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Touchdown Alabama Magazine P.O. Box 3251 Tuscaloosa, Al 35403

September 2, 2010 | Volume 3, Issue 1

In This Issue 8

President/Publisher

Pregame Preview

Staff

Editor-in-Chief

Bennie Bice Mike Lacy

Managing Editor Copyeditor

Exclusive: Saban Movie

Opposing Team

Exclusive: Alabama Starts On Top

Q & A: David Casteal

Player Profile: Dont'a Hightower

Rosters

SEC News

Public Relations

Recruiting

National Sales Director

Tide Traditions

Becca Asks

True Freshmen with a Chance to Play

My First Game

Larry's Lowdown

Pro Connections

Showing Pride in the Tide

Photography

Jessica Temple Micah Phillips BDL Matt Gaston Tim Bailey Rivals.com Flashlight Media Group

Creative Director Graphic Design Chief Information Officer Website Designer Customer Relations

Jenifer McCormick Cassandra Johnson Tramayne Wright Brian LaShomb Carey Landon Eric Hudson Herb Neu George W. Garmon

Account Executives

Rebecca Ashley Kimberly Carter Mike Long

Writers

Jessica Brown Larry Burton Troy Farsoun Jennifer Gorham Mike Parker Coe Robbins Donald Staffo Chris Tubbs Thomas Watts

Reporters

Johnathan McMath T.J. Paysinger

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Letter from the Editors: Welcome back! We at Touchdown Alabama are ready for another great year of Crimson Tide football! 2009 was a remarkable year for Alabama, and we are looking for another exciting season. It was a great year for the magazine as well. If you read TDA last season, you may notice that we have expanded to 48 pages for 2010. We are bigger and better, with more weekly features, more exclusive content and more great photos of the people and places that make the Tide the best in the nation, and we are more interactive than ever before. We have also expanded our distribution. Look for us this fall in stores throughout Alabama on Thursdays before each home

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MISSION STATEMENT

Dont’a Hightower

Sophomore LB / 6-4/260 / Lewisburg,Tenn

Dont'a Hightower was a standout in the 2008 freshman class, but was given a medical redshirt last year following a knee injury in the fourth game. Hightower has made 16 starts at will linebacker and has played in 18 games. He has 80 career tackles. He was named to the 2010 preliminary Lombardi Award Watch List, and has already earned first-team Freshman All-America honors by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), a second-team spot on Freshman All-American by Sporting News and Freshman All-SEC recognition by Southeastern Conference coaches, all in 2008. He added the Mal Moore Leadership Award to his collection following spring practice this year. For more on Hightower, see our article on page 19. Photography by BDL

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| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA September 2, 2010

Pregame Preview Jennifer Gorham

Fresh Faces, New Places for the Spartans The Crimson Tideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s season opener against the Spartans will be electrifying, as a flood of crimson fills the renovated Bryant-Denny Stadium. Football in the South has an atmosphere that can be intimidating, especially to out-ofconference teams, but the Spartans have been preparing for the season opener against the reigning national champions. San Jose State University held a scrimmage game, Sparta-Q, on August 20, which resulted in the team running 86 plays, according to San Jose State Athletics. Brandon Rutley dominated the field with 10 carries for 48 yards. He scored twice and opened with an 89-yard kickoff return and a 3-yard touchdown rush. After the scrimmage game the Spartans returned to one-a-day practices to tie loose ends as they prepared to take on the Tide. The last time San Jose State University played an SEC team was seven years ago against the Florida Gators. This will be their first time battling against the Tide. Alabama hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t played a team from California since the 2000 game against UCLA.

| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA September 2, 2010

According to Rolltide.com, head coach Nick Saban is happy with the season-opener opponent. “We look forward to opening the new Bryant-Denny Stadium in 2010 with San Jose State,” said Saban. “There will be a great deal of excitement surrounding the new stadium as we start the year.” As the stadium now holds more fans, the chants and boos will be louder and “Sweet Home Alabama” will be contagious. The Spartans cannot prepare for Tide fans’ singing. “You've never heard it [“Sweet Home Alabama”] until you've heard 102,000 people singing that in unison," head coach Mike MacIntyre told The San Jose Mercury News. “I've tried to prepare them on how hot it is going to be, how humid it's going to be, how loud it's going to be, what it is going to take to be able to compete." This is MacIntyre’s first season as head coach of the Spartans. He has a history as defensive coordinator of the Duke Blue Devils and worked with the defensive backs from the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets. He has a four-year history with Ole Miss, where he spent two seasons with the wide receivers and two as the defensive-secondary coach. The Spartans have lost senior players after last season and will have fresh faces covering the field. McIntyre elaborated on the situation to The San Jose Mercury News. “We’ll be playing three true freshmen a tremendous amount in the first game.” Vince Buhagiar is one freshman who will take the field. He is the Spartans’ tight end and was his high school’s career leader in touchdowns and total points scored with 38 touchdowns and 238 points. Keith Smith and Derek Muaava, who will be competing for linebacker and running back, will also accompany Buhagiar for their season opener, according to San Jose State Athletics. Senior safety Dominique Hunsucker revealed to The San Jose Mercury News that he is prepared and knows what the team has to do to give the Tide a run for their money. "We know we have to bring our A game," Hunsucker said. "If you don't know that you have to bring your A game then you shouldn't be playing." One Tuscaloosa native and Spartan player, Brandon Rutley, shared his take on Mark Ingram with The San Jose Mercury News. “We understand he's a great back," Rutley said, "but our defenders are lighting up at the fact they get the opportunity to go against someone who is the Heisman Trophy winner; they want to stop him." Although there will be more freshman on the field this season for The Spartans, they will have their share of experienced players on the field also. As a 2006 walk on, linebacker Braden Storaasli is the only player who is a three-time Academic All-WAC honoree and San Jose State University Scholar-Athlete. He started in every game of the 2009 season. He is dominant as a special teams player, according to San Jose State Athletics. Quarterback Jordan La Secla had his most successful game of 2009 by throwing two touchdowns, passing for 302 yards and rushing for one touchdown. He is ranked 93rd nationally in passing efficiency and has completed 59.9 percent of his passes for 1,926 yards. The Spartans beat New Mexico State and Cal Poly for a 2-10 season last year. With a new coach and an out-of-conference season opener, it is sure to be a game to watch for both Spartan and Tide fans. touchdownalabama.net |

Exclusive

Saban goes

HOLLYWOOD T

he marquee billed it as a world premiere. Nick Saban: Gamechanger opened August 24th with some Hollywood flair. With a band playing, VIPs and the media entering the Carmike Summit 16 Theater in Birmingham on a red carpet, people lined up alongside trying to get a glimpse of the special guests as they strolled in and a food spread waiting for them when they got inside the lobby where cheerleaders were entertaining the crowd, the only thing missing was movie stars. Well, not the only thing. The star of the show, the famed coach of the Crimson Tide, was absent, remaining in Tuscaloosa where he and his team were practicing for their season opening game against San Jose State. “This is exciting. I’m thrilled to be here,” stated Alabama Athletic Director Mal Moore. “I’m sure this is unique. I’m thrilled it’s Coach Saban, and I’m thrilled he coaches at Alabama.” Eli Gold, the Voice of the Crimson Tide, agreed, stating: “This is new for me. It’s something like the red carpet (at the Academy Awards), I would guess.” Nick Saban has become much more than a

very successful football coach. He is a media darling - and becoming an actor of sorts- in a way very few coaches, if any, ever have been. First he had that cameo appearance in The Blind Side, the movie that earned Sandra Bullock an Academy Award. Then he and his team were featured on ESPN’s “Alabama AllAccess,” a program called unprecedented by the all-sports network that offered a close-up of Saban and his pre-season practice preparation. Now there is Gamechanger, a fulllength documentary that takes an even closer look at Saban- as a person as well as a coach. “We’re really a little bit embarrassed that so much of our life is on the screen,” stated Saban’s wife Terry moments before the showing. She said her husband was hesitant and still had not even seen the rough draft, let alone the finished product. “Our children (Kristin, a sophomore at UA and Nicholas, a student at Shelton State Community College) saw it and both gave it a thumbs up.” Asked if she could envision all this when Nick started his career years ago as an assistant coach, Terry responded, “Not in a million years.”

Perhaps no figure in college sports is as loved— and despised—as Nick Saban. The man who led high profile football programs at Michigan State, LSU, and—most recently—Alabama from hard times to good times, and the only coach to lead two different college programs to national championships in the modern era, is celebrated by those who value hard work, an unwavering focus, and tenacity; particularly when he stands on their sideline. Those who oppose him do so with venom… and respect. Gamechanger, an authorized biographical film by Memphis-based Flashlight Media Group, LLC, producers of Defining Moments: The Stories Behind Alabama Football’s Greatest Plays, will be released to the public theatrically and on DVD in fall 2010. In this film, the leader of the reigning BCS national champion, national coach of the year, and subject of a recent Forbes Magazine cover as the Most Powerful Coach in Sports, recounts his days as a child in West Virginia coal mining country, as an assistant in the rough-and-tumble college and NFL coaching ranks, and as a head coach with a hardearned reputation for turning moribund programs into winners. Images from Saban’s personal archive and interviews with his coaching mentor and current New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, Saban’s former players, friends, and other luminaries including Bill Parcells, Joe Namath, Bobby Bowden, Gene Stallings, Jimbo Fisher and West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin will offer unique perspectives on a man who is driven to succeed like few others in any field. A rare, behind-the-scenes look at Alabama’s preparation for the 2010 BCS National Championship Game and upcoming title defense will give viewers a glimpse of the disciplined approach Saban takes to building his programs. Saban will also offer insights on his leadership philosophy and how it developed at various stops in his career. Gamechanger will be crafted with the highest storytelling and production values possible. As with the Defining Moments: Alabama DVD series, viewers will be taken on an informative, inspiring journey. Those who witness Saban’s efforts to overcome the challenges he faces in life will be encouraged to follow his example. Viewers will also form new opinions of Saban as they realize he doesn’t necessarily fit the mold created by the media. For the first time, Saban will communicate his story to the public unfiltered. Gamechanger is a captivating portrait of one of the most influential and polarizing figures in American sport today. Sports fans, pop culture fans and those who appreciate a good human-interest biography will find this film compelling and insightful.

Saban’s detractors- and Despite his accomplishment of being the only coach in modern day history to win national championships at two different schools - who because of his perceived aloof demeanor see him as a polarizing figure, believe the real purpose of the documentary was to soften that perception. They felt a more fitting title should have been: “Saban: Imagechanger.” Not so, stated Terry. “Nick didn’t seek this. The producers sought him out. There was such a demand,” she explained in reference to several requests from various individuals and outlets to do such a video. “The reason Nick is on the screen is because he’s very much all coach and the people do want to see other aspects of his life, and because it’s supporting our (charitable) foundation, Nick’s Kids. It also will serve as a good recruiting tool.” Jimmy Sexton, Saban’s agent, said, “This was something for the fans.” Produced by Grant Guffin and Trey Reynolds, co-founders of Flashlight Media Group, the film was released three days later to about 30 selected theatres throughout Alabama as well as in Georgia, Tennessee, Florida and Saban’s home state of West Virginia. According to Guffin and Reynolds, the intent of the documentary is for people to get a

Exclusive

behind-the-scenes look at not only Saban the coach, but Saban the person. Everyone knows that Saban has quickly put Alabama football back among the national elite programs, has been twice named National Coach of the Year and has been called by Forbes Magazine the most powerful coach in sports, but this movie helps people better understand the various sides of Saban and why he is so focused and intolerant of distractions, which he refers to as clutter. People who have read Saban’s book, “How Good Do You Want to Be: A Champion’s Tips on How to Lead and Succeed in Work and Life” and who have had a chance to closely work with and observe him, should have some understanding of the man and what makes him tick, but film makers spent several weeks with Saban and hundreds of hours of film was shot as Flashlight, given unprecedented access to Saban and his inner circle, recorded practice sessions, coaches meetings, team meetings, and even ventured to his getaway lake house in Georgia to see how the uptight coach unwinds. So the documentary delves much deeper into all aspects of his complex life. The film goes back to Saban’s roots growing up in West Virginia and the lessons he learned as a youth, and how

This is exciting... I’m thrilled it’s “Coach Saban, and I’m thrilled he coaches at Alabama.”

-Mal Moore

they shaped him as an adult. Known as “Brother” to his family and friends back home, the documentary shows pictures of Saban as a high school athlete and clips from him coaching at various but not all stages of his career - as an assistant with the Cleveland Browns under Bill Belichick, and as a head coach at Michigan State and LSU. The story is told through footage of practices, meetings and games as well as through interviews with Saban’s wife, Belichick, Bill Parcells, Bobby Bowden, Sexton, West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin III, current Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher (who served on Saban’s staff at LSU), and former Crimson Tide coach Gene Stallings, among several others. The movie closes with a very happy and relaxed Saban cruising along Lake Burton in his spacious cabin cruiser, with music blaring from the Eagles, his favorite band, as Terry enjoys the ride and the limited time she gets to spend with her busy rock-star husband. After watching the film Gold stated, “That was great, a heck of a show.” That pretty much summed up the feeling of all the VIPS who were privileged to watch the premiere of Nick Saban: Gamechanger.

| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA September 2, 2010

PHOTO ABOVE FROM REBECCA ASHLEY

Opposing Team

Views From The

Meet the

Other Side

Spartans A

labama fans may not know a lot about the San Jose State football program and for good reason. First of all, San Jose is all the way on the west coast, so if you want to catch a game that they are playing, you are going to have to stay up past 11 p.m. Jordan La Secla to get a glimpse. Secondly, the team finished 2-10 last year with wins against Cal Poly and New Mexico State. The team was 0-3 against the top 25, getting drubbed by USC 56-3 and Boise State 45-7. Now the team looks to turn things around with senior quarterback Jordan La Secla leading the way. The Newbury Park, Calif., native appeared in 12 games last year starting in the middle eight completing 60 percent of his passes for 1,926 yards with 10 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. La Secla understands his importance within the offensive system, but he says the offense will look to keep it on the ground more this year. “Last year, we wanted to run. This year, we’re gonna run,” La Secla said. “We not just going to the pass if the run is not working. We’re going to keep pounding the ball.” Junior college transfer Matt Faulkner competed along with La Secla for the starting role this season, but La Secla got the nod as starter from Spartans coach Mike MacIntyre. “I call them ‘1A’ and ‘1B,’” MacIntyre said, who added that Faulkner would play in the first half against

Coe Robbins

the top-ranked Crimson Tide. “It's been a tough (training) camp, a lot of competition,” La Secla said. “But we're excited. We can take the next step. The team has been waiting for somebody to be announced.” Looking at the Spartan’s Harrison Waid depth chart, one interesting observation is that one person will be handling kickoff, placekicking and punting duties. It’s not unheard of to have one person handle all these tasks, but to have a freshman do it all is quite unusual. Harrison Waid, who is a native of Huntsville, Ala., redshirted last year and looks to be the main contributor on special teams this upcoming season. “I feel comfortable doing everything,” said Waid. “It all comes natural. It's just a matter of repetition.” According to Jon Wilner, the beat writer for the San Jose Mercury News, Waid can be inconsistent at times. “The Spartans got the best and worst of Waid's placekicking during a scrimmage last weekend, Wilner said. “He missed badly on a 46-yard field goal but later nailed a 49-yarder that would have been good from 55.” All Waid can do to make things better is go back to the basics and just do what he knows he needs to do to become a more consistent kicker. “I just look at it like every kick is the same kick,” he said, “and I have to stick to my fundamentals.” touchdownalabama.net |

Exclusive

Alabama Starts the Season on Top

Crimson Tide picked No. 1 in AP and USA Today Polls Donald F. Staffo

the Alabama Crimson Tide there is no place or to go but down. That’s because as BCS national champions in 2009 and picked No. 1 in the USA Today Coaches and the Associated Press’ Pre-season Polls, Bama is starting out on top of the football mountain and is expected to maintain that position throughout the year, culminating with another BCS title in January. That seems like a lot of pressure for a team that returns only two starters on defense. Regardless, pollsters throughout the country, including the Southeastern Conference, think the Tide is up to the task. Alabama received 55 of 59 first place votes in the USA Today poll that, along with the Harris Interactive Poll and the BCS computer rankings, determine the teams that play in the national championship game. The SEC coaches and media both selected UA to again

| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA September 2, 2010

win the conference championship and become the first team to repeat since Tennessee topped the league in 1997 and 1998. The high expectations are because it’s widely acknowledged that the Tide has talent, especially on offense where Alabama returns eight starters including Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram. Several UA players made the Watch Lists, meaning they are considered among the best players in the country at their positions. Alabama placed 12 players on the media All-SEC team, with eight- including five on offense- making the first unit. UA placed nine players on the coaches’ all-conference team, with a league-high six on the first team. Ingram, receiver Julio Jones and lineman Barrett Jones on offense, and linebacker Dont’a Hightower, safety Mark Barron and lineman Marcell Dareus on defense were first-team selections in both polls.

Running back Trent Richardson and defensive lineman James Carpenter were designated first team in the media poll and second team in the coaches’ poll. With Richardson joining Ingram on the first team in the media poll, the journalists who cover the SEC believe Bama has the two best running backs in the conference. Offensively, with Ingram and Richardson possibly the best tailback tandem in the country, Greg McElroy back after quarterbacking the Tide to the national championship, and Jones a big-play receiver, the Crimson Tide should be well-balanced and explosive. Ingram, a 5-10, 220-pound junior, rushed for a school single-season record 1,658 yards and 20 touchdowns last season en route to becoming UA’s first Heisman winner. Richardson, a 5-11, 220-pound sophomore who rushed for 751 yards and eight touchdowns when he was named to the all-freshmen teams by both The Sporting News and the SEC, would be the featured workhorse running back on most teams. McElroy, a second-team All-SEC pick, should improve on last year’s all-winning performance. Undefeated as a starting quarterback, the 6-3, 220-pound senior has never lost a game as a starter going back to junior high school. He passed for 2,508 yards and 17 touchdowns while throwing only four interceptions in guiding Bama to its first national championship since 1992. Jones, the Tide’s leading receiver the last two years and a Playboy Preseason All-American, caught 43 passes for 596 yards and four touchdowns last season. After being slowed by an early season knee injury a year ago that prevented him from putting up the numbers that he did in 2008 when he set several freshman receiving records, the exciting pass catcher still led the team in almost every receiving category. In the line, right guard Barrett Jones, a Freshman All-American a year ago, and Carpenter, a left tackle, are the other SEC

media first-teamers. Second team All-SEC center William Vlachos is another integral piece of an offensive line that should again open up holes for Ingram and Richardson to run through and provide protection so that McElroy can connect with Jones and the other many capable Crimson Tide receivers. Alabama will have a potent offense that should not have any problems scoring points. Defensively, the Tide’s only returning starters are Barron, a third team Associated Press All-American safety in 2009 when he recorded an SEC-high seven interceptions, and Hightower, a Freshman All-American linebacker in 2008 who is coming back from knee surgery. Hightower, Barron and lineman Marcell Dareus made the all-conference first team, with linebacker Courtney Upshaw making the second team. Dareus, the team’s best returning lineman who starred in the 37-21 win over Texas in the BCS championship game, is in limbo awaiting the results of an investigation relative to his reported attendance at a party in Miami given by a sports agent. If cleared to play, Dareus should anchor the front line. A concern is that the secondary lacked depth to begin with due to an early departure and suspension, and then has been seriously depleted due to injuries during the preseason. “We don’t have a lot of experience there,” stated Coach Nick Saban, who during SEC Media Days pointed out that the defense has talent but just lacks game action. Following the team’s first full scale scrimmage Saban restated his concerns. “It’s been one thing after another (that has) created some issues and problems in terms of being able to develop continuity.” In the first scrimmage, what everyone expected proved true. The offense dominated the defense with Saban stating, “The offense is way ahead of the defense.” Regardless, football is a team sport and as McElroy continued on page 40 pointed out, “there’s going to be touchdownalabama.net |

Q&A

Crimson Tide Football 1985 - 1988

David Casteal

avid Casteal has done a little bit of everything. Now a teacher in Spokane, Wash., he traveled the world growing up in a military family, did some acting on Broadway, studied in West Africa and holds a PhD in ethnomusicology. He also played a little football. After high school in Niceville, Fla., Casteal was recruited as a running back for Alabama and played four seasons under Ray Perkins and Bill Curry. After graduating from the University of Alabama twenty-two years ago, Casteal was not about to sit on the laurels of his sports notoriety.

TAM (Touchdown Alabama Magazine): Does your record, 15 carries for 227 yards in one quarter of football, still stand today at Niceville High School? DC (David Casteal): As far as I know. However I know there have been some extremely talented running backs at my high school since I attended. Actually, there is a long line of players from my high school, Niceville High, that have played for the Tide.

huddle asking Wayne Shaw where I was and he replied, “Oh don’t worry about it, just run left, because you’re getting the ball.”

TAM: What were Ray Perkins’ and Bill Curry’s strengths as head coach? DC: Coach Perkins was a tough and a focused leader. Coach Curry’s strength was his ability to relate well with players and to keep young the men motivated. He spoke vividly about life beyond football.

TAM: What was the “Kick-Off Classic” like when you all went to New York City and played Ohio State? DC: It was a thrill. I only played on special teams, but the environment was electric. To prepare for the game we had three-a-day practices. We practiced something like 21 times in one week! We ate at the Windows of the World restaurant at the top of the World Trade Center.

TAM: What are some of Bill Curry’s attributes in building a successful program at Georgia State? DC: I think Georgia State football will find quick success on the shoulders of Coach Curry. He has a deep desire to win. I still remember his 5 characteristics of a champion: 1. Singleness of purpose. 2. Unselfish. 3. Tough. 4. Smart. 5. Never quit. I have used them in many aspects of my life. TAM: Can you remember the hardest hit you ever took as a running back? DC: Once in practice I was smacked by Woody Wilson. It was on a counter play. Woody was an undersized linebacker, but a vicious hitter. I also got my bell rung in the Sun Bowl. I didn’t know where I was for three plays. I remember in the

Q ’s & Q’s A’s

| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA September 2, 2010

TAM: Who was the funniest guy on your Alabama football team, and why? DC: Maybe Phillip Brown. He could ease the tension with his witty remarks and impressions of some of our coaches.

TAM: Were there any unwritten rules for freshmen on the football team when you played? DC: The upperclassman ate first, period. I remember as a freshman, we had to put on a talent show for the team. I did magic. Doug Allen sang. I got booed and Ricky Moore asked if I could make myself disappear. TAM: You’re a teacher now. When you were a student, did a teacher ever reprimand you? In hindsight, did it give you a lifelong lesson down the road? DC: Bill Wilson taught me a lesson that I have never forgotten: luck is when preparation meets opportunity. So work to be lucky.

TAM: Education is a big part of your life. Was that instilled in you at a young age? DC: When I was young I lived in Spain. When my family returned to the U.S. I was fluent in Spanish and struggled in English and reading. I was teased relentlessly. That motivated me to forever respect education and lead me to a love of literature. I read like a wolf eats!

mosquitoes in the village were so bad that I trapped two bats and put them in my mud hut so I could sleep. My statistics class…enough said. Bathing in the River Niger is dangerous. Never argue with the tall customs officer in Guinea, in can prove to be expensive.

.TAM: Who has had the most influence in your life, outside your family? DC: Easy, my junior high football coach Bill Wilson. He taught me so much about being a man of honor and dignity. It’s funny because I love him now for the things I hated him for then.

TAM: What’s on your bucket list? DC: EReunion with my Alabama freshman class. Ride a motorcycle across India. Become fluent in Italian. Learn to draw (really well). Live on the beach. Become an excellent swing dancer. Compete in a triathlon. Visit Antarctica. Be the first black James Bond. Have my own photography show.

TAM: What was it like to perform on Broadway? DC: Sublime. It was a one-man show called “York.” It was based on the life of York, a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. I had to memorize 46 pages of text. NYC was a tough crowd. But hey, I had to block Derrick Thomas in practice every day. Broadway… piece of cake.

TAM: Do you think Alabama will have a harder time this year than last going towards the SEC Championship game? DC: It’s Alabama - the best football program on the planet! Every season is a challenge. The mantra in college football has yet to change: Want to make a name for yourself? Beat Alabama.

TAM: Childhood obesity in America is at an epidemic level. How do you think the parents should be addressing that issue right now with their children? DC: Parents need to engage their children in exercise everyday for 45-60 minutes. Think about it. There are 1440 minutes in a day. Find some time to run and play. Also, families must make healthy choices regarding nutrition. I always thought it would be interesting to replace the term “fast food” with “fast fat.”It’s funny because I love him now for the things I hated him for then. TAM: When did you realize you wanted to attain a doctorate degree, and why? DC: As soon as I learned what a doctorate degree was, I knew it was something I wanted to do. While traveling around the world I found myself in Ghana. The drumming there was surreal and mythic. After two months there I realized I wanted to study ethnomusicology from a West African rhythmic perspective. Consequently, I have traveled to Africa thirteen times to do field work. Drumming in Africa is such an organic experience. The continent is truly the birthplace of rhythm. I was excited to add to its body of research. TAM: What obstacles did you run into on the way and how did you overcome them? DC: Obstacles. Well…I contracted malaria. (It’s like the flu on steroids.), I was jailed in Uganda for taking photos. (I paid a bribe of $7 and my Leatherman knife to get out.) At Mali the

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Player Profile Title

Towering

Troy Farsoun

Expectations

ith Rolando McClain’s early departure for the NFL, a gaping hole was left in the nation’s top defense that lost nine starters from the 2009 national championship squad. The All-American registered 274 tackles in his career with Alabama and was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year on his way to becoming the first Crimson Tide player ever to win the Dick Butkus award. His leadership and play recognition united an elite team of players who continually shut down touted offenses week after week en route to the Rose Bowl. Now, with a young defense reeling from the losses of McClain, punishing nose guard Terrance Cody, and first-round draft pick Kareem Jackson, Nick Saban looks for a linebacker who will step into McClain’s shoes and guide the 2010 defense to be just as historically stubborn and vicious as years past. And it all begins with the return of Dont’a Hightower. A Lewisburg, Tennessee native, the 6’ 4” Hightower is a former 4-star recruit who began showcasing his talent the minute he stepped foot in Tuscaloosa. As a true freshman, he played every game in 2008, recording 64 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, and recovering two fumbles, earning a starting spot and a place on several Freshman All-American teams. Opposite Rolando McClain, the two quickly became a nightmare for opposing offensive coordinators who struggled to establish any sort of running attack against the Tide. McClain put it best when he told the media, “[He] can play any position on the field. He’s a freak to me. He’s amazing.” His return to the 2009 squad would have fans and football critics alike predicting the sophomore could only be destined for greatness. But disaster struck early in the season, as Hightower collapsed to the ground after suffering a low block at the Arkansas game on September 26th. A torn anterior cruciate ligament would sideline the Tide’s best pass-rusher for the remainder of the year. Even at the end of an undefeated 2009 season, analysts were left to wonder how much better the nation’s #1 defense could have been with Dont’a Hightower’s presence. Nearly a year later, Hightower is the favorite to start opposite Nico Johnson in the September 4th opener against San Jose State. His surgically repaired knee is freshly rehabilitated and stronger than ever as he stands poised to take over the Tide’s linebacking corps and prove to a skeptical nation that Alabama’s defense is far from its weakest link. And when asked to comment on his recovery at SEC Media Days, Hightower responded, “During the spring I was kind of babying [the knee] a little bit, but I feel that I’m ready to go 100%.” Surrounded by a yet-unproven crew of Saban’s blue-chip prospects, Dont’a Hightower and the #1 ranked Crimson Tide will take the first step to repeating as national champions on September 4th against San Jose State.

Dont’a Hightower

touchdownalabama.net |

NO NAME

53 Abbott, Vincent

6-0

230

So.

HOMETOWN

Long Beach, Calif.

NO NAME

POS

26 Marah, Mohamed DE

6-0

Sr.

San Jose, Calif. Mission Viejo, Calif.

245

HOMETOWN

49 Aigbuza, Osa

RB 5-10 185

So.

San Francisco

66 Marini, Nick

6-2

250

Fr.

4 Avila, Michael

WR 5-9

175

Jr.

Seaside, Calif.

45 McCoy, Matt

6-0

250

Jr.

King City, Calif.

95 Bacon, Sean

215

Fr.

Inglewood, Calif.

99 Moeaki, Andrew

6-2

290

Jr.

San Mateo, Calif.

88 Beauchman, Jalal WR 6-4 71 Bendixen, Keith 21 Benwikere, Bené 12 Bliss, Philip 30 Brown, Josh

San jose Roster

POS HT

6-2

220

Sr.

San Jose, Calif.

34 Muaava, Derek

6-1

215

Fr.

San Jose, Calif.

6-5

258

Fr.

Santa Maria, Calif.

22 Muldrow, Lamon

5-9

210

Sr.

Pittsburg, Calif.

6-0

190

Fr.

Los Angeles, Calif.

39 Newsome, Cullen

5-10 200

Jr.

Roseville, Calif.

PK/P 5-11 175

Jr.

Santa Cruz, Calif.

4 Newsome, Devin WR 5-10 185

Sr.

North Highlands, Calif.

180

Jr.

Stockton, Calif.

38 Ngatikaura, Manu

Sr.

Laie, Hawaii

5-7

5-10 185

85 Brown, Keenan

6-4

260

So.

San Bernardino, Calif.

91 Nigos, Joe

6-2

260

Jr.

San Jose, Calif.

3 Bryant, Chris

6-5

235

Sr.

Pasadena, Calif.

17 Nunn, Kyle

WR 6-3

190

Fr.

Carson, Calif.

36 Buhagiar, Vince

6-4

235

Fr.

Concord, Calif.

13 O’Neal, Kyler

6-0

213

So.

Oakland, Calif.

77 Burton, Pierce

6-6

250

Fr.

Sacramento, CA (Rio

44 O’Neill, Wade

6-1

225

So.

Chino Hills, Calif.

59 Coleman, Tristan

6-2

230

Jr.

Sacramento, Calif.

6 Ogburn, Jr., Damon ATH 5-11 180

Fr.

San Bernardino, Calif.

8 Driver, Brandon

6-0

185

Jr.

Baltimore, Md.

69 Orth, Jacob

OG 6-3

290

Jr.

Modesto, Calif.

73 Eliapo, Ailao

OG 6-2

320

Sr.

S. San Francisco, Calif.

81 Orth, James

WR 6-2

190

So.

Modesto, Calif.

7 Faulkner, Matt

6-2

205

Jr.

Highland Park, Texas

3 Festejo, Pompey

6-0

215

Sr.

Benicia, Calif.

82 Otten, Ryan

6-5

230

So.

Loomis, Calif.

61 Pal, Amar

6-5

280

Fr.

Santa Monica, Calif.

15 Parrish, Doug

ATH 6-2

17 Foster, Terrance

6-1

190

Jr.

Fullerton, Calif.

195

Fr.

San Francisco, Calif.

20 Freeman, David

5-8

195

So.

Inglewood, Calif.

51 Peterson, David

6-5

275

Fr.

Redlands, Calif.

48 Garces, Marcos

RB 5-10 176

Jr.

San Jose, Calif.

63 Peterson, Jake

6-4

300

Fr.

El Cajon, Calif.

49 Pohahau, Anthony LB 5-11 245 50 Pugh, Tracy

Fr.

Santa Clara, Calif.

6-4

235

So.

Chino Hills, Calif.

76 Quessenberry, David OT

6-6

290

So.

Carlsbad, Calif.

22 Rall, Deven

6-1

180

Fr.

Torrance, Calif.

70 Reed, Robbie

6-3

290

Sr.

Claremont, Calif.

180

Jr.

Salinas, Calif.

270

So.

Heights, Calif.

265

Sr.

South Gate, Calif.

RB 5-10 190

Jr.

Martinez, Calif. Los Angeles, Calif.

92 Garcia, Pablo

6-2

290

Jr.

San Jose, Calif.

11 Gayden, Rashad

6-2

255

Jr.

Brooklyn Park, Minn.

5 Germany, Alex

5-9

181

Jr.

Palm Desert, Calif.

48 Gonzalez, Ryno

6-1

230

Sr.

Loomis, Calif.

62 Grattan, Jeff

6-5

275

Fr.

Campbell, Calif.

23 Grigsby, Noel

WR 5-10 170

Fr.

Los Angeles, Calif.

86 Reyes, Andrew

WR 6-1

41 Grodotzke, Nick

6-1

225

Fr.

Agoura Hills, Calif.

46 Rodriguez, Ray

6-1

42 Hall, Ja’Van

6-2

245

Fr.

Marin City, Calif.

67 Romero, Norman

6-0

1 Harrison, Josh

WR 5-11 180

Jr.

Oxnard, Calif.

9 Rutley, Brandon 64 Salimu, Abasi

280

Fr.

Los Angeles, Calif.

6-5

255

Fr.

35 Hightower, Forrest RB 5-10 180

54 Hasani, Reuben

6-3

Fr.

Concord, Calif.

68 Schroeder, Daniel OG 6-2

293

Jr.

San Jose, Calif.

29 Hill, Chris

5-9

175

So.

Carson, Calif.

57 Scicli, Charles

6-0

230

So.

Thousand Palms, Calif.

96 Howard, Marcus

6-2

254

Fr.

Inglewood, Calif.

28 Shittu, Elijah

6-0

185

Sr.

Anchorage, Alaska

33 Hunsucker, Dominique RB 5-9

194

Sr.

San Jose, Calif.

32 Simpson, Jason

6-0

200

Fr.

Redwood City, Calif.

31 Smith, Keith

38 Hutchins, Christian WR 6-2

200

Fr.

Newbury Park, Calif.

6-2

225

Fr.

Covina, Calif.

2 Ihenacho, Duke

210

Sr.

Carson, Calif.

18 Stewart, Dasmen QB

6-3

205

Fr.

Oxnard, Calif.

CB 5-10 175

So.

Oakland, Calif.

56 Storaasli, Braden

6-0

213

Sr.

Kapolei, Hawaii

30 Johnson, Ralph

6-1

43 Johnson, Travis

6-3

235

So.

Sunnyvale, Calif.

16 Taylor, Evan

6-0

192

So.

San Diego, Calif.

89 Jones, Chandler

WR 5-9

165

Fr.

Los Angeles, Calif.

41 Telles, Jeffrey

6-1

250

Fr.

Tracy, Calif.

74 Jones, Ryan

OG 6-3

275

Fr.

San Francisco, Calif.

27 Thompson, Ben

6-2

220

Fr.

Temecula, Calif

14 Jurich, Blake

6-4

220

Fr.

Santa Cruz, Calif.

37 Thompson, Courtlin S

6-2

195

Fr.

Lancaster, Calif. Granite Bay, Calif.

75 Kaspar, Nicholas

6-5

270

Fr.

Dana Point, Calif.

19 Thompson, Peyton CB 5-11 180

Jr.

87 King, Akeem

WR 6-3

190

Fr.

Nipomo, Calif.

37 Tomlitz, Sam

235

Fr.

San Jose, Calif.

65 Koloto, Fred

6-3

290

Jr.

Palo Alto, Calif.

40 Tuipulotu, Tiuke

LB 5-11 205

Jr.

Menlo Park, Calif.

6-4

290

Sr.

Hermosa Beach, Calif.

245

Fr.

Stockton, Calif.

6-3

205

Sr.

Newbury Park, Calif.

80 Valencia, Avelino

6-5

250

Sr.

Anaheim, Calif.

97 Larceval, Anthony DT

San Carlos, Calif.

Konye, John 12 La Secla, Jordan

93 Vae, Foloi

6-3

DE/TE 6-3

6-1

265

Fr.

Spring Valley, Calif.

78 Vargas, Andres

6-4

305

Jr.

72 Leatiota, Isaac

OG 6-4

305

Sr.

Sunnyvale, Calif.

10 Waid, Harrison

6-1

175

Fr.

Sunnyvale, Calif.

42 Liaina, Ina

225

So.

Oxnard, Calif.

94 Watson, JaRodd

6-2

275

Jr.

San Diego, Calif.

84 Linton, Sean

WR 6-2

180

Fr.

La Mesa, Calif.

25 Yell, Ronnie

5-9

175

So.

San Diego, Calif.

83 Lousi, Cedric

245

Fr.

Fremont, Calif.

60 Zorn, Ben

OG 6-3

270

So.

Berkeley, Calif.

6-1 6-2

NO NAME

82 Earl Alexander

POS

WR SR

6-4

207

HOMETOWN

Phenix City, Ala.

NO NAME

95 Brandon Lewis

POS

6-3

274

HOMETOWN

Pleasant Grove, Ala.

49 Jonathan Atchison LB

6-2

228

Atlanta, Ga.

78 Chad Lindsay

6-2

277 The Woodlands, Texas

31 John Baites

6-4

235

Hendersonville, Tenn.

72 Tyler Love

6-6

304

Mountain Brook, Ala.

4 Mark Barron

6-2

210

Mobile, Ala.

29 Will Lowery

5-9

188

Hoover, Ala.

7 Kenny Bell

WR FR

6-1

172

Rayville, La.

17 Tyler Maddox

5-10 191

86 Undra Billingsley

6-3

269

Birmingham, Ala.

33 Mike Marrow

6-2

235

Houston, Texas Holland, Ohio

32 David Blalock

6-5

245

Charlotte, N.C.

4 Marquis Maze

5-10 182

93 Chris Bonds

6-4

263

Columbia, S.C.

10 A.J. McCarron

6-4

190

Mobile, Ala.

67 John Michael Boswell OL

6-5

291

Northport, Ala.

52 Alfred McCullough OL

6-2

309

Athens, Ala.

88 Michael Bowman WR SO

6-4

225

Rossville, Ga.

12 Greg McElroy

6-3

225

Southlake, Texas

37 Hardie Buck

WR SO

5-9

184

Birmingham, Ala.

28 DeMarcus Milliner DB

6-1

182

Millbrook, Ala.

87 Drew Bullard

6-3

232

34 Hunter Bush

SO 5-11 181

Florence, Ala. Wetempka, Ala.

Birmingham, Ala.

56 William Ming

6-3

263

Athens, Ala.

97 Brandon Moore

6-5

305

Montgomery, Ala. Autaugaville, Ala.

6-5

300

Augusta, Ga.

66 Brian Motley

6-3

289

6-1

310

Hoover, Ala.

64 Kerry Murphy

6-4

319

Hoover, Ala.

57 Marcell Dareus

6-3

306

Huffman, Ala.

46 Wesley Neighbors DB

6-1

205

Huntsville, Ala.

96 Luther Davis

6-3

279

23 Craig Dee

SO 5-11 193

West Monroe, La.

83 Kevin Norwood

WR FR

6-2

187

D’Iberville, Miss.

Pembroke Pines, Fla.

18 Morgan Ogilvie

6-0

198

Mountain Brook, Ala.

51 Michael DeJohn

6-1

237

Hoover, Ala.

53 Anthony Orr

6-4

268

Madison, Ala.

85 Preston Dial

6-3

237

Mobile, Ala.

2 Tana Patrick

6-3

231

Bridgeport, Ala.

40 DeMarcus DuBose LB

6-1

240

Montgomery, Ala.

39 Kyle Pennington

5-11 187

68 Taylor Pharr

6-6

285

Irondale, Ala.

54 Russell Raines

6-2

265

Satsuma, Ala.

13 Rob Ezell

WR SR 5-10 172

76 D.J. Fluker

6-6

340

Foley, Ala.

6-1

221

Southlake, Texas

RB/LB FR

6-1

236

Mobile, Ala.

6-0

179

Manning, S.C.

43 Cade Foster 45 Jalston Fowler 10 John Fulton

Athens, Ala.

95 Colin Gallagher

SR 5-10 194

58 Nick Gentry

11 Brandon Gibson

6-2

196

Mobile, Ala.

6 Demetrius Goode RB

5-9

220

LaGrange, Ga.

6-1

282

Atlanta, Ga. Prattville, Ala.

Chatom, Ala.

3 Trent Richardson RB

SO 5-11 220

Pensacola, Fla.

74 David Ross

Homewood, Ala.

1 B.J. Scott

SO 5-11 193

6-3

302

94 Darrington Sentimore DL

94 Jeremy Shelley

SO 5-10 165

6-3

261

Prichard, Ala. Norco, La. Raleigh, N.C.

79 Austin Shepherd

6-5

307

Buford, Ga.

14 Phillip Sims

6-2

214

Chesapeake, Va.

23 Robby Green

6-0

181

New Orleans, La.

71 Allen Skelton

6-1

261

Coker, Ala.

34 Jeramie Griffin

6-2

232

Batesville, Miss.

17 Brad Smelley

6-3

227

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

15 Darius Hanks

WR SR

6-0

184

Norcross, Ga.

38 Petey Smith

6-1

250

Tampa, Fla.

54 Glenn Harbin

6-5

260

Mobile, Ala.

92 Damion Square

6-3

284

Houston, Tex.

48 Rowdy Harrell

6-0

213

Moundville, Ala.

61 Anthony Steen

6-3

292

Lambert, Miss.

10 Jerrell Harris

47 Ed Stinson

Homestead, Fla.

6-3

231

Gadsden, Ala.

30 Dont’a Hightower LB

6-4

260

Lewisburg, Tenn.

45 Mark Holt

6-1

172

Muscle Shoals, Ala.

6-4

252

46 William Strickland WR

6-0

188

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

90 Milton Talbert

6-4

271

Hattiesburg, Miss.

21 Ben Howell

5-9

193

Gordo, Ala.

98 Kolby Taylor

5-9

184

Bessemer, Ala.

22 Mark Ingram

5-10 215

Flint, Mich.

47 Logan Thomas

WR SR

6-3

206

Houston, Texas

51 Carson Tinker

6-1

220

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

87 Chris Underwood TE

6-4

238

Vestavia Hills, Ala.

2 Star Jackson

6-3

209

Lake Worth, Fla.

35 Nico Johnson

6-3

238

Andalusia, Ala.

57 Aaron Joiner

6-2

258

Florence, Ala.

75 Barrett Jones

6-4

301

Memphis, Tenn.

8 Julio Jones

6-4

211

Foley, Ala.

9 Phelon Jones

5-11 199

36 Chris Jordan

6-3

232

Moblie, Ala. Brentwood, Tenn.

41 Courtney Upshaw LB

6-2

263

Eufaula, Ala.

73 William Vlachos

6-1

289

Birmingham, Ala.

65 Chance Warmack OL

6-3 /300

Atlanta, Ga.

91 Alex Watkins

6-3

232

Brownsville, Tenn.

55 Chavis Williams

6-4

223

Dora, Ala.

81 Kendall Kelly

WR FR

6-3

214

Gadsden, Ala.

60 David Williams

6-3

267

Duncanville, Ala.

10 J.B. Kern

6-1

232

Dove Canyon, Calif.

63 Kellen Williams

6-3

307

Lawrenceville, Ga.

21 Dre Kirkpatrick

6-3

190

Gadsden, Ala.

89 Michael Williams

6-6

270

Reform, Ala.

42 Eddie Lacy

6-0

212

Geismar, La.

9 Nick Williams

WR FR 5-10 179

37 Robert Lester

6-2

206

Foley, Ala.

18 Rod Woodson

SO 5-11 199

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Olive Branch, Miss.

alabama Roster

77 James Carpenter OL 99 Josh Chapman

News

SEC News SEC Season Openers

No SEC teams are opening the season with conference play. This year’s first SEC matchup will be a Thursday night game, as Auburn travels to Mississippi State on Sept. 9. Each SEC team is favored to win this week, so next weekend’s SEC matchups will be all the more interesting. Some of the teams in the conference will have to walk away from week two with their first loss of 2010. Most SEC teams will play at home this week, with only Kentucky and LSU on the road. The LSU Tigers travel to Atlanta to take on North Carolina in the Chic-Fil-A Kickoff Game. This is the third year in a row that ESPN’s College Game Day has started the season broadcasting from the Georgia Dome. The Crimson Tide took on Virginia Tech in last year’s Atlanta Kickoff Game, going 34-24 in the first win on their way to the national title. Game

South Carolina vs. S. Miss Florida vs. Miami (Ohio) Georgia vs. Louisiana Ole Miss vs. Jacksonville State Kentucky at Louisville Arkansas vs. Tennessee Tech Auburn vs. Arkansas State Mississippi State vs. Memphis Tennessee vs. Tennessee-Martin Vanderbilt vs. Northwestern LSU at North Carolina (Atlanta)

Time

6:30 pm (Thurs. Sept. 2) 11:00 am 11:21am 1:30 pm 2:30 pm 5:00 pm 5:00 pm 5:00 pm 5:00 pm 5:30 pm 6:00 pm

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Florida’s Xavier Nixon is out with a knee injury and will miss the season opener vs. Miami (OH). The sophomore left tackle started in five games last year. Left tackle Matt Patchan is also out due to an injured wrist, so the coaches have an alternative plan in place for the offensive line. Georgia has had a preseason run if bad luck with injuries. Senior starting LB Akeem Dent is still recovering from surgery in July on an injured toe. He returned to practice but remains questionable for the season opener. Fellow senior Demarcus Dobbs, DE, is also questionable with an ankle injury, while sophomore RB Washaun Ealey was suspended following an arrest on misdemeanor charges of hit and run and driving without a license. He led the Bulldogs in rushing for 2009. Kentucky WR Gene McCaskill is out for the season. The junior tore an ACL in his left knee. He ended 2009 with 17 receptions and was expected to start this year. TE Weslye Saunders, a senior at South Carolina, is out for the year after suspension for violating team rules. Saunders started 10 games last year, catching 32 passes for 353 yards and three touchdowns. 2009 SEC Freshman of the Year Warren Norman may not play in Vandy’s opener this week. The RB is questionable following arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Wednesday. He led the Commodores last year with 783 rushing yards and returned three kickoffs for touchdowns, tying the SEC single-season record.

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PRE-SEASON POLLS AP TOP 25

1. Alabama 2. Ohio State 3. Boise State 4. Florida 5. Texas 6. TCU 7. Oklahoma 8. Nebraska 9. Iowa 10. Virginia Tech 11. Oregon 12. Wisconsin 13. Miami of Florida 14. S. California 15. Pittsburgh 16. Georgia Tech 17. Arkansas 18. North Carolina 19. Penn State 20. Florida State 21. Louisiana State 22. Auburn 23. Georgia 24. Oregon State 25. West Virginia

USA Today

1. Alabama 2. Ohio St. 3. Florida 4. Texas 5. Boise St. 6. Virginia Tech 7. TCU 8. Oklahoma 9. Nebraska 10. Iowa 11. Oregon 12. Wisconsin 13. Miami (FL) 14. Penn St. 15. Pittsburgh 16. LSU 17. Georgia Tech 18. North Carolina 19. Arkansas 20. Florida St. 21. Georgia 22. Oregon St. 23. Auburn 24. Utah 25. West Virginia

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Recruiting

Week 1 Jadeveon Clowney 6’6” 247 lbs

40/4.6

• South Pointe High School - Rock Hill, South Carolina • Ranked #1 DE the country Clowney looks a lot like last year’s Ronald Powell. You name it, Clowney’s got it: speed, strength, technique, and extremely good closing speed. If you had to describe Clowney in one word, it would be “explosive.” He has been unbeatable on the field and at camps. Clowney has proven that he is practically unblockable because he can use his strength to push you back or his speed to run around you. Wherever he ends up going, Clowney is the type of player who can make an immediate impact as a true freshman. It looks like it is going to be a battle to the end, with South Carolina and Alabama fighting for this prospect. Alabama has put itself in outstanding shape to land Clowney.

Isaiah Crowell 5’11” 200 lbs

40/4.4

• Carver High School - Columbus, Georgia • Ranked #4 RB in the country Isaiah Crowell is truly the complete package when it comes to running backs. He has it all: great speed, toughness, the ability to both catch the ball out of the back field and make great cuts, and he hates to lose. With the recent commitment of Malcolm Brown to Texas, you can bet the Tide’s coaching staff is going to put the full-court press on this Georgia stud. This battle will be very interesting to watch as it plays out, as Crowell’s decision should come down to either Georgia or Alabama. Don’t be surprised if new names begin to surface at the running back position, since the Tide has focused on just two backs, Crowell and Brown, whose commitment effectively takes him off of the table. Crowell could go either way. Cyrus Kouandjio

6’6”

325 lbs

• DeMatha High School - Hyattsville, Maryland • Ranked #2 OT in the country With the Tide losing out on Shon Coleman and James Stone late last year, Kouandjio is a must-have for the Tide. Alabama secured a commitment from his brother, Arie Kouandjio, last year, which can’t do anything but help the Tide. Cyrus Kouandjio is already 325 lbs and has the frame to add even more weight. He is the ideal offensive tackle that coaches covet. The

Alabama's Top Wish List

| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA September 2, 2010

Mike Parker

Recruiting Analyst

Tide is in very good shape, even though Kouandjio will probably take some visits and wait a while before he makes his final decision.

Nick O’Leary 6’4” 215 lbs

40/4.6

• Dwyer High School - West Palm Beach, Florida • Ranked #1 TE in the country Catching everything thrown his way, Nick O’Leary is truly a catching machine. He makes great adjustments in the air and runs great routes with speed and decisiveness. With the Tide’s offense using as many as three tight ends at once, Alabama will have the advantage over other teams pursuing O’Leary. The Tide already has one tight end commitment, Malcolm Faciane, who is a bruising blocker with surprisingly good hands. However, Alabama would like to close out the tight end class with more of an offensive threat and O’Leary is the best in the country at being just that. Alabama is always mentioned in O’Leary’s list of favorites.

Tony Steward 6’2” 225 lbs

• Pedro Menendez High School - St. Augustine, Florida • Ranked #1 Outside Linebacker in the country The phrase “they don’t make them like they used to” does not apply to Tony Steward. He is old-school in that he likes to get dirty, mean, and aggressive. He is a big-time hitter with the speed to go along with it. Alabama already has four linebacker commitments, and three of those are the best in the country (Brent Calloway, Shannon Brown, and Trey Depris). It will be interesting to see how hard the Tide goes after Steward, but, if Alabama can secure Steward’s commitment, they will take him, as he is just too good to pass up.

Jesse Williams 6’4” 330 lbs

• Arizona Western Community College - Yuma, Arizona When Nick Saban goes after juco players, you can bet he expects them to get immediate playing time. The Tide is already pretty stacked at nose guard, with Kerry Murphy and Josh Chapman, but it seems like Saban likes to take at least one big nose tackle a year (for example, the late addition of Brandon Ivory to last year’s class). There have been rumors swirling that PHOTOS FROM RIVALS.COM

Williams will commit to the Tide. To have such a big frame, Williams has surprisingly good speed. Also, he will require constant double teams in college, which is the main purpose of the nose guard in Saban’s defense.

Ray Drew 6’5” 243 lbs

• Thomas County High School - Thomasville, Georgia • Ranked #2 DE in the country Outstanding character is the first thing that comes to mind when the name Ray Drew comes up. At 6’5” and already weighing 240, Drew is going to grow into a physical beast, and he has the work ethic to go with it. The Tide is trailing Auburn and Georgia for Drew’s commitment status, but since he is in the same position as Steward, it will be interesting to see how hard the Tide pursues Drew. Chris Jones

6’

185 lbs

• Minor High School - Adamsville, Alabama • Ranked #18 Safety in the country Alabama did not make Jones an offer until late in the recruiting process, which is probably why the Tide currently trails Florida in the race to secure Jones’s signature. With Alabama in great need of safeties and with Jones being an Alabama boy, the Tide can make up lost ground quickly, especially since Nick Saban has the reputation for being the best defensive back coach in the country.

Gabriel Wright 6’3” 273 lbs

• Carver High School - Columbus, Georgia • Ranked #7 DT in the country Wright is an outstanding prospect and very convenient for the Tide, since he is right across the state line in Georgia, where Alabama seems to be recruiting harder every year. The Tide currently trails Auburn, with Bama and Georgia tied for second place. Wright’s position, however, is not set in stone, as he can play multiple positions… the Tide loves his versatility. Best position guess for Wright is that it will be defensive end. It’s hard to say whether Wright will make an immediate commitment or drag out the process.

Xzavier Ward 6’7” 255 lbs

• Colquitt County High School - Moultrie, GA • Ranked #41 OT in the country Ward is extremely under-rated, but the Tide staff is very high on him. They like Ward as an offensive tackle, and, with a 6’7” frame weighing 255, he has plenty of room to add weight. The Tide loves his long arms and quickness off the line of scrimmage. Though Ward has been pretty quiet on his recruitment, the longer he takes, the better for the Tide. Saban loves to evaluate talent by using the eyeball method and he was extremely impressed with Ward’s physical attributes. Don’t look for the Tide to give up on this one, as they have made Xzavier Ward a priority.

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Alabama’s record over three seasons with Joe Namath at quarterback was_____. a. 33-0 b. 29-4 c. 24-7 d. 20-11

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Number One Recruit Weighs In

Linebacker Brent Calloway verbally committed to The University of Alabama on June 22, 2009, for the 2011 season. He is a senior at Russellville High School and a hot item for teams across the country. Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing in at 215 pounds, Calloway has a vertical of 32 inches and can get 40 in 4.63 seconds. He is an outside linebacker prospect for the Tide. Rivals.com gives him a 6.1 ranking added to the fact he is number one in Alabama, second for his position and 12th nationally. Besides Alabama, Calloway has had offers from Auburn University, The University of Tennessee, The University of Southern California and Vanderbilt University. By verbally committing so early in his career, he is able to focus on being a senior in high school. “I don’t have that stress on my shoulders right now,” he said. He is focused on helping his team win the next game and the state championship. His favorite part about senior year is Friday nights. “It is one step closer to another atmosphere,” according to Calloway. Although this linebacker is wanted by some top-notch programs, he does not let it get the best of him. Being ranked as the number one recruit for the 2011 season may be an amazing feat, but it reassures him in ways. “It feels just like every other day,” Calloway said. “It feels great, I know everyone is going to be after me now. It puts me at ease.” He led the Russellville Golden Tigers in their 2009 season with 200 carries for 1,461 yards for a total of 22 touchdowns, according to Goldentigers.net. He is not shy on the receiving side of the ball, either. He

Jennifer Gorham

had 12 catches for 119 yards totaling three touchdowns. Calloway had a total of 156 points of the 414 total-team points at the end of the season. He had 41 tackles for a total loss of 18. It might come as a shock for some, but Calloway didn’t always play football. He got back into the game his sophomore year of high school after taking some time away from the sport. “I went out one year when I was 11 maybe,” Calloway said. “I only played half a season then I played the whole eighth grade season. My first game was pretty shocking.” When asked what he hopes to contribute to the Crimson Tide he replied, “Just setting the best example I can.” Calloway is looking forward to the atmosphere and the feeling he will get when he has that first carry or first tackle at the college level. Calloway is a rounded individual. Football is not the only thing he enjoys. He sings, shops and runs track. He is not a stranger to Tuscaloosa, either, and when he comes into town he likes to shop at Lids, Foot Locker or “whatever store that involves shoes or clothes.” Shoes are one of his favorite items to buy. “I like Jordans,” Calloway said. “I have a lot of Jordans.” As far as singing goes, he can carry a tune but his coaches aren’t so fond of his talent. “I love to sing,” he said. “Last season, coach told me ‘if you’re caught singing again you’re going to be running all practice.’ I like to sing Trey Songz, Chris Brown and Charlie Hall.” Whether or not the Crimson Tide coaching staff approves of his voice, Calloway is sure to make an impression on the Tide’s future and is a recruit to watch as the season progresses.

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he sound of raucous cheers, blaring music, honking cars, and the occasional fight song can be heard from a short stretch of University Boulevard before and after game time. Known as “The Strip,” the clustered row of bars, restaurants, and shops has long been a staple in the fan community for students and locals alike. For decades, fans have come to this place to enjoy a quick meal before games, stock up on Alabama souvenirs, and meet friends for a celebratory drink after 30

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a crucial win. Located within a short walking distance of BryantDenny Stadium, The Strip has also been an area of convenience and a common meeting ground for Crimson Tide vendors and tailgaters where those without tickets are still able to enjoy the game on television and join in the deafening cries of 101,000 Bama fans just around the corner. Former Alabama student Rosemary Smith claims that the Strip has changed a lot since 1983, but that, “It was always a great place to wind down or just cut loose

| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA September 2, 2010

after a week of school.” The Strip is also home to The Houndstooth, voted in 2005 as the #1 College Sports Bar by Sports Illustrated Magazine. Recently reconstructed and boasting over 40 high definition televisions, the appeal of The Houndstooth lies in its fan-friendly atmosphere. Going to The Strip after a hardwon game or a bitter defeat is a fan tradition as old as the area itself. And so long as the food is served and the drinks are cold, crimsonclad football fans will always find a place to belong at The Strip. PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT GASTON

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True Freshmen

with a Chance to see Playing Time Mike Parker

Cade Foster

Cade Foster, the 6’1”, 220 pounder from South Lake, Texas, should definitely handle the kick-off duties. He has one of the most powerful legs I have ever seen when he connects with the ball properly. Foster will probably also split time at field goal duty, considering how strong his leg is. Foster will definitely be kicking the long field goals, but he must work on his consistency.

John Fulton

Fulton is an extremely talented corner with surprisingly good technique for a true freshman. I would be shocked if he did not make the two-deep on the depth chart at cornerback. Fulton should be a delight to watch in the future.

Corey Grant

With such a stacked backfield, you will probably not see much of Corey Grant running the football. However, he is heavily in the mix to be the opposite kick returner for Trent Richardson. Grant, who can straight-up fly, won the 100 in the state of Alabama, running under a 10.6. Needless to say, Grant is very dangerous in the open field.

Arie Kouandjio

Kouandjio did not surprise many people, as he has already taken second team reps. He entered with a lot of hype and has lived up to every bit of it. Hopefully, if few injuries occur, this could be a red shirt year for Arie. However, if injuries do occur, Kouandjio has the talent to step in and possibly play legit SEC football.

DeMarcus Milliner

One of the fastest athletes in the state of Alabama last year and ranked as the number one cornerback on most websites, Milliner’s talents exceed all limits. With Coach Saban grooming him, Milliner could quite possibly earn a role running with the first team in a nickel or dime package. But, in order to do that, he has to stay healthy.

Nick Perry

Perry was coached right up the road at powerhouse Prattville. He is used to winning and he carries that attitude on to the field. While Jerrick Williams is more of what Saban calls a “thumper,” Perry is more gifted as a pure free safety. He has good speed and tackling technique. Again, with the Tide’s depth, it is hard to believe Nick Perry will not see the field.

Brian Vogler

A great physical specimen already, at a freakish 6’7”, 250 pounds, Vogler has plenty of time to mature and add weight, but the Tide utilizes the tight end position so much that I see him getting into the rotation. Vogler is an old-school tight end, in that he “likes to get his hands dirty.” He is blessed with all the attributes coveted in a tight end: blocking, route running, hands, body, and height.

DeAndrew White

The wide receiving core is loaded. But DeAndrew White could actually be the Tide’s best deep threat. White stretches the field and is a great play maker when the ball is in the air on the deep throw. As loaded as the receivers are, by the end of the year I would not be surprised if White earns playing time by stretching the field.

Jay Williams

Jay Williams is another big kicker at 6’4”, 220 pounds. Williams was expected to walk on campus and inherit the punting job, and, if he works on his consistency, the position is his. Saban said that when Williams does it right and connects with the football, he can really boom it. I expect Williams will be our punter.

Jarrick Williams

At 6’2”, and in the 210 pound range, Williams is an extremely physical player. With the Tide’s depth in the secondary, it is almost a sure thing that Williams will see the field. He was working at the money position, which is practically playing a linebacker’s role, a role that fits Williams perfectly. Williams is a big hitter and has surprised some with his speed, for which a lot of scouts criticized him. touchdownalabama.net |

My First Game

Same Old Game, Brand New Fans

Chris Tubbs

ot all of us grow up in an intense football environment. Sure, there is the odd Super Bowl party or college game you watch with your parents as a kid, but unless you live in a college town or have some super dedicated fans to actually bring you to a game, you’ll live your entire precollege life having no idea what a college game day is all about. One such unfortunate soul happened to be Emily Collins, a junior majoring in Art History from Lakeland, Florida. “My High School team wasn’t much, so I didn’t really expect anything when that first Saturday rolled around”, says Collins. “My roommate hyped up the entire experience, but I was convinced Alabama was just like any other team.” The year? 2008. The game? Tulane’s Green Wave against Alabama’s Crimson Tide: the ultimate game for any budding fan. Within minutes of play, Javier Arenas had managed an 87 yard punt return. Alabama continued to show their pigskin prowess by entering the end zone two more times, once more in the first quarter, and again in the final moments of the third. Throughout the entire game, Tulane only managed to put points on the scoreboard by scoring a measly two field goals. Collins’ first surprise wasn’t the masterful game, though. Her first surprise was stepping out of her dorm, early on that Saturday morning, to find the entire campus alive with activity. “I didn’t expect to see anyone out that early,” she says, “so I was really surprised when I saw so

| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA September 2, 2010

many people eating, playing, and living as one gigantic family. It was really exciting!” For a girl used to the idea that tail-gating was no more extravagant than a pickup truck and a cooler, seeing the Ferguson Center filled with excited parents and the quad with happy, dedicated fans meant stepping into a whole new world. No longer was the football team a crowd of stereotypical jocks, but instead the brave faces of our school. The brave faces that an entire nation of college football fans can stand behind, the few men who, to even the snobbiest northerner, prove day in and day out that, at Alabama, we don’t just live by greatness, we earn it. “I may have grown up in Florida,” says Collins, “but Alabama is my home. I’m so proud of our team and everything they’ve accomplished!” Alabama Football seems to have that effect on people. It is possibly the single most unifying force throughout the enormous student body and vast alumni base, possibly even throughout a good portion of the great state of Alabama. Emily Collins wasn’t a football fan before coming to college. Now, she never misses a game, has a wardrobe adorned with crimson and houndstooth, and even manages to give the referees an earful when watching the games on television. So, what is Emily Collins looking forward to for the 2010 college football season? She says, “I can’t wait to beat those Gators!”

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The Lowdown

Larry’s

LOWDOWN

Larry Burton

2010: The End of an Era for Alabama

Football, but One to Remember labama has but a few fifth-year seniors on this year’s team. Even fewer are starters. The last members from that 2006 class are doing their farewell tour this year. They are the last of the players not handpicked by Nick Saban I have studied the players for years, and those players who “stayed the course” before Saban’s arrival will always be among my favorites. These are players, like so many already departed, who bled Crimson when times were at their worst. These were not the five-star people who chose to go somewhere without problems, these were the good athletes who came and helped Alabama hold their dignity and turn the Tide back into a winning program. The Tide can never repay them for that sacrifice. Alabama was not then, as it is now, the easy choice to make. In fact it could have been the hardest. Watching USC players depart their program now because of sanctions reminds me that when given that choice, nobody left from Alabama. This last group remaining learned from players like Rashad Johnson that you can stay and be a “nobody,” but work hard, sell yourself to your school heart and soul and see good things happen. Johnson was one of those “nobodies” that hung tough and went on to become a team captain and a first-round NFL pick. “I never once thought about leaving Alabama,” Johnson told me a few years ago. “I was part of something special, even if nobody else outside our team knew it. I was so proud to repay this team for what they had done for me, by helping them get ready for the days when they could contend for titles again.” And that is indeed what happened. As this final group takes the field this year, fans should not forget the end of that era and the contributions that all the non-Saban recruits have made. Enjoy

this last year of them and thank those players for helping the Tide become the juggernaut that it is today: a team that looks capable of being contenders now for years to come. “Alabama is a special place. I was awed by the tradition here and wanted to come and be a part of something this special,” McElroy said. “I knew when I signed, it wasn’t going to be easy, but everything that has happened was worth the work and time.” Players like McElroy, Earl Alexander, Taylor Pharr, Milton Talbert and more are all men that fans not only thank, but revere. Though each has helped in a different way, all have provided steps to help this team get where it is today. Though the best years for Alabama may be the years ahead, this era that is ending is one that Crimson Tide fans should be thankful for. Boys became men. They held the team together in the darker days, and they endured mocking losses like those to the University of Louisiana at Monroe, but they fought back to help Alabama become champions again. They never quit believing in their team or themselves. The talent is being signed and stockpiled, and as exciting as it will be to see them take the field and show why they were rated so highly, fans should really enjoy this last year of the old guard. These players have not only made the Tide proud, but they’ve done themselves proud as well. As one small voice in the sea of the Alabama nation, I thank these players and all the other old guard that went before them for holding the team together, for building it to where it is today, and for making the Crimson Tide champions once again. When this year’s underclassmen get to the last few steps before the finish line, they should remember that the first steps taken on the backs of others are just as important as the final ones made on your own. touchdownalabama.net |

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Coffee Retires from NFL

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oney and fame can’t always buy happiness, and San Francisco 49ers’ running back Glen Coffee realized that within a year of playing in the NFL. The former Alabama athlete has decided to retire, at the age of 23, from the NFL after his absence during training camp practices. There were many speculations and rumors about Coffee’s abrupt departure from the league. The truth came out when he told Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee that he's headed back to school to complete his final six hours for his undergraduate degree and pursue a master's degree. This was a decision that stemmed from his deep religious beliefs. Coffee recently held a press conference announcing his retirement from a sport he once loved and stated, “This has been a tough decision for me, but at this time in my life I feel it’s best for me that I move on from football. I appreciate what the 49ers, my teammates and coaches have done for me, and I wish them a blessed season and all the best in the future.” 49er’s head coach Mike Singletary said in an interview that he was surprise by Glen Coffee’s decision and continued to say that he appreciated the honesty of the running back’s decision to leave. This unexpected twist came as a shock not only to Coffee’s teammates and coaches but to his beloved fans in the state of Alabama. Coffee left the University of Alabama as a junior in hopes of a big future in the NFL. After one season with the 49er’s Coffee felt his faith leading him back to the Capstone. “I feel like it’s His will,” Coffee stated in an interview with the Mobile PressRegister. “I don’t know what call God has for my life, but it wasn’t football. I’ll be happier, not necessarily because I’m without football, but because I’m letting

Him do His work. Whether it was leaving football or leaving something else, another job, it doesn’t matter. I’ll be happy because I’m following His will.” Coach Nick Saban said he was caught off guard when he heard that Coffee had made the decision to retire and depart from the NFL. “I really was surprised,” Saban said. “He was such a warrior-type competitor when he was here and a guy that played just fantastic football for us and improved dramatically in the two years that he was on the team. He had a fantastic year two years ago. He always seemed to be a guy that really loved the game, but I really don’t know what contributed to this, but it did surprise me a little bit.”

In his final season playing for the Crimson Tide, Coffee rushed for 1,383 yards and scored 10 touchdowns. He helped lead his team to the SEC championship in Atlanta and finished the season with a 12-2 record. Coffee accepted that people might not value his decision, but he knows what he did was what is best for him. “It was a struggle for a long time,” Coffee told the Bee. “Actually, when I look back, I feel I never should have entered the draft in the first place. Football was no longer my dream. I found Christ in college. It changed my views on everything. But I still was a football player because it was expected of me; it was something I did all my life.” touchdownalabama.net |

big challenge to match last year’s 8-0 SEC and 14-0 overall continued from page 15 times when the offense has to step record, but the Crimson Tide appears capable of doing it. up and win games for us this year, and there’s going to be Alabama opens the season Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. against San Jose times when the defense has to step up and win games.” State before what will be more than 101,000 spectators in Like the secondary, the special teams must be rebuilt. Bama will have a new kicker, punter, holder, deep snapper and recently-expanded Bryant-Denny Stadium. return specialist. “We’re going to have a freshman punter and kicker NITRIC OXIDE — THE MISSING LINK TO CIRCULATION! almost certainly,” Saban stated. ® Sophomore Jeremy Shelley and freshman Cade Foster are in competiWITH L-ARGININE & L-CITRULINE tion for field goal duties, with Shelley Dr. Louis J. Ignarro was awarded the 1998 Nobel Prize in Medicine for his being very accurate at short and discovery that Nitric Oxide (NO), a signaling molecule produced organically, is intermediate distances while Foster a vasodilator that helps control blood ﬂow to every part of our body. He focuses has longer range with less accuracy. on how Nitric Oxide affects the entire vascular system: By relaxing and enlarging Cody Mandell and Jay Williams are blood vessel, NO regulates blood pressure, prevents blood Mention Ad vying for the punting position. Since clots that trigger strokes and heart attacks, and protects For $10 Discount practice can only determine so much, 1 Mo. Supply against the accumulation of vascular plaque. as with the other inexperienced players competing for playing time, Cardio-FlexTM is a revolutionary liquid supplement containing Saban is searching for individuals a blend of L-Arginine and L-Citruline with other ingredients who can perform in a championship that trigger the production of Nitric Oxide. manner in game conditions. A special teams plus is that Ingram, Richardson and Jones can be used to 2801 Lurleen Wallace Blvd. return kicks, and Jones has experi® Northport • 205.339.3993 ence as a punt returner. www.naturalrx.net It will be difficult and certainly a

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