[FONT=&quot]When Alabama and Clemson played in the first Chick-fil-A Kickoff game at the Georgia Dome eight years ago, the matchup was a rarity for college football's opening week: two big-name, nationally ranked teams from rival power conferences. The pairing bucked the trend of Week 1 mismatches that had come to define and diminish the start of the season. It also started a counter-trend. "Now, this year, we've arguably got the best first week of college football games in history," said Gary Stokan, who started and runs the Atlanta game that changed how college football launches its season.[/FONT]
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rbr op[FONT=&quot]The same game that put Alabama football back on the map also ushered in a new tradition of big time opening weekend matchups.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Steve Spurrier, who had three straight 11-2 seasons at South Carolina after turning 65, visited with Saban after speaking at a high school clinic over the summer. He said Saban joked that he was starting to hear of opposing coaches telling recruits he wouldn't be around much longer. ''He's got a good six to eight years or more, depending on what he wants, really,'' said Spurrier, who stepped down during the 2015 season. ''If he keeps winning at a high level, which he certainly can the way they recruit. The question is if he gets to 8-4, I think he said, `All hell will break loose around here if I go 8-4.' It's really hard to go out on top. It's hard to say you've had enough unless you start losing. That's what happened to me, is we started losing.''[/FONT]
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rbr op[FONT=&quot]Another Saban-Bear comparison.[/FONT]

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Inside the battle for the No. 1 ranked recruiting class-bol

Crimson Tide Report: QB Battle In Full Swing-bamahammer

[FONT=&quot]In the final segment of this series, which you can view at the top of this article, Saban and Barkley discuss what motivates them, how they avoid the "noise" that comes along with high-profile success, and when they will know the time to leave their professions has come.[/FONT]

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LOOK: Former Tide stars in NFL Week 1 preseason action-bol

[FONT=&quot]Graham Harrell set NCAA passing records in the last decade at Mike Leach's quarterback factory at Texas Tech. Harrell is now the offensive coordinator at North Texas and knows this about Morris: He could have played for The Pirate. "We had some great ones out there," Harrell said said of Tech. "But arm-talent wise, he's probably as talented as anyone we ever had out there. He can throw the ball."[/FONT]
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rbr op[FONT=&quot]Sounds like Alec is going to have a strong season at North Texas. Great to see.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]That's about it for today. Have a great week.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Roll Tide.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Nebraska is the latest program to adopt rugby-style tackling. As in rugby, where players wear no helmets, the tackle is made by driving a shoulder into or near the ball-carrier's hip, wrapping him up and taking him to the ground. Though the hip is the ideal target, it could be anywhere between the knees and armpit. All the while the defender's head remains to the side of the ball-carrier's body, away from the tackle contact zone. In a sport beleaguered by concussion concerns, rugby-style has been touted as a safer way to tackle, and teams can practice it with or without helmets and pads.[/FONT]
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rbr op[FONT=&quot]Not only would college football players be better protected by utilizing proper form tackling rather than going for the ESPN highlight hit, there would be fewer blown tackles.[/FONT]

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Projecting the preseason Top 25 AP Poll for 2016-sds

Meet a new writer: Joe Cagle-teamspeedkills

Mississippi State: Bad at PR, good at football-sbnation

The service academies have amazing helmets

Muhammad Ali’s grandson commits to play football for Cal-cft

S. Carolina P Sean Kelly arrested on multiple charges, including ‘malicious injury to tree’

Nebraska WRs coach Keith Williams cited for DUI

Urban Meyer endorses Cincinnati, his alma mater, for the Big 12-yahoo