Tide Tidbits – October 20, 2009

Tide’s defense ranks No. 1 in nation
To illustrate the difference between Alabama’s defense of two years ago and today, defensive end Lorenzo Washington points to his side. “In 2007, I broke my ribs in the Tennessee game,” Washington said. “I played the whole second half of the season with broke ribs. There was nobody. I didn’t really have a choice. There really wasn’t an option. “Unless you absolutely couldn’t go, you had to go.” In 2009, a deeper Alabama’s defense has withstood injuries and may actually be improving in spite of them. The nation’s No. 1 ranked team in The Associated Press poll also has the nation’s No. 1 total defense. Alabama passed Florida in that category this weekend, too. The Crimson Tide is also first nationally in pass efficiency defense and fourth nationally in scoring defense, allowing roughly 11.5 points per game.

Ingram named SEC player of week
University of Alabama running back Mark Ingram was named Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Week following a 246-yard performance against South Carolina on Saturday. It was the highest rushing total ever at Bryant-Denny Stadium and the third-highest in school history. Ingram is now averaging 129 yards per game to lead the SEC, and has scored 11 touchdowns this season.

Tide-Vols rivalry not so heated among players
There is a little luster gone off of the “Third Saturday in October.” Gone are the days when Alabama scout team players wore orange jerseys. Days when Alabama had coaches like Bryant, DuBose, Stallings and Perkins — and Tennessee had coaches like Battle, Majors and Fulmer — who had played or served as assistant coaches in the glory days of the rivalry. Days when players grew up hating orange or crimson and lived for that hallowed Saturday afternoon when a team’s championship dreams lived or died with the outcome of the game. “To be honest I don’t really know that much,” said Alabama tight end Colin Peek, who transferred to the Crimson Tide last year from Georgia Tech. “I grew up in Florida so I knew more about Florida-Tennessee. I know that it’s a big thing around here. Some people may say it’s bigger than Auburn, some may say it’s second behind Auburn.

Mark Ingram’s teammates say Heisman talk is justified
The guys who block for Alabama tailback Mark Ingram are enjoying the Heisman Trophy talk that is suddenly him. After rushing for 246 yards against South Carolina on Saturday, the sophomore has become a focal point for Heisman talk after other front runners stumbled with less-than-spectacular performances on Saturday. That’s just fine with Tide senior tight end Colin Peek, who said Ingram is very deserving of the praise. “In this day and age, it’s always about publicity, a lot of PR, (for) a guy who may not be as selfless as he is,” Peek said. “I think that’s the type of kid he is. He comes to work every day. He practices hard, he grinds it out every day, he finishes all the runs in practice and he’s a great person to be around. He’s a leader type of guy.”

Alabama denies Tennessee’s request to wear orange jerseys in Tuscaloosa
The Vols did indeed ask Crimson Tide officials for approval to wear orange home jerseys Saturday. UA’s athletics department did not grant permission and passed along word to UT officials today, according to a source close to the situation. UA athletics director Mal Moore owned up to the denial with a statement tonight: “(UT athletics director) Mike (Hamilton) and I had a good conversation this morning and I told him that it is our desire to maintain the custom of the visiting team wearing their visiting jerseys. We’ll continue to wear our white jerseys when we visit Knoxville next year.”

Arenas returns to practice after missing game
Javier Arenas returned to practice Monday after the senior missed the University of Alabama’s 20-6 win over South Carolina last Saturday with injured ribs. The Crimson Tide’s starting cornerback, a candidate for the Bednarik Award as the nation’s top defensive player, is among several players described by coach Nick Saban as ‘day-to-day’ with various injuries as UA prepares for rival Tennessee. ‘Javy’s going to try to work (Monday),’ Saban said. ‘We have no idea what he’ll be able to do or how much he’ll be able to do. This is not an injury that is something that is going to get worse. This is an injury that is strictly when you can manage the pain, you’re fine. But managing the pain, it still hurts. It’s still a problem.

Greg McElroy: I put so much pressure on myself, I can’t even see straight sometimes
The Crimson Tide quarterback didn’t have his best game in Alabama’s 20-6 win over South Carolina, but talks with the media today about putting a rough performance behind him. It’s inspiring for anybody who’s encountered adversity in any situation. Alabama QB Greg McElroy: “I put so much pressure on myself, I can’t even see straight sometimes. I am a perfectionist, so I demand perfection from myself, I demand perfection in my preparation and I demand perfection on Saturdays. Ten years from now, when I look back on it, I’m going to see a victory, 20-6 in Alabama’s favor and I’m not going to be able to tell you what the stats were.”

Alabama showing depth with injuries mounting
As the victories continue to pile up for the University of Alabama football team, so do the injuries. They have ranged from the minor, nagging variety to season-ending, but as the second half of the 2009 season begins to unfold, they are increasingly putting the Crimson Tide’s depth to the ultimate test of playing time. ‘We feel we can substitute any position on this team and expect the same results,’ Marquis Johnson said. ‘You never know when your name is going to be called, so when your opportunity comes up, you just have to step up.’ The list of players whose roles have changed, be it on a short-term basis or for the balance of the season, already has reached double-digits. UA coach Nick Saban noted that injuries to starters aren’t the only ones that make a difference.

Roll Tide!

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