It’s SEC Media Day for the upcoming football season and The Birmingham News has it covered.....
Today, Stiles Points features the Alabama Crimson Tide in the series, "College Football at its Best".....Nico from the blog Roll Bama Roll took the time to respond about the Tide....he is a graduate student at the University of Alabama and has been blogging for three years....
Bryant Hall, Bryant Drive, Bryant High School, etc...you get the point. Let me give you another example. When offensive lineman Andre Smith, the highest ranked offensive line prospect in the country chose Alabama over the likes of USC and LSU, he put a twist on the 'ol "putting on the hat of the team you're going to sign with" schtick. He didn't put on a Bama ball cap, he put on a Houndstooth hat. This from someone that wasn't even born when Coach Bryant died.
reatest Alabama football game that you have seen - whether it be in-person or on television?
ms are the highest level of athletics the state has to offer. There are a few minor league baseball teams scattered around the state, but no real pro sports to speak of. With Alabama and Auburn being two of the most successful programs in college football history, the state can focus all of its energy on these two teams and the Iron Bowl in particular. It's a 365 day a year topic around here and that is said without an ounce of hyperbole.
a. His name is all over Alabama's record books.
ase why Alabama football, as a whole, is the best football program in the country?
different perspective on why Alabama is so great. It is a magnet for talented players and players full of heart. Even coaches that were in over their heads like Mike DuBose and Mike Shula produced 10-win seasons. DuBose even produced a conference championship (and beat Spurrier twice in one season.) Sure, they had losing seasons too but it is the kind of place where talented people want to play and that the talent level can even overcome bad coaching. It has one of the most rabid and devoted fanbases on the planet and the players return that devotion to the fans. When we went on probation during the Franchione era, the players stuck it out. They could've transferred, but they didn't. Others knowingly came to a program on probation even though they had good offers elsewhere because they wanted to play at Alabama. To me, that level of devotion from both fans and players makes it a unique a great place that few can equal.
Believe it or not, there are knuckleheads out there who are atually defending Vick and even excusing his alleged involvement.....these people have brought up that hunters kill animals.....I have even read where someone wrote about how butchers kill pigs and cows for the meat that we eat.....to me, these people are just sidestepping the issue at hand about Vick.....
Of course, the biggest excuse that I have read is that the government and media are after Vick because he is African-American.....of course when there is no other excuse, the ole race card is always a good defense.....
This case has nothing to do with Michael Vick being African-American.....this case has everything to do with Michael Vick the person who is allegedly involved in the inhumane, barbaric, cruel, and gruesome treatment of dogs - Nothing Else!!!.....some of the people who are using the race card as a defense are stating that Vick is being singled out because he is a black man playing a position (quarterback) that is traditionally held by white athletes.....I have also read where some idiots are even stating this would not be a big thing if Peyton Manning or Tom Brady were accused of the same charges.....
First off, the fact is, Manning, Brady, or no other NFL player is accused of this despicable act - so stop trying to change the focus of the case....
Second, the morons who are stating the league/government/media is after Vick because he is black do not know sports history......
Let’s look at the history of the NFL and even Major League Baseball.....the NFL does not “go after” black athletes....if that was the case, then why did the league, back in the early 1960s, suspend the Golden Boy, Paul Hornung and Alex Karras for gambling?......Hornung was the All-American athlete who played for Notre Dame, won the Heisman Trophy, and played on those great Lombardi Packer teams....he was also white....and he was also suspended by the league....the league did not "sweep it under the rug"...Karras too was white, and he was suspended by the league.....the NFL did not favor these two just because they were white.....
Let’s also look at baseball.....has anyone ever heard of the name Pete Rose....Rose was the all-time hits leader, Charlie Hustle, Mr. Baseball.....but the league booted him for life for gambling on baseball.....once again, there was no “sweeping it under the rug”......
These idiots who are stating that Vick is being singled out because he is black simply “Don’t Get It”.....there is no doubt that racism is a part of society and even sports....to this day I still believe that race was a reason for the government's poor and inexcusable slow response to the people in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.....it was sickening to see all those people who were suffering......so I do realize that race is still alive in this country.....but, like I wrote earlier, this case has nothing to do with race but everything to do with man-kind and the character of a person no matter race, creed, gender, etc...I thought man-kind and society as a whole evolved and would not condone something so barbaric and inhumane.....but I guess I was wrong....instead of people chastising Vick for this horrid act, there are actually people who think it is funny and are defending him....
The Washington Huskies are the featured football program in the series "College Football at its Best"....U-Dub grad Zach from the popular blog The Big Picture gives us his thoughts about the Huskies...I want to thank Zach for his time and encourage everyone to check out his blog....it is one of the best blogs in the country....
back to the Rick Neuheisel scandal and the resignation of former AD Barbara Hedges.
as really special. It was the first year when fans started realizing that U-Dub wasn't very good anymore so anything -- like anything -- to juice fans would help.
, who are the five greatest players to wear a Washington uniform and why?I want to than Zach for his time - it is much appreciated....on Thursday, the Alabama Crimson Tide will be featured....
uestion - should Notre Dame wear the green jerseys at least once a year or only on very special occasions?Q2. What is the greatest Notre Dame football game that you have seen - whether it be in-person or on television? Explain the game and why it was so great. Q3. Who do you consider Notre Dame's biggest rival - Michigan or Southern Cal? Q4. Since 1970, who are the five greatest players to wear an Notre Dame uniform and why? Q5. Make your case why Notre Dame football, as a whole, is the best football program in the country? I want to thank Rob for his time....it is much appreciated....tomorrow our buddy Zach will write about the Washington Huskies....
As a young lad like myself, I don't think I could pick any other game than the USC-ND
game of 2005. That was one of the best college football games of it's time. There was something special brewing that October day in South Bend and even though ND lost, you can't deny the greatness of that game. The energy and excitement was unbelievable. Even after the fact, I sometimes forget how much of an impact that game had on the entire college football season. If the 'Bush Push' (photo) had never happened, Notre Dame would have likely been 10-1 and in contention with a few other teams for the National Championship game. It still frustrates me today. I have a feeling that 4th and 9 play will be one of the last things I see right before I die.
USC. Next question. But seriously, Southern California is our main rival since the 30's and will always be our biggest rival. We'
ve played USC 78 times since 1926 (currently own a 42-31-5 record against them) versus only 34 times against Michigan (we won't speak of records for this one). We've played Michigan State, Purdue, and Navy more times than we've played Michigan. It's more of a recent rivalry even though the first game between the two schools was played in 1897. There's no scientific explanation about why USC is a bigger rival than Michigan. Notre Dame fans circle both games on their calendars, but USC is always the biggest game of the year. I'd consider USC our rival and Michigan our enemy.
Interesting question and if you were to ask 5 different people their top-5 players, I'm sure you'd get 5 different sets. Keep in mind I'm still a student and lack the complete history of the program, but my list would go:
QB Paul Hornung – The Irish quarterback from 1955-1956 was the only player to win the Heisman from a losing team. In his senior campaign he ranked 2nd in total offense, had 55 tackles as a safety on defense, and even punted and kicked for the team.
WR/KR Raghib (Rocket) Ismail – If you thought Reggie Bush had the ability to change a gam
e, you should re-watch some of the Rocket's film. On offense (as both a running back and wide receiver) and on special teams, opposing coaches dreaded letting him get the ball. It was an absolute crock that he finished 2 nd in the Heisman ballots behind Ty Detmer.
RB George Gipp – Even though I doubt he'd have the same success today as he had in 1917-1920, you can't deny the Gipp's greatness in college football history. Averaging 8.1 ypc in his senior season, the Gipp lead the Irish to 19 consecutive wins and set milestones both running and passing.
QB Johnny Lujack – Notre Dame's Heisman winner in 1947 won 3 National Championships under coach Frank Leahy in his short time at Notre Dame. He was part of the squad that never lost from 1946-1949 and was the centerpiece of Irish greatness in the 1940's.
TE/DE Leon Hart – Hart (photo) was the last defensive lineman to win the Heisman Trophy award and was the last Heisman Trophy winner to be selected #1 in the NFL draft. Hart was a 2-time All-American at defensive end and even averaged over 15 ypc as TE on offense.
While I could make a case for why Notre Dame football is the best program in college fo
otball history (I think many people would agree with that – or at least list them in their top 3), we've still got our work cut out for us if we want to become the best football program in the country right now. I don't think Notre Dame will ever have the most talented team in the country, but there's no reason why we can't have top 5 talent and I do believe we're getting there. It's going to take awhile for us to rebuild after truly one of the worst coaching staffs in college football and I do believe Charlie Weis will win a National Championship before he leaves South Bend. Good things come to those who wait, right?....
