Latest

Alabama’s permanent captains for ‘08:

December 7, 2008 · Leave a Comment 

Center Antoine Caldwell, safety Rashad Johnson and quarterback John Parker Wilson — all seniors — were voted by teammates as permanent captains and honored during Alabama’s football awards banquet tonight.

Caldwell and Johnson were team captains in 2007. Only six players in school history had been multi-year captains before this season.

“The seniors on this team should have a legacy on this team and be remembered by they were the team that brought a lot of pride back to the University of Alabama, to the football program and to the people of the state of Alabama who support it,” Tide coach Nick Saban said. “And I think that should be their legacy; that they went undefeated in the regular season, which is a very difficult thing to do.”

In a bit of a surprise, tailback Glen Coffee was named the team’s most valuable player.  More @ AL.com

Tide lets game slip away to Gators

December 7, 2008 · Leave a Comment 

TideSports.com - Cecil Hurt

TUSCALOOSA | All that stood between the University of Alabama football team and a chance to play for a national championship was 15 minutes — and Tim Tebow.

That proved to be too much.

Alabama took a three-point lead into the fourth quarter of the SEC Championship Game on Saturday in the Georgia Dome, but watched its grasp on greatness slip away as Florida pulled away for a 31-20 victory, the first loss of the year for the Crimson Tide.

The victory will put Florida in the BCS title game in early January, as well as giving the Gators the SEC title. Alabama is expected to take a bid to the Sugar Bowl, where it will face Utah and wonder what might have been.

As in any classic game — and the contest did live up to most, if not all, of the pregame hyperbole — every moment, from Florida’s opening touchdown drive to John Parker Wilson’s late, coffin-closing interception, resonated in some way. But no sequence was more important than Florida’s go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter.

“I don’t know the entire history of Florida football, but I can imagine that drive going down as one of the greatest ever,” said Florida coach Urban Meyer.

The Crimson Tide had just taken the lead by powering the football down the field on an impressive 65-yard drive, or, as Meyer described it, “jamming it down our throats.” But the drive ended, not in a touchdown, but in a 27-yard Leigh Tiffin field goal, putting the Crimson Tide ahead 20-17.

“I thought that would have been a big momentum thing right there, if we had scored a touchdown instead of a field goal,” Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said.

Still, Alabama had taken the lead. Florida started its answering drive in good field position after Brandon James — a weapon for the Gators all day long — returned the UA kickoff to the 37-yard line. The Gators moved into Alabama territory and, on a crucial third-and-three, appeared to have been stopped short of a first down at the Crimson Tide 43-yard line. But UA freshman linebacker Donta Hightower was flagged for a facemask violation, putting the Gators at the Crimson Tide 28. Five plays later, Jeffery Demps scored from the 1-yard line to give Florida a lead it never relinquished.

Saban described Alabama’s attempt to answer on the next series as “not very good.”

“We tried a deep ball, didn’t hit, didn’t run very well on second down, couldn’t convert (on a pass) on third down and had to punt,” Saban said. “It was a really critical series for us.”

Florida’s answering drive pushed the Tide’s stalling from “critical” to “decisive.” Powered by Tebow, the game’s MVP, Florida marched 65 yards and scored again. Tebow hit a 33-yard pass to Louis Murphy to flip field position, then — after a penalty on the UF sidelines pushed the Gators back from the 1-yard line — the junior threw a six-yard strike to Riley Cooper to put UF ahead 31-20.

Alabama managed one first down on its next possession, but a harried Wilson threw an interception that ended all Alabama hopes with 99 seconds to play.  More @ TideSports.com

SEC Championship Show with Ken Taylor

December 3, 2008 · Leave a Comment 


Direct Download - Length: 38min  Size: 32mb

Guest: Ken Taylor - Former Track Coach @ Nease High School -

As no surprise to Bama fans, the national pundits say Alabama should all but forfeit the upcoming 2008 SEC Championship game this Saturday.  I guess they think we’ll get totally dominated just as the likes of LSU, Georgia and others - that’s okay.  There is no other position I’d rather THIS undefeated Bama team be than a 10 point underdog.  Actually I wish Vegas would just widen the point spread even more!

Before I go into a rant on national media, we’ve got great guest on this weeks show!  Ken Taylor is the former track coach @ Nease High School in Ponte Vedra, FL.  You know Nease High for where Florida QB Tim Tebow was recruited from, along with Bama LB Charlie Kirschman and WR Will Oakley.  Ken has a plethora of insight on this upcoming SEC championship game.  Having roots in Florida and Alabama, Ken Helps to cover this game like no other. - We’ll see you in Atlanta! If your going to the game, send us an email:  RollTide@tidecast.net

Intro resignation of Tommy Tubberville brought to you by: Jeff Roney of www.roneyzone.com

Co-hosts, Larry and Ben

ROLL FREAKIN TIDE!!!

Talk of Champions

Hogs Look on as Their Team is Turned to Pulled Pork

September 22, 2008 · Leave a Comment 

By: Joe Tucker (CrimsNkentucky) RollCrimsonTide.com

Alabama opened up conference play against the Arkansas Razorbacks Saturday in grand fashion dismantling the hogs 49-14. New head coach, Bobby Petrino, is trying to get his team to understand the fundamentals of his pass happy system and Saturday was the first big test for the hogs. They failed.

The Crimson Tide did everything necessary to assure they move up in the polls Saturday, while Arkansas learned more about itself and what they need to work on.

Alabama moved up to #8 in the Associated Press Poll. It was Alabama’s most one-sided SEC road win since 1989 when they beat Ole Miss 62-27. The 49 points were the most Alabama has scored in any SEC game since 1990 when it scored 59 against Vanderbilt. It was a dominating performance both offensively and defensively. It was enough for Alabama to move up to #8 in the USA today poll and #10 in the Coaches Poll.

Arkansas defensive coordinator Willy Robinson stood at the podium for several minutes after the game for the press conference — cameras, microphones and tape recorders pointed at his face — and tried to explain why the hogs struggled against Alabama on Saturday afternoon in their own stadium.

Robinson paused. Then he used an analogy that sounded as if he had dialed up former Bama defensive coordinator Coach Joe Kines.

“We weren’t the hammer,” Robinson said of Arkansas’ defense. “We were the nail today.”

Read More…RollCrimsonTide.com

Nordstrom's Notes

SEC Championship Preview!

December 6, 2008 · Leave a Comment 

By Tim Nordstrom:

After predicting a 41-16 victory over Auburn last week I think I gave Auburn too much credit and Alabama not enough credit. All season this team has stepped up to the challenge and have forced people to beleive they can get the job done no matter what the task. From the butt whipping they gave Clemson in opening game to the 31 point first half at Georgia all the way through to the 36 point victory in the rival game. This team has stayed the course.

With two games left the mental toughness of this team is going to be tested more than in any 4 game stretch this season. This Florida team is formable opponent, no doubt, but Ole Miss showed us that they are not invincable. If there is a team, right now, that can beat Florida, it is Alabama.

On the line of scrimmage, again, is where this game will be won. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Alabama come out and, if they win the toss, defer to the second half. Send a message to Florida that we are not afraid of them. Another option would be to onside kick, but if Florida recovered it would give our defense a short field. I think we give them the ball and stick with percentages on their first drive, as far as play calling goes. Alabama’s game plan, of course, will be to run the ball down Florida’s throat. If they are successful, we as Alabama can make reservations for our first National Championship game in 16 years.

I have no doubt that Coach Saban has come up with a gameplan to give us the best chance to win. Just like in 1992 when we had no chance to beat Miami, I think this team will make a statement Saturday and make it to the National Championship game. If I were to predict a score like 31-21 or 38-17 it wouldn’t matter Saturday. I will say this, depending on Alabama’s success in forcing their will on Florida will depend on the outcome. I would like to see a repeat of the 1999 SEC Championship game that we won 34-7, as well as our 2005 contest that we won 31-3.

Saturday, win or lose, this has been a season to remember, a success no matter what bowl we go to. This team has the ability to make it 13, believe it!!! They have proved it all season long.

Recruiting News

TigerBait.comTV: Stavion Lowe

January 4, 2009 · Leave a Comment 

TigerBait.com exclusive senior video of LSU offensive line commitment Stavion Lowe. The Brownwood Texas lineman is currently in Orlando for the Under Armour All-Star game which will be played Sunday evening at 7 p.m. CST on ESPN Tags: alabama crimson tide news  Read More →

Around the Bama Blogs:

Exit Exams: A Final Review of the Tide Senior Class

By the RTB.com Recruiting Staff All-Region. All-State. Super Prep. Parade All-American. It wasn't too long ago that... [More...]


More:

Football Headlines:

Unlikely stars fell on Alabama, Utah

The 75th Sugar Bowl is Exhibit A for those who'd argue the science of football recruiting remains inexact. Tags: alabama crimson tide news  Read More →


More:

Basketball Headlines:

AHSAA sets deal with CBS 42

The Alabama High School Athletic Association wanted its centerpiece championships on a bigger stage. Tags: alabama crimson... [More...]


More:

Baseball Headlines

Crimson Tide Baseball Team Earns National Ranking

The Alabama baseball team has been named to the 2009 Collegiate Baseball News "Fabulous 40", the newspaper announced in its annual preseason poll Tuesday. Tags:... [More...]


More:

Featured Sponsors