Tide Tidbits – March 31, 2010

Tide feels good about its D-line
Alabama nose tackle Josh Chapman is known for his eye-popping bench press numbers: In the “high 500s,” in his estimation. But lately, Chapman has actually been lowering the weight he’s hoisting. By increasing the number of repetitions, he’s attempting to build stamina and stay on the field longer as a part of the Crimson Tide’s defense. “It is my time,” Chapman said, “something that has to be done.” A 313-pound junior out of Hoover High, Chapman is the heir apparent for departed All-American Terrence Cody, one of three starters departed off last season’s defensive line. Seniors Brandon Deaderick and Lorenzo Washington are also gone, though a seasoned group returns to replace them in an assembly line fashion. Thus far in spring practices, Alabama’s second defensive line from last season is now the first one. [More]

Texas Tech deal not done
Alabama has been approached about playing the Red Raiders in a Labor Day-weekend game, but the deal is not as close to being made as Texas Tech Athletics Director Gerald Myers indicated Monday in comments reported by the Lubbock Avalance-Journal newspaper. UA has been searching for a high-profile, non-conference game for 2012, and a neutral-site game would best fit Alabama’s scheduling needs since the Crimson Tide could not accommodate a return game before 2015 for a home-and-home series. Alabama has a home-and-home series with Penn State in 2010-11, a home-and-home series with Georgia Tech in 2013-14 and a home-and-home agreement with Michigan State in 2016-17, leaving out-of-conference holes in the schedule for 2012 and ’15. Alabama’s attempts to negotiate a 2012 game with Notre Dame have not produced an agreement. UA Director of Athletics Mal Moore hopes to meet with Notre Dame officials this summer to resume talks about a future game or series. [More]

Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain says he’ll visit Giants before NFL draft
Hakeem Nicks didn’t make a pre-draft visit to the Giants. Neither did Kenny Phillips or Aaron Ross. Rolando McClain will. The Alabama linebacker said in an interview with Sirius NFL Radio Tuesday he’ll visit the Giants on April 12, according to the Daily News’ Ralph Vacchiano, who conducted the interview with former NFL quarterback Jim Miller. Does that mean that, for the first time under general manager Jerry Reese, the Giants’ first-round pick will stop by East Rutherford before the draft? After all, McClain is the player most often tied to the Giants’ No. 15 overall pick, and is certainly a possible target for them, considering their needs at middle linebacker. [More]

Motivation drives improvement
The Alabama Crimson Tide continued spring drills Monday with a workout under sunny skies in crisp, warm weather. The warmth seems to have brought the fires of competition out in the defensive units, with members of the defensive lines, linebacking corps and secondary fighting for a bevy of spots on a depleted roster. Junior Josh Chapman is quite a large man, and said he feels confident in his ability to replace fan favorite Terrence Cody at the nose tackle position. “We feel that we can come in and contribute the same way they did,” Chapman said. “We all subbed in and played the same amount of snaps.” There is no lack of motivation for the Hoover native, however, and it’s the drive that has pushed Chapman and his fellow defensive players looking to make their own mark in the wake of the departure of nine starters from a top-5 defensive group. [More]

Recruiting: LB prospect Vaughters offers high praise for Tide
Tucker High star James Vaughters has had an active recruitment. The inside linebacker has offers from all over the country and recently narrowed his search to nine schools. Alabama made the top nine cut and from James’ words seem to be in good position to advance even farther. “I visited Alabama in February at their Junior Day,” he wrote. “It was very impressive. The facilities were first class, and the coaching staff is great.
Coach (Kirby) Smart shared with me his vision of how he was going to use me and it’s a great fit for where I think I can make plays. I enjoyed spending 45 minutes with Coach Saban. He was very impressive and I like the way he stresses the importance of getting a degree and becoming a man of character. Coach Saban came across as genuine and sincere.” [More]

Roll Tide!

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