Alabama Crimson Tide Football

It has been 50 years since Alabama and Chattanooga played against each other in Tuscaloosa. That streak ends Saturday as the Crimson Tide closes out its 2009 home schedule with its first game against the Mocs at Bryant-Denny Stadium since Oct. 10, 1959.

So an Alabama team with only 11 players on its roster was down to 10 against Jackson State as it sought its first victory of the season.

Terry Grant rushed for 69 yards and a touchdown earlier this season against Florida International, but he has not logged a carry since September .

Alabama junior linebacker Rolando McClain has been named one of five finalists for the 2009 Dick Butkus Award on Friday. The award has been presented annually to the best linebacker in college football since 1985.

SEC Sports Report believes the Tide will continue rolling this weekend...

Although I wasn't watching the Auburn-Georgia game very closely on Saturday night (there was a slightly more pressing matter going on at the time), I happened to catch a quote from Auburn running back Ben Tate that was featured on the ESPN2 broadcast.  In response to a question about how he felt he compared to Alabama running back and Heisman trophy candidate Mark Ingram, Tate said the following: "I know I’m the best back in the state. I bet if you went and broke down film and asked teams in... the SEC who is the best back in the state, I feel like it’s me." Ummm...excuse me? Now, to be fair, I think you have to salute the guy for his confidence. I even can get on board with a little cockiness, when presented correctly (i.e., exactly the opposite way Lane Kiffin does it).  Mark Ingram could have responded in any number of ways. He could have turned this into some sort of media quote-battle, or used his own statistics to refute the claim. Ingram chose to do none of those.  When asked about Tate's statement, Ingram, in perfectly politically-correct fashion, said the following: “Somebody told me about it,” Ingram said. “Everybody is entitled to their opinion and I respect him. He’s a great running back. I just let my words speak for me when I play. I won’t get into any tongue-tussling or anything like that. “He’s a great back. He runs hard and I like his game and I respect him. I’ll let my game talk for me when I’m on the field.” With that, any thought of Ingram giving Tate and Auburn any sort of "bulletin-board material" was squelched. Ingram said all of the correct things, but the real-life translation of his quote said something else: "Ben who? Do you think I'm actually going to get into some kind of war of words with that guy? No, I don't think so. Can't you guys get Tim Tebow to say something like that? Than you might have a printable story. This isn't even on my radar." Not that anyone really needs to defend Ingram in this situation, I think I will anyway. Here's a quick rundown of both backs' numbers.   Rushing Yards: Ingram 1297 (129.7/game), Tate 1142 (114.2/game) Advantage: Ingram   Yards per rushing attempt: Ingram 6.7/carry, Tate  5.6/carry Advantage: Ingram   Touchdowns:  Ingram 13, Tate 8 Advantage: Ingram   Receptions (yardage): Ingram 25 (225), Tate 16 (88) Advantage: Ingram   Nonsensical quotes: Ingram 0, Tate 1 Advantage: Tate   Other areas that Ingram holds an advantage? Yards after contact, runs of 10-plus yards, and yards against top-25 defenses. So, in short, regardless of how much film the teams in the SEC break down, I'm not sure that there is a valid argument to be made in Tate's favor. Ben Tate is a very good back. He will probably find his way into the NFL someday.  However, I don't think attention-grabbing quotes such as these are really in his best interest. I don't really think Mark Ingram and Alabama need any additional motivation for next week's Iron Bowl, but just in case they did, now they have it. Nice work, Ben.Read more Alabama Crimson Tide Football news on BleacherReport.commore>>

Facing UT Chattanooga this week it should afford the fans a chance to look at some younger players.   What you won't be seeing are many members of the number one rated 2009 recruiting class. Most are on schedule to red shirt.   The scout team gets no press but their hard work has been crucial to Alabama's 10-0 start.  So lets take a look at the newest members of the Scout Team From Hell. When they line up there is one guy that “literally” stands out. OL DJ Fluker 6' 6” 350lbs:... According to Internet chatter the mammoth five star prospect from Foley pancaked a few experienced players in practice this fall.  The problem with Fluker is technique and footwork.  He's massive and he needs that to pass block in the SEC.   Fluker only played offensive line his senior year in high school so he is still learning the position.  Recent reports indicate his weight has been dropping and his technique improving. its highly likely he will be in the thick of the battle for the right tackle spot that will be vacated by Drew Davis at the end of this year. OL Anthony Steen 6' 4” 295 Steen was not the highest rated prospect by recruiting services but once he hit campus he quickly made himself a contender on the offensive line.  At times he had climbed as high as 2nd string on the line but eventually fell back to take a red shirt.  OL Brandon Moore 6' 5” 313 Moore was a highly touted recruit out of Montgomery.  When he signed nobody really knew if he would be on offense or defense.  Its possible that question hasn't been answered yet.  Moore is very athletic and could end up almost anywhere.  Wide Receivers: Kevin Norwood 6' 3” 180 Kendell Kelly 6' 4” 210 Kenny Bell 6' 1” 160 Michael Bowman 6' 4” 206 All four of these guys had their moments in the fall camp.  Only one or possibly two were ever going to see the field this year and it was up and down all fall as to who might get the shot.  Eventually Michael Bowman won out.   Bowman after playing some early has been hurt several times.  If we don't see him on the field Saturday against the Mocs its a good chance that he will apply for and get a medical red shirt for 2009.  Bowman is a physical beast of a receiver and looked very good in limited playing time. RB Eddie Lacy 5' 11” 210 Lacy actually had the best run I saw at the open practice this fall.  He arrived late this summer due to qualification issues and it put him behind.  He's currently the scout team running back and may take more lumps than any starter in the SEC.  Lacy wasn't as prepared for playing time as Richardson but the talent level between the two may be closer than many realize.  His running style is different, more elusive and fluid compared to Richardson raw power.    RB Mike Marrow 6' 2” 240 Marrow is a big bruising fullback/Hback.  After a year in the weight room look for him to have a roll going forward. QB AJ McCarron 6' 4” 189 McCarron had the most live arm I saw this fall.  His main weakness was experience and size.  He needs to mature physically if he's going to play quarterback in the SEC.  McCarron has the skills and has recently been promoted from the scout team according to published reports.  He won't win the starting job in 2010 as long as Greg McElroy is around but he could take the number two job which will put him in front for 2011. DL Darrington Sentimore 6' 3” 265 Sentimore was probably closer to playing time than the other freshman defensive lineman.  At many schools he would have got that time,  but Alabama is so deep on the defensive line he had little chance without multiple injuries.   Alabama graduates all three starting defensive lineman this year so the opportunities will be there. DL William Ming 6' 4” 265 After Sentimore Ming probably made the most noise.  Ming didn't pass the eye test but he is a high motor guy.  Many of the NFL's best pass rushers don't look so freakish in street cloths.  Its a gift,  Ming may have it. DL  Chris Bonds 6' 4” 262:  Another highly rated defensive end prospect from South Carolina.  LB Jonathan Atchinson 6' 3” 215:  Atchinson looked a little skinny to me in recruiting photo's but he bulked up nicely by time he showed up for fall practice.  LB Tana Patrick 6' 3” 215 Atchinson and Patricks both pushed hard for playing time this fall and again at mid season when it was clear another linebacker was needed to replace Danta Hightower.  Nico Johnson won that battle and is a starter but I don't think Patrick and Atchinson were far behind. LB Pete Smith 6' 0” 230 Smith is a battering ram.  He is not the sexy pick, you won't see him on many magazine covers, but this guy can level you.  It was obvious in high school all star games what Saban saw in Smith.  For his style of game he needed a year to work out. LB Ed Stinson 6' 4” 227 Stinson is the prototypical Jack linebacker.  He needed to add some muscle to handle that job and I'm sure will be getting it.  I've read conflicting reports on Stinsons weight.  Some said he reported to campus closer to 250 but so far the rosters don't reflect that. There are some greyshirts out there. Defensive lineman Anthony Orr and offensive lineman Kellen Williams and Darius McKeller all greyshirted and should be available this spring.   By greyshirt they will become part of the 2010 class.  Also this spring Jalston Fowler should arrive.   Fowler is a brutish 6' 0” 245 running back from Prichard Al.  He was past the age limit to play high school football as a senior so he had to sit the year out.  He will graduate and be on campus this spring.  With Fowler offensive lineman Chad Lindsay from woodlands Texas plans to enroll and be availble for spring. One position you didn't see in my list was defensive back.  Alabama only inked two DB's in 2009 and both have been playing in mop up duty and on special teams.   Alabama will graduate six experienced defensive backs this year,  another, Kareem Jackson could take a peek at the NFL draft.  Saban did not have the luxury of redshirting either Rod Woodson or Dre Kirkpatrick.    In fact Look for some of the 2010 signees to get a serious look come fall. Alabama won't start every year out 10-0 but the raw talent coming down the line is significantly greater than what is leaving.  Thats bad news for the rest of the SEC West.Read more Alabama Crimson Tide Football news on BleacherReport.commore>>

Alabama senior nose guard Terrence Cody has been named one of five finalists for the 2009 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Football Writers Association and the Charlotte (N.C.) Touchdown Club announced Thursday.

AFTER FOLLOWING college basketball forever and covering it professionally for 2 decades, I have come to the following conclusion: Throw away the manual covering the sport.

Three penalties. Three turnovers forced, none committed. And a commanding 444-213 edge in total yards.

I've had writers block thinking of what to do for this game so I have searched the webbernet for data on UT Chattanooga, most of it actually comes from one source: their own football site. It was full of fun facts. UTC is a small school with a student population of 10,526. Despite their long history, The Mockingbirds actually do have a little to offer the Tide in the way of competition on the gridiron. Having said this, they are only an average team in the FCS Southern Conference. The Southern... Conference (SoCon) includes Appalachian State, Furman, UT Chattanooga, Citadel, Wofford, Samford, Georgia Southern, Elon, and Western Carolina. In 2009, the Mocs are 6-4, 4-4. They do however, have an error on the page that I can't resolve. They say that the Mocs are 0-10 against the Tide, but in the next paragraph state that Alabama and UT Chattanooga are meeting for the first time since 1994 and the eighth time in school history. Err, uh, "the math don't add up!" O.K. point of clarification: 8 games have been played at Bryant-Denny, two games at Legion Field. Now that makes sense, thanks to the comment and update of loyal Mocs fan, Bob Mulkey. Either way, they have never beaten the Crimson Tide. From a 1-10 record in 2008 to the 6-4 record in 2009, the Mocs have had the greatest winning turnaround in school history. First year head coach Russ Huesman is a UTC alumnus. Huesman was recruited by head coach Joe Morrison, played defensive back for the Mocs from '78-'81. He ended his playing career with the UTC under head coach Bill Oliver. While head coach at William and Mary, Huesman coached Mike Tomlin, the current Pittsburgh Steelers head coach. Tomlin was a three-year starter at wide receiver. Local boy, sophomore QB B.J. Coleman has thrown for over 2,300 yards this season. Initially a Tennessee signee, Coleman transferred back to his hometown of Chattanooga to play for the Mocs. The 6'4" 200 lb. offensive leader is third in total offense (223.3 yards/game) and passing (231.2 yards/game) in the southern conference. The UTC offense averages 323.6 yards per game. Coleman ranks No. 4 on the all-time single season list for the 102-year-old UT Chattanooga football program. The Mocs have allowed only nine sacks this season, ranking second in the SoCon and fourth in the nation. His 17 TD passes ties him for seventh all-time in a single season for the Mocs, three scores from third place. WR Blue Cooper is the favorite target for Coleman. Cooper has 82 receptions on the year, second in the SoCon and fourth in the nation (8.2/game). He has 150 career receptions, surpassing alumnus Terrell Owens (1992-'95), and is fourth all time for the Mocs. Chris Pitchford, a 6'0' 180 lb. junior, has 42 catches for 512 yards and senior WR Clint Woods has 29 catches for 250 yards on the year. The Mocs have eight players with catches of 20 yards or more and six players with 15 or more catches. In the rushing phase of the game, RB Chris Awuah leads the backfield with 147 carries for 454 yards. In four games, senior running back Bryan Fitzgerald has 65 carries for 342 yards. Fitzgerald suffered a sprained foot in the first quarter of the Samford game (Game Five) and has yet to return to the field. The loss of Fitzgerald has had an negative impact on run production, but the running game is still alive and well. Freshman RB Bo Dyer, the current back up, has played in all 10 games, and has 32 carries for 92 yards. Awuah and Dyer have been effective as receivers out of the backfield, Awuah with 16 catches for 126 yards (7.8 yd avg) and Dyer has four catches for 27 yards (6.8 yd avg). On defense, senior Josh Beard and freshman Josh Williams have pressured opposition quarterbacks and together have logged 19 sacks on the year. The Mocs collectively have 28 sacks in the 2009 season.  In the secondary, sophomore Jordan Tippit (Huntsville, Al) leads the Mocs with five interceptions in the 10 games played. Buster Skrine and Joel Bradford are tied with two interceptions; the team has a total of 11 aerial takeaways on the year. Defensively, LB Joseph Thornton leads the team with 45 solo tackles and 41 assists for a total of 86 tackles on the year. LB Ryan Consiglio has 48 solo tackles and 32 assists for 80 in 2009. Third in line is senior LB Steven Smigelsky with 40 solo and 26 assists. Defensive backs Tippit and Skrine have made their share of stops on the year. Tippit has 32 solo stops and 19 assists. Skrine has made 28 solo tackles and 15 assists. Skrine is also a kick return specialist, with over 500 yards on the year ( 51 yd/game). Place kicker Craig Camay is 16-19 Field goals and 22-24 PAT for the year. He leads the Mocs in scoring with 70 points. For the Southern Conference of the football championship subdivision, the Mocs are a competitive team. Against the elite of the conference, they have folded. Losses to Furman, Elon, Georgia Southern, and Appalachian State have been by 15 points or more. The worst loss suffered on the road at Elon, N.C. by 35 points. The Alabama Crimson Tide should have no trouble with disposing the Mockingbirds. The Alabama senior class has made a commitment to leave Bryant-Denny with a win. The win will be by a convincing margin, as the Men in Crimson have not overlooked the Mocs. The Game plan is set. The Tide will execute to near perfection. Expect the Pachyderms to roll up and down the field like the war elephants of old. A score of 45-3 will send a message to the men down on the plains that a Crimson Tsunami is headed their way for which there will be no defense. The tide seniors have an appreciation for the fans that goes beyond school pride. This is their final game on the hallowed grounds of the home field. In their final hour, this class wants to show their appreciation for the support they have had during their stay at the Capstone. It should be a special moment for everyone in the stadium; players, coaches, and fans. If you are in the stands, do your part to show these young men how much their commitment to Alabama football has meant to you. This class is responsible for the return of glory to the Pride of Alabama. The return of the Alabama football empire to its traditional position in the SEC. They will finish the task and it's going to be fun to watch. Roll Tide, Roll.  Read more Alabama Crimson Tide Football news on BleacherReport.commore>>

The Alabama football team practiced for two hours in full pads at the Thomas-Drew Practice Facility Wednesday afternoon as preparations continued for Saturday's final home football game against Chattanooga.

Mississippi State University By porkchop 2008 Record: 23-13 Head Coach: Rick Stansbury (12th season/231-128 at MSU) Key Returning Payers: F Jarvis Varnado, G Ravern Johnson, G Phil Turner Mississippi State enters the 2009 season as the favorite to win the SEC's Western Division. The Bulldogs return virtually every player from a team that finished 2009 ...

Ole Miss Rebels 2008-2009 record Overall: 16-15 SEC: 7-9 Head Coach: Andy Kennedy Key Losses: SG David Huertas Key Newcomers: F-C Reginald Buckner This time last season the Rebels basketball program had been in the news a lot, though not in a way their fan base appreciated. There was the well publicized arrest of their coach, Andy ...

The latest installment of the Alabama Football Notebook takes at look at the Crimson Tide defense heading into Saturday's final home game with Chattanooga. Alabama sophomore safety Mark Barron leads the SEC with six interceptions this season, including two last weekend against Mississippi State. The UA defense and special teams are highlighted each Wednesday on RollTide.com.