ALABAMA (7-0, 4-0) vs. TENNESSEE (3-3, 1-2)
10.24.09 TIME: 2:30 p.m. TV: CBS
GAMEDAY '09 Under the spotlight A historic performance against the Gamecocks Saturday launched Mark Ingram into superstardom and pushed him to the top of the Heisman race.
Also inside: • Etched in stone: 1965
• Position Matchups
2009 Schedule Date
Opponent
Result
9/05/09
Virginia Tech
W 34-24
9/12/09
Florida International
W 40-14
9/19/09
North Texas
W 53-7
9/26/09
Arkansas
W 35-7
10/03/09
Kentucky
W 38-20
10/10/09
Ole Miss
W 22-3
10/17/09
South Carolina
W 20-6
Date
Opponent
Location
GameDay Publish Date
10/24/09 Tennessee
Tuscaloosa
10/23/09
11/07/09 LSU
Tuscaloosa
11/06/09
11/14/09 Mississippi State Starkville, Miss. 11/12/09 11/21/09 UT Chattanooga
Tuscaloosa
11/20/09
11/27/09 Auburn
Auburn
11/24/09
ON THE INSIDE
GameDay 2009 • October 23
1
Stat of the
week In the past three games, Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton has thrown six more touchdowns than Greg McElroy. The two have each thrown two interceptions in that span.
4 | UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT
GAME INFORMATION
After last Saturday’s historic performance, Mark Ingram is facing an all-new opponent: fame. By Spencer White
CW | Tori Gordon
3 | PLAYSTATION SIMULATION
8 | BUY OR SELL
In a hard-fought defensive war characteristic of the Third Saturday in October, the Crimson Tide defeated the Volunteers of Tennessee 16-10 to improve to 7-1.
After a fifth consecutive loss to Southern California, is Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis starting to feel some heat under his keister?
Alabama Crimson Tide (7-0) vs. Tennessee Volunteers (3-3)
By Will Nevin
9 | ETCHED IN STONE
13 | POSITION MATCHUPS
This week’s look at the champions of the Tide’s past examines a team that relied on the craziness of bowl season to earn a national title.
The rivalry with Tennessee has always been known as a hard-hitting and even match between two southern powers. Do the positions battles match up to the legacy?
By Spencer White
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• Field: Bryant-Denny Stadium • Place: Tuscaloosa • Time: 2:30 p.m. • TV: CBS • Radio: 1420 AM (Eli Gold, play-by-play; Phil Savage, color analyst; Barry Krauss, sideline reporter)
GAMEDAY STAFF • Jason Galloway, GameDay editor • Spencer White, assistant GameDay editor • Amanda Peterson, editor-in-chief • Will Nevin, managing editor • Brandee Easter, design editor • Emily Johnson, assistant design editor • Aaron Gertler, graphics editor • Jerrod Seaton, photo editor • Tori Gordon, photographer Cover photo: Tori Gordon
2
PICKS, POLLS AND PERSPECTIVE
October 23 • GameDay 2009
CW PICKS | WEEK 8 Jason Galloway
Spencer White
Cyrus Ntakirutinka
Aaron Gertler
Amanda Peterson
GameDay editor
Asst. GameDay editor
Senior sports reporter
Graphics editor
CW editor
29-20
31-18
29-20
26-23
29-20
Will Nevin
Drew Gunn
CW managing editor Advertising manager
Tennessee at #2 Bama Arkansas at Ole Miss #8 TCU at #16 BYU South Florida at #20 Pittsburgh Oklahoma at #25 Kansas #13 Penn State at Michigan Auburn at #9 LSU Season record
the
student
SECTION
UA students talk about their expectations for the upcoming Crimson Tide game. CW | Daniel Owen
Dara Ewing Graduate student Creative writing, MFA
Ben Joseph Senior New College
“Alabama is going to stay No. 1 for the duration of this season.”
“Weʼre gonna win. Weʼre ranked No. 1 in the AP poll.”
AP POLL
30-19
30-19
BCS STANDINGS
1. Alabama (39)
1. Florida
2. Florida (20)
2. Alabama
3. Texas
3. Texas
4. USC
4. Boise State
5. Cincinnati
5. Cincinnati
6. Boise State
6. Iowa
7. Iowa
7. USC
8. Miami
8. TCU
9. LSU
9. LSU
10. TCU
10. Miami
11. Georgia Tech
11. Oregon
12. Oregon
12. Georgia Tech
Ethan Hiatt Junior Political science
Jonathan Turner Junior Biology
13. Penn State
13. Penn State
14. Oklahoma State
14. Virginia Tech
“Theyʼre good, but I definitely think weʼre going to win.”
“Iʼm pretty sure weʼre gonna win pretty big.”
15. Virginia Tech
15. Oklahoma State
16. BYU
16. BYU
17. Houston
17. Houston
18. Ohio State
18. Utah
19. Utah
19. Ohio State
20. Pittsburgh
20. Pittsburgh
21. Texas Tech
21. Wisconsin
22. West Virginia
22. Arizona
23. South Carolina
23. West Virginia
24. Kansas
24. South Carolina
25. Oklahoma
25. Kansas
Tyler McDonald “Weʼre gonna beat Tennesse. I think their quarterback looks weak. Defense is looking good.”
Glynnis Ritchie Senior New College “I definitely donʼt know anything about football or have an opinion about it.”
PS3 SIMULATION
GameDay 2009 • October 23
PS3 SAYS | ALABAMA 16, TENNESSEE 10 BY WILL NEVIN Managing Editor It wasn’t always pretty, and the Crimson Tide may not have played its sharpest game, but Alabama found a way to win as Leigh Tiffin went 3-for-4 on field goal attempts to beat the Tennessee Volunteers 16-10. The Tide and the Vols traded missed kicks in the first quarter as Tiffin and Tennessee kicker Daniel Lincoln both hit the uprights. Tiffin’s try in the second quarter, however, was good as the Tide got on the board 3-0. On Alabama’s next possession, junior quarterback Greg McElroy found senior tight end Colin Peek for a 6-yard touchdown to take a 10-0 advantage. The Tide then turned a Vols fumble into three more points to end the half with a 13-0 lead. The shutout would end in the third quarter, however, as Lincoln made a 42-yard field goal to cut the lead to 10, but the Tide and Tiffin answered right back with a 45-yard field goal. Tennessee scored its lone touchdown of the game on a 10-yard pass from Vols quarterback Jonathan Crompton in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap with the Tide. Sophomore running back Mark Ingram had another good day for Alabama, gaining 116 yards on 26 rushing attempts. The Tide only outgained the Volunteers 268-203 in total
3
SIMULATION STATISTICS
Alabama
• Passing: Greg McElroy, 13-of-16, 157 yds, 1 TD
• Rushing: Mark Ingram, 26 rushes, 116 yds
• Receiving: Mike McCoy, 4 receptions, 48 yds
• Top Defensive Performer: Rolando McClain, 10 tackles, 1 TFL NCAA 2010 screenshot Tight end Colin Peek dives into the endzone for the Tideʼs only touchdown in a 16-10 victory.
Tennessee • Pa Passing: P assing: Jonathan Crompton, 15 15-of5-o 18,, 124 yyd yds, ds, s, 1 TD
offense, but Alabama was remarkably good in maintaining control of the ball, converting 7-of10 third down attempts. The success on offense led to a 12-minute time of possession advantage for the Tide. Tennessee’s all-world junior strong safety Eric Berry had a relatively quiet game, racking up only five tackles. With the win, Alabama improves to 7-1 (5-0) on the simulated season.
• Rush Rushing: Ru R ush sh hiing: Mo Montario ontario Hardesty on Hardesty, y, 14 4 rushes, hes, 44 yds • Receiving: Q Quintin uintin Hancock, 4 receptions, yds eptions, 45 yd ds
• Top Defensive Defe ens nsive Perf Performer: for orme m r: Ben Martin, artin, 8 ta tackles, ack c les, 1 TFL
Handling the hype When the dust settled on Mark Ingram’s record-breaking 246-yard performance against South Carolina Saturday, the Tide had a 20-6 victory and a new contender for the nation’s most prestigious award. BY SPENCER WHITE Assistant GameDay Editor
I
n Tuscaloosa, it has always been about the team. • Through 116 years of Alabama football, group efforts have always been what reaped the rewards of the Crimson Tide’s rich tradition. There were excellent players, certainly — 96 All-America selections attest to that. But by and large, most of the Tide faithful will always hang their hats on the program’s 12 national championships over any individual recognition. • That tune might begin to shift this year. • With a 246-yard, one touchdown performance in Saturday’s Homecoming victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks, sophomore running back Mark Ingram’s play on the field has catapulted the Flint, Mich., native into the talk for the Heisman Trophy, college football’s most prestigious honor. Not that Ingram is really interested right now. “I’m not really worried about that at all,” Ingram said after the South Carolina game. “If I just keep performing and getting better each week…that will all take care of itself.” “That’s the kind of kid he is,”
said senior tight end Colin Peek. “He comes to work every day, he practices hard, he grinds out every day…he’s just a great person to be around.” Despite the 5-foot-10, 212-pound halfback’s modesty, the proof is in the pudding as to the legitimacy of Ingram’s candidacy. The Heisman is not simply an award of statistics, preferring to be known as the honor given to the most indispensable player on an excellent squad. Ingram’s case for those qualifications has been strong all season, but was only bolstered by his
Mark Ingram carries the ball in Alabama始s win over South Carolina last week. His 246-yard performance made him the third-leading rusher in the nation and shot him to the top of the Heisman board. CW | Tori Gordon
6
October 23 • GameDay 2009
performance Saturday. Against South Carolina, most of the Tide offense seemed to be moving in slow motion, with Greg McElroy struggling to throw the ball, the offensive line straining to give him time, and the receivers unable to create enough separation for McElroy to air the ball out to them. No problem for Alabama — just give the ball to Ingram. Heck, just let him run the entire drive, like head coach Nick Saban did on the Tide’s lone touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. Clutching to a 13-6 lead, Ingram opened the drive in the Tide’s form of the Wildcat, took the snap, and ducked, dodged and bulled his way through row after row of Gamecock defenders, pushing to gain yardage. “When things get tough, he wants the ball,” said Peek. “When he gets out there, he just wants to put his best foot forward.” Alabama lined up in the same formation, and he did it again. Five times Ingram took the snap from shotgun, and five times he finished it a few yards closer to
Mark Ingram is interviewed by ESPNʼs Erin Andrews following Saturdayʼs game. Ingramʼs profile has significantly risen in the past few weeks, and the Tide halfback has gained national recognition as a Heisman candidate. CW | Jerrod Seaton paydirt. The crimson jerseys of the Tide offensive that began at the 32-yard line slowly, inexorably crawled towards the endzone with the sophomore leading the charge.
A quick pitch from the 4-yard line allowed Ingram to finish what he started, and the Tide left Bryant-Denny with a 20-6 win and a newly-born national star. “I can’t tell you, if we had a
whole team of guys that would play like that, the sky is the limit,” Saban said after the game. “Mark did as fine a job [Saturday] as anybody I’ve ever been around. And that includes [NFL run-
GameDay 2009 • October 23
“
He works so hard. I wouldn’t have any other running back in the country on my team. — senior tight end Colin Peek
ning backs] Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown and some other really good ones.” Saban’s not the only person to notice. His teammates have been equally impressed. “He works so hard,” Peek said. “I wouldn’t have any other running back in the country on my team.” “His will to succeed is better than anybody I’ve seen in a long time,” said senior guard Mike Johnson. “I can’t think of someone who’s put up better performances than he has.” Neither can a good portion of the regional and national media. On Sunday, Ingram was named Rivals.com National Player of the Week and SEC Offensive Player of the Week. He was given a “helmet sticker” by ESPN College Gameday Final. But perhaps most importantly, the sopho-
”
more’s name is on the minds of Heisman voters far and wide across America, and with that attention comes an entirely new kind of opponent — avoiding a big ego. His coach doesn’t see it as an issue. “I haven’t talked to him since the game, but he usually handles [attention] pretty well,” Saban said Monday. “He has a great competitive spirit and certainly will stay focused on the things that are going to help him continue to satisfy his goals…the best way to continue to have success is to remember what got you there.” Quarterback Greg McElroy, who spends plenty of time in the film room with Ingram, agreed with Saban and expounded on the sophomore’s incomparable work ethic.
“It takes a special player to really handle a lot of praise,” McElroy said. “Mark is one of those guys that although he can go out and have a great game, he can still find the negatives in the game and try to get them corrected.” Only time will tell exactly what chances Ingram has to hoist the Heisman Trophy on a December night in New York City. The award seems to have become a popularity contest in recent years, dominated by quarterbacks who celebrate after two-yard runs and programs that seem to fill large media markets. For the fans around the country ready to see a new kind of player, one who avoids the spotlight, brings a lunch pail to the stadium and pushes his team to victory when no one else can, look no further than No. 22 for the Crimson Tide. “He really deserves it for the work that he puts in and the type of kid he is and the type of player he is,” Peek said. “I think he’s really special to our organization and the country as a whole.”
7
ALABAMA’S CLOSE HEISMAN CALLS Tide players who finished in the top 10 for the Heisman 1945 Harry Gilmer
5th
1947 Harry Gilmer
5th
1961 Pat Trammell
5th
1962 Lee Roy Jordan
4th
1965 Steve Sloan
10th
1971 Johnny Musso
4th
1979 Steadman Shealy 10th 1983 Walter Lewis
9th
1986 Cornelius Bennet 7th 1987 Bobby Humphrey 10th 1988
Derrick Thomas
10th
1992 Eric Curry
10th
1993 David Palmer
3rd
1994 Jay Barker
5th
1999 Shaun Alexander 7th
8
ETCHED IN STONE
October 23 • GameDay 2009
The miracle in January Alabama senior quarterback Steve Sloan (14) throws one of his 28 passes against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Alabamaʼs 39-28 victory in the 1966 Orange Bowl.
BY SPENCER WHITE Assistant GameDay Editor On the third Monday in October of 1965, the Alabama Crimson Tide had a 3-1-1 record and two chances of repeating as national champions: slim and none. Bear Bryant’s team had looked nothing like the 1964 squad that breezed through an undefeated regular season en route to the title; as a matter of fact, it had looked more like one of the Tide’s underachieving squads of the 1950s. First, the No. 5 Tide suffered a shocking 18-17 upset at the hands of the unranked Georgia Bulldogs. In week three, Alabama needed a furious fourth quarter rally to
Bryant Museum defeat Ole Miss. But the clincher came in the Tide’s annual rivalry game against the Tennessee Volunteers. With the score knotted at 7-7
and the Tide in the shadow of the Vol endzone, Kenny Stabler threw the ball out of bounds on what he thought was third down to stop the clock.
GameDay 2009 • October 23 The problem was it was fourth down. Tennessee took over possession and held out for the unsatisfactory tie. But Bryant had not won two titles by giving in. He issued a challenge to his team, and the men responded, firing off five straight victories by an average winning margin of 19.2 points per game to capture the SEC crown. In those pre-BCS days, there was no set order for the teams to face each other, and no game set ahead to have No. 1 and No. 2 play each other. So top-ranked Michigan State would face the No. 7 UCLA Bruins in the Rose Bowl, No. 2 Arkansas would
face the LSU Tigers in the Cotton Bowl and No. 4 Alabama was set with their matchup against the thirdranked Nebraska Cornhuskers. After the debacle of the previous season, 1965 would be the first year in which the title would be awarded after the bowl games. It was here that Bryant saw an opportunity. He convinced his players of a crazy scenario that would unfold; the Spartans would fall to UCLA, followed by a tremendous upset by the Bayou Bengals over the Razorbacks. This would leave the door open for the Tide to claim a championship if they could defeat Nebraska. Bryant’s players thought he was a
lunatic. History proved him a genius. Almost like the fulfillment of prophecy, the words of the Bear came to life; the Bruins shocked Michigan State 14-12 on New Year’s Day, while LSU handily defeated Arkansas 14-7. Now the Orange Bowl became the de facto national championship; whoever left Miami in victory would likely claim the title. Nebraska had a big, strong and dominant run defense. The Cornhuskers, who had begun the season with the No. 1 ranking, would prove a stiff test for the Tide’s smashmouth offense, which relied on quick but small linemen. Bryant knew he could not win
the game on the ground. So he let his experienced quarterback do it through the air. Senior Steve Sloan put on an aerial display against the Cornhuskers, throwing the ball all over the confused Nebraska defense. When the dust settled, Sloan had completed 20 of 28 passes for an Alabama record 296 yards and two touchdowns. With the aerial assault pushing back the Nebraska defense, Tide backs raced down the field, racking up 222 yards on the ground to give the Tide a mind-boggling 518 yards of total offense and a 39-28 victory to give Bear Bryant and the Tide a third national title in five seasons.
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9
10
SEC ROUNDUP
October 23 • GameDay 2009
Around
the
conference
Compiled by Cyrus Ntakirutinka Sports Reporter
Vanderbilt at South Carolina
Florida at Mississippi State
Time: 6 p.m. on ESPNU Series: South Carolina leads 14-4 What to watch for: The Commodores try to pick up their first conference win as they hit the road to face a tough South Carolina defense. The Gamecocks are coming off a road loss to No.1 Alabama and will look to bounce back to maintain the No. 25 ranking in the AP poll. South Carolina lead the series 14-4, including a 6-2 advantage in Columbia. Vanderbilt will try and repeat last year’s upset when they beat a No. 24-ranked Gamecocks team 24-17. Gamecocks quarterback Stephen Garcia comes into the game with 1,482 passing yards and nine touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Larry Smith leads the Commodores with 967 yards and three touchdown passes.
Time: 6:30 p.m. on ESPN Series: Florida leads 32-18-2 What to watch for: After surviving a scare at home against the Razorbacks, the Florida Gators head to Starkville to face a Mississippi State Bulldogs team looking to use this game as a measuring stick. The Gators are led by quarterback Tim Tebow, a Heisman candidate who has thrown for 1,000 yards, eight touchdowns, 378 rush yards and five rushing touchdowns. Mississippi may have a shot against Florida since the Bulldogs almost upset LSU earlier in the season. That task won’t be quite so easy as Florida comes into the game committing the nation’s fewest turnovers since 2005 at 76. The Gators also rank second in games with zero turnovers since 2005. Florida leads the series 38-18-2, but in Starkville, Mississippi State leads the series 7-3.
Auburn at LSU
Arkansas at Ole Miss
Time: 6:30 p.m. on ESPN2 Series: LSU leads 23-19-1 What to watch for: LSU is coming off a bye week following a tough loss at home to Florida. The Tigers are led by quarterback Jordan Jefferson, who has thrown for 1,016 yards and seven touchdowns this season. Auburn is led by quarterback Chris Todd’s 1,443 yards and 12 touchdowns. Auburn will come into the game on a two-game losing streak after suffering a home loss to Kentucky last week. LSU’s defense will be tested by Auburn’s rushing offense that ranks seventh in nation at 247.3 yards per game. Twelve of the 21 meetings between these teams since 1988 have been decided by less than a touchdown.
Time: 11:21 a.m. on SEC Network Series: Arkansas leads 29-25-1 What to watch for: The Razorbacks head into Oxford to try to knock the Ole Miss Rebels out of the top 25 after losing a close game at Florida. The Razorbacks have won six of the last eight meetings. The Rebels are led by quarterback Jevan Snead, who is trying to help Ole Miss even its SEC record. Arkansas’s defense has improved since the start of the season, dropping the points allowed per game from 32.3 to 21.7 and recovering nine fumbles in its last three games as opposed to only two in its first four. Rebels coach Houston Nutt will try to pick up a second win against his former team as he faces Arkansas for the first time in Oxford.
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COLUMN
GameDay 2009 • October 23
11
No. 1 doesn’t matter this season Alabama moved up to No. 1 in the Associated Press Poll in consecutive years for the first time since the 1979-80 seasons this week, which brought typical responses from head coach Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide players – that the feat means absolutely nothing. People are usually quick to sneer at the political correctness of these types of answers. But in this instance, they couldn’t be more honest. Regardless of whether Alabama, Florida or Texas owns the No. 1 ranking, the same result will come of it. If the Tide and the Gators stay undefeated, they will square off on Dec. 5 in Atlanta, and the winner will be in the national championship game. If Texas wins out, it will automatically punch a ticket to Pasadena as well, as the Southeastern Conference Championship Game will eliminate either Florida or Alabama.
So from the words of Alabama head coach Nick Saban, I must ask, “Why does it matter? W h a t ’ s changed JASON from this GALLOWAY week to [last GameDay Editor week]?” Even if Alabama lost one of its five remaining regular-season games and beat Florida, the Tide still wouldn’t need much help to earn a national championship birth. Cincinnati still has tough games against West Virginia and at Pittsburgh, and you’ve got to think Iowa will eventually falter. If both of those teams lose, a oneloss Alabama team would be in. There isn’t a chance an undefeated Boise State or TCU would jump the Tide, and Alabama would still be
“
So really, these rankings, at least the top three, may mean less than they ever have. This isn’t one of those three-team situations where somebody’s going to get screwed.
ranked higher than every one-loss team, including the Florida team they would have just beaten. The situation is exactly the same for Florida if the Gators lost a game but still beat Alabama. Texas isn’t as safe, but even the Longhorns could suffer a loss and get into the title game with the same help. So really, these rankings, at least the top three, may mean less than they ever have. This isn’t one of those three-team situations where somebody’s going to get screwed. Well, Boise State is going to get screwed, but no mid-major ever has a legitimate chance. For weeks now, the national championship game has simply been
”
waiting on the SEC Championship. Alabama, Florida and Texas have an overwhelming advantage over everybody else, and one will be eliminated by default. Even if Iowa or Cincinnati does win out, it wouldn’t be completely out of the question to see a one-loss SEC Champion still get the nod. This is just the way Alabama likes it – where the only thing that matters is the next game, not where the Tide ranks. No matter if the Tide is first, second or third, Alabama controls its own destiny. And whether the Tide wants to admit it or not, there’s really only one game between them and Pasadena.
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12
BUY OR SELL
October 23 • GameDay 2009 SPENCER WHITE Assistant GameDay Editor
CHARLIE WEIS IS ON THE HOT SEAT
JASON GALLOWAY GameDay Editor
BUY
BUY After Notre Dame’s 34-27 home loss to the USC Trojans Saturday night, Weis falls to 0-5 against the Fighting Irish’s top rival. That’s bad enough, but combine the fact that his team was defeated by a rebuilding team with a freshman quarterback and Weis is definitely starting to feel the heat. Weis’ inability to win the big game is an unattractive trait in South Bend.
MCT Campus
Of course he is. Notre Dame was 10-15 over the last two seasons coming into this year. Of the Fighting Irish’s four wins this season against a relatively weak schedule, two were by three points and one was an overtime victory. Winning out would save his job, but Notre Dame will lose at Pittsburgh later this year and could even drop this week’s matchup against Boston College.
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Position Matchups Both teams in Saturday’s game have unquestionable talent on both sides of the ball. How big of an edge will a struggling Greg McElroy give the Volunteers? ROLANDO MCCLAIN VS. MONTARIO HARDESTY The strength of the Tennessee offense is the running game, and senior Montario Hardesty has emerged as one of the top backs in the Southeastern Conference. Hardesty is the fourthleading rusher in the conference and will need to move the ball to take pressure off Jonathan Crompton. Rolando McClain has proven to be one of the best defensive players in the nation while leading the Tide’s No. 3 rush defense.
EDGE CW | Jerrod Seaton
MCT Campus
GREG MCELROY VS. TENNESSEE SECONDARY Now would be a good time for Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy to break out of his slump. The junior is coming off his worst performance of the season, and Tennessee comes into Saturday’s game with the 10th-ranked passing defense in the country. Volunteer strong safety Eric Berry is arguably the best defensive player in the country, and he could have a field day on McElroy if the signal caller continues to struggle.
EDGE
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MARK INGRAM VS. TENNESSEE FRONT SEVEN Because Tennessee has one of the most dangerous secondaries in the country, Alabama will look to its Heisman candidate to carry the offense on the ground. The Volunteer front seven will do its best to contain Mark Ingram, but after a 246-yard performance last week, it looks like no one will be able to slow him down. If Tennessee is unsuccessful in this, however, the Volunteers don’t have a chance.
EDGE CW | Tori Gordon
MCT Campus
KEY PLAYERS
ALABAMA
Rolando McClain, LB
Eric Berry, DB
McClain, already a fearsome warrior on the gridiron, has seemingly improved his play since the loss of running mate Dont’a Hightower in the Arkansas game. The junior vocal leader of the acclaimed Tide defense has literally become a one-man wrecking crew from his middle linebacker position, flying all over the field to tackle running backs, wide receivers, tight ends and quarterbacks with similar ease. McClain has also proven a competent defender in pass coverage.
A certain top five pick in this spring’s NFL Draft and the best safety in the country, Berry can state a case for being the best player, regardless of position, in the entire country. Equally adept at both run support (50 tackles, 4.5 for loss) and coverage (one interception and four pass break-ups), No. 14 for the Volunteers will be the man every Alabama offensive player finds first on the field Saturday.
Greg McElroy, QB
Jonathan Crompton, QB
Of all the players entering the Third Saturday in October on both sides of the field, perhaps none has more to prove than the Tide’s struggling field general. The junior has thrown no touchdowns and two interceptions in his last two games, and the Tennessee defense is every bit as good as the units from Ole Miss and South Carolina. McElroy has promised an improved performance this week, and this Saturday will be Tide fans’ chance to see whether his efforts come to fruition.
Crompton entered the season with arguably the worst reputation among starting SEC quarterbacks, and spent the first part of the season affirming that status. But the senior has shown signs of turning around throwing eight touchdowns against two interceptions in his last three contests. It will be up to the Alabama defense to help Crompton revert to his early season form, when he threw seven picks against five touchdowns.
Darius Hanks, WR
Montario Hardesty, RB
Though McElroy and the offensive line’s pass protection certainly share the blame, Tide fans should also take a glance at the play of their wide receivers if they hope to find an answer to their passing woes. With receivers struggling to find open space against Ole Miss and South Carolina, Hanks will be one of several Tide wide outs who need to step up this weekend. Hanks needs to show that his early season performance was not a fluke, but an indication of improvement.
Outside of Mark Ingram, perhaps no SEC workhorse back has been more productive this season than the Volunteers senior. Hardesty has averaged a more than respectable 112 yards rushing per game and, like Ingram, has been able to carry the Tennessee offense through games when the passing game falters. Both the Tide rush defense and Hardesty will face their toughest tests this season in this Saturday’s rivalry game.
OFFENSIVE STARTERS
LT LG C RG RT TE HB QB RB WR WR
77 78 73 75 79 84 85 12 22 8 4
James Carpenter (Jr.) Mike Johnson (Sr.) William Vlachos (So.) Barrett Jones (R-Fr.) Drew Davis (Sr.) Colin Peek (Sr.) Preston Dial (Jr.) Greg McElroy (Jr.) Mark Ingram (So.) Julio Jones (So.) Marquis Maze (So.)
DEFENSIVE STARTERS
DE DT DE JACK WILL MIKE SAM CB FS SS CB
95 62 97 32 35 25 13 3 27 4 28
Brandon Deaderick (Sr.) Terrence Cody (Sr.) Lorenzo Washington (Sr.) Eryk Anders (Sr.) Nico Johnson (Fr.) Rolando McClain (Jr.) Cory Reamer (Sr.) Kareem Jackson (Jr.) Justin Woodall (Sr.) Mark Barron (So.) Javier Arenas (Sr.)
SPECIAL TEAMS STARTERS K P PR KR
99 7 28 28 29
TENNESSEE
Leigh Tiffin (Sr.) P.J. Fitzgerald (Sr.) Javier Arenas (Sr.) Javier Arenas (Sr.) Terry Grant (Jr.)
OFFENSIVE STARTERS
LT LG C RG RT TE QB RB FB WR WR
79 69 66 65 78 88 8 2 45 4 6
Chris Scott (Sr.) Cory Sullins (Sr.) Cody Sullins (Sr.) Jacques McClendon (Sr.) Aaron Douglas (Fr.) Luke Stocker (Jr.) Jonathan Crompton (Sr.) Montario Hardesty (Sr.) Kevin Cooper (Jr.) Gerald Jones (Jr.) Denarius Moore (Jr.)
DEFENSIVE STARTERS
DE DT DT DE WLB MLB SLB CB SS FS CB
99 94 55 84 5 43 42 41 14 15 25
Ben Martin (Jr.) Wes Brown (Sr.) Dan Williams (Sr.) Chris Walker (Jr.) Rico McCoy (Sr.) Savion Frazier (Jr.) LaMarcus Thompson (Jr.) Dennis Rogan (Jr.) Eric Berry (Jr.) Janzen Jackson (Fr.) Art Evans (So.)
SPECIAL TEAMS STARTERS K P PR KR
26 96 7 27 7
Daniel Lincoln (Jr.) Chad Cunningham (Jr.) NuʼKeese Richardson (Fr.) David Oku (Fr.) NuʼKeese Richardson (Fr.)