Hands On Tuscaloosa sees big turnout
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LIFESTYLES
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“The Magicians” book review
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Serving the University of Alabama since 1894
Vol. 118, Issue 17
Council to vote on Tuscaloosa Forward By Stephen Nathaniel Dethrage Special Projects Reporter sndethrage@crimson.ua.edu
IF YOU GO... • What: City Council meeting
The Tuscaloosa City Council will vote to vote on Tuscaloosa Forward to adopt or reject the tornado relief and plan rebuilding plan known as Tuscaloosa Forward tonight at its regular weekly • Where: City Hall meeting. In a special morning meeting of the • When: 6 p.m. council last Tuesday, John McConnell, Tuscaloosa’s director of development services, presented parts of and addi- ments for the necessity of its adoption. “This plan is a competitive edge,” tions to the plan as well as several argu-
he said. “[It] opens the door to funding resources that we all need.” McConnell said Tuscaloosa needs to be on par with other damaged areas that are in competition for relief funds from a number of federal agencies. “We’re at a crossroads,” McConnell said. “We can either go back to what we were doing April 26, which has a proven record of not doing what it had to do to help areas like the 15th Street corridor, or we can take the first step in the right direction.” He emphasized the idea of the
“A lot of people expect immediate change, and not a blueprint for the future,” Howard said. McConnell said every current building ordinance in Tuscaloosa is based on a plan adopted in 1972 and that the — Bobby Howard, adoption of the Tuscaloosa Forward Tuscaloosa councilman plan would place the city in an approTuscaloosa Forward plan only being a priately modern condition. first step to recovery for property own“It is the first logical step to move ers in the city, and was supported by from 1972 into 2011 in terms of commercouncilman Bobby Howard, who said cial codes and zoning,” McConnell said. there had been a great deal of misconception surrounding the plan. See FORWARD, page 3
“A lot of people expect immediate change, and not a blueprint for the future.”
FOOTBALL
After breaking her back during the April 27 tornado, Chelsea Thrash rehabs her injuries with the help of Donna Ruffin in the Northport DCH Rehab Facility on Sept. 1. Thrash, despite her injuries, managed to walk to her first day of class.
Reliable weapon found in Maze By Tony Tsoukalas Sports Editor crimsonwhitesports@gmail.com
Much has been made about The University of Alabama’s potent run attack, with Heisman candidate Trent Richardson leading the way. However, Saturday’s game against Kent State showed the Crimson Tide that they have another weapon up their sleeves if need be. Marquis Maze shined in his first game as the Tide’s primary receiver, racking up “I don’t think it is a eight receptions en lot of pressure on me, route to 118 yards and you just have to play a touchdown. With football.” Darius Hanks having to sit out in order — Marquis Maze, to use his medical Alabama wide receiver red-shirt and Duron Carter not playing due to the lack of preparation he had with the team, Maze carried much of the weight of the passing game on his shoulders on Saturday.
Get on the right page with prices of UA textbooks By Melissa Brown Contributing Writer A recently released study has found that the majority of college undergraduates forego purchasing required materials for classes because of rising textbook prices. The U.S. Public Interest Research Group surveyed 1,905 undergraduates and found seven out of 10 students have gone without textbooks to save money. According to the study, textbook prices have risen 22 percent in the last four years. So, how are textbook publishers and university bookstores getting away with this quadruple inflation? PIRG states that bundling is one of the most successful tricks of the trade. A practice familiar to many students is bundling, the strategy used when bookstores package the main text with CDs, codes, dictionaries, or other supplemental materials – making the consumer purchase products he or she does not need.
le this
• Thrash was thrown from her boyfriend’s apartment during the tornado.
• Despite injuries, Thrash was able to walk before the start of classes.
•Thrash spent the summer in physical therapy. year by walking to class like any other student at the University of Alabama. “You tell her to walk 10 steps and [she’s] going to walk 20,” said the elder Thrash. “She does what she
wants and you better not get in her way.” When the tornado tore through Tuscaloosa last spring, Chelsea was taking cover in her boyfriend’s Charleston Square apartment. According to Chelsea, the last thing she remembers is the sound of a jet engine and the bathroom door being sucked from its hinges. Chelsea was knocked unconscious when the storm hurled her out on to the complex’s courtyard. From others’ accounts, she estimates it was about 30 minutes before she woke up. “[I] looked up to see the entire apartment destroyed and I couldn’t feel my legs,” she said. “Being a biology major, I knew that if I panicked and moved, I could cause way
more damage.” Chelsea said a couple trained in wildlife rescue discovered her and were able to fashion a backboard out of a dining room table. Someone found her cell phone, miraculously intact, and she was able to make the call to her parents. First responders carried Chelsea out of the courtyard before finding a truck that would drive her to DCH. She was later transferred to UAB. In the early hours of April 28, Chelsea was diagnosed with an L1 burst fracture – the L1 disc burst had traumatically shifted her spinal cord. In emergency surgery, doctors performed a spinal fusion and removed bone fragments from
See THRASH, page 2
Drive-by Truckers to perform at the Bama Southern rock group Drive-By Truckers will play at the Bama Theatre on Sept. 7.
By Will Edwards Contributing Writer The Drive-By Truckers have been described as alt-country, southern rock, country rock and just about everything else, but Mike Cooley doesn’t like to describe his band’s sound. “My description would probably confuse somebody more than help them,” Cooley said. “Other people can tell us what we’re doing. We’re just doing it.” Cooley, the soon-to-be 45-yearold co-founder of The Drive-By
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Kelle Thrash was relieved, as most UA parents were, when her daughter Chelsea Thrash called her shortly after the April 27 tornadoes ripped through Tuscaloosa. But relief changed to horror as Chelsea explained she was lying in a courtyard, paralyzed from the waist down. After hearing her daughter say those words, Kelle Thrash anticipated hospital and therapy visits with Chelsea spending the months ahead recovering from her traumatic injury at home in Pelham. But on Aug. 24, just shy of four months from that fateful day, Chelsea Thrash began her junior
P.O. Box 870170 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 Newsroom: 348-6144 | Fax: 348-8036 | Advertising: 348-7845 | Classifieds: 348-7355 Letters, op-eds: letters@cw.ua.edu Press releases, announcements: news@cw.ua.edu
IF YOU GO ... • What: Drive-By Truckers with The Shakes in concert • Where: The Bama Theatre
• When: Wednesday, Sept. 7 at 9 p.m. • Cost: $18 in advance, $23 at the door
See TRUCKERS, page 6
INSIDE today’s paper
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Plea s
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Chelsea Thrash walks to class four months after being paralyzed by April 27 tornado
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Taking recovery step-by-step By Melissa Brown Contributing Writer
See MAZE, page 8
See BOOKS, page 3
CW | Drew Hoover
Briefs ........................2
Sports .......................8
Opinions ...................4
Puzzles......................7
Lifestyles....................6
Classifieds .................7
WEATHER today Chance of rain
74º/56º
Wednesday 77º/59º
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GO ON THE
ONLINE
ON THE CALENDAR TODAY
EDITORIAL Victor Luckerson editor-in-chief editor@cw.ua.edu
WHAT: Alive at 25 Defensive Driving Class
WHAT: Homegrown Alabama Farmer’s Market
VIDEO:
WHERE: Shelton State University
WHERE: G-54 Rose Administration
WHERE: U.S.A Canterbury Episcopal Chapel
Tailgating
WHEN: 1 p.m.-2 p.m.
WHEN: 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
WHEN: 3 p.m.-6 p.m.
WHAT: Faculty Recital featuring Beth Gottlieb
WHAT: Student Assistant Leadership Essentials Training
WHAT: Gary Gallagher Lecture
WHERE: Concert Hall
WHERE: G-54 Rose Administration
WHERE: 205 Gorgas Library
WHEN: 2 p.m.-3 p.m.
WHEN: 4 p.m.
WHAT: Reading College Textbooks Workshop
WHAT: Faculty Recital featuring Chris Kozak, double bass
Watch a short clip of commentary from Saturday’s tailgaters on the Quad.
VIDEO:
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
Student Sound-off WHAT: BAH Presents: The Names of Love WHERE: Bama Theatre
Amanda Sams news editor newsdesk@cw.ua.edu Malcolm Cammeron community manager outreach@cw.ua.edu Stephanie Brumfield lifestyles editor Tony Tsoukalas sports editor Tray Smith opinions editor
Alabama vs. Kent State Submit your events to calendar@cw.ua.edu
Check out photos from Saturday’s 48-7 victory against Kent State.
ON THE MENU BURKE
BRYANT
FRESH FOOD
LUNCH
DINNER
LUNCH
LUNCH
LUNCH
Pork Cutlet with Onion Gravy Scalloped Potatoes Steamed Peas Nachos Roasted Red Peppers over Linguine Farfalle Pasta with Broccoli & Riccotta (Vegetarian)
Baked Ham Macaroni & Cheese Italian Vegetables Seasoned Peas & Carrots Chicken, Bacon & Chipotle Ranch Pizza Black Bean Cakes (Vegetarian)
BBQ Brisket Steamed Cauliflower Vegetable Medley Kosher Hot Dog Station Sweet Roasted Potatoes Peppers Stuffed with Black Beans (Vegetarian)
Baked Cod Jerk Chicken with Orzo and Roasted Red Pepper Sauce Barbecue Pork Lima Beans with Bacon Chili con Carne Vegetable Nachos
LAKESIDE
ON THE RADAR Heavy storms downed several branches on the Quad.
Drew Hoover photo editor Brian Connell web editor
Lauren Aylworth 348-8042 Creative Services Manager Nikki Amthor 348-8742 Greg Woods 348-8054 Tori Hall 348-6153
Drew Hoover
Tropical storm drenches Tuscaloosa Tropical Depression Lee made its way north on Sunday, leaving many in parts of Alabama and Georgia drenched and without power. Fredey Padilla, an external affairs official for the Western Division of Alabama Power, said 19,250 customers were without power in the division, which runs north to Winston County, south to Marengo County, east to Bibb County and west to the state line. Padilla said 7,200 customers were without power in the Tuscaloosa area. “We’re seeing a lot of power outages due to high wind, downed trees and other
things of that nature,” Padilla said. “We expect it to be restored as the depression progresses.” The tropical depression dumped about a half inch of rain in Tuscaloosa through Sunday, and is expected to bring 4-8 inches of rain by the end of Tuesday, according to reports by The Tuscaloosa News. Lee reportedly dropped more than 14 inches of rain in some parts of Louisiana. Although Padilla said there was no timetable for the restoration of power, he said Alabama Power was actively working to fix the outages.
Rob Clark 348-4367 Will DeShazo 348-8041 Jessica West 348-8054 Ben Gordon 348-8042 Lauren Gallas 348-8042 Coleman Richards Special Projects Account Rep The Crimson White is the community newspaper of The University of Alabama. The Crimson White is an editorially free newspaper produced by students. The University of Alabama cannot influence editorial decisions and editorial opinions are those of the editorial board and do not represent the official opinions of the University. Advertising offices of The Crimson White are on the first floor, Student Publications Building, 923 University Blvd. The advertising mailing address is P.O. Box 2389, Tuscaloosa, AL 35403-2389. The Crimson White (USPS 138020) is published four times weekly when classes are in session during Fall and Spring Semester except for the Monday after Spring Break and the Monday after Thanksgiving, and once a week when school is in session for the summer. Marked calendar provided. The Crimson White is provided for free up to three issues. Any other papers are $1.00. The subscription rate for The Crimson White is $125 per year. Checks should be made payable to The University of Alabama and sent to: The Crimson White Subscription Department, P.O. Box 2389, Tuscaloosa, AL 35403-2389. The Crimson White is entered as periodical postage at Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Crimson White, P.O. Box 2389, Tuscaloosa, AL 35403-2389. All material contained herein, except advertising or where indicated otherwise, is Copyright © 2010 by The Crimson White and protected under the “Work Made for Hire” and “Periodical Publication” categories of the U.S. copyright laws. Material herein may not be reprinted without the expressed, written permission of The Crimson White.
CORRECTION In the article “Zoe’s Kitchen donates to RISE Foundation,” the regional Vice President, Tyre Stuckey, was incorrectly identified as Tyre Stuckley. The CW regrets the error and is happy to set the record straight. In the article “Diabetes walk to raise money for research,” which printed on Sept. 1, the registration time for the walk was incorrect. Those interested in participating should register at the Bama Belle Park at 8 a.m. with the walk beginning at 9 a.m. on Sept. 10. The CW regrets the error and is happy to set the record straight.
UA TOMS hosts book launch
Daniel Roth multimedia editor
Amy Ramsey 348-7355 National Representative Classifieds Coordinator
Roast Beef Carrot, Corn, & Onion Rice Sauteed Squash & Zucchini Spaghetti Cream of Asparagus Soup Potato Pancakes (Vegetarian)
ON CAMPUS
Evan Szczepanski graphics editor
Brittany Key 348-2598 Territory Manager
WHERE: Moody Music Building WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
Kyle Carey design editor
Emily Richards 348-8995 Advertising Manager cwadmanager@gmail.com
WHEN: 4 p.m.-5 p.m.
PHOTO GALLERY:
Adam Greene chief copy editor
ADVERTISING
WHERE: 230 Osband Hall
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Jonathan Reed managing editor jonathanreedcw@gmail.com Will Tucker assistant managing editor wjtucker1@gmail.com
THURSDAY
WHAT: Terrific Tuesdays Recital Series
Opinions Editor Tray Smith asks students outside Bryant-Denny before Saturday’s game for their thoughts on block seating.
Page 2• Tuesday, September 6, 2011
WEDNESDAY
Everyday Indulgence
Natral Bath & Body Products CustomScents
2111 University Blvd. 205.759.5070 FIND US ON FACEBOOK
The UA TOMS and the SUPe Store have partnered to host a book launching party for “Start Something that Matters” by Blake Mycoskie, the founder of TOMS, a company that matches every pair of shoes sold with
a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. The launch will be held today in the Ferguson Center Plaza from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Copies of the book will be available for purchase in the SUPe Store.
New report on Tuscaloosa Real Estate available The Alabama Center for Real Estate at The University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Commerce recently released a report analyzing the short-term impact of the April 27 tornado on real estate in Tuscaloosa. The report, which is
THRASH Continued from page 1
her spinal nerves. In those moments, Kelle Thrash wasn’t very worried if her daughter would walk again – she was just thankful Chelsea was alive. “I wasn’t too worried at that point whether she would walk again, because I knew her mind was OK,” Kelle Thrash said. “If she’s going to be paralyzed, that’s fine - that’s something
available at the Alabama Center for Real Estate, indicated that 5,144 housing units were affected by the tornado and 1,240 were destroyed entirely. The report also includes an analysis of the current housing market in light of the tornados.
we’ll deal with. The person she is, that’s in her mind. And that will always be there.” Chelsea felt a little differently. “I was always a driven individual so I knew that I needed to get moving to get back on my feet,” she said. “I knew I wanted to be back at UA in the fall and to do that I needed to learn how to walk again.” It took Chelsea 15 days to sit up. It took an hour for the occupational therapist to help her dress in a T-shirt and shorts for the first time. “I had to relearn how to dress myself, bathe, all other forms of caring for oneself that most of us don’t think of,” Chelsea said. Kelle Thrash said Chelsea stood in therapy one day with the help of four physical therapists. She was able to walk across the floor with their help and a special walker. Now she is able to walk with a little assistance from a cane. A Go-Getter “She was just not your typical spinal cord injury patient,” Kelle Thrash said. “Chelsea is a classic oldest child, Type-A, go-getter.” Those who know Chelsea cannot help but mention the grit the girl possesses. It’s no surprise to them that she was able to accomplish so much in less than four months. “Once I saw her move her toes, I knew that she would be OK,” said Sloane McCrary, Chelsea’s boyfriend. “For the two years that I have known her, she has had more determination and drive than anyone I’ve ever met.” For the Type-A go-getter, the adjustments she had to make to return to school have been some-
what difficult. “We had some issues about how she was going to be able to cope with the physical parts of being around campus and the emotional parts of being away at school and being able to take care of anything herself,” said Kellie Thrash. “It was more difficult sending her off to school at the beginning of her junior year than her freshman year.” Despite achieving so much so quickly, Chelsea said she has no plans to slow down. She continues to attend physical therapy, and her next goal is to walk without the assistance of a cane. “It’s so amazing to be able to see her walk on her own to class,” McCrary said. “Although she still uses her cane, I know that she is working very hard to get off it and expects it to happen soon.” Chelsea said even with intensive physical therapy, the hardest thing to deal with is the stares she thinks she gets. “I understand some people are not comfortable talking about what happened, but I would like to tell them that I have dealt with it, and would love to share my experiences with them,” she said. Even if her physical therapy is difficult - and the stares a little awkward - Chelsea Thrash is glad to be back living the normal life of a college student, which even includes early morning classes. “Through all this, I am so happy I have the opportunity to go to class, even though I have an 8 a.m. everyday,” she said. “I love school and the friends I have made here, and I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else in the entire world.”
The Crimson White
NEWS
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
3
Hands on Tuscaloosa experiences high turnout
Society to use to help more people, Stripling said. Schilling Nechtman, a junior majoring in biology, volunteered at an organization called Project Blessings, which buys old houses and fixes them to sell later for profit that returns to further refurbish more homes. “We helped paint the ceilings and some people were putting down new sheet rock onto the wall to be painted at a later date,” Nechtman said. The Community Service Center will hold their final
A Announcing Special Hard-bound Book book fromfromTheTheTuscaloosa News a special hard-bound Tuscaloosa News
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Not everyone present supported the plan, though. Some business owners were dissatisfied with its many new regulations and codes for commercial property, zoning and signage. After the presentation, before the council dismissed those present without taking questions or comments, Councilman Harrison Taylor asked for show of hands from those satisfied with the Tuscaloosa Forward plan, and then from those who did
purely conceptual. Mayor Walt Maddox and McConnell stressed that the walkway would take years to finish and might look nothing like it’s expected to. “The city has no intention or desire to place this in someone’s yard who doesn’t want it,” Maddox said. “It doesn’t make sense from a practical standpoint, and it doesn’t make sense from a moral standpoint.” The council will vote to accept or reject the plan during their regular weekly meeting tonight. Tuscaloosa residents will have an opportunity to speak during the meeting.
— Wahnee Sherman, director of UA Community Service Center
INA
Continued from page 1
not like it, and the two groups were fairly evenly divided. Councilman Lee Garrison encouraged the apprehensive to look past their worry and support the plan because it is essentially the only plan on the table. The plan’s proposal for the creation of a walking trail that marks and memorializes the path of destruction caused by the tornado that devastated the city in April has been gaining popularity in the community, but McConnell and the city council advised citizens to be cautious with their enthusiasm for the planned walkway, which they said was currently
“[We] planned several service days so that everyone could have an opportunity to work around their schedules and be able to participate.”
NO TF
FORWARD
Hands on Tuscaloosa Day on Saturday and offer other service days throughout the semester, Sherman said. “Students can check out the CSC website for updated information,” Sherman said. “We also want students to get involved with our weekly service opportunities. Students can see an updated list of those opportunities on the CSC website under the Upcoming Programs tab.” Students can continue to sign up for the final Hands on Tuscaloosa event at volunteer. ua.edu/hands.cfm. Stripling said students should know that there are many more ways to get involved beyond the tornado relief efforts. “I think it’s great that they want to help with tornado relief, but there are lots of other needs to be met that have nothing to do with the tornado as well,” Stripling said.
ER
The UA Community Service Center held the second phase of their Hands on Tuscaloosa volunteer program on Friday. Students volunteered at locations including the Salvation Army, Project Blessings, the Humane Society, Temporary Emergency Services and the Tuscaloosa Volunteer Reception Center. Participants of the program were able to choose between the five different locations in Tuscaloosa when they checked in unless a location was full, said Wahnee Sherman, director of the UA Community Service Center. “[The turnout for the event] was a few more than expected. We knew that it would be a smaller amount than the previous Saturday because of people having classes, and also
because of the holiday weekend,” Sherman said. “This is why we planned several service days so that everyone could have an opportunity to work around their schedules and be able to participate.” Shea Stripling, assistant director of Arts, Youth and Education at the Community Service Center, worked with the Humane Society to help organize leftover donations brought in after the tornado. “We got a lot of pet food donations after the tornado and they had a lot of storage. What we were doing was organizing those donations and cleaning out the area where they housed those donations,” Stripling said. CW | Megan Smith The Humane Society has a Junior Landon Mueller volunteered with Hands on Tuscaloosa flea market where they take Friday at a damaged house in Alberta. Workers removed donations of various items materials from the house to the side of the street to be removed including knick-knacks and later. Roughly 80 volunteers worked at various locations around kitchenware and sell them to Tuscaloosa. make money for the Humane
COV
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TEXTBOOKS Continued from page 1
The study also cites the publishing of new editions of textbooks. Publishers frequently release new editions every few years, even if there is little to no change in the material. According to College Board, students spend $1,137 a year on course materials alone. When added to the mandatory tuition fees, rent and every day living expenses that students and their families must pay, it is no surprise that textbooks can be viewed as an optional
expense when the bills start rolling in. Lauren Breland, a senior majoring in psychology, said she has taken classes without the required books every year. “And you know what? Never made a difference,” Breland said. “Textbooks are overrated.” Katie Fay Kines, a recent UA graduate who studied food and nutrition, said she agrees with Breland. Kines, who graduated summa cum laude from the Honors College and is currently pursuing graduate work at UAB, said she never felt going without books was detrimen-
tal to academic success. “I usually didn’t buy [the] high-priced books that were required for classes,” she said. However, some students may be hesitant to attend class without the text the teacher has required. For these students, there are several options to save money. In the end, however, some students believe that success in the classroom is not dependent on a grossly inflated book. “Honestly, most professors won’t test you on anything they don’t go over in class. I go every day and pay attention,” Breland said.
About the book: Get an up-close and personal look at the historic
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A portion of the proceeds of every book sold will go to help victims of the storm.
TO ORDER VISIT: tuscaloosastormbook.com Or visit The Tuscaloosa News office during regular business hours 315 28TH AVENUE |
DOWNTOWN TUSCALOOSA
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OPINIONS
Growth in enrollment and quality By Judy Bonner
Again, enjoy your trip.
I would like to respond to the editorial written by SoRelle Wyckoff in the Aug. 29 edition of the CW. Ms. Wyckoff states that “there are ways to build a university without building numbers. Instead of lowering our standards to raise our numbers, how about we raise our standards and let the numbers fall in line on their own.” When President Witt established an enrollment goal shortly after arriving at The University of Alabama in March 2003, we made a commitment to the faculty that our emphasis would be on planned growth with quality. We pledged to work aggressively to attract the best and brightest students. If you examine the record, you will find that we have done precisely what we set out to do. Here are some facts that the author should have researched before she came to her erroneous conclusions: In fall 2003, the average ACT for the entering freshman class was in the top 25 percent. In fall 2010, the average ACT was in the top 15 percent. In fall 2003, only 505 freshmen ranked academically in the top five percent in the nation on the ACT, while 1,436 or one out of every four freshmen in the class entering in fall 2010 ranked in the top five percent nationally. In fall 2003, 24 percent of the freshman class was in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class; in fall 2010, 44 percent were in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class. In fall 2003, 34 freshmen were National Merit Scholars. In fall 2010, 128 members of the freshman class were National Merit Scholars. The University of Alabama’s fall 2010 freshman class ranked 6th in the nation among public universities in the enrollment of National Merit Scholars. For the fall 2003 entering class, UA accepted 85 percent of the students who applied. Each year since that time, the percentage applicants who were admitted has gradually decreased. For fall 2010, only 55 percent of those who applied were accepted. The University of Alabama is the most selective institution in the state of Alabama. In fall 2003, we did not have an Honors College. Today, Honors College provides an environment where the best and brightest students can thrive while enjoying the benefits of studying at a large public research university. In fall 2010, 1,357 freshmen (24 percent of the freshman class) and 4,673 undergraduates (19 percent of the undergraduate student body) were enrolled in Honors College. While enrollment figures for fall 2011 will not be available until later in September, enrollment reached a record high of 30,232 for fall 2010. The entering freshman class, at 5,563 students, was the largest in UA history and included more than 1,395 students who had a 4.0 or higher high school grade point average. For the fourth straight year, the incoming freshman class embodied recordbreaking academic quality. And, while the profile of the freshman class of fall 2010 was impressive, when the academic profile of the freshman class of fall 2011 is available, you will see that it is even more impressive. The University of Alabama has produced a total of 15 Rhodes Scholars. And, in the past 25 years, UA has produced 34 Goldwater Scholars, 21 Hollings Scholars and seven Truman Scholars. UA scored a perfect four out of four with Goldwater Scholars in 2011 as all four UA students who applied were named recipients of the elite academic award. The University of Alabama led the nation with a record 10 students named to USA Today’s 2010 All-USA College Academic Team. UA has had great success in placing students on this national team that honors the “best of the best” undergraduate academic all-stars from across the nation, having placed 46 students on the team since 2003. In addition to this year, UA also had the most students on the list in 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009 and tied for the top spot in 2007. Clearly and increasingly, students and their parents from across the nation recognize the quality and value of an education from The University of Alabama. UA has planned carefully for our growth in both numbers and quality, adding nationally recognized faculty, state-of-the-art facilities and outstanding support functions to provide an excellent education for all students. In fact, our carefully planned enrollment growth has provided substantial benefits to our students during this time of economic downturn. Despite significant cuts in our state appropriations for the past three years, we continue to use our resources effectively and efficiently. As a result, we have not reduced the number of students we accept; students have full access to the classes they need to graduate; we are fully staffed to meet student expectations; and classes are taught by fully qualified and nationally recognized faculty. UA continues to provide the opportunities that enrich students’ educational experiences inside and outside the classroom. At a time when other universities in other states are cutting back (number of students admitted, courses offered, etc), UA and our students are thriving.
Steve Sampsell is the director of college relations in the Penn State College of Communications.
Judy Bonner, Ph.D, serves as Executive Vice President and Provost for the University of Alabama.
The Strip is stripped of its character By Jake Gray
Tuesday, September 6, 2011 Editor • Tray Smith letters@cw.ua.edu Page 4
{ YOUR VIEW } CW Poll Do you think the recovery in tuscaloosa is moving at an adequate pace?
YES 65% 707 Votes
NO 35% 60 Votes
Years ago, the drive down University Boulevard was a vibrant and aesthetically pleasing ride. After gazing at one of the best football stadiums in the world, one could see dozens of flourishing restaurants, bars and stores along The Strip. These places were neat and original. They had character. While some may have questioned the contents of the shrimp fried rice at Lai-Lai’s, they couldn’t deny the taste. Who didn’t enjoy a margarita at Pepito’s after a long day of grueling schoolwork? The stories of bars like Cheap Shots and The Booth are distant memories to old alumni reminiscing of their college days. These two watering holes were driven either out of business or downtown years before I ever enrolled at the Capstone. While these places may not have been the nicest establishments in the world, they had a certain Tuscaloosa cache you just can’t find at The Pita Pit or Hungry Howie’s. The success of a small, privately owned business is what makes people feel at home. That old worn-down Chinese restaurant
New poll: Do you feel that your classrooms are overcrowded?
Vote online at cw.ua.edu
it is bad for local business, and upset thousands of students, it probably looked better recruitment-wise to move a few bars away from campus. That being said, nothing looks worse than vacant buildings. What will a prospective student think when they drive down The Strip and see nothing but empty stores? The Strip is turning into a ghost town and there seems to be no intent to change it. The University had all summer to replace the local businesses after their leases expired, but nothing has been done. While I hated to see a place that was once a vibrant and cultural part of this unique West Alabama city turned into a giant billboard for offcampus living communities, I hate watching local businesses forced out without a plan already in place even more. Hopefully the Strip will be restored to what it once was. Until then, I will enjoy my free Woodlands coozies and T-shirts as long as I can. Jake Gray is a senior majoring in economics and journalism. His columns run on Tuesdays.
Due process ignored in block seating By Danielle Blevins
Total Voters: 767
may have been a hole-in-the-wall, but it was our hole-in-the-wall. When you drive past The Strip now, you will see a multitude of things. Luckily, after a year of clogging up space in Tuscaloosa’s most prime real estate location, the property management center for The Woodlands, an off-campus living community, is gone. There was a time when there were three separate living communities advertising on The Strip. Places once occupied by successful bars and restaurants were used for property management and advertisement for over a year. Finally, most of those places are gone. Now, though, it is even worse. There are currently three unoccupied places on The Strip. Rumors are circulating of a Waffle House or a What-a-Burger. Truthfully, I don’t think anyone knows what is going in these spots. The University has yet to formally announce any major plans. The mere fact that these spots, which were once local favorites, are now sitting idly in one of the most visible locations in the state is absurd. I can understand the University’s attempt to “clean-up” The Strip by sending a few bars downtown. While
Law students were shocked and offended when the news circulated last week that not only had we been denied a meaningful tradition to stand together and support the Alabama football team in BryantDenny, but the SGA knowingly removed our application from consideration. After the SGA’s blatant disregard of equality and due process for non-greek student organizations in this course of events, many law students are left shaking their heads in disbelief. Law students, along with the Manderson Business School, were left out in the cold in this new method that violated the SGA’s own rules of inclusion regarding assigned block seating. As active members of the University community, we feel slighted, neglected and ignored. I thought we were supposed to be on the same team. So the question is,
what are we really fighting about? Are we fighting over the right to have designated seating? Are we fighting over the right to sit together? For some students, yes, it is one or the other. For me, and for others, we’re fighting over what I like to call,“prime real estate” – end zone seating. While I’m not afraid of heights, I do not like sitting in the upper deck as I am afraid of falling. I want to sit as close as possible (to the ground) and the field. The reason students are fighting over this piece of property is because national (and local) television stations often line-up and shoot this section of the stadium when our Crimson Tide enters the end zone. The energy and excitement displayed by students is a great backdrop for what is going on down on the field. I just want to sit with friends and classmates in the end zone as I have a great view of the field. I guess that was asking too much of some members of the SGA.
While some offers have been made to remedy the situation, last I heard none had been accepted as reasonable substitutes. As such, I challenge all involved to work together to come to a satisfactory, fair, and equitable agreement by the time the North Texas Mean Green football team enters Bryant-Denny. Our leaders should not fear reprisals against their budget from the SGA for speaking out. Our leaders should be the leaders they would like to have themselves. Our leaders should lead. This shouldn’t be a greek v. independent argument. This shouldn’t be an undergraduate v. post-graduate issue. We’re not supposed to be on opposite teams. We bleed crimson and white, too. The SGA Constitution says its purpose is to serve the common interests of all students. Let’s make sure all students (and their organizations) are served accordingly and fairly.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Kirani James coverage disappointing By Udechukwu Bobby Onyeukwu
EDITORIAL BOARD Victor Luckerson Editor Jonathan Reed Managing Editor Tray Smith Opinions Editor Adam Greene Chief Copy Editor Will Tucker Assistant Managing Editor Drew Hoover Photo Editor
WE WELCOME YOUR OPINIONS Letters to the editor must be less than 300 words and guest columns less than 800. Send submissions to letters@ cw.ua.edu. Submissions must include the author’s name, year, major and daytime phone number. Phone numbers are for verification and will not be published. Students should also include their year in school and major. For more information, call 348-6144. The CW reserves the right to edit all submissions.
ever to win a world championship in any event and also the first person I’m writing to personally express from his country of Grenada to win a my disappointment of the cover- gold medal in a World Championship. age of Kirani James’s recent accom- Yet your newspaper decided to hide plishment. This past week he won him on page 6 while highlighting the the 400 meters in what was one of fact that Donta Hightower “is back on the most exciting races of the World the playing field” on your front page. I hope the newspaper does better Championships in Daegu, South coverage next time as you have a Korea. He became the youngest person probable future Olympic finalist here
on campus, not to add the University of Alabama’s first ever track World Champion. To offer a comparison: Mark Ingram’s Heisman was domestic; Kirani James World Championship was global! Udechukwu Bobby Onyeukwu is a senior majoring in electrical and computer engineering.
Tide fans welcome in Happy Valley By Steve and Susan Sampsell We are writing to extend an early and sincere welcome to Alabama students who plan to travel to Happy Valley for the Sept. 10 football game between your Crimson Tide and our Nittany Lions. We hope your trip is enjoyable, and you find the same hospitality we encountered in Alabama last fall. Our trip was a pleasure (aside from the not-unexpected outcome of the game) in large part because of Tide fans – especially students. At one point, we were the only two
people in Gallette’s wearing blue and white. It was just us, the live band and seemingly hundreds of Alabama students, and the students consistently asked us about our trip, encouraged us to have a good time, made recommendations on places to eat or simply thanked us for traveling south. We plan to extend the same hospitality at our tailgate this year (more on that later), and we hope all other Penn Staters do the same. That hospitality has been one of the greater parts of our intersectional rivalry, and we hope everyone does their part to continue that tradition.
For those of you who do travel north, go to the Creamery on our campus and then look to your left for some noticeable yellow hammers. We plan to provide the traditional Tide beverage as part of an effort to raise money for tornado relief. We’ll then send the money we collect back to Tuscaloosa with a friend who will be tailgating with us.
The Crimson White
NEWS
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
5
Campus adjusts severe weather measures Junior Leesha Watson observes the new black box weather alert system installed as part of the schoolʼs attempt to increase storm safety measures since the April 27 tornado.
By Jasmine Cannon Senior Staff Reporter jmcannon@crimson.ua.edu
The April 27 tornado was one of the worst storms in Alabama history. With the realization that anything can happen, the University has plans in place to prepare for such happenings in the future. “The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority,” UA spokeswoman Cathy Andreen said. “We have, and had before the tornado, comprehensive emergency plans in place to deal with any crisis that may occur on campus.” One thing that students are recognizing more is the
CW | Mitchell Hughes
ONYX rolls through UA By Jasmine Cannon Senior Staff Reporter jmcannon@crimson.ua.edu
After months of preparation, ONYX, the annual event sponsored by the National Panhellenic Council and the Black Student Union, hit the Capstone last week. Over 700 students participated in ONYX, as well as 20 student organizations. The event kicked off with the NPHC convocation and pancake eat-off competition at Lakeside Dining Hall. Marcus Ayers representing the Beta Eta chapter of Omega Psi Phi won the eat-off. “ONYX 2011, by far, exceeded my expectations,” said Courtnee Davis, president of ONYX. Davis was on the ONYX committee last year and said she wanted it to be bigger and better this year. The main goals for this year’s ONYX were to bring together all minority groups on campus and provide a platform for freshmen to get involved in organizations early on in their college careers. “This year I wanted to showcase as many minority organizations as possible along with
“ONYX really opened my eyes to a lot of different organizations that I didn’t know about.” — Jaquan Howard, freshman from Opelika, Ala. NPHC greeks,” Davis said. “The turnout was amazing. I felt such unity.” “We definitely accomplished all of our goals for this year, including getting freshmen involved,” said Jahmir Jones, vice president of ONYX. “However, we still have a long way to go. If ONYX keeps going at this rate, we will have a fully engaged minority population on campus.” Jaquan Howard, a freshman from Opelika, Ala., majoring in biology on the pre-medical track, said he’s glad there are events like ONYX on campus. “ONYX really opened my eyes to a lot of different organizations that I didn’t know about,” Howard said. The block party was the premiere event for day two. Each organization was judged on creativity for the table-decorating
contest. The Lambda Zeta chapter of Delta Sigma Theta won the competition with a duckfishing contest. Each organization also had a video and a presentation with the fraternities and sororities performing to compete in the stroll off competition. The Theta Delta chapter of Phi Beta Sigma and Delta Sigma Theta took the trophies for the stroll off. Jones and Davis said they hope ONYX continues to grow in the coming years. “I hope that the event continues to get bigger and better, I hope that it remains fun, and I hope that more people attend,” Davis said. Jones said, “My favorite moments from this year’s ONYX was seeing all the ONYX planning committee thoughts turn to action. It was good to actually see almost every minority organization present at this event, and to see everyone eager to see what we had in store. As for next year, I hope that the committee takes measures to involve more students and more organizations in ONYX, as to make ONYX a more well-rounded event.”
announcement system in dormitories. The PA systems are there to alert students of bad weather conditions and to notify residents of precautions that should be taken. These systems are also in academic buildings, and UA is in the process of installing external systems around the Quad and other high-traffic areas. James Landry, a Riverside North resident, said he is glad the University is taking these types of measures to ensure student safety. “I’m glad that the University is trying to streamline communication across all levels,” said Landry, a junior majoring in marine science. “We quickly
discovered that there were serious problems in that area after the tornado last semester.” In relation to classroom tornado policies, students believe teachers have been paying more attention to bad weather information in syllabi and communication has evolved. “Teachers have been using websites and email to communicate with the students more and to have a backup source for information, which is definitely a positive step,” Landry said. “Faculty have been encouraged to include the severe weather guidelines in their syllabi for a couple of years,” Andreen said. “The guidelines are also in the academic plan-
ner and other UA publications.” Along with the PA systems, Andreen said in case of an emergency situation the University will notify students, faculty and staff with one or more of the following methods: UA Alerts, emails, social media, media alerts, UA website, digital signs around campus, CrimsonRide and the campus cable network. To prepare for the possibility of other severe weather, Andreen encourages students to be familiar with the severe weather guidelines found at uanews.ua.edu/weather. The guidelines state information such as the university suspending all activities in case of a tornado warning.
6
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
LIFESTYLES
The Crimson White
COLUMN | BOOKS
‘The Magicians’ serves as the anti-Harry Potter New fantasy novel reflects college life while referencing popular novels By Isabela Morales In this bleak and empty wasteland of the post-Harry Potter world we live in, it’s inevitable that any book about twentysomethings at a school for magic will come under the closest scrutiny. That would be daunting for most fantasy writers, but in “The Magicians,” author Lev Grossman relishes in the prospect. His characters are us—college students who grew up in the pages of Hogwarts, Middle Earth
and other classics of fantasy lit (including a Narnia-like universe called Fillory, complete with talking animals and thinly veiled religious allegories). And naturally, just like us, their expectations of what magic should be like are colored by these books. Quickly, they realize that they (and consequently we too) couldn’t have been more wrong. Quentin Coldwater is a genius. He, unlike a disturbing number of Hogwarts students, has more than a fifth-grade education in the traditional three R’s—which
is all for the good at a magical college with a broader curriculum than the Hogwarts’ spellcasting of made-up Latin, wandwaving and jazz hands. Magic at Brakebills Academy requires calculus, a working knowledge of quantum physics and proficiency in the very necessary languages of Estonian, Bedouin Arabic and Old Church Slavonic (just to name a few). Plus, giant spiders in the woods are nothing compared to the inter-dimensional Beast swimming up from the depths of the multiverse to devour students alive in the middle of class. In other words, practicing magic is actually kind of hard. And that’s not the only difference. Brakebills, for one, is American. Located in upstate New York, the school caters to the uber-nerds, super-geniuses, hippie Wiccans and hipster intellectuals of the country. People like Quentin, our anti-hero, whose first reaction to the rev-
elation that magic exists and he could be a magician (“wizard,” you know, is so passé) isn’t the wide-eyed wonder of a ten-yearold Harry Potter. This is a world-weary high school senior we’re talking about, the kind who makes arch allusions to quidditch and the Anglophilia of American prep schools, quotes Borges and Cervantes alongside Star Trek references, whose professors curse often, turn their students into geese for a semester, and sanction a shocking amount of on-campus alcohol use, and whose headmaster tattoos battle demons into his students’ backs the night before graduation. Not to mention that the central theme of the book is a whole lot more complicated than the clear-cut battle of good and evil we, the Harry Potter generation, have come to expect. Brakebills students are cynical, sarcastic and hardly heroic. They’re college kids, after all, with unlim-
Album cover for Tuesday’s release “GoGo Boots.”
TRUCKERS Continued from page 1
Truckers, knows that longevity is everything, and he said the key to longevity is doing your own thing. The Truckers have been doing that for a while; since their formation in 1996, the band has produced nine studio albums and toured the world. Touring in support of their newest album “Go Go Boots” will bring them to the Bama Theatre this Wednesday, Sept. 7, at 9 p.m., and part of the online ticket proceeds for the show will go toward tornado relief. Although the band was in England at the time of the tornadoes, Cooley said they heard the news and thought they could help. “We just felt like we wanted to do something.” Cooley said. “People are going to need help for a long time.”
ited power and no small amount of post-traumatic stress disorder from battles with monsters out of H.P. Lovegood’s worst nightmare. In “The Magicians,” Quentin and his cronies discover, as he says, “the horror” of getting what you wish for. Lev Grossman’s “The
drivebytruckers.com Cooley has been playing music with co-founder of the Truckers, Patterson Hood, since the two were roommates in college in 1985. Although both hail from the Shoals, an area known for its rich music history and its newly burgeoning music scene, they relocated to Athens, Ga., before founding the band. “At that time The Shoals
didn’t really have much to offer, and Patterson was looking for somewhere to be that had a good music scene,” Cooley said. “It’s a great place to do your own thing.” Perhaps because of that move to Athens, Cooley said he doesn’t feel like The Truckers have made an album with an overtly “Shoals sound” until their new-
Magicians” (2009) is the antiHarry Potter, a story that riffs on contemporary expectations of fantasy tropes and heroes. In its characters and plot, however, the novel is completely original—a trend that only continues in Grossman’s sequel “The Magician King,” just released last month. This is a book you will devour, so get excited. But maybe not too excited. In keeping with the spirit of Brakebills and its denizens, try, at least, to affect an air of indifference. Hold your “retro” Kindle 2 casually aloft in one hand with the hip lassitude of the youthful literati, and just pretend you don’t wish that you too could be one of The Magicians. Readers might also like: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, by Susanna Clarke; A Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula K. LeGuin; The Atrocity Archives, by Charles Stross; Johann Cabal the Necromancer, by Jonathan L. Howard
est entry, “Go Go Boots.” Cooley said the last few albums have been slowly evolving into more of the Shoals sound, but that seemed more environmental and less direct or intentional. Perhaps their ever-evolving sound is correlated with their nearly ever-changing line-up. “Go Go Boots” is only the second album released with their current membership. With their lineup in near constant flux, it is tough to predict who will be on their next album, but Cooley said he likes where the band is right now. “[Membership changes] are just part of rolling with it. The lineup is looking solid, and I’m really happy with it,” he said. When asked about any plans for a new album, Cooley said the band is not in a rush to make a new record. “It’s a slow road, and it’s easy to get burned out, so we just take everything as it comes.”
The Crimson White
NEWS
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Today’s Birthday (09/06/11). There’s a change for the better on the horizon. Let it occur naturally, and be patient. Abundance can be yours today, and you receive more than you give. Smile and say “thank you!� You feel balanced and assured. Find an answer in a dream. Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is a 9 -- You could be tested today. Think actions over before leaping into them. A distant development smiles upon your enterprise, and money comes in. Invest in a powerful tool. Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Accept invitations to visit. Doors open in unexpected places, revealing hidden resources. For the next two days, a quest for practical solutions beckons. Gemini (May 21-June 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Business travel could be ahead. Handle the financial plan, and work out details. Verify intuition with facts. Indulge your literary side. Your home life benefits. Cancer (June 22-July 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Share a dream with someone. Embellish and add details in writing, crafting a fine plan. Determine accountabilities and expenses. Travel later. Surprises unfold. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is an 8 -You hit the ground running. Hopefully your batteries are recharged, as you have two days of full action ahead. But there’s still time for love. It’s important to show you care. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 6
7
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MODELING/ACTING/ MAKE-UP BARBIZON MODELING seeks current or former models, actors or make-up artistry professionals to teach weekends. Contact Cevet Jones 800.330.8361 or Cevet@BarbizonUSA.com NEWK’S EXPRESS CAFE 205 University Blvd. Now taking applications for cashiers. Must be available 11:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. Apply in Person. Employees receive 50% discount. PART TIME Help in retail store, work on web sites, pack customer orders. Flexible hours. Some Saturdays. e-mail resume and work availability. babytalkstore@ gmail.com No phone calls please.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
-- Love offers comfort when money is tight, both in the giving and the receiving. Don’t resist change. Instead, let it flow naturally. It’s okay to grieve when saying goodbye. Mn^l]Zr Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 7 L^im^f[^k /ma -- Confusion’s running rampant around your home, causing havoc. Make household changes, and you could discover treasure and hidden resources (at least Mh ieZ\^ rhnk Z]3 coins in the sofa). ,-1&0,.. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Family keeps you on track today and \p\eZllf`k tomorrow. Reassure someone close to you. Discover a bonus or windfall. Prac9`fZbe'\hf tice something you’re passionate about. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 9 -- You have access to new information to better your finances now. Apply ppp'\p'nZ'^]n it. Make room for other people’s generosity. Teach others what you’ve learned. Lmn]^gm kZm^3 Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is a 9 -- Not everything you try today will ',.(i^k phk]( work, but nonetheless, it’s your day i^k ]Zr in the sun. Go out, play and share the bright light with others. Bring a hat or !Fbg' */ phk]l% - kngl" sunscreen. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is a 6 -- Contemplate your next move. Tak*The Crimson ing time to formulate a strategy saves White places energy later. Avoid risk and expense for these ads in the time being. Adapt to change and good faith. fresh ideas. We are not Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 6 responsible for -- Your creativity flourishes now, even fraudulent if there’s tension (and a bit too much advertising.* impulsiveness). Destruction is part of the creative process. Tear it down to build it up.
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www.cw.ua.edu HES IT Student Assistant - 0805814. Assistant needed for technical support duties at the College of Human Environmental Sciences. Applicants must have overall GPA of 2.8, and strong working knowledge of installation, configuration & troubleshooting of Microsoft Windows XP and 7 operating systems. Job close date: 9/9/2011. Multimedia Web Student Programmer - 0805870. Assists staff web programmers and graphic designers to support the existing web infrastructure as well as develop new technologies. Must have must have strong knowledge and/or work experience with various content management systems, and be proficient with modern web languages such as HTML(5), PHP, CSS, etc. Job close date: 9/9/01. Dining Room Manager - 0805871. Assists in managing the day to day functions of the dining room, lounge, and all food related events at the Capstone Village Retirement Community. Applicants must be at least 21 years old, and have previous food service, customer service, and supervisory experience. Job close date: 9/16/2011. Dining Room Server - 0805872. Assists with courteous and professional meal service for residents and guests at the Capstone Village Retirement Community. Applicants must have strong customer service skills, applicants with previous food service and/or customer service experience preferred. Job close date: 9/16/2011.
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8 Tuesday, September 6, 2011
SPORTS
The Crimson White
FOOTBALL | COLUMN
FOOTBALL
Crimson Tide quarterback situation: fair or foul play? By Marquavius Burnett Assistant Sports Editor msburnett1@crimson.ua.edu @Marq_Burnett I’m sure most of the people reading this watched the Tide roll over Kent State this weekend. And I’m sure you all noticed the failed attempt to rotate the quarterbacks every three series. On the surface, the quarterback battle seems to be over after just one game. Look closer though and you will see that Phillip Sims never had a fair chance in game one. Before you start to disagree, hear me out. Once Sims entered the game, he faced an enormous amount of pressure to come in and play a near perfect game. Not because AJ McCarron actually played great, but because the perception of McCarron’s first three series was that he played great. And we all know perception is everything. McCarron received an added bonus by being able to “start” the first three series. Those bonuses were fresh offensive lineman, fresh skill players and a captivated audience. Sims, on the other
MAZE
hand, waited on the sideline for three offensive and defensive possessions before getting his chance. He went from warmed-up and ready to play to being put on hold until further notice. AJ would have had to throw three consecutive interceptions for Sims to get the upper hand. Now I know some of you will look at the stats and say AJ had a great passing game, throwing for 226 yards, but if you really paid attention you will see that the bulk of McCarron’s yards came on screens and short passes that his wide receivers (particularly Marquis Maze) and running backs (particularly Eddie Lacy) turned into big gains. So the stats in a glorified scrimmage against Kent State don’t really mean much. Another mute point is the fact that both players threw two interceptions. One of AJ’s interceptions came off a tipped pass and the other was an overthrow on third and long that was basically the equivalent of a punt. Sims’ interceptions came on consecutive drives with his first coming on a blown offensive line assignment where he was blindsided
Hanks will be back after this next game.” The possible emergence of Continued from page 1 Carter as well as the return “Marquis Maze did a fantastic of Hanks will give opposing job [Saturday], not only with defenses more players to focus eight catches, but also doing a on and should allow for some really good job in the kicking of the pressure to be taken off game and return game,” head of Maze. Maze said he did not feel any coach Nick Saban said. “We obviously have two receivers extra pressure on Saturday. who we feel can be key con- However, he did acknowledge tributors who were not in the that having Carter and Hanks game today. Hopefully we will could only help. “I don’t think it is a lot of preshave one of those guys back to contribute next week, and sure on me, you just have to play
and the ball sailed before the defensive back was able to catch it. His second was a little more alarming due to the fact that it was returned to the three-yard line (Sims did make a touchdown saving tackle). The only way to make the quarterback “competition” fair is to let Sims start the first three series at Penn State. That way he plays loose and doesn’t have the added pressure of following McCarron’s performance. If Sims “starts” the first three series at Penn State and doesn’t perform well, then and only then will it be okay to begin to write him off. At the end of the day, I just want the best quarterback to lead the team this season. The only way to see which one is the best quarterback is to give each one an equal opportunity to showcase their talents. A hostile crowd at Penn State will provide one quarterback with the opportunity to emerge and become the next signal caller for the Tide. If Sims doesn’t get to start the first three series at Penn State, then he will never have had a fair chance to compete for the starting job. football,” Maze said. “[Having both receivers back] should help. They are good receivers and I have got a chance to practice with them. I feel like with those guys coming back, it will be a lot of keeping up with what I am doing now.” Hanks and Carter are not the only receivers who could help in the passing game. The Tide has plenty of talented young players, such as freshman DeAndrew White, who caught four passes for 44 yards on Saturday.
By the Numbers
Breaking down Alabama vs. Kent State
6
| Number of total first downs Alabama allowed, as opposed to the 24 they gained.
226
| Number of passing yards AJ McCarron had compared to 73 yards for Phillip Sims.
Marquis Maze proved to be a formidable weapon for Alabama on Saturday, gaining 118 yards and one touchdown.
4
| Number of interceptions both Alabama quarterbacks combined to throw.
-9
| Number of rushing yards Kent State was able to gain on 23 attempts.
1
| Number of turnovers Alabama forced, which came on a late game interception.
762
| Number of miles Kent State had to travel to get beaten 48-7
As a senior, Maze said he is embracing the mentor role with his fellow receivers, giving them advice and encouragement. Maze said he views himself as a leader, not just for the receiving corps, but for the team as a whole as well. “A lot of guys look up to me, even some of the older guys. I just mainly tell them to just play football. I tell them they can do it and not to worry about mistakes because you can always make up for them,” he said.
Maze said he was very impressed in what he saw from some of the younger receivers during the game, including White and Kenny Bell. Maze was not the only one impressed with what he saw from the receivers. “They are not going to quit,” running back Trent Richardson said of the receivers. “We have got a lot of speed guys out there, and Maze, he did a tremendous job today. White, he did a good job too. A lot of those boys, they are young and they
Mitchell Hughes
are just ready to play. They are trying to show everybody that all the receivers on the team are capable.” Going forward, Alabama knows that despite being known as a running team, it will be the receivers who help open up doors for Richardson. “It just takes a lot of pressure off of me,” Richardson said. “You don’t have seven or eight in the box all the time. Especially when you can make that deep throw, it just really opens everything up.”