TUSCALOOSA- The kickoff time for the 2012 Cowboys Classic football game pitting Alabama against Michigan has been set for 7 p.m. Central Time on Saturday, September 1, with ABC Sports televising the contest to a national audience.
Courtney Upshaw had to wait an entire extra day, but didn’t have to wait long before his name was called early in the second round of the NFL Draft on Friday night.
Upshaw, the 6-1, 270-pound outside linebacker from Eufaula, was picked by the Baltimore Ravens with the third pick of the second round. He was the 35th overall pick of the draft, the fifth University of Alabama player taken.
The University of Alabama equaled a school-record with four players selected in the first round of the 2012 National Football League Draft on Thursday evening at Radio City Music Hall.
Tonight, every push-up, every sprint, every drill and every tackle that Courtney Upshaw has made in his life will pay off. Upshaw is likely to be a first-round draft pick, perhaps joined by as many as four Alabama teammates.
President Barack Obama honored the University of Alabama football team for winning the BCS championship to culminate what he called a “deeply meaningful season for the Tide.”
Jalston Fowler sees it as a reward for a spring of hard work. Barrett Jones sees it as the kickoff of one of the few “down” periods in a college football player’s life. Nick Saban sees it as a very personal renewal. Alabama fans, however, see today’s annual A-Day Game (2 p.m., CSS) as a sneak preview for what’s coming next fall – and as the first chance since Jan. 9 to see the Crimson Tide in action.
TUSCALOOSA – If things have been just a little more quiet around the Alabama practice fields this spring, sophomore safety Vinnie Sunseri can attest it’s been more quiet around the house, too.
TUSCALOOSA – Taylor Dugas’ two-out, two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Alabama baseball team a thrilling, 4-3 come-from-behind victory over in-state rival, the No. 23 ranked Auburn Tigers.