Rammer Jammer

Government Football

2009-07-14T14:57:00.001-07:00

Countdown to Kickoff (and new swag)

2009-07-14T11:41:00.000-07:00

Kickoff is just a few weeks away. I haven't checked on the exact day or hour countdown and haven't bothered to figure it up myself (no one told me math was involved in blogging). I am ready for game day.

Speaking of game day, specifically Alabama Gameday where I guest blog, I am working on a new article about playoffs, congressional involvement, and the silliness of the whole matter. Stay tuned for the most insightful and definitive opinion ever on the matter. If you can't find that one, read my article when it is online.

Also, don't forget to get decked out in the latest swag for the season. Click here to buy a car decal of the elephant sticker shown above.

Roll Tide.

Welcome Coach Grant

2009-04-05T14:01:00.001-07:00

I look forward to seeing you lead the basketball team. It has been a long time since we have seen a basketball team wearing the Crimson "A" run actual plays on offense.

Thank for answering the call.

Walk This Way

2009-01-21T19:37:00.000-08:00

Did you ever notice Big Al on the cover?

The First One

2008-12-18T05:51:00.000-08:00

So, I did my first blog at Alabama Gameday. Check it out.

New Opportunity

2008-12-15T18:00:00.000-08:00

I have let this blog drop out of my rotation of writing for a while. I have thoroughly enjoyed this season, however, and I think there are many great years ahead of us. Even though our little cousins to the south like to accuse of of living in the past, the true Tide faithful always look to the future with expectation. It's part of who we are.

A lot has happened in my life since I last wrote here. I have branched out in my career (to undetermined success) in radio, web, and print. We'll see how it all works out. As luck would have it, a good friend from early in my career started a Bama blog and I have been a faithful reader ever since. Last week, Tony at Alabama Gameday asked me to write for his blog. I consider it an honor to do so, and I will try not to add it to my list of neglected blogs.

I've known Tony for more than a decade and I take some credit for introducing him to the way of life that is Alabama football. Granted, his family and the fact that he lived in Tuscaloosa also helped, but I couldn't resist the opportunity to participate in self congratulations.

So, if you are stumbling across this blog, I hope you will enjoy it and follow the nicer blog over there as well. Enjoy some of my previous observations and write in. Blogging is no fun if we don't hear from you.

LSU officially grabs Stanford's Johnson - News

2008-04-11T08:48:00.000-07:00

LSU officially grabs Stanford's Johnson - News

I just found the headline funny. Sorry to be a Beavis.

Remember This?

2007-12-10T14:38:00.000-08:00

Bear Bryant Story

Alabama Versus Colorado

2007-12-09T16:20:00.000-08:00

Well, Alabama finds itself (once again) in Shreveport for a bowl. This year, the Crimson Tide will play the Buffaloes of Colorado. It could be an interesting game. As it gets closer to game day, I will post some expert picks and analysis.

Overall, I would consider Coach Saban's first year at Alabama an success - although a limited one. As someone who supported Coach Shula because I wanted him to be a success, I am discouraged by reports that many of the older players are merely going through the motions. This attitude is not Alabama football, and I will be happy when a new breed of player enters the Capstone.

Seniors should be leaders, but it is telling that the team selected some underclassmen as team captains. While that speaks well for the future, it is a sad statement of what the program might have become if Shula had been given more time.

It's sad. I liked the guy. I hope he will mature into a quality head coach one day, but Alabama is not a good place to learn under fire. I hope Coach Saban and the coaching staff can put together a winning game plan for the bowl and hit the road looking for players with talent, heart, and character.

RTR

Coach Saban

2007-06-11T12:51:00.000-07:00

In June, there is not much we can talk about in college football. Spring practice is over and the players are weeks away from reporting to camp. We could discuss the record attendance for a Spring game, but that has been done.

Instead, I will comment that I think it is funny that so many people in the sports media are complaining that Coach Saban doesn't talk to them.

Why should he? He gets all of the coverage he needs without having to crank up the PR machine. Now, he can be on the radio every day without having to do an interview. If all media coverage was this easy, public relations would be a dream job.

A couple of years ago, I had the privilege of covering the SEC Media Days as a radio sports reporter for a radio network. It was a blast. Media days is held in Hoover, Alabama and I was surrounded by fans of Alabama (my Alma Mater) and Auburn. People flooded the lobby of the Wynfrey Hotel to catch a glimpse of Coach Shula. Just imagine how many people are going to be there this year. If the Spring game is any indication, it is going to be a great event.

I hope to cover it again this year. If I do, I will post my thoughts here.

Alabama vs Arkansas

2006-09-24T07:33:00.000-07:00

I don't think the role of armchair quarterback is a very productive way to behave when your team loses a game it should win, or doesn't play up to its potential. However, I have noticed a few things about this year's edition of Crimson Tide football. They move the ball in the air very well. They do not run the ball very well, despite trememdous depth at the position of running back.

I have noticed that the heralded first team running back is not running as he has in the past. I don't know if he is hurting or just hesitating but when the running game becomes little more than running to the line of scrimmage, jumping around like a crimson clad jumping bean, and falling down, then the answer should be found in the depth at the position.

Alabama should turn to Roy Upchurch and Jimmy Johns to spark the running game and let Darby rest and clear his head of whatever is holding him back. I don't mean to attack Darby, but football is a team sport the coach should do what is best for the team. Forget trying to engrave someone's name in the record books. Those things take care of themselves over time.

John Parker Wilson has done a nice job of leading the team and has passed for more than 200 yards every game. He deserved a win in Arkansas. Alabama was a far superior team. I wonder if they would have been in the position to have to win on kicks that went astray if Coach Shula was playing to win rather than playing not to lose.

Scrimmage

2006-08-24T16:57:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate to be in Tuscaloosa for a board meeting on Saturday the 18th and I walked over to the stadium to see part of the scrimmage. Here are a few observations, take them or dismiss them. They are just my thoughts.

• The stadium looks incredible. When I attended UA, Bryant Denny was still a bowl shape and they built the first upper deck while I was there. It is hard to imagine this is the same place.

• John Parker Wilson is a solid QB. He does not have the distance of Brodie, but he is good on his timing patterns and appears to make good decisions.

• The team is DEEP at RB.

• We may have a punter!

• Guillon still looks inconsistent.

There is a guy who stands up the whole scrimmage and offers loud words of "encouragement" to the team. He is just a fan who imagines he is a coach. I wonder if anyone can actually hear him?

I think the Tide will surprise a couple of teams this year and finish much higher than their preseason ranking.

no explanation needed

2006-08-24T14:58:00.000-07:00

Roll Tide

2006-08-07T14:59:00.000-07:00

Today the team reported to camp and tomorrow is the first practice. There are a lot of questions to be answered, but I hear a lot of people saying the O line should be good this year.

Football season is almost here.

This Blog

2006-07-31T08:35:00.000-07:00

I graduated from the University of Alabama and I love college football. There are a lot of web sites where people chronicle recruiting and second guess play calling. I enjoy the whole experience of game day. Driving into campus, visiting friends at my old fraternity house, walking across the quad, hearing the roar of the crowd in the stadium as kickoff approaches.

There is a different smell in the air as football season approaches. It will be here soon. I'm not going to compete with the major blogs who detail the minutia of each player's day. I don't care what John Parker Wilson had for breakfast.

If you have any stories to share about your time on campus, memories of great games, or a nice Saturday this season feel free to share them here in a comment. I'll write some about my experiences as well. Kickoff is only a few weeks away.