Morning Kickoff: Crimson Tide News 3/10
By Chris Hale
Get your day started with the Morning Kickoff. All your Crimson Tide news in one place.
Former Alabama QB Phillip Sims nearly re-joined Tide after leaving Virginia in 2013
"Sims came close to transferring back to Alabama before deciding to finish his career at Winston-Salem State.“It was close,” Sims said during a phone interview. “It came down to the wire.”Alabama made contact with Sims’ father shortly after the quarterback parted ways with Virginia, Sims said.Sims said he was then in contact with coach Nick Saban and former Alabama offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier in the two months leading up to his decision to join Winston-Salem State in late July.Sims was ineligible to play in 2013, which was McCarron’s senior season with the Tide. However, Sims said he was told that he would have an opportunity to compete for the starting quarterback job heading into last season."
Well, that puts a damper on all the process talk and players not wanting to return. Sometimes these great athletes get beat out and they want to transfer to see the field. Not a thing wrong with that and lots of times, there’s no bad blood.
You may have quit on Anthony Grant, but his Alabama players clearly haven’t
"Alabama 61, Texas A&M 60 was the latest evidence. Players who’ve quit on a coach on the hot seat don’t rally from a 15-point deficit on the road to beat a team fighting for an NCAA Tournament berth.What is that effort worth in the big picture?You may have written off this Alabama basketball season as a lost cause, another year fated to end without a trip to the NCAA Tournament, another depressing succession of injuries, adversity and near-misses.The Alabama basketball team has decided to keep playing and see what happens. Look at the Crimson Tide’s 18-13 overall record and its 8-10 league mark, and you frown. Look at the could’ve-gone-either-way nature of so many of those defeats, and you pause. Isn’t it reasonable to say that this team can compete with anyone at the SEC Tournament this week in Nashville outside of Kentucky?"
It’s getting vocal on social media and message boards from fans wanting to see a change to try to resurrect the program. On the other hand, you have the kids still playing and it’s only natural they play as hard as they can whom from most accounts is a great person.
Retin Obasohan named to 2015 SEC Community Service Team
"From SEC Director of Communications Craig Pinkerton:Always involved in the University of Alabama community outreach efforts … speaks to numerous high school kids in the Tuscaloosa area about staying in school and how to achieve your goals is “by sacrificing everything you are to become everything you desire” … Mentors teenagers at Tuscaloosa Central High School talking to the them about the importance of school in achieving success … reads books and speaks at numerous elementary and middle schools … actively involved in Fellowship of Christian Athletes where he speaks to … volunteered his time at Sarrell Dental free sports camps for underprivileged kids … is a role model back in his hometown of Antwerp, Belgium, where he mentors younger kids at a boarding school … also has been involved in habitat for humanity for the last three years."
Baseball Welcomes Alabama A&M for Tuesday Doubleheader
"Alabama returns home for a Tuesday doubleheader with Alabama A&M. The twinbill will be the Tide’s final tune-up before conference play begins this weekend in Starkville.The first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader is scheduled for a 2 p.m. first pitch. The second game of the afternoon is scheduled to start 30 minutes after the final out of game one.FOLLOW THE TIDEFans can watch/follow this weekend’s games via the below outlets:Gametracker: RollTide.comListen: 99.1 FM (Tuscaloosa) / 690 AM (Birmingham)Web: SEC Network+Twitter: @AlabamaBSBPROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPSGame 1: UA – Jake Walters (Fr., RHP) vs. A&M – TBDGAME 2: UA – Alex Watkins (Fr., LHP) vs. A&M – TBD"
Softball to Host UAB Tuesday in Tuscaloosa
"THIS WEEK: #4/5 ALABAMA VS. UABTuscaloosa, Ala. – Rhoads StadiumTuesday, March 10 – 6 p.m. CTTHE TIDE ON THE AIRTV (Online Only): SEC Network + (WatchESPN.com)Play-by-play: Gary Harris, Color: Lauren SewellRADIO: 95.3 FM (953thebear.com)"
Divers Earn Place in NCAA Zone B Day-One Finals
Three members of the Alabama swimming and diving team finished in the top-18 of their respective events on day one of the NCAA Zone B Diving Championships on Monday in Athens, Ga.
Sophomore Taylor Zablocki took 16th place in the women’s 3-meter springboard after scoring 258.8 points in the finals. She scored 292.60 points during prelims for a two-round total of 551.40.
Men’s Golf in Seventh, Shelton in Third After Opening Round of Southern Collegiate
Sophomore Robby Shelton carded a spring season-low round of 67 to pace the No. 16 Alabama men’s golf team on day one of the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters on Monday afternoon. As a team, the Crimson Tide is in a three-way tie for seventh with an even par 288 on the par-72, 7,510-yard Southern Highlands Golf Club.