An oral history of the University of Alabama’s football season, as told by the people who lived it
Uneven Opener By Tommy Deas
Executive Sports Editor
The University of Alabama won its season opener, defeating West Virginia 33-23 in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. But it wasn’t pretty. The Crimson Tide gave up 365 passing yards and looked confused at times with inside linebacker Trey DePriest, the team’s defensive play-caller, sitting out due to a suspension. UA, however, gave up just one touchdown to West Virginia’s hurry-up, nohuddle offense, with the other points coming on a kickoff return and field goals. Blake Sims made his first start at quarterback and played every snap. He passed for 250 yards, but threw an interception and didn’t complete a touchdown pass. T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry each topped the 100-yard rushing mark. Alabama didn’t play with the polish one might expect of a team ranked No. 2 in the preseason, but it was a start. Blake Sims, senior quarterback: The first game just trying to get the feel, the first college game, I’m trying to convince my players that Coach Saban made the right decision and I can go out there and play, and just let them know that I can be a great leader for this team. Nick Saban, head coach: He called a couple formations wrong in the huddle, he called a couple plays wrong. There was some confusion on the field.
staff photo | michelle lepianka carter
Blake Sims was 24 of 33 passing for 250 yards and one interception in his first start at quarterback for the Crimson Tide in a 33-23 victory over West Virginia.
Sims: It wasn’t my best game. That’s the best game I can go back and look on and see what I could get better on. Continued
staff photo | robert sutton
Alabama running back T.J. Yeldon (4) dives into the end zone for a touchdown during the second quarter of the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game against West Virginia in Atlanta. Yeldon rushed for 126 yards and two touchdowns.
Lane Kiffin, AJ McCarron, how that went. offensive coordinator: former UA quarterback: Really I think we probably did a poorer Awesome, unbelievable game for him. Alabama’s defense looked chaotic at times job at times early from a coaching stand- I’m Blake’s biggest fan. with Reggie Ragland making the start in Depoint of calling the game best for him. Priest’s place, taking on the responsibility of making the play calls. T.J. Yeldon, Most of Sims’ completions were on short junior running back: throws. Amari Cooper caught 12 passes for 130 He came out with a lot of doubters and yards to kick off a campaign that would see him Reggie Ragland, stuff and it was the Chick-fil-A (Kickoff finish third in Heisman Trophy balloting, with junior linebacker: Game), it was a big stage for him, and I feel much of his production coming on quick-toss It was my first game really getting to like he did a great job of doing that and screen passes. Sims threw a wobbly ball on a play and seeing how it feels out there. West handling the quarterback situation. deep pass that fell incomplete with Cooper wide Virginia put a good pace on us, it was very open on a fourth-down play. fast at first. Saban: For him to throw for 250 yards, he did a Kirby Smart, pretty good job of executing all in all and Sims: defensive coordinator: I’m happy with his progress. I knew that was an opportunity for one It was kind of thrust upon him in the of my teammates to get a touchdown. I first game. Kiffin: know I could make that throw. I do believe our system is very quarterRagland: back-friendly. It’s a system that does not Amari Cooper, Looking up, trying to see where you had take a long time to learn. And so guys can junior wide receiver: to cut to and seeing the receivers moving in the first year of it perform well, or if In the beginning of the season a lot of fast and me not moving as fast, I was kind they’re young players that you bring in can corners played back, so the screen’s al- of slow and sluggish. I was doing so much play really well. ready built into the run (play call), so if thinking, it was hurting me at first. Blake sees it open he’ll just throw it. That’s Continued
staff photo | robert sutton
Smart: I thought we could have made it simpler for them. I could have made it simpler for them.
Above: Derrick Henry (27) rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown in the Crimson
Tide’s victory over West Virginia. below: Alabama defensive back Landon Collins (26) celebrates with Crimson Tide teammates after their victory over West Virginia.
Trey DePriest, senior linebacker: It was upsetting. I never watched a game (instead of playing), but I apologized to my teammates before it and after that just moved on. I was thinking that, man, it could be taken away. I knew I wasn’t done playing, but sitting out that one game just really did make me appreciate it a lot. Smart: I kind of knew West Virginia we would struggle with Trey being out and this guy’s first start in that kind of atmosphere away from home in the dome. We struggled a little bit, which I thought it would be that way. Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia coach: It’s frustrating. You play against a really good team and you’re in position in the fourth quarter to be able to win the game. I mean you don’t have those opportunities very often. Clint Trickett, West Virginia quarterback: We really had the confidence that we were going to compete. Saban: I thought this game was going to go exactly like it went.
staff photo | robert sutton
staff photo | michelle lepianka carter
Top: Alabama
quarterback Blake Sims talks to offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin during the fourth quarter.
left: Alabama wide receiver Christion Jones runs into West Virginia defenders Jarrod Harper (22) and Terrell Chestnut (16) during the second half.
staff photo | laura chramer