Tide assistant Minnesota bound

TUSCALOOSA — Alabama’s punishing running game hasn’t gone unnoticed across the country.

Tuesday, University of Minnesota head coach Tim Brewster named Alabama assistant Tim Davis as the running game coordinator/offensive line coach of the Golden Gophers.

Davis, who will start his job next Monday, has been Nick Saban’s director of player personnel at Alabama since February. He has also worked with the offensive line this season. Davis was also on Saban’s staff as an assistant offensive line coach with the Miami Dolphins.

“This is a great opportunity for Tim,” Saban said in a release. “Tim has been a hard worker and done an excellent job with each and every responsibility he’s had.

“I know Tim is looking forward to getting up there in a coaching capacity that puts him back on the field interacting with the players. He’ll do a great job with Coach Brewster and the Minnesota program. We wish Tim and his family the best at the University of Minnesota.”

Before his stint with the Dolphins, Davis coached the offensive line at Southern California from 2002 through 2004. He also coached tight ends and offensive tackles at Wisconsin from 1997-2001.

His lines have helped Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer (2002), Matt Leinart (2004) and Ron Dayne (1999). The former Utah lineman also spent seven years coaching the position at his alma mater from 1990-1996.

“Tim has worked alongside the greatest minds in football and possesses exactly the kind of credentials I was looking for in an offensive line coach,” Brewster said.

“He has played a key role in helping develop some of the game’s most punishing and physical rushing attacks and I could not be more excited about the North-South mentality he will bring as our running game coordinator. Tim also possesses impeccable character, is an outstanding family man and I believe he will be a great fit on our staff here at the University of Minnesota.”

Davis, in a Minnesota release, said he was eager to get started in the Twin Cities.
“I’m really looking forward to getting up there,” he said. “Minnesota was a real draw for me because of the great city and having an opportunity to work in the Big Ten again. I can’t wait to get started.”

Tuesday’s practice: Alabama returned outside after Monday’s rain-forced indoor workout.

Crimson Tide running back Glen Coffee said the two-hour practice was typically intense.

“It’s going good. People are flying around, getting to the ball,” said Coffee, who leads Alabama with 1,091 yards rushing this season. “It’s the same mood, the same emphasis we’ve taken every week, every game.”

Coffee said not much needs to be said to the players this week. Alabama is 11-0, ranked first in the nation and hasn’t beaten Auburn in six years.

“It’s known what week it is,” Coffee said. “We just want to practice and get the technique right and get the simple things done.”
Offensive guard Mike Johnson also said nobody needs to be reminded about the importance of this game.

“We all know what’s at stake this week against Auburn,” Johnson said after practice. “It’s a big game for us. But we’re trying to do the same things we’ve been doing. We’ve been pretty successful this year maintaining a certain level of intensity at practice.”

Unsung heroes: Mike Johnson was asked about the players that have improved substantially along the defensive line this season.

Johnson didn’t mention starters.

“Marcel Dareus,” Johnson said quickly. “I’ve said it before, he’s like blocking a buffalo, the kid is so strong. On the scout team, Demetrius (actually, it’s Damion) Square is going to be a good player for us in the future. We get to see him every day. It’s a struggle for us. He’s done a lot to make us better throughout the year.”