Photo CW / Sam MacDonald Photo illustration CW / MK Holladay COLD WEATHER BLUES? THINK SPRING! Spring registration begins Friday, November 3. sheltonstate.edu • 205.391.22112211 DYLAN MOSES 4 CW / Hannah Saad EDITORIAL STAFF editor-in-chief Elizabeth Elkin NICK FITZGERALD 5 [email protected] managing editor Sam West digital editor Jake Stevens production editor Nick Privitera visuals editor MK Holladay chief copy editor Alise Wenner opinions editor Marissa Cornelius [email protected] news editor Rebecca Rakowitz [email protected] culture editor Ellen Johnson [email protected] sports editor Matthew Speakman [email protected] CW / Olivia Zeringue photo editor Caroline Japal PLAYERS TO WATCH 7 multimedia editor David Jones lead page designer Shana Oshinskie social media editor Michaela Hancock ADVERTISING STAFF ad representatives Trent Wilson Lauren McDowell Lizzie Mizenko Jack Amthor creative services Serenity Lamprakes Alexis Craft CW / Sam MacDonald GAMEDAY 2017 PAGE 3 Shaun Dion Hamilton has a fractured knee cap and is out of the season. CW / Sam MacDonald Alabama deals with tough losses at linebacker By Cody Estremera | Assistant Sports Editor us on, but it just sucks for a guy like I’m just going to do whatever I sure, cheering us on. Yeah, we’ll that, to see him work so hard to come need to do to help this team. And, definitely use that as motivation For what felt like the tenth time back from an ACL injury, and then earlier in the season with Razor to play for him.” of the night, Bryant Denny Stadium for him to go out like that.” [Rashaan Evans] going down, it The senior linebacker combo was silent as another Alabama Last year Hamilton tore his ACL prepared me to get ready for this. of Evans and Hamilton have been player was on the turf in pain. This in the SEC Championship game I know I can play, I’m comfortable the play-callers for the Alabama time it was Shaun Dion Hamilton. against Florida. with the defense and I’m looking defense; now, the Crimson Tide Hamilton knew the problem Hamilton has been Alabama’s forward to the opportunity.” needs to find the next signal caller, immediately, throwing his helmet starting middle linebacker all For the second straight year, a and Holcombe wants to take up a couple yards in disgust. He had year and was second on the team key member of the Alabama defense that role. fractured his knee cap, ending with 40 tackles. will finish his career early. Last “It’s just something that I have his season early for the second Hamilton, Rashaan Evans and year, it was safety and punt returner to take on myself that I have to straight year. Minkah Fitzpatrick are three of Eddie Jackson. step up to the plate,” Holcombe the main leaders of the defense. “It was a kind of similar situation,” said. “Like we’ve always said about Fitzpatrick was limited because of Pierschbacher said. “For a senior the entire season because injuries a hamstring injury that occurred in like SDH to go out like this, I talked have been happening, it’s the It’s just something the first quarter of the LSU game. to him about an hour ago and next man up. If that’s me or Hamilton went down early in he’s still in good spirits. A some younger guys or anybody on that I have the second half in Alabama’s win guy like that, he’s going to just use our defense, we just have to step over LSU. The Tigers followed this to move forward and learn up, get comfortable and do our job.” to take on myself up with a 54-yard run, which from it. He’ll be on the sideline, I’m head coach Nick Saban called a “defensive miscommunication.” Shaun Dion Hamilton called the defense that I have to “I wouldn’t say that because for Alabama. CW / Sam Macdonald it’s on every player’s shoulders to step up to the communicate,” linebacker Keith Holcombe said. “You can’t go around plate. driving blind and stuff like that. So that’s just something that ... now that Shaun’s down or anybody’s down – even when Christian or - Keith Holcombe Terrell went down earlier in the season – guys have had to step up and communicate and talk and we just need to keep doing that.” “Man, a guy like [Hamilton], it Holcombe is Hamilton’s really sucks for him, and I know replacement in the starting lineup. all the team loves him as a person Holcombe has already filled in the on and off the field,” offensive starting lineup after Evans’ groin guard Ross Pierschbacher said. “It’s injury after Florida State. one thing to miss a player like that “I do whatever the coaches on the field, but just to [not] have a need me to do,” Holcombe said. guy like that in the locker room. I “People saying I need to step up my know he’ll still be around cheering game because SDH is down but PAGE 4 GAMEDAY 2017 Dylan Moses answers the call in wake of injuries By Joe Klingbeil | Staff Reporter Dion Hamilton both went down and He burst off the line of scrimmage were forced to the locker room with like a bullet out of a gun. He ran injuries. Wilson suffered a foot injury straight through the LSU offensive that will sideline him for at least the line. As he threw down Tiger quar- rest of the regular season, while terback Danny Etling for a sack, he Hamilton suffered a season-ending turned to the crimson-colored crowd knee injury – his second in as many and threw the punch that knocked years. LSU out late in the fourth quarter of There really is not any way to Alabama’s 24-10 win. replace the void Hamilton and compa- His number was called that game, ny leave, but Saban and the Crimson and Dylan Moses answered. Tide are not worried about what- “Dylan [Moses] made a lot of prog- could-have-beens. Instead, they are ress throughout the season,” head focusing on the next man up. coach Nick Saban said. “I think he has “Dylan [Moses], Keith [Holcombe], a lot better understanding of what to shoot, Markail [Benton], Ben [Davis], do and how to do it. He would be the all of those guys. I think they can step next guy up for us to get ready to play up at any time,” Evans said. “I feel like at that position.” that’s the reason why we recruit some of the best athletes in the country. So, whoever it is that steps up, man, they’ll be ready.” After rotating in and out of the line- Dylan [Moses] up for most of the season, Moses was thrust into action against the Tigers made a lot of after the injury to Hamilton. Moses finished the night with two tack- progress through- les and 1.5 sacks. As far as practice rep- out the season. etitions go, there is no shortage of them for the young linebackers-core. Former five-star recruits - Nick Saban such as Moses, Benton, Davis, Joshua McMillan and VanDarius Cowan could be seeing action The freshman from Baton Rouge, in the coming weeks. Louisiana got the chance to show off The group is littered thethe skillsetskillset thatthat fashionedfashioned hihimm inintoto with talent, but experi- one of the most sought-after recruits ence plays a vital role in the country a year ago. Although when the schedule hits it manifested into a movie-like script the heart of conference that he will never forget, Moses play. was not thrown into action because “They just have to AlabamaAlabama wantedwanted thethe fformerormer LSLSUU cocom-m- get more comfortable. mit to rack up his first career sack They’re going to be against the Bayou Bengals. He was the asked to do a little next man in line and stepped up when bit more,” Holcombe his opportunity arrived. said. “But all the The dreaded injury bug has hit the coaches have all the AlabamaAlabama linebackerslinebackers aboutabout as hardhard as confidence in them it possibly could this season. or they wouldn’t be Terrell Lewis, Christian Miller, here. Everybody on Anfernee Jennings and Rashaan this team, this organiza- Evans were victims in the season tion, has confidence in all opener, with Jennings and Evans for- these young guys and we’re tunate enough to recover. Last week, looking forward to see what Mack Wilson and senior leader Shaun they could do.” DYLANDYLAN MOSESMOSES BYBY THETHE NNUMBERSUMBERS 1.5 sacks against LSU ##1313 rrankedanked rrecruitecruit Went to IMG Academy Offered an Alabama scholarship in 8th gradgradee Dylan Moses had 1.5 sacks against LSU in his fi rst game with meaningful playing time. CW / Hannah Saad GAMEDAY 2017 PAGE 5 Power runs to attack thin Alabama defense By Ben Stansell | StaffSt Reporter players from that unit, they have remained one of the top defenses against A battle willwil be waged this Saturday the rush again this year, allowing only between MississippiMiss State quarterback 75.8 rush yards to opponents on average Nick FitzgeraldFitzgera and Alabama’s rushing each game. defense.defense. Unfortunately for Alabama, the team Standing atat 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, will be missing multiple linebackers Fitzgerald possessesp a blend of that have so far this season been breakawaybreakaway speedsp and bruising power critical to the Crimson Tide’s ability to that is not typicalty of a player at his smother the run. A senior leader and position – whichw is precisely why signal caller on defense, Shaun Dion Fitzgerald is flourishing under Head Hamilton, will be out for the remainder Coach Dan Mullen.Mu of the season after breaking his knee During his tenuret at both Florida and cap against LSU.