Morning Kickoff: Crimson Tide News 1/17
By Chris Hale
Get your day started with the Morning Kickoff. All your Crimson Tide news in one place.
KENTUCKY VS ALABAMA
"Alabama has rebounded nicely from coach Anthony Grant’s first losing season, with Levi Randolph moving into the starring role and two transfers helping fuel the turnaround.The Crimson Tide (12-4, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) enters Saturday’s game with No. 1 Kentucky already one win from matching last season’s total and receiving votes in the Associated Press Top 25.The Wildcats (16-0, 3-0) are, of course, the ultimate measuring stick for SEC teams, even if that’s not how Alabama is trying to view the game.”We’re just trying to take it as another game,” Randolph said on Friday.Seldom chatty with the media, Grant was all business before the game in Friday’s news conference, which lasted a brief three minutes or so. He didn’t play up the importance of the matchup or the challenge facing his team."
Big game later today. The number one team heads to Tuscaloosa. It goes without saying but a win would be absolutely huge.
Alabama Football: 2014 Freshmen Set for Breakout 2015 Seasons
"Each new year of recruiting brings new excitement for fans, especially for those following a team like Alabama, which consistently pulls in No. 1 classes featuring some of the top players in the country.Very few of those players come in and light the world on fire right away, becoming instant stars in the process. Instead, most take a few years to, you know, develop into proper college football players.The problem, though, is that by the time these players have developed into legitimate talent, fans have moved on to the next batch of superstar, hotshot recruits, who may or may not pan out. So these players can sometimes get lost in the shuffle and get underappreciated compared to a kid who’s never set foot on a college campus yet."
Some of these younger guys got quite a bit of playing time this season. That will have them ready for next season.
Alabama dominates Auburn, 9-2, in first game of Iron Cup
"After a scoreless first period, the Alabama hockey team (17-3) took control and cruised to a 9-2 win in Friday night’s opening game of the Iron Cup tournament.Auburn’s goalie, Mitch Ketsner, kept the Tigers in the game through the opening period, keeping the Frozen Tide off the scoreboard despite 21 shots on goal (to Auburn’s eight).Things changed after the teams came back on the ice.Alabama scored six goals in the second period, including an impressive penalty shot from senior Clay Link after a crosschecking foul against the Tigers. That score at 14:22 put the Frozen Tide up 5-1 and the score went to 6-1 after a goal by Andre Morard."
Any day you beat Auburn in anything is a good day. Way to go Frozen Tide.
No. 6 Gymnastics Falls at No. 12 Arkansas, 196.325-196.175
"In a meet that went to the team with the fewest mistakes on the balance beam, the No. 6 Alabama gymnastics team fell at No. 12 Arkansas, 196.325-196.175 in front of 3,164 fans in Barnhill Arena Friday night.“We’re certainly disappointed,” UA head coach Dana Duckworth said. “This isn’t the kind of performance that we expect of ourselves. We will go back in the gym this week and we’ll focus in on correcting mistakes and moving forward.”On the balance beam, Arkansas had to count a fall in its final tally, but the Crimson Tide had to count two, which allowed the Razorbacks slip past Alabama for the win.“This was very atypical of Alabama on the balance beam,” Duckworth said. “We haven’t had more than one fall in any of our intrasquads throughout our preparation for the season.”"
Crimson Tide Duo Honored During NCAA Honors Celebration Friday Night
"Former University of Alabama student-athletes Kim Jacob and the late John Servati were honored during the NCAA Honors Celebration, which was held as part of the annual NCAA Convention in the Potomac Ballroom at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Washington D.C. Friday night."