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S U N D A Y , J U L Y 29 , 2012
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CECIL HURT
Win over UA would give Michigan the spotlight
OLYMPICS
Lochte strikes gold first
United States swimmer Ryan Lochte poses with his gold medal after winning the 400-meter individual medley final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park at the Summer Olympics in London on Saturday.
Swimmer beats Phelps to earn first U.S. gold medal By Paul Newberry The Associated Press
LONDON | Ryan Lochte turned his much-anticipated duel with Michael Phelps into a blowout, pulling away to win the Olympic 400-meter individual medley by more than 3 seconds Saturday night. Even more stunning: Phelps didn’t win any medal at all. After barely qualifying for the eve-
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
I
n an event that was destined to be dominated by the Penn State story, the Big Ten showed some media savvy by wrenching the spotlight away from Happy Valley, as well as it could, on Friday afternoon. The beleaguered league had its own Media Days this week in Chicago — I have never attended but suspect it lacks the carnival atmosphere of SEC Media Days in Hoover — and chose, as its keynote speaker, a player who will get a huge amount of media coverage in the next fi ve weeks, almost all of it sure to be positive. The man of the hour — and the man who will be at the center of Alabama’s August preparations — is Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson. Throughout his eight-minute speech, Robinson touched on all the right notes. He talked about his own struggles — a virtuoso on the field, he comes from a modest background and had to overcome a fear of public speaking as his popularity grew. He said little about the Wolverines’ chances against Alabama, addressing larger themes. He countered Charles Barkley at one point, saying that athletes are indeed role models. It was the positive side of college football on display in a venue that desperately needed a positive force. There can be no overestimation of how many times Robinson will be in front of the media over the next five weeks, and no way to overstate how important the game against Alabama will be for Robinson personally, for Michigan as a team and for the Big Ten as a league. The reason, of course, is that Alabama, once again, is the symbol of big-time college football, a byword for all the positives and negatives of the sport. It is why Nick Saban’s face is on ever y magazine and most episodes off College Football Today, and also the reason his name comes up in a negative light from an attention-seeking, ax-grinding agent. The Alabama defense that takes the field in Dallas, though, won’t be the one people remember from New Orleans last January. An electrifying scrambler like Robinson might be able to exploit that inexperience. If he can lead Michigan to what would be a substantial upset, he would instantly become the Heisman front-runner. Far more important, though, would be the boost to Big Ten selfesteem. It has been a tough offseason for all of college football, which heads into the season like a pedestrian who has been hit by a bus crawls to the sidewalk. The Big Ten is like that same pedestrian, except it was also hit by an 18-wheeler along the way. Two marquee programs, Ohio State and Penn State, have been zapped by the NCA A. Michigan is the highest-profile program, with all due respect to Wisconsin and Nebraska, still standing. A f ter t he long Midwester n drought — the BCS, not the rain — a Michigan win would be monumental, and Michigan’s hopes rest with Robinson. So it was a smart move by the conference to place “Shoelaces” — he even has the catchy nickname — at center stage. Whether he can keep that spotlight is uncertain, but it is up to Alabama to push him out.
Reach Cecil Hurt at cecil@tidesports. com or 205-722-0225.
ning final in a performance that hinted at trouble ahead, Phelps struggled to a fourth-place fi nish and was denied his 17th career Olympic medal. When it was done, he could barely pull himself out of the pool. “It was just a crappy race,” Phelps said. “I felt fi ne the fi rst 200, then I don’t know. They just swam a better race than me, a smarter race than me, SEE L OCHTE | 3C
INSIDE MEDALISTS: A look at the other four U.S. medalists | 3C
OLYMPIC GLANCE: The highs and lows from Saturday | 3C
FOOTBALL
ALL EYES ARE ON
Northridge High School junior running back Bo Scarbrough
BO
Northridge junior knows the obstacles that await as his star profile continues to rise By Aaron Suttles Sports Writer
TUSCA LOOSA | Strolling into a downtown restaurant Friday evening, he felt a crowd of eyes dart in his direction. When he placed his order at the counter, people stared. He’s only 16 but already accustomed to heads turning and the hushed whispers when he walks past. When you’re nearly 6-foot-3, 225 pounds with less than fi ve percent body fat, you draw attention — wanted or not. Make no mistake about it, Bo Scarbrough is drawing attention. Only a rising junior, Scarbrough is earning comparisons to the best running backs to come through West Alabama. It’s yet to be determined if he can be as good as Antoneyo Williams (Central, 1996 Mr. Football), Le’Ron McClain (Tuscaloosa County) or Markus Manson (Hillcrest), but the potential is there and those who
follow high school football in this area know it. Count Northridge head coach Mike Smith in that group. He knows what his talented running back is capable of this season. He also knows the obstacles that await Scarbrough as his star’s profile continues to rise. “I probably get asked about Bo an average of five times a day, and that’s outside the football team,” Smith said. “That kind of exposure is defi nitely going to change any kid. You just hope it’s change for the positive. It’s changed him to a degree but not a whole lot.” It’s not a shock Scarbrough would be affected by his notoriety. At a time when his teammates are learning to drive a car or getting ready for fi rst dates, Scarbrough is sitting and talking with famous college football coaches like Nick Saban and Mark Richt. He is recognized almost anywhere SEE BO | 7C
PHOTO | MARION R. WALDING
ALABAMA BASKETBALL
Crimson Tide players take part in free basketball camp for kids By Andrew Carroll Sports Writer
STAFF PHOTO | DUSTY COMPTON
University of Alabama basketball player Moussa Gueye works with kids at the Sarrell Basketball Camp at Plum Grove Baptist Church on Saturday. Alabama basketball players hosted the camp for free.
TUSCALOOSA | Moussa Gueye made a big impression Saturday when he shared his basketball knowledge with dozens of youngsters. The 7-foot Gueye, a junior on the University of Alabama basketball team, was the biggest player in the building and someone they had to look up to. Gueye and some of his Crimson Tide teammates provided entertainment and instruction during a free camp at the Plum Grove Baptist Church gym. Pastor Tyshawn Gardner called it
“a huge success” with a turnout of some 125 boys and girls, ranging in age from 6 to 18. Saturday’s event was the last stop in a series of camps hosted by Sarrell Dental Center, a nonprofit pediatric dentistry. Other camps were in Anniston, Clanton and Athens. “It meant the world to us,” Gardner said. “We try to live every day, impacting the lives of young people in this community where God has planted us. For Sarrell Dentistry and these student-athletes to come, it meant so much, and I’m very grateful and thankful.” SEE CAMP | 7C