Touchdown Alabama Magazine Online - Mississippi State 2010

player spotlight: will lowry

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Alabama’s Premier College Football Magazine

Catching Up With

Mickey Andrews

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What's Left for the Tide?

ProConnections:

Kenneth Darby

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November 13, 2010 | Volume 3, Issue 10

In This Issue Pregame Preview

President/Publisher

8

Exclusive: SEC Referees

10

Exclusive:

12

Player Spotlight: Will Lowry

14

Rosters

16

Opposing Team

18

Larry's Lowdown

20

Catching Up With Mickey Andrews

22

ProConnections: Kenneth Darby

24

Tide Trivia

26

Recruit of the Week: Marvin Shinn

31

Game Day Photos

32

Recruiting

34

SEC News

36

Traditions

38

Tailgater of the Week

40

Showing Pride in the Tide

42

Staff

Editor-in-Chief

Bennie Bice Mike Lacy

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Wallace Kinsaul

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Jessica Temple Micah Phillips

Photography

BDL Matt Gaston Mark Lent

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Letter from the Editors: Dear Fans,

After a second loss on the road to an SEC team, the Tide comes home this week while the Mississippi State Bulldogs make the short trip from Starkville. With both teams at seven wins and two SEC losses, they are more evenly matched than in previous years.

The Bulldogs, like five other Tide opponents this season, are coming off a bye week, but they are also playing their first game since the loss of starting defensive lineman Nick Bell. The sophomore, a graduate of Jess Lanier High School in Bessemer, Ala., was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of cancer in September and passed away on Nov.2. Our sympathies are with Bell’s teammates, family and friends as they cope with such an unexpected loss.

Bell had a total of 7 tackles for MSU in the first three games this season and 15 last season as a redshirt freshman. With this being the Bulldogs’ first game after

Roll Tide!

Touchdown Alabama staff Send Letters to: PO Box 3251 Tuscaloosa, AL 35403-3251 205-701-1211 publish@tdalabama.com Advertising: ads@tdalabama.com

MISSION STATEMENT

ON THE COVER

#3 Trent Richardson Running Back Trent Richardson sneaks past LSU's Morris Claiborne and Barkevious Mingo. The sophomore from Pensacola, Fla., rushed for 28 yards and had one tuchdown in last week's loss to the Tigers. Photography by Mark Lent.

Twitter:

Bell’s death, they may have a bit of added motivation coming with them to Tuscaloosa.

While the Tide has virtually no chance at a repeat trip to the national title game following the loss to LSU, there is still plenty of potential for a top bowl game invitation.

And, of course, we still have an Iron Bowl to win! So keep supporting your team!

“Touchdown Alabama Magazine was created to bring Alabama football fans the coverage of their team that they crave and expect, as well as to bring them closer to the action on the field. The University of Alabama has a long college football history, rich with tradition. Each season has added more dynamic players and colorful stories to the Alabama family. It is only fitting that a program with 13 National Championships should have a weekly magazine dedicated to conveying the excitement of the game to its devoted fans.

Touchdown Alabama Magazine strives to be the most up-todate, relevant and exciting magazine covering University of Alabama football. Furthermore, we guarantee in-depth articles, exclusive interviews and quality content surrounding the Crimson Tide. We will never forget who we generate this magazine for... you, the fan.

God bless.”

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| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA November 13, 2010

Pregame Preview

Cowbell -VSCrimson Tide:

Two losses and hopes of bowl eligibility keep the Bulldogs and Tide pushing forward Jennifer Gorham

T

he Crimson Tide will be back home this week after a loss against the LSU Tigers last week. The Tide fell to the Tigers 24-21 in a battle to the end at Death Valley. The Tide fell from the No. 5 spot in the polls to No. 11.

The tide will be fighting it out against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny this weekend. The Bulldogs are ranked No. 17 and have the same 7-2 season record as the Tide.

The Bulldogs are coming back from the devastating loss of a teammate, Nick Bell, who passed away last week after a short battle with cancer.

The Bulldogs are coming in from a

bye week and hope that will give them the momentum they need to take the Tide down. Chris White, a senior linebacker for the Bulldogs, elaborates on the benefits of having the bye week. “[Head] Coach [Dan] Mullen has been telling us all week that if we can go into the bye week 7-2, that means we have momentum and rest going to Tuscaloosa,” White said at a post-game conference. “We have a chance and making it to the top of the league and tonight [against Kentucky] really helped us.”

Since the Bulldogs are coming in from a bye and the Tide is coming in off a loss, Mississippi State may have the upper hand. Both teams are coming into this game with two losses and post-season bowl hopes. The game will be a showdown, with only seven spots between the teams’ rankings. MSU’s Coach Mullen lets his hopes be known about post-season opportunities, but he’s not thinking about bowl games just yet.

“Right now we are just focused on making a run at Atlanta,” Mullen said after the Kentucky game. “We only

have two losses and I believe mathematically we are still alive to win the Western Division. That is our main focus right now.”

As for the BCS standings, Greg McElroy believes that the team knew what the goals and expectations for the Tide were coming into the season. He gives his take on what the BCS means to him and if they have a chance against the rankings.

“I think we control our fate, and we just need to worry about how we execute and I don't think that it's any extra motivation,” McElroy said at a post-game conference. “We want to get to where we want to get to, and with our goals coming into the season being set pretty high. We understood what the difficulties and adversities that the season was going to pose, but we have done a good job of handling things up to this point. We responded well after our loss to South Carolina.

“Last year's team really improved after the bye week,” he continued. “We kind of got better as each week progressed and that's what this team needs to do as well.

Hopefully that will lead to a successful outcome and hopefully a nice ending to a good season.”

The same goes for Heisman winner Mark Ingram. He believes that the team needs to continue to do its best each week.

“To me I just feel like we control our own destiny, so I feel like if we just keep doing what we do and we just keep winning games then everything will take care of itself,” Ingram elaborated at a press conference.

BCS standings, bowl eligibility and pride are on the line for the game set to kick off at 6:15 this Saturday afternoon. If you can’t make it to the stadium, tune into ESPN2 to watch these two teams duke it out.

“I think we control our fate, and we just need to worry about how we execute and I don't think that it's any extra motivation,” PHOTOS BY MATT GASTON

touchdownalabama.net |

9

Exclusive

Thomas Watts

SEC Referees:

Zebras of the SEC or Horses of a Different Color

S

SEC referees are a special breed. Every Saturday, they don black and white stripes to watch over the South’s favorite past time. Their whistles dictate whether teams win titles or simply go back to the drawing board. They have the unique ability to unite rival fan bases and they provide the fodder for football fans to survive the mundane weeks between Saturdays during the season.

Referees have been in the center of the crossfire, particularly during the 2009 season. The center of the controversy was Marc Curles and his crew. The crew called both the LSU vs. Georgia and the Arkansas vs. Florida game during the season. It was Curles who called an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after a Georgia touchdown that set LSU up with a short field for the Tigers’ winning score. It was also the crew that called the personal foul on Arkansas’ Malcolm Sheppard which helped the Gators pull out a wild 23-20 victory over the Razorbacks in Gainesville. The SEC

10

| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA November 13, 2010

"Referees have been in the center of the crossfire, particularly during the 2009 season." suspended Marc Curles and that entire crew after the Arkansas vs. Florida game.

The main call in which Alabama was involved last year was during the annual game against the LSU Tigers.

Alabama was up 21-15 in the middle of the fourth quarter and LSU’s Patrick Peterson appeared to intercept one of Greg McElroy’s passes on the sideline. Replay overturned the call and Alabama kept the ball. The Tide eventually drove down and scored a field goal to push the game to its final score, 24-15. The call has been hotly debated since the game, and both sides have agreed to disagree about how the play should have been called.

The SEC is not the only group that has had trouble with controversial referee decisions. Washington’s Jake Locker was flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct which cost the Huskies the game against BYU. The play was eerily similar to the LSU vs. Georgia call. In all of the cases, there has been an outcry from fans about unfairness. The only crew that got suspended was Curles’ crew last year.

The 2010 season brought a fresh start for the men in stripes. The year has seen a considerable downturn in fan anger over poor officiating. The main SEC controversy was whether there was a fumble on a play in the Arkansas vs. Auburn game. The SEC did not suspend anyone over the call. The outcry from fans has also subsided throughout the year. There have been relatively few blown calls that have had game-changing affects. As Alabama goes down the home stretch towards the post season, the strong officiating trend should continue, treating fans to hard fought, fairly decided football games.

PHOTOS BY MATT GASTON

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11

Exclusive

K

en Gaddy was raised in the small town of Thomasville, Ala. With a population of about 5000, the town was a little larger than Fordyce, Ark., where Paul “Bear” Bryant grew up and played high school football before attending the Capstone. Gaddy attended the University of South Alabama, but, like Bryant, “Mama called” him to UA. Gaddy is the director of the Paul W. Bryant Museum on Alabama’s campus. The museum opened on October 8, 1988, and has been delighting fans and researchers alike with its collection of Alabama sports memorabilia ever sense. Gaddy shared information about the museum and some of his best memories there.

TDAL: How long have you worked with Paul W. Bryant Museum?

KG: Since December 1992 TDAL: What was the greatest day at Paul W. Bryant Museum?

KG: In 1997, the Bryant stamp event TDAL: What was the saddest day at Paul W. Bryant Museum?

KG: Loss of John Forney [Alabama Football Network announcer, who died in 1997] TDAL: Have any classes in history, covering Alabama football, ever been offered at University of Alabama?

KG: Not Bama only, class in college football and sports in media TDAL: Can you put into perspective with a size and shape

12

| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA November 13, 2010

PHOTO FROM BRYANT MUSEUM

Q&A

with Ken Gaddy

Behind the Scenes of the Bryant Museum comparison, the University of Alabama football historical archives that date back to 1892?

KG: Over 100,000 photos, coaches’ films for all sports, most of game programs and media guides TDAL: How many Researchers do you have on staff?

KG: 3 TDAL: What are some of the other services/attractions that Bryant Museum offers in addition to exhibit?

KG: Tours for school groups, after-hours rentals for receptions TDAL: About how many books have you read directly related to Alabama football?

KG: Never counted TDAL: How long is the museum tour?

KG: 45 minutes to an hour for most TDAL: What college football team made the first visit to the Museum?

KG: Bama in 1988 TDAL: In what area(s) has Paul W. Bryant Museum become Eco-Friendly?

KG: Using fiber optic lights, recycling TDAL: What do you envision at Paul W. Bryant Museum in the next 10 years?

KG: Expand web and social media presence, digitize all photos and video, redesign exhibits, continue book and video series. touchdownalabama.net |

13

Player Spotlight

T

wo years ago, Alabama defensive back Will Lowery walked on to the Alabama football team in hopes that one day he would be able to play at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Coming right out of Hoover High School in Birmingham, Ala., Lowery knew a thing or two about winning. What he didn’t know was that, one day, he would get the chance to play for the defending national champions.

Lowery’s former position coach at Hoover, Jeremy Pruitt, was going through his second year at Alabama as the director of player development.

Pruitt talked to Lowery and convinced him to join the football team as a walk on.

"I remember my first day here when I was walking in, one of the guys on the team, Alex Watkins, looked at me and asked what sport I played,” stated Lowery. “He was so surprised when I said football, because I'm so much smaller than everybody."

Coming out of high school, Lowery

14

Jessica Brown

had NCAA division 1 offers from Air Force and Navy. He also considered Birmingham-Southern, but passed on them all.

The 5-foot-9-inch, 188-pound athlete took this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be on the Alabama roster and started practicing with a lot of great impact players.

“I didn't know exactly how I would stack up, but I didn't feel out of my league."

Two years after becoming a part of the Crimson Tide as a walk on, Lowery found himself making the first team defense on A-day in 2010.

"I guess if you'd have told me my freshman year that I'd be on the first-team defense on A-Day, I would've probably laughed or have been a little caught off guard or confused," Lowery said.

Lowery has worked his way to the top, becoming an important factor for the Tide’s defense. He has made many contributions on the field and has proven he deserves to play.

“I need to sit back and shake

| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA November 13, 2010

myself sometimes and thank the Lord for the opportunity that he's given me," Lowery said. "Being here now is a pretty surreal experience."

Lowery has stepped up this year, playing in a rotation that showcased two All-Americans and an NFL first round draft pick last season. He has two interceptions for the season so far and is expected to increase that number.

Many of his teammates and coaches are praising him and excited to see him out on the field adding to a young but talented defense.

"I'll tell you what, I'm so proud of that kid," tight end Preston Dial stated. "He's had a knack for the ball for a long time. I can't tell you how proud I am. He deserves it and he's a great player. He deserves everything he gets."

“Will Lowery is a very competitive guy who did a very good job in the spring, taking advantage of the opportunity,” Coach Nick Saban said. “He’s been here a couple of PhotoS by BDL

years; he understands what’s going on. He’s quick, he’s tough.”

The undersized defensive back came to Tuscaloosa without a star next to his name. He has competed with and against 5-star players who received scholarships coming out of high school. Lowery has made a name for himself on the football field without a football scholarship. He has silenced all his doubters and will always remember the coach who helped him make his dreams about playing for Alabama come true.

“I owe a lot to him," Lowery said about Coach Pruitt.

"He helped me develop as a player then and also now. He has so much knowledge of the game. He brings a lot to the table in terms of helping players develop and come along. It's been nice having him here. He's been a tremendous asset for me.”

"The reality check of it all is, 'where do you want to go from here?"

- Nick Saban, on what the team has to play for in the remainder of the season

"Just because we're Alabama [the young players] think we're just going to capitalize and go out there and beat people, just because of who we are. Just because the name is across [the] jersey. We still have to go out there and strap it on against that team."

- Marcel Dareus, on the young players not doing what to takes to win

"I have three games left that are guaranteed. I'm just going to go out there and just try to enjoy my last three games wearing the crimson helmet and crimson jersey."

- Greg McElroy, on the rest of his senior season

touchdownalabama.net |

15

CRIMSON TIDE

Alabama Football Roster NO NAME 82 Earl Alexander 19 Jonathan Atchison 31 John Baites 4 Mark Barron 7 Kenny Bell 86 Undra Billingsley 69 David Blalock 93 Chris Bonds 67 John Michael Boswell 88 Michael Bowman 37 Hardie Buck 87 Drew Bullard 34 Hunter Bush 20 Nate Carlson 77 James Carpenter 33 Caleb Castille 99 Josh Chapman 57 Marcell Dareus 96 Luther Davis 51 Michael DeJohn 85 Preston Dial 40 DeMarcus DuBose 13 Rob Ezell 76 D.J. Fluker 43 Cade Foster 45 Jalston Fowler 10 John Fulton 95 Colin Gallagher 58 Nick Gentry 6 Demetrius Goode 25 Corey Grant 23 Robby Green 15 Darius Hanks 54 Glenn Harbin 48 Rowdy Harrell 5 Jerrell Harris 30 Dont’a Hightower 15 Mark Holt 21 Ben Howell 42 Adrian Hubbard 22 Mark Ingram 62 Brandon Ivory 35 Nico Johnson 57 Aaron Joiner 75 Barrett Jones 40 Harrison Jones 8 Julio Jones 9 Phelon Jones 36 Chris Jordan 43 Sam Kearns 26 Kendall Kelly 10 J.B. Kern 21 Dre Kirkpatrick 59 Arie Kouandjio 42 Eddie Lacy 37 Robert Lester 95 Brandon Lewis 78 Chad Lindsay 72 Tyler Love

16

P CLS HT WR SR 6-4 LB FR 6-2 TE JR 6-4 DE JR 6-2 WR FR 6-1 TE/DL SO 6-2 OL JR 6-5 DL FR 6-4 OL JR 6-5 WR SO 6-4 WR SO 5-9 LB JR 6-3 DE SO 5-11 RB JR 6-4 OL SR 6-5 DE FR 5-11 DL JR 6-1 DL JR 6-4 DL SR 6-3 LB SR 6-1 TE SR 6-3 LB JR 6-1 WR SR 5-10 OL FR 6-6 PK FR 6-1 RB/LB FR 6-1 DE FR 6-0 PK SR 5-10 DL JR 6-1 RB JR 5-10 RB FR 5-9 DE JR 6-0 WR JR 6-0 DL/LB SO 6-5 LB JR 6-0 LB JR 6-3 LB SO 6-4 DE SR 6-1 RB SO 5-9 LB FR 6-6 RB JR 5-10 DL FR 6-4 LB SO 6-3 OL SO 6-2 OL SO 6-5 TE FR 6-4 WR JR 6-4 DE JR 5-11 LB JR 6-3 DE JR 5-6 WR FR 6-3 LB SR 6-1 DE SO 6-3 OL FR 6-5 RB FR 6-0 DE SO 6-2 DL JR 6-3 OL FR 6-2 OL SO 6-6

WT 207 228 235 210 172 269 255 263 291 225 184 232 181 230 300 163 310 306 279 237 237 240 172 340 221 236 179 194 282 191 186 181 184 260 213 231 260 172 193 227 215 335 238 258 301 235 220 199 232 156 214 232 190 335 212 206 274 277 304

HOMETOWN LAST SCHOOL Phenix City, Ala. Central Atlanta, Ga. Douglass Hendersonville, Tenn. Beech Mobile, Ala. St. Paul’s Rayville, La. Rayville Birmingham, Ala. Woodlawn Charlotte, N.C. Providence Columbia, S.C. Richland Northeast Northport, Ala. Tuscaloosa County Rossville, Ga. Ridgeland Birmingham, Ala. Vestavia Hills Florence, Ala. Florence Wetumpka, Ala. Wetumpka Birmingham, Ala. Air Force Augusta, Ga. Coffeyville CC Birmingham, Ala. Briarwood Christian Hoover, Ala. Hoover Huffman, Ala. Huffman West Monroe, La. West Monroe Hoover, Ala. Hoover Mobile, Ala. UMS-Wright Montgomery, Ala. Jefferson Davis Athens, Ala. Athens Foley, Ala. Foley Southlake, Texas Southlake Carroll HS Mobile, Ala. Vigor Manning, S.C. Manning Atlanta, Ga. Marist Prattville, Ala. Prattville LaGrange, Ga. Hargrave Academy Opelika, Ala. Opelika New Orleans, La. John Curtis Christian Norcross, Ga. Norcross SQ Mobile, Ala. McGill-Toolen Moundville, Ala. Hale County Gadsden, Ala. Gadsden City Lewisburg, Tenn. Marshall County Muscle Shoals, Ala. Muscle Shoals Gordo, Ala. Gordo Lawrenceville, Ga. Norcross Flint, Mich.

Southwestern Academy Memphis, Tenn. East Andalusia, Ala. Andalusia Florence, Ala. Florence Memphis, Tenn. Evangelical Christian Germantown, Tenn. Evangelical Christian Foley, Ala. Foley Moblie, Ala. LSU Brentwood, Tenn. Brentwood Academy Mobile, Ala. McGill-Toolen Gadsden, Ala. Gadsden City Dove Canyon, Calif. Mission Viejo Gadsden, Ala. Gadsden City Beltsville, Md. DeMatha Catholic Geismar, La. Dutchtown Foley, Ala. Foley Pleasant Grove, Ala. East Mississippi CC The Woodlands, Texas The Woodlands Mountain Brook, Ala. Mountain Brook

| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA November 13, 2010

NO NAME 29 Will Lowery 7 Keiwone Malone 32 Cody Mandell 33 Mike Marrow 4 Marquis Maze 24 Nathan McAlister 10 A.J. McCarron 52 Alfred McCullough 12 Greg McElroy 24 DeQuan Menzie 28 DeMarcus Milliner 56 William Ming 97 Brandon Moore 32 C.J. Mosley 66 Brian Motley 64 Kerry Murphy 46 Wesley Neighbors 83 Kevin Norwood 18 Morgan Ogilvie 53 Anthony Orr 2 Tana Patrick 39 Kyle Pennington 27 Nick Perry 3 Trent Richardson 74 David Ross 1 B.J. Scott 94 Darrington Sentimore 90 Jeremy Shelley 79 Austin Shepherd 18 Blake Sims 14 Phillip Sims 71 Allen Skelton 17 Brad Smelley 38 Petey Smith 92 Damion Square 61 Anthony Steen 47 Ed Stinson 46 William Strickland 47 Logan Thomas 51 Carson Tinker 26 Nick Tinker 87 Chris Underwood 41 Courtney Upshaw 73 William Vlachos 84 Brian Vogler 65 Chance Warmack 91 Alex Watkins 49 Ranzell Watkins 2 DeAndrew White 55 Chavis Williams 60 David Williams 20 Jarrick Williams 44 Jay Williams 63 Kellen Williams 89 Michael Williams 9 Nick Williams

P CLS HT DE JR 5-9 WR FR 5-11 P FR 6-4 RB FR 6-2 WR JR 5-10 WR FR 5-11 QB FR 6-4 OL JR 6-2 QB SR 6-3 DE JR 6-0 DE FR 6-1 DL FR 6-3 DL FR 6-5 LB FR 6-2 OL SR 6-3 DL SO 6-4 DE SO 6-1 WR FR 6-2 QB FR 6-0 DL FR 6-4 LB FR 6-3 DE JR 5-11 DE FR 6-1 RB SO 5-11 OL SR 6-3 DE SO 5-11 DL FR 6-3 PK SO 5-10 OL FR 6-5 A FR 6-0 QB FR 6-2 OL SO 6-1 TE JR 6-3 LB FR 6-1 DL SO 6-3 OL FR 6-3 LB/DL FR 6-4 WR JR 6-0 WR SR 6-3 ST SO 6-1 RB FR 5-10 TE SO 6-4 LB JR 6-2 OL JR 6-1 TE FR 6-7 OL SO 6-3 LB JR 6-3 DE FR 5-9 WR FR 6-0 LB SR 6-4 OL SO 6-3 DE FR 6-1 P FR 6-3 OL FR 6-3 TE SO 6-6 WR FR 5-10

WT 188 165 201 235 182 165 190 309 225 195 182 263 305 225 289 319 205 187 198 268 231 188 193 220 302 193 261 165 307 195 214 261 227 250 284 292 252 188 206 220 215 238 263 289 242 300 232 168 180 223 267 203 208 307 270 179

HOMETOWN LAST SCHOOL Hoover, Ala. Hoover Memphis, Tenn. Mitchell Lafayette, La. Acadiana Holland, Ohio Central Catholic Birmingham, Ala. Tarrant Russellville, Ala. Russellville Mobile, Ala. St. Paul’s Episcopal School Athens, Ala. Athens Southlake, Texas Southlake Carroll Columbus, Ga. Copiah-Lincoln CC Millbrook, Ala. Stanhope Elmore Athens, Ala. Athens Montgomery, Ala. Carver Theodore, Ala. Theodore Autaugaville, Ala. Autaugaville Hoover, Ala. Hargrave/Hoover Huntsville, Ala. Huntsville D’Iberville, Miss. D’Iberville Mountain Brook, Ala. Mountain Brook Madison, Ala. Sparkman Bridgeport, Ala. North Jackson Chatom, Ala. Washington County Prattville, Ala. Prattville Pensacola, Fla. Escambia Homewood, Ala. Homewood Prichard, Ala. Vigor Norco, La. Destrehan Raleigh, N.C. Broughton Buford, Ga. North Gwinnett Gainesville, Ga. Gainesville Chesapeake, Va. Oscar Smith Coker, Ala. Tuscaloosa County Tuscaloosa, Ala. American Christian Tampa, Fla. Armwood Houston, Texas Yates Lambert, Miss.

Lee Academy Homestead, Fla. South Dade Tuscaloosa, Ala. Northridge Houston, Texas Cyrpress Creek Murfreesboro, Tenn. Riverdale Ralph, Ala. Tuscaloosa County Vestavia Hills, Ala. Vestavia Hills Eufaula, Ala. Eufaula Birmingham, Ala. Mountain Brook Columbus, Ga. Brookstone Atlanta, Ga. Westlake Brownsville, Tenn. Haywood Charlotte, N.C. Independence Houston, Texas North Shore Dora, Ala. Dora Duncanville, Ala. Hillcrest Mobile, Ala. Blount Thomasville, Ala. Thomasville Lawrenceville, Ga. Brookwood Reform, Ala. Pickens County Fort Lauderdale, Fla. St. Thomas Aquinas

BULLDOGS

Mississippi St. Football Roster NO NAME 1 Chad Bumphis 2 Robert Elliott 3 Brandon Heavens 4 Charles Mitchell 5 Nickoe Whitley 6 Dylan Favre 7 Wade Bonner 8 Chris Smith 9 Leon Berry 10 Cameron Lawrence 11 Ricco Sande 12 Dennis Thames 13 Johnthan Banks 14 Chris Relf 15 Maurice Langston 16 Brantley Adams 16 Jameon Lewis 17 Tyler Russell 18 Brandon Hill 19 Arceto Clark 20 Louis Watson 22 Matthew Wells 23 Sylvester Hemphill 24 Jamerson Love 25 Corey Broomfield 26 Damein Anderson 27 LaDarius Perkins 28 Vick Ballard 29 Nick Griffin 30 Jay Hughes 31 Sam Williams 32 Marcus Green 33 Jamie Jones 34 K.J. Wright 35 Patrick Hanrahan 35 Dexter Shelton 36 Nick Bell 37 Sean Brauchle 38 Heath Hutchins 39 Dane Leake 39 Baker Swedenburg 40 William Berg 40 Derek DePasquale 41 Marvin Bure 42 Zach Smith 43 Asian Ruff 43 William Shumpert 44 Christian Holmes 44 Ivan Muniz 45 Michael Hunt 45 Adrian Marcus 46 Aaron Feld 47 Chris Cameron 47 Jonathan Phillips 48 Emmanuel Gatling

P WR RB WR DB DB QB DB WR WR LB WR DB DB QB DB QB ATH QB ATH DB DB ATH FB DB DB DB RB RB RB DB ATH TE LB LB FB DB DL K P ATH P K K ATH DB ATH FB LB DB LB ATH SN ATH DB LB

CLS HT WT SO 5-10 195 JR 6-2 215 SO 5-10 175 JR 5-11 205 RFR 6-0 200 FR 5-10 200 JR 5-10 200 SO 6-2 210 SR 6-0 205 SO 6-2 225 RFR 5-11 195 RFR 5-11 190 SO 6-2 180 JR 6-4 240 SR 5-10 180 FR 6-4 190 FR 5-8 170 RFR 6-5 225 FR 6-2 202 SO 5-10 180 SO 5-11 180 FR 6-0 190 SO 5-11 235 FR 5-11 175 SO 5-10 180 JR 5-11 195 RFR 5-10 190 JR 5-11 215 FR 5-11 195 FR 5-11 175 RFR 6-1 200 JR 6-1 235 JR 6-0 240 SR 6-4 250 SR 5-11 235 SO 5-9 180 SO 6-3 265 SR 5-10 180 SR 6-1 205 FR 6-4 200 RFR 6-0 190 SO 5-9 180 SR 5-8 180 JR 5-8 190 SR 5-11 195 FR 6-2 195 RFR 6-0 240 FR 6-2 235 FR 6-2 190 SO 6-3 245 SO 5-9 225 SR 6-1 230 SO 5-10 185 FR 6-1 190 2L 6-0 220

HOMETOWN LAST SCHOOL Tupelo, MS Tupelo HS Okolona, MS Okolona HS Bessemer, AL Jess Lanier HS Clarksdale, MS Clarksdale HS Jackson, MS Provine HS Bay St. Louis, MS St. Stanislaus HS Mason, TN Fayette Ware HS Meridian, MS Meridian HS Griffin, GA East Mississippi CC Coldwater, MS Magnolia Heights HS Duncan, SC Byrnes HS Louisville, MS Louisville HS Maben, MS East Webster HS Montgomery, AL Carver HS Meridian, MS East Central CC Ridgeland, MS Ridgeland HS Tylertown, MS Tylertown HS Meridian, MS Meridian HS Columbus, MS West Lowndes HS Verona, MS Shannon HS Mobile, AL St. Paul’s Episcopal HS Monticello, MS Lawrence County HS Olive Branch, MS Olive Branch HS Aberdeen, MS Aberdeen HS Palm Bay, FL Bayside HS Hazlehurst, MS Hazlehurst HS Greenville, MS St. Joseph HS Pascagoula, MS Mississippi Gulf Coast CC New Augusta, MS Perry Central HS Hattiesburg, MS Oak Grove HS Brandon, MS Northwest Rankin HS Scooba, MS Kemper County HS Springdale, AR Springdale HS Olive Branch, MS Olive Branch HS Springville, AL Alabama West Point, MS West Point HS Bessemer, AL Jess Lanier HS Biloxi, MS Mississippi Gulf Coast CC Saltillo, MS Itawamba [MS] CC Memphis, TN First Assembly Christian Columbus, MS Heritage Academy Nashville, TN The Woodlands, TX ColoradoSchoolofMines Vicksburg, MS Vicksburg HS Altoona, AL Susan Moore HS Fulton, MS Itawamba Agricultural HS Fulton, MS Itawamba Agricultural HS Puckett, MS Puckett HS Houston, TX Cypress Creek HS Meadville, MS Franklin County HS Alabaster, AL Thompson HS Homewood, AL Homewood HS Palm Beach Gardens, FL Dwyer HS Starkville, MS Starkville HS McAllen, TX Rowe HS

NO NAME 48 Randy Moulds 49 Chris Hughes 49 Krisjon Wilkerson 50 Chris White 51 Deontae Skinner 52 Ferlando Bohanna 54 Trevor Stigers 55 Quentin Saulsberry 56 Corvell Harrison-Gay 57 Johnathan McKenzie 58 Brandon Wilson 59 Archie Muniz 60 Devin Jones 61 Gabe Jackson 62 Addison Lawrence 63 Dillon Day 64 Eric Lawson 64 Mark Lynn 65 Ben Beckwith 65 Joshua Jackson 66 D.J. Looney 67 Tobias Smith 68 Templeton Hardy 69 Reggie Odom 70 J.C. Brignone 71 Sam Watts 72 John McMillian 73 Paul Thompson 74 Mark Melichar 75 Blaine Clausell 76 Phillip Freeman 77 Sam Latham 78 Damien Robinson 79 Derek Sherrod 80 Malcolm Johnson 81 Robert Johnson 82 Thomas Webb 83 Charles Bailey 84 Reed Gordon 85 Brandon Henderson 86 Michael Carr 87 Kenneth Baldridge 88 Kendrick Cook 89 Allen Tolbert 90 Pernell McPhee 91 Rodney Prince 92 Kaleb Eulls 93 Jeffrey Howie 94 Fletcher Cox 95 James Carmon 96 Shane McCardell 97 Josh Boyd 98 Curtis Virges 99 Sean Ferguson

P WR LB WR LB LB LB DL OL DL DL ATH OL DL OL OL OL OL ATH OL DL OL OL OL DL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL ATH OL OL WR WR TE WR ATH TE WR TE TE ATH DL DL DL DL DL DL ATH DL DL DL

CLS HT WT RFR 6-3 180 FR 6-0 215 FR 6-2 200 SR 6-4 245 RFR 6-2 235 FR 6-0 235 SO 6-5 260 JR 6-2 305 FR 6-3 220 RFR 6-6 265 SO 6-0 245 FR 6-5 255 SO 6-0 270 RFR 6-4 305 JR 6-4 300 FR 6-4 260 FR 6-6 320 SR 6-0 230 FR 6-3 285 SO 6-2 300 JR 6-1 300 SO 6-3 305 SO 6-3 300 SR 6-0 295 SR 6-1 300 RFR 6-4 305 SR 6-1 290 FR 6-3 300 SR 6-5 300 FR 6-7 305 SR 6-6 305 SO 6-1 280 FR 6-8 330 SR 6-6 305 FR 6-2 205 FR 6-0 195 SR 6-5 255 SO 6-1 185 FR 6-4 220 SR 6-2 245 FR 6-1 195 FR 6-2 220 JR 6-3 250 SO 5-11 230 SR 6-4 285 SR 6-1 280 FR 6-4 255 JR 6-4 330 SO 6-4 300 JR 6-7 345 SO 6-5 245 SO 6-3 295 FR 6-3 290 JR 6-3 255

HOMETOWN Sumter, S.C. Mobile, AL Bay St. Louis, MS Vancleave, MS Macon, MS Memphis, TN Ridgeland, MS Coldwater, MS Laurel, MS Starkville, MS Tuscaloosa, AL Houston, TX Olive Branch, MS Liberty, MS Coldwater, MS West Monroe, LA Olive Branch, MS Madison, MS Benton, MS Canton, MS Birmingham, AL Columbus, MS Como, MS Deland, FL Pass Christian, MS Conyers, GA Paragould, AR Madison, NJ Birmingham, AL Mobile, AL Wesson, MS Cordova, TN Olive Branch, MS Columbus, MS Tuscaloosa, AL Hattiesburg, MS Starkville, MS St. Augustine, FL Vicksburg, MS Fayetteville, GA West Point, MS Lithonia, GA Attalla, AL Duluth, GA Pahokee, FL Irondale, AL Yazoo City, MS Medina, PA Yazoo City, MS Baltimore, MD Beaumont, TX Philadelphia, MS West Point, MS Miami, FL

LAST SCHOOL Crestwood HS Davidson HS St. Stanislaus HS Mississippi Gulf Coast CC Noxubee County HS Whitehaven HS Ridgeland HS Independence HS Northeast Jones HS Starkville Academy Northridge HS Cypress Creek HS DeSoto Central HS Amite County HS Magnolia Heights HS West Monroe HS Olive Branch HS Madison Central HS Benton Academy Canton HS Oak Mountain HS Columbus HS North Panola HS Deland HS St. Stanislaus HS Salem HS Paragould HS HarvgraveMilitaryAcademy Oak Mountain HS Baker HS Copiah-Lincoln [MS] CC Briarcrest HS Olive Branch HS Caledonia HS Northridge HS Oak Grove HS Southern Miss Bartram Trail HS Porter’s Chapel Academy Fayette County HS West Point HS Martin Luther King HS Etowah HS Northview HS Itawamba [MS] CC Shades Valley HS Yazoo County HS Itawamba CC Yazoo City HS Mississippi Gulf Coast CC West Brook HS Philadelphia HS West Point HS Norland HS

touchdownalabama.net |

17

Opposing Team

Holding Their Own Bulldogs no longer underdogs of the SEC Troy Farsoun

W

ith Dan Mullen's offense stumbling to one victory after another to become bowl-eligible, riding the shoulders of a defense that very much resembles that of Crimson Tide's 2009 squad, the Mississippi State Bulldogs would love nothing more than to foil the Tide's attempt at another national title run. With a record of 7-2 (their best since 2000), MSU is no longer an SEC doormat.

Quarterback Chris Relf possesses much the same skill set as Ole Miss QB Jeremiah Masoli: a dual-threat who relies much more on his feet than on the strength of his arm. As such, the Bulldogs have become a one-dimensional team, but one few can figure out a way to stop, as Dan Mullen's crew has picked up signature wins against Georgia, Florida and Kentucky this season. Relf has been effective in managing the game so far and picking up yards where needed, averaging of 56.3 yards per game, but he has completed just 53.8% of his passes to post 7 touchdowns and 926 yards on the year.

“We’ve just got to get him cleaned up,” Mullen said. “Once we get him settled down fundamentally, he’s going to be fine.”

# 14 Chris Relf

18

| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA November 13, 2010

T

# 28 Vick Ballard

he Bulldogs' leading rusher looks to continue his touchdown streak with another big one against Alabama. Vick Ballard has shocked analysts and critics who never thought Mississippi State to be a serious bowl contender, much less a power in the SEC West.

Ballard is currently 3rd in the SEC in scoring touchdowns with 13, leading Heisman-trophy winner Mark Ingram and just behind South Carolina's Marcus Lattimore and Auburn's Cam Newton. He and quarterback Chris Relf have made up the majority of MSU's offense, averaging 218.7 rushing yards a game, which ranks just behind Auburn in the SEC. The fact that Alabama's streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher ended in Tennessee makes Ballard an even greater threat coming into Bryant-Denny Stadium.

“If everybody blocks, I've got the easy part,” Ballard said after a close win against Kentucky.

Ballard posted a 54-yard touchdown run against the Wildcats after missing a game with an ankle injury. He posted 103 yards and a touchdown on the day as the Bulldogs powered their rushing offense to 214 total yards on the ground. MSU will have a bye week coming into the Alabama game on November 13th. They will be the fifth team to have a week off before facing the Crimson Tide this season.

Ballard by Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal, Relf from clarionledger.com

The Lowdown

Larry’s

LOWDOWN

Larry Burton

Back to Work What Is Left For The Tide to Play For?

L

ast Saturday's game left Alabama out of the SEC Championship and a shot at repeating as national champions. So you may ask yourself, “What does the Tide have left to play for?”

First of all, they can still play to finish in the top ten, they can play hard to be second in the SEC, but most importantly, the can play like Alabama and still attract the top recruits that could sign this year and in years to come.

In 2008, after losing to Florida in the SEC Championship, Alabama came out flat in the Sugar Bowl and was subsequently bounced by Utah. That feeling of losing bothered the Alabama players, many of whom are still on the team and remember the feeling.

"We didn't have any intensity in that game, we were flat from the close loss to Florida and we never got over it," said Mark Ingram on the subject.

Will history repeat itself this year?

Alabama has not just one tough game left with Auburn, but another tough game with Mississippi State coming up first.

That game should show both the staff and the team just how they'll deal with the LSU loss. That game will show if they have the heart to face Auburn and make it one for the ages, or if it will end up one for the garbage.

This game will show which players will stand up and which will roll over and play dead.

But more importantly, how Alabama chooses to finish this season will say much about how they will be perceived

20

| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA November 13, 2010

Photo by BDL

BOT County Platt Book Ad.indd 1

at the start of next season.

With the number one ranking and all the targets that come from that and being a defending national champion off of their backs, perhaps Alabama can build an identity as a team slowly and off the national radar for a while.

Next year's team could have a different look indeed, or the NFL could have a lockout and keep some juniors in school for their senior years, but that is another story for another day.

What's important now is what these men do now with four more games remaining in the season and the jury still out on this team and its place in history.

Nick Saban and staff have their work cut out for them, not in coaching the X's and O's, but in dealing with the minds of these players who are now wondering what

8/10/10 11:58 AM

went wrong and how this happens to a team that almost everyone believed had the best shot of repeating as Champions in a very long time.

The offensive line gave up big plays, especially QB Greg McElroy that was caused by an untouched rusher, Julio Jones had some more drops and the young defensive secondary gave up huge plays with blown assignments and confusion.

The defensive line continued to let quarterbacks elude sacks, Ingram and Trent Richardson were less than billed and even the special teams had a ho-hum day.

There was a lot more that went wrong than went right in Death Valley on November 6th.

So where does Alabama go from here?

Back to work, back to basics and back to winning. touchdownalabama.net |

21

Catching Up With

Catching Up With

Mickey Andrews Mickey Andrews played for Bear Bryant and coached under Bobby Bowden

Long-time assistant coach member of 1961 and 1964 Crimson Tide National Championship Teams

M

Dr. Donald F. Staffo

ickey Andrews has had some experiences and he’s got some stories. After all, he played for Bear Bryant and coached under Bobby Bowden, two legendary football coaches. He also was a member of two Alabama national championship teams (1961 and 1964), was the defensive coordinator on two Florida State national championship teams (1993 and 1999), and won an NAIA national championship (1971) as the head coach at Livingston University (now the University of West Alabama).

He played with Joe Namath and coached Deon Sanders. Andrews, who along with Bowden retired last December, shared some of those experiences and stories.

During his Crimson Tide career, Andrews at various times played on both sides of the ball, and as a senior on the 1964 national championship team was named second team All-American as a wide receiver and defensive back. He was also an All-SEC selection as a member of the Bama baseball team.

“I’m an Alabama guy,” stated

22

| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA

Andrews, who grew up in the small town of Ozark. “I had the opportunity to play for Coach (Paul) Bryant. What a blessing that was. With Coach Bryant, you had to prove yourself. He was going to push you and find out what your limit was.

When I came to Alabama we had 49 guys on (football) scholarships, and we finished with 13. Now some of those guys who didn’t last were a lot better football players that we were, but Coach Bryant was interested in the guys who finished. Those were the guys he counted on. Coach Bowden was the same way.”

Andrews coached for 45 years, the last 26 under Bowden, whom he helped to build a powerhouse at Florida State. The Seminoles went 14 straight years when they won 10 or more games and finished among the top four teams in the country.

“We won two national championships and played for the national championship three other times,” he said. “I don’t think that will ever be done again.”

Andrews credited former UA player and athletic director Hootie Ingram with getting him the job at Florida State, when

Ingram was the AD at FSU. “Hootie interviewed me at a McDonalds,” Andrews laughed. “He talked to me before I talked with Coach Bowden.

Then later he almost got me to come back here to Alabama.”

Andrews said he actually had three opportunities to come back to Alabama as defensive coordinator, receiving calls from Ray Perkins, Gene Stallings and Mike Price. “The first two times were when we had it going pretty good at Florida State, and one of the things Coach Bryant told me was not to make a lateral move. The last time was toward the end of my career and by then I wanted to be a head coach, not a coordinator. I had other opportunities to become a head coach, but none of those places was where I wanted to be.

“I never dreamed I was going to get too old at Florida State, but then Bobby and I retired together,” related Andrews, who said that he learned more from talking to high school coaches and watching high school practices than he did from college or pro coaches. “High school is where your real coaching takes place.”

PHOTOS FROM BRYANT MUSEUM

Andrews said the best player he ever coached was Deon Sanders, who picked up the moniker ‘Neon Deon’ for his flamboyancy while starring for the Seminoles before going on to play professional football and baseball. “I’ve never been around a more talented player or around a player who worked harder than Deon. He loved to practice. There was not a player on the team who didn’t love him, and not a player on the team that he wouldn’t do anything for.

“I played with Namath and you couldn’t help but love ‘Broadway Joe’ and ‘Prime Time’ because they always delivered. Everyone remembers Joe boldly stating that the Jets were going to win the Super Bowl. Well in a game against Clemson while waiting for the kick-off Deon held his arms up signaling touchdown. Then he received the ball and ran it back for a touchdown.

“Deon just believed in himself. As a junior he was invited to the ceremony for the Jim Thorpe Award given to the most outstanding defensive back in college football. He didn’t receive it but before leaving said, ‘I’ll be back next year to pick up my trophy. The following year he went back and got it.

“One time on an airplane he didn’t

have his seat belt on and the stewardess told him to buckle his seat belt and Deon said, ‘Superman doesn’t need a seatbelt, to which the stewardess responded, ‘Superman doesn’t need an airplane.

“Before Deon left Florida State, I asked him what his goal was and he said, ‘To start in the NFL as a rookie.’ Before his second season I asked him what his goal for that year was and he said, ‘To go to the Pro Bowl.’ Before the next season I asked him his goal and he said, ‘To be the greatest defensive back in NFL history.’ Deon just believed in himself.”

people and situations. “In whatever you are doing, being average is a choice. So is being great. So whatever you’re doing, it’s your choice.”

Along with being the first recipient of the Frank Broyles Award given to the nation’s top assistant coach, Andrews, who has coached two Thorpe Award winners, two Butkus Award winners, two Lombardi Award winners, 18 first round draft choices and sent nearly 80 players to the NFL, has also received national assistant coach of the year awards given by the All-American Football Foundation and Anthon’s Magazine. A member of the State of Alabama Hall of Fame, Andrews also inserted some messages. “Everyone experiences adversity, but the key thing is how you respond. Life is 10% of what happens to you, and 90% of how you respond to what happens,” he said in generalizing that concept to all

Andrews told a story, with the point being that people need to learn from their mistakes. He said, “Wisdom comes from making good judgments, good judgments come from experience, and experience comes from making bad judgments.”

Andrews also expanded on the term “difference makers,” saying that it doesn’t just apply to athletes. “We’ve got a lot of problems in this world. We need difference makers, difference makers in our homes, in our communities and in the country. We just have to reach down and do a little bit extra and try to make a difference in some lives.”

Andrews related that he got married while playing for Alabama. “I was afraid to tell Coach Bryant. When I finally did, he said, ‘Andrews, I thought you were a football player, not a lover.’”

Married on December 31st, Andrews joked that he tells his wife that he never forgets their anniversary. “It’s New Year’s Eve. I tell her I never forget it, but (because of numerous bowl games) I’m never with her.”

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23

ProConnections

Slow and Steady After a slow start,

Kenneth Darby

finally gets his “number one” for the St. Louis Rams Jennifer Underwood

D

uring the 2007 NFL Draft, Kenneth Darby, renowned Alabama running back, was selected in the seventh round by Tampa Bay. After a brief stint at both Tampa Bay and Atlanta, Darby started his career for the St. Louis Rams. At the age of 27, Darby has already begun to make a name for himself in the professional football realm.

Darby started his football career at Alabama as a walk-on in 2003. During the 2004 season, he began to show the SEC what talents he had. The Tide went 6-6 that season under the reign of Coach Mike Shula. Darby was a second-team All-SEC pick and had a total of 239 carries for a career high of 1,062 yards.

He also had a career-high 8 touchdowns, along with 15 receptions for 74 yards and one score.

In 2005, Darby finished the season as one of the most recognized running backs in the SEC. In his senior season, Darby needed 1,000 yards to surpass the

24

record of former all-star Shaun Alexander. However, he rushed for only 835 yards. His total career statistics at Alabama were 668 attempts, 3,139 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Now in his third season at St. Louis, Darby has an overall career of 27 carries, 88 yards, and 1 touchdown. He has played a total of 11 professional games, including 10 with the Rams and one as a rookie for Tampa Bay. Darby scored his first career touchdown in a game against the Redskins in September. “That’s my number one so far in the NFL,” Darby said. “I really haven’t had too many highlights in the NFL as a running back. I have a lot in college, but this is my number one in the NFL. I have got a lot more to come, though.”

Many have wondered if Darby could handle the pressures that come with NFL football and the expectations of the fans.

However, Darby credits his playing at Alabama as a precursor to the experiences he has on the field in the pros.

| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA November 13, 2010

“At Alabama, we sat 101,000 fans, so I was kind of used to it,” Darby said. “I wasn’t really worried about the pressure or the noise of the crowd or anything like that. I was just concerned about my job at hand, executing my assignment like I have been doing all week in practice. I was ready for the challenge and ready for the opportunity.”

Darby has had a difficult time proving his worth in the NFL. But, he commented, “I can’t worry about things I can’t control. The only thing I can worry about is what I have control over and that’s my attitude each day I go out there on that field and what I have got to do to get better.”

Although his current records aren’t what most would deem spectacular, Kenneth Darby has started to make his mark in the NFL. His career at Alabama was one of great success, and he will carry that on to the Rams and prove another success in professional football for the Tide.

PHOTO FROM BROKENSPHERE

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1 2 3

Which bowl game has Alabama played in more times than any other? a. the Rose Bowl c. the Cotton Bowl b. the Sugar Bowl d. the Orange Bowl Alabama’s first five bowl games were all played in the _______. a. Cotton Bowl b. Rose Bowl c. Orange Bowl d. Sugar Bowl

The last time Alabama won a New Year’s Day bowl game was______. a. the 2006 Cotton Bowl against Texas Tech b. the 2000 Orange Bowl against Michigan c. the 1997Outback Bowl against Michigan d. the 1995 Citrus Bowl against Ohio State

4 5

The Tide set an Alabama bowl record with ________ in Bear Bryant’s final game, a 21-15 win over Illinois in the 1982 Liberty Bowl. a. seven field goals b. three safeties c. a 66-yard field goal d. seven interceptions

Which team spoiled Alabama’s perfect 1971 season and national title hopes in the Orange Bowl? a. Texas c. Notre Dame b. Nebraska d. Miami

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Recruit of the Week

Playmaker in the Making Vigor star looks to make impact for Tide Coe Robbins

M

obile native Marvin Shinn is used to getting all the attention from his opposing defenses, being double-teamed on almost every single play. Shinn just told his quarterback to keep throwing to him no matter what. Next thing you know, Shinn has five yards of separation from his defenders and makes a spectacular catch. It’s not cockiness, it’s confidence.

The 6-foot-3-inch receiver has a lot of frame to add on some weight to an already 180-pound body and coach Kerry Stevenson saw his ability to play quarterback, but he feels receiver position is the best fit for him in the future.

“We've known since day one that he was the best quarterback on campus,” Stevenson said. “But it's not the position he's comfortable with or the position he wants to play. With the ball in his hands, he's incredible.”

Shinn agrees that the receiver position is the best fit for him.

“I started out playing wide receiver and I got addicted to it,” Shinn said. “When I got to high school, they started talking to me about playing quarterback, and I was already liking wide receiver.”

Shinn committed to play for the Tide before the 2010 class had even signed. He felt confident in his early decision and wanted to get it out of the way and focus on his next two seasons. Fast forward to the national championship game where Bama’s running game was the dominant force; Shinn

PHOTO BY MIKE KITTRELL, MOBILE PRESS REGISTER

seemed to waiver on his commitment to the Tide after watching a lack of a passing game from the Tide’s offense.

During the offseason, Shinn had a talk with Coach Nick Saban, who reassured him that Alabama was going to get it into his hands. Saban explained Bama quarterback Greg McElroy’s rib problem and the difficulty of establishing a passing game because of the injury. Saban gave his word that they would throw the ball a lot more this year and, so far, Saban has not backed out of his promise. Now Shinn’s commitment is as solid as ever.

It was announced earlier this fall that Shinn will now be representing the state of Alabama along with future Crimson Tide teammate Danny Woodson Jr. in the 2010 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic, which will take place on Saturday, December 11, at Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Shinn will be able to showcase his talent, along with other top in-state talent against Mississippi’s best talent in a contest that has recently been dominated by the Alabama side, which has won 10 of the last 12 contests.

Shinn is listed as a four-star prospect by Rivals. com and is the No. 8 prospect as a wide receiver in the country. In 2009, Shinn had 38 catches for 812 yards and 12 touchdowns, 70 carries for 442 yards and three touchdowns and completed 16 of 35 passes for 372 yards and two scores. He also scored six two-point conversions.

touchdownalabama.net |

31

Game Da

ay P hotos

PHOTOS BY MARK LENT

Recruiting

Mike Parker

Loaded Offense

Tide loading up on offensive side of the ball for 2011, and not done yet

Woodson

Shinn

Danny Woodson, Jr.

6’2” 205 lbs WR LeFlore Magnet High School After coming into camp about ten pounds overweight, Danny Woodson Jr. has not only lost it and kept it off, but he’s having a monster senior season.

One of the greatest positions of need for the Tide will be to replace Julio Jones if he goes pro at the end of this season as expected. Woodson has been compared to Jones because of the way he goes up and gets the ball and plays physical football. However, an even better comparison would be between Woodson and Alshon Jeffrey, since Woodson is also extremely tough to jam on the line and still has enough speed to beat opponents deep.

Woodson’s greatest skill is going up and getting the ball at its highest point and coming down with it. In addition to being an exceptional possession wide

34

Faciane

Crowell

receiver, Woodson also has playmaking abilities. His high school’s offense is based around Woodson; whenever they get in trouble they have him run a fly route, lob the ball up to him, and Woodson somehow comes down with it more times than not. He’s a good route runner, but it is Woodson’s adjustments when the ball is in the air that make him so good. One of the reasons Woodson always comes down with the ball is that he has incredibly strong hands. If he stays in shape and does what he’s supposed to do in the classroom, Woodson will have a shot at getting some playing time next season.

Marvin Shinn

6’4” 180 lbs WR Vigor High School Marvin Shinn has a lot of the same qualities as Danny Woodson Jr., at the

| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA November 13, 2010

Kouandijo

O'Leary

same time their bodies are very different. Long in every way, Shinn has extremely long arms, which help him go up and catch what, for most receivers, would be uncatchable balls.

He’s also enjoying a stellar senior season. Very smooth in his route running, Shinn does not appear to be moving as fast as he really is. He does struggle sometimes with consistently catching the football and needs to put on some weight, but he has plenty of time to work both of those problems out. Shinn is also a deep threat the same way Woodson is. What this means is that when the ball is in the air, they are very good at adjusting their bodies to put themselves in the best position to catch it. Shinn runs great posts and fly routes and should turn into an outstanding prospect. He should also have a fair shot to make the rotation next year.

PHOTOS FROM RIVALS.COM

McFarland Main Office

Malcolm Faciane

6’5” 260 lbs TE Picayune Memorial High School Malcolm Faciane is a true old school tight end.

He is as physically gifted as they come; listing him at 260 is being generous. In fact, some people think he could even grow into an offensive lineman. My guess is he stays at tight end, which is always a point of emphasis in the Jim McElwain offense. He plays scarily similarly to the Tide’s Michael Williams and is physically ready to step on the field. He’s an extremely good blocker and, for a big boy, has surprisingly soft hands. I can see him getting on the field next year just as an added blocker. After he catches the ball, he is not very elusive, but very hard to bring down. The phrase, “They don’t make ‘em like they used to” would definitely apply to Malcolm Faciane. The Tide is very happy with the capabilities Faciane possesses.

A few remaining top offensive targets:

9th Street

69 South

Branch

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The surprising offer was made to JUCO Zach Mettenberger, possibly just for depth reasons. They may still be looking at a wide receiver or two: George Farmer from California could be an option. Another is Nick O’Leary, the No. 1-ranked tight end in the country; we will see how hard the Tide pushes for his signature. The top two offensive prospects remaining on the board would have to be Cyrus Kouandjio and Isaiah Crowell. Kouandijo, offensive tackle and younger brother of Ari Kouandjio, is ranked the No. 2 offensive tackle in the country and well deserves that designation. The Tide is in outstanding shape.

Crowell, in my opinion, is the top running back in the country; he is down to Georgia and Alabama, claiming they’re both even. The way Georgia finishes out the season will go a long way in determining which way Crowell gives the nod. But the Tide is in great shape with Crowell, because of the three back system and playing tail back at the University of Alabama being one of the most prestigious honors in the country.

10/6/10 4:44:47 PM

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For questions or comments, contact Mike at: mwparker1@bama.ua.edu or at 205-799-2137.

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35

10/19/2010 3:18:03 PM

News

Ole Miss at Tennessee 11:00 CBS Ole Miss is coming off a 43-21 victory over Louisiana. The Rebels took an early lead, and the first quarter ended 17-7, but by halftime Ragin’ Cajuns had narrowed the gap to 27-21. However, they never scored in the second half. The Ole Miss defense held the Cajuns to just 215 total yards and forced three turnovers. Ole Miss quarterback Jeremiah Masoli left the game in the first quarter with a concussion. The backup QB, sophomore Nathan Stanley, took over for the remainder of the game, completing 6 of 14 passes for 108 yards Masoli may sit out this week against Tennessee.

The Vols are coming off an even bigger win: 50-14 over Memphis last week. First-time starter, freshman quarterback Tyler Bray, threw for 325 yards and five touchdowns. Memphis drew first blood, but Tennessee had a 40-7 lead at the half. This was the highest score of the season for the Vols, who move to 3-6 on the season with no SEC wins. Ole Miss is at 4-5, with their only in-conference win coming against Kentucky. Each team is at the bottom of its division and is struggling even to be bowl-eligible.

Vanderbilt at Kentucky 11:21 SEC Network Vanderbilt and Kentucky both come in at 1-5 in the SEC, but Kentucky still has time to pull out a winning season at 5-5 overall. Vandy, at 2-7 has the worst overall record in the conference, but incredibly outranks Tennessee in the current conference standings. The Commodores lost their fourth straight game, ending up 55-14 last week on their home turf against the Florida Gators. First-year coach Robbie Caldwell will be looking to salvage some of this losing season.

Kentucky came out with a 49-21 win over Charleston Southern on Saturday after being tied at 14 halfway through the second quarter. The win is the 19th consecutive non-conference win for the Cats.

Senior quarterback Mike Hartline finished 15-of-24 with 272 yards and two touchdowns, and junior wide receiver Randall Cobb finished with 101 yards and a touchdown on four catches. The Wildcats are looking to come out on top again this week for a winning record.

36

| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA November 13, 2010

Georgia at Auburn 2:30 CBS Georgia had a big 55-7 win over the Idaho State Bengals last week, making the Bulldogs 5-5 for the season. 35 points came in the second quarter, and Georgia has scored over 30 points in five straight games for the first time in school history. Freshman quarterback Aaron Murray completed 19 of 27 passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns, including two to junior A.J. Green. Should the Bulldogs manage an upset this week, it will have national implications.

Auburn is the only undefeated team in the SEC and is currently on track to a shot at the national championship, ranked at No.2 in the polls. The Tigers won 62-24 over Chattanooga on Saturday, with 48 points coming in the first half. Junior quarterback and potential Heisman candidate Cam Newton set a career high in passing yards, and senior wide receiver Terrell Zachery did the same on the receiving end.

Auburn, whose bye week comes just before the Iron Bowl, is now 10-0 for the first time in six years and just the fourth time in school history. A poor showing this week could cause a dip in their standing going in to the final weeks of regular season play.

South Carolina at Florida 6:1 ESPN The Gamecocks lost to Arkansas at home last week, 41-20. However, South Carolina, at 4-3 in the SEC, 6-3 overall, still has a chance at the Eastern Division and their first trip to the Georgia Dome for the conference title game. Florida, with an identical record, comes into the game from a 55-14 win over Vanderbilt. The Gators are hoping to retain their spot as one of the top teams in the SEC, but is struggling a bit in the absence of standout quarterback Tim Tebow, who led the team over the past few years.

They did manage to put up an impressive 41 points in the first quarter last week.

The winner of this battle earns the right to represent the SEC East in Atlanta for the 2010 SEC Championship Game, and, although neither of these teams is in the running for a national title, whichever one ends up with the win this week may have an opportunity to knock the western division opponent out of contention.

Other SEC Game

Game Mississippi State at Texas at El Paso at Louisiana-Monroe

Arkansas true Bryan Jones mis ankle injury suff is questionable t out for the seaso require surgery. receiver with 46 touchdowns.

Daren Bates, s has missed two g questionable for sophomore start with an undisclo week.

Florida has tw Douth Carolina missed four gam DTÂ Jaye Howard sprain.

Kris Durham, missed last week with a bruised lu

Kentucky sen straight games w for Vanderbilt th the nation in all-

Ole Miss soph missed last week questionable for

es:

t Alabama t Arkansas e at LSU

CURRENT POLLS AP TOP 25

Time 6:15 6:00 6:00

Station ESPN2 ESPNU TigerVision

freshman and starting nose guard ssed the South Carolina game with an fered during the Vanderbilt game and this week. Junior WR Greg Childs is on with a patella tendon injury that will Childs was the Razorbacks’ top 6 receptions for 659 yards and six

sophomore starting LB for Auburn, games with a shoulder injury and is UGA. Auburn’s Philip Lutzenkirchen, ting TE, missed the Chattanooga game osed injury and is also questionable this

wo starters listed as questionable for the game. Junior kicker Caleb Sturgis has mes already with back pain, and junior d has missed two games with an ankle

, senior starting WR for Georgia, k and is questionable against Auburn ung.

nior RB Derrick Locke has missed four with stinger issues and is questionable his week. Locke was in the top 10 in -purpose yards prior to his injury.

homore starting DE Gerald Rivers k with a high ankle sprain and is Tennessee.

1. Oregon 2. Auburn 3. TCU 4. Boise State 5. LSU 6. Wisconsin 7. Stanford 8. Ohio State 9. Nebraska 10. Michigan State 11. Alabama 12. Oklahoma St. 13. Iowa 14. Arkansas 15. Utah 16. Virginia Tech 17. Mississippi St. 18. Arizona 19. Oklahoma 20. Missouri 21. Nevada 22. South Carolina 23. Texas A&M 24. Florida 25. UCF

USA Today

BCS

1.Oregon 2. Auburn 3. TCU 4.Boise St. 5. Wisconsin 6. LSU 7. Ohio St. 8. Nebraska 9. Stanford 10. Michigan St. 11.Oklahoma St. 12. Alabama 13. Iowa 14. Arkansas 15. Utah 16. Oklahoma 17. Virginia Tech 18. Mississippi St. 19. Arizona 20. Missouri 21. Nevada 22. South Carolina 23. UCF 24. Florida 25. Texas A&M

1. Oregon 2. Auburn 3. TCU 4. Boise State 5. LSU 6. Stanford 7. Wisconsin 8. Nebraska 9. Ohio State 10. Oklahoma State 11. Michigan State 12. Alabama 13. Iowa 14. Utah 15. Arkansas 16. Oklahoma 17. Missouri 18. Arizona 19. Mississippi State 20. Virginia Tech 21. Nevada 22. Florida 23. South Carolina 24. Kansas State 25. Texas A & M

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| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA November 13, 2010

Sporting a New Look Pro Combat Tide Uniforms To Make Debut

A

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labama is one of the few teams to stick to a classic uniform year-in and year-out. The crimson helmets with white center stripes and numbers, the solid crimson jerseys with white numbers for home games, and the single stripe down the pant legs are familiar sights to Bama fans. But this week, the team will sport a new look.

In the football preseason, ten of the top teams in college football were selected to be the first to try Nike's new line of Pro Combat uniforms, which are universally boasted to be more lightweight, breathable and more comfortable and efficient overall than any line of pads before. As Global VP and GM of Nike Athletic Training Kris Aman stated: “The Nike Pro Combat System of Dress merges innovation and inspiration to deliver the lightest uniform in the industry. The designs incorporate cultural cues emblematic of each team's identity and heritage. They're more than uniforms, they're expressions of pride."

Virginia Tech first debuted the jerseys in their opening loss to Boise State, and other elite teams such as Ohio State, TCU, and Oregon State are meant to show off the flashy new uniforms throughout the season. Coming off of a national championship and set to receive a great deal of exposure, the Crimson Tide is set to wear the Pro Combat Uniforms on November 12th, when they play host to the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

The Tide special edition uniform is said to be 37% lighter than current models. The jerseys bear a Houndstooth pattern integrated into the design and an American flag sewn onto the right shoulder in a tribute to veterans of the armed services.

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Tailgater of the Week

TAILGATING TIME Many reasons to tailgate but one cause: ALABAMA FOOTBALL

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irls with cheerleading outfits and boys wearing their jerseys proudly with a football in tow are signs of gameday in Tuscaloosa. There are many different ways to distinguish football in the south, but at the Capstone tailgating takes the town by storm hours before the whistles are blown.

The smell of barbecue lingering around town and the air turning crisp before kickoff can only mean two things: football and tailgating.

Tailgating on the Quad is a free-for-all and most Saturdays fans share the experience. It is about spending an afternoon with friends, family and fans who root for the same team. Whether you come to the Quad to eat barbecue, catch up with old friends or watch some football while experiencing tradition at its best, fans find fun in many ways.

One way is to stake out a spot on the Quad, get a good night’s sleep, put on gameday apparel, tote all the necessities to your tent and then find friends to make the evening fun until the game begins.

Terri Hayes has her own definition of tailgating. Her crew consists of family and friends. She tailgates every home game and has two children at the University. Regardless of

40

| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA November 13, 2010

Jennifer Gorham

whether the tailgate turnout is large or not, she says the main force behind her tailgate is food and friends.

“We bring everything,” she said. “The babies come; sometimes it is a small crowd.”

Her favorite part of the season is beating Auburn. She and her friends travel to some away games, and they go to Ole Miss whenever they can.

But for Misty Vixvy tailgating remains the same each week. Her Vixvy and friends tailgate snags the same location every game. Being a native of Geneva, Ala., it is a change of pace for her crew to visit Tuscaloosa.

“We mainly come for the socialization,” Vixvy confessed.

“We’re not from Tuscaloosa; [we come] predominantly to see friends.”

Her favorite game is Florida, but she enjoys when the Auburn Tigers are in town.

For these loyal fans, tailgating is a great experience each The Hayes tailgating group weekend. Tuscaloosa is rich in tradition and there are many ways to celebrate the tailgating season. Whether or not you’re in the same spot or with the same people each week, attending a game in Bryant-Denny Stadium and tailgating on campus is a blast.

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