Tide Tidbits – December 26, 2009

A look at 10 plays that defined Alabama’s season
The University of Alabama’s unbeaten run to the Southeastern Conference Championship and a BCS National Championship berth has been marked with crucial moments that have led the Crimson Tide to victory in games that were in doubt at the time. Although Alabama has navigated the season at 13-0, games against Virginia Tech, Tennessee, LSU and Auburn, to name four, were all within the opponents’ reach as late as the fourth quarter, and required some dramatic heroics by star players and role players alike. Some will stand the test of time as historical footnotes, particularly if Alabama wins its 13th national title against Texas in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 7. Terrence Cody’s blocked field goal against Tennessee, preserving a 12-10 victory as time expired, will need no introduction. Others perhaps aren’t as memorable, but are no less important. Here is a look at 10 plays that shaped Alabama’s 13-0 season to date: [More]

Blocking distractions key for Tide
There’s a little more than a month between the time top-ranked Alabama and second-ranked Texas won their respective conference championship games and qualified to play each other in the BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 7 in Pasadena, Calif. That’s plenty of time for bad practice habits and distractions to set in. Both the Lornhorns and the Crimson Tide are approaching the game in a similar fashion. They both worked a week on fundamentals, will begin their preparation for the game after Christmas, then travel to Pasadena for the final week of workouts. Alabama senior Javier Arenas said the month leading up to the game will allow the players to recharge their batteries for a one-game shot at the national championship. [More]

The guy leading his stellar O-line
When Nick Saban entered the process of being hired as Alabama’s head coach, he naturally touched base with old coaching friend Joe Pendry. But it was a call for recommendations, not a hire. “I’m not sure exactly how it came up,” Saban said. “But I was talking to him about some other coaches and it just came up that he’d be interested in coming back and just wanted to be the offensive line coach.” Before and after winning the award, running back Mark Ingram has often credited his offensive line, which in turn credits Pendry. “He’s a genius,” center William Vlachos said. “Everybody trusts what he has to say. Everything he says we get out there and do and try to execute. He puts us in the right positions to do the right things. He does a tremendous job of looking at a defense and knowing what our personnel will be able to do to have success against them.” [More]

Battling Bama’s defense not for weak of heart
One Christmas present of choice among Alabama football fans was a crimson T-shirt with the words, “So good we’ll make you cry.” The reference was to Florida quarterback Tim Tebow’s teary-eyed exit from the Georgia Dome field after Alabama’s 32-13 victory over the Gators for the Southeastern Conference championship. Top-ranked Alabama, however, can dispense physical calamity as easily as it wreaks emotional havoc among its opponents entering the BCS title game vs. No. 2 Texas. “Being physical … it’s one of the many things we do well,” said All-America defensive back Javier Arenas. “We pride ourselves on being real physical. We pride ourselves on playing speed defense as well. There’s a lot of things we pride ourselves on.” [More]

Coach Saban Visits Nebraska Coach
“I think our guys are in very good shape and ready to go play some football,” Jamrog said. “I know Bo has visited with (Alabama coach) Nick Saban about (bowl preparation). The good point about it is like we almost get another spring ball from the time of the Big 12 Championship until we play in the Holiday Bowl.” [More]

Lure of the Bear too strong
Not much of an Alabama fan, a sixth-grader named Rob Ezell was sitting in Bryant-Denny Stadium one fall afternoon when a deep, gravely voice came from above. Captivated by the sound, butterflies fluttered in his stomach and something clicked in his head. A dream was born and Bear Bryant scored another recruit from beyond the grave when his pregame speech echoed through the stadium’s sound system. Seven years later, his love of Crimson Tide football was in full bloom even if his body never blossomed into the prototypical Division I quarterback. He went with his heart and he followed that voice from above to Tuscaloosa as an unheralded walk-on. Now a junior, Ezell still can’t stop smiling when talking about the decision that comes without a shred of regret and plenty of fond memories still stockpiling. No longer a scout teamer or a quarterback, Ezell is a wide receiver on the traveling squad. He’s played in a handful of games and even came close to the first team earlier this season. [More]

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...