 The Crimson Tide is tinkering on the top of the SEC. During the 2009 season they are sure to be sitting as one of the top teams of the SEC. Here are the notes from this years spring practice.
- Alabama returns nine starters on its highly-touted defense, which ranked third nationally in total defense (263.5) a year ago and second against the rush (74.14 ypg). The Tide brings back six of their front seven, including all four linebackers. UA also returns 13 of its top 15 tacklers from 2008 with middle linebacker Rolando McClain, who recorded a team-high 95 tackles in 2008, leading the way.
|
|
Read more...
|
 Tennessee senior Demetrice Morley, who started nine games at free safety last season, has been dismissed from the team, Volunteers coach Lane Kiffin told reporters in Knoxville after Tuesday's spring practice.
It is the second time Morley, a Miami native, has been dismissed from the team. He missed all of the 2007 season while working to improve his academics at a community college. Former Volunteers coach Phillip Fulmer reinstated him to the team before the 2008 season, and Morley and All-American Eric Berry formed one of the best safety tandems in the country.
"Demetrice won't be part of our team anymore," Kiffin told reporters. "Like we have said from the beginning, this isn't easy. It's very demanding for guys to stay here and go through everything we do, to hold to our standards on and off the field, to be part of our culture. Demetrice could not do that and we wish him the best of luck."
|
|
Read more...
|
 With all the talk this spring about Mike Hartline getting the nod at quarterback and Randall Cobb spending most of his time at receiver, lost in the shuffle was the moving and shaking going on with Kentucky's offensive line.
The best news for the Wildcats is that they actually have some genuine competition. They've been able to redshirt some offensive linemen the last couple of years and haven't had to throw them to the wolves as true freshmen.
Joker Phillips, Kentucky's offensive head coach, said heading into the spring that the Wildcats were serious about getting their best five linemen on the field.
Judging by all the shuffling that went on and some of the position changes, it's still anybody's guess as to what the Wildcats' starting offensive line will look like when they open the season against Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 5 in Cincinnati.
|
|
Read more...
|
 President Barack Obama welcomed the Florida Gators to the White House and congratulated them on winning a second national championship in football in three years.
Obama on Thursday joked with the 115 players crammed on risers in the East Room while praising them and their coaches. Being a champion doesn't end when the clock runs out, the president said, noting that that the team volunteers 400 hours each year.
Obama said strong leadership formed a team that plays hard and works in the community.
"I want to congratulate everybody who makes this program run -- from the assistants to the trainers, from the students to the ticket takers," he said. "All of you should be very, very proud."
|
|
Read more...
|
 A stretch limousine still makes a big impression. Just ask the Auburn football program, which used one Monday to reassert the Tigers' recruiting presence in its home state.
On Monday, the Mobile (Ala.) Press-Register reported, seven Auburn assistant coaches permitted by the NCAA to make recruiting visits piled into a limo decorated with Auburn decals and flags and headed south to Mobile, an important in-state recruiting ground for the Tigers.
The coaches visited a number of high schools in the Gulf Coast city, which is expected to produce a number of prospects for the recruiting class of 2010. Similar visits in other Alabama communities are expected to take place this week, according to the report.
|
|
Read more...
|
 Alabama receiver Julio Jones has undergone surgery to repair a sports hernia.
A spokesman for the football team confirmed Monday that Jones had the surgery. He is expected to be back for fall camp.
Jones was the Crimson Tide's leading receiver as a freshman with 58 catches for 924 yards. He was a second-team Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference pick.
|
|
Read more...
|
 Walker blows up: If you're looking for a strong breakout player of the year candidate in the SEC, junior defensive end Chris Walker ought to be near the top of the list. He had a dominant spring and was referred to as "unblockable" more than once by Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin. Walker has great burst off the edge to get to the passer, but also plays the run well. New energy: There's a new energy both in and around the Tennessee program right now. The players are talking about it, and the fans are eager to see where Kiffin and the new staff can take this program. The Vols had fallen from the SEC's elite in the past few years. Kiffin's challenge is to get them back there. Law according to Kiffin: There's always going to be attrition when a new coach takes over, but the Vols are nearing double figures in terms of players who've left the program since Kiffin was hired. Some of the notables are running back Lennon Creer, safety Demetrice Morley and quarterback B.J. Coleman. Kiffin's response has been simple: His version of Tennessee football isn't for everybody.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
 Garcia's awakening: It was the first time that Stephen Garcia had gone through a spring practice at South Carolina, and he at last looked the part of a starting quarterback. Garcia played with more poise, more maturity and took it upon himself to be a leader on offense. The trick now is taking that approach into the fall against SEC defenses. Immediate help: The Gamecocks won't have to wait long to see what they have in cornerback Stephon Gilmore, safety DeVonte Holloman and running back Jarvis Giles. All three true freshmen enrolled early and made their presence felt this spring. There's a chance that all three could end up starting at some point next season. New blood on offense: Steve Spurrier overhauled his offensive coaching staff, and a big emphasis this spring was placed on establishing the right kind of mentality up front in the offensive line and beefing up the running game. Spurrier liked what he saw along those lines with Eric Wolford, the Gamecocks' new running game coordinator and offensive line coach.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
|
<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 Next > End >>
|
|
Page 1 of 3 |
