Tide finds end zone in second quarter, trails 10-7 at half

November 24, 2007

By Ken Rogers

Alabama survived Auburn’s initial onslaught, then got back in the game in the second quarter.
John Parker Wilson’s quarterback sneak, ruled a touchdown on the field and upheld on review, came with 11:37 left in the second quarter and cut the Tigers’ lead to 10-7.
The defense responded with a pair of sacks that stopped an Auburn scoring threat. Consecutive sacks by Lorenzo Washington and Simeon Castille shoved Auburn back after the Tigers had reached Alabama’s 26. Both sacks covered 9-yard losses each.
Alabama had two more ideal scoring opportunities to at least tie the game. Leigh Tiffin missed a field goal from 44 yards.
Nearl the end of the half, freshman lineback Rolando McClain intercepted Brandon Cox at the Auburn 43 and returned it to the 25.
Three plays later, Alabama went to the end zone for DJ Hall, who had a stop on Jerraud Powers. Hall tipped Wilson’s pass in the right corner of the end zone, but the trailing Powers picked it off with 17 seconds left in the half.
The teams went to the locker room with Auburn leading 10-7.

Bama starts chilly as Auburn jumps to 10-0 lead

By Ken Rogers

For just the third game this season, Alabama failed to score on its opening drive.
In fact, not much went the Tide’s way as Auburn looked faster, stronger and more interested while building a 10-0 leader after the first quarter.
Alabama managed 33 rushing yards and 5 passing yards on two-plus possessions. Auburn had 49 rushing yards and 54 passing.
The Tigers scored on a 3-yard touchdown run by Ben Tate and a 37-yard field goal by Wes Byrum.
However, the quarter ended with Alabama driving at the Auburn 21-yard line. A pass interference call on a pass for DJ Hall up the left sideline kept the drive alive.
The other games in which the Crimson Tide didn’t score on its first possession were Florida State and Georgia, both losses.

 

Tide expects a hostile environment at Jordan-Hare

By Ken Rogers

An early arriving crowd greeted the first four Alabama players out of the locker room with a thunderous ovation — deafening boos.
Long snapper Brian Selman, placekickers Leigh Tiffin and Jamie Christensen and punter P.J. Fitzgerald started warming up an hour before kickoff.
Bama fans cheered and the Million Dollar Band played, but fans in orange were louder — along with the decibel-pounding scoreboard atop the south end zone at Jordan-Hare Stadium blaring a Bon Jovi tune.
But it is exactly that crowd intensity that is part of this storied series.
Asked this week if he would tell his teammates how important this game is, Alabama senior linebacker Darren Mustin said, “I think they know. I don’t think there is a guy who doesn’t know the seriousness of this game. I don’t think there is a person on this team who doesn’t know how big this is for us. How we need this game for our future, for our present, ... for our coach, for everything.”
Mustin said Alabama was going to have a great week of practice after last week’s debacle against Louisiana Monroe.
“Everybody has a mindset to work,” Mustin said. “Everybody, I know, everybody in that locker room was hurting. Everybody in that locker room felt embarrassed after that game, I know I did.”
Asked about Nick Saban’s blowups, Mustin shrugged and said, “Coach Saban blows up all the time. They all the same to me. You just learn to treat them like water under the bridge. He’s not trying to tear you down, he’s not trying to break you, he’s trying to install a sense of urgency in you. Like one of my coaches said, ‘You hear what you have to hear out of that conversation, and you just let the rest go in one ear and out the other.’”
Mustin said developing mental toughness is part of Saban’s message.
“I think he’s preparing you for a stadium. People booing and cussing at you and calling you names,” the senior said.
“If you can learn to tune Nick Saban out? That’s nothing.”
The atmosphere Mustin described is exactly what Alabama will face tonight.

Saban won’t sugar-coat it for his players

November 20, 2007

By Ken Rogers

Alabama head coach Nick Saban launched into his answer before he even heard the question during Monday’s press conference in Tuscaloosa.
Two weeks ago, he called the Mississippi State the biggest of the year, based on how the team responded after losing an emotional showdown against LSU.
Last week, he talked about executing and finishing strong in a two-game season.
Taking a three-game losing streak into his first Iron Bowl, Saban apparently answered a question that wasn’t asked.
A Huntsville reporter started to ask about players not responding in the last two weeks. The coach quickly countered.
“I think we should sugar-coat it,” Saban said. “And when they’re doing the wrong thing, we should sugar-coat it and say, ‘You’re doing good. We love you for doing the wrong stuff.’ I think that’s what we should do. I think that’s how we’ll be really successful in the future. I really do.
“And I’m gonna tell you what: That ain’t ever gonna happen here. It’s never going to happen, not as long as I’m here. And if we can’t win doing it the right way and getting guys to do the right things, then I won’t be here. Y’all won’t want me to be here, obviously. But that’s not gonna happen.
“You all are putting winning before doing it right. And that’s wrong. You’re putting winning a championship and winning games before getting people to do the right thing and being a champion. And that’s wrong, in my opinion.
“And the good teams that we play, they got it. They got it. And you’re never gonna beat them unless you’ve got it. And I wish nobody would ask me about that anymore. Because I’m not gonna sugar-coat it. Every coach I ever been around that sugar-coats it for the players? It does no good and it just blows up.
“Rubbing and loving their neck when they’re doing the wrong thing? And if we did that? Y’all would crucify us. Is that the kind of program you want here? Is that what kind of program you want the University of Alabama to have? To represent the people in this state, the great tradition that we have here and the great institution that this is and the great state that this is and all the people that we represent — that’s what you want? You answer that question. Don’t stutter, just answer the question. It’s yes or no.”
The reporter said, “I’ll try to answer the question, but the question I was trying to ask was, “Have you ever had a team not respond like this in the last two weeks?”
“Yes,” Saban said. “In starting to build a program and after you have a catastrophic event like this they usually figure it out. They usually figure it out. If they got the right stuff. We have a lot of good kids on our team. And it is for the good kids on our team and the players that try to do it right that you want to represent and get the other people on the team you are depending on to do it right, too.”

Suspended players will be eligible for Auburn game

November 17, 2007

By Ken Rogers

The five University of Alabama football players suspended in the improper receipt of textbooks investigation will be eligible to play against Auburn in next Saturday’s regular-season finale.
A press release issued just before Saturday’s game against the University of Louisiana at Monroe read that Alabama was informed this morning by the NCAA that the five players—starting offensive linemen Antoine Caldwell and Marlon Davis, running back Glen Coffee, and defensive backs Chris Rogers and Marquis Johnson—have had their eligibility reinstated after the ULM game.
The five were suspended the morning of the Tennessee game Oct. 20. While they have practiced since then, it will have been six weeks since they have played in a game—going back to the Ole Miss game on Oct. 13.
The University suspended the players. Last week, its submitted a report to the NCAA on the still-ongoing inquiry. Today’s ruling, the press release read, was the NCAA’s response to that report.