Tide Tidbits – April 18, 2009
No ordinary spring scrimmage for Tide
As players and coaches scurried to make final preparations Thursday night, Alabama’s football complex had the buzz of a game week in the fall. “I feel like I’m going to play in a real game,” defensive end Lorenzo Washington said. The days of Alabama’s spring football game being merely a [...]
Tide Tidbits – April 17, 2009
Goal-oriented: Preseason hype doesn’t register on Saban’s radar
Alabama football coach Nick Saban isn’t interested in predictions. He’s interested in results. So when predictions on the upcoming season were offered by local reporters during Thursday night’s “Dinner With Nick” fundraiser for Team Focus at South Alabama’s Mitchell Center — many have his third Crimson Tide squad [...]
Tide Tidbits – April 16, 2009
Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer, on the Alabama game: “We’re aware of the challenge we’ve got.”
So, before the Hokies finish up their spring practice, it was a good opportunity to jump on an ACC teleconference and check in with Tech coach Frank Beamer. Mainly, what I wanted to know was… How much focus has been on [...]
Tide Tidbits – April 15, 2009
Saban focuses on righting some wrongs from 2008
As far as Alabama coach Nick Saban is concerned, the best way to avoid mistakes is to work on weaknesses. Over and over and over in practice. “I talked to the players about the fact that we’ve got to play to our strengths,” Saban said, “but we also [...]
Tide Tidbits – April 14, 2009
Finebaum: Crimson Tide may roll again in 2009
After a perfect regular season in 2008, what can Nick Saban do for an encore in 2009? Can Alabama win it all? Or will 2009 be more a setup year for a title run in 2010? Even losing some key players on both sides of the ball — [...]
Tide Tidbits – April 13, 2009
Tide offense faces steep learning curve
Let’s review: Alabama rushed 43 times for fewer than 70 yards in Friday’s scrimmage. The Crimson Tide defense ran up nine sacks, 13 tackles for loss and three interceptions, including Tyrone King’s 24-yard return for a touchdown. Somebody hide the sharp objects around offensive coordinator Jim McElwain. “Going against what [...]
Tide Tidbits – April 12, 2009
UK, Calipari follow in ‘Bama’s footsteps
As much as John Calipari understands the huge expectations that come with being Kentucky’s new basketball coach, it’s probably not possible to completely imagine all that awaits him. If anyone could tell him how to navigate the challenge that’s in store, it would be Alabama football coach Nick Saban. His [...]
Tide Tidbits – April 11, 2009
Tide shows mixed signals in scrimmage
Alabama’s second scrimmage Friday enabled coach Nick Saban to divide his team into two categories. “We’ve got guys that are being relentless competitors, that probably embrace the struggle, every day, of spring practice,” Saban said after a 130-play session before the Crimson Tide broke for Easter weekend. “Then we have [...]
Tide Tidbits – April 10, 2009
Tide holds 2nd scrimmage today
Alabama will hold its second scrimmage of the spring this morning at Bryant-Denny Stadium and head coach Nick Saban will use it as a test of sorts to see how his team reacts under pressure. “In this particular scrimmage, we’ll do even more different situations to see how the players respond [...]
Tide Tidbits – April 9, 2009
Tide defense looks to improve against no-huddle offenses
It’s an enduring image, one that hasn’t left Nick Saban’s mind. Alabama, ranked No. 1 nationally with a 12-0 record, dropped its final two games as its defense struggled with no-huddle and quick-passing attacks from Florida and Utah. Alabama can expect to see more of that this fall [...]
Tide Tidbits – April 8, 2009
Is There a Real Danger in Unrealistic Expections at Alabama?
In recent days Saban has been sounding a warning about the team’s expectations. “Anything that we did last year does nothing but put a target on our back for what this team needs to get prepared for,” Saban said. “I doubt before last season anybody had [...]
Tide Tidbits – April 7, 2009
Washington hopes to be a force on the pass rush
In many ways, this has been a long time coming for Lorenzo Washington. There was the extra year at Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia to become academically eligible. Then a redshirt season followed by a detour to nose guard where he started 12 of 13 [...]
