TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — On this case, the numbers do not inform the entire story.

On third-down conversions, the Alabama Crimson Tide offense is 19-for-43 this season, which works out to 44.19 %. Usually one would possibly say that is fairly good, however it’s eighth within the Southeastern Convention and 51st within the nation.

That is a nasty signal for the 2022 Crimson Tide, proper? Particularly since Alabama was third within the nation the earlier yr at .520, and was first in 2020 at .589.

Positive, Alabama was 7-for-12 on third-down conversions in opposition to Vanderbilt final week, however simply 2-for-6 when beginning quarterback Bryce Younger was within the recreation.

However take a better look.

Younger related with Ja’Corey Brooks for a 15-yard acquire on third-and-10.

He additionally hit freshman Kobe Prentice for 15 on third-and-7.

As for the failed conversions, Younger and Prentice could not join on one other cross, tight finish Cameron Latu had a catch wanting the primary down, and the remainder have been on dashing performs.

Younger was 3-for-4 passing on third downs, and twice transformed third-and-long.

Up to now this season, Younger is 12-for-19 on third downs (63.2 %), for 117 yards, 6.2 common, with two touchdowns and no interceptions. His longest completion’s been for 15 yards.

His passer score is 149.6 on third downs. All 4 of the sacks he is taken have been on third down as effectively.

Like one would anticipate, Younger’s passer numbers are a big step down on third downs this season.

Total, he is 83-for-121 (68.6 %) for 1,029 yards, 8.5 common, with 13 touchdowns and two interceptions. It provides as much as a passer score of 172.2.

Final season, when Younger gained the Heisman, he was 366-for-547 (66.9 %), for 4,872 yards, 8.9 common, with 47 landing passes and 7 interceptions. He was sacked 39 instances, and had a score of 167.5.

Some of the outstanding issues about Younger’s sophomore season was that he obtained higher on third downs. His completions % went up from 68.0 on first downs, and 65.0 on second downs, to 71.7 % on third downs.

His passer score went up as effectively, from 161.2 and 168.7 on first and second downs, respectively, to 205.2 on third downs.

Now we add the context. Younger does not have a go-to receiver like John Metchie III, or Jameson Williams, at the very least not but. Creating that form of chemistry takes time, reps, and let’s be trustworthy, lots of expertise — normally confirmed expertise.

Alabama’s receiving corps is principally model new. Younger is creating a rapport with not simply the starters, however principally everybody. It is form of like what you hear with defensive backs attempting to be taught Nick Saban‘s scheme: Realizing it’s one factor, however figuring out it to the purpose you do not have to consider it’s one other.

We’re beginning to see flashes of what occurs when issues begin to click on, like with Brooks.

Take away the ball that went off his palms and was subsequently picked off by ULM, and the sophomore has had back-to-back spectacular video games. Towards the Commodores he paced the Alabama receivers with six catches for 117 yards. The 2 scores from 21 and 34 yards away weren’t simply his first two touchdowns this season, however the latter, was the longest throw/completion Younger’s had but this season.

Because the familiarity grows, the play-calling will change into extra elaborate and complicated, and gamers will begin to emerge. This group already has lots of potential together with Jermaine Burton, Prentice, Isaiah Bond, Kendrick Regulation, Christian Leary and Emmanuel Henderson Jr., whereas JoJo Earle, Tyler Harrell and Aaron Anderson are all working their means off accidents.

With that in thoughts, there are three causes for some robust optimism:

1) Younger’s key total numbers, that means completion share and passer score, are already up regardless of all of the turnover on offense.

2) He is taking fewer sacks.

3) Third downs, which would be the key transferring ahead, and what everybody must be taking a look at statistically.

The extra snug Younger will get with the receivers, and the extra the road protects him, the extra he’ll be throwing downfield. The query is not if his third-down numbers will get higher, however by how a lot.

Put that along with the third-down protection, as opponents have transformed 11 of 59 alternatives for a hit share of 18.64, which is second within the nation, and Alabama has its recipe for making one other nationwide title run.

It is Time for SEC Colleges to Significantly Think about Scheduling HBCU Opponents

I’ve written earlier than about how each Saban and Jackson State coach Deion Sanders each use the Aflac adverts they do collectively to assist assist a few of their favourite causes.

For Sanders its HBCU colleges, and for Saban it is the Nick’s Children Basis and constructing a home with Habitat of Humanity each time the Crimson Tide wins a championship.

Sanders, although, has actually put his cash the place his mouth is relating to his newest ardour. I may also verify from expertise that when he will get behind one thing, he actually will get behind it.

Full disclosure: Years in the past, when beginning out as a journalist my first job was with the Information-Press in Fort Myers, Fla., the hometown of the one famously often known as “Prime Time.” The newspaper did not have the best relationship with him, however we did have a superb one along with his spectacular mom, Connie Knight.

A memorable story for me earlier than he performed in Tremendous Bowl XXIX with the San Francisco 49ers was speaking to followers in his previous neighborhood concerning the two-sport star going for his first championship. They have been excited and stated they hoped to see extra of him again residence (one steered he assist construct a neighborhood ice area).

Sanders could also be a showman, however he additionally backs it up. He is given each Jackson State and HBCU colleges an enormous presence and mouthpiece, and has been shaking up the way in which issues have historically been performed in faculty soccer.

This yr alone, he donated half of his $300,000 teaching wage to assist renovate JSU’s stadium in Mississippi’s capital metropolis, helped the workforce’s largest recreation in opposition to Alcorn State have a sold-out document crowd, and even has a former NFL head coach, Mike Zimmer, previously of the Minnesota Vikings, serving to out.

That is on high of Travis Hunter, arguably the highest recruit within the nation for the Class of 2022, shocking faculty soccer followers throughout the nation and taking part in for Sanders at Jackson State. Sports activities Illustrated known as the transfer, “most likely essentially the most surprising determination within the historical past of school soccer recruiting.”

Sanders can be not alone. Different HBCUs have introduced in big-name coaches like Eddie George (Tennessee State) and Hue Jackson (Grambling State).

So what does this need to do with Alabama outdoors of the advert marketing campaign?

Easy, it is time the the SEC and Alabama contemplate taking part in groups from the Southwestern Athletic Convention, the Soccer Championship Sequence league the Tigers play in that’s made up fully of HBCUs.

Any recreation between an SEC program and an HBCU most likely would not be shut, and there is actually not so much for an SEC faculty to realize with such a matchup. However the distinction it may make could possibly be large, and never simply in soccer.

In response to the Nationwide Pupil Clearinghouse Analysis Middle, the newest numbers present a 4.7 % year-over-year drop in undergraduate enrollment at schools and a 9.4 % lower because the onset of the pandemic.

The demographic most alarming within the decline is Black freshmen with enrollment down 18.7 % since spring 2020.

Alabama, in fact, is an exception. It simply introduced a document of 38,645 college students enrolled in fall 2022. The document enrollment was boosted by the biggest freshman class in class historical past (8,037).

Likelihood is we cannot be seeing the Crimson Tide go well with up in opposition to a SWAC program within the close to future, particularly because the SEC may quickly go to a nine-game convention schedule. Alabama already has a bunch of high-profile home-and-home video games below contract via the subsequent decade, and mismatches not result in a jam-packed Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Consequently, if any program within the SEC ought to play Jackson State it ought to most likely be Ole Miss or Mississippi State, so at the very least it may entice in-state followers. Rebels coach Lane Kiffin was requested about it at media days in July and he gave a really “Prime Time”-like reply with “It has been nice to see Deion’s success and the way effectively he is doing. I do not know future plans on that, however that will be thrilling.”

Ole Miss and Jackson State have not performed one another because the Tigers’ inaugural season in 1911.

In the meantime, Utah State and Louisiana Monroe not too long ago obtained greater than $1.9 million to play at Bryant-Denny Stadium, with Warhawks coach Terry Bowden saying the blowout loss pays for a brand new weight room. For an FCS opponent, Alabama is ready to pay Mercer a $600,000 assure for a 2024 assembly.

Think about what these sorts of payouts may do for an HBCU faculty.

2022-23 Might be a Banner 12 months for Alabama Girls’s Sports activities

Do not look know, however the 2022 phenomenon often known as the Alabama ladies’s soccer workforce could be the beginning of a probably landmark yr in Crimson Tide ladies’s athletics.

At 10-1-1, Alabama soccer is ranked No. 5 within the newest United Soccer Coaches high 25 ballot and exhibiting no indicators of slowing down. 4 of the final 5 opponents failed to attain, together with two SEC groups, because the Crimson Tide has notched seven shutouts in 12 video games.

“There’s not a lot to it apart from the chemistry,” Felicia Knox stated on the SEC Community broadcast after having a purpose and two assists within the 3-0 win over Texas A&M. “It is simply all flowing and it is working.”

We’re used to gymnastics and softball being thought-about elite applications, however they’re within the technique of getting lots of firm.

For instance, ladies’s cross nation is No. 10 within the nation, and tops amongst SEC colleges.

Volleyball is 6-9 below new coach Rashinda Reed, however simply obtained an enormous dedication from Leilia Suamili Toailoa, who was a Maxpreps Underclassmen All-American final yr.

The swimming and diving workforce is coming off a program-best fourth place end on the NCAA Championships.

The one which’s been a very long time coming, although is basketball.

12 months 10 of the Kristy Curry period obtained below means this week and all of the items seem like in place to have her greatest season but at Alabama.

The Crimson Tide returns seven gamers who contributed over 95 % of the factors scored final season, to go together with six newcomers together with 5 transfers.

“Not solely do we have now the expertise in place, however the character,” head coach Kristy Curry stated through the press convention along with the primary fall apply this week.

“I am so enthusiastic about the place we’re at from a tradition standpoint in all features. It is a fully totally different place in comparison with 9 years in the past to the day. It is fairly particular.”

Returning as graduate college students are Megan Abrams, Hannah Barber, Brittany Davis and Jada Rice in addition to senior JaMya Mingo-Younger.

Curry additionally added:

• Two-time Miss Basketball within the state of Tennessee, freshman Karly Weathers
• 2019-20 Miss South Carolina Basketball and Georgia Tech switch Loyal McQueen
• 2019-20 Miss Alabama Basketball and Georgia switch Sarah Ashlee Barker
• 2019-20 Related Press Michigan Division I Women Basketball Participant of the 12 months and 2021-22 Illinois main scorer Aaliyah Nye
• 2021-22 North Dakota State main rebounder and double-digit scorer Ryan Cobbins
• JeAnna Cunningham, a 6-4 middle from West Virginia. As a recruit she was ranked because the No. 13 ahead within the nation by ESPN.

“This group is wonderful,” stated Barker, who sure, is the daughter of former Crimson Tide quarterback Jay Barker.

This is not only a workforce that ought to return to the NCAA Event after barely lacking final season, however be within the hunt for a superb seeding. 

Sure, Issues Can Get Worse for Arkansas, Tennessee Towards Alabama

Alabama soccer has been identified for its streaks over time.

Some spectacular ones that this system is presently having fun with embrace being ranked No. 1 within the AP High 25 for the duration of each season since 2008, and the continuing 54-game successful streak in opposition to non-conference foes within the common season, together with a 40-game residence successful streak at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Alabama had a 100-game successful streak in opposition to non-ranked opponents that was lastly snapped final season, together with Saban’s 24-game successful streak dealing with head coaches who had at one level been one in all his assistants.

Two streaks that will probably be on the road this month are Alabama’s 15-game undefeated string below Saban in opposition to SEC rivals Arkansas and Tennessee. Each opponents have been ranked within the high 10 this season, though the Razorbacks dropped to No. 20 following final week’s gut-churning loss to Texas A&M.

The final time the Razorbacks gained in opposition to the Crimson Tide was in 2006, and so they nonetheless wanted double-overtime to take action at residence. Quarterback Mitch Mustain’s 11-yard landing cross to tight finish Ben Cleveland arrange the successful level, a Jeremy Davis kick for the 24-23 victory. Operating again Darren McFadden had 112 dashing yards on 25 carries and scored a landing to steer Arkansas.

The final Tennessee win was throughout that very same season, 16-13 in Knoxville. The protection picked off Erik Ainge thrice (two by Simeon Castille), however working again Arian Foster scored a late landing to safe the final win for the No. 7 Volunteers.

However neither faculty can declare to have suffered essentially the most, and the longest, by the hands of the Crimson Tide.

The longest unbeaten streak in Alabama historical past is 31 straight video games, which Kentucky endured from 73 years, from 1923-1996. The one non-win Alabama had within the sequence throughout these seven-plus many years was 7-7 tie in 1939.

Frank Thomas was the coach and he may be forgiven since Alabama claims two nationwide titles below his route.

However when it comes to pure successful streaks in a sequence, with no ties, each Arkansas and Tennessee are solely scratching the highest 5.

Observe: The next record solely contains every faculty as soon as. It must be famous that Mississippi State additionally has 15-game, and has an ongoing 14-game shedding steak in opposition to Alabama, and Kentucky and Vanderbilt each had 14-game shedding streaks as effectively.

Alabama Longest Profitable Streaks Towards An Opponent

1. Mississippi State 22, 1958-80
2. Vanderbilt 20, 1985-ongoing*
3. Kentucky 16, 1923-1938
4. Arkansas 15, 2007-ongoing
5. Tennessee 15, 2007-ongoing
6. Clemson 13, 1909-2016
7. Ole Miss 12, 1912-32
8. Sewanee 12, 1923-38
9. LSU 11, 1971-81
10. Southern Miss 11, 1957-80
11. Miami 10, 1962-79
12. South Carolina 10, 1937-2000
13. Tulane 10, 1961-ongoing
14. Virginia Tech 10, 1932-79

* Doesn’t embrace a forfeit and two vacated wins, bringing the entire down from 23.

In case you are questioning, simply lacking double-digits are Auburn (1973-81) and Louisville (1941-ongoing) with 9, with Florida (1964-86, 2009-ongoing) and Texas A&M (2013-20) each at eight.

That features each workforce within the SEC West. 

Response to Tua Tagovailoa Harm Each Proper and Overblown

There was loads of frustration and outrage expressed on social media on Thursday evening concerning the damage Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa toookay within the second quarter, which landed him within the hospital with head and neck accidents.

Fortunately, he was discharged and heading residence with the workforce, however Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel appropriately known as it “a scary second” throughout his postgame press convention.

The knee-jerk response, in fact, was that the Dolphins mishandled the state of affairs, did not care about their quarterback and acted irresponsibly. Bear in mind, that is the group that not too long ago forfeited two draft picks and proprietor Stephen Ross was suspended and fined $1.5 million for attempting to skirt the foundations.

Do not make that assumption.

Not even a health care provider ought to make that leap with out figuring out all of the details, or being aware about the medical particulars on the quarterback.

Granted, it regarded unhealthy, and got here simply 4 days after the previous Crimson Tide standout suffered a again damage in opposition to the Payments. He left that recreation within the second quarter and reportedly cleared concussion protocol, so he returned to the sector. Afterward, the quarterback advised reporters his again “locked up” after the hit, inflicting him to stumble.

That little element was being ignored by these lashing out.

Tagovailoa was additionally thought-about questionable to start out up till about two hours earlier than kickoff on Thursday, which appears in step with a again damage.

Now if it does come out that Tagovailoa did undergo a concussion in opposition to the Payments, and the Dolphins swept it below the rug, your complete teaching, coaching, medical and personnel workers ought to all be fired and by no means allowed to work in sports activities once more. The possession also needs to be stripped of the workforce.

The variety of lawsuits ensuing from that will be staggering.

So it was necessary to notice what McDaniel stated after the loss to the Bengals.

The coach was requested point-blank by Solar Sentinel beat reporter David Furones if he may say with one hundred pc certainty that Tagovailoa didn’t undergo a concussion or different head damage in opposition to Buffalo. His reply was sure.

McDaniel was additionally requested if there was something in hindsight that he would have performed or may have performed in another way after the damage in opposition to the Payments?

“Completely not,” he stated. “If I might have, that will be irresponsible within the first place and I should not be on this place.”

Give the coach the good thing about doubt, and Tagovailoa as effectively. If one thing was certainly amiss, the reality will finally come out. Furthermore, McDaniel did not do the equal of a Invoice Belichick stiff-arm with the media relating to the standing of his quarterback.

He got here throughout as plausible and genuinely involved regardless that it was simply his fourth recreation as an NFL head coach.

“Each single NFL recreation that’s performed, there’s an impartial specialist that focuses on the specialty of mind matter,” McDaniel stated. “So yeah, for me, so long as I am teaching right here, I am not going to fudge that complete state of affairs if there’s any form of inclination that somebody has a concussion, they go into the concussion protocol. It is very strict. Folks do not very or stray. We do not mess with that. I by no means have and so long as I am the top coach, it would by no means be a problem that you simply guys have to fret about.”

What followers and everybody else must be questioning is why the league continues to play Thursday evening video games simply 4 days after many of the groups play on Sunday.

Granted, it is a pure cash seize, and the league does not need to schedule reverse highschool (Friday) and faculty (Saturday) video games, however sooner or later the well-being of the gamers has to return into play.

It is simply not sufficient time for groups to adequately put together bodily, mentally or emotionally.

5 Issues That Obtained Our Consideration This Week

1) CFP Conferences:

Per Ross Dellenger of Sports activities Illustrated, the ten FBS commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick met for about 10 hours over two days on the Huge Ten headquarters outdoors of Chicago. CFP govt director Invoice Hancock stated the group “made progress” towards the top purpose—increasing the School Soccer Playoff by 2024—however no specifics, solutions or particulars have been offered. No ultimate choices have been made (or at the very least they weren’t made public).

“Earlier is icing on the cake. We’re going to have our cake in 2026,” Hancock stated. “Can we ice it now and begin earlier? That’s what we’re engaged on now.”

Commissioners subsequent meet in Dallas on Oct. 20, which some consider is a deadline of kinds to find out whether or not enlargement can occur earlier than the present TV contract expires after the 2025 season

2) New Ole Miss Helmet:

The Rebels have drawn lots of consideration with their new helmet that appears like one thing the Houston Oilers wore to a paintball-gun ambush, however not due to the design.

The camo-blue helmet additionally has the Realtree emblem on the facet. Per the Sports activities Enterprise Journal, there isn’t any rule in opposition to that … but.

“We examined NCAA gear guidelines associated to competitors to make sure we have been compliant,” Ole Miss athletic director Joseph Keith Carter stated. “This included no logos on the precise gear worn on gameday versus what was shared in our advertising and marketing property.”

The primary batch of camo attire bought out on-line in 12 hours, in line with Dyehard.