Tide Continues to Prepare for Season Opener
8/25/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 25, 2010
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama football team practiced for two hours in full pads on Wednesday afternoon at the Thomas-Drew Practice Facility. It was the fall's 21st training session as the Crimson Tide continues to prepare for the September 4 season opener against San Jose State in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Following two days off on Sunday and Monday, Alabama hit the practice field on Wednesday for its second workout session of the week. In his post-practice press conference on Tuesday, head coach Nick Saban said his challenge to the players going forward is to take ownership of the team.
"I think the focus for this week needs to be on the players taking ownership for what they need to do to make improvements," Saban said. "We as coaches want to help them do that in any way we can, but we're looking for players to take ownership."
Coming off a season-ending knee injury last season, sophomore linebacker Dont'a Hightower has taken on that leadership role as part of a young defense in need of players willing to take control.
"We've been really pleased with his leadership, what he's done and how he's affected the other players," Saban said of Hightower's expanded role. "He's done a good job of making calls. He doesn't make a lot of errors out there in the new role, and he has a good understanding of what we're doing."
The PricewaterhouseCoopers SMU Athletic Forum announced today the candidates for the 2010 Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation's top college running back, with 2009 Heisman Trophy recipient Mark Ingram headlining the list.
Nominations for the award will be accepted through October, with semifinalists being selected on November 10, finalists being determined on November 22 and the winner being chosen on November 29. The recipient of the Doak Walker award will be announced live on ESPN on The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards on Thursday, December 9.
Alabama will continue to prepare for its 2010 campaign this week with practices on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. All practices are closed to the public.
