Alabama

What we’ve learned 1 week into Alabama football’s preseason camp

Published

1 year ago

August 10, 2023

What we’ve learned 1 week into Alabama football’s preseason camp

After opening preseason camp on Aug. 3, Alabama football completes its first week of practice on Thursday. The Crimson Tide will scrimmage Saturday and continue camp through Aug. 26 before it opens the season Sept. 2 against Middle Tennessee State.

As the first week of camp draws to a close, here’s what we know about where Alabama is as a team.

The quarterback battle isn’t settled

Nick Saban would really prefer not to talk about it. He has three quarterbacks to choose from in Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson and Tyler Buchner.

All three are taking first-team reps. All three still have a chance, at least according to Saban.

And the battle might not be over with a named starter.

“We’ve had circumstances around here where quarterbacks have changed during the course of the year,” Saban said. “You know what they are, you understand the history of what’s happened with this place. So that’s going to be the way this situation is. Somebody needs to separate themselves and then all the (quarterbacks) need to continue to compete so they improve.”

Caleb Downs could be a stud

Alabama had openings at safety after last season with Brian Branch and Jordan Battle both gone to the NFL. The Crimson Tide has veterans who are competing to jump in, but they’re joined by a talented true freshman.

Caleb Downs joined the team as a five-star prospect out of Mill Creek in Georgia. By all accounts, he’s impressed so far.

“He’s done great,” Saban said. “He’s got lots of maturity for a young guy, smart, understands football. Really conscientious about making sure he knows what to do and going out on the field and doing it. So he’s had a really good spring and really has added a lot to the secondary with the way he’s played. He’s a good player.”

Cornerback Terrion Arnold was impressed with Downs early in the week of camp when the freshman made a “crazy play” for a contested interception.

“Made a great play,” Arnold said. “Guy’s a playmaker.”

Tommy Rees loves running the ball

The Crimson Tide wants to get better at the ground game for 2022. Jahmyr Gibbs is off to the NFL, but Alabama has a stable of running backs who could see time.

New offensive coordinator Tommy Rees is all in on improving that facet of the game. He loves physicality, and the attitude is appreciated by his players.

“That’s very reassuring to an offensive line, especially ours,” offensive guard Tyler Booker said. “We want to make people quit this year, and there’s no better way to do that than running the ball. We’re going to run the ball this year. We’re going to pass the ball as well, because we have a lot of talented guys at receiver. We have a lot of talented guys who can throw the ball well. But having that run-first mentality, that gets us going because we want to make people quit.”

Kevin Steele is helping institute more discipline

One of Saban’s main messages has been focus. He wants Alabama players dialing in on every play individually and thinking less about outcomes.

Saban’s goal is to eliminate the late-game gaffes that plagued the Tide last season in losses to LSU and Tennessee. He’s joined in the effort by new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, who has instituted a system of players having to do up-downs for mistakes or penalties.

According to players, it’s having an impact.

“I’ve done a couple up-downs, I ain’t gonna lie,” linebacker Chris Braswell said. “As a defense, if you jump offsides or in the neutral zone, you gotta get some up-downs in. Just trying to emphasize that discipline. We had a lot of penalties last year, so we’re trying to clean that up on the defensive side. We want to remain disciplined as a team, and especially as a defense.”

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Alabama

No. 4 Alabama, No. 5 Florida men’s hoops downed by SEC foes, putting conference depth on display

Published

6 hours ago

January 15, 2025

Press Room

No. 4 Alabama, No. 5 Florida men’s hoops downed by SEC foes, putting conference depth on display

And the award for deepest men’s basketball conference goes to: the SEC.

How else to explain two top five teams — No. 4 Alabama and No. 5 Florida — both losing Tuesday night at home to conference foes?

At least in the case of Alabama, the Tide lost to a ranked team, falling 74-64 to No. 21 Ole Miss. Meanwhile, the Gators shot an abysmal 21 of 31 from the free throw line in an 83-82 loss to unranked Missouri, which was not nearly as close as the final score indicates.

The best argument for the SEC’s depth isn’t just that Missouri won but that the Tigers led for almost 38 minutes on the road — at one point by as many as 19 points.

Turnovers played a crucial role in both Alabama and Florida faltering Tuesday night. The Tide threw it away a whopping 21 times, which Ole Miss turned into 19 points (the Rebels tallied only seven turnovers). Florida coughed it up 13 times to Missouri’s eight, allowing the Tigers to score 18 points.

Giving the ball to the other team usually doesn’t end well. What’s more surprising, though, is that this happened to both Alabama and Florida at home. Playing well on the road is tough. Playing well in front of a friendly, packed crowd shouldn’t be.

Certainly no one could have predicted that midway through January, the two undefeated teams in SEC play would be No. 1 Auburn (16-1, 4-0) and Ole Miss (15-2, 4-0). Given how tough this conference is, it’s unlikely anyone finishes with less than three losses — especially if Auburn star and national player of the year candidate Johni Broome is out for more than a week.

The SEC’s motto is “it just means more.” With the way this conference is beating itself up on as we inch closer to March, that line might need to change to “it just is more” — as in, more representation in the NCAA Tournament than anyone else. Because with the SEC’s depth, they’re likely to send a lot of teams dancing.

Required reading

(Photo: James Gilbert / Getty Images)

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Alabama

2025 Alabama Hi-Q academic competition kicks off

Published

15 hours ago

January 14, 2025

Press Room

2025 Alabama Hi-Q academic competition kicks off

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – The first match of the 2025 Alabama Hi-Q season kicked off today.

The academic quiz competition for high school students with categories such as mathematics, history, physics and fine art and more.

Mobile County public and private schools compete in teams of eight to 10 students. At the end of the 15 contests, the top three teams win cash awards for their schools. Individual awards are given out, as well.

FOX10’s Lenise Ligon was invited to be the quizmaster, maintaining the tradition of fox10’s involvement. Bob Grip was quizmaster for 38 years.

Students from Mary G. Montgomery High School, Blount High School, Theodore High School, St. Paul’s Episcopal School, Satsuma High School and Barton Academy For Advanced World Studies competed in today’s event.

Blount got the win for the first match. There’s a challenge though and the win could go to MGM

St. Paul’s won the second match.

The competition ends in March when the overall winner is declared.

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Alabama

Ole Miss vs. Alabama Prediction, Odds and Key Players for Tuesday, Jan. 14

Published

23 hours ago

January 14, 2025

Press Room

Ole Miss vs. Alabama Prediction, Odds and Key Players for Tuesday, Jan. 14

Alabama extended its winning streak to eight games on Saturday by beating Texas A&M on the road but will face another tough out on Tuesday when Ole Miss comes to Tuscaloosa.

The Rebels have been much improved in 2024 as Chris Beard continues to turn this program around and will look to score a signature win to propel the team to the NCAA Tournament by winning on the road as a big underdog. Ole Miss has been capable on both sides of the floor, will it be able to keep close to the Crimson Tide?

Here’s our betting preview.

Spread

Moneyline

Total: 153.5 (Over -110/Under -110)

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook

Ole Miss

Sean Pedulla: The Virginia Tech transfer has provided some necessary floor spacing for the Rebels, shooting 40% from deep as the team has been able to take a big jump offensively. While his defense leaves some to be desired, he has proven he can hang on the floor with his sound playmaking, ball handling, and shooting.

Alabama

Mark Sears: Sears hasn’t been able to replicate his scorching 2023, but he remains a high-value player on an elite offense for the Crimson Tide. Sears is averaging 19 points with more than four assists per game but is off of one of his best games of the season in which he closed out Texas A&M on the road with 27 points.

Ole Miss will face its first top-20 team in terms of KenPom’s adjusted efficiency rating, so there could be a bit of a setback for what has been an impressive season to date for the Rebels. However, I believe the offense can put points on the board against Alabama’s defense that plays drop coverage, and turns opponents over at a bottom 60 rate in the country.

The Rebels are a capable offense that has a bevy of players that can create off the dribble and attack Alabama in the paint, so I believe the visitors will be able to score at a healthy rate in this game.

On the other end, Alabama may be able to tee off from the perimeter against Ole Miss’ no-middle defense that lends itself to players open from beyond the arc. Further, if Sears can win in isolation sets, the rim should be easy pickings for the Crimson Tide to score at will.

In an up-tempo affair, I think both offenses rule the day and this game goes over the total.

PICK: OVER 153.5

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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