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PICK US UP ON CAMPUS MONDAY-THURSDAY October 25, 2013

Weak Link to Strong Suit

EDITORIAL Even without center Ryan Kelly, editor-in-chief Mazie Bryant the Alabama offensive line, once [email protected] 04 considered a liability, is now one magazine editor Matt Ford of the team’s strongest units. magazine creative director David Walton managing editor Lauren Ferguson production editor Katherine Owen visuals editor Anna Waters online editor Mackenzie Brown news editor Mark Hammontree culture editor Abbey Crain sports editor Marc Torrence opinion editor John Brinkerhoff State of the Rivalry chief copy editor Larsen Lien Alabama vs. Tennesse was once video editor Daniel Roth a heated rivalry, but the Crimson photo editor Austin Bigoney 06 Tide’s recent success has made community managers Brielle Appelbaum the annual game a one-sided Lauren Robertson contest. ADVERTISING advertising manager Tori Hall 251.751.1781 [email protected] territory manager Chloe Ledet 205.886.3512 [email protected] special projects manager Taylor Shutt Behind Enemy Lines 904.504.3306 [email protected] A look at the Volunteer Nation creative services manager Hillary McDaniel from its own sports editor. 334.315.6068 10 account executives Ali Lemmond William Whitlock Kathryn Tanner Camille Dishongh Kennan Madden Julia Kate Mace Katie Schlumper 1 Alabama 12 UCLA 21 South Carolina Vanderbilt Penn State 10 Texas Tech 6 Stanford vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. Tennessee 3 Oregon 5 Missouri 16 Texas A&M 4 Ohio State 15 Oklahoma Oregon State Marc Torrence sports editor 61.9% (26/42) Charlie Potter assistant sports editor 66.6% (28/42) Kevin Connell sports reporter 69% (29/42) Billy Whyte sports reporter 76.2% (32/42) Nick Sellers sports reporter 73.8% (31/42)

Last week’s perfect picks: Pick against our sports experts at: cw.ua.edu/pickem None AP Poll BCS Standings 1. Alabama (55) 1. Alabama 2. Oregon (3) 2. Florida State 3. Florida State (2) 3. Oregon 4. Ohio State 4. Ohio State 5. Missouri 5. Missouri 6. Baylor 6. Stanford 7. Miami (FL) 7. Miami (FL) 8. Stanford 8. Baylor 9. Clemson 9. Clemson 10. Texas Tech 10. Texas Tech 11. Auburn 11. Auburn Mr. Tee’s BBQ 12. UCLA 12. UCLA 13. LSU 13. LSU Covered Patio 14. Texas A&M 14. Virginia Tech 15. Fresno State 15. Oklahoma Beers and 16. Virginia Tech 16. Texas A&M 17. Oklahoma 17. Fresno State Minis To-Go! 18. Louisville 18. Northern Illinois 19. Oklahoma State 19. Oklahoma State Frozen Drinks 20. South Carolina 20. Louisville 21. UCF 21. South Carolina 22. Wisconsin 22. Michigan 509 Red Drew Avenue (Behind Egans) 23. Northern Illinois 23. UCF 24. Michigan 24. Nebraska Follow us on Twitter: @TheRedShedBar 25. Nebraska 25. Oregon State

02 10/25/2013 GAMEDAY No. 12 UCLA at No. 3 Vanderbilt at No. 16 Oregon Texas A&M Autzen Stadium – Eugene, Ore., 6 p.m. CST, ESPN Kyle Field – College Station, Texas, 11:21 a.m. CST, GamePlan/ESPN3 Oregon took a slight hit in the first BCS standings of the sea- Both teams had surprising results last week: son this week, partially for not having as strong of a schedule one good, one bad. The team with the surprisingly good re- up to this point in the season as Florida State. That won’t be sult was Vanderbilt, which upset Georgia at home to pick up a problem the rest of the way for Oregon, which should reach its first SEC victory of the season. That means the surpris- the BCS National Championship Game so long as they win ingly bad result went to Texas A&M, which was handed its out the rest of their games, starting with UCLA on Saturday. second loss of the season by Auburn. With the Aggies’ de- Much like Oregon, the Bruins have a high-powered offense fense ranking 120th out of 125 teams, it would not be shock- led by a dynamic quarterback in Brett Hundley that should ing to see the Commodores score in bunches to make this yet be able to keep pace with Oregon; however, in order to pull another close game for Texas A&M. At the same, though, it is the upset, the Bruins will need to slow down Heisman front- hard to imagine Johnny Manziel and company falling at home runner (Marcus) Mariota, a task no team has been able to do in back-to-back weeks. this season. No. 10 Texas Tech at Penn State at No. 4 Ohio No. 15 Oklahoma State Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium– Ohio Stadium – Columbus, Ohio, 7 p.m. CST, ABC Norman, Okla., 2:30 p.m. CST, FOX Ohio State sits as one of the last unbeaten teams left in the The Red Raiders are one of the few remaining unbeaten left country, but few are noticing with Alabama, Florida State in the country, but it’s still uncertain whether first-year head and Oregon all sitting above the Buckeyes in the polls. With coach Kliff Kingsbury’s start is genuine or just a mirage. Fresh- few decent games left on its schedule, Ohio State must not man quarterback Davis Webb is off to a hot start for Texas only beat a respectable Penn State team, but must also win Tech, throwing for more than 400 yards in his first two starts big to make up as much ground as it can in the polls. Buckeye the past two weeks, but the yards won’t come as easy against quarterback Braxton Miller and running back Carlos Hyde Oklahoma in Norman. The Sooners allow just under 150 pass- have been difference makers since their returns from early- ing yards per game, good for tops in the nation. Both teams season absences, but the Nittany Lions should make it close, have alternated wins in this series since 2005, with the Sooners behind a defense ranked in the top 25 nationally. gaining the upper-hand last season in Lubbock offensive line.

No. 6 Stanford at No. 25 No. 21 South Carolina at Oregon State No. 5 Missouri Reser Stadium – Corvallis, Ore., 9:30 p.m. CST, ESPN Faurot Field – Columbia, Mo., 6 p.m. CST, ESPN2 Once upon a time, Oregon State lost to East- If the secret wasn’t already out about Missouri, it should be by now: ern Washington of the FCS in its season opener. Since then, The Tigers are legitimate. After wins over Georgia and Florida the the Beavers have reeled off, won six straight games, but have past weeks, the Tigers sit at a perfect 7-0 and are currently the favor- yet to face an opponent anywhere near Stanford’s caliber this ites to win the SEC East. But waiting in the wings is South Carolina, season. Oregon State quarterback Sean Mannion has put up which can keep pace with Missouri in the East if it can bounce back video game numbers as a passer this season, but the Car- with a win, following last week’s upset loss at Tennessee. Gamecock dinal already proved last week in its win over UCLA that it quarterback Connor Shaw is unlikely to play after spraining his can keep high-scoring offenses in check. With a win, Stanford knee last week, but South Carolina has an experienced backup in all but eliminates Oregon State from Pac-12 contention and Dylan Thompson to fi ll the void. They also have Mike Davis, who sets up for what will essentially be a Pac-12 North title game quietly leads the SEC in rushing by a sizeable margin. against Oregon Nov. 7.

10/25/2013 GAMEDAY 03 By Marc Torrence | Sports Editor

When Alabama center Ryan Kelly (Kelly) out, it seemed to be back to knew it was going to take time,” Shep- went down with a knee injury during square one, back to re-establishing herd said. “Obviously, we’re doing good the Ole Miss game and coach Nick Sa- chemistry with a new face. It didn’t help now. We can do a lot better, obviously. ban said he would miss a few weeks, ev- that redshirt junior right tackle Austin Everything’s going to keep rolling, and eryone assumed the worst. Shepherd was fighting for his job with we’re going to keep improving every The offensive line – which was tasked true freshman Grant Hill. week and working on everything we with replacing three NFL Draft picks Instead, Alabama’s offensive line got need to work on.” over the summer, two of which were better. Saban said Monday that Kelly was first-rounders – has had its ups and The Crimson Tide averaged 162.5 back to full speed and will be practic- downs to start the year. yards rushing in its first four games, ing fully. But he won’t just slide back The line got beat by an aggressive, but with Chad Lindsay at center, the into his starting role. Kelly and Lindsay stunting Virginia Tech front in the sea- Tide is averaging 277.3 rushing yards will figure it out in practice, but if the son opener, dominated a Texas A&M de- per game. There are a number of con- last few weeks are any indication, they fense that looks softer than a wet nap- tributing factors, but the group that won’t be quick to make a change. kin and couldn’t do much of anything took so much criticism in the preseason “I think we’ve played the same,” against lowly Colorado State. and early in the year suddenly looks Shepherd said. “I think Chad just filled The line looked like it had put it all like one of the team’s strongest units. in. Nothing really different. Center is together against the Rebels, but with “I knew all along we could do it. I just center. So everything’s the same.” LEAVE YOUR CAR Ride to Mobile & All Points Between!

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04 10/25/2013 GAMEDAY It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact rea- better they get. grown as an offense.” son for the turnaround because like “Even when Kelly was in there, I felt The offensive line has always been most things in football, there isn’t just like we were gelling,” quarterback a strength of Alabama’s under Saban, one reason. AJ McCarron said. “Like I said after and last year’s was considered one of It always takes a few games for chem- the Virginia Tech game, it was going the all-time greats in . istry to develop on the line because all to take a couple of weeks, a couple of So this year’s group had a lot to live up five players have to know what the oth- games, to get into a rhythm as an of- to. ers will do in any given situation. There fense, just because we had three new “There’s still things we can work on, are communication roles, with players offensive linemen. Communication was obviously,” Shepherd said. “But we’re getting on the same page for different the biggest issue for us. We had to work improving as an offensive line. I think calls and protections. on communication. Ever since that first that’s good, and I think we’re going to The more time spent together, the week, we’ve kind of gelled together and keep improving.”

10/25/2013 GAMEDAY 05 t’s late October in the South, and the lamb to coach ’s dominance in the Mike Strange, a sports writer for the Knox- sweet smell of cigars cuts through the 1970s, when Alabama won 11 straight games ville News-Sentinel, who’s covered Tennessee Icold night air as fog descends from the from 1971-1981, still the longest streak for any football for 30 years, argues it’s still an impor- bright stadium lights onto the fi eld. A spirited side in the series. tant game for the Tennessee faithful. chorus of Rocky Top either enthralls or haunts Even now, with ’s “process” “I think it’s still a rivalry,” Strange said. “Ala- you; the same goes for a rousing anthem of working the Volunteers for six straight victo- bama has the upper hand right now, and Ten- Rammer Jammer. ries, Finebaum doesn’t see the same value in nessee knows they’re not holding many cards, If you grew up north or south of the Ten- the game. but it’s still a rivalry. In Tennessee’s mind, Ala- nessee River, which extends its reach as far as “When I was there many years ago, this was bama is still a special game, a special rivalry.” Tennessee’s , the setting is the game that mattered,” Finebaum said. “And The annual contest between Alabama and both real and almost mythical. it doesn’t anymore, quite frankly. Older folks Tennessee is known for its abnormal amount If you’re an Alabama or Tennessee fan, will try to make a lame argument that ‘This is of consecutive wins on both sides. Before the it’s simply known as The Third Saturday the one that matters,’ and it doesn’t.” Volunteers’ 11-game skid throughout the in October. The game mattered enough to Bryant 1970s, Alabama had surrendered four straight The game that annually draws ire from or- in 1935, when he was a starter at left end to Tennessee. Since 1986, Alabama and Ten- ange- and crimson-clad fans is the Crimson for the Crimson Tide, to play with a par- nessee both own separate seven-game streaks, Tide’s oldest rivalry, dating back to 1901 when tially broken leg, a story well-cemented in with various wins stacked among those. the fi rst meeting had to be called early due to Alabama folklore. “If you look back, it’s been a streaky series a fi ght between fans from both sides. It also mattered enough to Tennessee offen- right on through,” said Dave Climer, sports Alabama offi cially holds the all-time record sive lineman Mickey Marvin, whom Finebaum columnist for the Tennessean. “I’ve tried to an- by a margin of 49-38-7, and an increasing num- interviewed as a student newspaper reporter alyze it, talk to players, coaches as to why one ber of critics are saying the rivalry, simply put, after a 20-13 loss to Alabama. program would get on that kind of run when is dying. “I went into the locker room, and it was a often the teams were pretty well matched.” One such critic is Paul Finebaum, a radio really tight game,” Finebaum said. “It was The Crimson Tide ended the most recent host formerly with WJOX in Birmingham who 1976, it was raining, and it went down to the Tennnessee streak at Knoxville in 2001, with is now based out of ESPN’s regional base in last minute. I remember talking to [Marvin], a 34-14 upset over the Volunteers. Phillip Ful- Charlotte, N.C. and he was crying. I asked him ‘Why are you mer, Tennessee’s coach at the time, had domi- “It’s been on life support for a number of upset?’ and he said, ‘I’m going to have to tell nated Alabama since he took over in 1992. years,” Finebaum said. my children and grandchildren I couldn’t As if the rivalry needed more fuel to the fi re, Himself a 1978 Tenessee graduate, Fine- beat Alabama.’” Fulmer was soon to supply it, which the Crim- baum, known to many as the “Mouth of the Marvin went on to play 11 seasons in the son Tide faithful found out in 2005 just as the South,” saw the rivalry become a sacrifi cial NFL with the Oakland Raiders. rivalry was headed to Tuscaloosa.

Oh No.

with the

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08 10/25/2013 GAMEDAY “ in his last fi ve or six years they have no chance.” with Fulmer, the catastrophe with [Lane] Kif- was reviled by Alabama fans for trying to Coach Nick Saban, known for his methodi- fi n, the failure of the [Derek] Dooley era to stand his ground in Memphis and in what he cal, one-game-at-a-time process, gives credit win big games, I think fi nally they see hope,” saw as a situation he couldn’t allow to con- to the matchup’s history. Strange said. “They see the light at the end of tinue, that certain boosters were cheating in “This game with Tennessee is a very special the tunnel.” Memphis,” Strange said. rivalry for a lot of people, a lot of our folks at Climer sees it the same way. Alabama was levied sizable NCAA sanc- Alabama and especially for our team,” Saban “I think certainly history holds and it’s still tions before the 2002 season, including bowl said. “It’s been one of the best rivalries in col- a rivalry, I just think Tennessee people want it bans and scholarship losses. It came out sev- lege football for a long, long time.” to be a competitive rivalry again,” Climer said. eral years later that Fulmer was instrumental While it may be a one-sided affair currently, In this notoriously streaky series, it seems in bringing Alabama down. some hope Tennessee coach has to be just that, the hope, that brings fans out The Crimson Tide defeated Tennessee 6-3 Vol Nation in the right direction after a dismal on Third Saturday in October to yell for Big in a physical game that might have gone the past several years. Orange or the Crimson Tide. other way had Volunteer running back Arian “I think after going through the down years Foster not fumbled in the end zone to give the ball back to Alabama. “I remember at the end of the game when Alabama won, I was on the fi eld near the Ten- nessee sideline,” Climer said. “It was rela- tively near Phillip Fulmer, and that was as loud and as much palpable hatred as I’ve ever been around.” Tennessee won the next game 16-13 in Knox- ville. The next year, Saban’s fi rst at Alabama, started the current streak. And there aren’t indications it will swing the other way Saturday, as the Crimson Tide opened as a 26.5-point favorite over the Volunteers. “You can’t just say they have no chance, be- cause we’ve seen so many stunning upsets,” Finebaum said, pausing. “I take that back –

10/25/2013 GAMEDAY 09

A LOOK AT THE VOLUNTEER NATION FROM ITS OWN SPORTS EDITOR

The Crimson White spoke to Daily Beacon Sports Editor David Cobb in Knoxville, Tenn., to get his take on Tennessee’s outlook this week, its transition to fi rst-year coach Butch Jones and some of the team’s Daily Beacon notable players of 2013.

The Crimson White: gut-wrenching losses they’ve experi- by brick,” in reference to rebuilding Tennessee snapped a 19-game los- enced in their time at UT. the UT program, and the first bricks ing streak against ranked opponents he enlisted were UT’s upperclass- with a win over South Carolina last From an outsider’s per- men. They are passionate about their week. What’s the team morale like spective, players and fans because their head coach now, heading into a game against the seem to be responding is passionate about them as men, top-ranked team in the nation? better to Butch Jones than students and football players. The they ever did with Derek Dooley. Is impact Jones is currently having in David Cobb: that the case? If so, explain the im- rejuvenating the fan base, recruiting Morale is higher than it has been pact he’s had on the program. and, as Saturday showed, winning, is since 2009 for UT. Certainly, the play- impacting the program in an incalcu- ers and coaches realize the challenge Before ever coaching a lable way. they face this week against Alabama. game at UT, Jones had But the fact that this program finally veteran players saying Tennessee is hailed for has a marquee win to hang its hat they would run through its great, veteran offen- on means everything, especially for a brick wall for him. Ironically, the sive line this year. In your the seniors after all the turmoil and slogan Jones has patented is “brick opinion, how well do they

10/25/2013 GAMEDAY 11 match up against Alabama’s front process for the UT junior, but he’s anything more or anything less. seven? come a long way since seeing the Alabama’s offense seems to have first action of his career in the wan- found its groove in the past three After reviewing Alabama’s ing moments of UT’s loss at Alabama games. Give us a name on the Ten- schedule to date, I think nessee defense that can cause some it’s fair to say that UT is problems for the Crimson Tide. bringing the best offensive line the Tide has faced this year to Daniel McCullers. At Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday. I think it’s“ fair to say 6 [feet] 8 [inches], 351 Now, that does not necessarily mean pounds, UT’s mammoth that UT’s line matches up well with defensive tackle is play- Alabama up front. Who in the na- that UT is bringing ing the best football of his career in tion does? The Vols struggled to run recent weeks. Teams have consis- vertically in portions of the second the best offensive tently struggled to run the ball up the half against South Carolina, and that middle because of his presence. And should be a cause of concern for UT in if UT is to continue that trend against preparation this week. line the Tide has Alabama, McCullers will be key. Prediction: Alabama 37, Tennes- Quarterback Justin Wor- see 21. Tennessee is playing with ley hasn’t put up great faced this year to enough confidence and discipline to stats for Tennessee this keep Saturday’s game closer than year. At this point in the Bryant-Denny the oddsmakers predict, but it would season, is it clear whether the Volun- be irresponsible to expect anything teers are winning because of him or more than for the Vols to simply keep just in spite of him? Stadium on Saturday. it respectable. The Crimson Tide is without a doubt the nation’s superior Butch Jones asks his quar- football team, and UT has a long way terback to be an “alpha in 2011. Worley is proving himself to to go before it could feasibly upset an male” in leading the of- be an efficient game“ manager, and Alabama team of this caliber. fense. It’s been a learning it would be unfair to label him as

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12 10/25/2013 GAMEDAY