AJC Interview with 2012 UGA Signee Jordan Jenkins

What was the funniest thing a college coach said to you? “This wasn’t meant to be as insulting as it sounds. When coach Gene Chizik was comparing Auburn and Alabama, he put up a slide that showed they had more wins, more this and that … then he started talking about Florida and how Will Muschamp follows in his shoes. I started busting out laughing. He said ‘When I was at Auburn the first time [as an assistant] and after I left, Muschamp came here. Then I was at Texas and after I left, Muschamp came there.’ He went on and on. He said ‘Muschamp just follows in my footsteps’ and it was hilarious the way he said it.

Link to the article after the jump

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There are reports that 5-star McDonald's All-American forward Devonta Pollard has narrowed his choices to Georgetown and Alabama.

MSU's divorce with Rick Stansbury and hiring of a nobody eliminated them.

Kentucky was eliminated last week. Mizzou and Texas are also finalists but the feeling is that it's down to two.

Pollard has two official visits scheduled in April, one to Alabama over Easter weekend and the other to Georgetown on April 16. He has already officially visited Missouri and Texas.

He has had some recent family tragedies including his father's passing in 2009 and a fire that burned down their home last April. He is very close to his mother. These factors could influence him to stay close to home. Tuscaloosa is about 70 miles to Porterville, MS.

I cannot express what a HUGE signature this would be for the Tide basketball team.

Guten morgen, Bama fans. It's spring time and the weather is beautiful. Trent Richardson is kicking ass and getting ready to be a millionaire. Times are good. So sit back, put your music player thingie on shuffle and enjoy some chunes. Oh, and enjoy some good basketball. This is my last weekend of sports watching until football season. Oh, maybe the draft I guess. I don't know. It's way too early and while y'all fuckers are sleeping, I gotta go to work. Have a great weekend, friends. RTMFR!

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We should all be doing a happy dance: the crummy, corrupt, poorly designed and poorly executed BCSCG is on its way out, to be replaced by a four-team playoff......that will probably be crummy, run by the same corrupt fat cats, flawed in designed and fated for equally piss-poor execution. But we get to shut up the Oklahoma States and the TCUs of the world, which is a plus. Of course, now the Powers That Be have to figure how all of this is going to work...

Per ESPN: "BCS: Playoff details being discussed"

Among the things that have to be taken into account with a four-team playoff system would be where games would be played (Neutral sites or on campuses?) and how teams would be selected (Current ranking system, new ranking system or a selection committee?). Some have suggested a format that requires teams in a conference to win their league to be eligible for a playoff.

I think you know where I'm going with this...

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My friend and I recently got in a discussion about the state of the Alabama basketball program and we both agreed that it is on the rise. We also agreed that as long as Coach Grant continues bringing in top recruits, like last year's 5th ranked class, the potential is through the roof. However, I have been checking rivals and espn and we don't have any recruits for next year's class. Does anybody know why this might be the case? Are we lacking scholarships? Has Grant not been out on the trail? Any idea who some of our prospects might be? I think we can all agree that bringing in top notch talent is one (if not the most, ex. Kentucky) important factor in building a successful program. Just something I have been wondering about and any thoughts/comments/insights will be appreciated.

Howdy,

I need a favor. My wife, yes I'm old and married, is working on her thesis at the UA and needs students to take a survey about twitter use before and after the tornado that hit Tuscaloosa back in April.

She needs students who currently attend UA.

The survey takes 5 minutes. Do me a favor and her a favor and take the survey which you can find here.

She needs about 100 more students to take the survey by Friday.

I know this isn't Alabama football related, but if you'll look back at my past Friday admissions, I think some grace is warranted.

Thanks and RBR and whatever else will get you to just take the survey.

eds note: we fixed the link to survey. roll bama roll used twitter extensively the day of and the week after the tornado to get word out about the disaster and the relief efforts. it proved invaluable so we hope this study sheds light on how it worked and how it can be better used in the future.

What's that sound I hear? It's pads popping, new guys "making pizzas" in the corner, and the RBR Random 10. Sounds like victory!

Set those ipods to Random and let us know what you got...

1. Nine Inch Nails -- Big Man with a Gun
2. Chris Cornell -- Seasons (Singles soundtrack)
3. Widespread Panic -- Better Off
4. Tom Petty -- I Won't Back Down
5. Paul Westerberg -- Love Untold
6. Ruby -- Tiny Meat
7. Beck -- Nitemare Hippy Girl
8. Beck -- Devils Haircut (nice work, randomizer)
9. U2 -- Drowning Man
10. Led Zeppelin -- In the Light

Now, hold on right there before you get upset. Simmer. Let the question stand for a moment.

We have all dealt with the teasing and complaining generated by family and friends who support opposing fan bases. Auburn supporters love to argue that Alabama only has nine legitimate titles. The most absurd ones now claim that only six are legitimate. Whatever their argument may be, they sure do enjoy taunting Tide fans with regard to this most important number (unless you're dealing with someone who wants to rehash the Iron Bowl starting with 1980 -- oh brother). Hopefully you have decided to read this before voting "14," because we're about to delve into several ways one can come about a standard of a national title.

How about a bit of a history lesson to start things off? The NCAA does not recognize a national champion in FBS; however, it does list championships awarded by various organizations, and between all of them, Alabama has 18. Of those organizations, the AP Poll (1936-present) was first selector deemed legitimate enough for circulation by the print media. Before 1936, separate outlets awarded their own champions, and any school claiming such a title today has done so retroactively. Alabama has won 8 AP titles. The other major poll that persists today, the Coaches' Poll, first selected a champion in 1950. The Crimson Tide have won the Coaches' Trophy seven times. Between the two of them, Alabama boasts nine national championships.

Well, way back when men were honorable and children knew how to fight, these various organizations would recognize a champion before the post-season bowl game. Before television networks realized that football equaled guaranteed high ratings, the bowl games were viewed as exhibition matches. Unfortunately for Alabama fans, we went on quite a bowl-game losing streak during the Bear's tenure. In 1964, Alabama was awarded both the AP and Coches' titles after an undefeated regular season, only to lose to the Texas Longhorns in the Orange Bowl. The AP began awarding post-bowl championships with the '65 season. The UPI (Coaches') began awarding a title after the bowls in 1975, after Alabama once again won the trophy and lost its post-season match-up against AP champion Notre Dame. Yet, the bowl system giveth, and the bowl system taketh away -- in 1966, an undefeated Bryant squad was denied a third championship in three straight years after Notre Dame tied Michigan State in their late match-up. Both teams were 9-0-1, while 11-0 Alabama finished third in both major polls. Many argue this was the result of blowback from the segregationist policies the university held at the time, costing the Tide votes in both polls.

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via sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net

2011 National Champions. A claim that can be made by two teams in Tuscaloosa. 2011 SEC Champions, not a crimson football helmet to be found. However while softball also took an SEC crown, the defending champion we focus on this weekend will be our beloved Crimson Tide Gymnastics team led by living legend and grass-roots-statue-candidate, Sarah Patterson.

SEC Gymnastics Championships. Duluth, Ga. March 24th (the national championships will also be in Duluth on the 21st of April).

The names on our team you should know are Jr. Ashley Sledge, Jr. Marissa Gutierrez, So. Kim Jacob, So. Sarah DeMeo, So. Diandra "Dee" Milliner, Fr. Kayla Williams and, most importantly, Sr. Ashley Priess and Sr. Geralen Stack-Eaton. Only Kayla Williams will probably not be featured too much as she is returning from an pre season injury and just a freshman. She's notable as she won a world championship (not like world series/Canada-USA... but actual world, she was going against top American, Chinese and European gymnasts) on the vault before coming to Bama.

Now..... what you should know: (in order of threat level) (in reality UA and UF are a virtual tie but I'm putting us first).

ALABAMA: Alabama has dealt with the pressure of being defending champs pretty well. A slow start in the season sparked some worries but the Tide have adjusted and look in post season shape right as they should be. This is a sport where "peaking" too soon, too early or just right... is a very big deal and if you don't believe it just scroll down to Florida. Bama seems to be hitting their stride at the just the right time and these SEC championships should give insight to our National Title hopes. Stack-Eaton and Priess have assumed the roles of team leaders beautifully and the enormous freshman class of last year seems to be maturing nicely. Of the new comers, Fr. Kaitlyn Clark has been the most called upon performer. Fr. Kayla Williams was the most heralded recruit but has come into the lineup slowly. In fact she finally preformed on something other than the vault on the last home meet of the season. Fr. Brooke Parker and Fr. Hunter Dennis (baby sis of Bama legend Morgan Dennis).... are also on the team (though both have preformed very well on their limited game time). The stars are hitting consistently and the supporting cast is doing great. Unless something happens between now and Saturday, count us among the favorites to repeat as SEC Champions.

Gymnasts to keep an eye on: All of them ROLL TIDE!

FLORIDA It's been all Florida, all the time. That can sum up this year as well as last. In 2011, the Tumblin Gators blew out everyone in their way en route to..... a preliminary meltdown. In fact they got almost got Duke-Lehiegh'd in the earliest round of nationals by lower tier Boise State. This added another chapter to the tortured history of Gator gymnastics and further solidified their status as "regular season world beaters, post season egg beaters." They choke, it can almost be counted on at this point. What's even more galling (for them, not us) is UF routinely brings in elite (blue-chip) level freshmen every year and has two SEC trophy in the past five years to show for it. They have NEVER won an NCAA title so I guess it makes them the Miami Heat of the College Gym scene. Nevertheless Florida is a dangerous team and are among the two favorites (we're the other, roll tide!) to win it all in Georgia's back yard. DO NOT take them lightly.

Gymnasts to keep an eye on: Mackenzie Caquatto, Marissa King, Kytra Hunter, Ashanee Dickerson and Alaina Johnson

Now our nemisis. GEORGIA: If you need to know why we can't stand Georgia, even in a relatively low point in their program history, just google "Sarah Patterson Suzanne Yoculan." That should clear everything up. Now, Jay Clark, the current 3rd year head coach (but has been with the program since before Friends was on the air) led the Gym Dogs, the most dominate program of the previous decade.... off a cliff.... in a matter of one season. In his first year, inhereting a team where every member had a national championship ring except the freshmen, they failed to finish in the top 5 for the first time in eons. Scratch that, they failed to make the top 12 for the first time since there was an NCAA championship. Think of Miami football going from 80s Miami to 2010s Miami in the course of one season. Jay Clark was very much on the hot seat with the trophy starved fans (just enter his name over at Dawg Sports search and smile at the tirades) as home losses mounted and seats attendance went down. Well, fortunately for him, 2012 has been a resurgent year for the Dawgs. They have finally begun putting up championship-ish quality scores and almost knocked us off in Coleman earlier this year (no thanks to our own falls). Not only will Georgia be looking to avoid a third straight year of a third place finish (first in program history i believe). But not winning, and this is telling of their historical dominance, will leave the UGA seniors as the first class to graduate without an SEC championship ring since the 70s.

Gymnasts to keep an eye on: Kat Ding, Noel Couch, Christa Tanella, Shayla Worley, Gina Nuccio, Chealsa Davis and Sarah Persinger.

Those are the threats.... beyond the jump is some dirt on the other SEC teams. But first a look back at our 2011 title which took place in Birmingham in front of a 80% Bama crowd. Legions of Georgia fans will be hissing at us this go around.

2011 SEC CHAMPIONS

Alabama Gymnastics: The 2011 SEC Champions (via BamaGymnastics)

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Oklahoma State gambled millions that its boosters would die...and lost.

And on the advice of good ol' T. Boone Pickens, no less. This is one of the worst things I have ever heard. These guys are like the auburn of the Big 12 10 9? whatever. The college football world should be even more thankful that these clowns didn't make it to the BCS championship game last year. That's for the big boys, not the inept wannabes of the world.