SEC Football

Alabama, Florida are top 2 in BCS

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 07:11:04 -0500

NEW YORK (AP) - Alabama and Florida are at the top of the season's first BCS standings, making it yet another all-SEC top two, with Oregon and Kansas State close behind the Gators.

The Crimson Tide in first was no surprise. Alabama is an overwhelming No. 1 in both polls used in the BCS formula. Florida in second was less anticipated. The Gators are No. 3 in the polls, but rated best by the computer rankings That gave them a slight edge over Oregon and Kansas State when the numbers were crunched. Florida's BCS average is .9092. Oregon's is .8993 and Kansas State's is .8963.

Notre Dame is fifth and not too far back at .8774.

Despite the strong showing by the Southeastern Conference, another all-SEC national championship game is still a long shot. Oregon's schedule is backloaded with strong opponents and the Ducks will likely be able to close the gap in the computers if they keep winning.

The Ducks play Arizona State on Thursday (5-1) and still have games against Southern California and Oregon State left, and a possible Pac-12 title game.

Florida has some tough games left, too, starting Saturday against South Carolina.

With half the season still to play, there are plenty possibilities and teams still alive.

Teams with one loss, such as sixth-place LSU, seventh-place South Carolina, ninth-place Oklahoma and 10th-place USC are still very much in the race as long as they keep winning.

Oregon State is in eighth, the lowest rated of the unbeaten teams.

This is safe to say: If Alabama keeps winning, the Tide will play for its second straight national title, and third in four seasons.

Alabama has never before been first in the initial standings. Seven times since the Bowl Championship Series was implemented in 1998, the team that was first in the initial standings went on to play in the BCS title game.

Seven times the team that started second played for the BCS title. And only twice has neither of the teams that were in the top two spots in the first standings reached the title game.

Alabama athletic director Mal Moore in hospital

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 04:56:24 -0500

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WAAY) - University of Alabama athletic director Mal Moore was admitted to DCH Regional Medical Center Tuesday evening.
This, according to the school's athletic communications office.
Moore was admitted because of an irregular heartbeat.
A news release from Moore's personal physician, Dr. James B. Robinson, stated "Coach Moore was admitted as a precautionary measure and is doing fine."
The 72 year-old Moore has served as the school's athletic director since 1999.
From 1958-62, he was a Tide quarterback, winning a national championship under coach Paul "Bear" Bryant.
Moore has also served as an offensive coordinator and quarterback's coach for Alabama.

Tim Tebow Birthday Pizza

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 16:43:19 -0500

MADISON, Ala. – New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow celebrated his 25th birthday on Tuesday.

For Tebow fans, it was celebrated like a national holiday - even here in Alabama.

Joe Carlucci, owner of Famous Joe’s Pizzeria, is a huge Tebow and Jets fan. He decided to whip up a pizza pie to celebrate Tebow’s birth.

“I wanted to come with something no one has seen before,” Carlucci said.

Carlucci was assisted by Jonathan Patterson, an interior design and architecture student at the University of Memphis.

“It took us about two weeks to figure it out and it took about a week to get all the cheese cut out,” Patterson said.

It total, the pizza contains six pounds of dough, seven pounds of cheese and four pounds of spinach were used to make the green color for the Jets.

“We started talking and I thought of Tim Tebow, his face, the Jets being his new team and God,” Carlucci added. “Who better than God to be next to Tebow with some angels around him?”

The pizza also includes 3:16, as in John 3:16, the Bible verse Tebow sported on his eye black while at the University of Florida.

Carlucci added that he would like to have Tebow make pizzas with him at Famous Joe’s and have all the proceeds go to Tebow’s favorite charity.

This is the second Tebow pizza Carlucci has made. Check out the first here.

Auburn pruning Toomer's trees

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 13:56:35 -0500

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) - Auburn's poisoned oak trees are going through another round of pruning.

The city says a contractor hired by Auburn University will be cutting back the ailing hardwoods most of the day on Wednesday. Some lanes will have to be closed, so traffic could be a problem through town.

The university also plans to release an update on the health of the trees at Toomer's Corner, where fans traditionally gather to roll the oaks with toilet paper after a big win.

A University of Alabama fan is awaiting trial in Lee County on charges of poisoning the trees with a powerful herbicide. School officials say they're still unsure whether the landmark trees will survive.

Alabama Holds Annual Fan Day

Sun, 05 Aug 2012 20:04:40 -0500

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama football team held its 2012 Fan Day festivities at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Sunday. There was an estimated 3,000 fans on hand for the open practice and autograph session.

“The best part about today is being able to give back to the fans,” said linebacker Trey DePriest. “They come out every game and support us, so to be able to give back is great.”

The Crimson Tide practiced for two hours in the Tuscaloosa humidity in shells (shorts, shoulder pads and helmets) for the first time this camp, working on basic offensive, defensive and special team drills. Practice was followed up by a 45-minute autograph session on the field.

“Today is all about the fans,” added defensive back Dee Milliner. “It is great to be able to come out here and show them a little something of what they might see this season. It is just nice to be able to show our thanks for all their support.”

Alabama resumes its preseason practice slate on Monday beginning at 2:30 p.m. at the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields.

Alabama Media Relations Contributed To This Report

Alabama passes first test

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 13:27:39 -0500

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) - Nick Saban says this Alabama team had probably the best results from the summer physical test of any group he's coached.

The defending national champion Crimson Tide returned to the practice field Friday to start fall camp trying to replace four NFL first-round draft picks and seven starters on defense.

The veterans practiced in the morning and the newcomers work in the evening.

Saban says the results from the annual test of sprints and bench press shows that Tide players have invested themselves in summer workouts.

He says running back Eddie Lacy isn't limited in workouts after toe surgery that kept him out of spring practices. Lacy is expected to replace Heisman Trophy finalist Trent Richardson.

Saban says the camp's biggest goal is to see how well newcomers develop roles.

LSU ready to kick off

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 17:25:12 -0500

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - LSU's season opener is nearly a month away and already defensive end Sam Montgomery is feeling "a sense of urgency" among the Tigers to settle unfinished business.

Montgomery says coming up short last season in the national title game hurt after all the work that was put in to win the first 13 games, most of them by double digits.

New starting quarterback Zach Mettenberger says he saw a lot of focus this summer and promises that the Tigers are ready to work hard.

Safety Eric Reid says LSU's many returning regulars are thankful to have another chance to try to finish a season the way they believe they should have last season - by winning a national title.

LSU's first game is Sept. 1 at home against North Texas.

Tennessee looking for rebound

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 17:23:14 -0500

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Coming off consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1910-11, Tennessee expressed renewed confidence and optimism as players reported for fall camp Thursday.

Left tackle Antonio Richardson said the Volunteers know how much talent they have and believes the key will be bonding together as a team, which was an emphasis during the offseason.

Entering a critical third year for coach Derek Dooley, Tennessee has a potentially explosive passing attack and a veteran core of starters, but also has big question about the lack of a running game in recent years and a new defensive system.

The Vols open fall camp Friday.

LSU #1, Alabama #2 in first coaches' poll

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 14:24:11 -0500

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Despite its lopsided loss to Alabama in last January's BCS national title game, LSU will open the 2012 season ranked No. 1 in at least one poll.

LSU sits atop the USA Today Top 25 coaches poll released on Thursday, with Alabama second and Southern California third.

LSU received 18 first-place votes, slightly fewer that the 20 first-place votes for the Crimson Tide and 19 first-place votes for the Trojans. Still, the Tigers narrowly had the most overall points in the poll, which awards 25 points for a No. 1 vote down to one point for 25th.

Oklahoma and Oregon round out the top five, followed by Georgia, Florida State, Michigan, South Carolina and Arkansas.

LSU and Alabama, rivals in the Southeastern Conference, meet Nov. 3 in Baton Rouge.

1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. USC
4. Oklahoma
5. Oregon
6. Georgia
7. Florida State
8. Michigan
9.South Carolina
10. Arkansas
11. West Virginia
12. Wisconsin
13. Michigan State
14. Clemson
15. Texas
16. Nebraska
17. TCU
18. Stanford
19. Oklahoma State
20. Virginia Tech
21. Kansas State
22. Boise State
23. Florida
24. Notre Dame
25. Auburn

Dyer dismissed from Arkansas St.

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 12:01:57 -0500

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas State Police say they launched an internal investigation tied to the March traffic stop of Michael Dyer, the running back who was dismissed by Arkansas State over the weekend.

The investigation has been completed, but authorities will not release details. They say it is a personnel matter and that the agency can't comment further.

Dyer was dumped from the team on Sunday due to an unspecified violation of team rules.

During the March 10 traffic stop, Trooper Royce Denney stopped two vehicles, one of which was driven by Dyer. He was ticketed for going 96 mph in a 70 mph zone.

Dyer is a former Auburn star who was recruited to Arkansas State by new coach Gus Malzahn.