Game 1: AP: 2, Coaches: 2 : (129-53-1) Alabama vs. Kent State No. Name Pos. Cl. Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa 10/14 AJ McCarron/Phillip Sims QB So/F Sept. 3, 2011, 11:21 a.m. CT 3 RB JR SEC Network 4 WR SR 2 DeAndrew White WR FR Quick facts 89 Michael Williams TE JR 17 TE SR Alabama: Kent State: 75/59 / LT J/F • Alabama is paying three visiting • Kent State is coming off a 5-7 65/75 /Barrett Jones LG J/J teams a combined $2.2 million season with a 4-4 mark in Mid- 73 C SR this season for nonconference American Conference play. 61 Anthony Steen RG SO games, an increase of 47 per- • The Golden Flashes are 0-21 cent over the $1.5 million that 76 D.J. Fluker RT SO vs. teams ranked No. 3-25, dat- 92 DE JR it spent last season. Kent State ing to 1955. gets $1.2 million after Saturday. 54 Jesse Williams DE JR • Kent State is 3-30-1 in road 99 NG SR • Alabama junior running back openers. Trent Richardson is tied for fifth 41 JLB SR in HeismanPundit.com’s pre- • The Golden Flashes are 0-9 vs. 5 SLB SR season poll. SEC teams. 35/32 /C.J. Mosley WLB J/So • Alabama is ranked No. 2 in the • Kent State is Saban’s alma ma- 30 Dont’a Hightower MLB JR AP and USA Today polls. Kent ter, and it’s where his coaching 21 CB JR State never has played a team career began. He was a gradu- 24 DeQuan Menzie CB SR ate assistant for coach Don ranked that high. 37 Robert Lester SS JR James in 1973, then stayed as • Nick Saban has compiled a a full-time assistant coach. 4 FS SR 38-11 record (43-11 before five vacated wins in 2007) at • First-year Kent State coach Kent State Golden Flashes Alabama while leading the Tide Darrell Hazell previously was AP: NR, Coaches: NR Head coach: Darrell Hazell (0-0) to two SEC Western Division the wide receivers coach at No. Name Pos. Cl. Ohio State. He coached UA championships, one conference 3 Spencer Keith QB JR transfer Duron Carter, who title and one national champi- 5 Tyshon Goode WR JR onship. Saban holds a career won’t play Saturday because 8 Matt Hurdle WR JR record of 129-53-1 (134-53-1). he joined the Crimson Tide on Monday. 81 Justin Thompson TE SR 66 Brian Winters LT JR Important matchups 67 Terrell Johnson LG RFr 55 Chris Anzevino C SR • Alabama’s offensive line vs. challenge the Crimson Tide. DE 65 Kent Cleveland RG JR Kent State’s defensive line. Roosevelt Nix was a freshman 61 RT JR Alabama’s line returns four All-American who led the nation 22 Jacquise Terry (Phenix City) TB SR starters, but star guard Barrett last season with four forced 42 Tim Erjavec FB SO Jones has also been practicing and led the Mid-Amer- 77 Lee Stalker LE SR at left tackle. This clearly is a ican Conference in sacks (10) 93 Ishmaa’ily Kitchen NG SR David-vs.-Goliath game, but and tackles for a loss (20). defensive line might be the one 5 Roosevelt Nix T SO unit from Kent State that will 51 Jake Dooley DE JR 13 Kyle Reese SLB SR 30 Luke Batton MLB JR SPONSORED BY: 44 Byron Tyson WLB SR 11 Norman Wolfe CB SR 8 Calvin Tiggle FS RFr 39 Luke Wollet SS SO 2 Josh Pleasant LCB SR