Capstone Report

RECRUITING: Alabama starts National Signing Day 2012 with 8 already on campus

2012-02-01T05:31:25Z

The Alabama Crimson Tide football team had a nice head start on National Signing Day 2012 with eight players already enrolled at the Capstone and eligible to take part in Spring Practice. Below you will find some information about the early enrollees. Also, check back throughout the day for more information about this year’s signing class for the Alabama Crimson Tide. In the video player above, you can watch highlights of running back T.J. Yeldon in high school football action.

Alabama released this information about the eight players already on campus (courtesy of UA Media Relations): The group includes six high school players that graduated early to enroll at Alabama for the spring semester, and two junior-college signees. Alabama welcomes two defensive lineman, two wide receivers, two defensive backs, one running back and one linebacker for the start of the spring semester.

The January signees include defensive lineman Ryan Anderson (Daphne, Ala. /Daphne), wide receiver Chris Black (Jacksonville, Fla./First Coast), wide receiver Amari Cooper (Miami, Fla./Northwestern), linebacker Dillon Lee (Burford, Ga./Burford), defensive lineman Alphonse Taylor (Mobile, Ala./Davidson) and running back T.J. Yeldon (Daphne, Ala./Daphne).

The Crimson Tide also inked junior college defensive backs Deion Belue (Tuscumbia, Ala./Northeast Mississippi/Deshler) and Travell Dixon (Miami, Fla./Eastern Arizona/Norland). Belue, who originally signed with the Crimson Tide out of Deshler High School in 2010, is rated the No. 7 JUCO prospect in the nation by 247sports.com. Dixon checks in at No. 3 in the Rivals.com JUCO Top 50 and No. 9 in the 247sports.com rankings.

Yeldon gives the Tide one of the nation’s most coveted running backs. He is listed as the No. 1 running back nationally in the 247sports.com rankings and the No. 16 player overall nationally. Rivals.com has him at No. 12 overall and the No. 2 running back. Yeldon rushed for 2,193 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2011 while catching 19 balls for 244 yards and a score.

A pair of wide receivers, fresh off the Under Armour All-America game, also arrived on campus to bolster the receiving corps. Black, the No. 2 wide out nationally by ESPNU.com and the No. 3 pass-catcher by 247sports.com, caught 55 passes for 881 yards in 2011 after recording 990 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns a season ago. Cooper, considered the No. 8 wide receiver by Rivals.com and No. 9 by ESPNU.com, turned in an impressive performance at the Under Armour All-America game, hauling in a 75-yard touchdown catch and the following that up with a 93-yard punt return for a touchdown.

The Crimson Tide also added a pair of defensive linemen and a linebacker to round out its January enrollees. Lee is 53rd in the ESPNU 150 and ranked as the website’s No. 4 outside linebacker while Rivals.com lists Lee at No. 3. He had 84 tackles as a senior at Buford (Ga.) High School along with nine sacks, 17 tackles for loss and five interceptions.

Anderson gives the Tide an explosive athlete on the edge. He is ranked as the No. 51 player in the nation and the No. 8 outside linebacker by 247sports.com and the No. 98 overall player by Rivals.com. Taylor will provide Alabama with help at the nose guard position. He is No. 145 on the ESPNU 150 and a member of the Super Southeast 120 by the Mobile Press-Register.

2012 Alabama Football January Enrollees
NAME POS SCHOOL
Ryan Anderson DL Daphne, Ala./Daphne
Deion Belue DB Tuscumbia, Ala./Northeast Mississippi CC/Deshler
Chris Black WR Jacksonville, Fla./First Coast
Amari Cooper WR Miami, Fla./Northwestern
Travell Dixon DB Miami, Fla./Eastern Arizona/Norland
Dillon Lee LB Buford, Ga./Buford
Alphonse Taylor DL Mobile, Ala./Davidson
T.J. Yeldon RB Daphne, Ala./Daphne

RECRUITING: ArDarius Stewart explains his choice of Alabama for 2013

2012-02-01T05:53:22Z

Watch video of Alabama Crimson Tide 2013 commitment ArDarius Stewart talk about why he picked Alabama.

While most everyone is talking about the 2012 recruiting class, Alabama has already landed a few commitments for 2013. One of these is Ardarius Stewart of Fultondale. Stewart is a 6’1″, 170-lbs. quarterback/defensive back with some impressive stats. According to Scout.com, “Stewart had 199 carries for 2,188 yards and 30 touchdowns. The junior passed for 1,419 yards (68-of-123) and 20 touchdowns, 10 interceptions. Stewart had 48 tackles on defense and three interceptions with one returned for a touchdown. He also returned a kick for a 52-yard touchdown.” Also in 2010, “2A First Team All-State Athlete…..Stewart rushed for 1,146 yards and passed for 1,116 yards with 30 touchdowns.”

In the above video from CBS 42, Stewart said, “Coach Saban will give me a chance to play anything I want. I am not at a set position right now.” Picking offense or defense will have to wait until he gets on campus, the high school star told the interviewer.

On the issue of Alabama’s tradition and success ArDarius Stewart said, “I’d like to be part of the team and it is not just (the success), but also academics too and I believe I can get help there.” Stewart said the Alabama was a “great fit.” He praised the 2012 class and hopes the 2013 class will be too. “I’m glad to be part of it.”

Signing Day 2012: The Official Thread For New Crimson Tide Signees

2012-02-01T22:38:11Z

Signing day is here, and we’ll be updating this article throughout the day as Alabama’s commitments for 2012 make it official.

SIGNING DAY!

DB 6'0" 202lbs. Geismer, LA Dutchtown High School

• Consensus five-star prospect and the No. 1 safety in the nation by ESPNU and 247sports.com and a unanimous top player in the state of Louisiana
• Parade All-American
• First-team USA Today High School All-American
• No. 3 prospect nationally by 247sports.com and the No. 6 overall talent by ESPNU
• Starred in the Under Armour All-American Game, recording an interception and keying a goal-line stand
• ESPNU has Collins as the No. 2 overall recruit in the Southeast
• MaxPrep’s Tom Lemming ranks him as the No. 10 overall player and the top safety
• Rivals.com rates him as the No. 17 overall player and the No. 2 safety while Scout.com lists him 20th overall and the No. 2 safety
• No. 3 on the SuperPrep Elite 50 list
• SuperPrep All-American, the publication’s No. 1 defensive back and the top player in Louisiana as well as the SuperPrep Southwest Defensive Player of the Year
• No. 19 on the PrepStar Dream Team
• PrepStar All-American and All-Southeast Region choice
• PrepStar’s No. 1 safety
• No. 3 in the Mobile Press-Register’s Super Southeast 120
• 2012 247sports.com All-American as a defensive back
• Clocked at 4.39 in the 40-yard dash with an astounding 43.5-inch vertical
• Had 34 tackles with four interceptions–two returned for touchdowns on the defensive side of the ball while rushing for 1,218 yards and 21 touchdowns on offense while averaging 13.7 yards per carry
• One of the top players in the country, Collins had his choice of programs from across the nation.

OL 6'5" 292lbs. Ellenwood, GA Cedar Grove High School

• Consensus four-star prospect who is among the best players in the state of Georgia
• Played in the Under Armour All-American Game
• ESPNU rates Greene as the No. 6 offensive tackle nationally and the No. 30 overall prospect in the ESPNU 150
• Ranked as the No. 2 talent in Georgia by ESPNU and is 15th in the ESPNU Southeast 150
• 247sports.com lists him at No. 141 in the Top247 and the site’s No. 17 offensive tackle
• No. 33 offensive tackle by Rivals.com and the No. 20 tackle by Scout.com
• The No. 18 player from Georgia by SuperPrep
• PrepStar All-Southeast Region selection
• Tom Lemming of MaxPreps lists him as one of the top 50 offensive linemen
• No. 93 in the Mobile Press-Register’s Super Southeast 120
• first-team Georgia Sports Writers Association All-State selection in 2010 and 2011
• Chose Alabama over Georgia, Auburn, South Carolina and North Carolina.

ATH 5'10" 192lbs. Baltimore, MD Gilman High School

• Can play wide receiver or defensive back while excelling at punt and kickoff returns
• Clocked at 4.45 in the 40-yard dash with a 37.5-inch vertical leap
• Turned in a great performance at the Under Armour All-America Game
• Parade All-American
• Five-star wide receiver by Scout.com and the No. 45 player in the nation
• Four-star prospect by Rivals.com, 247sports.com and ESPNU
• No. 20 player in the ESPNU 150 and the No. 4 athlete
• Ranked No. 4 in the ESPNU East Region and the No. 2 player in Maryland
• 247sports.com rates him as the No. 8 athlete and No. 76 in the Top247
• Tabbed by 247sports.com as the state’s No. 3 talent
• No. 79 in the Rivals100
• Rivals.com lists him as the No. 6 athlete nationally and the third-best player in Maryland
• SuperPrep All-American who is ranked 46th on the publication’s Elite 50 list
• No. 3 athlete nationally by SuperPrep and the No. 4 player in Maryland
• PrepStar All-American and All-Atlantic Region choice
• 2011 Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year
• No. 76 in Tom Lemmings Top 100 nationally and the No. 7 athlete
• Consensus All-State player as a junior and senior
• Baltimore Sun All-Metro team in 2010 and 2011
• Baltimore Sun 2011 Metro Offensive Player of the Year
• Accounted for 2,365 all-purpose yards as a senior with 24 touchdowns while recording five interceptions on the defensive side of the ball
• Chose Alabama over Virginia Tech, Auburn, Ohio State and Maryland.

TE 6'4" 240lbs. Buford, GA Buford High School

• Physical player who excels as a blocker on the edge with excellent hands
• ESPNU has him as a four-star talent and the nation’s No. 13 tight end
• No. 124 in ESPNU’s Southeast Top 150 and the No. 25 player in Georgia
• Rivals.com has Freitag as a three-star prospect and the No. 13 tight end nationally as well as No. 27 in the Peach State
• Scout.com lists him as the No. 20 tight end
• 247sports.com has him as the No. 22 tight end
• PrepStar All-Southeast Region selection
• First-team Georgia Sports Writers Association AA All-State selection in 2011 after earning second-team GSWA All-State accolades in 2010 as a junior
• 2011 Super 6 choice by the Gwinnett Daily Post
• SuperPrep ranks him as the No. 20 player in Georgia
• Chose Alabama over Florida, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida State, North Carolina and South Carolina.

OL 6'4" 280lbs. Prattville, AL Prattville High School

• Second-team All-America honors from USA Today as a defensive lineman
• 247sports.com has Gulledge as the No. 23 player in Alabama and the No. 62 offensive line prospect
• SuperPrep lists him as the No. 25 player in Alabama while Rivals.com ranks him 30th and ESPNU 37th
• Rivals.com also lists him as the No. 32 offensive guard with Scout.com ranking him 66th among offensive tackle prospects
• PrepStar All-Southeast Region selection
• Three-star prospect
• Chose Alabama over Florida State, Kentucky and Wake Forest.

LB 6'2" 243lbs. Madison, AL Bob Jones High School

• Five-star grade from Scout.com and ranked as the website’s No. 1 middle linebacker prospect and No. 9 overall player in the class
• 4.6 in the 40-yard dash and a 34.5-inch vertical
• No. 1 middle linebacker prospect by Rivals.com and a four-star athlete
• No. 43 player in the Rivals100 while ranking as the No. 4 player in Alabama
• 247sports.com has him at No. 39 in its final Top247 rankings while rating him as the No. 2 inside linebacker and the fourth-best player in the state
• No. 109 in the ESPNU 150 and the site’s No. 2 middle linebacker
• 49th in the ESPNU Southeast Top 100 and No. 6 in the state of Alabama
• SuperPrep All-American and the publication’s No. 38 player on the Elite 50
• SuperPrep’s No. 1 linebacker nationally and No. 3 player in Alabama
• No. 33 on the PrepStar Dream Team
• PrepStar All-American and All-Southeast Region choice
• PrepStar’s No. 4 linebacker
• Three-time first-team ASWA 6A All-State honoree
• No. 4 in the Mobile Press-Register’s Elite 18 and No. 25 in the Super Southeast 120
• No. 4 on the Birmingham News Super Seniors list
• No. 11 outside linebacker by MaxPrep’s Tom Lemming
• Chose Alabama over Auburn, Florida and Tennessee.

LB 6'2" 243lbs. Bastrop, LA Bastrop High School

• Physical linebacker with good size and skill, Devall is ranked as the nation’s 111th-overall prospect by 247sports.com and No. 122 in the Rivals100
• Consensus four-star player who is projected at linebacker in college
• Rivals.com ranks him as the No. 2 player in Louisiana and the country’s No. 5 linebacker prospect
• 247sports.com rates him as the No. 3 player in the state and the ninth-best inside linebacker target
• Scout.com lists him at No. 8 among middle linebackers nationally
• SuperPrep All-American and the publication’s No. 5 linebacker nationally
• SuperPrep’s No. 3 player in Louisiana
• ESPNU ranks Devall as the No. 98 player in the southeast and the No. 22 defensive end
• No. 48 in the Mobile Press-Register’s Super Southeast 120
• No. 131 on the PrepStar Dream Team
• PrepStar All-American and All-Southeast Region choice
• PrepStar’s No. 11 defensive end
• 2011 Louisiana Sports Writers Association 4A All-State selection
• Recorded 73 tackles as a senior at Bastrop High School, logging 53 solo stops, two sacks, three pass breakups, one fumble forced and one fumble recovery
• Chose Alabama over LSU, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Arkansas and TCU.

QB 6'3" 225lbs. Allen, Texas Allen High School

• 247sports.com ranks Morris as the nation’s NO. 26 pro-style passer and the No. 85 talent in Texas
• Rivals.com rates him 30th among pro-style signal callers and 100th in Texas
• Scout.com lists him as the country’s No. 37 quarterback
• ESPNU ranks him 46th among quarterbacks nationally and the No. 101 prospect in Texas
• ESPNU also ranks him 132nd in the Midlands Region
• SuperPrep has him as at No. 120 in Texas
• Averaged 270.7 passing yards per game (3,242 yards) in 2011 with 35 touchdowns and just six interceptions
• Ran for 329 yards with nine rushing scores as a senior
• Completed 202-of-329 passes (61.4 percent) as a junior in 2010 threw for 2,534 yards with 22 touchdowns while completing 63.6 percent of his passes (189 of 297)
• Chose Alabama over Wake Forest, Michigan State and Virginia.

DL 6'5" 292lbs. Lynchburg, VA Brookville High School

• An elite defensive line prospect who played in the Under Armour All-America Game
• No. 100 in the ESPNU 150 and the eight-best defensive tackle
• ESPNU rates him as the No. 2 player in the state of Virginia and the No. 12 player in the ESPNU East Region
• 247sports.com has Kirven as the No. 6 player in Virginia and the No. 15 defensive tackle while ranking No. 189 in the Top247
• Scout.com also lists him as the 15th-best defensive tackle
• Rivals.com has him at No. 206 in the Rivals250, the No. 16 defensive tackle and No. 7 in Virginia
• SuperPrep All-American and the publication’s No. 35 defensive line prospect and No. 8 player in Virginia
• PrepStar All-American and All-Atlantic Region choice
• First-team All-State as a senior in 2011 after accounting for 15 sacks
• Chose Alabama over Virginia Tech and Tennessee.

DB 6'1" 182lbs. Atlant, GA St. Pius High School

• A consensus four star prospect
• ESPNU has tabbed Smith as the nation’s second-best cornerback and the No. 31 player in the 2012 ESPNU 150
• No. 16 prospect in the ESPNU Southeast Top 100 and the No. 3 player in the state of Georgia
• 247sports.com rates him as the No. 66 player in the Top247, the No. 6 cornerback and the No. 5 player in the state
• 88th in the Rivals100 and the service’s No. 8 corner as well as the No. 4 talent in Georgia
• Scout.com has him at No. 8 among cornerbacks
• SuperPrep All-American and the publication’s No. 3 player in the state of Georgia
• SuperPrep’s No. 10 defensive back (corners and safeties) prospect
• No. 66 on the PrepStar Dream Team
• PrepStar All-American and All-Southeast Region choice
• PrepStar’s No. 5 defensive back
• Two-time first-team GSWA AAA All-State selection
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super 11
• MaxPrep 2011 U.S. Air Force Medium Schools All-American
• No. 23 in Tom Lemming’s MaxPreps Top 100 and the No. 2 cornerback
• No. 18 on the Mobile Press-Register’s Super Southeast 120
• As a senior in 2011, Smith accounted for 80 tackles, three interceptions and over 800 yards rushing on offense
• Had eight interceptions as a junior and 14 pass breakups while making 47 tackles, three picks and 10 pass breakups as a sophomore in 2009
• Chose Alabama over Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Clemson, Georgia, Notre Dame, Southern California, Arkansas, Stanford and Georgia Tech.

WR 6'3" 204lbs. Panama City Beach, FL Arnold High School

• Consensus five-star recruit by ESPNU, Rivals.com and 247sports.com
• No. 11 in the ESPNU 150 and its No. 2 athlete in the 2011 signing class
• No. 4 player in the southeast and the No. 1 player in Florida by ESPNU
• 247sports.com rates him at No. 8 nationally in its Top247 while listing him as the service’s No. 2 safety and the top player in the state of Florida
• Rivals.com has him as the country’s top athlete, the No. 4 player in Florida and No. 24 in the Rivals100
• Scout.com lists him as the No. 3 safety prospect
• Played in the Under Armour All-American Game
• No. 34 on SuperPrep’s Elite 50 list, earning All-America honors as the publication’s No. 6 defensive back (corners and safeties)
• Ranks as SuperPrep’s No. 3 talent in Florida
• No. 8 on the Mobile Press-Register’s Super Southeast 120
• No. 3 safety in Tom Lemming’s MaxPrep rankings and the No. 83 overall prospect
• No. 24 on the PrepStar Dream Team
• PrepStar’s No. 3 safety
• Played quarterback, wide receiver, cornerback and safety in high school at Arnold where he was coached by James Hale
• 2011 first-team Florida 2A All-State selection
• Chose Alabama over Florida State, Florida and Auburn.

DL 6'2" 295lbs. Lindale, GA Pepperell High School

• Turned in a solid effort as a starting defensive tackle in the Under Armour All-America Game
• Four-star prospect by MaxPrep’s Tom Lemming
• Three-star defensive lineman by Rivals.com, Scout.com, 247sports.com and ESPNU
• Scout.com ranks Ball as the nation’s No. 27 defensive tackle prospect
• Rivals.com rates him at No. 29 among defensive tackles and the No. 28 player in the state of Georgia
• ESPNU considers him the No. 27 defensive tackles, 152nd among players in the Southeast and No. 35 in Georgia
• 247sports.com ranks Ball as the No. 36 defensive tackle and the No. 35 player in Georgia
• PrepStar All-Southeast Region
• Georgia Sports Writers Association AA All-State selection as a senior when he made 73 tackles with 17 tackles for loss, seven sacks, 38 quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, including one he returned for a touchdown
• Chose Alabama over Georgia, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Clemson and South Carolina.

RB 6'1" 204lbs. Powder Springs, GA Hillgrove High School

• The No. 88 player national in the 247sports.com Top 247 while ranking as the service’s No. 4 all-purpose running back and the No. 7 player in the state of Georgia
• Rivals.com lists Drake as the country’s No. 13 running back and 185th in the Rivals250
• No. 13 prospect in Georgia by Rivals.com
• ESPNU ranks him as the No. 15 running back and the No. 105 player in the ESPNU Southeast Top 150
• Scout.com rates Drake as the No. 17 running back nationally
• No. 57 in the Mobile Press-Register’s Super Southeast 120
• PrepStar All-American and All-Southeast Region choice
• Second-team All-State selection by the Georgia Sports Writers Association in 2010 and 2011
• Named to the All-Cobb County team and All-Region 4-AAAAA
• Rushed for 1,610 yards on 175 carries as a senior with 18 rushing touchdowns while averaging 9.2 yards per carry
• Also had 315 receiving yards with five scores while returning two kickoffs for touchdowns
• Georgia’s Gatorade Player of the Year
• Won the 100-meter championship in AAAAA
• Chose Alabama over Georgia, Georgia Tech, Tennessee and Purdue.

The following are the eight commitments who have already enrolled in school at the Capstone:

LB 6'2" 250lbs. Daphne, AL Daphne H.S.

• A five-star prospect by 247sports.com ranked as the nation’s No. 19 overall prospect and the No. 1 outside linebacker
• 247sports.com also ranks him as the No. 2 player in Alabama
• Ranked 93rd in the ESPNU 150 and the site’s No. 7 outside linebacker
• Has four stars from ESPNU, Scout.com and Rivals.com
• Listed at No. 98 in the Rivals100 as well as the No. 6 outside linebacker
• Scout.com has him as the No. 22 defensive end prospect
• No. 5 in the Mobile Press-Register’s Elite 18 and No. 33 in the Super Southeast 120
• SuperPrep All-American and the publication’s No. 25 linebacker
• The No. 8 player in Alabama by SuperPrep
• Member of the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Super 12
• An ASWA 6A All-State selection
• Had 105 tackles and 12 sacks as a senior in 2011
• Chose Alabama over Auburn, Florida State, Tennessee, Illinois and Kentucky.

DB 5'11" 150lbs. Tuscambia, AL Northeast Miss. CC

• Second-team NJCAA All-American in 2011 after recording 24 tackles, one sack and one interception
• Ranked by 247sports.com as a four-star prospect and the nation’s No. 7 JUCO player
• Coming out of high school (Deshler) was rated as the No. 7 player in the state of Alabama by the Tuscaloosa News and was No. 16 in the Mobile Press-Register’s Elite 18
• Listed as the No. 21 cornerback by Scout.com and the No. 39 athlete by ESPNU
• Two-time Alabama Sports Writers Association 4A All-State selection, named as a defensive back in 2008 and an athlete in 2009
• Rated 12th in the Birmingham News’ 2010 Super Senior rankings
• Competed in the Alabama/Mississippi High School All-State Game
• Recorded 70 tackles as a junior in 2008 with four interceptions with two returned for touchdowns
• Also returned two punts and one kickoff for touchdowns while hauling in over 800 yards receiving and five touchdowns
• Picked Bama over Auburn, UAB and Southern Miss.

WR 5'11" 180lbs. Jacksonville, FL First Coast High School

• A four-star prospect by every service
• No. 22 in the ESPNU 150 and the No. 2 wide overall receiver prospect
• No. 10 in the ESPNU Top 100 Southeast Recruits
• No. 5 player in the state of Florida
• Played in the Under Armour All-America Game
• Ranked 42nd overall nationally by 247sports.com, the No. 4 wide receiver and the No. 8 player in Florida
• Listed at No. 58 in the Rivals100 and is the website’s No. 8 wide receiver prospect and the No. 11 player in Florida
• Scout.com rates him as the nation’s No. 19 receiver
• No. 23 in the Mobile Press-Register’s Super Southeast 120
• SuperPrep All-American and the publication’s No. 13 wide receiver
• First-team Florida High School Sports Association 7A All-State selection
• No. 62 in Tom Lemmings Top 100 nationally
• Ranked 11th in the Orlando Sentinel’s Florida Top 100
• Listed as the No. 10 player in Florida by SuperPrep
• Hauled in 55 passes for 881 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2011 while rushing for 222 yards on 22 carries for 10.1 yards per carry
• Caught 49 receptions for 990 yards and 12 scores as a junior in 2010
• Chose Alabama over Florida State, Florida, Georgia, Auburn, Notre Dame, Miami, Clemson and Tennessee.

WR 6'1" 185lbs. Miami, FL Northwestern High School

• A consensus four-star prospect
• No. 45 in the Rivals100 and ranked as the No. 6 wide receiver and No. 8 player in Florida
• Listed as the nation’s No. 7 wide out and No. 46 in the ESPNU 150 while ranking 25th in the ESPNU Southeast Top 100 and No. 12 in Florida
• The No. 6 wide receiver and the No. 10 player in the state of Florida, ranked 56th in the Top247 by 247sports.com.
• Scout.com rates him as the No. 12 pass catcher
• PrepStar All-Southeast Region selection
• No. 13 in the Mobile Press-Register’s Super Southeast 120
• SuperPrep All-American and the publication’s No. 14 wide receiver
• First-team Florida High School Sports Association 8A All-State selection
• Ranked fourth the Orlando Sentinel’s Florida Top 100
• Listed as the No. 11 player in Florida by SuperPrep
• Caught 33 passes for 722 yards as a senior after hauling in 16 grabs for 175 yards and four scores in 2010
• Chose Alabama over Florida State, Miami and Ohio State.

DB 6'1" 195lbs. Miami, FL Eastern Arizona College

• A four-star prospect by Rivals.com, Scout.com and 247sports.com
• First-team National Junior College Athletics Association All-American as a sophomore at Eastern Arizona Community College in 2011
• The nation’s No. 3 JUCO prospect in the Rivals.com JUCO Top 50 and the No. 9 junior college player by 247sports.com
• The No. 3 JUCO player by SuperPrep
• Recorded 39 tackles with four interceptions, four pass breakups and one fumble recovery in 2011
• 26 tackles and three picks as a freshman in 2010 when he earned first-team All-Region and All-WSFL recognition
• Led all of Dade County in interceptions with seven in 2008 at Norland High School
• Made 30 tackles and forced two fumbles
• Chose Alabama over Florida State, Miami, Mississippi State, Arkansas, Arizona, Arizona State, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Texas A&M.

LB 6'4" 240lbs. Buford, GA Buford High School

• Unanimous four-star prospect in the four recruiting services
• 59th in the ESPNU 150
• Sixth-ranked outside linebacker by ESPNU and the No. 5 player in Georgia
• The No. 29 player in the Southeast by ESPNU
• No. 105 in the Rivals250 and the website’s No. 3 outside linebacker as well as the No. 9 prospect in the state of Georgia
• Scout.com rates him as the nation’s No. 4 middle linebacker while 247sports.com lists him at No. 150 in the Top247
• The No. 12 outside linebacker by 247sports.com and the 13th-ranked player in Georgia
• Georgia Sports Writers Association AA All-State selections
• No. 41 in the Mobile Press-Register’s Super Southeast 120
• SuperPrep All-American and the publication’s No. 7 linebacker
• The No. 5 player in Georgia by SuperPrep
• 93rd nationally by Tom Lemming
• Had 84 tackles with 17 tackles for loss and nine sacks along with five interceptions and a fumble recovery in 2010
• Chose Alabama over Florida State, Florida, Auburn and Clemson.

DL 6'5" 340lbs. Mobile, AL Davidson High School

• Four-star prospect by ESPNU
• ESPNU’s No. 15 defensive tackle and the No. 9 player in the State of Alabama
• 247sports.com’s No. 33 offensive tackle with four stars and the state’s 13th-best talent
• Scout.com’s No. 31 offensive tackle with four stars while Rivals.com has him as the No. 26 defensive tackle
• No. 100 on the Mobile Press-Register’s Super Southeast 120 and 10th in the paper’s Elite 18 (top 18 prospects in Alabama)
• PrepStar All-Southeast Region selection
• No. 11 on the Birmingham News Super Seniors list
• The No. 12 player in the state of Alabama by SuperPrep
• Recorded 30 tackles and four for loss in 2009
• Chose Alabama over Florida State, Auburn, Georgia and LSU.

RB 6'2" 210lbs. Daphne, AL Daphne High School

• Mr. Football in the state of Alabama by the Alabama Sports Writers Association and a first-team All-State selection by the ASWA
• Second-team USA Today High School All-American
• Five-star prospect by Rivals.com and 247sports.com
• No. 1 running back prospect in America by 247sports.com and the No. 2 player in the state of Alabama
• 247sports.com’s 13th overall player in the Top 247
• No. 2 running back according to Rivals.com and the site’s No. 12 in the Rivals100 and the No. 2 player in the state
• ESPNU lists Yeldon with four stars and ranks him as the No. 4 running back
• No. 55 in the ESPNU 150
• 28th in the ESPNU Southeast Top 100 and the No. 4 player in Alabama
• Scout.com rates Yeldon with four stars and the No. 8 running back
• SuperPrep All-American and the nation’s No. 6 running back
• 29th in SuperPrep’s Elite 50 and No. 2 player in the state
• No. 55 on the PrepStar Dream Team
• PrepStar All-American and All-Southeast Region choice
• PrepStar’s No. 8 running back
• No. 2 in the Mobile Press-Register’s Elite 18 and No. 5 in the Super Southeast 120
• No. 2 on the Birmingham News Super Seniors list
• Rushed for 2,193 yards on 232 carries and scored 31 touchdowns in 2011, averaging 9.5 yards per carry
• Caught 19 passes for 506 yards and a TD
• Totaled 1,112 yards and 18 scores on the ground as a junior in 2010 while also catching a career-best 34 passes for 504 yards and five touchdowns
• 1,121 yards on 201 carries as a sophomore with 34 catches for 361 yards and one TD
• Rushed for 227 yards and one score while hauling in 131 receiving yards and a touchdown through the air
• Finished his high school career with 4,653 yards on the ground with 65 rushing touchdowns while accounting for 1,502 receiving yards and eight scores
• Racked up a total of 6,155 yards from scrimmage in four years with 73 touchdowns
• Chose Alabama over Auburn, Florida, Arkansas and Clemson.

Alabama Football: Tide faces Mississippi State at Homecoming; sets A-Day Game for April 14

2012-01-31T20:12:57Z

The Alabama Crimson Tide will hold its annual A-Day Game on April 14. The Alabama team will face Mississippi State for Homecoming on October 27. The official release follows below:

DATES SET FOR 2012 ALABAMA A-DAY & FOOTBALL HOMECOMING (courtesy of UA Media Relations)
The University of Alabama has determined dates for the football team’s 2012 A-Day Spring Game and the 2012 Homecoming Game.

The Crimson Tide will hold its annual A-Day Spring Football Game on Saturday, April 14, at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Admission will be free to the public, but a kickoff time has not been set. Further details on television coverage and events surrounding A-Day will be released at a later date.

The 2012 University of Alabama Homecoming football game has been set for Saturday, October 27, when the Crimson Tide will host Mississippi State University at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Further details about Homecoming weekend activities, including a kickoff time for the game, will be released as they are finalized.

Auburn’s lunatic fringe displays its hypocrisy

2012-01-31T20:02:40Z

The Never To Yield Foundation is right—all Alabama fans are rude and evil. We are sinners. It is too bad we can’t be model Christians like all those Auburn men and women. Christians like those men of the Auburn Creed on the football team who committed armed robbery (link); or like a coach’s wife who bitched out sports columnist and radio host Paul Finebaum (link); or like the Auburn fans who wanted Finebaum banned from campus because they disagreed with his opinion (link); or like Cecil Newton who shopped his son for cash (link) or Cam Newton who reportedly committed academic fraud at Florida; or all those Auburn men who cheated so often that Auburn has been on NCAA probation more than any other NCAA scofflaw except SMU and Arizona State (see the Cheating Hall of Fame).

Perhaps instead of being bad people, Alabama fans should emulate Auburn fans. You know, Auburn fans like those who threatened to beat Paul Finebaum and spat on him during his visit to the 2009 Iron Bowl. Alabama fans should emulate those Auburn fans that wanted to ban Finebaum from campus in an effort to squelch free speech and differing opinions. Ban different opinions? Sounds great for a university doesn’t it?

Thank God Auburn is here to model correct behavior for the rest of college football. I’m sure Jesus would run his athletic department the same way Auburn men like Pat Dye run things on the Plains.

Auburn is the perfect counterbalance against the Antichrist that is Nick Saban. Auburn’s lunatic fringe attributes all the bad behavior from the likes of Harvey Updyke to Alabama’s football coach.

Here is the difference between Alabama and Auburn—the Updykes are the fringe element of Alabama, but Auburn’s shame comes from football players, coaches wives and fanatics on the Internet that all must have attended Auburn since Auburn has no sidewalk fans.

The Never To Yield Foundation is the problem just as much as any myopic fan. These types of people condemn others while refusing to see their own family problems. In the view of the Auburn lunatic fringe, only Nick Saban and Alabama are evil. They believe Auburn’s poop doesn’t stink.

However, in the real world a balanced view is needed. There are good Alabama fans. There are good Auburn fans. There are despicable people who cheer for both universities.

Sane fans on both sides know it, but Auburn’s lunatic fringe is composed of hypocrites. Hypocrites who prefer to call names than deal with their own internal problems. Hypocrites who prefer to distract themselves from the train wreck that is Auburn recruiting 2012 by name calling.

Hypocrisy truly is what defines the Auburn lunatic fringe.

Or is it delusion?

Either way, nothing will help distract Auburn from the 2011 season, Alabama’s 14th national championship (the ninth of the poll era), and another superb recruiting class from Alabama coach Nick Saban. Enjoy your hypocrisy Never To Yield. It is all you have.

Izzy Gould, B’ham News bashes Alabama once again (updated)

2012-01-31T18:51:10Z

Two days before National Signing Day, Izzy Gould, a beat writer for The Birmingnam News continues his assault on UA athletics.

If you remember, it was Gould who held hands with Paul Finebaum wannabe Kevin Scarbinsky last summer in the “T-Town Menswear” story, one of the biggest non-stories in the history of Alabama reporting.

That story mysteriously broke near SEC media days and the beginning of fall practice, though the actual incident had been introduced, investigated and dismissed by the University of Alabama the winter before.

But the facts of that story didn’t stop Gould’s and Scarbinsky’s vigor to “find something” on Alabama.

If you’ll notice, that sound you hear are thousands of crickets chirping ever since the two media goobs swung with all their might…and whiffed…for their “Pulitzer moment.”

Last night, again just two days before National Signing Day, Gould went on the assault, giving voice to the controversial mother of Crimson Tide commitment, Landon Collins.

If you’ll remember it was Collins’ mother, April Justin, who completely disrespected her son and his wishes on national television during the UnderArmour High School All-Star game.

When the young man had the opportunity to make his decision on where he would go to school, he chose Alabama. Immediately however, his mother (clad in purple and gold) began shaking her head. And, when momma had the mic what did she do? Told America her son had made a mistake.

Most respecting parents have those conversations in private; nothing was final at that point, and signing day, after all, wasn’t until February 1. But Ms. Justin elected to speak her mind with the world watching.

While being recruited, her son had a two-year span of time to make his college choice, and when his moment had finally arrived, momma trampled all over it.

Hard to understand why the young man lives with his father and step-mother. Now THERE might be a good story.

Fast-forward now to Monday night, when Izzy’s little fingers hammered away on his computer, so excited to give this poor excuse for a maternal figure a voice. Someone that selfish, that disrepectful of her own flesh and blood…what in the world is her story worth?

Izzy thought it was priceless. The man at the center of trying to create mayhem for the University of Alabama last summer again had his chance.

This, in a capsule, is what is wrong with the media today. Media members like Izzy Gould want to CREATE stories…or more specifically, BE the story…when in the past members of the media REPORTED stories.

But this is what we’ve come to expect from the feminine hygeine product called The Birmingham News. A “hit piece” on Alabama recruiting two days before National Signing Day, while The News, again, run by an Auburn graduate, continues to lob layups at the school in Lee County.

Where was the investigative piece on Cam Newton?

Where was the investigative piece Sunday night when Arik Armstead chose Oregon over Auburn, mainly because Oregon’s Chip Kelly “didn’t do any negative recruiting.” The obvious insinuation there is that Auburn, and others did. Where’s the story there? What did Auburn do? What negative tactics does Auburn employ?

Or here’s a story. Why don’t we investigate why Auburn’s recruiting, one year removed from a national title, is in the toilet. Why isn’t Auburn getting the recruiting “bump” you typically get just after winning it all? Could it be that in the wake of escaping the Cam Newton saga by the skin of their teeth there is now an NCAA microscope that Auburn now lives under, so the tactics of certain towel wavers long thought to be dirty (well before he came to Auburn) have had to be put on hold?

Why else would top recruits like Armstead, TJ Yeldon and probably Eddie Goldman not want to be “Auburn men” fresh off of the Tigers winning their first ever national title?

No, let’s not dig there, Birmingham News. Let’s give voice to a mother who doesn’t even have custody of her own child. Do you know how hard it is for a mother NOT to have custody of her child? Any divorced fathers reading this want to give me an “amen”?

But Izzy, let’s give this person a voice. The birth mother of one of Alabama’s most prized recruits, two days before National Signing Day, who fervently wants her son to do what she wants him to do over what he, his father and others in the family want him to do.

Izzy’s story centers on Collins’ mother’s disdain for Alabama, and her unconfirmed allegation that Alabama head coach Nick Saban offered Collins’ girlfriend an internship ahead of “20 other girls” on a waiting list–as if Ms. Justin would be privy to such inner-circle University knowledge.

But ole Izzy quotes this lady chapter and verse like a revival preacher.

Izzy then quickly points out:

“If Saban did offer Collins’ girlfriend a job, it could violate NCAA bylaw 13.2.1, which prohibits anyone with a school’s athletic interest from making arrangements for giving or offering benefits to a prospective student-athlete’s relatives or friends. NCAA bylaw 13.2.1.1 letter (a) specifically prohibits “an employment arrangement for a prospective student-athlete’s relatives.”

Last time I checked, a girlfriend isn’t a relative. And if she is about to be a UA student, on her own accord, from a family with Alabama ties, good luck swimming in that cesspool of ambiguity.

What Alabama fans are so tired of are Alabama beatwriters who seem to time their stories for maximum effect…or damage. This while Auburn beatwriters continue to pen “feel good” pieces on recruits no one has ever heard of, seemingly right from the Auburn Sports Information Dept. This just months after their pinnacle moment.

Landon Collins, the top safety prospect in the nation, will sign with Alabama on Wednesday, and for her sake, I sincerely hope Ms. Justin the best. We will gladly offer her a second and third chance to demonstrate maturity and good intent for her son, who wants to play for the best head coach and defensive back specialist in America.

Afterall, when Dre Kirkpatrick and Mark Barron go in the first round this April, they’ll be in good company with other DBs Saban has sent to the “money round.”

There’s your story, Izzy. How top talent continues to want top coaching for top opportunity. And who knows. Maybe you wanted to write it and were overuled. But your history in “story creation” in Tuscaloosa suggests otherwise.

And as your “street cred” with Alabama fans along with your newspaper continues to die, hopefully your access to the program will kick the bucket as well.

UPDATE – 01/31/12 – 12:30pm
Izzy Gould appeared on Birmingham-based WJOX at 12:05pm today (01/31/12) to “clarify” the story.

Gould said he did not plan the story for the day before signing day, though the interview if I understood correctly took place last weekend.

On the job itself alledgedly offered to the girlfriend, Gould said he couldn’t get any clarification if such a position existed because Alabama was not talking about it.

“It’s unclear what that job would be,” Gould said, “if there’s any money/credit attached to it.”

Gould said that Collins’ mother didn’t like the way Alabama’s coaching staff handled the recruiting process. Was too focused on getting him to the NFL, didn’t talk enough about academics. She was also clearly upset over the girlfriend and her mother.

(Note mine: Alabama boasts one of the most comprehensive academic centers in the nation, with graduation rates well above the national average, and in the upper echelon of the SEC. I can’t believe this information never came up in Collins’ recruiting process. Selective memory and a preoccupation with a girl trying to steal her son may be at play here.)

And yet, Gould said “April Justin was very complimentary of the Alabama program.” So there seems to be a lot of conflicting information that is “typical of the recruiting process.”

When he asked what she would wear to Landon’s signing (remember her purple and gold at his UnderArmour announcement), Izzy said she told him “She’ll show up wearing something pink.”

Still, why even make this a story? Why not focus on Landon and not on his tacky mom who has made the story about herself? Why focus on unsubstantiated information about a job that may or may not even exist?

Izzy Gould has a job to do, and I am not saying here that he awakes daily with an agenda to sink Alabama. I am saying however that time and association is everything, and his involvement in the T-Town Menswear story last summer will haunt him for a long time when he produces stories like this one that “look” fishy from the start. Giving April Justin an open forum to speak her mind on facts that can’t be substantiated while offering zero rebuttle on matters that she may be overlooking is what stirred the pot on this story for most Bama fans.

It’s fair to say it’s not Gould’s job to tote the water for Alabama. But that doesn’t mean that after running a story like this one, on this particular day, that his next eye contact with Nick Saban in the press room is going to be a comfortable one.

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RECRUITING: Alabama plans TV coverage of National Signing Day on Tide TV

2012-01-30T20:55:45Z

Alabama Fax Girl from National Signing Day 2011 Fax Cam

The University of Alabama will use Tide TV to present coverage of Alabama’s 2012 National Signing Day. Anchoring the live coverage will be Chris Stewart and Christopher England. Unfortunately, there is no mention of Fax Girl in this year’s coverage package. There will be a stream of the updating commitment board, and that means there might still be a slim element of hope. That stream goes live at 7 a.m. and is separate from the 9 a.m.-11 a.m. show.

Here is the official release via UA Media Relations:

TideTV will Air National Signing Day Show from 9-11 a.m. Wednesday

Alabama head coach Nick Saban will meet the media at 4 p.m. in the Naylor Stone Media Room
The University of Alabama will produce a two-hour National Signing Day Show on TideTV that can be viewed from 9-11 a.m. on RollTide.com and beginning at 11 a.m. on WVUA. Alabama head coach Nick Saban will then wrap up the day’s proceedings with a press conference at 4 p.m. in the Naylor Stone Media Room.

The TideTV production will be hosted by Chris Stewart and will include biographical information on the signee as well as video highlights. Joining Stewart will be TideTV’s Christopher England, who will introduce Alabama’s latest signee and have phone interviews with a select group of those signees.

There will also be a separate stream of the “Big Board” that will give fans immediate knowledge of the Crimson Tide’s latest letters of intent. The “Big Board” stream will go live at 7 a.m. on TideTV.

ESPN will also be on site in Tuscaloosa and reporting throughout the day with live signing day coverage.

Biographical information and links to signee highlights will be immediately available at RollTide.com. The latest NLIs will also be tweeted out @AlabamaFTBL and posted to Facebook at Alabama-Football as soon as they are available.

Tide wins 500th in Coleman; beats the Hogs

2012-01-29T01:22:38Z

In what was a must win game for Anthony Grant’s Alabama Crimson Tide basketball team, Bama ended a four game losing streak to take the 72-66 win in front of a sell-out crowd of 13,145.

Trevor Releford led all scorers with 18 and JaMychal Green added 14 from the bench to lift the Tide over Arkansas. The home team has not lost in the series since 2007.

With the win Alabama improved to 14-7 overall, and 3-4 in SEC play. The win was also Alabama’s 500th win all-time in Coleman Coliseum. Arkansas falls to 15-5, and 3-3.

Bama’s next must-win of the year comes next Saturday as the Ole Miss Rebels come to town for a 7:00pm tip.

“Entitled” Bama loses…again

2012-01-26T09:02:05Z

Hellooooo NIT. Maybe. Hopefully.

Columbia, SC – The Alabama Crimson Tide basketball team continued its downward spiral Wednesday night with a 56-54 loss on the road at South Carolina, a team that had not won an SEC contest until sharing the court with Alabama.

It would be Alabama’s fourth consecutive loss as Bama’s once promising 2011-2012 season continues its progressive derailment.

“From my vantage point tonight – you had a team, in South Carolina, that played inspired basketball,” said UA head coach Anthony Grant. “They played as a team. We didn’t. It’s been an issue for us and it continues to plague us.”

But perhaps the most telling moment of the night came in Coach Grant’s next words:

“We play an entitled brand of basketball that is very frustrating as a coach. For me, right now, I have to self-evaluate what I’m doing as a coach when it consistently feels like winning is not the priority that it needs to be on our team, so we’ve got to re-evaluate what we’re doing as a coaching staff.”

An “entitled” brand of basketball. I could not think of a better word.

Because if I see Tony Mitchell walk around, not play defense and pout one more time, awaiting his next opportunity at an electrifying dunk, I am going to puke my guts out.

Never have I seen a more gifted athlete squander what he has over an apparent horrible, selfish, me-first-team-last attitude than in Alabama’s number five.

And I hope what Grant means when he says “we’ve got to evaluate what we’re doing as a coaching staff” actually means “We need to sit Tony Mitchell until April, when he realizes he isn’t ready for the NBA and does actually have to contribute on plays other than dunks.”

But Mitchell isn’t alone. Is there a center in all of college basketball softer than JaMychal Green? There are newborn bunnies all over the planet more fierce and intent on taking away the lane than Green.

The game was lost over the course of 40 minutes when Bama…again…couldn’t score. But the ultimate daggar came when the Gamecocks’ Bruce Ellington drove untouched to the basket for his only points of the 2nd half, giving South Carolina the lead with one second remaining.

There are matadors in Spain who could not have let Ellington waltz right past them better than Tony Mitchell did on the play, and JaMychal Green offered about as much opposition on the play as a fat kid’s will-power to turn away after eyeing a piece of cake.

JaMychal Green is the anti-Anthony Davis, the Kentucky center who defends his basket like his life depends on it. Green gives scores on his away like a pimp trying to make a living.

But in the epitome of softness, the Tide actually had the chance to score just before the fateful South Carolina possession. But in predictable fashion, Alabama didn’t get so much as a shot off before turning it over. Hence, giving a team 8-10 on the year (0-4 in conference play) its first win in front of a home crowd that would’ve made UAB football attendance counters blush.

“You can’t turn the ball over in those situations. I have to look at it on film, but we’ve got to be able to get a shot at the rim.”

I’m no expert, but you don’t have a chance to score if you don’t shoot the basketball toward the basket.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Anthony Grant is a fantastic basketball coach, and this Alabama team is chocked full of young players capable of creating a force in Tuscaloosa.

But there were literally times Wednesday night when I thought I was watching a church league basketball game. No intensity. No urgency. No togetherness. No fire. Just people wearing the same crimson uniform standing around, making occasional outstanding individual plays, but getting beaten (again) in the end.

The only thing more funny than believing this team can and will make it to the NCAA Tournament (which amazingly I still hear people say they will do) is expecting different results in the remainder of the Tide’s basketball season. I believe someone coined that logic as the definition of insanity.

But maybe “re-evaluation what we’re doing as a coaching staff” finally means what I hope it does: Sitting a couple of “entitled” upper classmen who provide highlights but zero leadership in favor of younger players that will become something if they stick together.

(Follow me on Twitter for capstonereport.com news, commentary and smack.)

Auburn hits homerun with new offensive coordinator; Gene Chizik making the right offseason moves

2012-01-24T20:21:25Z

Auburn fans take heart! Don’t let Alabama fans tell you that new Auburn offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler is a downgrade from Gus Malzahn. That simply isn’t true. Loeffler is a homerun that will work in conjunction with other important actions taken by Auburn head coach Gene Chizik to put Auburn back on the path to success.

One major problem for Auburn in the 2011 season was internal turmoil. The media might try to gloss over it, but anyone watching and listening to the Auburn coaching staff could tell there was a fundamental difference of opinion between Auburn’s Gene Chizik and his subordinate Gus Malzahn.

However, there was an even more fundamental problem at work.

Malzahn doesn’t want to be anyone’s subordinate. The guy loves himself more than Phil Fulmer loves to eat or Tony Barnhart loves to suck up to SEC football coaches.

Malzhan is a cancer on any coaching staff. He was a disruption at Arkansas, and his inability to help the Auburn defense by running a ball control offense was a key reason the 2011 season was disappointing.

Malzhan never understood what Gene Chizik clearly comprehends—football is a team game that requires the entire staff to be working toward the same end.

Malzahn’s only purpose was self-aggrandizement.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t help you win football games.

It was the same attitude problem afflicting runningback Mike Dyer. Dyer left Auburn after rules violations. Dyer amazingly wound up transferring to join Malzahn’s Arkansas State.

Two cancers gone from Auburn.

That is a major win for Gene Chizik and the 2012 Auburn Tigers.

Loeffler will function as part of the team. His philosophy will compliment every phase of Auburn’s game plan. The running game and passing game will now function not as a showcase to get the OC a head-coaching job, but as an effort to score points. As a bonus, fans should expect to see fewer double-pass reverse fumblerooski plays in the future.

Chizik now has the chance to preside over a coaching staff with a unified purpose. There are simply fewer personal agendas in play now that the Chizik has excised the reasons for 2011’s disappointing season.

Chizik has shown he is a real leader and hired a coach who will build an offense to compliment the defense.

How could you not call this a homerun hire?

Has Anthony Grant lost this Bama team?

2012-01-20T17:52:47Z

At halftime of last night’s Crimson Tide basketball game against the Vanderbilt Commodores, former Alabama head coach Gene Stallings presented junior offensive lineman Barrett Jones with the Sportsmanship Award from the Awards and Recognition Association.

And that was the lone highlight of the evening.

For the eigth straight contest, Vandy defeated the Tide basketball team, this time 69-59 in front of an announced crowd of 12,202 in Coleman Coliseum.

But don’t kid yourself, the game was not a 10-point contest.

It was a butt-whipping of BCS National Championship Game proportions.

If Jordan Jefferson happened to have been watching, he may be the only person not participating in the game who fully understood what he was seeing.

Yeah, I get that Vanderbilt is a veteran team. The Commodores are a force in the SEC on the hardwood, stocked with sharp-shooting and intricate defensive schemes that would rival anything on Tobacco Road.

But is there any excuse for Alabama to be bludgeoned as badly as last night, on their floor, to a team NOT named Duke?

Quite frankly, what it looked like to me was a team quitting. Someone should have checked the visitor’s locker room to make sure Nick Saban wasn’t delivering his famous “make their ass quit” speech before the game, because that’s what seemed to unfold in the 40 minutes that followed.

The parallels between this Alabama basketball program and where the football program was pre-2008 are everywhere.

If you remember, the 2007 press conference speech Nick Saban made the Monday after the Lousiana-Monroe game was the turning point for the football program.

That year, it wasn’t that Alabama lost games. It was how they lost them.

It may be time for Grant to lay down the gauntlet like Nick Saban did. Do it right here, or I’m out of here.

If I see Tony Mitchell walk one more time up the court, or pout, or do any of the billion other DJ Hall-esque things he does on a nightly basis, I’m going to explode.

Or if JaMychal Green takes another horrible shot trying to be “the man,” I may go poison some of my own trees. #5 and #1 at the end of the game cost the Tide a rare opportunity to win in Starkville.

And selfish, ill-advised play will continue to cost Alabama games, and a shot at returning to the NCAA tournament.

This team is soaking wet with ability, talent and potential. But right now it is blowing it like the prodigal son blew his fortunes on wild living.

Let’s just hope Anthony Grant is as forgiving as the father in that story, and that a second chance on a season hanging in the balance is what lies ahead.

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“Tea bagging” incident a snapshot of all that’s wrong in sports

2012-01-19T20:41:25Z

By now you’ve at least heard about the infamous “tea bagging” incident in the Krystal Hamburger Restaurant on Bourbon Street.

You’ve probably even seen it as a passed out LSU fan is taunted by Alabama fans, even to the point that one fan removes his package from his pants and rubs his manhood on the passed out fan.

This incident is a capsule…a perfect example, if you will…of all that has gone wrong in sports today.

First things first: Let’s be clear. The LSU fan is not an innocent victim here.

He was not removed from his home or hotel room where he was resting peacefully, minding his own business.

Instead, apparently he had chosen to get plastered in public, to the point that he could not maintain consciousness. Public intoxication in every city in America is a crime. However, the lines tend to blur on Bourbon Street, so to speak.

But speaking of Bourbon Street, this is a place internationally known for levels of debauchery once reserved only for cities like Sodom and Gomorrah. To choose that location to drink yourself to the point that you can no longer function, sleeping wherever gravity finally casts you is a level of stupid few will ever experience in life.

Now throw in that this fan was “allegedly” being confrontational with rival fans, taunting them throughout his drunken state. I’m sure none of us have ever encountered a combative, confrontational LSU fan, have we?

And throw in that ~~many~~ ~~most~~ likely all of those he was taunting were inebriated with liquid spirits themselves, and you have yourself a powder keg in a room full of lit matches.

Question #1: Wanna know how I know I’ll never have another man’s junk rubbed on me while I’m unconscious?

I’M NOT GETTING DRUNK IN PUBLIC, PASSING OUT JUST SECONDS AFTER TAUNTING DRUNK MEMBERS OF AN OPPOSING FAN BASE THAT HATE ME BOTH FOR WHAT I’M DOING TO THEM AND WHO I’M FOR. A second grader can get that.

Secondly, what in the world possesses a person to remove their genitals and rub them on someone?

Make no mistake, the activity seen in that video is criminal. Touching someone sexually without their consent is a crime, whether the touching involves your genitalia, their genitalia, or both.

The guy seen in the video is in big trouble. Harvey Updyke kind of trouble. The same type mob that’s ready to see Harvey swing from any tree in Lee County is ready to hang this guy from the nearest moss covered tree in Baton Rouge, and not by his neck.

Had he kept his pants zipped he would have stayed out of trouble. Oh, how many times has that statement been true in life?

Question #2: Wanna know how I know I’m never going to jail for a lewd act like this guy performed on the unconscious LSU fan?

I’M NOT REMOVING MY JUNK FROM MY PANTS IN PUBLIC, RUBBING THEM ALL OVER SOMEONE. Again, not a hard concept.

Third, what’s wrong with football fans?

The temptation from all who hate Alabama (or the SEC for that matter) is to pile on after an incident like this.

But do I really have to remind you that this isn’t an “Alabama fan” issue?

Mal Moore doesn’t send an email out periodically reminding boosters to rub their genitals all over opposing fans. Nick Saban doesn’t preach the importance of tea bagging to the fans when he has the opportunity to address them.

Had I had a video camera rolling the night my 75 year old father was challenged to a fight at a gas station by two Auburn fans in their 30′s for apparently just having an Alabama hat on, that would’ve made neat video for YouTube.

Or the time Tennessee fans flattened three of the tires of a friend’s SUV outside Neyland Stadium.

Or the time LSU fans in Bryant-Denny kept pelting my wife, myself and everyone around us with ice in 2005.

Or the time I watched a dozen LSU men in their 50′s taunt and throw things at the Alabama cheerleaders for an entire game in Baton Rouge in 1998, girls young enough to be any of their daughters.

Or the Georgia fans, who when I was just a high school student, came after me in Athens following a loss.

Folks, the problem isn’t a particular incident. The problem is hate. Whether the source of the hate is the color of your skin, or the colors that you wear, the problem is hate.

Get that fixed and you don’t have incidents like this. Since that’ll never happen, expect more.

But to say “Thar goes them Bama fans” is as ignorant as the incident that took place itself.

Hatred is the problem.

Question #3: How do you fix this?

ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST FOR WHO HE SAID HE WAS AND MAKE HIM LORD OF YOUR LIFE. Your perspectives on things like Alabama football change when you do.

Finally, I’m just surprised to know there’s a Krystal Hamburgers on Bourbon Street. When I first heard about the incident I thought “Crystals” was just another raunchy boob bar on that street.

It makes total sense that it’s there, as an alcohol soaker I guess. But what doesn’t make sense is that on a street known for any and everything, we’re shocked that something like this happened.

Tell me, what again do they do on that street for plastic beads?

Does it make it right? No. But mix alchohol with fanatacism, hatred, and an area known for lewd activity, and you’ve got yourself a picture of everything wrong with fandom in sports.

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Alabama Football: Nick Saban brings Lance Thompson back to the Capstone

2012-01-19T07:20:09Z

If you can’t beat him, then join him. That is the best explanation for why recruiting superstar Lance Thompson has returned to Alabama.

You might remember when Thompson went to Tennessee to join Lane Kiffin, the dynamic Vol duo promised to build a fence around Memphis and prevent Alabama coach Nick Saban from landing top recruits. Well, when Kiffin bolted from Knoxville in the middle of the night faster than a third-world dictator runs from a mob, poor Lance was left to survive in the aftermath under a new coaching staff.

At least Thompson escaped before things get worse in Knoxville. Here is the official release from UA with quotes from both Alabama head coach Nick Saban and Alabama outside linebacker coach Lance Thompson.

Alabama Football Announces Hiring of Lance Thompson (courtesy of UA Media Relations)
University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban announced Wednesday the hiring of Lance Thompson. Thompson returns to the UA staff after spending the last three seasons at Tennessee. As he did in 2007 and 2008, he will work on the defensive staff and coach the outside linebackers for the Crimson Tide. Alabama put together an impressive 12-2 record in his second season, winning the SEC West title and a BCS bowl bid. The Tide ranked third nationally in total defense (263.5 ypg) and seventh nationally in scoring defense (14.3 ppg) in 2008. Thompson was named the Rivals.com National Recruiter of the Year for his work in helping UA land what was widely regarded as the nation’s top signing class in 2008.

“We are pleased and happy to have Lance join our staff,” said Saban. “He has worked for us previously and has always done an outstanding job with all of the aspects that go into being an assistant coach. Lance knows our system on defense well, and he does a great job of communicating that information to the players. On a personal level, he relates well with the players and is a very good recruiter. We are glad to have Lance back with our program at the University of Alabama.”

Thompson spent the last three years at Tennessee (2009-11) working with the linebackers the first two seasons and the defensive line in 2011. Previously, he was a member National Championship staffs at Georgia Tech and LSU. Thompson has been a member of two SEC championship coaching staffs, two ACC championship staffs and one Conference USA divisional winner.

“I’m really glad to be back at Alabama, and I appreciate the opportunity Coach Saban and Kirby Smart have offered me,” said Thompson. “As a defensive coach, it doesn’t get any better. I look forward to doing my part in helping to maintain the success Coach Saban has brought back to the program. The tradition and history at Alabama is like no other place in the country when it comes to college football and this is a special time to be a part of that.”

In his first stint with Saban, Thompson spent two seasons at LSU as the assistant head coach in charge of recruiting and the tight ends coach for the Tigers during their national championship season in 2003. Thompson began his tenure at LSU in 2002 as the defensive line coach.

After his LSU tenure, Thompson spent three years as defensive coordinator at UCF. He served as Alabama’s defensive line coach in 1999-2000 as the Crimson Tide won the 1999 SEC Championship and earned a BCS bowl berth (2000 Orange Bowl).

Prior to his first two-year stint at Alabama, Thompson was a part of the Georgia Tech staff for 11 years. During his stay with Georgia Tech, Thompson was defensive line coach in 1998; defensive ends coach in 1996 and 1997 and tight ends coach in 1995. Thompson served as the Georgia Tech’s recruiting coordinator from 1995-98 and then again in 2001. Prior to serving as an on-field coach for the Yellow Jackets, Thompson held the position of Director of Football Operations at Georgia Tech from 1992-94.

Thompson got his start in coaching in 1988, serving as a graduate assistant for two years at Georgia Tech, followed by two more years as a volunteer assistant in 1990 and 1991. Thompson coached the defensive ends, including former All-American and All-Pro Marco Coleman. Georgia Tech won the national championship in 1990.

As a player, Thompson was a four-year letterman at The Citadel, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in education and mathematics in 1987. A native of Riverdale, Ga., Thompson has three daughters – Allie, Christina and Lane.

Alabama Football: Nick Saban tabs Doug Nussmeier as offensive coordinator

2012-01-19T07:07:57Z

Alabama Football Announces Hiring of Doug Nussmeier as Offensive Coordinator (Courtesy of UA Media Relations)
University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban announced Wednesday the hiring of Doug Nussmeier as Alabama’s offensive coordinator. Nussmeier spent the last three seasons on the staff at the University of Washington, where he held the same title. He takes over for Jim McElwain, who was recently named the head coach at Colorado State.

“We are excited to have Doug as our new offensive coordinator at Alabama,” said head coach Nick Saban. “Not only does he have a good deal of experience as a coach and a player both at the college and NFL level, but he also brings a great passion for the game and a lot of energy and enthusiasm. At Washington, they were very productive on offense, especially with their quarterbacks. Jake Locker finished his career as one of the top passers in Washington history and was Tennessee’s first round pick. Keith Price stepped in as a first-year starter last season with very little experience, and not only set school records, but also ranked seventh nationally in pass efficiency. I think Doug will be a great fit with us and we are looking forward to the Nussmeier family joining our staff at the University of Alabama.”

Last year, Washington’s offense scored 57 touchdowns and 431 points, the second-highest totals in school history (behind only the 1991 National Championship team). The 2011 season marks for passing yards (3,322) and total offense (5,328) were also second in UW record books. Nussmeier helped guide sophomore quarterback Keith Price to one of the top individual seasons at Washington as the first-year starter broke records for passing touchdowns (33), completion percentage (.669) and passing efficiency (161.9). That efficiency rating was seventh nationally and second in the Pac 12 behind only Andrew Luck of Stanford. The Huskies scored 30 or more points in nine of 13 games and also featured an outstanding ground game led by Chris Polk, who ranked 16th nationally with an average of 114.5 rushing yards per game.

“I’m both honored and excited to have the opportunity to coach at the University of Alabama,” said Nussmeier. “I’m looking forward to jumping right in with recruiting and then getting to know the players and everyone involved with the program. Coach Saban and his staff have obviously done a tremendous job here and I want to do my part to help continue that success. I’ve heard a lot about Alabama football in terms of the history, the tradition, the great fans, and I can already see why this is such a special place. I want to thank Coach Sarkisian, the players, the staff and everyone at the University of Washington for all they did for me and for our family while we were there. It was a great experience and we have great memories from our time at the UW.”

In 2010, Nussmeier oversaw a balanced attack that finished the season with 2,238 rushing yards and 2,475 passing yards. The offense was led by Polk at tailback, whose 1,415 rushing yards were second-most in UW single-season history. Additionally, Nussmeier mentored quarterback Jake Locker, who finished his career ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in nearly every major quarterbacking category. Locker was the No. 8 overall pick in last year’s NFL Draft, selected by Tennessee Titans.

In his first season at Washington, Nussmeier’s offense made tremendous strides over the previous year. The Huskies scored 26.1 points per game, nearly doubling their average from the previous year while total offense was up more than 110 yards per game over the 2008 average. Nussmeier also spent his first season coaching Locker, who had one of the most productive seasons in Husky history. Locker passed for 2,800 yards, the third-highest total in school history, while his offense also boasted a 1,000-yard rusher in Polk. Nussmeier came to the UW after one season as the offensive coordinator at Fresno State.

He joined the Fresno State staff after spending two seasons as the quarterbacks coach for the St. Louis Rams on the staff of head coach Scott Linehan. He coached Marc Bulger, who was named to his second Pro Bowl in 2006, finishing with 4,301 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and only eight interceptions.

Before his time with the Rams, Nussmeier was the QB coach at Michigan State for three seasons. In 2005, MSU quarterback Drew Stanton passed for a school-record 3,415 yards, breaking a record set by another Nussmeier pupil, Jeff Smoker, who threw for 3,395 yards in 2003. Smoker also set MSU records for completions (302), attempts (488) and passing touchdowns (21).

Nussmeier, who played in both the NFL and the Canadian Football League, began his coaching career in the CFL. In 2001, he was the quarterbacks coach for the British Columbia Lions and then, in 2002, served as the offensive coordinator and QBs coach for the Ottawa Renegades.

During his outstanding collegiate career at Idaho, Nussmeier passed for 10,824 yards and averaged 309.1 yards per game in total offense for his career. Along with Steve McNair, Daunte Culpepper and Colin Kaepernick, he is one of only four QBs in NCAA history to total 10,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing during his career. He set Idaho school records for TD passes (91), passing efficiency (154.4), completion percentage (.609) and total offense (12,054 yards). In 1993, he won the Walter Payton Award, Division I-AA’s version of the Heisman Trophy. That year, he led Idaho to an 11-3 record and set a school record with 33 TD passes. He was also the Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year in 1992, when the Vandals went 9-3 and won the conference crown. Nussmeier was inducted into the University of Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.

In 1994, Nussmeier was drafted in the fourth round by the New Orleans Saints. He played four years (1994-97) with the Saints and one with the Indianapolis Colts (1998). In 2000, he helped the BC Lions to the Grey Cup Championship. The Oswego, Ore., native attended Lakeridge High School and earned his bachelor’s degree in business and marketing from Idaho in 1994. He and his wife, Christi, have two sons, Garrett and Colton, and a daughter, Ashlynn.

Alabama Football: National championship celebration planned for January 21 at Bryant-Denny

2012-01-14T15:44:14Z

BCS 2012 Championship Logo

Here is the official information courtesy of UA Media Relations about Alabama’s 2011 National Title Celebration:

National Title Celebration Timing Schedule
12 p.m. – Bryant-Denny Stadium Gates Open
2 p.m. – Program Begins

FOOTBALL NATIONAL TITLE CELEBRATION TO BE HELD SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, AT BRYANT-DENNY STADIUM
The University of Alabama will celebrate the Crimson Tide football team’s 2011 National Football Championship on Saturday, January 21, at 2 p.m. in Bryant-Denny Stadium. The event will feature the Crimson Tide football team and head football coach Nick Saban. The celebration will last approximately one hour and admission is free.

The entire celebration will occur inside of Bryant-Denny Stadium. There will not be a Walk of Champions event preceding it. Tickets are not required to enter the stadium, and all seating is general admission and will be first-come, first-served. This event will be held regardless of weather conditions. Items normally prohibited in the stadium will not be permitted in the stadium during the celebration event. Block seating will not be available for students.

Seating will be limited to the West side of the stadium. Fans can access the stadium via the lower bowl entrances by entering through gates 10-13 and 16-19. They also can access gates 5 and 21 for the upper levels and on the West side of the stadium. UA students with a valid UA Action Card can access the field for the event though gate 31 located at the southeast side of the stadium. The first 1,000 general public fans that wish to watch the event from the field will be allowed to enter via gate 30. All gates will open at 12 p.m., two hours prior to the event.

Stadium concessions will be available in multiple locations in the lower level of the stadium, but food vendors will not be located on the Quad. No outside food or drinks will be allowed into the stadium. Officially licensed National Championship products, apparel and more will be available for purchase outside the stadium and in the SUPe Store.

The first 30,000 fans entering the stadium will receive a poster of the championship team. Fans also will be allowed an opportunity to have a photo taken with the BCS National Championship Trophy in the South End Zone Plaza starting at Noon.