SERVING THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA SINCE 1894
WEEKEND EDITION | SEPTEMBER 3, 2015 VOLUME 122 | ISSUE 15
THE
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Since Nick Saban’s arrival, UA sports have flourished. There’s a reason for that. See page 8.
INSIDE briefs 2 news 3 opinions 4 culture 7 sports 13
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THURSDAY September 3, 2015
SCENE ON CAMPUS Health Hut volunteers begin to unpack and set up the “Health Hut” outside of Fresh Foods on Wednesday afternoon. CW / Shelby Akin
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UPCOMING EVENTS
CAMPUS BRIEFS
University Library Fair
College of Arts and Sciences celebrates “Utopia”
WHAT: The third annual University Library Fair WHEN: Thursday, 10 a.m–11:30 a.m. WHERE: 205 Gorgas Library
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Costume exhibit WHAT: The Life of a Costume: From Page to Stage WHEN: Friday, 9 a.m–5 p.m. WHERE: Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center, 620 Greensboro Avenue
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WHAT: Esri Story Maps WHEN: Thursday, 11 a.m–12 p.m. WHERE: Scholars’ Station Rogers Library
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Tory map workshop
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International event WHAT: International Coffee Hour WHEN: Friday, 1:30 a.m–1 p.m. WHERE: 121 B.B. Comer
The College of Arts and Sciences will celebrate the 500th anniversary of Thomas More’s book “Utopia” with a yearlong series of events including themed lectures and courses. Michael Mendle, professor emeritus of history at The University of Alabama, will begin the series with an introduction on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 4:30 p.m. in Gorgas Library room 205.
Dance program is 15th in US The University of Alabama’s dance program ranked 15th in the nation and fourth in the south among public and private universities. The rankings were made by Dance-Colleges.com. Their findings were based on 61 academic, financial and organization factors such as student retention rates, faculty profiles and alumni job prospects. Factors such as student body enrollment, past ranking history and the college’s current trend were taken into account. Three hundred and twenty-two public and private schools offering dance programs were surveyed, and rankings are based on data collected by the U.S. Department of Education in 2014-2015. Compiled by Elizabeth Elkin
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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.
European history workshop WHAT: Cold War Caesar: Elite Masculinity, Foreign Policy, and the Cinematic Portrayal of Caesar WHEN: Friday, 3–4 p.m. WHERE: 251 ten Hoor Hall
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SGA senator introduces “Dixieland Delight” bill SGA senator Patrick Fitzgerald has launched a campaign to bring back “Dixieland Delight.” Fitzgerald invites everyone to come out to the SGA senate meeting on Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. for what he describes as the student body’s best shot of bringing the song back to Bryant-Denny Stadium. A location has yet to be decided upon for this meeting. According to Fitzgerald, the band responsible for the song, Alabama, has given his legislation to return “Dixieland Delight” to Bryant-Denny Stadium its support. No official statement has been made to suggest the song will actually be removed from football games this season. Deborah Lane, a spokeswoman for the University, responded to the CW’s open records request saying that there were no emails or documents sent to or from University administrators referencing “Dixieland Delight.” Compiled by Tyler Waldrep
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The college will host various courses that involve utopian and dystopian topics in the areas of English, history, philosophy, political science, biology and religious studies. For more information on upcoming events visit www.yearofutopia.as.ua.edu. Compiled by Elizabeth Elkin
OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS “Every citizen has a right to inspect and take a copy of any public writing of this state, except as otherwise expressly provided by statute.” From statute 36.12.40 of the Code of Alabama
UAPD REQUEST REQUEST: Documents related to an ongoing UAPD internal investigation, first reported to 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
ADMINISTRATION REQUEST REQUEST: Any and all emails, memorandums and internal communications sent to or from UA Administrators regarding the song ‘Dixieland Delight’ BY: Kayla Montgomery TO: Deborah Lane REQUEST DATE: Aug. 19, 2015 STATUS: “There are no records responsive to your request.”
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Assistant Editor | Elizabeth Elkin newsdesk@cw.ua.edu Thursday, September 3, 2015
Freshmen make transition to college textbooks By Kyarra Harris | Contributing Writer
The transition from high school to college is difficult enough, but the workload tends to be a struggle for both freshmen and upperclassmen alike. Typical challenges can be changing your study habits and the amount of usage from your textbook. Richard Livingston, assistant director for the Center for Academic Success, holds a workshop every year to help students make that adjustment. “Students learn how reading college textbooks is different from what they were used to in high school,” Livingston said. “Making appropriate use of textbooks in college is often more important than it was in high school.” Many students learn that just because you have the textbook doesn’t mean you will always use it, though there are many exceptions. Scott Parrott, assistant professor of journalism, said he doesn’t require students to buy their textbook unless he’s going to use it often. He said he tries to give students advice when he notices they aren’t getting the most out of assigned readings. “Actually doing the reading and sticking to it can be a challenge for students coming in from high school,” Parrott said. “Many students procrastinate and put it off. I try to tell students to do their work gradually by day. It won’t be as stressful, and it’ll
actually benefit you more because you’re taking it day by day and reading snippets instead of cramming it all in one night.” Teresa Cribelli, assistant professor of history, is another professor who said she wants students to get the most out of their textbooks. “There’s a big difference between high school and college,” Cribelli said. “High school is typically a classroom setting and the textbooks provide you with narrative. In college, at least for my class, textbooks provide different prospectives and students now need to read them and come up with their own interpretations. I provide the catalyst, but they do the reading and obtaining the information.” Parrott, who now teaches graduate students, said he keeps his textbooks from his own time in college. “Sometimes you forget where you come from,” Parrott said. “I go back and read my own textbooks and it’s really helpful. When you get into graduate school, there is more reading involved and there is so much information out there, but the more you know the better prepared you are. Reading, especially for journalism students, is extremely important.” Cribelli said one of the hardest things for a student can be taking notes from their readings. “I try to convey that you’re reading for content, which means you don’t have to know every word, but the most important
A sample freshman book list New Rental N/A
N/A
CW / Melanie Viering
information,” Cribelli said. “It’s a skill of being able to gain information in an efficient and productive way. So I tell my freshmen, bring your notes, and I’ll tell you if you’re capturing what you need to. The skill isn’t always obvious.” As the goal of college is to gain information and use it in the future, learning how
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to use textbooks can be essential. “It’s about teaching students to analyze information by themselves, and to make correlations between readings,” Cribelli said. “It’s about what you do with this material. To know how to do research efficiently, how to use it and to be able to write in an effective way.”
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Editor | Leigh Terry opinions@cw.ua.edu Thursday, September 3, 2015
COLUMN | ADVICE
Take advantage of campus time before it’s gone By Almosa Pirela-Jones | Staff Columnist
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COLUMN | FERTILIZATION
America ahead of Europe on IVF, immigration policy By Kyle Simpson Staff Columnist
In many areas of public policy, one could argue the United States is far less progressive than countries in the European Union. We’ve become used to hearing how the U.S. is behind our neighbors across the Atlantic in regards to important issues like paid maternity and paternity leave, infrastructure spending, healthcare costs and numerous others. It’s true; we are behind western Europe in many important areas and hold embarrassing distinctions like being the only developed country without paid maternity leave and being one of the worst in education spending. There’s certainly an argument to be made for us to try to model policies of our own country after some of the more successful parts of European countries. However, the United States leads the way in several important issues, and we have an opportunity to continue to expand on these successes. One important service many don’t ever have to think about is in vitro fertilization, which is used to treat infertility issues and can help people that would otherwise be unable to conceive a child. This technology, in
conjunction with sperm or egg donations, is used by same-sex couples or parents who carry harmful genetic diseases to conceive their own children. This important method of creating a family is the only option for some, and it surprised me to learn about the legal obstacles that prevent this from occurring in many places in Europe. In countries like Germany, Austria and Switzerland, often thought of as models of human rights, there is an outright ban on the donation of eggs. Many countries require couples to be married, and most of Europe even bans surrogate motherhood – completely preventing male same-sex couples from having their own children. These policies stand in complete contrast to those of the United States, where in vitro fertilization is a fairly common way to start a family for straight couples, same-sex couples and single people who are trying to become parents. We can make these policies even better, though. The average price of an in vitro fertilization treatment in the U.S. is over $12,000, and most health insurance policies either do not cover assisted reproduction or cap the reimbursements at very low levels. Americans would likely be surprised to learn how many of their friends and coworkers were actually products of assisted reproduction technologies – over 61,000 babies were born due to IVF in 2012, showing how popular the method is. This shows how important
having access to technology is for Americans who can’t have children on their own. Another area that the U.S. leads in is, surprisingly, immigration. Most Americans recognize immigration has made our nation stronger and is an important part of who we are. Although we clearly have a broken system in need of reform, it far outpaces many of the policies of Europe. Many European nations like France and Sweden have infamously stringent immigration policies, and the challenge of permanently moving to those countries makes our convoluted process look like a cakewalk. Major political parties in France and Sweden are campaigning to completely close off their borders to immigrants—a foreign concept to our “melting pot” nation. Perhaps the biggest issue in Europe right now is the treatment of Syrian refugees, who are being turned away in southern Europe as their home country is ravaged by war. In light of this, immigration reform seems more important than ever. We can take advantage of the stringent policies of Europe by attracting the skilled immigrants being turned away, which will boost our economy. We can also be a beacon for human rights, by creating a humane and fair system for refugees, all while cutting down illegal immigration.
Kyle Simpson is a junior majoring in biology. His column runs weekly.
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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
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Summer break has drawn to a hasty close, and students have traded in their beach towels and sunglasses for textbooks and Starbucks cups. All the trappings of fall semester–eager freshmen, football, Rush week and a healthy dose of stress–are rearing their heads one by one, and soon, every student at The University of Alabama will find himself or herself knee-deep in a swamp of homework and parties. But consider this reality: college flies by even faster than high school, and soon, far too many of us will find ourselves clutching a hard-earned diploma in both hands with no concrete plans for the future. Since the Great Recession, statistics for millennials have been grim, with “one in five people in their early ‘20s and ‘30s … currently living with his or her parents,” according to an article by Adam Davidson of The New York Times. Earning a bachelor’s degree in the twenty-first century does not hold the same clout as it might have thirty years ago, and it is far from unusual to find business and biology majors who graduated from big-name universities ringing up sandwiches at the grocery store. Though projections for success for the graduating class of 2015 are optimistic, there are ways to be proactive. Join a club. The Source website provides information regarding more than five hundred campus organizations, making it easy to gain access to an activity that is right for them. Some are geared towards service or a particular professional track or interest while other clubs focus on politics, dancing or sailing. Becoming a member of a campus organization serves the two-fold purpose of entertainment and networking. Keep in contact with professors because they are far more than human scantron graders. Professors are successful academics who were in your shoes not so long ago, and they can put you in contact with other professionals in your desired field. In addition, they can offer valuable suggestions about graduate schools, potential scholarships and life in general. Focus on obtaining an internship. Every major does not require an internship for graduation, but securing face time (whether paid or unpaid), with a company can open doors that a summer or a semester slinging fast-food will keep greased shut. The University’s Career Center website provides a calendar with a list of career fairs for the 2015-2016 school year that are geared towards individuals interested in engineering, education, business, communication and more. Be flexible. Nearly nine million jobs were lost in the Great Recession, but all have been recovered according to the Los Angeles Times. However, every year, college graduates are still walking into an unstable job market, and without proper contacts or experience, many are left with few options and become underemployed after graduation. The University of Alabama has placed every tool and advantage in our midst, and it is up to students to seek the information out in order to become competitive in the job market. Nothing you do today will ensure that your future is set in stone. As cliché as it is, life does indeed happen, and you would do well to invent a plan B, C, D and E in case your primary goals do not work out as expected. Almosa Pirela-Jones is a junior majoring in English. Her column runs biweekly.
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OPINIONS Thursday, September 3, 2015 COLUMN | TRAFFIC
Tuscaloosa’s growth could have unintended harmful consequences By Ben Jackson Staff Columnist
Tuscaloosa is growing, quickly. Last week I visited the new Fresh Market, one of the crowning jewels of Legacy Park, a $55 million project at the intersection of McFarland and 13th street. Across the street stand The Lofts at City Center, 1,226 additional beds of offcampus student housing. Obviously, big things are happening. But as I sit still in McFarland traffic where not even a blaring ambulance can get by, I have to ask myself: Is Tuscaloosa ready for this much growth? I think the answer is no, and the reason why involves more than just inconvenient parking at Midtown Village. At the risk of sounding alarmist, Tuscaloosa is in the midst of an infrastructure crisis. The Center for Business and Economic Research has listed Tuscaloosa as a top growing city for 2015, with the area expected to grow
3.8 percent this year alone. With few exceptions, this doesn’t include the burgeoning UA student population, which is rapidly approaching 40,000. More people means more cars, and more cars equate to more traffic. This is bad news for the two major thoroughfares of T-town – 15th Street and McFarland, where peak traffic hours mean slower trips and higher rates of collision than almost anywhere else Tuscaloosa. These two roads constitute most of the city’s traffic flow, meaning a major blockage could cause everything from delivery delays to medical emergencies when ambulances get caught in the fray. Meanwhile, the city’s $6 million project to improve McFarland’s traffic flow is behind schedule and hardly meets Tuscaloosa’s needs. With the addition of Legacy Park and its inevitable traffic flow, traffic will likely be worse than before, even with the added improvements. Legacy Park itself offers a window in the second part of the infrastructure conundrum: food supply. Within the “box” (the immediate university area as defined by the river, I-359, 15th and McFarland), the only grocery option has been the campus Publix – known for its high prices and limited selection
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of fresh foods. The box’s periphery isn’t much better, including Target, which is only accessible to most by car and also has a surprising lack of produce. World Market and Fresh Market, while high in quality, price themselves out for day-to-day shopping. All of these factors are concerning for most middle-income students, but for lower income students, this scarcity could be extremely dangerous. I hesitate to label the Tuscaloosa area an urban food desert, but the issue regarding accessible food supplies is certainly one of major concern. Should Tuscaloosa continue to grow at this pace, the consequences could be severe. So, if Tuscaloosa is at capacity, what is to be done? Should we all sell our cars and switch to bikes? Should we have Mom and Dad start FedExing us food? While I’m a big fan of option number two, don’t do anything too drastic yet – there are steps that can be taken avert what may lie ahead. For starters, the University and the city of Tuscaloosa should work together in assessing the current state of affairs regarding transportation and food. The problem will not solve itself – it will take a coordinated effort to broaden roadways, improve traffic conditions
and incentivize more grocery stores in locations like 15th Street. Secondly, the University should step up into its role of answering the question, “Growth, but to what end?” Growth is good, I agree, but not at the expense of quality of life. We need to critically assess the reason we are trying to grow, and if we as a campus community are ready. Furthermore, when the University reaches its growth goal, it can and should incentivize more students to live on campus, following the examples of other urban schools like Vanderbilt. This eases traffic patterns, makes food distribution more accessible and has been shown to have an array of academic benefits, as well. Once we begin addressing some of these obstacles, I think Tuscaloosa can continue to grow into the exciting, vibrant city it seeks to become. Until then, the threat remains that failure to address these concerns will result in bigger problems down the road. And then Tuscaloosa, which has been moving so fast, will find itself stuck in traffic. Ben Jackson is a sophomore majoring in accounting and finance. His column runs biweekly on Wednesdays.
6 Students work on-campus jobs, internships NEWS
Thursday, September 3, 2015
By Christian Elliott | Contributing Writer
With a new academic term beginning and students being consumed once again by the overflow of papers, tests and other collegiate adversities, it is difficult for a student to fit in the much needed work-hours. Since students are away from home and separated from their parents, often financial difficulties take place all throughout the semester. Regardless of if the student needs a monetary boost in order to accommodate their social life, pay the monthly rent, textbooks or even tuition, The University of Alabama offers a plethora of student employment opportunities ranging from on-campus jobs to work-study programs. There are many University related jobs that are feasible with a student’s academic load and schedule. A large number of students are employed at many locations on campus, such as the Alabama Student Supply Store, Aquatic Center, Student Recreation Center, Intramural Sports, and even help desks all over campus offer students the opportunity to fit in feasible hours that would coincide with their class schedule. However, the positions at these businesses are often high in demand; therefore, they fill quickly. There are 85 student positions at the Student Supply Store Teresa Shreve said, director of the University Supply Store. The student employees work in a wide array of positions throughout the store, ranging from cashier, accounting, retail, to also shipping and receiving. “The store hires more students during peak timeframes,” said Shreve. “Currently, the store has give positions posted on the UA Student job site – there in the cashiering area, one in the supplies department and one in the shipping/receiving department.
Students may apply by visiting https://studentjobs.ua.edu/.” Alexandra Sandoval, manager of the Aquatics Program said, there are normally 80-100 student employees at the campus Aquatic Center. Depending on the season, the outdoor pool complex requires more workers; therefore, the Aquatic Center typically has more students working in the summer. The Aquatic Center also trains their lifeguards to do “support-staff,” which is responsible for access, customer service and pool-surveillance. The Aquatic Center hires student supervisors, but they are normally hired from within the department from students who have been with them for several semesters who have shown strong leadership qualities. “What we do very well in the Aquatics, we understand that the people we hire are not going to be lifeguards for their entire life,” said Sandoval. “We like to teach tangible life skills, so I am trying to teach the students who work for me communication, time management and professionalism.” The Federal Work Study Program also gives students the necessary opportunities in order to help pay for their college fees. According to the Financial Affairs’ website, within the work-study program, students are placed within positions that are correlated to their major and area of study. There are both on-campus and off-campus jobs available in the work-study program. The website also says students typically work 12-20 hours a week, and there are over 800 work-study positions over the broad range of departments found on campus. The Federal Work Study Program is different than typical student employment because it is offered and targeted to students who are in a financial burden. In order for a student
Students have the ability to hold a variety of positions on campus. CW / Layton Dudley
to join a work-study program, he or she must apply for federal student aid. There are also many internship opportunities available to students who are looking for both financial support and imperative experience in their field of study. According to the English department’s website, the American Heritage and the Alumni Magazine offers internships. They also offer positions at the Tuscaloosa Public Defender’s Office and the Office of Marketing and Communications of the College of Continued Studies. Many other departments offer internship opportunities. Students can access job offerings on the UA Student Jobs website, or on myBama by clicking on the “Student” tab and scrolling to the bottom and clicking on “Part-Time Job Board.” Both offer a large and broad selection of choices in which the student could look through in order to find a position of studentemployment that fits them .
WORK STUDY 12-20 hours per week on campus and off Campus jobs • community service • America reads/America counts over 800 work study positions
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Editor | Matthew Wilson culture@cw.ua.edu Thursday, September 3, 2015
Draw your swords, students UA leads child research By Sam West | Contributing Writer By Margaret Wilbourne | Contributing Writer
The sport most associated with The University of Alabama may use helmets and shoulder pads as a sort of armor, but a new athletic activity hoping to come to the University uses bamboo swords, chest plates and black belts instead. Null Kumdo, a local group practicing Korean sword fighting, is seeking to get students interested in the martial art and start an athletic club on campus. Kumdo is a Korean variation on the Japanese martial art, Kendo. The instructors believe bringing the sport to the University will benefit students both physically and mentally. “If students try to learn Kumdo, it helps them,� said Master Christopher Kim, the founder and leader of the local group. “Two years, three years, and even, freshmen, in four years, maybe they [could] change their life.� Kim hails from Chicago and has been practicing martial arts for much of his life. He has been teaching Kumdo at the Tuscaloosa YMCA for the past seven years and believes starting a club at the University would have a variety of benefits to students. The instructor said the sport teaches people to control their minds, something he believes to be particularly important to college students. “I will improve their school life and social life,� he said. Kumdo as a style of combat focuses on powerful attacking strikes and precise footwork. A key component of the sport is that a swordsman’s feet should never leave the ground, staying constantly in contact with the earth. The weapon of choice in Kumdo isn’t a metallic blade, but a wooden sword made of several long pieces of bamboo. The style originated during the Japanese occupation of Korea, which is why it is similar to Kendo. “They’re essentially the same,� said Omar Smith, a student and assistant at Null Kumdo. “We both compete under the same terms internationally. So what we do, the Japanese do, plus we have a few other things we add in that are historically Korean. They go back about a thousand years.� Smith spoke of the numerous health benefits Kumdo provides. The sport
Master Kim’s Kumdo Karate Club practices sword fighting during their downtown meetings at the YMCA in Tuscaloosa. CW / Layton Dudley
strengthens the lower body, is good aerobic exercise, improves hand-eye coordination and fosters flexibility. He also said men and women of all ages could enjoy the sport. A class at Null Kumdo involves practicing footwork, performing sword forms, sparring and testing your attacking skills on a mannequin. Smith’s long term plan is to get Kumdo clubs started at other universities in the Southeast and create a successful regional conference for the martial art. Eventually, the teams could go on to compete with schools in California and the Northeast. Kim said he believes he can bring the University a national championship in the sport. Competing in Kumdo involves sparring with an opponent. Striking certain areas of the body nets you a point, though if you hit your target without the proper spirit and conviction, it doesn’t count. Smith said beyond the physical benefits of the sport, learning Kumdo allows one to be in touch with a “sword culture� that has been important throughout history. “When you learn how to use a sword, you have an insight into the life pattern, style, methods of other people in other centuries going back indefinitely to the first time they discovered bronze,� he said. Michael Adams, a student and occasional assistant at Null Kumdo, spoke of the significance of the sport in another way. “Have you seen ‘Kill Bill?’ � he said. “That’s basically us.�
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Traditions are taken seriously at The University of Alabama, whose own history dates back to 1831. While athletic customs quickly come to mind, the University’s academics have long held a precedence of their own. One such example is the Child Development Center, created in 1942. “The Children’s Development Center is a laboratory program that educates future child development professionals about development and appropriate practices with young children,� said Laura Bloom, professor of Human Development and Family Studies. “It models high quality programming for child care providers in the state, region and nation, and offers an exemplary program based on a developmental perspective to the children of The University of Alabama faculty, staff and students.� The center was among the nation’s first of its kind, and one of the first programs for young children in Alabama to be accredited by The National Association for the Education of Young Children. To Carroll Tingle, the chair of Human Development and Family Studies, this shows the consistency in the University’s dedication to Developmental Studies. “It really goes back to the strength of our college, which has always been concerned with [developmental research],� Tingle said. “It’s purpose is to give UA students a place for experiential learning, to practice what they’ve learned in class, as well as serving as a research component for entire departments who are studying young children and families.� Such research has continuously aided valuable programming, such as the Head Start supplementary training program the center was involved with in the mid-1960s. The University became one of the first regional teacher training centers in the country to receive federal funding, and by 1965, was the second largest training center in the nation. “A whole wing of our center was built by the national Head Start program, and then president [Lyndon B.] Johnson’s wife, Lady Bird Johnson, came to campus and dedicated the South Wing,� Tingle said. The long history of the observation lab continues to be carried on by more than tradition. “A part of the rich history of the Children’s Program includes the motivation to be on the cutting-edge of research involving children and families,� Bloom said. “Faculty and staff members stay abreast of current trends in early childhood development and best practices in the field. This ensures that the children in the program are having an optimal experience and students who observe in the Children’s
Child Development Center
Tradition of Excellence 40’s
• One such example is the Child Development Center, created in 1942. • The CDC was one of the first programs for young children in Alabama to be accredited by The National Association for the Education of Young Children.
60’s • UA became one of the first regional teacher training centers in the country to receive federal funding, and by 1965, was the second largest training center in the nation.
Present • Students who are enrolled in methods courses that teach how to plan and launch activities have the chance to act on what they learn in class.
CW / Kylie Cowden
Program are able to see this in practice.� This motivation for constant improvement is part of the two-fold mission of the lab: to provide a space not only for observation but also for teaching opportunities. Students, who are enrolled in methods courses that teach how to plan and launch activities, have the chance to act on what they learn in class. “They are assigned to a lab classroom where they are able to actually implement such activities with the children, under the guidance and supervision of the lab teachers,� Bloom said. “The Children’s Program also offers internship opportunities for students who are pursuing a career that will involve working in an infant, toddler or preschool classroom setting.� Logan McGeeney, a senior majoring in early childhood education, is one of the many students who have had the chance to get first-hand experience teaching in the lab. “I was able to work in the classroom creating lesson plans and interacting with children,� McGeeney said. “The lab has shown me that I want to be a teacher, and specifically what age I want to teach. [The experience] made me passionate about working with kids.� The Child Development Center has to provided both learning and research opportunities that have proven to be invaluable to the children, students and researchers who thrive within its walls.
Stormwater runoff is the rain and melting precipitation that flows off streets, rooftops, lawns, and farmland. The flowing water carries salt, sand, soil, pesticides, fertilizers, leaves, oil, litter, and many other pollutants into nearby waterways. In developed areas much of the land is covered by buildings and pavement, which do not allow water to soak into the ground. Storm Sewers are used to carry the large amounts of runoff to nearby waterways.
www.StandTallAlabama.com !
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THURSDAY September 3, 2015
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THURSDAY September 3, 2015
CLOSER THE
By Kelly Ward
CW File
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THURSDAY September 3, 2015
S
“
... it’s not that timeconsuming to try to be helpful. — Nick Saban
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omehow — between the demands of fall camp and football season, the demands of his position, perhaps the most demanding in the state — Nick Saban has time. Time to help, time to work with other coaches in other sports, time to recruit. Somehow, there is time. When something is important, there is always time. Helping other sports land top recruits is important to Saban. Even with two-a-day practices. Even in the middle of the season. Even on game days. He doesn’t dictate when other sports recruit, and he has to recruit during that time as well. There’s always a bit of time in the day. “So as busy as you are, there’s still always a portion of time that you recruit every day, so it’s not that time-consuming to try to be helpful,” Saban said in an exclusive interview with The Crimson White. Yes, that means during fall camp. Yes, that means in the middle of the season. Yes, that means right before a game. This is not about the biggest sport in the country — it’s about Nick Saban, who helps other sports recruit and just so happens to be the head coach of the most successful college football team over the past decade.
CHAMPIONSHIP CULTURE How do you get time with the most sought-after coach in the state? You ask. That’s what former gymnastics head coach Sarah Patterson did. She went in saying they’d only take 10 minutes of his time. Ten minutes often
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turns into 20 when he meets with a recruit. “He’s always talking to them and engaged with them and their parents, so I think he does an amazing job,” she said. Before the football team won national titles in 2011 and 2012, gymnastics did it first. Before Patterson won the fifth and sixth titles of her career, equalling a University sports record, she brought in a few top recruits to meet Saban. “I can tell you that any time I was taking a top recruit — and I took the best of the best, and I was very cognizant of his time and his schedule — but I can tell you coach Saban never said no to me,” Patterson said. So Patterson brought in recruits, even on Fridays before games when Saban was getting ready to go with the team to the hotel. Patterson retired in 2014, but with Dana Duckworth at the helm of the program, he still meets with her recruits. “Our relationship with Coach Saban and his willingness to meet with recruits when we bring them on campus has always been open-armed and welcoming,” she said. When something is important, there is always time.
ICONIC FIGURE It’s the ninth inning and the manager makes the call up to the bullpen. He asks for the pitcher who can finish the game out, secure the win, retire the last three batters. He needs his closer, already warmed up for this situation. This is what he does. It’s his specialty. That’s Nick Saban. The No. 1 recruiter in college football knows what he’s doing. He knows how to close a deal.
The other coaches have put in the legwork. They’re ready to pull the trigger on an offer and get a commitment. “I think what makes him a closer is not so much that he finishes a deal by saying you should, I think just in his communication, there’s an honesty and there’s an openness and there’s a transparency, and then there’s also a vision of what we’re about and what you can do when you’re here … but there’s a genuineness to him, and I think in the world of recruiting and what we do, it’s always nice to have that,” said men’s golf coach Jay Seawell. “And I think he’s very good at that.” If anyone knows Saban in the athletic department, it’s Seawell. The two share a love of golf and a friendship beyond the game. “Through my friendship, I’ve recognized how he teaches, and so that’s why I like leaning upon him just because I really enjoy [how] when it gets to the heart of it, he is a great teacher and a great coach,” Seawell said. He said he wants him around his players and recruits when possible. “I do think he symbolizes how we do things around here at The University of Alabama,” Seawell said.
NOT JUST ANYONE When a coach decides to bring a recruit in to meet Saban, the recruit isn’t just anyone. These visits are reserved for the best of the best, but not every top recruit gets to see Saban. It all depends on time, SEE SABAN PAGE 11
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THURSDAY September 3, 2015 FROM SABAN PAGE 10
Saban’s time. “When we take someone in to see Coach, it’s someone that is the real deal,” Seawell said. “He or she is someone I believe that as coaches we entrust to change or help our programs, and we’ve probably done a lot of legwork on them, also.” If he has time for a recruit, a coach will bring them and their parents down to his office. Inside, he greets them and makes them feel comfortable.
AN INEXACT SCIENCE There’s no place in recruiting for halftruths and hyperboles, exaggerations if you will. They’re unwelcome, but happen if you aren’t careful. Saban is careful. “I think what makes Coach so good is he’s just really open and honest,” Seawell said. “I think of it as a trust factor. You can gain that really quick with him.” The bottom line with recruiting — beyond the idea of completing a team — is a kid has to decide that this team, this school is the place for his or her talent. The coaches present a picture of what it means to play at The University of Alabama, but in the end, they can only do so much. The coaches have already sold their program. This decision is now up to the recruit. “I think it’s very important that you convey to the student-athletes, to the prospects, what it’s really going to be like day in and day out because the commitment level at Alabama is very high for everybody in my opinion — for the student-athletes, for the coaches, you know, anybody that commits to The University of Alabama knows the expectations,” said Alabama women’s tennis coach Jenny Mainz. But bringing a recruit in to see Saban is the final push. It shows how much a coach believes in them. What Saban says to the recruit isn’t new — the coaches have done their due diligence in getting the recruit this far — but the message is somehow different when he delivers it. “I think that Coach Saban has so much credibility that whatever he talks about, he talks about it and you’re like a sponge, absorbing and listening and so honored that he’s given us and the recruit some time because he’s so busy,” Duckworth said.
DECADE OF DIFFERENCE When Mainz took over the Alabama women’s tennis program in the summer of 1997, she had a depleted roster. To fill it, she went to PE classes and sororities looking for players. It was a struggle, in her own words, through the years. Mainz is now the longest-tenured coach at Alabama. She’d been at Alabama for 10 years before the most iconic coach at the University since Bear Bryant took over. “Since Saban’s arrival to the Capstone, he’s changed the face of our athletic department,” Mainz said. “He is that quarterback, he’s that point guard, he’s that No. 1 player that has made a profound impact that has changed our program — not just the women’s tennis program, but he’s changed in my opinion, the complexion of Alabama.” A year later, Saban met with a recruit only a few hours before the Crimson Tide took on Tulane in the first home game of the season. He didn’t rush, spending close to 30
minutes with the recruit, even though this future All-American would never play in Bryant-Denny. Instead, Alexa Guarachi played on the other end of campus, on the hard courts of the tennis complex. There, she finished as the winningest player in the program’s history following semifinal appearances in the NCAA singles and doubles tournaments in 2013. “She made history. It had to start with somebody, and she was that somebody, and Saban got her here,” Mainz said. “Saban got her here. That’s just as plain and simple as it is.” It certainly helped that Guarachi grew up an Alabama fan. Meeting Saban was surreal. “It was definitely a little intimidating at first, but he made me feel comfortable because he was so down to earth, so kind and so funny,” Guarachi said. “He was cool to talk to, he was so different than when you see his intensity on the sidelines coaching during a game.”
‘TRADITION IS ALWAYS UNDER CONSTRUCTION’ The Nick Saban that the public and media sees on gameday and during 15-20 minute snippets of press conferences is — unsurprisingly — not the Saban the athletic department sees. “He’s an incredible team player,” Seawell said. “He really does pull for everybody here at the University.” At Alabama, there is no expectation, no reason apparent from the outside for the head football coach to be a team player for the other coaches. “I’ve always kind of been willing to help wherever I’ve been,” Saban said. “But I probably have done more here ’cause I’ve been here longer. I feel like I have better relationships with some of the coaches in the department, and you know, the whole sort of chemistry of the department here is everybody works together. It’s not like all I’m worried about is my little deal.” ‘Everybody works together’ means caring about the athletes. “There is no doubt, there is no doubt,” Duckworth said. “The amount of resources into developing character and developing competence and developing young men into independent, forward-thinking and more graduates, looking at academics as something important even if you are super talented.” Most football players on the roster don’t go on to play in the NFL. The resources devoted to character and academics helps Saban too, Duckworth said. Three weeks ago, on August 14, with
all the attention focused on two-a-day practices, Saban met with a recruit for women’s tennis. “I walked away thinking that’s a big reason why our women’s tennis program has advanced and elevated our national level because coach Saban has literally had a personal hand in reaching out and helping us land the best and most talented tennis players in the country,” Mainz said. What’s struck Mainz is how Saban goes out of his way to help them. When she talks to coaches around the country and tells them how the football coach at Alabama helps meet with recruits, she said they aren’t jealous — she doesn’t like that word. “I would say that probably some of my colleagues are probably … kind of maybe in awe of the fact that he makes the time and effort, and I think that that reveals a lot about his character,” Mainz said. “That in and of itself reveals a lot about his character.” It isn’t obvious how the other coaches repay the favor. They aren’t meeting with football recruits and closing deals there. “But by having a successful program, I think they do help us,” Saban said. “Because there’s a lot of positive things that come from a lot of the people who support the athletic programs here, as well as the national exposure it brings the University and the athletic department.” Saban doesn’t do it for the thanks — and the other coaches are appreciative of his help — but because he wants to uphold this image that “tradition is always under construction.” There’s a standard of excellence within the athletic department that brought about years like 2012 when four teams won national titles. Since then, Alabama won a team title every year until this past year. A few individual titles weren’t a bad consolation. The standard of excellence is something Saban wants the football team to live up to, but it’s also why he helps the other coaches recruit. “I think that the department’s goal is to first of all, help student-athletes be successful while they’re here but also in their life. I think in this day and age, there’s so much exposure for all sports that every sport that we have that’s successful, whether that’s women’s softball in the World Series, women’s gymnastics in the national championship, the tennis program, the golf programs, that’s all positive for Alabama,” Saban said. “I also think that it helps our football program when we support other departments, other programs in our athletic department, and I’ve always been happy to help.”
Nick Saban often meets with recruits during the season. CW File
“
He’s an incredible team player. He really does pull for everybody here at the University. — Jay Seawell
”
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THURSDAY September 3, 2015
Campus biking provides faster transportation By Ellen Johnson | Staff Reporter
CW / Melanie Viering
Riding restrictions
Synopsis of Alabama law
• Cyclists should ride in bike lanes or traffic lanes. • Riders should dismount in deference to pedestrians. • Cyclists will walk their bike in pedestrian areas.
• Cyclists have rights of vehicle drivers. • Must comply with duties of vehicle drivers. • Required to use bicycle paths. • Under 16 must wear helmets.
As you walk around campus each day, you might notice several things: the splashing fountain in front of the Ferguson Center, the way Denny Chimes looks in the afternoon light, people studying on the quad. If you are paying attention, then you will also notice the two-wheeled vehicles zipping by you in a flash of spokes and handlebars. Bicycles comprise a large transportation source for students on our campus and continue to provide a fast alternative. Nick Fairbairn, a sophomore majoring in computer science, decided to start using his bike this year after moving off campus. “Last year I lived on campus at Blount, and that was a walk away from all my classes,” Fairbairn said. “This year I’m living at South 10, and it’s on the other side of the train tracks. I need a bike to make it on time to class.” Jack Lyons, a sophomore majoring in math and science, also rides his bike around campus, but thinks the benefits of bicycling are unique to the individual. “I think a bike makes sense for an individual to use under a certain circumstances,” Lyons said. “If someone lives on campus, a bike would not be as necessary and helpful. If you live a far distance away, a bike isn’t as feasible as other transportation, but if you’re only a reasonable distance away then having a bike makes sense.” While many students opt to purchase their own bikes, Lyons chose to rent one
from the Outdoor Recreation Center, providing him with all the benefits of cycling without having to make a long-term commitment to owning a bike. “I bike to campus just because I live offcampus, and it’s a bit of a distance to walk,” Lyons said. “[Walking] would not be feasible because of the time constraints. Biking allows you to get more done in the day.” Lauren Peck, a freshman majoring in chemical engineering, said she bikes to make cross-campus transportation more fast and effective. She has backto-back classes and didn’t find walking across campus in 10 minutes to be feasible. “It’s quicker. I have more time to get ready for class, or not get ready for class and sit and do other things instead of going to class,” she said. Fairbairn said bike lanes are inconsistent in some areas of campus, often inflicting some level of turmoil and causing people not to use them. “No one follows the bike lanes because they are inconsistent,” Fairbairn said. “There might be a bike lane on one road and not another, or a bike lane going one way and not the other. And sometimes they just magically disappear.” Safety is also an important issue for bikers, Fairbairn said. “I feel like it’s dangerous if you’re not following the rules that have been put in place,” Fairbairn said. “No one wears helmets, and I’m really surprised how dangerous it can be since campus is so chaotic.”
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SPORTS Thursday, September 3, 2015
The backcourt anchor by Terrin Waack | Staff Reporter
Don’t forget to rub the cheeks for good luck. Sophomore Natalie Murison isn’t just a reliable libero/defensive specialist for the Alabama volleyball team. She is also its good luck charm. “Her cheeks are literally ginormous,” junior outside hitter Brittany Thomas said. “It became a little pregame ritual last year after we do our little huddle on the court, we’d squeeze her cheeks for good luck.” At first, the touching overwhelmed Murison even though she’d been used to hearing comments about her cheeks. She soon got used to it and now just has fun and jokes around about it with her teammates. “I’ve gotten it my whole life, but they definitely love to touch my cheeks and rub their face against mine,” Murison said. “It’s definitely fun.” If it’s not her cheeks that are gaining attention, then it’s her bum hand. Murison said she broke it her junior year of club season, right at the beginning. Because it was just her pinky, she didn’t think anything of it and didn’t want to sit out. In the end, it ended up healing crooked. Although it first caused her trouble with setting and serving, since then she has grown used to it and doesn’t even notice it. It doesn’t impact her game, either. Murison broke a personal record this past weekend, reaching 25 digs against Cal State Fullerton. “I would expect that that number will continue to grow,” coach Ed Allen said. “Not only is she putting up those number[s], but the kid is playing three different positions in the back court depending on what the lineup is and what we have around her.” Murison, who was originally a setter when she first started playing, loves the backcourt. She is able to play left back, middle back and right back whenever she is needed. The intensity and being able to dig up a ball is her favorite part of the sport. She’s a very steady and consistent player, Allen said, and has taken on a leadership role with running the backcourt. Allen loves being able to coach her. “It’s a piece of cake,” he said. “It’s ‘Yes, sir,’ ‘No, sir.’ She listens to instructions, applies necessary changes and is probably as ideal as a teammate you could possible have, not only does she take care of herself in a very professional way, but she’s a considerate person as well.” Thomas said being Murison’s
Coach Nick Saban and the Alabama football team will put their offseason preparation to the test against Wisconsin on Saturday. CW / Layton Dudley
Natalie Murison plays three different positions in the backcourt for Alabama volleyball. CW / Danielle Parker
teammate is great. She’s both reliable and funny, and a good person all-around. “Being able to play with [Murison] in the back row is awesome,” Thomas said. “She’s one of the best liberos I’ve played with. Her constant communication and just her aura on the court are great. She doesn’t get riled up, nothing can really faze her.” Murison may not be the loudest person in the room, but she is a very observant individual both on and off the court. Thomas said Murison will catch her and other teammates doing silly, embar— Brittany Thomas rassing things and not be afraid to call them out on it. It was by observing that first got Murison into volleyball as well. She would watch her older sister play all the time and it sparked a fire to play herself, especially when her sister got a volleyball scholarship to Seton Hall. “I wanted to be just like her and follow in her footsteps,” Murison said. “So watching her do that and watching her play in college is definitely a reason I pushed myself so hard.” The work has paid off, but not just in her athletics. Allen said she is the type of person that manages every aspect of her life in a way that makes everyone around her better. He expects her to continue to grow as an athlete and as a person come junior and senior year. “She’s the anchor of that backcourt,” Allen said.
She’s one of the best liberos I’ve ever played with.
Alabama football team eager for Saturday test By Terrin Waack | Staff Reporter
Alabama is eager to start its season and finally play its first game against Wisconsin on Saturday. “I think everybody is a little tired of practicing against each other,” coach Nick Saban said. “I think it’s about time to find out where we are. We’ll go compete, play and see what’s up.” ABC National Television and ESPN College Game Day will be airing the game from Arlington. Saban said this goes to show the kind of respect that both programs – Alabama and Wisconsin – have. It’s been a good week of preparation during practices, Saban said. On Wednesday, the team practiced indoors in order to get out of the heat and also because, come Saturday, it will be performing indoors as well. From here on out, Alabama’s big thing will be mental practice. “When you talk about what you want to accomplish, what are you willing to do to do it, well part of that is your preparation,” Saban said. “So when you get to the game, everybody is going to want to win, but did you do all those things you need to do to win before you get to the game?” Alabama will be watching more film in these last few days before the game. Wisconsin is a conventional punt team, Saban said. With cornerback Cyrus Jones now listed in the depth chart as the first string punt returner, he hopes that the team is able to get more returnable balls with Wisconsin’s punter in order to get more production. Jones is a very good returner, he said.
“We have all the faith, trust and confidence in Cyrus [Jones],” Saban said. “He has made big plays in the limited exposure he has had in the last couple of years.” Jones makes good judgment as a punt returner, Saban said. He has good hands and judges the ball well. “Hopefully if we get returnable balls, we’ll get more production,” Saban said. Jones has also been working with the offense. He’s been taking reps and trying different things at wide receiver. Although he is a strong part of the defense, Saban said he might use Jones in the offense at some point in the season. With defense, Saban said the team is fortunate to have guys like Geno Smith and Eddie Jackson. They are two big, physical guys that play the run well and have good cover ability. Smith and Jackson both have played cornerback at Alabama before and now are at safety. “Having more athletic safeties has a benefit,” Saban said. Saban is confident in Smith’s physical abilities with tackling and said Jackson is getting used to being a safety since he hasn’t been at it as long as Smith. Wide receiver Cam Sims has been cleared by the medical staff and has been practicing out of a non-contact black jersey. As for playing in Saturday’s game, Saban said he wants to make that decision with Sims. Add that to the list of decisions that need to be made since the starting quarterback position is still up in the air. “We’re just going to do what we think is best for our team,” Saban said.
14 Freshman Welch making a name on the field SPORTS
Thursday, September 3, 2015
By Marquis Munson | Staff Reporter
away to Fayetteville, Georgia, to practice. Three years later, her first As Wes Hart begins his coaching club ended and she joined her second era in Tuscaloosa for the Alabama club, where she traveled further to Crimson Tide Soccer team, Emma Douglasville. After playing through Welch begins her journey onto the the ranks, her second club team ended while she was in high school. field for his new team. At Locust Grove High School, The freshman midfielder is making a name for herself through the first Welch was an All-Area team member four games of the season, assisting and her team’s MVP in 2012 and 2013. on a goal by Celia Jimenez Delgado in She was selected as a Georgia Allthe Tennessee Tech game and mak- Star after her 2012 season. “I wasn’t really recruited that big ing key plays on the defensive side of the ball. Welch’s plays on defense coming out of high school,” Welch said. “Alabama won’t show up was the only on the stat sheet, big school that but she has been She’s been so awesome so looked at me. very important All the schools for Hart and the far and it’s hard to believe around Georgia i m p r o v e m e n t that she is just a freshman. knew me, but for the team I never played each game. “She’s been — Wes Hart in big tournaments. I really awesome so far didn’t get that and it’s hard to believe that she is just a fresh- much coverage. So coming here was man,” Hart said. “The amount nerve wrecking.” Welch came to The University of confidence she’s playing with and ability to impact the game is of Alabama and enrolled in class in January. She trained the entire quite impressive.” The native from McDonough, spring with Hart and the team. Now Georgia, started playing soccer at in her first season with the Crimson the age of five. When she started Tide, Welch is willing to do whatevplaying U12 soccer for her first club er it takes to make this new team a team, she had to travel forty minutes success, even if it means not getting
Freshman Emma Welch is proving to be a strong defensive force for the Alabama soccer team. UA Athletics
recognized for it. “Some of the things I am known for don’t show up on the stat sheet,” Welch said. “I’ll contribute in any way, whatever the team needs me for that’s what am I going to do. Whether that’s me taking the ball from someone and passing it to the person who
scores I’m content with that. It’s just whatever helps us win and whatever helps us get our momentum going.” Welch and the Alabama Crimson Tide will attempt to rebound from their loss to Tennessee Tech as they travel to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to face Harvard this Friday at 6 p.m.
Club water ski team prepares for upcoming season By Caroline Vincent | Contributing Writer
The Alabama water ski team currently boasts its largest team in recent history. Photo courtesy of Santi Varras
The University of Alabama water ski team is preparing for a season unlike any other they have had before. According to the team’s president, Zach Kachele, this year’s team is the largest in recent history. “We have about over 30 kids that train,” said Kachele, a senior majoring marketing and sales. Though not every team member will attend the national tournament that caps the team’s season in midOctober, Kachele said the Crimson Tide will still have one of the biggest teams at the competition with around 20 skiers competing. The team will need the support of each other, as this year is one of major changes. Tom Strong, former Dean of Students who started the team, is stepping down after more than 40 years of service to the team. Courtney Page has taken on the role of advisor for this year’s team and, according to Kachele, has put up a united front with the team’s Vice President Brie Carter. Kachele said all of these changes have put him in an interesting position, but despite the growth, the team has remained close to each other. “Our team is so involved with each
other,” Kachele said. The sport requires a lot of reliance between teammates, and that trust creates a snowball effect. He said water skiing is a close-knit sport and when recruits see how close of a team Alabama has, they are drawn to it. “I really have been a part of everybody that’s been here,” he said. Kachele also makes sure to provide a friendly atmosphere to recruits by hosting activities such as hanging out by the pool or barbecuing on the lake. His efforts have paid off, as the team gained nine freshmen to the team this year after graduating only two seniors last season. Russell Durand, a junior majoring in chemical engineering, knows these newcomers will be a huge asset to the team. “After a year of only losing a couple seniors, as well as gaining multiple highly talented freshmen, our team is primed and ready to contend for a national championship,” he said. “I expect big things from everyone on out team this year.” Durand and the rest team have reason to be excited for the upcoming season. The Alabama Water Ski team will compete in regionals at the end of this month in South Carolina and then nationals in mid-October.
15 Players expect physical contest on Saturday SPORTS Thursday, September 3, 2015
By Tyler Waldrep | Assistant Sports Editor
The college football season is finally here, and Alabama is excited to get back on the field. Tight end O.J. Howard said the attitude around the team is different this week. “I can just tell the ways guys are walking around today that we are excited that it’s game week,” Howard said. On Saturday, Alabama will kick off its 2015 campaign against No. 20 Wisconsin. This is the only game this week featuring two ranked teams, and it could become the most watched game taking place in week one. Center Ryan Kelly said the team is ready to take on what should be a talented Wisconsin team. Kelly said the team could get momentum it can use the rest of the season this weekend, and it’s not like the big stage is unfamiliar territory for Alabama. “When you look at the past, every first game we’ve ever had we’ve always had a pretty challenging game,” Kelly said. “We know it’s going to be a dogfight and that’s just how we like it.” Linebacker Dillon Lee said the team knows what to expect from
The Alabama Crimson Tide will play the Wisconsin Badgers Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.. CW / Layton Dudley
Wisconsin’s offense on Saturday. Lee said he thinks Wisconsin’s run first approach plays into Alabama’s hand.
“We are all about stopping the run so it should be a clash of their offense and our defense,” Lee said.“[The matchup is] pretty much all our big guys on the field playing against their big guys.” Those “big guys” should include Lee who was recently named Alabama’s starting Sam linebacker. Lee said he looks forward to contributing more this season. “I’m just looking to contribute anywhere I can to help us win games,” Lee said. “I’m excited that, that role is a little bigger this year.” Wisconsin is not going to be the only team that might lean on its ground game on Saturday. Running backs Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake should get a majority, if not all, of Alabama’s carries in this game, but Alabama might have a third back that could become a play maker for the Crimson Tide. “[Damien Harris is] going to make a difference for us,” Kelly said. “I don’t know if it’s going to be this week or whatever, but he’s got a lot of potential.” Whatever success the running backs have running the ball will depend partly on the play of Alabama’s offensive line. On the
TODAY’SDIVERSIONS
When you look at the past, every first game we’ve ever had we’ve always had a pretty challenging game. — Ryan Kelly depth chart, Alphonse Taylor and Bradley Bozeman are both listed as starting right guards. ”They are both just great competitors,” Kelly said. “[Switching those guys in and out is] just like [the] quarterback switching as well. It’s kind of hard to get used to at first but when you start to get used to both guys and what they do differently, so it’s been good.” On Monday Nick Saban said he wants Alabama to reclaim an identity the team has gotten away from in recent years. Lee said the team can do that by developing its reputation. “We just want to be a team that nobody wants to play,” Lee said. “We just want people to hate playing us and really just be a nightmare for our opponents.”
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HOROSCOPES Today’s Birthday (09/03/15). Dreams come true this year. Stay optimistic. Choose a spiritual path. After 9/13, personal growth flowers, leading to new opportunities for family finances after 9/27. Your relationship blossoms after 3/8. Focus on income growth strategies after 3/23. Work together for love. 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 5 -Harmony requires effort. Don’t show a loved one unfinished work yet, or risk an upset. Go for peaceful productivity rather than group gatherings. Beware tricks and deception. Advance slowly, and control passionate outbursts (unless desired). Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 7 -Preview your act. You’re strong, and yet face a challenge. A female calms a controversy. Don’t say everything you’re thinking! Wait for what develops. Stifle irritation and rude remarks. Avoid splurging impulsively on stuff you don’t need. Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is a 6 -Frustrations and annoying situations could confront you. If so, breathe deeply and avoid comments and actions that you’d regret later. Work could interfere with fun. Don’t gamble with the rent. Romance could sneak up on you.
Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Heed recommendations and warnings. Avoid impulsive actions and reactions. Don’t get seduced by empty flattery. Do what you promised, even though costs may be higher than anticipated. Defer gratification. Pack a sack lunch rather than eating out. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 7 -Postpone travel and fun until your homework’s done. Keep things practical, especially around finances. Changes disrupt the status quo. Make plans without getting stuck on them. Stay flexible. Avoid stupid arguments and things could get lovely. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is an 8 -Passions are high. Look before leaping. Avoid setting off someone with a short fuse. Nobody in the group is as frugal as you. Plug financial leaks, and persuade others to keep it simple. Restore missing balance. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 7 -Get in sync with your partner. Stay close to home, and avoid traffic and expense. Watch for misunderstandings or accidents. Balance feelings with facts. Get into household projects. Clean, sort and organize. Simplify and add colorful touches. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Get out with your partner. Don’t discuss money yet. A disagreement about priorities lies
beneath the surface. Wait for the final figures. Stick to your principles. Stay objective in a tense situation. Take passion behind closed doors. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- The action is backstage. Your partner offers emotional support. Take a walk. Allow time to assimilate new information. Don’t throw money at a problem. Guard against overindulging. Keep complaints to yourself and avoid an upset. Keep confidences. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is a 7 -Keep cool and calm to save time and money. Misunderstandings could get expensive. Consider options carefully, and have a backup plan. Get into a writing or recording project, and forget the world outside. Move gently. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is a 7 -Bring a creative vision into reality together. In a clash between love and money, hold your temper. Keep your cool or lose profits. Don’t get stopped by past failures. Walk the walk, one step at a time. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is an 8 -You can improve your home without spending a fortune. Realize a dream. Have a work party, and feed everyone who shows up. Dig in the garden. Make use of the attending expertise. Share your appreciation passionately.
16
SPORTS
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Cross country teams travel to Memphis By Elliott Propes | Staff Reporter
Alabama cross country traveled to Birmingham for the first meet of the year against Samford and Auburn. Alabama fell just short of Auburn on both the women’s and men’s side for a finish of second place. “Yesterday went pretty well,” junior Connor Thompson said. “Overall it was a great first step.” Up next for the Crimson Tide is a trip
r t ou e u o iv ab Ask -inclusay all amed ts! G t men r Apa
to Memphis, Tennessee, for the Brooks Twilight Classic. Alabama will face two SEC teams, Mississippi State and Ole Miss along with various other colleges. “I think it is good for us to get a feel for them and see where we stack up and see how we can improve and how much further we need to go,” Thompson said. Thompson, who is originally from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, will be excited to go back to his home state and compete.
Thompson’s high school will be there at the same time, with there being a high school meet the same day. Thompson and junior Allison Gregg said they are ready for the season to get into full swing, as Memphis will be the first major meet of the season. “I know as a team we are looking for an overall aggressive, competitive effort. It’s the first time a lot of us will be racing,” Gregg said.
The cross country season will get into full swing with the Brooks Twilight Classic. UA Athletics
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SEPTEMBER 3, 2015 CHOOSING A QUARTERBACK
GAMEDAY 6 FAN CULTURE
S TA F F EDITORIAL editor-in-chief
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8 OPENING THE SEASON
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PAGE 3 CW / Layton Dudley
BACK to the BASICS
PAGE 4
CW / Layton Dudley By Tyler Waldrep | Assistant Sports Editor
Sometimes the most important victories happen in the offseason. When Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland decided to put off the jump to the NFL and stay at school for his senior season, he cited his desire to get his degree. His statement released by The University of Alabama also mentioned how special the dynamic is at the University, quoting Ragland as saying “you only form a brotherhood like this once.” Not everyone thought another year of school was the way to go. Some guys like Amari Cooper and T.J. Yeldon decided to leave school early, but Ragland said he holds no ill will towards his former teammates for making a different choice. Nor does he seem caught up second guessing his own decision. “I’m happy for those guys,” Ragland said. “They did what they had to do the three years they were here so it’s up to me to do what I have to do in this next year, six months really, just to show guys that I can really play so I can get at their level.” Ragland might have a personal mission to get his degree this year, but as a leader of the Crimson Tide defense, he will face another mission given to him by the fans--to fix things. From 2009-2012 Alabama’s defense allowed nine teams to score 21 points or more. Of those nine, only one of those teams (South Carolina in 2010), reached the thirty point threshold. In the last two seasons, Alabama has allowed eight teams to score at least 21 points, and five of those teams scored thirty or more points. For most schools, holding more than two-thirds of opponents under 21 points would be considered an achievement. At Alabama, it caused an uproar. The fans are not the only ones to notice that things have changed at Alabama. On Monday, coach Nick Saban spoke about Alabama’s need to rediscover a lost identity. “The dynamics of Alabama football has changed
a little bit over the last couple of years,” he said. “I have been anxious to get back to what we used to do.” The first signs of trouble in Tuscaloosa emerged in a victory when Alabama beat Texas A&M on the road 49-42. Since then, Alabama’s defense has often been criticized as vulnerable to giving up big plays, especially when facing hurry up offenses like the one Auburn employs. Some players on Alabama’s defense have lost weight this offseason, perhaps to combat that perception. Ragland said Alabama’s struggle with fast paced offenses had more to do with mental issues than physical ones. “I feel like in the past years we had them but it’s all about work ethic,” Ragland said. “When you face a team like that you got to want to, and I think this year we got guys that want to.” If there is major criticism of Ragland’s game, it might be that there is only one Reggie Ragland. “We use Reggie in a lot of multiple roles,” Saban said. “Primarily he’s the mike linebacker in regular, he’s the — Nick Saban money linebacker in nickel, he can play Mack in dime or we use him as a bunk which makes him as a fourth rusher in dime.” Fellow linebacker Dillon Lee said Ragland’s decision to return to the Crimson Tide was huge for the team. “He was a dominant player last year,” Lee said. “People look to him for leadership all the time.” If the burden of leadership affects Ragland, he hides it well. On Monday, Ragland responded to a question about the quarterback battle with a joke. “I’ll play quarterback if they need me to,” Ragland said. No stranger to jokes, Ragland teased fans on Twitter in the days leading up to his decision regarding the NFL back in January. “Yall will know about me when the time comes,” Ragland tweeted. The question heading into this season is whether
The dynamics of Alabama football has changed a little bit over the last couple of years.
CW File
or not Alabama can return to form and field a stifling defense similar to the ones that have helped the program win three national championships in four years. The hype around the team this year would suggest it can. A’Shawn Robinson and Ragland headline a front seven that some believe could be one of Saban’s best, but as deep and talented as the front seven is, Ragland still stands out. “There’s times when people look to him to make a play,” Lee said. “Everybody really counts on him when we are looking for a play.” Ahead of this week’s game against No. 20 Wisconsin, Ragland emphasized the need for players to approach this game with the right attitude. “We’re going to see what type of guys we got,” Ragland said. “That’s what that first game is about, and this is a tough, physical team so we are going to see what type of guys we have including myself.” Saban said he is confident Ragland can handle all of the different hats he wears. If Saban is right, then Alabama’s defense might look a little more familiar this year, and if fans are lucky, they just might get the championship they’ve expected over the last two years. “Reggie’s smart – he handles it well,” Saban said. “He’s got good work habits, so if there’s a guy that’s capable of accomplishing it, it’s certainly a guy like him.”
PAGE 5 REMINDER
Get inthe
Game2015 Ticket Information for Students
Do this
Friday Parking for Home Games 1. Parking and driving will be restricted on Colonial Drive, Wallace Wade and Bryant Drive on the day before and the day of the home football game before and until 3 hours after the end of home games.
•
Access MyTickets from mybama.ua.edu or UA’s mobile app. For more information about UA’s mobile app visit m.ua.edu/app from your mobile device’s browser.
•
Tickets will have either an “upper� or “lower� deck assignment that is designated in MyTickets.
•
Students enter through Gate 30 (upper deck) or Gate 31 (lower deck).
•
Penalty points for non-use is 2 points.
•
The deadline to avoid a late donation penalty is no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday before the game..
•
You may donate your ticket until 1 hour before kickoff.
GAME DAY PARKING ORANGE RESIDENTIAL PERMIT HOLDERS These parking changes are for the day prior to and on game day only. Regular parking restrictions are in effect for other times. See bamaparking.ua.edu for regulations. • As in previous seasons, the lots marked in black in this area are reserved for Athletics and must be cleared of all vehicles at 5 p.m. on the day before home football games.
2. Students with an Orange Residential Parking Permit who normally park in one of the Game Day restricted areas (Colonial, Tutwiler) are asked to either park in an alternate Orange Residential parking area but are advised that the best possible are will be the Magnolia Parking Deck beginning at noon on home football games. As a reminder, other Orange parking areas can be located by using the parking map on the rear of your parking permit.
• Vehicles left in any of these areas after 5 p.m. the day before a home game may be towed at the owner’s expense ($100). • Alternative parking is available as shown in the gray areas on this map.
3. Students who have orange hangtags can drive from Bryant Drive to Magnolia Drive. 4. Students will be able to take Crimson Ride from parking lots to their residence halls during normal operating hours (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and can call 348-RIDE (7433) after hours. 5. Students with commuter hangtags will park as usual on the day before a home football game. On the day of the home football game, they can park free of charge with their permit in the Upper Rec Center lot off 5th Ave. East and the SW corner of Campus Drive and Bryce Lawn Drive as space allows.
Black: Reserved for Athletics Gray: Reserved for Orange Residential Students Student Gate 30 (upper deck) / Gate 31 (lower deck) Closes at 5 P.M. the day before a home game Closed on home gameday Closed at the discretion of the Athletic Department
• Security barricades will be set up on Colonial 'ULYH DQG :DOODFH :DGH WKDW ZLOO UHVWULFW WUDIÀF à RZ 6RPH DUH VHW XS RQ WKH PRUQLQJ EHIRUH D home game and additional barricades are set up on the morning of the home game. Vehicles parked in this secure area will be able to exit the area but will not be able to return until the area is released by law enforcement post game and the barricades are removed. • The student ticket gates (Gates 30 & 31) are located adjacent to Colonial Drive.
ber:
Remem
Remember: •
78 and 75 for students and their guests
Students who do not move their cars from the designated lots by 5 p.m. on the day before a home football game will be towed at their own expense ($100).
Do this
Saturday Getting into the Stadium on Game Day
1. Bring your Action Card! 2. Follow the signs that lead to Gate 30 (upper deck) and Gate 31 (lower deck). Students will be able to enter through Gate 30 and Gate 31 only.
PROHIBITED
• A purse bigger than an 8 ½ X 11 shee t of
pape
r (Not responsible for items left at gate)
• Outside food or
drink
• Coolers
3. The student section will include seating in the upper and lower bowls. Your ticket bowl assignment will be designated in MyTickets.
in the Stadium • Umbrellas • ArtiďŹ cial noisema
kers
• Flags or banners
on poles
• Other prohibited items listed on UA’s Game Da y website
4. Lines will be very long, so expect delays. Give yourself 60 to 90 minutes to get into the stadium, whether or not you participate in student organization seating. Student organization seating is in effect until 45 minutes before kickoff. 5. Bringing prohibited items will increase the amount of time it takes to get into the stadium. (See list above.) UA is not responsible for items left at the entrance to the student gates. Prohibited items that are left at the gates will be discarded by security personnel. 6. If you donate your ticket after 5 p.m. Wednesday, you’ll receive a half-point (.5) penalty. 7. Tickets can be available on game day. Don’t forget to check MyTickets for available tickets. 8. Game Day Route will be the only bus service operation on Game Days. 9. 348-RIDE will not operate once the Game Day road closures go in effect.
Remember: • • • •
The student section will open 2 ½ hours before the game. Lines will be long so give yourself plenty of time to get into the game. Use your ticket! Students who do not use tickets assigned to them will receive 2 penalty points for each game their ticket goes unused. Students who receive 3.5 or more penalty points will not be able to purchase postseason tickets for this year and regular season and postseason tickets for fall 2016. You can take your name off the waiting list by logging into MyTickets and following the instructions to take your name off the waiting list for the ticket bank. You must track your own penalty total. The following penalty points apply: - You don’t attend the game yourself: 2 penalty points Ticket OfďŹ ce - 348-2262 - You don’t transfer your ticket to another UA student or rolltide.com donate it to the ticket bank: 2 penalty points Action Card 348-2288 Game Day Info - 262-2811 - You upgrade your ticket to general admission: 1 penalty point per upgrade actcard.ua.edu uagameday.com - You make a donation after 5 p.m. on Wednesday: .5 penalty point Parking & Transportation If your Action Card is lost on Game Day, replacement Action Cards are available at MyTickets - mybama.ua.edu or Room 170 Campus Parking Deck (bus hub) starting 3 hours prior to kick-off through the bamaparking.ua.edu UA mobile app - m.ua.edu/app beginning of halftime. Replacement cost is $35 and is billed to your student account. Temporary Action Cards are not accepted for Game Day entrance at student gates.
( "
•
PAGE 6
PAGE 7
Who’s under
CENTER?
By Kayla Montgomery | Sports Editor
Anticipation ran rampant throughout Tuscaloosa on Nov. 30, 2014. Fans fueled by the thought of revenge against the Auburn Tigers filed into Bryant-Denny Stadium on the late fall Saturday, ready to see their team regain its dignity after the demoralizing “kick six” that punctuated the Iron Bowl during the season prior. As the game progressed, it became clear Alabama’s path to vengeance might not be quite as clear as anticipated. Entering halftime, Auburn led the Crimson Tide 26-21 in Tuscaloosa. After a third interception from quarterback Blake Sims in the start of the third quarter, backup Jake Coker began warming up on the sidelines, but the Florida State transfer never saw the field. Sims went on to lead five consecutive touchdown drives to give Alabama a 55-44 win over its in-state rival, once again erasing doubts that had followed him throughout his single season as a starter. Much like Alabama’s fate in the highest scoring Iron Bowl in history, the 2014 quarterback battle was, for quite some time, uncertain. While fall camp saw the arrival of Coker, heralded for his skills by FSU coach Jimbo Fisher, he never could quite lock up the position that many deemed his for the taking. Instead, fall camp and early season games featured a constant question mark at arguably the most important position on the team. This season, the Crimson Tide faces the same question mark as the season prior. Again, though Coker has seemingly been a leader in contention for the position throughout the offseason, the perceived lineup has shifted often. On Monday, Alabama released its depth chart for the upcoming season opener against Wisconsin on Saturday, but no answers were given as to who will win the position. Coker, sophomore Cooper Bateman and junior Alec Morris were all listed as first team options, while true freshman Blake Barnett and redshirt freshman David Cornwell rounded out the second team spots. Coach Nick Saban said the team would share reps between the top three candidates this week. “I’m confident in these guys,” Saban said. “I’m confident that they can play well in this game. And I just would like to see somebody win the team over, which may not happen until they play. When you have guys that haven’t played before, I think that’s always the case.” CW / Layton Dudley
Despite the uncertainty, Saban addressed the positives of each of the leading three contenders. “I’ve been really pleased with all three of the quarterbacks that have taken some reps in practice,” Saban said in his address to the media on Monday. “Jake has really done a good job of getting the ball out of his hands and seems to be more comfortable with the offense. Cooper Bateman is more athletic. [He’s] really improved as a passer and done a really good job of executing. Alec is very, very comfortable in running the offense in terms of knowledge and experience and that type of thing.” Absent from the current conversation is Cornwell, who, at one point this summer, seemed to emerge as a legitimate competitor for the vacated spot. Various media outlets, including FoxSports and ESPN hinted that the four-star recruit could very well land the starting job before the season began, and he received praise form Saban at various times throughout the spring. “He has done as good a job as anybody this spring, in terms of he is very bright,” Saban said. “He has a great understanding of the offense. He does a great job from the leadership standpoint of helping other players play better when he is in there.” Following the team’s final fall scrimmage, Saban addressed passes attempted by all quarterbacks, except Cornwell. Historically, the role of an Alabama quarterback has seen a changing definition. While the program has produced legends such as Joe Namath, Bart Starr and Ken “The Snake” Stabler, in recent history, the player under center has taken on a role of game manager, rather than gunslinger. The “game manager” term was quick to draw ire from former Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron in 2012, the year after the threeyear starter emerged from quarterback ambiguity. The term, he said, is inherent in the definition of a successful quarterback, regardless of his style of play. Following the 2014 Iron Bowl, Sims, a former question mark, went on to set the single-season record for passing yards at the University, effectively changing the identity of the Crimson Tide offense. As for this team’s offensive identity, only one thing is certain: until somebody “takes the bull by the horns,” as Saban said earlier this spring, expect uncertainty.
PAGE 8 COLUMN | FANS
Alabama, Wisconsin fans find common ground supporting their state By Terrin Waack | Staff Reporter
Head north as far as you can without leaving the United States, and you’ll find yourself in the state of Wisconsinhome of the Badgers. Life is different in Wisconsin though, depending where you are. There are fields of wheat and an abundance of corn. There are cows and horses everywhere when there isn’t snow on the ground and it’s guaranteed there’s a place that sells homemade cheese curds nearby. The season of fall also holds a different meaning in Wisconsin.While Alabama is blessed with beautiful weather for a majority of the football season, save for scorching heat at the beginning of the season, Wisconsin turns into a tundra half way in as winter starts to approach. Imagine attending a football game when there’s snow on the field. One should not lose feeling in their toes within the first half of a football game, but the weather won’t deter the Badger faithful, much like the scorching heat won’t deter Crimson Tide supporters from filling the sauna that is BryantDenny in early fall. In Wisconsin, whether you are five minutes or five hours away from the campus, you’ll easily find a die-hard University of Wisconsin-Madison Badgers fan. But in reality, Alabama is the same way with its university. Apart from the uncontrollable
The Alabama Crimson Tide plays its season opener against Wisconsin. Tribune News Services
variables, such as the weather and the landscaping, Alabama and Wisconsin share many common grounds. Football isn’t just a sport, it’s a way of life. Where there’s red–regardless of the shade–there’s white, and fans of their respective university are represented everywhere. The intensity of Alabama and Wisconsin fans is something each state should be proud of. They don’t mess
around, especially during football season. Whether or not someone personally graduated from the University, they are fan of their state university, plain and simple–for the sake of the argument, ignore the Alabama population that roots for Auburn. Both sides of this story make up my reality. With a majority of my extended family born and raised in Wisconsin, Sept. 5 will be an interesting day full of
tension between the many Waack family members. My immediate family will be supporting Alabama--partly because they have no choice in the matter--but it pains me to say I already know my cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents will be cheering for Wisconsin. Funny thing is, no one from our family attended or currently attends school there. So why are they Badgers fans? The same reason anyone in Alabama is a Crimson Tide fan. It’s how these two states just happen to work. It’s how captivating college football is to so many people. But mainly, it’s how people come together for a single cause. Come Saturday night, it can be expected the city of Arlington will be overwhelmed by the amount of both Alabama and Wisconsin fans. It’ll be a sea of red and white, Alabama fans dressed in crimson and houndstooth, Wisconsin fans dressed in their notorious pinstriped overalls and body painting. Football analysts can say whatever they want in regards to who they think is going to win and what they think is going to happen, but unless it’s in favor of their team, fans won’t listen. They want to--have to--believe there is always hope for their team to prosper. Not only will there be a battle on the football field, but in the stands, it’ll be a battle of the fans and only one team can emerge victorious.
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PAGE 9
BEHIND ENEMY LINES By Tyler Waldrep | Assistant Sports Editor
Zach Rastall, a sports editor with Wisconsin student newspaper The Daily Cardinal, joined us this week to preview Alabama’s upcoming game against No. 20 Wisconsin. There’s a disparity in the rankings between the two teams, and Wisconsin has a first year coach so what’s the mood on campus and around the program up there like? How is this game viewed?
Q.
Obviously this is a very good game because Alabama, as I’m sure you know, is considered one of the class programs of college football. I would say overall, there’s, I wouldn’t say a lot of people that think they [Wisconsin] are going to upset them [Alabama], but most people do think they have a chance. It kind of reminds me of the feeling that there was going into the game against LSU last year. Where there’s a general sense
A.
Tribune News Service
that they are probably not going to win, but they are not going to get blown out or anything and maybe if everything goes right for them maybe they can win. Saban actually talked today a lot about his respect for the Wisconsin defense. What would you say Wisconsin’s defense could do that could give Alabama trouble Saturday?
Q.
Pretty much the entire starting secondary is back, [and] most of the front seven. They can do a pretty decent job of just limiting big plays by Alabama. I’m guessing they are going to try to start off by trying to definitely shut down the run, and try to force Alabama who doesn’t have as much experience at quarterback or wide receiver, they lost a lot of key players there, try to force them to do something with the ball. They are definitely going to have cause more turnovers than last year if they want to pull off the upset.
A.
Wisconsin is known for the same thing Alabama is known for, which is running the ball. What extent do you think Wisconsin is going to stick to running the ball considering Alabama has what appears to be a talented front seven that prides itself on stopping the run?
Q.
Even though they lost Melvin Gordon, Corey Clement is kind of like all the other great running backs they’ve had where no matter how good the guy that left somebody steps up to fill the role.
A.
How do you see the game going down in the fourth quarter? Who do you think will win?
Q.
Well I hate to pick against Wisconsin but if I had to I’d say that Alabama will probably win. That being said I don’t think they will blow them out. I do think it will still be close in the fourth quarter. Obviously if the Badgers can get the cards to fall the right way for them… It would be one of the biggest wins in program history.
A.
COLUMN | FOOTBALL
Openers bring increased attention By Elliott Propes | Staff Reporter
The Calm After the Stampede shop Sundays ferguson Center location open 10 to 4
ESPN College Gameday is going to Arlington, Texas, for yet another Alabama game. The No. 3 Crimson Tide will have a ranked match up against the No. 20 Wisconsin Badgers in the AdvoCare Classic, and it will be the only match up this week that includes both AP Top 25 teams. For Alabama, this is normal for a season opener, since Nick Saban agreed to coach at Alabama. In Saban’s first year, his team went on to finish with a 7-6 record. The best way to get The University of Alabama back into the limelight is to put the team on national television. Alabama did just that in 2008, when Chick-Fil-A announced the first ever kickoff game at the Georgia Dome. It was to be a neutral site matchup played every year to start college football, and No. 24 Alabama would play the inaugural game against the No. 9 Clemson Tigers. Saban’s teams since 2008 have played in three more Chick-Fil-A kickoff games, and has played one other game in Arlington against a No. 8 Michigan team. Each time the game has been nationally televised, and each time Alabama has won. The tough opponent brings the national attention, especially in the opening week when most other Power 5 programs schedule outside of the Power 5, or even FCS schools, to have a warm-up game. Along with the cameras comes more money for Alabama. Competitive openers also aid in recruiting. Saban is 8-0 in season openers and has taken the program to a level it has never been before. For high school
Alabama has competitive season openers scheduled through 2018. CW File
athletes to see Alabama playing successfully against other top-flight programs on national TV, it makes Tuscaloosa a premier destination. For the next three seasons following 2015, Alabama has already scheduled three more neutral site games. “It’s part of the national distribution, it also satisfies the scheduling mandate, because you have to play somebody. So if you are going to play somebody, you might as well play somebody good, and play them at a place where you will get national television,” former SEC commissioner Mike Slive said. The Crimson Tide is set to return to Arlington in 2016 to play USC, followed by another Chick-Fil-A Kickoff against Florida State in 2017, and the new Orlando Kickoff against Louisville in 2018. Alabama has become a national brand because of games like these, and Saban and athletic director Bill Battle know it. The team may not remain undefeated in these games, but the program will be in front of a lot of faces every opening weekend.
PAGE 10
No. 3 Alabama vs. No. 20 Wisconsin (Arlington, Texas)
No. 1 Ohio State at Virginia Tech
Louisville vs No. 6 Auburn (Atlanta, Georgia)
Texas at No. 11 Notre Dame
No. 15 Arizona state vs Texas A&M (Houston, Texas)
Washington at No. 23 Boise State
BYU at Nebraska
Sean Landry editor-in-chief
Kelly Ward digital managing editor
Kayla Montgomery sports editor
Tyler Waldrep assistant sports editor
Elliott Propes staff reporter
Marquis Munson staff reporter
Terrin Waack staff reporter
Season Picks CW Sports predicts the 2015 season Kayla Montgomery | Sports Editor ALABAMA’S RECORD: 11-3 RANDOM PREDICTION: At least three games into the season, coach Nick Saban and his team still won’t have a clear starter. Alec Morris will ultimately secure the job. UPSET ALERT: To know me is to know that hate The University of Georgia, and picking this truly pains me, but after watching Ezekiel Elliott walk through Alabama’s defense in the 2014 national championship, it’s hard to imagine that the Crimson Tide will find a way to stop Georgia’s Nick Chubb. HOW THE SEASON ENDS: After falling to Georgia, Alabama’s demanding schedule leaves it tired at the end of the season and it falls to Auburn. The Crimson Tide will still win the West, though, and go on to win the SEC Championship in a rematch against Georgia. The team falls to Ohio State — again — in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
Tyler Waldrep | Assistant Sports Editor ALABAMA’S RECORD: 12-2 RANDOM PREDICTION: Running back Kenyan Drake throws a touchdown pass. UPSET ALERT: Texas A&M- Alabama’s road trip to College Station comes right after the team has two physical games at Georgia and against Arkansas. It will be difficult for Alabama to come into this game healthy after those games, but the bigger challenge might be taking the Aggies seriously after last season’s
59-0 shutout in Tuscaloosa.How the season ends: Alabama survives the regular season relatively intact dropping only a single game against Texas A&M before winning the SEC West division. Alabama gets a rematch against Georgia in the SEC Championship Game and, although the game is closer this time around, the result is the same. Alabama returns to the College Football Playoff, but the Crimson Tide is unable to get past TCU in the semifinal round.
Terrin Waack | Staff Reporter ALABAMA’S RECORD: 12-2 RANDOM PREDICTION: Saban is going to change the starting quarterback halfway through the season. In the end, it’ll be better for the team. UPSET ALERT: Georiga. Alabama is going to fall in it’s game against Georgia. It’ll be close, but with the at-home advantage, Georgia is going to be relentless and come out on top. HOW THE SEASON ENDS: Alabama will win the SEC West title despite dropping a mid-season loss at Georgia. The Crimson Tide will play well in the College Football Playoffs but fall during its semi-final game, preventing it from making it to the 2016 National Championship.
Elliott Propes | Staff Reporter ALABAMA’S RECORD: 11-3 RANDOM PREDICTION: Chris Black has two special teams touchdowns.
UPSET ALERT: Texas A&M- The change at quarterback from Kenny Hill to Kyle Allen has made A&M much more of a threat. The away game will make it hard on Alabama. The team may overlook A&M after last year’s 59-0 victory. HOW SEASON ENDS: Alabama loses back-to-back games against Texas A&M and Tennessee, but recovers to beat Auburn in a tiebreaker to go to the SEC championship. There, Alabama beats Tennessee in a rematch and just squeaks into the playoff. Alabama will then lose pretty handily to either TCU or Ohio State.
Marquis Munson | Staff Reporter ALABAMA’S RECORD: 12-2 RANDOM PREDICTION: Calvin Ridley will have a Julio Jones type of freshman year. UPSET ALERT: Arkansas: Last season, the Razorbacks were a few successful possessions away from defeating the Crimson Tide. Despite star running back Jonathan Williams’s injury and playing on the road, Brandon Allen has improved since last season and they still have Alex Collins in the back field. Most of Alabama’s upsets happen at Bryant-Denny, so the Crimson Tide needs to keep an eye on the Razorbacks. HOW THE SEASON ENDS: Alabama will finish the season losing only to Georgia. Alabama will get their revenge against the Bulldogs in the SEC Championship game and Alabama will move on to the College Football Playoffs only to lose a close game to TCU.
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By Tyler Waldrep | Assistant Sports Editor
WHO: Louisville vs. Auburn WHEN: 2:30 p.m. on CBS, Saturday, Sept. 5, Atlanta
WHO: Ohio State at Virginia Tech WHEN: 7 p.m. on ESPN, Monday, Sept. 7
Louisville has yet to name a starting quarterback for the opener, but whoever gets the nod is expected to face an improved Auburn defense led by coordinator Will Muschamp. Speaking of Auburn, there is a lot of excitement around new starting quarterback Jeremy Johnson.
Ohio State made history when it became the first preseason unanimous number one team in the AP Poll. Now Ohio State will begin its title defense on the road with a few key players suspended. Virginia Tech is the only team that beat Ohio State last season, and the Hokies will attempt to use its stifling defense to pull off the upset for the second straight season.
WHO: Texas at Notre Dame WHEN: 6:30 p.m. on NBC, Saturday, Sept. 5
WHO: Arizona State vs. Texas A&M WHEN: 6 p.m. on ESPN, Saturday, Sept. 5, Houston
Charlie Strong looks to right the ship in his second year as head coach of the Longhorns. Notre Dame will look to run the table in an attempt to take one of the four coveted playoff spots away from the Power 5 conferences in year two.
Texas A&M made waves in the offseason when the Aggies hired former LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis to the same position. Few teams have been able to slow Texas A&M lately, and now the Aggies might be able to stop an opponent every once in a while. Arizona State figures to be a favorite in the PAC-12 South division this year.
WHO: Washington at Boise State WHEN: 9:15 p.m. on ESPN, Friday, Sept. 4
WHO: BYU at Nebraska WHEN: 2:30 p.m. on ABC, Saturday, Sept. 5
Washington coach Chris Petersen’s return to his old stomping grounds will likely have emotions running high on both sidelines. Washington could use some positive momentum after quarterback Cyler Miles retired citing sustained injuries. Boise State will try to pick up where it left off after beating PAC-12 foe Arizona on the big stage in the Fiesta Bowl last season.
BYU quarterback Taysom Hill returns to lead the cougars after breaking his leg last season. Hill, a dark horse Heisman candidate before his injury, has lead the Cougars to several convincing wins against Power 5 teams in the past. Nebraska will attempt avoid becoming one of those teams while starting the Mike Riley era off on the right foot at home.
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