Hendrix, Steele head for NBA draft camp
May 24, 2008
Times Sports Staff paul.gattis@htimes.com Alabama teammate Gee, however, will return to school after missing Orlando invite Alabama juniors Richard Hendrix and Ron Steele have accepted invitations to next ...
Alabama forward Gee opts to return for senior season
May 22, 2008
Alabama forward Alonzo Gee will remove his name from the NBA Draft list and return for his senior season.
Tuberville’s Mouthpiece Goes Undercover
May 21, 2008
In the past, whenever Tuberville had a potentially negative situation develop, he could always depend on Phillip to put a positive spin on the issue. Marshall was Tommy’s best – and most effective – apologist among a small, closed group of newspaper journalists willing to toe the Auburn party line.
Tuberville can’t be happy, while the JetGate power players – who are always sharpening their knives for the kill – must be licking their chops. In between Tommy and that vicious group stands the public perception of Tuberville as a beloved coach, revered by all who are Auburn. In charge of protecting that fragile buffer sits Marshall, who leads a group that includes Charles Goldberg and Justin Moon. It is clearly evident when you read their work that these three definitely get their marching orders from Tommy. They serve as extensions of Tuberville, and usually transmit to the masses exactly what Tommy wants them to hear.
Is the top Tiger nervous? If he’s not, maybe he should be. There is no way to paint a pretty picture when losing an ally with the clout Marshall carries with the general public. It could take years for a new writer to establish the same amount of public trust that Phillip Marshall commands.
Considering the fact that Moon and Goldberg are far less effective communicators, Tubby no longer has a heavy hitter in his inner circle to help him with damage control. One thing is for sure; two Mickey Mouses don’t equal one King Kong.
The evidence of Marshall’s departure will begin to show the first time something happens down on the Plains and Tuberville wants to control the overall perception of that incident. Without Phillip to rely upon, Tommy’s version of the event may not be taken as seriously as before, when Marshall practically served as his public relation’s spokesman.
Who knows? Maybe Tubs has someone in mind to replace Marshall. If he does, will the new guy be willing to sell out and follow the party plan? Will Tubby and Phillip’s replacement become joined at the hip? When all is said and done, the potentially negative aspects of the deal might far outweigh the positives.
It has been speculated that Mr. Marshall is going to take his talents to the Internet. He is set to write for an ESPN affiliate called Auburn Undercover. This move by Marshall indicates that he is aware of the ever-increasing popularity of the new sports medium. It also serves to permanently link Marshall to Auburn. Apparently ESPN hired him because they feel he is entirely pro-Auburn. It has been rumored for years that Phillip Marshall is an Aubie homer. This latest move should remove all doubt.
Will Marshall have the same impact in the electronic media he enjoyed through traditional methods? Better yet, does his former and possible future commander, Tommy Tuberville, even own a computer?
Most coaches would admit it pays to have a high-ranking friend in the press. This guy was Tubby’s red-necked version of a team spokesman.
From all indications, this latest move by Marshall has to be making a conservative control freak like Tuberville nervous. The Internet is not structured or regulated like the print media, which could create all kinds of potential problems for Tommy when he tries to get his message to the masses.
Guest Post: The Worst of Times - Part 1
May 20, 2008
Alabama football has always been a part of my life. From the earliest memories that I have, there exist thoughts and visions about the University of Alabama and their football team. Growing up in Tuscaloosa it is actually hard, I would think, to not have some type of association with the events that surround and culminate in Bryant-Denny Stadium. And while the memories of walking up Tenth Avenue to the stadium with my dad, or listening to John Forney on the radio, or hearing Keith Jackson describe the action as I watched on television, it wasn't really until 1995 when I became a student at the University that my passion and full devotion for the program blossomed.
That's 12 full seasons (with the thirteenth upcoming) that I have lived and breathed Alabama football. In that time, I am proud to say I have missed only one game played in Tuscaloosa (for the out-of-state wedding of one of my best friends. I know, I know, but at least it was Utah State) and only three home games overall (I missed the last two at Legion Field). You don't have to follow the Crimson Tide closely to know that in that time period there have been a few good times and quite a bit more bad.
With the vantage point of time, I can safely say I always (and still) believe Alabama would return to the almost mythical winning it did when I was a child and first developed an allegiance to the Crimson Tide. The past twelve years have had more than their share of lean times. but it is my hope and also belief that now that we, as a fan base, have spent some time in the desert we will appreciate it even more when we return to the promised land. I feel that, in general, you must have a taste of how bad things can be to truly appreciate how sweet the good things are. Having a glimpse of the penthouse from the gutter makes your time at the last stop of the elevator all the better, if you will.
In that spirit, I present to you the ten worst games I have personally attended as an Alabama fan - I readily admit I am shamelessly stealing this idea from Kanu and Doug (I couldn't locate the specific link) amongst others:
#10 – Three-way tie between the '06 Mississippi State, the '00 UCF, and '07 ULM games. All three were played at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
There are a couple of sad truths about these games; there might possibly be one or two more (Northern Illinois in '03 and Southern Miss in '00 come to mind) and they have become all two frequent. The similarities between these three just make them hard to rank in any specific order or to place them higher. As far as emotion during and after the game they could all have been the exact same game.
All three were home games against unranked teams with losing records coming into the game, and Alabama was favored to win them and were in fact, expected to win them without trouble. They were also similar games in that, not taking anything away from the opponent, but they were losses marked not by exceptional play from the opponent but rather mediocre effort by Alabama.
Basically from the start, I can remember that it appeared that Alabama had not shown up and when the team did put forth some effort there was usually a bone-headed mistake that took what little wind they had, right out of the sails. The specifics don't even matter any more, the dismal play and apparent lack of effort are what sticks out; dropped passes, fumbles, missed tackles, and blown coverage are all features of these losses.
Obviously losing these games was tough to bear but perhaps the most disturbing thing about them collectively was the behavior of some of our fans. Each of these games was marred worse by the booing than by the poor play of the athletes or poor coaching decisions. There were points in these games that I was ashamed to be an Alabama fan and it had nothing to do with the score board.
As a fan base we pride ourselves on having class and tradition. I don't care how inept the coach appears or how poor the quarterback seems to be playing (or how hated the rival), booing has absolutely nothing to do with tradition or class. It reflects poorly on us as fans, looks bad to recruits, and has to be a blow to our players. Beyond that, it's not as if your booing an errant pass or actually yelling for a replacement will cause the coach to pull a player. Simply stated, there is no place for it.
If I had to sum up these losses with one word, it would be disgust. It was just a sick feeling walking away from the stadium after these defeats. They might not be as gut-wrenching as a near-win over a hated rival snatched away by fate but they are upsetting none-the-less. They are the antithesis of what we have come to expect as fans of Alabama and perhaps the worst part is that we want to believe that they are not representative of our program – even if others insist they are.
There were also had two games that made the honorable mention list: Auburn in '04 and Arkansas in '95.
Unfortunately, it was easier to put together the worst list than the best list, but my belief that the best list is really good and the future potential for even brighter days make this, at least to me, a very relevant exercise. I'll be posting the rest of the top ten (all single games, I promise) at Picture Me Rollin.
Weekend Links
May 17, 2008
Lindy's Ben Cook looks at the new coordinators in the conference.
Bleacher Report features 2008s non-conference matchups.
Finebaum discusses the Ryan Perriloux transfer.
Shane Sez: Ranking the SEC Coaches
May 17, 2008
Deciding who is the best is subjective. In light of that, here are my picks:
1. Nick Saban
There is no one else like him. He can evaluate and recruit the best talent, and use his process to build a championship-caliber team with alarming speed. Need proof? Go back and watch the film on last year’s national championship team. All Les Miles had to do was stand there and watch Saban’s players win, because he couldn’t find a clue bag if it smacked him in the head.
2. Steve Spurrier
He is still one of the best. His accomplishments at Florida came close to being Bryant-like. Despite being handicapped with a lousy program, Steve is still able to keep the record respectable. When he finally wakes up and remembers that South Carolina doesn’t really belong in the SEC, maybe he’ll go to a school where he can build another champion.
3. Rich Brooks
This may seem like an odd choice, but this man is winning at Kentucky – a place where most coaches go to die. The NCAA hammered the Wildcats just as bad as Alabama back in 2001, and he still produces very competitive teams – at Kentucky! If Brooks were at a top SEC program he would win a national title.
4. Mark Richt
Many experts believe Richt is the second best SEC head coach of this decade, with two conference championships hanging from his belt. The only thing separating Mark and Nick Saban is the coveted national title Saban owns. This could be the year Richt matches Nick and Steve with one to call his own.
5. Phillip Fulmer
Say what you want, but this guy has survived and thrived in the nations toughest conference for a lot longer than most would’ve expected, although he has struggled to some degree lately. Regardless, he is still has one of the best winning percentages of any active coach.
6. Urban Meyer
He won a national championship, but the feat was accomplished with Ron Zook’s players. Last year, he did less with more than anyone with that much talent should. Meyer is a very good coach and an even better recruiter. If his caustic mouth doesn’t get him run off, he will keep the Gators in position to compete for the SEC title every year.
7. Bob Petrino
This dude has a reputation for being a great coach, but he hasn’t really done anything yet. The manner in which he left his last job has to leave people wondering if Bob may just be about Bob. He will probably win at Arkansas, after a few years of signing the type of players that fit his system.
8. Tommy Tuberville
To put it simply, Tommy is a good football coach. His record of late speaks for itself. However, Tuberville tends to allow his teams to get bushwhacked at the most inopportune times. If Tubby could raise his focus above the team across the state, he might enjoy even more success than he already has.
9. Houston Nutt
Nutt is a great motivator. On the other hand, he is a mediocre field coach. Houston lacks consistency and tends to gamble when he doesn’t need to. Some believe Nutt has stepped into a big pile of poop by going to Ole Miss, but others think he will own the state.
10. Sylvester Croom
Sly is an old-school coach who works in a new, very different world. He seems to insist on doing things the way they used to do them. If he doesn’t change with times, he will stay mired in the middle of the pack.
11. Bobby Johnson
Coach Johnson has the league’s respect and he is focused to say the least. Yet, he is just a small fish trapped in a pool of big sharks. If he would only make the jump, he could probably rule a lesser conference, like the ACC.
12. Les Miles
This clown knows what it feels like to walk into a gold mine. Last year,[ he reaped the benefits from the players put in place by the SEC’s best coach and rode on their backs to LSU’s second national championship in this decade. Miles will be exposed as the clueless windbag he is by the end of this upcoming season.
Advent of The New Sports Media
May 15, 2008
Most members of the media elite attempt to discredit the validity of journalism’s newest media by challenging their credentials. That’s understandable when you consider a large portion of these writers spent years toiling away in school – slowly working their way up the ladder, trying to build a reputation.
Meanwhile, their counterparts from the audio and electronic side are getting more respect and attention from sports fans with little or no effort. In fact, these outlets are creating stars and providing information faster and more efficiently than the evening newspapers or weekly magazines.
If the truth is known, paper media is losing the race, primarily because of the speedy delivery of information provided by live radio and the Internet. Realistically, by the time papers hit the streets and the magazines hit the stands, the information has already been disseminated and discussed by talk show hosts and commented on by Internet writers.
Does the new media anger the old guard? Of course! It is only natural, especially when the traditional media realizes that they must be the ones to change in order to keep pace. In essence, the days of newspaper columnist dominating the public’s perception of a sports topic are numbered.
Will newspapers and magazines eventually be replaced by sports talk and Internet commentary? In fact, most established sportswriters have already made the crossover and are making forays into both mediums. They have allowed the new methods to become legitimate by joining in their game.
The current environment surrounding sports information provides more people an avenue to voice their opinion. A larger consensus can only enhance the value of a sports topic.
There is also another major difference between the old way and the new way – the ability of the fan to immediately respond to an issue. In the past, all people could do was read the material and at best, discuss their opinion among friends. Now the ability to give your take to the masses is only a keyboard or phone call away.
On the negative side lies stiffer competition for those individuals who wish to separate themselves from the crowd. The sheer number of commentators and websites – as well as sports talk shows – might create an atmosphere of information overload. Can too much of a good thing be bad?
When all is said and done, talk radio and the Internet will become the most important tools for sports reporting and analysis. The biggest question that remains is perhaps the most interesting. Will the old school media go the way of the dinosaur and become extinct?
Poll Results
May 14, 2008
The Essentials: Where To Drink In Tuscaloosa
May 13, 2008
We've singled out a few of our favorite watering holes to give you some suggestions on where to imbibe. It goes without saying, but we'll say it anyway: be safe.
There are basically two bar crawls in Tuscaloosa; the Strip, and Downtown. This post covers Downtown; if there's interest from you guys, we'll take a look at the Strip in a later post.
Wilhagen's
2209 4th St, Tuscaloosa
205-366-0915
Our preferred starting point for an evening of boozing, Wilhagen's is a fundrinkery-type place. It's family-friendly and well-lit most of the evening, so it's mainly a good place eat pub grub and knock back a few to get the evening started. Try the prime rib biscuits; they're unbelievable.
The Coppertop
2300 4th St, Tuscaloosa
205-343-6867
Our favorite spot to spend an evening out, The Copper Top has a lived-in feel, complimented by its concrete floor and well-worn wooden booths. Live music starts around 10pm, and if you want to sit, your best bet is to get there early and find a booth to call home base.
Innisfree Irish Pub
521 Greensboro Ave, Tuscaloosa
205-345-1199
Having been to Dublin, we're snobbish about so-called 'authentic' Irish pubs, but this one passes the test. Small, and packed on weekends, there's plenty to please a Celtophile, and plenty to drink behind the bar. If you like crowds, it's a great place to raise the wrist.
Rhythm & Brews
2308 4th St, Tuscaloosa
205-750-2992
This is usually where our crawl ends up, whether we planned it that way or not. Loud music, huge crowds, and a party atmosphere make this a good place to let it all hang out. Don't tell 'em we sent you; we think we still have an open tab...
Bryant Denny Doing Coke…Again
May 12, 2008
