Alabama basketball: Men’s and women’s teams in action tonight. 9C
Sports
T H U R S D A Y , F E B R U A R Y 5 , 2009
SECTION C
WWW.TUSCALOOSANEWS.COM
Capsules on Alabama’s signing class | 3C
CECIL HURT
Saban and Co. come through once again
Area players sign scholarships | 4C
Gadsden City duo headed to UA | 5C
UWA, Stillman address needs | 6C
A look at how the SEC fared | 7C
A PERFECT FIT
T
here’s no date stamped on the forehead of University of Alabama football fans. There is no computer bar code on the back of their hand to help check for freshness. But scientific observation has now determined how long a Crimson Tide fan can go before he or she is spoiled. Two years. In three classes of Nick Saban recruiting, stretching from February 2007 until February 2009, Crimson Tide fans have moved rapidly on the following path: from hopeful, to deliriously exuberant, to downright expectant of the No. 1 recruiting class in America. And, like an indulgent daddy, Saban delivered again. Rivals, at least, said so, putting Alabama’s class at No. 1 in the nation for a second straight year. Scout, which uses a different formula, also had Alabama No. 1. ESPN, which — at least in the eyes of Alabama fans — must use a Ouija board and a team of interior decorators to evaluate classes, rated Alabama at No. 6. (Personally, I think diversity of opinion is great, but that’s just me. And late in the evening, ESPN apparently fired the interior decorators and put Alabama’s class at No. 2 in a recount.) It wouldn’t be right to overstate the “spoiled” issue. It’s not that Alabama fans are pouting and petulant after securing five Parade All-Americans and, in Saban’s words, addressing “most of the areas of need” in a program that is, in some ways, still being rebuilt. It’s just that Saban and his staff, a group which deserves shared billing, have delivered so consistently that Crimson Tide fans, in two years, have gone from expecting not just the best recruiting class but one unblemished by a single missed prospect. Hence, there was at least a little frustration when Alabama didn’t sign prep school tackle Bobby Massie (Ole Miss), or Atlanta-area safety Darren Myles (Tennessee). Even though most Alabama fans had figured out that Louisiana wide receiver Rueben Randle was an instate icon who would be kept in-state at all costs — the 2009 equivalent of Tim Tebow in Florida or Julio Jones in Alabama — there was a pang of disappointment that Alabama, which pulled three of the top 15 prospects in Louisiana, didn’t get Randle as well. SEE HURT | 5C
PHOTO | THE PENSACOLA (FLA.) NEWS-JOURNAL
Escambia County running back Trent Richardson, of Pensacola, Fla., dons a houndstooth hat during a press conference Wednesday in which Richardson signed a National Letter of Intent to play at the University of Alabama.
Richardson completes Alabama’s top-ranked signing class By Aaron Suttles Sports Writer
PENSACOLA, FLA. | At a school where one surefire National Football League Hall of Fame player once roamed the hallways, Escambia High’s most heralded recruit took center stage Wednesday, and in the process may have become the most popular player in school history, surpassing Emmitt Smith. Trent Richardson, the nation’s sixth-ranked recruit by Rivals.com, signed his National Letter of Intent to play football at the University of Alabama on National Signing Day, ending weeks of speculation that Florida or LSU had stolen him away. With the signing of Richardson, the Tide
ranked No. 1 with Rivals.com and Scout.com as the top recruiting class. Within relatively close proximity to four major college football programs — Alabama, Florida, Florida State and LSU — Pensacola is a melting pot of fans who root for the Crimson Tide, Gators, Seminoles and Tigers. Richardson visited all four schools and eventually chose Alabama as the place where he felt most comfortable. In a library packed with media representatives waiting to learn his college choice, along with teammates and coaches and administrators, Richardson announced he’d picked the Tide over offers from virtually every school in the country. SEE TIDE | 5C
Check out tidesports.com for videos of these players on National Signing Day
XRUEBEN RANDLE: As expected, the highly-touted receiver from Bastrop, La., chose LSU over Alabama XKENNY BELL: The Rayville, La., native stunned everyone by picking the Tide over LSU. XTRENT RICHARDSON: The star running back out of Pensacola had Tide fans worried, but he signed with UA. XAJ MCCARRON: The high-rated QB said he’s excited about coming to Tuscaloosa to play for the Tide. XDJ FLUKER: The offensive lineman from Foley is coming to Tuscaloosa, all 6-foot-7, 350 pounds of him. XDRE KIRKPATRICK, KENDALL KELLY: The Gadsden City duo will remain teammates as members of the Tide.
Gordo’s versatile Lanier leads local signing class By Andrew Carroll Sports Writer
GORDO | After the Gordo High School cheerleaders hung a “War Eagle” banner, Izauea Lanier entered the gym with his parents while “Eye of the Tiger” blared on the loudspeaker. His fellow students gave him a standing ovation as he prepared to make a career choice on Wednesday. When Lanier signed a National Letter of Intent and an SEC document, Principal Jamie Chapman declared, “You are now an Auburn Tiger, hoss.” Lanier, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound multi-purpose athlete for the Greenwave, said he expects to get a chance to play safety for the Tigers, but he also feels confident in his ability to play wide receiver. “I’ve been going to Auburn on and off since my ninthgrade year, like when Courtney Taylor was there,” Lanier said. “I used to go down there a lot. I just fell in love with it then. Getting this opportunity to go to Auburn, I just took it the first chance I got.” Taylor, a former Auburn wide receiver, played for Carrollton High School. Lanier said he lived in Carrollton before moving to Gordo. Lanier said his love for Auburn didn’t change, even when SEE LOCAL | 4C
X
The
factor
Snatching up Bell from LSU a nice surprise for Alabama By Chris Rattey New Media Director
STAFF PHOTO | DUSTY COMPTON
Gordo’s Izauea Lanier, center, walks into the gym with his parents, Patricia Lanier, right, and Grady Oliver at Gordo High School on Wednesday. Lanier signed to play football at Auburn.
To watch video of Gordo’s Izauea Lanier and other local signees go to www. tuscaloosanews.com
RAYVILLE, LA. | Interstate 20 in northern Louisiana became a battleground Wednesday between LSU and the University of Alabama. And while Les Miles scored the big prize with No. 1-ranked wide receiver Rueben Randle, Alabama’s Nick Saban was able to pluck one out of his old stomping grounds for a National Signing Day surprise. An LSU commit since August, wide receiver Kenny Bell Kenny Bell switched gears and went against the grain, signing with Alabama among friends and family at the Rayville High School field house. SEE BELL | 5C