This scholar-athlete has become one of the primary faces of the 2011 Alabama football team. Offensive linemen typically labor in obscurity, but Jones might be one of the top superstars on the team. The tackle/guard/center certainly is the MVP if the “V” stands for “versatile.”
The Picker: Alabama should handle scary Arkansas attack
Alabama 27, Arkansas 23
The Arkansas coaches will pin their defensive hopes on stopping Trent Richardson, Eddie Lacy and the running game. You'll see eight players crowd the line early, hoping to force Alabama and its untested quarterback, AJ McCarron, to the air. This is McCarron's biggest moment in his young Tide career. Can he handle Arkansas' best defense in years, with its intent to make him win the game with his arm? He can take comfort that Alabama's defense, in its first at-bat against an explosive offense, has enough skill, depth and experience to exploit Bobby Petrino's ego. In his past three games against 11-point favored Alabama, Petrino's offensive reputation hasn't shined. Arkansas has converted just 9 of 41 third-down plays. [Read More]
College coaching, not the NFL, is the perfect fit for Saban, Petrino
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Two sets of numbers for you: 30-47 and 284-102-1. Think football is football, no matter where? The first set is the combined won-loss record of Nick Saban, Bobby Petrino and Steve Spurrier as NFL head coaches. The second, their combined record as SEC head coaches. Ironic, isn't it, that three of the league's top tier coaches – two of whom meet Saturday when Saban's Alabama team hosts Petrino and Arkansas – were New Coke when it came to NFL success? [Read More]
Nick Saban has to be in Bobby Petrino’s head
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – His team wasn't going to lose the game, but at that moment, the big picture didn't matter to Bobby Petrino. When his quarterback overshot his receiver on third-and-goal in the sec-ond quarter last weekend against Troy, the Arkansas coach lost it. He turned his headset into a projectile. He mocked his quar-terback's throwing motion. The only thing missing from the tirade was a good spanking. Why was Petrino able to channel his inner Nick Sa-ban so easily? [Read More]
Mixed emotions? Ex-Tide star Bobby Humphrey just wants to see a good game
“It's only for the next three years,” the proud father of Arkansas sophomore wide receiver Maudrecus Humphrey said. Never mind that he usually didn't see his son on the field until the second or third quarter. But that changed last Saturday. When Bobby and his wife, Barbara, hit the highway around 4:30 a.m., they had no idea that their son would be making his first start that night for the Razorbacks against Troy. [Read More]
Nickel Package: Tide put streak on the line
ESPN Stats & Info Blog
1. The Alabama Crimson Tide begin its SEC schedule this week by hosting the Arkansas Razorbacks. That could be bad news for the Razorbacks based on recent history. On the field, Alabama has won 19 straight SEC openers, with its last loss coming in 1991 to the Florida Gators (note: some of those games have since been vacated or forfeited). Only two other FBS schools have active conference-opener win streaks in double digits. The Virginia Tech Hokies have won 15 straight, while the Boise State Broncos are on an 11-game streak. But both those have come in two different conferences (Big East/ACC for Virginia Tech and Big West/WAC for Boise State). The Broncos open their first season in the Mountain West Conference on October 15 at the Colorado State Rams. [Read More]
Big 12 Works on Deal on TV Money as Its Commissioner Resigns
Pete Thamel – NY Times
The dysfunctional family that is the Big 12 Conference appears to be headed for a respite from its flurry of infighting, flirtations and general disagreements. On a conference call Thursday night, the presidents and chancellors of the Big 12 colleges committed to stay together again – much as they did last year – and also accepted the resignation of Commissioner Dan Beebe. But there was a mixed message on the biggest news of the night. According to the Oklahoma president, David Boren, the Big 12 leaders agreed to a six-year deal to pool their most lucrative television rights, known as a grant of rights. [Read More]
Sources: Could TCU End Up In The Big-12?
Chip Brown – Orangebloods.com
The Big 12 presidents were scheduled to meet on a conference call at 5 p.m. CT tonight. There is a lot to talk about, including the imminent resignation of commissioner Dan Beebe and the naming of former Big 8 commissioner Chuck Neinas as Beebe's interim replacement, two high-ranking Big 12 officials told Orangebloods.com. The presidents will also discuss Big 12 expansion and whether to add one school or three schools, sources said. And TCU may be rising up the list of candidates to become No. 10, two key sources said Thursday. While BYU has been the popular thought as a replacement for Texas A&M, a key source close to the situation says BYU may no longer be interested in joining the Big 12 because of the recent instability. [Read More]
Mizzou doesn’t commit to Big 12, SEC still an option
Mike DeArmond – The Kansas City Star
COLUMBIA – The fractured Big 12 Conference attempted to join hands and unify Thursday night, but Missouri’s grip may not be as tight. Not only did MU chancellor Brady Deaton and athletic director Mike Alden decline to confirm the university’s commitment in the long or short term to the Big 12, the Tigers’ interest in the Southeastern Conference is very much alive. “We either stick in the Big 12 because everything came about the way it needs to, the right way, with all the differences being settled in Missouri’s favor,” a university administrator who asked not to be identified told The Star on Thursday night. “But what are the odds of that happening? [Read More]
Texas notebook: Image takes a beating after latest conference free-for-all
Mike Finger – Chron.com
AUSTIN – DeLoss Dodds famously once said, “We are the Joneses,” and people thought Texas was arrogant then. That was before UT built the richest athletic department in the country, and the Longhorns got so big Dodds decided they didn't need any description at all. “We are who we are,” the UT athletic director said this week, when asked about UT's image after finding themselves in the middle of two messy realignment sagas in 16 months. “People say what they say. The outcome is the outcome. We're proud of ourselves.” This was not the humble pie many were hoping to force-feed Bevo after UT flirted with the Pac-12, the ACC and even independence before sticking with the Big 12. [Read More]
Big 12 headed for binding TV rights
ESPN Big 12 Blog
The Big 12's presidents agreed to grant their television rights to the conference for six years, Oklahoma president David Boren said at a news conference on Thursday. Missouri chancellor Brady Deaton said at a news conference also on Thursday night that the agreement was not official, and the league had agreed to pursue such binds. A source at Missouri confirmed to ESPN.com that they were told “there was no agreement, only an agreement to work toward that as a potential outcome.” [Read More]
Visitors: Crimson Tide vs. Razorbacks
An electric atmosphere is expected in Tuscaloosa at Bryant-Denny Stadium when Alabama host Arkansas Saturday afternoon. Several top recruits plan to visit this weekend including a couple of uncommitted five-stars. Andrew Bone takes a look at the elite prospects who have confirmed their travel plans. [Read more]
Nick Saban ends his radio show with a pep talk for Tide fans
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – Alabama coach Nick Saban ended his Thursday night radio with strong encouragement to fans to stay until the end of Saturday's game and make as much noise as possible. “Every time they come to the line of scrimmage, we should make it difficult for their quarterback to play,” he said. “Don't think you're not having an effect on the game. Make them go silent. Make their players react to the snap of the ball so that they can't hear every play of the game. [Read More]
Nick Saban talks Alabama and Arkansas at his weekly radio show
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – Nick Saban arrived at Buffalo Wild Wings just before 7 p.m. Thursday to take the stage for his weekly radio show. The crowd was lively with plenty of anticipation for the 2:30 p.m. game Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium between No. 3 Alabama and No. 14 Arkansas. [Read More]
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