Lazy coaches of the world unite. You have nothing to lose because you don’t work… The AP moved a story tonight, which exposes the real reason for the “Saban Rule.†We’ve speculated for weeks the rule was all about punishing hard work. Guess what? Someone confirmed it. Minnesota recruiting coordinator Dan Berezowitz said the so-called [...]
Archive | May, 2008
SEC arrests
I was just about to post about a UF player’s arrest on credit card fraud charges, and then the Rap Sheet details an Alabama player’s arrest. According to Rapoport, A.J. Walker, a walk-on receiver, was arrested for public intoxication. This charge is typical for many college students, who enjoy the “fun” of campus life a [...]
Gerald West gaining popularity
Arkansas is looking to raid the state of Alabama for a corner. According to Wholehogsports.com, Arkansas is working to land Davidson’s Gerald West. West has scholarship offers from Auburn, Alabama, Miss. State and Florida State. West provides great speed at the corner position. His high school coach Fred Riley told WholehogSports that West is the [...]
Friday SEC Notebook
By Capstone Report Richard Hendrix looks to be a late first round or early second round NBA draft pick, according to consensus mock drafts from NBA experts. Hendrix is listed as the 40th overall pick by CollegeHoops.net, NBAdraft.net, and the 29th pick (a late first round pick) by draftexpress.com. Hendrix was not listed on the [...]
Rolando McClain injured in accident
The Rap Sheet reported this morning that Alabama’s Rolando McClain was injured in a motorcycle accident in Decatur. Reportedly, McClain escaped major injury. Advertisement: Story continues below How long until fans ask we ban players from riding motorcycles? In truth, that wouldn’t be such a bad idea. While McClain was wearing a helmet, and escaped [...]
Marshall visits the Capstone Report
By CapstoneReport.com‘s clever readers We’ve been truly honored over the last week with many Auburn celebrities visiting our site. We were particularly honored by a visit last night from Phillip Marshall. We’ve culled the best of “his†posts for your reading pleasure. Notice how Phillip Marshall never misses a chance to pitch his book, or [...]
Caldwell on Rimington Trophy list
By Capstone Report Alabama’s senior center Antoine Caldwell is on the 2008 Rimington Trophy Watch List. The Rimington Trophy is an annual award given out to the nation’s best center. Caldwell joins four other SEC players on the Spring Watch List. Caldwell, a graduate of Lee High School in Montgomery, is a three-year starter for [...]
The girls of A-Day
The doldrums are upon us. So, why not take a look at some photographs of girls at Alabama’s 2008 A-Day in April. These photographs were taken by our photographers at the event, and many of our readers who were kind enough to share. Oh, before I forget. You can also find some action shots from [...]
UAB dodges Finebaum
UAB’s disgraceful showing on the APR released Tuesday was followed up by a disgraceful performance Wednesday as UAB’s athletic director declined an invitation to appear on the Paul Finebaum Radio Network. With Pat Smith and Ryan Haney filling in for a tardy Finebaum, the duo announced the show had invited UAB on to discuss the [...]
Wed. SEC Notebook
MSU loses 9 players The Mississippi State Bulldogs have lost nine players including the team’s best offensive linemen. Two players were dismissed from the team when they fired guns on campus in March; on Tuesday Michael Brown and Quinton Wesley were given suspended sentences. Three others players still face grand jury indictment, the AP quoted [...]
UA teams continued upward trend in APR
A dozen teams earned Academic Progress Rate scores equal or above national average; all teams eclipse 925 cutoff. (FROM UA)TUSCALOOSA—A dozen of The University of Alabama’s varsity athletic teams earned a multiyear Academic Progress Rate (APR) score higher than the national average announced by the NCAA Tuesday, including two squads (women’s cross country and rowing) [...]
Petrino doesn’t like ‘Saban Rule’
Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino doesn’t like the “Saban Rule†banning the head coach from visiting schools during the spring evaluation period. If you are keeping score, that makes Saban, Les Miles, Urban Meyer and Petrino who have publically repudiated the rule. Houston Nutt is quoted in the same story talking about the rule. He said [...]
Is horse racing noble or barbaric?
By Hunter Ford It’s a story made for movies: An underdog filly defies the odds and places second in the Kentucky Derby. Then tragedy strikes as swiftly as the race itself. The filly goes down with two broken ankles on its front legs. It is euthanized on the track. The story of the gallant horse, [...]
Marshall’s books raise ethical questions
Phillip Marshall’s bias toward Tommy Tuberville and Auburn has been discussed consistently over the last year. But one element I haven’t seen covered is Marshall’s pecuniary interest in Auburn’s success—his books. Marshall uses his al.com blog to not only shill for Tommy Tuberville, but hawk his merchandise. He ends many blog posts with this plea: [...]
Monday SEC notebook
Beat writer engaged The Alabama beat writer for the state’s largest newspaper, Ian R. Rapoport, announced his engagement. Knowing the warm relationship between Rapoport and Nick Saban, I’m sure the coach will have some helpful advice at his next press conference. Gators iPhone theme Florida Gator fans have their own theme for the wildly popular [...]
The NCAA conspiracy
The NCAA is part of a vast Republican conspiracy to control the United States. At least according to a United States Senate candidate in Alabama; Mark Townsend is running as a Democrat here, and has declared war on the NCAA. According to Townsend’s website, he has filed suit against the NCAA—and is seeking a review [...]
Tuberville predicts teleconference ban
Quick links for a Sunday: Auburn was told about Nick Saban’s teleconferencing quickly. What was Tuberville’s reaction? He predicted an NCAA ban. Tuberville’s response: “It sounds like a great idea.” “Of course, if it works, I’m sure everybody will be doing it,” Tuberville said. “But if they do, you know what will happen the NCAA [...]
AJ McCarron commits to Tide
BREAKING: TUBERVILLE PULLS MCCARRON SCHOLARSHIP OFFER…DETAILS TO FOLLOW…(after getting a couple of emails, this little note was intended sarcastically; apologies for not making that clear) AJ McCarron committed to Alabama Saturday evening. McCarron was wanted by Miami, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Auburn, West Virginia, Florida State, Purdue (hey, it is an engineering school, they don’t care [...]
REVEALED: UT’s recruiting problem
Tennessee’s Phil Fulmer is known for skulduggery. After all, when he couldn’t land players, the first thing that crossed his mind was the other guys had to be cheating. (Often he was right, but that’s beside the point.) Now Fulmer can’t land recruits because he tells players one thing, and when he gets them on [...]
Stars Matter
Stars Matter, or a discourse on the efficacy of recruiting rankings related to winning percentage One of our regular Auburn readers asked a couple of good questions, and it was on a topic I’ve wanted to write about. Here goes: By the way, do you think that Bammer will have another top 5 class next [...]
Saban, Zook push recruiting boundaries
While Tommy Tuberville hunts, other coaches are busy recruiting. Nick Saban is chatting via web cam, and Ron Zook is on the road at coaching clinics. So far, the NCAA sees the web cam conversations as good thing—or at least it meets the spirit of the rule change. The NCAA was quoted in the Washington [...]
LSU kicks QB off team
Les Miles finally had enough of Ryan Perrilloux, and kicked the quarterback off the LSU Tigers, the AP reported. That is big news for the SEC West. While quarterback play is critical to winning championships, my first reaction is to retain LSU as the favorite to win the division; however, it improves most teams chances [...]
Some things to ponder
By Shane from Centerpoint Here we are, trapped in that sports void that comes around this time each year. After the recruiting season is over and the last spring game played, there is nothing left but gridiron predictions for the next season. During the next one hundred and some-odd days football fanatics can do nothing [...]
Gee testing NBA draft
Ian Rapoport breaks the news that yet another Alabama basketball player is testing the NBA draft waters. Is this rats off a sinking ship? Is it another vote of no confidence in the regime of Mark Gottfried? Or is this simply the right thing for a player to learn about his draft status? Advertisement: Story [...]
Attn:SMQ & MGoBlog, subtract another
The wailing and gnashing of teeth over Alabama’s over-signing continues to be what we expected it to be, premature nonsense. The Rap Sheet confirmed this morning that Alabama reserve tackle Charles Hoke has been placed on medical scholarship due to a recurring shoulder injury. Hoke plans to pursue his studies full-time now, but is disappointed [...]
Hurt reports APR looking good
Cecil Hurt wrote this morning that Alabama’s Academic Progress Rate looks good for all athletic programs at UA. That is a very good thing as some schools including a couple of BCS conference schools lost scholarships (Arizona lost four scholarships, and Washington State will lose seven, Hurt pointed out.) Those are stiff penalties, but Hurt [...]
Hey NFL, I’ll risk a concussion if you’ll give me a shot
Would someone reading this please help me? I’ve got a real problem on my hands and I’m out of answers. [...]