Daily Archives: December 15, 2012

Trio of Tide commitments help state win Alabama-Mississippi game

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Crimson Tide commitment Jonathan Cook intercepted a pass and returned it 57 yards in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic on Saturday in Montgomery.

Cook, a Spanish Fort High standout, made his play in the second quarter of Alabama’s 21-16 win over Mississippi. With Mississippi facing second-and-goal from the Alabama 2, Cook snatched a Parker Adamson pass in the end zone and ran it back to the Mississippi 43. It set up a field goal, giving Alabama a 6-0 lead.

Cook also broke up two passes and made a tackle for a 4-yard loss. Alabama commitment Darius Paige, a defensive tackle from Foley High, made one tackle and was credited with one quarterback hurry. Tide commitment ArDarius Stewart of Fultondale High returned two punts for a total of 5 yards and broke up a pass.

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Tide struggles from the start in loss at VCU

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Alabama head coach Anthony Grant reacts during the second half against Virginia Commonwealth. (AP photo by Mark Gormus of the Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Alabama head coach Anthony Grant reacts during the second half against Virginia Commonwealth. (AP photo by Mark Gormus of the Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Alabama coach Anthony Grant had a good time Saturday morning as he brought his Crimson Tide to Richmond, Va., to face his old team, Virginia Commonwealth.

Grant, who coached VCU to three conference titles in three seasons during 2006-09, said in a Crimson Tide Network radio interview how much he enjoyed seeing some old friends after Alabama arrived at the Rams’ Siegel Center. But after that, Grant had a pretty lousy day.

His Crimson Tide missed its first eight shots, needed 10 minutes to make its first basket and struggled all day in an 73-54 loss to the Rams on Saturday afternoon. Alabama has lost three straight after starting the season 6-0.

Alabama entered the game averaging only 12 turnovers a game but on this day, the Tide made 13 in the first half and 18 for the game. Tide guard Rodney Cooper started the game by making a pair of foul shots for a 2-0 lead, but that’s the only time Alabama led.

Fewer than 15 minutes into the game, Alabama trailed 26-7 and never cut the lead into single digits after that.

The Crimson Tide got the margin down to 11 at 39-28 with 16:05 to play, but VCU went on a 23-10 run and led comfortably after that.
Alabama freshman forward Devonta Pollard scored a season-high 13 points off the bench, making five of seven shots from the field. He also had eight rebounds, which also is a season best. Tide guard Levi Randolph added 10 points in 33 minutes of action.

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Tide picks up a commitment from a cornerback

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Multiple scouting services are reporting Spanish Fort High cornerback Jonathan Cook has committed to Alabama.

Cook is listed at 6-foot-0 and 185 pounds. Both Scout.com and Rivals.com rate him as a three-star prospect. Scout has him as the No. 48 cornerback nationally, while Rivals has him as the 26th best prospect in Alabama.

Here is video of Cook, shot by www.gamechangerrs.com:

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Saban’s All-America record at Alabama

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Alabama offensive lineman Barrett Jones (75) is a three-time Associated Press All-American. (AP photo by Butch Dill, File)

Alabama offensive lineman Barrett Jones (75) is a three-time Associated Press All-American. (AP photo by Butch Dill, File)

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama — Since 2008, Alabama has piled up a trophy case full of Associated Press All-America awards and then some.

The Associated Press picks the best All-America team, in our opinion. So it means something that Alabama players have landed on AP lists so often since 2008. Nick Saban‘s record in the past five seasons includes 17 first-team AP All-America selections, six on second team and five on third team.

Two players have earned three All-America selections in that period, including safety Mark Barron, who was third team in 2009, second team in 2010 and first team in 2011. Offensive lineman Barrett Jones made third team as a guard in 2010, first team as a tackle in 2011 and first team as a center in 2012.

2008
First team
Andre Smith, OT
Antoine Caldwell, C
Terrence Cody, DT
Second team
Rashad Johnson, S
Third team
Rolando McClain, LB

2009
First team
Mark Ingram, RB
Michael Johnson, OG
Terrence Cody, DT
Rolando McClain, LB
Javier Arenas, CB
Leigh Tiffin, K
Third team
Mark Barron, S

2010
Second team
Julio Jones, WR
Mark Barron, S
Third team
Barrett Jones, OG
Marcell Dareus, DT

2011
First team
Trent Richardson, RB
Barrett Jones, OT
Dont’a Hightower, LB
Mark Barron, S
Second team
Courtney Upshaw, LB
Dre Kirkpatrick CB

2012
First team
Barrett Jones, C
Chance Warmack, OG
Dee Milliner, CB
C.J. Mosley, LB
Second team
D.J. Fluker, OT
Third team
AJ McCarron, QB

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Tide returns to work this week for BCS game

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Nick Saban, AJ McCarron will return to practice Tuesday. (AP photo by Dave Martin)

Nick Saban, AJ McCarron will return to practice Tuesday. (AP photo by Dave Martin)

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama — The Crimson Tide will return to practice Tuesday afternoon in preparation for the BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 7 in Miami.

Alabama’s players haven’t gotten a complete break from work. Since beating Georgia 32-28 in the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 1, they’ve done some conditioning and strength work, but this is the first time on the field since that night.

Head coach Nick Saban has said he treats a bowl as a one-game season. That means the first few practices are like preseason camp, in which the players do a lot of fundamental work, along with football conditioning.

The team will break Dec. 23-25 for Christmas.

After that, the team will go into practices geared toward Notre Dame, which includes installing the game plan. After getting time off from practice Dec. 30-31, the team will work out in Tuscaloosa on Jan. 1. On Jan. 2, Alabama will practice in the morning in Tuscaloosa, then fly to Miami in the afternoon.

Saban said he thinks it’s possible to get stale from practicing too much, which is why he prefers having the two-week break after the SEC Championship Game.

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Alabama vs. Virginia Commonwealth, game information

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South Dakota State guard Nate Wolters (3) and Alabama guard Trevor Releford (12) scramble for a loose ball. (AP Photo/2K Sports)

South Dakota State guard Nate Wolters (3) and Alabama guard Trevor Releford (12) scramble for a loose ball. (AP Photo/2K Sports)

When: 3 p.m. today

Where: Richmond, Va.

Records: Alabama 6-2, Virginia Commonwealth 6-3.

TV: CBS College Sports.

Alabama lineup: G Trevor Lacey, 6-3, So., 14.1 ppg., 3.6 rpg., 4.0 assists; G Trevor Releford, 6-0, Jr., 16.9 ppg., 3.1 assists; C Moussa Gueye, 7-0, Jr., 1.4 ppg., 3.9 rpg.; F Levi Randolph, 6-5, So., 7.6 ppg., 4.0 rpg.; F Rodney Cooper, 6-6, So., 14.1 ppg., 4.7 rpg.

Virginia Commonwealth lineup: G Darius Theus, 6-3, Sr., 10.0 ppg., 1.6 rpg., 4.6 assists; G Rob Brandenberg, 6-2, Jr., 10.5 ppg., 3.4 rpg.; G Treveon Graham, 6-5, Sr., 15.0 ppg., 4.9 rpg.; F Troy Daniels, 6-4, Sr., 10.3 ppg., 3.5 rpg.; F Juvonte Reddic, 6-9, Jr., 14.4 ppg., 8.2 rpg.

NOTEWORTHY: Alabama coach Anthony Grant coached VCU during 2006-09 and compiled a 76-25 record. … Alabama is coming off two straight losses, including by two points at Cincinnati and five points at home to Dayton. … The Crimson Tide players went through semester exams this past week, with tests wrapping up Friday. … The Crimson Tide doesn’t return home until Dec. 22 against Mercer. … Virginia Commonwealth made the Final Four in 2011, as Theus, Daniels and Reddic were key contributors off the bench for that squad. … Daniels had 24 points in VCU’s most recent game, an 83-70 win over Old Dominion, with eight 3-pointers. … Two of VCU’s losses came to Duke and Missouri in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas. … The Rams have a 7-foot-0 center, too, with D.J. Haley (2.0 ppg., 1.4 rpg.) who starts sometimes and comes off the bench sometimes.

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University graduation today will include 11 from football team

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The University of Alabama will host winter graduation today at Coleman Coliseum, and 11 players on this year’s Crimson Tide football team will receive their degrees.

The list includes Kenny Bell, Christopher Bonds, Quinton Dial, D.J. Fluker, Barrett Jones, Kevin Norwood, Chance Warmack, Ranzell Watkins, Jesse Williams, Kellen Williams and Nicholas Williams.

Six former players on the team will graduate, including Mark Holt, Kendall Kelly, James Lowery, Corey McCarron, Morgan Oglive and William Strickland.

Also graduating today is Ellery Thomas Schnell, great-great niece of legendary Alabama football coach Frank Thomas. She has a 4.0 grade point average in English and human development. Thomas coached Alabama’s great undefeated 1934 and 1945 undefeated teams that won the Rose Bowl. His statue is among the coaches honored in front of Bryant-Denny Stadium. He played for Knute Rockne at Notre Dame.

All-American Ashley Sledge of the gymnastics team will graduate today, along with two-time NCAA champion Geralen Stack-Eaton. Ben Eblen and Moussa Gueye of the men’s basketball team will also graduate today. All-SEC softball player Kendall Dawson will also take home a degree, along with baseball’s Jimmy Nelson.

Oliver Basse and Andrew Reeves of the swimming and diving team will graduate Saturday. Cross country and track & field graduates include Camilla Armstead, Elsbeth Denton, Nicholas Hayes, Kyle Hester, Brittany Hines, Carison Kemei and Jordan Myers.

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