SERVING THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA SINCE 1894
WEEKDAY EDITION | AUGUST 24, 2015 VOLUME 122 | ISSUE 12
#RollCW
4 Introducing the In Crimson White C Media Group M Ed Editor-in-Chief Sean Landry announces the reorganization of the top student media organization at the University. me
12 Notes from N sscrimmage Th Alabama football team played in The its second and final scrimmage of the fall Saturday, leaving many questions fal still unanswered. sti
SWEET HOME
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The Alabama soccer team won its home opener against Troy on Sunday night, the first regular season win for new head coach Wes Hart. See page 10. SEE JUMP PAGE 2
Bring your
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INSIDE briefs 2 news 3 opinions 4 culture 6 sports 12
CONTACT email editor@cw.ua.edu website cw.ua.edu twitter @TheCrimsonWhite
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MONDAY August 24, 2015
SCENE ON CAMPUS Sophomore Demarcus Jackson, an engineering major from Montgomery, applies a new protective phone screen while fellow sophomore Ryan Collins, a business major from Parkland, Florida, looks on. CW / Amy Sullivan
cw.ua.edu P.O. Box 870170 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 Newsroom: 348-6144 Fax: 348-8036 Advertising: 348-7845
EDITORIAL editor-in-chief
Sean Landry editor@cw.ua.edu
print managing editor digital managing editor features editor visuals editor
Kelly Ward Alyx Chandler Noah Huguley Leigh Terry
chief copy editor
Alexis Faire Elizabeth Elkin
culture editor
Matthew Wilson
sports editor
Kayla Montgomery
photo editor
Layton Dudley
multimedia editor
Patrick Maddox
lead designer
Sarah Huff Moore
community manager
Dominique Taylor
ADVERTISING advertising manager
Emanuel Adelson (205) 223-5578 cwadmanager@gmail.com
territory manager
Dee Griffin (334) 349-2473 territorymanager1@gmail.com
special projects manager
CAMPUS BRIEFS
Faculty recital
Hacker emails students
WHAT: Skip Snead, french horn, “An Evening of Polished Brass” WHEN: Monday 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. WHERE: 125 Concert Hall Moody Music Building
Peyton Shepard
opinions editor
assistant news editor
UPCOMING EVENTS
Michael Lollar
Mille Eiborg (205) 614-1457 cwcreativemanager@gmail.com
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 in room 1014, Student Media Building, 414 Campus Drive East. The advertising mailing address is P.O. Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. The Crimson White (USPS 138020) is published two times weekly when classes are in session during Fall and Spring Semester except for Labor Day, 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 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. The Crimson White is entered as periodical postage at Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Crimson White, P.O. Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. All material contained herein, except advertising or where indicated otherwise, is Copyright © 2015 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.
if an email is from UA IT, call the IT help desk at (205) 348-5555. Compiled by Elizabeth Elkin
Mentorship program accepting applications Financial counseling WHAT: TIAA-CREF Individual Counseling Sessions WHEN: Tuesday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. WHERE: G-54 Rose Administration
Public talks WHAT: Public talks by candidates for the Dean of the Libraries position WHEN: Tuesday 10:25 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. WHERE: 205 Gorgas Library
Program kick–off WHAT: Crimson Couch to 5k Kick–off WHEN: Wednesday 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. WHERE: Dean’s Lobby University Medical Center
(205) 317-7992 osmspecialprojects@gmail.com
creative services manager
Students are receiving emails saying their accounts have been compromised. The email, claiming to be from UA IT, asks for students’ names, emails, passwords and phone numbers. To find out
Fitness lecture WHAT: The Culture of Yoga WHEN: Wednesday 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. WHERE: Lobby Rodgers Library
Travel lecture WHAT: Travel 101 WHEN: Wednesday 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. WHERE: Room 114 ten Hoor Hall
Art lecture WHAT: LECTURE: Joyce J. Scott: Truths and Visions WHEN: Wednesday 7 p.m. – 12 a.m. WHERE: 205 Gorgas Library
Al’s Pals mentorship program is now accepting applications for Fall 2015. The program allows students to serve the youth of Tuscaloosa by helping with homework, math and reading skills and
participating in recreational activities. To apply, visit the website at volunteer.ua.edu/ specialprojects.cfm. Compiled by Elizabeth Elkin
Center for Service & Leadership offers service opportunities
OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS
The Center for Service & Leadership offers many opportunities for students to serve both within the Tuscaloosa community and outside of it. The Center has 10 action teams that focus on education, poverty, the environment and food justice. Students who want to be involved can serve for one day or throughout the course of the program. Some programs the Center offers include Beat Auburn, Beat Hunger, the University of Alabama Dance Marathon and alternative fall, winter and spring breaks. “Beat Auburn, Beat Hunger raised its goal to 350,000 pounds of food,” said Gretchen Moore, assistant director of the Center, about this year’s fundraiser. Every year in March, the UA Dance Marathon raises money for the Alabama Children’s Hospital in Birmingham. This year’s alternative fall break will be in Selma, and an alternative winter break will be offered in both Managua, Nicaragua, and Auburn. “If a student has a passion, we can find a place for them to serve,” said Courtney Chapman Thomas, director of the Center. The Center also hosts the Student Leadership Council, where presidents of organizations on campus get together and discuss the community service goals of their organizations. There will be a meeting of the Student Leadership Council at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 3 in the Anderson Society Room in the Ferguson Center. All information regarding the Center for Service & Leadership and the programs offered can be found at volunteer.ua.edu.
“Every citizen has a right to inspect and take a copy of any public writing of this state, except as otherwise expressly provided by statue.” From statute 36.12.40 of the Code of Alabama
UAPD REQUEST REQUEST: Documents related to an ongoing UAPD internal investigation, first reported by The Crimson White in February 2015 BY: Sean Landry TO: Deborah Lane, associate vice president for University relations REQUEST DATE: Feb. 19, 2015 STATUS: Ongoing, pending conclusion of investigation.
Compiled by Erin Yepsen
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Assistant Editor | Elizabeth Elkin newsdesk@cw.ua.edu Monday, August 24, 2015
UA presents childhood UA researcher studies development conference rising sea level’s effects By Arielle Lipan | Contributing Writer
The University of Alabama’s Child Development Research Center is bringing the latest research on child development to anyone who’s interested at their first Early Learning Child Development Conference this Friday. The conference is set to take place in Sellers Auditorium at the Bryant Conference Center from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with lunch from Robertson’s BBQ included in the $15 registration fee. According to a press release from the University, “The goal of the conference is to provide info on building a good foundation for children using developmentally appropriate practice,” said Dr. April Kendrick, director of Child Development Resources. The two scheduled speakers are Dr. Lillian Katz, professor emerita of early childhood education at The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Erin Ramsey, Mind in the Making senior program director. Mind in the Making is a project from a think tank based in New York that emphasizes seven life lessons for children. “Each of the life skills build on the previous, so the biggest goal is the passion for learning, that that fire keeps burning
By Patrick Smith | Contributing Writer
A conference on the latest child development research will be held at the Bryant Conference Center. CW / Amy Sullivan
PLAN TO GO WHAT: Early Learning Child Development Conference WHEN: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday WHERE: Sellers Auditorium in children and adults,” Ramsey said. Kristy Brown, an adjunct professor for human development at The University of Alabama and a conference coordinator said that the event will be inclusive. The conference offers six hours of DHR credit to child care providers and .60 Continuing Education Units. Anyone interested in the conference can register at https://register.ua.edu.
A University of Alabama researcher helped lead a study on the potential effects rising sea levels can have on wetlands using a new, low-cost, on-site method designed by scientists. Julia Cherry, an associate professor with the University’s New College and its biological sciences department, used grant money to conduct the study in 2013 and 2014 with a team of researchers. The research is ongoing. The research was conducted at the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay in Baldwin County. National Estuarine Research Reserve Systems Science Collaborative, which funds people to partner with their reserve system on projects of interest, funded the program. The main concern of the project focused on how to protect coastal ecosystems from rising sea levels. Using the weirs, the team was able to mimic rising sea levels that previously proved difficult to replicate. “For this particular aspect of the project, knowing that these marshes are facing the threat of sea level rise, it’s really important to try and understand processes involved in the marshes themselves and how those processes might change as they are flooded more and more frequently by rising seas,” Cherry said. “And to do that experimentally, you need to be able to manipulate water levels, and it’s hard to do that in the marsh, so typically what scientists have done is use what we like to call mesocosms.” The mesocosms Cherry refers to are bucket-type approaches, where marsh can be dug up and taken to a greenhouse to
A sunny day is shown at the wetlands on the coast of Week’s Bay in Baldwin County. Photo courtesy of Eric Sparks
be flooded. Due to the small-scale aspect of the mesocosms, there were certain things unable to be measured, so the team took the research to the field. “Instead of taking the marsh somewhere else, we wanted to take the experiment to the marsh,” Cherry said. Eric Sparks, who was a post-doctoral researcher and the project manager at the time of the research, who is currently assistant extension professor at Mississippi State University, believes that with this “new methodology”, researchers will better understand management techniques for the conservation of vital wetlands. “The most important thing from my point of view is this new methodology allows you to evaluate the effects of sea level rise on much larger scales, which somewhat reduces the error associated with measurements on smaller scales in the past,” Sparks said.
Place all waste materials in trash receptacles, to ensure they do not make their way into our local bodies of water.
of 100’s es hoic New C
Where: Ferguson Plaza When: Mon. Sept. 7 thru Fri. Sept. 11 Time: 9 A.M. - 5 P.M. Sponsor: The SOURCE
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Editor | Leigh Terry opinions@cw.ua.edu Monday, August 24, 2015
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
A new era for The Crimson White
Tribune News Services
COLUMN | ALPHA PHI
Alpha Phi latest target caught in media storm Anna Woods Staff Columnist
It is no secret that The University of Alabama Greek system is now enduring the third national news-airing scandal in three years, all of which seemed to have occurred right after sorority recruitment. But why? Other universities are certainly not immune to controversy in their Greek system making national news. Yet The University of Alabama seems to repeatedly be a target for a story. First the national spotlight focused on racial barriers in our Greek system, then a Snapchat allegedly sent by a Chi Omega member containing a racial slur, and now here we are under scrutinization for what was meant to be a fun sorority recruitment video released by Alpha Phi. I say “we” because I do believe when one sorority or fraternity is under fire, it reflects on the entire Greek system and even the campus as a whole. Again I ask, why us? Is it
because we have one of the largest Greek systems in the country, making us a natural target? Is it because we truly have brought the negative attention on ourselves through our actions? Or is it because the media have made it a new tradition to exploit our Greek life for their revenue? I tend to think it is a combination of the last two. Our university and Greek system have faced racial barriers and issues, no doubt. I do not think the national media were wrong in bringing attention to racial controversies in our Greek system in previous years. But I do not think that the Alpha Phi video was meant to appear racially exclusive or demeaning to women for that matter. To me, it did not differ much from every other sorority recruitment video, so I was surprised when it became an issue at all. Why did it raise an issue? “Why us?” I personally believe the writer of the article critiquing the Alpha Phi video, AL.com guest writer A.L. Bailey, saw an opportunity to make a national news story and took it. The article could have been written on an array of sorority videos; Alpha Phi was not entering unchartered
territory in releasing a promotional sorority video featuring hair-tossing, swimsuit-wearing young women. Yet, this particular video was chosen. Was it picked in hopes that the article criticizing it would draw extra attention because it was focusing on yet another problem with the UA Greek system? I certainly think so. To answer the question of whether we bring these media storms on ourselves or whether we are simply victims of a story, this time it is not ourselves we should blame. A story on our campus concerning our Greek life, supposedly doing something wrong, makes for a successful news piece, and unfortunately journalists have tuned in to that. Unfortunately as the Greek system here continues to grow, the amount of attention it attracts will most likely grow as well. Alpha Phi, I commend you for handling this situation with respectability and grace. I encourage the rest of the school to follow. Anna Woods is a sophomore majoring in advertising. Her column runs biweekly on Mondays.
EDITORIAL BOARD
WE WELCOME YOUR OPINIONS
Sean Landry editor-in-chief Alyx Chandler features editor Peyton Shepard print managing editor Noah Huguley visuals editor Kelly Ward digital managing editor Alexis Faire chief copy editor Leigh Terry opinions editor
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. The Crimson
White reserves the right to edit all guest columns and letters to the editor. The opinions contained on this page do not represent the editorial position of The Crimson White Media Group.
For over 120 years, The Crimson White has been the student newspaper of The University of Alabama. Over the years, thanks to hundreds of talented editors and staffers before me, we’ve brought you, the students of the University, the news that you need, from unearthing The Machine in 1928 to covering the tornado outbreak on April 27, 2011, to The Final Barrier in 2013 to the Tutwiler lockdown last year. For the past several years, a dedicated staff has worked to put that news in one of the premier college newspapers in the country, four times a week. Times have changed, and until now, we haven’t changed with them. As more and more of our readers and peers leave our newspapers on the stands in favor of digital media, we’ve rarely met them there. Despite the fact we all get news from our smartphones, most of this staff doesn’t have The Crimson White’s news app, much less our readership. Our digital presence has thrived in times of breaking news, but day-to-day, we’ve largely operated more like that paper in 1928 than a 21st century news organization. That ends today. Beginning Monday, August 24, 2015, The Crimson White newspaper will cease to exist. Instead, The Crimson White Media Group will publish its printed product, a news magazine, twice a week. In our weekday edition, we’ll give you the best news writing we have, diving into all the news from the last weekend and all the special issues you care about. Our Weekend Edition on Thursday will be your complete guide to Thursday through Sunday in Tuscaloosa, including the best culture and UA sports coverage in town. Digitally, cw.ua.edu will be the premier source for news, multimedia features, up-to-date cultural calendars and content you care about in this city, bar none. AL.com is pulling its reporters out of Tuscaloosa. We’re adding entire new divisions to our staff. We’re adding a video wing to bring you documentary features and live coverage of the events and figures you care about. Every week, that video staff will provide you an opportunity to speak your mind with “Student Sound-off” on campus. We’re adding a podcast channel to provide you with the kind of deep-dive journalism and analysis you want to listen to on the way to class. We’re adding digital divisions to bring you blogs on fashion, music, film, women’s sports, data journalism and much more. We’re relaunching mycrimsonwhite.tumblr.com as an anonymous Q-and-A blog monitored 24/7. Ask, and you will receive. If we don’t know, we’ll find out. And we’re launching Crimson White Events to bring us down from our hill onto campus to hear from you. And we want you, no matter what part of campus you come from, to be a part of this. If you have an idea, The Crimson White Media Group wants to represent it. And as Nick Saban put it, rest assured: “This is not the end. This is the beginning.”
Media Group
Sean Landry is the Editor-in-Chief of The Crimson White. Last Week’s Poll: Do you think Tuscaloosa will be able to enforce its upcoming ban on tobacco in 2016? (Yes: 38%) (No: 62%) This Week’s Poll: Where did you get your textbooks? cw.ua.edu
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OPINIONS Monday, August 24, 2015 COLUMN | DONALD TRUMP
Donald Trump can’t win, but that doesn’t mean he can’t do damage
Mark Hammontree Staff Columnist
Around 30,000 people showed up to Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium Friday night to hear His Holiness Donald Trump, Bishop of America, Vicar of Jesus Christ preach his gospel of American exceptionalism. Certainly, many of these spectators went for laughs or because there are no good horror movies in theaters at the moment. To the Don’s credit though, several thousand devotees came to be baptized in the Spirit of #AmericanPride and born again, but legitimately – not to illegal immigrant parents, obviously. After all, the latest Reuters poll reported 32 percent of surveyed Republicans supporting Father Trump. That number makes various groups of people react in myriad ways. Goodhumored Democrats cackle in the same way you might if you watched an Auburn fan step in dog poop. “Moderate” Republicans probably grind their teeth
and desperately remind everyone that the first primary is months away, and “Trump will never actually get the nomination.” And Trump supporters probably paint “32%” on their car windows and get it tattooed on their butts right next to Ole Glory – sure, I might mean the flag. Here’s what everyone should keep in mind though: Donald Trump is not going to win the Republican nomination, much less the presidency. There are significantly more people against Trump than for him, and there’s plenty of time for the anti-Trump crowd to solidify behind a few of the other GOP hopefuls. Still, 32 percent carries a lot of importance and meaning right now, regardless of Trump’s actual chances of moving to Pennsylvania Avenue in a couple years. First, and this is what concerns many Republicans, it is a number that demands attention, and as a result, the other GOP candidates are having to react and catch up with Trump rather than focus on their own platforms. What I’m more concerned with, though, is that such relatively high polling numbers give Trump the appearance of
a legitimate candidate, by which I mean they suggest his views and statements are legitimate, even reasonable and popular. That is the very real danger of Trump’s run and rise. Now, I’m less concerned with the antiestablishment folks supporting Trump’s campaign out of some sad, flawed, stickit-to-the-man mentality, but at least a fair portion of Trump’s supporters actually buy in to what he is saying, and what he is saying is legitimately dangerous. To put it more bluntly, Donald Trump is a demagogue. He creates and exaggerates the fears of the public, presents a culprit and then paints himself as the savior who has the guts and abilities to solve all the problems facing our great and threatened nation. It doesn’t matter if most of these so-called threats do not really exist. Further, Trump gives himself and his supporters a handy tool to protect their egos from criticism whenever they spout their racist, misogynistic bile: “political correctness.” Trump has fabricated, with help from other GOP candidates, a false narrative of hyper-concern for “political
Donald Trump is a bad person. He says bad things. He has bad ideas. He is bad.
correctness,” which he just doesn’t have time for. So, by setting himself in opposition to that liberal pillar of being “PC,” Trump rationalizes and glorifies his contempt and disrespect for others. If I may digress, in my experience the only people who use the term “politically correct” are the ones using it pejoratively to protect their ignorance or bigotry, rather than making an honest effort to be respectful of other people. Trump’s vitriolic rhetoric separates him from just about all of his fellow GOP candidates, and it is without a doubt at the center of his candidacy. Trump is more than just a sideshow radical performing a loud, but ultimately short dance around the ring. Trump is influencing this race, even while he stands no chance of winning it. And for some reason, Republicans seem to be too shy to point out the one overarching truth about Trump: he is a bad person. Donald Trump is a bad person. He says bad things. He has bad ideas. He is bad. If you genuinely support Trump and his platform, there’s a better than fair chance you are a bad person, too.
Mark Hammontree is a senior majoring in secondary education - language arts. His column runs weekly on Mondays.
Find everything Bama from to Z.
The Bama Supe Store has everything new students need to get their first A. From apparel to course materials and even computers, the Supe Store has it covered. Shop on campus at one of four convenient locations, including the bigger and better Ferguson Center, or online at supestore.ua.edu.
Brennan Johnson, History and Political Science graduate.
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Editor | Matthew Wilson culture@cw.ua.edu Monday, August 24, 2015
Back to school favorite flicks
COLUMN | MUSIC
By Drew Pendleton
The student experience has been a common topic in movies, especially in recent years. While the 1980s probably did it best with films like “Animal House,” “The Breakfast Club,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “Sixteen Candles,” there are several more modern examples that also make their mark, such as “Clueless” and “Mean Girls.” When it comes to the student experience, there are plenty of movies that fly under the radar, deserving a look nonetheless.
Lee Baines III and The Glory Fire playing at Egan’s bar on Saturday night. Photo courtesy of Kinsey Haynes
Lee Bains III and The Glory Fires rock Egan’s bar Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
“Accepted”
“The Breakfast Club”
“Dead Poets Society”
Steve Pink’s comedy is an underrated look at the early stages of the college experience. After being rejected by all of the universities they’ve applied to, high school graduate Bartleby Gaines (Justin Long, in a rare leading role) and his friends concoct a plan to convert an abandoned mental hospital into their own university in order to dissuade suspicion from their parents. Featuring supporting turns from Jonah Hill, Blake Lively, Columbus Short (“Scandal”) and Lewis Black (“Inside Out”) as the university’s foul-mouthed “dean,” “Accepted” is frequently funny, but it also has something to say about figuring out where you fit in and what you want to do with your future.
Less of a raucous comedy and more of an intimate, five-part character study, John Hughes’ “The Breakfast Club” resonates in a way that’s impossible not to include on a back-to-school movie list. Bringing members from various sides of the social spectrum – identified as a princess (Molly Ringwald); an athlete (Emilio Estevez); a criminal (Judd Nelson); a basket case (Ally Sheedy); and a brain (Anthony Michael Hall) – together, Hughes creates movie magic. As they get to know each other and discover that they may not be so different after all, we also get to know them, and maybe even see a piece of ourselves in them.
While the late Robin Williams is best known for his comedic roles, it would be a massive oversight to forget his dramatic talents. In this movie, he blends the two together as John Keating, a progressive new English teacher at an all-boys preparatory school who encourages his students to challenge the norms and, in turn, changes lives forever. Easily one of the best teachers ever played on screen, Williams is a marvel, and the actors cast as his students – including a young Ethan Hawke – hold their own. Topped off with a stirring and inspiring finale, “Dead Poets Society” is a triumph.
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
“Easy A”
“Legally Blonde”
“Liberal Arts”
Arguably the movie that launched Emma Stone into stardom, this sharp and clever comedy has quickly become a modern classic. As Olive Penderghast, a high school senior manipulating the rumor mill when a lie about losing her virginity spirals out of control, Stone is whipsmart and magnetic in a role that displays why she is one of the best actresses in Hollywood today. Also boasting a stellar supporting cast (highlighted by Stanley Tucci, Amanda Bynes and Lisa Kudrow) and a smart, witty script that recalls the golden age of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “Say Anything,” “Easy A” earns an A+.
Robert Luketic’s charming “Legally Blonde” breathes new life into the classic fish-out-of-water comedic premise. Reese Witherspoon stars as Elle Woods, a lovable and intelligent sorority girl who takes on Harvard Law School in order to win back her boyfriend (Matthew Davis, “The Vampire Diaries”). As she befriends fellow students and becomes involved in the defense trial of a weight loss guru (Ali Larter, “Resident Evil”) accused of murder, Elle reveals her unexpected legal talents in the courtroom and classroom, taking those around her by surprise.
While his role as Ted Mosby on “How I Met Your Mother” is how Josh Radnor secured his place in the public eye, it’s this comedy-drama that shows off all of his talents. Radnor stars as Jesse Fisher, a 30-something-year-old stuck in a rut who is reinvigorated when, upon returning to his alma mater for a professor’s retirement party, he falls for a younger student (Elizabeth Olsen, “Avengers: Age of Ultron”). Directing a cast that includes Richard Jenkins, Allison Janney and Zac Efron, and working from his smart, heartfelt script, Radnor’s movie portrays the whirlwind of life both in college and after graduation with intelligence and realism that never rings false.
By Kinsley Haynes
On Saturday evening, among all of the Greekfest activities on campus, Lee Bains III and The Glory Fires filled Egan’s on the Strip to its 75 person capacity. While most entertainment bars migrate towards the downtown area, Egan’s remains the only dive bar on the Strip and gives patrons a sense of history and pride whenever they walk through the doors. For those who have never been in the venue, there is no stage: just a tiny, open floor where bands who set up, block the path to the bathrooms in the back. The walls are lined with dart boards, old show posters and the old Vinyl Solutions record store sign. Part of the ceiling mural used to be housed in the old bar Chukker downtown before it closed in 2003. There is truly no other place that is comparative. Bains, an Alabama native turned Atlanta resident, has played in Tuscaloosa countless times over the years and even did a stint in the legendary local band The Dexateens. In 2014, through Seattle record label SubPop (which gave us Nirvana and Soundgarden, among others) he released his second LP “Dereconstructed”.The album is a struggle with his southern identity and its backlash. The songs stem from stories Bains was told by his grandmother, who he referred to as “Mimi.” The first song on the album, “The Company Man,” a staple in his live show, is a direct reference: “Mimi, tell me about old Bull [Connor]. Mean and proud even praying in the pew.” His 2012 release, “There Is A Bomb In Gilead” is also a tribute to Bains’ religious upbringing in the South. The Gospel influenced title track sings, “Children of Abraham, don’t say you ain’t been warned, for there will come a burning day.” As the night transpired, Bains slayed through old and new songs with stories of growing up and a multitude of southern remnants thrown into the mix. He played fan-favorite such as “We Dare Defend Our Rights,” “The Red, Red Dirt of Home” and “Roebuck Parkway.” The night ended with “Dirt Track,” the closing track of “Dereconstructed”. The audience participation is what made this song a highlight of the evening. The chorus of the song is simply “Keep on working - keep it on the Dirt Track.” Hearing everyone in the diminutive room singing the song was the quintessential spirit of Egan’s. Bains even said it himself, “This is my favorite place to play in the world.”
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CULTURE Monday, August 24, 2015
WE NEED A
HERO
Swoodle is an app that specializes in communications amongst students. Photo courtesy of Displaynote Technologies
Swoodle, Duolingo apps improve communication By Becca Murdoch | Assistant Culture Editor
Will it be you? Send us a lip sync video. The favorite video performers will appear live on stage Sept. 25 competing for the top prize that includes a Yeti cooler.
Enter today. Submit your best lip sync video at
lipsynchero.ua.edu
Lip Sync Hero
September 25 7 pm Ferguson Center Theatre
Duolingo is an app that helps students learn different languages. Photo courtesy of Duolingo
Traditional study methods just don’t seem to cut it for students anymore. Between group projects, multimedia presentations and busy schedules, school life, especially for college students, needs some helpful supplementation. Swoodle and Duolingo, two apps with a specialty in communication and education, are hoping to be that helping hand. Swoodle, founded in 2012 by CEO Paul Brown and CTO Andy Bell of DisplayNote Technologies is a real-time collaboration tool that allows users to collaborate and work together on documents, presentations and images, according to the Swoodle website. “They saw a gap in the market for educational software and created something that truly let people engage within a group,” said Kris Nixon, a content crafter at the Swoodle’s Belfast office. Swoodle can be used to collaborate on projects by letting students work simultaneously on a document with added help from chat, video call and voice call functions. One user can scroll through a document making edits and adding annotations while other users linked to that project can follow along. If the first user unlocks the document, each participant can make changes independently. “The game of [designing Swoodle] was to bring together the best bits of everything we use,” Nixon said. “ You’ve got Google Docs. You’ve got Slack. You’ve got Skype. You’ve got What’s App, but [Swoodle] is one solution.” The team at Swoodle has found through testing that Swoodle sessions works seamlessly even with 40 participants. Due to limited screen space on iOS devices, video calls are limited to four participants at a time. “We should have a desktop version up by October, which for us is a real game changer,” Nixon said. Swoodle has been taken to trade shows like SXSW and Dublin’s Web Summit, where 1800 beta users signed up for the app’s services over the course of one weekend. When asked why Swoodle is so popular, Nixon said Swoodle is communication the way it needs to be done. “Nothing’s ever going to substitute four people getting in a room, getting their heads down and working on a project,”
he said. “But when it comes to the convenience aspect of it, [Swoodle] can’t be underestimated.” Swoodle is not the only app on the market affecting change in communication. Duolingo, a free science-based language education platform for iPhone, Android and Desktop, has enjoyed popularity and success with over 100 million users. Duolingo was cofounded in 2011 by Luis von Ahn, also the creator of reCAPTCHA. With the help of his co-founder, Severin Hacker, Ahn decided to create a free education platform that would offer language education to everyone. Hailing from Guatemala, a country where most of the population cannot afford quality education, Ahn wanted to make a difference in people’s lives in terms of salary potential, said Gina Gotthilf, vice president of communications. “Those who really need a language to improve their lives can’t afford it, so they decided they wanted to develop a way of teaching languages for free,” Gotthilf said. “But not only free, we also wanted to create the best way to learn languages and to make that accessible to everyone.” Duolingo has its basis firmly rooted in science. Thirty-four hours of Duolingo is equivalent to a full university semester of language education, according to an independent study conducted by The City University of New York. Gotthilf said Duolingo is successful because it is completely free and entertaining. For students, an app that is free and makes learning feel less like a chore and more like an interactive game is a win-win situation. “It’s free, it actually works, it’s fun and it can be used for five minutes at a time,” Gotthilf said. “College students already have a lot of traditional studying to do, so being able to work on their skills in between classes is very useful.” Duolingo is currently working to tailor the platform to each individual user for the optimal tutor experience and has recently created a proctored language test that can be taken from home in 20 minutes for a tenth of the price of normal language exams, Gotthilf said. Students using Swoodle and Duolingo can establish an upper hand in the collegiate learning environment by communicating more effectively and even doing so in a foreign language.
8 First day back perspectives from old and new CULTURE
Monday, August 24, 2015
By Aaron Bonner | Contributing Writer
Each year, thousands of students leave the comfort of their family homes and strike out on their own for the first time. For the first 12 years of school, college holds an almost mythical reputation to many incoming students, and with that reputation comes expectations and fears. Among the thousands of incoming students flooding the Quad and Ferguson Center is Sarah Elegante, a freshman majoring in elementary education. For some, the adjustment to campus life can be a struggle, but Elegante said the experience has been fine because campus is so friendly and inviting. She said there are people everywhere for her to meet. “It has been a pretty easy adjustment,” Elegante said. “I have a few friends from high school that are going here and we are going out and meeting new people. It’s so easy to make friends and figure out the campus because there are people all over who are willing to help or who are just as incredibly lost as we are.” Elegante said the differences between high school and college were pronounced,and she compared college to a summer camp she’s afraid she’ll have to leave to go back to the dreary world of high school. Being able to take a nap or get coffee between classes is weird in a good
Join us for an evening of exploring the 500+ organizations available at The University of Alabama.
Sarah Elegante is a freshman majoring in elementary education. CW / Danielle Parker
way, Elegante said, and has left her feeling less stressed. Before classes started, Elegante said she was afraid her professors would be boring or mean. She pictured her classes as being stressful and worried she’d go to the wrong buildings. Fortunately, she said, these fears ended up being trivial because she made it to her classes with time to spare. For Taylor Holmes, a senior majoring in biology, her last first day of college has ended. Holmes said she can still remember what it was like to be a freshman coming
to the University. “When I was a freshman, my first day of the semester was overwhelming,” Holmes said. “I had 10 minutes to get from one side of campus to another, so I was rushed and anxious. I think I visited the bookstore probably five times because I was worried about getting all of my books for classes before I went to them for the first time.” Holmes said she had difficulty adjusting to campus life because of the amount of freedom it lent her. In the beginning, she would go to whatever student organizations her friends and roommates were going to and it took a few months for her to realize they weren’t interested in the same things. She started branching out into organizations and events she was interested in. “Now, I don’t worry about having all my books on the first day or about being late to class,” she said. “I know professors aren’t like I envisioned them being my freshman year.” Looking back on freshman year, Holmes said she regrets she underestimated herself by taking an easier course load and not challenging herself. “I kept telling myself that I didn’t need to be overwhelmed and needed some time to adjust,” Holmes said. “I regret not challenging myself that year. A piece of advice to new students: Find an upperclassman friend that has already been through most
Get On Board: Back To Your Future August 27, 2015 Time: 5:30pm-9:30pm Location: Ferguson Plaza, Lawn, Promenade, and Gorgas House Lawn
WHAT TO KNOW ADVICE FROM A SENIOR • Professors aren’t always what they seem • Find an upperclassman who shares your major • Find organizations that fit your interests, not just your roommates • Other students are in the same boat and are willing to help • Take a course load that will challenge you
of your major. Learning from their successes and mistakes is something that would have been extremely beneficial to me as a freshman.” Elegante said she looks forward to getting more involved both in her studies and with on-campus organizations. “I really look forward to getting more involved in my major,” she said. “I hope to join a few service clubs. I’m especially interested in Al’s Pals and the 57-mile project,” she said. “They both seem like really worthwhile and rewarding causes. I look forward to the friendships and adventures college life will throw my way.”
Organization Categories include: Service, Professional, Religious/Spiritual, Cultural, Special Interest, Law, Military, Political, Arts/ Entertainment, Social, Fraternity/Sorority, Advocacy.
9
CULTURE Monday, August 24, 2015
Moreira finds new home after assignment to UA By Aaron Bonner | Contributin Contributing Writer Isabelle Moreira CW / Amy Sullivan
Isabelle Moreira, a an international student from Brazil, is a junior majoring in chemical engineering. To Isabelle, America is a place where she can further he her education through new opportunities and learn the language, while enjoying a few football games on the side. Why did d you choose The Univers University of Alabama?
Q. A.
First of all, I am participating in the Brazilian Scientific Mobility Pro Program (BSMP). I chose the United States S because I really love this country. cou The culture here is just amaz amazing, and I believe that it is a g great place to improve my E English speaking skills. Ab Above all, I am certain tthat the education here is excellent, the physical structure is fantastic and the available technology is much better than what we can find in my country. The BSMP gives you three suggestions of the universities you would like to attend. In fact, I didn’t choose UA, but the program assigned me here because there are a lot of interesting courses related to my field of study. Besides,
when I found out that I would come here, I started learning about the University, and I really loved everything in here.
Q. A.
What do you like/dislike about campus?
Well, I like the buildings, the grass and nature and also the dining halls on campus. The buildings are just huge, and the structure is really beautiful. The grass and all the nature we can find on campus are good to make us feel comfortable, because there are a lot of places to rest, where you can actually feel free. Besides, the dining halls are great because there are many options of what to eat, and you don’t need to worry about cooking and, consequently, washing the dishes. The only thing I dislike about the campus is the distance. There are some places far away from where you need to be, so it takes some time to go there. But with the bus, everything becomes easier. Was it hard to adjust to the culture here?
Q. A.
It’s hard to get used to the food here, because we are not as used to eating fast food so often. Speaking English
sometimes can be a trouble because we happen to forget how to say a few words, and then we have to improvise, but it wasn’t so hard to get used to. The Americans are so polite, and they always help us to communicate. Another difference is the driving habits. For example, we cannot drive without seat belts because we can get tickets for that. What is the Americans do?
Q. A.
weirdest
thing
I believe there are two things that look weird to me: the first one is eating french fries every day, for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the second thing would be having so many blond girls in the same place. The Brazilian beauty is different, but it’s nice to see how people are here. How do you feel about American food?
Q. A.
Well, I am not really used to eating fast food so often, but I think it is delicious. I just think that the food here is a little bit unseasoned, but I believe this is just because it’s so different from Brazilian food, but in the end, it is also good!
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10
SPORTS
Monday, August 24, 2015
Former Tide LB wins MMA premiere
COLUMN | NFL
By Marquis Munson | Staff Reporter
After a successful amateur career, former Alabama football player Eryk Anders made his pro debut in mixed martial arts with a TKO victory 40 seconds into the first round against Joshua Raspberry at the Belk Activity Center in Tuscaloosa on Saturday night. The former linebacker came out to a strong reaction from the crowd and was accompanied by his Spartan Fitness teammates and the WBC heavyweight champion and Tuscaloosa native Deontay Wilder. They watched as Anders dominated his opponent in 40 seconds, who also made his pro debut and took the bout on short notice. “I just went in there with a clear head,” Anders said. “I just fight the person that’s across that cage; it doesn’t matter the name, style or experience.” From 2006 to 2009, Anders was a linebacker on the Crimson Tide football team. He finished his career with 98 total tackles and 8.5 sacks. His biggest play was in the BCS National Championship game on Jan. 7, 2010, when he sacked Texas backup quarterback Garrett Gilbert, causing a fumble that led to a game-winning touchdown run by Mark Ingram. Years after trying to gain tackles and sacks in the National and
Robert Griffin III throws a pass during the third quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 20, 2014. Tribune News Service
Former Alabama linebacker Eryk Anders made his pro debut in mixed martial arts on Saturday night. Photo courtesy of Raven Lewis
Canadian Football League, Anders took up striking and grappling in mixed martial arts and hasn’t looked back since. “We worked a lot on his standup and footwork,” said Spartan Fitness head trainer Chris Conolley. “His grappling was already strong, his wrestling was strong, and so he just needed to put it all together.” After getting his pro debut fight out the way, a confident Anders looks to continue to build on his success in MMA. “Confidence is never an issue with me,” Anders said. “I’m just getting
more comfortable in there and moving around a little bit better, and I’m just getting better every day.” Chase Horton and Justin Reeser of Tuscaloosa also won in their pro debut. Horton defeated Ken Dubose by TKO in the second round while Reeser won by disqualification after his opponent, Kerry Heard, headbutted him in the first round. Former Samford football player and Anders’ Spartan Fitness teammate, Omar Johnson, defeated Tuscaloosa native Brad Thompson by TKO in the first round. Johnson is now 4-0 in Tuscaloosa.
Alexis Mouton scores winner By Marquis Munson | Staff Reporter
After a hard-fought 1-0 loss to the Memphis Tigers in their season opener, head coach Wes Hart and the Alabama soccer team answered back with 1-0 victory against the Troy Trojans in their first home game of the season with a game-winning goal by Alexis Mouton in the 76th minute Sunday night. The Crimson Tide used the momentum from the large crowd at the Alabama Soccer Stadium to help them push past the Trojans and give Hart his first win in his Alabama coaching career. “Hopefully we’ll build on it,” Hart said. “I think it was an awesome first crowd and hopefully we’ve entertained them enough that they’ll want to continue to keep coming out.” Despite a scoreless first period, Alabama played with the same aggression on the offensive side of the field as the second period of the Memphis game on Friday night. They made 10 shots to the Trojans three, including three shots on goal by Hailey Brohaugh, Christina Martensson and Celia Jimenez Delgado, who had three shots to end the period. Most of the Trojans’ aggression in the first period came from incidents that happened outside the
PLAN TO GO WHAT: Soccer v.s. Wake Forest WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday WHERE: Alabama Soccer Stadium
Big Al makes a save Sunday. CW / Shelby Akin
box, receiving four fouls that led to two yellow cards given to defenders Haley Roberson and Marli Batiste. “We tell our players to keep playing, and don’t worry about getting involved,” Hart said. “You’re going to get fouled; that’s a part of the game. You just have to keep your head.” To begin the second half, the Trojans came out with more aggression on offense, doubling their shot attempts in the first 10 minutes of the second period. This included a good look for Trojans midfielder Jasmine Fahrnbauer that was blocked by Emily Rusk. “The defense looked good,” Hart said. “We got caught a couple of times moving in transition, but that’s
going to happen when you’re an attack-minded team. When we do have breakdown, we have individuals to step up and save the day.” Focusing more on stopping the offensive plays by the Trojans, Alabama took three shots in the second period, including sophomore forward Alexis Mouton’s game winning goal, the second goal of her college career. “It’s exciting, and it means this season is going to be filled with opportunities,” Mouton said. “I jumped like eight feet in the air. I was just proud of myself because I did miss one in the first half.” Alabama finished the game with 13 shots, including four shots on goal. Rusk finished the shutout with two saves, while midfielder Celia Jimenez Delgado had three shots and one on goal. The Crimson Tide will play at home this Friday in their next match against Wake Forest. Opening kick is slated to begin at 7 p.m.
Time is now or never for Robert Griffin’s prospects By Ben Boynton
Flash back to 2012. The NFL Draft promised two franchise quarterbacks that were likely to go with the first two picks. Andrew Luck of Stanford was the prototypical passer, with brilliant arm strength and accuracy, solid leadership and all the intangibles you could want. Robert Griffin III of Baylor was the exciting, dual-threat quarterback with plenty of moxie and physical talent, as well as the ability to create exciting plays. Luck would go No. 1 to the Indianapolis Colts and is one of the best passers in the game today. Griffin, whom the Washington Redskins traded a lot of valuable picks to acquire, has struggled since an electrifying rookie season and is running out of time to prove he can be the franchise quarterback. Part of Griffin’s problem is his poor track record with staying healthy. In his rookie season, Griffin suffered a concussion and a knee sprain, though he only missed one game. However, he reinjured his knee in a playoff defeat that then required surgery. Since his first season, Griffin has missed an additional 10 games over two seasons and has played through his fair share of injuries during that process. Griffin is an electrifying playmaker when healthy. However, his history of knee injuries and concussions have limited his ability to play his own style. In his wildly successful rookie season where he won the Offensive Rookie of the Year, Griffin was aggressive and often reckless with his body, taking punishing hits on risky quarterback runs. As a dual threat, Griffin’s ability to scramble for yards not only helps out the ground attack but also forces defenses to commit more to the run, freeing up receivers in the passing game. With his injury woes piling up, Griffin has been forced to change his style of play. He has to be more careful when exposing his body to big hits and focus more on his passing. This has resulted in less effective running and more mistakes when he throws the ball, evidenced by a spike in turnovers. Griffin’s struggles have resulted in him having to fight for his starting job against the likes of Colt McCoy and Kirk Cousins. There is no doubt that a healthy and aggressive Robert Griffin III is a force to be reckoned with. Instead, his injuries have caused him to seriously struggle. With a recent concussion once again sidelining the former No. 2 draft pick and a contract nearing its end, it is safe to say that Griffin needs to turn things around quickly if he wants not only to be a franchise player, but also to keep his job.
11
SPORTS Monday, August 24, 2015
Scott, Tomlinson drawing attention By Tyler Waldrep | Assistant Sports Editor
JK Scott averages 48 yards/punt. CW / Layton Dudley
Take it nice and easy. Punter JK Scott said that’s the advice he gets from coach Nick Saban. “He always compares my punting to his golf game,” Scott said. “Just [a] nice, easy swing.” As a freshman, Scott finished as a finalist for the Ray Guy award, which honors the country’s top punter. Scott said he wants to be even stronger and more consistent this season. Online, Scott has received an
enormous amount of attention from Alabama fans, but he said that kind of attention has yet to cross over into day-to-day life on campus. “I don’t even look like a football player,” Scott said. “If anything, they think I’m a basketball player walking around.” Another player who could become more recognizable to Alabama fans this upcoming season is defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson who is looking to earn a spot in the starting lineup this season.
Depending on the situation, Tomlinson will play inside or outside on the line. He said he feels like this gives the team more flexibility in case an injury arises. “Someone might roll an ankle or something,” he said. “If we need a big person to go inside, then I could go outside and help the team in more ways.” Looking ahead to Alabama’s second fall scrimmage this Saturday, Tomlinson said he expects to see better play on
the defensive side of the ball. He said some guys struggled to get in the right mindset for the first one because it’s been so long since the team tackled. Tomlinson said he likes the improvements he has seen from the offensive line. He said Cam Robinson is just one of the offensive linemen who has made strides since the spring. “[Robinson’s] the total package,” Tomlinson said. “Those long arms can get on your nerves every now and again, but Cam, he’s a great player.”
COLUMN | BIG 12
Big 12 harder to exclude in second year of College Football Playoff By Tyler Waldrep
Flash back to December. The College Football Playoff committee was about to unveil the sport’s first final four field. Every Power 5 conference seemed confident that it would be represented in the bracket, but basic math revealed that one of them would be disappointed. Big 12 teams Baylor and TCU were both very deserving of a playoff bid, but Ohio State ended
hold the basketball, then a jump ball is called. When that happens, the team who missed out on getting the ball on the last jump ball gets possession. If this season ends like last year, with two or three teams boasting comparable resumes, then the Big 12 will possibly be given the benefit of the doubt because the conference was excluded last season. The committee is not supposed to factor in such things when making its decision, but it is
up snagging the last spot after the Buckeyes beat Wisconsin the previous evening 59-0. The Buckeyes went on to win the national title, and the Big 12 was on the outside looking in for the fifth consecutive year, but that snub might be what guarantees the conference a spot in the final four this season. In college basketball, when it’s difficult to determine possession for one reason or another, usually because opposing players each
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comprised of human beings. TCU and Baylor both start the season in the top four spots of the USA Today Coaches Poll. With the returning talent and
TODAY’SDIVERSIONS
schedules that both teams have, it seems likely that one of those teams can finish in the top six. Maybe that’s all it will take. In an effort to appear unbiased and fair, the committee could easily end up seeding a Big 12 team, regardless of whether it was the fourth, fifth or sixth best team in the country. The conference’s representative still has a long road ahead, but perhaps the path is just a little smoother this time around.
SUDOKU
CLASSIFIEDS
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HOROSCOPES Today’s Birthday (08/24/15). You’re in the spotlight this year. Recharge at home with family. A burst of energy after 10/13 propels you, after 10/27, to increase shared savings. Partnership flowers after 3/8, leading to financial action after 3/23. Invest in your nest. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is a 9 -- Today and tomorrow offer professional opportunities. If an obstacle arises, roll around it. Ignore false rumors and gossip. Do what you love and prosper. Use your secret power. Remain forgiving with miscommunications. Angels guide your actions. Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Travel, studies and exploration thrive today and tomorrow. Balance business with pleasure. The money looks better. Edible treats are in order. Listen, learn, and stick up for your point of view. Don’t go along if you don’t agree. Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is a 9 -Work with your partner to manage finances today and tomorrow. Align on priorities and make decisions. Work out communication breakdowns immediately. Keep your team on track, lovingly. Replenish reserves, while keeping costs down. Stick to simple ingredients.
Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is a 9 -Work with a partner over the next few days. Go over the big picture. Discover sales and marketing ideas. Make sure your efforts are strategic and your timing right on. Romance is a distinct possibility. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is an 8 -Provide excellent service today and tomorrow. Your wealth comes from satisfied customers. Call for reinforcements, if necessary. Your team lends support. Talk is cheap, though, and misunderstandings likely. Don’t believe everything you hear. Discuss finances later. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Focus on what you love over the next few days. Play your favorite game with your favorite people. You don’t need to buy toys. Develop your skills and enthusiasms. Follow the most entertaining thread. Get seduced. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- The next two days are good for making changes at home. Family takes priority. Use logic and new methods to make life easier. Enforce household rules. Amplify feminine touches. A little color and paint make a big difference. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 9 -You’re especially clever today and tomorrow. It’s a time of intense learning. Practice your charm and persuasion. Delve into an inquiry, and stay with it. Don’t talk about it yet. Take
notes and organize your thoughts. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Get into making money today and tomorrow. An empty stomach tells you what it wants. Diligently provides goods and services. Save your pennies. Networking and social promotion works. Another revenue source is available. Read contracts before signing. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is a 6 -- Begin a confident two-day phase. Make long-range plans. Gain support from a distant source. Don’t waste energy on arguments ... tempers are short. Consider your words carefully. Avoid antagonizing people. Take control. Everything seems possible. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is an 8 -- Today and tomorrow favor peace and thoughtful productivity. Make plans and schedule actions. A new theory doesn’t work as well in practice. Find a better alternative. Avoid risky propositions. Stay in communication, even while hiding out. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Friends, groups, clubs and associations amplify your reach today and tomorrow. Support a friend in need, and ask for support when you need it. Together, your impact increases exponentially. Energize each other. Go for a common cause.
12
Editor | Kayla Montgomery sports@cw.ua.edu Monday, August 24, 2015
Crimson Tide voted AP No. 3 Ranking is Alabama’s lowest preseason ranking since before 2009 season The Alabama Crimson Tide football team prepares for the 2015 season. CW / Layton Dudley
Scrimmage leaves questions By Tyler Waldrep and Sean Landry | CW Staff
Headed into its final fall scrimmage, the Alabama football team still has several question marks. The post-scrimmage breakdown from head coach Nick Saban does not indicate that the team found the answers it was looking for, but it does suggest overall improvement. No stat sheet was released, but Saban did highlight a few numbers from the scrimmage. Some of the stats addressed included the number of pass attempts by the team’s various quarterbacks. Quarterback David Cornwell’s pass attempts were not released to the media. “All the quarterbacks got some opportunity today,” Saban said. “I think [Cooper] Bateman had 27 throws, [Alec] Morris had 21, [Jake] Coker had 26 [and Blake] Barnett had 11.” Saban said he thought Coker did a decent job considering he missed three practices earlier in the week with a foot injury, and Morris has a good understanding of the offense, helping the other players perform better. “I think that [Morris] is probably showing command at the position, which I think is important,” Saban said. “He needs to continue to work on touch, accuracy and efficiency, but we’re really pleased with what Alec has done.” Saban said the passing game was the priority today. Wide receiver ArDarius Stewart had an outing that resulted in eight receptions, and Saban said he was pleased to see Stewart make good adjustments on contested plays. When Alabama did run the ball, a majority of the reported carries were given to freshman running back Damien Harris, who carried the ball 14 times. Saban said Derrick Henry had eight carries and Kenyan Drake had six. Drake was tested today to see how he handled contact. “We wanted to get Kenyan Drake hit,” Saban said. “He hadn’t been hit since the Ole Miss game, so he scrimmaged today quite a bit.” On the defensive side of the ball, Saban said that linebackers Reggie Ragland and Reuben Foster both had great scrimmages. Saban said the defense scored two touchdowns off of turnovers today, and special teams were also addressed. The coach said Cyrus Jones has proven to be a good return man, and Chris Black was mentioned as a possible backup option. Only two new injuries were reported after the scrimmage, both involving offensive linemen. Dominick Jackson strained his shoulder, and Korren Kirven got a sprained knee, but Saban said he doesn’t expect either player to miss more than a week at most. Saban said he saw a lot of progress today, but he said the team still has a long way to go. “I think it’s up to the players,” he said. “How are we going to battle the adversity that we need to go through to make the improvements that we need to make?”
1. Ohio State (61 first-place votes)
FRIDAY
2. TCU
Editor’s Note: UA Athletics has requested reporters not to report any information concerning injured players beginning Monday, Aug. 24.
3. Alabama
• Alabama took to the field for its final practice before its second fall scrimmage, which will take place this Saturday afternoon in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
4. Baylor
• The quarterbacks and receivers split into two groups for a majority of the viewing period. Quarterbacks Jake Coker and Alec Morris split time throwing to the following receivers in order: Chris Black, ArDarius Stewart, Richard Mullaney, Cam Sims and Daylon Charlot. • During that time, quarterbacks David Cornwell, Cooper Bateman and Blake Barnett worked with the other line of wide receivers that was headed up (but not limited to) Robert Foster, Calvin Ridley and Derek Kief. • When the groups came together, Coker and Morris led the quarterback group while the receivers lined up in the following order: Foster, Ridley, Kief and Stewart. • The running backs also split into two lines near the end of the viewing period with Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake each leading a line.
SATURDAY • Alabama returned to Bryant-Denny stadium for its second fall preseason scrimmage Saturday afternoon. • Jake Coker led the quarterback line for the first part of the viewing period, but Alec Morris threw to the first team in the latter half. Morris has been gaining momentum for the starting position in Alabama’s quarterback battle. • Reggie Ragland and Dillon Lee were the first in line for inside linebacker drills. • O.J. Howard led the tight ends in the first part of the viewing period, but switched with Ty Flournoy-Smith for route drills with the quarterbacks. • Cyrus Jones and Tony Brown, now wearing no. 7, were the first group of cornerbacks. Brown’s number change is permanent, likely so he can play on special teams with Derrick Henry if needed.
5. Michigan State 6. Auburn 7. Oregon 8. Southern California 9. Georgia 10. Florida State 11. Notre Dame 12. Clemson 13. UCLA 14. LSU 15. Arizona State 16. Georgia Tech 17. Ole Miss 18. Arkansas 19. Oklahoma 20. Wisconsin 21. Stanford 22. Arizona 23. Boise State 24. Missouri 25. Tennessee