AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2008 > August > 01 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USIt’s reality check day for Alabama’s freshmen
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s Friday. We’re 27 days from the start of the season and there is already a ton of stuff we need to talk about:
1. Today is reality check day for Alabama’s freshmen: Since last February they have been known as the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class. Today Alabama’s freshmen have to put on their shoes and realize that high school is over. It’s time to play with the big boys. There is obviously talent there and guys like receiver Julio Jones are going to have to grow up in a hurry. They need to play now because Alabama is thin at several positions like wide receiver and linebacker.
“We will always welcome a guy who can help us win,” senior offensive lineman Antoine Caldwell said. “But everybody has to prove themselves once they get out on the field.”
Translation: That high school rep doesn’t mean much in the heat of two-a-days at this level. Welcome to the SEC, rookie.
Alabama opens its season on Aug. 30 against Clemson in the Georgia Dome.
2. Stephen Garcia needs to stay out of the spotlight: For a guy who has never played one down of college football, Stephen Garcia has gotten a lot of ink in his 18 months at South Carolina. He caught a huge break Thursday when the University decided to reinstate him for the beginning of practice. Garcia, who had three run-ins with the law in 15 months, was supposed to be banned from team activities until August 15. Now he’ll get to practice.
But young Mr. Garcia won’t be talking to the media anytime soon.
“Stephen does need any more attention,” coach Steve Spurrier said on Thursday.
This is good for Garcia and here’s why. The word I get is that Garcia has had a tough time handling the hype that came with his recruitment. Part of his bad behavior was a reaction to that pressure. He needs to be a backup quarterback for a while. But if South Carolina struggles at the quarterback position in the first two games with N.C. State and Vanderbilt, Spurrier may need for Garcia to play when Georgia comes to town on Sept. 13. Stay tuned.
3. Auburn will play two quarterbacks: When I sat down with Auburn OC Tony Franklin on Wednesday he made it clear that he would like for one of his two quarterbacks—Kodi Burns or Chris Todd—to lock down the starting job in August. “It’s easier if it’s one. It’s easier in practice because he would get most of the reps and the game planning is easier,” Franklin said. “I’d like for one of them to evolve and say that this was the guy who is going to take us. But I really don’t foresee any way that they both don’t play. That’s because they are both good.”
Two nuggets here:
Todd, a transfer from Texas Tech, had a dead arm in the spring. “He says it’s 100 percent now but I’m going to wait and see for myself,” Franklin said. “Because when his arm is 100 percent it’s pretty special.”
Burns is not a natural passer but he is getting better in a hurry. In scrimmages before the bowl game he completed 38 percent of his passes. In the first half of the spring it was 55 and in the last two scrimmages he was over 70 percent.
4. Hart a good hire for Alabama: Dave Hart had a very successful career as Florida State’s athletics director. But Hart was also known to have his differences with FSU’s strong-willed president, T.K. Wetherell. In that battle the president always wins and Hart was not so gently pushed out the door.
But the former basketball player at Alabama is returning to his alma mater as the right-hand man to athletics director Mal Moore. It is a very good hire for all parties involved and here’s why. Hart is a great detail man and will handle the day-to-day operations of that department very well. Moore is good at rallying the Alabama family to open up their wallets when the need arises.
Was Hart brought in to replace Moore? It might seem that way but consider this: Every other year somebody is saying or writing that Mal Moore is on his way out. All I know is that Alabama’s facilities used to be some of the worst in the SEC. Now they are among the best. That has all happened on Moore’s watch.
5. Kentucky QB race may solve itself: Mike Hartline and Curtis Pulley came out of spring practice in a dead heat to replace Andre Woodson as Kentucky’s quarterback. But Pulley, a 6-4 junior, was cited for marijuana possession in June and then was caught speeding and driving with a suspended license in late July.
The real problem with Pulley’s transgressions was that he did not inform coach Rich Brooks immediately. Brooks found out about it from a television reporter when he got back last Friday from SEC Media Days. Not good.
Pulley has had his issues at Kentucky. He actually won the job from Woodson in the spring 2006 only to lose it. He will lose playing time. He is also running out of chances with his head coach.
“It’s kind of like if you’ve got money in the bank you can withdraw only so much,” Brooks said of Pulley. “If you overdraw you’ve got a real problem
Comments
By SecIsFootball
August 1, 2008 8:00 AM | Link to this
Tony…very well said by you and Antione Caldwell about the incoming class. While it is nice to sign such a highly touted class, these guys now need to see how they compete against the big boys. We signed lots of talented receivers but they need to show they can run good routes and block downfield. We signed a lot of good DL’s but are they strong enough to contribute as freshman. We signed a lot of solid LB’s but can the read an offense and shed blocks against SEC OL. A lot more teams have been playing freshman lately and having a lot of success. UGA and AU on their OL last season are the first to come to mind. We will really need some freshman to step up at WR and LB and we will see of the next few weeks which are up to the challenge!! THANK GOD COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS ALMOST HERE!!!!!
ROLL TIDE!
By Caligula
August 1, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this
Tony: Are recruting class rankings ever re-evaluated (e.g., after Summer II enrollment begins) to factor in attrition from non-qualifiers?
By JB
August 1, 2008 9:04 AM | Link to this
Dear Tide Fans: only about 12-15 of that number 1 class will make it to their senior year and only 5 or 6 will be SEC starters. Check it out for yourself. Check all the SEC powers. That’s just the way it is.
By Red Clay Hound
August 1, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this
27 days seems like an eternity!
By Gamecock Travis
August 1, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this
I agree coach. It’s time Garcia finally earned his scholarship. Do something on the field to earn the right to talk to the media. One more slip-up and back to Tampa you go. I hope you can live up to the hype.
By Charlie
August 1, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this
JB
Even if that is the case….. don’t you think Saban will continue to bring in strong recruiting classes every year. Not saying #1…. but stong! So if there is a certain amount of attrition by the time these guys are Seniors other classes will be there to fill the void. It’s not like we’ll take the field with just those 12-15 guys.
By SecIsFootball
August 1, 2008 9:25 AM | Link to this
JB….very true. However, loading up with talent like teams like UGA is a good way to start building that talent level and depth!
Caligula…Yes they do re-evaluate the classes one they enroll.
By Ben Willis
August 1, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this
Just to comment on Red Clay Hound’s post…I disagree somewhat. If this were a normal class, I would say yes. But, this is not a normal class. I would put a months pay that we see more than 5 or 6 starters out of this class. There could be at least a couple on both sides of the ball this year. Remember, 24 of those guys are on campus in camp. IMO, last years class will even top the participation you outlined. This is not the Dubose days when half the class drops out our never makes it in, or a Shula class with their lack of true SEC prospects. This is a new era in UA recruiting not like any we have seen in many years. We had better hope I am right because 48% (40) of our 84 scholarshipped players are true freshmen or red shirt freshmen.
By Miles
August 1, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this
Garcia is back…now let college football’s true genius, i.e., Steve Spurrier, do his wonders…
By bamafan
August 1, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this
Glad to see football season is starting up today!! Bama will be lucky to win six or seven games this year. They play all the good teams on the road this year. Bama does play Auburn at home this year and hope to god, Bama can finally broke the losing curse to the cow college. Bama just has to many holes to fill with true freshman having to play as starters and backups. If our qb gets hurt , Bama is really in trouble this year. The future is looking better with Saban and his ability to recruit good players to Bama, but it is a process that is going to take time and patience from our fanbase!! ROLL TIDE!!
By Spike
August 1, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this
Tony, RE: Garcia.. How or why does the recruitment hype cause his bad behavior?
By Sven Ottke
August 1, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this
Go ahead and change this forum to Mr. College Football talks SEC. Tony, there is more to life than the all time leading conference in cheating. Spread the love a bit would you?
By Gamecock Travis
August 1, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this
Um… Sven Ottke. Are you saying schools like Clemson, FSU, Miami, VTech, etc, never cheat?
By Ben in Athens
August 1, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this
Interesting bit about the Auburn QB situation. From those numbers you highlighted about Burns, he should be the no question starter to me. Although I’m not familar with Todd (i.e., can he run?), Burns would give defenses fits with all that running around he can do, especially in Franklin’s offense. I have a feeling Auburn will be very very successful with the Troy OC.
Oh, and Sven Otke: This is a newspaper in the biggest metro area in the Southeast. Hence the coverage of the SOUTHEASTERN Conference. And before you say it, TB has also devoted time to the ACC in this space and even Troy. Jonesing for more SoCon coverage or something?
By USCgamecock
August 1, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this
The USC faithful are eager for football season to get started…we all hope USC will knock off uga in the Cockpit…I know all SEC, College Football and GT fans will be thrilled right along with us Gamecocks. Go USC! kick’em!
By USCgamecock
August 1, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this
The USC faithful are eager for football season to get started…we all hope USC will knock off uga in the Cockpit…I know all SEC, College Football and GT fans will be thrilled right along with us Gamecocks. Go USC! kick’em!
By USCgamecock
August 1, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this
The USC faithful are eager for football season to get started…we all hope USC will knock off uga in the Cockpit…I know all SEC, College Football and GT fans will be thrilled right along with us Gamecocks. Go USC! kick’em!
By Sports Fan
August 1, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this
If Garcia had been a UGA player, he would have already been kicked off the team and expelled from UGA.
Keeping Garcia is another indication of how desperate SC is to have a good football team.
Garcia will end up in trouble again at the worst possible time and Spurrier will end up with a distraction.
By Ken
August 1, 2008 2:00 PM | Link to this
It’s notable that all the Gamecock fans are predicting a victory over UGA. SC does have some devoted fans, which I don’t understand at all. It isn’t their history of SEC championships that galvanizes these fans.
By Gamecock Travis
August 1, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this
You mean just like the way Odell was kicked off the team? Just like the way Boling was kicked off the team? Do your homework sports fan. Do you even know what Garcia’s incidents were?
By War Eagle
August 1, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this
SECis football, Bama would be better off if Dave Hart was AD and Mal Moore his right hand man..Bama just cant get away from Bryant Era...I am glad Auburn didnt stay with Coach Jordan Era, they would be in same position as Bama down throught the years..Bama got a crop of athletes, but can they play, probably ?.
By Cory
August 1, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this
Tony, any truth to the rumor every SEC school offered Josh Jarboe a full-ride scholarship before Coach Stoops could finish his sentence kicking him off the team at Oklahoma? Seems like he’d fit in perfectly with other parolees, err, teammates…
By John
August 1, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this
I can’t believe you are leaving the AJC in the latest buyout. The AJC has always been the paper for college football coverage in the South. It won’t be the same.
By 27 plus 14
August 1, 2008 9:14 PM | Link to this
before dogs season starts.
By heeldawg
August 1, 2008 11:33 PM | Link to this
Gamecock Travis:
Talk about having to do your homework!
FYI, Odell was kicked off the team. He had to earn his way back after a year at GMC, and was off scholarship for a year after he came back. He kept his nose clean after that until after he went to the NFL.
Michael Lemon was kicked off the team by Richt for his assault on another student. Clint Boling had a single misdemeanor traffic violation and did not take a breathalyzer test.
Garcia has had three alcohol-related disciplinary problems in one year, one of which involved his keying a USC faculty member’s car while intoxicated. He has lost no meaningful playing time and, of course, was re-instated just in time for summer camp. Fancy that. It’s typical Spurrier discipline, reflective of his win-at-all-cost philosophy.
Do I think Mark Richt would have handled it differently? Absolutely. When it comes to character, Spurrier’s Machiavellian tactics are trumped by Coach Richt’s no-nonsense approach every single time. And the longer Spurrier stays at USC, the more tarnished his reputation will become. Columbia, SC is like a virus that transforms successful coaches into washed-up zombie has-beens. Spurrier has caught the Gamecock disease, and it’s slowly killing him. Just look at what it did to Holtz—he got out, but he was permanently brain-damaged as a result. Don’t believe me? Listen to that idiot talk sometime. I don’ t think that even he understands what he is saying.
Maybe one day we’ll all be treated to the spectacle of SOS’s visor collapsing his rotted brain into mush on national TV. Heck, it can’t be too far off now.
By Drew
August 2, 2008 8:48 AM | Link to this
I get so tired of hearing how Alabama is thin at WR. We are loaded at that position (and I am not talking about freshmen). Mike McCoy (4 star), Earl Alexander (4 Star), Nikita Stover (4 Star). Those will be the 3 guys catching all the passes so I guarantee you we aren’t thin. We are thin at LB and that is it. Give us this year to get our heads on straight and we are going to be kicking everyone’s butt.
By SC Rules!!!
August 2, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this
SecIsFootball ,
You make a couple of good points about the class Coach Saban has landed and their need to come in and deliver right away. You might want to take a look at Coach Carroll and the way he runs things at SC. He continually signs loaded with talen classes who come in from day one knowing they will be expected to compete. That being said the returning players know they TOO will have to compete for playing time, there are no favorites with him. Last years stud, hell last weeks stud can find himself collecting dust the next game if he doesn’t come to practice and compete. After the Nebraska game last season in which Staphon Johnson ran wild on the cornholers and was the SI cover boy, he thought he could take the week off in practice. Well that Saturday he found himself not only NOT starting he was #5 on the depth chart at TB ou of 9 guys dressed. My point is that at thsi level no matter where you are playing (‘Bama, UGA, UF or SoCal) if you don’t want to put in the effort don’t bother showing up. Reps/news clippings are nice histrory and nothing more. SoCal Trojans are #1 and WILL BE ‘08 NC’s!!! Fight On!!
By SC Rules!!!
August 2, 2008 4:44 PM | Link to this
SecIsFootball ,
You make a couple of good points about the class Coach Saban has landed and their need to come in and deliver right away. You might want to take a look at Coach Carroll and the way he runs things at SC. He continually signs loaded with talent classes who come in from day one knowing they will be expected to compete. That being said the returning players know they TOO will have to compete for playing time, there are no favorites with him. Last years stud, hell last weeks stud can find himself collecting dust the next game if he doesn’t come to practice and compete. After the Nebraska game last season in which Staphon Johnson ran wild on the cornholers and was the SI cover boy, he thought he could take the week off in practice. Well that Saturday he found himself not only NOT starting he was #5 on the depth chart at TB out of 9 guys dressed. My point is that at this level no matter where you are playing (‘Bama, UGA, UF or SoCal) if you don’t want to put in the effort don’t bother showing up. Reps/news clippings are nice history and nothing more. SoCal Trojans are #1 and WILL BE ‘08 NC’s!!! Fight On!!
By SC Rules!!!
August 2, 2008 5:06 PM | Link to this
Hey War Eagle,
You are SO right my friend; SC is Football!!!
Coach Carroll channeled in and thanks you for the very vocal props!!!
I heard that one QB contender (sorry forgot his name) that transfered from Texas Tech may have left his arm in Lubbock, for y’alls sake better hope not with Franklin wanting to run the no huddle he’ll need his gun for sure. Look forward to your posts during the season.
By saint nick
August 2, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this
Face it, we will be much better this year and ALL sec outside of tide fans HATE that Bama is on the rise!!Learn to live with it!!!!
By Bow Wow
August 2, 2008 9:57 PM | Link to this
Danelle Ellerbe stole an automobile, wrecked it, ran from the scene, and collected a number of lesser, alcohol-related offenses in a single night. He sat out the first two games of the 2006 season. I still wonder who paid his $17,000 bond and legal fees. Richt is very forgiving for starting players, and Adams has a very big checkbook from those season-ticket sales. Lemon will probably be back for the SC game.
By Goldtimer
August 2, 2008 11:42 PM | Link to this
Tony,
Sorry to hear about the buyout. Hate to hear you will be leaving the AJC but I’m sure you will land on your feet and will be better off away from this paper. Best of luck, I for one have enjoyed your work.
By SC Rules!!!
August 3, 2008 3:23 AM | Link to this
Tony,
I will surely miss your columns and the AJC will surely be a diminished product for it.
To Crimson Tide fans everywhere: I am trully saddened at the news of John Mark Stallings passing. His Daddy was a great coach whether at ‘Bama or my beloved Dallas Cowboys. Coach Stallings is a class individual who had such an unbelievable love for his son.
By bamafan
August 3, 2008 6:57 AM | Link to this
Thanks SC Rules for the nice comments about John Mark Stallings. He was loved by many Bama fans and brought the real true feeling of what life was like for a very special person. My heart goes out the Stallings family and the entire crimson tide nation. ROLL TIDE!!
By Eric1
August 3, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this
By War Eagle
August 3, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this
Bamafan, SECRules, sorry about news of Coach Stalling son..I remember watching the special on ESPN about him several years ago.. It was very warming especially the time and patience Coach Stalling had with him. with his other heavy responsibilities…
By Greg
August 3, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this
Nice call, Antoine. You freshman have to prove yourself on the field.
Can they do any worse than losing to Louisiana-Monroe and an all expenses paid trip to exotic Shreveport as a reward for their 6 loss season?
By Large orange
August 3, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this
Go Vols! Sleeper in the East.