Tide's Saban hopes to involve more Alabama legends

TUSCALOOSA — A-Day weekend has been huge for fans under Alabama coach Nick Saban, who said he would welcome more involvement from past players, too.

“We’re doing several things to try to get former players to come back so they feel a part of the program,” Saban said Thursday. “We certainly have a tremendous amount of respect for every player whose blood, sweat and tears has created a fantastic, wonderful tradition here. And we want them to feel a part of what we’re doing now.”

Saban said a golf outing for former players has been added for Friday afternoon. A 7-on-7 flag football game at Bryant-Denny Stadium before the 2 p.m. A-Day Game is a new addition for Saturday.

The flag football participants and coaches — all former Tide players — will be introduced at 11:30 a.m. Kickoff is at noon. Gates open at 11 a.m.

“We’re certainly looking forward to welcoming them back to the university this weekend,” Saban said.
A-Day format: Fans should enjoy the realistic format for Saturday’s game. Like last year, Saban said the first offense (Crimson team) will go against the first defense (White team).

“I think it’ll help the development of the quarterbacks, I think it’ll be challenging to the offensive line and I think it’ll be good for the development of our team to find out where we are and help us and improve the best for next year’s season and our opener on Sept. 5,” Saban said.

Players sidelined: Receiver Earl Alexander and running back Roy Upchurch, who have practiced all spring but have been held out of contact, won’t participate in Saturday’s game, Saban said.

Saban also said Mark Ingram, who has been sidelined for part of spring with a hamstring injury, will also not play Saturday.

Corey Smith will leave: Saban said placekicker Corey Smith has asked for a release from his scholarship.

“He will not participate in the game by his choice while he tries to research opportunities for himself next year,” Saban said.

Smith played in three games — Tulane, Auburn and Florida — as a true freshman last season. He was 0-for-1 on extra points and 0-for-1 on field goals (both against Tulane), and kicked off twice. He was an all-state punter and placekicker in Bunker Hill, W.Va.

QB commits for 2010: Touted Virginia high school quarterback Phillip Sims verbally committed to Alabama on Wednesday night.

Sims, a star in South Hampton Roads, Va., threw for 3,167 yards and 38 touchdown passes as a junior. That raised his career passing mark to 7,597 yards, on pace to be Virginia’s state record holder by the end of his senior year, according to Larry Rubama of Pilotonline.com.

Stabler won’t return: Alabama legendary quarterback Ken Stabler will not return as a color analyst to the Crimson Tide Sports Network’s radio broadcasts.

Stabler had served as color analyst for the network from 1998-2007 before taking a leave of absence for the 2008 season.

That leave followed his arrest on a DUI charge last season. Stabler was found not guilty in that case.

CTSN general manager Jim Carabin and Alabama athletics director Mal Moore announced the decision Thursday.