By Ken Rogers
A day after Clemson defensive coordinator Vic Koenning all but suggested recruiting improprieties at Alabama, Tigers head coach Tommy Bowden tried to clean up the mess by saying the coach was kidding.
Koenning, a former head coach at Wyoming and former Troy University assistant, recruits the Mobile area for the Tigers. Monday, he was asked about Alabama freshman Julio Jones and if Koenning had talked with him recently.
Koenning, in front of about half a dozen reporters, said:
“Julio? You know what, I actually ran into Julio in the spring recruiting. I said hello to him and said, ‘I guess I’ll be seeing you at the end of August.’ Then he got out and got in his (Cadillac) Escalade and drove off. That’s (being) serious. And then I went over and watched (Alabama freshman athlete signee) Burton Scott at Vigor High School at the track over there, and Burton Scott was running around. He went and got in his Escalade out at track practice and drove off. So I’m familiar with those two guys.”
Later, Koenning asked Clemson sports information director Tim Bourret to let the reporters know he wasn’t being serious.
He needs better jokes. You’d think a guy who recruited football players in the state of Alabama would know that recruiting is not a joking matter. I’m sure Nick Saban is doubled over in laughter.
Tommy Bowden said he was surprised everyone is blowing Koenning’s comments out of proportion.
“I’ve been here for 10 years and recruited against Alabama in the state of Alabama for 10 years, and have never had a problem with Alabama or Auburn either one,“ Bowden said. “That’s why I was surprised such a big thing was made (of Koenning’s comments). Vic coached at Troy; he’s got friends in the state. I’ve got friends in the state, have never had a problem with either school.
“And the guy makes an off-the-cuff comment, and I know we’re really looking for things to write about, talk about on the Internet and talk shows. If we’d had some bad blood in the past (with Alabama) — but here’s a school that has had zero bad blood and has recruited that state actively. That’s why I was kind of surprised about all that got made of it that it did. I didn’t say anything to (Koenning), but he was kidding.
“We didn’t even recruit him, Julio Jones. That shows how insignificant the statement is.“
OK. But Koenning, who should have known better if he was joking, might have introduced a bit of bad blood with his comment.
Posted by Ken Rogers on 08/26 at 01:15 PM
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By Ken Rogers
Alabama has a depth chart, and quarterback Nick Fanuzzi isn’t on it.
Tide head coach Nick Saban said Fanuzzi, a 6-3, 207-pound redshirt freshman from San Antonio, has left the team and will look for some playing time.
Saban said Fanuzzi is a great kid, hard worker and did everything coaches asked. Still, Fanuzzi, who was running the Clemson offense for the scout team at practice last week, wasn’t going to get on the field. Senior John Parker Wilson is the starter, backed up by Greg McElroy. Star Jackson and Thomas Darrah are still competing for the No. 3 slot. Saban said he wishes Fanuzzi well and offered to help him find a better situation.
Saban’s depth chart answers some questions in the defensive front seven. Defensive ends will be Bobby Greenwood, Lorenzo Washington and Brandon Deaderick. Saban said he considers all three starters. Terrence Cody and Josh Chapman are at nose tackle. Rolando McClain is the mike linebaacker, backed up by Charlie Higgenbotham and the suspended Prince Hall. Also inside, at the will position, is true freshman Don’ta Hightower, then Chris Jordan and Jennings Hester. At the jack linebacker is Brandon Fanny, then Eryk Anders and freshman Courtney Upshaw. At the sam linebacker is Cory Reamer, then freshman Jerrell Harris or Chavis Williams.
The secondary has Javier Arenas and Kareem Jackson at the corners, Justin Woodall at strong safety, and Rashad Johnson at free safety.
Freshman sensation Julio Jones will start at wide receiver, and also return kickoffs, Saban said. Mike McCoy will start on the other side.
Behind Wilson will be Glen Coffee, who is one of four in a running back rotation—with freshman Mark Ingram, Terry Grant and Roy Upchurch.
Travis McCall is listed first among five tight ends, along with Nick Walker, Chris Underwood, Preston Dial or Brad Smelley.
Up front, Andre Smith is at left tackle, Mike Johnson at guard, Antoine Caldwell at center, Marlon Davis at right guard and Drew Davis at right tackle. Backups, from left tackle to right, are Barrett Jones or Tyler Love, Brian Motley at left guard, Evan Cardwell or William Vlachos at center, David Ross at right guard and John Michael Boswell or Taylor Pharr at right tackle.
Posted by Ken Rogers on 08/25 at 12:58 PM
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By Ken Rogers
News flash: There is road construction in Atlanta.
OK, maybe that’s not a surprise to anyone who’s visit Georgia’s capital city, say, in the last 30 years.
But it could particularly bad this weekend. If you have a ticket to the Alabama-Clemson game, game officials are eager to spread the word about public transportation options.
Major lane closures are scheduled on the downtown connector, so officials are encouraging fans to take MARTA rapid transit system to the game at the Georgia Dome.
For $1.75 each way, customers can take the East/West rail line and walk directly into the Dome or to Centennial Olympic Park. Customers taking the North/South rain line will need to transfer to the West Line at Five Points rail station and travel one stop to the Dome/GWCC, Philips Arena/CNN Center Station.
Train service runs from 5 a.m. until 1 a.m. Parking for less than 24 hours is free at all Marta parking facilities. Fans traveling on I-85 North from Alabama can park at Exit 72 (Camp Creek Parkway). Travel a block past I-85 and turn right at the College Park Station sign. Continue through two traffic lights and turn left in the College Park Station.
Posted by Ken Rogers on 08/24 at 06:44 PM
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By Ken Rogers
Sunday story in the Eagle is about John Parker Wilson, where he’s been, where he is and where he wants to take the Crimson Tide this fall.
Tide head coach Nick Saban couldn’t help but smile at an inside joke when asked how good Wilson could be this fall.
“That’s a good question. How good do you want to be?“ Saban smiled, referencing the name of the book he authored. “Somebody wrote a book about that once. I don’t know the guy, was a real jerk.“
Saban said the things that make a great quarterback are traits Wilson possesses.
“I think that the quarterback position, the sky is the limit for any player, relative to the choices and decisions that he makes, the changes that he makes psychologically, mentally and in his approach to the game,“ the coach said. “There’s a lot of guys that have the physical ability to do it, but they have to go out on the field and prove that they can be the consistent, efficient, effective performer by making good choices and decisions about what they do, and how they make those business-like decisions so that they can perform better, eliminate the bad plays and make more good plays.
“John Parker is certainly showing an improvement in all those areas in this offseason, and hopefully, he will continue to do that throughout the course of this season. And through that, he will elevate his game and have a good year for us. He’s done everything right in this offseason to be able to do that. So hopefully, it will all come to fruition for him and for us and have an outstanding year.“
The team worked inside for two hours in full pads Saturday.
“I thought we had a pretty good practice,” Wilson said in quotes distributed by Alabama Media Relations. “The energy was good and I think practicing inside was a plus to change it up a little bit. We get Sunday off and then need to come in Monday focused and ready for game week.”
Saturday’s practice included work against Clemson’s offensive and defensive schemes, courtesy of the scout teams.
Posted by Ken Rogers on 08/23 at 10:30 PM
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By Ken Rogers
I’m writing about Alabama’s running backs for Saturday’s Eagle.
I get that the scrimmages traditionally are geared around the passing game—particularly with a new offense like Jim McElwain’s.
But the numbers weren’t particularly good from last Saturday’s final scrimmage. The top four running backs combined for 95 yards on 28 carries and no touchdowns. Not horrible, but not dominant.
Still, Nick Saban seems very comfortable with the offensive line and a running back-by-committee system that always keeps fresh legs in the game.
Glen Coffee, Terry Grant and Roy Upchurch, whose name hasn’t come up much in camp, will be joined by true freshman Mark Ingram, a 5-10, 215-pounder from Flint, Mich.
He was a late signee to the touted freshman class and he’s gotten raves from teammates.
Saban is typically a bit more reserved, but said he does a lot of things very well—including work hard.
The coach also talked about recruiting him. Ingram’s dad, Mark Sr., went to Michigan State while Saban worked as an assistant there. They’ve stayed in touch. Saban laughed recalling his home visit with the Ingrams.
“I’ve known his family since his dad was a senior in high school and we recruited him to Michigan State,“ Saban said. “That was when I was an assistant — Charlie Baggett actually recruited him since he was from Flint. Of course, that’s where Mark (Jr.) is from, too. When I was on the home visit, Mark Sr.’s wife — because I was in charge of academics and all that stuff (at Michigan State) — she says ’So you’re the guy who used to call me all the time looking for Mark to make sure he went to class.’ I said, ’Yes ma’am, it’s nice to meet you after all these years.’ So I’ve known them for a while.“
Posted by Ken Rogers on 08/22 at 03:47 PM
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