Tide players still trying to have some fun

September 26, 2009

By Ken Rogers

As intense as the week of practice was for Alabama’s SEC opener, it’s worth noting a couple light moments in the interview room.

Quarterback Greg McElroy joked that it’s always good to let the defense win the last round of practice. Saban has made several references to himself as defensive coordinator Kirby Smart’s G.A. as secondary coach, the offense has learned it’s best not to make the secondary look bad.

“Us as offensive players, we kind of have a running joke,” McElroy said. “It’s like, ‘We should do bad at the end of practice because coach Saban doesn’t run us as hard.’”

Of course, with Arkansas’ prolific passing attack, there was no letup this week.

And Terrence Cody, the object of Arkansas’ attention as Alabama’s nose tackle, is cracking teammates up as a lead blocker in the offense.

Mark Ingram laughed at the way defenders run away from Cody.

“Yeah, that happens a lot when I’m at fullback,” Cody said. “Everybody runs and when I run past, that’s when everybody falls back into the hole. But he’s already into the end zone by then. It’s funny when I see it on film.”

But Terrence, couldn’t you imagine running the ball?

“Imagine I’ll be running in the end zone ... celebrating,” Cody said, before embellishing his celebration. “Dunking over the field goal post ... doing the Lambeau Leap.”

Wouldn’t you get a penalty?

“That’d be worth it,” he said, his smile making it understood he was kidding. “It’d make the Top 10 on SportsCenter. No, I wouldn’t do that. I’m just exaggerating.”