clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Jumbo Package: Stanford has been #mad #online at Alabama since 1927

Stanford's David Shaw took to the airwaves yesterday and made a fool of himself. Oh, and Saban has practically named a starting quarterback.

By Erik Evans
RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports

So, this happened yesterday

I naturally responded, pointing his hypocrisy that the states he implies are too dumb for Stanford are actually states he's recruiting heavily. (And, no, don't give me that "Shaw never mentioned a state or region" thing. The proposed proliferation of satellite camps have been heavily geared towards, and occur in, Texas and Florida. To say otherwise is disingenuous as hell.)

Then, we got an assist from a Gamecock partisan showing what a duplicitous nozzle of vinegar and water this guy is: Stanford's present roster includes 17 players from the sun belt, and nearly every state in the Deep South.

Oh, then there's this...

To make a short story even shorter: David Shaw is a hypocrite, a regionalist jerk, and very probably a liar (he's also a helluva' coach.)

He can soldier on to soft 10-2 seasons, being #Mad #Online that Alabama has kicked the crap out of Stanford since the 1928 Rose Bowl (1927, if you want to count the improbable 7-7 tie) and continuing through the modern era with two head-to-head Heisman campaigns.

I WILL FIGHT YOU, DAVID SHAW! #RememberTheRoseBowl

Whew, got that out of my system. On to the Package.

Spring Football

Speedy WR Xavian Marks is filling multiple roles this spring

One player to watch at both of those voids [true slot WR and KR/PR] is rising sophomore Xavian Marks. At 5-foot-8, 163 pounds, Marks has been on campus less than one full year, but he has already developed a reputation for one thing. “Speed,” tight end O.J. Howard said earlier this spring. “He’s really fast. Speed. He’s hard to press. The DBs have to get pretty low to jam him. It’s hard to jam him and in open field, it’s hard to catch him. I just think he does a great job of getting open. His size, he uses it to his advantage.”

In our spring unit previews breaking down special teams we speculated that Marks would be a good fit at returner because of his speed.  That's looking more and more like a foregone conclusion, since he is both elusive and has maintained ball security. Little did anyone, I think, realize that Marks would also make a splash at slot receiver. Definitely keep an eye on this one.

Hugh Freeze echoes Nick Saban spring game idea, and you'll like it, too | AL.com

The Rebels coach has a "$5 plan" he thinks would spark interest, cover costs and help out a charity of choice. "I think we got more out of practicing today than we would have playing a spring game, but I will say again that I'm a proponent of playing another school at the end of each other's spring practice, charge $5 and give every bit of the money after the travel team gets their expenses paid to a charity of choice," Freeze told The Clarion-Ledger on Saturday after Ole Miss wrapped up spring practice. "I think that we would all get a lot out of that and you can play one on ones, twos on twos, threes on threes and just get a lot done."

I hate this idea. Yes, I do like the idea of a spring game from strictly a fan's point of view, but spring ball is about fundamentals, breaking in new faces, and the like. I just don't see how these goals are achieved by playing a meaningless live scrimmage against another foe. That is just an opportunity for the Hugh Freezes of the world to get a look at a Bo Scarbrough-led offense for instance (not to mention the attendant injury risks.) Don't get me wrong, though, if the changes ever do come, I'll gladly fork over my $5.

Saban: Bateman would start if Alabama played today

Alabama head coach Nick Saban showed his hand at quarterback Monday in a chat with ESPN.com's Chris Low. If the Crimson Tide was set to face the USC Trojans in Arlington, Texas, tonight in its season opener, Saban told Low that rising redshirt junior Cooper Bateman would be Alabama's starting quarterback, but " the race is far from over."

I think everyone that has read Saban's quotes following practices and scrimmages (as well as our excellent scrimmage recaps) could see this one coming from a mile away. Last season Bateman had greater mastery of the offense, but lacked some of the physical tools to effectuate it. This year, I think we're looking at a repeat of last season's dynamics: the deep arm of Cornwell, who has not mastered the offense, versus the dink and dunk of Bateman who has more limited physical tools. Saban also praised Jalen Hurts. I would be unsurprised to see a few meaningful packages for the speedy freshman.

Still, if you're Bateman you have to feel good. At no point last offseason did Saban endorse anyone (even as tepidly as he's given the nod to Cooper.)

After being Offensive MVP in national championship game, O.J. Howard returns - Alabama - Scout

Saban said it was important to have Howard staying for his final year of college. "I think O.J. is an outstanding player,” Saban said. “I think there are things that he knows he can improve on as a player and there are things we can improve on to utilize him better on a more consistent basis, which we certainly plan on doing. I think it's going to work out great for him and work out great for us that he made the decision that he made. We're excited about it and looking forward to him being someone who is very productive for us next year."

About once a week Coach Saban has to stroke O.J. Howard's hair and tell him he is pretty. I don't mind though: a game-changing tight end is a helluva weapon, ask Clemson (still funny.)

Georgia has elected morons

Georgia's lieutenant governor thinks the silliest possible thing about football - SBNation.com

A lot of ink has been spilled about the ludicrous new open records bill just signed into law in Georgia. But this quote from Lt. Governor Casey Cagle takes the cake for strangest thing you've ever heard uttered in reference to an open records law: "I hope it brings us a national championship is what I hope."

Spoiler: It won't. There just aren't secret elite athletes hiding out there whose presence will put a thumb on the scale in the Dawgs' favor. And there are certainly not enough of those guys to necessitate nearly-gutting the entire state's open records laws. Poor Kirby: Mama called, but when he got home he found out she was crazier than a shithouse rat, chained in the basement and chewing on furniture.

Satellite camps are dead except for the chatter

SEC commish weighs in on league's role in banning football satellite camps | AL.com

These satellite campers were a trend, he said, that would only fall further down the rabbit hole with larger concerns arising in the future. "In fact, if you look at what may have happened, it would have not remained constant had the council not acted," Sankey said. "We would have had dozens and dozens of events, particularly in large metropolitan areas and there would have been pressure on young people to attend those events." The SEC commissioner said these camps were becoming "fundraising endeavors around college coaches." Mixing the recruitment of athletes and raising money was a concern.

There have been several reasons tossed out for ending the camps, and they were ended in an overwhelming vote, suggesting that this was never really a close decision among the member institutions. But, one reason that I never thought of to oppose camps was the fundraising that booster clubs and the athletic department gains by traveling to destinations.

Football players aren't happy at all about the NCAA's satellite camps ban - SBNation.com

It appears that the selfish interests of a few schools and conferences prevailed over the best interests of future potential student-athletes. The mission of universities and athletic programs should be to provide future student-athletes with exposure to opportunities, not to limit them. It appears to me that some universities and conferences are willing to sacrifice the interests of potential student-athletes for no better reasons than to selfishly monopolize their recruiting bases. I will be fascinated to hear any legitimate reasoning behind this ruling. We need to rethink this if we are actually what we say we are.

If you want some more hot takes re: camps, the Mothership has compiled even more. Let's all ignore for a fact that 80% of the P5 wanted to eliminate them. Yes, their elimination harms some small programs and a few small prospects: let's get that right out in the open. But, there simply were too many opportunities to use the camps as fundraisers, as impermissible contact to circumvent recruiting rules, and the manner in which Harbaugh et al were trying to use the camps created a greater have-have not divide. The Kansas States of the world cannot afford to barnstorm Dallas, D.C. and Sarasota to "coach" at these clinics. Michigan, Ohio State can. And, had the football-crazed and very deep pockets of the SEC joined the fray, then the recruiting arms race would have only become more intense. Recruiting is already creepy enough: no one wants to see shirtless Urban Meyer in Dallas applying copious amounts of Gold Bond.

Pros

Derrick Henry of Alabama Crimson Tide can be a star in the right NFL system - 2016 NFL draft

Henry has the size, the athletic measurables (37-inch vertical jump, 10-foot, 10-inch broad jump) and the skill set to run the rock at the pro level. Put him in the right system, and he'll rip off yards on Sundays. As one AFC executive said: "I would love to build an offense around him."

What do we think, fam? Will Henry be a success at the next level?

More From Roll 'Bama Roll