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This week we bring you some Calendar Markers, a look at Alabama Mystique, and the most crucial positions in football, and a new depth chart, among other things. Look for our next issue on Tuesday, August 31st with some previews of the first game with Vandy.

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Calendar Markers...
By David Ozment

Staff Writer

Mark your calendar, these are games you should not miss!!

September 4:

Appalachian St. at auburn
You better look quick if you want to see auburn win one this year. However, don’t be drawn in when Tubberville allows his charges to post a gaudy score. This may be the lone ‘feel good moment’ their fans get all year.

Louisville at Kentucky
Is there another school that starts the season with their biggest rival? This game could be quite a shootout.

September 18:

Tennessee at Florida
What do you want me to say?

Auburn at LSU
These teams have been at each other’s throat for many years. Look for the Tigers to win this one. (joke intended)

September 25:

Arkansas at Alabama
Bama wants revenge after being pasted by the Hogs last year.

October 2:

Alabama at Florida
How far has Bama come?

October 9:

Georgia at Tennessee
The Dawgs will try to prove themselves against the best the East has to offer.

October 23:

Tennessee at Alabama
The Tide hosts Tennessee in Tuscaloosa while trying to reclaim what is rightfully ours… supremacy over the Volunteers.

Vanderbilt at South Carolina
Well, perhaps not a premiere match-up, but this may determine which team wins a conference game this year.

October 30:

Georgia at Florida (@ Jacksonville)
Big rivalry game with strong implications for the Dawgs.

Ole Miss at LSU
Another big rivalry game that could affect the outcome in the West.

November 6:

LSU at Alabama
Face it, every Bama game is a big game. But in this rivalry the underdog always seems to win.

Notre Dame at Tennessee
I’m not sure who to root for, but I’ll at least tune in.

November 13:

Tennessee at Arkansas
The Hogs try to avenge last year’s game while the Vols try to prove it wasn’t a fluke.

November 20:

Alabama at auburn
There is no better rivalry in all of sports than this one!!! Hands down. Bar none!!! However, this time the Tide will do something it has never done before… win at Jordan-Hare.

FSU at Florida
National Title implications at the Swamp.

November 25:

Ole Miss at Mississippi St.
The battle for MS is always exciting, (though I don’t know why) Should be an enjoyable way to let the turkey settle.

November 27:

Georgia at GA Tech
This rivalry seems to get better every year. This year promises to be no different as both teams aim for the top 10 and a big bowl.

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Alabama Mystique
By Chris Van Steenberg
Staff Writer

Editor's Note: Chris joins our staff this week with a look at the Alabama Mystique. A regular poster on the TideFans.com message board, Chris' writing style is sharp, witty, and informed. Chris is a native of the Southeast (having lived in "at least" 15 different locations) and is an executive at a major financial institution. Tide Fans welcome Chris to the Alabama Weekly!

Alabama- n. A state in the Southeastern United States, approximately 51,609 sq. miles

Mystique- n. an air or attitude of mystery and reverence developing around something

Put them together and what have you got? Alabama Mystique. OK, but what does that mean? What defines the Alabama Mystique? Can any one person do it? I'll give it the old college try.

There's the campus, arguably one of the most beautiful collegiate settings in the US. The President's Mansion, the Gorgas House and Sorority Row. The towering oaks and majestic magnolias that cover the campus. Clark Hall, Denny Chimes and the Mound. Bryant-Denny Stadium, the scene of many triumphs and tragedies.

How about the people, the "Alabama Mafia"? We have the "Roll Tide Guys", two fanatics who appear at every home and away game with their Alabama suspenders, toilet paper and boxes of detergent. Eli Gold, the golden-throated "Voice of the Crimson Tide". The fraternity boys in their sportcoats and their dates dressed to the nines. The "Bubbas" and "Earls" that are the foundation of the Alabama faithful. The fact that after giving or receiving a major league butt whipping, we'll shake your hand and say, "Great game, see you next year."

Is it hearing the Million-Dollar Band play Yea Alabama! as the team runs onto the field at Bryant-Denny? Is it fond memories of championships past and a gruff old man in a houndstooth hat? Or is it jerseys without names on them and helmets with numbers? What about Big Al battling on the sidelines with the Rebel, the Tiger or the Commodore? And the foot and handprints of all of those famous (and little known) men surrounding Denny Chimes?

Maybe it's the winning tradition that predates the Southeastern Conference (established in 1933), with National Championships in 1925, 1926 and 1930. There was Wallace Wade, one of a number of great men that have held the title "Head Coach." We can claim that the greatest coach in college football not only played here, but "came home to Mama" to lead Alabama to 23 consecutive bowl appearances, 14 SEC championships and five national championships. There was also J.B. "Ears" Whitworth. So we're not perfect.

How about those streaks of 10 consecutive wins over major rivals and thirty years of continued domination in the OTHER team's home stadium? "The Kick", "The Sack", and that world-beating "Goal-line Stand". There will ALWAYS be "Run Bo Right", "Tie-Dye" and "Culture vs. Agriculture". It's "Rammer Jammer" and owning the fourth quarter. It's walking into a stadium surrounded by 100,000 screaming orange-clad fans and absolutely KNOWING that you were going to walk out of there with a victory because...well, just because.

Does that do the Alabama Mystique justice?

After going back and reading what I've written, I've reached a conclusion:

Most of all, it's the confidence that comes from knowing that it's great to be from ALABAMA!!

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Football...Jerry Jones Style
By John Hinds

BOSTON—No less an authority than Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys was in town last week for the New England Patriots-Cowboys exhibition game.

Among several topics that the Cowboys owner talked about were the four most crucial positions on a football team.

As defined by Jones, who played on the 1969 Arkansas National Championship team and whose Cowboys have won three Super Bowls, those four most crucial positions are quarterback, wide receiver, left offensive tackle, and cornerback.

If he’s right, then the Tide is in fine shape this season.

Let’s take a closer look at all four positions and the men who will be filling those roles.

As expected, it’s been a tight battle between Andrew Zow and Tyler Watts for the starting quarterback job. But, with his game experience Zow has won the starting slot. In taking over for John David Phillips as the starting QB last year Zow became just the third freshman quarterback to start for the Tide since 1984. For the season he completed 143 of 256 passes for 1,969 yards and 11 touchdowns. His passing yards are the most in school history for a freshman. He directed the Tide to a 5-2 record including come-from-behind victories over LSU and Auburn. Watts, who completed 58.5 percent of his passes for 2,485 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior in high school, was redshirted last season. But a strong spring and an even better fall put him right in the picture for a lot of playing time this season.

Voted one of the Top 10 players on the NFL’s Most Wanted List by Sports Illustrated Chris Samuels holds down the starting left tackle position. "Big Sam" stands 6-6 and weighs 291 he’s the kind of man legends are written about. He was named to the Freshman All-SEC team, the second team All-SEC as a sophomore and first team All-SEC as a junior. This year he is an All-American candidate and All-SEC first team selection. He was also voted the 6^th best offensive tackle in all of college football by The Sporting News.

In Shamari Buchanan, Freddie Milons, Jason McAddley, and true freshman Antonio Carter the Tide has a quartet of receivers that are second to none in the SEC. Buchanan was limited by shoulder problems last season but did see action in four games. But the senior from Atlanta played in every game as both a freshman and a sophomore. Milons played in every game last year as a true freshman. His best game came against Ole Miss when he had 19 receptions for 213 yards. He was also a valuable member of the special teams and returned four kickoffs for 141 yards. McAddley, a redshirt freshman last year, played in every game. His biggest play of the year came against LSU when he recovered an on-side kick that the Tide converted to the winning touchdown. Carter, from Tallahassee, FL, was Super Prep’s 19^th best player in the country last year. He was also the sixth best player from the state of Florida. He hasn’t slowed down a bit since he planted his feet on Alabama’s red clay and he will see plenty of playing time in 1999.

Milo Lewis and Shontua Ray hold down the left corner while Reggie Myles and Kecalf Bailey man the right side. Lewis is a transfer from City College of San Francisco and participated in the Tide’s spring as well as fall drills. He led his team to an 11-1 record last year while grabbing 11 interceptions and allowing only one touchdown. Ray was a running back last season but his speed and knowledge of football has allowed him to make the switch. Ray moved into the starting lineup against Southern Miss last season. For the year he had 23 tackles, two sacks, and an interception. Bailey appeared in every game as a freshman and then last year he started against Ole Miss, East Carolina and Tennessee. Last year he had 22 tackles and four pass break-ups.

Jerry Jones knows his football and at the four most crucial spots on a football team the Tide is loaded for battle.

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NBA Stars Among Those Returning For Tide Legends Game
By UA Sports Information Department

TUSCALOOSA - C.M. Newton will coach from one bench and Wimp Sanderson from the opposite side when former players from the University of Alabama basketball teams past gather in Tuscaloosa for the August 28 Legends Game at Coleman Coliseum.

The game is part of a weekend-long reunion that both former players and staff members as well as basketball fans can participate. The weekend kicks off with a Legends dinner on Friday, August 27. On Saturday, fans can collect autographs from Alabama's NBA stars who will join all the other players and coaches who have returned to Tuscaloosa in a 5 p.m. autograph session in the coliseum. That session will be followed at 7 p.m. by the Legends Game where two teams made up of Alabama's former players will return to the floor to play. A ticket to the game will be required to gain admission to the autograph session. Tickets, general admission, are available now for $10 by calling 205-715-6000 or may be purchased at the door.

Among those who will return to Tuscaloosa for the reunion are two of its most successful coaches, C.M. Newton, now the director of athletics at Kentucky, and Wimp Sanderson who is gearing up to host a Birmingham based radio talk show with former Auburn coach Sonny Smith in September. Newton, who just this past year ended a stint as the chairman of the NCAA basketball committee, coached the Tide from 1969-80 and compiled a 211-123 record. Sanderson followed Newton's reign and, from 1981-92, compiled a 267-119 record that included six NCAA Sweet 16 appearances.

Among the players who have committed to return for the weekend are Denver Nugget Antonio McDyess, LA Laker Robert Horry, Indiana Pacer Derrick McKey, the Miami Heat's Keith Askins, Jason Caffey of the Golden State Warriors, Eric Washington of the Boston Celtics, David Benoit formerly of the Orlando Magic, James Robinson formerly of the LA Clippers, Alabama's all-time leading scorer Reggie King who played for the Kansas City Kings and the Seattle SuperSonics and who, this past season, was honored by the Southeastern Conference as an SEC Legend. Leon Douglas, who played for the Detroit Pistons and the Kansas City Kings will return, as will Ennis Whatley, a first round draft pick by the Kansas City Kings in 1983, Jim Farmer (Dallas Mavericks), Terry Coner, Melvin Cheatum, Wendell Hudson, Eric Richardson, Gary Waites, among others, including members of the "Rocket 8" from the 1950's and the man who was honored by the Basketball Hall of Fame with the longest shot in history, George Linn.

Alabama's basketball program has had a storied past. Thirty three of its players have gone on to play in the NBA, including thirteen who were first round draft picks, causing Sports Illustrated to dub the Tide program an "NBA Pipeline." The Tide has advanced to either the NCAA tournament or the NIT tournament 19 times in the last 23 years. Of Alabama's 14 NCAA tournament appearances it made it all the way to the "Sweet 16" seven of those times, including three consecutive years from 1985, 1986 and 1987.

Special thanks to the Alabama SID for providing this article.

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Depth Chart (as of 8/26/99)
Staff Reports
Note: Check TideFans.com daily for the most up-to-date depth chart.

OFFENSE
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SE 15 Freddie Milons 80 Jason McAddley 36 Jay Stubbs

WR 84 Shamari Buchanan 2 Antonio Carter 40 Brandon Greer

FL 8 Tim Bowens 7 Sam Collins 85 Rob Egan

TE 82 Terry Jones, Jr. 89 Theo Sanders ## Johnavan Morgan

RT 65 Dante Ellington 77 Bart Raulston 79 Ray Marshall

RG 72 Will Cuthbert 56 Kenric Lott 73 Dennis Alexander (RS?)

C 74 Paul Hogan 58 Alonzo Ephraim

LG 75 Griff Redmill 70 Jason McDonald 71 Marico Portis

LT 60 Chris Samuels 76 Lannis Baxley 69 Matt Lomax (RS?)

QB 5 Andrew Zow 14 Tyler Watts 18 Luke Tucker

FB 30 Dustin McClintock 6 Marvin Brown 27 Jeremy Walker

RB 37 Shaun Alexander 28 Shaun Bohanon 29 Ahmaad Gallaway

PK 12 Ryan Pflugner 47 Danny Haynes 49 Mark Wisniewski

DEFENSE

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RE 54 Kindal Moorehead 55 Kenny King 94 Derek Sanders

RT 97 Cornelius Griffin 90 Jamie Carter 96 Jarrett Johnson

LT 88 Kenny Smith 61 Todd Whitmore 67 Kelvis White

LE 38 Shawn Draper 98 Reggie Grimes 92 Shaun Williams

RLB 10 Miguel Merritt 1 Chris Horne

MLB 45 Marvin Constant 57 Canary Knight 9 Victor Ellis

LLB 11 Saleem Rasheed 99 Darius Gilbert 31 Adam Cox

RCB 21 Reggie Miles 13 Kecalf Bailey 4 Gerald Dixon

FS 24 Tony Dixon 25 Hirchel Bolden 32 Phillip Weeks

SS 41 Marcus Spencer 43 Gary Barnes 19 Jason Jones

LCB 23 Milo Lewis 33 Shontua Ray

P 16 Patrick Morgan 44 Lane Bearden ## Jason Kellen

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1999 University of Alabama Football Schedule

Date Opponent Time (Eastern)

------------ -------------------------- ------------------------

Sept. 4 at Vanderbilt 12:30 pm

Sept. 11 Houston 12:30 pm

Sept. 18 Louisiana Tech 5:00 pm

Sept. 25 Arkansas 3:30 or 7:30 pm

Oct. 2 at Florida 3:30 or 7:30 pm

Oct. 9 OPEN

Oct. 16 at Mississippi 12:30 or 6:00pm

Oct. 23 Tennessee 3:30 pm

Oct. 30 So. Miss (HC) 3:00 pm

Nov. 6 LSU 3:30 pm

Nov. 13 Mississippi State 7:00 pm

Nov. 20 at Auburn 7:00 pm

Dec. 4 SEC Championship TBA

***Please note that times are tentative and are subject to change***

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Alumni Chapters Online
Staff Reports

Want to know what your local chapter is doing and when? (If your chapter wants its own free website, contact brett@TideFans.com) The following chapters are now online!

National Alumni Association: http://bama.ua.edu/~alumni/

Atlanta: http://mindspring.com/~atlabama

Greater NY: http://TideFans.com/uaclubnyc

Gulf Coast: http://datasync.com/~gobama

Jefferson Co.: http://www.al.com/UAjeffco/

National Capitol (D.C): http://chesapeak.com/ua/ncc.htm

No. California: http://TideFans.com/NoCal

Tallahassee: http://www.talweb.com/jdjcoste

Tampa: http://community.webtv.net/BRIANMATSON/TampaBaysUniversity

SEC Alumni in Metro NY: http://members.aol.com/secinnyc

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QUOTES FROM FANS, COACHES AND PLAYERS

Coach Mike DuBose on the QB rotation:

QB Andrew Zow on the same subject:

''Everybody wants to play every down, but if it helps this team out, I'm all for it. 'We don't want to wait until I go down to find out if Tyler can play or not.

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Newsletter published by: Brett Young and Jess Nicholas

Alabama Weekly / TideFans.com Staff:

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Jess Nicholas, Editor-at-Large

John Hinds, Bama in Boston

Grif Carden, Baseball / Basketball Editor

Chris Depew, Staff Writer

Jim Morris, Feature Editor

David Ozment, Staff Writer

Chris Van Steenberg, Staff Writer

Brett Young, Managing Editor

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