The AP’s Ralph Russo reports that Alabama football hopes to turn things around with new head coach Nick Saban, who led LSU to a national title in 2003. Russo says to expect better results in the 2007 campaign because the team should be better coached.
Archive | August, 2007
Saban: football’s version of John Edwards?
Game week is here, and the national media attention increases. There have been several articles about Alabama and Nick Saban appearing in newspapers and sports publications around the country. A couple of comments about this story (SEE STORY BELOW). First, it is interesting to see how outsiders are writing about Alabama. There’s some very vivid [...]
Miami: At LSU, Miles ahead of Saban
Baton Rouge is fewer than four years removed from Louisiana State’s 2003 national championship. It was Nick Saban who coached the Tigers back to national prominence. But sit down for a bowl of gumbo inside Walk-On’s Bistreaux Bar & Grill and you won’t find one picture of Saban hanging among the walls of LSU memorabilia. [...]
Football salaries vs. Governor salaries
What do Mack Brown, Jim Tressel, Joe Paterno, Bobby Bowden and Steve Spurrier all have in common? They make less than Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz…. You can read a state-by-state list of football coaches salaries compared with the state’s chief executive salary in this article from the Kansas City Star (Flash required):
Football heroes should exhibit model behavior
Hunter Ford’s latest column from The Western Star via email. Enjoy. If you want to be a football hero you need to be aware that there’s more to it than punt, pass and kick. It doesn’t matter if you are playing at the middle school, high school, college or pro level. When you put on [...]
We’ve got SEC Week 1 previews
Sports Network Previews of this week’s important (or semi-important) SEC games for your reading pleasure (flash required to read): #15 Tennessee visits #12 California: LSU hosts Miss. State: SEC vs. Big 12: Troy visits Arkansas: Florida begins title defense: Nobody cares:
Injury fears justified
Just how serious is the broken ankle injury to Alabama’s Brian Motley for Alabama’s defense this season? It could be devastating, according to one coach I spoke to. This coach (not associated with UA) has run the 4-3 defense, but attempted to explain the philosophy behind the 3-4 to me. After my eyes glazed over, [...]
Wednesday Odds & Ends
Kirk McNair reminds everyone why Alabama fans are optimistic about John Parker Wilson with this feature story on the Tide quaterback. This is the highlight from the story for all the Wilsond doubters: Wilson heads up an offense that is expected to be very potent in 2007, in great part because of the numbers the [...]
This Week In College Football History
THIS WEEK IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL HISTORY – AUG. 26-SEPT. 3 DALLAS—As part of an on-going series throughout the fall, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame posts in advance This Week in College Football History, which takes a look back at some of college football’s landmark moments over the last 139 years. During [...]
NCAA, Congress angry at Saban?
The hypocrites, also known as the NCAA, and members of the U.S. Congress, otherwise known as crooks and politicians, have criticized Nick Saban’s $4 million salary. The U.S. House of Representative’s Ways & Means Committee has pledged hearings next month on the possibility of removing the tax exemption for college athletics. It looks like Congress [...]
Entertaining first simulcast
Paul Finebaum is the king of all media—at least in Alabama. You can read him in the newspaper, listen to him on the radio, watch him on television news and now view his radio show via the Internet. Kind of. There were numerous kinks in the first day’s simulcast on the Internet. The online video [...]
Problems remain in Tuscaloosa
With football season upon us you would think we could enjoy the important things, like game week talk and parties. Unfortunately, game week kicks off with a Kevin Scarbinsky hit piece in the Sunday Birmingham News. What concerns me is not the innuendo passed as news regarding Josh Chapman’s status at UA. The concern from [...]
Croyle loses battle for starting QB job
After a long preseason battle, Brodie Croyle lost his bid to start at QB for the Kansas City Chiefs. Croyle threw three interceptions during the preseason, and this propensity to turn the ball over more than anything else probably cost him the job. KC coach Herm Edwards said Damon Huard provides stability, which is something [...]
Saban lands another from Mobile
BamaOnline.com is reporting another verbal pledge for Nick Saban. Mark Barron (6’2″ 205 lbs.) of St. Paul’s committed on August 24, according to the Rivals site. Alabama now has 17 verbal commitments. A very strong pace set by Saban. He’s also showing strong in Mobile this season. Imagine that!
Crimson & White Roundtable
The weekly installment of the Crimson & White Roundtable is hosted this week by one of the best bloggers around, the Tide Druid. This week’s questions: 1. Other than Quarterback, what position(s) does Alabama need to stay healthy this year in order to compete in 2007? What position would still thrive if we had to [...]
Finebaum isn’t crippling the program
If I read one more whine from Alabama fans about how Paul Finebaum is hurting the program I’m going to jump out a window. OK, so my window is on the first floor. I’ll still do it. Seriously, Finebaum talking about Castille’s arrest and the other football players arrested during the Summer isn’t hurting the [...]
Prediction: Saban will defeat LSU Nov. 3
The Sports Network believes Nick Saban will get the best of LSU this season. It is a strong prediction of the faith in Saban’s ability as a coach. But could it really happen? Here’s what the Sports Network believes: 1. While last season’s defense finished 8th in the SEC, Saban and Kevin Steele will “shape [...]
Injury tilts QB battle toward Croyle
Brodie Croyle has been slightly leading in the QB battle in Kansas City, but an injury to Damon Huard could settle the matter, according to the Kansas City Star. You can read the entire story below. Below that is a Q&A with Croyle following Tuesday’s (Aug. 21) practice. Q&A with BRODIE CROYLE – 8/21 via [...]
Lessons from Castille’s arrest
Nick Saban addressed the Simeon Castille arrest Tuesday evening in much the same way Saban addresses every issue: He said it would be handled internally and fans must understand the difference between punishment and correction. Saban also took the time to address problems on the Strip. Saban promised fans Castille would face some internal consequences [...]
Being a cop isn’t easy
Being a cop isn’t easy. It is a tough job working around the worst element of society. A job where a gun is necessary equipment, and so is a bulletproof vest. It is easy to assume every police officer is as rude as the one who pulled you over to write a ticket and while [...]
SEC West Preview 2007
Here are a few Sports Network Previews of the 2007 SEC West teams (we’ve already discussed the Alabama preview.) I’ll add my thoughts following each preview. You need Flash installed to read the previews. I’ll add the SEC East teams early this week for your reading pleasure. Auburn preview thoughts: 
Auburn’s biggest question on offense [...]
2007 Alabama Football Preview
Here’s the 2007 football preview by experts from The Sports Network. To read it, you’ll need flash installed, and it is several pages so just click the arrow buttons to move forward or backward. I’ll post my thoughts on the preview below: First, it recaps the 2006 campaign, but glosses over Mike Shula’s dumb-ass coaching [...]
C&W Roundtable at Roll Bama Roll
This week’s Crimson & White Roundtable has made it back to Roll Bama Roll. Unfortunately, my schedule kept me from participating this week; however, I’d say that probably made it better! This week the conversation is about: Coach Saban has stated that he likes to see position battles at every position, and there are several [...]
This may come as a shock…
…or maybe not? But the offensive line is doing very well! And get this, they are dominating! The Dothan Eagle tells us, John Parker Wilson is mystified, and not because Alabama’s offensive line is drawing praise lately. The Crimson Tide quarterback can’t understand why anybody would be surprised at such a notion. Did Wilson watch [...]
For you fantasy football fans
For the fantasy football fans here is a breakdown on NFL quaterbacks and a list of the bye weeks. Here is another fantasy football article. This one includes an analysis on the best bargains available. One quick thought on Alabama football. I think our defense will be all right against the pass—well, as all right [...]
Recruiting victory dance
I’m enjoying the Alabama recruiting success. But we must be careful not to once again bask in irrational exuberance. Unfortunately, even I’ve been guilty of doing it in regards to the 2008 class. Yes, I expect a Top 5 class. Yes, I’d rather have verbal commitments than not have them, but we must keep things [...]
Lottery hypocrisy; Croyle update
It is Monday. And it is hard to get into the posting mood. However, here are a couple of items this morning. First a quick look at Saban and the lottery followed by a quick update on Croyle and the Chiefs. Last week Nick Saban spoke in favor of a lottery. There was chatter about [...]
There’s something about Brodie…
Brodie Croyle is generating lots of buzz as he tries to lead the Kansas City Chiefs. Croyle has potential. Just watch the Florida game; however, he was hampered by a pathetic offensive line at Alabama. Of course, Kansas City has similar line problems this season. I hope the Chiefs will be able to cobble together [...]
Nick Saban really irritates me
Well Nick Saban has finally pissed me off—so like everyone else in the media I’m now going to vent. Just who does he think he is anyway? Usually during the summer I don’t have to watch recruiting—I can ignore it. But now, everyday I have to keep up with it. Saban makes me think about [...]
Auburn’s lunatic fringe displays its hypocrisy
The Never To Yield Foundation is right—all Alabama fans are rude and evil. We are sinners. It is too bad [...]