Touchdown Alabama Magazine - UT Chattanooga 2009 - Redacted

Alabama’s Premier College Football Magazine

November 21, 2009

Barron

Picking for the Tide TOUCHDOWNALABAMA.NET

Before the SEC By: Lauren Moranor

Volume 2, Issue 12 $3.00

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

November 21, 2009 | Volume 2, Issue 12

In This Issue 8

President/Publisher

Pregame Preview

10

Rosters

12

Mark Ingram

14

Before the SEC

18

Mark Barron

22

Bama Pays Mocs

23

Larry’s Lowdown

26

SEC News

28

Traditions

31

Bama Fans

Staff

Editor-in-Chief

Mike Lacy

Managing Editor

Jessica Temple

Photography

Creative Director Graphic Design

Chief Information Officer Website Designer

BDL Tim Bailey Bryant Museum Matt Gaston Mark Lent UA Media Relations Jenifer McCormick Cassandra Johnson Tramayne Wright Jessie Landon Brian LaShomb Carey Landon

Reporters

Angel Hufham Victoria Sheehan

Public Relations

Eric Hudson Katelyn Clark Drew Franklin Christopher Wilson

Advertising Director Advertising Sales

Contributing Writers

Bennie Bice

Herb Neu Ron Bush Leslie Housley Alex Schroyer

Larry Burton Amanda Kelly Katie Koenig Brad Lake Lauren Moranor Mike Parker Dr. Donald F. Staffo

M U L T I M E D I A Next Issue • Eryk Anders • Big Thanksgiving Rivalries • Player Matchups

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, LLC 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 Dear readers, Welcome back to T-town for the last home game of this amazing season! We are glad to have been along for the ride, but it’s not over yet! Subscribers, look for us online for the Auburn game and the SEC Championship. We will be back in print for a special limited edition bowl game issue. We hope to be able to capture the importance of this season, which is shaping up to be a remarkable one, and we feel it is important to have the final edition of the year be tangible for our readers.

If you have picked us up outside of Bryant-Denny and you’ve enjoyed flipping through the colorful pages of Touchdown Alabama this season, we invite you to subscribe. That way, you’ll be up-to-date on the latest in Crimson Tide football even when you can’t make it to campus for the game. And more importantly, please let us know! We love to hear from our readers and we’re always open to your comments and sugges-

tions. Thanks so much for allowing us to share with you our passion and excitement for Alabama football!

Our staff will be traveling for all post-season play, so check us out online for photos and information as those games come about. If you are following the team to Auburn, Atlanta or wherever the BCS takes us, look for our photographers before the game, and you could end up in our next “Showing Pride in the Tide” section!

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

#4 Mark Barron Sophomore Defensive Back

Barron leads the SEC in interceptions with six, including two during last week’s blowout of Mississippi State. For more on Barron, turn to our Player Spotlight on page 18.

Phtography by Matt Gaston.

6

| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA

November 21, 2009

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.”

INDEX Barring a catastrophic meltdown, I expect Alabama to dominate in all facets of the game. The second string should see some significant game action in the second half if all goes well.

The Crimson Tide put on a show against Mississippi State last week with a convincing win in Starkville. Alabama showed up big on both sides of the ball.This week’s game against University of Tennessee-Chattanooga should be a tune up game before the Iron Bowl in Auburn on Nov 27. I would like to see the Tide put them away early and rest the starters in the 3rd and 4th quarters. We should have an easy time against the run with some more interceptions. They passed 60 times in their last game.

Our secondary will be tested, however.

Come on now. Is this really something you should be reading? Do you really have any doubts about this game? Of course not.

So this week I’m going to pick an aspect of the game instead. I say we’ll score a TD on EVERY red zone opportunity this week because that will be the thing that Saban focuses on the most this week in practice.

>>Winner: Alabama Bennie Bice - Publisher

>>Winner: Alabama Mike Lacy - Editor-in-Chief

>>Winner: Alabama Larry Burton

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7

Pre-Game Preview

Alabama vs.

Tennessee-Chattanooga

Katie Koenig

A

labama is playing like a team with title hopes. After a slew of games in which the offense wasn’t convincing many in the national media that they deserved to be at the top, the team spent the last two weeks showing everyone they could play a complete game. Last week the Tide defeated an excited Mississippi State team 31-3 in Starkville and pulled out several big plays involving the improved quarterback play and receiver Julio Jones that fans had been asking for. They now face Tennessee-Chattanooga in their last home game of the season.

Alabama looks to use this week against the Southern Conference opponent as a late-season tune-up to continue working out kinks on the offense. QB Greg McElroy has really stepped up in the last few weeks and has been able to spread the ball around. He completed 13 of his 18 pass attempts at

8

| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA

November 21, 2009

Starkville and ended the game with 192 yards and two touchdowns. With three long passes of over 40 yards, the Tide faithful can breathe a little easier as they head down the home stretch of the season towards a Dec. 5 date against top-ranked Florida in the SEC Championship Game. Alabama scored only 4 offensive touchdowns in the four games leading up to its matchup against MSU, but were able to get that same amount in the game against State.

Alabama is still having some struggles on kick-off coverage.

All season long teams have been burning the Tide with big returns that lead to great field position. Mississippi State had two separate opportunities to make big plays off of kick-off returns, and Alabama will need to see some improvement against this Tennessee-Chattanooga team.

Chattanooga is coming off an emotional victory last week PHOTOGRAPHY BY BDL

against the Citadel in the last home game of their 11-game season. Down 21-3 at halftime, it seemed improbably that the team would come back and get their 6th win, but they managed to pull out a 31-28 victory. The win last weekend assured the Mocs of a winning season, which is quite impressive for a team that won only one game last year. First-year coach Russ Huesman has led the team to their first winning season since 2005. They look to finish the season strong and get a chance to play spoiler to Alabama’s championship hopes.

Much like Alabama, Chattanooga has proved to be a secondhalf team. Coach Huesman said their team has to come out playing better from the start after they had to dig themselves out of a large deficit at the half last week.

Part of the reason they were able to pull out the win against the Citadel was thanks to quarterback B.J. Coleman and wideout Blue Cooper. Coleman completed a phenomenal 39 of his 61 pass attempts in last week’s game for a total of 356 yards. Only 17 of Chattanooga’s 373 yards of offense last week came from plays on the ground. Cooper has now had four games with 100 yards or more. It will be interesting to see how their offense will match up against Alabama’s stout top-ranked defense. The UTC offensive line has only allowed nine sacks this season, which is tied for tenth fewest in the nation.

The last time Alabama and Chattanooga squared off was Sept.

3, 1994 when the Tide won 42-13.

NO NAME

82 Earl Alexander

POS CL

HT

WR Jr.

6-4 212

Phenix City, AL

72 Tyler Love

alabama Roster

HOMETOWN

NO NAME

POS CL

HT

WT

OL R-Fr. 6-6 303

32 Eryk Anders

LB

Sr.

6-2 235

San Antonio, TX

33 Mike Marrow

28 Javier Arenas

DB Sr.

5-9 195

Tampa, FL

4 Marquis Maze

WR So. 5-10 179

6-2 220

Atlanta, GA

10 A.J. McCarron

QB Fr.

49 Jonathan Atchison LB

Fr.

RB-HB Fr.

6-2 240 6-4 190

HOMETOWN

Mountain Brook, AL Holland, OH Birmingham, AL Mobile, AL

4 Mark Barron

DB So.

6-2 214

Mobile, AL

25 Rolando McClain LB

7 Kenny Bell

WR Fr.

6- 1 160

Rayville, LA

80 Mike McCoy

44 Alex Benson

LB

Sr.

6- 1 225

Trussville, AL

52 Alfred McCullough OL So.

6-2 305

Athens, AL

86 Undra Billingsley TE

Fr.

6-2 276

Birmingham, AL

12 Greg McElroy

6-3 220

Southlake, TX

93 Chris Bonds

DL

Jr.

6-4 255

Decatur, AL

WR Sr.

6-3 215

Rankin, MS

QB Jr.

Fr.

6-4 280

Columbia, SC

56 William Ming

DL

Fr.

6-3 260

Athens, AL

67 John Michael Boswell OL So.

6-5 306

Northport, AL

59 Brandon Moore

DL

Fr.

6-5 310

Montgomery, AL

88 Michael Bowman WR Fr.

Autaugaville, AL

87 Drew Bullard

6-4 210

Rossville, GA

66 Brian Motley

OL

Jr.

6-3 291

LB

Jr

6-3 238

Florence, AL

64 Kerry Murphy

DL

Fr.

6-4 323

Hoover, AL

77 James Carpenter OL

Jr.

6-5 300

Augusta, GA

46 Wesley Neighbors DB So.

6-1 210

Huntsville, AL

99 Josh Chapman

DL So.

6-1 313

Hoover, AL

83 Kevin Norwood

WR Fr.

6-2 180

D’lberville, MS

62 Terrence Cody

DL Sr.

6-5 354

Ft. Myers, FL

18 Morgan Ogilvie

QB So.

6-0 195

Mountain Brook, AL

57 Marcell Dareus

DL So.

6-4 296

Huffman, AL

2 Tana Patrick

LB

6-3 235

Bridgeport, AL

16 Thomas Darrah

QB So.

6-5 227

Newnan, GA

79 Drew Davis

OL Sr.

6-7 306

Evergreen, AL

84 Colin Peek

TE Sr.

96 Luther Davis

DL

Jr.

6-3 275

West Monroe, LA

95 Brandon Deaderick DL Sr.

6-4 306

Elizabethtown, KY

51 Michael DeJohn

LB

Jr.

6- 1 241

Hoover, AL

85 Preston Dial

TE

Jr.

6-3 233

Mobile, AL

40 DeMarcus DuBose LB So.

6-1 232

Montgomery, AL

13 Rob Ezell

5-10 170

Athens, AL

WR Jr.

7 P.J. Fitzgerald

P

Sr.

5-11 204

Coral Springs, FL

76 D.J. Fluker

OL

Fr.

6-6 340

Foley, AL

58 Nick Gentry

DL So.

6-1 264

Prattville, AL

11 Brandon Gibson WR So.

6-2 192

Mobile, AL

6 Demetrius Goode RB So.

5-9 191

LaGrange, GA

29 Terry Grant

RB

Jr.

5-10 190

Lumberton, MS

33 Hampton Gray

DB Sr.

6- 2 196

Northport, AL

23 Robby Green

DB So.

6-0 181

New Orleans, LA

34 Jeramie Griffin

RB So.

6-2 224

Batesville, MS

15 Darius Hanks

WR So.

6-0 184

Norcross, GA

54 Glenn Harbin

DL

Fr.

6-5 257

Mobile, AL

5 Jerrell Harris

LB So.

6-3 227

Gadsden, AL

30 Dont’a Hightower LB So.

6-4 255

40 Baron Huber 22 Mark Ingram

RB/TE Sr.

2 Star Jackson

6-4 263

RB So. 5-10 212

3 Kareem Jackson DB

6-6 255 Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

39 Kyle Pennington DB

Jr.

5-11 188

Chatom, AL

68 Taylor Pharr

OL

Jr.

6-6 290

Irondale, AL

54 Russell Rains

OL Fr.

6-2 260

Satsuma, AL

13 Cory Reamer

LB

Sr.

6-4 234

Hoover, AL

3 Trent Richardson RB Fr.

5-11 220

Pensacola, FL

8 Chris Rogers

DB Sr.

6-0 190

Lakeland, FL

74 David Ross

OL

6-3 299

Homewood, AL

1 B.J. Scott

DB So. 5-11 196

Jr.

Prichard, AL

46 Chris Scott

WR Sr.

5-11 170

Birmingham, AL

50 Brian Selman

SNP Sr.

6-0 210

Vestavia Hills, AL

Fr.

6-3 280

Norco, LA

DB Sr.

5-9 200

Stevenson, AL

94 Jeremy Shelley

PK Fr.

5-10 170

Raleigh, N.C.

48 Travis Sikes

WR Jr.

6-3 198

Nashville, TN

71 Allen Skelton

OL So.

6-1 265

Coker, AL

17 Brad Smelley

TE So.

6-3 233

Tuscaloosa, AL

92 Damion Square

DL

Fr.

6-3 272

Houston, TX

61 Anthony Steen OL-DL Fr.

6-3 305

Lambert, MS

Lewisburg, TN

47 Ed Stinson

6-4 240

Homestead, FL

Knoxville, TN

90 Milton Talbert

DL

Jr.

6-4 275

Hattiesburg, MS

99 Leigh Tiffin

PK Sr.

6-2 212

Muscle Shoals, AL

51 Carson Tinker

ST So.

6-1 220

Murfreesboro, TN

87 Chris Underwood TE So.

6-4 231

Birmingham, AL

5 Roy Upchurch

RB Sr.

6-0 205

Tallahassee, FL

41 Courtney Upshaw LB So.

6-2 249

Eufaula, AL

Flint, MI

6-0 193

Macon, GA

QB Fr.

6-3 206

Lake Worth, FL

5-11 191

Fr.

26 Ali Sharrief

Jr.

24 Marquis Johnson DB Sr.

10

WT

Sarasota, FL

94 Darrington Sentimore DL

LB-DL Fr.

78 Mike Johnson

OL Sr.

6-5 303

Pensacola, FL

35 Nico Johnson

LB

6-3 225

Andalusia, AL

73 William Vlachos

Jr.

6-1 294

Birmingham, AL

Memphis, TN

65 Chance Warmack OL Fr.

6-3 301

Atlanta, GA

Fr.

OL

75 Barrett Jones

OL R-Fr. 6-4 289

8 Julio Jones

WR So.

6-4 211

Foley, AL

97 Lorenzo Washington DL Sr.

6-5 290

Logansville, GA

26 Phelon Jones

DB So. 5-11 195

Mobile, AL

91 Alex Watkins

LB So.

6-3 225

Brownsville, TN

55 Chavis Williams

LB

Jr.

6-4 223

Dora, AL

60 David Williams

OL Fr.

6-3 272

Duncanville, AL

6-6 266

Reform, AL

36 Chris Jordan

LB So.

6-3 230

Brentwood, TN

81 Kendall Kelly

WR Fr.

6-3 216

Gadsden, AL

20 Tyrone King

DB Sr.

5-11 203

Birmingham, AL

21 Dre Kirkpatrick

DB Fr.

6-3 185

Gadsden, AL

9 Nick Williams

WR Fr. 5-10 165

42 Eddie Lacy

RB Fr.

6-0 210

Geismar, LA

27 Justin Woodall

DB Sr.

37 Robert Lester

DB Fr.

6-2 207

Foley, AL

18 Rod Woodson

DB Fr. 5-11 200

89 Michael Williams TE

Fr.

6-2 221

Fort Lauderdale, FL Oxford, MS Olive Branch, MS

NO NAME

2 Wynn, Erroll

POS

HT

WT

RB 5-11 209

CL

HOMETOWN

Sr.

Jonesboro, Ga.

3 Buckhalter, Justin WR 6-3

202

Sr.

Collins, Miss.

4 Bradford, Joel

NO NAME

POS

HT

WT

CL

HOMETOWN

46 Beard, Josh

DE

6-1

250

Sr.

Lincolnton, Ga.

47 Shields, Corey

DB

6-3

190

Fr.

Conyers, Ga.

48 Heatherly, Shane

LB

6-3

210

Fr.

Waynesville, N.C.

6-0

165

So.

Chattanooga, Tenn

5 Thornton, Joseph LB

6-2

215

Sr.

Stone Mountain, Ga.

49 Tillman, David

DB

5-9

190

Fr.

Memphis, Tenn.

6 Lewis-Harris, Chris DB 5-11 175

So.

Smyrna, Ga.

50 Green, Thomas

LB

6-0

220

So.

Hixson, Tenn.

7 Hughes, Garrett

WR 6-4

215

Jr.

Lawrenceburg, Tenn.

51 McGowan, Ryan

DB

6-1

205

So.

Whitwell, Tenn.

8 Pitchford, Chris

WR 6-0

180

Jr.

Knoxville, Tenn.

52 Faatiliga, Doug

LB

6-3

258

Sr.

San Francisco, Calif.

9 Awuah, Chris

RB

5-9

190

Fr.

Marietta, Ga.

53 Miller, Adam

OL

6-4

260

Fr.

Cohutta, Ga.

10 Allison, Sloan

WR 6-3

210

So.

Ooltewah, Tenn.

54 Wilson, Austin

OL

6-3

280

Fr.

Dacula, Ga.

11 Woods, Clint

WR 6-2

215

Sr.

Birmingham, Ala.

55 White, Jacob

FB 5-10 200

Fr.

Madisonville, Tenn.

12 Gault, Jare

QB

6-3

220

Sr.

Boiling Springs, Miss.

56 Craig, Nick

DL

6-2

295

So.

Carrollton, Ga.

13 Pastore, Tony

QB

6-4

214

Sr.

Woodstock, Ga.

57 Cathey, Tucker

OL

6-2

315

Fr.

Franklin, Tenn.

14 Romans, Cody

QB

6-2

175

Jr.

Signal Mountain, Tenn.

58 Francis, Jake

OL

6-2

270

Fr.

Marietta, Ga.

15 Nichols, Graham

QB

6-3

190

Fr.

Franklin, Tenn.

59 Dothard, Wes

LB

6-1

210

Fr.

Carrollton, Ga.

16 Norfleet, Jaron

OLB 6-3

250

Jr.

Nashville, Tenn.

60 Gipson, Nick

OL

6-2

290

So.

Marietta, Ga.

17 Kermah, Shaun

RB

6-1

235

Sr.

Los Angeles, Calif.

62 Clemons, David

OL

6-2

270

Fr.

Calhoun, Ga.

18 Cooper, Blue

WR 6-4

200

Sr.

Rome, Ga.

63 Hernandez, Irvin

OL 5-10 275

Fr.

Greeneville, Tenn.

19 Coleman, B.J.

QB

210

So.

Chattanooga, Tenn.

64 Nease, Steven

OL

6-0

250

Fr.

Greeneville, Tenn.

20 Swafford, Tony

LB 5-11 186

Sr.

Chattanooga, Tenn.

65 Hewitt, Will

OL

6-4

290

Fr.

Sevierville, Tenn.

21 Skrine, Buster

DB 5-10 180

Jr.

Woodstock, Ga.

70 Harr, Chris

OL

6-6

260

Jr.

Chattanooga, Tenn.

22 Tippit, Jordan

DB

6-0

185

So.

Huntsville, Ala.

71 Harris, Omre

OL

6-2

280

So.

Atlanta, Ga.

23 Dothard, J.D.

DB

6-0

190

So.

Carrollton, Ga.

72 Garcia, Bryce

OL

6-4

320

Sr.

Las Vegas, Nev.

24 Marshall, Christopher WR 6-1

185

Sr.

Pasadena, Calif.

73 Galyon, Justin

OL

6-4

270

Jr.

Powell, Tenn.

25 Hammons, Mike

PK 5-10 175

So.

Benton, Tenn.

74 Hurless, T.J.

OL

6-4

310

Jr.

Suwanee, Ga.

26 Jackson, J.J.

RB

195

Fr.

Marietta, Ga.

75 Dockery, Hunter

OL

6-4

300

Fr.

Newport, Tenn.

27 Wise, Kadeem

DB 5-10 170

Fr.

Lawrenceville, Ga.

76 Tate, Dustin

OL

6-5

280

Fr.

Rocky Face, Ga.

28 Fitzgerald, Bryan

RB 5-10 220

Sr.

Memphis, Tenn.

78 Brewer, Darien

OL

6-5

255

Fr.

Chattanooga, Tenn.

29 Harrison, Robert

DB

5-9

160

Fr.

Marietta, Ga.

80 Veres, Jeff

WR 5-11 190

Fr.

Thompson’s Station, Tenn.

30 Clemmons, Arsenio LB

6-1

205

Fr.

Atlanta, Ga.

81 Anthony, Marlon

WR 6-5

185

Fr.

Acworth, Ga.

31 Henry, Briant

DB

6-0

180

Fr.

Stone Mountain, Ga.

82 Blake, Josh

WR 6-0

170

Fr.

Chattnooga, Tenn.

32 Dyer, Bo

RB

6-1

205

Fr.

Gatlinburg, Tenn.

83 Bass, Austin

PK

170

Fr.

Franklin, Tenn.

33 Brooks, Will

FB

6-1

225

Fr.

White Pine, Tenn.

84 Toney, Randall

RB 5-10 210

So.

Hendersonville, Tenn.

34 Ellzey, Courtland

FB

6-0

227

Jr.

Jacksonville, Fla.

85 McDermott, Trace RB 5-10 195

Jr.

Athens, Tenn.

35 Key, D.J.

DB

6-0

180

Fr.

Centerville, Tenn.

86 Carter, Michael

DL

6-2

220

Fr.

Chattanooga, Tenn.

36 Miller, Gunner

LB

6-1

210

Fr.

Chattanooga, Tenn.

87 Harper, Derek

TE

6-0

200

Fr.

Knoxville, Tenn.

37 Smigelsky, Steven LB

6-2

224

Sr.

Gainesville, Ga.

88 Davis, Terrance

WR 5-11 185

Fr.

Conyers, Ga.

38 Wren, Darius

RB 5-10 198

Fr.

Meridian, Miss.

89 Coddington, Blake OL

6-3

230

Fr.

Chattanooga, Tenn.

39 Cope, Don

DB 5-10 180

Fr.

Maryville, Tenn.

90 Taylor, B.J.

DL

6-3

298

Sr.

Cherokee, Ala.

40 Gibson, Louis

DE

260

Fr.

Huntsville, Ala.

91 Slowey, Michael

DL

6-5

335

Fr.

Brentwood, Tenn.

41 Rosenbaum, Connor DB 5-10 180

Fr.

Dublin, Ohio

94 Evans, Pete

DL

6-3

240

So.

Maryville, Tenn.

42 Oliver, Brock

OL

200

So.

Ooltewah, Tenn.

95 Williams, Joshua

DE

6-3

210

Fr.

Griffin, Ga.

43 Camay, Craig

PK 5-11 190

Sr.

Marietta, Ga.

96 Carr, La’Nard

DL

6-3

250

So.

Alpharetta, Ga.

44 Geist, Ryan

TE

6-3

215

So.

Knoxville, Tenn.

98 Lee, De’Markus

DL

6-4

240

So.

Alexandria, Va.

45 Consiglio, Ryan

LB

6-1

210

So.

Franklin, Tenn.

99 Hill, Durlandis

DE

6-3

220

Fr.

Newnan, Ga.

6-5

5-9

6-4

6-1

6-2

UT Chattanooga ROSTER

DB

11

Achievements

Heisman Watch

Mark Ingram Mark Ingram leads the Crimson Tide with 1,148 rushing yards and has caught 24 passes for 216 yard. The sophomore out of Flint, Mich., has 11 total touchdowns - eight rushing and three receiving. He are a few of his achievements to date: • Sixth nationally and first in the SEC in rushing yards per game (127.56) • Sixth in the SEC in overall scoring (including kickers) • Leads the nation in rushes of 10 yards or more with 38, and of 20 yards or more with 16 • Second in the SEC with 151.56 all-purpose yards per game • Has had five 100-yard rushing games this season • Has lost just one fumble in 349 career touches • Currently averaging 178 yards per game against top-25 teams • Named a Midseason All-American by CBSsportsline and Sporting News • SEC Player of the Week following the Virginia Tech and South Carolina games • Candidate for the Doak Walker Award • Candidate for First-Team All-America honors • Semifinalist for the Maxwell Award • Candidate for the Heisman Trophy

12

| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA

November 21, 2009

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT GASTON

James Hudson’s The Dream

J

ames Hudson is the lead photographer at Echoes Marketing. James grew up in northern Tuscaloosa County, working on the family farm from the time he was old enough to get in the field until he left home for college. He still enjoys going back to work there when he has the chance or when his family needs him. James is twenty-seven years old and married to Sandra Hunt Hudson of Tuscaloosa. They have an eight month old son, Parker. Hudson is self-taught and believes that is a huge advantage in photography. He has developed a style of his own, called High Dynamic Range (HDR). His skill development has given him a unique style and perspective.

HDR photography is James’ specialty and he loves applying it to his passion, the University of Alabama and Tuscaloosa landscapes. He builds art pieces with a unique style that provokes emotion and gives the viewer a surreal feeling. He is breaking HDR into our local market to show the full beauty of the scenes that it depicts. This type of photography is breaking the mold and provides its viewers with unique pieces of art from a photographer with a distinct eye for the scene. The price for this signed, 16X20-inch print is $300, including shipping.

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13

Exclusive

Alabama:

before the SEC Lauren Moranor

I

t is hard to believe, but when Alabama and Tennessee-Chattanooga step on the field, the two teams actually have something in common. At one point, both teams were actually in the same conference.

Before the Southeastern Conference and the Atlantic Coast Conference came about with the current teams in the conferences, there was just one conference for all of the teams: the Southern Conference. Imagine teams like Georgia Tech, Alabama and Furman all playing under the same name. It happened.

The Southern Conference began in 1921 and included 24 schools, many of which are now part of either the SEC or the ACC. The Southern Conference is the fifth oldest major conference

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| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA

November 21, 2009

behind the Big Ten, Missouri Valley, Pacific 10 and Southwestern Atlantic. The conference is now in its 89th season of collegiate play. In the beginning of the conference’s history they were involved in developing some of college sport’s key rules, including the rule that students do not have to be in college for a year before they can compete in a sport. They also developed the first conference basketball tournament and became the first conference to install the three-point line for basketball.

The Southern Conference spawned the Southeastern Conference in 1932. On December 9 of that year, Dr. S. V. Sanford, the conference’s chairman at the time, held a meeting announcing the decision that 13 schools would break off and form their own conference. The Southern PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRYANT MUSEUM

vv

1925 Conference included current SEC teams such as Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Florida, LSU, South Carolina, Mississippi and Vanderbilt. The decision at the time was controversial. It was made by geographical lines, looking at schools that were south and west of the Appalachians. The conference was growing too big too fast and the resignation of the schools was necessary. In 1933, the SEC officially began intercollegiate play. The second break off from the Southern Conference occurred in 1952, when 7 schools created the ACC and began competition the following year.

While in the Southern Conference, Alabama was just as dominant as it has been in the SEC. The Crimson Tide captured three national titles while in the Southern Conference, and recorded four undefeated seasons as well. Wallace Wade coached Alabama during its time in the Southern Conference. In 1924, Wade led Alabama to their first Southern Conference title with an 8-1 record.

A year later he took the team to their first undefeated season, going 10-0 with a win over Washington State in the Rose Bowl, resulting in the Tide’s first National Championship as part of the conference. The following year, Alabama beat Stanford and again brought home the National Championship with a 9-0 record. In 1930,

Alabama won its third National Championship under the Southern Conference. This is the same year that Alabama became associated with the elephant and adopted it as the mascot of the team.

In 1931, Frank Thomas took over as head coach in place of Wallace Wade. The next year, Alabama departed from the Southern Conference and became a member of the SEC. Alabama had a great record in the Southern Conference and developed a lot of history within the conference.

Today, the Southern Conference consists of 12 schools spanning across five states, including Georgia Southern, the Citadel, Appalachian State, Furman and Samford. They are part of the Football Championship Subdivision. They are a Division I collegiate athletic association and sponsor 19 varsity sports. The conference got national coverage when Appalachian State defeated 5th ranked Michigan 34-32 in 2007.

They became the first FCS team to defeat a nationally ranked Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) team.

Alabama has a rich history in the Southern Conference. They used that conference to develop their winning tradition which they continue inside the SEC. On Saturday, the Tide will face a team from their former conference and TennesseeChattanooga will get a taste of the SEC.

1926 1930 1934 1941 1961 1964 1965 1973 1978 1979 1992

touchdownalabama.net |

15

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BDL

Player Spotlight

Former special teams standout now a defensive star

Anthony Johnson

M

ark Barron was so good, even Nick Saban didn’t know what to do with him.

The former St. Paul’s four-star-rated phenomenon somehow went overlooked in the midst of the gems of the ’08 signing class that included the likes of Julio Jones, Burton Scott and Mark Ingram.

Barron was simply listed as an athlete in high school, and rightfully so. Barron lined up at receiver, running back, safety and linebacker. Barron’s high school coach, Mike Bates, called him “the best football player I’ve ever seen.” That’s quite a compliment from a man who has coached high school football for 30 years.

Barron’s name is no longer a mystery among Tide fans. He has become a household name and one of the integral pieces of one of the nation’s premier defenses.

Standing 6-foot-2, 215-pounds, Barron is a physical specimen that has garnered the respect and attention of his teammates for his hard-hitting approach to the game.

“He wants to hit, he will hit,” linebacker Rolando McClain said. “That’s what I like about him.”

With the departure of all-American safety Rashaad Johnson gone to the National Football League, Barron seized his opportunity to make an impact this season on the defense by edging out A-Day game starter Robby Green in the spring for the starting job at free safety.

Saban was quick to admit after the A-Day game that Barron never truly had an opportunity to find an identity on the team, because he was constantly asked to learn different roles,

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| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA November 21, 2009

Mark Barron

therefore, never able to master one position.

Barron made a living on special teams last season, playing in all 14 games, but was never able to relinquish a role as a regular starter on defense.

“In our efforts to get Mark Barron on the field, we put him in more situations than maybe he was ready to handle and that was my mistake, our mistake,” Saban said. “Since he has settled into a position and now gets reps at that position, he has been a very productive player.”

So productive of a player that he leads the Tide and the SEC with six interceptions on the season. Against Mississippi State, Barron played the best game of his young career, hauling in two interceptions to lead the defense. Against South Carolina, Barron had an interception return for a touchdown during the opening Gamecock drive that set the tone early for the Tide defense.

Barron said the biggest factor for him earning significant playing time in the Tide’s secondary this season was his mental approach to the game.

“The biggest thing for me probably was not mixing up all the different positions that I played and being able to separate that,” Barron said. “If you don’t know what you’re doing, then you’re not as quick to react to it. Once you figure it out and you’re sure about it, then it’s just a reaction.”

Barron, only a sophomore, has emphatically answered one of the many lingering preseason questions that haunted the Tide: Who will replace Rashaad Johnson?

We now know the answer.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BDL

IN W O IRT! T ER T-SH T EN EE R AF

TIDE TRIVIA 1 4 5 2 3 Alabama played in the first three SEC Championship Games, from 1992 to 1994, against what team? a. Arkansas c. Tennessee b. Florida d. LSU

The Tide won a national championship with a record of 9-2 in which year? a. 1930 c. 1941 b. 1934 d. 1961

Warren St. John’s best selling 2004 book, Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer, was about________. a. Bear Bryant’s legacy b. Die-hard fans c. Alabama’s recruiting class d. The offensive line

Joe Namath completed his degree and graduated from Alabama___________. a. During his junior year season b. While he was playing for the New York Jets c. After his NFL career ended in 1978 d. In 2007

Alabama’s first national championship was in 1925, what team did they beat? a. Washington State b. Washington c. Michigan d. Oklahoma

Contest Rules

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November 21, 2009

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Brad Lake their program greatly.

According to The Tuscaloosa News, Hart said that the game could be looked at, and not all of the things that are going to be said will be positive, but his team will receive significant exposure which should help get the Mocs’ name out there.

“It creates some excitement for our players and our fans,” Hart said. “It’s something you can look forward to and get excited about. It’s something everybody doesn’t get to experience, to play on television in front of 90,000 fans. We’re looking forward to coming to Tuscaloosa.”

“One reason that we’re doing one-game stands with BCS teams, where we’re dividing the ticket sales and share in the profits of the game, it’s tougher now to schedule the (home) games,” Moore said. “Some conferences that are not in the (Bowl Championship Series) kind of band together a little bit — their commissioners are encouraging this — because of the expenses they are facing, so it makes it a little more difficult.”

Next season, Alabama will begin a two-year home-and-home with Penn 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments Include: State. The Crimson Tide will be • Golf Privileges for Residents hosting the first contest, while Penn • Free Tanning State hosts the second. Each team will • Fitness Center get to collect the revenue from its • Business Center home game.

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hen the University of Alabama played the UT Chattanooga Mocs in 1991, the UTC athletic department got a check for $150,000.

The second time the Mocs came down to play the Tide three years later, the payout was up to $250,000.

This year, when the Mocs visit Bryant-Denny again, they will be receiving $400,000 for their trip.

According to a report by The Tuscaloosa News, UA Director of Athletics Mal Moore said, “The expenses for these teams are soaring just like for our programs. It is difficult sometimes to find the games. You’ve just got to buy a game if it comes down to it.”

According to Rick Hart, UTC’s athletics director, this game is the biggest revenue grossing item on their external budget.

This game will also give UTC television exposure multiple mentions all over the country because of Alabama’s prestige in college football. If the Mocs can pull the upset, it would benefit

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| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA

Look!

November 21, 2009

The Lowdown

Larry’s

LOWDOWN

Larry Burton

Greg McElroy Climbs Out of His Slump With Help From His Friends

G

reg McElroy thought he was prepared for the starting job as quarterback at the University of Alabama. He thought he knew what to expect, but recent criticism got under his skin.

Though he is a junior, this is his first year at the helm of the program, and the first year he’s had to endure being circled by the press in the media room and picked over like road kill by a flock of vultures.

It has been evident in watching McElroy in press meetings that his mood went from excitement and pride at the beginning of the season to annoyance. At least in the media room, most are both professional and kind to McElroy, but the press that comes later has burned him a little.

He thought he was prepared for such things. McElroy said that he watched how John Parker Wilson handled himself and the criticism that he endured for his last two years, especially during Saban’s first season.

But the talk that came from some corners hit nerves he didn’t count on.

He spilt it all out to ESPN Saturday night. “So many times, guys do read press clippings, and I think a lot of my teammates might have lost faith in me because of some of the things that were written,” he said.

That must have shocked his teammates, who said their confidence in him had never wavered. Mark Ingram told me about McElroy and his “slump” recently. “As long as we’re winning and trying to improve there is no blame to pass around,” he said. “We all make mistakes, (he had earlier referenced his fumble in the Tennessee game that almost cost them the game), but we learn from them.”

“Greg and I are both in our first full year of starting and we have a lot to learn, but we all have faith in one another, and no one on this team would rather have another person leading this offense right now. We have faith his ability to do whatever it takes to put a win on the board, no doubts, no question about it,” he finished.

In fact, McElroy worrying about what his team mates think may have been the first crack I’ve seen in the cohesiveness in this team.

His teammates were probably shocked to hear that the QB had doubts about they felt about him.

Results speak louder than words and those results not only silenced the press, but also put to rest any doubts about the team’s faith in McElroy. A 28 point win over a good opponent will do that.

Going 13 for 18 for 192 yards and a pair of touchdowns that included yet another beautifully thrown bomb to Julio Jones made

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BDL

everyone in the Bama nation breathe a sigh of relief as McElroy’s spot-on passing kept the running game open for Mark Ingram.

McElroy has played through several of the toughest defenses in the nation so far this year and come up a winner each time. Five of Alabama’s 11 opponents so far this year have defenses that are in the top 25 in the nation.

He has seen some best defensive coordinators throw some of the top defensive people at him and he’s still undefeated. To be fair, he hasn’t played a defense ranked as high as Florida’s, but he practices against one almost every day.

And those he practices against have high words of praise for McElroy as well. Marquis Johnson said he’s not had to face a quarterback with better long ball ability than McElroy.

“You can blanket your man and cover tight and McElroy can still put it over his shoulder and into his hands,” Johnson said. “I wouldn’t want to face him as an opponent.”

Defensive leader and linebacker Rolando McClain also had praise for McElroy. “He has great vision and instincts back there and he has a talent of finding just what is there and take what they will give him. We (the defense) know that if we do our job, he’ll do his and we can win. We have that faith in one another.”

So with McElroy’s team mates so solidly behind him, maybe the press will fall in line too. If not, then maybe McElroy will take his head coach Nick Saban’s advice to heart and “believe in yourself and ignore the negative.”

touchdownalabama.net |

23

Former Tide Players

Catching Up With

Tim Davis

Tim Davis, the first of the Davis kicking clan, recalls playing for the Crimson Tide Donald F. Staffo

T

im Davis was the first kicker that Bear Bryant ever recruited, and he thinks maybe the first kicker ever recruited in the Southeastern Conference. Tim was one of five brothers who attended the University of Alabama, four of whom were kickers for Bryant. But the Davis-Crimson Tide connection goes back much further than that.

“My father (Woodrow Alvin “Pig” Davis) played for Alabama in 1937 and 1938 and was the first player Coach Bryant ever recruited, back when Coach Bryant was an assistant coach. Because of that, and because my father and Coach Bryant were both from Arkansas and came from similar backgrounds, my father and Coach Bryant always remained very close.”

Besides Tim, who played for the Crimson Tide from 1961 through 1963, the rest of the Davis kickers included Steve (1965-67), Bill (1971-1973), and Mike (1975). “I’ve been told by the University that that group, along with my father, scored over 500 points for Alabama,” stated Tim Davis. “The points were scored mostly by kicking, but my father was a fullback, so he scored points by touchdowns.

“As a family, we played in one Rose Bowl, three Orange Bowls, five Sugar Bowls, two Cotton Bowls and two national championships. I think that is pretty unusual.”

Beyond that, the four Davis brothers, plus Robert who followed Tim to the Capstone but didn’t play football due to his size, all became medical doctors except Bill, who became a dentist. “My father coached football for over forty years, but he never forced any of us to play football. He pushed academics,” said Davis. “The College of Arts and Sciences gives the ‘Woodrow Alvin Davis Award’ to the athlete with the highest grade point average.”

Davis discussed his kicking career for the Crimson Tide, and told stories about his father and his football-playing brothers.

He said that back in the early 1960s colleges didn’t recruit kickers, and relatively few field goals were kicked during that era. He said that he thought he kicked 23 field goals for the Tide, with the highlight of his career being his four field goals in the 1964 Sugar Bowl, a 12-7 victory over Mississippi. “The longest field goal I kicked, 48 yards, was in that Sugar Bowl.”

His second longest, 46 yards, was in the same game.

He said another high point was kicking a 42-yard field goal in a 32-6 win over Georgia in 1961. “That was the first game of the season, and the first (college) game I ever played in, and it was my first field goal.” And of course he remembers the 10-3 win over a Lance Alworth-led Arkansas team in the Sugar Bowl

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| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA November 21, 2009

that gave Alabama the national championship.

In 1962 Davis cited the Tennessee game, a 27-7 Tide win, “because I think that was Coach Bryant’s first win in Knoxville.

I think that also began the tradition of breaking out cigars when Alabama beat Tennessee.”

Davis also mentioned the 36-3 win over Miami, a team with heralded George Mira at quarterback, after Bama only had a 3-0 lead at the half. He also recalled the Georgia Tech game in Atlanta when the Tide lost 7-6. “Losing that game was the worst thing that happened while playing football at Alabama.

We were No. 1 in the nation and had won something like 25 or 26 straight games. At the end of the game we were down on their 14-yard line and we threw a pass that got intercepted,” he recalled. “That was very frustrating for me because I never got a chance to kick a field goal that would have won the game. I remember that the intensity of that game was unbelievable.

That was the most hostile environment I ever played in. We were bombarded by whiskey bottles. Two years later when we went back to Georgia Tech, Coach Bryant wore a helmet on the field. That was his response to that game.”

Davis, who kicked throughout his career with a severely injured knee that to this day requires him to wear a knee brace, also noted the 1962 17-0 Orange Bowl win over Oklahoma, coached by legendary Bud Wilkinson, with President John F. Kennedy in attendance.

In 1963, following a 10-6 loss to Florida, “instead of our usual noon hour meeting, Coach Bryant called a 6 a.m meeting,” informed Davis. “He started demonstrating blocking and tackling on a graduate assistant coach and twice knocked him into the second row. Afterward we asked the graduate assistant what that was all about and he said, ‘that was because I missed the 5:30 (coaches) meeting.”

Davis recalled Joe Namath being kicked off the team, with two games left in the season. “Without Namath, we beat Miami 17-12 and Ole Miss 12-7 in the Sugar Bowl.” continued on page 29 PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRYANT MUSEUM

News

SEC News Anthony Johnson Mississippi State at Arkansas (11:21 SEC Network) The Bulldogs head to Fayetteville Saturday to take on a hot Razorback team coming off an explosive offensive performance against Troy. The Razorback offense put up 56 points en route to a 36-point blowout win over the Trojans. Mississippi State will be looking to rebound after an embarrassing loss against the Crimson Tide in which explosive running back Anthony Dixon was limited to 82 yards rushing on the night and no touchdowns. The Bulldogs need to win their final two SEC games in order to go bowling this season.

Arkansas currently sits with a 6-4 record and will look to tack on another victory and impress the bowl selection committee.

LSU at Ole Miss (2:30 CBS) Easily the most intriguing SEC game of the day, LSU will travel to Oxford to take on the surging Ole Miss Rebels. Led by senior alleverything athlete Dexter McCluster, the Rebels trampled the Tennessee Volunteers 42-17 last Saturday for their seventh victory of the season. McCluster rushed for a career-high 282 yards and four touchdowns to lead Ole Miss to an easy victory over the Volunteers.

On the other sideline will be an LSU team that got all they could handle from a far-inferior opponent in Louisiana Tech one week ago.

The Tigers actually trailed the Bulldogs of Louisiana Tech 13-10 at halftime, but came charging back in the second half to secure an eightpoint victory, 24-16, and remain in the top-ten of the BCS and in the hunt for an upper-tier bowl in January.

Kentucky at Georgia (6:45 ESPN2) Head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs Mark Richt has been the hot topic of internet message boards this season with some Bulldog fans questioning the job security of their head coach. After last weekend’s comeback-win over the Auburn Tigers, and fourth-straight win over Auburn, Richt may have bought himself another year. Georgia capped off a 14-point, come-from-behind victory in Athens with a 31-24 victory to get to six wins on the season and become bowl-eligible. The Kentucky Wildcats need one more win to surpass their win total for the ’08 season.

Twenty (20) SEC football players are either semi-finalists or finalists for 11 post-season individual awards.

Alabama’s Leigh Tiffin leads the nation in field goals made per game (2.40). He has hit 24-of-27 field goals this season (88.9 percent).

Florida became the eighth team since SEC expansion (1992) to go through the regular season undefeated in the conference (Alabama, at 7-0 this season, has one conference game remaining). The list includes Alabama (1992, 1994, 2008), Florida (1995, 1996), Tennessee (1998) and Auburn (2004).

Mississippi State at Arkansas (11:21 SEC Network) The Bulldogs head to Fayetteville Saturday to take on a hot Razorback team coming off an explosive offensive performance against Troy. The Razorback offense put up 56 points en route to a 36-point blowout win over the Trojans. Mississippi State will be looking to rebound after an embarrassing loss against the Crimson Tide in which explosive running back Anthony Dixon was limited to 82 yards rushing on the night and no touchdowns. The Bulldogs need to win their final two SEC games in order to go bowling this season.

Arkansas currently sits with a 6-4 record and will look to tack on another victory and impress the bowl selection committee.

Vanderbilt at Tennessee (6:00 ESPNU) The Vanderbilt Commodores are still searching for their first SEC victory of the season, and will be hard pressed to find one when they travel to Knoxville to take on a Tennessee Volunteer program that has spent the last week in the news for all the wrong reasons. Three Tennessee freshmen were arrested and charged with attempted armed robbery of a Knoxville convenient store, and two of the players involved were the most highly sought after recruits in head coach Lane Kiffin’s first signing class, Nu’Keese Richardson and Janzen Jackson. Both players had seen significant playing time in their true freshmen campaigns this season. The Volunteers will try to rebound from their loss to Ole Miss and get to seven wins on the season, keeping their post-season hopes alive.

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| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA

November 21, 2009

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2 Chances to Beat

Auburn This Week

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Amanda Kelly

he Iron Bowl has been called one of the greatest rivalries in college football. As far as many people are concerned, the state of Alabama has two sides: Alabama and Auburn.

Work places, families and neighborhoods are divided down team lines all year, and the competition extends to all aspects of life.

Fans start preparing for the upcoming Alabama-Auburn football game as soon the last one ends. But hate and rivalry are not all this game is about.

For about a month before the game, students on both campuses support a number of initiatives to help their community, with the ultimate goal being to donate more time, services and items than the other school. The biggest campaign in Tuscaloosa is the “Beat Auburn, Beat Hunger Food Fight,” a food drive benefiting the West Alabama Food Bank.

Since the first “food fight” in 1994, UA students, faculty and surrounding community members have formed groups that collect canned goods and money, competing with each other to collect the most food in Tuscaloosa. Participating groups are divided into categories based affiliation, with each category having a winner that receives a plaque in recognition of their efforts. The total amount received is then compared against what the East Alabama Food Bank receives from the Auburn community, and the school that donates the most is declared the winner.

Alabama has won the past two competitions, ending a seven year Auburn winning streak.

This year, the campaign started with a kickoff event at the Ferguson Center Plaza with Big Al, music, and a LifeSouth Bloodmobile where attendees could donate blood as a part of the “Beat Auburn” blood drive. Alligator Chili was also served for a suggested $1 donation as a fundraiser for the food drive.

In addition to the “food fight,” students are also able to donate blood through LifeSouth as a part of the Iron Bowl Challenge Blood Drive. Donations are being taken in buses and buildings around campus. Anyone who donates receives an Alabama T-shirt, a sticker and a chance to win a football autographed by Nick Saban. LifeSouth supports its “Bleed for your Team”

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| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA November 21, 2009

initiative on other campuses as well, including Auburn, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi State and Virginia Tech.

Aubrie Collins, a UA athlete who was handing out flyers by a LifeSouth bus, said she was out there earning service hours with her rugby teammates. Collins and her team have helped out with LifeSouth blood drives before. “A few people have come by today,” she said early in the week. “We had more last time [when we volunteered in October].” Although they felt participation was down, the girls expected it to pick up as the week continued.

Meg Dowdy, Promotional Director for Citadel Broadcasting said the company’s group of radio stations had been running ads for both the blood and food drive. And even though one of their stations is the home of Auburn sports, Dowdy is hoping they can motivate everyone to help. “There are Auburn fans in Tuscaloosa,” she commented.

The competitions both ended Nov. 19, but volunteers will be needed to help the food bank sort the donations. The Community Service Center on campus will be coordinating the effort to help the food bank. As of press time, winners had not been announced, but no matter which school claims the victory, those in need this holiday season will be the true winners.

Additional information can be found at: http://volunteer.ua.edu, www.WestAlabamaFoodBank.org, and www.LifeSouth.org.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMANDA KELLY

continued from page 24

Reminiscing about his iconic coach, Davis said that Bryant could be “real intimidating in practice, a real fireball.

He could look at you and melt you to the floor. He pushed hard in practice, to the point that you would feel like quitting. But after he would come over to you and put his arm around you and tell you that ‘I’m doing that to make you a better player’.

“At halftime, he was a teacher. He thought screaming and hollering was a waste of time.”

Davis concluded by stating, “It was just a privilege to be a part of such an exciting time at Alabama, with Coach Bryant on the rise.”

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“Class in Session�

Limited edition portraits signed by Coach Saban To order: www.portraitsbyTimbailey.com