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Alabama Weekly
August 18, 1999 -- Issue 16 -- Volume 2 HELLO BAMANATION CITIZENS!! Welcome again 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 1450 Tide fans in 40 states and 9 countries worldwide, with dozens of new subscribers added weekly! Help us grow to all 50 states and more countries by forwarding this issue to your Crimson Tide friends and family around the globe and have them sign up at http://TideFans.com! This week we bring you the Kentucky Preview, an exclusive interview with Phillip Doyle, a look at the "9" years in the Tide's history, and a preview of the SEC East by new staff member David Ozment. Look for our next issue on Tuesday, August 24th.
*** RETRACTION--In a recent article previewing the University of Florida Gators, the statement was made that defensive back Rod Graddy was arrested and removed from the team. While Graddy is no longer with the Gators, he was not arrested on any charge. We regret the error and are happy to correct it.
*** Kentucky: Team Overview Returning Offensive Starters: 2 (FB, RB) Projected Overall Record: 4-7 (UL, UF, ARK, LSU, UGA, MSU, UT) Ratings (Ex, Vg, Av, Fr, Pr) Even though the Wildcats only finished 7-5 last season, they drummed up more excitement than in the past two decades of Kentucky football. Then, graduation rolled around. Now, Kentucky must fill holes at nearly every position on the field. Thankfully for Wildcat fans, Coach Hal Mumme has done well in recruiting and should be a decisive asset to his team both in preparation and gameday execution. However, Mumme can’t snap his fingers and find another veteran offensive line and especially, another Tim Couch. OFFENSE Passing and lots of it. However, Wildcat fans would do well to look in their offensive backfield, where they will find some of the brightest talent in the conference. No matter who starts at running back, though, you can expect Mumme to put it up forty or more times per game. The Wildcats must camouflage their holes in the offensive line, for if they try to just line it up and run at the opposition, they will find themselves in a ton of trouble. QUARTERBACKS Sophomore Dusty Bonner will apparently be the man tapped to do the impossible—replace Tim Couch. Bonner, a sophomore, has looked good in practices so far and appears to have taken to the offense well. What hasn’t been seen yet is how Bonner will react when facing a top-notch defensive line and secondary, things he can’t get in a Wildcat scrimmage. Bonner is not as mobile as Couch and does not have Couch’s field vision, but he has proven to be a swift student of the offense. Redshirt freshman Mike Scipione will attempt to hold off super-prospect Jared Lorenzen, a lefty who is as big as a linebacker and has a good arm. None of the above players completed a pass last season. However, the nature of the offense means just about anyone who starts will rack up good sacks. The key is if they can rack up the wins, too. RUNNING BACKS Pass-happy Kentucky must be hurting for good running backs, right? Not at all. In fact, the Wildcats’ duo of fullback Derek Homer and halfback Anthony White could start for any school in the conference. White is especially dangerous, as he can not only run the football but is the leading returning receiver for Kentucky. Homer, the leading rusher, plays with his head and is the complete package at the position. He could use a little size, but Kentucky’s offense doesn’t often call for that. The little-used combo of fullback Martez Johnson and halfback Kendrick Shanklin will be the top reserves. Signee Artose Pinner sat out last year due to grades but is a gifted athlete, and file this name away—Jonathan Chapman. His career has been beset by injuries, but if he can get healthy now, he’ll be a good one. WIDE RECEIVERS Hardly anyone had heard of Craig Yeast until Mumme arrived with his throw-it-all-the-time system, and Yeast became a star as a result. Few outside of Lexington have heard of Jimmy Robinson, Garry Davis, Quentin McCord, and Dougie Allen, but chances are most SEC fans will recognize them by the end of the season. Each is a capable receiver who simply needs his time in the spotlight in order to develop. Add in Edgar Gantt, Mike Beirne, and Vincent Harrison, and you have a pretty deep unit. Signees Derek Abney and Octavius Bond could also contribute. When the Wildcats decide to use a tight end, they’ll have two of the best in the league. Bobby Blizzard looks like a star in the making, and signee Derek Smith comes loaded with promise. James Whalen is another quality player. OFFENSIVE LINE Here’s where the trouble is. The Wildcats lost all five starters from 1998, and the ones that are around now are below average at best and unacceptable at worst. Mumme has already said that all line signees will get long looks this fall. Assuming the starters come from the group already on campus, you’ll see Nolan DeVaughn at center flanked by guards Aaron Daniel and Josh Parrish. Matt Brown and Omar Smith have been penciled in as the tackles. Of that group, Parrish and DeVaughn seem the most likely to start throughout the season. If redshirt freshman guard Tremaine Gaines can recover from a broken foot, he will probably replace Daniel. Reserve center Derrick Johnson must recover from a broken ankle. Guard Jerry LeGrand and tackles Cory Holman and Matt Burke are also in the mix. However, it is a good bet that a pair of signees, star-to-be Drew Ashcroft and huge Keith Chatelain, will at least play and might start from the beginning of the season. Two other signees, Kip Sixberry and Sylvester Miller, could also figure into things. DEFENSE The Wildcats will lean on the strength of their linebackers this season. Defensive line is a problem spot, and while the secondary has promise, some young talent must develop for them to be successful as a unit. Kentucky was not known for a great defense last year, and things aren’t much better in 1999. DEFENSIVE LINE Everybody wanted end Dennis Johnson out of high school, and the home-state Wildcats got him. Now, they must keep him healthy. Johnson had pins removed from his wrist over the offseason, and if the wrist holds up, he will become one of the dominant pass rushers in the SEC. The problem for Hal Mumme is to find three other players who can keep the opposition from double-teaming Johnson on every play. Three-year letterman Gordon Crowe returns and can play either end or tackle. George Massey will start at one tackle, and depending on where Crowe plays, the other starter on the line will be either tackle John Robinson or end Matt Layow. Redshirt tackle Patrick Wells will get a long look along with last year’s starting tight end, Jimmy Haley, who has been moved to the defensive line. Sophomore Adrian Patton is a talented end. Other names include Richard Hardin, Maurice Wells, and Brandon White. The Wildcats signed only two defensive linemen, Nick Seitze and DeMotto Youngblood, and they will probably redshirt. Youngblood, a top recruit from Georgia, could see some time at end, however. LINEBACKERS No problems here. Outside linebacker Jeff Snedegar is one of the best in the conference, and middle linebacker John Rader could be just as good. Marlon McCree returns to start at the other outside post, while senior Lee Wesley provides experience off the bench. Chris Demaree will back up Rader in the middle and is a likely future star. Ronnie Riley is the other outside backup. Ryan Murphy, Jamal White, and Teddy Neptune are among many others vying for playing time. Underrated signee William Orr is among several signees that could see action, and Orr could also play some at defensive end. Barring injury, Kentucky will have a fine linebacking unit. DEFENSIVE BACKS If the Wildcats can stay away from the injury bug, this group could be strength. A lot will depend on how free safety Willie Gary does coming off major knee surgery. For now, Gary is penciled in next to David Johnson at strong safety and the cornerback duo of Kenneth Grant and Eric Kelly. Depending on how well Jeremy Bowie heals from a spring shoulder injury, he could challenge Grant. Patrick Wiggins and Joe-Mike Anderson will be the reserve corners while future stars Anthony Kelly and Anthony Wajda will vie for time at the two safety positions. Incoming freshmen Derrick Tatum and Terrance Calhoun highlight a sizeable group of backfield signees that will compete for time on defense and special teams. SPECIAL TEAMS The good—fine placekicker Seth Hanson returns. The bad—punter Jimmy Carter graduated. The ugly—so did return man Craig Yeast. Hanson was the leading scorer on the team last year and has a flair for the dramatic, beating LSU with a late field goal. Strong-legged Andy Smith takes over for Carter, but needs to work on his directional punting which is crucial to Mumme’s special teams. The early bets for return men include receiver Dougie Allen and signee Artose Pinner. Provided Smith comes through at punter, Kentucky should be fine. OVERALL Kentucky has a wop-sided look to this year’s team, very strong in some places and very weak in others. The problem is the Wildcats are weaker in more places than they are strong, and all the passing in the world won’t be able to disguise that. The confident Mumme says nothing will change this year except the names of the players, and it’s hard not to believe him. The gut feeling here is that Dusty Bonner is a little better than most people think, but that the defense as a whole is not nearly up to contender status. Kentucky will need help, and the schedule offers little of that. Only Connecticut in week two and Vanderbilt on November 13th look to be sure things. While the Wildcats could do a lot better than predicted here, the wheels could also fall off. Stay tuned.
*** "Where Are They Now" October 20,1990 is a date that will live in the hearts of Tidefans for many years to come. After opening the season with three consecutive losses, the TIDE under new head coach Gene Stallings were finally on track. A win over Tennessee in Knoxville would forever erase memories of the dismal start. A defensive battle ensued between BAMA and UT for fifty-nine minutes and fifty-five seconds. With the score knotted at 6-6, BAMA's Phillip Doyle trotted on the field with a chance to win. "I didn't really think about it until I went onto the field. When I got out there, they (UT) called a timeout. It never once crossed my mind that I would miss," Doyle says, recounting the events that led up to what Tidefans refer to as "The Kick II". When play was resumed, before 100,000 people sitting on pins and needles and millions more watching on television, Phillip Doyle kicked a 51-yard field goal. It is a kick that split the uprights and sent the State of Alabama into frenzy. A kick that gave ALABAMA a 9-6 win over archrival and nemesis Tennessee. Much has changed for Phillip Doyle since that kick. Upon graduating from THE University, Phillip signed a free agent contract with the NFL. After many tryouts with various teams, Doyle decided to come back to Birmingham and enter the business world. As many of us know, when you start a business of your own, you had better know all there is to know about the product. In 1993, Phillip and his family started the Pro-Line Group, an athletic equipment company that manufactures and reconditions equipment used in Football, Baseball, and Track. It was an industry Phillip was familiar with, having used athletic equipment almost his entire life. "We have really grown over the last few years. Most SEC schools, as well as all the high schools in the state of Alabama use our equipment. Each Saturday in the SEC you can see some of our equipment," Doyle explains. Pro-Line's most widely used items are their shoulder and girdle pads. They also recondition many teams' helmets during the off season. Phillip says, "It is very important to get your money's worth out of your equipment. The schools send us their helmets and pads, then we repaint them and replace buckles, shells, etc. This saves the schools some money they would have spent buying new equipment." During Doyle's playing days at the Capstone, the TIDE's record was 33-15. Many of those thirty-three wins were the direct result of Phillip Doyle's consistent ability to kick field goals.
*** Bama By the "9's" BOSTON – Looking for another sign that this year’s Alabama football team is headed for a special season? Examine this fact: In year’s ending in a 9 this century, the Tide’s overall record if 67-20-6. That includes a 22-2 combined record in 1979 and 1989. Let’s take a closer look. In 1909 the Tide went 5-1-2 under Coach J.W.H. Pollard. They were led by Captain Derrill Pratt and outscored their opponents 68-17. They held the opposition scoreless in the first six games including a 0-0 tie with Ole Miss before losing to LSU 12-6 in Birmingham in the last game of the year. The 1919 team went 8-1 under Xen Scott with Isaac Rogers captaining the team. Wearing solid stripes on their uniforms, for the first time ever, that team beat Ole Miss 49-0 to record the 100th win in the program’s storied history. They shutout their first five opponents. On the year they outscored their opponents 280-22. Wallace Wade directed the 1929 team to a 6-3 record. His players included All-Americans Fred Sington and Tony Holm as well as Captain Billy Hicks and Frank Howard. That team had many members who led the 1930 team to a 10-0 record and the National Championship. They scored 196 points to the opponents 58 and key games that season included a 6-0 loss at Tennessee and a 13-0 win over Georgia Tech in Atlanta. Frank Thomas’ 1939 Bama boys went 5-3-1 with All-American center and captain Carey Cox the leading player. They outscored the competition 100-53 and went to New York and beat a highly ranked Fordham team 7-6. With the troops home from the Second World War, H.D. "Red" Drew took Bama to a 6-3-1 record in 1949. Wearing White helmets and crimson jerseys for the first time the team was led by All-SEC First team selection Ed Holdnack and Captain Doug Lockridge. They lost their first two but went unbeaten in their next seven, including a 7-7 tie against the Vols. but ended the season with a 14-13 loss to Auburn. The Tide held a 227-130 scoring advantage over the opposition that season. Coach Bryant had come home in 1958 and in the 1959 season he took the team to a 7-2-2 record and a 95-59 scoring advantage. That team was the NCAA and SEC pass defense leaders. Captain’s Marlin Dyess and Jim Blevins led them to four shutouts. In fact, Georgia was the only team to score more then seven points against them. They ended their season shivering in Philadelphia in the first Liberty Bowl as they were beaten 7-0 by Penn State. Despite the best efforts of Coach Bryant, All-American Alvin Samples and All-SEC tackle Danny Ford the 1969 team struggled to a 6-5 record. They celebrated 100 years of NCAA football with decals on their all-crimson helmets. One of the most memorable games in school history took place that year as Scott Hunter led the Tide to a 33-32 win over Archie Manning and Ole Miss in Birmingham. Hunter broke school records for most plays in a game, most yards gained in a game, most passes in a game, and most yards passing in a game. While David Bailey broke the school record for most receptions in a game and George Ranager tied the school record with a 100-yard kickoff return against Auburn. They ended the season on a down note losing to Colorado in the Liberty Bowl. It was not one of the finer defensive teams as the Tide barely edged the opponents 314-268 in the scoring column. One of the finest team’s in school history played in the 1979 season. With a 12-0 record a 383-67 scoring margin and All-Americans Jim Bunch, Don McNeal and Dwight Stephenson the Tide capped a unanimous National Championship campaign routing Arkansas 24-9 in the Sugar Bowl. Enroute the Tide led the nation in scoring defense and broke school records in scoring offense, scoring defense, rushing offense, total offense, rushing defense, passing defense and total defense. McNeal and Steve Whitman were the captains. All-SEC players on the team included Thomas Boyd, Byron Braggs, Mike Brock, Bunch, David Hannah, Jim Bob Harris, E.J. Junior, McNeal, Major Ogilvie, Steadman Shealy and Stephenson. That was also the team that pitched five shutouts, beat Florida 40-0 in Gainesville and squeaked by Auburn 25-18. Bill Curry’s best team took the field in 1989 as the Tide went 10-2 won the SEC Championship, in a three way tie with Auburn and Tennessee, and lost a close National Championship game 33-25 to Miami in the Sugar Bowl. Marco Battle and Willie Wyatt were the captains while Keith McCants and John Mangum were the All-Americans. The squad beat LSU 32-16 to record the 650th win in school history. Gary Hollingsworth broke school records for most touchdowns in a game, most pass attempts for a season and most pass completions for a game and a season, most yards passing in a season. Siran Stacy broke school records for most yards gained in a game, most points scored in a game and a season. Bama held a decisive 357-217 scoring edge that year. One of the most storied victories in school history occurred when Thomas Rayam blocked a Penn State field goal attempt as the Tide triumphed 17-16 at State College, Pa. With all that history in years ending in a 9 watch out for the Crimson Tide in 1999.
*** SEC East Rankings EDITOR'S NOTE: David Ozment joins us this week with his SEC-East Rankings. David lives in Atlanta and is a 1994 & 1996 graduate of The University. He wrote weekly updates during the season last year for his friends. He now brings his talents to TideFans worldwide. Welcome aboard David!
The Eastern Division will be a two-tiered affair. You could just about throw a blanket over the top three teams. Any of them has a legitimate chance at winning the division. As for the second tier? The pool gets deep real fast. Let’s just say it won’t be fair for the number 3 team to ranked next to the number 4 team. However, since someone has to win and someone has to lose, here they are… #1 Tennessee The Vols get the edge here due to their depth and returning skill players. Besides you just have to give respect to the defending (it hurts to actually say it) National Champions. (I want the respect when we win it!) Frankly, I can’t find much of a weakness on their roster. QB Tee Martin is deceptively good. Two All-America candidates anchor a veteran O-line. RB Jamal Lewis returns from injury. Raynoch Thompson is another All-America candidate at LB and All-SEC CB Dwayne Goodrich returns as well. This is a team that can win despite the inadequacies of their coach. Schedule Notes: Florida, Bama, Georgia are toughest SEC games, Notre Dame is quality non conference match-up. Bottom Line: They may be the team to beat, however, they will not beat Bama twice in the same season!
#2 Georgia If all the press about Georgia’s recruiting classes turns out to be correct then this may be the year of the Dawg. With only 10 returning starters it will be up to the backups to step it up. Georgia should be 4-0 when they travel to Knoxville. This will represent quite a test for a Jim Donnan-led team that is only 1 of 6 over the likes of Tennessee and Florida. QB Quincy Carter must step up as a leader in the huddle and turn the corner from super athlete to quality signal caller. Rumor has it that the previously preordained "Next Hershel Walker", Jasper Sanks could be moved to FB. If so, watch for incoming freshman DeJuan Green to emerge at RB. Schedule Notes: Ole Miss is toughest Western opponent so they need to take care of things in the East. Bottom Line: Will youth come of age?
#3 Florida Florida third in the East? Blasphemy, at least one of you will cry. Well, let’s keep in mind what I said about the top 3 teams on this side. Tennessee is a notorious ‘head-case’ team and the Bulldawgs are banking on the promise of youth. Sounds like a potential play pen for the modern day leader of the Dark Side, Steve Spurrier. In reality, the massive losses on defense only return the visor-ed one to the style of play in which he reveled only a couple of short seasons ago. His pass happy attack is all about scoring points, enough points to ‘outscore’ his opponents. Defense on a Spurrier-led team was but a novelty until just recently. Since I don’t see a 1995 Nebraska team on their roster, it's still an open book. …notice how I spent all my time talking about the coach rather than the players. It’s because "it’s the system man", and it’s also just what Spurrier wants. In reality, the Gators actually have the best QB in the conference, it’s called the Doug Johnson-Jessie Palmer hybrid. Either one could start at most schools in the country but will either be given the opportunity to take charge? I’m not sure, but if the fast-break offense works as planned, both could find themselves among the conference passing leaders. Schedule Notes: Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and FSU all at home! Bottom Line: Have only lost in the Swamp twice in the 90’s, could top that this year alone.
#4 Kentucky Hal Mumme, where have all your Couches gone? There’s no better time to ask such a question. After All-World Tim Couch bolted after his junior year to be the 1st pick in this year’s NFL draft, the question falls squarely and even fairly on the shoulders of HC Hal Mumme, was it the system or was the kid really that good? Actually the Wildcats lost more that just little Timmy. Stud receiver and return man Craig Yeast and all five O-line starters have departed. (good thinking Couch, I’d have gotten the heck out of Dodge or Lexington as well) However, reports from the Blue Grass State indicate the next QB threw for about a gazillion yards in their spring game. But then again, no one has ever had too much trouble scoring on Kentucky… (go ahead, insert your own pun here)… In reality, Mumme, I just call him Hair (have you seen this guy?), has done a bang-up job recruiting the last couple of years, but I tend to think he used Couch as the carrot. This year will really be the test for Hal and his Cats. If they can repeat last year’s 7-5 or even just a 6-5 he may be on to something… but I’m not sure they can do it… Schedule Notes: Easy early schedule will help QB, but the home stretch is a bear Bottom Line: Will the real Hal Mumme please step forward?
#5 S. Carolina The Gamecocks may be the conference novelty act. After all, Lou Holtz has taken over the reigns in Columbia. But just think for a minute. Every coach wants to build a team that can win their conference, Holtz is no exception. But when you consider South Carolina must dethrone the likes of Tennessee, Florida, and Georgia to even win their division, well, it’s easy to see how Holtz may be having flashbacks to his disastrous single year stint with the Jets come early November. On the bright side (that was a joke) there are a few glimpses of promise. DB Arturo Freeman is back from injury and is a potential All-SEC candidate provided he returns to form. The Gamecocks are deep at receiver provided Sophomore QB Phil Petty can find the mark. Incoming freshman RB Andrew Pinnock could be the first Andrew Pinnock. Built with Ron Dayne-esque dimensions (6ft, 255), he allegedly runs a sub 4.65 40. But he played HS ball in Connecticut so the Yankee will have to prove himself against talent far superior to that which on he was winged. Schedule Notes: Bad news this year is that they have one. Bottom Line: Holtz may be fun to watch.
#6 Vanderbilt Much like Tennessee, the Commodores get the edge here due to their depth and returning skill players. But on the plus side, no one really expects too much from this year’s team. Believe it or not, there is talent on this team. RB Jared McGrath could become a workman type runner if the inside opens up. Multi-talented Jimmy Williams has yet to find a position. After a freshman campaign at RB he was switched to CB (to replace All-SEC Corey Chavis) for his sophomore season. This year he’s penciled in back at CB but with the promise of several offensive touches a game as a slot back. If it pans out you’ll hear his name again. All the QBs are young but at least they have picked one to play with, Greg Zolman (So), at least for now… WRs are sound with Adam Ditto and yet-to-realize-his-full-potential Todd Yoder. On the defense side of the ball MLB Jamie Winborn is the name to know. Only a sophomore, Winborn has the potential to become one of the best LBs to play at Vanderbilt, and they really have had some good ones. HC Woody Widenhofer is certainly a good defensive coach, and he has multiple Super Bowl rings to prove it. However, I have questioned his ability to run an entire program more than once. Given that the noise coming out of Nashville is that Woody is beginning to pull things together, I imagine he’ll prove me right or wrong before too long. But rest assured, even if all goes well, these ‘Dores will only challenge for 5th in the East. Schedule Notes: Winnable non-conference games but they still play in the East. Bottom Line: Should at least make the games exciting again.
Look for the SEC West preview next week.
*** SOUND CHECK Phillip Doyle, recalling "The Kick II:" Coach DuBose, on the first practice day in pads: "...Shaun Alexander was also impressive, especially the way he makes people miss him at the line of scrimmage when there is nothing there at the point of attack."
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