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Alabama looking to get O.J. Howard “more involved”
"O.J. Howard has been invisible in the Alabama passing game so far this season.The talented sophomore tight end from Prattville has yet to catch a pass and it hasn’t gone unnoticed by Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban heading into Saturday’s 5 p.m. game against Southern Miss at Bryant-Denny Stadium.Last season, Howard caught 14 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns as a true freshman."
This is something most fans want to see. Like we said earlier, Brian Vogler hints that more touches to them may be coming. He also suggests that the reason they keep going at Amari Cooper is because he is the hot hand. Hopefully, Howard and Vogler will get some touches in the next game.
Former Alabama and Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr is recovering from a mild stroke.
“Last week Bart Starr suffered a mild ischemic stroke, but is very functional and making progress every day,” said the Starr Family in a release.
Nick Saban wants Alabama players to tap into ‘beast mode,’ no matter circumstances
"For Nick Saban, it was a gauge of his team’s mentality heading into a second consecutive game in which it enters favored by more than 40 points. It prompted him to once again channel Eric Thomas, the motivational speaker who spoke to Alabama’s players last month on the night before the team’s first scrimmage.“Everyone wants to be the beast — you’ve heard that one before — until you have to do what the beast do,” Saban said. “Well, when it gets hot outside and you have to practice in pads and take a lot of reps, you either have beast mode or you don’t have it. All right? We had some guys that had it and some guys didn’t."
Coach Saban used the words beast mode. My week has been made. It’s just another part of the process. Saban wants the team to give 110 percent, no matter if they are on the field for a game or for practice. From all accounts so far, the younger guys have been doing that. There are a few little things that the staff wants them to work on but this squad is together. that’s huge.
Tide could be turning for Mississippi State commit Keith Mixon to get an Alabama offer
"But Mixon, who is ranked No. 11 on AL.com’s A-List, has seen the Internet speculation and message board rumors that an Alabama offer could be coming his way. The 5-foot-8, 175-pound athlete heard rumors that if Alabama misses on a wide receiver committed to Georgia — likely Terry Godwin — that he could be next in line to get a scholarship offer."
Keep your eyes on this one. I have wanted him to get an offer for a while but I’m not the staff. He’s putting up impressive numbers but some think he may too small. If we were to miss on another target. I think Mixon will get his offer and will commit to the good guys if we don’t wait too long.
Alabama football: Spring knee injury isn’t slowing Jackson much
"During the off-season, injured Alabama cornerback Eddie Jackson repeatedly told teammates he would return at some point early in the season.Jackson, who suffered a knee injury during spring practice, worked out multiple times a day to keep himself in shape while strengthening his surgically repaired knee."
Great write up from the Anniston Star on cornerback Eddie Jackson and his return to playing time after his injury. Glad to see this one get back on the field. The secondary looked better with Jackson in and he didn’t look a bit slowed due to that injury. Hopefully, he will continue progressing smoothly.
South Bound & Down
Bart Starr recovering from a mild stroke
"Former Alabama and Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr is recovering from a mild stroke.“Last week Bart Starr suffered a mild ischemic stroke, but is very functional and making progress every day,” said the Starr Family in a release."
Be sure to keep former Alabama legend Bart Starr and his family in your thoughts and/or prayers as he recovers from his stroke.
Countdown to Auburn at Alabama: Biding time
"The 79th Iron Bowl between Auburn and Alabama will be played in Tuscaloosa’s Bryant-Denny Stadium Nov. 29. Alabama leads the all-time series 42-35-1 with the teams splitting the last 24 meetings exactly 12-12. As the two programs progress toward Rivalry Week, we’ll take a look each Wednesday at current trends — and the current state of hostilities — between the Tigers and Tide.Days until game: 81"
You don’t think the Iron Bowl is going to be this year? CBS Sports is already counting the days and tracking the games. It could be one for the ages. Alabama will have revenge on their minds and Auburn will look to extend their winning streak to two games.
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Former Tide Baseball Player Earns Paul W. Bryant Alumni-Athlete Award
"Former Crimson Tide outfielder and current team physician, Dr. Jeff Laubenthal, was honored with the 2014 Paul W. Bryant Alumni-Athlete Award at halftime during Saturday’s home football game against Florida Atlantic University.“It’s such an unbelievable honor that they’ve bestowed on me,” said Laubenthal. “It means the world to me, because to be included in the same sentence with people like Ozzie Newsome, Bart Starr, Hootie Ingram, Joe Namath and people of that nature, because you know the mark that they have left on the University. It’s really humbling.”"
Gavin Moynihan Paces Ireland In First Round of World Team Championship
"Alabama sophomore men’s golfer Gavin Moynihan led Ireland with a 3-under par 69 in the opening round of the World Amateur Championship, which is being held on the par 72, 7,008-yard Iriyama Golf Course in Karuizawa, Japan.Moynihan recorded a bogey-free round on Wednesday with three birdies and 15 pars. He comes into the second round in a tie for 27th overall in the event after 18 holes."
ITA Announces Preseason Rankings – Doubles Team Ranks No. 1 Nationally
"The Alabama women’s tennis team is well-represented in the 2014 Intercollegiate Tennis Association preseason rankings with the two teams making the doubles list, including the No. 1 overall tandem, and five individuals ranking in the top-115 slots.In doubles, returning 2013 NCAA Champions Erin Routliffe and Maya Jansen rank first overall while the team of seniors Emily Zabor and Luicelena Perez comes in at 15th overall. Routliffe is the highest-ranked singles player for the Tide, coming in at 45th, with her partner Jansen ranking 84th. Other players earning individual honors include sophomore Danielle Spielmann (52nd), senior Perez (90th) and junior Natalia Maynetto (115th)."
Those last three links are releases from Alabama. Be sure to check those out and get caught up on the rest of the news from Alabama athletics.
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