The Battle Plan presented by Mercedes-Benz
11/4/2016 9:49:00 PM | General
Will It Be Another November to Remember?
"They remember what you do in November." It's an old saying that still rings true today in college football. The next four weeks will separate the contenders from the pretenders. To win a championship, most teams must have good fortune regarding injuries and the ball must bounce their way a time or two in close games.
After open dates for both LSU and Alabama, it is fair to say both teams are well-rested and well-prepared for this Saturday's game. After a slow start, LSU is back to full strength and wide open under Ed Orgeron's leadership. They have risen to 13th in the national rankings. Now, having said that they got off to a slow start, they were defeated by current No. 8-ranked Wisconsin and No. 9-ranked Auburn in a couple of very close games.
Statistically, LSU and Alabama are very close. Alabama ranks fourth nationally in total defense while LSU ranks fifth. Alabama gives up 14.9 points per game and LSU gives up 15.0. On offense, the Tigers are averaging 424 yards and 36.3 points per game. Running back Leonard Fournette may be the best football player in America and his teammate, fellow running back Derrius Guice, is not far behind.
Death Valley is always an exciting place to play. LSU's SEC title hopes are still alive, having lost only one SEC game at this point. Our game in 2014 in Baton Rouge was one of the greatest come-from-behind victories I've ever seen. In last year's game, Fournette came to Tuscaloosa as the clear favorite for the Heisman Trophy. After the game, Derrick Henry became the favorite as our defense shut down Fournette and Derrick ran wild.
I am certain that LSU's team and their fans will be very fired up for this game. Tiger Stadium will be rocking. CBS will televise the game nationally and, for the second game in a row, ESPN College GameDay will be present. This is big-time college football at its best!
Our fans make a big difference in inspiring our team. I was eating breakfast yesterday morning at The Waysider when a fan from a nearby table came over, shook my hand, and told me he was leaving for Baton Rouge that day. It is my hope that we have several thousand joining him to out-yell the Tigers! We need every member of the Crimson Tide nation to get that done!
Fulfilling the Mission (Part 1): Minkah Fitzpatrick among 4 to Earn Academic Honor
We received some great news this week when the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced that four of our students have earned a spot on the CoSIDA Academic All-District IV teams for their respective sports. Sophomores Minkah Fitzpatrick and Keith Holcombe were voted onto the football squad while senior Krystal Rivers and junior Leah Lawrence were voted to the volleyball team. Alabama is the only school to have two student-athletes on District IV's volleyball squad. Minkah, Keith, Krystal and Leah all advance to the national ballot and will have the chance to be named Academic All-Americans later this fall. To excel at the highest level both athletically and academically is at the heart of our mission, and to have four of our student-athletes recognized for doing just that is a tremendous accomplishment, one that should make all of us exceedingly proud!
Fulfilling the Mission (Part 2): Congratulations to Jordan Meier!
As I mentioned previously in this space, last year our student-athletes who earned their degree while still competing wore a graduation patch on their uniform or warmup jacket. This year, the SEC Office took that concept and introduced it as a league-wide initiative. We are proud to say that Jordan Meier, a defender on our soccer team (which finished its season in the SEC Tournament this week), earned the right to wear that patch during her senior season. Jordan graduated with a civil engineering degree prior to the start of the 2016 season and she is currently working on a master's degree in construction engineering. She is on track to earn that degree in May 2017. It is no small feat to finish a degree ahead of schedule while competing at this level. Those that do can take great pride in their accomplishments and the recognition that comes with it. Congratulations, Jordan!
Crimson Tide Foundation Update: Year-End Charitable Giving Plans
As we near the end of this calendar year, many of you are making plans to finalize your charitable giving for 2016. We often receive requests during this time of year for information about gifting stock and securities. The Crimson Tide Foundation is committed to helping you meet your philanthropic goals through any avenue of giving that suits your needs. Gifts of securities are an option for many of our donors and can be directed to any of our funds. You can make a securities gift as a one-time donation, or as a payment on a pledge. The Crimson Tide Foundation staff is happy to answer any questions you have regarding including Alabama Athletics in your plans for year-end charitable giving. Please visit www.crimsontidefoundation.org for additional information. If you are interested in making a gift of securities this year, instructions can be found at http://crimsontidefoundation.org/ways-to-support/GivingInstructions.aspx.
Sports Updates
Men's Basketball
The 2016-17 Crimson Tide earned a 91-71 win over the Faulkner Eagles in an exhibition game last night at Coleman Coliseum as junior Ar'Mond Davis scored 17 points and redshirt freshman Dazon Ingram chipped in 15 to lead the Tide. Plenty of new faces saw action for our team and it was an exciting start to what we anticipate will be a fun season in year two of Coach Avery Johnson's program. Two other new players to watch are freshman Braxton Key, who had 10 points and seven rebounds, and junior Nick King, who played in his first game since transferring from Memphis. Nick had a team-high five assists, scored 11 points, grabbed four rebounds and nabbed a couple of steals. It was encouraging to see our team rack up 22 assists with only 12 turnovers.
Women's Basketball
Tonight we are very excited to officially welcome Coach Kristy Curry's team back to Coleman Coliseum as the Tide will play its lone exhibition game, hosting West Alabama. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. CT and admission is free. Tonight's game can be seen live on The SEC Network + via the WatchESPN app. The Tide returns seven letter winners from a season ago, including four players with starting experience. Hannah Cook and Meoshonti Knight started all 31 contest throughout the 2015-16 campaign while junior Ashley Williams, a 2014 SEC All-Freshman Team honoree and the team's 2014-15 leader in points and rebounds, is also back in the rotation after sitting out last season. Several newcomers will join the veterans. Jordan Lewis was one of the most coveted recruits in Florida. Ashley Knight, who stands 6-5, was one of the nation's top post players. Coco Knight, Alana da Silva and LaKyesha Stennis all earned Junior College All-America honors before joining the team this season.
Cross Country
Our cross country teams turned in strong performances at the SEC championships on Oct. 28. The men's team finished fifth, their best finish since 2011, while the women finished sixth, their fourth consecutive top six finish! Both teams will be in action next Friday, November 11, in the NCAA South Regional Championships at Florida State in Tallahassee, Fla. The top two teams in the men's and women's races will advance to the NCAA Championships scheduled for Nov. 19 at Indiana State. Good luck to Coach Dan Waters and the Tide!
Men's Golf
The Tide closed its fall season on a high note Tuesday with a victory over No. 15 Georgia in the final round of the Cypress Point Classic held at the Alister MacKenzie course at Cypress Point Club in Pebble Beach, Calif. Alabama defeated the fourth-seeded Bulldogs by a score of 13.5-10.5 in singles play, which marked the final round the unique tournament that featured a match-play style format. Each of the six players competing on a team could earn up to four points each match. Coach Jay Seawell's team was led by redshirt freshman Josh Sedeno and junior Steven Setterstrom, who each shut out their opponents, 4-0, during Tuesday's 18 holes. Junior Tyler Hitchner was also impressive, recording a 3.5-0.5 victory over his competition, while senior Robby Prater split his match, 2-2. The team now takes a break from competition until February, when the Tide will return to action at the Puerto Rico Classic on Feb. 19-21, the first tournament of the upcoming spring season.
Women's Golf
The Tide made its second trip of the fall to North Carolina last weekend for the Landfall Tradition in Wilmington, N.C. Cheyenne Knight and Lauren Stephenson led the way for the ladies as they finished third and 11th, respectively, to help the team to a sixth-place finish. This was the final tournament of the fall for the women and I'm happy to report they finished in the top six in all four events. Coach Potter's squad will open the spring season Feb. 12-14 at the Northrup Grumman Regional Challenge in Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.
Soccer
Coach Wes Hart's talented young squad fell to Texas A&M, 1-0, in double overtime in the first round of the SEC Tournament on Monday night in Orange Beach. With the loss, the Tide concluded the season with a 9-8-2 overall record. Two minutes into the second overtime, A&M scored off a rebound for the game-winning goal to end the tense contest. Our ladies played tough all season long and showed plenty of potential for the future. I am very proud of their effort and tenacity. They also are a talented bunch, and I am very encouraged by the progress the program is making under Coach Hart's leadership.
Swimming & Diving
Coach Dennis Pursley's team remains on the road this week, traveling to Auburn to take on the Tigers today at 3 p.m. Last season, our men finished sixth at the NCAA Championships while the Auburn men finished 10th. Our women finished 28th while the Tigers finished 33rd at the NCAA Championships. Both schools look even stronger in the pool this year. Our men are ranked fifth in the first coaches' poll of the season while Auburn's men are 10th. On the women's side, Auburn's women are also ranked 10th while ours are ranked 25th. All this points to a very competitive meet down on the Plains.
Volleyball
Coach Ed Allen's team lost a tough-four set road match at Texas A&M last night, 3-1. The Tide is now 15-10 overall and 4-8 in the SEC. As usual, Krystal Rivers led everyone with 25 kills, putting her just 71 away from the Alabama career record. Krystal also had 10 digs for her eighth double-double, her fifth in the last seven matches, while fellow senior Brittany Thomas earned her fourth double-double with 12 kills and a team-leading 19 digs. The Tide now returns home to face Arkansas in Foster Auditorium on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT. That match will be shown live on The SEC Network. We hope you'll join us in person or tune in for the broadcast and cheer on the Tide.
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 in Eastern Time). For a complete look at our upcoming calendar, go to http://www.rolltide.com/calendar.aspx:
Saturday, November 5
| Time | Sport | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 p.m. CT | Football | at LSU | Baton Rouge, La. |
| All Day | Rowing | at Head of the Hooch Regatta | Chattanooga, Tenn. |
| All Day | Men's Tennis | at USTA/ITA National Indoor Championships | Flushing, N.Y. |
| All Day | Men's Tennis | hosts SEC Coaches Classic | UA Tennis Stadium |
| All Day | Women's Tennis | at USTA/ITA National Indoor Championships | Flushing, N.Y. |
| All Day | Women's Tennis | at Seminole All-Conference Showdown | Tallahassee, Fla. |
Sunday, November 6
| Time | Sport | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 p.m. CT | Volleyball | vs. Arkansas | Foster Auditorium |
| All Day | Rowing | at Head of the Hooch Regatta | Chattanooga, Tenn. |
| All Day | Men's Tennis | at USTA/ITA National Indoor Championships | Flushing, N.Y. |
| All Day | Men's Tennis | hosts SEC Coaches Classic | UA Tennis Stadium |
| All Day | Women's Tennis | at USTA/ITA National Indoor Championships | Flushing, N.Y. |
| All Day | Women's Tennis | at Seminole All-Conference Showdown | Tallahassee, Fla. |
Wednesday, November 9
| Time | Sport | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 p.m. CT | Volleyball | vs. Auburn | Foster Auditorium |
Friday, November 11
| Time | Sport | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:30 a.m. ET | Women's Cross Country | at NCAA South Region Championships | Tallahassee, Fla. |
| 9:30 a.m. ET | Men's Cross Country | at NCAA South Region Championships | Tallahassee, Fla. |
| 5 p.m. CT | Women's Basketball | vs. New Orleans | Coleman Coliseum |
| 8 p.m. CT | Men's Basketball | vs. Coastal Carolina | Coleman Coliseum |
Where to See, Listen and Follow Alabama Sports
Here's how to follow Crimson Tide teams via TV, radio, rolltide.com, Twitter and Facebook:
Men's Basketball
Live Stats: www.rolltide.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AlabamaMBB
Twitter: @AlabamaMBB
Women's Basketball
Watch Live: www.WatchESPN.com
Live Stats: www.rolltide.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AlabamaWBB
Twitter: @AlabamaWBB
Cross Country
Live Stats: www.rolltide.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AlabamaTrack
Twitter: @AlabamaTrack
Football
Live Stats: www.rolltide.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AlabamaFTBL
Twitter: @AlabamaFTBL
Rowing
Live Stats: www.rolltide.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AlabamaRow
Twitter: @Alabamarow
Men's Tennis
Live Stats: www.rolltide.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AlabamaMTN
Twitter: @AlabamaMTN
Women's Tennis
Live Stats: www.rolltide.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AlabamaWTN
Twitter: @AlabamaWTN
Volleyball
TV: ESPNU (Wednesday, Nov. 9)
Live Stats: www.rolltide.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AlabamaVBall
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 WatchESPN 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, November 5
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | REPLAY: 2015 Football vs. LSU | SEC Network |
Sunday, November 6
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 1 p.m. | Volleyball vs. Arkansas | SEC Network + |
Monday, November 7
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 12 p.m. | Alabama Football Weekly Press Conference | SEC Network + |
| 8 p.m. | REPLAY: 2016 Football at LSU | SEC Network |
Wednesday, November 9
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 11 a.m. | REPLAY: 2016 Football at LSU | SEC Network |
Thursday, November 10
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 4 a.m. | REPLAY: 2016 Football at LSU | SEC Network |
Friday, November 11
| Time | Event | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 12 a.m. | REPLAY: 2012 Football vs. Texas A&M | SEC Network |
| 5 p.m. | Women's Basketball vs. New Orleans | SEC Network + |
| 8 p.m. | Men's Basketball vs. Coastal Carolina | SEC Network + |
Our teams need your support, so please plan to attend to do your part! A rising tide lifts all boats and it's up to all of us to Keep the Tide Rising!
Roll Tide!
