By: Joe Tucker

St. Paul's Episcopal's star quarterback, A.J. McCarron announced his decision to play for the Crimson Tide last night making him the fourth player to commit to Alabama for the 2009 class. McCarron is considered the best quarterback in the state and ranked the ninth best in the nation by Rivals. Fresh off landing the number one signing class in the nation for 2008, Coach Saban's staff has not let up and McCarron's commitment may fuel even more interest in the Tide. McCarron had been a silent commitment for about two weeks, but decided it was time to tell the world. "I'm not the type of guy who wants to drag things out," McCarron said. "If I know where I'm going, I want to help with the recruiting any way I can." McCarron has become very good freinds with the number two cornerback in the nation, Gadsden's Dre Kirkpatrick. They talk all of the time and plan to try to take official visits together. A.J. has also spent some time talking with Kirkpatrick's teammate and friend, Kendall Kelly, who is the #4 wide reciever in the nation. "I will take all my visits," McCarron said."It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing to visit all those schools. But Alabama has my commitment. I'll stick by it."

Some people were worried that Major Applewhite leaving for Texas would deter McCarron from considering Alabama, but that was not the case. McCarron says he thinks new offensive coordinator, Jim McElwain's offense actually suits him better. Alabama fans have a lot to look forward to in the near future as top recruits from around the nation are keying in on Alabama. McCarron will wear #10 once arriving at Alabama. Former BAMA quarterback Walter Lewis, who once wore #10 for the Tide, drove from Tuscaloosa to congratulate him. Click her to hear St.Paul's Coach Bates talk to us about McCarron and to see his highlight videos from the last two seasons.

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Left to Right: Freddie Milons, Anthony Madison, Eric Gray, Brandon Brooks, Greg McClain, Tyrone Prothro and Todd Bates showing off the RollCrimsonTide banner

A-Day 2008, a great day for Alabama and the members of RollCrimsonTide.com. We had a blast this year at A-Day and literally thousands of fans came by our tent. Todd Bates, Freddie Roach, Keith Saunders, Darren Mustin, Darius Gilbert, Brandon Brooks and Tyrone Prothro joined us to tailgate and sign autographs for the fans. Also making appearances were Wallace Gilberry, Freddie Milons, Greg McClain, Anthony Madison, and Eric Gray. Check back often in our forums to see who wins the jerseys autographed by the players at A-Day. The winner of the Keith Saunders jersey is BamaTom92. The winner of the Darius Gilbert jersey is DGK55. To view photos from the RollCrimsonTide.com 2008 A-Day tailgate and autograph signing Click Here

Remember, Todd Bates Football Skills Camp is coming up May 10th. Young athletes ages 6-18 will have a chance to be coached by true professionals. Todd was a permanent team captain for Alabama, played with the Tennessee Titans, is a personal fitness instructor and a high school defensive line coach.. Click here for Information and Sign Up Sheet.

By: Joe Tucker

George thought back on the week of the National Championship game in 1992.  “It all started back in Tuscaloosa having our practices, school was out and nobody was around so you were kind of stuck on campus and we had to deal with practicing so we had to stay focused.  I can remember practicing and having some of the most intense practices we had ever had.  I mean hitting each other to the point that Coach Stallings was getting upset because he was afraid someone was going to get hurt.  I can remember fuel being thrown onto the fire because we were reading and watching ESPN and they were saying how we were just going to get demolished.  It all started in Tuscaloosa, but when we got to New Orleans it got worse, just because their fans were there, the news coverage was still not giving us a chance, and that is when we just said it’s us against the world and we were just going to stick together and do our job.  It escalated down on Bourbon Street where the two teams were around and it was really almost like a boxing match.  It made us more focused.  Coach Oliver was really pushing on us and pressing this new scheme we were going to pull out on them.  We knew we had a trick up our sleeves, a scheme that they didn’t know about and that made us excited.  Then, after that first kick off (and I remember it well, because I’m the one that made the tackle on the first kickoff), I actually ran out of my shoes and we just erupted, there was no way we were going to be stopped.  We had been focusing on them for two weeks.  We knew we had a good plan offensively and defensively, we knew we were fast, and we knew what they were going to do, and they just started writing checks that they couldn’t cash.   We had their number.”

On the first play of the game, Alabama stacked the line.  “We call it 11 up, we brought all 11 guys up on the line.  That was the sign that this is really going to work because they didn’t have a clue, they looked around and called time out, then the crowd erupted, we erupted because we knew we had them then.  Although it was early, we knew, Geno, the Heisman trophy winner was going to have a hard time trying to figure out how to beat us.  It was just another stepping point to Roll  right over them.”

Of course one of the most famous plays in the history of college football was made by George in the National Championship game as well, the strip.  “I was out of position, believe it or not.  It was one of those plays you talk about guys loafing; I was taking a play off.  I had so much confidence in our corners that I thought our corners are going to make a play on this one so I’m just going to chill out for a second.  Then they catch the cornerback running out of bounds or falling down or something and that is when fear kicked in and I knew I was going to have to make a play or Coach Stallings was going to be waiting on me on the sidelines ready to get all up in my face.”  Miami’s star wide receiver, Lamar Thomas, caught the ball and went streaking down the sidelines.  To make matters worse, Thomas was the one who had been very vocal leading up to the game saying that Alabama was not man enough to play man to man with them.  “It was the moment of all my track days and all that kind of stuff kicked in and you put that on top of fear and good things will happen when you hustle.  I got there and I really just wanted to strip the ball, but by the grace of God, I hit the ball downwards and somehow it ended up coming up into my face and I was able to grab it, jump over him, turn around and run the other way.  That was a huge play in the game, but for me personally also, trying to get into the draft.  I was worn out after chasing him down and celebrating and I had to go to the sidelines and get some oxygen.  I took my helmet off, I was head butting guys, I had knots on my forehead, it was crazy, but it was awesome at the same time.”  As an athlete and defensive back though, what was more exciting for him was running a touchdown back.  “National Championship game, intercept a pass, run it back for a touchdown, millions of people watching, that’s huge.  Yet, you have this other one, I guess it’s going down in the books as a no play, and although I am very thankful that I am remembered by something very positive, taking the ball away from somebody, even at the end of the game I didn’t think it was going to be that big of a deal. I figured that was my job.  That’s the call to duty, it’s normal, if you get beat, you run all the way to the ball and you either try to strip the ball or tackle the guy. That was all that Oliver taught.  Until it started being shown on the T.V. all the time and until Daniel Moore came to me and said he wanted to make a painting of it, it was normal, but then I said, well wait a minute, this is not a normal old routine play here.  It’s good value for teaching with my son and I do use it as testimony devotion wise to show what can happen if you hustle.  I’m just glad that I am remembered by something like that and not something terrible.” 

I asked George what his thoughts were on Lamar Thomas and his comments during the Miami-Florida International game which resulted in Thomas losing his job as a broadcaster.  “It’s kind of funny to me.  Not that I want anyone to lose their job, but it goes back to the mentality we discussed earlier.  It goes back to his playing days.  You need to do your job and watch what you say.  He played for Miami and in the NFL for the Dolphins, and I’m sure a lot of people look up to him.  But you never want to condone any violence.  I ended up playing for the them for one year in 1997, and Lamar Thomas was on that team.  He got drafted by Tampa and ended up playing for the Miami Dolphins.  That was the first time that I was going to have to have an encounter with him and be on the same page to try to win football games.  I was a little nervous about that because I knew he really didn’t like me very much.  When I started, the Miami Herald, instead of putting something about me playing for the Green Bay Packers or even the Cowboys, they put a picture of “the strip” up on the front page of the Miami Herald and stated that I had just signed with Dolphins.  So….boys will be boys and for about a month, every comment from the guys in the locker-room to Lamar, was ‘Watch out George is behind you!, watch out George Teague’s behind you!.’  They were egging him on to pick with him.  He was a wide receiver, I was a defensive back, so who do I have to cover in practice?  I have to cover him one on one.  It had been going on all year, ‘George Teague’s behind you…’, so he is not really liking it, but we are trying to be the best teammates we could be in the midst of all of this.  Herbzinger had a golf course that we could play for free.  So, I didn’t play, but I thought, it’s free I’ll go out here and give it a whirl.  So one day I go out there and low and behold, Lamar is out there.  He acted very nice to me and said ‘George there is somebody I’d like for you to meet.’ I said OK, and he said ‘My mom is here and she is out on the golf course, I’d like for you to meet my mom.’  I thought man that’s awesome, so he proceeds to bring me over to his mom and says, ‘Mom, I’d like for you to meet someone.  I want you to meet the reason I couldn’t buy you that new house I promised you when I was drafted.’ I had no comeback what so ever.”

Teague also had a run in with Terrell Owens while playing for the Dallas Cowboys.  Owens, in typical form, was showboating and “celebrating” at midfield on the Cowboys star.  George said the two of them had been talking about each other's mothers the entire game and finally, enough was enough.  When Owens ran out to midfield to celebrate for the second time he was met my Teague who promptly knocked Owens to the ground and defended the star.  I asked George would he do that again if the situation was the same?  “Probably so….”

So what does it mean to George to have worn the crimson and white?  “It is very prideful, I am honored and still am.  I’m a huge fan.  I am one of the biggest fans and supporters.  It means a lot to me.  I didn’t necessarily grow up in Alabama, my father was in the military, so I moved around quite a bit and didn’t grow up this huge Alabama fan.  But playing there, getting on campus, getting the support of the people there, the support that I am still getting now that I am not even there.  It’s humongous.  I wouldn’t change it.  I’m glad it is a decision that I made, that I was offered a scholarship to play there.  It was one of the best decisions I ever made in my whole life was to attend the University of Alabama.  Bill Curry did an awesome job of recruiting me.  He came into a neighborhood and a place that a lot of people didn’t want to come into and he sold his program.  The second thing was the job opportunities and the alumni association, knowing that once I left the university and graduated I would have a strong supporting cast, which has held true to this moment.  I know all schools talk about it, but it has held true. Lastly, I loved the campus.  It’s just beautiful, just beautiful.  It wasn’t too big and it wasn’t too far away from home. 

George also had a message for the current players.  “The biggest way for you guys to have the success that Alabama is used to is to come together as a full and complete team.  Things are a little different from when I played, because we all lived in a dorm, we all had to eat together, sleep together, and play together, but now being in apartments and stuff the players need to make an extra effort to find a way to bond together.  I don’t care if that means going to Wendy’s, or going to hang out at the rec.  I don’t know what that is for them, but until they come back together and aren’t individualized…that could be running backs, linebackers, linemen, we all need to come back and be a unit and then the program will go back to where it needs to be.  The coaches are in place, the facilities are in place, the fans are in place, the schedules in place and now it’s time for the players to get in place and go win some football games.”  

Click here to discuss what George had to say in our forums

By: Joe Tucker Contact RollCrimsonTide.com

George Teague is currently the AD and Development Director at a small Christian School outside of Dallas and an assistant football coach for the school.  George says that being an athletic director has really been an enlightening experience for him.  “You never really realize all the planning that goes into a program.  Who’s going to wash the clothes, which bus is going to leave when, and the little things that you don’t think about as a player, because we just show up and we’re ready to play the game.   Being on the other side, even as a coach, you just never think about it.  It has definitely been an eye opener for me, but it also makes for a good challenge to be able to run an entire athletic department.”

George understands the pressure and scrutiny that Mal Moore has been under at Alabama.  “Let me say that the pressure of being the athletic director and being responsible for the hiring and firing of all of your coaches is a big burden, everybody is looking at you.  The other part is doing the academics part of it.  I think Mal has done a good job, he has hired some good coaches and you have to let them do their job, if they can’t then you have to replace them.  He’s done a lot of other things as well, like the big fund raising to redo the stadium, Bryant Hall, we have new tennis courts; there is all kind of stuff going on, so he’s done a good job.  If he decides he wants to move on I’m not sure who that next person will be.  I don’t think it is something I am ready for at this point, so I’m not ready to throw my name in the hat. That is a whole different level than where I’m at right now as compared to the pressure you get from being at a place like Alabama.  I don’t know who it will be that eventually replaces Mal, but it will be a tough situation to handle.” 

George says that having God in your life is extremely important, especially coming from being on the other side for a while. “I walked on the other side for a while where I wasn’t living a Christian life.  Even though I was blessed with a few things, I always had that empty feeling on the inside.  Until I rededicated myself to the Lord, I really didn’t understand how important the Lord was to the success of my life.  I played nine years in the National Football League and I had at least four years of my playing days that were just horrific for me.  People may have thought every thing was good for me because I was in the NFL and glamorous, but I was down in the dumps.  There were times I wanted to quit, I was doing things with my body I shouldn’t have been doing, but when He came back and really sought me out, my spirit, the way I played the football game, all the blessings that I received through my family, and even afterwards.  Whoever thought I could be an athletic director anywhere, or even a head football coach?  These are all things that I know are blessings from the Lord, so when I’m speaking to anybody, it doesn’t matter if it’s kids or grown ups, you’ve got to have Jesus in your life in order to be the person that we’re called to be.  One of the struggles I have had with that is that being a Christian and doing what the Lord has asked me to do.  I’ve been specifically called to work here at a small school to be around the kids, and I honestly believe that.  It goes back to our youth not necessarily understanding or falling into the trap of what’s on T.V., radio and everything else about how bad it is to be a Christian.  In having two younger kids you have to have morals, and they have to be taught what is right and wrong and this can’t be based on nothing or something created out of air, without having any principles to it.  We have a rule book in the Holy Bible and it will lay out to us exactly what we are suppose to do and if that is not shared with our kids then that’s what is happening in our society and the way it’s starting to decline.  We have people killing each other and everything else.  It’s all because of the basis of what we didn’t do.  If we are not doing what is right as men and as parents to raise our kids in a way that they know the difference between right and wrong as is described in the bible, they are not going to be happy, they are going to be into lust and all other things you don’t want these kids to go through.”  George has two kids, a son, James who is 14 and a daughter, Jada who is eight. 

Though he came in under Curry, George says Coach Stallings was awesome.  “He would get down in the trenches with you.  He was all about doing the right thing and still is to this day.  Though I don’t talk to him that often, he still asks about the family, and if I’m doing the right thing.  We had all types of personalities on that staff, some yellers and screamers, tough guys, and he was able to mesh his coaching staff together and more importantly he influenced all of us as players there that stuck with us for a long time.  I know that for a fact.” 

George sees a lot of similarities between Stallings and Saban.  “One of the things that Saban conveyed to me was how much he cared about the players graduating and making sure that that happened so that they would have the best opportunity to be great leaders in the community after they had played.  I had not heard that from anybody over there and that just strikes you differently.  He said he wants to win and that he knows how to coach, and we know he knows how to coach.  He can win football games, but what the difference is, and it was this way with Coach Stallings, is what he has in his heart for his athletes.  It’s not just x’s and o’s, but when you leave here, you’re walking out of here with a degree and you're not going to come crying back here about you didn’t have an opportunity.  That hit me very, very hard in a good way, to know that he actually cares about the kids that he’s going to be bringing in to the University.” 

Stay Tuned for Part Two.....

Since we just finsihed signing the 2008 class, I thought I would attempt to piece together a depth chart with the new recruits included. While this is all subjective, it is fun to speculate where players will end up. To view the RollCrimsonTide.com tenative 2008 Alabama depth chart click here.

To discuss the depth chart in the forums click here.

By: Tyler Mann

For months, Alabama fans have looked forward to February 6, 2008. National Signing Day. To fans, it’s a chance to get a glimpse into the future of the program and to see what you pay coaches to do during the offseason. Recruit.

Today, Nick Saban closed the book of debate about whether he is worth his salary as Alabama’s Head Coach. Not only has he brought discipline and stability to a program that has seen its share of turmoil in the past decade, but he has also brought back the talent that Alabama fans are used to seeing on the field. With this class, Saban secured 8 of the top 10 prospects in the state, along with the top 3 from Tennessee and countless other stars from out of state. He addressed the needs of his program, bringing in playmakers on offense, as well as coveted jumbo athletes and speedy defensive backs that fit perfectly into his 3-4 defensive schemes.

The Tide picked up steam early in the process, having 10 four-star verbal commitments by October, and the momentum never faltered. To close out the class, Saban secured Julio Jones – the #1 ranked receiver in the country, Jerrell Harris – the #2 ranked player in the state behind Jones and one of the best outside linebackers in the nation, Marcel Dareus – a big-time defensive line prospect who has seen his stock skyrocket as of late, and Mark Ingram – a Michigan star running back who some thought to be a lock to go to the home state Michigan State Spartans, but signed his name on the dotted line of a University of Alabama letter of intent on signing day.

Saban has shown not only a need for perfection on the field, but an uncanny desire for perfection off it as well. His first priority was to secure the talent rich Mobile area…abandoned in recent years by previous Tide coaching staffs. Saban knew how productive this area was when he recruited Jamarcus Russell while at LSU. Russell went on to the NFL, and is a quarterback for the Oakland Raiders. Countless other talented players left the state for schools that paid them more attention, like LSU and Florida State. This year, Saban’s first full recruiting season at Alabama, mission accomplished. Saban secured 5 players from Mobile and surrounding areas, 2 of them five-star recruits.

Saban is known in high school circles for being a gentleman, a straight shooter, and an honest recruiter, and it shows in the out-of-state talent he was able to bring in with this class. Star Jackson, a high-profile quarterback from Florida committed to the Tide, and even held firm on his commitment after the departure of former Offensive Coordinator Major Applewhite. Jackson maintains that while he committed to a school and not a coach, the opportunity to play for Nick Saban played a major role in his recruitment. Among the other out of state commitments was afore mentioned running back Mark Ingram. Son of NFL great Mark Ingram, Sr., who enjoyed a prosperous career with the New York Giants, Mark Jr. is a big back with world-class speed. Ingram’s father played at Michigan State, and many thought the son would follow in the father’s footsteps. Enter Nick Saban. With 2 months to go before signing day, Saban made a call to Ingram, Sr. whom he had met while coaching at Michigan State, and that set the following events into motion. Ingram made a trip to Tuscaloosa and greatly enjoyed the visit to the Capstone. The Wednesday prior to signing day, Coach Saban sat down with the speedster in his home and sealed the deal. Ingram’s commitment came as a surprise to many, but not those who follow recruiting closely, or who know anything about Saban’s personality and outlook on the recruiting process. His attitude towards recruiting and work ethic is second to none. Perhaps the most stunning commitment for the Tide was Melvin Ray, a big-play wide receiver from Tallahassee, Florida. It’s a widely known fact that Florida State rarely let’s an area star out of its grasp, but Nick Saban locked up Ray early on in the process, and even a late push by the Seminoles wasn’t enough to sway him. Ray has stated that he chose Alabama because of its tradition, the ability to be part of a special class, and yes, you guessed it…Nick Saban.

As signing day comes to a close, Alabama currently sits atop the national rankings, having signed the #1 class in the nation. This feat had never been accomplished by an Alabama coaching staff during the internet-era before today.

While having the #1 ranked recruiting class doesn’t necessarily mean a National Championship 2 or 3 years down the road, it certainly helps. And for Alabama fans, who have lived through the last decade of ups, downs, wins, losses, and overall mediocrity – it’s a signal of change. Alabama is back on the map, and for all the right reasons. And if you ask any Alabama fan what he thinks of his head coach, he’ll tell you that he was worth every penny.

PLAYER BIOs

Coach Nick Saban and the Alabama staff signed the number one recruiting class in the nation today. Listed below are the times that the players faxed in their letter of intent. Click on the players names who are highlighted in blue to read their bio.

Roll Tide!

Joe

By: Joe Tucker

It's a decision that effects kids for the rest of their life, where to get their education. Gifted athletes are pursued by colleges across America and enticed to attend their school with scholarships. You see, college football is a multi-million dollar business and the athletes are the pawns. Don't get me wrong, the athletes are given something more valuable than money, they are given an education. If the player is talented enough, stays healthy and is lucky, he may go on to play professional football, but football careers in general are short lived, while an education last a lifetime. Football fans follow recruiting as if their life depended on it. High school athletes go through the process knowing their life depends on it. The process is sometimes long and tedious, ask Freddie Milons, who told us in a previous interview, that he still doesn't answer the phone if he doesn't recognize the number, even though his recruiting days are long behind him. Ask the fans who tire of recruits taking visits to other schools or "dragging the process out." However, this is one of the most important decisions the kids will ever make, and besides, it can be fun.

Alonzo Lawrence is one of the most sought after players in the country. In an age where wide receivers are taller and faster than ever before, large cornerbacks are capable of shutting them down are a rare find. Look no further than Lucedale, Mississippi. There Georgia County High's Alonzo Lawrence has proven to the world that he can run with the best of them. Ranked the second best cornerback in the nation by Rivals, few corners display the athleticism of Alonzo. Capable of playing both offense and defense, as a senior, he had 91 tackles, 74 of which were solo, seven forced fumbles, two fumbles recovered, two fumbles returned for touchdowns and two interceptions. As a receiver, he had 30 receptions for 772 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also returned five kickoffs and one punt for touchdowns. Despite his stellar offensive performance, Alonzo knows his future is on the defensive side of the ball. Coach Nick Saban told him he thinks Alonzo could one day play in the NFL; and what better coach to get you there than Nick Saban?

As you can imagine Lawrence had his choice of colleges. The list of offers included Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Miami, Florida State, Ole Miss, and Miss. State to name a few. However, he chose the University of Alabama. Why because he felt that was the best place for him to get his education and to further his football career. He'll be spending the next four years at the Capstone getting an education and being a "lock down" corner for the Crimson Tide. He will become another important piece of the puzzle for this recruiting class that just might finish #1 in the nation. He reports a 2.0 core GPA and 16 ACT, but he plans to retake the test on February 9th. If he can qualify, he may end up with a championship ring or two before he graduates from Alabama. Click here to read his bio and watch videos of his highlights and of his coach discuss his skills.

Welcome to BAMA Mr. Lawrence!

Coach Joe Kines spoke out on rumors of mass scholarships being pulled from current University of Alabama players and more in our Talk of Champions talk show this past Sunday. The former Alabama defensive coordinator is known as a defensive master mind who can motivate a turtle to out run a rabbit. Coach Kines and his former star defensive tackle, Rudy Griffin joined us to discuss Alabama football and answer a few questions. It seems that every year some how, some way, a rumor gets started that spreads like wildfire. Several years ago an internet rumor took off like a rocket about wide receiver Freddie Milons, and his quarterback Andrew Zow, getting into a fight with each other, only one problem, it wasn't true. Recently the same rumor made the rounds about DJ Hall and John Parker Wilson, and it too appears to have been some cruel lie concocted by an immature prankster. Both DJ and JP have now gone on record as saying there has never been a riff between them. It's a shame because now the all time leading receiver at Alabama is going out on a sour note. Have you heard the one about Greg McElroy transferring to Hawaii? You guessed it, not true.

One of the hottest rumors going around the internet these days however, is that Coach Saban will be taking away approximately a dozen scholarships from current players for poor performance and for not buying into his system. There's a problem though, that rumor appears to hold about as much water as the previously mentioned rumors. While there will probably be some attrition, there always is, it appears that scholarships will not be pulled as rumored. Press play below to listen to a cut from the show as Coach Joe Kines discusses the issue of how scholarships are issued and taken away. (The full show can be found in our forums.)

Rudy Griffin on Coach Kines: When you think of someone who is influential in your life you generally think of a movie star, sport star, or a parent. The person in my life is just the opposite he is Coach Kines. Not only was he a great coach, motivator, and inspirer, he was a parent for all of us. Coach Kines was someone who I looked up to for guidance, counsel, and discipline, just as son looks for in a father. I can still remember sitting in the team meeting room and getting ready to go out to practice and listening to Coach Kines' raspy voice. He would get us so fired up to go out and practice even though our bodies were tired, aching, and worn out. You would want to give it your all just for Coach Kines. Now that I'm a coach, I model myself after Coach Kines. Thank You Coach Kines for everything, you took a young boy and formed him into a man. Roll Tide!

Here are some photos from our RollCrimsonTide tailgating and autograph session. Reggie Myles, Marcus Spencer, Quincy Jackson, and Marvin Constant all joined us at the event to tailgate and sign autographs. Reggie, Marcus and Quincy will all soon be taking the field for Team Alabama and the AAFL. Marvin's football career is over, but he still looks the part. Thanks to Truett we have a few photos from early in the day to show, since I ran off and left the camera at the house. I want to thank all of our members for making this site special, and I'm looking forward to tailgating with you all next year. Pictured above from top left are Quincy Jackson, Reggie Myles, Dennis (aka:Voyager), Marcus Spencer, two of the AAFL girls, Truett (aka: RIP Sackman 55), Tyler (1standgoal) and his fiance. Make sure to visit the AAFL's site at www.AAFL.com and to come out and support these guys as they start their new career with Team Alabama this Spring. Here are more photos from the get together: