2:30 P.M. CT SEPT. 8, 2012 WESTERNWESTERN KENTUCKYKENTUCKY TV:TV: SECSEC NETWORKNETWORK
YELDONT.J. FOLLOWINGF O L L O W I N G andd MAKING HISTORYI S T O R Y
GAMEDAY 2012 1
YELDON FOLLOWING AND MAKING HISTORY INSIDE Freshman running back T.J. Yeldon used the national stage of GameDay the Cowboys Classic to showcase his talents. PAGE 4 CW | Caitlin Trotter
PAGE 3 PAGE 7 PAGE 8 WESTERN KENTUCKY AROUND GUEST COLUMN: TAKING ALL CHALLENGES THE SEC CHAD HAYNIE GAMEDAY STAFF Western Kentucky The Southeastern • Daniel Roth, magazine editor specializes in playing Conference features a Alabama won’t be truly • Marquavius Burnett, GAMEDAY editor top ranked football few key matchups in tested until they face • Marc Torrence, assistant GAMEDAY editor programs week 2. off with LSU. • Will Tucker, editor-in-chief • Ashley Chaffin, managing editor • Ashanka Kumari, chief copy editor
Cover photo: Shannon Auvil AP POLL COACHES’ POLL 1. Alabama (45) 1. Alabama (37) 2. USC (11) 2. USC (14) 3. LSU (4) 3. LSU (7) 4. Oregon 4. Oregon (1) 5. Oklahoma 5. Oklahoma 6. Florida State 6. Florida State All Cotton, Wrinkle-Free 7. Georgia 7. Georgia 8. Arkansas 8. West Virginia 9. South Carolina 9. South Carolina 9. West Virginia 10. Arkansas 11. Michigan State 11. Michigan State 12. Clemson 12. Clemson 13. Wisconsin 13. Wisconsin 14. Ohio State 14. Nebraska 15. Virginia Tech 15. Texas 16. Nebraska 16. Oklahoma State 17. Texas 17. TCU 18. Oklahoma State 18. Virginia Tech 19. Michigan 19. Michigan 20. TCU 20. Kansas State 21. Kansas State 21. Stanford 22. Notre Dame 22. Notre Dame 23. Louisville 23. Florida 24. Florida 24. Louisville 25. Stanford 25. Boise State %PXOUPXO5VTDBMPPTBttXXXUIFTIJSUTIPQCJ[ 2 GAMEDAY 2012 Tips for having a positive gameday experience
By Deanne Winslett money and your ticket. A wristlet Staff Reporter wallet with a strap would be ideal, or something small and simple Gameday is a time for tailgating, that you can stick in your pocket. dominating at football and shouting Minimizing what you bring gives “Roll Tide!” in chorus with thousands you less to keep up with during of other fans, but the merriment the game and lets you focus more of gameday can quickly be soured on what is happening on the fi eld. due to poor prep and a lack of prop- Moreover, do not overthink your er gameday survival knowledge. gameday attire. Dressing up in
To make the most out of your dresses and suits may make you CW | Calvin Ross experience, you should keep a few look like a classy fan, but over- Hundreds of fans tailgate on game days in Tuscaloosa. tips in mind to ease your stress the-top outfi ts are not cut out for should make sure you indulge in the level and insure that you get to fo- gameday. During the game you are all be converging for the exits at tradition before kick off. Tailgating cus your attention on the game. more than likely going to be jump- the same time, and in order to sur- is the ideal place to fi nd free and de- When you leave for the stadi- ing around, climbing on stands and vive this you are going to have to licious food. Before you head to the um, look closely at the things you a fellow fan will probably spill their have patience. Once you make it stadium make sure you eat and make are bringing with you. Purses and nacho cheese and 20 ounce soft out of the stadium, give the roads any necessary visits to the restroom. other bags should stay at home. If drink on you at some point. Stick time to clear out before you make Most likely, you will be in the you bring them along then not only to the simple and do not expose a an attempt to leave. Plan an after stadium for several hours watch- do you have to spend extra time perfectly good outfi t to the crazi- game event with friends or fam- ing the tide roll, and if you eat be- at the gate while security clears ness of Saturday football games. ily to help you pass the time while forehand, you are less likely to in- you but you also have to keep up If you don’t have a ticket with a you wait for traffi c to thin out. dulge in expensive stadium food. with them the entire game. They designated seat and you want to Gameday may be a time for fun If you do have to make a trip to will get stepped on, misplaced, sit somewhere besides the nose- and camaraderie among fans, but the concession stand, you may not and most likely end up stained bleed section, get to the stadium to make the most of the experi- feel the need to get as much, sav- or torn. Leaving then behind can early. Plan your day ahead of time ence, planning ahead is ideal. ing yourself both time and money. help prevent theft and damage. so that you know exactly when Scheduling out your day and stick- Finally, when the fourth quar- All you realistically need is your you need to navigate yourself to- ing to that schedule will ease ter ends, try not to rush out of the phone and a wallet to hold your wards Bryant-Denny Stadium. any stress and provide you with Food is a gameday staple and you stadium. Thousands of fans will a fun Saturday in Tuscaloosa. GAMEDAY 2012 3 Western Kentucky taking all challenges
Alexis Paine outfl ank you in a lot of differ- Staff Reporter ent ways,” Saban said. “This is a very challenging game for us.” The Western Kentucky Hill- Tide defensive back Dee Milliner toppers will face a No. 1 ranked said Alabama is preparing to play team for the second year in a a mature team. The Hilltoppers re- row when they enter Bryant turned 19 starters this year, includ- Denny Stadium on Saturday. ing senior tight end Jack Doyle. The Hilltoppers are an up-and- Bishop said Doyle is Jakes’ go-to coming team with experience guy for the passing game. Doyle is playing the best schools in college on the Mackey Award Watch List football. Quarterback Kawaun - given to the best quarterback Jakes has shown improvement in the nation - and Bishop said during his fi ve years with WKU many people expect to see him and presented his abilities during playing on Sundays next season. the team’s fi rst game of the season The Hilltoppers continue to against Austin Peay. The team is better the team’s defense as the looking to play their best game Alabama game approaches. Tag- against the No. 1 ranked Univer- gart said tackling was his de- sity of Alabama Crimson Tide. fense’s weak spot against Austin Last year, the Hilltoppers faced Peay, which earned most of its LSU in what was thought to be yards from missed tackles. This an easy win for the Tigers. The week the coach and his play- Hilltoppers surprised the Ti- ers have emphasized tackling in gers as a tough competitor and preparation for the Tide. Bishop were only down 14-7 at halftime. said the coaches believe that if Western Kentucky head coach the players improve in this area Willie Taggart said playing and maintain the same offensive against LSU last year gave the MCT Campus numbers from the team’s first team confi dence in playing top- Western Kentucky will face No. 1 Alabama for the second consecutive game, the Hilltoppers will be ranked teams. The third-year year. able to compete with Alabama. head coach said he knows the Tide many touchdowns in just over a will be a tough team to play be- half of play. He was only the fi fth cause of its size, skill and coach- quarterback in WKU history to How ready are you for ing. The coach said his team is throw for four or more touch- excited to accept the challenge of downs in a game. Jakes matched playing what he said “might be the his career highs at halftime with school this fall? next expansion team to the NFL.” 276 passing yards and three The team boasted a 7-5 record af- touchdowns. Bishop said the quar- ter the 2011 season and became el- terback committed himself to im- igible for the fi rst bowl game since proving the Hilltoppers’ passing joining the Football Bowl Subdivi- game throughout the offseason. sion in 2009. They enter this week- Jakes said his offense would end’s game with a 1-0 record for have to play mistake free against the 2012 season. The team record- the Tide defense, which he said is ed its fi rst win against Austin Peay fast, big and physical. However, he last Saturday. The 49-10 victory is not daunted by playing the No. was the team’s fi rst time winning 1 ranked team in college football. Back to School Checklist a season opener in seven years. “They are human just like The Hilltoppers have worked us,” Jakes said. “We have to Brand name bedding through the offseason and into fall go out there with confi dence, camp to improve from last year. play against ourselves, play to- Bowling Green Daily News foot- gether, play as one heartbeat Bathroom essentials ball beat reporter Chad Bishop and go out there and compete.” said the Hilltoppers improved ex- Bishop said one obstacle the ecution in all aspects of the game Alabama defense will encounter Wall Decor through the offseason and have is the Hilltoppers’ use of a West returned a better team that un- Coast offense, not used by many Lighting derstands Taggart’s instructions. teams. This style of offense re- “The Tops don’t appear to lies on shifts, play-actions and be as lost at the wheel as they sometimes four tight ends on Laundry storage once were at the beginning of the fi eld at once. Alabama head 2011,” Bishop said in an email. coach Nick Saban said this could Jakes showed poise in the best prove diffi cult for Alabama. Desk organizer game in his four-year college ca- “Offensively, the guys from reer. The senior completed 18 of Stanford do a lot of formations, his 23 passes and connected with a lot of shifts, a lot of motions four different receivers for as and a lot of things that try to
6 GAMEDAY 2012
labama’s game against to win Mr. Football in the state of rushing for 179 total yards in pressure that comes when great Michigan Saturday Alabama since Cadillac Williams Alabama’s 2012 A-Day game, he things are expected of talented at revealed a lot about in 2000. Suttles even made a ref- knew it wasn’t a fluke, but a sign players at a high-level program. the Crimson Tide’s erence to a current NFL running of things to come. For Vickery, Despite the added pressure, Aoffensive strategy back. Yeldon’s performance that day Suttles said he expects a great this season: Alabama “I think he’s Adrian Peterson,” was the outcome of a combina- future out of Yeldon. is going to remain a team that Suttles said. “You look at the tion of natural talent, work ethic “It’s bright,” Suttles said. establishes a run-first offense. way he runs. He runs upright. and a desire to be the best player “Alabama has had some great Alabama is going to use its depth Explosion, power, the whole on the field. running backs – Mark Ingram, at the running back position to package. The guy is a complete “I had a chance to come up Trent Richardson – the last three constantly wear down on oppos- running back, and a five-star and see the A-Day game, and or four years, but I think T.J.’s ing defenses. running back. There’s no ques- 70-something thousand people right there. I think he can do And true freshman T.J. Yeldon tion as to why he was ranked as were surprised, but we had five what they did. I think he can have is going to be a huge part of that highly as he was.” of our coaches with us,” Vickery a really special season, one of the rushing attack. Of course, many Tide fans said. “It didn’t surprise us, we best ever for a true freshman at Yeldon was far and away the have been quick to make com- were just waiting for that first Alabama.” most explosive player on either parisons between Yeldon and long run, first string pass, and it Much like Suttles, Vickery said side of the ball Saturday, show- Alabama’s most recent great happened against Michigan, and he believes many of Yeldon’s ing his versatility through speed, back Richardson. The compari- it happened at A-Day that day.” future games at Alabama will strength, vision and catching son hasn’t just been made by It was even less surprising for be like the one he had against ability. He rushed 11 times for 111 the fans, either. Junior guard Vickery after watching Yeldon’s Michigan. Not only that, he said yards and a touchdown and had Anthony Steen said he saw a lot offensive burst against the Yeldon has an opportunity to three rushes of over 10 yards, all of Richardson in Yeldon Saturday. Wolverine defense. do what only one other person team highs. In the process, he “We can look at each other, “Did that game surprise me?” in Alabama history has done became the only true freshman and then you know something Vickery said. “Honestly, it did before. to rush for over 100 yards in his like that,” Steen said. “I think it not. What he did that night didn’t “I told someone when he debut at Alabama. was a play he ran, like 50 yards surprise me at all. We had a big signed, he’d be one of Alabama’s For Aaron Suttles, senior down the field. When we got in high school game, but I couldn’t next Heismans,” Vickery said. recruiting analyst for TideSports. the huddle, all of us were smil- get out of church Sunday – every- “I said it jokingly, but I did say com, Yeldon’s performance ing. We knew what was about to body wanted to talk about T.J.” that. And I sincerely mean that. against the Wolverine defense happen.” Now that Yeldon has dem- I think he has everything it takes was unexpected, but exciting What happened was Yeldon onstrated early streaks of bril- to succeed as whatever ever he’s nonetheless – it offered fans a rushing past, over, around and, liance, he’ll have the added at.” chance to see what Suttles had most often, through Michigan seen when he was following defenders en route to his 111- Yeldon at Daphne High School, yard performance. And Yeldon when he rushed for 4,653 career doesn’t reserve a punishing run- rushing yards and 65 touch- ning style for opposing defenses, downs. either. Dee Milliner, who also had “I was excited when he first a good game against Michigan, got in the game because the fans said he sees the same intensity would finally be able to see what from Yeldon during practice as I had seen,” Suttles said. “But well. I was excited because the fans “All the time,” Milliner said. could finally see what I’d been “When we have team run, he’s telling them about.” always back there making plays Suttles said Yeldon’s perfor- like he did in the game. We knew mance against Michigan was coming into the game he was impressive in its own right, but going to do the same in practice even more so when compared to during the game.” all of the Tide’s former backs who And, not unlike the Michigan never achieved Yeldon’s feat. defenders, Milliner knows a “It was hard not to be thing or two about how hard impressed with what T.J. did,” Yeldon runs. Suttles said. “With some of the “We’re about 2-2 right now,” great backs that have been there, Milliner said. “He caught me a it’s kind of breathtaking.” couple of times, I’ve got him a Indeed, of Yeldon’s three couple of times.” immediate predecessors – Mark Milliner isn’t the only one to Ingram, Trent Richardson and attribute Yeldon’s success to Eddie Lacy – none have fared as his competitiveness and work- well in their inaugural games as man-like attitude, either. Glenn a true freshman. Ingram rushed Vickery, Yeldon’s football coach for 97 yards off 17 carries versus at Daphne High School, said Clemson, while Trent Richardson Yeldon’s work ethic is what has only managed 10 yards on three allowed him to be so successful carries against Virginia Tech in so early in his college career. 2009. Lacy wasn’t even given the “He was one of those kids that opportunity, as he was redshirt- had great ability,” Vickery said. ed in 2009. “But he was also a great competi- The comparisons haven’t been tor. I’ve had kids with great abil- limited to just Alabama running ity, but were not great competi- backs, either. Ever since he was tors. I think it came from within in high school, Yeldon has had his T.J. to be the best he could be. He name associated with great run- was always persistent in what he ning backs, most notably when did.” he became the first running back So when Vickery saw Yeldon GAMEDAY 2012 7 Ar und THE SEC GAME OF THE WEEK FLORIDA vs. TEXAS A&M
The hype surrounding this game is at an all time high with ESPN College Gameday on site to build it up. The Aggies will be looking to put a stamp. The Gators unleashed a power run- ning game to start year two under head coach Will Muschamp. A win for Florida could give the young Gators confidence to make a run in the SEC East. A win for the Aggies could help validate its addition to the league. Florida head coach Will Muschamp is looking to make a statement in year two with the Gators. MCT Campus ARKANSAS LSU GEORGIA AUBURN LOUISIANA-MONROE WASHINGTON MISSOURI MISSISSIPPI STATE
Louisiana-Monroe will be nothing A night game at Death Valley Missouri gets its first SEC game at Mississippi State is coming off a more than a glorified scrimmage is one of the more intimidating home and a lot of analysts are high big win against cupcake Jackson for the Razorbacks. things in all of college football and on the Tigers being a contender State, while Auburn suffered a the Tigers are going to be mowing for the East. tough loss against Clemson. WANTEDWANTEDdown every opponent in its way. DEAD OR ALIVE
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Pick up an application at the Office of Student Media Building (OSM). 8 GAMEDAY 2012 “November will be here be here before you know it.” ality. There is only one game how much improvement the lost five contests since then, that could truly keep this secondary needs, but it is still Utah in the 2009 Sugar Bowl, team from making a trip to a game the Crimson Tide will South Carolina, LSU and Au- South Beach come January. win when it steps off the bus. burn in the 2010 regular sea- Alabama is not perfect by Of course that is, just like all son and LSU in the regular any means. The Tide has a lot the other games, as long as it season last year. Alabama was of improving to do before it does not beat itself. The Ra- favored in each of those games reaches its full potential, but zorback faithful will call the and rightfully so. Everyone as long as it doesn’t beat itself hogs as much as they can, knew how good those teams in the next seven games you but unless those calls sum- were and that when they will see an undefeated team mon Bobby Petrino back to played to their full potential, hitting the road to Louisiana, the sideline to run his offense, they were the best team in the ready to face its only true op- the ‘Backs will be in for an- nation. Those teams didn’t ponent of the regular season. other disappointing perfor- beat Alabama. Alabama has Yes, the Southeastern Con- mance against Saban’s squad. lost to itself on each occasion. ference is still the South- Alabama will face a few While the coaches and play- eastern Conference and any more high-powered offensive ers have to stay focused on team can win on any given attacks in the coming weeks, the task at hand and play each day. My apologies to the Hill- including Hugh Freeze’s new game, week-by-week, the fans By Chad Haynie toppers, but you will have to system at Ole Miss on Sept. 29 are left waiting for a chal- Sports Director, WVUA-FM wait until next week to upset and Missouri on Oct. 13. These lenge. It is exciting to not know an SEC opponent (Western are teams that might see the the outcome of a game until After Alabama’s dominant Kentucky travels to Lexing- end zone a time or two, but the last minutes of the fourth performance over Michigan, ton next week). Not that it they are not anywhere close to quarter and that has become a lot of eyes started jumping comes as a surprise to any- matching up against Alabama. a rarity in watching Alabama straight to Nov. 3 when the one, but this Alabama foot- The last time Alabama football. The Crimson Tide Crimson Tide will travel to ball team is far more tal- dropped a game to an oppo- would have to play a bad game Baton Rouge. While Nick Sa- ented and well coached than nent who was truly the bet- against the right opponent to ban and his team are focused any of its competition will be ter team was Dec. 6, 2008, in suffer a loss before that trip on the task at hand – West- over the next eight weeks. the SEC Championship Game to Baton Rouge and the likeli- ern Kentucky – those of us Next week’s game, when Al- against Florida, when the Ga- hood of that happening is slim. who do not have to strap on abama travels to Fayetteville, tors pulled away in the fourth So be patient. November will pads each week know the re- will provide some insight into quarter. The Crimson Tide has be here before you know it.
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