The Battle Plan
1/8/2016 12:00:00 AM | General
An Honor That Should Never Be Taken for Granted
There is only one undefeated team in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and we have the honor and privilege of playing the 14-0 Clemson Tigers in the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday night in Glendale, Arizona. There are 125 teams in FBS conferences that had a chance to be here, but 123 of them will be home watching with envy, along with the rest of the world. We are proud to represent the Southeastern Conference in this very special football game.
In today's world of college athletics it is difficult to go undefeated and, certainly, difficult to make the Final Four of the playoffs in any sport. Alabama will be playing for its fourth football national championship in the last seven years. Congratulations to Coach Saban, his staff, and all the players that participated for achieving this remarkable record. It is truly an exciting time for Alabama fans and we look forward to the challenge of playing a great Clemson team coached by one of our own, Dabo Swinney.
But, before we talk about Clemson, let's reflect on last week's Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic semifinal game against the Michigan State Spartans. They are the Big Ten Champions and no one should doubt that the Spartans are a great team. They are tough, physical, talented, and achieved a 12-1 record in a tough conference. The first half looked like both teams sparring around, looking for openings, and trying to avoid mistakes. We were able to score a touchdown and a field goal for a 10-0 lead. Right before the half ended Michigan State got a drive going that led to our red zone. Cyrus Jones saved the day with a touchdown-saving interception that was maybe THE PLAY that turned the game solidly in our favor. But, the opening drive of the second half, which our team took in for a touchdown, gave us a 17-0 lead and the confidence to go on to a great 38-0 win. Coach Bryant always preached that the first five minutes of the second half and the fourth quarter were the most important parts of the game. I think that principle still holds true today.
Our players have been focused throughout bowl practice and it certainly carried over to the game. Congratulations and hats off to the entire team and coaching staff for playing an extraordinary game. I said throughout the season that I thought this was a special team and our best games were ahead of us. We played maybe our best game last Thursday and it looks like we are peaking at the right time. If true, it will be sorely needed as these Clemson Tigers are the real deal.
Looking back in history there are not many teams in the modern era of football that make it through a season undefeated. Either physical or mental issues seem to get in the way during a long, grinding season. Clemson is a special team with a special accomplishment. This matchup presents two different styles of football. Two different systems and philosophies govern the teams. Clemson features a hurry-up, no-huddle style that plays fast, runs the read option, with a Heisman contender at quarterback and talent at every position. Alabama features a pro-style offense that can hurry up, if needed, but is more traditional in philosophy and style of play. Both teams have stats among the national leaders from their defensive units. Both have excellent players on both sides of the ball. Clemson will be the best team we've played.
Our system is different from theirs. Systems and styles are important, but I don't believe systems win games. I believe players win games and championships. I would rather have our players and coaches than any other in the country, so I feel good about our chances in this game.
The Goodyear Cotton Bowl people were great to our players, coaches, and staff. Rick Baker, his staff and volunteers couldn't have treated us better during our time in Dallas. We are grateful for the outstanding hospitality extended to us there throughout our stay. In addition to having a tremendous bowl experience in Dallas, we also made new friends that we can enjoy as time goes on.
We look forward to the College Football Playoff Championship Game experience. The eyes of the nation and parts of the world will be on this game. The college football season has come down to this one game to determine the best team in the nation. The stage doesn't get any bigger than this and that is why players and coaches want to come to Alabama and go to Clemson. Making it to the finals is a new experience for us, but we've been in national championship games many times. I'm certain our team will be treated well by the CFP and Fiesta Bowl people, but I'm also sure the Tide will be focused on Clemson and winning the national championship.
There aren't many people who can say they are national champions in any sport. The fact that Alabama has won 9 national championships in 5 sports over the last 6 years is pretty remarkable. We're hoping that Tuesday morning we can say that we've won 10 national championships in the last 7 years, including 4 of 7 in football. Whether we do, or not, I am proud of this team and its leadership from coaches and players, I know that they will give everything they have in the game Monday night, and they will be successful in life after graduation. I also believe they will look back and see that what they had to do to compete at this level for the championship will have taught them life lessons that they will carry with them forever.
Basketball Teams Begin SEC Action
The SEC phase of our schedule started last night at Ole Miss with a tough loss after we led at the half. The Crimson Tide went 9-3 prior to conference action, including victories over two top-25 teams. Our team returns home to play the powerful Kentucky Wildcats this Saturday at 5 p.m. If you are not going to Phoenix, I hope you will come out and watch our team play. The students will not yet be back in school, but we're hoping many will come back early to support the team against this vaunted opponent. So, if you live in reasonable proximity to the campus, bring your family or friends and let's fill up Coleman Coliseum to support Coach Avery and the team. I'm proud of the way the team is playing and the way the coaches are teaching and recruiting. I like this team and believe they have good things ahead of them. They will compete and play hard and they have a strong will to win.
Our women's basketball team went 11-2 in the nonconference portion of their schedule and they are 1-1 in SEC play having beaten LSU last Sunday before falling to 10th-ranked Kentucky last night in Lexington. This is an exciting team to watch. They play fast and hard and are well-schooled in the fundamentals of basketball. Kristy Curry is doing an outstanding job of coaching and recruiting. She is also working hard on filling up Foster Auditorium to create the best home court advantage and the most difficult place for opponents to play in the SEC. Their next home game is Sunday, January 10, at 2 p.m. I hope you will make plans to watch or listen to away games and attend home games to support our team.
Check out more about both of our basketball teams further down in this blog.
Crimson Tide Foundation Update
Last week, the Crimson Tide Foundation participated in the College Football Playoff Participants Giving Challenge. We competed with Clemson, Michigan State and Oklahoma to see which school could raise the largest number of gifts from December 28-31. We had a slow start, but Bama supporters rallied at the end of the Challenge and secured second place in the Giving Challenge. We received 495 contributions over the four-day period. I want to thank each person who made a gift to the Crimson Tide Foundation during the Challenge and throughout the year. Without the support of our donors, we would not be able to succeed at our mission of building champions and winning championships. If you are interested in supporting Alabama Athletics, please visit the Foundation's website at www.crimsontidefoundation.org to learn about the ways you can make a difference.
Fulfilling the Mission: Look for the Mortar Board on Helmets on Monday Night
As you may have noticed, several of our football players - 29 to be exact - had an extra sticker on the back of their helmet during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic last week, including the game's defensive and offensive Most Valuable Players, Cyrus Jones and Jake Coker. A program and national-record 29 Crimson Tide players suited up for that game having already earned their degrees and all 29 wore a mortar board sticker on their helmet denoting their graduate status. This was the first competition in which we identified our graduate athletes in this way, but it won't be the last and this recognition won't be limited to football. Starting this semester, all of our graduates who are still competing will wear either a mortar board sticker or patch as part of their uniform. So, keep an eye out when Jake and Cyrus line up during the CFP National Championship Game, when Retin Obasohan streaks down the floor with the ball at our next men's basketball game, when Nikki Hegstetter pulls up for a jumper for our women's basketball team, or when gymnast Lauren Beers gets ready for her floor exercise routine - all five are among the dozens of Crimson Tide student-athletes who have earned the right to wear the mortar board insignia. Graduation is the primary goal of all or student-athletes, so when our young men and women are able to earn a degree while still competing we are particularly proud and want to recognize that extraordinary accomplishment in a very visible manner.
Sports Updates
Men's Basketball
Last night's game at Ole Miss marked the inaugural game played in the Rebels' brand new 9,500-seat arena, The Pavilion at Ole Miss. Our first SEC home game, against the No. 9/8 Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday at 5 p.m., will be televised by The SEC Network. Alabama entered SEC play having won seven of its last eight nonconference games and has 15 straight nonconference home wins at Coleman Coliseum. The last Alabama loss to a non-conference opponent in Coleman Coliseum came against Xavier on Dec. 21, 2013. As I mentioned earlier in this blog, the Tide closed non-conference play with 9-3 record including wins over two top-25 teams (then-No. 20 Wichita State and then-No. 17 Notre Dame). Alabama and Kentucky were the only SEC teams with at least two wins over ranked opponents during the nonconference portion of the schedule. We entered the Ole Miss game with a four-game road win streak, the longest in 14 years. We have a tough opening to our SEC schedule with the home game against Kentucky less than 48 hours after the road opener at Ole Miss. We will then play host to undefeated and No. 24 South Carolina (13-0 at this writing) on Wednesday, Jan. 13. Combined, the Tide's first three league opponents entered SEC play with a record of 34-5. Alabama entered SEC play this season having won 48 games in league play over the past five seasons. The number ranks third in the league, trailing only Kentucky (68) and Florida (64).
Women's Basketball
Our 62-45 victory over LSU in the SEC opener last Sunday in Foster Auditorium not only gave the Crimson Tide its 12th victory of the year, but also marked the first victory in a conference opener for Alabama since the 2008 season. The Lady Tigers' 45 points were the fewest allowed in a regular season SEC game by the Tide since Kentucky scored 39 against UA on Jan. 9, 2005. Sophomore Meoshonti Knight led Alabama in scoring with 17 points, while fellow sophomore Karyla Middlebrook added 10. As a team, the Tide forced 25 LSU turnovers that resulted in 24 points. Against Kentucky, Karyla scored in double figures again, leading the Tide with 12 points, while sophomore Hannah Cook added 10. The Wildcats took advantage of their size while outrebounding the Tide, 45-30, and outscoring the Tide, 30-10, in the paint. Next up, we host Vanderbilt on Sunday at 2 p.m. CT.
Gymnastics
All the preseason training is over for head coach Dana Duckworth and our gymnastics team, and they are ready to get things going this Sunday, Jan. 10, at UCLA. This marks the first time that we have opened a gymnastics season at UCLA and the competition will be fierce. Alabama and UCLA have each won six NCAA championships. The Bruins won their latest title in 2010 while Alabama won the next two in 2011 and 2012. Both are ranked in the top 10 in the preseason coaches' poll, with the Tide coming in at No. 3 and UCLA at No. 6. The Alabama-UCLA meet will be broadcast live on the Pac 12 Network. That's just the start of a busy eight days for our gymnasts who, after returning home from UCLA, will open the conference and home portion of the season on Friday, Jan. 15, against Missouri before traveling to Birmingham to face Auburn at BJCC Legacy Arena in the Elevate Meet on Sunday, Jan. 17. If you haven't gotten your gymnastics tickets yet, the ticket office can help you at 205.384.2262 or online at RollTide.com.
Swimming and Diving
Our swimming and diving program, led by head coach Dennis Pursley, has been very productive over the past several weeks. The swimmers took part in two rather grueling training camps - one the week after final exams in Boca Raton, Fla., and the other after Christmas here in Tuscaloosa. The heavy workload should set up our men and women very well for the championship season that gets underway in February. Our divers took part in two competitions between the end of the fall semester and now. They were led by junior Taylor Zablocki, who won on the 1-meter board at the Auburn Invitational before the holidays and posted a pair of top-six finishes at the Georgia Invitational earlier this week. Our men and women compete at home today (at 4 p.m. CT) and Saturday (at 10 a.m. CT), in a two-day meet against SEC rival Tennessee. The two teams will compete using our 50-meter course, which is the same distance we'll see at the Olympics this summer. If you're in town, please join us and cheer our men and women on against the Vols.
Men's Tennis
Coach George Husack's men's tennis team is ranked 65th by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) in the Oracle/ITA College Tennis Rankings heading into the spring season. In the individual rankings, freshman Mazen Osama is the highest-ranked member of the team at 66th. Sophomore Korey Lovett (106th) and senior Becker O'Shaughnessey (123rd) also represent the Crimson Tide in the rankings. In the Southern Region rankings, all three players are currently ranked in the top 15, along with junior Nikki Madregallejo. Korey and Becker also checked in at No. 7 in the region in doubles. Dual match play begins next week when we host Virginia Tech and Georgia State in a doubleheader on Saturday, Jan. 16. The Tide will take on the Hokies at 1 p.m. CT before facing the Panthers at 5 p.m. CT. Admission is free to all Alabama regular season matches.
Women's Tennis
Coach Jenny Mainz's women's tennis team is ranked 15th nationally in the Oracle/ITA College Tennis Rankings, announced earlier this week by the ITA. Additionally, freshman Andie Daniell checks in at 41st in the singles rankings while junior Erin Routliffe is 63rd. Andie had a terrific fall campaign, posting a 10-2 record that included a 4-1 mark against nationally-ranked opponents. Erin was ranked 21st in the preseason poll in September, but was limited to only seven singles matches in the fall. Andie and Erin also teamed up to earn a national doubles ranking of 48th. The duo dominated in the fall, going a perfect 8-0, which included winning the doubles title at the USTA/ITA Southern Regional Championships. Andie and Erin are also the top-ranked pair in the Southern Region. The Crimson Tide will be in action on Friday, Jan. 15, traveling to Evanston, Ill., to compete in the Northwestern Invitational.
Track & Field
Both of Coach Dan Waters' teams have received national recognition leading into the 2016 indoor track & field season. The men's squad begins the season ranked fifth in the nation by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches (USTFCCCA) in the association's preseason poll. The ranking is the highest in program history, besting the 2014 team that was ranked 10th. The Crimson Tide is one of eight teams from the Southeastern Conference to earn a spot in the Top 25, including five in the Top 10. On the women's side, junior long jumper Quanesha Burks is one of 10 women selected to the Preseason Women's Bowerman Award Watch List. The Bowerman Trophy is collegiate track and field's highest individual honor. Quanesha, last year's NCAA outdoor long jump champion who holds the school record in the event, was also one of 10 semifinalists for the award last season. Both squads will be in action next Friday, Jan. 15 at the Commodore Indoor Invitational in Nashville, Tenn.
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, January 9
| Sport | Opponent/Event | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swimming & Diving | vs. Tennessee | UA Aquatic Center | 10 a.m. CT |
| Swimming & Diving | vs. Birmingham Southern | Birmingham | 3 p.m. CT |
| Men's Basketball | vs. Kentucky | Coleman Coliseum | 5 p.m. CT |
Sunday, January 10
| Sport | Opponent/Event | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women's Basketball | vs. Vanderbilt | Foster Auditorium | 2 p.m. CT |
| Gymnastics | at UCLA | Los Angeles, Calif. | 2 p.m. PT |
Monday, January 11
| Sport | Opponent/Event | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Football | vs. Clemson, CFP National Championship Game | Glendale, Ariz. | 6:30 p.m. MT |
Wednesday, January 13
| Sport | Opponent/Event | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Basketball | vs. South Carolina | Coleman Coliseum | 8 p.m. CT |
Thursday, January 14
| Sport | Opponent/Event | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women's Basketball | at Auburn | Auburn, Ala. | 6 p.m. CT |
Friday, January 15
| Sport | Opponent/Event | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gymnastics | vs. Missouri | Coleman Coliseum | 6 p.m. CT |
| Women's Tennis | at Northwestern Invitational | Evanston, Ill. | All Day |
| Indoor Track & Field | at Commodore Invitational | Nashville, Tenn. | All Day |
Where to See, Listen and Follow Alabama Sports
Here's how to follow Crimson Tide teams in action this week via TV, radio, rolltide.com and social media (access a complete listing of Alabama Athletics social media platforms):
Football
TV: ESPN
Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (check local listings)
Satellite Radio: Sirius 80; XM 80
Live Stats: www.rolltide.com
Twitter: @AlabamaFTBL
Women's Basketball
TV: Jan. 10 vs. Vanderbilt (SEC Network +); Jan. 14 at Auburn (SEC Network +)
Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (check local listings)
Online Streaming: SEC Network +
Live Stats: www.rolltide.com
Twitter: @AlabamaWBB
Men's Basketball
TV: Jan. 9 vs. Kentucky (SEC Network); Jan. 13 vs. South Carolina (SEC Network)
Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (check local listings)
Live Stats: www.rolltide.com
Twitter: @AlabamaMBB
Swimming & Diving
Online Streaming: SEC Network +
Live Stats: www.rolltide.com
Twitter: @AlabamaSwimDive
Gymnastics
TV: Pac 12 Network
Online Streaming: Pac-12.com/live
Live Stats: www.rolltide.com
Twitter: @BamaGymnastics
Track & Field
Live Results: www.CFPITiming.com
Twitter: @AlabamaTrack
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. If you can't make it to our games in person, catch us on radio or TV. (All times listed are Central Time)
Saturday, January 9
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 12 a.m. | REPLAY: 1985 Football vs. Auburn | SEC Network |
| 2 a.m. | CFP National Championship Preview | SEC Network |
| 10 a.m. | Swimming & Diving vs. Tennessee | SEC Network + |
| 11:30 a.m. | SEC Film Room: Alabama | |
| 5 p.m. | Men's Basketball vs. Kentucky | SEC Network |
Sunday, January 10
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 12:30 a.m. | REPLAY: Men's Basketball vs. Kentucky | SEC Network |
| 9 a.m. | CFP National Championship Head Coaches Press Conference | SEC Network |
| 2 p.m. | Women's Basketball vs. Vanderbilt | SEC Network + |
| 9 p.m. | REPLAY: 2015 Football vs. Michigan State - CFP National Championship Semifinal at Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic | SEC Network |
| 11 p.m. | REPLAY: 2015 Football vs. LSU | SEC Network |
Monday, January 11
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 7 a.m. | REPLAY: 2015 Football vs. Florida - SEC Championship Game | SEC Network |
| 9 a.m. | REPLAY: 2015 Football vs. Michigan State - CFP National Championship Semifinal at Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic | SEC Network |
| 7:30 p.m. | Finebaum Film Room: CFP National Championship | SEC Network |
Tuesday, January 12
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 11 a.m. | College Football Playoff Press Conference | SEC Network |
| 12 p.m. | REPLAY: 2015 Football vs. Clemson - CFP National Championship Game | SEC Network |
Wednesday, January 13
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 8 p.m. | Men's Basketball vs. South Carolina | SEC Network |
Thursday, January 14
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 6 p.m. | Women's Basketball vs. Auburn | SEC Network + |
Friday, January 15
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 8 a.m. | REPLAY: 2015 Football vs. Clemson - CFP National Championship Game | SEC Network |
| 6 p.m. | Gymnastics vs. Missouri | SEC Network |
| 9 p.m. | REPLAY: 2015 Football vs. Clemson - CFP National Championship Game | SEC Network |
Always bear in mind how critical your support is to all of our teams. You are vital component of our ability to compete and win. It really does take all of us to Keep the Tide Rising!
Roll Tide!
