Morning Kickoff: Crimson Tide News 1/3

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Get your day started with the Morning Kickoff. All your Crimson Tide news in one place.

Alabama football fans bummed about Sugar Bowl loss, proud of Crimson Tide team

"Alabama fans are pretty down following the Sugar Bowl.But, fans still believe the Crimson Tide played well and had a great season overall. The team arrived at Tuscaloosa Regional Airport just after noon with Head Coach Nick Saban.People are not just upset about Alabama, they’re disappointed about other SEC Bowl Game losses as well, including Auburn.Alabama fans really thought the tide was going to pull through and head to another national championship. But despite the loss, they’re still proud the team won the SEC Championship and the fact they made it to the semi-finals."

There is a short video in the link of the Tide as they arrived back in Tuscaloosa after the Sugar Bowl. None of those guys have a thing to hang their heads about. It wasn’t the outcome they or the fans wanted but a great season nonetheless. You can’t win them all but we have won a good bit in recent years.

Elite DT Daron Payne explains why he picked Alabama over Auburn

"“(Cristobal) said he was jumping up and down,” Payne said. “He wouldn’t stop yelling. So I guess he was happy.”Auburn made it tough for Payne to say no, but ultimately he couldn’t turn down Alabama’s stellar developmental track record. Opposing schools tried to use Alabama’s defensive scheme against it — Payne has said publicly multiple times that he doesn’t want to be a zero-technique defensive tackle — but a close watch of Alabama games this season quelled any concerns he had. Alabama coaches told the 6-foot-2, 335-pound defensive tackle that he’ll have an opportunity to get playing time as a pass-rusher if he keeps his weight down.“They really don’t play a lot of 3-4 – that’s just their base,” he said. “It really doesn’t matter. As long as I do what I have to do playing, I’ll love it.”"

We may have lost the Sugar Bowl but the recruits keep rolling in. The future looks bright.

Alabama lands surprise commitment from 5-star cornerback Kendall Sheffield

"The 6-foot, 180-pound prospect said he made his decision at the beginning of his senior season in August. His relationship with Nick Saban and the Alabama coaching staff was the biggest factor in his decision, but he is also hoping to compete for early playing time.“I talked to them the Saturday before I came up here,” Sheffield said. “My recruiter, Coach (Bo) Davis, was cool with wherever I go, he was just hoping it was Alabama.“It was cool (announcing on ESPN.) I’ve been wanting to do it ever since I saw the Under Armour Game. I’m glad I did it.”Sheffield, a standout from Missouri City, Texas, is ranked as the nation’s No. 3 corner in the 247Sports Composite. He visited Tuscaloosa three times this season, including a trip for the Iron Bowl win over Auburn.“It was a good game,” Sheffield said. “I loved it up there and I had fun.”"

See what I mean about the future being bright. That was two in one day with the possibility of adding a wide receiver commit later today.

Inside emotional Alabama locker room, Tide promises to ‘fight like hell’ for playoff return

"For Cochran, the mission starts anew.“Do not forget this feeling,” he preaches to a young player at his locker.Those same four Superdome locker-room walls housed Alabama for last season’s Sugar Bowl loss to Oklahoma. But the scene this Thursday had an extra shade of heartbreak. In the hallway, coaches’ wives wiped away tears as the reality set in. Coach Nick Saban was the only speaker in the locker room and his speech focused on the response.“It’s pretty sad,” tight end O.J. Howard said. “Nobody likes losing. It’s really down right now.”"

Fight like hell. That’s all we can ask for. I think everyone can say without a doubt that they did just that this season.

Women’s Basketball Falls to No. 11/11 Kentucky, 78-66

"The women’s basketball team fell in its Southeastern Conference opener, 78-66, to the No. 11/11 Kentucky Wildcats on Sunday in Foster Auditorium. With the loss, Alabama moves to 11-5 overall and 0-1 in the SEC.The Crimson Tide led for the majority of the first period and scored eight unanswered points over 5:11 to take a 20-12 advantage at 9:02. UA remained in front, leading by as many as nine, and headed into the locker room up 36-28 at the half.Kentucky then strung together a 10-2 run over a three-minute span to take its first lead since the 16:36 mark of the first half. The two teams traded baskets over the next few possessions before the Wildcats scored 18 unanswered points for the 72-54 lead with 5:06 to go. Alabama cut it to 12 but would come no closer down the stretch."

Alabama Men’s Basketball Rolls Past North Florida, 76-61

"The Alabama men’s basketball team wrapped up 2014-15 non-conference play with a 76-61 victory over the North Florida Ospreys on Friday evening inside Coleman Coliseum. With the win, Alabama improves to 10-3 on the season and a perfect 9-0 at home.“I’m really happy for our guys to be able to get the win today to close out non-conference play,” said UA Head Coach Anthony Grant. “I think our defense is always going to be a team effort. We have five guys out there that we ask to give us maximum effort at all times and I think we had a great team effort tonight.”The two teams played near even for the first half of the game, but the Crimson Tide used the strength of a 13-3 run early in the second half to put the game out of reach. Alabama led by as many as by as many as 22 points, 74-52, en route to the 15-point win."