Athletic budgets on the rise

The University of Alabama is one of 10 schools projected to exceed $250 million in its athletic budget by the year 2020, based on figures released last week in a report by the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics. The report described the growing disparity between the nation’s elite athletic programs and the majority, which operate at a loss, as “unsustainable.” While there was no specific reference to UA anywhere in the commission’s report, the organization took clear aim at schools whose football programs are in BCS conferences, where the majority of athletic revenues are generated. At its recent spring meetings in Destin, Fla., the Southeastern Conference announced a record $209 million in distributed revenue, resulting in a share of $17.4 million per school — a 57 percent increase from the previous year. UA’s budget was one of the 10 largest in all of collegiate athletics, putting Alabama in the same company as Texas, Florida and other super-giants. [More]

It was just good to see Alabama-style football being played

You have heard the proclamation more than a few times in recent months. It has a little more gravitas, though, when it comes from a Hall of Fame player who was called by Paul “Bear” Bryant “the best player I ever coached.” “The Tide,” Dwight Stephenson exclaimed, “is back.” Stephenson, 52, was a five-time All-Pro in his eight seasons as a Miami Dolphins center. Many consider him the greatest center in NFL history. Before the Dolphin days, Stephenson was an All-America at Alabama, where he played on national title teams in 1978 and 1979. “It’s a great thing going on at the university,” Stephenson said. “I just hope we keep it going. This is a happy place to be. It was just good to see Alabama-style football being played there.” With allegiances to Alabama and the Dolphins, life could have grown complicated for Stephenson. “Let me say this. Mike Shula has moved on and he’s doing well. He’s the quarterbacks coach at Jacksonville,” Stephenson said. “Nick is at the University of Alabama and that’s going well. And the Dolphins seem to have that program going well. Everybody concerned seems to have things going well.” [More]

Recruiting: Alabama offers Aaron Morris

The big 6′ 6″, 330-pound offensive lineman out of Jackson Callaway received some big news today. “I went to the Alabama camp today, and they offered me a scholarship,” added Aaron Morris. “Coach Nick Saban called me to his office after the camp was offer to let me know I had a full ride.” What did the Tide like about Morris to give him a scholarship offer? “They said I have great feet and they needed somebody like me for tackle.” Morris has been keeping in close contact with Alabama for a while now. “Coach Bo Davis and I have been talking a lot. They have been recruiting me pretty hard for a while now, but things started picking up recently.” [More]

Another pick for the tide to repeat

On the subject of national championships, it’s easy to pick an SEC team as the league has produced the last four national champs and five of the last seven. It’s gotten to the point where the national champion is decided in early December in the Georgia Dome instead of early January in the BCS title game. The Tide is the easy pick even though they lost three All-Americans on defense, but Nick Saban will just reload on that side of the ball. Offensively, Alabama will be loaded with the running back duo of Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson, and everyone knows Julio Jones is set for a record season now that quarterback Greg McElroy has a year’s experience under his belt. [More]

Roll Tide!

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