CW 2015 10 15 The Crimson White

WEEKEND EDITION | OCTOBER 15, 2015 VOLUME 122 | ISSUE 26

SERVING THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA SINCE 1894

55%

faculty

45%

54%

undergrad

46%

#GenderGap #

the

4 Blood!

GENDER

UA students give blood to organizations such as LifeSouth to help fill the everpresent need for blood donations in the surrounding areas of Tuscaloosa.

GAP

12 Survivor Man University of Alabama student, Colton Cumbie, recalls his time on the television show, Survivor, while competing against his soulmate.

GAMEDAY Over a year after transferring to Alabama, quarterback Jake Coker has secured the starting spot. Follow Coker’s long road from Mobile to Tuscaloosa in today’s GAMEDAY.

Students weigh in on being the minority in stereotypically single-gendered majors at UA 24%

engineering

76%

90%

55%

business

nursing

10%

45%

See page 8

INSIDE briefs 2 news 3 opinions 4 culture 8 sports 13

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3

Assistant Editor | Elizabeth Elkin newsdesk@cw.ua.edu Thursday, October 15, 2015

Doing the honors: a look at Honors College designations

By Savannah Vankirk | Contributing Writer

The Computer-Based Honors Program at The University of Alabama is nationally recognized and considered by the National Institute of Education to be one of the top six ‘’most intriguing” honors programs in the United States. It is also the first university-wide undergraduate research program in the nation. Students recognize the prestigious opportunities they have while participating in such a program.

“Computer-Based Honors has given me the opportunity to grow as an individual in ways that otherwise would not have been available to me,” said Logan Tarbox, a senior majoring in Spanish and MIS. “The experience of researching alongside professors in a way that most undergraduates never can is invaluable, but I really think that being in an environment of students that are passionate and driven about their work is what has challenged and enriched my college experience the most.”

In attempts to prepare students for any career field, the program accepts students majoring in any area of study as long as they meet the requirements for the Honors College (ACT score of 28 or SAT score of 1250 with a 3.5 GPA), according to the website.

Freshman students participate in courses that teach them three programming languages, problem-solving skills and project management, with a major focus on research. During their sophomore, junior and senior years, students will complete research projects in areas relating to their fields of study in order to help prepare them for their future aspirations.

COMPUTER-BASED HONORS

HONORS COLLEGE

Honors students have the benefit of selecting their courses through priority registration as well as having certain classes limited to only honors students, resulting in smaller class sizes.

Abby Daugette, a freshman majoring in biology, is one such student.

“It benefits me by making such a huge university seem so much smaller,” she said. “The professors are more focused on your educational success due to the fact that there are smaller class sizes. I also like the fact that we get to pick classes first, so I have more control over my schedule. Plus, the advisers are so helpful.”

Katie Pearson, a freshman majoring in economics, is also in the Honors College.

“The Honors College has provided me with opportunities and connections that I most likely would not have if I had not joined,” she said. “I got to move in a week early to participate in a service week with honors students. It was a great way to make friends as an incoming, out-of-state freshman, meet upperclassmen and see and contribute to the community off campus”.

Furthermore, the Honors College allows students to have the option to live in the Ridgecrest housing community so that students with similar interests and goals can live and study together.

UNIVERSITY FELLOWS EXPERIENCE

In order for current students to have the opportunity to be considered for The University of Alabama’s Honors College, they must have a minimum GPA of 3.3 and must have completed at least 12 credit hours. Students are required to apply within their first academic year on campus in order to be eligible for acceptance into the program and will have to obtain 18 hours of honors credit in order to graduate with honors, according to honors.ua.edu.

The University Fellows Experience’s goal is to cultivate hardworking students with an exceptional desire to be leaders. In order to be selected, students must have an ACT score of 32 or SAT score of 1400, along with a 3.8 high school GPA and must first be admitted to the Honors College in order to apply. Candidates with outstanding extracurricular activities, service and leadership achievements can be chosen even if their grades and test scores are below the requirements. The program is a unique one on campus and is beneficial to the students involved.

“The University Fellows Experience has allowed me to explore parts of myself that I never knew existed,” said Will Sorrell, a senior majoring in finance and economics. “The community of scholarship, service and leadership the UFE provides enables us to understand issues perviously unknown, create sustainable efforts to enrich the lives of the marginalized and become the truest versions of ourselves as we empower others to do the same.”

Shane Sharpe, dean of the honors college, also believes in the benefits that the program has to offer.

“I think students will make the most of their undergraduate experience that will then prepare them both personally and professionally for a successful life,” he said. “We want our students to make a significant impact on the world through awareness of self and others, integrity, action and humility.”

Members will also be a part of the Black Belt Experience, in which they design projects in order to better the community while applying the knowledge they learn from being a University Fellow with their desired interests. The program offers “social innovation and leadership” as a minor option for those students fulfilling the requirements.

4

Editor | Leigh Terry opinions@cw.ua.edu Thursday, October 15, 2015

COLUMN | UBER

Uber provides safer alternative for UA students

By Sarah Howard | Staff Columnist

CW / Marguerite Powers

COLUMN | VOTING

Civic engagement gives way to social changes

By Kyle Simpson | Staff Columnist

Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” This quote, in addition to being great material for your high school history teacher’s inspirational classroom posters, might be the solution to many of the social problems we see today. Despite the nearly universal disdain for the inefficiency of our Congress, roughly 80 percent of 18-25 year olds didn’t even vote in 2014. For all the national attention “The Machine” received regarding our recent homecoming queen race, only 36 percent of students voted, and only 43 percent of students voted in our very high profile SGA president election last spring.

Imagine how low the turnout is when the elections aren’t nationally controversial!

It’s clear that most students don’t really care about who represents them in Congress and much less about how an infamous secret society governs our school. However, the fight against “The Machine” is about more than who becomes homecoming queen or SGA president. This kind of takeover of democracy on any level – from your middle school class president to the President of the United States – is antithetical to freedom, and that’s why we students at The University of Alabama need to learn to actually stand for what we want to

see happen in the world instead of letting people steal our power.

It’s clear that if all of the people that don’t vote suddenly decided to, they would completely take control of elections on all levels of our democracy. Most students probably feel that their one measly vote doesn’t make a difference, but it is precisely this mentality that corrupts democ-

Most students probably feel that their one measly vote doesn’t make a difference, but it is precisely this mentality that corrupts democracy and allows those in power to keep their power.

racy and allows those in power to keep their power.

The well-documented Machine takeover of the 2013 election of Cason Kirby to the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education demonstrated the power of collective action, as a 26-year-old recent UA alumnus narrowly defeated a 45-year-old incumbent. This recent example is but a single chapter in the history

of The Machine’s control of the University and even the city’s political process.

The same board of education had a hand in the resegregation of Tuscaloosa’s public schools in the past decade. Central High School, once a model of integration’s success, is now 99 percent black and lacks adequate funding for arts, AP classes and other key elements of a successful public school that many of us likely took for granted a few years ago. Anyone who has friends from Tuscaloosa has anecdotal evidence that segregation is alive and well in Alabama’s fifth-largest city, like my white friend who lived within walking distance from Central but was told to go to Northridge instead. It’s a story that has received national and even international attention, and the people that can change injustices like this – the 80 percent of young people that don’t vote – continue to do nothing.

Stories like this should show the importance of civic engagement, which doesn’t just mean voting in an SGA election once or twice a year. Involvement in the decisions that shape our society is the only way we will create a society that is just and fair, and it’s impossible to have a hand in that if you are sitting on the sidelines.

Kyle Simpson is a junior majoring in biology. His column runs weekly.

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Send submissions to letters@cw.ua.edu.

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White reserves the right to edit all guest columns and letters to the editor. The opinions contained on this page do not represent the editorial position of The Crimson White Media Group.

With midterms only just behind us, there have been almost as many UAPD Advisories this fall as there were during the entirety of last year. Most of these incidents occur when students are walking home late at night. The University uses 348-RIDE to combat this issue and give students near campus a free and safe alternative to walking, but it is not always reliable, nor is it an option for those who live farther off campus. For students, calling a taxi when going out with a group means dealing with cash and giving directions, which is a hassle compared to the user-friendly experience offered by the ride-sharing app, Uber. Uber offers options to split ride costs, gives the driver the directions and leaves a digital record of ride history. Unfortunately, the mayor of Tuscaloosa banned Uber from operating in town last year, threatening to arrest any driver found in the area. The increased crime rates make it obvious, however, that current options are simply not enough to support the needs of this campus, and letting Uber come back would spell positive change for student safety.

Mayor Walter Maddox initially voiced concerns due to Uber’s lack of compliance with Tuscaloosa’s traditional taxi regulations. The San Francisco-based company requires its own inspections and background checks, which are acceptable in most towns across America, but not enough for the city government here in Tuscaloosa. Uber is not a traditional taxi company; instead, the drivers are independent contractors using their own vehicles to keep costs low, utilizing smart phone technology to create a streamlined, convenient service for their customers.

It’s these differences that makes Uber a tenant of the modern world, setting themselves apart from typical taxi companies and the rules that follow.

Other universities have realized the potential behind Uber, more than simply allowing its presence, but going so far as to recommend and even pay for its usage. One such school working toward this is The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which has a trial run for free student rides during late night hours on its way. The program is being made possible by contributions from the Panhellenic and Interfraternity Councils and an anonymous donor.

UNC faced an incident this summer where an intoxicated student killed three others in a car accident that could have been avoided with the use of Uber or another similar service. A tragedy made one university realize how important safe rides are for students, and it should not take another one to make The University of Alabama see this as well.

We as a student body should not have to accept less than the innovation that the free market brings – it is constantly evolving to bring us the best options possible – and most places realize and accept it. Our campus and the surrounding area seem to become more dangerous each day, but incidents can be prevented by allowing millennials to use the technology we love, like the Uber app, to make staying safe easy and convenient.

Sarah Howard is a sophomore majoring in chemistry.

Her column runs biweekly.

Last Week’s Poll: Should Congress pass stricter gun control laws?

(Yes: 54%) (No: 46%) This Week’s Poll: Did you vote for homecoming queen? cw.ua.edu/poll

5

OPINIONS Thursday, October 15, 2015

Property tax increase necessary for education system

By Ben Jackson Staff Columnist

Imagine stealing $108 – from a kindergartener.

Unthinkable, right? If you’re an Alabama state lawmaker, you’ve already done it.

I’m referencing, of course, the conclusion of Governor Bentley’s month-long budget battle, where Alabama lawmakers decided to meet the state’s need for cash by “borrowing” money from the Education Trust Fund – to the tune of $80 million. The move, which equates to taking $108 from every K-12 student in Alabama, will have devastating effects on education outcomes. The action has gone largely unnoticed.

To be fair, this wasn’t Bentley’s first choice, but we’ll need some background to understand exactly why. Alabama is funded through two pools of money: the General Fund and the Education Trust Fund. The General Fund is comprised of revenue from all kinds of taxes, and the Education Trust Fund is comprised mainly of property taxes. For a long time, the two pools didn’t mix, and this kept politicians from tampering with school funding.

But then, some sneaky politicians began inventing clever tax tricks to reduce funding flowing into the ETF, allowing the General Fund to “borrow” from the ETF. So, when Alabama’s General Fund had revenue

shortfalls of $200 million, Bentley proposed an enormous tax plan, which would raise taxes on everything from income to soft drinks to cigarettes. This wouldn’t directly affect education funding. Great, right?

Not so fast. Alabamians, abhorring taxes as they do, threw a fit. Lawmakers feared their re-election chances should they participate in this historic tax hike. So only small parts of the plan actually made it through.

Left with no money, and fearing a vengeful public, lawmakers decided to look at a group that couldn’t vote them out of office – school children – and proceeded to rob them.

To reiterate, lawmakers took money from eighth graders who rank 50th in math, 46th in science and 45th in reading. They took money from teachers and administrators who pay increasingly out of pocket for higher healthcare costs and to keep their classes running. I recognize money isn’t everything when it comes to producing better outcomes, but having enough textbooks to supply a classroom certainly helps.

What’s worse is that this has happened many times before and will likely happen again if left unchecked. Alabama’s education system cannot afford to pay Montgomery’s bills.

The tragic irony to this whole mess? There’s an easy fix to Alabama’s money problems.

And almost no one is talking about it.

Remember how the ETF is funded through property taxes? Well, Alabama has the nation’s lowest, coming in at half of a percent. The median home value in Alabama is $122,700, and that property is taxed at $532 – just 0.4 percent. Out-of-state farm and timber corporations pay even less, using their powerful lobbies to keep their taxes at pennies per acre. Doubling, tripling or even quadrupling

the property tax would impose a minimal burden upon Alabamians while boosting education funding significantly.

Raising property taxes, of course, would require standing up to the powerful lobbies that keep them the lowest in the nation. And while it’s the right thing to do, Bentley and the current administration have shown no such intentions. Until then, we will continue to do the unthinkable and steal from kindergarteners.

Ben Jackson is a sophomore majoring in accounting and finance. His column runs biweekly on Wednesdays.

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NEWS

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Omega Psi Phi impacts community, members

By Christian Elliot | Contributing Writer

Throughout Derek Lee Biddings II’s youth, he witnessed an older cousin never give up regardless of the constant struggles he faced. His cousin was put through the difficulties of an illness to his wife, but he would not slow down. He never stopped working hard in order to provide for his daughters and his family. His cousin said he learned these qualities from his collegiate fraternity Omega Psi Phi, and that has had an impact on Biddings.

From the individual accolades to the collective accomplishments of the organization, the Omega Psi Phi chapter at The University of Alabama has created a story that reads of honor and success. The 17 current student members and the alumni emanate brotherhood. The impacts of the tight-knit family can be found from the Black Belt region that they constantly aid to the classrooms of Tuscaloosa schools to local charities and events.

According to the official website of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, “Omega Psi Phi does not seek members; quality men seek Omega Psi Phi.” Former Chapter President Jaylan Fields is a legacy member of the organization. Current Chapter President Jeromey Beaman saw the qualities and attributes that were embedded into his mentor by the fraternity and wanted to acquire those

same attributes.

“We say we want the best of the best,” Beaman said. “We are an open enterprise, but we want the best we can get.”

While most organizations require 12 credit hours, The University of Alabama’s Omega Psi Phi requires individuals to have a minimum of 36 hours before candidates are eligible for membership.

The Beta Eta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, which is specific to The University of Alabama, was founded on April 20, 1974. There are currently 17 active student members in Beta Eta, which is the UA undergraduate chapter, and over 70 Alabama graduates in Alpha Tau. Football standouts Ozzie Newsome, Jeoffrey Pagan, Wallace Gilberry, Freddie Robinson, John Mitchell and Johnny Davis, as well as Artis Brown, the Exxon junior-executive, are all members of The University of Alabama’s Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

One of the main philanthropies Beta Eta is associated with is the Black Belt Community Foundation out of Selma, Alabama. The fraternity donates a large sum of money and is actively involved with the foundation each year in order to help the impoverished area. The Black Belt region is one of the poorest regions in all of the United States, and all new members give a donation

Courtesy of Jeromey Beaman

to the foundation when they first enter the fraternity.

This year the brothers of Omega Psi Phi will be actively engaged in the Young Men Leadership Program. Following a training period, fraternity members will go to local schools to mentor at-risk children.

“We mentor kids who may not have father figures in their lives and guide them into the right direction,” said Benjamin Smith, former chapter secretary.

Throughout the year, Omega Psi Phi stays active within the community, visiting and helping with local organizations such

as the Boys and Girls Club, Tuscaloosa Housing Authority and Race For the Cure.

The Fraternity also hosts a scholarship pageant where all earnings go on to assist three undergraduate women with the cost of their education.

At the 2015 Annual Greek Excellence Scholarship Banquet at The University of Alabama, the Beta Eta Chapter won the most awards of the both the IFC and NPHC fraternities. The chapter was honored with the Scholarship Award, Risk Management Award and Best Fraternity Award. Omega Psi Phi also won the Homecoming Step Show for the NPHC fraternities.

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NEWS Thursday, October 15, 2015

7

Out for blood

Students donate to campus blood drives that aid surrounding community

By D B Dustin i Gi Ginsberg b | Staff S ff Reporter R

Many people think of homecoming week as a week filled with pomping, float decorations and parade planning. There is one thing most students don’t associate with it: blood. Blood donations are not foreign to this campus.

Every semester, signs and banners can be seen telling students where and when to donate. Homecoming week is no different. LifeSouth was on campus from Wednesday to Friday, collecting donations from eligible students. Students rolled up their sleeves, braved the needles and then got some juice and went on with their daily routine, most without ever thinking: what happens to my donated blood?

LifeSouth is a community blood organization, meaning that blood donated

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goes to the nearby communities and isn’t sent to hospitals that are far away.

“Blood donated on The University of Alabama campus goes as far east as Birmingham and as far west as the state line,” said Brian Garrett, LifeSouth community development coordinator for the Birmingham region. “Huntsville and Montgomery all have their own banks and the majority of the blood is distributed to Druid City Hospital and the various hospitals in Birmingham.”

According to LifeSouth, blood is always in short supply and around 4.5 million Americans will need a blood transfusion this year. That equals around 44,000 donations a day to fill every patient’s need.

“While we can always use more blood, University of Alabama students do a tremendous job of providing us with blood,” Garrett said. “Every drive held at UA yields 25 to 75 donors, which is a huge amount. After we have taken your blood, it is shipped to our testing lab where we test for various blood diseases and defects. This process takes around three days, and, if all clear, your blood is in the fridge at one of many local hospitals.”

According to their website, LifeSouth is very careful during testing and screens each donation separately. Ensuring blood is safe is their number one priority.

Corliss Jones works many blood drives and is always happy to come out to campus.

“Students are usually the most excited to give,” Jones said. “You can tell they love to feel that they have helped their community.”

Gavin Davis is a freshman who has given once while at Alabama and several times in high school.

“It is just such a simple thing you can do that can save so many lives,” Davis said. “It takes 30 minutes out of your day, and you can give life to up to three people. It is just amazing.”

The next drives are Oct. 14 and Nov. 18, and workers look forward to coming each time.

“It is important to know the days in advance so you can eat a proper breakfast and make room in your schedule,” Jones said. “We hope to see you come by and we have some awesome T-shirts for our generous volunteers.”

8

Editor | Matthew Wilson culture@cw.ua.edu Thursday, October 15, 2015

By Becca Murdoch | Contributing Writer

You walk into a classroom, students surrounding you on all sides, but something feels slightly off – you are one, if not the only person, of your gender in attendance. This is not a reality for everyone at The University of Alabama, but it is for many female engineering students and male nursing students, two of the colleges at the University with the most staggering gender gap.

According to the University website, 55 percent of the University are female and 45 percent are males. With only 24 percent of all students enrolled in the College of Engineering, 14 percent of the University, identifying as female and 10.2 percent of students in the College of Nursing, 5 percent of the University, identifying as male, there is a clear disparity in gender representation.

“The problem of recruiting females to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields is an issue nationally,” said Charles Karr, dean of the College of Engineering, on the gender gap in his particular field. “The faculty and staff of the UA College of Engineering have worked hard to recruit and retain women to study engineering and computer science.”

Brian Dickson, an instructor in the College of Nursing and faculty advisor for the Men in Nursing Association at the University, attributes the disparity in his college to the stigma surrounding males in the field of nursing.

“I think a lot of the stigma in the ‘60s and ‘70s was because there was a lot of media portrayal of women as nurses, and that’s a big thing we’ve had to overcome, because people automatically have this stigma of nursing as a female profession,” Dickson said.

Jennifer Sherwood, who holds a doctorate in biological and chemical engineering, she has noted some discrepancies between overall experiences for each gender.

“One of the things I’ve noticed males do to females is sort of make an assumption of, ‘Oh, you don’t know how to do something,’ so they want to help you or take over doing it for you instead of just letting you do it yourself,” Sherwood said. “Sometimes, and not with all males of course, but sometimes people make assumptions that you’re a girl and can’t do something.”

Dickson also pointed out differences in his male and female students when teaching them.

“Traditionally I think the female students are sometimes a little more apprehensive with things whereas the male students are more ready to jump in, which is sometimes a good thing and sometimes a bad thing,” Dickson said.

CW / Marie Walker

the

Austin Justice, a male nursing student in his third semester of the program, spoke of nursing in highly positive terms, only pointing out small issues.

“The only problem I’ve run into with being a male nurse is during clinicals; of course, some of your female patients want a female nurse,” Justice said.

When it comes to selecting a major and choosing a career path, the support of one’s family plays an important role. Fortunately for Pat Hubbard, a male nursing student also in his third semester of instruction, his family was very supportive of his choice.

“I didn’t know how my dad was going to take [my decision to pursue nursing], but he was actually like, ‘Go for it,’ ” Hubbard said. “My mom definitely wanted me to [major in nursing], as well as my grandparents. Because my grandmother is a nurse, she told me about all the opportunities, especially as a male because of course there are not as many of us in the field.”

In both the College of Engineering and the College of Nursing, there are organizations that work to help those in the minority in terms of gender. For engineering, the Society of Women Engineers, or SWE, provides women with opportunities to learn and grow in a community of female engineering students. Men in Nursing helps to recruit male nursing students as well as foster discussions concerning men’s health.

“We have seen gains in the growth of women coming to the College [of Engineering] in recent years,” Karr said. “In fact, our increased enrollment of women seeking bachelor’s degrees has outpaced enrollment growth of the college.”

Due to the ever-prevalent demand for nurses and the retirement of the baby boomer nursing generation, Dickson also recognizes a decrease in the scope of the gender gap in the college of nursing.

“I do see it closing,” Dickson said. “It’s never going to be close, but I see in the 10 years a pretty drastic jump in men in nursing, and I would go out on a limb and say 15 to 20 percent of the registered nurses in the country will be males by 2025.”

In response to the stigma surrounding nursing, Justice explained the choice behind pursuing nursing.

“If a student interested in nursing] is passionate about helping people and they really like the nursing field, they’re not going to let the stigma of nurses being predominantly females hold them back,” Justice said. “They’ll make that decision based on how bad they want it.”

Sherwood said female students should choose engineering to prove to themselves that they can do it, as well as to meet other like-minded women who find their strengths in science and math.

“The more women that get into [engineering], the more support that you’ll have from people in your own gender,” Sherwood said.

9

CULTURE Thursday, October 15, 2015

APPLE VS.

the most deep-seated collegiate rivalry

PC

By Aaron Bonner | Contributing Writer

Anywhere on campus, it’s typical to see multiple white cords plugged into outlets, with bright, white apples from devices glowing nearby. Even though thousands of students with Apple hardware, be it a Macbook, an iPhone or iPad, are seen daily all over campus, University of Alabama students are proving the Mac-obsessed college kid stereotype wrong.

“I’ve always been a bigger fan of Windows than Mac,” said Michael Kuhlman, a sophomore majoring in chemical engineering.

Kuhlman said he uses his Toshiba laptop primarily to do classwork and saw no reason to purchase a Mac computer, having all the programs he needed for class on Windows.

Some students are found with particular allegiances to a technology or computer brand, but more students are starting to cross their technology brands together. Although he has a Windows laptop, Kuhlman said he is a fan of his iPhone, which was more of a peer-pressure purchase.

“Everyone else had one, so it’s just easier that way,” he said.

Katie Schafer, a junior majoring in University of Alabama students are overcoming the Mac-obsessed college kid stereotype. CW / Shelby Akin public relations and political science, is a

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Like many other college students, Schafer said her Macbook was a graduation present that her parents bought on sale. Though she had previously been a Windows user, she went with the Mac because others told her the brand was better.

“I love my Mac, but if I had to replace it, I’d probably go for a Windows just because they’re inexpensive,” Schafer said.

Apple is known for their one-year limited warranty plan, with AppleCare giving users additional time on their warranty for a yearly fee. Windows computers are similar, with manufacturers setting their own warranty and repair guarantees. Laptops pre-installed with Windows can vary in terms of usability, with some lasting three to four years under normal circumstances.

While Apple is often criticized for their yearly phone releases that can require users to upgrade, their laptop and home computer lines both have a general usage expectancy of five years. The Macbook has also gained popularity from its userfriendly programs and easy-to-understand applications. Because of the ease, people are using Macbooks for more professional needs, such as Trevor Pruitt, one of the marketing support assistants for the College of Music. He designs the layout for performances at the Moody Music Concert Hall.

Pruitt said he’s more partial to his Windows PC at home, but at work, he’s a Mac user.

“If they were more affordable, I’d switch to a Mac in a heartbeat, but just because I still find a lot of value in the PC, it’s a more affordable option for me,” Pruitt said. “I just kind of stick with that.”

Matthew Cox, a senior majoring in management information systems, is a huge Windows fan, due in part to his current work for Microsoft.

Cox said he uses his Windows PC both for work and to play video games, going so far as to build his computer to fit his own needs, which PC is capable of. Though Macs can do the task at hand, be it web development or gaming, Cox said he found the power behind it to be lacking.

“I never even considered a Mac going into the MIS major,” Cox said. “You can’t do as much when it comes to tech. When it comes to coding, there are options out there available and different ways to code with Mac, but that didn’t interest me very much.”

Cox said Microsoft products give him more freedom, but also more opportunities to change things drastically, even if they lead to failure.

Cox said he is an Android user, primarily due to the Google Play app store. Much like his computer, he said he was impressed with the freedom it gave him, allowing him to install complex applications and even access his home computer through his cell phone. Cox said he previously owned an iPhone and called it a phone perfect for texting and calling, but not much else.

“I don’t want simple options; I want the ability to modify things to suit my needs,” Cox said.

10

CULTURE

Thursday, October 15, 2015

CW / Marie Walker

Tuscaloosa residents recall city’s rich history

By Bailey Shoenberger | Staff Reporter

Imagine that the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater was a lake, surrounded with a dance hall and a merry-go-round, that the bank building downtown was the tallest building in Tuscaloosa, that the only way to get to Northport was to drive across a drawbridge and that streetcars dominated the roads. This is a glimpse of the Tuscaloosa less than 100 years ago that residents of Pine Valley Retirement center have known and loved. These residents have seen Tuscaloosa face everything from World War II to today’s technological revolution and have gathered in Pine Valley’s spacious activity room to reminisce on the past.

“My grandfather waded across the river where the bridge is;

they used to drive wagons across it before there were dams, so the river was about waist-deep, but then they built locks and dams and now a bridge is the only way to cross it,” John Price said.

Price is a Tuscaloosa native who served in the army for over 40 years, seeing everything from World War II to the Vietnam War. Price’s father helped paint the ceiling of the historic Bama Theatre downtown. He is locally famous for carving the totem pole that stands outside a nearby boys’ camp.

“Some of us have roots here that are real deep,” Price said.

In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board that all public schools must be immediately desegregated. In Alabama, pp support for this decision was not unanimous, launching a civil rights movement that rocked the state for over a decade.

“It was a terrible transition,” said Albert Pitts, who was a county agent for Tuscaloosa at the time. “A lot of people didn’t want it and a lot of people did, but it became a law that they had to be [de]segregated.

There was a lot of tension .”

Though many of the residents had

no problems with the new laws, they all remember people protesting in the streets.

Ruth Bevis was a high school counselor in Dothan, Alabama, the year the judges first ordered that schools be desegregated.

“We were all ready to open for the school year,” Bevis said. “We had a black kind of school and a white kind of school, and three days before school started, the judge ruled that we had to integrate that year. We had to take all the teachers, all the students, and completely do a new schedule, because all the classes had to be as integrated as possible; never in my life have I worked as hard or been as tired as I was the day we were to integrate. The police of course had the whole school blocked off. The Ku Klux Klan came riding down right beside the school and the police made them move along. We had no disturbances that day.”

In 1963, Alabama governor George Wallace stood in the doorway of Foster Auditorium on campus until President Kennedy ordered the National Guard to force Wallace to let African-American students attend class. Bevis was a graduate student at The University of Alabama at the time, getting her master’s in teaching.

“Everything was blocked off,” Bevis said.

“Nobody could go down University Avenue.

When we got to campus, University police were standing in the streets; we had to show them our student IDs to get on campus — of course, we thought it was hilarious. Anyway, he stood in the door, and as

you know, it didn’t amount to anything.”

When Bevis attended the University in the late 50s, it was the first time there were over 5,000 students on campus.

“I was also here the first time we were issued a student number; 5607 was my number,” Bevis said. “We took a tour today, and University Boulevard is pretty much the same, but once we got onto those side streets, I was as lost as a bird dog.”

Most of the Tuscaloosa residents remember the past as a simpler time when chickens ran wild in families’ yards and mothers reused old sacks of flour for dresses and play clothes.

“We spent a lot of good times doing nothing,” Zelda Anderson said. “We didn’t need toys or money. We made up games; we played hopscotch.”

Anderson celebrated her 101st birthday last July and has been an Alabama resident all her life. Her father owned a service station and a restaurant in Northport, back when the only way to cross the river was to use the drawbridge, which was located where the Lurleen Bridge is now. On game days, they would have to close the shop because traffic over the bridge was so bad.

No one could get to their restaurant.

“Some things never change, like traffic on game days, although there might be more now,” Bevis said.

No matter what is going on in the state or the country, there is one thing about Tuscaloosa that remains timeless: the love of Alabama football.

11

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CULTURE

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Keep on surviving

By Matthew Wilson | Culture Editor

Like other students, he walks the halls of Reese Phifer, where he’s a year shy of graduating with a public relations degree. Twenty-four years old, he’s been here off and on since his freshman year in 2010. The Quad’s green grass and large oak trees, visible through a window, are a world away from the Samoan island of Upolu.

Sometimes his walks across campus are cut short by a fan wanting a picture with him or getting so excited, they appear to go into cardiac arrest. The concept of having fans is weird for him. In 2012 and 2013, Colton Cumbie was plastered across millions of television screens as the youngest contestant ever (at the time) on the reality television show “Survivor.”

“I’m used to being around my family and friends and being just Colton,” Cumbie said. “[Having fans] is crazy to me.”

Cumbie’s a survivor. He has to be. It’s his only choice. He should be married right now. His wedding to his partner and fellow “Survivor” contestant Caleb Bankston would have been in October 2014. It was going to be covered

by People Magazine. Bankston and Cumbie met during Cumbie’s freshman year at the University. Cumbie came out as gay when he was 12.

“We met here,” Cumbie said. “He was a freshman, and I was a senior. We were like a Taylor Swift song. I was

18, and he was 22. We dated for four years; then we got engaged. We had just recently got engaged when we got on the show. We got on the show and pushed it back a year.”

The two were the first openly gay couple in the show’s history. Cumbie said they would receive letters and calls from young kids or older couples inspired by their relationship on television.

Bankston worked as a train conductor in Birmingham, and three months before their wedding, the train he was working on derailed. He was killed in the accident. Cumbie found himself in a spotlight he didn’t want, wanting to withdraw and grieve but receiving calls from news outlets.

He said he used to feel cynical about celebrities not wanting to be in the limelight because they put themselves in that position, but he feels more empathetic now. After Bankston passed, he felt a responsibility to their fans but also need to take some time to himself.

“They watched you and rooted for you, and they watched him and rooted for him,” he said. “You do feel some responsibility to them, but first and foremost, you have to take care of yourself and get to a place where you can speak.”

Cumbie said it was ironic to think there was a time he couldn’t last 39 days without seeing Bankston, and now he has to.

“Caleb was my everything,” he said. “We were the couple that my family would get so mad when we played dominoes

Photo Courtesy of Colton Cumbie

because we cheated. We always played together.”

Dianne Bragg, a journalism professor at the University, met Cumbie when he took her media law class last year.

“The real Colton tells you exactly what he thinks,” Bragg said. “He doesn’t hide his opinions at all. He’s generally delightful to talk with. Him and I disagree on certain topics, but I enjoy having those discussions with him. I would never consider him to be a villain.”

Growing up in the small Southern town of Monroeville, Alabama, Cumbie wanted to be on “Survivor” ever since he was nine years old watching the season one finale with his grandmother. He told her he was going to be on the show one day. For his 12th birthday, his family held a weekend-long “Survivor” themed party where they camped out and voted people off.

Cumbie doesn’t see his time on “Survivor” as life changing. He’s still the same person he’s always been. Rather, his time on television has put him in a position where he can change other people’s lives. Whether it be making a terminally ill child’s dream come true, inspiring other gay people to come forward or just going to class, Cumbie remains himself – love him or hate him.

“He’s got that star charisma quality, and I can see why he was chosen to be on that show,” Bragg said. “He’s very articulate, he has a good presence, and he’s good on camera. I think we’ll be seeing more of him in the future on television.”

13 Volleyball team looks to re-establish identity Editor | Kayla Montgomery sports@cw.ua.edu Thursday, October 15, 2015

By Terrin Waack | Staff Reporter

The Alabama volleyball team returned all of its starters from last season, but the team is still searching for its identity.

That process has slowed the team’s development down. It’s getting closer, but it’s just not quite there yet.

“Every team has a different identity,” coach Ed Allen said. “It doesn’t matter if the players are the same or not. They’re all different for different reasons, hopefully a good different but sometimes not a good different. That’s the problem we’ve encountered a little this year.”

Alabama’s preseason was rocky. It was plagued with injuries and close losses, but it survived. Allen said only time will tell if Alabama will be able to continue to overcome adversity – as it did against Missouri on Sunday when it won 3-2 after five close sets.

Senior Kryssi Daniels said the team has seen it all at this point.

“The way we have went through the adversity and we’re still not completely broken,” she said. “A lot of teams go through that and are just in shambles.

Although it wasn’t the best, we still held it together pretty well. It could have been worse, and I’m surprised and really grateful for how well it’s worked out so far.”

Alabama finished 12-2 during its 2014 preseason, whereas this preseason, it

UP NEXT • • • •

Alabama defeated Missouri in five sets on Sunday. CW / Amy Sullivan

finished 8-5.

Regardless of all that has gone wrong from the start of the season, there’s one thing that has gone right: the team is closer than ever.

“My favorite part of this year’s team is how close we are,” junior Brittany Thomas said. “It feels like a family. It’s more family-orientated. I feel like we’re really able to rely on one another and just be able to have really great open relationships.”

Daniels said this year’s team chemistry is unlike any other she’s seen.

“My first year here, we weren’t really

mean to each other, but we weren’t as close as we are now,” she said. “Just as far as chemistry on the court, like holding each other accountable, that was nonexistent some of the first years here.“ The team will get together every once in a while and have a potluck, just as it did Friday. Daniels and Thomas brought spice cake to the gathering. Getting together outside of workouts, matches and practices is something the team enjoys doing.

“I’m going to miss that – I mean who doesn’t miss food being cooked for you?”

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Daniels said. “That’s one of the things I will miss the most, just having that sense of family always here.”

Alabama’s chemistry is more than fine off the court. It just needs to find some consistency within its matches.

It should be simple with all the starters back, but Alabama’s lineup this season is far from concrete.

“I’ve never had a team that we juggle people around as much as we have,” Allen said.

Apart from the returners, freshman Shannon Mikesky is out because of her Achilles, but fellow freshman Quincey Gary has had playing time and Allen said she brings a pressure to Alabama’s backcourt. Tabitha Brown has started some games for Alabama this season.

It will take time for Alabama to reach its full potential, but it’s making progress.

“It’s a team that’s struggling to be what it is capable of being,” Allen said.

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SPORTS

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Homeward bound Six Alabama players return to their home state when Alabama travels to Athens, GA

By Marquis Munson | Staff Reporter

Two weeks ago, the Alabama football team traveled to Athens, Georgia, to defeat the Georgia Bulldogs 38-10 to regain momentum after a tough loss to Ole Miss.

After losing their last five matches, coach Wes Hart and the Crimson Tide soccer team need to regain the same momentum as they head to Athens this Friday to face the Bulldogs in order to keep their SEC Tournament hopes alive.

“We need to get a result from this game to get our teams confidence up for the last couple games of the season,” senior defender Abby Lutzenkirchen said.

The state of Georgia is a familiar territory for some of the players on the Crimson Tide roster. Six players are from six different cities in the Peach State, the largest state represented on the roster.

“The majority of my high school went to big universities in Georgia, and I really wanted to branch out and look at places out of state,” defender Molly Moroney said. “Once I visited Alabama, I loved the campus and the atmosphere along with the girls. I had the luxury of being able to go to a big university out of state because of soccer, and I took advantage of it.”

Before playing for the Crimson Tide, these six players had to play their way through very competitive youth soccer programs in the state of Georgia.

“A lot of good players come out of Georgia, and they have great developmental coaches in the state,” Moroney said. “Playing Olympic development program for Georgia really showed how strong our state is for women’s soccer as well. I loved playing against some of the best players in the region

and sometimes even in the country.

The competition really helped me grow as a player.”

Before becoming teammates, forward Emma Welch and defender Elena Zang competed against each other in high school.

“I love Emma,” Zang said. “We have known each other since my junior year of high school when we played against each other during club season. Everyone knows each other, and now we are playing against each other in the collegiate level. Most Georgia soccer players have branched out to SEC schools to play.”

The six players will return to their home state, where the Crimson Tide are in a must-win situation to stay in the SEC Tournament hunt with a season record of 4-9-2. It trails in the all-time series record with the Bulldogs 6-11-1 but has won the last three matches including a 3-2 double-overtime victory in Athens back in 2013.

“I think we just need to move forward and work our hardest to get a result,” Moroney said. “We can’t worry about the past games; we just need to put in all our effort and work together as a team, and we will find results.”

As for returning to Georgia, these players are excited to play in front of their family, friends and former competitors. Even though they bleed crimson, they still have a Georgia heart.

“I’m definitely still a Georgia girl at heart, but I love Alabama,” Lutzenkirchen said. “I have a ton of close friends that play for and go to Georgia, and a lot of my family will be there because it is the closest game. It’s my favorite game of the year because I have such strong ties, since it’s my home state.”

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The Crimson Tide is in a must-win situation to stay in the SEC Tournament hunt with a season record of 4-9-2.

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Today’s Birthday (10/15/15). This is a year of personal discovery. Navigate big changes by finding the spiritual thread. Speak from your heart, and ask for what you want. Social networking provides results.

Career expansion sparks new priorities this spring. After next autumn, your plans come to fruition, inciting a work surge. Propagate 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 an 8 -- Keep it simple. Push for what you believe, with Mars trine Pluto. Your team can help. Consistent steady pressure works... avoid forcing an issue. The more you put in, the more you get out.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 9 -- More work leads to more benefits. Ask for what you’ve been promised. Try a new recipe or restaurant. Share something tasty with your partner. Eat well, rest well and pour energy into your collaboration.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is a 9 -- Massive effort pays off (especially over the long haul), with Mars trine Pluto. Now is the time for big ideas. Take advantage of a lucky break. Harness your creative fire. Get expert coaching, and keep practicing.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Give a big push. A rush job could lead to long-term benefit (with Mars trine Pluto). Build the passion level. You know what to say to motivate your crew. Get necessary equipment. Negotiate, rather than demanding.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Slow and steady gets it right the first time. Abundance is available. Stick close to home. Strengthen your infrastructure for long-term support. Keep your workspace clear. Listen to family feedback. Kids have the best ideas.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Persistent communications get through. Patiently keep in action. Steady moves work better than impulsive ones. Imagine positive outcomes. Sell stuff you don’t need. Engage in a conversation and energize it for a shared goal.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- The more you study, the more your team wins. Heed a warning. Use confidential information to advance. Try something completely new and unexplored.

Draw on resources you’ve been saving for a special occasion. Develop your natural talents.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 9 -- Finish a job before it’s due. You’re energized ... take advantage to power ahead. Friends are there for you. Go public with your plan. Share your enthusiasm.

Long-term benefit comes from short-term coordinated action now.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Feed your inspiration by making reminders of what you love and posting them where you can see them. Maintain optimism about a new leadership role.

Friends give you a boost. You’re gaining respect. You’re especially persuasive.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is a 9 -- Your partner can get farther than you can now. Find a safe place for your money. Offer guidance. Get your partner involved. Success is your reward. Follow the logic trail. Lively music sets the tone.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is a 9 -- Keep up a steady rhythm. Let a partner take the lead sometimes. Career choices expand naturally. Finish a project and devote yourself to the process. Keep an open mind. Commit to bold action, once you’ve chosen direction.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 9 -- Your career situation takes a mega leap. Act quickly and make a good impression. Put in extra effort. Focus on your work. Your conscientiousness makes you look stronger. Pay attention, smile and give it everything you’ve got.

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PAGE 3

By Marquis Munson | Staff Reporter

WHO: No. 18 UCLA at No. 15 Stanford WHEN: 7:30 p.m. on ESPN Last season, the Bruins were on the verge of winning the Pac-12 South until they were defeated by Stanford 31-10 in the season finale.

This season, with both teams at one loss, they look to gain momentum in the Pac-12 after the demise of USC and Oregon. The Cardinal is riding a four-game winning streak after its loss to Northwestern in the season opener. With the Bruins defense giving up most of their yards on the ground, Stanford hopes for a big game from running back Christian McCaffrey, who has rushed for 601 yards with only one touchdown. The Bruins look to bounce back after a loss at home to Arizona State on Oct. 3.

WHO: Auburn at Kentucky WHEN: 6 p.m. on ESPN The Kentucky Wildcats have started the season at 4-1 with their only loss at the hands of Florida and rank second, below the Gators, in the SEC East. On Thursday, they look to take advantage of an Auburn team who, despite much hope going into the season, hasn’t lived up to expectations. The Wildcats give up 170 yards on the ground on average, while the Tigers average 190 rushing yards a game, led by running back Peyton Barber who has rushed for 558 yards with six touchdowns. The Tigers are looking for their first win of the season in the SEC, while Kentucky looks to stay in contention in the SEC East.

WHO: No. 7 Michigan St. at No.12 Michigan WHEN: 2:30 p.m. on ESPN The Michigan Wolverines have been on a hot streak ever since losing their season opener to Utah by a touchdown. Since then, the Wolverines have won their last five games and outscored their opponents 160-14. The Spartans’ senior quarterback Connor Cook has thrown for 1,334 yards, 12 touchdowns and only two interceptions.

He will face a defense that have held its opponents to only 181 yards on offense and only 115 yards on the pass.

WHO: No. 8 Florida at No. 6 LSU WHEN: 6 p.m. on ESPN Two undefeated teams will collide in Death Valley when head coach Jim McElwain and the Florida Gators meet with head coach Les Miles and the LSU Tigers. The Gators will be without quarterback Will Grier for the remainder of the season after he tested positive for performanceenhancing drugs. Sophomore Treon Harris will start under center. He has thrown for 1,288 yards and 11 touchdowns in his two-year career, with 269 yards and two touchdowns thrown this season. On the other side of the ball, the Gators’ defense has allowed 100.4 yards per game on the ground, and will be up against Leonard Fournette, one of the best running backs in college football, who enters the game with 1,022 yards and 12 touchdowns in his first five games.

WHO: USC at No. 14 Notre Dame WHEN: 6:30 p.m. on NBC After losing to Washington at home and the drama surrounding the firing of head coach Steve Sarkisian, quarterback Cody Kessler and the Trojans will look to bounce back when they head to South Bend to face the Fighting Irish. Despite throwing two interceptions in the loss to Washington, Kessler has thrown 1,453 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. The Fighting Irish have allowed under 200 yards on the pass despite being banged up and came back from a loss to Clemson 24-22 by defeating Navy last week 41-24.

WHO: No. 17 Iowa at No. 20 Northwestern WHEN: 11a.m. on ABC, ESPN 2 The Wildcats and the Hawkeyes have been two of the most surprising teams in the nation. Last week, Iowa escaped a close game with Illinois 29-20 to remain undefeated this season. Despite winning the game, they lost one of their best defensive players, Drew Ott, to a season-ending ACL injury. Northwestern is coming off a blowout loss to Michigan and being held to a season-low 38 rushing yards after averaging 248.8 yards a game. The Wildcats have won the last two matchups at Ryan Field since 2012.

PAGE 4

No. 10 Alabama at No. 9 Texas A&M

Sean Landry

No. 8 Florida at No. 6 LSU

No. 7 Michigan St. at No. 12 Michigan

USC at No.14 Notre Dame

No. 18 UCLA at No. 15 Stanford

No. 17 Iowa at No. 20 Northwestern

Auburn at Kentucky

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Tyler Waldrep

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Elliott Propes

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Marquis Munson

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Terrin Waack

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PAGE 5

The

REAL THING

By Terrin Waack | Staff Reporter

A

t 4 years old, all Jake Coker wanted to be was a country star.

In his family’s home in Mobile, Jake’s mom, Michelle Spires, often walked into a room to find her son standing on chair, belting out the lyrics to Tim McGraw’s “I Like It, I Love it,” as if he had an audience.

“It was hysterically funny,” she said, remembering her son’s performances. “He loved that song.”

Now, standing at 6’5” and 232 pounds, Jake would break that same chair if he tried standing up and dancing on it, but he still likes to sing and dance to country music – if you’re lucky, you may catch him out and about doing so on a night off.

Instead of making himself at home on a chair-turned-stage, Jake is making himself comfortable on a 100-yard field, reading coverages and calling plays as Alabama’s starting quarterback, more Tom Brady than Tim McGraw.

CW Layton Dudley

It didn’t help Jake’s singing career that he was raised in a family full of athletes, not entertainers. His mom was, and still is, one of the best competitive tennis players in Mobile.

Whenever Jake is home, she likes to challenge him to a quick match.

“It never goes well for him,” she said. “He thinks just because I’m a woman and older than him that he can beat me, but that will never happen.”

Then, there are his three siblings – all athletic. Before graduating in 2010, Jake’s older brother Patrick played free safety at the Air Force Academy, where his younger sister Shelley currently plays volleyball. The youngest, Peyton, is playing basketball at St. Paul’s Episcopal School, like his brother did before him.

Peyton may be younger, but he’s caught up to his big brother in height.

Continued on pg. 6

PAGE 6 Continued from pg. 5 CW Layton Dudley

“Jake asks him to please squat down in picture,� Spires said. “He doesn’t like his baby brother being taller. It’s pretty funny.�

The family is a close-knit one, even when spread apart. With Patrick facing deployment with the Air Force, Spires rallied the children for a reunion in Athens, a surprise for Jake. Under the watch of his family, Jake completed 1 1 o f 1 6 p a s s e s fo r 1 9 0 ya r d s a n d o ne tou ch d ow n.

The 38-10 win may be a great memory, but being able to be with his big brother, his hero growing up, was more important than any final score to both him and the rest of his family. “It was a really, really special moment,â€? Spires said. ••• Jake’s family would have never been able to see him play football at the collegiate level if it weren’t for the University of South Alabama’s current track and field coach Paul Brueske. In eighth grade, Jake debated taking a break from football, but thankfully, for the sake of Alabama’s future, he didn’t follow through with that decision.

As a former assistant football coach at St. Paul’s, Brueske was able to get to Jake before he could leave the sport, and kept his request simple: he needed a quarterback, and he wanted Jake to fill the roll. “He just decided he wanted to play quarterback, so he did,� Spires said. “He practiced and practiced.�

Once his talent kicked in, it was time to embrace and enhance it, so David

Morris, founder of QB Country, a yearround quarterback training and developing program, began working with the young athlete. “The high school Jake was a lot like his is now – real hard-working, real humble and loves the competition,� he said.

Morris also trained former Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron since he was a freshman at St. Paul’s, the same school Jake attended.

The pair – Morris and Jake – continue to work together only during the offseason, since Jake’s busy enough, getting his masters and playing Alabama football. That doesn’t mean they don’t stay in contact, however. ••• Morris looks at Jake, along with other quarterbacks he trains, like a younger brother. “We still jab at each other here and there just to talk a little smack from a distance,â€? he said. “It’s fun, though.â€?

When the two get together, the smack talk doesn’t stop. The pair will normally get into a heated game of QB Horse – similar to the basketball game. “I beat him most of the times,� Morris joked, despite the evenly distributed results. “As he got a lot older, bigger and stronger, he started winning more, which I guess was kind of fun for me because I hope he’s beating the coach.�

As evidenced by his 81-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Ridley during the Arkansas game, Jake has a cannon for an arm. Alabama defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson has personally felt

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CW Layton Dudley

the heat of Jake’s hand during practice.

He recalled it as probably the hardest pass he’s seen thrown – mainly because he felt it.

“It was point-blank range and I blocked it,” he said. “My hand was numb for a few days.”

Jake knows his strength. He’s tried using it to his advantage against Morris.

“He likes to challenge me with the deep ball kind of stuff, but I don’t let that happen,” Morris said.

••• Sometimes, the strength of his arm gets him in trouble on the field. He has thrown six interceptions in four games, two last week against Arkansas. One was a poor decision, Alabama coach Nick Saban said, but one was not. Spires also holds no punches when discussing the game with her son.

“We’re like, ‘Sorry, you cannot do that. You cannot do that. That was not a good decision, Jake,’ ” she said.

Each and every time, Jake responds, “Yes, ma’am.”

The longer someone is a quarterback, they are bound to notch mistakes, but that doesn’t mean Jake is OK with the errors. It’s how he handles himself after a mistake that is key. Yes, he gets mad at himself, but he does not let it affect him or his team.

“He’s just always positive, no matter what it is,” teammate Richard Mullaney said. “He’ll take the blame for it, I know he will, but it’s not always his fault. He’s always positive, always talking to us.”

••• Being true to his teammates is

something Jake has always held his ground on – that’s why he stayed at Florida State University as a backup to Heisman-winner Jameis Winston as long as he did. He gave the team his word.

“One thing he did do that people don’t realize, when he didn’t win the starting job at Florida State, we had a long conversation,” said his high school coach at St. Paul’s, Steve Mask. “He said, ‘Coach, I’ll stick with this. I gave my word to my teammates that I would be here.’ He supported Winston, but in the end, he needed to something better for him.”

Jake played in seven games at Florida State, completing 18 of 36 passes for 250 yards. His first collegiate touchdown pass was a 19-yard pass to Kelvin Benjamin against Savannah State, but Winston continued to hold the starting position.

“I was real proud of Jake for the way he handled that situation in not winning the job but being a great teammate and being a leader,” Morris said. “When he transferred to Alabama, it made sense.”

It’s not to say that he didn’t enjoy his time at Florida State because he did. He made good memories and good friends that he still stays in contact with who came and surprised him earlier this year. They cheered him on, albeit still decked out in Florida State spirit wear, as he got off the bus after a game.

He was a good teammate, but eventually, he wanted more and wanted to move forward in his football career. So he and his mom talked to coach Jimbo Fisher and came up with a plan that

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PAGE 8 Continued from pg. 7 enabled Coker to be eligible for two more years while playing football somewhere else – if he wanted to.

“I told him, ‘If you want to go play football somewhere else, do it for you.

Don’t do it for anyone else but you,’ ” Spires said.

Three years later, he graduated from Florida State with a bachelor’s degree in social science and is now a gradua t e student at Alabama pursuing h i s m a st e r ’s .

••• It was a shock to many, but not to those that know him, when Jake scrambled his way into the end zone on a three-yard run. Before he decided to pursue collegiate football at Florida State, he also played basketball. One of Alabama’s top running backs, Kenyan Drake was even impressed by Jake’s ability to weave his 6’5” figure through defenders.

“It’s interesting to watch him run,” he said. “I just stand behind him and watch in awe as he runs sometimes.”

Jake finished ahead of Drake against Ole Miss with seven carries for 58 yards with a long of 26 yards. He has always been able to run, however. Mask said he ran the ball in high school a lot, if not more than he does now.

His basketball skills still come in handy when he needs to make his way down the field or if he needs to show off to his teammates off the field.

Earlier this year, Jake and other Alabama quarterbacks played some wide receivers in a game of basketball at the Student Recreation Center.

Spires warned against it since he hadn’t played in so long and he could have hurt himself.

Jake sent his mom a text afterwards saying the quarterbacks won and, to his mom’s relief, there were no injuries to report. His teammates were shocked to see him play as well as he did – and, as usual, he made his mama proud.

••• Academically, he’s working on his master’s degree. Athletically, he’s earned his position at starting quarterback, but Spires is more proud of the m a n h e h a s b e c o m e t h a n h i s phys ical a cco mp l ishm e n ts .

“He’s weathered the storm,” she said.

“I told him, ‘Sometimes, you got to be in the dark to appreciate the light.’ Now, here we are.”

Jake’s humility is one for the books.

His mother admires it. His personal quarterback coach Morris admires it. His former high school coach Mask admires it.

From a father’s perspective, Mask said Jake is “the kind of kid, if you had a daughter, you’d want her to marry him.” From a coach’s perspective, Jake is reliable and does what he is told.

“He was the first kid in the building and the last kid out of the building,” Mask said. “He was the kind of kid that would make sure all the chairs were folded up and the locker room was all swept up.”

On top of that, he was and continues to be a competitor. During his junior year, there was a faculty vs. student basketball game. Mask said Jake was going bonkers when his team was losing,

reflecting the fire that ignites inside him during anything involving competition.

“I believe Jake would dunk over his mother if he had to,” he said.

But it’s not competitiveness in the negative sense. He’s not one to get up in someone else’s face and cause trouble, but he’s able to motivate his offense.

“Before, he was more a quiet, reserved guy, but now, he has a lot more fire on the field and that is something we rally around with him being out quarterback,” Drake said.

Now that’s he’s played two games from start to finish – Georgia and Arkansas – Jake is becoming more comfortable and in result, gaining more confidence, and it’s been noticed by his teammates and Saban.

But what’s most important to Spires is that her son is happy. He was always a happy baby, a happy kid and now, a happy adult – and a happy child means happy mom.

“Things are falling into place for him,” she said. “As his mama, I’m really happy about that.”

••• Despite all the moments under the Bryant-Denny stadium lights, the little country-singing boy Jake was at the age of four lives on.

A familiar song came on during Patrick’s wedding rehearsal in July. There was no need for the family to wonder who requested it – Jake never really moved on from his Tim McGraw phase.

“He wishes, I think, he was Tim McGraw still,” his mom said.

Music isn’t the only country aspect in Jake’s life – the others are just more easily seen than his singing and dancing.

Jake and his younger brother are heavily involved in raising the deer on their family’s farm – they’re deer breeders. It’s a complicated process, but they love it nonetheless. Especially for Jake, while at school at school, the farm is his getaway place from everything going on around him.

“If he’s not at school and he’s not studying film, and if he can get away from Tuscaloosa, he comes to the farm,” Spires said. “That’s really where he wants to be.”

The farm is a gathering place for Jake’s close-knit family. They all hunt and fish, but most importantly, they enjoy being in the country where everybody pitches in in order to get things done. Jake missed planting season this year – and it was a big one, Spires said – so the family back home missed him, But they know he’ll be back soon.

“They do have an off-weekend coming up and I think I know exactly which tree he is going to be in with his bow,” Spires said. “That’s what he enjoys doing.”

Coker even said it himself: “If I could hunt and fish, I’d do that anytime I could. Outside of football, that’s about it.”

If his mom is right – and moms usually are – Jake will be in his crimson and white No. 14 jersey this Saturday against Texas A&M, but come Alabama’s byweek after Tennessee, he’ll trade in his jersey, cleats and football for some camouflage, cowboy boots and his bow – and maybe a little Tim McGraw.

Photos courtesy of Michelle Spires

From left to right: Siblings Peyton, Shelley, and Patrick

PAGE 9

BEHIND ENEMY LINES

By Tyler Waldrep I Assistant Sports Editor

The Crimson White caught up with The Battalion sports editor Carter Karels to discuss this weekend’s matchup with No. 9 Texas A&M. The last time Alabama made the trip to College Station, Texas, the Crimson Tide won a 49-42 shootout with former Aggie quarterback Johnny Manziel.

What kind of impact has John Chavis had on the Texas A&M defense?

Q.

John Chavis was the perfect hire by [Kevin] Sumlin.

Chavis does not have his recruits on the roster but even so, he has completely turned them around.

The schemes he brings to the table work perfectly with A&M’s personnel. Since A&M’s defense is rather small, Chavis utilizes his players’ speed to his advantage. De’Vante Harris, a senior cornerback, was stagnant and never progressed in his first three years at A&M. His

A.

improvement this year has been exponential because of this more suitable scheme, and many other defensive players are following this trend. What Chavis has accomplished in just over six months with the Aggie defense is very promising for the future.

Can Texas A&M slow down or stop running back Derrick Henry, and which defensive players will likely be involved?

Q.

A&M’s kryptonite on defense is definitely the run game. But the Aggies’ poor run defense is not game-changing like it was the past three seasons.

Arkansas was most successful in exposing this flaw, but A&M garnered stops when it needed them.

Myles Garrett was poor last year against the ground-and-pound, but is much improved in [that] facet. I expect him to be a critical part along with the other defensive line members. The main players involved, however, should be the linebackers, Otaro Alaka, A.J. Hilliard, Donovan

A.

Wilson and the other guys that will rotate. They haven’t played up to par against the run, and Derrick Henry is a rare breed. They will certainly have to record their best performances in order to keep Henry in check.

Quarterback Jake Coker has a tendency to be a little careless with the football when he is getting hit. Do you expect Coker to be under pressure a lot this weekend, and who in the Texas A&M secondary can take advantage of any misplaced throws?

Q.

Myles Garrett is a Heisman candidate for good reason.

He could seriously be the first pick of the 2017 NFL Draft. Daeshon Hall is not far off from Garrett, which is scary. So, there will be pressure on Coker all night. Coker just isn’t the stereotypical “game manager” Saban asks for. With an away crowd, the Texas heat and an NFL poised defensive line converging on him all night, Coker will need to be quick, accurate and make the necessary

A.

Photo courtesy Alexis Will

plays. A&M’s cornerbacks have not been tested by premiere receivers, so Coker should be hitting his favorite target Calvin Ridley early and often.

Armani Watts and Brandon Williams might be the best athletes on the team, and Donovan Wilson leads the team in turnovers with three, so I expect that trio’s performance will dictate heavily on how the secondary does.

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PAGE 10

Big plays deciide games

By Tyler Waldrep | Assistant Sports Editor

E

xplosive plays gave the Crimson Tide trouble in big games throughout last season, and that tendency caught up with Alabama in the end. Ohio State had eight explosive plays (defined here as a play going for at least 20 yards if not more) in last year’s Sugar Bowl matchup. Four of those plays went for 40 yards or more.

Cornerback Cyrus Jones said the defense is doing a better job of limiting those explosive plays this season. The Crimson Tide is currently on pace to finish this season giving up around 37 explosive plays to opposing offenses. Last year the team surrendered 53.

“I just think we’re more focused this year and we communicate better,” Jones said. “It’s not like guys are going out there beating us strictly off of athletic ability.”

The defense does appear to have improved, but the Crimson Tide fell victim to big plays in the loss to Ole Miss.

More recently, coach Nick Saban said he was upset to see his team surrender an 83-yard touchdown run to Georgia running back Nick Chubb.

Arkansas also scored a long touchdown in the second half of Saturday’s game. Both touchdowns came at a time when Alabama’s victory seemed assured, but with the speed Texas A&M plays with the Crimson Tide might not have the luxury of relaxing with any sort of lead. Texas A&M could make Alabama regret taking a single play off.

“This is a big-play offense that we’re playing, so it will be imperative we do a good job,” Saban said. “But we’ve given up fewer big plays [lately], which is a positive.”

Last Season: First six games: 13 Total season (Power 5 only): 44 Total season: 53

Photo CW File

This season:: Wisconsin: 3-for-70 yards.

Middle Tennessee: 1-for-21 yards..

Ole Miss: 6-for-248 yards.

Lousiana Monroe: 0 Georgia: 5-for-193 yards.

Arkansas: 1-for 54-yards

CW Layton Dudley Photo CW File

PAGE 11

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

PROHIBITED

• A purse bigger than an 8 ½ X 11 shee t of

pape

r (Not responsible for items left at gate)

1. Bring your Action Card!

• Outside food or

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.

• Coolers

drink

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 12

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