Tide Tidbits – March 29, 2009

Saban Sets Example On Playing With Pain
Most days, around noon, Alabama Football Coach Nick Saban and staff get together for pick-up basketball games. This had been rumored for months, but it came to the forefront Saturday when Saban’s regular post-practice interview session had just wrapped up. One enterprising reporter picked up on a small splint shining on the end of one of the coach’s fingers, and while Saban was walking out of the room, the reporter asked if the media would be getting an injury report on the Tide head coach. Maybe for the first time ever, a grinning Saban returned to the podium for one more answer.

Tide’s O-line spring priority
Alabama coach Nick Saban’s annual goal is to fit players into his system, not the other way around. Big, physical and effective, the Crimson Tide’s offensive line last year was a perfect fit. Now with three accomplished starters gone, it’s up to a makeshift group of inexperienced offensive linemen to make sure Alabama continues on the path started in 2008. For that to happen, improvement is not a choice but a necessity. See also: Saban aiming to tune linemen

Alabama TE Colin Peek still a mystery to fans
By this point in his career, Alabama tight end Colin Peek should be well known. Fans should know whether he’s a punishing blocker, a productive pass-catcher, or both. Instead, when the 6-foot-6, 247-pound senior spoke with reporters for the first time this week, he was left to answer the question: What kind of game do you have? “I have some experience that is very valued in college football,” said Peek, a Jacksonville, Fla., native. “(I’m) a big tight end who can be a pass receiver and a blocking tight end at the same time.” See also: Transfer tight end ready to give Peek performance

Alabama seeks to find replacement for Rashad Johnson
Rolando McClain is surrounded by familiar faces on the Alabama defense. The middle linebacker looks left, right and straight ahead and there are returning starters everywhere he looks. “It’s a lot easier when you have nine starters,” McClain said after a practice last week. But a key question facing the Crimson Tide is, who has got McClain’s back? In other words, who is going to replace free safety Rashad Johnson?

Ten Memorable Athletic Moments in Alabama Football Lore
Though any such list is open to much debate here is this authors picks of ten great memorable athletic moments in Crimson Tide history.

Alabama Spring Practice: An “A-Day,” of Sorts…
A year ago this spring, after witnessing the impact that the spring camp coaching clinic had on the visiting coaches, I began to get a glimpse of the impact and importance this short two-day weekend has on high school coaches and how it’s viewed by Coach Nick Saban.

Nick Saban “very excited” to welcome Anthony Grant to Alabama
Of the seven questions that football coach Nick Saban fielded after today’s practice, two dealt with the Crimson Tide’s newly named basketball coach. Saban also publicly welcomed Grant during his opening statement, saying he was “very excited and pleased” to have the VCU coach on board at Alabama. “I was extremely impressed with he and his wife both when they were here,” Saban said. “I think it is very, very important that we support each other in what we do. I think in this day and age, we want to be good at everything.” See also: Nick Saban, on new UA basketball coach Anthony Grant: “The guy’s got a lot of class.”

Roll Tide!

~ _____________________________________
Have BamaFootball4Life eMailed to You for Free _____________________________________


Enter your email address:

Other subscription options.

~

______________________________________
Quick Links ______________________________________


FREE Magazines!

Recruiting
2008 Bama Statistics
mybama.com
Polls/Rankings
Links and More Links...