The Battle Plan
10/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | General
There's Nothing Like the SEC West
The Arkansas game turned out to be every bit the heavyweight fight that we expected it to be. They have a big, strong, fast team that loves old school smash mouth football. As we expected, the game was in doubt into the 4th quarter, when our team made plays and rose to the occasion to insure the victory. Alabama played an outstanding second half! Talent, depth, and excellent coaching made the difference!
As we find ourselves halfway through the season at 5-1, I believe we are in a very good place. The margin for error is thin. The second half schedule is as difficult as any in the nation. In successive weeks, we will face four SEC West teams, plus Charleston Southern and the finale with Auburn. Three of the five SEC games are on the road. But this year's Crimson Tide team is a very good one that pulls together, plays hard, is well-conditioned and well-coached.
We face another outstanding, and higher ranked, Texas A&M team on the road this Saturday. We will play in their newly-renovated stadium that cost some $450 million to rebuild. It should be an exciting game and the atmosphere is always great when facing the Aggies on their home turf. A&M is undefeated at 5-0 and has enjoyed an open date and extra week to prepare for our game. We look forward to the opportunity and hope to see and hear a large delegation of Alabama fans back in Texas this Saturday. Your loyalty and passion for our team is strong motivation for our players and coaches, and your efforts in so many different ways are tremendously appreciated.
The Best Atmosphere in College Football
Homecoming at the Capstone was off the charts again this year. The weather was perfect and it was special to see so many alumni return to campus. The decorations and student activities showed much hard work by our students. The Friday night pep rally and bonfire; the Saturday parade and tailgate experience; the massive number of game day tents around campus; all led up to the big game against the Razorbacks. Football in Bryant-Denny Stadium is almost a rousing experience to our fans and to most visitors. The Million Dollar Band, Big Al, our national champion cheerleader squad, and our Crimsonettes all help make the game day experience meaningful. I certainly know of no place that ranks close to Alabama in game day atmosphere.
While I admit that I am strongly biased, it is very satisfying to know that others who have no ties to our University feel the same. I recently read an article that appeared online via The Huffington Post. The article was written by Dr. Aristotle Tziampiris, an Associate Professor of International Relations at the University Of Piraeus in Greece who also is Standing Fellow at New York University's Remarque Institute. I recommend taking a few moments to read it. You'll be glad you did.
Dr. Tziampiris attended our Sept. 19 game against Ole Miss and wasted no time getting to the point of his article as he opened with: "There is football, college football and then there is University of Alabama football. A visit to Tuscaloosa for the night game against Ole Miss was an eye opener, dispelled many stereotypes and provided me with a renewed appreciation for SEC football."
I was blown away to see that he encapsulated a key part of our Mission that doesn't get nearly enough attention: "What caught my attention was a huge billboard with a high definition photograph of three players, designated as the students-athletes of the week, having achieved the greatest academic improvement over the previous seven days. The stereotype is of course that academics don't matter, that college football players are mere human fodder for a huge cash making machine. But right in front of my eyes was palpable encouragement, acknowledgement and recognition of the importance of studying and learning and not just dominating opponents. Problem is, unless you have access to the inner sanctum of the training facility (and almost no one does), this positive emphasis remains unknown and unacknowledged.
"In fact, I would go even further and argue that the vibe that I got from the facility was that of one large classroom, the emphasis being on teaching. I understand that this sounds almost counterintuitive, but as a University Professor, I would like to think that I have a certain feel for such things; and if Coach Nick Saban is running first and foremost a teaching program that may well be at the source of his phenomenal success."
I couldn't have said it better myself. He closes by saying, "I left Tuscaloosa late that night with a sense of wonder and deep satisfaction, perhaps now a true concert to the mystique of Southern football. University of Alabama football is simply unique!"
There's much more in his story, but you can see for yourself. I was tremendously gratified that a person from outside our state had such a positive, memorable experience. I was particularly moved at his observations about our campus, our people and our culture. That's a tremendous compliment to all of you - our fans, our student-athletes and all those involved in the game day experience throughout the campus and the city of Tuscaloosa.
The Kenny Stabler Memorial Endowed Football Scholarship
As you all know, we lost one of our greats, Kenny Stabler, to colon cancer on July 8, 2015, at the age of 69. In fitting tribute to Kenny, the Crimson Tide Foundation is proud to announce the creation of the Kenny Stabler Memorial Endowed Football Scholarship. An initial gift has already been received to launch this initiative and we would love to see this become a fully endowed scholarship to honor his memory. Kenny became an icon of Crimson Tide football when, in 1966, he led the Tide to an undefeated (11-0) season that ended in a 34-7 victory over Nebraska in the Sugar Bowl. Kenny was that rarest of football legends as a leader who created magical moments in both his college and pro playing days.
The moment of his Crimson Tide career that left an indelible imprint on history is his famous "Run in the Mud" in the 1967 Iron Bowl. Trailing Auburn, 3-0, in a game played in a torrential downpour, Kenny somehow managed to scramble through the mud, driving rain and standing water for a 53-yard, game-winning touchdown which gave the Tide a 7-3 victory at Legion Field. Kenny was drafted in the second round of the 1968 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. He went on to lead the Oakland Raiders to the Super Bowl crown in 1976, the highlight of a pro career in which he took part in some of the most memorable plays and games in the history of the sports.
Kenny was truly one of a kind. Few men - if any - have been a part of so many crucial moments of a particular sport. And none did it with the style, poise and leadership under pressure that Kenny consistently displayed. The Crimson Tide Foundation is seeking those who wish to contribute to this very special tribute to Kenny. Through their generous giving the memory of Kenny will continue by allowing a student-athlete playing varsity football to fulfill their dream as a member of the Crimson Tide. For information about the Kenny Stabler Memorial Endowed Football Scholarship, please call (205) 348-9727.
Fulfilling the Mission: Academic All-Americans & Postgraduate Scholars
The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) is the organization that awards Academic All-America honors to the nation's top scholar-athletes in every sport. Recently, CoSIDA updated their numbers and included a tally of Academic All-America Honors since 2010. I am very proud to report that we lead the nation among NCAA Division I schools with 55 over that time frame, and we rank second among colleges and universities of all levels behind only M.I.T. That's right - we rank right behind the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in that category. Friends, that's excellent company to keep!
The schools that have produced the most Academic All-America honorees since 2010 are as follows: M.I.T. (74), The University of Alabama (55), Embry-Riddle (53), Johns Hopkins (52), Stanford (51), Washington University (50), Morningside College (50) and Nebraska (49). Looking back to 2000, 102 Alabama student-athletes have earned Academic All-American honors, which ranks first in the SEC and third among Division I universities across the nation.
After a school-record seven student-athletes earned NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships in 2014, we added two more in 2015 when Laura Lee Smith (soccer) and Emily Zabor (women's tennis) earned the prestigious scholarship. Our 2015 tally gave us a five-year total of 22 NCAA Postgraduates Scholars, which leads the SEC and is just behind Stanford for the NCAA Division I lead over that span.
On the conference level, Laura Lee Smith and Daniil Proskura (men's tennis) earned Southeastern Conference Postgraduate Scholarships this year. Laura Lee was one of four Crimson Tide students named SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for their respective sports, giving Alabama the most honors of any school in the league. She was joined by Levi Randolph (men's basketball), Haylie McCleney (softball) and Emily Zabor (women's tennis). Over the past five years, Alabama student-athletes have earned this award 23 times, including going 5-for-5 in women's tennis.
Kickoff Time to be Announced Sunday for Football Game vs. Tennessee on Oct. 24
Just in case you missed it, here's a reminder that the Southeastern Conference Office announced earlier this week that CBS is exercising its six-day selection option for our upcoming football game against Tennessee scheduled for Saturday, October 24, at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The network is going to determine its 2:30 p.m. CT selection based on the outcome of this Saturday's game at Texas A&M. So our game against the Vols will kick off at either 2:30 p.m. or 6 p.m. If we get the 2:30 slot, CBS will televise it. If we land in the 6 p.m. slot, ESPN will air it.
Sewell-Thomas Stadium Update
The Sewell-Thomas Stadium redevelopment project is moving full-speed into the final stages as we enter the middle of the fall semester. On the basement level this week, workers are painting as well as installing the light fixtures and hard flooring. All the exterior windows and doors have been installed and most of the ceilings are completed. Over the next few weeks workers will polish all the concrete floors, get the air conditioning system operational and start with casework, lockers, and bars.
Sheetrock is being installed on the concourse level, where walls and ceilings are also being painted. The mechanical and plumbing systems are also entering the final stages of work. They are also installing the final sections of waterproofing and railings to the seating bowl and plan to start installing the actual seats in the next few weeks. On the press box level, they are hanging the remaining areas of sheetrock while storefronts and rolling doors are being installed on all sides. Over the next few weeks, they expect to begin installation of cable for all of the data and audio/visual equipment, along with the ceilings and hard flooring.
The masonry work around the exterior of the building should be completed within the next week. Also, installation of light fixtures and metal trim is to begin. The final sections of sidewalks and curbs should be done within the next couple of weeks with landscaping and irrigation starting at the end of the month. The scoreboard has been installed, with the final pieces and trim being installed over the next week.
This outstanding facility is really taking shape now. It is awesome to see the progress being made every day and the baseball team hard at work on the field enjoying their new digs.
Sports Updates
Cross Country
Coach Dan Waters' men's and women's cross country teams host their annual home meet, the Crimson Classic, this afternoon at the Harry Pritchett Running Park in Tuscaloosa. The women's 5-kilometer race begins at 5 p.m. CT with the men's 8k race to follow at 5:30 p.m. The women's team has won the Crimson Classic four consecutive years and enters the race ranked No. 30 in the most recent U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Coaches Poll. The men's team has consistently risen in the regional rankings over the course of the season and will be looking to continue that trend with a solid performance on our home course.
Soccer
Coach Wes Hart's Crimson Tide heads to Athens, Ga. to take on the Georgia Bulldogs tonight at the Turner Soccer Complex. Opening kick between the conference foes is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT (7 p.m. local time in Athens). Junior transfer Celia Jimenez leads the team in points (10) and goals (four), and has collected the game-winning goal in two of our four victories. After the match at Georgia, the Tide will return to Tuscaloosa for a pair of home matches vs. Missouri and Mississippi State next weekend, Oct. 23-25. Opening kick for Friday's matchup with Mizzou is scheduled for 7 p.m., while the Tide and Bulldogs will begin on Sunday at 2 p.m. Sunday's match vs. Mississippi State will be the Tide's second nationally-televised match of the season.
Volleyball
Coach Ed Allen's squad returned home this week and bounced back with an excellent effort in a five-set victory over Missouri on Sunday, Oct. 11. The Tide won the first set but lost the second and third, falling behind 2-1 and facing elimination in the fourth set. But the Tide responded with the most decisive set of the match, winning 25-17 to force a fifth set, where Alabama won 15-11 to secure the comeback victory. Alabama had one of its best offensive performances in the win. The offense was led by Kat Hutson and Krystal Rivers with 22 kills each while Sierra Wilson totaled 63 assists and a career-high 20 digs for her first double-double of the season. This weekend, the Tide is back on the road at Texas A&M tonight at 6:30 p.m. CT before visiting LSU on Sunday for a 2 p.m. match. Sunday's match against the Tigers will be broadcast live on the SEC Network. Since the SEC Network began last season, Alabama has been featured in seven matches and have won all seven.
Women's Golf
Coach Mic Potter's women's golf team competed in its second fall tournament this past weekend, placing sixth at the Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational in Chapel Hill, N.C. The Crimson Tide carded a 22-over 886 on the UNC Finley Golf Course, which played tough throughout the duration of the tournament, as no team finished the event below par. Emma Talley led the way for Alabama, tying for seventh in the individual standings, the 16th top-10 finish of her career. The Crimson Tide has one more tournament this fall, The Landfall Tradition in Wilmington, N.C., which is slated to begin Friday, Oct. 23.
Rowing
Coach Larry Davis's rowing team enjoyed a successful opening weekend to its fall season on Saturday, Oct. 10, competing at the Chattanooga Head Race on the Tennessee River in Chattanooga. The Tide won four of the six races in which it competed and placed 11 boats in the top three. With a large group of newcomers and a solid core of veterans, the event showed the potential that the Crimson Tide has for this season. This weekend, the team will send two boats to compete at the Head of the Charles Regatta in Cambridge, Mass. The event is one of the most prestigious fall rowing events and attracts tough club and collegiate competition from the northeast and throughout the country. According to Coach Davis, the competition will provide a stiff challenge, as will the course, which provides tough twists and turns that the coxswains will have to navigate through.
Men's Tennis
Coach George Husack's men's tennis team is hosting 13 teams from across the South this weekend at the USTA/ITA Southern Regional Championships. Action began yesterday and continues through Monday, Oct. 19 at both the Alabama Tennis Stadium and the Alabama Recreation Tennis Complex. Both the singles and doubles champions from the tournament will earn an automatic spot in the USTA/ITA National Collegiate Indoor Championships, which will be played at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., Nov. 12-15.
Women's Tennis
Coach Jenny Mainz's women's tennis team heads to Auburn this week for the USTA/ITA Southern Regional Championships, which began today and runs through Monday at the Yarbrough Tennis Stadium on the Auburn campus. Competing for the Tide this week are senior Natalia Maynetto, juniors Erin Routliffe and Joanna Savva, and freshman Andie Daniell. Both the singles and doubles champions from the tournament will earn an automatic berth in the USTA/ITA National Collegiate Indoor Championships, to be played at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., Nov. 12-15.
Swimming and Diving
After only its second meet of the young season, Coach Denny Pursley's swimming and diving teams have posted a number of fast times, including 57 marks that rank in the top 25 nationally, including 15 swimmers who have posted 22 swims that rank in the national top 10. Sophomore Mia Nonnenberg leads the way with the nation's fastest 400 individual medley time, a 4:11.87 against Auburn. Juniors Kristian Gkolomeev (50 free), Bridget Blood (200 breaststroke) and Anton McKee (200 breaststroke) have posted times that rank them second nationally. Anton has shown his versatility as he currently has top-five swims in three different events (100 and 200 breaststroke, 400 individual medley).
Gymnastics
Our gymnastics program was prominent in Homecoming festivities last week. It was a full weekend of activities that saw head coach Dana Duckworth serve as the Homecoming Parade's Grand Marshal and senior Lauren Beers earn a place on the Homecoming Court. Now the squad is back in the practice gym getting ready for next week's Ghosts and Goblins Intra-squad that will take place Thursday, Oct. 22, in the Frances Smith Gymnastics Practice Facility located on the arena level of Coleman Coliseum. Doors will open for the event at 6 p.m., so please come get a sneak peek at this year's team. The Halloween-themed event is always exciting and well worth a visit to Coleman Coliseum.
Men's Basketball
Coach Avery Johnson and his staff continue to work to get our team ready for his first season. The energy is high, the team is excited, and the response from students and fans has been outstanding. The staff has also made a lot of progress recruiting and have been covering the country visiting prospects for 2016 and 2017. Alabama is in the running for some outstanding players. Signing date is November 11. We will definitely see a different style of basketball than we have seen in the last few years. Coach Johnson and the men's basketball program are hosting a special reunion for all of its former letter winners, coaches and staff members this Saturday and Sunday in Tuscaloosa. The weekend's events will begin with a dinner on Friday night, followed by a presentation by Avery. After that, the former letter winners will be encouraged to share stories from the past with those in attendance. Tomorrow morning, the basketball alums will get a private tour of the men's basketball locker room and facilities. Then, the former players get to watch practice before a lunch in which our current players and staff will join with them for a meet and greet. I am very gratified that Coach Johnson is doing this for our former players, as it strengthens the bonds of our Alabama basketball family. That is a very vital component of any success we can achieve.
Women's Basketball
Coach Kristy Curry and her staff have made great strides on the recruiting trail since arriving at the Capstone in 2013. In only her second year, Curry's signees included the high school player of the year in Alabama and the high school player of the year in Mississippi to help form one of the nation's top-ranked classes. For the coming year, women's basketball has three commitments that are all planning on signing with the Tide early on Nov. 11. Kristy and the team is excited about joining our men's basketball team for the 2015 Tide Tipoff on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at Coleman Coliseum. It's a new season-opening event designed exclusively for students, season ticket holders of all sports, and faculty and staff. Admission is free, although tickets will be required, and we are expecting a big crowd. An autograph session will tip it all off at 6 p.m., followed by a skills completion. After the skills competition, hip hop artist Rae Sremmurd will perform.
Softball
Coach Patrick Murphy's softball team took last weekend off, but returns to action with its first home weekend of the fall season. The Tide will play Western Kentucky and Mobile on Saturday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively, and will play a doubleheader against West Alabama on Sunday, starting at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $5, cash only, with all proceeds going to the Bama Softball Walk-Off Club. The 2014-15 Alabama softball team earned a number of academic accolades this week from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. The team finished the season with a 3.495 GPA, which ranked 13th nationally, led all SEC schools and was the highest grade-point average (GPA) among all 16 teams that competed in the NCAA Super Regional round last season. Individually, 10 members of the 2014-15 team were named to the NFCA All-American Scholar-Athlete list, the second-highest total among SEC schools.
Upcoming Action
Here's a summary of athletic events over the next several days (times listed are for the location of the event: CT is Central Time, ET is Eastern Time, MT is Mountain Time, PT is Pacific Time):
Saturday, October 17
| Time | Sport | Opponent/Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 a.m. CT | Softball scrimmage | vs. Western Kentucky | Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa |
| 2:39 p.m. CT | Football | at Texas A&M | College Station, Texas |
| 3 p.m. CT | Softball scrimmage | vs. Mobile | Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa |
| All Day | Rowing | at Head of the Charles | Cambridge, Mass. |
| All Day | Men's Tennis | at USTA/ITA Southern Regional Championships | Auburn, Ala. |
| All Day | Women's Tennis | USTA/ITA Southern Regional Championships | UA Tennis Center in Tuscaloosa |
Sunday, October 18
| Time | Sport | Opponent/Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:30 p.m. CT | Softball scrimmage | vs. West Alabama | Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa |
| 2 p.m. CT | Volleyball | at LSU | Baton Rouge, La. |
| All Day | Men's Tennis | at USTA/ITA Southern Regional Championships | Auburn, Ala. |
| All Day | Women's Tennis | USTA/ITA Southern Regional Championships | UA Tennis Center in Tuscaloosa |
Monday, October 19
| Time | Sport | Opponent/Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Day | Men's Tennis | at USTA/ITA Southern Regional Championships | Auburn, Ala. |
| All Day | Women's Tennis | USTA/ITA Southern Regional Championships | UA Tennis Center in Tuscaloosa |
Friday, October 23
| Time | Sport | Opponent/Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 p.m. CT | Soccer | vs. Missouri | UA Soccer Complex in Tuscaloosa |
| 7 p.m. CT | Volleyball | vs. Kentucky | Foster Auditorium in Tuscaloosa |
| All Day | Women's Golf | at The Landfall Tradition | Wilmington, N.C. |
| All Day | Men's Tennis | SEC Fall Classic | Auburn, Ala. |
Where to See, Listen and Follow Alabama Sports
Here's how to follow Crimson Tide teams via TV, radio, rolltide.com, Twitter and Facebook:
Football
Live Stats: www.rolltide.com
TV: CBS Sports
Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (check local listings); (Sirius 93/XM 191)
Twitter: @AlabamaFTBL
Women's Golf
Live Stats: www.rolltide.com
Twitter: @AlabamaWGolf
Soccer
Live Stats: Friday - www.aggieathletics.com
Watch: SEC Network +
Radio: Sunday - 90.7 (WVUA-FM)
Twitter: @AlabamaSoccer
Volleyball
Live Stats: Sunday - www.ukathletics.com
Twitter: @AlabamaVBall
Rowing
Twitter: @AlabamaRow
Men's Tennis
Twitter: @AlabamaMTN
Women's Tennis
Twitter: @AlabamaWTN
Catch Alabama Athletics on the SEC Network
Here's a summary of our athletic events to be televised over the next week on The SEC Network and its platforms. Read this schedule closely as some events can be seen via SEC Network +, which is available online via ESPN3 here. If you can't make it to our games in person, catch us on radio or TV. (All times listed are Central Time)
Sunday, October 18
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 2 p.m. | Volleyball vs. LSU | SEC Network |
| 6 p.m. | REPLAY: Football at Texas A&M | SEC Network |
Monday, October 19
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 11:30 a.m. | REPLAY: Football at Texas A&M | SEC Network |
| 12 p.m. | Alabama Football Press Conference | SEC Network + |
Tuesday, October 20
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 8 p.m. | REPLAY: Football at Texas A&M | SEC Network |
Friday, October 23
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 7 p.m. | Volleyball vs. Kentucky | SEC Network + |
| 7 p.m. | Soccer vs. Missouri | SEC Network + |
Our teams need your support, so please plan to attend to do your part! A rising tide lifts all boats and it takes all of us to Keep the Tide Rising!
Roll Tide!
