Tide Tidbits – January 22, 2010

What Does the 2010 Alabama Crimson Tide Have to Fear?
These are certainly high times in T-Town. There is still an afterglow of winning the national championship still radiating, a seasoned coaching staff in place to go along with all that returning talent both tested and incoming. But despite all the reasons to be happy, to be hopeful, to be be expecting more glory, there is a great fear in the mind of fans and the mad scientist who put all these forces in motion, Nick Saban. It is a fear that he knows all too well. He fears it because he’s lived through it once before and he knows it’s all too real. To Nick Saban and to knowing players and fans the greatest thing to fear in 2010 is apathy. You could define apathy as the suppression of emotions such as concern, excitement, motivation and passion. A great thinker once said, “It’s much easier to get to the top, than to stay on top”. Coaches over the decades would all agree. [More]

Comparing title teams from a first-hand perspective
For current students, comparing Alabama’s 2009 national championship football team with the other 12 title teams cemented in Crimson Tide lore can be a difficult task. They have only heard, read or researched anything before the mid-80s. But most who saw the live image of Bear Bryant leaning against a padded goal post remember the wishbone offense and a defense that nobody would bet against. Current Alabama head coach Nick Saban may be used to hearing comparisons. Since he arrived on campus in 2007, fans have never failed to point out similarities between Saban and Bryant. After delivering a championship in just three years at the Capstone, Saban has begun to somewhat legitimize those comparisons, while also increasing the fan base’s expectation to an even greater level for the rest of his time at the University. [More]

‘Crimson Caravan’ gets rolling in April
Alabama’s annual “Crimson Caravan,” featuring football coach Nick Saban, will open its third season April 20 in Dallas at Cowboy Stadium. Saban will make three other stops in April in Huntsville, Gadsden and Pensacola, Fla. There will be five stops in May, beginning May 4 in Birmingham before moving on to Nashville two days later. Saban will wrap up the six-state tour with stops in New Orleans, Atlanta and Mobile. Tickets are $35 and may be ordered at www.rolltide.com or by phone at 205-348-2262. Each two-hour event includes dinner and begins at 6 p.m. local time. [More]

Who’s got next?: Projecting the two-deep for Alabama in 2010 …
Now that the BCS title celebration has passed in Tuscaloosa, it’s time to take a tenative look at what returns for next season. The 2010 Crimson Tide is already being widely forecast as a preseason No. 1 despite the loss of key stars like linebacker Rolando McClain, cornerback/kick returner Javier Arenas, nose tackle Terrence Cody, tight end Colin Peek, left guard Mike Johnson, cornerback Kareem Jackson, place-kicker Leigh Tiffin and others. While the Heisman Trophy winner and an unbeaten starting quarterback return, an early glance at next season reveals a few big questions, particularly in the secondary and kicking game. [More]

Smelley may see more playing time in 2010
Halfway through Brad Smelley’s freshman season, University of Alabama coaches approached the tight end and told him they wanted to play him. The former American Christian Academy two-sport standout was all for it. But out of courtesy, the coaches placed a call to his dad, Bart Smelley, who knew that his son was anxious to play. Bart Smelley agreed to lift his son’s redshirt, and Brad played in Alabama’s seventh game of the 2008 season, a 24-21 win against Ole Miss. In the game, Brad made a clutch 16-yard, third-down catch that kept a scoring drive alive. It was his first career reception. Being thrown into Southeastern Conference competition after not expecting to play is enough to make any player question his ability. Smelley took it all in stride. [More]

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...