The 2012 Alabama Softball team is a winner. Both on the field and in the classroom.


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University of Alabama President Guy Bailey’s statement:
Today I have notified Chancellor Witt that I am stepping down as President of The University of Alabama. This is a decision my wife Jan and I made together after much discussion about how we can best address her health, which is the most important priority in our lives. By announcing this decision today, I hope the Board of Trustees will be in a position to take the next appropriate steps during its meeting in Tuscaloosa this week. We want to thank the faculty, staff, students, alumni and our many friends for your warm welcome. My family and I appreciate your understanding and your prayers.

Statement from Paul Bryant, Jr., President Pro Tempore of The University of Alabama Board of Trustees:
We understand and respect that President Bailey’s priorities at this time must be focused on his wife Jan’s recovery. The Baileys are in our prayers and have our support. We will address the issue of presidential succession at The University of Alabama in a specially called Board meeting Thursday.

Statement from Dr. Robert E. Witt, Chancellor of The University of Alabama System:
I respect and appreciate President Bailey’s decision. His priorities reflect his commitment to both his wife Jan and The University of Alabama. He and Jan will remain in our prayers.

I just got home from an entertaining evening of watching a Bama practice and then enjoyed a delicious Full Moon BBQ meal with Coach Grant and the team. All of the players and coaches actually sat amongst the fans in a scatterd way and enjoyed a meal as well. Coach Grant ended the evening explaining to all of us his feelings and expectations of the team this year and a question and answer session with the fans. Coach Grant, coaches, and players were really classy toward the fans.

Most of us remember from last year of how much intensity the team played with, well you can add a little more to it this year. As I looked at some of the players that seemed a little heavy last year, that is no more. Moussa Gueye and Nick Jacobs are two in particular, I hardly reconized Gueye. The players are really being pushed on their conditioning and that is a must for their brand of basketball.

I'm sure all of you want to know about Devonta Pollard. He is a lanky young man that will need some time with the team trainer, but he is earning his spot on the team. His lack of body bulk could hurt him some this year, the SEC is a tough conference. He's a lefty and I did get to see him pull up on a three pointer and drill it. It will take him a little time to get adjusted to college basketball but he should be a good one.

This team is young in age but highly experienced and that should make a difference this year. Andrew Steele is the only senior on the team and he's nursing a groin injury right now. As I watched the 4 freshmen from last year I could see a big difference in them from last year, they knew what they were supposed to be doing. Releford and Randolph had a very good one on one battle in the scrimmage and I would say they were about even as to who got the best of the other. Gueye and Jacobs also had a good battle around the rim and Gueye has gotten better. Engstrom didn't practrice due to a left foot injury. I was surprised there were no injuries tonight, because it was a very physical practice.

Bama has a tough schedule this year and this can be a big plus for them come tournament time, but they have got to beat some of these highly regarded teams in the tournaments. CAG thinks the SEC will be a tough conference this year and that should also help their SOS come tournament selection time.

I hope some of you get a chance to see the team play this year at Coleman, it's a lot more fun at the game than it is in the recliner. Roll Tide!!

Today Bama hosted Tennessee State University in a double header and it was all Bama in the first game. I was going to stay for both games but a cold 20 mph Northwest wind changed my mind. The first game was called after 4 innings with Bama leading 19-0.

Leslie Jury pitched and it was the best that I have seen her pitch. I didn't have a jugs gun but I'm certain her speed was at 70 mph and did not give up a hit.  She had excellent control and  was moving the ball around the plate much better than she has been doing. She was working on her change up some and it was looking better as well but it still needs a little more work. Tennessee State is no Oklahoma but they were swinging the bat and it gave Jury something to work with. She did not give up a hit but she only pitched 4 innings.

Bama's bats were red hot with Haylie McCleney, freshman from Montimer Jordan, stealing the show. She had 4 hits and one of them was a towering home run that hit just under the clock on the scoreboard. Kayla Braud had another line drive homer today to right center and she has looked very impressive swinging the bat rather than slap hitting. Kayla Hunt homered as well.

Molly Fichtner seems to be solid behind the plate and if Jury can continue to improve, by next spring Bama should be solid with the pitching and catching issue.

First, let me send congrats to the Bama players and coaches on the win.  There were some mistakes, but Bama came out on top.

Offense:   The offense put up 422 yards of offense.  The negative I have is they wasted field position at least twice and came up with no points.   The Bama offense had 5 negative plays which included 2 sacks, 2 tackle for losses, and a wide rec screen that was tackled for a loss.   They only had 3 three and outs which all occurred in the first half.  They actually left no points on the field if you don’t count starting position on their on 47 and the opponents 48.  I think this offensive coordinator utilizes the deep out and corner routes more than the last OC.  If you recall, this is something I ask for last year.  I do wonder, with the talented rec’s Bama has, why they don’t utilized more max protection sets on 2nd/3rd  and long plays.  Bama got into the red zone 4 times and scored 3 TD’s and a FG.  The other 2 TD’s came from outside the red zone. 

QB:  AJ had a pretty good game.  He should have had his first int of the year, but fortunately the DB dropped the ball.  The amazing stat I have is AJ was 8 for 11 on first down throws.  Nine of these 11 were play action plays and he connected on 7 of those nine.  He did a good job on the check down when needed.   He threw 2 great passes, the TD to Bell and the corner/deep out route to Christian Jones.   These balls were put where no one else had a chance to get the ball.  .  Seven different players had receptions in the game. 


RB:  They ran hard.  Most of the night there was not contact until they were at or past the LOS.  The picked up the blitz well and caught the ball out of the backfield.  If you noticed the running backs almost always finished the runs by falling forward and not being pushed back.  I will mention again, I like the way KD runs the ball.

REC:   What really impresses me here is the different rec’s that catch the ball.  It is also noticeable how often they catch the ball with their hands and not let the ball get into their body.  This is one reason there are few drops.  They also do a good job blocking on the running plays.   

OL:  I thought they had a very good game.  There were a couple of breakdowns, like CK not coming off the combo block with MW on the pass play where AJ was sacked.  However, most of the night the running backs did not have contact until they reached or crossed the LOS on running plays.  A great example was the first TD run by TJY, he went untouched from 11 yards out into the end zone.  Also, the MSU D was giving Bama’s OL many different looks and the OL was rarely beat.  This means they were communicating well and all on the same page.   I also want to put this note in here.  Did you notice when the backup OL went in and came off after their series?  While they were on the bench being coached up Barrett Jones was right there with them helping out. 

Defense:   The D actually looked confused at times early in the game.  I think this showed when they turned a couple of rec’s loose.  They only gave up 271 yards of total offense.  Thirty one of those yards came on one pass play (see above) and the 97 yard drive that came up empty.  They had 8 negative plays which included 4 tackle for losses, 1 sack, 1 int, 1 fumble recoveries and a blocked FG.  What doesn’t really show up is the QB hits/pressures.   I have Bama for 14 of these which are considered affecting the QB.  The D had 5 three and outs 4 of which were in the first half.  I am also going to say it looks more like Bama is playing a 4-2-5 more and more since you have 2 safeties and VS is in the game playing like a strong safety.  It looked again like a lot of the completions were under the LB’s.   The negative here were the missed tackles by the D. The positive is turnovers led to points.  They did come up big in the red zone early and kept MSU off the board.
   
DL:   They played very well.  A lot of the pressure was put on by these guys without a lot of blitzing.  I am not saying they didn’t blitz, but the DL did a good job without the blitz many times.

LB:   All three had a pretty good game.  It is amazing how Bama can rotate the LB; CJM, TD, and NJ into the game and be so effective.   I think #30 reminds me of Donte Hightower when he is in the down position.

DB:  They made some mistakes.  HCD took a bad angle on the pass when going for the int.  They didn’t adjust well on motion a couple of times.   They missed a couple of tackles.  There were a few times when there were wide open rec’s.  I will say RL is beginning to be a force when he delivers a blow.   
   
Penalties:  A few help Bama and a few hurt Bama.  The good thing is they were not hurt early in the game at crucial times. 

Special teams:  I am not sure why CF is asked to keep kicking right.  In my opinion, mentioned last week he kicks the ball better to his left.  The kick off cover team was good on 4 out of 7 kicks.  Christian Jones caused fumbles on two big returns and Bama got one of them and it let to points.   They can’t keep giving up these big returns.  Bama was also fortunate on the punt that hit the MSU player in the back.  This also led to points.

Finally:  Bama made some mental mistakes.  First, DM hits the punt return guy when he fair catches inside the 10.  This mistake moves the ball outside the 20.  Second, the secondary had wide open rec’s running around a few times.   Third, the rec’s, again, were not line up correctly and move to correct this, but the TE/HB was in motion which caused a penalty.  The points Bama gave up was against the backups.  Both the O and D got quality playing times during the fourth quarter. 

Watching on TV, I couldn’t believe the empty seats.  Also, I feel sorry for those backups playing and the crowd leaving early.  They put in a lot of hard work and deserve some attention.

Please feel free to comment.

Good Luck and Roll Tide Roll 

Victor's ring was found at a pawn shop and is on a hold till the cops get it and arrest the dude who pawned/stole it.