Jumbo Package: Alabama-LSU will be an afternoon kick — and that’s a good thing.

It’s homecoming at the Capstone, and a full week of activities are on the schedule in Tuscaloosa (including the annual bonfire and pep rally at 7:00 Central on Friday night).

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SEC Shorts is all of us:

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THIS IS NOT A DRILL! An Alabama kicker was named as one of the Tide’s players of the week!
REPEAT: This is not a drill! An Alabama kicker was named as one of the Tide’s players of the week!

Punter Ty Perine

The walk-on from Prattville stepped in after Will Reichard got hurt, averaged 46.5 yards on his two punts and was also in on the tackle on his second punt to help prevent a potential Tennessee touchdown.

The full list is here.

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The NCAA finally got one right. Following the departure of UConn from the AAC, the conference dropped below the number of teams required to have a CCG. And, for a G5 conference that has leapt on the map the last few years, that meant losing a title game that would pit team like Cincy / USF vs. Memphis / SMU.

The NCAA did the right thing, granting the AAC a two-year waiver through 2021, which should be enough time to add another program.

A logical expansion target to regain that 12th team? UAB. The Battle of the Bones vs. Memphis is already a real thing; the Blazers have an urban campus and basketball-heavy profile that is a hallmark of the conference; and, the football team is good (grading on the C-USA curve, of course.)

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Baby steps for Coach Oats and crew, huh? The Tide was tabbed to finish 6th in the SEC in the annual media preseason cattle call. And, yesterday, ‘Bama got two votes in the AP Top 25.

It’s not many, to be sure. But, it’s the first time since Jan. 7th that Alabama received any votes in the AP Top 25. It’s a testament to the enthusiasm Oats brings to Tuscaloosa and his talented roster (though, not as talented as it could be with Quinerly and Rojas). Given that the last time we saw the Tide on the hardwood, they were losing to Norfolk State in the NIT, this is a fairly sound endorsement of Alabama Hoops.

Speaking of, single game tickets went on sale yesterday. And, you can always call 205-348-BAMA if you want to speak to a human.

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Here is Saban’s presser from yesterday:

And, if you can’t watch the clip at work, BOL has the transcript here:

Defensively, we probably played the run a little better, but when we didn’t and didn’t fit the gaps like we were supposed to, that’s when they made a couple of explosive runs. So those are things that we need to get fixed as well.

”The focus needs to be completely on this game, completely day-to-day this week. That’s the No. 1 preparation that we have to have, is the mind-set that this is the most important game that we’re playing all year long and everybody’s focusing from Day 1, practice 1, on what we have to do to have success in the game that we have this week.

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For the first time since 2010, the Alabama-LSU game will not be under the lights in prime time. Instead, the West will be decided on November 9th at 2:30 local time on CBS.

A lot of people are upset about this kick time, but I’m not: Daytime is ‘Bama time, and has been for the better part of a decade. Since just 2017, Alabama has kicked off an unreal 20 times in the 11:00 or 2:30 game. And the Tide is 19-1 over that span. Even contrasted next to Saban’s unreal winning percent at Alabama (88%), that 95% daytime winning percentage is a freakish one.

In a game expected to be decided by a razor-thin margin, any advantage you can find is one you should use. And a 2:30 kick is decidedly to Alabama’s advantage. It may not have quite the environment for fans as Bryant Denny under the lights, but if you need the LED show and a full day of tailgating to get excited about this one, please check your pulse; you could be the walking undead.

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Legendary UGA head coach Mark Richt suffered a heart attack yesterday. Richt’s career petered out with his burnout in Athens a short-lived stint at Miami, but he remains one of the most respected men around the sport and certainly was one of its most successful.

By all indications, it appears to have been a minor one and he anticipates returning this week to his job as a CFB analyst for ESPN and the ACC Network.

Godspeed, Evil Richt.

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Injuries (and returnees from injuries) highlighted the media viewing session for yesterday’s practice:

— Backup cornerback Josh Jobe was back practicing after not being dressed out for the game against Tennessee.

— Left guard Evan Neal looked to be going through drills like normal. Neal briefly left the Tennessee game with an injury but later went back into the game.

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Not exactly what you want to hear: Tua Tagovailoa’s ankle rehab is “unpredictable”

“The surgery was successful,” Saban told reporters (via AL.com). “There’s no real timetable for his return, but the expectation is he will be non-weight bearing for several days and then he’ll be able to come back as his rehab allows him. We’re hopeful that in a 10-day period he’ll be back being able to do pretty active type rehab and we’ll see how it goes from there. These things are pretty unpredictable at this point.”

I’m going to be the pessimist here and book my tickets to the Cotton Bowl...maybe the Outback Bowl. Given the inability to get off the field on third down, a defense that tackles like they’re playing Red Rover, a secondary that can’t cover shallow crossing routes and quick slants, Pete Golding still not knowing what he’s doing out there, and a Tide offense leaning on a Tua barely over 50%, the end of the season is not setting up well. For the third time in four years, injuries at the worst possible time to the worst possible players could doom Alabama.

(It’s obviously not this bleak. But, hey, who knows? Maybe some NegaGump will give us the reverse hoodoo we need?!)