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Alabama Weekly
July 28, 1999 -- Issue 13 -- Volume 2
HELLO BAMANATION CITIZENS!! Welcome to Alabama Weekly!
The purpose of this FREE newsletter is to recap the week's events and
highlight some people and features of University of Alabama athletics.
This issue of Alabama Weekly is being sent to over 1100 Tide fans in 38
states and 7 countries worldwide, with dozens of new subscribers added
weekly!
VANDY PARTY
***
Simply put, there's not much here. Auburn has exactly one returning playmaker (Clifton Robinson), and he has been indicted on charges of rape. If Robinson misses the upcoming season, the Tigers will be playing an impossible hand. New offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone favors the one-back set, which was a fine idea until Curtis Lee and Michael Burks transferred and Demontray Carter failed to stay eligible. The Tigers have their work cut out for them. QUARTERBACKS While Gross showed the ability to lead his team better and better each week last season, there was no such performance under Leard. Meiko Collier is no longer around, so that leaves the unimpressive Jeff Klein and incoming frosh Allen Tillman to provide depth. Tillman could very well play this year, particularly if Gross struggles. AU would do well to keep Leard out of it. RUNNING BACKS The safe money is on Owens, who despite lacking Moore's athleticism, is something Moore isn't-healthy. It would be a great surprise if one of the signees wasn't either getting significant minutes or starting by week three. WIDE RECEIVERS Assuming Robinson doesn't make it back, The starters are likely to be Brandon White, Joe Whitt, and converted quarterback Ryan Hooker. Signee DeAndre Green, once a pencil's point away from being a starter, is now academically ineligible. Ronnie Daniels, a fine athlete who had been playing minor league baseball, will be a great player-next year or later. So far, he has shown to be very rusty. Markeith Cooper is a good return man, but his lack of size has conspired against him as a receiver and he wasn't appearing on many depth charts at that position following the spring. Look for redshirt Tim Carter to join signees Travaris Robinson, Jeris McIntyre, and several others in a fight for playing time. Tight end is no better, with the stunningly average Jack Schwieger ahead of Reid Tankersley and the athletic Lorenzo Diamond. Superprospect Robert Johnson will be extremely close on qualifying and is likely a partial. OFFENSIVE LINE Steady Colin Sears will start at right tackle, with a flexible cast in between. Kendall Simmons has been a productive guard, while Cole Cubelic and Mike Pucillo will fill the center and other guard slots. Tackle Tim Castro has experience, as does undersized reserve center Ben Nowland. T.J. Meers, a former starter who took most of last year off for personal reasons, is back and may be the most talented of the lot. If Auburn can keep this group healthy, they will at least be able to keep whatever quarterback that wins the job healthy. DEFENSE Thank heavens for this unit, because
if the defense had the quality level of the offense, Auburn would be in
terrible shape. Thankfully, Tiger fans won't have that to worry about.
The defensive line could be the best in the conference, and the
linebackers and defensive backs are no slouches, either. The biggest
question is how the defense will do now that defensive guru Bill
"Brother" Oliver is gone. Quinton Reese, Josh Weldon, and
Jeremy Banks are all quality backups, and prop 48 sitout Robert Malone
is now eligible. If Brumbaugh, the emotional leader of the team, can
stay healthy, Auburn will hold the majority of their opposition under
twenty points. Whether that is good enough to win remains to be seen. Haven Fields seems to have the inside
track in the middle, but former JUCO standout Kenny Kelly has really
matured over the offseason and could force either Pounds or Callier to
move inside. Beyond that, however, the talent drops off quite a bit.
Whit Smith has experience, but he is short on star potential. Shawn Shaw
won't embarrass you, but needs to get more consistent. David Beasley
will also see time. Courtney Rose is a fine reserve safety, but the rest of the depth is full of question marks. Stanford Simmons, once he shakes off the rust of having missed two seasons due to grades, will eventually be a star, perhaps also as a wide receiver. Until then, however, redshirt Brandon Reed and former walk-on Adlai Trone will get the majority of the playing time opposite Pate. This is yet another area where Auburn must remain totally injury-free. SPECIAL TEAMS Redshirt freshman Damon Duval will be the punter and will back up Bironas. Duval has a strong leg and should be an improvement over Jeremy Zills. The Tigers are short on return men, however, with only the small but dangerous Markeith Cooper having any experience. The loss of Clifton Robinson hurts again here, as the Tigers lost their main man returning punts. Rumors have had Stanford Simmons and Ronnie Daniels getting looks in these positions.
OVERALL Tuberville has already taken heat for his part in dropping Florida State from the schedule and for the shameless dismissal of six players from their scholarships, but he still must be given a chance to do what he was brought in to do. Tuberville did build a winner at Ole Miss, introducing an exciting offense while putting together some good talent at a school that has not been used to it recently. Still, he's playing with by far the lowest talent level in the SEC Western Division, and the schedule is not kind. Anything from 2-9 to 7-4 is possible, but a safe bet is somewhere in between with an upset or two along the way. Any way it goes, Auburn has a long road back to competitiveness.
*** Since leaving the Capstone in 1988 to pursue a career in the NFL, Bobby Humphrey's life has been on a roller coaster. From All-American running back at THE University of Alabama then starting tailback of the NFL's Denver Broncos to the NFL Commissioner's Office, Bobby had seen the mountain top but was slowly sliding back down. After leading the Bronco's in rushing his rookie year, he was named to the NFL's All-Rookie Team. Humphrey was on the road to a Hall of Fame career in the NFL. Prior to training camp the following year, each player is required to submit to many tests of physical and mental nature. Included in these tests is the drug screening mandated by the commissioner's office. With the results of this single test, the NFL and the entire world knew what Bobby Humphrey had known all along. "I had a problem, I got caught up with the prestige, success, and honor I had recieved. I began using drugs to be a part of the crowd." As with all drug related cases, Bobby was required to sit out one season and enter a substance abuse program. "Looking back, it was the best thing that happened to me." After attending year long meetings and kicking the drug problem, Bobby was allowed to re-enter the NFL. "When I came back it was different. I wasn't ready to be in the NFL and everyone knew it." Bobby never saw the success he had shown in his rookie season. The consequences of the drugs were showing up in his performance. "After sitting out that year, I didn't have the focus I once had." Not performing up to the level he had exhibited earlier in his career, the Broncos released him. After a stint with the Dolphins, Bobby was beginning to think he didn't belong in the NFL. "I had reached rock bottom personally. I wasn't happy with Bobby Humphrey. I was feeling that I had thrown a career to the dogs." Bobby says it was soon after this he went through a spiritual conversion. "I had heard about GOD before, but not from the people who were telling me now. These people had been the lowest of the low. I saw something in them I knew I needed." Later Bobby would become a born-again Christian and begin his journey back to the top. This time the journey would be different. Humphrey would hang the pads up, and exchange them for a microphone. "After accepting Jesus into my life, GOD led me to help those who have drug problems, and help kids stay off drugs". Today, Bobby Humphrey's playing field is on the streets and schools of Alabama sharing the evils of drugs with children. Last year he worked for the Tuscaloosa County Schools, counseling and educating students of the dangers of drugs. "I truly believe GOD has given me a talent to work with kids, that's where I'm most comfortable." He currently serves on a number of boards of director's, overseeing the funding and management of various groups involved in drug abuse prevention. Of the many organizations Humphrey works with, The St.Ann's home for chemically dependant women is the one closest to his heart. "The first time I stepped into the home and saw the many women that were struggling with their addiction and to think they didn't have a home or family to go home to...." August 3rd, Bobby will host what he hopes will be an annual event to benefit St. Ann's. "I wanted to do something that would help the home out financially. I knew in this state nothing would be better than football." And football it will be. Joining Bobby at the event (which includes dinner) will be former BAMA greats....Chris Goode, Roger Schultz, Joey Jones, Murry Hill, Jeremiah Castille, George Thornton, and Gary Hollingsworth. But the person who will be the center of attention will be UA Head Coach Mike Dubose. "I think Coach Dubose will be the one everyone wants to talk with. He will give us a preview of what we can expect from the team this season." Bobby urges all TideFans to join him at the Schrushy Center at Inverness, Tuesday night for what should be a great time meet and talk about the old days. "I'm excited, I love to see all the people who cheered for me." If you want to talk BAMA Football with some of the greats, be sure and call 205.933.2402 to reserve your seat for the event. Cost of the event is $50, which includes dinner. As for Bobby's family life. "I have four beautiful children....2 boys and 2 girls. Those kids along with my wife are the lights of my life." Currently Bobby is seeking employment in what he hopes will be a future in coaching. I couldn't leave without asking Bobby what he thought of Shaun Alexander. His response: "Shaun has the ability to give ALABAMA something they have never had, the Heisman Trophy. He has the size, agility, and speed to be the best to ever wear a Crimson jersey. Most importantly Shaun is a great person. As a man, he is the Cream of the Crop." Asked if there was one word of advice he would give to Shaun, Bobby replied, "Keep on keeping on; first and foremost keep your faith. Always keep your eyes on Jesus and the awards will come. As you climb the ladder of success, don't let the honor, prestige, and pride consume you." Advice we can all use.
*** While players like FERNANDO BRYANT, first round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars, will be entering their veterans like CORNELIUS BENNETT will be at his 13th camp this time with the Indianapolis Colts. Let's take a quick look at who these players are and where they will be playing this season. Running back CURTIS ALEXANDER is a member of the Denver Broncos where he was on the practice squad last year. Bennett, who played in the Super Bowl last season as a member of the Atlanta Falcons signed a free agent contract with the Colts in March. He joins Andre Royal as a starter on a young but improving defense. JOHN COPELAND starts his seventh season at defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals. QUINCY JACKSON was signed as a free agent by the Bengals in March. HOWARD CROSS will be starting his 11th NFL season as a tight end with the New York Giants. ERIC CURRY starts
his seventh season in the league at defensive end in Jacksonville.
*** * According to an article published today, David Paine, DL out of Memphis Melrose, has not yet been cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse. * BAMA freshman D.J. Towns will undergo surgery Thursday to remove torn meniscus in his right knee. The surgery is not expected to sideline Towns, with normal rehab lasting only a couple of weeks. * Santonio Beard should be eligible to play this fall. We'll see in a couple of weeks when players return to campus.
AND THE BAMANATION SAID: "ROLL
TIDE!" Newsletter published by: Brett Young
and Jess Nicholas
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