Alabama hires former OC as graduate assistant
The Rap Sheet provided this link to a post at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, which reported former University of Virginia offensive coordinator Mike Groh would take a graduate assistant job in Tuscaloosa. According to the Times-Dispatch, “Alabama has yet to announce Groh’s hiring, but I’m told he’s technically a graduate assistant at the Southeastern Conference school, though his responsibilities figure to be greater than those of a typical G.A. Groh will receive his salary from U.Va. this year, so he can afford to work for low wages in Tuscaloosa.”

I laughed

SabanRedArmy
Image from SportsByBrooks.com

Workers of the world, unite! Roll Tide! Missing Alabama FB Games Will Not Be Tolerated

Alabama’s QB race
Alabama or LSU can win the SEC West, but it will depend on which team develops the best quarterback in 2009, according to one Rivals expert. According to David Fox, “The quarterback competition I will follow closely is the one at Alabama. Coach Nick Saban has said he won’t name a replacement for John Parker Wilson before the end of spring. I imagine the comments from and about quarterbacks Greg McElroy and Star Jackson will be guarded, if there are any at all. This will be a critical position battle on a team that could challenge Florida in the SEC. Replacing starters on the offensive line and the quarterback will determine whether Alabama will be able to reach the same heights the Tide reached a year ago.” You can read more about the SEC’s quarterback situation heading into spring at Rivals.com.

While talking about the QB race, it is a good time to point out a quote from Nick Saban on the matter. Last week Saban met with the media and provided this helpful guidance on Alabama’s timetable for finding a new starting quarterback, from al.com: “I don’t have a timetable,” Saban said. “I know you guys (in the media) are always looking for results, and who’s starting where and when you’re going to name a starter. That doesn’t mean anything to me. It’s helping every player play to his capacity, being the best they can be and then who has the best opportunity to help our team be successful in what they do. I don’t think you can put a timetable on how long it takes for that to happen.”

Davis Cup ends in Birmingham with US victory
Read the Reuters report on the US Davis Cup tennis victory embedded below:

March 31 deadline looms for Colonial Bank
Auburn’s most powerful trustee could see his bank forced into a sale if Colonial Bank doesn’t improve its capital position by March 31. According to reports, the Alabama State Banking Department and the FDIC entered into a memo of understanding with the Montgomery based bank.

Colonial (ticker: CNB) stock has collapsed over the last year; it closed Friday at 29 cents per share. The company has a market capitalization of $58.71 million.

What has Bobby Lowder’s corporate response been to the disaster? People are just picking on us! Remember last year when Colonial said the short sellers were picking on the bank? When the bank was the subject of a negative column at TampaBay.com, the company said the mean newspaper was picking on the bank. I’m sure now the state banking regulators and the FDIC are just picking on Bobby Lowder too.

Will Auburn fans cheer or weep if Lowder falls?