Editor’s note: If you don’t like bad economic news, skip this post. Given the present economic crisis, the situation for educational institutions in the state are as uncertain as the rest of the economy. This morning, the Birmingham News reported the education budget could end up short five percent (about $318 million.) Care to guess [...]
Archive | October, 2008
New type of team has Saban smiling
By Michael Hicks After Alabama 17, Kentucky 14 Nick Saban took a deep breath and just for a moment let out a smil—as his team is 6 and 0 halfway through the season. “You can say what you want about our team,†Saban said “But I’ll betcha there weren’t very many people in this room [...]
College Sports Minute: Oct. 6 edition
Why? Because I like. In this edition: The College Sports Minute looks at the games from week six in college football including Missouri and Nebraska and previews a new sports movie. Powered by Mochila
Greenwood named SEC D-lineman of the week
Here’s the press release: BIRMINGHAM — University of Alabama senior defensive end Bobby Greenwood has been named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Lineman of the Week, the league office announced Monday morning. Greenwood had three total tackles, including a sack, with a pass deflection and a quarterback pressure in Alabama ’s 17-14 win over Kentucky on [...]
‘We’re running out of players’
By Shane from Centerpoint Tommy Tuberville told the truth. As he sat before the Birmingham News writers and the rest of the media after Saturday night’s disaster, at the hands of the Vanderbilt Commodores, Tuberville made the weakest statement of his career. “We’re running out of players,†Tuberville said. Tubby sounded like Custer on the [...]
Tuberville defends Franklin
Tommy Tuberville’s promise of big changes to the Auburn offense apparently didn’t materialize on Sunday. In front of the press, Tuberville took up for his offensive coordinator. Here’s the AP version of what’s going on down on the Plains. Powered by Mochila
Thoughts on the win and what is ahead
By Finebammer Guest Columnist Editor’s note: He sent this early today, but I was having some email issues and I’m just now getting it posted. We won. No major injuries. (to my knowledge) Alabama 17, Kentucky 14. That’s about all the good that can be gleaned from Saturday’s win in Tuscaloosa. Coach Saban said it [...]
Tide holds at #2
Alabama remains at #2 in the AP Poll and #4 in the coaches poll. Here’s the AP summary of this week’s poll including how Ball State is #25. Powered by Mochila
Recap: Tide battles penalties
Dothan Eagle: The Tide was penalized six times for 60 yards in the first 30 minutes and finished with 10 penalties for 92 yards, both season-highs. Here’s the whole story, followed by some game notes and best & worst: Powered by Mochila Powered by Mochila
Recap: Vandy stuns Auburn
Opelika-Auburn News: Auburn ran the ball just 15 times in the second half, and threw it 16 times. Neither worked, as Auburn was only able to get three first downs the entire second half. Here’s the complete story: Powered by Mochila
Confusion reigns on the Plains
The meltdown on the Plains simmering since Week 1 has reached critical mass. What’s going on down there? Even the players don’t know. Check out this quote from The Hottest Auburn Blog on the Internet: OK. Chief thing is that Kodi Burns said the offense is “confused” on the field and in general. By that, [...]
How’s that spread working out for you?
Vanderbilt 14 Auburn 13 AP: Mackenzi Adams came off the bench and threw for 153 yards and two touchdowns, and No. 19 Vanderbilt beat 13th-ranked Auburn 14-13 Saturday night to improve to 5-0 for the first time since 1943. (Updated) Story below. Powered by Mochila
Coffee leads Tide to win
UPDATED AP: Glen Coffee rushed for 218 yards, Leigh Tiffin kicked a 24-yard field goal with 2:12 left and No. 2 Alabama held on for a 17-14 win over Kentucky on Saturday. Here’s the complete (updated) AP report. Powered by Mochila
Watch Tide-Wildcats on the web
NBC does great things with Sunday Night Football on the web. ESPN’s 360 is a nice way to track games. Now CBS will webcast this weekend’s SEC football game. Here are the details from the press release: CBS to Webcast Alabama-Kentucky Game Live TUSCALOOSA – The University of Alabama and Kentucky will meet on CBS [...]
Profile of Tide’s Upchurch
UPCHURCH: “It is a long road, but it kind of makes you stronger and makes you hungry,†said Upchurch, who admits he questioned if the effort to rehab those injuries was worth it. “… You just have to motivate yourself to keep going and keep pushing yourself further and further every time.†Powered by Mochila
J.P. Wilson wins AT&T Player of Week honors
I guess Alabama fans like to text. Here’s the press release. DALLAS—University of Alabama senior quarterback John Parker Wilson has been named the AT&T All-America Player of the Week, the only major college football award chosen exclusively by fans. Wilson received more than 16,000 votes this week. Wilson claimed the honor after the Crimson Tide’s [...]
Saban: Special teams showing improvement
“Well I have actually seen some improvement,†Alabama head coach Nick Saban said. “We have actually made some changes, in terms of how we went about what we did. We’ve tried to raise the standard of awareness that the players have. Most of things that have gone wrong are very easily correctable and in most [...]
Liquidity crisis for colleges?
UPDATE: Attached an AP story on the credit crisis to the bottom of the post. The credit crunch has the nations colleges and universities worried Wachovia almost collapsed due to a bank run it was reported today by the Charlotte Observer. This sparked a problem for higher education. Wachovia as trustee for the Commonfund, an [...]
Special teams needs to be more ‘special’ for Tide
By Michael Hicks Nick Saban has called his special teams unit “awful†at times. It started in the Clemson game when C.J. Spiller took a kick-off to the house. It continued in Athens with Prince Miller’s 92-yard touchdown return, and a blocked punt by Zach Renner. “The special team errors were huge in terms of [...]
Alabama’s special teams not playing so special
Dothan Eagle: A special start to the season for Alabama could be threatened if lackluster special teams play continues. Here’s the entire story: Powered by Mochila
Target on their back
By Shane from Centerpoint Now that the Crimson Tide has laid siege to Athens and totally destroyed the 3rd ranked Georgia Bulldogs a new challenge begins to surface, one totally unfamiliar to the recent Alabama football program. Instead of progressing along under the radar, the Tide now has to perform with a huge target on [...]
Wildcats defense gets first SEC Test
By Michael Hicks Rich Brooks knows this weekend’s game against Alabama is a chance to introduce his defense to the rest of the nation. Kentucky (4-0) is first nationally in scoring defense, allowing 5.5 points per game and is atop the conference in both sacks (two) and first downs allowed (45). The Wildcats have yet [...]
Off topic: Alabama auto industry hurting?
One of the best things about Alabama’s development over the last decade was the surge in automotive plants located in the state. Alabama could boast of landing Mercedes, Honda, Hyundai and a Toyota engine plant. Alabama’s automotive manufacturers were responsible for 48,457 jobs in 2007. That was before the economic situation took a strong trend [...]
Tide near co-favorites for BCS title
Las Vegas Sun: Alabama figures to take a position as almost a co-favorite with the Sooners at odds of 4-1 or so… Updated odds on USC; Florida now 20-1; Georgia now 20-1; LSU 10-1. Here’s the entire story: Powered by Mochila
Off topic: Pet blessings
I thought Alabama fans might consider reading this article as a repentence for all the abuse our favorite team has handed out to Tiger’s, Hawg’s and Dawg’s so far. We’ve got some more Tigers and Bulldogs to whip this year. Perhaps South Carolina fans should take a hard look, seeing as their mascot and nickname [...]
Texting for John Parker Wilson
John Parker Wilson is involved in a competition this week thanks to his superb performance against Georgia. If you like to text (or have an unlimited texting plan) you can vote for him. Here are the details that AT&T was kind enough to send our way. Each week, four finalists are chosen by ESPN based [...]
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. [...]