Tide Tidbits – August 31, 2009

Will the Tide be tough enough?
A year ago in Atlanta, the University of Alabama began to forge an identity of physicality and toughness that carried through an undefeated regular season. With rugged Glen Coffee running behind a bullying line anchored by Outland Trophy winner Andre Smith and brutish Antoine Caldwell, the Crimson Tide’s offense became a punishing unit that grounded opponents into the turf. On defense, massive Terrence Cody was an immovable object in the middle who freed up linebacker Rolando McClain to play the role of punisher while safety Rashad Johnson patrolled the secondary in search of interceptions or big hits. Head coach Nick Saban believes that identities are formed on the playing field rather than in preseason practice. “It’s been a goal of our program that we want to be a team that nobody wants to play,” Saban said last week.

ESPN: Three-point stance
Who would ever have thought that Alabama would become the model of coaching stability? The school that had four head coaches from December 2000 through May 2003 now has signed Nick Saban through the 2017 season. As they say at the track, horses for courses. Saban, like Lou Holtz, became known as a gun for hire. But Holtz found a home at Notre Dame and stayed 11 seasons. Saban, if he fulfills this contract, will be in Tuscaloosa for 11 seasons.

First games can set tone for season
No one has to convince this year’s Alabama team of the importance of a good start. Last season, when the Crimson Tide opened the season against Clemson in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome, a lot of preseason talk indicated 2008 would be the year Clemson fans had been waiting on for a few seasons. There was optimism about Alabama’s team, but no clear picture as to what to expect. Alabama slapped Clemson around in a dominating fashion, and that game was a mirror into the type of year both teams would experience. The Crimson Tide went on to win all 12 of its regular season games and earn a No. 1 national ranking, while Clemson continued to stumble, so much so that then-head coach Tommy Bowden lost his job before the end of the season.

Terry Saban meeting virtually sold out
Terry Saban’s appearance before the Montgomery Quarterback Club is now a virtual sellout, and club officials are urging that only those who have reserved seats for the event show up at the Montgomery Country Club on Tuesday night. As of Sunday evening, only about 10 spots remained opened, according to Program Chairman David Bowen. A crowd of nearly 250 is expected to turn out to hear the wife of Alabama head coach Nick Saban.

The Quad Countdown: No. 5 Alabama
I thought Alabama would be good, but this good? This soon? You better believe it: The Crimson Tide rose as high as No. 1 in the polls in Nick Saban’s second season, holding that lofty spot for five consecutive weeks to end the regular season, and reached it first B.C.S. bowl game since the 2000 season. Though Alabama finished the season 12-2, the team entered the SEC title game 12-0, the final remaining undefeated team in the F.B.S., and with its best national title shot in 15 years. So a loss to Florida in the SEC championship cost Alabama its championship hopes, and an ugly loss to Utah in the Sugar Bowl revealed some deficiencies; don’t allow that to take away from how far Alabama came in its second season under Nick Saban.

Bengals sign top pick RT Andre Smith
Offensive tackle Andre Smith signed a contract Sunday with the Cincinnati Bengals, ending an impasse that dragged on a month into the preseason. The Bengals originally planned to have Smith start at right tackle, but he has missed all three preseason games. He was in Cincinnati and agreed to the deal shortly before the start of a late afternoon practice. “He has a lot of work to do, but he knows the challenge ahead of him to make an impact on our team as soon as possible,” coach Marvin Lewis said in a statement released as practice began.

Roll Tide!

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