TUSCALOOSA - Quarterback, quarterback, quarterback. That was the big story going into spring practice at Alabama, and it is the big story coming out of spring practice, because ... well, just because.

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ESPN has put together some highlights from A-Day.

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Fantastic column.  Thanks for the link.

Here's the way I see it (part of this taken from an earlier post I made over on the other board):

I practically grew up in the shadow of Bryant-Denny stadium; I parked cars on Saturdays during the fall for many a year in my Grandmother's front yard (and sometimes the vacant lot around the corner). One of my earliest memories is of the sound of the crowd barely three blocks away, and the voice of the PA announcer wafting through the air, commingling with the leaves of autumn on the way to my young ears. I can remember riding my bike over to and around the stadium. I remember every single solitary smell (both good and bad) that encompassed that walk from my Grandmother's house to the stadium. I can remember the Old Gray Lady and how she creaked and groaned under the tens of thousands of feet stomping before a big play. I remember Coleman Coliseum before it was Coleman. I played basketball in the original Foster Auditorium. I worked several different jobs for the University while in school.

In other words, when I say, "Yeah, I'm an Alabama fan," it just carries so much more weight than a lot of people realize. For me, being a fan of Alabama embodies more than what people may associate with being a regular "fan."

Part of what that embodies is echoed in the history of the University.  Part of it is the respect earned for the entire South by those wins back in the 1920s.  Part of it is the integrity and class exhibited by the teams fielded by Coach Bryant.  Part of it is the fact that, frankly, the University is the state school of Alabama, and not some former agricultural school that used to have "Institute" at the end of its name.  Heck, Auburn's had four names in its history; the University of Alabama has always had and will forever have only one.  The University is even 25 years older (and has been open continuously since its inception in 1831) than that other place.

It is why, as a high school senior, I only applied to one school: The University of Alabama.

It is why, when I made the decision to go back to law school, I only applied to one school: The University of Alabama School of Law.

Being an Alabama fan has less to do with where you went to school and more to do with your experiences, your life, and how that university, that team, those players, and those shouts of joy and cries of agony in defeat are woven into your soul. "IT" is something that I feel to my core; "IT" is the common community present on that campus and in that city.

You either get IT, or you don't. It's that simple.  In my opinion more of us get it than they do.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The No. 3-ranked Alabama softball team earned a doubleheader sweep over Mississippi State, Saturday afternoon at Rhoads Stadium. The Crimson Tide won the first game, 6-2, and grabbed the victory in the Tuscaloosa Toyota Power of Pink Game, 13-3. After the day Alabama moves to 40-5 overall and 14-4 in Southeastern Conference play.

"This was a great day to honor those not just in our softball family but everyone who has been affected by breast cancer," Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said. "We strive to be first in everything in the program and to have the first sell out was awesome. Everywhere was filled with people and it was an incredible feeling."

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Don't look now, but the Alabama gymnastics team that looked too young before the season never looked better than it did today.

The Crimson Tide won its fifth national championship in Cleveland, and two of the gymnasts that led the way were newcomers.

Freshman Kim Jacob won the balance beam competition with a score of 9.95, freshman Diandra Milliner tied senior teammate Kayla Hoffman for first place on the vault with a score of 9.95 and Alabama went on to finish first in the Super Six competition, scoring a 197.650.

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