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Plowing the road STAFF PHOTO | GARY COSBY JR.
Avery Johnson directs the Crimson Tide in his first game as the Alabama head coach in an exhibition against Trevecca Nazarene last week. The Tide added two signees Wednesday during the early signing period.
Tide adds two signees, waiting on on a third By Cecil Hurt Sports Editor
T he Universit y of A labama men’s basketball program announced two signees on Wednesday, the fi rst day that student-athletes can sign National Letters of Intent for the early signing period. But the Crimson Tide is still waiting on the paperwork from its most highly-rated commitment. UA announced the signing of 6-foot-6 guard/forward Ar’mond Davis from the College of Southern Idaho and 6-7 forward Braxton Key of Oak Hill (Va.) Academy. The Crimson Tide’s third commitment, 6-foot-7 Terrance Ferguson of Advanced Preparatory Institute in Dallas, did not sign on Wednesday. Ferguson, rated the No. 11 prospect in America by both rivals. com and ESPN, told The Dallas Morning News that he did not plan to sign on Wednesday and would wait until a future date set by his mother. The early signing period lasts until next Wednesday, while the spring signing period is in April. Despite not signing on Wednesday, Ferguson remains committed to Alabama, sending congratulations via Twitter to both Key and Davis on their signing in tweets fi lled with “Roll Tide.” Ferguson’s mother, Rachelle Holdman, also was on social media and, while she mentioned no specific date, indicated that “some like memories and family,” possibly referring to a planned signing ceremony. She also commented on the impatience of some Alabama fans at the delay in signing, which she said she would “ignore.” While Alabama head coach Avery Johnson could not comment on Ferguson, he did comment on Davis and Blackwell in a UA release. “When you think about championship teams on any level, those teams always have a player like Braxton Key,” Johnson said in a statement via UA Sports Information. “Braxton is someone who can pass, dribble and shoot, and he has a high basketball IQ. He is a multi-positional player, and we are excited to have him as part of our Crimson Tide family. “Ar’Mond Davis brings experience and great scoring ability,” said Johnson, a former junior college player. “We want to make recruiting at the junior college level a priority. I started my career as a junior college player, and I feel players learn the game while gaining valuable playing experience. He’s a tremendous shooter and extremely hard to guard when he is attacking the basket.”
Reach Cecil Hurt at cecil@ tidesports.com or 205-722-0225.
Michael Nysewander is not on scholarship and he’s not a starter. But the senior is an invaluable member of the Crimson Tide. He’s the one who bulldozes defenders out of the way so stars like Derrick Henry can shine. It’s the reason Henry calls the H-back ‘Highway 46.’ By Aaron Suttles Sports Writer
You’ll forgive Josh Niblett if he gets a little sentimental talking about his former player Michael Nysewander. You have to understand, he sees a little of himself in the University of Alabama H-back/special teams contributor. Two decades earlier, Niblett traveled the same road Nysewander does now, as a walk-on member of the Crimson Tide football team. At essentially the same position, too. Niblett, the head football coach at Hoover High School, was a three-year letterman at fullback under Gene Stallings from 1993-95. Nysewander played for Niblett at Hoover. “It just makes me real proud. I can’t say enough about him,” Niblett said. “Because I played fullback at Alabama, it’s kind of special to me, too, because I was a walk-on. “He’s been a big part of what they’ve done not only on offense but also on special teams. I’m just proud of him man. I can’t tell you enough how proud I am and what it means to the Hoover family to see him do what he’s been able to do. He’s been a guy who’s waited for his opportunity, and he got his chance and made the most of it.” You’re likely not alone if you’re not familiar with Nysewander. He’s not a starter. He’s not on scholarship. But you’ve seen him. He was the guy out in front steamrolling a defender as Derrick Henry collected his third touchdown of the game against LSU in the third quarter. You likely saw him earlier in the game, too, fl attening out a LSU returner on special teams. The fi fth-year senior, normally in the background helping others shine, is getting his due this week. On Wednesday he was named one of 55 players nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy, given to the nation’s most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on. Henry, the big bruising back often following Nysewander, calls him “Highway 46,” named for his jersey number. His teammates respect him for his approach to the game. “He’s a hard-working guy. He does what the coaches ask him and never SEE H IGHWAY | 2C Alabama H-back Michael Nysewander is one of 55 players nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy, given to the nation’s most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on. PHOTO | LAUREN DESENO PHOTO | LAURA CHRAMER
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ALABAMA NOTEBOOK
Tide wants to avoid an emotional hangover By Aaron Suttles Sports Writer
There is an old coaching adage that states how you play on Saturday is a reflection of how you prepared during the week. Nick Saban hopes that holds true because even after coming off the kind emotional win against LSU that can hang around and make it difficult to repeat that kind effort a second straight week, he says his team has practiced well this week in its preparation for a key SEC West showdown with No. 20 Mississippi State (7-2). Besides the physical toll the LSU game exacted — both teams employ a smash-mouth, run-fi rst attack — there is an emotional element that is near impossible to quantify but very much real. There exists a sort of hangover after such a high stakes win in an electric environment. How UA handles the emotional bounce back could tell the
No. 3 Alabama at No. 20 Miss. State ■ When: 2:30 p.m., Saturday ■ Where: Wade Davis Stadium, Starkville, Miss. ■ Records: Alabama 8-1, 5-1 SEC; Mississippi State 7-2, 3-2 SEC ■ TV: CBS ■ Radio: 95.3 FM, 99.1 FM
linebacker Reggie Ragland, one of the vocal leaders of the team, went as far to say either guys in the locker room are either with the team or need to get out. He points to a players-only meeting after the September loss to Ole Miss as the moment the veterans made a point to every member of the team that everyone would be held accountable. “You have to let everybody know that (last week) is over with,” Ragland said. “It’s time to go forward now. We’re 0-0. We’ve got another game in front of us and we have to stay focused on the task at hand and get better this week.”
story of Saturday’s game in Starkville. “You know, I’m a believer in perfect practice will help you play better in the game,” Saban said. “Whether that’s always true or not I can’t really say. We seem to do a little better when we practice well, when guys are focused and prepare well they Heavyweight champion make less mental errors, they have less penalties, It’s been a running joke for a couple of weeks we play better on special teams. “I think when you practice well it allows you to about which defensive linemen would win a wreshave the confidence to be able to do that in the tling match. Most assumed the ever-intimidating A’Shawn Robinson would come out victorious. game.” Players say mental focus isn’t a problem. Senior SEE NOTEBOOK | 3C