By Michael Hicks Wildcats Record: 4-0, (0-0) LIVE TV: CBS Sports (Vern Lundquist, play-by-play; Gary Danielson, color analyst; Tracy Wolfson, sidelines) Offense: Kentucky is stacked at tailback and they will run the ball. With Derrick Locke averaging 5.8 yards a carry and Alfonso Smith averaging 6.3. Tony Dixon, who leads the team in scoring is [...]
Archive | September, 2008
Running game fuels Tide’s passing
While Auburn’s newfangled spread offense stinks and Florida’s high octane Tim Tebow sputtered Saturday, the Alabama offense is leading the conference and among the best in the nation. Yes. Alabama is leading the conference in scoring offense and rushing offense. When was the last time we could say that? The Tide is fourth in total [...]
Off topic: The media’s future
I’ve spent a great deal of time over the last few years writing about media issues and how newspapers are dealing with the advent of the Internet. I’ve been less bearish on newspapers than most other commentators; however, the 2008 downturn in advertising has savaged the newspaper business. I remain a contrarian. I’m not yet [...]
Alabama begins practice for Kentucky
(via UA) TUSCALOOSA — The University of Alabama football team began preparations for Saturday’s game with Kentucky on Monday afternoon with a two-hour practice in helmets and shoulders pads at the Thomas-Drew Practice Facility. Alabama head coach Nick Saban talked about another challenging Southeastern Conference game on Saturday against another undefeated team that ranks first [...]
Saban not drinking the Kool-Aid
Is it too much, too soon? Is Alabama this good? Is everybody else that … well, bad isn’t the word, but is everybody else that … equal? Powered by Mochila
State title most coveted for this Tide fan
By Hunter Ford At least for this Alabama fan, a state championship this season would mean more than any other title the Tide could earn. Alabama has leaped in the polls after mauling Clemson to begin the year and, last Saturday, blacking the eyes of the dark-shirted Georgia Bulldogs. Don’t get me wrong, I’m as [...]
SEC’s new powerhouse
AP: For now, the Tide looks like the SEC’s new powerhouse after a game-changing weekend in which both Georgia and Florida lost at home. Powered by Mochila
Auburn fans pull the covers over their eyes
By Intheknow72 Right now, if you’re an Aubie, this can’t be happening. Every week, your sure-fire, fast-paced, high-octane offense is struggling just to crank. Your super stud QB has been replaced by a division I-AA middle-of-the-pack hack. Your super stud QB gets in the game and does nothing. There is racial dissension on the team [...]
Sooners #1, Tide #2
Alabama soars in new AP Poll and nabbed 21 first place votes. (Alabama is #4 in the USA Today Coaches poll. The Tide snagged two first place votes.) Powered by Mochila
Recap: Alabama blasts Georgia
Dothan Eagle: But you’d have to be alone in the dark to think Alabama did not dominate for most of Saturday night. Powered by Mochila
Tide now 5-7 when Gameday present
Dothan Eagle: College Gameday broadcast from Athens before the game. The show, featuring Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso and Desmond Howard, has broadcast at 12 Alabama games. The Crimson Tide is now 5-7 after upsetting the Bulldogs Saturday night. Powered by Mochila
Video: Tide embarrassed Dawgs in their own house
The AP’s video review of Alabama’s 41-30 victory over the Georgia Bulldogs. There’s a nice closeup of Julio Jones’ touchdown reception. Enjoy. Powered by Mochila
AP: Tide poised for surge in polls
AP: Alabama (5-0, 2-0) is poised to move up at least three or four spots when the new poll comes out Sunday, and the Tide certainly looked as impressive as anyone all year in winning decisively on the road against a team that started the season at the top of the heap. Powered by Mochila
Tide-UGA notes & Stats
From UA: ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE (5-0, 2-0 SEC) vs. GEORGIA BULLDOGS (4-1, 1-1 SEC) POST-GAME NOTES – ALABAMA 41, GEORGIA 30 Saturday, September 27, 2008 Sanford Stadium (92,746) – Athens, Ga. WILSON BREAKS ALABAMA CAREER PASSING YARDS MARK Senior quarterback John Parker Wilson broke the Alabama record for career passing yards in the 41-30 win [...]
Tide has look of national title contender
AP: The first half was a stunner. John Parker Wilson threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Julio Jones. Mark Ingram, Glenn Cofee and Roy Upchurch ran for scores. The Alabama defense stifled the penalty plagued Bulldogs. Powered by Mochila
No Offense: AU beats UT
Auburn’s offense is pathetic, but Tennessee just might be worse. At SEC Media Days, I voted the Volunteers fourth in the SEC East. That might be too high at this rate. Kentucky might surpass the Vols this season—only time will tell. However, the odds of Phil Fulmer coaching the Vols next season seem to get [...]
Where will Bowden coach next year?
AP: It marks the seventh time in Bowden’s 10 seasons at Clemson that a ranked Tiger team has lost at home to an unranked opponent. Does this loss mean the end for Tommy Bowden and Clemson? Bowden isn’t a bad coach, but he has problems living up to expectations. The loss also makes the Tide’s [...]
Think Arkansas misses Nutt?
Think the Arkansas faithful miss Houston Nutt right now? Probably not. They’ve got a fine coach in Bobby Petrino, but Houston Nutt is a very good coach who knows how to motivate his team. It also helped that he faced a Florida team that doesn’t know how to play defense. I picked Georgia to win [...]
Video Preview: Tide vs. Bulldogs
We’ve posted a few previews of this week’s game, but haven’t showcased any video—until now. Here’s a video preview of the game including an interview with Mark Richt talking about the Bulldogs’ concern about facing a Tide defense after the struggles his team faced against South Carolina’s defense. The AP also talks about the “baby” [...]
Line play could determine Tide-Bulldogs game
Eighth-ranked Alabama and No. 3 Georgia provide each other with the opportunity for even more national credibility in Saturday’s 6:45 p.m. showdown at Sanford Stadium. Alabama has the SEC’s top rushing offense (236.8 ypg). Georgia has the league’s stingiest defense on the ground (45.8). Powered by Mochila
SHOCKER: Oregon St. upsets USC
The best thing about Thursday night football wasn’t Erin Andrews tonight as the Oregon State Beavers pulled off an exciting win over the top ranked USC Trojans. I’m probably in the minority on this, but I loved seeing the fans storm the field. I know the SEC fines schools for that, but seeing the fans [...]
Preview: Jones, Green ready for SEC showdown
The AP looks at the impact A.J. Green and Julio Jones are having on Georgia and Alabama. Here’s the complete AP story. Powered by Mochila
Preview: Alabama vs. Georgia
By Michael Hicks The marquee matchup this weekend will be in Athens, Georgia Saturday night when the third ranked Georgia Bulldogs host the eighth ranked Crimson Tide. Both teams come in undefeated with SEC and national title championships aspirations on the line. Alabama is coming into the game on the rise after an impressive 49-14 [...]
Power and momentum shifting toward Alabama
With every mediocre performance, win or loss, Auburn University is slowly shutting the door on the public’s perception that its football program is a nationally competitive BCS performer. On the other side of the State, the University of Alabama – under the guidance of Nick Saban – is winning hearts and gaining the nation’s respect [...]
Gottfried asks for more cancer funding
Mark Gottfried went to Washington with others involved in the Coaches vs. Cancer appeal for more funding to fight the disease. Here’s the story on the event. Powered by Mochila
Croyle likely out until Oct. 19
Fans who want to see Brodie Croyle play in the NFL likely face a longer wait according to this AP story. (See entire story below). Powered by Mochila
The economic policy of Les Miles
Les Miles may not be such a moron after all. Miles found a way to win at Auburn. And Miles has a rather interesting understanding of economic policy. This quote from Les Miles comes to you from the Jackson Clarion-Ledger (H/T Jay G. Tate’s Auburn blog). And I’m not going to make fun of that [...]
What does Nick Saban think about Georgia?
This week’s game against Georgia is another big test for the Crimson Tide. Nick Saban explained why it is going to be a difficult assignment to play the Bulldogs. “They are always very well coached,” Saban said. “You are not going to find them out of position very much. They are sound and solid in [...]
Lovable losers no longer ‘Dore’ mats
By Hunter Ford After such a long anxious summer it’s hard to believe the football season is now a third of the way finished for most teams. Alabama has been extremely impressive out of the gate, going 4-0 with impressive beat downs of Clemson and Arkansas sandwiching wins against Tulane and Western Kentucky. Alabama has [...]
Andre Smith named SEC lineman of the week
Alabama’s Andre Smith was named the SEC’s offensive lineman of the week by the conference. Here’s the info on this week’s SEC players of the week. Notice that Alabama and Georgia have a few players included in this week’s listing of top performances. SEC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK CHARLES SCOTT Running Back LSU 5-11 [...]
Hoover braces for baseball tournament without Bama
As the Southeastern Conference baseball tournament begins, Hoover businesses are getting ready to feel, well, not much of anything. Since [...]