Tide Tidbits – August 25, 2009

Tide players take break from practice
Alabama players took a much-needed day off from practice Monday as the Crimson Tide now turns its attention to seventh-ranked Virginia Tech. Since fall practice opened on Aug. 6, the Crimson Tide has had just three days off: the two Sundays following fall scrimmages on Aug. 16 and Aug. 23 and Monday. Alabama has one more off day this Sunday before starting game week preparation for the Hokies on Monday. The players resume practice today with the final five practice sessions of the preseason. Today’s practice is expected to review Saturday’s scrimmage before turning its attention to opponent details regarding formations or schemes the Tide does not normally see in preseason work against itself. Alabama is expected to get an early jump on preparation for the Hokies on Thursday.

Tide running backs compete for the ball
The Alabama football team’s first game is still 11 days away, but game faces are starting to show for the running backs. Besides a look of focus, fuzz is starting to grow on some of those cheeks and chins. “Our whole group’s meshing together,” Upchurch said. “We’re figuring out our different styles.” The Tide must replace Glen Coffee, who ran for nearly 1,400 yards last season and now runs in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers. Coffee, a third-round draft choice, ran for 137 yards on 16 first-half carries Saturday in a 21-20 exhibition victory over the Oakland Raiders.

No SEC Championship Game berth will mean failure for Alabama’s 2009 football season
I was in Huntsville the other day and an Alabama fan asked me a simple question: What would be considered a successful season for the Crimson Tide? “It’s Atlanta or bust,” I said quickly. I don’t think you can consider the 2009 Alabama football campaign a success unless Saban has the Tide back in Atlanta for the SEC title game. Last year, it was about significant improvement and perhaps ending the searing six-game losing streak against Auburn. Today, this program has moved beyond moral victories. This program has moved past building up enough depth to somehow cobble together enough victories to become bowl eligible.

Crimson Tide’s Hanks ready to show off ability
A long-time hero behind practice gates, Alabama wide receiver Darius Hanks still is waiting to show everyone else what he can do. He figures it won’t be too much longer. “It’s coming,” Hanks said. “I really haven’t gotten the chance that I really need to be able to prove that I can go out there on the field. When I was called upon last year, I felt like I did a good job. But this year I’m going to be called on more, and you’re going to see a lot more.” But to hear teammates of those three seasons tell it, the 6-foot, 184-pound Hanks has long been earmarked for stardom as the kind of natural talent that immediately stands out on the practice field. “Darius Hanks? He’s a baller, man,” former receiver Nikita Stover said. “He’s just the complete package.”

ANDREW BONE: Alabama lands legacy from Tennessee.
Harrison Jones, Scout.com three-star tight end from Cordova-Evangelical Christian, Tenn., and brother of Tide offensive lineman Barrett Jones, has committed to the University of Alabama. Harrison Jones, son of Rex Jones who played basketball for the Tide, released the following statement to the media late Monday night. “After a long time of prayer and careful consideration, I have given my verbal commitment to Coach Nick Saban to play football at the University of Alabama,” said Harrison Jones. “Coach Saban was very encouraging and told me that I was making a great decision. He said it is an exciting time to join the program and I will have some great years at Alabama. I will work very hard to make him glad he has given me this incredible opportunity.”

Click here for the updated recruiting page with star ratings and team rankings.

Roll Tide!

~ _____________________________________
Have BamaFootball4Life eMailed to You for Free _____________________________________


Enter your email address:

Other subscription options.

~

______________________________________
Quick Links ______________________________________


FREE Magazines!

Recruiting
2008 Bama Statistics
mybama.com
Polls/Rankings
Links and More Links...