The Battle Plan
10/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | General
A Huge Win over a Quality Opponent
Saturday was a great day for the Crimson Tide in Athens, Georgia. In an SEC road game in front of an exuberant and hostile crowd - and in seriously rainy weather - the Alabama team played its best and most complete game of the year. The second quarter Tide scores took the Georgia crowd out of the game and our fans - though miniscule in number compared to the home team - weathered the storm, stayed to the end and out-cheered the home crowd. They were definitely an inspiration to our team, and I thought it very classy that Coach Saban went over after the game to wave and thank them for their support.
I continue to be impressed with the great coaching and teaching our staff goes through each week. We have a good team with solid depth at most spots. Getting a large number of players prepared to play each week, however, is a challenge with the limited time available. A lot of players are playing winning football, many of them younger players, which gives us a chance to stay fresh and finish strong in the fourth quarter. The way our coaches conduct practice is classic. They are extremely well-organized, get maximum repetitions for many players in our sophisticated system, against the sophisticated systems of our weekly opponents. But communication in calling plays and defenses, making checks against what they see from the opponents at the line of scrimmage, and doing so effectively on the road when the home crowd sounds like thunder in the skies, is testament to the terrific teaching job being done at Alabama.
As we enter week six of our season, the Arkansas Razorbacks are coming to town. They are a very dangerous team with an offensive line bigger, not only than any other college team, but bigger than any professional team as well. They were picked in preseason to finish high in the SEC but got off to a slow start. They are getting back to form over the last three games and look to be at a peak this week. They are a very physical team and love to run the ball and control the line of scrimmage. They have outstanding running backs and their quarterback and receivers are very good as well. It will be a tough, heavyweight kind of a fight.
Homecoming Week 2015
Homecoming Week is always a special time at The University of Alabama. Former students return to campus, there are more reunions than you can count, new visitors see our campus for the first time and graduates return to check on what is new. And it all culminates, of course, with our football game against Arkansas at 6 p.m. Saturday evening. We are fully into the transition from summer to fall, and the weather this weekend is expected to be very nice. The campus is beautiful and the atmosphere will be electric. We look for a great crowd. It will be nice to play again in Bryant-Denny Stadium and enjoy our home field advantage sandwiched in between two SEC road games.
It should be a perfect Friday evening for our annual Homecoming Pep Rally on the Quad at 7 p.m. Head out and take in the excitement generated by our national champion cheerleaders, Big Al, the Million Dollar Band, and Crimsonettes to get you in the right mood for our big game. As he does each year, Coach Saban will speak to the crowd. Of course, the highlight of the event is the announcement of our Homecoming Queen. A bonfire will follow immediately after that announcement. Along with Saturday's parade, Friday's pep rally is one of best family-friendly, free events that we have each year. It provides a fitting showcase of the pride and spirit that is such a vital part of our campus.
The Homecoming parade is set for Saturday at 1 p.m. It begins in downtown Tuscaloosa and ends near the Quad on campus, another fun event to enjoy with the family prior to kickoff. One of the things I like most about the parade is that it includes participants from the entire Tuscaloosa community. Those organizations deserve our support for everything they contribute to our community and the University.
Welcome Back Antoine Caldwell and Roy Upchurch
I am always proud to salute our honorary captains, particularly this week as two young men who were a major part of the early success under Coach Saban will be honored immediately prior to kickoff Saturday - former Tide center Antoine Caldwell and former Tide running back Roy Upchurch.
A native of Montgomery, Antoine was a dominant center on the 2005-08 teams as he earned consensus All-America recognition in 2008. A freshman All-American in 2005, he went on to become a three-time All-SEC selection and was one of the permanent captains of our 2008 SEC Western Division title team that went on to the Sugar Bowl. After his days at the Capstone, Antoine played in the NFL for the Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars. He retired from the NFL this year and is now working in Houston.
Roy came to us from Tallahassee, Florida, and played on our 2006-09 teams. As you recall, Roy was a versatile player and a valuable back for us. He forever etched his name in our football history with his fourth-quarter touchdown reception in the final minute of play to beat Auburn in 2009 and set up the SEC showdown with Florida. Roy gained more than 1,200 yards rushing and receiving and scored ten touchdowns over the course of his career, in addition to being a key member of the special teams. He signed to play with the Baltimore Ravens after completing his Alabama career and, after graduating from UA, he went into teaching and coaching. Roy is currently working at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
Both Antoine and Roy were outstanding students and leaders at Alabama who played major roles in returning the Crimson Tide to national dominance. Even more importantly, both have been great representatives for the University. Head over to the Bryant Museum after the Homecoming parade where they will be signing autographs from 2:30 to 3:45 p.m.
Sewell-Thomas Stadium Update
Our new baseball facility is really taking shape! On Tuesday, Sept. 29, shortly after the team ended its first day of practice, I joined Coach Mitch Gaspard and our players for a walking tour of the construction and facilities. It was the first time our players had seen anything other than the field, and I was excited and pleased to see their reaction! Their enthusiasm in seeing the locker room, meeting areas, and other areas they will soon occupy was like watching kids on Christmas morning. This stadium is something very special. The excitement is truly starting to build. The first pitch of the 2016 season at the new Sewell-Thomas Stadium is set for Feb. 19 against the University of Maryland.
Academic All-Americans: Exceptional Examples of Our Mission in Action
For the second year in a row, Alabama led the nation in Academic All-America honors in 2014-15, with 12 student-athletes earning the honor, one off the school-record set in 2013-14. We recently honored those exceptional students at one of our home football games: Lauren Beers (gymnastics), Emily Zabor (women's tennis), Anton McKee (men's swimming and diving), Connor Oslin (men's swimming and diving), Arie Kouandjio (football), Merel van Dongen (soccer), Laura Lee Smith (soccer), Sierra Wilson (volleyball), Krystal Rivers (volleyball), Levi Randolph (men's basketball), Haylie McCleney (softball) and Nia Barnes (women's track & field/cross country).
Nia, Lauren and Haylie all earned the honor for the second time while Levi became the first men's basketball player to earn Academic All-America honors in Alabama history. In addition to earning Academic All-America honors for the second year in a row, Haylie was named the softball Academic All-America of the Year, becoming the seventh consecutive Crimson Tide student to earn that honor in their sport. During that span, Alabama also became the only school in the history of the program to earn the overall NCAA Division I Academic All-America of the Year honor three years in a row (Brooke Pancake of women's golf earned it in 2012; football standout Barrett Jones did so in 2013, and our outstanding gymnast Kim Jacob earned it in 2014).
With those record-setting back-to-back Academic All-America classes in 2013-14 and 2014-15 - earning a two-year total of 25 honors - we made a big leap up the national rankings, moving from 13th in NCAA Division I following the 2012-13 academic year to fifth nationally with 139 at the end of 2014-15. I am very pleased and proud to report that our total leads all SEC schools. Over the last 15 years (since 2000), we rank third nationally with 103 accolades.
Sports Updates
Baseball
Coach Gaspard and the Crimson Tide baseball team enjoyed the first official week of fall practice last week in the renovated Sewell-Thomas Stadium. While the stadium is still under construction, the team can use the new field to practice, and they are loving it! The first week focused on fundamentals and drills, with our new players experiencing the Alabama baseball routine for the first time. The team had two scrimmages last Friday and Saturday to close out the first full week of fall baseball after taking the field for the first time as a complete squad on Tuesday, Sept. 29. This year's team returns 20 players from last season with a large group of newcomers on the roster.
Men's Basketball
Coach Avery Johnson and our entire team is excited about teaming up with our women's basketball team for the 2015 Tide Tipoff, a new season-opening event designed exclusively for students, season ticket holders of all sports, and faculty and staff. Much excitement is in the air about Alabama basketball and we expect a large crowd. Admission is free, although tickets will be required. The event is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27, at Coleman Coliseum. There will be an autograph session starting at 6 p.m., followed by a skills completion. After the skills competition, hip hop artist Rae Sremmurd will perform.
Women's Basketball
Coach Kristy Curry's women's basketball team held its first official practice of the 2015-16 season on Monday morning at Foster Auditorium, and the team is excited about the upcoming 2015 Tide Tipoff slated for Oct. 27. Coach Curry, who is starting her third season at the Capstone, was impressed with the energy the team had on day one and mentioned how the 10 practices the squad went through leading up to its trip to Italy this summer certainly helped them understand concepts at a different pace. We return a trio of sophomore guards in Hannah Cook, Meoshonti Knight and Karyla Middlebrook. They averaged a combined 23 points per game last year, while senior Nikki Hegstetter is the veteran of the group with 67 consecutive starts under her belt. Season tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased online at RollTide.com/Tickets, by phone at 1-877-TIDETIX (843-3849) or at the Alabama Ticket Office, located in the lobby of Coleman Coliseum. Mini plans and single-game tickets will go on sale Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 8 a.m. CT.
Cross Country/Track & Field
Coach Dan Waters' women's cross country team earned a national ranking for the second consecutive week, coming in at No. 30 in the latest rankings released Tuesday. It is only the second time in team history that the women's squad has been ranked nationally in back-to-back weeks. In the regional rankings published Monday, the women remained second while the men moved up to ninth. The men's team has made a consistent climb up the regional rankings after beginning the season unranked. Both teams will compete again on Friday, Oct. 16, when the Tide hosts the annual Crimson Classic at the Harry Pritchett Running Park in Tuscaloosa. The meet will also serve as the program's Power of Pink event to help in the fight against breast cancer. Coach Waters and the team held the track & field program's annual banquet on Friday, Oct. 2, to commemorate the 2014-15 season. A focal point of the event featured awards presented to members of the program who distinguished themselves through performance, attitude, effort, or community involvement. The team captains for the 2015-16 season were also announced: Conner Thompson (men's cross country), Allison Gregg (women's cross country), Justin Fondren (men's track & field) and Quanesha Burks (women's track & field).
Men's Golf
For the fourth consecutive year and the eighth time in the last 10 years, Coach Jay Seawell's 16th-ranked Alabama men's golf team won the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate, which was played at the Old Overton Golf Course this past Monday-Tuesday, October 5-6. The Tide beat several ranked teams en route to the team title, including No. 1 Florida State, No. 3 Auburn and No. 23 Florida by five strokes to claim the title. The Tide's team total of 821 ranks as the sixth-lowest 54-hole score in program history. Meanwhile, Robby Shelton's tournament total of 199 set a career-low mark, is the third-lowest in Alabama school history and ranks as the second-lowest 54-hole score in the 30 years of the tournament. Robby has claimed back-to-back medalist honors after winning the Dick's Sporting Goods Collegiate Cup back on Sept. 25-27. The Tide closes out its fall season at the 2015 Warrior Princeville Makai Invitational Nov. 2-4 in Kauai, Hawaii.
Women's Golf
Coach Mic Potter's women's golf team returns to action this weekend, traveling to Chapel Hill, N.C., to take part in the Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational. Play began earlier today and concludes on Sunday, Oct. 11. A total of 18 teams are slated to compete, with 13 of those ranked in the top 50 by Golfweek.
Gymnastics
It will be a busy weekend for our gymnastics team. Coach Dana Duckworth will serve as Grand Marshal of this Saturday's UA Homecoming Parade while senior All-American, Academic All-American and NCAA Elite 89 Award winner Lauren Beers will represent the Crimson Tide on the Homecoming Court. The entire team, as the two-time defending SEC champions, will take part in the Homecoming parade, which gets under way at 1 p.m.
Rowing
Coach Larry Davis's rowing team begins its fall season this weekend in Chattanooga, Tenn., at the Chattanooga Head Race on Saturday. This will be the 10th straight year for the Tide to open the fall season at the event. Given the familiarity with the course and the competition over the years, the event allows the team to gauge its progress annually and have a consistent measuring stick to begin the season. One of the largest incoming classes in program history will be making its debut for the Crimson Tide with 20 freshmen listed on the active roster. Team depth is very important for rowing and having talented newcomers that could potentially compete for rowing time in the upper varsity boats will push the veterans. It should give the team one of the most competitive varsity rosters Alabama has ever had.
Soccer
Coach Wes Hart's soccer team travels to College Station this Friday to take on No. 17 Texas A&M at 7 p.m. CT, before returning to Tuscaloosa to wrap up this weekend's action on Sunday vs. Tennessee at 5 p.m. CT. Both matches will be available on SEC Network +. The Crimson Tide enters this weekend having won three of its last five home matches at the Alabama Soccer Complex. The Tide knocked off LSU and Southern Miss before splitting a pair of weekend matches vs. Kentucky and Jacksonville State. Alabama fell to No. 8 Auburn by a final score of 2-1 in double overtime in its most recent home match on Oct. 1.
Softball
The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced its list of 2014-15 All-America Scholar-Athletes on Tuesday, Oct. 6, and nine Alabama players from last season were among those honored - Chaunsey Bell, Rachel Bobo, Chandler Dare, Carrigan Fain, Danae Hays, Leona Lafaele, Sydney Littlejohn, Haylie McCleney and Marisa Runyon. All nine were also named to either the SEC First Year Academic Honor Roll or SEC Academic Honor Roll last season, while Haylie was named the CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-America Team Member of the Year for softball. Alabama's nine honorees was the second-highest total among SEC schools. Coach Patrick Murphy's team opened the fall season last weekend on the road at Middle Tennessee in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Alabama fell in the first game of a doubleheader before rebounding with a convincing 14-0 shutout in game two that included seven home runs. Senior Leona Lafaele hit two home runs, while freshmen Merris Schroder, Caroline Hardy and Reagan Dykes all joined her. In fact, Caroline's long ball came on the very first pitch of her collegiate career! This past Tuesday, Oct. 6, Coach Murphy and the team welcomed the Bama Softball Walk-Off Club to Rhoads Stadium for a fun afternoon that included an open practice session, guided tours of the clubhouse and a chance to meet the team. The group was able to see the results of its fundraising efforts over the past season in the form of brand new graphics inside the clubhouse and new signage on the outside. All of us are incredibly grateful for the club's generosity and support in making this program the best it can be. The Tide won't be playing this weekend but fans who are heading to the football game can meet the team for autographs on the Quad from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m.
Swimming and Diving
Head coach Dennis Pursley's squad opens its home and Southeastern Conference slate this afternoon against Auburn in the Alabama Aquatic Center. If you're in town for the Homecoming festivities, be sure and stop by and cheer on the Tide against the Tigers.
Volleyball
Coach Ed Allen's volleyball team returns home this Sunday, facing Missouri at 4 p.m. CT in Foster Auditorium. Admission to the match is free for anyone bringing a ticket from the Alabama-Arkansas football game. The team will be signing autographs after the match. If you can't make it to Foster Auditorium, the match will be broadcast live on the SEC Network.
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 10
| Time | Sport | Opponent/Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 p.m. CT | Football | vs. Arkansas | Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa |
| All Day | Women's Golf | at Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational | Chapel Hill, N.C. |
| All Day | Rowing | Head of the Chattanooga | Chattanooga, Tenn. |
| All Day | Men's Tennis | ITA All-American Championships | Tulsa, Okla. |
| All Day | Women's Tennis | ITA All-American Championships | Los Angeles, Calif. |
Sunday, October 11
| Time | Sport | Opponent/Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 p.m. CT | Volleyball | vs. Missouri | Foster Auditorium in Tuscaloosa |
| 5 p.m. CT | Soccer | vs. Tennessee | UA Soccer Complex in Tuscaloosa |
| All Day | Women's Golf | Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational | Chapel Hill, N.C. |
| All Day | Men's Tennis | ITA All-American Championships | Tulsa, Okla. |
| All Day | Women's Tennis | ITA All-American Championships | Los Angeles, Calif. |
Thursday, October 15
| Time | Sport | Opponent/Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Day | Men's Tennis | USTA/ITA Regional Championships | UA Tennis Stadium in Tuscaloosa |
Friday, October 16
| Time | Sport | Opponent/Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 p.m. CT | Women's Cross Country | Crimson Classic | Harry Pritchett Running Park in Tuscaloosa |
| 5:30 p.m. CT | Men's Cross Country | Crimson Classic | Harry Pritchett Running Park in Tuscaloosa |
| 6 p.m. ET | Soccer | at Georgia | Athens, Ga. |
| 6:30 p.m. CT | Volleyball | at Texas A&M | College Station, Texas |
| All Day | Men's Tennis | USTA/ITA Regional Championships | UA Tennis Stadium in Tuscaloosa |
| All Day | Women's Tennis | USTA/ITA Regional Championships | 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:
Cross Country
Live Results: www.branchsportstech.com
Twitter: @AlabamaTrack
Football
Live Stats: www.rolltide.com
TV: ESPN
Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (check local listings); (Sirius 83/XM 190)
Twitter: @AlabamaFTBL
Women's Golf
Live Stats: www.rolltide.com
Twitter: @AlabamaWGolf
Rowing
Twitter: @AlabamaRow
Soccer
Live Stats: Sunday - www.rolltide.com; Friday - www.georgiadogs.com
Watch: SEC Network +
Radio: Sunday - 90.7 (WVUA-FM)
Twitter: @AlabamaSoccer
Men's Tennis
Twitter: @AlabamaMTN
Women's Tennis
Twitter: @AlabamaWTN
Volleyball
Live Stats: Sunday - www.rolltide.com; Friday - www.aggieathletics.com
Twitter: @AlabamaVBall
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)
Saturday, October 10
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | REPLAY: 2014 Football at Arkansas | SEC Network |
Sunday, October 11
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 11 a.m. | SEC Storied: In Search of Derrick Thomas | SEC Network + |
| 4 p.m. | Volleyball vs. Missouri | SEC Network |
| 11 p.m. | REPLAY: Football vs. Arkansas | SEC Network |
Monday, October 12
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 12 p.m. | Alabama Football Press Conference | SEC Network |
| 8:30 p.m. | REPLAY: Football vs. Arkansas | SEC Network |
Tuesday, October 13
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 1:30 a.m. | REPLAY: Football vs. Arkansas | SEC Network |
| 11 a.m. | REPLAY: Football vs. Arkansas | SEC Network |
Thursday, October 15
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30 p.m. | SEC Storied: In Search of Derrick Thomas | SEC Network + |
Friday, October 16
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 6 p.m. | Soccer at Georgia | SEC Network + |
| 6:30 p.m. | Volleyball at Texas A&M | 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!
