GAME 13: ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE VS. COLORADO BUFFALOES ALABAMA QUICK NOTES: Alabama holds the NCAA record for most bowl appearances (55) and bowl victories (30) ... The Tide December 30, 2007 - Independence Bowl Stadium (49,182) - Shreveport, La. placed nine players on the 2007 Coaches All-SEC team, includ- 7 p.m. (CST) - ESPN ing first-teamers Andre Smith (LT), Simeon Castille (CB) and Rashad Johnson (S), second-teamers Antoine Caldwell (OL),, DJ Hall (WR) and Wallace Gilberry (DE), and freshmen Terry Grant (RB), Kareem Jackson (CB) and Rolando McClain (LB) ... Sophomore left tackle Andre Smith won the Jacobs Trophy, Alabama Football given annually to the SEC’s most outstanding blocker ... Smith is the 19th Alabama player to win the award since its inception ALABAMA EARNS NCAA-BEST 55TH BOWL BERTH THE HEAD COACHES in 1935 ... Antoine Caldwell, Rashad Johnson and Darren Mustin were elected permanent team captains for the 2007 season ... The University of Alabama football team makes its NCAA- Alabama head football coach Nick Saban (Kent State, Matt Caddell and Wallace Gilberry will play their 50th career leading 55th bowl appearance as the Crimson Tide is set to 1973) was named the school’s 27th head coach on Jan. game at the Independence Bowl ... They are the only two cur- face the Colorado Buffaloes in the 2007 PetroSun 3, 2007. Saban has compiled a 97-48-1 (.668) record as rent seniors to play every game in their UA career ... Alabama Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. The game will be a college head coach. He led LSU to a 13-1 record and has set school records for first downs (274), first down by penal- played on Sunday, Dec. 30, at 7 p.m (CST) and will be tele- the BCS National Championship in 2003. He was 48- ty (33), pass attempts (440), completions (244) and kickoff vised by ESPN. Mark Jones (play-by-play), Bob Davie 16 (.750) in his five years at LSU, including two SEC return yards (920) ... The Tide is closing in on school records for (analyst) and Stacey Dales (sideline reporter) will call the championships. Overall, Saban has coached three con- first downs passing (131), field goals made (22) and kickoff action to a national audience. The Independence Bowl will ference championship teams (1990 Mid-American, returns (43) ... Alabama’s Independence Bowl roster contains 12 also be aired nationally by Sports USA Radio Network 2001 SEC and 2003 SEC) and eight of his 11 teams have graduates, including Matt Caddell, Antoine Caldwell, Chris with Tony Roberts (play-by-play), Charles Arbuckle (ana- played in post-season bowl games. Saban also has a Capps, Jamie Christensen, Joshua Curry, Matt Collins, Wallace lyst) and Rich Herrera (sideline reporter).The 62-station wealth of coaching experience in the National Football Gilberry, Eric Gray, Darren Mustin, Forress Rayford, Keith Crimson Tide Sports Network will also air the game with League, serving as secondary coach (Houston, 1988- Saunders and Nikita Stover Eli Gold (play-by-play), Ken Stabler (analyst) and Barry 89), defensive coordinator (Cleveland, 1991-94) and Krauss (sideline reporter). Alabama has played in more head coach Miami Dolphins (2005-06). Saban is 3-5 bowl games (55) and earned more bowl wins (30) than any (.375) in his eight previous bowl games, including a 3- team in college football history. Alabama is bowling for the 2 mark at LSU. This will be his first meeting against Alabama (6-6, 4-4 SEC) fourth consecutive season, something that has not hap- Colorado. Colorado head coach Dan Hawkins (UC Date Opponent TV Time/Score pened since the Crimson Tide played in 10 straight bowl Davis, 1984) is in his second season as head coach of the 9-1 Western Carolina PPV W, 52-6 games from 1985-94. Alabama will also be making its third Buffaloes, which is also his seventh year as a Division I- 9-8 at Vanderbilt LFS W, 24-10 appearance in the PetroSun Independence Bowl. The A head coach and 12th season as a collegiate head 9-15 (16) Arkansas ESPN W, 41-38 Crimson Tide defeated Iowa State, 14-13, in the 2001 I- coach. Hawkins has compiled a 100-39-1 (.718) overall 9-22 (22) Georgia ESPN L, 23-26 (OT) Bowl and lost to Oklahoma State, 34-31, last year. record. He earned his 100th career coaching victory 9-29 *Florida State CBS L, 14-21 10-6 Houston (HC) PPV W, 30-24 Alabama has not played in the same bowl game in consec- with a 65-51 win over Nebraska on Nov. 23, 2007. 10-13 at Ole Miss LFS W, 27-24 utive years since making back-to-back Cotton Bowl Hawkins is 61-27 (.693) at the Division I level, which 10-20 (20) Tennessee LFS W, 41-17 appearances in 1981 and 1982. Alabama beat Baylor, 30-2, includes an 8-16 (.333) mark at Colorado. His first 11-3 (3) LSU CBS L, 34-41 in the 1981 Cotton Bowl and then lost to Texas, 14-12, in head coaching job came at Willamette (Ore.) College 11-10 at Mississippi State LFS L, 12-17 the 1982 Cotton Bowl. The 2007 Independence Bowl will (1993-97), where he compiled a 39-12 (.765) record 11-17 UL Monroe L, 14-21 mark the Tide’s third straight bowl appearance against a and three trips to the NAIA Playoffs. In 1997, he led 11-24 at Auburn ESPN L, 10-17 Big 12 opponent. The Crimson Tide played Texas Tech in Willamette to a 13-1 overall record and the NAIA 12-30 Colorado ESPN 7 p.m. the 2006 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic and faced Oklahoma National Championship game. He then moved to Boise * at Jacksonville, Fla. State in the 2006 Petro Sun Independence Bowl. The Tide State (1998-2000), where he served as assistant head has not played three straight bowl games against teams coach under Dirk Koetter. Hawkins replaced Koetter as Colorado (6-6, 4-4 Big 12) from the same conference since the playing three straight head coach following the 2000 season and led the Date Opponent TV Time/Score Southwestern Conference teams in New Year’s Day bowls Broncos to a 53-11 (.828) record and four straight 9-1 *Colorado State FSN W, 31-28 (ot) from 1980-82 when UA faced Arkansas (1980 Sugar), Western Athletic Conference titles. This is his first 9-8 at Arizona State FSN L, 14-33 Baylor (1981 Cotton) and Texas (1982 Cotton). meeting with Alabama. 9-15 Florida State ESPN L, 6-16 9-22 Miami-Ohio W, 42-0 9-29 Oklahoma FSN W, 27-24 10-16 Baylor W, 43-23 10-13 at Kansas State espn2 L, 20-47 10-20 Kansas ESPN L, 14-19 10-27 at Texas Tech ABC W, 31-26 11-3 Missouri FSN L, 10-55 11-10 at Iowa State FCS L, 28-31 11-23 Nebraska ABC W, 65-51 12-30 Alabama ESPN 7 p.m. * at Denver, Colo. 2007 INDEPENDENCE BOWL WWW.ROLLTIDE.COM PAGE 1 ALABAMA MEDIA SERVICES (vs. Colorado) Media Relations Directory 2007 ALABAMA FOOTBALL INDEPENDENCE BOWL MEDIA CALENDAR Media Relations Phone: 205-348-6084 Here is the tentative practice schedule of the Alabama football team as it prepares for the 2007 PetroSun Media Relations Fax: Independnce Bowl against Colorado. The game will be played Sunday, Dec. 30 at 7:06 p.m. (CST) in Shreveport, La. 205-348-8841 Date Time Event Mailing Address: Sunday, Dec. 16 4:30 p.m. Bowl Practice #1 (No Media Access) Box 870391 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0391 Monday, Dec. 17 10:30 a.m. Bowl Practice #2 12:45 p.m. Bowl Media Day w/Coach Saban and players Overnight Address: 7:30 p.m. Bowl Practice #3 (No Media Access) 1201 Coliseum Drive Coleman Coliseum, Room 170A Tuesday, Dec. 18 2 p.m. Bowl Practice #4 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 4:15 p.m. Player Interviews Internet Addresses: Wednesday, Dec. 19 2 p.m. Bowl Practice #5 www.rolltide.com 4:15 p.m. Player Interviews www.crimsontradition.com www.coachsaban.net Thursday, Dec. 20 2 p.m. Bowl Practice #6 4:15 p.m. Player Interviews Associate Director of Athletics for Media Relations: Friday, Dec. 21 2 p.m. Bowl Practice #7 Doug Walker 4:15 p.m. Player Interviews Work: 348-7245 Cell: 310-8682 Saturday, Dec. 22 11 a.m. Bowl Practice #8 (No Interviews) e-mail: [email protected] Sunday, Dec. 23 OFF Associate Director of Athletics for Football Media Relations: Monday, Dec. 24 OFF Jeff Purinton Work: 348-3631 Tuesday, Dec. 25 5:30 p.m. Bowl Practice #9 (No Interviews) Cell: 535-6889 e-mail: [email protected] Wednesday, Dec. 26 1 p.m. Bowl Practice #10 3:15 p.m. Coach Saban and Player Interviews Associate Directors of Media Relations: Becky Hopf Thursday, Dec. 27 1 p.m. Bowl Practice #11 Work: 348-5401 3:15 p.m. Coach Saban and Offensive Players Cell: 242-8546 e-mail: [email protected] Friday, Dec. 28 11:30 a.m. Minuteman Luncheon Shreveport Convention Center Roots Woodruff Office: 348-2088 1:15 p.m. Bowl Practice #12 Cell: 394-2758 Defensive Player Interviews e-mail: [email protected] 7 p.m. “The Nick Saban Show” Assistant Directors of Media Relations: Live from Shreveport on the Crimson Tide Sports Barry Allen (Football and Baseball) Network (Buffalo Wild Wings on Louisiana Boardwalk) Office: 348-8836 Cell: 394-2153 Saturday, Dec. 29 11 a..m Indpendence Bowl Press Conference e-mail: [email protected] Independence Bowl Stadium Media Room Coach Nick Saban, DJ Hall and Wallace Gilberry Corey Hoodjer (Football and Softball) Office: 348-7496 4:20 p.m.