It seemed like the world stopped for a few minutes when Nike did its college football fashion show on Wednesday morning, unveiling the 2010 edition of the Pro Combat uniforms. Each uni, from helmet to cleats and the underlying clothing, is connected to the traditions of the universities and local communities. For instance, Ohio State’s is a tribute to the 1942 team. For West Virginia, they’re showing solidarity for the state’s miners and the recent mine disaster that killed 29 people. Oregon State is sporting what are basically throwbacks to a late ’60s team that was one of the school’s best. Nike says these unis are 39 percent lighter than the uniforms they replace.
For what it is worth, those at the Swoosh didn’t fiddle much with the Crimson Tide outfit. There’s a muted gray-and-white houndstooth pattern on the numbers and down the middle of the helmet, along with an American flag on the right shoulder and a move from the script A on the front thigh to the side, along with the usual design changes for the gloves and cleats.
The materials and fabrication elements, which debuted in 2009, will be incorporated into the Crimson Tide’s traditional uniforms whose design will feature a Houndstooth pattern incorporated into the uniform’s numbers – a tribute to legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. Also, as a gesture to honor veterans of the armed services, the Alabama uniform will feature an American flag patch on the right sleeve. The flag is featured with the stars facing forward (to the right) per military protocol.
ALABAMA
BOISE STATE & FLORIDA
OHIO STATE & MIAMI
PITT & OREGON STATE
TCU & VIRGINIA TECH
WEST VIRGINIA
We’ve given a damn about the Heisman and the Maxwell trophies for a very few seasons — 1994 (Alabama WR/KR/RB/QB David Palmer), 1999 (Alabama RB Shaun Alexander) and 2009 (Alabama RB Mark Ingram). Only last season was a Tide player able to get to the foulest of the foul who decide which very young man is considered the best of major amateur football athletics. We’d say that Alexander should have won both, while Ingram should have been left off until this season, but that’s not here or there.
What matters is that Monday, the organization that gives out the Maxwell Award and the Chuck Bednarik Award — the Maxwell Football Club — just about admits that the top athlete will be an offensive player, restricting the Bednarik Award to only defensive players. Those in the college football blogosphere know that the keepers of the Heisman are right bastards when it comes to use of the name, so they discuss the Maxwell Award in its place.
In the last season, though, the Maxwell winner was Colt McCoy, the senior quarterback for Texas who got knocked out of the game by Huffman High School product Marcell Dareus. The Bednarik Award went to a guy who simply played on a team that — sniff, sniff — just wasn’t good enough, Ndamukong Suh.
The Maxwell Award has been presented to the outstanding collegiate football player in America since 1937 and is named in honor of sportswriter Robert W. “Tiny” Maxwell. The Chuck Bednarik Award has been presented to the nation’s top defensive player since 1995. Mr. Bednarik is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame 69′ and the NFL Hall of Fame 67′.
Colt McCoy of the University of Texas was the recipient of the 73rd Maxwell Award and Ndamukong Suh from the University of Nebraska was awarded the 15th Chuck Bednarik Award for their outstanding performances during the 2008 season. The two men were selected by the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions respectively in this April’s NFL Draft.
So, yeah.
Anyway, this year, the SEC/Clemson watch list looks thusly:
MAXWELL
Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
Greg McElroy, QB, Alabama
Stephen Garcia, QB, South Carolina
Kyle Parker, QB, Clemson
John Brantley, QB, Florida
Jeff Demps, RB, Florida
Randall Cobb, WR, Kentucky
Washaun Ealey, RB, Georgia
A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
BEDNARIK
Marcell Dareus, DE, Alabama
Dont’a Hightower, LB, Alabama
Mark Barron, S, Alabama
Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
DeAndre McDaniel, S, Clemson
Ahmad Black, S, Florida
Josh Byrnes, LB, Auburn
Justin Houston, LB, Georgia
Pernell McPhee, DE, Mississippi State
Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
Kelvin Sheppard, LB, LSU
Jerrell Powe, DT, Ole Miss
For 12 years, the Southeastern Conference baseball tournament has been held at what we grew up calling the Hoover Met — Regions Park outside of Birmingham. But there’s only one year left on the contract between the stadium and the SEC, so the process has been opened up to see where the conference champion will be crowned in 2012. If you want to follow Carolina to the tourney in a couple years, it may be an even further drive than the five hours to Alabama.
Seven towns, including Hoover, are making a move, with the other six literally wanting the SEC to make the move. If the tourney leaves Hoover, the best venue may be Memphis. Yes, the only teams west of it are Arkansas and LSU. According to Google Maps, a drive from Columbia would take more than 10 hours and you’d still have to go through Birmingham. But the home stadium of the Memphis Redbirds (AAA, St. Louis Cardinals) has seating capacity of 14,320 and was called the best minor league park of 2009 by Baseball America. One of the standards the SEC is applying is that stadiums must, or must be able to, provide seating for at least 10,000. Regions Park holds 10,800.
The best situation as far as South Carolinians go is if the Atlanta suburb of Duluth lands the bid. It would be at Coolray Field (Gwinnett Braves, AAA, Atlanta Braves), which comes in right under the wire at 10,000 seats. But according to The Birmingham News, the SEC is having reservations about batting practice areas and hotel availability close to the venue. Considering that the SEC has all but up and moved its headquarters from Birmingham to Atlanta, Duluth is right there in the mix with Hoover and Memphis.
The other two sites are lacking and behind, to say the least. One is Montgomery, which would play host to the tournament at the home of the Montgomery Biscuits (AA, Tampa Bay Rays). The immediate problem is that Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium comes up 3,000 seats short, though the organization says it can bring in enough seating to make it work. Other places — Jackson, Miss. and Little Rock, face similar issues.
The only other place with a legitimate shot is Jacksonville, the eastern geographical problem counterpart to Memphis. Jacksonville had the ACC baseball tournament from 2005 to 2008 at the Baseball Grounds (Jacksonville Suns, AA, Florida Marlins), so it can play up the experience factor to compete with Hoover.
What’s noticeable is that not one South Carolina stadium was in the mix. Whether it’s the continuing NAACP boycott — which has only seemed to screw over college athletes and the people who want to watch the games — or something else, we seem to have missed out again. Sports can be, and usually is, an economic engine. Our business and political leaders need to get on the hump and do something about this.
Sure, most people have their team’s schedule written down, posted up and all that, you you need to keep up with what the competition’s doing, as well. Here’s your 2010 SEC football helmet schedule, which is always a fine thing to have on hand.
See you at the Tide-Gamecocks game at Williams-Brice. It’ll be the first time Alabama’s been in Columbia since the blowout in 2005. For a larger version of the sked, click below.
Before Auburn kicked off the third and final day of SEC Media Days, the media got together and voted for the preseason SEC standings and who they thought would win it all. Predictability, FTW.
SEC Champion
Alabama
SEC East Champion
Florida
SEC West Champion
Alabama
SEC East
1. Florida, 1030 (153)
2. Georgia, 791 (15)
3. South Carolina, 790 (8)
4. Kentucky, 462
5. Tennessee, 450
6. Vanderbilt, 194 (1)
SEC West
1. Alabama, 1034 (157)
2. Arkansas, 726 (6)
3. Auburn, 691 (10)
4. LSU, 653 (1)
5. Mississippi State, 320
6. Ole Miss, 293 (3)
Hey, Carolina — the sportswriters think y’all just might be second in the East. That could mean a halfway decent bowl game to get beat in. Sure beats losing to Connecticut at Legion Field. Maybe the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Short trip. In other news, it looks bad for LSU and Ole Miss, particularly for Tiger head coach Les Miles. It took Phil Fulmer about 10 years to go from hero to goat. Miles is going to make the journey from raising the crystal football to being canned in record time if what’s listed above really happens. As far as the Right Reverend goes, Ole Miss fans can be a little more tolerant, though being the dark horse one preseason to bottom-dweller the next isn’t what they’d call progress.
SEC Media Days. The three days of fun and games in the Wynfrey Hotel at the Galleria in Birmingham (or specifically, the white-flight haven of Hoover). Usually when it’s the day that Alabama is on the slate, the lobbies fill with fans, old and young, waiting to meet and get memorabilia signed by the head coach and the three payers chosen to appear. With the Tide slated for the opening spot on Wednesday — the national champion Tide — the atmosphere was bananas. The Chick-fil-A ran out of chicken. This was REAL, son.
And if you don’t think the horde of beat writers (and more than a few national writers, and the TV and radio types) showing up were on edge enough with a rabid, human crimson tide waiting for them, the SEC dropped the ball on the Internet. All day long, there were lamentations about the lack of wifi, and when it came, it was spotty. There was much gnashing of teeth and hitting of refresh.
But, when the time came, Tide coach Nick Saban stepped to the podium. He pretty much kept it straight, but began getting a little wound up when talking about agents and college football. Mind you, the Bama program has been pretty open with allowing scouts look at film and practices, but Saban seems to be getting ready to shut the door on all NFL types. Then, pimps.
| Saban on rogue agents |
As for the rest, it went pretty much as usual.
| Alabama head coach Nick Saban |
| Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy |
| Alabama linebacker Dont’a Hightower |
| Alabama running back Mark Ingram |
The next crew up was Mississippi State. Coach Dan Mullen seems to sincerely believe that his Bulldogs are going to be competitive in the SEC West this year, which simply seems bizarre. To the best of our knowledge, the last time MSU was good was when former coach Jackie Sherrill was breaking all sorts of rules. Mullen also defended the spread option, which Saban previously said was not good prep for a quarterback going to the next level.
| Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen |
| Mississippi State quarterback Chris Relf |
Third up was SEC East champion Florida. We would say the SEC blew its stash on the first day, but that would be an understatement. Of the first four teams, two are the best in the conference with the best two, most intimidating coaches in the conference. Good job with scheduling. Anyway, Gators coach Urban Meyer addressed agents as well, saying that they keep tight security to keep agent types out, and the only place you’d find one on campus is behind a bush. And he seemed to be indulging in a little schadenfreude when asked about Southern Cal getting nailed with probation shortly after Lane Kiffin taking over.
| Florida head coach Urban Meyer |
| Florida safety Ahmad Black |
| Florida center Mike Pouncey |
Last up was Kentucky and its fearsome twosome, coach Joker Phillips and athlete Randall Cobb. See, Cobb is probably the only player on the Wildcats’ roster that you can name, for the reason that he’s on the field damn near every play in yet another position. For any team playing Kentucky, it pretty much boils down to containing Cobb. Phillips said it himself that Cobb will be all over the field again this season. He also said assistant Tee Martin knows Facebook and former coach Rich Brooks tweets his daily golf score. Riveting.
| Kentucky head coach Joker Phillips |
| Kentucky athlete Randall Cobb |
Southeastern Conference football fans typically do not have an all-time favorite pro team, being that college football in the South captured the irrational devotion of the populace before the NFL was a gleam in George Halas‘ eye. Most people end up with tepid support of the most local team, or historically, where the latest stud(s) has been drafted. The jorts-clothed, Trans Am-driving north-central Florida denizens are not unlike everyone else, and have said in a unified voice to former quarterback Tim Tebow, “We can’t quit you.”
Tebow has left. No more stories about circumcising Filipino boys and Bible verses on eye black on “College GameDay.” Or so we hope. He’s gone off to Denver as the latest rookie signal caller in the Mile High City. But it just ain’t over. Florida fans, support your Tebow. A heady Broncos fan has started up TebowTees.com, which can be pretty creative when it comes to T-shirt designs. We’re angling for this one:
Guess who’s back, guess who’s back, guess who’s back…and it’s not Tim Tebow. Florida coach Urban Meyer turned his Wienermobile around and allegedly told his players that he’s changing his mind and will return as head coach — just not right away.
Meyer informed his football team on Sunday that he is not resigning but rather taking an indefinite leave of absence, according to a team source.
Meyer also informed the football team that offensive coordinator Steve Addazio will be the Gators’ interim head coach. A timetable has not been set for Meyer’s return but he could resume his position as UF head coach as soon as next season.
In all deference to Meyer and his illness and the general thought the Southeastern Conference would lose a major force, our reaction is, “WELL, SHIT.” There were writers in Alabama, including The Birmingham News‘ Kevin Scarbinsky (who likes
One.
Sentence.
Paragraphs.) who said that Meyer’s retirement effectively ceded control of the SEC to Alabama and Nick Saban for the next three years or so. He said it would be like the Crimson Tide in the ’70s. Total domination. Scarbinsky now has the be-jorted Gator Nation laughing in his face, because this epic battle between two intense, dedicated and borderline-batshit insane coaches is not even close to over.
Meyer’s just going to take a vacation. Then he’ll be back, to take his fourth SEC East title in six years.
Florida head coach Urban Meyer was already on his way to becoming, despite Carolina coach Steve Spurrier’s success, the next Bear Bryant in the Southeastern Conference. Two national championships and a Heisman Trophy to in just four years — eclipsing what Spurrier did in Gainesville in a decade. This season, the Gators were a game away from another national championship appearance. So, at the end of his fifth season with the team, it’s coming as a shock to everyone in the college football community that Meyer announced he would step down as head coach after the Sugar Bowl.
In a statement released Saturday night, Meyer said:
I have given my heart and soul to coaching college football and mentoring young men for the last 24-plus years and I have dedicated most of my waking moments the last five years to the Gator football program. I have ignored my health for years, but recent developments have forced me to re-evaluate my priorities of faith and family.
After consulting with my family, [Florida president] Dr. Bernie Machen, [Florida athletics director] Jeremy Foley and my doctors, I believe it is in my best interest to step aside and focus on my health and family.
I’m proud to be a part of the Gainesville community and the Gator Nation and I plan to remain in Gainesville and involved with the University of Florida. I’m very appreciative for the opportunity I’ve had to be a part of a tremendous institution – from Dr. Machen to Jeremy Foley and the entire administrative staff at UF. I’m also very thankful for the chance to work with some of the best assistants in college football and coach some of the best college football players and watch them grow both on and off the field as people. I will cherish the relationships with them the most.
If you doubt the frenzy that happened when it was announced via Twitter and on TV in the Meineke Car Care Bowl, the Florida athletics Web site, GatorZone.com, was virtually inaccessible.
Meyer’s record in the nation’s toughest football conference has been nothing short of amazing. With one game left to go, he has a 56-10 overall record (84.8 percent) and a 32-8 SEC record (80 percent). Along with the two national titles and quarterback Tim Tebow‘s Heisman, there have been two SEC championships three SEC East titles. Against Gator rivals Tennessee, Georgia and Florida State, he is 14-1. There were five years and $20 million left on his contract, not to mention near-certain bonuses for championships and other incentives.
Initial reportage has been murky as to the true cause of Meyer’s decision. The rumor coming out at the beginning was that it was a health issue. Other sources said it was a lifestyle issue, and yet another rumor has it that Meyer told his players it involves a heart condition. Whatever it is, being a major football head coach (or a coach period, in many instances) is definitely not a healthy occupation.
The Florida program is, definitely, thrown into some measure of absolute chaos. We’re sure Meyer will try to help out with the coaching search and soften the blow for the program, but the damage is done. Recruiting goes in to serious overdrive after the bowl game, a number of quality assistants have taken other jobs and Tebow is leaving school, along with other high-level starters.
It’s too early for fans of Georgia and Tennessee (and oh, Carolina) to expect a significant drop in the Gators’ talent or results. Meyer’s years at the university have stocked the cabinet pretty well. Florida is also at the perfect spot to get a great coach. Great players, years of winning, on TV every week and a pipeline to the NFL. But, you never know. It takes the right mix of coach and program to create a consistent winner.
Bart Starr. Joe Namath. Kenny Stabler. Lee Roy Jordan. Cornelius Bennett. Derrick Thomas. David Palmer. Shaun Alexander. None of these heroes of Alabama football won the Heisman Trophy. For a program that has 12 national championships and 22 Southeastern Conference titles, the other major accomplishment in college football was something that had been lacking from the Tide trophy case for years. No longer.
Crimson Tide running back Mark Ingram added one of the more incredible accomplishments of the team this year, becoming Bama’s first-ever Heisman winner, and the third consecutive sophomore to take home the award. The win was the closest in the history of the award, 75-Heismans deep. For the first time in years, stiffarmtrophy.com got the final lineup wrong. It had Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh in third, ahead of Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, but in fact the two flipped positions in the final results.
1. MARK INGRAM, RUNNING BACK, ALABAMA
Votes: 1,304 (227)
2. TOBY GERHART, RUNNING BACK, STANFORD
Votes: 1,276 (222)
3. COLT MCCOY, QUARTERBACK, TEXAS
Votes: 1,145 (203)
4. NDAMUKONG SUH, DEFENSIVE TACKLE, NEBRASKA
Votes: 815 (161)
5. TIM TEBOW, QUARTERBACK, FLORIDA
Votes: 390 (43)
Perhaps the most memorable part of the ceremony was Ingram totally losing it when he went on the dais, having to take a few seconds to compose himself. It was only about a minute or two into the acceptance speech that the 2009 winner was able to get himself together enough to roll through the rest of his thank-yous.
“I’m a little overwhelmed right now,” Ingram said at the podium. “I’m just so excited to bring Alabama their first Heisman winner.” Afterward, the super sophomore told the assembled media, “I was overwhelmed, really excited, just the fact that I’m the first Heisman Trophy winner at the University of Alabama and doing this for my family. It hasn’t been easy for us.”
Alabama football is an emotional endeavor, so most of us who slagged on Tebow for crying during the SEC Championship Game gave Ingram a pass. Double standards are the spice of life in sports.
This season, Ingram put up 1,542 rushing yards on 249 attempts for 6.2 yards-per-carry and 15 touchdowns, despite being extremely limited in action against the patsies of the Tide schedule. He also has 30 receptions for 322 yards, for 10.7 yards-per-catch and three touchdowns.
Ingram wins
Ingram’s interview with ESPN’s Chris Fowler
There’s only one step left: beating Texas in Pasadena in the BCS National Championship Game. If Alabama can do that, and there is significant thought to believe that it’s possible, 2009 could go down as one of the greatest years in the 117-year history of Crimson Tide football.
