Though Saban Preaches “Finish”, Alabama’s Start Is So Important
Only two of the last six BCS Championship games were won by teams with perfect records. Of those who did lose, nobody lost their first game. The first game can either sound a good or bad note for a team that can help carry it or curse it for the rest of the year. Nick Saban is on record as saying he likes tough openers and last season’s opener against what was was supposed to be the top ACC team and this year’s repeat of that same scenario has Nick Saban’s fingerprints all over it. In fact, he wants more. Saban believes in off season conditioning and hitting the ground running. Nick believes in the old mantra that you win games in September by weight training and conditioning in February at 8:00 am in the morning.
Bama, Florida get nods to win
LSU will be improved in 2009, but it will still be second to Alabama, according to media voters at the Southeastern Conference Media Days news conferences that concluded Friday at the Wynfrey Hotel. Alabama, which won the SEC West last season with an 8-0 record and finished 12-2 overall, was picked to win the West again as it received 33 of a possible 64 first-place votes. LSU, which finished third in the SEC last season with a 3-5 record and 8-5 overall, was picked to finish second in the West as it received 15 first-place votes. Rising Ole Miss, which was second in the West in 2008 at 5-3 and 9-4 overall, received 16 first-place votes, but LSU did better in overall voting as it got more votes for second and third than did the Rebels. Arkansas was picked fourth, Auburn fifth and Mississippi State sixth.
SEC Media Days: Johnson praises OL work ethic
Alabama’s offensive line anchor for 2009—veteran left guard Mike Johnson—spoke to a throng of reporters Thursday at SEC Media Days. The standout senior is likely to be joined on the first-team offensive front by new left tackle James Carpenter or freshman D.J. Fluker, new center William Vlachos, new right guard Brian Motley or John Michael Boswell and returning right tackle Drew Davis. “Our offensive line is working harder this year than any I can remember. William Vlachos, he’s in position to take the starting center spot, has taken control this summer and learned the signals and taken the reins in terms of where he needs to be. In 7-on-7 drills, Greg (McElroy) has done a good job working with the receivers.“
Six Alabama players selected preseason All-SEC
Senior guard Mike Johnson, sophomore wide receiver Julio Jones, nose guard Terrence Cody, junior linebacker Rolando McClain, cornerback Javier Arenas and senior kicker Leigh Tiffin were also named first-team on last week’s coaches All-SEC team. Sophomore running back Mark Ingram was named to the second team, along with Arenas as return specialist. Snubbed was sophomore linebacker Dont’a Hightower, named second-team by the coaches. Although the media has correctly picked the conference champion only four of the past 17 years, it’s nailed the last two, LSU (2007) and Florida (2008). However, last year’s predicted order of finish in the West was Auburn (the Tigers were voted first on 48 of 70 ballots), LSU, Alabama, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Arkansas.
Tide signees waiting waiting on NCAA Clearinghouse; could report on Aug. 5
The University of Alabama’s collection of incoming freshmen will likely have a pair of final additions when the team reports Aug. 5. Running back Eddie Lacy and defensive tackle Darrington Sentimore both got the grades they needed in summer classes in order to qualify academically. They now have to wait on the paperwork, and hope to be cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse next week. “I need to make two A’s and I made both of them,” Lacy said Friday afternoon. “They say I need to get there, pick up where I left off and if everything goes well I’ll be in the rotation with the running backs.”
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