touchdown alabama magazine - ole miss - 2009
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Touchdown Alabama Magazine - Ole Miss - 2009TRANSCRIPT
Alabama’s Premier College Football Magazine
October 10, 2009
TOUCHDOWNALABAMA.NET
Volume 2, Issue 6 $3.00
Showdown In Oxford!
Southern DisputeBy: Brad Lake
Tales From TailgatingBy: Katie Koenig
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221 Industrial Park Dr. Pelham l 205-663-1336711 21st Ave. Tuscaloosa l 205-758-8621
Authentic Mexican Restaurant
(corner of 13th Street)(205) 343-0300
The Bryant Museum is seeking information and photos for an upcoming book on the Tide’s World War II veterans. Information is needed on WWII-era military service of former Alabama football players.
Ken Gaddy, director of the Bryant Museum, will supervise production of the book to be researched and written by award-winning journalist and author Delbert Reed. Photographs and information should be sent to Gaddy’s attention at the Bryant Museum, Box 870385, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487.
For more information contact Gaddy at 205-348-9375 or [email protected], or visit www.bryantmuseum.ua.edu.
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In This Issue
M U L T I M E D I A
All content is the property of Touchdown Alabama Magazine. Touchdown Alabama Magazine reserves all rights to content in both the print and online (www.touchdownalabama.net) versions of the publication. No image or text may be reproduced without written consent from Touchdown Alabama Magazine.
8 Pregame Preview
10 Rosters
13 Larry’s Lowdown
14 Southern Dispute
18 Opponents
20 Recruiting
22 Tailgating
25 Player Spotlight
26 SEC News
29 Bama Fans
OctOber 10, 2009 | VOlume 2, Issue 7
StaffPresident/Publisher Bennie Bice
Editor-in-Chief Mike Lacy
Managing Editor Jessica Temple
Photography BDL Mark Lent UA Media Relations Ole Miss Media Relations Creative Director Jenifer McCormickGraphic Design Cassandra Johnson Tramayne Wright Chief Information Officer Brian LaShombWebsite Designer Carey Landon
Public Relations Eric Hudson Katlyn Clark Drew Franklin Christopher Wilson
Advertising Director Herb NeuAdvertising Sales Ron Bush Doug Cate Alex Schroyer
Accounting Department Danny Glynn
Contributing Writers Larry Burton Randal Etheredge Jennifer Gorham Anthony Johnson Amanda Kelly Brad Lake Mike Parker
Next Issue
• Bryant Museum
• Larry’s Lowdown
• Opponent Profiles
Web Content
• Post-Game Interviews
• Game Footage
• Press Conferences from Nick Saban
• More From Larry Burton
Weekly Radio Show
• Coming Soon!
6 | TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA October 10, 2009
SubScribe Today!www.touchdownalabama.net
Hello and Roll Tide!Welcome back to Touchdown Alabama! This week
marks the half-way point in the 2009 season and the Tide is definitely on a roll! The team has proven themselves at home, on the road, in the SEC and out of conference. This is shaping up to be a banner year for Alabama and we are proud to be part of it!
We are glad you have made Touchdown Alabama your source for Crimson Tide news. By all means, let us hear from you! This is your magazine and we need your ideas as much as we need your support. Let us know what you want to read about in the next few weeks and we’ll do our best to get the scoop.
As you read, please check out our awesome advertisers! We are featuring some great local businesses, some that specialize in Bama merchandise, on our pages. Many of them are offering great deals only available to our
readers, so take advantage of these offers.If you’re traveling to Oxford this week, drive safely and
look for our photographers pre-game. You might end up gracing our pages soon! We’ll be back in print next week with a special homecoming issue, full of the history and traditions that surround the game. See you then!
Roll Tide! Touchdown Alabama Staff
Send Letters to:PO BOX 3251TUSCALOOSA AL [email protected]: [email protected]
Letter from the Editor
ON THE COVER97 P.J. Fitzgerald 5-11 198 Sr. PunterP.J. Fitzgerald runs for a first down late in the fourth quarter on a fake field goal during the game against Kentucky last week. Fitzgerald, out of Stoneman Douglas High in Coral Springs, Fla., has started in all 40 games of his career at Alabama. He currently ranks third in school history in both total punts and punting yards. Photography by BDL.
MISSION STATEMENT“Touchdown Alabama Magazine was created to bring Alabama football fans the coverage of their team that they crave and expect, as well as to bring them closer to the action on the field. The University of Alabama has a long college football history, rich with tradition. Each season has added more dynamic players and colorful stories to the Alabama family. It is only fitting that a program with 12 National Championships should have a weekly magazine dedicated to conveying the excitement of the game to its devoted fans. Touchdown Alabama Magazine strives to be the most up-to-date, relevant and exciting magazine covering University of Alabama football. Furthermore, we guarantee in-depth articles, exclusive interviews and quality content surrounding the Crimson Tide. We will never forget who we generate this magazine for...you, the fan. God bless.”
INDEX
touchdownalabama.net | 7
This is the game that has been hyped up all summer long. We will find out a lot about Alabama and Ole Miss. The burning question is “Can Ole Miss bring it on a major stage.” I believe Alabama has the momentum to win in Oxford and continue to keep on rolling.
>>Winner: AlabamaBennie Bice - Publisher
This is a pivotal game for both schools.Alabama is trying to close in on anotherSEC West Championship and Mississippiis simply trying not to out of the race withhalf the season still to go. Unfortunatelyfor the Rebels, only Alabama will see their wish come true.
Alabama 31 - 17Larry Burton
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Trim: 7.5x5Bleed: NoneLive: 7.25x4.75
Closing Date: 10.26.9QC: SMPub: Touchdown Alabama
Pre-Game Preview
Pre-Game Preview
touchdownalabama.net | 9PHOTOGRAPHY BY BDL
Anthony Johnson
The Crimson Tide will square off against the Ole Miss Rebels Saturday afternoon in what figures to be an SEC West showdown.
Alabama, despite a statistically non-dominating performance against Kentucky, took advantage of four Wildcat turnovers and was able to quickly take over the momentum and cruise to a 38-20 victory Saturday with relative ease.
The Tide wasted no time making a statement on the road against Kentucky scoring on the opening drive in 57 seconds, thanks in part to a stellar kickoff return by Javier Arenas.
Rolando McClain assured Tide fans that despite losing linebacker Dont’a Hightower for the season, the Tide linebacker corps would not miss a beat. McClain had an interception, a forced fumble, assisted on an interception and tallied 12 tackles to lead the defense. Courtney Upshaw, making his debut start at the Tide’s all-important “Jack” linebacker position, returned the McClain-forced fumble 45 yards to break the backs of the Wildcats early on in the game.
The offense--led by sophomore running back Mark Ingram’s 140-yard, two-touchdown day--was able to control the clock when it mattered most and wear down an overwhelmed Wildcat defense. The Tide, although not as impressive of a victory as expected, managed to string together a 97-yard drive in the second quarter to silence the Lexington crowd. Transfer tight end Colin Peek recorded his first career touchdown on a 3-yard pass from Greg McElroy to cap off the 13-play drive that swung the momentum toward the Tide for good.
The Ole Miss Rebels began their season as a top-10 team and a trendy, dark-horse contender for the national championship. Many analysts nation-wide predicted the Rebels to win the SEC Western division and meet the Florida Gators in the SEC Championship game.
Led by head coach Houston Nutt, the strong arm of Jevan Sneed and playmaking ability of Dexter McCluster, the Rebels were ready to take the college football nation by storm—until they met the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Offensively, the Rebels faltered in the Thursday night game against a stingy Gamecock defense that held Jevan Sneed to a measly 7-of-21 passing for 106 yards, resulting in a shocking 16-10 upset of then, No. 4 Ole Miss. After the game was on the books, many analysts and sports writers began to believe that the Rebels were not ready to handle the spotlight and the pressure that comes with being labeled a top-ten team.
Don’t go to sleep on the Rebels just yet.Ole Miss (3-1, 1-1) rebounded Oct. 3 at
Vanderbilt, despite three Sneed interceptions, and came away with a 23-7 victory setting up the most anticipated SEC matchup of the year.
Last season, the Tide came into the matchup with the Rebel s ranked No. 2 in the nation and somehow held on for a 24-20 victory, withstanding the Rebels’ fourth-quarter rally.
Oct. 10 has been a date circled on every SEC sports fan’s calendar since spring camp started. For the first time in a long time, the Rebels have gained respect and the attention of the college football world.
Road to Atlanta Begins In Oxford
OLE MISS
Pre-Game Preview
10
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erNO NAME POS CL HT WT HOMETOWN/LASTSCHOOL
82 Earl Alexander WR Jr. 6-4 212 Phenix City, AL (Central)32 Eryk Anders LB Sr. 6-2 235 San Antonio, TX (Smithson Valley)28 Javier Arenas DB Sr. 5-9 195 Tampa, FL (Robinson)49 Jonathan Atchison LB Fr. 6-2 220 Atlanta, GA (Douglass)4 Mark Barron DB So. 6-2 214 Mobile, AL (St. Paul’s)7 Kenny Bell WR Fr. 6- 1 160 Rayville, LA (Rayville)44 Alex Benson LB Sr. 6- 1 225 Trussville, AL (Hewitt-Trussville)86 Undra Billingsley TE Fr. 6-2 276 Birmingham, AL (Woodlawn)93 Chris Bonds DL Fr. 6-4 280 Columbia, SC (Richland Northeast HS)67 John Michael Boswell OL So. 6-5 306 Northport, AL (Tuscaloosa County)88 Michael Bowman WR Fr. 6-4 210 Rossville, GA (Ridgeland)87 Drew Bullard LB Jr 6-3 238 Florence, AL (Florence)77 James Carpenter OL Jr. 6-5 300 Augusta, GA (Hephzibah)99 Josh Chapman DL So. 6-1 313 Hoover, AL (Hoover)62 Terrence Cody DL Sr. 6-5 354 Ft. Myers, FL (Gulf Coast C.C.)57 Marcell Dareus DL So. 6-4 296 Huffman, AL (Huffman)16 Thomas Darrah QB So. 6-5 227 Newnan, GA (Newnan)79 Drew Davis OL Sr. 6-7 306 Evergreen, AL (Sparta Academy)96 Luther Davis DL Jr. 6-3 275 West Monroe, LA (West Monroe)95 Brandon Deaderick DL Sr. 6-4 306 Elizabethtown, KY (Elizabethtown)51 Michael DeJohn LB Jr. 6- 1 241 Hoover, AL (Hoover)85 Preston Dial TE Jr. 6-3 233 Mobile, AL (UMS-Wright)40 DeMarcus DuBose LB So. 6-1 232 Montgomery, AL (Jefferson Davis)13 Rob Ezell WR Jr. 5-10 170 Athens, AL (Athens)97 P.J. Fitzgerald P Sr. 5-11 204 Coral Springs, FL (Stoneman Douglas)76 D.J. Fluker OL Fr. 6-6 340 Foley, AL (Foley)58 Nick Gentry DL So. 6-1 264 Prattville, AL (Prattville)11 Brandon Gibson WR So. 6-2 192 Mobile, AL (UMS-Wright)6 Demetrius Goode RB So. 5-9 191 LaGrange, GA (Hargrave)29 Terry Grant RB Jr. 5-10 190 Lumberton, MS (Lumberton)33 Hampton Gray DB Sr. 6- 2 196 Northport, AL (Tuscaloosa County)23 Robby Green DB So. 6-0 181 New Orleans, LA (John Curtis Christian)34 Jeramie Griffin RB So. 6-2 224 Batesville, MS (South Panola)15 Darius Hanks WR So. 6-0 184 Norcross, GA (Norcross)54 Glenn Harbin DL Fr. 6-5 257 Mobile, AL (McGill-Toolen)5 Jerrell Harris LB So. 6-3 227 Gadsden, AL (Gadsden City)30 Dont’a Hightower LB So. 6-4 255 Lewisburg, TN (Marshall County)40 Baron Huber RB/TE Sr. 6-4 263 Knoxville, TN (Powell)22 Mark Ingram RB So. 5-10 212 Flint, MI (Southwestern Academy)3 Kareem Jackson DB Jr. 6-0 193 Macon, GA ( (Fork Union Military)2 Star Jackson QB Fr. 6-3 206 Lake Worth, FL (Lake Worth)24 Marquis Johnson DB Sr. 5-11 191 Sarasota, FL (Booker)78 Mike Johnson OL Sr. 6-5 303 Pensacola, FL (Pine Forest)35 Nico Johnson LB Fr. 6-3 225 Andalusia, AL (Andalusia)75 Barrett Jones OL R-Fr. 6-4 289 Memphis, TN (Evangelica Christian)8 Julio Jones WR So. 6-4 211 Foley, AL (Foley)26 Phelon Jones DB So. 5-11 195 Mobile, AL (LSU/McGill-Toolen)36 Chris Jordan LB So. 6-3 230 Brentwood, TN (Brentwood Academy)81 Kendall Kelly WR Fr. 6-3 216 Gadsden, AL (Gadsden City)20 Tyrone King DB Sr. 5-11 203 Birmingham, AL (Grambling State/Minor)21 Dre Kirkpatrick DB Fr. 6-3 185 Gadsden, AL (Gadsden City)42 Eddie Lacy RB Fr. 6-0 210 Geismar, LA (Dutchtown)
11
alabama Roster
37 Robert Lester DB Fr. 6-2 207 Foley, AL (Foley)72 Tyler Love OL R-Fr. 6-6 303 Mountain Brook, AL (Mountain Brook)33 Mike Marrow RB-HB Fr. 6-2 240 Holland, OH (Central Catholic)4 Marquis Maze WR So. 5-10 179 Birmingham, AL (Tarrant)10 A.J. McCarron QB Fr. 6-4 190 Mobile, AL (Saint Paul’s Episcopal School)25 Rolando McClain LB Jr. 6-4 255 Decatur, AL (Decatur)80 Mike McCoy WR Sr. 6-3 215 Rankin, MS (Northwest)52 Alfred McCullough OL So. 6-2 305 Athens, AL (Athens)12 Greg McElroy QB Jr. 6-3 220 Southlake, TX (Southlake Carroll)56 William Ming DL Fr. 6-3 260 Athens, AL (Athens)59 Brandon Moore DL Fr. 6-5 310 Montgomery, AL (Carver)66 Brian Motley OL Jr. 6-3 291 Autaugaville, AL (Autaugaville)64 Kerry Murphy DL Fr. 6-4 323 Hoover, AL (Hargrave/Hoover)46 Wesley Neighbors DB So. 6-1 210 Huntsville, AL (Huntsville)83 Kevin Norwood WR Fr. 6-2 180 D’lberville, MS (D’Iberville)18 Morgan Ogilvie QB So. 6-0 195 Mountain Brook, AL (Mountain Brook)2 Tana Patrick LB Fr. 6-3 235 Bridgeport, AL (North Jackson)84 Colin Peek TE Sr. 6-6 255 Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (Georgia Tech/Bolles)39 Kyle Pennington DB Jr. 5-11 188 Chatom, AL (Washington County)68 Taylor Pharr OL Jr. 6-6 290 Irondale, AL (Shades Valley)54 Russell Rains OL Fr. 6-2 260 Satsuma, AL (Satsuma)13 Cory Reamer LB Sr. 6-4 234 Hoover, AL (Hoover)3 Trent Richardson RB Fr. 5-11 220 Pensacola, FL (Escambia)8 Chris Rogers DB Sr. 6-0 190 Lakeland, FL (Evangel Christian)74 David Ross OL Jr. 6-3 299 Homewood, AL (Homewood)1 B.J. Scott DB So. 5-11 196 Prichard, AL (Vigor)46 Chris Scott WR Sr. 5-11 170 Birmingham, AL (Ramsay)50 Brian Selman SNP Sr. 6-0 210 Vestavia Hills, AL (Vestavia Hills)94 Darrington Sentimore DL Fr. 6-3 280 Norco, LA (Destrehan)26 Ali Sharrief DB Sr. 5-9 200 Stevenson, AL (North Jackson)94 Jeremy Shelley PK Fr. 5-10 170 Raleigh, N.C. (Broughton)48 Travis Sikes WR Jr. 6-3 198 Nashville, TN (Christ Presbyterian)71 Allen Skelton OL So. 6-1 265 Coker, AL (Tuscaloosa County)17 Brad Smelley TE So. 6-3 233 Tuscaloosa, AL (American Christian)92 Damion Square DL Fr. 6-3 272 Houston, TX (Yates)61 Anthony Steen OL-DL Fr. 6-3 305 Lambert, MS (Lee Academy)47 Ed Stinson LB-DL Fr. 6-4 240 Homestead, FL (South Dade)90 Milton Talbert DL Jr. 6-4 275 Hattiesburg, MS (Hattiesburg)99 Leigh Tiffin PK Sr. 6-2 212 Muscle Shoals, AL (Muscle Shoals)51 Carson Tinker ST So. 6-1 220 Murfreesboro, TN (Riverdale)87 Chris Underwood TE So. 6-4 231 Birmingham, AL (Vestavia Hills)5 Roy Upchurch RB Sr. 6-0 205 Tallahassee, FL (Godby)41 Courtney Upshaw LB So. 6-2 249 Eufaula, AL (Eufaula)73 William Vlachos OL Jr. 6-1 294 Birmingham, AL (Mountain Brook)65 Chance Warmack OL Fr. 6-3 301 Atlanta, GA (Westlake)97 Lorenzo Washington DL Sr. 6-5 290 Logansville, GA (Hargrave)91 Alex Watkins LB So. 6-3 225 Brownsville, TN (Haywood)55 Chavis Williams LB Jr. 6-4 223 Dora, AL (Dora)60 David Williams OL Fr. 6-3 272 Duncanville, AL (Hillcrest)89 Michael Williams TE Fr. 6-6 266 Reform, AL (Pickens County)9 Nick Williams WR Fr. 5-10 165 Fort Lauderdale, FL (St. Thomas Aquinas)27 Justin Woodall DB Sr. 6-2 221 Oxford, MS (Lafayette)18 Rod Woodson DB Fr. 5-11 200 Olive Branch, MS (Olive Branch)
NO NAME POS CL HT WT HOMETOWN/LASTSCHOOL
12
OLE
MIS
S r
oste
r1 Lewis, Kendrick S 6-1 195 Sr. New Orleans, La.2 Scott, Rodney RB 5-8 195 Fr. Cross City, Fla.3 Hodge, Shay WR 6-2 207 Sr. Morton, Miss.4 Snead, Jevan QB 6-3 220 Jr. Stephenville, Tx.5 Harris, Melvin WR 6-7 200 RFr. Buford, Ga.6 McGee, Jeremy CB 5-10 180 Jr. New Orleans, La.7 Trahan, Patrick LB 6-2 235 Sr. Baton Rouge, La.8 Green, Marshay CB 5-9 175 Sr. Bastrop, La.9 Walker, Allen LB 6-1 225 Jr. Olive Branch, Miss.10 Grandy, Jesse WR 5-10 155 Fr. Pine Bluff, Ark.11 Patterson, Pat WR 6-2 215 Fr. Macon, Miss.12 Stanley, Nathan QB 6-5 215 RFr. Tahlequah, Okla.13 Cotton, Raymond QB 6-4 225 Fr. Fort Meade, Md.13 Phillips, Brent S 6-1 202 Jr. Farmington, Ark.14 Moore, Clayton QB 6-1 205 Fr. Louisville, Miss.14 Sanders, Brandon DB 6-0 208 RFr. Suwanee, Ga.15 Marr, Demareo DB 6-1 190 Jr. Southaven, Miss.15 Sawyer, Charles DB 5-10 172 Fr. Miami, Fla.16 Summers, Markeith WR 6-3 205 Jr. Olive Branch, Miss.17 Blanks, Danny WR 5-11 180 Fr. Baton Rouge, La.17 Tapp, Billy QB 6-4 240 Sr. St. Petersburg, Fla.19 Harris, Andrew WR 6-2 200 So. St. Petersburg, Fla.20 Brown, Johnny S 6-0 212 Jr. Charleston, Miss.21 Breaux, Lionel WR 6-0 198 Jr. New Orleans, La.22 Horine, Kyle CB 5-10 185 RFr. Kingwood, Texas22 McCluster, Dexter WR 5-9 170 Sr. Largo, Fla.23 Helow, George CB 5-8 185 Jr. Jacksonville, Fla.24 Vaughn, Cassius CB 5-11 195 Sr. Memphis, Tenn.25 Campbell, Ryan DB 6-0 175 Fr. Columbus, Ga.25 Eason, Cordera RB 6-0 224 Sr. Meridian, Miss.26 Herman, Derrick DB 5-10 185 So. Cleveland, Miss.27 Davis, Enrique RB 6-0 220 So. Lynn Haven, Fla.27 Green-Scott, Garen S 5-10 200 Fr. Baltimore, Md.28 Neat, Korvic RB 5-8 160 Fr. Hallandale, Fla.28 Whitehead, Julian CB 5-9 190 RFr. Lilburn, Ga.29 Thomas, Devin RB 5-10 205 So. San Antonio, Texas30 Davis, Derrick RB 6-0 242 Jr. Meridian, Miss.30 Mitchell, Jared S 6-3 190 RFr. Chesterfield, Mo.31 Benedetto, Ben FB 6-1 240 Jr. Metairie, La.31 Wilson, Rudy DB 6-0 205 RFr. Port Orange, Fla.32 Hicks, Reggie TE 6-2 240 Jr. Madison, Miss.33 Epperson, E.J. TE 6-2 250 RFr. Humboldt, Tenn.33 King, Tyler FB 5-11 224 Fr. Suwanee, Ga.34 Bolden, Brandon RB 5-11 220 So. Baton Rouge, La.34 Crawford, Frank DB 6-1 160 Fr. Miami, Fla.35 Ingram, Fon CB 6-0 200 Jr. Atlanta, Ga.36 Hoffman, Dan FB 6-1 230 So. Miami, Fla.36 Lanciault, Nick S 5-10 209 Fr. Fredericksburg, Va.37 Haynes, Lekenwic DB 6-3 220 RFr. Rosenberg, Texas37 Tarpley, Matt WR 5-10 180 Fr. Minneapolis, Minn.39 Junaid, Dele DB 6-1 187 Fr. Sugar Land, Texas39 Powers, Bryan P 6-0 217 Jr. Pacifica, Calif. 40 Bubis, Scott FB 5-11 225 Fr. Brentwood, Tenn.40 Lockett, Kentrell DE 6-5 254 Jr. Hahnville, La.41 Landers, Colby FB 6-0 243 Sr. Bryant, Ark.41 Temple, Marcus CB 5-10 188 So. Manquin, Va.42 Rollins, Will FB 5-11 225 Fr. Little Rock, Ark.42 Shackelford, D.T. LB 6-1 230 Fr. Decatur, Ala.43 Hartmann, Andy FB 5-10 243 Sr. Cooper City, Fla.43 Littlefield, Griffin S 5-9 185 RFr. Pike Road, Ala.44 Trip, Trey LB 6-1 225 So. Buford, Ga.45 Greer, H.R. FB 5-11 225 RFr. Olive Branch, Miss.45 Lancaster, Josh LB 5-8 197 RFr. Mobile, Ala.46 Anderson, Kenny FB 5-11 210 Fr. Richmond, Va.
46 Hankins, David K 6-3 222 So. Shreveport, La.47 Simon, Tim RB 6-1 213 Fr. Cordova, Ala.48 Bigham, Justin TE 6-0 231 Fr. Southaven, Miss.48 Brumfield, Lamar LB 6-0 234 Sr. Lynwood, Calif.49 Kight, Joel LB 5-8 220 Fr. Lithonia, Ga.51 Cornell, Jonathan LB 6-1 235 Jr. Azusa, Calif.53 Jones, Jason LB 6-2 235 RFr. Albany, Ga.54 Clair, Logan OL 6-5 305 Jr. Mustang, Okla.55 Brown, Michael OL 6-5 305 Fr. Lexington, Texas56 Eley, Nick DT 6-1 245 Fr. Olive Branch, Miss.57 Powe, Jerrell DT 6-2 330 Jr. Waynesboro, Miss. 58 Gaines, Corey DT 6-1 305 Fr. Tallahassee, Fla.60 Tatum, Josh OL 6-5 315 RFr. Marbury, Ala.61 Brent, Zack OL 6-0 269 So. Oxford, Miss.63 Green, Brandon C 6-2 305 Sr. Southaven, Miss. 64 Hickman, Jacob LS 5-11 200 Fr. Carriere, Miss.65 Jean-Louis, Mark OL 6-2 330 Sr. Palm Beach, Fla.66 Phillips, Chad LS 6-1 267 Fr. Madison, Miss.67 Gill, Chris OL 6-5 282 Fr. Appleton, Wisc.68 Powers, Preston LS 6-1 258 Sr. Collierville, Tenn.69 Phillips, Wesley LS 6-0 215 Jr. Madison, Miss.70 McCray, Emmanuel OL 6-4 295 Fr. Jackson, Miss.71 Neely, Reid OL 6-6 320 Sr. Jackson, Miss.72 Geralds, Daverin OL 6-2 305 Sr. Baton Rouge, La.73 Washington, Alex OL 6-4 340 So. Monroe, La.75 Johnson, Rishaw OL 6-4 305 So. Hammond, La.76 Hawkins, A.J. OL 6-4 305 Fr. Lithonia, Ga.77 Jerry, John OL 6-6 335 Sr. Batesville, Miss.78 Sowell, Bradley OL 6-7 305 So. Hernando, Miss.79 Massie, Bobby OL 6-6 317 Fr. Lynchburg, Va.80 Harris, Gerald TE 6-6 265 Sr. Terrell, Texas81 Cole, William WR 6-0 190 Sr. Oxford, Miss.81 Rose, Bryson K 6-0 193 RFr. Raleigh, N.C.82 Moss, Vincent WR 5-11 185 So. Munford, Ala.82 Ryan, Garrett DE 6-4 254 Sr. Marietta, Ga.83 Allen, Ferbia TE 6-4 240 RFr. Pine Bluff, Ark.83 Holder, Jordan WR 5-10 150 Fr. Bay Springs, Miss.84 Contartesi, Richie WR 5-8 163 Jr. Lake Worth, Fla.84 Nuismer, Jack DE 6-3 220 Fr. Nashville, Tenn.85 Jones, Layton TE 6-5 242 Jr. Greenville, Miss.85 Logan, Ja-Mes WR 6-2 181 Fr. Houston, Texas86 Grant, Terrell WR 6-2 209 Fr. Cleveland, Miss.86 Hardy, Greg DE 6-5 275 Sr. Millington, Tenn.87 Lucas, Jacarious WR 6-3 195 Sr. Cleveland, Miss.88 Lawhorn, J.D. WR 6-1 180 Sr. Memphis, Tenn.89 Mason, Z. TE 6-5 267 Fr. Nashville, Tenn.89 Sparks, Justin K/P 6-2 195 Sr. Memphis, Tenn.90 Rivers, Gerald DE 6-5 240 RFr. Ellenwood, Ga.91 Absher, Richard TE 6-4 225 So. Huntingon, Md.91 Drummond, Craig DE 6-5 274 Fr. Chicago, Ill.92 Tillman, Marcus DE 6-4 273 Sr. McCall Creek, Miss.93 Shene, Joshua K 5-9 170 Sr. Oklahoma City, Okla.93 Smith, Justin DL 6-3 284 So. Alpharetta, Ga.94 Armour, LaMark DE 6-2 275 Sr. Nashville, Tenn.94 Conley, Chris P 5-8 186 Fr. Bradenton, Fla.95 Stephens, Emmanuel DE 6-3 255 Sr. Houston, Texas96 Ritter, Andrew K 6-3 205 Fr. Jackson, Miss.96 Scott, Lawon DT 6-2 310 Jr. St. Petersburg, Fla.97 Campbell, Tyler P 6-2 210 Fr. Little Rock, Ark.97 Steen, Rodney DE 6-2 235 Jr. Coffeeville, Miss.98 Williams, Alex DE 6-4 205 Fr. Tallahassee, Fla.99 Laurent, Ted DT 6-1 303 Jr. Powder Springs, Ga.
NO NAME POS HT WT CL HOMETOWN NO NAME POS HT WT CL HOMETOWN
LOWDOWN
Larry’s
LOWDOWNNew Mess at Ole Miss This Year?
Larry Burton
touchdownalabama.net | 13
Larry Burton
This was the year when Old Miss was going to raise its head above the fray, rise to the top of the SEC West, and challenge Florida for not only a conference championship,
but maybe a national one too, and all without a Manning at the helm.
This year had two saviors, Houston Nutt, the excitable and always inspirational coach and Jevan Snead, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound ball-tossing Texan from Stephenville.
The problem is that against their first SEC test, they proceeded to fall flat on their faces.
Houston Nutt has an irritating habit of always failing to meet expectations when expectations are high. It seems he only works his magic in the role of an underdog.
Snead was supposed to have little trouble with South Carolina, yet the offense only managed one touchdown the entire game and that was not until the fourth quarter. Snead entered the game as someone who may hoist a Heisman Trophy and left as someone who may need to hoist a hernia truss.
They started that contest with an average of 48 points a game and 424 yards of offense in each outing. They left with a lone touchdown and a field goal equaling 10 points and just 248 yards of total offense and they only converted one third down the entire game. In likewise failing fashion they, only converted one of four fourth down conversions.
Ole Miss was exposed for what they are, SEC pretenders. It was not just a failure of Nutt to prepare them, or Snead’s inability to make plays, but the offensive line’s total failure in patching together any type of protection and hole opening abilities for a great runner like Dexter McCluster.
Nothing against South Carolina, who does field a wonderful defensive team, but Mississippi will face tougher defenses ahead and the prognosis can’t be good.
And as for the Rebel defense, they faced one of most anemic offenses in the SEC and yet in the first 30 minutes of play the Gamecocks held a 181 to 71 yard advantage.
The sad realization for fans of the Rebels is that they were beaten by one of the worst offenses in the SEC and with bigger, faster and more skilled teams ahead, that fact must weigh on them greatly.
Sh ould their slide down the SEC scale continue, perhaps
Rebel fans will begin to understand why Arkansas was so eager to get rid of Nutt and replace him with someone who could finally live up to the talent and expectations of the fans and players around him.
In last week’s game against Vanderbilt, one of the SEC’s worst teams, Mississippi won but looked very sloppy, with Snead throwing three interceptions.
In that game, the Rebels were hoping to make a statement that the South Carolina game was merely a fluke. However the lackluster win against a hapless Vandy team and throwing three interceptions show that perhaps Mississippi was overrated from the beginning.
Unless something changes drastically and soon, a team that many thought could go through the SEC schedule undefeated may wind up with four conference losses and finish near the bottom of the SEC West.
That’s why this week’s game against Alabama is so special. This is not to say that every SEC game is not special, especially for Alabama, who still hopes for an undefeated regular season schedule themselves, but for Ole Miss this is a chance to regain some momentum, and perhaps salvage a season.
South Carolina made Mississippi look bad, Vanderbilt left people asking questions and Alabama could make them look terrible. That is what the Rebels are trying to avoid in this game.
This could very well be the game that launches Alabama into another SEC Championship game and sends the Rebels champi-onship dreams to crash on the rocks.
14 | TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA October 10, 2009
Exclusive Exclusive
This weekend the Ole Miss Rebels host the Alabama Crimson Tide in a SEC showdown. Two Texas-raised quarterbacks, Jevan Snead and Greg McElroy , both came into this season with high expectations. After coming off a good year last season with 2,762 passing yards, Snead is hoping to win a lot of
games for the Rebels this season and has done well so far, only losing once to South Carolina. On the other side of the field will be Greg McElroy, who after five games, remains undefeated in his first season as starting quarterback for the Crimson Tide.
No one would have guessed that this early into the season Greg McElroy would be hearing talk about a Heisman, but there is some of that talk stirring around the junior. After his first five games, McElroy has passed for 1086 yards, with 78 completions of 119 passes, giving him a completion percentage of 65.5. One challenge McElroy will face this week will come from the Rebel’s defensive end, Greg Hardy. Hardy has had a sack in the last his last two games, and will be looking for more during this match. It will be up to the Tide’s offensive line to keep him out of the backfield. Even though McElroy has heard some of his Heisman hype, he insists that he is staying focused on the team goals and what his team wants to get accomplished.
“It’s nice to get recognition for an award like that, but we are here to win champi-onships, not individual awards,” McElroy said. “I think the only way you’re name can get mentioned in a situation like that is by having the team play well around you, and I think that’s what the team has been able to do up until this point. It’s not something I’m going to be thinking about or cautiously worrying about, it’s just one of those things, and as long as we continue to play well, more players’ names will get mentioned for individual awards. That’s not my goal. That’s not our team goal. We are here to win games and that’s it.”
McElroy and his arsenal of receivers will be facing a defense that does not have much strength in their secondary. Marshay Green, one of the top corners on the Ole Miss squad, was playing wide receiver before the arrival of Houston Nutt. So, if Alabama can get a good running game established, they should be able to get some good looks down the field. Weapons such as Julio Jones, Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson, and Marquis Maze should really help the Tide offense wear down Ole Miss’ secondary.
“People have to respect both of our strengths, we have a great running game, great running backs and we also have explosive wide receivers,” McElroy said. “The fact that we can stretch the field vertically, horizontally and any other direction possible really works well in our favor, and is something we are definitely going to have to take advantage of in our future.”
Brad Lake
A True Southern Dispute
Continued On Page 19
touchdownalabama.net | 15PHOTOGRAPHY BY BDL
Opponents
Views From the Other Side
18 | TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA October 10, 2009
Jennifer Gorham
Three games into the season, Ole Miss junior Markeith Summers has already impressed. He has had three receptions for 78 yards. He has
scored the first two touchdown receptions of his career, and is currently the team season leader in TDs. Rebles QB Jevan Snead sensed Summers’ successful season early on.
“He has done a great job for us this year and that is what we expected of him,” Snead said. “We expected him to help stretch the field and make big plays like he has. I saw that in him all through the summer and even last year, and I knew he was capable of big plays.”
Originally from Olive Branch, Miss., Summers proved his athletic ability in high school. During his senior year, ESPN.com ranked him as the #3 WR and the #27 player overall. He was redshirted his first year at Ole Miss, but has played in nearly every game since.
Summers played well in the Rebels’ first loss of the season at South Carolina. He led the team in receiving with two catches for 60 yards.
Rebels Coach Huston Nutt seems impressed with how well Summers has played for the team this season, and only expects him to improve and step up to the plate as the season continues.
“We have very high expectations for Markeith,” Nutt said. “He is a guy that gives us a real threat – deep. I think he is only going to get better. He realized that we are leaning on him a little bit.”
Although he is a married father, Emmanuel Stephens does not seem to have let his wife or young son affect his performance on the field.
Stephens recorded four tackles, half a sack and forced a fumble in the Rebels’ effort against South Carolina.
Every week, the senior from Huston, Tx., must earn his playing time. The Rebels have a number of people that can play his position.
“We don’t sit there and say ‘you’re going to get this many plays, and you are going to get this many plays,’” Ole Miss Coach Huston Nutt said of the position battle. “It’s just a feel thing that [assistant coaches] Price and Nix work out during the week.”
After graduating from Blinn Community College in Brenham, Tx., Stephens transferred to Ole Miss as the number 25 JUCO player in the 2008 class, according to Rivals.com. In his first season with the Rebels last year, Summers started in all 13 games and recorded 18 total tackles.
Although Nutt believed his defensive line could improve, he seems pleased over all with the progress of Stephens and his teammates during the South Carolina game.
“The defense was outstanding,” Nutt said. “ I still think we can tackle better in some spots. [Assistant coach] Tyrone [Nix] had an excellent game plan and [assistant coach] Terry Price had those defensive linemen running to the ball. They held up beautifully.”
Markeith Summers, #16, WREmmanuel Stephens, #95, DE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY OLE MISS MEDIA RELATIONS
On the other side of the field will be another strong-armed quarterback that is ready to put the Tide’s defense to the test. Snead has remained consistent with an overall passing percent of 50.2, throwing for 728 yards so far this year. In his last game against Vanderbilt, Snead threw 3 interceptions. If Ole Miss is planning on beating the Crimson Tide, Snead will have to be weary when throwing those dangerous balls into close coverage. After obtaining 3 interceptions in their last game, the Alabama defense will be pressuring Snead and looking for some of those same mistakes he made against Vanderbilt.
Snead is set up very nicely with a group of talented offensive players. One of these players who will have to be watched very closely by the Tide’s defense is number 22, Dexter McCluster. This hybrid of a wide receiver and running back is an explosive player on the field, and is very capable of game changing performances. He already has 11 catches this year for 155 yards, and is averaging 4.8 yards per carry on the ground. If Ole Miss can figure out a way to open up the run, we could see Snead hooking up with McCluster for several touchdowns, or finding a Markeith Summers over the middle like he did against South Carolina. To win this game, Snead is going to have to keep his head in the game and not let the Tide’s defensive pressure force turnovers. If Mississippi can avoid this and make something happen on special teams, they have a valid chance of winning this ball game on home soil.
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Recruiting
Mike ParkerWeek 6
The
Deion Belue *** 6’, 175 lbs, CornerDeion Belue, from Tuscumbia, Ala., is one of the biggest sleepers in the southeast. Belue plays corner, wide receiver, safety, punt returner and kick returner; he is as well-rounded as they come. Last week Belue’s Deshler High School defeated rival Colbert County High, with Belue scoring on a 59 yard run. With his speed, agility, and aggressive attack style against receivers, Belue always wows the crowd. Because of his versatility, Belue could play a number of positions for Alabama, but, Nick Saban has hand-picked Belue as a lock-down corner, and, with Javier Arenas graduating, Belue should also get a very good look at punt and kick return next year. Belue’s 4-1 Deshler High hosts Wilson High School next week.
Ronald Carswell ***6’, 180 lbs, Wide ReceiverWide receiver Ronald Carswell, from Macon, Ga., has good speed and a steady set of hands. Before he was injured, Carswell caught two receptions in his school’s 17-0 win over Bainbridge High School. You could say Carswell has flown under the radar for most of his recruitment. However, Nick Saban has a knack for spotting talent face to face, and he obviously liked what he saw when Carswell camped at Alabama. At a very competitive Columbine, Carswell took home a prestigious MVP award. If you had to bet your money on which receiver position he will play, slot receiver would be a very heavy favorite. On top of all his other talents, Carswell has a great up-side.
Devonta Bolton ****6’4”, 230 lbs, LinebackerOriginally from Norcross, Ga., linebacker Devonta Bolton committed to the Tide’s first #1 signing class in 2008. Sal Searcy and James Willis should be licking their chops, since this kid is everything a coach dreams of in a linebacker. Though originally recruited as a wide receiver in 2008, Bolton failed to make his grades and is, therefore, attending East Mississippi Community College, where has been playing linebacker. Bolton’s big, he’s fast, he’s physical, he has very good instincts and he takes very good angles to make a play. Already Bolton is the size of Demeco Ryans, but faster. He’s great at taking on blockers, filling gaps, and wrapping up at the point of attack. To say the least, he is ready for immediate playing time. It will be evident fairly quickly if Bolton can catch on to Alabama’s complicated defensive scheme. But, make no mistake about it: this kid is as pure a linebacker as one would ever find.
Cade Foster ** 6’1”, 215 lbs, KickerNo stranger to big-time football, Cade Foster is a stand-out kicker and linebacker from Carroll High School in Southlake, Texas, the same high school from which Chase Daniels and Alabama’s current ace quarterback, Greg McElroy, graduated. Even though Carroll High was upset by North Shore High 28-15, Foster did his part, connecting on field goals of 49 and 20 yards. The kid has a leg that resembles that of Sebastian Janakowski. On an average kick-off, you can expect Foster’s football to sail 80 yards with a 4.0 hang time. If you are the opposing returner trying to break one, you won’t want to meet face to face with Foster, who is also an absolute bone-crusher as a linebacker. Even though he will be recruited as a kicker for the Tide, Foster, to his teammates in Southlake, is the leader of a very physically tough defense.
For each remaining issue for 2009, I will be analyzing four of the Crimson Tide’s current player commitments and possible future commits, their weekly up-dates, and their status as to how firm their commitment remains to Alabama.
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If there is one word that could be synonymous with Alabama football, it would be traditions. Traditions of winning. Traditions of class. Traditions of tailgating on the Quad,
filling Bryant-Denny every Saturday in the fall, and hearing Paul “Bear” Bryant’s voice booming out of the speakers before kickoff. There is one more tradition that you and your family may want to consider adding to your football season: visiting the Paul W. Bryant Museum on the campus of the University.
Revered Alabama coach Paul “Bear” Bryant suggested in 1981 that the University needed a museum to showcase the players and coaches who had helped him achieve the greatness that was his legend. The University began planning, and decided the museum should also celebrate the legacy of all aspects of the football program since its beginning in 1892. After careful planning, Bryant’s idea came to fruition when the Paul W. Bryant Museum opened on October 8, 1988. Over 20 years after its opening, the museum still holds true to its ideals of honoring
the football program here at the University. As you progress along the walls of the museum, a history of
football at the Capstone is documented in chronological order. Photos, videos and memorabilia illustrate the timeline of football since the first team took the field in 1892. Visitors can see pieces of uniforms, including a full uniform from 1906 and a simple sweater that was typical of an 1896 uniform.
Bryant Museum Director Kenneth Gaddy said that the most recent updates to the museum were to exhibits along the wall featuring coaches Perkins through Shula. That entire corner of the museum was torn out and stripped to the walls. The exhibits were rebuilt using more current technology, Gaddy said. For example, each coach now has his own audio section that wasn’t there before, as well as three added videos for each of the six coaches. Gaddy said the update allowed the staff to add a lot more artifacts and let fans get closer to those artifacts.
The museum slowly weaves a journey back in time for
22 | TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA October 10, 2009
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visitors. There is a replica of Bryant’s office when he was head coach at Alabama, and one can almost feel the intimidation a player summoned to the Bear’s domain would feel. Details such as Golden Flake posters, a houndstooth hat, and a jacket hanging on the coat rack fill up the wood-paneled room.
The museum also showcases the biographies and details of those who have tried to fill Bryant’s shoes as head coach after his reign. A wall near the gift shop is already host to memora-bilia from Nick Saban’s time here at Alabama, including a game ball from Saban’s 100th victory with a win over Tulane in 2008.
Gaddy said the replica of Bryant’s office is always among the most popular exhibits in the museum. One of the current hot spots in the museum is the Saban segment. Gaddy says he has his own personal favorite aspect of the museum.
“One of the things I personally like is that we’ve been able through the years to acquire a lot of original artwork,” Gaddy said. “We have 13 original paintings on display right now.”
Certainly one of the most celebrated exhibits in the museum is the Waterford crystal replica of Bryant’s trademark hound-stooth hat. Created by Miraslav Havel and presented by the Waterford Crystal Company of Ireland and the Bromberg Company of Birmingham, visitors may need shades to view the incredible sparkle of the crystal hat.
No aspect of the program has been left out. Fans can peruse cases of bumper stickers that declare Alabama number one. They can get within two feet of some of the most prestigious trophies in college football, such as the 1953 and 1963 Orange Bowl trophies and the 1993 Sugar Bowl trophy. Any stretch of wall that isn’t hidden by display cases is adorned by paintings by Daniel Moore depicting historic games. If at any point you want more information on an exhibit, interactive touch-screen computers are set up with relevant clips and history.
For the hard-core sports enthusiasts, the museum also hosts a research library. The museum touts it as “the most extensive
PHOTOGRAPHY BY OLE MISS MEDIA RELATIONS touchdownalabama.net | 23Continued On Page 31
Traditions
When the University first opened its doors 1819, sports teams were banned by the University Board of Trustees because they believed they had a negative effect on the young men enrolled at UA. This practice continued when the school became a military institution, as students had almost no time for fun between
going to class and conducting drills.The military system was eventually replaced at the University in the 1890s, and women began to gain admittance to the
school. Class requirements became easier, and students often spent leisure time playing sports on the Quad. In 1892, football and baseball were established as varsity sports at the Capstone.
Alabama’s football program began to gain prominence and various songs and cheers were sung in celebration at the Tide’s football games, although none were written specifically for the University. After Alabama’s 1926 Rose Bowl victory over Washington, school spirit was at an all time high and the need for an original fight song was overwhelming.
The Rammer-Jammer, a student magazine, decided to hold a contest in which anyone could submit an entry, and the winner would receive a $50 prize. In March 1926, a panel of judges overseen by the music department, picked a winning entry.
“It is with great pleasure that Rammer Jammer announces the award of the prize for the new song to Mr. Ethelred Sykes, [class of] ’26, present editor of our contemporary, the Crimson-White,” the paper printed. “We ask that the song be played on every occasion in which a battle march is needed, and, if it is liked, for the students to accept it [as our fight song.]”
Sykes was a student in the School of Engineering, editor of the Crimson White, and played piano in a jazz ensemble known as The Capstone Five. He donated the prize money to have the song musi-cally arranged for the Million Dollar Band. After school, Sykes joined the U.S. Air Force and achieved the rank of Brigadier General.
Although numerous other songs have been composed about the University over the years, none of them have gained the prominence of “Yea, Alabama.”
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK LENT24 | TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA October 10, 2009
Amanada Kelly
Tide Traditions
“Yea, Alabama”
“Yea, Alabama”Yea, Alabama! Drown ‘em Tide!Every ‘Bama man’s behind you,
Hit your stride.Go teach the Bulldogs to behave,
Send the Yellow Jackets to a watery grave.And if a man starts to weaken,
That’s a shame!For Bama’s pluck and grit have
Writ her name in Crimson flame.Fight on, fight on, fight on men!
Remember the Rose Bowl, we’ll win then.So roll on to victory,
Hit your stride,You’re Dixie’s football pride,
Crimson Tide, Roll Tide, Roll Tide!!
touchdownalabama.net | 25
Player Spotlight
Grant
Alabama running back, Terry Grant, joined The Crimson Tide’s team in 2006 as a four-star recruit and third-best high school football player in Mississippi, according to
Rivals.com. The Tide is returning to his home state to duke it out against the Ole Miss Rebels this week.
During his senior year at Lumberton High School, Grant was named Mississippi Mr. Football after rushing for 2,730 yards and 35 touchdowns; he was also named an All-State honoree.
He suffered from a sports hernia that landed him a medical redshirt during the 2006 season after he played in three games and carried for 22 yards.
During the 2007 season he was the top rusher for The Crimson Tide with 891 rushing yards and 176 receiving yards. He scored the first touchdown of the season against Western Carolina University on the first play. Grant’s best game of the 2007 season came when he rushed for a career-high 173 yards against the Vanderbilt Commodores.
Last year, Grant’s rushing stats decreased dramatically. His season-best record came against Arkansas with 32 yards on 10 carries. He dropped from 891 rushing yards to 88 in one season and with the introduction of Glen Coffee, Mark Ingram and Roy Upchurch’s play time, Grant’s stats continued to dwindle.
Grant said it took some adjustments to go from being a top rusher before his injury to having an off-season after it.
“It took a whole year, honestly, to adjust to it,” he said. “It is like you’ve been kicked off the face of the earth. But eventually, you’ll get over it and you realize that I’m not the only guy here. There’s a lot of guys. That’s how I feel about it now.”
Grant’s fellow Mississippian and former roommate, Mike McCoy said Grant has a positive attitude about the injury and is staying focused.
“Me and him talk about it all the time,” McCoy said. “He tells me all the time that anything worth having is worth the struggle.”
For the 2009 season, Grant is in the offensive backfield position. ESPN.com has projected that he will top 498 yards this
season. He has a total of 166 yards so far, with 79 of those yards coming from the North Texas game. This season Trent Richardson, Mark Ingram and Roy Upchurch are all power-houses and Grant’s appearances could be sparse.
“It was just like, is it worth it or is it not?” Grant said. “But once I got better, then your mind starts to change. It’s worth it.”
To date he has rushed for 1,167 yards, 259 receiving yards and scored a total of 13 touchdowns since the 2006 season. He provides depth at the running-back position, which has proved dominant against the Tide’s opposing defenses. According to Nick Saban, he has options of playing tailback and wide receiver.
“He’s a coach’s dream in terms of a guy that has the pride that you want in performance and does everything you want every day, and he has ability,” Saban said. “He’s just at a position where we have two or three other guys that play a lot. It’s hard to play all those guys, so we’re trying to make him sort of a dual-role guy.”
“Terry has done a great job for us all year,” he said. “I feel like we’ve done the best we can, under the circumstances, of trying to create a roll for Terry Grant, but I also feel like Terry Grant has a lot to give to our football team and we want to continue to try to develop a role.”
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BDL
Jennifer Gorham
After gaining 891 rushing yards his freshman year can we expect the same this season?
touchdownalabama.net | 25
Terry
News
26 | TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA October 10, 2009
SEC NewsSEC NewsRandal Etheredge
Auburn vs ArkansasArkansas really got in the groove against formerly unde-
feated Texas A&M last week. Quarterback for the Hogs, Ryan Mallett threw for 271 yards and four touchdowns. Arkansas racked up 434 yards of overall offense. Auburn continues to stay under the radar with their explosive offense, and remain undefeated after the game last week in Knoxville. With 459 yards of offense for the Tigers, look for these two teams to be up and down the field all day.
Kentucky vs South CarolinaComing off a loss at home to third-ranked Alabama, the
Wildcats of Kentucky travel to South Carolina to visit the Gamecocks and are hoping to improve their passing offense after junior quarterback Mike Hartline threw three intercep-tions against the Tide. With four total turnovers, the Cats are looking for their rushing attack to be more of a factor after running for 133 yards against Alabama. While South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia turned in a quality game against South Carolina State, completing 13 of 19 passes with two touchdowns, the Wildcats are looking to keep their rushing attack at full throttle.
Florida vs LSUThe Gators are coming off a bye week, giving senior quar-
terback Tim Tebow some additional rest after his concussion suffered at the hands of Kentucky two weeks ago. LSU is coming off a late nail-bitter against Georgia, with some costly penalties giving LSU great field position. The game-winning rush came with 44 seconds on the clock from senior running back Charles Scott after a 33 yard gallop to seal the deal for the Tigers. With these two teams being ranked in the top 10, tremendous pressure lies on the shoulders of LSU freshman quarterback Jordan Jefferson, who made some bad decisions against the Bulldogs. Look for this game to be intense until the final whistle.
Houston vs Mississippi StateMississippi State turned in an unfortunate effort against
their out-of-conference opponent Georgia Tech last week. Turning the ball over five times was the overall cause for the loss. State managed two rushing touchdowns last week, first a 10-yard rush from freshman wide receiver Chad Bumphis, who also grabbed a 69 yard pass for a score, and the other coming from senior running back Christian Durce late in the fourth quarter. The new top man in the Heisman race is the
quarterback from Houston, Case Keenum. Completing almost 70% of his passes, he lead his Cougars two weeks ago in a late game comeback against Texas Tech. Head coach from Mississippi State Dan Mullen hopes to contain the Heisman candidate.
Georgia vs TennesseeAs Georgia comes off a heart breaker to LSU, can quarter-
back Joe Cox settle in and lead his Bulldog offense against possibly the best safety in college football, senior Eric Berry? After throwing for 229 yards against LSU last week, Cox needs to find his star receiver, sophomore A.J. Green, who caught five balls for 99 yards and one touchdown in the effort against the Tigers. Look for that match-up down field all game. If Tennessee wants to keep hopes up for the season, they need to improve their third down conversion percent. Last week they converted only four of 17 on third down.
As the senior quarterback is coming off a concussion suffered at the hands of Kentucky two weeks ago, Heisman hopeful Tim Tebow is still questionable in the game this weekend against LSU. Florida needs Tebow in the game to continue their hopes for an undefeated season.
Akeem Dent, the Junior middle linebacker for Georgia remains questionable for the game against Tennessee this weekend. Still nursing a hamstring pull, Akeem has not played the last two games for the Bulldogs and is a major factor in their rushing defense.
Auburn coach Gene Chizik has suspended junior offensive lineman Byron Isom indefinitely for a violation of team rules. No further details were given. True freshman John Sullen will fill in for the lineman at left guard.
Ole Miss senior starting full back Andy Hartmann remains questionable after injuring his knee against Southeastern Louisiana. He has not played since the injury, and he will be replaced by a slew of backups.
The senior left guard for Tennessee, Vladimir Richard, has been battling a few injuries this season, with the most recent stemming from his knee. Coach Mark Richt says the lineman may not play in this week’s game against the Georgia Bulldogs.
AP TOP 251. Florida
2. Texas
3. Alabama
4. LSU
5. VirginiaTech
6. BoiseState
7. USC
8. Cincinnati
9. OhioState
10.TCU
11.Miami(FL)
12. Iowa
13.Oregon
14. PennState
15.OklahomaState
16.Kansas
17. Auburn
18.BrighamYoung
19.Oklahoma
20.Mississippi
21.Nebraska
22.GeorgiaTech
23.SouthFlorida
24.Missouri
25.SouthCarolina
USA TODAY1. Florida
2. Texas
3. Alabama
4. LSU
5. VirginiaTech
6. BoiseState
7. USC
8. OhioState
9. TCU
10.Cincinnati
11. Miami(FL)
12.PennState
13.OklahomaState
14. Iowa
15.Kansas
16.Mississippi
17. Oregon
18.Missouri
19.Auburn
20.BrighamYoung
21.Oklahoma
22.Nebraska
23.GeorgiaTech
24.SouthFlorida
25.Wisconsin
Sep.5 VTech W34-24Sep.12 FLInt’l W40-14Sep.19 N.Texas W53-7Sep.26 Arkansas W35-7Oct.3 Kentucky W38-20Oct.10 Mississippi AwayOct.17 SouthCarolina HomeOct.24 Tennessee HomeNov.7 LSU HomeNov.14 MississippiSt. AwayNov.21 Tenn-Chatt HomeNov.27 Auburn Away
touchdownalabama.net | 27
UASCHEDULE
CURRENT POLLS
1 Bear Bryant is the only coach in Div. I history to win ______________________.
a. Back-to-back national championships twiceb. National championships in three different decadesc. Three straight national championshipsd. Four straight national championships
2 From 2005 to 2007, Alabama played three straight bowl-game opponent from what conference?a. Big Tenb. ACC
c. Pac-10d. Big 12
3 Which Alabama star has NOT appeared on a Wheaties box?a. Johnny Mack Brownb. Bart Starr
c. Don Hutsond. Lee Roy Jordan
4 What was Nick Saban’s record in two seasons with the Miami Dolphins?a. 12-20b. 15-17
c. 18-14d. 20-12
5 How many of Alabama’s national champion-ships have come with perfect seasons?a. 3b. 5
c. 6d. 7
ENTER TO WIN
A FREE T-SHIRT!
28 | TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA October 10, 2009
QUESTIONS5 ?
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collection of archival and published materials about The University of Alabama sports in the world.” Researchers, authors, journalists, and sports enthusiast alike can take advantage of the library during regular museum hours.
Gaddy said the museum’s future plans include an update to the theater at the museum, including the seating and projection areas.
If you’re planning to visit the museum on a Saturday in the fall, you certainly won’t be alone.
“Gamedays are by far our busiest days,” Gaddy said.
Several factors can affect atten-dance at the museum on gameday, including weather, the ranking of an opponent, or how long is has been since we have played the day’s team, Gaddy said. He added that the museum sees an average of 1,500 fans on a slow day, with their highest attendance recorded on A-Day in 2007 before Saban’s Alabama coaching debut.
“A-Day is always a big day for us and Alabama never loses that day,” Gaddy said.
For those who wish to add visiting the museum to their personal tradi-tions, the Paul W. Bryant Museum is open to the public every day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum is closed on major holidays, and you can check with them by calling 1-866-772-BEAR for information on extended hours on game days. The museum will host a brunch for their membership group, Circle of Champions, at 9 a.m. before the South Carolina game. Any fans interested in joining the group may do so before the brunch and attend as well.
Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for senior citizens ages 60 and older, and $1 for children ages six to 17. Members and children under the age of six are admitted free. Students, faculty and staff of the University also get in free with their Action Card.
Continued From Page 23Wiley HamiltonOwnerOperator ABC Licensed
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You Get The Best For Less!You Get The Best For Less!You Get The Best For Less!
Call (205) 657-5554 For a FREE ESTIMATE!
Professionally Managed by Lindsey Mgmt. Co., Inc.
The Two BEST Places To Live In Tuscaloosa!
www.LindseyManagement.com
(205) 247-9978
(205) 342-3339
1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments Include:• Golf Privileges for Residents • Free Tanning • Fitness Center • Business Center• Swimming Pool • Game Room with Billiards • Full-Size Washer & Dryer• All Major Appliances • Furnished Apts. Available• On-Site Management• Beautiful Golf Course Views Available • Free Lindsey Rx Discount Drug Card
Text “linktusc” or “greentusc” for
more information!Look!
(Standard Rates Apply)1800 Links Blvd.
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