Happy Friday, everyone. Football training camp is less than a week away, but for the first time in years the basketball team is stealing some of the summer headlines:
Alabama’s men’s basketball team was ranked 20th in the preseason BPI with a 7.158507268. The only SEC school ahead of the Crimson Tide was Kentucky, who found itself in a rare place outside the top 10 at No. 13. The other SEC schools ranked among the top 25 were Arkansas (21) and Auburn (24).
The rating is based on returning roster combined with incoming freshmen. If the team comes together as expected while Kentucky has something of a down season by their standards, this could be a special season in Tuscaloosa.
Speaking of basketball, several conferences not named the SEC are making a concerted effort to pool resources toward improving officiating:
Four more Division I conferences will join a men’s basketball officiating alliance formed last year by the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Big East, the Atlantic 10 and Colonial Athletic Association.
The Big South, the Ivy League, the Northeast and the Patriot League are joining ahead of the 2017-18 season, according to announcements from the leagues Thursday.
Meanwhile, the SEC will continue to recruit game refs from schools for the blind.
With summer workouts coming to a close, the school released its latest hype video:
A change is coming...#OutworkYesterday #rolltide pic.twitter.com/4m7Ug6FVJc
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) July 27, 2017
It’s getting close, people. Another year, another chance for Alabama to build on the dynasty:
In the last nine years, Alabama has ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll an astounding 58 times. Take a look at the Tide's place in the rankings every week to see just how remarkable Nick Saban's bunch has been.
Simply amazing.
Matt Brown concluded his list of “best ever” college football games, and Alabama made the list a few times:
On third down, Matt Suhey plunged over the top but was stopped at the foot line. Penn State used a timeout and decided to go over the top again: This time, Mike Guman got the ball and was met high by Barry Krauss, short of the goal line. Penn State could have gotten another chance thanks to a bad punt, but it was negated by a penalty for too many men on the field. It had two more chances, ending with a turnover on downs and an interception. Penn State waited another four years for a title, while the goal-line stand propelled Alabama to a split championship with USC, Bryant's fifth.
There is video at the link of one of the most iconic moments in Alabama, if not college football, history. Unfortunately the other three games on the list involving Alabama were all painful, close losses, with the national title game from last season and the 2013 Iron Bowl making the top five. I guess it should be taken as a compliment that beating Alabama requires a Herculean effort, eh?
Elsewhere, a couple of former Alabama players got some great news:
Look who's ready to go for #49ersCamp! @ferrarifoster with a message for the Faithful. pic.twitter.com/k96AKSRJjx
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) July 27, 2017
After three seasons of waiting at Alabama, it appears like former Crimson Tide quarterback David Cornwell will get his shot at his new school.
Nevada coach Jay Norvell said Cornwell will be the starter entering preseason practice, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported.
If Reuben is healthy, he is going to make some folks regret passing on him. Congrats to Cornwell as well, though he still must win the competition in fall camp.
Lastly, Hasean Clinton-Dix spent a little down time playing around with some heavy artillery:
Who knows? Maybe after the football thing, Ha Ha will have a future in law enforcement.
That’s about it for today. Have a great weekend.
Roll Tide.