Alabama
Everyone, Not Just Alabama, Should Be Upset About Non-Targeting Call: All Things CW
The All Issues CW notes column by Christopher Walsh will seem in 5 elements this week, one every day main as much as Saturday’s recreation in opposition to Mississippi State.
That is …
Take 4
It has been 5 days because the Alabama Crimson Tide misplaced at Tennessee, and so far as we all know it nonetheless hasn’t acquired a proof on why the brutal hit on quarterback Bryce Younger wasn’t thought of concentrating on.
Nick Saban has solely stated that the workforce turned the play into the league workplace for consideration. That was on Monday. Granted, he is had another issues on his thoughts this week, however so far as anybody is aware of the SEC has not gotten again to him or Alabama.
“There’s two issues which might be a difficulty right here: concentrating on, however you’re additionally not presupposed to hit the quarterback within the head,” the Crimson Tide coach stated. “Final yr in opposition to Texas A&M, Malachi [Moore] acquired thrown out of the sport. The man was out of the pocket, jumped as much as block the ball and ended up, virtually unintentionally, hitting him within the head and acquired ejected from the sport.
“So there’s actually two issues that must be checked out.”
On the play in query, Alabama had first down on the Tennessee 20, with 1:38 remaining till halftime. The Crimson Tide was down 28-17, however a landing and additional level would make it a four-point recreation, and provides the visiting workforce a whole lot of momentum.
Younger held the ball too lengthy, to the purpose that left guard Javion Cohen began to surrender on the play. He and heart Seth McLaughlin have been double-teaming defensive lineman Omari Thomas, who acquired a shot on the quarterback after he stepped as much as throw.
The NCAA rule e book covers concentrating on with 9-1-3 and 9-1-4:
“Concentrating on and Making Forcible Contact With the Crown of the Helmet
ARTICLE 3. No participant shall goal and make forcible contact in opposition to an opponent with the crown of his helmet. This foul requires that there be a minimum of one indicator of concentrating on (See Observe 1 beneath). When in query, it’s a foul. …
Concentrating on and Making Forcible Contact to Head or Neck Space of a Defenseless Participant
ARTICLE 4. No participant shall goal and make forcible contact to the top or neck space of a defenseless opponent with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulder. This foul requires that there be a minimum of one indicator of concentrating on. When in query, it’s a foul. …
Observe 1: “Concentrating on” signifies that a participant takes goal at an opponent for functions of attacking with forcible contact that goes past making a authorized deal with or a authorized block or taking part in the ball. Some indications of concentrating on (emphasis NCAA’s) embody however aren’t restricted to:
- Launch-a participant leaving his ft to assault an opponent by an upward and ahead thrust of the physique to make forcible contact within the head or neck space
- A crouch adopted by an upward and ahead thrust to assault with forcible contact on the head or neck space, despite the fact that one or each ft are nonetheless on the bottom
- Main with helmet, shoulder, forearm, fist, hand or elbow to assault with forcible contact on the head or neck space
- Reducing the top earlier than attacking by initiating forcible contact with the crown of the helmet
Observe 2: Defenseless participant (Rule 2-27-14). When in query, a participant is defenseless. Examples of defenseless gamers embody however aren’t restricted to:
- A participant within the act of or simply after throwing a cross
- A receiver trying to catch a ahead cross or in place to obtain a backward cross, or one who has accomplished a catch and has not had time to guard himself or has not clearly turn into a ball provider
- A kicker within the act of or simply after kicking a ball, or throughout the kick or the return
- A kick returner trying to catch or recuperate a kick, or one who has accomplished a catch or restoration and has not had time to guard himself or has not clearly turn into a ball provider
- A participant on the bottom
- A participant clearly out of the play
- A participant who receives a blind-side block
- A ball provider already within the grasp of an opponent and whose ahead progress has been stopped
- A quarterback any time after a change of possession a ball provider who has clearly given himself up and is sliding ft first”
With all that in thoughts, there appears to be some apparent solutions to the mandatory fundamental questions:
Was Younger a defenseless participant? Sure.
Did he get hit within the head space? Sure.
Scroll to Proceed
Was he hit with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulder? Sure.
Did the participant lead together with his helmet? Did he decrease his head? He appeared to, sure.
But the decision was not concentrating on. The officiating crew additionally did not name roughing the passer.
We defer to former NFL official Terry McAulay, an LSU graduate who labored within the ACC from 1994-97. From 1998-2017, he was the referee for seven convention championship video games and three Tremendous Bowls.
He says there’s one clear conclusion: “It is clearly a concentrating on foul by rule.”
The officers appeared to neglect two issues particularly.
1) The road “When in query, it’s a foul.”
2) That the rule is there to forestall issues like quarterbacks taking direct pictures to the top by charging defensive lineman who’re 6-4, 320 kilos.
Anybody who wants a reminder of what is at stake solely want to take a look at what former Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s been going by way of with the Miami Dolphins. Throughout Week 4 of the NFL season the fifth-overall choose within the 2020 NFL Draft was making an attempt to increase a play when he took a giant hit after which had his head strike the bottom throughout a Thursday evening recreation in Cincinnati.
The 24-year-old Tagovailoa advised reporters in Miami on Wednesday that he does not keep in mind what occurred after his head hit the bottom, or being carted off the sphere.
“I would not say it was scary for me on the time as a result of there was some extent the place I used to be unconscious, so I could not actually inform what was occurring,” he stated. “After I did come to and type of realized what was occurring and what was taking place, I did not consider something long run or quick time period. I used to be simply questioning what occurred.”
Contemplating it was the second blow to his head space in as many weeks, the outrage was huge. The league responded by asserting modifications to its concussion protocols, however one has to marvel what sort of long-term harm could have been carried out.
After the 21-year-old Younger acquired drilled, Alabama had two accept a 43-yard area aim.
So sure, the non-call could have influenced the result of the sport, a 52-49 loss to snap Alabama’s 15-game profitable streak within the sequence, however that is not crucial difficulty right here.
The No. 1 job of all officers is not essentially get all of the calls proper, though it is good once they do. It is to guard the security of the athletes. And if the foundations have to be clearer on that time then they have to be adjusted instantly as properly.
There are many individuals who want their head examined over this, and never simply the quarterback.
See Additionally:
Take 1: Alabama’s Penalty Downside Is not Simply Dangerous, However Horrendous
Take 2: Which Alabama Gamers are Getting the Most Penalties
Take 3: Are Penalties the First Actual Crack within the Alabama Dynasty?
Wish to see the Crimson Tide or different groups? SI Tickets
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Nate Oats started his postgame press conference explaining why Alabama would have a much better winter break after its 81-54 win over Kent State. According to Oats, a happy holiday hinged on the Tide’s defensive performance against the Golden Flashes.
“Much better defensive effort so it’ll be a lot better Christmas break for us,” Oats said with a smile at the podium. “We did make a big point of emphasis on defense, especially after that debacle up in North Dakota with [Fighting Hawks guard Treysen Eaglestaff].”
It was far from a perfect offensive display for the Tide against Kent State. Alabama’s lingering turnover issues reared its ugly head for a second straight and the Tide continued shooting poorly from 3-point range.
However, after defensive letdowns nearly sprang an upset in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Alabama got back to the basics over the next few days at practice. The team worked on defensive fundamentals rather than solely focusing on film study.
That extra emphasis paid off as Alabama equaled its lowest points allowed in a game this season with 54. Tide forward Grant Nelson swatted a shot attempt by Kent State’s leading scorer VonCameron Davis in the opening few minutes, which helped set the tone the rest of the way.
“I think that [block] and just really everyone loading in the gaps, helping each other out,” Nelson said of Alabama’s defensive performance. “I thought that was huge. I think we kept them to six points in the first three media timeouts, that was huge for us. We emphasized that like I said and just a lot of credit to our guys for carrying it over on the court.”
While Alabama didn’t shoot the ball well, it made sure Kent State’s shooting was even more ineffective. Alabama communicated well on switches and contested shots from beyond the arc. It honed in on Davis, who averages 14.9 points per game but was limited to under 10 points for just the second time this season. Davis scored nine on an inefficient 4 of 15 from the field and had a minus-31 box plus-minus rating.
Coming into the game, Oats also felt like Kent State guard Jalen Sullinger (9.7 points per game) could be a dangerous weapon against Alabama’s defense with the potential to do the same thing Eaglestaff did for North Dakota. The Fighting Hawks guard scored a career-high 40 points, single-handedly pulling them back into the game late.
After missing the mark severely on guarding Eaglestaff, the Tide understood the assignment when it came to Sullinger and locked down the Kent State senior.
“He ended up shooting 1 of 14 and didn’t score in the second half,” Oats said. “So I think we did a little bit of a better job being locked in to a perimeter guy. We held them to a pretty good field goal percentage, they only shot 28%. Traditionally, this has been one of the hardest playing teams — I was in the MAC for six years and they get all of the O Boards. We gave up too many second-chance points but I thought for the most part our first-shot defense was good.”
Alabama continued to play effective post-defense in spite of the offensive rebounds. The Tide finished with six blocks as a team. Center Clifford Omoruyi won the Hard Hat Award for the most blue collar points and grabbed 12 rebounds while Nelson had 14. Off the bench, Derrion Reid had a pair of steals while Mouhamed Dioubate chipped in with two blocks.
Following the win, Alabama jumped from No. 57 to No. 42 in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.com. As the Tide looks to build on its defensive momentum, better play on offense will have to follow. Alabama’s defense is much improved from last season when it was at its best, but it won’t be able to win games on defense alone when league play tips off on Jan. 4.
“We struggled a little offensively, and we’re gonna have to figure some stuff out here before SEC play,” Oats said. “The turnovers have been really just way too many — 13 in the first half. We did the same thing two games in a row. We only had one the second half against North Dakota. We ended up with six in the second half here. So we’ve got to do a better job at turnovers. I don’t have an answer for the free throw problems, but the only way to fix that is get in the gym and work. The good thing for us is we don’t have any school for a few weeks here, so after they get back from Christmas break, we’ll be in the gym and putting some time in.”
Alabama will conclude non-conference play against Summit League side South Dakota State. The Tide and Jackrabbits will tip off at 2 p.m. CT Dec. 29 inside Coleman Coliseum. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network+.
Very cold temperatures greeted Alabamians on Sunday morning.
The National Weather Service said temperatures overnight bottomed out in the low 20s in parts of the state and even were at the freezing mark in south Alabama.
Here were the lowest temperatures between midnight and 6 a.m. Sunday from around Alabama from the National Weather Service:
* Alexander City: 30 degrees
* Anniston: 23 degrees
* Auburn: 28 degrees
* Birmingham: 24 degrees
* Decatur: 25 degrees
* Demopolis: 25 degrees
* Dothan: 30 degrees
* Evergreen: 28 degrees
* Eufaula: 28 degrees
* Gadsden: 21 degrees
* Haleyville: 22 degrees
* Huntsville: 26 degrees
* Mobile: 31 degrees
* Montgomery: 25 degrees
* Muscle Shoals: 24 degrees
* Ozark: 29 degrees
* Prattville: 25 degrees
* Sylacauga: 24 degrees
* Talladega: 22 degrees
* Troy: 26 degrees
* Tuscaloosa: 25 degrees
Temperatures today will be a few degrees higher than on Saturday. Highs will range from the low to mid-40s in south Alabama to the 50s in central Alabama, to the mid-50s in south Alabama (today’s forecast is at the top of this post).
Tonight will be chilly again, but not as cold as last night. Here are the forecast low temperatures from Sunday night into Monday morning:
Tonight’s low temperatures won’t be quite as cold as last night.NWS
Gradual warming is expected to continue this week, with the next chances for rain arriving on Wednesday, Christmas Day. The weather service isn’t expecting a lot of rain, and no severe weather is anticipated.
High temperatures on Christmas Day will be warmer, with 60s expected across a wide area and possibly some 70s near the coast. Here are the expected Christmas Day temperatures:
It will be warmer across much of Alabama on Christmas Day. Above is the forecast for Wednesday.NWS
The warming trend looks to hold past Christmas. Here is the six- to 10-day temperature outlook, and it shows a high probability of above-average temperatures for Alabama through the end of December:
Alabama has a high probability of experiencing above-average temperatures from Dec. 27- Dec. 31.Climate Prediction Center
Alabama
Seth McLaughlin Brings Alabama's Tennessee Victory Cigar Tradition to the Ohio State Sideline
Seth McLaughlin wasn’t able to play against Tennessee on Saturday night.
But that didn’t mean he couldn’t celebrate his team’s dominating 42-17 win the way he used to when he suited up for the Alabama Crimson Tide as an undergraduate student.
The cigar he had with him was not random or a prop. It was part of a tradition he learned in Tuscaloosa.
— Chase Brown (@chaseabrown__) December 22, 2024
As the legend has it, in 1961 one of Bear Bryant’s trainers lit up a stogie following a Tide win which had ended a five-game slide to the Volunteers. This created a tradition maintained over the next two decades – which eventually spread to the opposite sideline.
The Volunteers have been participating in the victory cigar tradition since the early 1980s. It has spread from the sideline into the stands and tailgates. Earlier this season, the Volunteers beat the Crimson Tide in Knoxville, creating a plume of smoke above Neyland Stadium.
Tennessee students light up cigars after an SEC conference game between Tennessee and Alabama in Neyland Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. © Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
So it was appropriate that McLaughlin, now with the Buckeyes following his Rimington Award-winning season in Columbus found a way to pay homage to his first alma mater while celebrating with his second one.
Former Alabama center Seth McLaughlin is smoking a cigar on the Ohio State sideline as time expires and the Buckeyes beat Tennessee.
— Sidelines – Bama (@SSN_Alabama) December 22, 2024
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