Tide Tidbits – July 18, 2009

SEC’s five toughest nonconference games
2. Alabama vs. Virginia Tech, in Atlanta, Sept. 5: For the second straight season, the Crimson Tide will open the season against a top 10 team in the Georgia Dome. It turned out pretty well for them last season. Virginia Tech, though, is a better team than Clemson was a year ago, a tougher team that won’t back down and a team that plays defense the way Alabama does. This could easily be one of those bruising 14-10 type of games. One thing’s for sure. We’ll find out a lot about Nick Saban’s third team at Alabama right out of the gate.

Why Alabama’s Offensive Line Will Be a Big Surprise to Opponents
Everybody knows when you’re building or rebuilding, you call a Carpenter. Well, that’s just what Nick Saban did when he needed to rebuild one of the premier lines in the SEC. He called up James Carpenter, who was a standout at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas, and talked him out of going to Oklahoma and many other big schools that were after him. The 6’5″, 310-pound tackle has outstanding run blocking ability and is quickly adjusting to the pass blocking requirements needed at this crucial position. You can’t have a good offensive line without an anchor at left tackle to hold down the line, and the departed Andre Smith is a big anchor to replace. Carpenter is being looked at as the man to get us stabilized at that position and be that anchor.

Alabama coach Nick Saban is a Sports Illustrated cover boy again…
When Sports Illustrated’s Southeastern Conference preview hits the shelves soon, one of the covers will feature Alabama coach Nick Saban. The regional issue, which has four variations, proclaims, “Alabama Rising: Nick Saban has the Tide in the Title Hunt.” It is Saban’s second cover and the third for UA since he arrived.

Fox Sports Net to air 7 SEC football games
Fox Sports Net will televise seven Southeastern Conference football games this season. The network has reached a multiyear deal with ESPN, which secured the rights to league content last August. The specific football games and length of the deal were not announced. Fox Sports South, Sun Sports and Fox Sports Southwest will carry at least 91 SEC athletic events each year.

Roll Tide!

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