HELLO BAMANATION CITIZENS!! Welcome again to Alabama Weekly!

Enjoy this week's issue as we preview Tennessee and give you an exclusive interview with Bama legend John Croyle! Look for our next issue on Tuesday, August 17. We'll have an exclusive report from the Bobby Humphrey celebrity dinner. We'll also have the Georgia Preview, which we've left out this week to include an essay on Coach DuBose's statement last week. Also, DON'T FORGET the TideFans Vandy Pre-game Party on Sept. 3.

ROLL TIDE!

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DuBose, Our Past, Our Present, and Our Future
By Brett Young
Managing Editor
TideFans.com / Alabama Weekly

By now it should be old news to all of us that Coach Mike DuBose has admitted he misled his wife, family, staff, and University of Alabama officials in May when he denied having an extramarital relationship with a former Athletic Department employee.

When the story broke, I, like most of you, felt deceived, confused, demoralized, and betrayed. Taking a few hours of reflection, I came up with the following essay that you may have read on our TideFans.com forum. I think it is worth reprinting here for all to read. If you've read it already, read it again. If you have not, read it twice. The essay was originally in response to someone saying how far we've dropped since Coach Bryant retired. Here is an edited form of the original online version:

It is always amazing to me that people forget what Bill Curry and Gene Stallings accomplished in the wins and championships departments while they were here. In Stallings case, it was seventy wins in seven years, and SEC and National championships. That is IMPRESSIVE, I don't care who your team is. And it is especially impressive when you team is playing in the toughest conference in the land, week in and week out.

You know what? It was only 3 short years ago that we were achieving such great things. Have we really fallen THAT far? Did the NCAA probation not have its intended effect? While that is no longer an excuse for us to use, it certainly is a fact to be included in our long and storied history of winning college football games.

Since the Bryant era we've gone through Ray Perkins, Curry, and Stallings. Current coach Mike DuBose still has a lot to prove with his teams on the field, but it won't be long--next year, in fact--before we're consistently ranked in the top 10 again , year in, year out, and stomping the fields of the BCS bowls. I see it in the stars...that we've signed the last 2 years.

DuBose's forays into matters other than football are not to be taken lightly and I'm positive he totally understands that. Having $12,000 taken out of your check each month for 30 months, having your contract length reduced, and having no bonuses or raises available during that time are nothing compared to what I'm sure he had to go through with Polly DuBose, his children, and other members of his family. That has to be gut-wrenching. And, because Polly was behind him at the press conference, I'm going to be behind him--first with fervent prayers on his behalf for his family to overcome and deal with this in a discrete and loving way--and second, for him to succeed on the field this fall, next year, and the year following.

If these things happen, then DuBose will have redeemed himself, not only to the fans, but most importantly to those who matter most in his life. Whether or not his contract is extended at that point is a matter for others to decide, but at least he will have done what is necessary to begin to repair his homelife. However, I'm not linking the two. I don't think that if he wins X number of games, that excuses the behavior. It doesn't.

As for this event's description as another Monica-gate, it pales in comparison. I am a strong believer that those given responsibility and fame must handle it with dignity and pride. Abuse of that trust makes us cynical, bitter, and unforgiving. However, I choose to live my life with deference to the following words I once read on a sign at a crossroads in my own life:

"Hard times make you bitter or better...and you get to make the choice."

The choice I've made is that these 'hard' times are going to make me a better man, husband, and friend to those I love. I hope and pray all of you will make a similar choice.

Regards & ROLL TIDE!

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TideFans VANDY PARTY!!!
Staff Reports

We've scheduled a TideFans PARTY! in Nashville at the NASCAR Cafe on Friday, September 3, before the Vandy game. The party starts at 7:00pm local time with food, token, and simulator ride specials. We have room for the first 30 commitments who pledge to be there. Please RSVP to: NASCAR@TideFans.com

If you are interested in our trip to the UCLA game next year or any other TideFans events, please let us know at Trips@TideFans.com

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Tennessee Volunteers: Team Overview
by Jess Nicholas, Editor-at-Large
Alabama Weekly / TideFans.com

Returning Offensive Starters: 5 (LT, C, RG, QB, TB)
Returning Defensive Starters: 7 (LE, RT, LLB, RLB, RCB, SS, FS)
Returning Specialists: 1 (P)

Projected Overall Record: 10-1 (UF)
Projected SEC Record: 7-1 (UF)
Projected SEC West Record: 4-1 (UF)

Ratings (Ex, Vg, Av, Fr, Pr)
Quarterbacks: Vg Defensive Line: Ex
Running backs: Ex Linebackers: Ex
Wide Receivers: Av Defensive Backs: Ex
Offensive Line: Vg Special Teams: Fr

You can’t improve on perfection, but the Tennessee Volunteers will try their best anyway. With the top defense in the conference by a long shot, the Vols are in good position to run the table yet again. The only real concern for Tennessee is repairing a special teams unit hurt substantially by graduation. If they can do that, they might be unstoppable.

OFFENSE

If the Vols are smart, they’ll stick with what works. What works is for quarterback Tee Martin to hand the ball off a lot and throw only when necessary. That will be extremely advisable this season considering the comparative lack of experience of the wide receivers.

QUARTERBACKS

He isn’t flashy, and he probably couldn’t beat you if Tennessee had to rely solely on his passing skills, but quarterback Tee Martin gets results. Master of the rollout pass, Martin is at his best when he’s using his legs and decision making skills to advance the ball. Longer passes tend to expose inconsistencies in his delivery and accuracy, but he rarely has to resort to that. Redshirt freshman Joey Mathews will be the backup, and he is very talented. Signee A.J. Suggs will play only if injuries insist upon it. Last year’s backup Burney Veazey is now running at wide receiver.

RUNNING BACKS

Tennessee’s stable of tailbacks has no equal. When Jamal Lewis went down against Auburn last year, the Vols simply trotted out Travis Henry and Travis Stephens and kept winning. Lewis is back, and is the only back in the SEC better than Alabama’s Shaun Alexander at running the football. If Lewis can hone up his receiving skills, he could take the title as best overall back. Travis Henry isn’t fast by any means, but he’ll beat you nonetheless. Stephens provides a good change-up from these two power backs. Add signees Onterrio Smith and Troy Fleming and suddenly the Vols look like worldbeaters. Fullback could be a concern, though, as Phillip Crosby is nowhere near as versatile as the departed Shawn Bryson.

WIDE RECEIVERS

The Vols have been touting the duo of David Martin and Cedrick Wilson ever since they arrived on campus, and while they have shown potential, neither has presented himself as a breakout player. There is a lot of young talent in this group, but the lack of experience means the coaches will have to ease this group into the game plan and not put a ton of pressure on them. Sophomore Eric Parker could end up being the best of this lot, and Donte Stallworth was highly regarded as a signee last year. Leonard Scott is another good one. Tight end John Finlayson, though, is only adequate, and there isn’t really anyone else at the position to write home about. Junior Neil Johnson will be the backup.

OFFENSIVE LINE
Long a strength of Tennessee football, this year is no different. Left tackle Chad Clifton is a superstar, and center Spencer Riley and guard Cosey Coleman are as good as any in the league. Josh Tucker should do nicely at right guard, while Toby Champion has shown promise at left guard. There is much to fear, however, in terms of depth. There is virtually no game experience present behind the starters, and it would not be a surprise for one or two signees to find playing time. Reggie Coleman and Will Ofenheusle will be the reserve tackles, while Tim Hodges and Bernard Gooden are the likely names at guard. Reggie Ridley is the backup center. Fred Weary, converted from defensive tackle, could eventually challenge Champion at left guard if he can overcome the effects of surgery. Of the incoming freshmen, Greg Barnum and Anthony Herrera would seem to have the best chance at playing. Terriea Smalls might be headed for defense; otherwise, he’s in the mix as well.

DEFENSE

Simply put, it was the best in the conference last year and it is the best in the conference this year. Nobody in college football is deeper along the defensive line than Tennessee, and there aren’t any problems among the linebackers or defensive backs, either. Add to that a good crop of signees and what you have is a tough defense for many years to come.

DEFENSIVE LINE

End Shaun Ellis and tackles Billy Ratliff and Darwin Walker could all be first-team SEC. Ellis is cat quick, Ratliff is tough as nails, and Walker would be public enemy number one if he acted on the street the way he does on the football field. The only question is which talented player will start opposite Ellis at right end. Sophomore Will Overstreet looks like the man, although he’s probably better suited to tackle. DeAngelo Lloyd is a fine backup, while reserve tackles Rashad Moore and John Henderson are two of the most talented newcomers at any position in college football. Roger Alexander will compete at end, while Omari Hand can play inside or outside. Adding to this group of killers are signees Constantin Ritzmann and Albert Haynesworth, who was ranked as the number one player in the Southeast by NARCAS.

LINEBACKERS

The loss of Al Wilson will hurt. There is no way around that. However, Wilson’s departure won’t strip the Vols of talent by any means. Outside linebacker Reynoch Thompson was the team’s breakout player last year, and he will be counted on to assume Wilson’s status as leader of the defense. Eric Westmoreland isn’t flashy, but he’s rarely out of position and always in somebody’s mug. The question mark is Keyon Whiteside, who will likely start at middle linebacker. Bernard Jackson is incredibly talented and will be Whiteside’s backup, while Judd Granzow, Dominique Stevenson, Austin Kemp, and Thomas Stallworth will stock the outside.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Cornerback Dwayne Goodrich was in danger of being a royal bust until his coming-out party last year. Goodrich went from talented underachiever to daring playmaker in one season and is back for more in 1999. Strong safety Fred White is as steady as a quarterhorse and free safety Deon Grant is exciting to watch. Andre Lott will take Steve Johnson’s place at left cornerback and will could eventually prove to be an upgrade at that position. Reserves Derrick Edmonds and Gerald Griffin are both three-letter seniors, and Tad Golden and Maurice Fitzgerald have potential. Shawn Seabrooks, Willie Miles, and Teddy Gaines are also in the mix.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Problems here. Although punter David Leaverton is a returning starter, that is of no advantage. Leaverton was barely passable last year after losing the job as a true freshman. Return man Peerless Price has graduated, as has Jeff Hall, the best placekicker in the conference over the last two years. Both jobs are up for grabs. Senior Robert Loudermilk and freshman Alex Walls are dueling for the placekicking job and will be joined by signee Steven Lee when the freshmen report. Travis Stephens, Eric Parker, and Leonard Scott are the likely candidates to return kicks.

OVERALL

Except for a road game into Florida’s Swamp, which always seems to give Tennessee fits no matter how good they are, the Volunteers will be at a distinct advantage over every team they play. Trips to Alabama and Arkansas are the only other real chances for upset, unless the Vols fall asleep against Notre Dame on November 6^th. Tennessee should win the SEC East without much incident, and could contend again for the National Championship. Unless the Vols sustain several injuries along the offensive line, or have a complete breakdown in their special teams, they will certainly be among the highest class in the SEC, and the nation, in 1999.

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"Where Are They Now"
John Croyle, DE 1971-73
Jim Morris
Features Editor

Note: I have had the opportunity to meet and become friends with some of ALABAMA'S All-Time Greats. Of these, John Croyle would have to be the one I am most grateful for having the opportunity to meet. As you will see, John Croyle and his family are very special people. John Croyle is a role model. John is my role model. To write about John Croyle's life in just a few paragraphs doesn't even scratch the surface of the great things he has done. This article has been shortened in its length. What once was 15 pages, is now the article you see now. For a more in depth look at John and his family's life let me suggest you read "Bringing Out the Winner in your Child" written by John himself. This book can be purchased online through our TideFans.com website for those who want to read more about this wonderful person.

Growing up in the State of Alabama John Croyle had the same dreams as every other boy: Be a star high school football player, go to BAMA and play for the "BEAR", then make some money in the NFL. John would see two of these dreams come to fruition. A high school star he was. An All-SEC Defensive End for BAMA and the BEAR. A future in the NFL would have to wait. You see John Croyle's dreams changed one hot summer in rural Mississippi.

John explains, "I was working at a summer camp in Mississippi during my sophomore year at UA. The year before I had worked there and spoken with a twelve year old little boy about how to become a Christian. This little boy was the banker for his mom's business. She was a prostitute. He would get the money from the men, knock on his mom's door and tell her another customer was ready, keep up with the time his mom spent with her clients...he was running the business. This particular year I asked this young man if he remembered what I had told him a year before. He quoted me word for word. He had become a Christian. I knew then that GOD had blessed me with an ability to minister to children." After the summer of his sophomore year he began to envision what is known today as The Big Oak Ranch.

To think John's life has always been silky smooth with no curves along the way would be wrong. A tragic event at the age of four has helped shape John's spiritual and physical life into what it is today.

The event in John's words: "We were attending a funeral of one of my relatives. Like everyone else, after the funeral my parents were visiting with other relatives. My sister and I were playing around the cemetery, jumping on and around the tombstones. I had knocked an old tombstone over and it was leaning on another stone. About three minutes later I heard a loud thud. My sister began to scream. The stone had fallen across my sisters chest and crushed it. I remember my dad hurrying us in the car and driving to Boaz Hospital. Her lips were all blue, even at my young age, I knew that she was in trouble."

John's sister lost her life that day, a day that has changed John Croyle for life. The memory of his sister lives on in John's life. "There's not a day or week that goes by I don't think about her."

Another thing John thought about a lot was his dream of helping disadvantaged children. While John was in the midst of his senior season at THE University, he met with Coach Bryant to advise him of his intentions on opening a ranch. "I went in Coach Bryant's office and I told him I wanted to play in the NFL long enough to make some money and open the Ranch. After a long pause Coach Bryant said, 'If you can't marry it don't play, go for your dream.' That's all I needed to hear. Shortly after this meeting, my father began to look for some land to build the ranch."

He continued, "One weekend while I was home from Tuscaloosa dad told me he had found the site we needed to build the ranch on. My dad called the owner of the land and we drove out and took a look at the site. It was the ideal place for a ranch. It even had an old farmhouse on it. As we are looking at the land, the owner asks me what I intended to do with 110 acres of his land. I told him my plans and that's when the problems began. He wasn't too up on the idea of a ranch for troubled and disadvantaged boys residing on his land."

"After looking around, I told him we wanted the land. He told me that he needed $50,000 up front in 48 hours or I couldn't purchase the land. I had only $5,000 and an old car to my name. The $5,000 came mostly from people in the Gadsden area who had heard about my intentions of building the ranch. I immediately called a doctor in Birmingham who is a family friend. He gave me $15,000 but I was still $30,000 short of the down payment with just about 30 hours to go."

While John Croyle was scrambling to raise the money for the down payment, teammate John Hannah was wrapping up negotiations with the New England Patriots.

"John Hannah called me and said he wanted to give his signing bonus from the Patriots to the ranch." Croyle explains. "Eagerly, I asked if he knew how much his bonus would be? After all, I needed to know how much more money to raise. John said that he had agreed to accept a $30,000 bonus. Thirty thousand dollars! We got the down payment now. The next morning I flew up to Boston and received the check from John. The next day I was handing the $50,000 down payment to the landowner. From the very first day, God has had his hands on this ranch."

In the first year of the ranch's existence, John became the Dad to five teenage boys. Stepping out on faith is an understatement when speaking of John Croyle. "It was me and five boys, it was tough. We ate a lot of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. That first Christmas I gave each boy $20 as a gift. It wasn't much but you know I think that was the best Christmas we ever had."

Those first years were mixed with joy, sadness and anger. "I had my car stolen so much that I started leaving the keys in the ignition. It gets expensive repairing a hot-wire job." "I learned a lot those first years. A lot of those experiences in the first five years of the ranch has helped me set the rules for the ranch today."

Shortly after opening the ranch John began to date a young teacher from Gadsden. Dating meant John had to find someone to watch the boys while he and his girlfriend went out. As you can imagine, there were not that many volunteers. "I couldn't leave the boys on the ranch by themselves so I would take them on dates with me. One time when Tee and I were at the drive-in I leaned over and asked her if she wanted some popcorn? In no time at all, five heads popped up from the backseat and yelled, "We'll take a coke too!" From the very first date, Tee knew what having a relationship with me would involve."

It is amazing that John and the boys didn't run Tee off. A year later the boys would be groomsmen in John and Tee's wedding. As John says, "The Lord blessed me with a beautiful wife."

I think Tee's dedication to this ranch is best summed up with the words of John and Tee's daughter Reagan. "My mom showed the greatest example of a Christian woman. She married my dad when he had no job, five boys, a 110 acre ranch, and was in debt."

The success of the ranch was known nationwide, John and his boys had become the subject of many magazine articles. With the publicity came more donations and the ability to expand. Over the years the ranch has been expanded many times. Today the ranch is home to 50 boys who take care of the cows, horses, pigs, and chickens. "We raise our own beef, chicken, and pork. That's something we don't have to buy at the grocery store."

In 1984 another tragic event would give John a vision. "Tee and I had been trying for a long time to adopt a little girl that had been sexually abused by her mother and father. Finally the day came for us to go to court. When the judge issued his ruling he said we could not have the little girl because the ranch was setup for boys only. With no one else wanting custody of the girl, the judge gave her back to her parents. Later that night her dad killed her. From that day on I made a promise with GOD that when the time was right I would build a ranch for girls."

Four years later in 1988 John's dream of a girls' ranch came true. Twenty-six miles from the boys' ranch in nearby Springville would be the site for the girls' ranch.

John had succeeded in erecting a ranch for boys and a ranch for girls. Now what would he do?

Educating these kids had been a problem. Some of these kids didn't need to be in public schools and some were schooled at home.

John explains, "After the girls ranch was built I began to pray about a school for our children." One day while I was in my office a guy called and said that this school had gone bankrupt and he wanted to give me the school. I was excited and said I would meet with him the next day. One of my main concerns was that it was not located on one of our ranches. This could cause a transportation problem. After talking with Tee we felt that the school should be as close to half way from each ranch."

"The day we went down to look at the school we logged our miles. From the boys ranch it was 13 miles," Croyle continued. "We looked around the campus and it had everything we needed...baseball fields, football field, a gymnasium, buses, and most importantly classrooms. After telling the owners we wanted the school, we proceeded to the girls' ranch once again logging our miles. Guess what? We got to the girls ranch it was 13 miles. It's amazing how God takes care of things. We had our school centrally located with all the perks. Once again God had worked a miracle."

In 1992 Westbrook Christian School opened its doors. Many graduates have gone on to receive honors and various other awards in college. After making it to the 1-A championship game in 1997, Westbrook Christian had its first player sign a Division 1 scholarship. Brandon Greer signed with BAMA as a wide receiver. John's son Brodie has been the quarterback for Westbrook since the eighth grade. He already owns the state record for passing yards in a career with 2 seasons to go in his high school playing days. Brodie's abilities have positioned him to be one of the top quarterback prospects in the southeast next season.

Twenty-five years later the Big Oak boy's and girls ranches have been home to over 1300 children. "Often people ask me how many kids I have? When I tell them 1300 they look at me like I'm crazy", John says.

Many of the kids have gone on to successful careers while others have gone to jail. "I can't take the credit for the good ones and I can't take the blame for the bad ones."

In October John has invited his "children" home for a reunion to celebrate the ranch's first 25 years. John says, "We may have 500 and we may have 5,000 people at the reunion. I just want to see some of the kids I haven't heard from in a while."

Even though John has built a boy's ranch, a girl's ranch, and overseen the administration of a high school, he still has a passion for young children. John sums up his passion with this "100 years from now it will not matter how much money or toys we had. What will matter is that we made a positive impact in the life of a child."

Today, John and his wife continue to live at the boy's ranch with their children Brodie and Reagan. Many of you may remember Reagan from her days as a member of the Lady Tide basketball team. Reagan has recovered from her back injury and was signed last week by ELITE as a model. Reagan is dating the lucky John David Phillips.

Because the Big Oak Ranches take no government funding and run a debt free business, donations are always accepted. We urge each and everyone of you to join us in supporting the ranches.

You can contact the ranch by phone at 256.892.0773 or by writing.....

The Big Oak Ranch
250 Jake Mintz Road
Gadsden, AL 35905.

Whether with $10 or prayers your support is appreciated by John, his family, and the kids at the ranch.

AND THE BAMANATION SAID: "ROLL TIDE!"

If you have an article or commentary you'd like to submit for publication, please send it to: Alabama.Weekly@TideFans.com

Newsletter published by: Brett Young and Jess Nicholas

Alabama Weekly / TideFans.com Staff:
-------------------------------------------------

Jess Nicholas, Editor-at-Large
John Hinds, Bama in Boston
Grif Carden, Baseball / Basketball Editor
Chris Depew, Football Editor
Jim Morris, Feature Writer
Brett Young, Managing Editor

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