2009 ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE TEAM SIGNED FULL SIZE HELMET US $699.99

Here is the description on ebay on the top one:
HERE YOU GO TIDE FANS…WHAT YOU ARE BIDDING ON IS A HAND SIGNED BAMA FULL SIZE HELMET SIGNED BY OVER 45 MEMBERS OF THE 2009 FOOTBALL TEAM …SOME OF THE FOLLOWING ON THE BALL ARE GREG MCELROY,MARK INGRAM,JULIO JONES,TRENT RICHARDSON,TERRENCE CODY, AND HEAD COACH NICK SABAN …PLUS SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE SIGNED THIS HELMET FOR ME….THIS HELMET WAS SIGNED IN BOLD SILVER PAINT PEN AND IT LOOKS AWESOME…BE THE FIRST TO OWN A 2009 ALABAMA TEAM SIGNED HELMET….. A COA FROM AUTOGRAPHSMADEASY WILL BE INCLUDED TO THE WINNING BIDDER….IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT A CERTAIN PLAYER PLEASE ASK BEFORE BIDDING OR BUYING….THANKS AND ROLL TIDE!!!FREE NICK SABAN SIGNED 8X10 WITH BUY IT NOW ONLY!!!!!

There is another one that caught my eye that is a little less pricey and looks good. It is going fast…25 minutes! Buy Now

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Is Saban’s success making the seat of Les Miles at LSU a little hotter by the minute? Not only has he had to sit back and watch Nick Saban built an empire from scratch Alabama, his own judgment in game management was called into question this past year due to some close losses based on time management. We are not saying that he was totally inept, but this past year also proved that he is not the best coach in America right now. Nick Saban is.

Thinking back to the national championship… One has to wonder, if Les Miles just stepped into a great situation at LSU once Nick Saban left for the Miami Dolphins. Was it because of Les Miles had oodles of coaching ability? In a way.. He had some gutsy 4th down conversions that went his way all year long.  But it can also be argued more than anything that the LSU team was liyterally stacked with talent in 2007 due to the superb recruiting done by Nick Saban in the past 4 years.

Let’s look at the record of Les Miles since he began his tenure at LSU. Do you realize that Les Miles is only 8-8 in SEC play? Surprised?  This is not to say that he is not doing a good job at LSU.  In fact, his overall season records are not too bad at 11-2,11-2,12-2,8-5,9-4… but keep in mind that perception is more important than reality …and preception is becoming a bad thing for Les these day.  But if you look at the facts, still you can’t ignore the fact tha he has had a pedestrian 17-9 overall mark since the 2007 national championship season.

Only this last football season, Les Miles lost a couple of football games just because of game management.  A perfect example is how they should have beat Ole Miss. Trailing by two points, LSU had the ball on the Ole Miss 32 yard with a couple of timeouts and about a minute left. Instead of running the football and given the field-goal kicker a chance a chance (he had already hit a 50 yarder in this game), Les decided to get real cute by passing the ball three times in a row. They ended up losing yardage and burned both timeouts. With 9 seconds to go, the last time out I was called after wasting 17 seconds. With one second to go, Jefferson spiked the ball and time ran out. Within field goal range, and the players not knowing what to do.  Les had egg on his face as he first claimed he did not tell his QB to spike the ball, but video tape on youtube shows Les gesturing like a spike prior to the play.

Also… Who is looking down the barrel at another top-notch Alabama football team coming down the line and wondering what could have been? That’s right. The LSU administrators and fan base have to be concerned about the direction that the LSU football program is taken in the last few years.  Even at the height of the 2007 season, LSU fans still seemed to have Saban on their minds. Les has never been overly popular, and things are not getting any better.

This is become such an issue that LSU Athletics apartment fundraiser Gary Bertman told the Alexandria Town Talk newspaper “No” when asked if Les Miles was on the hotseat. He said, “Criticism? Absolutely, positively, because he is making a lot of money. But hot seat?  no.”

Time will tell.  Just the thought that the question is coming up, should alarm Les.  Just think, just a few years ago, Michigan alumni Rich Rodriguez (who Alabama origianlly wanted) and Les Miles were considered the whiz kids of college football. Demand was high for their services, but where do they stand now? Is Les like the proverbial frog in a warming pot that is getting undetectibly closer and closer to boiling point?  Time will tell.. meanwhile, Saban is cruising along working his process to perfection in Tuscaloosa… and putting some logs under the fire of the frog in a pot of water.

Can anyone say “hot seat?”

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Alabama got one of the top prospects in the state, Danny Woodson Jr., Friday. The name sounds familiar and for good reason, his daddy is the former starting quarterback of the Tide prior to Jay Barker taking over in the national championship year.  His father was a very talented player yet never seemed to fit into the Stalling’s offensive scheme.

Danny Woodson Jr. is a big wide receiver at 6′2 and 200 pounds. He plays for Le Flore high school out of  Mobile Alabama and spurned offers from schools like Auburn,Arkansas,Mississippi,Texas Tech,& Southern Miss. He has a nice 35 inch vertical jump and can really go up in the air to grab the endzone pass as well as catch the ball in the open field and turn on the afterburners. Very talented receiver. He had 1360 yards out of 57 catchs & 15 TDs last year plus an extra 448 yards rushing & 5 rushing TDs.

Just a week ago, it seemed like he was leaning toward Auburn. In fact, he went as far as to say it felt like family down at Auburn.  As a matter of fact, he does have an uncle who has previously played tightend for Auburn, Lamarr Woodson. Some fans even thought that Uncle Lamarr would influence them to go all the way with Auburn, but Alabama made an offer…but apparently father knows best!  All kidding aside, in the first weekend that he visited Alabama during a Scout.com’s 7 on 7 competition on “Team Alabama.”   He was impressed by the campus.  Days earlier he had received the scholarship offer, this weekend after experiencing & seeing the campus for himself, he made the solid commitment to roll with the Tide.

So far Alabama has captured 3 out of the top 5 prospects in the state (#1, 2, & 5).  Auburn has 1 in top ten (#8). Woodson is Alabama’s 5th commitment of the 2011 recruiting class.  Nick Saban just keeps the pipeline going.

Looking ahead… Don’t look for Alabama to chase too many more wide receivers in this up-coming recruiting class.  If they can get one more 5 star speed burner, maybe, but the fact is that they have gotten Shinn already & this class will be a little smaller.  Also, the last couple of classes have also been pretty heavy on the wide receiver position, so look for plenty of recruiting in other key areas of the team such as defensive back.

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With a sense that Alabama’s men’s basketball is on the rise & the pressure of having to fill a new basketball gymasium at Auburn, the “university of auburn” decided it was time to cut the wildly unsuccessful men’s basketball coach loose.  This is very evident when you consider that the program had a 35-61 overall SEC record under Lebo.  Overall, his overall record 96-93 over a weak schedule filled with 2nd rate teams, seems very pedestrian in hindsight. 

Auburn is now looking for a replacement with the ability to not only coach but also to milk cows.  The reason is a dual purpose.  President Jacobs said in a statement, “..we feel like the time has come for Auburn basketball to move in a new direction.”   

Since they have always been known as the “cow college down the road” and it is time to get back to their roots.  Plus, they need to make a little extra money to support the new $90 million basketball gym…  they can’t get anyone to buy tickets!  (Have you seen the price of milk these days???  LOL)

ROLL TIDE!!

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The Alabama men’s basketball team fought valently only to fall short 73-67 against Kentucky today. The Tide at one point had a 11 point advantage over the #2 team in the country and apparently had their backs against the wall, when the size and speed of Kentucky wore Alabama down late.

I believe however, that this game is a good sign of the direction that Alabama is taking with its young prodigy head basketball coach, Anthony Grant. Grant has essentially had to play with the card that were dealt to him when he came to Alabama. Look for Grant to begin to get the players that fit his system to build something great for the future.

We seen glimmers of hope late this season with a late season 3 game winning streak and a close battle over Kentucky where we even beat them in rebounding 45-33 and had them down by 11 points. The truth is, we just did not have the talent level that Calipari brought to KY in his first year to add to the superb play of a senior in Patrick Patterson. Today, Patterson scored 20 and Eric Bledsoe 10 for Kentucky. DeMarcus Cousins chipped in 7 points & 8 boards.

Oh well…at least it ain’t long until the A-day game!!

ROLL TIDE!

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Are you ready to get this thing started again? That’s right! Spring practice starts today! It is a one day introductory practice and then the team will be off a week for spring break and then return for full speed practice before April 17th for the A-Day game that will be televised by ESPN.

If you thought last year was fun, I have a feeling that we are going to have a lot of fun learning about the 2010 edition of the Crimson Tide. The foundation of the 2010 team will be laid in the spring practice, especially with several freshmen reporting early to dissipate in the spring.

New star blue chip players like defensive back DeMarcus Milliner and John Fulton have a chance to step right into starting roles by undergoing early enrollment. The chance to learn the complex defensive playbook early should be very valuable to the team. Kareem Jackson did the very same thing as a young defensive back and started his freshman year. Coming out early this year for the draft in his junior year, his development early is the blueprint for success for young defensive backs trying to make a break into the Alabama defensive backfield. I look forward to see what those five-star players can do, but it has to be earned on the field… and spring practice is the perfect place to find out what they’re “made of.”

Other players are coming to the forefront that have been waiting in the wings. One of the redshirt players that has been highly anticipated in the Crimson Tide fan base is DJ Fluker. As if the offensive side of the ball wasn’t already loaded enough, here comes the big man coming into play offensive tackle where All-American Mike Johnson left off. Granted, he will have to win it, but look at the tools that he has. Standing 6′7″ and weighing at 350 pounds, he is a freak of nature physically. He was one of the crowning jewels of the national championship recruiting class of 2009. He sit out one year to redshirt and to prepare for this year. Look for him to make a big impact on offense. Can you imagine Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson (and possibly Eddie Lacy) running behind the offensive line that we have coming up this year?

The biggest question mark on this team is the defense. The defense loses 9 out of 11 starters. The impact will be tremendous; I do believe that the depth is like it has never been at Alabama since the Bear years. This year’s recruiting class was heavy on defensive backs, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Also the players that we’ve already been playing in games will have valuable game experience. Alabama is stacked with fast physical linebackers in the defensive line rotation looks very strong with a powerful Marcell Dareus & Josh Chapman coming on. Be on the lookout for Kerry Murphy, a back flipping nosetackle. One place to look forward to is the return of Dont’a Hightower, the freshman sensation who hurt his knee this year. He will be back in the ball but will work out but not scrimmage with the team in the spring.

There will be invariably surprises this year in the spring just like every year. Last year it was Robbie Green coming out of obscurity to get regular playing time in the defensive backfield rotation. It will be this year’s player to make a name for himself in the same fashion? Who knows? We should all know by the A-Day game.

Many people are picking Alabama to defend their national title this year. I say it all depends on the defense gels and the return of Dont’a Hightower. The offense will be fine as long as everybody stays healthy.

I hope you’re looking forward to the 2010 edition of the Crimson Tide… I know I am!

Get a taste fof what it is like for the linebackers in Spring practice with Sal Sunseri:

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Rolando McClain became ill today following his time the 40 yard dash. He had a fairly decent time of 4.6 seconds, but he definitely hopes to get his time down below 4.5 seconds. Later he confessed that he has been suffering from the inflammatory chronic intestinal disease known as Crohn’s disease since his freshman year in high school. He also revealed that he is being treated with medication or it had been “acting up for the last couple of days.” Pretty amazing when you think of what he’s been able to accomplish over the years.

He also confessed that he tweaked his hamstring in the Tennessee game and had not been the same since, yet most of his teammates didn’t know about it. He said he wasn’t 100 percent and he still isn’t 100%. He thinks he will be able to recover fairly quickly from his hamstring injury after training and a little bit of rest.

He thinks it was his “stubbornness and determination not to give up” that has got him through it all. He states that there will be more opportunities for some more additional workouts for NFL teams before the draft.

Asked what difference that having a coach like Nick Saban has provided him in getting prepared for this moment, he said it’s “given him an advantage”to have played for “one of the greatest defensive minds ever.” He said that Coach Saban has helped him “understand the game of football.”

Overall, he said that he got really good feedback from the NFL scouts today. He said that all he wants to do this to “make a name for himself”and not be the next DeMecco Ryans were whoever. He just wants to blaze his own trail in NFL and make his own mark. We know you will Ro’. Go get em!

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Today is the day that the NFL scouts descend on Tuscaloosa to check out all the top football players leaving the Crimson Tide this year. With the wealth of talent that Alabama has coming out this year, expect a lot of NFL scouts to be taking plenty of notes.

If you thought that the Indianapolis NFL combine was the only workout that mattered, you would be wrong. In fact, this is very common for the NFL scouts to travel out to campuses for workouts to evaluate players in their own environment. Players love it because they get a second chance to prove themselves on their own turf.

Players will undergo a series of physical tests to determine if they show improvement over the existing workout results from the Indianapolis combine (if they where there). The only outgoing player who will miss Pro Day is star senior cornerback Javier Arenas. Arenas has been troubled by a hamstring injury that he suffered in the Indianapolis workouts. He is scheduled to do a private workout with NFL scouts prior to the draft. McClain decided not to be tested at the first NFL combine. Instead, he opted to be tested at Pro Day because of a reported hamstring that needed to heal.

Many NFL teams are high on the “Man child” McClain, who is huge and fast.  He is expected to have 4.5 speed in the 40 but one coach said it did not matter to him.  The 49ers coach Mike Singletary, who knows a little something about defense as an All-Pro linebacker of the Chicago Bears, says he would be “shocked” if Ro’ McClain doen’t have a “very good NFL career.” 

All American OL MIke Johnson is expected to be a third-round draft and a solid offensive lineman for any team that picks him up.

Junior cornerback, Kareem Jackson, threw his hat into this year’s NFL draft and was very impressive in the Indianapolis combine. He is expected to be a second round draft pick, yet may go late 1st round. He ran an impressive 4.48 40 yard dash and the buzz among scouts was that his interviews went very well. David Jeremiah, a former Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns scout said that “Kareem Jackson helped himself immensely,” in the Indianapolis scouting combine.

Two players in fact ended up missing the Washington DC check this week because they were training for Pro Day. Those players include Terrence Cody and Rolando McClain.

Terrence Cody’s weight will be a “big” thing today as the NFL scouts will see if the big guy was able to work off some of the extra luggage. He came into the Senior bowl game at 370 pounds. It is commonly thought that if Cody can weigh below 350 (and he was already down to 354 at the INdianapolis NFL combine) he could be on track for for the big money with a top 15 draft pick. The teams that will be interested in any are the ones that run the 3-4 formation on defense. Approximately half the NFL temas utilize this scheme.

There some other players that did not get an invite to the Indianapolis combine that will get the opportunity to prove their abilities today at Pro Day in Tuscaloosa. Those players include players like Marquise Johnson, Roy Upchurch, & Eryk Anders.

Most NFL draft experts are considering Rolando McClain the top draft pick from the Alabama team this year. He is projected to be anywhere between the fifth (Chiefs) and the 15th draft pick (Giants).

The NFL draft is set to be on April 22-24.

Here is video from a past Pro Day:

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The obvious hole in the defesive line that needs to be plugged this fall is the one by big All-American Mount Cody. A massive specimen of a player at 355 pounds, the big guy made it nearly impossible for teams to run up the middle of the Alabama defense. He was a force of nature (hence the nickname “Mount”), but another player who is coming along who is shaped like a bowling ball. His name is Josh Chapman, and he is poised to take his place at noseguard and make his mark on the 2010 Crimson Tide.

Josh Chapman, junior nosetackle, played a good bit in 2009 in third-down situations in order to rest Mount Cody. He has a a lot of game day experience and at 6′1″ tall and 305 pounds, you can see why I say he is shaped to be like a bowling ball. Of course, he is not nearly as big as Cody, but what he lacks in size will be made up in strength and speed. He is widely considered on the team to be the strongest player in the weight room lifting close to 700 lbs. He also provides a lot pass rushing ability in the middle with more speed than Cody. I think Chapman will be a key cog in solidifying the defense for next year. .

One of the players that you might see battling with Chapman is Kerry Murphy. Kerry Murphy is the player that many wondered if he would ever get to Alabama. Murphy, like Chapman, came from the Alabama football powerhouse in Hoover (known nationally for its MTV reality show). both of these two players rotating in and out of the middle. A little taller player at 6′5″ tall and a little heavier at 327 pounds, Kerry Murphy is no small fry. Both him and Chapman will be in the mix for nose guard in the 2010 football season. Nick Saban is working on Murphy now to improve his conditioning. Players on the team said that Murphy is a “crazy athlete.” In fact, he can do back flips! Not just one either… but two in a row!

Chapman & Murphy are so highly regarded by their teammates, they are called “human earth movers.” Think of bulldoziers… That is a really good sign that we are going to be strong in the middle of our D.

One of the top defensive lineman to be on lookout for this fall is junior Marcell Darius. Darius came out the gate this season with two tackles & 1.5 sacks against Virginia Tech in the season opener. Many around the Alabama Crimson Tide program think that Marcell Darius will ABSOLUTELY be the next great defensive lineman for the Crimson Tide. We got a little taste of this in the national championship game when he intercepted a pass for a touchdown and also knocked Colt McCoy out of the game. On top of that, he was in the face of the Texas quarterbacks all night long. He will be a force in his junior and senior years if he stays healthy.

Another player to watch is Damion Square. He actually did a great job on pass rushing duties last year until he hurt his knee. Most likely he’s going to be limited in the spring, but you should see him full speed by fall.

Other backups who may be fighting for a job include Darrington Sentimore, William Ming,and Brandon Moore. Brandon Lewis a junior college signee from this years class could be an early force.

Folks we have the numbers, some even have some good playing experience, but I don’t think we will see much of a drop-off in defensive line performance next fall. Saban has the talent deep at Alabama. Look for new players this year like Kerry Murphy or even one of the young redshirt freshman players like Brandon Lewis or William Ming to step and contribute.

On the defensive line, Alabama is simply reloading. Sure I hate to lose Mount Cody, but the future is bright! I can’t wait to see 2010 and the new defensive front!

ROLL TIDE!

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