Crimson Red Sports

As always, CNS downplayed any of the ratings of the players that the sports media has so fallen in love with as he spoke to us this afternoon about Bama's new signees. He told us that the stars beside their names mean totally nothing to them and that each player recruited is rated by the information collected by their coaches on their recruiting visits and player film and not by any rating service. CNS felt that their needs were met with this group and that they could possible add a player or two yet.

It was interesting to hear each of the coaches break down each of the signed players that they will be coaching. I was surprised that so many of the signed players were not recruited by their position coach. Layne Kiffen had one of the more interesting player bios as he described our new early signee quarterback Jalen Hurts. I can't remember all that he said about Hurts but I can tell you that the three quarterbacks that are already here better get ready for a battle per Kiffen.

CNS had plenty to say about the National Championship team and how diversity played such a big role in the maturing of the players. He also talked about the graduation rate of the team and how proud he is of the graduation rate of the players and also the juniors that came back for another season and how important that was for this years team but it was more important for the players to graduate and have a chance to improve their status for the NFL draft next year.

He ended by telling us all that only small percentages of the players recruited each year will ever make it to the NFL and that is why the academic side of their scholarship is so important. The players classroom work is rated constantly and when a player receives 6-8 negatives, they are suspended from any football activity until the negatives are corrected. He said in a firm voice that his team has never lost a game due to a player being suspended because of their studies. I think that might have answered some of our questions at times as to why a player has been suspended.

It's a new year, a new season, a group of new players and a new quarterback so what is in store for the Crimson Tide this year? No one really knows at this time but I'm looking forward to spring training because there are some positions to be filled and there should be some very good competition for us all to watch. Can we get #17 next year well some are already saying yes, it is Alabama football you know.

 #+ e-cred to you JAMOS for this great write up and keeping us informed. Today was a great day and i do believe we will see some furious competition this spring. I look forward to #17 and seeing what our coaches build with this group. I also wonder who will be our new coach to replace Mel Tucker who went to Georgia with Kirby Smart. RTR!

Thanks for the report, J. I'm already stoked again. Isn't it great that we have this to look forward to every year?!  :clap:

I was looking forward to this report and thank you J for the well written write-up.

I don't follow recruiting all that closely until NSD since there is so much flipping that goes on.  But I gotta say the coaches did an exceptional job pulling this class together especially considering how the season went on for so long + loosing two key coaches recruiters.

I lived through the entire Bear Bryant era and now the sequel from CNS.  What a fab ride.  Proud to be a Bama alum.  RTR

Jamos, excellent assessment.  Thank you for the work.

It's hard to comprehend that Alabama has ranked #1 in recruiting for 6 straight years!  That's incredible.  We've stockpiled top players at every position, so we have depth like nobody else.

Remember back in the 60s and 70s when we excitedly read about new recruits, thrilled to have a RB who ran 4.4 or a lineman at 300 lbs?  We couldn't wait to see how that special player performed, and were crushed when he was injured and missed playing time.  THOSE DAYS ARE GONE.  Now we have dozens of speedy players on offense and defense, huge linemen who can run, and the top coaches in the country.

LIFE IS GOOD!  I'm happy for people like Jamos (and others herein), who have lived through the tough times in Tuscaloosa, and now get to enjoy such success.  ROLL TIDE!

Well said.  But, who here remembers back in the 90's and early 2000's when we had some really talented teams that had great potential but when we lost a key player to the injury bug it seems like the whole team fell apart?  Times have changed...Mindsets have changed...disappointment has changed into championship excitement...

I don't remember but a few talented teams after the early 90's, but I hear what you're saying. What could we have done had we not lost Prothro in the UF game that year? That's the big one that comes to mind.

Good points.  Back then our whole offense centered around Prothro, etc.  Today we're still susceptible to loss of a QB, but otherwise are so deep we're okay with one loss here and there.

Thanks, Jamos!  Interesting comments on Jalen Hurts!

As tragic as that was for him(Pro) on a personal level, I firmly believe it was the beginning of the end for Shula.  Hate to look at all that in a positive, but I believe it got us CNS.

You gotta believe things happen for a reason, eh?  :toast1:

Amen!!

In 2005, Bama went 10-0 before losing to LSU by 3 points in OT, and then by 10 to the Barn the following Saturday.

Had Prothro been there, Bama very well could have beaten LSU.

Auburn, who knows.  Bama had other issues, lack of depth from scholarship reductions, that made this last-game-of-the-season challenging.

It was against Florida, Urban Meyer's first time to coach against Bama, that Prothro broke his tibia and fibula.  Florida was ranked #5.  Bama won 31-3.

That was also the year Texas beat USC in the Rose Bowl to give Mack Brown his championship. 

What could have been is not to good today? What is going to be now that NSD is over is what is really going to happen probably #17. RTR!