Connect with us

Alabama

Nate Oats recommits to Alabama as Kentucky rumors swirl

Published

on

Nate Oats recommits to Alabama as Kentucky rumors swirl


Nate Oats wanted Alabama fans to know that he has no plans of going anywhere. 

The Alabama coach’s name had been floated as one of the potential successors to John Calipari at Kentucky after it was reported late Sunday night that the Wildcats coach was finalizing a five-year deal to take over at Arkansas. 

However, Oats ended speculation in a statement Monday, telling fans that he was “fully committed to this team and to this University.”

Nate Oats led Alabama to the Final Four this season. USA TODAY Sports

“We have already accomplished some great things here, and there is nothing I want more than for the University of Alabama to win its first national championship in men’s basketball,” Oats said in the statement. “Despite any rumors to the contrary, rest assured that I will continue that pursuit as your head coach.” 

Advertisement

While rumors persisted about Oats and Kentucky on Monday, the $18 million buyout attached to the Alabama coach’s could have complicated a pursuit for him.

Still, it didn’t seem like it was as dissuasive and the commitment to Alabama may not have been as strong as Oats insisted it was. 

Oats did have “serious interest” in the Wildcats coaching vacancy before Alabama boosters “stepped up in a big way to make sure he need not look elsewhere,” The Athletic reported. 


John Calipari is reportedly finalizing a five-year deal with Arkansas.
John Calipari is reportedly finalizing a five-year deal with Arkansas. Getty Images

Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne also reaffirmed the program’s commitment to Oats in a statement while pushing the university’s NIL entity, “Yea Alabama.”

Oats has become one the sport’s rising coaches after a stellar first five years in Tuscaloosa. 

He has led Alabama to a 117-54 record while leading them to two SEC championships, four NCAA Tournament appearances and, this year, helped them reach the Final Four for the first time in program history.

Advertisement





Source link

Alabama

Oklahoma DC Zac Alley Alabama Postgame

Published

on

Oklahoma DC Zac Alley Alabama Postgame


CARSON FIELD

Carson Field has worked full-time in the sports media industry since 2020 in Colorado, Texas and Wyoming as well as nationally, and he has earned degrees from Arizona State University and Texas A&M University. When he isn’t covering the Sooners, he’s likely golfing, fishing or doing something else outdoors.
Twitter: https://x.com/carsondfield



Source link

Continue Reading

Alabama

Alabama Football at Oklahoma Injury Updates

Published

on

Alabama Football at Oklahoma Injury Updates


NORMAN, Okla.–– The Alabama football team stayed relatively healthy in last week’s game against Mercer after suffering a few season-ending injuries in the weeks before with guys like Cole Adams and Que Robinson.

Adams, Robinson and defensive back on Keon Sabb are the only three Crimson Tide players who have showed up on the official SEC availability report this week as Alabama prepares to face Oklahoma on Saturday night. However, the Sooners have a long list of players on the report

Follow along for injury updates throughout Saturday’s game between the Crimson Tide and Sooners.

In-game injury updates

First Quarter

Advertisement
  • 11:30- Overton is back on the field for Alabama’s second defensive series.
  • 14:30- Alabama defensive tackle LT Overton goes down on the first drive of the game. He is brielfy looked at by medical staff, but is able to walk off the field on his own. However, he headed straight for the injury tent.

Pregame

Alabama Final Availability Report

  • Keon Sabb, DB – Out
  • Cole Adams, WR – Out
  • Que Robinson, LB – Out

Oklahoma Final Availability Report

  • Jayden Gibson, WR – Out
  • Jalil Farooq, WR- Out
  • Nic Anderson, WR – Out
  • Andrel Anthony, WR – Out
  • Gentry Williams, DB – Out
  • Kendel Dolby, DB – Out
  • Geirean Hatchett, OL – Out
  • Jacob Sexton, OL – Out
  • Jake Taylor, OL – Out
  • Deion Burks, WR – Out
  • Jovantae Barnes, RB – Game-time decision
  • Joshua Bates, OL – Out

Read more: What Happened to the Players who Transferred From Alabama Last Year?

Why One Alabama Assistant Has Been Losing Sleep this Week

Where Alabama Football Ranks in the College Football Playoff Poll



Source link

Continue Reading

Alabama

Oklahoma-Alabama GameDay Preview: Under the Radar

Published

on

Oklahoma-Alabama GameDay Preview: Under the Radar


These can feel like grasping at straws sometimes, but in this case, I really think Jacob Jordan can be the difference for the OU passing game. Deion Burks probably isn’t going to play. Jalil Farooq has already been downgraded to questionable after he gave it a try two weeks ago at Mizzou. The return of those two players — for better or worse — did almost nothing for the offense in Columbia. Meanwhile, as the coaching staff inserted their stars back into the lineup, it came at the expense of Jordan, the true freshman walk-on who had blossomed in a three-week stretch, catching six passes for 86 yards against South Carolina, six for 38 and a touchdown at Ole Miss and three for 36 against Maine. At Mizzou? Jordan got to play one snap and was relegated to the end of the bench. OU defenders say he’s a frustrating player to cover because he runs such precise routes and catches almost everything. Also, when Jackson Arnold was benched and running the scout team, he developed some chemistry with Jordan. The Sooner staff would be wise to utilize him against the Crimson Tide.

— John E. Hoover

Alright, a Butkus Award semifinalist and the heartbeat of Oklahoma’s football team is probably too high-profile to qualify as “under the radar,” but it’s Senior Night and I’m going to bend the rules. Stutsman was everywhere against Missouri, totaling 19 tackles and preventing the Tigers from having much of a rushing attack at all. He’s going to say all the right things, but Stutsman’s final game on Owen Field means a great deal to him and his family, and I expect we’ll see another fantastic outing from the talismanic linebacker. And Oklahoma will need it. Jalen Milroe’s ability on the ground makes Alabama’s entire offensive operation go. The teams that have had success bottling him up, Vanderbilt and Tennessee, were able to upend the Crimson Tide. Any path to a shock OU victory runs through a night to remember for Stutsman — something he’s completely capable of on Saturday. 

— Ryan Chapman 

Advertisement

Even though Saturday marks Senior Day in Norman, the Sooners will be leaning heavily on a true freshman against the Crimson Tide. Coming off a career-high 56 yards on nine carries against Missouri, running back Xavier Robinson said he’s burning his redshirt seems to be in line for an increased share of the team’s carries this week when Alabama comes to town. If the Oklahoma City product has another strong performance, it could be enough to spark Oklahoma’s offense and keep the Sooners in contention against a formidable opponent who has been able to light up the scoreboard this season.

— Randall Sweet

The Sooners will need explosive plays to have a chance to take down Alabama. With receiver Deion Burks injured and sidelined again, the speedy Brenen Thompson might be OU’s best chance at a big play. Thompson has reached the end zone twice this season, and the last time was a 54-yard touchdown connection with Jackson Arnold, proving what Thompson is capable of if he and Arnold get the time they need. Alabama might also overlook the 5-foot-9 receiver and focus on a bigger threat like Jalil Farooq, possibly freeing Thompson, if even for one big play. 

— Dekota Gregory

Oklahoma’s wide receiver room has been a hot topic of conversation all season long. The Sooners have been banged up and the passing game has been extremely quiet. Whether it’s the quarterback spot, the offensive line, or the short handed receiver group, it’s been an all-around failure. Jalil Farooq has been injured for most of the season, but returned to the lineup against Missouri two weeks ago. He was expected to have a breakout campaign, but injuries have hampered his time on the field. Farooq looked rusty in his first week back, and it looked like he might not fully trust his foot yet. With a bye week in the past, this is the time for Farooq to make a difference, though. Oklahoma will desperately need him  with no other starting receivers healthy, and could force feed him early and often.

Advertisement

— Ross Lovelace



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending