Note from Athony Grant concerning the Purdue game and Heisman trophy presentation. 

Dear Alabama Fan:

We have a great opportunity this weekend as our basketball team takes on the #5 Purdue Boilermakers Saturday, December 12th. Tip-off for this nationally televised game is 8pm on ESPN2. According to our ticket office, we have about 1,500 tickets left to sell. The ticket office has also informed me that the Purdue alumni have purchased 500 tickets to the game. We need everyone in the stands to cheer on the Tide.

Students are off on break, but I am encouraging all of those students that live close to come to the game. We will need to make Coleman an uncomfortable place to play Saturday.

I am also excited about the positive momentum our football team has created. We have another opportunity Saturday night with Mark Ingram and the Heisman trophy. I have instructed our marketing department to announce the results of the ballot and show Mark’s acceptance speech at half time should he win. It is a great time to be an Alabama fan.

See you Saturday night…bring a friend.

Roll Tide,
Anthony Grant

So, is this game on ESPN.  I know it is the old Raycom, JP or LF game, but I am still unsure of the new TV deal since this will be the first true 'typical' football viewing Saturday now that the US Open is over.  I assume the game is on ESPN for the Southeast region.  Is that correct?  By the way, I think they should let the Daves cover this one for old times sake.  So many mornings I recall opening my first drink with the Daves in the background.  SEC tradition.

Did anyone notice the new-look endzones at A Day?  They look more like the old ones from Legion Field with the letters on a slant, but one did say CRIMSON TIDE rather than both saying ALABAMA.  Not that it really matters, but why would we go and screw up the re-branding that we have worked so hard to establish.  The script A and the ALABAMA in all block letters are the official athletic logos.  I know we have discussed on the loss of the elephant on RBR before, but it just seems odd.

Not that anyone cares, but I was recently offered a job at UA.  Of course I accepted the offer and now I am stoked to be moving back to Tuscaloosa.  The university obviously means a lot to everyone at RBR and I cannot express how happy I am to have the opportunity to contribute at a place that means so much to me.

Any Tuscaloosa residents with some info on area schools would be much appreciated.  I have a sense that Northport has better schools, but honestly I have no clue and as with any parent this is an important issue.

RMFT

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/andy_staples/02/05/kiffin-meyer/index.html?eref=si_topstories

I know a lot of people have been commenting on Kiffin and his big mouth, but this piece adds some new info.  This guy has already been an embarassment to UT and he hasn't even coached a game.  If he has a season like most expect, he will start to take heat before next December.  A total idiot.  Welcome to the big league dumb ass.

Did anyone see the Lane Kiffin presser?  It was oddly familiar.  Yes, in fact it was very similar to Mal Moore introducing Mike Shula.  A nice looking young man from a fine football family.  A guy that made a name for himself by being the son of a coach with a great reputation rather than by actually proving himself on the field.  Yes, both coaches with no experience as the head man at the college level.  Great move Mike Hamilton (UT AD) I think you have found a winner in LK.  Even if his dad comes (which is still up in the air) the problem with UT is not defense and its not recruiting.  They need a real OC.  So as I see it, UT will field a team led by a man with no experience, with no offense, and with a solid D.  Wow, this is Mike Shula all dressed up in orange.  I say he is fired within 4 yrs.

Oh and Clemson.  Obviously I was pulling for Dabo since he is a Bama man, but I think they jumped the gun a bit.  The ACC is such a desirable conference, bc being average means you may win the whole damn thing and wind up in a BCS bowl.

Two bad coaching decisions made on the same day.  I am now totally convinced a coach is basically everthing.  Other issues will all work out with the right head man.

I saw this on the SI site.  I had to read it twice, because it seems like a horrible joke.  Apparently, after the Bama-LSU game an altercation led to the death of two people.  From what I read, these guys watched the game at different homes, but met after the game to fight over the outcome.  They both had guns with them.  I serisouly hope more comes out of this.  Surely they had dealings with each other over other matters and the game was just the culmination of those interactions.  I love college football and almost had a heart attack on Saturday over it, but come on.  At the end of the day this is just a GAME for kids.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/ncaa/11/10/slaying.ap/index.html?eref=si_topstories

If ESPN has anything to do with it an undefeated Bama team would not play for the NC over Penn State.  I am not saying that we will go undefeated.  In fact, I will not be overly suprised if we lose 2 games.  Texas may also stumble with Tech this weekend.  But ESPN is clearly pushing PSU even though they have the easiest road.  Their only quality win was over Ohio State and that was a close game.  The same OSU team that got killed by USC.  Last night we (the no. 2 team in the nation) got about 15 sec worth of highlights while Texas and PSU got a ton of attention.  ESPN has also been playing this Joe Pa thing up like crazy.  Its all about ratings and lets face it.  PSU, Texas, USC, etc. are all in bigger markets.  Saban is also no media darling.  Ultimately I care about SEC championships but I do find the ESPN agenda interesting.