshman ALL-SEC</span></b></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2011:</span> Started all 13 games and became one of the most feared run blockers in all of college football. Calling a running play in his direction, you were assured of at least one opponent getting knocked out of the Trent Richardson's vicinity, if not completely on the ground. Had some major issues with pass blocking though and had yet to earn any recognition. Much was expected of him in 2012, and he delivered.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2012:</span> Was the most dominating RT in all of college football. Second on the team to Warmack with 33 pancake blocks. Only allowed 3 sacks.</span></b></div>
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<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2nd Team All-American</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1st Team ALL-SEC</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Started 36 straight games.</span></b></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Combine:</span> DJ weighed in at 6-5 339 lbs, after being 355 at the Senior Bowl and ran a 5.31 40. DJ's putting in some WORK.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
<br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">Where he could go:</span> The Chargers are looking at Fluker, though he might be a stretch for the 11th pick. The Bears are really interested in him. They have the 20th pick in the 1st round. If he is still there at that point, they'd be likely to pick him up.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> Barrett Jones</span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBW-b0OZGnc3paUYO2wP7aymltxVoemx9Ibs12ZFWbrkiHEwHUo4swNZbeSaJt8dcWNlpeE8Y9SDyqzoO9cC6u6WmPvRLFVjOUV6qooI7bVwWW3VmmabeaCllP44pt1TCXY8rvNfTvrw/s1600/jones-barrett12-1027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></b></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Germantown, TN</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Evangelical Christian School</span></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">6-5 302</span></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">4 year starter</span></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">#18 OL recruit nationally, 2008</span></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Chose Alabama over Tennessee</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/profiles/barrett-jones?id=2539195" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>nfl.com draft profile</i></span></a></h2>
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<a href="http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2013bjones.php" target="_blank"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">walter football scouting report</span></i></a></h2>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2008:</span> Played in 3 games before a shoulder injury ended his season. He was able to get a Medical Redshirt, so he didn't lose the year of eligibility.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">2009:</span> Started all 14 games as a Redshirt Freshman at Right Guard. Was the lesser appreciated, but most vital member of the best offensive line in the nation, that paved the way for Marck Ingram to win the Heisman Trophy.</b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">2010:</span> Started 11 games at Right Guard. Missed the last two regular season games against Georgia St and Auburn because of a high ankle sprain. But returned for the Capital One Bowl and helped lead the Tide to 275 yards rushing, which was the 2nd highest total of the year. </b></span><br />
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<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1st Team Academic All American</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3rd Team All American</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Was on the watch list for the Outland Trophy</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1st Team All-SEC</span></b></li>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">2011:</span> Moved to Left Tackle to replace James Carpenter, who was drafted in the 1st Rd. of the NFL Draft. Proved himself to be the best offensive lineman in the nation, and most versatile, moving from Right Guard to Left Tackle and actually improving. Missed two games due to a sprained ankle.</b></span><br />
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<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unanimous All American</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Won the Outland Trophy, which goes to the nation's best lineman. 3rd Bama player to win the award.</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Won the Jacobs Trophy, which goes to the SEC's best blocking lineman</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Won the Wuerffel Trophy, which is an all around award recognizing the player to best combine great community service with great athletic and academic achievement.</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Won the ARA Sportsmanship Award, for great sportsmanship overall</span></b></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think Barrett did pretty well in 2011 lol</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">2012:</span> Made yet another move, from Left Tackle to Center. And once again didn't miss a beat. This guy can do EVERYTHING. Was the unquestioned leader of the best offensive line in America. This was talked about as possibly the best line of all time, and rightly so.</b></span><br />
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<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Won the Rimington Trophy, which goes to the nation's best Center. This guy was the best in the country at 3 different positions in his career. Think about that.</span></b></li>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">NFL Combine:</span> Barrett is not participating, due to having foot surgery.</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nick Saban has compared Jones to Hall Of Famer Bruce Matthews. He's one of the all time greats to play at Bama.</span></b><br />
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<b>Where he could go: Had he left after his junior season, he was seen as a high 1st Rd possibility. As it stands now, with injuries that he has had and alot of talk around NFL circles, it appears that he will fall to the 2nd or maybe even 3rd Rd.</b></span><br />
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Eddie Lacy</span></h2>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Geismar, LA</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dutchtown HS</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">6-0 220</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1 year starter</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">#13 rated RB recruit nationally, 2009</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chose Alabama over Oklahoma, LSU, Tennessee</span></b></div>
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<i><a href="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/profiles/eddie-lacy?id=2540168" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">nfl.com draft profile</span></b></span></a></i></h2>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/profiles/eddie-lacy?id=2540168" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></b></span></a><a href="http://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/article-1/Falcons-Draft-Spotlight-Alabama-RB-Eddie-Lacy/76d28fee-2554-434f-9e95-de86ba79f213" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: red;">Atlanta Falcons Draft Spotlight: Eddie Lacy</span></a></span></i></h2>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2009:</span> Redshirted</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2010:</span> Ran for 406 yards and 6 TD's as the 3rd team back behind Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson. Already showed that he would've been a starter at most other SEC schools. Huge contributor on Special Teams and was named Special Teams Player Of The Week by the coaches a few times. Ran for 86 yards in the Capital One Bowl against Michigan St to end the year, but most of the came on the 63 yard TD run at the end of the game when Saban was just trying to run out the clock. Saban looked pissed when Eddie broke a couple tackles and was gone lol.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2011:</span> Ran for 674 yards as Trent Richardson's backup. Actually ranked 9th in the SEC in rushing despite not being a starter. Caught 11 passes for 131 yards. Was named Offensive Player Of The Week 3 different times by the coaching staff. Missed most of the second half of the season with turf toe injuries. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2012:</span> Entered the season as the heir apparent to Trent Richardson and never disappointed. Even though there was a new kid on the block, in freshman TJ Yeldon, that was actually the team's leading rusher in the first week of the season. Ran for 1,322 yards and 17 TD's on the season. The 17 TD's are 4th all time in Alabama's single season record books. Alabama's Offensive Player Of The Week 6 times.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Combine:</span> A hamstring tear kept Eddie from participating, but he made the trip to interview with scouts nonetheless. He has the Pro Day on March 13th, which should make a great impression, since he should be healthy.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Where he could go:</span> Most NFL Draft experts, AT THE MOMENT, have Eddie as an early pick in the 2nd Rd or somewhere in the middle of the 2nd. I think the Pro Day workout will impress enough teams that he will make it into the 1st Rd.</span></b></div>
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Jesse Williams</span></h2>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Brisbane, Australia</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cavendish Road HS</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">6-4 320</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2 year starter</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wasn't ranked out of high school. Went to Junior College.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">#2 rated JUCO player, 2011</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chose Alabama over LSU, USC, Oklahoma St</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/profiles/jesse-williams?id=2539192" target="_blank"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: white;">nfl.com draft profile</i></span></a></h2>
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<a href="http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2013jwilliams.php" target="_blank"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">walter football scouting report</span></i></a></h2>
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<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2013/1/2/3828110/jesse-williams-2013-nfl-draft-scouting-report" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>sbnation scouting report</i></span></a></h2>
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<a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1524443-2013-nfl-draft-scouting-report-jesse-williams-dt-alabama" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Bleacher report scouting report with highlights</i></span></a></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">That Bleacher Report one is a damn good read.</span></h2>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2009:</span> JUCO: Made 46 tackles, 7 TFL, and 4 sacks in 11 games</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2010:</span> JUCO: Made 30 tackles, 6 TFL, and 2 sacks in just 7 games.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2011:</span> As soon as he set foot on campus and went through the spring, he earned a starting spot at DE. In passing situations, he would move inside to DT and a LB would take the DE spot.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2012:</span> Made 37 tackles, 2 TFL. Had 22 tackles in the last 4 games of the regular season, after only 14 in the first 7 games of the season.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Combine:</span> Did 30 reps on the bench press, which is slightly above average. Didn't really standout, but didn't do anything to hurt his prospects at all.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/3CxTnoKfW5s?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Where he could go:</span> He could sneak into the end of the 1st Rd or he could fall to the 2nd. Some NFL scouts compare him to Vince Wilfork of the New England Patriots. He will be a solid pickup for whoever gets him.</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQq3lRLKoK-mRCa7hNSTOLEALTQDslExr3KHM0DGnsLpYd20KZu11Hs6oLuS9eK0wD2iy9kv1dwUj1cnvZ6_8tgLSn_tSgf8VK2_tWlTLrceZDmGNQzSwnUFY152recwjcnxrzX4NRuA/s1600/Nico.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQq3lRLKoK-mRCa7hNSTOLEALTQDslExr3KHM0DGnsLpYd20KZu11Hs6oLuS9eK0wD2iy9kv1dwUj1cnvZ6_8tgLSn_tSgf8VK2_tWlTLrceZDmGNQzSwnUFY152recwjcnxrzX4NRuA/s640/Nico.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><h2 style="text-align: center;">
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Nico Johnson</span></h2>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Andalusia, AL</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Andalusia HS</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">6-3 245</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">4 year starter</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">#2 rated LB recruit nationally, 2009</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chose Alabama over LSU, USC, Auburn</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQq3lRLKoK-mRCa7hNSTOLEALTQDslExr3KHM0DGnsLpYd20KZu11Hs6oLuS9eK0wD2iy9kv1dwUj1cnvZ6_8tgLSn_tSgf8VK2_tWlTLrceZDmGNQzSwnUFY152recwjcnxrzX4NRuA/s1600/Nico.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></b></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/profiles/nico-johnson?id=2539193" target="_blank"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i style="background-color: white;">nfl.com draft profile</i></b></span></a></h2>
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<a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1510477-nico-johnson-nfl-draft-2013-pro-potential-projections" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>bleacher report: Comparing Nico Johnson to Jon Beason</i></span></a></h2>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2009:</span> Had already seen the field quite a bit, but when Dont'a Hightower was hurt against Arkansas, he quickly became the replacement and didn't disappoint. Finished his true freshman season with 28 tackles, 4 TFL, and 1 sack.</span></b><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Freshman ALL-SEC</b></span></li>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">2010</span>: Played in all 13 games, started 6. 33 tackles, 1 INT, 3 TFL</b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">2011:</span> Played in every game. Whether you could say he started or not depended on the formation that the defense started the game in, but he was one of the "starting" linebackers and finished 4th on the team with 47 tackles. Had 6 TFL, a forced fumble and recovery, 1 INT and 3 PBU. Established himself as one of the most dependable, yet quiet, leaders of the best defense in the nation.</b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">2012:</span> One of the leaders of the defense, Nico had 54 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 forced fumbles and was named defensive player of the week twice as well as special teams player of the week once. </b></span><br />
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Nico has been one of Alabama's most dependable players, filling in for an injured Dont'a Hightower in 2009, as a true freshman, and playing just as well as Hightower had played. </b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nico has always been one of my favorite guys.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Combine:</span> He is not participating in the Combine, due to having hernia surgery.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/WZ5l7wlwb9o?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Where he could go:</span> NFLDRAFTSCOUT.COM has Nico ranked as the 5th best LB prospect. He will probably be drafted in the 3rd or 4th Rd.</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black;">=====================================================================</span></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyJO7dCfQet9vv4fMXGE1bnxFePjK1XLXDJdwOmWJKltXdPOZsKCwBHKTMTWiYEVi3qrgzcsWOcBQhN1r24SFAnUi0b39ErWeruqCj-4EF4SPofo61aegY9oZSMNQdsc34OBsKtHUksQ/s1600/Lester.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyJO7dCfQet9vv4fMXGE1bnxFePjK1XLXDJdwOmWJKltXdPOZsKCwBHKTMTWiYEVi3qrgzcsWOcBQhN1r24SFAnUi0b39ErWeruqCj-4EF4SPofo61aegY9oZSMNQdsc34OBsKtHUksQ/s640/Lester.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Foley, AL</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Foley HS</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">6-1 220</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3 year starter</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">#33 rated safety recruit nationally, 2008</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chose Alabama over Auburn</span></b></div>
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<h2>
<a href="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/profiles/robert-lester?id=2539196" target="_blank"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b style="background-color: white;">nfl.com draft profile</b></i></span></a></h2>
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<a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1632211" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>cbs sports scouting report</i></span></a></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">2008:</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> Redshirted</span></h2>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2009:</span> Played in 8 games, mostly on special teams. Had 8 tackles on the season. Was named the Special Teams Player Of The Week once. Was very important in that area.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2010:</span> This was his coming out year. Heading into this season, Rod Woodson and Robby Green were expected to compete for this position opposite Mark Barron. Those two guys had their troubles that led to them leaving the team, but our third team choice at the time didn't turn out too bad. Lester took over and led the SEC with 8 INTs and had 52 tackles and a sack on the season. Also returned a fumble 89 yards. Came out of nowhere to be one of the best DBs in the country, when he would've been buried on the depth chart if not for the mishaps of those guys ahead of him.</span></b><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>2nd Team All-SEC</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>2nd Team All-American</b></span></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2011:</span> Was a solid starter, but not the flashy player he appeared sure to become following the 2010 season. Was always in the right position. Very important player, just not the standout of the year before.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2012:</span> Veteran leader of the secondary at this point. Had 4 INTs on the season and had 42 tackles.</span></b><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Ended his career tied for 5th all time in interceptions with 14</b></span></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Combine:</span> Ran a 4.68 in the 40. Which isn't terrible, but isn't that great. Not elite. </span></b></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/YaDmQImsyks?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Where he could go:</span> Somewhere in the 4th to 7th Rd.</span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">=====================================================================</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>***Others That Could Be Drafted Or Sign As Free Agents***</u></span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4xOrHPjvJOwA3jNHHaRSlLD2phzm5fSSVT0fgpc7yA-5JnQ4ryYebmnpxqml4P4mOzhU1pFxp-RpKaVRudEiXl2RxbwS8D54Dj3tPYsumhOl0XeKdriZLt2bFb9IcNA7IqS3EowKy4Q/s1600/quinton-dial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4xOrHPjvJOwA3jNHHaRSlLD2phzm5fSSVT0fgpc7yA-5JnQ4ryYebmnpxqml4P4mOzhU1pFxp-RpKaVRudEiXl2RxbwS8D54Dj3tPYsumhOl0XeKdriZLt2bFb9IcNA7IqS3EowKy4Q/s640/quinton-dial.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Quinton Dial</span></h2>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Pinson, AL</b></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Clay-Chalkville HS</b></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>6-6 304</b></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Played in every game, never started</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>#33 rated DT nationally, 2008</b></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>#9 rated JUCO player, 2010</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Chose Alabama over Florida, Auburn, Clemson</span></b></b></span></div>
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<h2>
<a href="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/profiles/quinton-dial?id=2539960" target="_blank"><i><b><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">nfl.com draft profile</span></b></i></a></h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Was highly ranked out of high school, but couldn't make the grades to go to Alabama right away. Spent 3 years at a JUCO before finally being able to transfer to Alabama as a junior for the 2011 season. Had 24 tackles in 2011 and 21 in 2012. Never earned a starting spot, but was an important backup. Has alot more pro potential than he had time to show in college.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b>
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Combine:</span> Dial is not participating in the Combine, due to foot surgery.</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/huEImWnQqMM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Where he could go:</span> 7th Rd or Undrafted Free Agent</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b>
<b><span style="background-color: black;">=====================================================================</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrH-0O9yyW9umBSoxJZU_VsqNCjh3W0mHUxPJCnSTonEcFMifTupvgbWkJ3KPg38ShhrBA7e6RlxKFhpr4xwlR2-W4FxLrGb1JWWD41ebtvERGf-m9QeEg2QdSxULFJbGnPomIKAMek_k/s1600/Square.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrH-0O9yyW9umBSoxJZU_VsqNCjh3W0mHUxPJCnSTonEcFMifTupvgbWkJ3KPg38ShhrBA7e6RlxKFhpr4xwlR2-W4FxLrGb1JWWD41ebtvERGf-m9QeEg2QdSxULFJbGnPomIKAMek_k/s640/Square.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Damion Square</span></h2>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Houston, TX</b></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Yates HS</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>6-3 290</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>3 year starter</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>#9 rated LB recruit nationally, 2008</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Chose Alabama over Texas A&M, Auburn</b></span></div>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrH-0O9yyW9umBSoxJZU_VsqNCjh3W0mHUxPJCnSTonEcFMifTupvgbWkJ3KPg38ShhrBA7e6RlxKFhpr4xwlR2-W4FxLrGb1JWWD41ebtvERGf-m9QeEg2QdSxULFJbGnPomIKAMek_k/s1600/Square.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<h2>
<a href="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/profiles/damion-square?id=2540003" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>nfl.com draft profile</i></span></a></h2>
<h2>
<a href="http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/02/damion_square.html" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>al.com: "Alabama is greatest show on earth" - Square</i></span></a></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Was a 3 year starter who became a vocal leader in 2012. Never really stood out and never got alot of recognition but helped the team alot.</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Where he could go:</span> 7th Rd or UFA</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">=====================================================================</span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowE8WgxughLf7oN5rYbH49Ywdr1tEqev_2GpAjeUAnJU6sEqBGbFzDus7sgf7l2t0kQdcBmuQJjYyjS8bZ2q4umzPmaLOv7M14-7l77vlDSPDht1Xbf8zbtWHLxDTW6tjMCYEGvodc0o/s1600/Tinker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowE8WgxughLf7oN5rYbH49Ywdr1tEqev_2GpAjeUAnJU6sEqBGbFzDus7sgf7l2t0kQdcBmuQJjYyjS8bZ2q4umzPmaLOv7M14-7l77vlDSPDht1Xbf8zbtWHLxDTW6tjMCYEGvodc0o/s640/Tinker.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Carson Tinker</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowE8WgxughLf7oN5rYbH49Ywdr1tEqev_2GpAjeUAnJU6sEqBGbFzDus7sgf7l2t0kQdcBmuQJjYyjS8bZ2q4umzPmaLOv7M14-7l77vlDSPDht1Xbf8zbtWHLxDTW6tjMCYEGvodc0o/s1600/Tinker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<h2>
<a href="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/profiles/carson-tinker?id=2540023" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>nfl.com draft profile</i></span></a></h2>
<h2>
<a href="http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2013/02/ua_football_player_carson_tink.html" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>al.com: Tinker and Kevin Elko Speak at hoover high school</i></span></a></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Carson will get a spot as an UFA somewhere.</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">=====================================================================</span></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0lLsWhljEOjN3kx3OXsXxCV8QrfnrLixhpUDlbFSI2JL244XdLoEO_dndru_NX4_8MGMWRH-0juKkBdW2NLo_iiBksI0xY4EchT6jNVi2LX1ZBIHclKthFhpGAbe1clUm4qxSJAbozU/s1600/Michael+Williams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0lLsWhljEOjN3kx3OXsXxCV8QrfnrLixhpUDlbFSI2JL244XdLoEO_dndru_NX4_8MGMWRH-0juKkBdW2NLo_iiBksI0xY4EchT6jNVi2LX1ZBIHclKthFhpGAbe1clUm4qxSJAbozU/s640/Michael+Williams.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Michael Williams</span></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0lLsWhljEOjN3kx3OXsXxCV8QrfnrLixhpUDlbFSI2JL244XdLoEO_dndru_NX4_8MGMWRH-0juKkBdW2NLo_iiBksI0xY4EchT6jNVi2LX1ZBIHclKthFhpGAbe1clUm4qxSJAbozU/s1600/Michael+Williams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h2>
<a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1632222/michael-williams" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>cbs sports scouting report</i></span></a></h2>
<h2>
<a href="http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2013/2/12/3975506/2013-nfl-draft-alabama-te-michael-williams-scouting-report" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>turfshowtimes scouting reports/other links</i></span></a></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Very underrated guy who will have a decent NFL career as a team's 2nd Tight End. Great Redzone threat. </span></h2>
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</b>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
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Eric Blackerbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207353262505371952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634952786236974171.post-68597754953792034712013-03-01T14:12:00.001-08:002013-03-01T14:12:07.581-08:00Nick Saban Is A Big Ole Meany: My Defense Of Oversigning<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As it stood a few weeks ago, Alabama had 95 players returning that were part of the recruiting classes from 2009 to this current one. The limit for players you can have on scholarship going into the fall of any given year is 85. For perspective, you can read <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/eye-on-college-football/21733077/oversigning-index-on-another-front-its-still-alabama-and-everyone-else" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">THIS ARTICLE</span></i></a> by <b><span style="font-size: large;">Matt Hinton</span></b> on CBS Sports and see how many more players Alabama has to somehow part with than any other school.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Also from CBS Sports, <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/images/collegefootball/13:02:18-Alabama_Roster.jpg" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">HERE IS A CHART</span></i></a> that shows the Alabama players that were scheduled to be a part of Alabama's team this year organized by recruiting class.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is true that Saban runs his recruiting machine differently than alot of other schools. Every year, every school is going to lose at least a few guys in the offseason, whether it is to criminal activity that gets them dismissed or they just transfer cause they want more playing time or they are not happy there. It's a reality, I believe, that some players are taken into an office when they are juniors or seniors going into that season, and told the truth that they are not going to be seeing any playing time this coming season. At this point, some of them choose to transfer, and some have injuries, major or not, that can technically be used within the rules to justify a "Medical Scholarship", which means they can still stay in school but are no longer on the football team and therefore free up another scholly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Nick Saban is the all time master at this wizardry.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Those rosters above still include the 4 who were arrested and dismissed and they also include Marvin Shinn who is planning to transfer, as well as Danny Woodson Jr, who is suspended and looking like he may be leaving as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So just like that we are down to 89 possibly. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But the thing about all this is that Alabama's official list of players that are on scholarship and count toward the 85 limit is not public information. There may be a few players who are well off enough to pay their own way and not count toward the 85. We are never allowed to know that, but it does happen. One thing is for sure though. The NCAA pays alot of attention to this stuff, especially from a school that is constantly accused to breaking these rules, as well as any other rules opposing fans and schools can come up with. Real or imagined. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have no doubt that Saban finds a way for the team to be legally at or below the 85 number.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Another way players can part ways, and this is something that happens every year at Alabama, is that there are a couple of players who are seniors by eligibility, but already have their degree, and aren't going to play anyway. Some of these guys voluntarily give up football.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And there are also a couple of this year's incoming recruits who are going to have to grayshirt, which means they won't enroll until next season and therefore won't count against this year's limit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Saban uses every one of these legitimate methods of trimming the roster down to 85 and being able to sign at least 25 new players every recruiting class. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He could just be a pussy like a lot of coaches in the Big Ten who feign outrage and look down on the SEC from their phony moral high horse. These guys only sign the amount of players they have scholarships available for at the time. Which SOUNDS like the way you should do it, if you're a child or don't understand the development of football players, or real life. For these coaches, when the season comes and they've had guys transfer or are no longer on the team for whatever reason, they are just short of the maximum amount of players they are allowed to have. If I were a fan of one of those teams, I wouldn't think my coach was doing his job to the fullest extent if he was allowing us to have less players on the team than he could.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I think it is a head coach's JOB to do everything possible to make the team as good as possible so that you have the best chance to win. Nick Saban does this in every possible way. And those ways are all legal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So all y'all that get on your moral high horse about this stuff can just admit that you are jealous of Nick Saban and Alabama's sustained dominance right now and if it was your team, you'd be perfectly fine with it and thrilled.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And hey, if you think Nick Saban is unethical or wrong about any of the things he does concerning roster management, you should check out <a href="http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/08/11/les-miles-defends-greyshirting/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;"><i>WHAT LES MILES DID</i></span></a>! Les let a kid sign with LSU, put the kid on scholarship, let him move into his dorm and start taking classes...then realized he didn't have room for him and sent the kid home. At least Nick Saban's players know what the deal is when they sign. The guys who might have to grayshirt are told during their recruitment that this might become a possibility when the time comes. They sign with all that in mind. They are not lied to or manipulated. Les promised a guy a full ride and a spot on the team right way, and then snatched it away after the kid had already started being a part of the team.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But Nick Saban is such an evil bastard.</span><br />
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<br />Eric Blackerbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207353262505371952noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634952786236974171.post-65521170655351666462013-02-28T15:06:00.000-08:002013-02-28T15:11:01.802-08:00Bama Players Read To Kids For Dr. Seuss's Birthday<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Theodore Seuss Geisel</span> was a big part of many of our childhoods and even now, kids still enjoy the stories of "Dr. Seuss"</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Saturday, March 2nd is his birthday. He died in 1991 at the age of 87.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Saturday, at the Tuscaloosa Transportation Museum, <span style="font-size: large;">Vinnie Sunseri</span><span style="font-size: large;"> and CJ Mosley</span> will be reading some of Dr. Seuss's most popular stories from noon til about 2pm.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There will also be Dr. Seuss themed activities for the kids, as well as snacks.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I love that our boys do stuff like this. And they do it, even when it isn't publicized. Nick Saban sets this example for them.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When <span style="font-size: large;">Courtney Upshaw</span> got in trouble at Alabama for a fight with his girlfriend, Saban said the punishment was "internal", but we later found out that Courtney agreed to go on several ride alongs with police officers.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Saban does such a good job of recruiting great young men, as well as building them at the same time.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A few years ago, I worked for a foodservice distributor that a lot of schools get their food from. One of our truck drivers came back with a story from this elementary school of how he was carrying food into the place and in the next room was filled with kids who were being read to by someone. That someone was Nick Saban. This didn't make the news or anything. It's just the way things are with Saban in Tuscaloosa. He cares about the community and our great state and does everything to be a positive part of it, as well as passing that ethic along to his players.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>The World's Most Powerful Man Gets To Meet Barack Obama. Again.</u></b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For the 3rd time in 4 years, the Alabama football team will be travelling to the White House to meet with the President. At this point, Obama should should just have an Alabama mancave in the West Wing to display all the Bama jerseys he's gonna end up with.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">"See you next year"</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> - </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">President Obama, to Nick Saban, THIS TIME LAST YEAR. Roll Tide!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><i>"We don't get many opportunities to meet the president, spend a minute with him, talk to him a minute, have him acknowledge something you accomplished. I think it's something really special for our players. It's really unique for them"</i> - </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nick Saban</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>And since it only happens once a year, you gotta take advantage of the opportunity</b></span>Eric Blackerbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207353262505371952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634952786236974171.post-27107365209561971932013-02-28T00:11:00.000-08:002013-02-28T14:13:06.723-08:00News, Notes, And An Update On The "Funyon Four"<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Brent Calloway, DJ Pettway, Tyler Hayes, and Eddie Williams</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> will never again wear the crimson and white. Anyone that knows anything about Nick Saban knew the day these guys were arrested on Feb 11th for assaulting and robbing fellow Alabama students, that he would kick them off the team.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Of course he said the political, "Indefinitely Suspended" deal, but that's always been the end for you with Nick Saban.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yesterday, he let everyone know for sure, when he said that the four guys were "no longer associated with the football team". They are also no longer enrolled at the University Of Alabama. So that's that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"</span><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Some learn by words, some learn by consequences, and some can't learn at all</b></span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">" - Nick Saban</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pettway's lawyer, some jackass named </span><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Jay Stuck</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">, released a statement today regarding Alabama's decision to cut ties with his client. It's dumb as shit, but if you'd like to read it, you can go </span><a href="http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2013/02/lawyer_of_former_alabama_footb.html" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>HERE</b></i></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Those 4 guys likely aren't the only ones who are done at Alabama. </span><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Marvin Shinn</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">, who would've been a Sophomore WR on the team this fall, has opted out of the offseason program and is making plans to transfer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This came as a surprise to most, because it wasn't like he was a guy that didn't have a future or had been in trouble or anything. He played Jan 7th against Notre Dame and caught two passes in that game. He was set for alot of playing time this year and would've probably taken over for </span><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Kevin Norwood</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> in 2014. Sometimes you just never know why people do what they do, but best of luck to him. And apparently, he has completely cut himself off from everyone in Tuscaloosa and is refusing to even talk to any of his teammates or friends that would try to make him stay. It's a really odd situation. Maybe Tuscaloosa or Alabama or playing for Nick Saban is just not a good fit for him.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Danny Woodson Jr.</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> is another WR who had played in 6 games as a freshman last season, catching one pass against Arkansas, who might be parting ways with Tuscaloosa. Saban announced today that he is suspended for "violation of team rules" and like Shinn, will also not participate in the offseason program. Nobody knows what he did exactly, but this wasn't the first time he had been in trouble with Saban.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So he is probably gone too. 6 scholarships opened up just like that. Now y'all see why Saban works every rule to sign as many guys as possible at some positions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Depth can be such a blessing and we certainly have an embarrassment of riches on this team, but it can take a few hits in no time. We all saw last year how many RBs we had at the beginning of the season before </span><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Dee Hart</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> and </span><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Jalston Fowler</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> were both lost for the season. Shinn and Woodson are a couple of decent players, who could've had fine college careers at Alabama, but it shouldn't hurt the product we put on the field when you consider </span><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Amari Cooper, Kenny Bell, Kevin Norwood, DeAndrew White, Chris Black</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">, and about 5 other young studs are gonna be playing the position. Norwood has a toe injury that could hamper him this spring, so hopefully he doesn't fall behind one or two of these young future superstars, because he has been one of our best and most reliable guys the past couple seasons.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Speaking of depth, RB this year is ridiculous. </span><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">TJ Yeldon</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> should lock down the "starting" job, but Fowler and Hart will be back, along with </span><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Kenyan Drake</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> who would've been our star freshman back last year if not for the presence of Yeldon. Then add in the fact that FOUR of the top 12 rated RBs coming out of high school this year signed with Alabama. The one most likely to see action right away is </span><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Derrick Henry</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">, who broke the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>ALL TIME HIGH SCHOOL RUSHING RECORD<u> </u></i></b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">that had stood for over 50 years. Derrick enrolled early and is already kicking ass in the weight room. </span><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Scott Cochran</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">, who is NEVER impressed, is reportedly blown away by Derrick's work ethic and dedication. </span><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Alvin Kamara, Altee Tenpenny, and Tyren Jones</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> will be our 6th, 7th, and 8th RBs. And they could each step on campus and start for at least half of the other SEC teams. I love it! Every RB on our team was a highly rated recruit out of high school. It's IMPOSSIBLE to not have a couple super stars shining all year long at RB.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Like every year, we will see a few guys switch positions. Most notably, </span><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Xzavier Dickson</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">, who was a star in the making at outside LB in his freshman season last year. He has gotten alot bigger and stronger, while maintaining his speed and agility. He could be a helluva pass rusher off the end. Looks like he might move to DE, to make room for </span><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Denzel Devall</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> or any of the handful of other 4 and 5 stars waiting in the wings. I expect to see </span><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Reuben Foster</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> in the first game against Virginia Tech Aug 31st.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Cyrus Jones</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">, who came to Alabama last year as a 5 star WR, one of the top guys in the country, is probably going to be looked at as a cornerback, with the lack of depth there compared to WR. </span><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">John Fulton</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> is a guy who was expected to step into a big role at CB this year, but he is hurt and will miss the spring. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Another note on depth. You are only allowed 85 players on scholarship in a season. Even with the 6 guys we look to be free of, we will still have to lose 4 or 5 more between now and August. But it happens every year. There will be a few guys this summer who transfer, already have their degree and just give up football, or maybe a signee or two doesn't qualify academically. Saban's a wizard at this stuff, so I'm never worried.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Alabama made a bit of news this past week by offering a scholarship to a kid named </span><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Dylan Moses</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">, who is still in the 8th grade. That does sound ridiculous, but wait til you SEE this kid. He's 6-1 215 and runs a 4.4 RIGHT NOW. My favorite thing about all of this was seeing the fake outrage from LSU fans, cause the kid is from Baton Rouge. They were all on their moral high horse about Evil Nick Saban targeting a kid so young, until they found out that </span><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Les Miles</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> had offered him a scholarship while he was in the 7th grade. Then, it was perfectly fine, cause the kid's talent warranted it. We are a special breed, us crazy college football fans. Especially in the South. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Former Bama QB </span><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">John Parker Wilson</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Scott Cochran has a new piece of Paradise. This video is him giving a tour of the new workout facility that was just built for the football team. It was only $9 Million. So hopefully this will help us get bigger, faster, and stronger. Cause we really need to do that! Cochran is such an awesome dude. He's like a kid, he enjoys his job so much. He truly molds these young kids from the time they get on campus to when they leave. He is the best in the country at what he does, and now our facilities are far and away the best in the country</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Nick Saban also announced that the first day of Spring Practice will be March 16th. March 16th is my birthday. He is so thoughtful. Thanks, Coach!</b></span></div>
<br />Eric Blackerbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207353262505371952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634952786236974171.post-42861547564172836152013-02-24T02:26:00.000-08:002013-02-24T19:11:01.840-08:00Re-Living The 2012 National Title Season: Michigan<h2>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This game was hyped up for a couple of years it seemed. When it was announced as a future matchup back in 2010, I was excited because I had a very good friend at the time who was a Michigan fan and he had talked trash about Bama for several years and now he was going to end up getting his mouth shut. Which he most assuredly did!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bob Asmussen</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Coming into the game, in the preseason, there was one dumbass sportswriter who had put Michigan as his No. 1 team in the entire country. His name is Bob Asmussen of the Champagne News Gazette in Illinois. He had alot of hilarious things to say about Alabama and you can read what I wrote about him at the time</span><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://sabansidewalk.blogspot.com/2012/08/ap-voter-puts-michigan-no-1-with.html"><b><i><span style="color: yellow; font-size: x-large;">HERE</span></i></b></a></span><span style="color: yellow; font-size: x-large;"><i></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Denard Robinson was the player with all the hype coming into the game, but as for me personally, I was looking forward to TJ Yeldon, our stud true freshman running back that was going to see the field in his first game ever as a member of the Crimson Tide. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The young Mr. Timothy Yeldon did not let me or anyone else down that night, as he ran for a total of 111 yards on only 11 carries, with his longest run for 40 yards and scored a TD. He was the star of the game, in the first opportunity he ever got to show us what to expect from him. He earned SEC Freshman Of The Week honors in a landslide. He had been a guy that enrolled at Bama in January of '12 and was the offensive MVP of the A-Day game in April. So it wasn't like this kinda performance was unexpected.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">For the entire summer, Bama WR Kevin Norwood, hero of the BCS Championship game against LSU, had a picture of Cowboys Stadium, where the game was to be played, on his wall. He was really looking forward to this game.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">All American and soon to be 1st Rd NFL Draft Pick Chance Warmack grew up in Detroit and was a Michigan fan as a child before moving to Atlanta, so this game meant alot to him as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Alabama RB Dee Hart was a guy who had been committed to Michigan in the past before switching to Alabama, so no doubt he had a few friends on the team and was excited to play them.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The last time Alabama and Michigan had played each other was in the 2000 Orange Bowl, following the 1999 inexplicable SEC Championship season accidentally accomplished by head coach Mike Dubose. Shaun Alexander had an awesome game that night and it was a classic, but Tom Brady led the Wolverines to a victory. I had heard about that game for YEARS from my friend leading up to this game.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Michigan was coached by second year head coach Brady Hoke, who I really really like and have a TON of respect for. He is the type of coach that a program like Michigan deserves. A hard nosed bastard who isn't gonna take any crap from anyone and won't tolerate soft football players and weak defensive play, which was the calling card of Rich Rodriguez's Michigan teams of the past 3 seasons. We still owe Rita Rodriguez a couple thousand beers for hating Tuscaloosa and the state of Alabama as a whole, and talking Rich out of taking the Bama job in December of 2006 after Mike Shula was fired.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hoke WILL have Michigan back to a perennial powerhouse and he will have them competing with Urban Meyer's Ohio State Buckeyes for the Big Ten each year for a long time. Or until Meyer loses to Saban in a BCS game eventually and quits again, at which point Hoke will probably own the conference. That's what I predict. I feel sorry for Urban's kids. But that is another post for another day that will probably not even happen on this blog.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But anyway, this was not the day for Coach Hoke. Alabama, in Nick Saban's 6th year, in a SEASON OPENER was not a team that a 2nd year coach of any program could've been adequately prepared to face or have enough talent to compete with.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Michigan's starting RB Fitzgerald Touissant was suspended for the game, following a DUI, but his presence wouldn't have mattered anyway. The Wolverines starting DT, and their best lineman, Frank Clark, was suspended for the game also because of an arrest for Home Invasion months prior. These guys sound like they should transfer to Auburn. They'd be right at home in Lee County. Of course, these circumstances were easy excuses for lazy and uneducated Bama haters to use for the impending beatdown that wouldn't have been stopped if Desmond Howard, Braylon Edwards, Tom Brady, Charles Woodson, and Lamarr Woodley had still been wearing Maize and Blue.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">For a simple comparison, I pointed out the curb stomping that Alabama put on Michigan State in January of 2011. That same Michigan St team beat Michigan 28-14 that following season, in 2011. They also COMPLETELY shut Robinson down. Just like Bama shut down LSU QB Jordan Jefferson in January of 2012. I predicted a similar outcome to the Capital One Bowl, where Bama annihilated the Spartans 49-7, a score that could've been much worse.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My official prediction, as you can see </span><span style="color: yellow; font-size: x-large;"><i><a href="http://sabansidewalk.blogspot.com/2012/08/alabama-michigan-preview-and-predictions.html"><span style="color: yellow;">HERE</span></a> </i></span><span style="font-size: large;">was 41-17. The actual score, as it turned out: 41-14. It's been pretty hard for me to so clearly NAIL a game prediction as I did this one, but I just knew what was coming, no matter what the naysayers and the ESPN talking heads would've wanted you to believe in hyping this game as a classic matchup between two classic programs. It was a matchup of 2 of College Football's Top 5 All Time prestigious programs, but the talent on the field was such that Bama could've been playing Southern Miss and it would've looked the same. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Michigan won the toss and elected to defer because they knew that Bama wouldn't do anything on the opening offensive drive. They never do, for some reason. I guess it takes a handful of plays for Saban and/or the players to get a hold of things and know what to do. I don't know.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Michigan kicker Matt Wile kicked a touchback and Bama started on the Michigan 25. The first play of the game was a handoff to Eddie Lacy that was stuffed for only a 1 yard gain. AJ then missed on 2 straight passes and Bama had to punt. 3 and out. Hell, it looked like Bama might have a little trouble. But this was the way things went all year long for Bama. They rarely seemed to have it together on their first offensive possession, punting most of the time</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cody Mandell punted the ball 52 yards and Michigan's Jeremy Gallon made a fair catch. Michigan actually got a 1st down on a 3 yard run from Vincent Smith, which followed a 9 yard pass to Smith. But then, they were penalized 15 yards, Robinson threw an incompletion to wideout Roy Roundtree and they had to punt on their first possession as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Alabama got it going for good on their second drive, with Eddie Lacy and TJ Yeldon gashing to Michigan D for several big runs and McCarron hitting a couple nice passes to his best friend Kenny Bell, before hitting a simple 2 yard pass to tight end Michael Williams, who would become a favorite redzone short yardage TD guaranteeing target of AJ's.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">TJ Yeldon's first play in Crimson and White was a 14 yard run where he looked like Adrian Peterson, Pt. II. It was a very nice sign of things to come for the talented freshman. The following video is all the highlights of Yeldon's plays from the entire game. It's fun to watch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That first TD drive went 9 plays for 62 yards, ending in an easy extra point by Senior kicker Jeremy Shelley. Normally I wouldn't even point out a kicker making an extra point, cause that's just expected, but we all know about our kicking woes in 2011 and I also wanted to take my first opportunity to brag about Jeremy Shelley and say how much I'll miss him. He was the single solitary kicker in all of College Football to not miss a single extra point or field goal the entire 2012 season. And he wasn't even nominated for the Groza Award, which goes to the nation's top kicker. SMH. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>6:56 left in the 1st.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Alabama, 7. Michigan, 0. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Michigan returned the ensuing kickoff for 25 yards but then, once again, didn't do a thing offensively and punted to Christion Jones, who returned it for 11 yards.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One incomplete pass by AJ, a 16 yard run by Jalston Fowler and then a 51 yard TD pass to a WIDE OPEN DeAndrew White streaking down the sideline later, and it was a quick and EASY Alabama touchdown. 3 plays, 67 yards</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>4:59 left in the 1st</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Alabama, 14. Michigan, 0.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Michigan got the ball back with 4:53 left and after 3 positive rushing plays and an incomplete pass by Robinson, Robinson threw a pass that was INTERCEPTED by All American, soon to be 1st Rd. NFL Draft Pick DeMarcus Milliner. Dee Milliner. God Lord in Heaven, tiny baby JESUS, I am going to miss him more than I thought I would miss Dre Kirkpatrick. Dee returned the INT 31 yards and set up a simple 2 play TD drive. Fowler ran for 8 yards and then Lacy ran the remaining 9 yards into the endzone. And the rout was on. Put in the backups. But y'all knew Saban wasn't going there yet. No game is ever "out of reach" to Saban, after that abomination against Cam Newton in 2010.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>1:24 left in the 1st.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Alabama 21, Michigan, 0.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Michigan ended the 1st quarter and took a little over a minute into the 2nd quarter with an impotent, precious little drive that resulted in yet another punt, after another handful of pointless offensive plays by the Wolverines. But HEY! Good news! Denard Robinson actually COMPLETELY a pass this time that went for 9 yards. That was a positive sign!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bama got the ball back with 13:18 left and TJ Yeldon promptly took a handoff for 40 yards like it was nothing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After a 3 yard loss by Dee Hart, Bama called a pass play, but AJ was unable to find an open receiver. Instead of throwing the ball out of bounds or stupidly trying to force something to happen, he took off running and managed to scramble for 15 yards. Hey, our QB did a better job with his legs than that preseason Heisman candidate on the other sideline!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A screen pass to TJ Yeldon, which would've been a relatively decent gain by most mortals, was taken for 26 yards to the Michigan 8 yard line. Looking like Bama was about to make it a 4 TD lead barely into the 2nd quarter, the drive stalled with a couple incomplete passes and Shelley kicked a field goal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>9:53 left in the 2nd</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Alabama 24, Michigan, 0. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I thought that team from up north was supposed to have the high powered quick strike offense. But anyway...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Michigan and Alabama traded 3 and outs the next couple drives, and then Michigan had the ball back with 5:23 left in the half on their own 2 yard line, where Cody Mandell's magnificent leg had pinned them. Following an incomplete pass and a 1 yard run by RB Thomas Rawls, Denard Robinson threw a terrible pass that was intercepted by All American Alabama linebacker CJ Mosley, who returned it 16 yards for another devastating touchdown against Michigan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">CJ could've been a 1st Rd NFL Draft pick this April, but chose to come back for his senior season in 2013. He will be one of the best LB's in the country this next season and will probably be a 1st Rd. NFL Draft pick in 2014, if NFL teams don't ignorantly place too much stock in his size. He's a tad smaller than alot of NFL teams want in star 'backers. But he's one of the best, toughest, and smartest PLAYERS in the country.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>4:31 left in the 1st half</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Alabama 31, Michigan, 0.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was looking like Bama was going to take it to the locker room with a 31-0 lead, just like that famous Blackout game against Georgia in 2008.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But then Robinson hit WR Jeremy Gallon who ran for 71 yards before being stopped just short of a TD at Bama's 1 yard line. Michigan was penalized for 5 yards, but then Robinson ran it in for the 6 yard s and a TD to put Michigan on the board before Halftime.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Alabama got the ball back and was quickly going right down the field again, before Eddie Lacy took a short pass from AJ and fumbled it. Michigan's Raymon Taylor recoverd the fumble, fell on it, and ended the half. Mercifully, no doubt for fans of the Maize and Blue.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Halftime.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Alabama 31, Michigan, 7.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>2nd Half</b></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The 2nd half wasn't nearly as rough on the Wolverines. But that's not due to any increase in their level of play of decrease in intensity or play by Alabama. Nick Saban is just a man that happens to have a modicum of class and mercy. It may not appear to be the case sometimes, but it's true.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">No matter what some coonass in Thibodaux or a crackhead in Miami would have you believe. And Auburn fans will hate him no matter what cause he has stolen ALL of their happiness, so their opinions are irrelevant. No, Nick Saban doesn't actually enjoy stepping on the throats of opponents ENTIRELY. He does it for just long enough, and once his point is proven, he lets off the gas a little. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Michigan's first drive ended in a punt, which was a total surprise at this point. I would've personally nominated their punter, Will Hagerup, for player of the game on their team. He did the most work of anyone in maize and blue all night.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Alabama's first drive started with a 28 yard pass from AJ to Kevin Norwood and ended with Cade Foster missing a FG, after a 16 yard reception by Amari Cooper wasn't enough for a first down, since AJ had just been sacked by William Campbell for a loss of 16 yards.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Michigan's next drive ended in a failed 4th down run by Denard Robinson, which only netted 1 yard when he needed 3. At this point of desperation, Michigan should've been flinging the ball down the damn field if they were gonna be going for it on 4th down and trying to get something going. But I think they had given up at halftime. They certainly didn't have any fight or desire left in them when they re-took the field out of the locker room.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Alabama took over and TJ Yeldon rushed for 12 yards on one play and then 8 yards on the next. Lacy was stuffed for no gain on the next play and then AJ missed on a pass to Jalston Fowler. Cade Foster's FG attempt was good this time from 51 yards. 51! Dude's got a LEG.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>2:34 left in the 3rd.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Alabama 34, Michigan, 7.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Following the kickoff, Michigan started their next drive on their own 14 yard line, but a 15 yard penalty against Bama and then a 22 yard run by Vincent Smith got them into Bama territory, where Robinson was able to hit a 44 yard pass to former QB Devin Gardner for a TD. This was where Saban's mercy that I spoke of had come into play. We had already put a few guys out there on the field at this point, a few FRESHMEN, that wouldn't have played if it were closer. So sledding was a little less rough on Michigan the rest of the way.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">0:14 left in the 3rd.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Alabama 34, Michigan 14.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The 4th quarter started with punts from each team. Bama still had AJ in the game, but had the backup offensive line in, as well as Dee Hart, our 4th team RB, toting the rock.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bama's 3rd drive of the 4th quarter started with a little over 9 minutes left, at their own 44 yard line. AJ hit a 16 yard pass to Kelly Johnson (Who even I had never heard of at that moment).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then Jalston Fowler ran for 11 yards and 6 yards. Michigan was penalized for 15 years, setting up a 1 yard TD run by Yeldon</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>5:32 left in the game</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Alabama 41, Michigan 14</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The teams traded punts and true freshman Dillon Lee ended the game with an interception of a pass from Michigan backup QB Russell Bellomy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Team Stats</span></h2>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Alabama</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Michigan</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">First downs: 20 11</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rushing Yards: 232 69</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Passing Yards: 199 200</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Completions/Attempts: 11/21 11/27</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Off. Plays/yards: 63/431 56/269</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">INT's Thrown: 0 3</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Punts: 4 6</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Time Of Possession: 31:26 28:34</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>RUSHING</u></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Alabama No. Yards TD Long</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yeldon 11 111 1 40</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fowler 8 68 0 18</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lacy 9 35 1 9</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hart 9 24 0 7</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Drake 1 2 0 2</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">McCarron 4 19 0 15</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Michigan <u>No.</u> <u>Yards</u> <u>TD</u> <u>Long</u></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Smith 13 37 0 22</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Robinson 10 37 1 9 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rawls 6 11 0 5</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>Passing </u></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Alabama <u>Comp/Att/INT</u> <u>Yards</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">McCarron 11-21-0 199</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Michigan <u>Comp/Att/INT</u> <u>Yards</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Robinson 11-27-2 200</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bellomy 0-1-1 0</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Receiving</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Alabama <u>No.</u> <u>Yards</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Norwood 3 53</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bell 2 26</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">White 1 51</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yeldon 1 26</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Johnson 1 16</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cooper 1 15</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lacy 1 10</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Williams 1 2</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Michigan <u>No</u>. <u>Yards</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gallon 4 107</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Roundtree 2 12</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Smith 2 11</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gardner 1 44</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dileo 1 20</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kwiatkowski 1 6</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">TJ Yeldon was the first running back in Alabama Football HISTORY to rush for over 100 yards in his first game ever.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Amari Cooper's pinky was dislocated during the game and nobody noticed difference.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">CJ Mosley's pick six was the 3rd of his career, tying Antonio Langham's Alabama record.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The week leading up to the game, boxer Floyd Mayweather placed a $3 MILLION bet on Michigan to win the game. After the game, AJ McCarron tweeted, "Thank you to all the fans and your support. And to Floyd Mayweather, you wish you had $3 Million back"</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The crowd of 90,413 was the largest crowd to ever see a game in Cowboys Stadium.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Seven true freshman saw the field in their first game ever at Bama. TJ Yeldon and Amari Cooper, of course, who were immediate impact players. But also RB Kenyan Drake, linebackers Reggie Ragland and Dillon Lee, CB Geno Smith, and safety Landon Collins. Also seeing the field was CB Deion Belue, a JUCO transfer. Most JUCO transfers that Saban signs see the field right away. Guys like Terrence Cody, James Carpenter, Jesse Williams, and DeQuan Menzie. Saban doesn't like to take JUCO's, he'd rather have a freshman and develop him over 4 or 5 years. So he only takes guys like these that are good enough to step in and play right away at a position of need. Eight REDSHIRT freshman saw the field: QB Phillip Ely (Only cause we so thoroughly dominated that ass that the backups saw late game action), Dee Hart, Brent Calloway (Who just got kicked off the team, as y'all probably know), center Ryan Kelly (Who will be taking the place of Barrett Jones in 2013. He's said to be really awesome), WR's Marvin Shinn and Danny Woodson, Jr. I think Shinn will play alot in '13. CB Bradley Sylve, who might be the fastest guy on the team, and DT DJ Pettway, who was kicked off the team with Calloway. Pettway had a sack in this game. He really had alot of potential. Shame.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All in all 15 first year players saw the field in the FIRST game of the season. 13 of which will be a part of this year's team. That's how Saban builds DEPTH, no matter how many upperclassmen STARS we have. Anyone who says a recruit will have to sit on the bench for 3 years before he plays because Bama is so stacked either doesn't know what they are talking about, or is just flat out lying. Any recruit who thinks that is probably not the kinda guy who is willing to work hard enough to see the field that soon in the first place. Saban signs the best, develops the best, and puts the best on the field.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The highly ranked and overhyped 2012 version of the storied Michigan Wolverines were trying to write another chapter into the legacy of one of their most exciting and popular players of all time, Denard Robinson.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">AJ McCarron and friends were simply writing another chapter in a trilogy known as Fifty Shades Of Whoopass.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Michigan's Fight Song is called "Hail To The Victors". But for this night, a more apt title would've been "Hell To The Victims"</span><br />
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<h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Postgame Reaction</b></span></h2>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>Brady Hoke's Postgame Press Conference</u></span></b></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/9kAfNnucVRY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></h2>
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</h2>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Kirk Herbstreit and Brent Musberger Analysis</u></b></span></div>
<h2>
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ShFsv-C3q8Q?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>ESPN Highlights</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Quotes</b></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"<i>We didn't play Michigan Football today. You guys could see that we didn't come to play ball today</i>" - <b>Denard Robinson</b>, following the game. Well, no shit, Denard. Maybe there was a group of guys on the opposite line of scrimmage that had a little something to do with that!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"<i>I didn't make the throws I should have made today and I feel I didn't play as the Michigan quarterback today</i>" - <b>Denard Robinson</b>, again. He was accustomed to playing against air in the Big Ten.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"<i>This team has a challenge of trying to create an identity for themselves in terms of how they competed and how they played. And I think they took a step in that direction</i>" - <b>Nick Saban</b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"<i>We're on the short end of the measuring stick right now</i>" - <b>Brady Hoke</b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"<i>We didn't play Michigan Football. And that is something that bothers our team, bothers our coaches</i>" - <b>Brady Hoke</b>, again. These people were completely oblivious to the level of talent in that team that they played against. There literally was NOTHING they could've done differently.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Joe Paterno</b> said it best, after getting his ass kicked by Bama at the beginning of the 2010 season. When asked what was the reason for it, he said, "<i>Well sometimes you just have to tip your hat to the other team and say that they are just better than you. Maybe they're just better than we are</i>"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"It was a cold reality for Michigan. The Wolverines are still playing catch up and if Alabama keeps improving, everyone else may again be in the same boat" - Cecil Hurt</span><br />
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<br />Eric Blackerbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207353262505371952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634952786236974171.post-44735407298577897272013-02-15T15:14:00.000-08:002013-02-15T15:14:00.460-08:00Recruiting: A Look Ahead To The Class Of 2014; In-State PlayersOf the 26 players that Alabama signed for the class of 2013, only 8 were from the state of Alabama. Only 7 if you consider that Reuben Foster moved to Alabama during his senior year in high school. And only 6 if Bradley Bozeman does indeed grayshirt. Alabama has had so much success the past few years that great players from everywhere are interested in playing for Nick Saban. And this past year, there were really only a few huge recruits within the state. Bama got the top 5 players in the state, but then branched out.<br />
<br />
This year if very different. This class of prospects in the state of Alabama might be as good as the class that signed in 2008 that included Julio Jones, Mark Barron, and Courtney Upshaw. There are at least a dozen guys who will be at least 4 star recruits and locking down the state this year appears to be the priority.<br />
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The top of the list is very heavy with a handful of guys that will compete for the top spot, so the order here is completely random, but I'll start with a guy who is committed to play for The Tide.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYauze4TBwHN8lGyZQNwQz7ZCITr74evNGqlJdZVyObKptiTQFlmpp62wguy4DUYvY7he3_1wocUnp6V7her8ll9tDZKDK03emu0d92b3lFcs5h6gIodr26ViWhKGAbKh4JHi6SwXdqyY/s1600/Bo+Scarborough.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYauze4TBwHN8lGyZQNwQz7ZCITr74evNGqlJdZVyObKptiTQFlmpp62wguy4DUYvY7he3_1wocUnp6V7her8ll9tDZKDK03emu0d92b3lFcs5h6gIodr26ViWhKGAbKh4JHi6SwXdqyY/s320/Bo+Scarborough.jpg" width="193" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bo Scarborough</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Bo Scarborough</b></span> is one of the best athletes in the country. He is 6'2" 220 lbs of nothing but muscle. He is listed at RB right now, but could play linebacker just as well. As long as he has his head on straight, he is an almost surefire superstar. He has been a longtime commit for Bama, but he will no doubt enjoy taking all his visits, as pretty much everyone wants him badly.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_0ginO2DTuTHpUhupag9enkqWTE8MyLDJS7rbB8DzC8POGxS791eNXYRP2cFZgBjqLH8tmbFVwZmkydLVydY14bpOEY6dzrCG50FgxcUj6cOKviykRgfgCc8jKyX9Z9PIzdzelh_gck/s1600/Marlon+Humphrey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_0ginO2DTuTHpUhupag9enkqWTE8MyLDJS7rbB8DzC8POGxS791eNXYRP2cFZgBjqLH8tmbFVwZmkydLVydY14bpOEY6dzrCG50FgxcUj6cOKviykRgfgCc8jKyX9Z9PIzdzelh_gck/s320/Marlon+Humphrey.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marlon Humphrey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;"></span></u></b><br /><b><u><span style="font-size: large;"></span></u></b>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></u></b>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Marlon Humphrey</span></u></b> is the best CB in the country. Maybe the best of the past several years. He goes to Hoover High School. He is in the top 10 overall. And it certainly doesn't hurt us that his dad is none other than Bobby Humphrey. Auburn is sniffing around pretty terribly, but his favorites are Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, and USC.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyQms1KxOX2rDnvMzbZ9drd-L2BglEUf49mjdMqcAanMetolHoUYJaDJ3zLAbe1rmMsIlOVzsAtUeprfcszm-tcscdqpmF_vIFWNZsJ7DlkxVaQSOLco_CT2xtm_D76tX-JpojekObn4/s1600/Ronnie+Clark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyQms1KxOX2rDnvMzbZ9drd-L2BglEUf49mjdMqcAanMetolHoUYJaDJ3zLAbe1rmMsIlOVzsAtUeprfcszm-tcscdqpmF_vIFWNZsJ7DlkxVaQSOLco_CT2xtm_D76tX-JpojekObn4/s320/Ronnie+Clark.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ronnie Clark</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Ronnie Clark</span></b> is a personal favorite because he goes to Calera High School, which is a couple miles from my house. He is 6'3" 205, about the same size Mark Barron was coming out of high school. He'll end up ranked in the top 10 at his position, which will probably be safety.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1TPAk_ksoC0gUfSqWxNk0nALPNKJlNCBnM79Zjg54aPP3s-yijh-El_O9BUIhI_r0cmvL58Zo353bWIxrSoqtAJoBPies_RH8P1BwdHL3Swh1-w7W8jCvJUsGaMVQNkNf2gEgPow9sEI/s1600/Roc+Thomas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1TPAk_ksoC0gUfSqWxNk0nALPNKJlNCBnM79Zjg54aPP3s-yijh-El_O9BUIhI_r0cmvL58Zo353bWIxrSoqtAJoBPies_RH8P1BwdHL3Swh1-w7W8jCvJUsGaMVQNkNf2gEgPow9sEI/s320/Roc+Thomas.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roc Thomas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Racean Thomas</span></b>, also known as "Roc" is a 4 star RB from Oxford who loves Alabama. He's not as big, but he plays like Trent Richardson, fighting for every yard. He will be one of the top 5 RB's in the country and I don't know if we will take more than 1 RB next year, after taking 4 of the top 12. So this will be interesting, as Auburn and Tennessee are also heavy after him.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnoZXXOpCy7o2Vsku06E9vAwmOZj9NQulftH5ctlAVl-rF0dU_xPEfH98KqqqNxVob2Wx5THi28o7xi1cB9EN8DWnYmOly7c5qqWn26VQEK1jESTmjSCN_U7op1SVRgGMNjiPook6xl4/s1600/Tre+Williams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnoZXXOpCy7o2Vsku06E9vAwmOZj9NQulftH5ctlAVl-rF0dU_xPEfH98KqqqNxVob2Wx5THi28o7xi1cB9EN8DWnYmOly7c5qqWn26VQEK1jESTmjSCN_U7op1SVRgGMNjiPook6xl4/s320/Tre+Williams.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tre Williams</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Tre Williams</span></b> goes to the same high school that AJ McCarron and Mark Barron went to, St. Paul's in Mobile. It's gonna be a battle with Auburn for this guy. He is a 4 star linebacker that's pretty much alot like Reuben Foster in size and the way he plays. Hard hitter.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rashaan Evans</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Rashaan Evans</span></b> is one of the top 20 LB's in the country. He is at Auburn High School, so you know they'll be all over him but maybe his former teammate Reuben can be in his ear. Alabama and Auburn will probably battle for him down to the end.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shaun Dion Hamilton</td></tr>
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<b style="font-size: x-large;">Shaun Dion Hamilton</b>, from Montgomery, is also one of the top 10 or 20 LB's in the country. He seems to be an Auburn-Clemson battle right now and doesn't even have an Alabama offer yet, so we will see. This is a great year for LB's in this state, and Saban loads up at this position every year, so we will no doubt get a couple of these guys.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Justin Thornton</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Justin Thornton</span></b> is a 6'5" 230 lb DE and Linebacker who is about to blow up. He has just recently gotten offers from Auburn, FSU, Florida, and LSU. Not much info on where he's leaning or anything like that yet, but he'll be yet another potential 5 star guy.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Stephen Roberts</b></span> is a CB at Opelika High School that Saban would love to have and has already offered him a scholarship. I don't think Auburn has yet, but they will soon, as will every other school in the south.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMO-_A9kapaiNPna2pK0HAZ0Tsc0r8heeE8rH50R8vlTeUOIKcJvro-gvepXKAoOutm6TmYtMAlrGLznzvEZBpb1Wv9-_8xarxnSno3-ru9G0ACAvAMh0-kyH5WAS7jptwHWRRwI8nHz4/s1600/Denzel+Ware.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMO-_A9kapaiNPna2pK0HAZ0Tsc0r8heeE8rH50R8vlTeUOIKcJvro-gvepXKAoOutm6TmYtMAlrGLznzvEZBpb1Wv9-_8xarxnSno3-ru9G0ACAvAMh0-kyH5WAS7jptwHWRRwI8nHz4/s320/Denzel+Ware.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Denzel Ware</b></span> is a guy who will probably be somewhere towards the back of the top 10 in state. He is an outstanding DE who just recently transferred to Opp High school from out of state. He had been committed to Florida State but changed that to Kentucky for Mark Stoops. So whatever.<br />
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Sorry, I don't get too excited about a guy that I already know probably isn't going to Alabama.<br />
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Kendrick Moss, Jakell Mitchell, TJ Posey, and Jordan Sims are a few guys bubbling right outside that top 10. I'm sure at least one of these guys will blow up during the process, probably Sims.<br />
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Gonna be another awesome recruiting class coming to Tuscaloosa next year, cause there's absolutely no chance that Nick Saban doesn't get at least half of that top 10 and it wouldn't shock me at all if he got 8 or 9 of those guys. Not at all.Eric Blackerbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207353262505371952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634952786236974171.post-9275997227038639532013-02-12T08:08:00.000-08:002013-02-12T08:09:35.400-08:004 Bama Players Arrested. Also, Miss Alabama Contestant ArrestedThis was an eventful past two days in Tuscaloosa.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yBfblwTbfKLeJlvEG4wvPgKm2trUYwZvZqZMzv2WYrRoGKe__Dud9bxm4GAd6nwDA0a1yZbFG8DC8UKRlxy4XGfLVoywz8OCyukHd5Qo9ftk-ZWlzB_WvEFacc7VUcrf2k4W96x8UU8/s1600/Williams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yBfblwTbfKLeJlvEG4wvPgKm2trUYwZvZqZMzv2WYrRoGKe__Dud9bxm4GAd6nwDA0a1yZbFG8DC8UKRlxy4XGfLVoywz8OCyukHd5Qo9ftk-ZWlzB_WvEFacc7VUcrf2k4W96x8UU8/s320/Williams.jpg" width="221" /></a>Eddie Williams was arrested Sunday for carrying an unregistered gun, following an argument in the BP on the strip over paying for gas. Eddie came in the store acting crazy and threatening to go get his gun out the trunk and so the clerk called the police.<br />
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Eddie was a 5 star prospect out of Panama City in the Class Of 2011. Eddie was recruited as a safety, but started out at WR, where people said he had freakish Julio Jones abilities.<br />
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Monday, he was charged with Robbery, along with 2 other Bama players, Tyler Hayes and DJ Pettway.<br />
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These guys physically assaulted 2 Bama students and stole from them. Pettway punched a dude in the back of the head and in the face, and kicked him in his ribs before stealing a laptop from him.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibR4-sP48LNLU1VkvPRDEENXl17xWNo6iYZiJQJPAzOCNkM-nd0_9bszA2UXIIzZn9EwOztTXG8oFWkQVx96soO6Uwb1ebYJLh5qrUuOWfn39e0veYBtiAeaylz_rnHcdjJKrZoCJoYD4/s1600/Calloway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibR4-sP48LNLU1VkvPRDEENXl17xWNo6iYZiJQJPAzOCNkM-nd0_9bszA2UXIIzZn9EwOztTXG8oFWkQVx96soO6Uwb1ebYJLh5qrUuOWfn39e0veYBtiAeaylz_rnHcdjJKrZoCJoYD4/s320/Calloway.jpg" width="221" /></a>Eddie Williams told police that he attacked the 2nd victim and knocked him unconcious while Hayes and Pettway watched. Stole his wallet.<br />
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Eddie admitted to later using a stolen UA Action Card from one of the victims to purchase snacks from a vending machine in Bryant Hall.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGMr8LItUzRGsYa33TFHVbo1QKcjA_kK43gcUAPDdt6vihbcpcZtSGi6lAa5LYkbm7MJrZxiSBgO7bFbcjIDJNhf5ztiS00Bh-6X2Qkx0WCxSp3j-HkaQE-uO5jxRNEUtiE31vOj5mAk/s1600/Hayes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGMr8LItUzRGsYa33TFHVbo1QKcjA_kK43gcUAPDdt6vihbcpcZtSGi6lAa5LYkbm7MJrZxiSBgO7bFbcjIDJNhf5ztiS00Bh-6X2Qkx0WCxSp3j-HkaQE-uO5jxRNEUtiE31vOj5mAk/s320/Hayes.jpg" width="221" /></a></div>
With these details, I say Eddie Williams HAS to be kicked off the team. Pettway and Hayes probably will be as well.<br />
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Brent Calloway was charged with fraudulent use of a credit card for also using a stolen card to get snacks out of a vending machine. He tweeted this morning that he was asleep during the robbery, but he must have been some sort of accessory, before or after the fact, to have the card.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFt-b5gEE_C3lsVSKbvOH8dbdGvWAVChfjmgAzFuub6EwW_jWXsnc1_KUJp-bbtDaNSYaKDQvRFm4EK5kT60UYvh3yif0hzDXJvpXN5kAQI6LF28U-nnKf4C1yX7abtamJu_3FtqJOdc/s1600/Pettway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFt-b5gEE_C3lsVSKbvOH8dbdGvWAVChfjmgAzFuub6EwW_jWXsnc1_KUJp-bbtDaNSYaKDQvRFm4EK5kT60UYvh3yif0hzDXJvpXN5kAQI6LF28U-nnKf4C1yX7abtamJu_3FtqJOdc/s320/Pettway.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="221" /></a></div>
This isn't the first trouble for Calloway, who was also arrested last year after being stopped for driving with no headlights and marijuana being found stuffed in his sock. Calloway's crimes aren't violent, so who knows? He might stay on the team. We'll see.<br />
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Hey, there's more than one way to free up several scholarships for some of the great young players coming in who want to do things the right way.<br />
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Also, this is completely unrelated to the football players, but a young lady named Stormie Lane Henderson was also arrested yesterday for leaving the scene of an accident. Don't know how serious that is, but Stormie also happens to be Miss Tuscaloosa, and a Miss Alabama contestant. I mainly just wanted to include her mugshot on here. At Alabama, even when our football players are arrested, there is a good chance they will be seen with a beauty queen.</div>
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Smiling for the police. #FreeStormie</div>
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Eric Blackerbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207353262505371952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634952786236974171.post-5162510014419586622013-02-09T15:24:00.002-08:002013-02-27T16:39:36.100-08:00Reuben Foster's Childhood. Alot Like My Childhood<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwEdzrp-t7op64GLGxO4ocJJ8sSS4KTb47h2L-O09qfI3PxeH7Xcu08YrDfLeznFpNRka7PHHSj_ec-7Txf4jwHgVJuEDCD4OjPeEW-YFuj7aMhdpgmbkejm8-DvbD5v4PWAsTpe9Ouo4/s1600/Danny+Foster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwEdzrp-t7op64GLGxO4ocJJ8sSS4KTb47h2L-O09qfI3PxeH7Xcu08YrDfLeznFpNRka7PHHSj_ec-7Txf4jwHgVJuEDCD4OjPeEW-YFuj7aMhdpgmbkejm8-DvbD5v4PWAsTpe9Ouo4/s400/Danny+Foster.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Danny Foster's mugshot</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">18 years ago, Danny Foster and his girlfriend Anita were not working out. It was 1995 and the couple had split, leaving their infant son Reuben without a father in the home. </span><br />
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27 years ago, my mother and father were not working out either. Mama left Dale in 1986, when I was 3, and took us to live with her parents, my Mimi and Granddaddy.</span><br />
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Reuben and I were at different ages during these events so I knew my father better than Reuben ever got to know his.</span><br />
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I was 6 when my father stalked my mother, ran her off the road on the way home from work, put a rifle to her face and pulled the trigger.</span><br />
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Rueben was only 18 months old when Danny showed up at their house with a gun and homicidal intentions. Danny shot the both of them and fled. Reuben's life was spared because his mama held him and blocked him from the bullets. Reuben was only hit once, in the back, and miraculously recovered fully. Anita also recovered, despite her many wounds.</span><br />
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My mother also did not die that April day in 1989. She drove 7 miles with a bullet in her arm. When Dale raised the gun, she ducked and threw her arms up in time and she was only wounded in the arm.</span><br />
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She drove 7 miles after that to get home to me. When she pulled up in the drive honking her horn, I was the first one out the door to see what was wrong. She was covered in blood and screaming for me to call 911, "Dale shot me!"</span><br />
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She recovered completely from that, though she had to learn to be left handed because her right arm required skin grafts and a brace. But she survived. And she was my rock for the next 6 years. </span><br />
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Mama was killed in April of 1995 in a supposed accident that was never fully explained. It was written off officially as an accident, as the police were unable to determine that foul play was involved. She had been having an affair with a married man for a couple years. They had been lifelong friends and his marriage didn't stop them from getting together anyway.</span><br />
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The day before the accident or whatever, all hell broke loose. His wife had found out about their affair and called the house to threaten and cuss. I answered the phone and she said, "Let me speak to that whore, Susan". In the strange world that I live in, I am now Facebook friends with this woman, and have gotten some of her side of things along the way.</span><br />
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Nobody will ever know what really happened that night, as the man that was involved died a few years ago and took the truth to the grave with him. </span><br />
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I was raised by my mother's family. They are great people and I was never without love. Family is the most important thing in the world and they were always there for me. I was raised by aunts and uncles and older cousins and my grandparents until 2000 when Granddaddy died and 2002 when Mimi died. But I was an adult by then.</span><br />
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Reuben was raised by his mother and his mother's family also. He never knew his father and never knew where he was. His mother's family, understandably, hid all that from him and didn't want him to know about his dad.</span><br />
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My family did the same thing in a way. Reuben's dad was on the run for 16 years before being caught Feb 8th, with Reuben closing in on 18 years old.</span><br />
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My dad was released from prison in 2001 when I was 18 years old. As a victim in the case, I was sent paperwork notifying me that he was up for parole, way before he was released. My family hid this from me and I never knew he was even about to get out until months after he was released.</span><br />
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I looked him up through different sources online and got his phone number. And called him collect from a pay phone one night. Then arranged a meeting with him. I took a friend with me and we drove to Decatur, AL where he lived at the time, and had lunch with him.</span><br />
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Here I was sitting at the dinner table with my father. A man that I had never really known and certainly didn't have around for any part of my childhood really. And certainly had every reason to hate.</span><br />
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And even though the gravity of what he had done in the past was hard to overcome, and still is, it didn't matter that day. I just wanted to know who he was and talk to him face to face. </span><br />
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I didn't see him again for 9 more years. In August of 2010, I got pnuemonia and almost died. It really hit home with me how important life is and how important family is, no matter what they've done in the past.</span><br />
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So I looked him up again. This time, though, I didn't just go up there for a lunch with him. I took my wife with me and we stayed the weekend. Met a lot of his family that I didn't remember knowing. And I found that I fit in perfectly with these people. It was one of the best weekends I've ever had.</span><br />
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I'll never forget what he did in the past, but it has no bearing on the person he is right now, at this time, and I finally was able to get to know him as a person and truly forgive him.</span><br />
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When the news broke on that Friday afternoon that his father had been captured in Florida, Reuben took to Twitter and wrote that he was crying. He said the tears were pouring! He wrote on there that he never knew his father but he always asked about him and his family would lie about him and hide the truth. You can't blame a family for wanting to do that after what the man had done. </span><br />
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I don't blame my mother's family, MY family, for not wanting me to see my father and I don't blame them for hating the fact that I have a relationship with him now. </span><br />
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But it's my life and I had to find a way to make myself happy and move on from all that pain and that's what it took for me. I had to see my father and find out what kind of person he is and get his side of the story. Not that there's any justification for what he did, but just to hear from HIM what happened. I made him tell me in great detail what he did and why and what all led up to it and all this. We talked on the phone for about 5 hours that first time I called him in 2010. If he hadn't have wanted anything to do with me, that would've been fine too, but I just had to know for myself. </span><br />
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Reuben is in that position now. Not only did Reuben's dad shoot his mom, but he shot HIM too. That's a whole other level beyond what my dad did. But Reuben wants to know his dad and nobody can blame him for it.</span><br />
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Reuben initially announced in the summer of 2011 that he would attend the University Of Alabama when he graduated high school. As the No. 1 rated Linebacker prospect in the entire nation, he received alot of hype and attention. When he committed to Alabama, he and his mother were living in LaGrange, GA. They moved to Auburn, AL where Reuben attended Auburn High School and that is where the craziness began.</span><br />
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Auburn University's Wide Receiver's Coach and Recruiting Coordinator, Trooper Taylor, was hot on Reuben's trail. He was able to establish a relationship with Reuben through his son who was a student at AHS. Reuben eventually changed his commitment from Alabama to Auburn. </span><br />
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Alabama fans were pissed.</span><br />
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Reuben's reason was that he wanted to stay close to his mother and his family who meant so much to him. His mother wanted him to go to Auburn and so he decided he would do what his mother wanted, even though he had always been an Alabama fan and personally wanted to go to Tuscaloosa, as he would later admit.</span><br />
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In the final month of the recruiting process, rumors swirled and things changed, with Reuben ultimately deciding he would flip back to Bama and he signed with Alabama on Wednesday, National Signing Day.</span><br />
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Auburn fans were pissed.</span><br />
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And alot of Alabama fans were pissed, too. Alot of us had decided we didn't want Reuben anymore, because he seemed like a prima donna that wanted attention and all that. Alot of people just assumed he was some kinda thug or an idiot and would be a cancer to whichever team finally got him. But none of us KNOW Reuben. We just unfairly lump him in with alot of other recruits who are overhyped and play different schools against each other for attention.</span><br />
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On Wednesday afternoon, National Signing Day, after he had signed with Alabama, he wrote the following on Twitter: "Tide Nation, I would like to apologize to y'all and I'm sorry for being the brat I was. SORRY! But HEY I'm back HOME and hope y'all accept me"</span><br />
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I don't think those are the words of a young man who wants attention and thinks he is owed anything. I think he was truly sorry that alot of people had taken him the wrong way and wanted to let us know where his heart was. Nick Saban even spoke at length about him in his press conference that afternoon and said that Reuben is a good person with a huge heart and he truly didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. He always tried to please everyone until he learned late in the recruiting process that he couldn't.</span><br />
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No matter what decision he made, he was going to have to disappoint thousands of people and all he could do was follow his heart. Which led him to The Capstone</span><br />
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Even though he knew his mother really wanted him to go to Auburn. Can you blame him for wanting to please his mother so much? After all, the woman LITERALLY took bullets for him, to protect him. His family means the world to him.</span><br />
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Reuben is a guy who is going to want to please everyone and do things the right way. He's not going to be going out and getting in trouble at Bama. That's not to say he'll be a perfect saint. He'll probably be a college kid like any other. But he is going to work hard and do what it takes to follow Coach Saban's instruction because he knows at the end of the day, that is going to make him a better football player and more importantly a better person, and man. </span><br />
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I think we will all be very pleased with what we actually see from Reuben and we will all forget about our misguided assumptions and conclusions that we came to over how Reuben handled his recruitment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm very happy to have this guy at Alabama and whoever isn't at this point, will change their mind eventually.</span><br />
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Eric Blackerbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207353262505371952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634952786236974171.post-12076632015846336542013-02-07T19:29:00.000-08:002013-02-07T19:29:32.174-08:00Alabama Crimson Tide 2013 Signing Class<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><u></u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><u><b><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Saban's Previous Classes</span></u></b></u></b></span><br />
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It would be out of character if I didn't use history as a comparison to what took place today. I love history, and if you are like me then you will enjoy this first section. If that bores you and you just want to read about the recruits that we got today, scroll down to Dee Liner's name.<br />
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The 2013 recruiting class for Alabama would easily be the best recruiting class Alabama had gotten in history before 2008. But in Nick Saban's 7th year at Bama, it has to compete with at least 2 of his other classes, 08, and maybe 2012 for that title. On paper, it certainly looks like the best class Saban has ever signed.<br />
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Before 2008, the only 5 star recruit Bama had EVER gotten in the recruiting website era was Andre Smith in 2006.<br />
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In the now historic 2008 class that started it all, Julio Jones, Mark Barron, Tyler Love, and BJ Scott were ranked 5 stars by either Rivals or Scout. This class included a total of 25 guys who were ranked at least 4 stars by one or both of those sites. Almost the entire class. Which is insane. The top 5 classes in the country usually get anywhere from 13-20 4 star or higher recruits.<br />
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2009 had DJ Fluker, Dre Kirkpatrick, Nico Johnson, and Trent Richardson as 5 stars and a total of 17 guys with at least 4 stars<br />
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2010 had Dee Milliner and Phillip Sims as 5 stars and a total of 16 guys with at least 4 stars<br />
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2011 had Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Trey DePriest, and Dee Hart as 5 stars and a total of 19 guys with at least 4 stars.<br />
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2012 had TJ Yeldon, Landon Collins, Reggie Ragland, Cyrus Jones, and Eddie Williams with 5 stars and a total of 19 guys with at least 4 stars.<br />
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So after the huge class of 2008, recruiting took a slight dip in 09 and then another slight dip in 10 before trending back upward in 11 and then even more in 12.<br />
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We usually get at least 3 or 4 of the 5 star recruits every year and at least 16 total 4 and 5 star prospects. So it's become such a norm for us to recruit so well that it's ho hum sometimes and we forget how awesome a job Nick Saban does in bringing top talent to Tuscaloosa.<br />
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All that said, I think this year could be better than 2008. On paper, of course. Obviously not all of those guys above became huge stars for us, or have yet. And so it remains to be seen, of course, how these guys will work out. But the percentage of these guys who are really important to us is very high and so it's clear that the future might be just as bright as the past 4 years have been.<br />
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This year's class includes SIX 5 star recruits: OJ Howard, A'Shawn Robinson, Robert Foster, Reuben Foster, Jonathan Allen, and Derrick Henry. And a total of 19 guys at least 4 stars. That's 6 less total 4 and 5 star recruits than 08, but here is why I think it's potentially better: It grades out better. On Rivals, the way they score players, a 6.1 rating makes you a 5 star. A 4 star is anywhere from a 5.8 to 6.0.<br />
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The 2008 class had 5 players who were rated 6.0. So the highest rating a 4 star can be without being a 5 star. So that make a total of 9 players with a rating of 6.0 or higher on Rivals.<br />
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The 2013 class has 8 players rated 6.0 and a total of 12 players rated at least 6.0. Those guys are the studs of the studs. the ones who are rated at least 6.0.<br />
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When you are that close to being a 5 star, you pretty much are in my opinion and this class has 12 players of that caliber to 9 in the 2008 class. Also, the 2008 class had 10 players rated less than 5.8. The 2013 class only has 8 players rated less than 5.8 and only 4 rated less than 5.7.<br />
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So pretty much EVERY member of the 2013 class is at least expected to be a really good player and most are considered to be potential stars.<br />
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It's crazy, really.<br />
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Quick comparison: the 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 classes ALL COMBINED had a grand total of 27 players rated at least 5.8. with 10 of those coming in 2007 when Saban got several decent recruits his first month on the job.<br />
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In summary, Nick Saban has gotten more top recruits in THIS CLASS ALONE than Mike Shula got in his entire time at Alabama. And Shula only brought in one 5 star player total ever, whereas Saban has now brought in 24 players who were 5 STAR RECRUITS in the past 6 recruiting classes. What a difference this made for us. Sometimes it needs to be fully laid out like this to understand how big of a deal it really is.<br />
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Anyways, on to the guys who will be freshman at Bama in 2013.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Dee Liner, DL, Muscle Shoals, Alabama</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>The Basics</u></b></span><br />
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6'4" 294<br />
Muscle Shoals High School<br />
Picked Alabama over Auburn, Georgia<br />
Rivals: #7 DE<br />
Scout: #8 DT<br />
ESPN: #4 DT<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>OJ Howard, TE, Prattville, Alabama</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>The Basics</u></b></span><br />
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6'6" 220<br />
Autuaga Academy<br />
Picked Alabama over Auburn, Georgia Tech, Ole Miss<br />
Rivals: #1 TE<br />
Scout: #1 TE<br />
ESPN: #2 TE<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Videos</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Jonathan Allen, DE, Ashburn, Virginia</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>The Basics</u></b></span><br />
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6'3" 264<br />
Stone Bridge High School<br />
Picked Alabama over Florida, Michigan, Oklahoma<br />
No. 1 player in the state of Virginia!<br />
Rivals: #2 DE<br />
Scout: #3 DE<br />
ESPN: #2 DE<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Reuben Foster, LB, Auburn, Alabama</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>The Basics</u></b></span><br />
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6'2" 240<br />
Auburn High School<br />
Picked Alabama over Auburn, Georgia<br />
Rivals: #1 LB<br />
Scout: #1 LB<br />
ESPN: #1 LB<br />
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<b style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: start;"><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Derrick Henry, RB, Yulee, Florida</span></u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy-a844NDGEjKxAsUZWuGG0aGasBR3d6WiSBkOVnH4Q40oQCo9rsgNpMoc3CX2Gvc4Eep41SnhrgdgjesiPhj-gPNx_ZZT0YPBV2kxb124umDERDofuNOFqwtA8yLghTYJ8XWvz0lKmh0/s1600/Derrick+Henry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy-a844NDGEjKxAsUZWuGG0aGasBR3d6WiSBkOVnH4Q40oQCo9rsgNpMoc3CX2Gvc4Eep41SnhrgdgjesiPhj-gPNx_ZZT0YPBV2kxb124umDERDofuNOFqwtA8yLghTYJ8XWvz0lKmh0/s400/Derrick+Henry.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">The Basics</span></u></b><br />
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6'3" 240<br />
Yulee High School<br />
Picked Alabama over Georgia, Florida, FSU, Notre Dame<br />
Parade Magazine National Player Of The Year<br />
Rivals: #5 RB<br />
Scout: #4 RB<br />
ESPN:# 1 ATH<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Robert Foster, WR, Manaco, Pennsylvania</u></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14aCSeO6nzS_-amrN9VMcQf2cUXoxMhwcLRxtMq5ML0dYqTOrSBOqGmOLHYzjNlBzHgn-0imvfXdZhwPJFFpytjZAUkkpd631yOYwDL3VlrehScSJ_ZKF9PvRsXEkv-aFI9q888BwIE4/s1600/Robert+Foster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14aCSeO6nzS_-amrN9VMcQf2cUXoxMhwcLRxtMq5ML0dYqTOrSBOqGmOLHYzjNlBzHgn-0imvfXdZhwPJFFpytjZAUkkpd631yOYwDL3VlrehScSJ_ZKF9PvRsXEkv-aFI9q888BwIE4/s400/Robert+Foster.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">The Basics</span></u></b><br />
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6'2" 180<br />
Central Valley High School<br />
Picked Alabama over Florida, Pitt<br />
Rivals: #4 WR<br />
Scout: #4 WR<br />
ESPN: #2 WR<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Alvin Kamara, RB, Norcross, Georgia</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>The Basics</u></b></span><br />
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5'9" 200<br />
Norcross High School<br />
Picked Alabama over Georgia<br />
Rivals: #2 APB<br />
Scout: #12 RB<br />
ESPN: #4 RB<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Ft. Worth, Texas</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>The Basics</u></b></span><br />
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6'4" 320<br />
Arlington Heights High School<br />
Picked Alabama over Texas<br />
Rivals: #4 DT<br />
Scout: #1 DT<br />
ESPN: #11 DT<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Altee Tenpenny, RB, Little Rock, Arkansas</u></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-4qXUgGm9Nk4v9rg8TM-PQHgDbUFRzH64Fk5bhLx1dcUtMdkj3bDgiYnFW1hGaeW4NJ2Z7jfEpDL65G-dO1EHzxT2cvfHXDJGDJpUQOmd7oxizx_5KdRyr_fwvMORL_HR_67RyyoOlIo/s1600/Altee+Tenpenny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-4qXUgGm9Nk4v9rg8TM-PQHgDbUFRzH64Fk5bhLx1dcUtMdkj3bDgiYnFW1hGaeW4NJ2Z7jfEpDL65G-dO1EHzxT2cvfHXDJGDJpUQOmd7oxizx_5KdRyr_fwvMORL_HR_67RyyoOlIo/s400/Altee+Tenpenny.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>The Basics</u></b></span><br />
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6'0" 205<br />
North Little Rock High School<br />
Picked Alabama over Arkansas<br />
Rivals: #8 RB<br />
Scout: #14 RB<br />
MaxPreps: #3 RB<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><u><b><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ardarius Stewart, WR, Fultondale, Alabama</span></u></b></u></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYLQ0D82iLmZxDaV3WdlU3HOS2Lh08tBKSjaap1EMhpz_7-jI-IWbaWHnOS0X04PFuqQo0vCZFX0o9a8nChpUI2L5BDghc5FGTB2Uo1knUBDF1wHwvBV3v1BHP2nILdXr9yhyphenhyphenF-Vz7dU/s1600/ARDARIUSSTEWART.PLAYEROFTHEWEEK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYLQ0D82iLmZxDaV3WdlU3HOS2Lh08tBKSjaap1EMhpz_7-jI-IWbaWHnOS0X04PFuqQo0vCZFX0o9a8nChpUI2L5BDghc5FGTB2Uo1knUBDF1wHwvBV3v1BHP2nILdXr9yhyphenhyphenF-Vz7dU/s400/ARDARIUSSTEWART.PLAYEROFTHEWEEK.jpg" width="311" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>The Basics</u></b></span><br />
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6'1" 190<br />
Fultondale High School<br />
Picked Alabama over Auburn and Clemson<br />
Rivals: #3 ATH<br />
Scout: #10 WR<br />
ESPN: #18 ATH<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><u><b><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Raheem Falkins, WR, New Orleans, Louisiana</span></u></b></u></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwjpKopf5ijHD04yUut4tqjXI-78kolOwKA8kz9aGNbcNjh3Ie_uZhyphenhyphenJLmodzt-KM_-Y1Ct7qfFbBugMgxV0ai7pBvbRrMGkcrK1ZaB2EAuHU5eBt91J4UelG9gDzajp6gZzf9Bx73tM/s1600/Raheem+Falkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwjpKopf5ijHD04yUut4tqjXI-78kolOwKA8kz9aGNbcNjh3Ie_uZhyphenhyphenJLmodzt-KM_-Y1Ct7qfFbBugMgxV0ai7pBvbRrMGkcrK1ZaB2EAuHU5eBt91J4UelG9gDzajp6gZzf9Bx73tM/s400/Raheem+Falkins.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">The Basics</span></u></b><br />
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6'3" 190<br />
Carver Senior High School<br />
Picked Alabama over LSU and Tennessee<br />
Rivals: #38 WR<br />
Scout: #67 WR<br />
ESPN: #41 WR<br />
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This is about all I can find on Raheem. He'd have been one of our top 10 recruits a few years ago.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Tim Williams, DE, Baton Rouge, Louisiana</u></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oir2Wdi_mZe18lIf-T8osN1vccTHu5SpVFKgWHZTFL7m1-S2iDG5UL4sEyhUalLkp-op11tr77yZzpbrKsdL6I8hofYDKvbnSeoM8YPQneBFZqqf01CjFAnruQLCAYMw1WR0YZuxqXI/s1600/Tim+Williams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oir2Wdi_mZe18lIf-T8osN1vccTHu5SpVFKgWHZTFL7m1-S2iDG5UL4sEyhUalLkp-op11tr77yZzpbrKsdL6I8hofYDKvbnSeoM8YPQneBFZqqf01CjFAnruQLCAYMw1WR0YZuxqXI/s320/Tim+Williams.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>The Basics</u></b></span><br />
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6'4" 230<br />
LSU Laboratory School (Is that the name of his school or the building on campus where Nick Saban builds super human football players?<br />
Picked Alabama over LSU, Miami, and Auburn<br />
No. 1 player in the state of Louisiana!<br />
247Sports: #2 DE<br />
MaxPreps: No. 4 OLB<br />
ESPN: No. 5 DE<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Maurice Smith, DB, Sugar Land, Texas</u></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIiekXMaP6LLMzP_Wh38qIO_xQJz7mLtaF7xv2svUDsHZ9J7BP8og4Qtfw3UekMiRL5wl0zroATb31DwKYQL4FltCYMGjQxOdcHWNp5VJ6H7fxXmX4VZTVIHd2LSed-rwUum1Mnw_TkU/s1600/Maurice+Smith.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIiekXMaP6LLMzP_Wh38qIO_xQJz7mLtaF7xv2svUDsHZ9J7BP8og4Qtfw3UekMiRL5wl0zroATb31DwKYQL4FltCYMGjQxOdcHWNp5VJ6H7fxXmX4VZTVIHd2LSed-rwUum1Mnw_TkU/s400/Maurice+Smith.JPG" width="272" /></a></div>
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<b><u>The Basics</u></b><br />
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6'1" 185<br />
Dulles High School<br />
Picked Alabama over Florida, LSU, Texas, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, and Auburn<br />
Rivals: #12 CB<br />
Scout: #5 CB<br />
ESPN: #12 CB<br />
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<b style="font-size: xx-large;"><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Darius Page, DT, Foley, Alabama</span></u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsB4tHwChiSmlSkDE95hN-ju1MeBOU-GqHwv7Ffg2K8fWB-Pi3UxA8woFDS9tHCSrCaG_8zwOPdm04YNDu-1YdXEIOueiP3Z3mXrW2_JTWkPkpBLGdP0PSdhRohNbSdNOsRW5PAB9HZA/s1600/DariusPaige.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsB4tHwChiSmlSkDE95hN-ju1MeBOU-GqHwv7Ffg2K8fWB-Pi3UxA8woFDS9tHCSrCaG_8zwOPdm04YNDu-1YdXEIOueiP3Z3mXrW2_JTWkPkpBLGdP0PSdhRohNbSdNOsRW5PAB9HZA/s400/DariusPaige.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>The Basics</u></b></span><br />
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6'4" 292<br />
Foley High School<br />
Picked Alabama over Auburn<br />
Rivals: #15 DT<br />
Scout: #23 DT<br />
ESPN: #21 DT. Amazing how a guy rated here is the bottom of the class for us now. Roll Saban, y'all!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Cooper Bateman, QB, Salt Lake City, Utah</u></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeSKnhwzpALlPt_50KUulvDrotpLrE2lDKRHMGhmtf_NjRB2IdTNmJh9U2qPPgfcz_4n0ATkGwGI0ZScLWvueqqN7_je1s2WZgSUq5zjDaFeQV0mjROKJp3kbxPybcrjz5c28W7lLVkI/s1600/rn_cooperbateman1_ms_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeSKnhwzpALlPt_50KUulvDrotpLrE2lDKRHMGhmtf_NjRB2IdTNmJh9U2qPPgfcz_4n0ATkGwGI0ZScLWvueqqN7_je1s2WZgSUq5zjDaFeQV0mjROKJp3kbxPybcrjz5c28W7lLVkI/s1600/rn_cooperbateman1_ms_300.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>The Basics</u></b></span><br />
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6'3" 205<br />
Cottonwood High School<br />
Picked Alabama over LSU, Florida, Auburn, and Washington<br />
No. 1 player in the state of Utah!<br />
Scout: #5 QB<br />
MaxPreps: #4 QB<br />
ESPN: #3 QB<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Tyren Jones, RB, Marietta, Georgia</u></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOosYlJOmI1xamxsS-QPUAd0mvT-ZElgW-YvdZd4nd4RnWf5pzq5mm8IRB3z2aFBYukTfcRGaJx-3koh_CWrcGH8qtlQ1cIk0op8Sm4_cC6qdwmXCkRPk7IwyxsPmzFrggAMnNAD1XwA/s1600/Tyren+Jones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOosYlJOmI1xamxsS-QPUAd0mvT-ZElgW-YvdZd4nd4RnWf5pzq5mm8IRB3z2aFBYukTfcRGaJx-3koh_CWrcGH8qtlQ1cIk0op8Sm4_cC6qdwmXCkRPk7IwyxsPmzFrggAMnNAD1XwA/s320/Tyren+Jones.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><u>The Basics</u></b></span><br />
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5'9" 200<br />
Walton High School<br />
Picked Alabama over Georgia, Auburn, Clemson, and Florida<br />
Rivals: #11 RB<br />
MaxPreps: #5 RB<br />
247Sports: #6 RB<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Grant Hill, OL, Huntsville, Alabama</u></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxeR5VrAKTDgoroc6A0roXY-hydWOm1wXWgvpLGGsBP_La1Ovt6XVuxSwLMKnGn683B_aArifxvR4Ntnm6o6ANFok9QhLJgrfLQvE4iyw5oLEvvteIDMOR2zXKRyfOYur6rLd0y45doac/s1600/Grant+Hill.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxeR5VrAKTDgoroc6A0roXY-hydWOm1wXWgvpLGGsBP_La1Ovt6XVuxSwLMKnGn683B_aArifxvR4Ntnm6o6ANFok9QhLJgrfLQvE4iyw5oLEvvteIDMOR2zXKRyfOYur6rLd0y45doac/s1600/Grant+Hill.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>The Basics</u></b></span><br />
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6'6" 300<br />
Huntsville High School<br />
Picked Alabama over Auburn, Georgia, Tennessee, and Ole Miss<br />
Rivals: #5 OG<br />
ESPN: #1 OG<br />
Scout: #3 OG<br />
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<b style="font-size: xx-large;"><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anthony Averett, CB, Woodbury, New Jersey</span></u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxWSvDY0d4WVMpY2cGQBPIJgWK_j7uuN6aWYjvo_lHzvWPG-s6OHtVc727-r0_YEanCyC5OJwMDGallkVCGgE49J9dH-TYT8H8vwPyOI7Gmw-1HzHuBEqf1dUobEDwONqgiJYF4NbTMY/s1600/Anthony+Averett.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxWSvDY0d4WVMpY2cGQBPIJgWK_j7uuN6aWYjvo_lHzvWPG-s6OHtVc727-r0_YEanCyC5OJwMDGallkVCGgE49J9dH-TYT8H8vwPyOI7Gmw-1HzHuBEqf1dUobEDwONqgiJYF4NbTMY/s320/Anthony+Averett.jpg" width="227" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEpRD7c9VE47cEL_bLvZsNF0ndiUimh3thtol5XaKopa3o0J7lE_rZNx4SHrNrz3YueK4gOPJjHcu2joreyYtu-igeiXzdY35RMxucuqD7JavB212A8wS4_9X5OY6058_2KVrMIH-GpI/s1600/Averett+Tat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEpRD7c9VE47cEL_bLvZsNF0ndiUimh3thtol5XaKopa3o0J7lE_rZNx4SHrNrz3YueK4gOPJjHcu2joreyYtu-igeiXzdY35RMxucuqD7JavB212A8wS4_9X5OY6058_2KVrMIH-GpI/s320/Averett+Tat.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">The Basics</span></u></b><br />
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6'1" 178<br />
Woodbury High School<br />
Picked Alabama over Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee<br />
Rivals: #23 CB<br />
247Sports: #14 S<br />
ESPN: #22 ATH<br />
Nephew of Baltimore Ravens OT Bryant McKinnie<br />
Track star. 2nd longest long jump in state history of 25 ft 2 in<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Leon Brown, OT, Brooklyn, New York</u></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnFn7nNZsGXoRyurobr71xPY1fgu9rZK9SSfj-v_rYevRd3Zo9SVVoEKV9DdpPUhOsiHaUpov_3v3KP5ekzBJ72ANXhXBfKgGSlsSaFn6lGMg8r6fXTLjF2s5I5BjuhLIDDoVlScQbIxU/s1600/Leon+Brown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnFn7nNZsGXoRyurobr71xPY1fgu9rZK9SSfj-v_rYevRd3Zo9SVVoEKV9DdpPUhOsiHaUpov_3v3KP5ekzBJ72ANXhXBfKgGSlsSaFn6lGMg8r6fXTLjF2s5I5BjuhLIDDoVlScQbIxU/s400/Leon+Brown.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>The Basics</u></b></span><br />
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6'6" 308<br />
The College For Exellence.<br />
Picked Alabama over Oklahoma, Ole Miss, and Tennessee<br />
Scout: #2 JUCO OT<br />
#50 overall in Rivals Juco Top 50.<br />
JUCO All American<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Videos</u></b></span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/zEdfFxMmI2M?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Eddie Jackson, WR/DB, Lauderdale Lakes, Florida</u></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJlOOXj7Y4la0IOKFqwLiqSivRHaG3NO6blmAWXzNFERsgws9c2_OC1n4RTb1ZqM6U5yUf2QEoc9qtY34h71sbtUR7vSUT5fSD15HoooAbUWeYM3GElJmpPY8OYk61MzDi59mUhkadmM/s1600/Eddie+Jackson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJlOOXj7Y4la0IOKFqwLiqSivRHaG3NO6blmAWXzNFERsgws9c2_OC1n4RTb1ZqM6U5yUf2QEoc9qtY34h71sbtUR7vSUT5fSD15HoooAbUWeYM3GElJmpPY8OYk61MzDi59mUhkadmM/s400/Eddie+Jackson.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>The Basics</u></b></span><br />
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6'0" 180<br />
Boyd H. Anderson High School<br />
Picked Alabama over LSU, FSU, and Tennessee.<br />
247Sports: #5 ATH<br />
Rivals: #48 WR<br />
ESPN: #54 WR<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Videos</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Walker Jones, LB, Cordova, Tennessee. </u></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGXhNKgww8IuaRqPZTTftgIF8anLtDjsbbeqhaClY6z-FulwqOsGktLBQhYp3-V9RnEFIEuLweB-Au_549lEuLecjhPNxdgQQum5ElflDqaRd7xgzOO-i7t2wkD2ddfTTCiGryks86LQ/s1600/Walker+Jones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGXhNKgww8IuaRqPZTTftgIF8anLtDjsbbeqhaClY6z-FulwqOsGktLBQhYp3-V9RnEFIEuLweB-Au_549lEuLecjhPNxdgQQum5ElflDqaRd7xgzOO-i7t2wkD2ddfTTCiGryks86LQ/s1600/Walker+Jones.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>The Basics</u></b></span><br />
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6'3" 230<br />
Evangelical Christian School<br />
Picked Alabama over Tennessee, Arkansas, and Nebraska<br />
Rivals: #22 LB<br />
Scout: #40 LB<br />
ESPN: #26 LB<br />
Brother of Barrett Jones<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Cole Mazza, OL/Long Snapper, Bakersfield, California</u></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Q5gLwYT76UCSOjQ1NDPQQGxcqsKT_2j5INuQsed4DJIf3qwweUPelD4_P_dxE-S70fep6Oh3aXaO0O9JUIzGEzxEH3EfdYcTxvgtTI4hktt8YIiMp6fkWtlx6Vn3flbrI6Lz9eLk7GM/s1600/Cole+Mazza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Q5gLwYT76UCSOjQ1NDPQQGxcqsKT_2j5INuQsed4DJIf3qwweUPelD4_P_dxE-S70fep6Oh3aXaO0O9JUIzGEzxEH3EfdYcTxvgtTI4hktt8YIiMp6fkWtlx6Vn3flbrI6Lz9eLk7GM/s400/Cole+Mazza.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>The Basics</u></b></span><br />
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6'1" 240<br />
Liberty High School<br />
Picked Alabama over UCLA, Washington State, and Utah. Yeah that's right, SUCK IT UTAH!!<br />
ESPN: #3 LS<br />
247Sports: #1 LS<br />
The next Carson Tinker, basically.<br />
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<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://0.gvt0.com/vi/LuAS_x18Kmg/0.jpg" height="266" style="clear: left; float: left;" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LuAS_x18Kmg&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LuAS_x18Kmg&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><u><b><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Parker McLeod, QB, Marietta, Georgia</span></u></b></u></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAnvkPtfAQBHSMp7OpMTgYrqFghCZsjq9jtRByHYgjZ49JRwx2DFNoqTvyGoEJPLpzO2hVUoy-1gd87reUosswErj9HQ7Z3fP-2wWVK4g4HtQMWifn-UgAKY7jk7yhgEKfbNIrNJtLXc/s1600/Parker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAnvkPtfAQBHSMp7OpMTgYrqFghCZsjq9jtRByHYgjZ49JRwx2DFNoqTvyGoEJPLpzO2hVUoy-1gd87reUosswErj9HQ7Z3fP-2wWVK4g4HtQMWifn-UgAKY7jk7yhgEKfbNIrNJtLXc/s400/Parker.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">The Basics</span></u></b></div>
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6'3" 180<br />
Walton High School<br />
Picked Alabama over Oklahoma St, Louisville, Maryland, and Boston College<br />
Rivals: #31 QB<br />
Scout: #63 QB<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Brandon Hill, OG, Chatham, Virginia</u></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxgvYEFlslGeTno5HLSuL1JytLh52cmZ91hxj3L_SG0fs3X4ykeTyR8Idkvuf3c88FhfjX136tqxeGLsHiFgNsfvrFRjfQOLkcUPI7-jH1IDvT7DWSu1lZJKwFQr7Cv6GFGWkTvC-I-U/s1600/Brandon+Hill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxgvYEFlslGeTno5HLSuL1JytLh52cmZ91hxj3L_SG0fs3X4ykeTyR8Idkvuf3c88FhfjX136tqxeGLsHiFgNsfvrFRjfQOLkcUPI7-jH1IDvT7DWSu1lZJKwFQr7Cv6GFGWkTvC-I-U/s320/Brandon+Hill.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>The Basics</u></b></span><br />
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6'7" 390 (OMG)<br />
Hargrave Military Academy<br />
Picked Alabama over Ole Miss and Georgia<br />
Rivals: #30 Prep Top 50<br />
Scout: #25 OG<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Jonathan Cook, DB, Spanish Fort, Alabama</u></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHv-O7hqDQ6EAZmAcmMFghm7YV3SMEkRvZ6yrPi1djFqTrf7NUn0lUH9X_np9fZz14F9Pd2yF6KovZepTFnJldR9B-sEWPp4vCTCT5CuVOILj7FjXZVpcK5gOaNd5tZAhe0vVJsmcFMaE/s1600/Jonathan+Cook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHv-O7hqDQ6EAZmAcmMFghm7YV3SMEkRvZ6yrPi1djFqTrf7NUn0lUH9X_np9fZz14F9Pd2yF6KovZepTFnJldR9B-sEWPp4vCTCT5CuVOILj7FjXZVpcK5gOaNd5tZAhe0vVJsmcFMaE/s1600/Jonathan+Cook.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>The Basics</u></b></span><br />
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6'0" 185<br />
Spanish Fort High School<br />
Picked Alabama over Nebraska and Ole Miss<br />
Rivals: #37 CB<br />
Scout: #33 CB<br />
247Sports: #14 CB<br />
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Eric Blackerbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207353262505371952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634952786236974171.post-35213830741250256672013-02-05T16:36:00.000-08:002013-02-05T16:44:44.761-08:00Alabama Signing Day Preview! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowALwazCj_aCKZQ9EbcEnIb5WO7G2CG2J8W5SaRmaEnBeHzMH0LT23GPY2kjetXI0qa4VjexoWQW6Eq8TA7OJH5HnnODEdFk_ZFsz0Y4zIl5VkpttgP0kqARvLxeFu8HFMjYB8Y6cLcE/s1600/reuben-foster-at-under-armour-d09db3c65eef1078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowALwazCj_aCKZQ9EbcEnIb5WO7G2CG2J8W5SaRmaEnBeHzMH0LT23GPY2kjetXI0qa4VjexoWQW6Eq8TA7OJH5HnnODEdFk_ZFsz0Y4zIl5VkpttgP0kqARvLxeFu8HFMjYB8Y6cLcE/s320/reuben-foster-at-under-armour-d09db3c65eef1078.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<b>Alabama has 23 recruits committed for the 2013 class as of right now, 6 pm the night before signing day.</b><br />
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<b>As with every year, there are a couple dozen big time recruits that schools are waiting to hear a commitment from. Some of the past huge stars to announce for Alabama on signing day have been <span style="font-size: large;">Julio Jones</span>, <span style="font-size: large;">Mark Ingram</span>, <span style="font-size: large;">Dre Kirkpatrick</span>, <span style="font-size: large;">Kenny Bell</span>, <span style="font-size: large;">Marcell Dareus</span>, and <span style="font-size: large;">Eddie Lacy</span>. Also, <span style="font-size: large;">Marquis Maze</span> and <span style="font-size: large;">Josh Chapman </span>were signing day commits.</b><br />
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<b>So you can see this is a big day for Bama fans every year. At least since Saban arrived. The previous decade before that, we weren't really ever involved on this day.</b><br />
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<b>Last year, <span style="font-size: large;">Cyrus Kouandjio</span> was the No. 1 offensive lineman in the country when he announced on NSD that he would be going to Auburn. Luckily for us, he needed a few more days to think about it before ultimately switching to the place he really belonged, with his brother Arie in Tuscaloosa.</b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Reuben Foster</span>, the No. 1 linebacker in America, got it started a night early by announcing on TV last night that he would be going to Alabama, even after being committed to Auburn for a long time, AND even though he has a huge AU tattoo on his arm. LOL, y'all.</b><br />
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<b>I will lay out for you here all of the big guys that we are looking to hear from tomorrow.</b><br />
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<ul>
<li><b>At 8:35, the No. 1 offensive lineman <span style="font-size: large;">Laremy Tunsil</span> will be making his announcement. I don't expect to get him. My prediction is Ole Miss, but you never know with this guy. He's been very hush hush about things.</b></li>
</ul>
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<b><br /></b>
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>At 8:45, 5 star DT <span style="font-size: large;">Montravius Adams</span> will announce. Bama has an outside shot, but most people think it's gonna be between Clemson and Auburn. I predict Auburn.</b></li>
</ul>
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<b><br /></b>
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>At 9:05, 5 star DB <span style="font-size: large;">Vonn Bell</span> will pick between Alabama, Tennessee, and Ohio St. Alot of people think he will go to Tennessee just because of the numbers crunch at Bama and the fact that Bama was late to the party with him. </b></li>
</ul>
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<b><br /></b>
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>At 9:45, <span style="font-size: large;">Antonio Conner</span> will choose between Alabama and Ole Miss. He is a 4 star DB from the state of MS and it is a 50/50 shot between us and them for his services. I'll say we get him, but I'm not confident. </b></li>
</ul>
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<b><br /></b>
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>At 11, <span style="font-size: large;">Dee Liner</span> will be announcing that he is coming to Alabama. He was a long time commitment for Auburn, but was long rumored to be really wanting to go to Bama. He finally decommitted from Auburn in December and it's a very poorly kept secret that he is gonna choose Bama. His name is also the position he plays. How cool is that?</b></li>
</ul>
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<b><br /></b>
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>At 2:35, 4 star RB <span style="font-size: large;">Alvin Kamara </span>will make his choice. He is from Georgia, but is long rumored to be going to Bama. His coming also caused rumors that Altee Tenpenny, another 4 star RB who was already committed to Bama, might split for Arkansas. But it looks like we are going to rack up on runners this year, and get Alvin as well.</b></li>
</ul>
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>At 3, <span style="font-size: large;">A'Shawn Robinson</span>, a 5 star DL that was long committed to Texas is expected to sign with Alabama. It wasn't known until this past week that he was even wavering from the Longhorns but word got out that he had informed the coaches there that he would be leaving the state and signing with Alabama. </b></li>
</ul>
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<b><br /></b>
<br />
<ul>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">Eddie Vanderdoes, </span>yet another 5 star prospect at DT, is the last big dog of the day that we will be waiting on, as he isn't announcing until 7 at night. He spent the past weekend in Tuscaloosa, where he live tweeted his visit and CLEARLY had the time of his life. This kid is so full of Bama, it excites me, but there is a problem: He lives in California and his family wants to keep him there. He was previously committed to USC but tomorrow it should come down to Alabama or UCLA. Will he go where his heart wants to go or will he make the easy choice to stay home? I think HE wants badly to come to Bama, but his family might keep him there. I'll go ahead and predict that we get him, but it's a toss up. Notre Dame is also heavy in the mix.</b></li>
</ul>
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>There are a couple other big guys that could swing out way tomorrow. <span style="font-size: large;">Matthew Thomas</span>, a 5 star DL from Miami, and <span style="font-size: large;">Jarron Reed</span>, a JUCO DT from Mississippi. While we could very well get those guys, I predict they will go elsewhere. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The sad thing is, that every year there are a handful of guys that want to come to Bama, but can't because of the numbers limits. To me, that's a shame. I think if numbers weren't even a hurdle, we'd get every one of these guys but maybe 1 or 2. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>At the end of the day, I think there are 4 more players we can take. I think those guys are Liner, Kamara, and Robinson for SURE. And one of any of the others, but I'll say Vanderdoes.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Though, every year it seems we sign at least one guy that nobody even expected so I won't be surprised if that happens this year. Last year, on signing day, we flipped the commitments of Denzel Duvall, Korren Kirvin, and Dalvin Tomlinson. 3 guys that we weren't even thinking about. So Saban can still pull off some unexpected magic.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Either way, we will have the NO. 1 recruiting class in the whole damn country for the 4th time in the past 5 seasons. Which is something we had NEVER done even once before Saban. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>So Roll Damn Tide, y'all. We ballin'!</b><br />
<br />
<br />Eric Blackerbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207353262505371952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634952786236974171.post-28342268766741585772013-01-07T09:29:00.001-08:002013-01-07T09:29:31.648-08:00BCS National Championship Game (And Some History)<u style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Alabama vs. Notre Dame: History</b></span></u><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><u><b><br /></b></u></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRv5wZKWCo_BnZCbXSTZ5-zeo60a5HozGShxLNcj2XDTjDzWNrxuNi0eAnhQvYXre4xLq2L9Z81_ttrL5YVxWIUAEq48JL0cIfJROpARNz05TKvhAgcoG0cn-ov5R79LGaT6-vXNN753E/s1600/alabama-notre-dame-odds-picks-bcs.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRv5wZKWCo_BnZCbXSTZ5-zeo60a5HozGShxLNcj2XDTjDzWNrxuNi0eAnhQvYXre4xLq2L9Z81_ttrL5YVxWIUAEq48JL0cIfJROpARNz05TKvhAgcoG0cn-ov5R79LGaT6-vXNN753E/s400/alabama-notre-dame-odds-picks-bcs.png" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Notre Dame has been a pain in Alabama's ass for a long time.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>In 1966, neither team lost a game. Alabama went undefeated, in one of Bear Bryant's most dominating years, while Notre Dame played for a tie in their last game against Michigan State. The nation was tired of Alabama, who had won it all in 1965 and 1964 already, and so they voted ND number one. Alot of older Bama fans are still seething about this. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>In 1973, both teams went undefeated until they faced each other in the Sugar Bowl. Per the rules at the time, the coaches voted Alabama the national title before the bowl game. In those days, bowl games were just exhibition games that didn't matter towards any rankings. But then Notre Dame beat Alabama, and they claim the title that year as well.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>In 1974, Alabama went through the entire season undefeated again, but due to the controversy of the year before, the coaches waited until after the bowl game to vote. Alabama lost to ND, who had already lost 2 games that year, and missed out on the title.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>In 1976, Alabama was ranked 10th when they lost to 18th ranked Notre Dame in November. Bama had already lost 2 games that year, so at least it wasn't another title that Notre Dame could steal away.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Quick timeout. Are y'all seeing a trend here? Throughout history, they hate on us so much. When Bama is successful, the rest of the country does what it can to put a stop to it. It happened back then, and we all see that it is happening now, with the outrage over Bama getting a second shot at LSU last year that led to other conferences agreeing to a playoff in the future. </b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGBGafiAI0QAXc45HP17IyWJjGcd0hBTydld8x0Xix8SWt5xbBfNQlbiQ_Tavpe9ImPydq1ntqLQbdy-LGDnGqvjo8-8MnqiAwFDx2ldkWXwIvea55a181tasZVd96g3za-ZnqWCDUy0/s1600/saban_u_mad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGBGafiAI0QAXc45HP17IyWJjGcd0hBTydld8x0Xix8SWt5xbBfNQlbiQ_Tavpe9ImPydq1ntqLQbdy-LGDnGqvjo8-8MnqiAwFDx2ldkWXwIvea55a181tasZVd96g3za-ZnqWCDUy0/s320/saban_u_mad.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The way I see it, Bama should've been given the Title in 66 and ND in 73, which would even things out. So I really don't worry much about that.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>There are also a few ties that the two schools share through history as well. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Frank Thomas, who won national titles at Bama as a coach, was a QB for Notre Dame under Knute Rockne.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Mal Moore was an assistant coach at ND in the 80's under Lou Holtz.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><u><b>Saban vs. Bryant</b></u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Nick Saban is coaching for the right to be put in Bear Bryant territory.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Though he would never admit that.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>He said on the radio this week that it is unfair to Bryant to EVER put anyone in that conversation. So while Saban won't say it, I can and will.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The comparisons are uncanny. Bryant made many moves before coming to Bama in 1958. Everyone knows about Saban's history there.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Saban and Bryant are now the only two coaches in history to win the SEC at two different schools. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Saban is the only one to win a National Title at 2 different schools, having done so at LSU in 2003.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>In their first 5 seasons at Bama, Bryant and Saban both posted an identical .806 winning percentage and both won 1 SEC Championship.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Saban, however, won 2 National Titles to Bryant's 1.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>If he wins tonight, that will make 3 titles in 4 years, something Bryant never accomplished. It was also make 4 titles in his last 8 years of coaching college football, another achievement that would eclipse Bryant. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Bear won 6 National Titles overall, but it took him 25 years to do it. Saban is about to be halfway there after just 6 seasons in Tuscaloosa. If he stays around long enough, he will most definitely pass Bryant in this regard as well.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><u><b>2012 Season</b></u></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVoWgn92EgrrsV8m6VI-4CCo8maw-LgxwyhGAQGztDIzXKfSw_cgfvZdFvkC4SNOTXNnASydLn0MUobwPB88BIvoxkm490Z0KxJS81gVykj2D-eIspeUfIsUtdXGr8bfrE5PM1_6BXuM8/s1600/SEC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVoWgn92EgrrsV8m6VI-4CCo8maw-LgxwyhGAQGztDIzXKfSw_cgfvZdFvkC4SNOTXNnASydLn0MUobwPB88BIvoxkm490Z0KxJS81gVykj2D-eIspeUfIsUtdXGr8bfrE5PM1_6BXuM8/s320/SEC.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><u><b><br /></b></u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Notre Dame started the season unranked, while Alabama started the season in the top 2, depending on the poll, coming off a national title in 2011.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Notre Dame went undefeated, while Bama lost one game to Texas A&M, and the eventual Heisman Trophy winner, Johnny Manziel. Bama was able to work it's way back to the No. 2 spot when other teams lost, thereby getting a shot at Notre Dame and defending their title.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The two teams share alot of similarities defensively, while Bama is a mile ahead on offense.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>They have one common opponent in Michigan, which Alabama beat soundly 41-14. The only thing that kept Bama from winning that game by 40 or 50 was Nick Saban's mercy.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>When Notre Dame played Michigan, Notre Dame only scored 13 points. Michigan turned the ball over on 6 straight possessions and only scored 6 points. That's a credit to ND's defense, but it's a good measuring stick that Notre Dame could so thoroughly "dominate" that game, yet only win by 7 points. If Notre Dame could only score 13 points against Michigan, how does it expect to score more than that against Bama? And it will take more than that to win this game tonight.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Notre Dame only beat Purdue 20-17. It took a goal line stand in overtime to beat Stanford 20-13. Personally, I think the Stanford running back had the ball across the goal line, even though the refs called him short. So The Irish should've lost that game.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The next week they put a whooping on mighty BYU by a score of 17-14.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Perhaps their biggest win of the year came against Pitt the following week. Pitt took them to 3 OT's and it took Pitt missing an easy FG for ND to win that game. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>By the way, that same Pitt team, that ND struggled to survive against in 3 overtimes, lost to Ole Miss by 3 touchdowns. There's another good measuring stick.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>ND needed another goal line stand to hold off USC at the end of the season. The same USC team that lost 6 games.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>I have to give credit for the fight that Notre Dame has obviously possessed this season. It's much like Auburn in 2010, when the Tigers should've lost 5 or 6 games, but they just kept managing to pull it off somehow. As a fan and student of history, this is one of those games that we've seen upsets in before.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>In 1992, Miami was coming off a national title, and Alabama survived several times through the year to somehow go undefeated. When Bama played Miami in the Sugar Bowl, nobody gave Bama a chance. Miami was a juggernaut on both sides of the ball, while Alabama was strictly a defensive team who got by with a smart QB and average offensive play. See where I'm going here?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The difference is that this Alabama team is not a team of thugs and prima donnas like that Miami team. Alabama is full of great players, who are mature leaders, and know what it takes to play to a high standard.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfrN2lcU8rHVGfIuf28RfHeAh2t9HqGGRu1tzbFRB4_uoNto84DFeUCF5ZoFQtTJ7wnwMhgiHNL05aik5k3aGlfyzONBJw7b5NDQ-YWe0HIz6Ahpm45uaMswcP-oSo-NKv_Ecj3Ht4CA/s1600/Teo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfrN2lcU8rHVGfIuf28RfHeAh2t9HqGGRu1tzbFRB4_uoNto84DFeUCF5ZoFQtTJ7wnwMhgiHNL05aik5k3aGlfyzONBJw7b5NDQ-YWe0HIz6Ahpm45uaMswcP-oSo-NKv_Ecj3Ht4CA/s320/Teo.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Notre Dame's Manti Te'o gets as much hype as any defensive player ever has, and he's great, but in reality he is no better than Bama's CJ Mosley. They have almost identical stats, while Mosley doesn't even play more than about 70% of any game and Te'o takes every snap. Te'o has only 1 sack all year. The hype is over the fact that he has intercepted 7 passes. When have you heard of a MLB doing that? It's crazy.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><u><b>Position By Position Comparisons</b></u></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><u><b><br /></b></u></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>At QB, Alabama has the unquestioned advantage with a returning starter who already has one national title, and Notre Dame is going with a freshman who was yanked from several games this year.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>At RB, Alabama has 2 running backs who rushed for over 1,000 yards in the same season for the first time in history. Eddie Lacy, with almost 1300, and TJ Yeldon, with exactly 1000, are one of the best combos of all time and Saban has made no bones about his affection for the two. Notre Dame's pair of backs, Theo Riddick and Cierre Wood, are a pretty good combo as well, but Riddick is still 120 yards short of 1000 and Wood is 260 short.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>TJ Jones is the only good WR Notre Dame has and he only has 4 touchdowns this season, while Bama has 3 or 4 options that are at least on his level and probably better. Amari Cooper will be the best receiving threat on the field all night, and he is only a true freshman. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The OL is a joke of a competition. Bama by 873,000 miles here.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Overall on offense, it's not much of a comparison, as Bama set school records this season already for points scored and yards overall, with still this game to be played.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>On defense, Notre Dame stacks up much more evenly.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The DL and LB's are a huge strength for them. Louis Nix III is a beast in the middle of that line, and he will surely give Barrett Jones hell, no matter how healthy Jones is. On the end, Stephon Tuitt is an All American. Everyone knows about Te'o, but Carlo Calabrese and Dan Fox are both solid backers as well. CJ Mosley, Nico Johnson, Adrian Hubbard and the rest are at least an equally impressive bunch. I give CJ the nod over Te'o, and maybe that's bias, but the stats and CJ's impact do not lie. Others will say that this is an advantage for ND, but I'd take Bama's guys over them.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>It's funny that Bama gets so much flack for "poor" play in the secondary this year, when you have an All American future first round draft pick in Dee Milliner at corner, and 3 year starter Robert Lester at safety. The standard has been set so high by guys like Mark Barron and Dre Kirkpatrick that people are just astonished to see Bama give up big passing plays, but that's been the case this year. More so than any of the previous 3 years, Bama can be taken advantage of deep down the field. Where I find comfort though is in the fact that Everett Golson doesn't have the deep ball passing ability of guys like Zack Mettenberger, Aaron Murray, and Johnny Manziel. Bama has already faced a better runner at the position and a couple of better passers. Alabama's secondary is yet another strength for the Tide over the Irish.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Brian Kelly won 2 national championships in Division II at Grand Valley St and I think he is an outstanding coach, but only one guy in that stadium tonight possesses THREE BCS National Championship rings. No contest here.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>It seems ridiculous that one team could be better at every position than another team in a national title game, especially when it's the team that actually lost a game when the other didn't. But that is how I feel. QB, RB, and Offensive Line are the only ones that are huge margins though, as Notre Dame doesn't really have a weakness anywhere that can be easily exploited. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Overall, of course I'm picking Alabama to win this game, and really it could get ugly. If the same teams that each played Michigan show up, then Bama could be putting in the backups to start the 4th quarter. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>I'm not gonna go that far though. I think ND will hang around for much longer than I'd like. I think they'll make a big play or two and keep it within a TD or so for most of the game. But I think Bama will be controlling everything by the time the 4th quarter comes around, and the final score will look like a bigger beatdown than it probably will be.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Alabama 34</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Notre Dame 16</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>"Reports coming out of Miami are that Nick Saban has a relaxed and calm demeanor. This is horrific news if you are an Irish fan" - Robert Cooper, Bama Hammer</b></span><br />
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Eric Blackerbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04207353262505371952noreply@blogger.com0