Morning Kickoff: Crimson Tide News 10/16
By Chris Hale
Get your day started with the Morning Kickoff. All of your Crimson Tide news in one place.
Alabama Football agrees to play Kent State in 2016
"With its 2015 schedule cemented, Alabama has moved to adding more one-and-done home games to its 2016 slate. Alabama has agreed to play Kent State, the alma mater of UA coach Nick Saban, in Tuscaloosa on Sept. 24, 2016. Alabama is paying KSU $1.5 million to play the game."
The 2016 schedule is starting to take shape. Kent State joins USC and Western Kentucky as the Tide’s out of conference opponents on the schedule thus far.
Commentary: Tide defense must turn up the heat
"Alabama isn’t good enough to stop Texas A&M’s offense.It hasn’t been the past two seasons with better players, so I don’t expect that to change Saturday. Alabama struggles against up-tempo, spread offenses and few run that system better than the Aggies.“Texas A&M is obviously an outstanding team,” said Alabama coach Nick Saban during Wednesday’s SEC coaches call. “It’s a very, very explosive offensive team that scores a lot of points and makes a lot of big plays and has a lot of big-play players.”"
This isn’t exactly the A&M offense that we have faced the past few seasons, either. I don’t think they are as dangerous as the past few seasons but still good. One of their moderators made the quote earlier this week that quarterback Kenny Hill continues to regress with each throw he makes. I did a write up on that you can check out here.
Mount Cody gets early Christmas present with Baltimore Ravens
"Baltimore defensive tackle Terrence Cody practiced with the Ravens for the first time this season on Wednesday and had two bike analogies to explain the experience.“It felt like Christmas,” Cody said in the locker room after practice. “It felt like waking up and finding a new bike and going outside to ride your new bike.”"
Hopefully Cody can get it going again. He was one of my favorites to come through Alabama in a while.
Cross Country Hosts Crimson Classic Friday Afternoon in Tuscaloosa
"The University of Alabama hosts the annual Crimson Classic at the Harry Pritchett Running Course in Tuscaloosa on Friday, Oct. 17. The meet will serve as the team’s Power of Pink event to help generate awareness for the early detection and prevention of the disease. The Tide men will race against 32 teams in an 8-kilometer race while the women face 37 teams on a 5-kilometer course. The collegiate women’s race starts at 5 p.m. The men’s race will follow the women at 5:30 p.m."
Men’s Tennis Gears up for USTA/ITA Southern Regional Championships
"The men’s tennis team heads to Auburn this week for the USTA/ITA Southern Regional Championships, which will be played from Thursday, Oct. 16, through Monday, Oct. 20. Matches will take place at the Yarbrough Tennis Stadium.Along with the host Tigers and Crimson Tide, 14 other teams will be participating including Jackson State, Jacksonville State, Louisiana-Lafayette, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, New Orleans, Nicholls State, Samford, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Troy, Tulane and UAB."
Alabama Athletics Begins 2014-15 Power of Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Schedule on October 17
"The Alabama Athletics Department’s sixth-annual Power of Pink program gets underway this week with pink events in soccer, cross country and volleyball.“One of the great things about college athletics is that the exposure that we enjoy gives us a platform to have the ability to do something of importance for a great cause,” UA Director of Athletics Bill Battle said. “Alabama has been at the forefront of this effort since the beginning, and we are very proud of that. Initiatives such as Power of Pink events help our student-athletes realize their ability to actively contribute something positive to causes that affect us all.”"
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