Tide Tidbits – April 22, 2009

Looking back to peek ahead
All that is left for the legions of fans to do for the dog days of summer is to sit and speculate, rewatching their TiVo’d A-Day telecast and analyzing every position on the field to construct a picture of the 2009 Crimson Tide. To save some time, here is a position-by-position look at the Crimson Tide A-Day performers and what Alabama fans can expect to see at the position groups when fall camp rolls around. Quarterback: With a solid performance last Saturday, redshirt junior Greg McElroy erased any lingering doubts about who would be starting behind center in Atlanta against Virginia Tech. Barring unforeseen disaster, the gunslinger from Dallas is Saban’s man to replace departed captain John Parker Wilson. Of bigger concern to Tide fans should be who would replace McElroy in the case unforeseen disaster. Neither redshirt freshman Star Jackson nor walk-on Thomas Darrah looked close to ready for SEC competition. …

Nick Saban Is Leading Alabama to the Promised Land
There have been many great leaders in history, everyone from Alexander the Great to Martin Luther King. In the world of college football, there have been many great leaders as well, everyone from Knute Rockne to Paul “Bear” Bryant. Great college football coaches are not only known for leading young men to success on the football field but also leading young men to being successful in life. Nick Saban is one of those coaches. Everywhere Coach Saban has been, there has been positive change. Everywhere he goes, there is improvement and success, not only with the players that he coaches, but also for the school and football program as a whole. His enthusiasm is contagious, and his ambition is all-consuming; his unrelenting drive to be the very best is unstoppable.

Taking an in-depth look at Tennessee’s Lane Kiffin
When I went to Knoxville last week to meet with Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin, UT athletic director Mike Hamilton told me that several reporters had met with Kiffin and found him different from what they expected. I then left Hamilton’s office and went to my appointment with Kiffin. And Hamilton was right.

Alabama spring practice wrap-up
The dust has settled and Alabama’s spring football practice is over. What did we learn? What’s still unknown? Ian Rapoport and Kevin Scarbinsky of The Birmingham News took some time to talk with us after Saturday’s A-Day game and discussed the Tide’s progress, Greg McElroy’s performance as starting quarterback, and what Tide fans can expect to see in 2009. Also, in case you missed any of our coverage of the game, including video interviews with Nick Saban and the players, they’re linked below for your convenience.

Alabama QB Greg McElroy: Unplugged
The spring football season is over, which means that you won’t be hearing from a lot of the players for a while. Unless, ya know, something crazy happens. So while the countdown to fall camp begins, I figured I might as well go back into my quote sheet and pull some greatest hits. Today, let’s go diggin’ in the crates and listen to some of the best unused quotes from Alabama QB Greg McElroy.

McElroy, on Julio Jones being awesome: “Um… he’s OK. (laughing) I don’t have to say a lot about him. He’s a special talent and I think I’m grateful that he committed here every day. I get more and more grateful every day. Like (on April 16), we’re in man-to-man coverage along the sideline going in, I got stepped on, and threw a fade, just kind of his direction. I feel bad for that corner, because it was quite a show.”

Roll Tide!

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