Alabama announces award winners

Alabama head coach Nick Saban presented the annual spring awards on the field immediately following the game.

Here is a list of the awards and the recipients, as determined by the coaching staff:

Lee Roy Jordan Headhunter Award — Terrence Cody and Dont’a Hightower

Jerry Duncan “I Like to Practice” Award — Barrett Jones and Tyrone King

Billy Neighbors Defensive Lineman Award — Brandon Deaderick

Paul Crane Offensive Lineman Award — Drew Davis

Bobby Johns Defensive Back Award — Justin Woodall

Johnny Musso Offensive Back Award — Terry Grant

Ray Perkins Receiver Award — Julio Jones

Woodrow Lowe Linebacker Award — Cory Reamer

Derrick Thomas Community Service Award — Baron Huber and Ali Sharrief

Bear Bryant Outstanding Non-Scholarship Award — Thomas Darrah and Brian Selman

Ozzie Newsome Most Improved Freshman Award — Robby Green and William Vlachos

Bart Starr Most Improved Player Award — James Carpenter and Lorenzo Washington

Mal Moore Leadership Award — Mike Johnson and Rolando McClain

Sylvester Croom Commitment to Excellence Award — Javier Arenas and Greg McElroy

Dwight Stephenson Lineman of the A-Day Game Award — Marcell Dareus

Dixie Howell Memorial Most Valuable Player of the A-Day Game Award — Marquis Maze and Greg McElroy

Captains honored
Before the game, 2008 permanent team captains Antoine Caldwell, Rashad Johnson and John Parker Wilson hand their hand prints and foot prints placed in cement at the base of Denny Chimes.

“A great tradition,” Saban said, “And those guys were fantastic leaders for our team and certainly did a lot and will be difficult to replace because of the intangibles that they brought. They not only talked the talk, they walked the walk and they affected other people.”

Coach embraces A-Day
Saban talked about the atmosphere that he said makes A-Day special.

“The tradition that sort of emanates here on A-Day is hard not to really have a tremendous respect for and respond to,” he said. “At Denny Chimes today, talking to the A-Club guys that have worked so hard to develop the tradition that Alabama and Crimson Tide people are so proud of and have so much passion for.

“All those things, I never have an appreciation for when we’re playing a game. The game is the most important thing. You worry about the team and that’s all you do is focus on that. But in a game like today, being around and making about six speeches to large groups today, it’s great to see our fans, it’s great to see their passion, it’s great to see the enthusiasm and it’s great to see the turnout. It makes it really fun for the players.”

Wildcat kicker
Walk-on kicker Parker Stinnett from Enterprise didn’t get in the game, but he was in uniform and on the sidelines.

Stinnett was one of three kickers selected from an open tryout earlier this spring to stay with the team. He is part of a group of five specialists working on kickoffs and placekicking.

“I was supposed to be there last season but I broke my leg last summer playing soccer,” Stinnett said.

He will work out with the team this summer, beginning in early June.

Saban honored
Saban was presented the 2008 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award on Saturday.

In addition to a trophy, he was presented with a check for $50,000 from Liberty Mutual Insurance to support his favorite charity — Nick’s Kids — and $20,000 in scholarship funding for the university’s alumni association. Saban will also be recognized in the permanent Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year display at the
College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind.

BEST/WORST
Best addition: Hoss Johnson made several receptions while he was earning MVP honors of the inaugural 7-on-7 flag football game featuring former players. The A-Club members, including Dothan’s Steadman Shealy, put on a good show, kept it light and escaped, we think, healthy and happy.

Best pass: It was barely a blip in the stats, but McElroy hit Darius Hanks in stride across the middle while he was being blanketed by Javier Arenas. Only Hanks could have caught the pass, but it had to be exactly on target due to Arenas’ coverage.

Worst feeling: Free safety Robby Green saw Julio Jones run past him on the early 52-yard touchdown pass from Greg McElroy.

Worst stat: Because quarterbacks were protected, rushers could simply tag them and the play would be blown dead. That created far more negative rushing yardage than it appeared. Officially, the Crimson team rushed for 4 yards and the White team for 37. Reality wasn’t much better, but it wasn’t as bad those numbers suggest.