HZT Daily Crimson Tide Wrap PLUS Practice Report 9-23-2013
By Chris Hale
- As Alabama coach Nick Saban promised earlier today, the Crimson Tide was close to full strength as it opened its week of practice. The lone exception was safetyNick Perry (shoulder), though the senior safety was still on the field. He wore a black, non-contact jersey.
- Wide receivers Amari Cooper (toe) and Kevin Norwood (unknown) were both fully participating in the drills we saw during today’s one viewing period. So, too, were defensive backs Jarrick Williams and Deion Belue. Throw offensive guardAnthony Steen in that group, too.
- For the second consecutive week, Alabama’s veteran running backs were in their normal uniforms while the freshmen wore scout team jerseys. The freshmen wore No. 3 (Jeff Scott) and No. 5 (I’Tavius Mathers).
- Freshman ArDarius Stewart will be one of the players tasked with mimickingDonte Moncrief for the scout team.
- As has been customary, Alabama’s freshman quarterbacks were all wearing No. 14. That’s Bo Wallace, of course.
- Some other popular scout team jerseys: No. 10 (DE C.J. Johnson), No. 38 (LB Mike Marry) and No. 17 (TE Evan Engram).
Nick Saban Monday Press Conference
Courtesy of BamaOnline
The Houndztooth Links
Houndztooth Highlights: Week 3 in the NFL
Alabama vs Colorado State: Post-Game Rundown
Nick Perry sidelined, but Alabama enters Ole Miss week with most players practicing
- Everyone but safety Nick Perry will be able to practice today as Alabama kicks off Ole Miss week, Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said.
Ole Miss QB Bo Wallace: We have better receivers than A&M, Rebels will score on Alabama
- “I think we have better receivers than A&M,” Wallace said. “They want to talk about Mike Evans being so good, but we have Donte (Moncrief) and I think Laquon (Treadwell) is going to be that way. We have better players on the outside than A&M does.”
UA Coaching Staff Names Seven Players of the Week
- Seven Alabama football players were recognized by the coaching staff for their performances following Saturday’s win over Colorado State. Christion Jones and DeAndrew White were named players of the week on offense. Trey Depriest and C.J. Mosley represented the defense while Landon Collins, Kenyan Drake and Altee Tenpenny were on the special teams list.
Football Continues Home Stand with Ole Miss on Saturday
- THE GAME: The University of Alabama football team makes its 2013 Southeastern Conference home debut Saturday when it welcomes the Ole Miss Rebels to Bryant-Denny Stadium. The game marks the 61st meeting between the Crimson Tide and Rebels and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN with kickoff set for 5:30 p.m. (CDT). Brad Nessler will serve as the play-by-play announcer, with Todd Blackledge at his side as the color analyst. The two will be joined by sideline reporter Holly Rowe. Eli Gold and Phil Savage will handle the radio call on the Crimson Tide Sports Network, with Chris Stewart serving as sideline reporter.
- MAKING HISTORY: Alabama has laid claim to three of the last four BCS National Championships and now boasts 15 national championships in the program’s history. The Tide won in 2009 and then went back-to-back in 2011 and 2012. The back-to-back titles are the first in the BCS era and the first since Nebraska went back to back in 1994-95. The Cornhuskers are also the last team to win three out of four national titles. Nebraska won consensus titles in 1994 and 1995 and shared the 1997 championship with Michigan. The last team to win three of four consensus national championships was Notre Dame who captured the 1946, 1947 and 1949 titles. Minnesota is the last team to win three straight national championships (1934-36) with only the 1936 title coming in the era of the Associated Press college football poll. The Crimson Tide won three titles in five years from 1961 to 1965.
- RANKINGS: Alabama enters week five of the 2013 season ranked first in the Associated Press and USA TODAY Coaches polls, while Ole Miss stands at No. 21 in both polls.
- OLE MISS: Ole Miss is under the direction of second-year head coach Hugh Freeze and enters Saturday’s game with a 3-0 overall record and a 1-0 mark in Southeastern Conference play. The Rebels edged out Vanderbilt, 39-35, in their season opener before posting out-of-conference wins against Southeast Missouri and Texas. Quarterback Bo Wallace has accumulated 648 yards passing and 120 yards rushing, while accounting for seven touchdowns (four passing, three rushing). Jeff Scott has been Ole Miss’ top rusher thus far, averaging 110.0 yards per game. Three receivers are currently averaging 50-plus yards per game, led by Evan Engram, who has 11 receptions for 175 yards and two touchdowns.
- SERIES HISTORY: Saturday’s game marks the 61st meeting between the Crimson Tide and Rebels. Alabama has won nine straight in the series (three of which were vacated for the 2005-07 seasons), outscoring Ole Miss 248-118 in those contests.
Ole Miss injury update: WR Sanders back, Denzel Nkemdiche still optimistic he’ll face Alabama
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