THE SCOOP
Atlanta radio station 92.9/The Game has taken the unusual step of becoming the flagship for … the University of Alabama.
It’s kind of like a Boston sports station airing New York Yankees games.
Since the Game came aboard last fall, it has struggled to find an audience, despite its super-powerful signal compared to its rivals.
But the bottom line is college football is too important to ignore in the South. So rolling with the Tide is a way for the Game to go deeper into the SEC, even if the move may alienate Georgia Bulldogs fans.
Eli Gold will provide play-by-play, with color provided by former Tide assistant coach Phil Savage. The station will periodically carry Nick Saban’s show as well.
“We have tremendous support in the greater Atlanta area and we currently have 19 players from Georgia, including 14 from within an hour of the city,” said Saban in a station news release. “Atlanta is the city in the South and it is just three hours from Tuscaloosa, so this is a great fit.”
— Rodney Ho
WHAT TO WATCH
Multiple backs at S.C.: The Gamecocks' offense looked good enough in Saturday's scrimmage that coach Steve Spurrier was disappointed more people didn't see it. "I think it was the first scrimmage since I have been here that there wasn't a punt," he said. "Tailbacks ran hard. We've got four good running backs who can run, five really." Mike Davis of Stephenson High School (and the brother of former Clemson great James Davis) is No. 1 on the depth chart and had four carries for 27 yards, but he's being pushed by sophomore Brandon Wilds. They are splitting practice snaps. "You can't play them all, but they are all doing well right now," Spurrier said.
A solid Razorback: Brandon Allen has wasted little time in affirming his hold on the starting quarterback position at Arkansas. He was 16-of-17 in the team's first scrimmage with one dropped pass. Also, sophomore receiver Mekale McKay left Arkansas and will transfer to Cincinnati.
Year 2 at Missou: The key to Year 2 in the SEC, Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said, is a simple matter of avoiding injuries and turnovers. "There's no surprises. It's a great league and I'm glad we're in it. We should be in it," he said. "I've been in this business a long time and I didn't all of a sudden wake up one day and go, 'Wow!' … We just struggled (5-7 in 2012, 2-6 in the SEC) and I've got to do a better job."
QUOTABLE
“(Anthony) Jennings is really improving. I like how he’s coming on.” — LSU coach Les Miles on freshman quarterback Jennings of Marietta High who Miles said has “a leg up” on the position of backup QB.
BY THE NUMBERS
130
Number of plays Alabama ran in its scrimmage over the weekend and appeared to be in midseason form. AJ McCarron passed for 267 yards and Amari Cooper caught three TD passes and had 182 yards on four receptions.
