Alabama’s Premier College Football Magazine
October 10, 2009
Showdown In Oxford!
TOUCHDOWNALABAMA.NET
Tales From Tailgating
By: Katie Koenig
Southern Dispute Volume 2, Issue 6 $3.00
By: Brad Lake
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General Agent
2514 Paul Bryant Drive Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 and Surrounding Counties
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Managing Agent Local: 205.343.6868 205.343.6860 Hablamos Espanol
The Bryant Museum is seeking information and photos for an upcoming book on the Tide’s World War II veterans. Information is needed on WWII-era military service of former Alabama football players. Ken Gaddy, director of the Bryant Museum, will supervise production of the book to be researched and written by award-winning journalist and author Delbert Reed. Photographs and information should be sent to Gaddy’s attention at the Bryant Museum, Box 870385, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. For more information contact Gaddy at 205-348-9375 or kgaddy@ua.edu, or visit www.bryantmuseum.ua.edu.
October 10, 2009 | Volume 2, Issue 7
In This Issue 8
President/Publisher
Pregame Preview
Staff
Editor-in-Chief
Mike Lacy
Managing Editor
10
Rosters
13
Larry’s Lowdown
14
Southern Dispute
18
Opponents
20
Recruiting
22
Tailgating
25
Player Spotlight
26
SEC News
29
Bama Fans
Bennie Bice
Jessica Temple
Photography BDL Mark Lent UA Media Relations Ole Miss Media Relations Creative Director Jenifer McCormick Graphic Design Cassandra Johnson Tramayne Wright Chief Information Officer Brian LaShomb Website Designer Carey Landon Public Relations
Eric Hudson Katlyn Clark Drew Franklin Christopher Wilson
Advertising Director Advertising Sales
Herb Neu Ron Bush Doug Cate Alex Schroyer
Accounting Department
Danny Glynn
Contributing Writers
Larry Burton Randal Etheredge Jennifer Gorham Anthony Johnson Amanda Kelly Brad Lake Mike Parker
M U L T I M E D I A Next Issue • Bryant Museum • Larry’s Lowdown • Opponent Profiles
Web Content • Post-Game Interviews • Game Footage • Press Conferences from Nick Saban • More From Larry Burton
Weekly Radio Show
• Coming Soon!
All content is the property of Touchdown Alabama Magazine. Touchdown Alabama Magazine reserves all rights to content in both the print and online (www.touchdownalabama.net) versions of the publication. No image or text may be reproduced without written consent from Touchdown Alabama Magazine.
Letter from the Editor
Hello and Roll Tide! Welcome back to Touchdown Alabama! This week marks the half-way point in the 2009 season and the Tide is definitely on a roll! The team has proven themselves at home, on the road, in the SEC and out of conference. This is shaping up to be a banner year for Alabama and we are proud to be part of it! We are glad you have made Touchdown Alabama your source for Crimson Tide news. By all means, let us hear from you! This is your magazine and we need your ideas as much as we need your support. Let us know what you want to read about in the next few weeks and we’ll do our best to get the scoop. As you read, please check out our awesome advertisers! We are featuring some great local businesses, some that specialize in Bama merchandise, on our pages. Many of them are offering great deals only available to our
readers, so take advantage of these offers. If you’re traveling to Oxford this week, drive safely and look for our photographers pre-game. You might end up gracing our pages soon! We’ll be back in print next week with a special homecoming issue, full of the history and traditions that surround the game. See you then!
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
ON THE COVER
97 P.J. Fitzgerald 5-11 198 Sr. Punter
P.J. Fitzgerald runs for a first down late in the fourth quarter on a fake field goal during the game against Kentucky last week. Fitzgerald, out of Stoneman Douglas High in Coral Springs, Fla., has started in all 40 games of his career at Alabama. He currently ranks third in school history in both total punts and punting yards. Photography by BDL.
MISSION STATEMENT
“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 12 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-to-date, 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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6
| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA October 10, 2009
INDEX This is the game that has been hyped up all summer long. We will find out a lot about Alabama and Ole Miss. The burning question is “Can Ole Miss bring it on a major stage.� I believe Alabama has the momentum to win in Oxford and continue to keep on rolling.
This is a pivotal game for both schools. Alabama is trying to close in on another SEC West Championship and Mississippi is simply trying not to out of the race with half the season still to go. Unfortunately for the Rebels, only Alabama will see their wish come true.
>>Winner: Alabama Bennie Bice - Publisher
Alabama 31 - 17 Larry Burton
Ad Name: Generic Football Item #: PBW20099649 Job/Order #:611111-209430
Trim: 7.5x5 | touchdownalabama.net Bleed: None
Closing Date: 10.26.9 QC: SM Pub: Touchdown Alabama
Live: 7.25x4.75
7
Pre-Game Preview
Pre-Game Preview
OLE MISS Road to Atlanta Begins In Oxford
T
Anthony Johnson
he Crimson Tide will square off against the Ole Miss Rebels Saturday afternoon in what figures to be an SEC West showdown. Alabama, despite a statistically non-dominating performance against Kentucky, took advantage of four Wildcat turnovers and was able to quickly take over the momentum and cruise to a 38-20 victory Saturday with relative ease. The Tide wasted no time making a statement on the road against Kentucky scoring on the opening drive in 57 seconds, thanks in part to a stellar kickoff return by Javier Arenas. Rolando McClain assured Tide fans that despite losing linebacker Dont’a Hightower for the season, the Tide linebacker corps would not miss a beat. McClain had an interception, a forced fumble, assisted on an interception and tallied 12 tackles to lead the defense. Courtney Upshaw, making his debut start at the Tide’s all-important “Jack” linebacker position, returned the McClain-forced fumble 45 yards to break the backs of the Wildcats early on in the game. The offense--led by sophomore running back Mark Ingram’s 140-yard, two-touchdown day--was able to control the clock when it mattered most and wear down an overwhelmed Wildcat defense. The Tide, although not as impressive of a victory as expected, managed to string together a 97-yard drive in the second quarter to silence the Lexington crowd. Transfer tight end Colin Peek recorded his first career touchdown on a 3-yard pass from Greg McElroy to cap off the 13-play drive that swung the momentum toward the Tide for good. PHOTOGRAPHY BY BDL
The Ole Miss Rebels began their season as a top-10 team and a trendy, dark-horse contender for the national championship. Many analysts nationwide predicted the Rebels to win the SEC Western division and meet the Florida Gators in the SEC Championship game. Led by head coach Houston Nutt, the strong arm of Jevan Sneed and playmaking ability of Dexter McCluster, the Rebels were ready to take the college football nation by storm—until they met the South Carolina Gamecocks. Offensively, the Rebels faltered in the Thursday night game against a stingy Gamecock defense that held Jevan Sneed to a measly 7-of-21 passing for 106 yards, resulting in a shocking 16-10 upset of then, No. 4 Ole Miss. After the game was on the books, many analysts and sports writers began to believe that the Rebels were not ready to handle the spotlight and the pressure that comes with being labeled a top-ten team. Don’t go to sleep on the Rebels just yet. Ole Miss (3-1, 1-1) rebounded Oct. 3 at Vanderbilt, despite three Sneed interceptions, and came away with a 23-7 victory setting up the most anticipated SEC matchup of the year. Last season, the Tide came into the matchup with the Rebel s ranked No. 2 in the nation and somehow held on for a 24-20 victory, withstanding the Rebels’ fourth-quarter rally. Oct. 10 has been a date circled on every SEC sports fan’s calendar since spring camp started. For the first time in a long time, the Rebels have gained respect and the attention of the college football world. touchdownalabama.net |
9
alabama Roster 10
NO
NAME
POS
CL
82 32 28 49 4 7 44 86 93 67 88 87 77 99 62 57 16 79 96 95 51 85 40 13 97 76 58 11 6 29 33 23 34 15 54 5 30 40 22 3 2 24 78 35 75 8 26 36 81 20 21 42
Earl Alexander WR Jr. Eryk Anders LB Sr. Javier Arenas DB Sr. Jonathan Atchison LB Fr. Mark Barron DB So. Kenny Bell WR Fr. Alex Benson LB Sr. Undra Billingsley TE Fr. Chris Bonds DL Fr. John Michael Boswell OL So. Michael Bowman WR Fr. Drew Bullard LB Jr James Carpenter OL Jr. Josh Chapman DL So. Terrence Cody DL Sr. Marcell Dareus DL So. Thomas Darrah QB So. Drew Davis OL Sr. Luther Davis DL Jr. Brandon Deaderick DL Sr. Michael DeJohn LB Jr. Preston Dial TE Jr. DeMarcus DuBose LB So. Rob Ezell WR Jr. P.J. Fitzgerald P Sr. D.J. Fluker OL Fr. Nick Gentry DL So. Brandon Gibson WR So. Demetrius Goode RB So. Terry Grant RB Jr. Hampton Gray DB Sr. Robby Green DB So. Jeramie Griffin RB So. Darius Hanks WR So. Glenn Harbin DL Fr. Jerrell Harris LB So. Dont’a Hightower LB So. Baron Huber RB/TE Sr. Mark Ingram RB So. Kareem Jackson DB Jr. Star Jackson QB Fr. Marquis Johnson DB Sr. Mike Johnson OL Sr. Nico Johnson LB Fr. Barrett Jones OL R-Fr. Julio Jones WR So. Phelon Jones DB So. Chris Jordan LB So. Kendall Kelly WR Fr. Tyrone King DB Sr. Dre Kirkpatrick DB Fr. Eddie Lacy RB Fr.
HT
WT
HOMETOWN / LAST SCHOOL
6-4 6-2 5-9 6-2 6-2 6- 1 6- 1 6-2 6-4 6-5 6-4 6-3 6-5 6-1 6-5 6-4 6-5 6-7 6-3 6-4 6- 1 6-3 6-1 5-10 5-11 6-6 6-1 6-2 5-9 5-10 6- 2 6-0 6-2 6-0 6-5 6-3 6-4 6-4 5-10 6-0 6-3 5-11 6-5 6-3 6-4 6-4 5-11 6-3 6-3 5-11 6-3 6-0
212 235 195 220 214 160 225 276 280 306 210 238 300 313 354 296 227 306 275 306 241 233 232 170 204 340 264 192 191 190 196 181 224 184 257 227 255 263 212 193 206 191 303 225 289 211 195 230 216 203 185 210
Phenix City, AL (Central) San Antonio, TX (Smithson Valley) Tampa, FL (Robinson) Atlanta, GA (Douglass) Mobile, AL (St. Paul’s) Rayville, LA (Rayville) Trussville, AL (Hewitt-Trussville) Birmingham, AL (Woodlawn) Columbia, SC (Richland Northeast HS) Northport, AL (Tuscaloosa County) Rossville, GA (Ridgeland) Florence, AL (Florence) Augusta, GA (Hephzibah) Hoover, AL (Hoover) Ft. Myers, FL (Gulf Coast C.C.) Huffman, AL (Huffman) Newnan, GA (Newnan) Evergreen, AL (Sparta Academy) West Monroe, LA (West Monroe) Elizabethtown, KY (Elizabethtown) Hoover, AL (Hoover) Mobile, AL (UMS-Wright) Montgomery, AL (Jefferson Davis) Athens, AL (Athens) Coral Springs, FL (Stoneman Douglas) Foley, AL (Foley) Prattville, AL (Prattville) Mobile, AL (UMS-Wright) LaGrange, GA (Hargrave) Lumberton, MS (Lumberton) Northport, AL (Tuscaloosa County) New Orleans, LA (John Curtis Christian) Batesville, MS (South Panola) Norcross, GA (Norcross) Mobile, AL (McGill-Toolen) Gadsden, AL (Gadsden City) Lewisburg, TN (Marshall County) Knoxville, TN (Powell) Flint, MI (Southwestern Academy) Macon, GA ( (Fork Union Military) Lake Worth, FL (Lake Worth) Sarasota, FL (Booker) Pensacola, FL (Pine Forest) Andalusia, AL (Andalusia) Memphis, TN (Evangelica Christian) Foley, AL (Foley) Mobile, AL (LSU/McGill-Toolen) Brentwood, TN (Brentwood Academy) Gadsden, AL (Gadsden City) Birmingham, AL (Grambling State/Minor) Gadsden, AL (Gadsden City) Geismar, LA (Dutchtown)
NAME
POS
37 72 33 4 10 25 80 52 12 56 59 66 64 46 83 18 2 84 39 68 54 13 3 8 74 1 46 50 94 26 94 48 71 17 92 61 47 90 99 51 87 5 41 73 65 97 91 55 60 89 9 27 18
Robert Lester DB Tyler Love OL Mike Marrow RB-HB Marquis Maze WR A.J. McCarron QB Rolando McClain LB Mike McCoy WR Alfred McCullough OL Greg McElroy QB William Ming DL Brandon Moore DL Brian Motley OL Kerry Murphy DL Wesley Neighbors DB Kevin Norwood WR Morgan Ogilvie QB Tana Patrick LB Colin Peek TE Kyle Pennington DB Taylor Pharr OL Russell Rains OL Cory Reamer LB Trent Richardson RB Chris Rogers DB David Ross OL B.J. Scott DB Chris Scott WR Brian Selman SNP Darrington Sentimore DL Ali Sharrief DB Jeremy Shelley PK Travis Sikes WR Allen Skelton OL Brad Smelley TE Damion Square DL Anthony Steen OL-DL Ed Stinson LB-DL Milton Talbert DL Leigh Tiffin PK Carson Tinker ST Chris Underwood TE Roy Upchurch RB Courtney Upshaw LB William Vlachos OL Chance Warmack OL Lorenzo Washington DL Alex Watkins LB Chavis Williams LB David Williams OL Michael Williams TE Nick Williams WR Justin Woodall DB Rod Woodson DB
CL Fr. R-Fr. Fr. So. Fr. Jr. Sr. So. Jr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Fr. So. Fr. So. Fr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Sr. Jr. So. Sr. Sr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Jr. So. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Sr. So. So. Sr. So. Jr. Fr. Sr. So. Jr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Sr. Fr.
HT 6-2 6-6 6-2 5-10 6-4 6-4 6-3 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-5 6-3 6-4 6-1 6-2 6-0 6-3 6-6 5-11 6-6 6-2 6-4 5-11 6-0 6-3 5-11 5-11 6-0 6-3 5-9 5-10 6-3 6-1 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-4 6-4 6-2 6-1 6-4 6-0 6-2 6-1 6-3 6-5 6-3 6-4 6-3 6-6 5-10 6-2 5-11
WT
HOMETOWN / LAST SCHOOL
207 Foley, AL (Foley) 303 Mountain Brook, AL (Mountain Brook) 240 Holland, OH (Central Catholic) 179 Birmingham, AL (Tarrant) 190 Mobile, AL (Saint Paul’s Episcopal School) 255 Decatur, AL (Decatur) 215 Rankin, MS (Northwest) 305 Athens, AL (Athens) 220 Southlake, TX (Southlake Carroll) 260 Athens, AL (Athens) 310 Montgomery, AL (Carver) 291 Autaugaville, AL (Autaugaville) 323 Hoover, AL (Hargrave/Hoover) 210 Huntsville, AL (Huntsville) 180 D’lberville, MS (D’Iberville) 195 Mountain Brook, AL (Mountain Brook) 235 Bridgeport, AL (North Jackson) 255 Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (Georgia Tech/Bolles) 188 Chatom, AL (Washington County) 290 Irondale, AL (Shades Valley) 260 Satsuma, AL (Satsuma) 234 Hoover, AL (Hoover) 220 Pensacola, FL (Escambia) 190 Lakeland, FL (Evangel Christian) 299 Homewood, AL (Homewood) 196 Prichard, AL (Vigor) 170 Birmingham, AL (Ramsay) 210 Vestavia Hills, AL (Vestavia Hills) 280 Norco, LA (Destrehan) 200 Stevenson, AL (North Jackson) 170 Raleigh, N.C. (Broughton) 198 Nashville, TN (Christ Presbyterian) 265 Coker, AL (Tuscaloosa County) 233 Tuscaloosa, AL (American Christian) 272 Houston, TX (Yates) 305 Lambert, MS (Lee Academy) 240 Homestead, FL (South Dade) 275 Hattiesburg, MS (Hattiesburg) 212 Muscle Shoals, AL (Muscle Shoals) 220 Murfreesboro, TN (Riverdale) 231 Birmingham, AL (Vestavia Hills) 205 Tallahassee, FL (Godby) 249 Eufaula, AL (Eufaula) 294 Birmingham, AL (Mountain Brook) 301 Atlanta, GA (Westlake) 290 Logansville, GA (Hargrave) 225 Brownsville, TN (Haywood) 223 Dora, AL (Dora) 272 Duncanville, AL (Hillcrest) 266 Reform, AL (Pickens County) 165 Fort Lauderdale, FL (St. Thomas Aquinas) 221 Oxford, MS (Lafayette) 200 Olive Branch, MS (Olive Branch)
alabama Roster
NO
11
OLE MISS roster
NO NAME
12
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 16 17 17 19 20 21 22 22 23 24 25 25 26 27 27 28 28 29 30 30 31 31 32 33 33 34 34 35 36 36 37 37 39 39 40 40 41 41 42 42 43 43 44 45 45 46
POS
HT
WT
CL
Lewis, Kendrick S Scott, Rodney RB Hodge, Shay WR Snead, Jevan QB Harris, Melvin WR McGee, Jeremy CB Trahan, Patrick LB Green, Marshay CB Walker, Allen LB Grandy, Jesse WR Patterson, Pat WR Stanley, Nathan QB Cotton, Raymond QB Phillips, Brent S Moore, Clayton QB Sanders, Brandon DB Marr, Demareo DB Sawyer, Charles DB Summers, Markeith WR Blanks, Danny WR Tapp, Billy QB Harris, Andrew WR Brown, Johnny S Breaux, Lionel WR Horine, Kyle CB McCluster, Dexter WR Helow, George CB Vaughn, Cassius CB Campbell, Ryan DB Eason, Cordera RB Herman, Derrick DB Davis, Enrique RB Green-Scott, Garen S Neat, Korvic RB Whitehead, Julian CB Thomas, Devin RB Davis, Derrick RB Mitchell, Jared S Benedetto, Ben FB Wilson, Rudy DB Hicks, Reggie TE Epperson, E.J. TE King, Tyler FB Bolden, Brandon RB Crawford, Frank DB Ingram, Fon CB Hoffman, Dan FB Lanciault, Nick S Haynes, Lekenwic DB Tarpley, Matt WR Junaid, Dele DB Powers, Bryan P Bubis, Scott FB Lockett, Kentrell DE Landers, Colby FB Temple, Marcus CB Rollins, Will FB Shackelford, D.T. LB Hartmann, Andy FB Littlefield, Griffin S Trip, Trey LB Greer, H.R. FB Lancaster, Josh LB Anderson, Kenny FB
6-1 5-8 6-2 6-3 6-7 5-10 6-2 5-9 6-1 5-10 6-2 6-5 6-4 6-1 6-1 6-0 6-1 5-10 6-3 5-11 6-4 6-2 6-0 6-0 5-10 5-9 5-8 5-11 6-0 6-0 5-10 6-0 5-10 5-8 5-9 5-10 6-0 6-3 6-1 6-0 6-2 6-2 5-11 5-11 6-1 6-0 6-1 5-10 6-3 5-10 6-1 6-0 5-11 6-5 6-0 5-10 5-11 6-1 5-10 5-9 6-1 5-11 5-8 5-11
195 195 207 220 200 180 235 175 225 155 215 215 225 202 205 208 190 172 205 180 240 200 212 198 185 170 185 195 175 224 185 220 200 160 190 205 242 190 240 205 240 250 224 220 160 200 230 209 220 180 187 217 225 254 243 188 225 230 243 185 225 225 197 210
Sr. Fr. Sr. Jr. RFr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Fr. Fr. RFr. Fr. Jr. Fr. RFr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Sr. So. Jr. Jr. RFr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Fr. Sr. So. So. Fr. Fr. RFr. So. Jr. RFr. Jr. RFr. Jr. RFr. Fr. So. Fr. Jr. So. Fr. RFr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Sr. So. Fr. Fr. Sr. RFr. So. RFr. RFr. Fr.
HOMETOWN
New Orleans, La. Cross City, Fla. Morton, Miss. Stephenville, Tx. Buford, Ga. New Orleans, La. Baton Rouge, La. Bastrop, La. Olive Branch, Miss. Pine Bluff, Ark. Macon, Miss. Tahlequah, Okla. Fort Meade, Md. Farmington, Ark. Louisville, Miss. Suwanee, Ga. Southaven, Miss. Miami, Fla. Olive Branch, Miss. Baton Rouge, La. St. Petersburg, Fla. St. Petersburg, Fla. Charleston, Miss. New Orleans, La. Kingwood, Texas Largo, Fla. Jacksonville, Fla. Memphis, Tenn. Columbus, Ga. Meridian, Miss. Cleveland, Miss. Lynn Haven, Fla. Baltimore, Md. Hallandale, Fla. Lilburn, Ga. San Antonio, Texas Meridian, Miss. Chesterfield, Mo. Metairie, La. Port Orange, Fla. Madison, Miss. Humboldt, Tenn. Suwanee, Ga. Baton Rouge, La. Miami, Fla. Atlanta, Ga. Miami, Fla. Fredericksburg, Va. Rosenberg, Texas Minneapolis, Minn. Sugar Land, Texas Pacifica, Calif. Brentwood, Tenn. Hahnville, La. Bryant, Ark. Manquin, Va. Little Rock, Ark. Decatur, Ala. Cooper City, Fla. Pike Road, Ala. Buford, Ga. Olive Branch, Miss. Mobile, Ala. Richmond, Va.
NO NAME
46 47 48 48 49 51 53 54 55 56 57 58 60 61 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 81 82 82 83 83 84 84 85 85 86 86 87 88 89 89 90 91 91 92 93 93 94 94 95 96 96 97 97 98 99
HT
WT
CL
Hankins, David K 6-3 Simon, Tim RB 6-1 Bigham, Justin TE 6-0 Brumfield, Lamar LB 6-0 Kight, Joel LB 5-8 Cornell, Jonathan LB 6-1 Jones, Jason LB 6-2 Clair, Logan OL 6-5 Brown, Michael OL 6-5 Eley, Nick DT 6-1 Powe, Jerrell DT 6-2 Gaines, Corey DT 6-1 Tatum, Josh OL 6-5 Brent, Zack OL 6-0 Green, Brandon C 6-2 Hickman, Jacob LS 5-11 Jean-Louis, Mark OL 6-2 Phillips, Chad LS 6-1 Gill, Chris OL 6-5 Powers, Preston LS 6-1 Phillips, Wesley LS 6-0 McCray, Emmanuel OL 6-4 Neely, Reid OL 6-6 Geralds, Daverin OL 6-2 Washington, Alex OL 6-4 Johnson, Rishaw OL 6-4 Hawkins, A.J. OL 6-4 Jerry, John OL 6-6 Sowell, Bradley OL 6-7 Massie, Bobby OL 6-6 Harris, Gerald TE 6-6 Cole, William WR 6-0 Rose, Bryson K 6-0 Moss, Vincent WR 5-11 Ryan, Garrett DE 6-4 Allen, Ferbia TE 6-4 Holder, Jordan WR 5-10 Contartesi, Richie WR 5-8 Nuismer, Jack DE 6-3 Jones, Layton TE 6-5 Logan, Ja-Mes WR 6-2 Grant, Terrell WR 6-2 Hardy, Greg DE 6-5 Lucas, Jacarious WR 6-3 Lawhorn, J.D. WR 6-1 Mason, Z. TE 6-5 Sparks, Justin K/P 6-2 Rivers, Gerald DE 6-5 Absher, Richard TE 6-4 Drummond, Craig DE 6-5 Tillman, Marcus DE 6-4 Shene, Joshua K 5-9 Smith, Justin DL 6-3 Armour, LaMark DE 6-2 Conley, Chris P 5-8 Stephens, Emmanuel DE 6-3 Ritter, Andrew K 6-3 Scott, Lawon DT 6-2 Campbell, Tyler P 6-2 Steen, Rodney DE 6-2 Williams, Alex DE 6-4 Laurent, Ted DT 6-1
POS
222 213 231 234 220 235 235 305 305 245 330 305 315 269 305 200 330 267 282 258 215 295 320 305 340 305 305 335 305 317 265 190 193 185 254 240 150 163 220 242 181 209 275 195 180 267 195 240 225 274 273 170 284 275 186 255 205 310 210 235 205 303
So. Fr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Jr. RFr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Fr. RFr. So. Sr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Sr. Jr. Fr. Sr. Sr. So. So. Fr. Sr. So. Fr. Sr. Sr. RFr. So. Sr. RFr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Fr. Sr. RFr. So. Fr. Sr. Sr. So. Sr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Jr.
HOMETOWN
Shreveport, La. Cordova, Ala. Southaven, Miss. Lynwood, Calif. Lithonia, Ga. Azusa, Calif. Albany, Ga. Mustang, Okla. Lexington, Texas Olive Branch, Miss. Waynesboro, Miss. Tallahassee, Fla. Marbury, Ala. Oxford, Miss. Southaven, Miss. Carriere, Miss. Palm Beach, Fla. Madison, Miss. Appleton, Wisc. Collierville, Tenn. Madison, Miss. Jackson, Miss. Jackson, Miss. Baton Rouge, La. Monroe, La. Hammond, La. Lithonia, Ga. Batesville, Miss. Hernando, Miss. Lynchburg, Va. Terrell, Texas Oxford, Miss. Raleigh, N.C. Munford, Ala. Marietta, Ga. Pine Bluff, Ark. Bay Springs, Miss. Lake Worth, Fla. Nashville, Tenn. Greenville, Miss. Houston, Texas Cleveland, Miss. Millington, Tenn. Cleveland, Miss. Memphis, Tenn. Nashville, Tenn. Memphis, Tenn. Ellenwood, Ga. Huntingon, Md. Chicago, Ill. McCall Creek, Miss. Oklahoma City, Okla. Alpharetta, Ga. Nashville, Tenn. Bradenton, Fla. Houston, Texas Jackson, Miss. St. Petersburg, Fla. Little Rock, Ark. Coffeeville, Miss. Tallahassee, Fla. Powder Springs, Ga.
Larry Burton
Larry’s
LOWDOWN
New Mess at Ole Miss This Year?
T
his was the year when Old Miss was going to raise its head above the fray, rise to the top of the SEC West, and challenge Florida for not only a conference championship, but maybe a national one too, and all without a Manning at the helm. This year had two saviors, Houston Nutt, the excitable and always inspirational coach and Jevan Snead, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound ball-tossing Texan from Stephenville. The problem is that against their first SEC test, they proceeded to fall flat on their faces. Houston Nutt has an irritating habit of always failing to meet expectations when expectations are high. It seems he only works his magic in the role of an underdog. Snead was supposed to have little trouble with South Carolina, yet the offense only managed one touchdown the entire game and that was not until the fourth quarter. Snead entered the game as someone who may hoist a Heisman Trophy and left as someone who may need to hoist a hernia truss. They started that contest with an average of 48 points a game and 424 yards of offense in each outing. They left with a lone touchdown and a field goal equaling 10 points and just 248 yards of total offense and they only converted one third down the entire game. In likewise failing fashion they, only converted one of four fourth down conversions. Ole Miss was exposed for what they are, SEC pretenders. It was not just a failure of Nutt to prepare them, or Snead’s inability to make plays, but the offensive line’s total failure in patching together any type of protection and hole opening abilities for a great runner like Dexter McCluster. Nothing against South Carolina, who does field a wonderful defensive team, but Mississippi will face tougher defenses ahead and the prognosis can’t be good. And as for the Rebel defense, they faced one of most anemic offenses in the SEC and yet in the first 30 minutes of play the Gamecocks held a 181 to 71 yard advantage. The sad realization for fans of the Rebels is that they were beaten by one of the worst offenses in the SEC and with bigger, faster and more skilled teams ahead, that fact must weigh on them greatly. Sh ould their slide down the SEC scale continue, perhaps
Larry Burton
Rebel fans will begin to understand why Arkansas was so eager to get rid of Nutt and replace him with someone who could finally live up to the talent and expectations of the fans and players around him. In last week’s game against Vanderbilt, one of the SEC’s worst teams, Mississippi won but looked very sloppy, with Snead throwing three interceptions. In that game, the Rebels were hoping to make a statement that the South Carolina game was merely a fluke. However the lackluster win against a hapless Vandy team and throwing three interceptions show that perhaps Mississippi was overrated from the beginning. Unless something changes drastically and soon, a team that many thought could go through the SEC schedule undefeated may wind up with four conference losses and finish near the bottom of the SEC West. That’s why this week’s game against Alabama is so special. This is not to say that every SEC game is not special, especially for Alabama, who still hopes for an undefeated regular season schedule themselves, but for Ole Miss this is a chance to regain some momentum, and perhaps salvage a season. South Carolina made Mississippi look bad, Vanderbilt left people asking questions and Alabama could make them look terrible. That is what the Rebels are trying to avoid in this game. This could very well be the game that launches Alabama into another SEC Championship game and sends the Rebels championship dreams to crash on the rocks.
touchdownalabama.net |
13
Exclusive
A True Southern Dispute Brad Lake
T
his weekend the Ole Miss Rebels host the Alabama Crimson Tide in a SEC showdown. Two Texas-raised quarterbacks, Jevan Snead and Greg McElroy , both came into this season with high expectations. After coming off a good year last season with 2,762 passing yards, Snead is hoping to win a lot of games for the Rebels this season and has done well so far, only losing once to South Carolina. On the other side of the field will be Greg McElroy, who after five games, remains undefeated in his first season as starting quarterback for the Crimson Tide. No one would have guessed that this early into the season Greg McElroy would be hearing talk about a Heisman, but there is some of that talk stirring around the junior. After his first five games, McElroy has passed for 1086 yards, with 78 completions of 119 passes, giving him a completion percentage of 65.5. One challenge McElroy will face this week will come from the Rebel’s defensive end, Greg Hardy. Hardy has had a sack in the last his last two games, and will be looking for more during this match. It will be up to the Tide’s offensive line to keep him out of the backfield. Even though McElroy has heard some of his Heisman hype, he insists that he is staying focused on the team goals and what his team wants to get accomplished. “It’s nice to get recognition for an award like that, but we are here to win championships, not individual awards,” McElroy said. “I think the only way you’re name can get mentioned in a situation like that is by having the team play well around you, and I think that’s what the team has been able to do up until this point. It’s not something I’m going to be thinking about or cautiously worrying about, it’s just one of those things, and as long as we continue to play well, more players’ names will get mentioned for individual awards. That’s not my goal. That’s not our team goal. We are here to win games and that’s it.” McElroy and his arsenal of receivers will be facing a defense that does not have much strength in their secondary. Marshay Green, one of the top corners on the Ole Miss squad, was playing wide receiver before the arrival of Houston Nutt. So, if Alabama can get a good running game established, they should be able to get some good looks down the field. Weapons such as Julio Jones, Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson, and Marquis Maze should really help the Tide offense wear down Ole Miss’ secondary. “People have to respect both of our strengths, we have a great running game, great running backs and we also have explosive wide receivers,” McElroy said. “The fact that we can stretch the field vertically, horizontally and any other direction possible really works well in our favor, and is something we are definitely going to have to take advantage of in our future.” Continued On Page 19
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| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA October 10, 2009
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BDL
touchdownalabama.net |
15
Opponents
Views From the Other Side Jennifer Gorham
Emmanuel Stephens, #95, DE
A
lthough he is a married father, Emmanuel Stephens does not seem to have let his wife or young son affect his performance on the field. Stephens recorded four tackles, half a sack and forced a fumble in the Rebels’ effort against South Carolina. Every week, the senior from Huston, Tx., must earn his playing time. The Rebels have a number of people that can play his position. “We don’t sit there and say ‘you’re going to get this many plays, and you are going to get this many plays,’” Ole Miss Coach Huston Nutt said of the position battle. “It’s just a feel thing that [assistant coaches] Price and Nix work out during the week.” After graduating from Blinn Community College in Brenham, Tx., Stephens transferred to Ole Miss as the number 25 JUCO player in the 2008 class, according to Rivals.com. In his first season with the Rebels last year, Summers started in all 13 games and recorded 18 total tackles. Although Nutt believed his defensive line could improve, he seems pleased over all with the progress of Stephens and his teammates during the South Carolina game. “The defense was outstanding,” Nutt said. “ I still think we can tackle better in some spots. [Assistant coach] Tyrone [Nix] had an excellent game plan and [assistant coach] Terry Price had those defensive linemen running to the ball. They held up beautifully.”
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| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA October 10, 2009
Markeith Summers, #16, WR
T
hree games into the season, Ole Miss junior Markeith Summers has already impressed. He has had three receptions for 78 yards. He has scored the first two touchdown receptions of his career, and is currently the team season leader in TDs. Rebles QB Jevan Snead sensed Summers’ successful season early on. “He has done a great job for us this year and that is what we expected of him,” Snead said. “We expected him to help stretch the field and make big plays like he has. I saw that in him all through the summer and even last year, and I knew he was capable of big plays.” Originally from Olive Branch, Miss., Summers proved his athletic ability in high school. During his senior year, ESPN.com ranked him as the #3 WR and the #27 player overall. He was redshirted his first year at Ole Miss, but has played in nearly every game since. Summers played well in the Rebels’ first loss of the season at South Carolina. He led the team in receiving with two catches for 60 yards. Rebels Coach Huston Nutt seems impressed with how well Summers has played for the team this season, and only expects him to improve and step up to the plate as the season continues. “We have very high expectations for Markeith,” Nutt said. “He is a guy that gives us a real threat – deep. I think he is only going to get better. He realized that we are leaning on him a little bit.”
PHOTOGRAPHY BY OLE MISS Media Relations
Exclusive, con’t Continued From Page 14
On the other side of the field will be another strongarmed quarterback that is ready to put the Tide’s defense to the test. Snead has remained consistent with an overall passing percent of 50.2, throwing for 728 yards so far this year. In his last game against Vanderbilt, Snead threw 3 interceptions. If Ole Miss is planning on beating the Crimson Tide, Snead will have to be weary when throwing those dangerous balls into close coverage. After obtaining 3 interceptions in their last game, the Alabama defense will be pressuring Snead and looking for some of those same mistakes he made against Vanderbilt. Snead is set up very nicely with a group of talented offensive players. One of these players who will have to be watched very closely by the Tide’s defense is number 22, Dexter McCluster. This hybrid of a wide receiver and running back is an explosive player on the field, and is very capable of game changing performances. He already has 11 catches this year for 155 yards, and is averaging 4.8 yards per carry on the ground. If Ole Miss can figure out a way to open up the run, we could see Snead hooking up with McCluster for several touchdowns, or finding a Markeith Summers over the middle like he did against South Carolina. To win this game, Snead is going to have to keep his head in the game and not let the Tide’s defensive pressure force turnovers. If Mississippi can avoid this and make something happen on special teams, they have a valid chance of winning this ball game on home soil.
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The
Recruiting
Mike Parker
Week 6
For each remaining issue for 2009, I will be analyzing four of the Crimson Tide’s current player commitments and possible future commits, their weekly up-dates, and their status as to how firm their commitment remains to Alabama. ** Verbal Commitment
***Solid Verbal Commitment
**** Signed Commitment
Deion Belue *** 6’, 175 lbs, Corner Deion Belue, from Tuscumbia, Ala., is one of the biggest sleepers in the southeast. Belue plays corner, wide receiver, safety, punt returner and kick returner; he is as well-rounded as they come. Last week Belue’s Deshler High School defeated rival Colbert County High, with Belue scoring on a 59 yard run. With his speed, agility, and aggressive attack style against receivers, Belue always wows the crowd. Because of his versatility, Belue could play a number of positions for Alabama, but, Nick Saban has hand-picked Belue as a lock-down corner, and, with Javier Arenas graduating, Belue should also get a very good look at punt and kick return next year. Belue’s 4-1 Deshler High hosts Wilson High School next week. Ronald Carswell *** 6’, 180 lbs, Wide Receiver Wide receiver Ronald Carswell, from Macon, Ga., has good speed and a steady set of hands. Before he was injured, Carswell caught two receptions in his school’s 17-0 win over Bainbridge High School. You could say Carswell has flown under the radar for most of his recruitment. However, Nick Saban has a knack for spotting talent face to face, and he obviously liked what he saw when Carswell camped at Alabama. At a very competitive Columbine, Carswell took home a prestigious MVP award. If you had to bet your money on which receiver position he will play, slot receiver would be a very heavy favorite. On top of all his other talents, Carswell has a great up-side.
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| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA October 10, 2009
Devonta Bolton **** 6’4”, 230 lbs, Linebacker Originally from Norcross, Ga., linebacker Devonta Bolton committed to the Tide’s first #1 signing class in 2008. Sal Searcy and James Willis should be licking their chops, since this kid is everything a coach dreams of in a linebacker. Though originally recruited as a wide receiver in 2008, Bolton failed to make his grades and is, therefore, attending East Mississippi Community College, where has been playing linebacker. Bolton’s big, he’s fast, he’s physical, he has very good instincts and he takes very good angles to make a play. Already Bolton is the size of Demeco Ryans, but faster. He’s great at taking on blockers, filling gaps, and wrapping up at the point of attack. To say the least, he is ready for immediate playing time. It will be evident fairly quickly if Bolton can catch on to Alabama’s complicated defensive scheme. But, make no mistake about it: this kid is as pure a linebacker as one would ever find. Cade Foster ** 6’1”, 215 lbs, Kicker No stranger to big-time football, Cade Foster is a stand-out kicker and linebacker from Carroll High School in Southlake, Texas, the same high school from which Chase Daniels and Alabama’s current ace quarterback, Greg McElroy, graduated. Even though Carroll High was upset by North Shore High 28-15, Foster did his part, connecting on field goals of 49 and 20 yards. The kid has a leg that resembles that of Sebastian Janakowski. On an average kick-off, you can expect Foster’s football to sail 80 yards with a 4.0 hang time. If you are the opposing returner trying to break one, you won’t want to meet face to face with Foster, who is also an absolute bone-crusher as a linebacker. Even though he will be recruited as a kicker for the Tide, Foster, to his teammates in Southlake, is the leader of a very physically tough defense. PHOTOGRAPHY BY RIVALS.COM
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f there is one word that could be synonymous with Alabama football, it would be traditions. Traditions of winning. Traditions of class. Traditions of tailgating on the Quad, filling Bryant-Denny every Saturday in the fall, and hearing Paul “Bear” Bryant’s voice booming out of the speakers before kickoff. There is one more tradition that you and your family may want to consider adding to your football season: visiting the Paul W. Bryant Museum on the campus of the University. Revered Alabama coach Paul “Bear” Bryant suggested in 1981 that the University needed a museum to showcase the players and coaches who had helped him achieve the greatness that was his legend. The University began planning, and decided the museum should also celebrate the legacy of all aspects of the football program since its beginning in 1892. After careful planning, Bryant’s idea came to fruition when the Paul W. Bryant Museum opened on October 8, 1988. Over 20 years after its opening, the museum still holds true to its ideals of honoring
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| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA October 10, 2009
the football program here at the University. As you progress along the walls of the museum, a history of football at the Capstone is documented in chronological order. Photos, videos and memorabilia illustrate the timeline of football since the first team took the field in 1892. Visitors can see pieces of uniforms, including a full uniform from 1906 and a simple sweater that was typical of an 1896 uniform. Bryant Museum Director Kenneth Gaddy said that the most recent updates to the museum were to exhibits along the wall featuring coaches Perkins through Shula. That entire corner of the museum was torn out and stripped to the walls. The exhibits were rebuilt using more current technology, Gaddy said. For example, each coach now has his own audio section that wasn’t there before, as well as three added videos for each of the six coaches. Gaddy said the update allowed the staff to add a lot more artifacts and let fans get closer to those artifacts. The museum slowly weaves a journey back in time for
visitors. There is a replica of Bryant’s office when he was head coach at Alabama, and one can almost feel the intimidation a player summoned to the Bear’s domain would feel. Details such as Golden Flake posters, a houndstooth hat, and a jacket hanging on the coat rack fill up the wood-paneled room. The museum also showcases the biographies and details of those who have tried to fill Bryant’s shoes as head coach after his reign. A wall near the gift shop is already host to memorabilia from Nick Saban’s time here at Alabama, including a game ball from Saban’s 100th victory with a win over Tulane in 2008. Gaddy said the replica of Bryant’s office is always among the most popular exhibits in the museum. One of the current hot spots in the museum is the Saban segment. Gaddy says he has his own personal favorite aspect of the museum. “One of the things I personally like is that we’ve been able through the years to acquire a lot of original artwork,” Gaddy said. “We have 13 original paintings on display right now.” PHOTOGRAPHY BY Ole Miss Media Relations
Certainly one of the most celebrated exhibits in the museum is the Waterford crystal replica of Bryant’s trademark houndstooth hat. Created by Miraslav Havel and presented by the Waterford Crystal Company of Ireland and the Bromberg Company of Birmingham, visitors may need shades to view the incredible sparkle of the crystal hat. No aspect of the program has been left out. Fans can peruse cases of bumper stickers that declare Alabama number one. They can get within two feet of some of the most prestigious trophies in college football, such as the 1953 and 1963 Orange Bowl trophies and the 1993 Sugar Bowl trophy. Any stretch of wall that isn’t hidden by display cases is adorned by paintings by Daniel Moore depicting historic games. If at any point you want more information on an exhibit, interactive touch-screen computers are set up with relevant clips and history. For the hard-core sports enthusiasts, the museum also hosts a research library. The museum touts it as “the most extensive
Continued On Page 31
touchdownalabama.net |
23
Traditions
Tide Traditions
“Yea, Alabama” Amanada Kelly
W
hen the University first opened its doors 1819, sports teams were banned by the University Board of Trustees because they believed they had a negative effect on the young men enrolled at UA. This practice continued when the school became a military institution, as students had almost no time for fun between going to class and conducting drills. The military system was eventually replaced at the University in the 1890s, and women began to gain admittance to the school. Class requirements became easier, and students often spent leisure time playing sports on the Quad. In 1892, football and baseball were established as varsity sports at the Capstone. Alabama’s football program began to gain prominence and various songs and cheers were sung in celebration at the Tide’s football games, although none were written specifically for the University. After Alabama’s 1926 Rose Bowl victory over Washington, school spirit was at an all time high and the need for an original fight song was overwhelming. The Rammer-Jammer, a student magazine, decided to hold a contest in which anyone could submit an entry, and the winner would “Yea, Alabama” receive a $50 prize. In March 1926, a panel of judges overseen by the Yea, Alabama! Drown ‘em Tide! music department, picked a winning entry. Every ‘Bama man’s behind you, “It is with great pleasure that Rammer Jammer announces the Hit your stride. award of the prize for the new song to Mr. Ethelred Sykes, [class of] Go teach the Bulldogs to behave, ’26, present editor of our contemporary, the Crimson-White,” the Send the Yellow Jackets to a watery grave. paper printed. “We ask that the song be played on every occasion in And if a man starts to weaken, which a battle march is needed, and, if it is liked, for the students to That’s a shame! accept it [as our fight song.]” For Bama’s pluck and grit have Sykes was a student in the School of Engineering, editor of the Writ her name in Crimson flame. Crimson White, and played piano in a jazz ensemble known as The Fight on, fight on, fight on men! Capstone Five. He donated the prize money to have the song musiRemember the Rose Bowl, we’ll win then. cally arranged for the Million Dollar Band. After school, Sykes joined So roll on to victory, the U.S. Air Force and achieved the rank of Brigadier General. Hit your stride, Although numerous other songs have been composed about the You’re Dixie’s football pride, University over the years, none of them have gained the prominence Crimson Tide, Roll Tide, Roll Tide!! of “Yea, Alabama.”
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| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA October 10, 2009
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK LENT
Player Spotlight
Terry
Grant
After gaining 891 rushing yards his freshman year can we expect the same this season? Jennifer Gorham
A
labama running back, Terry Grant, joined The Crimson Tide’s team in 2006 as a four-star recruit and third-best high school football player in Mississippi, according to Rivals.com. The Tide is returning to his home state to duke it out against the Ole Miss Rebels this week. During his senior year at Lumberton High School, Grant was named Mississippi Mr. Football after rushing for 2,730 yards and 35 touchdowns; he was also named an All-State honoree. He suffered from a sports hernia that landed him a medical redshirt during the 2006 season after he played in three games and carried for 22 yards. During the 2007 season he was the top rusher for The Crimson Tide with 891 rushing yards and 176 receiving yards. He scored the first touchdown of the season against Western Carolina University on the first play. Grant’s best game of the 2007 season came when he rushed for a career-high 173 yards against the Vanderbilt Commodores. Last year, Grant’s rushing stats decreased dramatically. His season-best record came against Arkansas with 32 yards on 10 carries. He dropped from 891 rushing yards to 88 in one season and with the introduction of Glen Coffee, Mark Ingram and Roy Upchurch’s play time, Grant’s stats continued to dwindle. Grant said it took some adjustments to go from being a top rusher before his injury to having an off-season after it. “It took a whole year, honestly, to adjust to it,” he said. “It is like you’ve been kicked off the face of the earth. But eventually, you’ll get over it and you realize that I’m not the only guy here. There’s a lot of guys. That’s how I feel about it now.” Grant’s fellow Mississippian and former roommate, Mike McCoy said Grant has a positive attitude about the injury and is staying focused. “Me and him talk about it all the time,” McCoy said. “He tells me all the time that anything worth having is worth the struggle.” For the 2009 season, Grant is in the offensive backfield position. ESPN.com has projected that he will top 498 yards this
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BDL
season. He has a total of 166 yards so far, with 79 of those yards coming from the North Texas game. This season Trent Richardson, Mark Ingram and Roy Upchurch are all powerhouses and Grant’s appearances could be sparse. “It was just like, is it worth it or is it not?” Grant said. “But once I got better, then your mind starts to change. It’s worth it.” To date he has rushed for 1,167 yards, 259 receiving yards and scored a total of 13 touchdowns since the 2006 season. He provides depth at the running-back position, which has proved dominant against the Tide’s opposing defenses. According to Nick Saban, he has options of playing tailback and wide receiver. “He’s a coach’s dream in terms of a guy that has the pride that you want in performance and does everything you want every day, and he has ability,” Saban said. “He’s just at a position where we have two or three other guys that play a lot. It’s hard to play all those guys, so we’re trying to make him sort of a dual-role guy.” “Terry has done a great job for us all year,” he said. “I feel like we’ve done the best we can, under the circumstances, of trying to create a roll for Terry Grant, but I also feel like Terry Grant has a lot to give to our football team and we want to continue to try to develop a role.”
touchdownalabama.net |
25
News
SEC News Randal Etheredge
Auburn vs Arkansas Arkansas really got in the groove against formerly undefeated Texas A&M last week. Quarterback for the Hogs, Ryan Mallett threw for 271 yards and four touchdowns. Arkansas racked up 434 yards of overall offense. Auburn continues to stay under the radar with their explosive offense, and remain undefeated after the game last week in Knoxville. With 459 yards of offense for the Tigers, look for these two teams to be up and down the field all day. Kentucky vs South Carolina Coming off a loss at home to third-ranked Alabama, the Wildcats of Kentucky travel to South Carolina to visit the Gamecocks and are hoping to improve their passing offense after junior quarterback Mike Hartline threw three interceptions against the Tide. With four total turnovers, the Cats are looking for their rushing attack to be more of a factor after running for 133 yards against Alabama. While South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia turned in a quality game against South Carolina State, completing 13 of 19 passes with two touchdowns, the Wildcats are looking to keep their rushing attack at full throttle. Florida vs LSU The Gators are coming off a bye week, giving senior quarterback Tim Tebow some additional rest after his concussion suffered at the hands of Kentucky two weeks ago. LSU is coming off a late nail-bitter against Georgia, with some costly penalties giving LSU great field position. The game-winning rush came with 44 seconds on the clock from senior running back Charles Scott after a 33 yard gallop to seal the deal for the Tigers. With these two teams being ranked in the top 10, tremendous pressure lies on the shoulders of LSU freshman quarterback Jordan Jefferson, who made some bad decisions against the Bulldogs. Look for this game to be intense until the final whistle. Houston vs Mississippi State Mississippi State turned in an unfortunate effort against their out-of-conference opponent Georgia Tech last week. Turning the ball over five times was the overall cause for the loss. State managed two rushing touchdowns last week, first a 10-yard rush from freshman wide receiver Chad Bumphis, who also grabbed a 69 yard pass for a score, and the other coming from senior running back Christian Durce late in the fourth quarter. The new top man in the Heisman race is the
26
| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA October 10, 2009
quarterback from Houston, Case Keenum. Completing almost 70% of his passes, he lead his Cougars two weeks ago in a late game comeback against Texas Tech. Head coach from Mississippi State Dan Mullen hopes to contain the Heisman candidate. Georgia vs Tennessee As Georgia comes off a heart breaker to LSU, can quarterback Joe Cox settle in and lead his Bulldog offense against possibly the best safety in college football, senior Eric Berry? After throwing for 229 yards against LSU last week, Cox needs to find his star receiver, sophomore A.J. Green, who caught five balls for 99 yards and one touchdown in the effort against the Tigers. Look for that match-up down field all game. If Tennessee wants to keep hopes up for the season, they need to improve their third down conversion percent. Last week they converted only four of 17 on third down.
As the senior quarterback is coming off a concussion suffered at the hands of Kentucky two weeks ago, Heisman hopeful Tim Tebow is still questionable in the game this weekend against LSU. Florida needs Tebow in the game to continue their hopes for an undefeated season. Akeem Dent, the Junior middle linebacker for Georgia remains questionable for the game against Tennessee this weekend. Still nursing a hamstring pull, Akeem has not played the last two games for the Bulldogs and is a major factor in their rushing defense. Auburn coach Gene Chizik has suspended junior offensive lineman Byron Isom indefinitely for a violation of team rules. No further details were given. True freshman John Sullen will fill in for the lineman at left guard. Ole Miss senior starting full back Andy Hartmann remains questionable after injuring his knee against Southeastern Louisiana. He has not played since the injury, and he will be replaced by a slew of backups. The senior left guard for Tennessee, Vladimir Richard, has been battling a few injuries this season, with the most recent stemming from his knee. Coach Mark Richt says the lineman may not play in this week’s game against the Georgia Bulldogs.
CURRENT POLLS AP TOP 25
USA TODAY
1. Florida
1. Florida
2. Texas
2. Texas
3. Alabama
3. Alabama
4. LSU
4. LSU
5. Virginia Tech
5. Virginia Tech
6. Boise State
6. Boise State
7. USC
7. USC
8. Cincinnati
8. Ohio State
9. Ohio State
9. TCU
10. TCU
10. Cincinnati
11. Miami (FL)
11. Miami (FL)
12. Iowa
12. Penn State
13. Oregon
13. Oklahoma State
14. Penn State
14. Iowa
15. Oklahoma State
15. Kansas
16. Kansas
16. Mississippi
17. Auburn
17. Oregon
18. Brigham Young
18. Missouri
19. Oklahoma
19. Auburn
20. Mississippi
20. Brigham Young
21. Nebraska
21. Oklahoma
22. Georgia Tech
22. Nebraska
23. South Florida
23. Georgia Tech
24. Missouri
24. South Florida
25. South Carolina
25. Wisconsin
UA SCHEDULE Sep. 5 Sep. 12 Sep. 19 Sep. 26 Oct. 3 Oct. 10 Oct. 17 Oct. 24 Nov. 7 Nov. 14 Nov. 21 Nov. 27
VTech W 34-24 FL Int’l W 40-14 N. Texas W 53-7 Arkansas W 35-7 Kentucky W 38-20 Mississippi Away South Carolina Home Tennessee Home LSU Home Mississippi St. Away Tenn-Chatt Home Auburn Away
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IN W O IRT! T ER T-SH T EN EE R AF
1 2 3
5 QUESTIONS?
Bear Bryant is the only coach in Div. I history to win ______________________. a. Back-to-back national championships twice b. National championships in three different decades c. Three straight national championships d. Four straight national championships
From 2005 to 2007, Alabama played three straight bowl-game opponent from what conference? a. Big Ten c. Pac-10 b. ACC d. Big 12
Which Alabama star has NOT appeared on a Wheaties box? a. Johnny Mack Brown c. Don Hutson b. Bart Starr d. Lee Roy Jordan
4 5
What was Nick Saban’s record in two seasons with the Miami Dolphins? a. 12-20 c. 18-14 b. 15-17 d. 20-12
How many of Alabama’s national championships have come with perfect seasons? a. 3 c. 6 b. 5 d. 7
Contest Rules
Email your entry to: publish@tdalabama.com or mail entry to: Touchdown Alabama Magazine P.O. Box 3251 Tuscaloosa, AL 35403
First 50 correct entries receive a free t-shirt
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Exclusive, con’t Continued From Page 23
collection of archival and published materials about The University of Alabama sports in the world.” Researchers, authors, journalists, and sports enthusiast alike can take advantage of the library during regular museum hours. Gaddy said the museum’s future plans include an update to the theater at the museum, including the seating and projection areas. If you’re planning to visit the museum on a Saturday in the fall, you certainly won’t be alone. “Gamedays are by far our busiest days,” Gaddy said. Several factors can affect attendance at the museum on gameday, including weather, the ranking of an opponent, or how long is has been since we have played the day’s team, Gaddy said. He added that the museum sees an average of 1,500 fans on a slow day, with their highest attendance recorded on A-Day in 2007 before Saban’s Alabama coaching debut. “A-Day is always a big day for us and Alabama never loses that day,” Gaddy said. For those who wish to add visiting the museum to their personal traditions, the Paul W. Bryant Museum is open to the public every day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum is closed on major holidays, and you can check with them by calling 1-866-772BEAR for information on extended hours on game days. The museum will host a brunch for their membership group, Circle of Champions, at 9 a.m. before the South Carolina game. Any fans interested in joining the group may do so before the brunch and attend as well. Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for senior citizens ages 60 and older, and $1 for children ages six to 17. Members and children under the age of six are admitted free. Students, faculty and staff of the University also get in free with their Action Card.
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(205) 342-3339 www.LindseyManagement.com 1800 Links Blvd.
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• Golf Privileges for Residents • Free Tanning • Fitness Center • Business Center • Swimming Pool • Game Room with Billiards • Full-Size Washer & Dryer • All Major Appliances • Furnished Apts. Available • On-Site Management • Beautiful Golf Course Views Available • Free Lindsey Rx Discount Drug Card
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Text “linktusc” or “greentusc” for more information! (Standard Rates Apply)
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