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Alabama Weekly
July 18, 1998 -- Issue #2 -- Volume #1
Welcome to the second edition
of Alabama Weekly a weekly E-Mail Newsletter. The purpose of this
newsletter is to basically recap the weeks events that has happened in
Alabama Football and any important SEC news. Our goal is to send out a
new Newsletter every one to two weeks. We also hope to have a
"Fan's View" article weekly, if you have any writing skills
and would like to write an article please contact me. The newsletter
will be packed with Alabama Football news, information, previews and
much more.
We would like to welcome, da man, Jess Nicholas to the staff at Alabama
Weekly. Jess has wrote a Fall Preview on Alabama this week and will
probably be providing game recaps for us once the season starts. Welcome
aboard Jess. Also we'd like to welcome Dennis Campbell (a.k.a. Bama
Soup) Soup will be writing a Joke Section every week, Dennis is a very
funny man and comes up with great AU Humor!!!
Hey BamaNation, look for this newsletter to get much better as we get
more into football season, right now their is not much news in Alabama
Football. Once we get into the 3-a-Day practices, that start August
14th, look for more articles and more news to report.
Fall Preview--Alabama
written by: Jess Nicholas
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1998 Alabama Crimson Tide
Predicted Record : 8-3 (UF,UT,LSU)
Overall SEC : 5-3 (UF,UT,LSU)
SEC West : 4-1 (LSU)
Predicted Placement: Tied 2nd, SEC WEST (Mississippi State)
Quarterbacks : Fr Defensive Line : Av
Running Backs : Vg Linebackers : Av
Wide Receivers: Ex Defensive Backs: Vg
Offensive Line: Fr Special Teams : Av
Returning Starters
Offense: 4 (SE,FL,LT,C)
Defense: 8 (LE,RE,RLB,MLB,LLB,LCB,FS,SS)
Specialists:2 (P,PK)
TOTAL: 14/24 (58.3%)
OFFENSE
When one starts talking success in college football, one must look at
the
quarterback position. No team has won a National Championship with a
rookie quarterback since Oklahoma did it in the mid-eighties with
Jamielle Holloway. Oklahoma was a wishbone team, and the quarterback job
on a wishbone team doesn't require the same caliber passer as does a
pro-set offense.
But Alabama isn't running a pro-set offense---it's planning to run the
"spread" or "chaos" offense, with forty passes a
game, four receivers out
on every play, and the intent of causing abject mayhem for defensive
coordinators. Running this offense will be one of three quarterbacks who
together threw three passes last year.
John David Phillips has all the physical tools. He also has the lone
career completion among the three top quarterbacks. Redshirt freshman
Andrew Zow, who is equally capable physically (he originally committed
to Auburn to play linebacker), has had good practices and shows
surprising poise. But both will be looking over their throwing shoulders
at Tyler Watts, the high school phenom most Tide fans consider to be
Superman. At this point, however, he is at best only Clark Kent.
Shaun Alexander finally gets his day as the featured back in the Tide's
offense. Question is, how many times per game will he get the ball? The
Tide coaches envision twenty-five to thirty "touches" a game,
meaning
rushes and receptions added together. Alexander has the body, the moves,
the speed. He also has that little something extra that most young
running backs wet their sheets dreaming about---the ability to turn any
play into a SportsCenter highlight. Backing up Alexander will be little
Arvin Richard, who looks like a pinball, and Montoya Madden, who looks
like a bowling ball. Prop 48 sophomore Shaun Bohannon and redshirt Adam
Cox provide further depth. Dustin McClintock is the only true entry at
fullback, and he will be mostly used as an H-back anyway. Signee Marvin
Brown should get early playing time.
The Tide may have the best collection of receivers in the SEC, if not
the
country. Michael Vaughn returns to find Calvin Hall and Quincy Jackson
occupying starting spots. The solution? Start three receivers, which
Alabama will do in most cases. Big Shamari Buchannan and a threesome of
talented signees---Freddie Milons, Eric Locke, and Sam Collins---provide
excellent depth. Redshirt freshman Jason McAddley and junior Tim Bowens
are also in the mix. Tight End is mightily understaffed, however, with
only walk-on Rhett Crutchfield having any meaningful experience.
Redshirt Joe Yount and signee Terry Jones,Jr. figure to work into the
rotation.
Alas, however, all is not well. The offensive line, long suffering from
the effects of a nonexistant weight training program, lackluster
coaching, and questionable recruiting choices, has much improvement yet
to make. In addition, three starters need to be replaced, and two
potential candidates are out or questionable---Sage Spree due to injury
and Corey Kinnebrew due to grades. That leaves undersized but brave Paul
Hogan at center and preseason All-SEC Chris Samuels at left tackle, and
a cast of thousands jockeying for supporting roles.
DEFENSE
Alabama isn't just making changes on the offensive side of the ball;
they've decided to revisit the years of defensive superiority under Gene
Stallings by trying their hand at the 3-4 defensive alignment. Defensive
Coordinator Ellis Johnson also plans to mix in a generous portion of
3-3-1, which involves a stand-up end whose prime job is to eat
quarterbacks.
On the line, Alabama returns two talented but inconsistent starters,
senior Chris Hood and sophomore Kenny Smith. In the middle is a new
face---Prop 48 sophomore Carlos Stennis, a real workaholic and capable
run-stuffer. Depth is good here, especially with a host of junior
college
transfers set to join the fray. The lacking elements are health and
consistency, the two factors that probably cost Alabama two or three
games last year alone. If this group stays healthy and progresses on
schedule, Alabama's line will unpleasantly surprise some opposing
offenses. New Defensive Line Coach Jackie Shipp, who himself looks able
to step in a game and get twelve tackles, will instill a killer instinct
in the players who choose to stay with his difficult program.
Linebacker goes from being the Tide's biggest preseason weakness in 1997
to one of its better strengths in 1998. Travis Carroll, who should
contend for a Butkus award in the future, is joined by returning
starters
Steve Stanley and Trevis Smith and former starter Steven Harris. Carroll
displayed a tremendous amount of big-play ability in 1997, and has the
leadership qualities necessary to provide fourth-quarter moxie. Clint
Wagonner will be the "1" in the 3-3-1 alignment. The main
problem here is depth, and Tide coaches are hoping that JUCO sensation
Miguel Merritt, the runner-up to Tim Couch for Kentucky's Mr. Football
in 1995, can provide meaningful work. Seniors Tito Smith, Granison
Wagstaff, and Chris Edwards join freshmen Jerome Moorehead, Darius
Gilbert, Victor Ellis, and Marvin Constant as contenders for playing
time.
The Tide's biggest strength defensively is its defensive backfield,
which
is one player away from being the best in the conference. The needed
player in question is whoever wins the job at right cornerback. Senior
Antoine Hunter currently is listed first-team there, but incoming
freshman Reggie Myles may duplicate the feat of now-senior Fernando
Bryant and start as a freshman. Senior Kelvin Sigler, the free safety,
may be the most underrated Tider. He's not flashy, but he always seems
to be around the ball when the chips are down. Strong safety Tony Dixon
is a star in the making, probably the best athlete in the group. Fellow
sophomore Marcus Spencer will be the primary backup at both spots. He
has linebacker size and hits extremely hard. Fernando Bryant, who will
also see time at receiver, is preseason All-SEC and is the best bet of
any Tider to make a run at All-American. He is also a dangerous kick
returner, producing enough excitement in that role last year to convince
the coaches to let him try to make his magic on offense this year. If
his performance in the spring game is any indication, Alabama may have
found themselves another Chris Canty or Charles Woodson. New coach
Charlie Harbison has been well-liked and looks quite capable of
improving this unit over last year.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Tide's special teams are much like the little girl with the curl on
her forehead: When they're good, they are very, very good, but when they
are bad, they suck rocks. Punter Daniel Pope might be the conference's
best at the position, but the Tide was last seen auditioning various
band members at placekicker. Bama used five of them last year, and four
return to action in 1998. Bama is hoping that sophomore A.J.Diaz, the
only scholarshipped one in the group, can hold down the job. He's big (a
former soccer player), has a strong leg, and can punt in a pinch.
However, no scoreboard, endzone pylon, light standard, or vehicle in the
parking lot is safe when Diaz starts firing. Ryan Pflugner, the
pfabulous pflacekicker with the pfunny name, started last year on top
before injuries felled him. Offseason surgery was successful, but Tide
coaches aren't sure whether he'll be ready for the fall practice.
Brooks Brodie returns at snapper, but must get more consistent. The
kickoff return unit was nationally ranked last year, although the Tide
has been lacking a true punt returner since David Palmer became a
Minnesota Viking. Alabama must also find a new holder, which will
probably be selected from a group that includes Pope, receiver Wes
Allen, quarterback Marc Mollicone, and cornerback Chris Reier.
OUTLOOK
The Tide should improve over last year's marks; in fact, it can barely
help but improve. Coach Mike DuBose, albeit still learning, has realized
his mistakes from last year and isn't the type to likely repeat them.
The
Tide faces a tough schedule, which includes WAC power Brigham Young and
Southern Miss---who finished 1997 in the polls and will likely be ranked
when the Tide faces them. Florida replaces Kentucky on the
schedule---but then again, Bama lost to the Kats last year. If anything,
the Tide should benefit from a league that, with the exception of LSU,
is a good bit weaker as a whole than it was in 1997. The Tide should
lose to Florida and LSU by goodly margins. Tennessee isn't the team it
was in 1997, but unfortunately for Bama, the game is being played in
Neyland Stadium, which is a universe removed from friendly territory. It
is this writer's humble opinion, therefore, that the Tide will finish
8-3, tied for second in the SEC West with Mississippi State, and will
once again find itself reaching the postseason, likely representing the
SEC in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta.
-- Jess Nicholas
UA FOOTBALL NEWS
Stadium Repairs almost complete
written by: JP
Birmingham's Legion Field's repairs will meet the deadline of August 1st
set by the University of Alabama. Legion Field is 90 to 95 percent
complete. Birmingham Mayor Richard Arrington assured Alabama Athletic
Director Bob Bockrath that everything will be completed on time and
according to officals they will be.
Also, reported on a local news station in Birmingham the expansion of
Bryant Denny Stadium is 96% complete and will be finished by kickoff of
the 1998 Alabama season opener played in Bryant Denny against BYU on
September 5th at 6:00 P.M. on ESPN. -- JP
Shontua Ray makes the Grades--
Plus other Signees Academic situation
written by: JP
Earlier this week Shontua Ray, the
outstanding running back from Montevallo High School, made a 17 on his
ACT, good enough to make him eligible to play for the Crimson Tide as a
freshman. Ray he is still taking two summer-school classes and will not
be approved by the NCAA Clearinghouse until he makes the grades for
those courses. That would leave Alabama with four known academic
casualties:
--Damien Jones of Prichard, who signed a pro baseball
contract with the Braves
--Johnovan Morgan didn't make good enough scores and will start off in
Junior College
--Aries Monroe, will start his career in Junior College as well
--Mario Monds, didn't graduate from Hutchinson Community College
--Defensive back Phillip Weeks of Lake Butler, Fla. is waiting to be
cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse. -- JP
SOUND CHECK
QUOTES FROM FANS, COACHES AND
PLAYERS
Bama Signee Shontua Ray
"I just knew there was a light at the end of the tunnel," he
said. "And if I worked hard, I would be able to achieve it."
Neil Callaway on Mike DuBose
"we communicate well, we think alike and I trust him."
Mike DuBose on opening the Offense up this Season
"I want to make sure we open up the offense more. We've got to
spread the field and makethe opposing defense work. That doesn't mean
we're going to throw the ball 75 to 80 percent of the time. But last
year when we saw nine and 10-man defensive fronts that dared us to throw
the ball, we couldn't do it effectively. It was like we were playing on
a small field all the time."
Mike DuBose on getting more Involved
I wasn't hands-on enough. I didn't get involved in the week-to-week
offensive game-planning. I assumed my offensive coaches knew more about
it than I did. It won't be that way this year. If I'm accountable, I've
got to be more involved."
Neil Callaway on last years Staff
"I think Mike is too critical of himself. Some people he hired
didn't get things done and he made changes. I think it's a good idea for
him to be more involved because he's very knowledgeable."
Charlie Stubbs on Alabama Offense Last year
"He (DuBose) wanted to use more formations to dictate to the
defense rather than have the defense dictate to him. He wanted a rhythm
passing system where you throw the ball, but you throw it under control.
He'd like to get five people out running routes as much as possible. He
wanted a less predictable offense that had
the ability to score quick if the situation presented itself. In other
words, everything last year's Bama offense wasn't. DuBose gave Stubbs
three of last year's game films to study, and Stubbs understood what
DuBose suffered through. "I saw an offense with very few formation
changes, an offense that never made the defense tip its hand. What we
want is an offense that can change formations and force a defense
coordinator to minimize what his defense is going to do. In the past, a
defense playing Alabama just had to prepare for a few basic formations.
"Mike wants an offense that can grow each year. At BYU, we had a
system that each fall expanded a bit. You get to the point where you
make a few minor adjustments and you outexecute people with
schemes."
John David Phillips
''I'll work hard, I'll pray about it, and I'll trust God to take care
of the rest"
"I plan on being the No. 1 quarterback this year. It'd be awfully
hard to let that thing go."
Dennis "Soup" Campbell's Obligatory Bama Comment
"I LOVE BAMA !!! "
And all Bama's people said....
AMEN!!!
Soup's "Awbun''
Joke(s) of the Week
An avid football fan died unexpectedly on New Years Day and arrived in
front of Saint Peter at the Pearly Gates only to be told he had to wait
until his admittance was OKed. Explaining with some regret, Saint Peter
said he didn't know if the fellow was going to Heaven or Hell.
When the fellow asked what the difference was between the two, Saint
Peter offered him the opportunity to see for himself. Being curious
about what Hell looked like, he asked to see Hell first. Saint Peter
told the fellow to step into the elevator and take it down to the
"Hell" level to get a peek.
The fan followed the instructions, and after some time arrived at the
Hell
level. When the elevator doors opened, he gazed out onto a frozen,
desolate landscape. All he saw was snow, wind, ice, severe cold --
everything frozen solid.
He took the elevator back up to the Pearly Gates and told Saint Peter
that Hell wasn't at all what he expected. Saint Peter looked surprised
when the fan described all the ice and frozen wasteland he saw. Then
Saint Peter said, "Oh ! awbum must have won the National
Champhionship!!!" -- Soup 1998
1998 ALABAMA SCHEDULE
09/05 Brigham Young Tuscaloosa (ESPN)
09/12 Vanderbilt Birmingham
09/19 OPEN
09/26 Arkansas Fayetteville, AR
10/03 Florida Tuscaloosa
10/10 Ole Miss Tuscaloosa
10/17 E. Carolina Birmingham
10/24 Tennesse Knoxville, TN (CBS)
10/31 S. Miss Tuscaloosa
11/07 LSU Baton Rouge, LA (CBS)
11/14 Mississippi St. Starkville, MS
11/21 Auburn Birmingham
11/29 OPEN
12/05 SEC Championship
TTBA
TWO-DEEP ROSTER
OFFENSE
SE 7 Quincy Jackson (Sr.); 84 Shamari Buchanan (Jr.)
LT 60 Chris Samuels (Jr.); 78 Michael Barfield (Fr.)
LG 70 Jason McDonald (Jr.); 61 Todd Whitmore (Jr.)
C 74 Paul Hogan (So.); 55 Brooks Brodie (Sr.)
RG 75 Griff Redmill (So.); 69 Michael Moore (Jr.)
RT 72 Will Cuthbert (So.); 63 Sage Spree (Sr.)
TE 38 Shawn Draper (So.); 85 Rhett Crutchfield (Sr.)
FL 83 Calvin Hall (Sr.); Michael Vaughn (Jr.)
QB 12 John David Phillips (Sr.); 5 Andrew Zow (Fr.)
FB 30 Dustin McClintock (So.); 21 Montoya Madden (Sr.)
RB 37 Shaun Alexander (Jr.); 26 Arvin Richards (So.)
K 19 Brian Cunningham (Sr.); 15 AJ Diaz (So.)
DEFENSE
DE 34 Chris Hood (Sr.); 92 Shaun Williams (Fr.)
DT 88 Kenny Smith (So.); 95 Sam Matthews (Fr.)
DT 90 Jamie Carter (Jr.); 51 Carlos Stennis (So.)
DE 91 Clint Waggoner (Jr.); 98 Reggie Grimes (Jr.)
LB 4 Steve Stanley (Sr.); 11 Chris Horne (So.)
LB 44 Travis Carroll (So.); 59 Chris Edwards (Sr.)
LB 48 Trevis Smith (Sr.); 43 Steve Harris (Sr.)
CB 25 Fernando Bryant (Sr.); 3 Michael Feagin (Sr.)
CB 39 Antoine Hunter (Sr.); 13 Kecalf Bailey (So.)
SS 24 Tony Dixon (So.); 41 Marcus Spencer (Sr.)
FS 20 Kelviun Sigler (Sr.); 17 Warren Foust (Sr.)
P 40 Daniel Pope (Sr.)
--------------------------------------------------------
THE SEC REPORT
SEC NEWS
No real BIG news of note...
SEC TEAM SCHEDULES
ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS
Sept. 5 SW LOUISIANA FAYETTEVILLE
Sept. 19 SMU LITTLE ROCK
Sept. 26 ALABAMA FAYETTEVILLE
Oct. 3 KENTUCKY LITTLE ROCK
Oct. 10 at Memphis Memphis
Oct. 17 at South Carolina Columbia
Oct. 31 at Auburn Auburn
Nov. 7 OLE MISS FAYETTEVILLE
Nov. 14 at Tennessee Knoxville
Nov. 21 at Miss. State Starkville
Nov. 28 LSU LITTLE ROCK
AUBURN TIGERS
Sept. 3 VIRGINIA AUBURN
Sept. 12 at Ole Miss Oxford
Sept. 19 LSU AUBURN
Oct. 3 TENNESSEE AUBURN
Oct. 10 at Miss. State Starkville
Oct. 17 at Florida Gainesville
Oct. 24 LOUISIANA TECH AUBURN
Oct. 31 ARKANSAS AUBURN
Nov. 7 CENTRAL FLORIDA AUBURN
Nov. 14 GEORGIA AUBURN
Nov. 21 at Alabama Birmingham
FLORIDA GATORS
Sept. 5 THE CITADEL GAINESVILLE
Sept. 12 NORTHEAST LOUISIANA GAINESVILLE
Sept. 19 at Tennessee Knoxville
Sept. 26 KENTUCKY GAINESVILLE
Oct. 3 at Alabama Tuscaloosa
Oct. 10 LSU GAINESVILLE
Oct. 17 AUBURN GAINESVILLE
Oct. 31 Georgia Jacksonville
Nov. 7 at Vanderbilt Nashville
Nov. 14 SOUTH CAROLINA GAINESVILLE
Nov. 21 at Florida State Tallahassee
GEORGIA BULLDOGS
Sept. 5 KENT ATHENS
Sept. 12 at South Carolina Columbia
Sept. 19 WYOMING ATHENS
Oct. 3 at LSU Baton Rouge
Oct. 10 TENNESSEE ATHENS
Oct. 17 VANDERBILT ATHENS
Oct. 24 at Kentucky Lexington
Oct. 31 Florida Jacksonville
Nov. 14 at Auburn Auburn
Nov. 21 OLE MISS ATHENS
Nov. 28 GEORGIA TECH ATHENS
KENTUCKY WILDCATS
Sept. 5 at Louisville Louisville
Sept. 12 EASTERN KENTUCKY LEXINGTON
Sept. 19 INDIANA LEXINGTON
Sept. 26 at Florida Gainesville
Oct. 3 at Arkansas Little Rock
Oct. 10 SOUTH CAROLINA LEXINGTON
Oct. 17 at LSU Baton Rouge
Oct. 24 GEORGIA LEXINGTON
Nov. 7 MISS. STATE LEXINGTON
Nov. 14 VANDERBILT LEXINGTON
Nov. 21 at Tennessee Knoxville
LSU TIGERS
Sept. 12 ARKANSAS STATE BATON ROUGE
Sept. 19 at Auburn Auburn
Sept. 26 IDAHO [HC] BATON ROUGE
Oct. 3 GEORGIA BATON ROUGE
Oct. 10 at Florida Gainesville
Oct. 17 KENTUCKY BATON ROUGE
Oct. 24 MISS. STATE BATON ROUGE
Oct. 31 at Ole Miss Oxford
Nov. 7 ALABAMA BATON ROUGE
Nov. 21 at Notre Dame South Bend
Nov. 28 at Arkansas Little Rock
OLE MISS REBELS
Sept. 5 MEMPHIS OXFORD
Sept. 12 AUBURN OXFORD
Sept. 19 at Vanderbilt Nashville
Sept. 26 at SMU Dallas
Oct. 3 SOUTH CAROLINA OXFORD
Oct. 10 at Alabama Tuscaloosa
Oct. 24 ARKANSAS STATE OXFORD
Oct. 31 LSU OXFORD
Nov. 7 at Arkansas Fayetteville
Nov. 21 at Georgia Athens
Nov. 28 MISS. STATE OXFORD
MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS
Sept. 5 VANDERBILT STARKVILLE
Sept. 12 at Memphis Memphis
Sept. 19 at Oklahoma State Stillwater
Sept. 26 at South Carolina Columbia
Oct. 10 AUBURN STARKVILLE
Oct. 17 EAST TENNESSEE STATE STARKVILLE
Oct. 24 at LSU Baton Rouge
Nov. 7 at Kentucky Lexington
Nov. 14 ALABAMA STARKVILLE
Nov.21 ARKANSAS STARKVILLE
Nov. 28 at Ole Miss Oxford
SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS
Sept. 5 BALL STATE COLUMBIA
Sept. 12 GEORGIA COLUMBIA
Sept. 19 MARSHALL COLUMBIA
Sept. 26 MISS. STATE COLUMBIA
Oct. 3 at Ole Miss Oxford
Oct. 10 at Kentucky Lexington
Oct. 17 ARKANSAS COLUMBIA
Oct. 24 at Vanderbilt Nashville
Oct. 31 TENNESSEE COLUMBIA
Nov. 14 at Florida Gainesville
Nov. 21 at Clemson Clemson
TENNESSEE VOLS
Sept. 5 at Syracuse Syracuse
Sept. 19 FLORIDA KNOXVILLE
Sept. 26 HOUSTON KNOXVILLE
Oct. 3 at Auburn Auburn
Oct. 10 at Georgia Athens
Oct. 24 ALABAMA KNOXVILLE
Oct. 31 at South Carolina Columbia
Nov. 7 UAB KNOXVILLE
Nov. 14 ARKANSAS KNOXVILLE
Nov. 21 KENTUCKY KNOXVILLE
Nov. 28 at Vanderbilt Nashville
VANDERBILT COMMODORES
Sept. 5 at Mississippi State Starkville
Sept. 12 at Alabama Birmingham
Sept. 19 OLE MISS NASHVILLE
Oct. 3 at TCU Fort Worth
Oct. 10 WESTERN MICHIGAN NASHVILLE
Oct. 17 at Georgia Athens
Oct. 24 SOUTH CAROLINA [HC] NASHVILLE
Oct. 31 DUKE NASHVILLE
Nov. 7 FLORIDA NASHVILLE
Nov. 14 at Kentucky Lexington
Nov. 28 TENNESSEE NASHVILLE
schedules provided by SECSports.com
Newsletter by:
JP of Alabama Game Day and Brett Young of BamaNation
Special Article by: none this week
Special Thanks to: Jess Nicholas (Great Preview, Jess! Thanks a lot!)
and Dennis Campbell for his Joke Section (very funny Soup, great job!)
PLEASE VISIT BAMANATION AND ALABAMA GAME DAY.
BamaNation: http://members.aol.com/BamaNation/
Alabama Game Day: http://come.to/ALGameDay.com
Thanks for subscribing; next newsletter July 25th, Roll Tide see ya next
week!!!
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