Tide Tidbits – July 29, 2009

Alabama’s new look offensive line will have major impact on the Tide’s success in ’09
Left guard Mike Johnson knows as well as anyone how potent Alabama’s offensive line was in 2008. “I played between two All-Americans,” Johnson said. Gone now to the NFL are Outland Trophy-winning left tackle Andre Smith and center Antoine Caldwell. “I don’t think you really can replace guys like those guys,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “I think they were outstanding players. Certainly Smith performed well and had a lot of consistency in his performance, and Antoine Caldwell was not only an outstanding player at his position, but he was an outstanding leader on our football team. I think how this (new) group develops will affect — especially early on in the season — how our offensive team functions.”

Crimson Tide linebacker Charlie Higgenbotham transfers to South Alabama
Junior linebacker Charlie Higgenbotham finalized plans today to transfer from the University of Alabama to the new program at South Alabama for the 2009 season, a source tells the Press-Register. Higgenbotham was set to meet today with Crimson Tide coaches regarding his future. He will be eligible to play immediately for the Jaguars, who will play the program’s inaugural game Sept. 5 against Hargrave Military Academy.

Can Eddie Lacy Steal the Spotlight from Richardson?
I want to concentrate on one that I believe might make a bigger name for himself than some of the blue chippers that have hogged the national spotlight thus far, and that player is Eddie Lacy. For those of you who don’t know who he is, he’s a 5’11″, 210 lb., running back that has some very unique qualities. There was some doubt as to whether or not he would qualify. With news just last week that he has in fact qualified, the Bama back-field just got stronger. Every highly-recruited running back in America is going to be fast, athletic, and at least somewhat strong, but what makes the difference between a back that becomes a household name nationwide and a running back that becomes a distant memory? There are some tangible things that almost all successful running backs have in common.

UA appeal: NCAA abused discretion
The University of Alabama’s appeal of NCAA penalties, filed Monday, argues that the NCAA Committee on Infractions engaged in “an abuse of discretion” in ordering UA to vacate 21 football victories, as well as results in tennis and track and field. UA’s 29-page plea to the Infractions Appeals Committee argues “that the vacation-of-wins penalty is inconsistent with the very rules that were enforced in this case.” UA’s appeal is based largely on the definition of abuse of discretion set forth by the appeals committee’s decision released last month in the Alabama State University appeal, and on a comparison of appeals in other cases which involve improper textbook distribution. The appeal points out that there was no vacation-of-wins penalty in past textbook cases involving Ball State, Temple, Weber State and Texas State-San Marcos, which UA cited as the only similar cases on file.

SEC assistant salaries keep escalating
When fall practice begins next month, some of the highest-paid assistant coaches will be working at SEC universities. Tennessee is paying its assistant coaching staff $3.625 million this year — a figure that leads the SEC. “The way I look at it, I go back to this. Does anybody ever write anymore how much they paid Nick Saban at Alabama?,” Lane Kiffin asked “When he was hired at Alabama, every article was I can’t believe how much we paid Nick Saban at Alabama. Well, guess what, nobody writes about it any more because they win. So when we start winning, nobody is going to write about how much we pay our assistant coaches because, in turn, we’re going to make a lot more money by them being there. I don’t think it’s a big deal.”

Roll Tide!

~ _____________________________________



Have BamaFootball4Life eMailed to You for Free


_____________________________________


Enter your email address:

Other subscription options.

~

______________________________________


Quick Links

______________________________________


FREE Magazines!

Recruiting
mybama.com
Polls/Rankings
Links and More Links...