# 5 Bama Gymnastics Vaults Past #10 Auburn

TUSCALOOSA, AL| When the subject of college gymnastics comes up in most parts of the country many Americans know little to nothing about the sport. Alabama is certainly not one of those places, as a capacity crowd of 15,075 watched the # 5 Crimson Tide beat the # 10 Auburn Tigers 197.475-195.9 last night in Coleman Coliseum. The Tide extended its winning streak over its in-state rival to 90 straight. That is not a typo, 90 straight victories, a winning streak that dates back to the late '1970s.

Alabama posted its best score in three years and tops in the nation so far. The Tide used their best event, the vault, to get off to a great start with a season best score of 49.375. Coach Sarah Patterson told the Tuscaloosa News that got the Tide started on the right foot, "There's an emotional lift, you always tell them do not look at the scores, look at your performance. It did help us get on a roll. It's a pretty strong vault lineup and it's getting stronger."

The Tide also dominated the uneven bars and floor exercise and was led by 2004 Olympic silver medalist, Terin Humprey, with an almost perfect mark of 9.9 on the bars and a 9.95 on the floor. In front of pink clad fans, both Alabama and Auburn wore pink to continue raising money and awareness for breast cancer research. Alabama head coach Sarah Patterson gave a check of $225,000 to the DCH Brest Cancer Fund.

Alabama continues its home schedule next Friday hosting the Kentucky Wildcats at 7:30pm.

Luther Davis Commits to Tide

One of the South's hottest prospects, West Monroe, LA defensive tackle Luther Davis, committed to the Tide late last night. Davis is listed at a mammoth 6'4 254 lbs, while still running the forty in under 4.8.

This is another huge victory for current Tide Coach Nick Saban in trying to become the dominant recruiter in the talent hot bed of Louisiana. As many know, the nations top prospect, Joe McKnight, hails from River Ridge, LA.

It is hoped that Davis will do for Alabama what Percy Harvin and Tim Tebow did for Florida last year, bring on a tidal wave of star recruits.

Talent can often times shield eyes from seeing mediocre coaching, but talent and good coaching win championships. Davis is a shocking and huge pick-up for the Tide, and hopefully many of his fellow "Cajuns" will follow him.

Men's Basketball: Arkansas Preview

Hogs Come Calling in big SEC West Showdown

TUSCALOOSA, AL| The # 12 Crimson Tide basketball (15-4, 2-3) teams returns to Coleman Coliseum Saturday to take on their SEC West rival, the Arkansas Razorbacks at 2pm CT. The Tide is coming off another bad loss on the road at in state rival Auburn on Tuesday night and looks to avenge an earlier blowout to the Hogs,88-61, in Fayetteville. The Hogs (13-7, 2-4) are also looking to get back on track after a loss Wednesday night at then win less in the SEC, South Carolina.

Arkansas coach Stan Heath knows his club is in for a battle in T-Town. According to hogwired.com Heath is quoted as saying: "Alabama will be fired up. They will look back at the last game. I've seen how they play at home. They are a little different at home, too. We have got to regroup and do a good job preparing. I'm sure we'll see some different things.

On preseason All-American Tide point guard Ronald Steele, Heath said,"We have to make Ron Steele work as hard as he can. He can make shots. We have to pressure him and make him give up the ball as much as possible."

This game is likely to stay close as the Tide has not come out of the gates very fast all year. To win this game the Tide must come out ready to play and realize that their are two halves of basketball to be played and they just can't show up after halftime. That being said, the game is in Tuscaloosa where the Tide has won 17 in a row, so I have to give the edge to the Tide in this crucial SEC West showdown.


Babe's Prediction: # 12 Alabama 78 Arkansas 70
Dolbare's Prediction: # 12 Alabama 66 Arkansas 62

"The Joe" Gets a Much Needed Facelift

TUSCALOOSA, AL| Coming off an SEC championship, top 10 final ranking, and 2007 preseason # 24 rank the Alabama baseball team and their stadium are being rewarded for their efforts. Construction is near completion on a new scoreboard over the left field wall right above the 365-foot mark.

The new scoreboard is a much needed improvement over the older, outdated one that has serviced Sewell-Thomas Stadium for years. The 40 foot structure is highlighted by a "Jumbo-Tron" that will be able to show players pictures and information similar to the way big league stadiums do on a nightly basis. In a statement to the Tuscaloosa News athletics director Mal Moore stated "We're trying to enhance the fan experience while continuing to maintain a top baseball facility."

After last season, LSU fired embattled coach Smoke Laval and came looking at Louisiana native and all time winning Alabama coach Jim Wells. Coach Wells spoke with LSU AD and baseball legend Skip Bertman, the two are close friends, about the opening but decided to remain at the Capstone after promises of stadium renovations among other things by Alabama athletics director Mal Moore. Obviously, Moore is holding up his end of the deal providing the Tide with a facility that will keep them on par with most of the other SEC ballparks.

Hopefully, the 2007 season will be as easy on the eyes as the Tide's new addition just over the left center field wall.

Either Get With the Program or Get Out

From the moment Coach Nick Saban stepped onto the tarmac of the Tuscaloosa Regional Airport, it was clear there was a new sheriff in town. With Saban comes credibility. With credibility comes the ability to have more accountability and discipline over the players he coaches. His career record speaks for itself. His system flat out gets results. He is a very no nonsense type of guy. You will either choose to board the "USS SABAN", or you will watch as it sails by you.

Discipline is key in anything a person attempts to be successful in, and especially in the "team" sport of football. With Saban there will not be anymore missing team meetings or dozing off during film sessions.

"Once he walks in a room, everybody gets tight, tensed up and focused. If you fall asleep, you might as well get ready to be done for the rest of the season," Former LSU wide receiver DeWayne Bowe said.

You will see a totally different product this fall under the tutelage of Saban. Players who have never made an impact before, will look as if they are the second coming of Bobby Humphrey. You will also realize several usual starters who did not hold their spot. Saban is a perfectionist and he expects his players to preform in that fashion.

Here's to reassembling an Alabama team in which all of those who face us, hope they never-ever have to again!!!

Roll Tide

Saban "On Another Level" when it comes to Recruiting

TUSCALOOSA, AL| New Alabama head football coach Nick Saban and his staff have wasted no time in getting into the rat race that is college football recruiting. Hired with just over a month until National Signing Day (early February) many thought Saban could not add much more talent to this year's class. Has he ever proved them wrong. Not only has Saban worked hard to keep the commitments from former coach Mike Shula's class, but he has also hit the road looking to bring in even more future stars.

Saban has gone after some of the best players out there including 5 star players Joe McKnight (LA) and Noel Devine (FL) and 4 star Sidell Corley and Brandon Gibson, both of Mobile and current LSU soft commitment Luther Davis (LA). He and his staff have also received a commitment from San Antonio, TX quarterback Nick Fanuzzi.

The job this staff has done with trying to keep Shula's recruits and also get some of the best players in America to visit Tuscaloosa is nothing short of incredible. The future of our football program is bright as Saban looks to bring in talent that has not been seen in Bryant Denny in quite a while.

#12 Tide Basketball Looks to Get Back on Track

TUSCALOOSA, AL| Currently 2-3 in the SEC, and playing terrible on the road, the Crimson Tide basketball team looks to get back to its winning ways this Saturday versus Arkansas at Coleman Coliseum. The Hogs stomped the Tide in Fayetteville earlier this season, but the Tide enters the game with a 17 game home winning streak against an Arkansas team that like most teams in the SEC West, struggles on the road.

The Tide have been a mystery this season as they have one of the most talented teams in the SEC but seem to give up big leads early and get blown out when the game is not being played in Tuscaloosa. The Tide's lone road win this season was at rebuilding N.C. State.

If the Tide wants to make some noise, or even make the NCAA tournament, they need to fix that problem in a hurry. Hopefully, Mark Gottfried will have the troops ready to go Saturday in a crucial SEC West showdown.