Tide Tidbits – August 20, 2009

Maze becomes more a fixture in UA offense
It’s the speed, you see? If you’re a University of Alabama football fan, think back for a moment to the first time Marquis Maze turned your head. Maybe it was sometime last season when he hauled in Greg McElroy’s touchdown pass with 2:49 remaining to cap the 36-0 rout of Auburn. “He has made a lot of big plays this spring,” coach Nick Saban said at the time. “He is very fast and our most explosive guy off the line against any kind of close coverage. He has ability to run with the ball and has improved his hands, which is a real key. I think he is a guy who can be a real playmaker for us in the future. I am very, very encouraged by the spring that he had.”

Alabama roster expands with start of classes
The Crimson Tide added approximately 25 players to its roster on Wednesday with the start of classes, expanding from the mandated 105 during training camp. Head coach Nick Saban said all along he planned to keep the roster at approximately 130 players as the start of practice now moves to a later time in the day because of academics. Head coach Nick Saban said all along he planned to keep the roster at approximately 130 players as the start of practice now moves to a later time in the day because of academics. Saban called it “a regular school week” with the arrival of classes. “Typically, this is something that the players are going to have to focus through,” he said. “There are a lot more distractions.”

Alabama offensive lineman Barrett Jones competing with brains, brawn
When prominent sports surgeon Dr. James Andrews first examined Barrett Jones’ right shoulder, he discovered something others had long known about Alabama’s freshman offensive lineman. “He said, ‘I have no idea how this young man played football for four months with the tear that he had. This is one tough kid,’” said Rex Jones, Barrett’s father. Jones underwent surgery Dec. 17 to repair a torn tendon that basically halted his promising career with the Crimson Tide just as it was beginning. The injury, suffered during the second week of last year’s preseason practice, didn’t prevent Jones from participating in three early games. But it ultimately was enough to keep him out of more.

Meet UA’s new quarterback … and other practice notes
Players not included on Alabama’s 105-man preseason roster joined the team at practice today, which was the first day of fall classes at UA. Chris Vines, a 6-foot-5 former standout at Pelham High near Birmingham, posted a 4-1 record and 3.98 ERA last year as a part of the Braves’ Class A Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Freshman cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick was out of practice today and wearing a black, no-contact jersey, but it didn’t appear serious. Kenny Bell was not practicing while dealing with what the coach deemed “real bad” shin splints.

NCAA investigating Tennessee’s top recruit
Tennessee signee Bryce Brown, rated the nation’s top high school recruit in 2009 by Rivals.com, is under investigation by the NCAA over money raised to attend football camps. Tennessee’s recruitment and signing of Brown is not part of the investigation, coach Lane Kiffin said following Tuesday’s practice. Kiffin was “visibly frustrated” by the probe of his star recruit. “I think it’s a gigantic distraction,” Kiffins told the newspaper.

Alabama Football – Tue practice & Nick Saban comments
The Alabama football team wrapped up its two-week fall camp today with a two-hour practice in full pads at the Thomas-Drew Practice Facility. “I was very pleased with the way we bounced back (Monday) and had two practices and did well,” Alabama head football coach Nick Saban said after Tuesday’s practice. “Today was not as good a workout as what we have been having. It’s so important that guys get rest and get into a routine. The academic part of what they do starts tomorrow. To go to class to do what they are supposed to do, and still get rest and take care of themselves and be able to practice and prepare like we need too. This is very important in guys trying to be successful academically and athletically. Tomorrow, as far as practice, is a regular school week. We practice a little bit later in the day and working after school.”

Roll Tide!

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