TUSCALOOSA -- There are noticeable shadows across Alabama's offense even though the pillars of stability that cast them have moved on.
The eyes come up empty searching for jersey No. 8, and the current No. 12 lacks the size of his predecessor.
After seasons of durability, two key pieces of the Crimson Tide's offense need replacing in wide receiver Julio Jones and quarterback Greg McElroy.
There is a lot of promise for this Alabama team, and a lot of unknowns when it comes to the passing game.

Click here for link

TUSCALOOSA -- If Alabama is going to win the NIT champi­onship next week in New York, it will have to do so without key re­serve Andrew Steele, who remains sidelined with a concussion.

"Andrew will be unavailable for this tournament," Alabama coach Anthony Grant said Friday. "We'll have to continue what we've done the postseason here without him on the floor.

Click here for link

TUSCALOOSA | By the time the University of Alabama basketball team gets off its flight to New York on Sunday, it will be one of just eight teams in the country still playing college basketball.

However, Crimson Tide senior forward Chris Hines says UA isn't carrying forward a grudge over its NCAA selection snub as it heads to the NIT semifinals at Madison Square Garden. Alabama will play the second game of the NIT doubleheader Tuesday night against Colorado (24-13).

"We're not trying to show anybody anything," Hines said before the Tide went to practice on Friday. "We just want to win for ourselves, like we've been doing. Just play good defense and win a championship."

That's precisely what the Crimson Tide will need to do against the high-scoring Buffalos. Colorado ranks No. 11 among all Division I teams in scoring, averaging 80.1 points per contest. Alabama, by comparison, is 215th in scoring offense.

Click here for link

TUSCALOOSA — The difference between an inexperienced, immature team and a veteran unit is slim.

Try one year, in Alabama football’s case.

Light on seniors a year ago, the reliance on young talent spawned issues that never troubled the 2009 national title squad. Now, just a few months removed from the Capital One Bowl, Nick Saban feels much better about the core of his team as it wraps up Week 1 of spring practice.

“I think probably some of the reason we suffered last year was we only had eight seniors. I think that it causes a little bit of void in leadership,” Saban said. “But this year — I don’t know the exact number, might be 19 — but I think a lot of those guys have made a significant contribution to the program over in the past in terms of how much they’ve played and how much they contributed.”

The roster released Monday lists 22 seniors participating in spring practice who figure to have a say when the games start counting this fall. Behind them stands a solid nucleus who has seen their share of good and relative bad times in Tuscaloosa.

In all, 15 of the 22 offensive and defensive starters are back along with both kicking specialists.

Click here for link

TUSCALOOSA - The big contrast between starting pitchers Friday night brought a little chuckle from Alabama coach Mitch Gaspard after the opener of a three-game series against Kentucky.

"You've got one guy 6-8 who's probably going to get $2 million in the draft, and our guy's 5-foot-5, and it's like I told the team. I wouldn't trade that 5-5 guy for anybody out there," Gaspard said.

The big guy came up short.

The little guy - senior right-hander Nathan "Peanut" Kilcrease - got the big result, pitching a complete-game shutout as the Crimson Tide (16-7, 3-1 in the Southeastern Conference) won 4-0.

"I had a little fire in me tonight," Kilcrease said.

Click here for link

Video: Alabama RB Trent Richardson

Click here for link


Chris Low talks with Alabama running back Trent Richardson.

Video: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw

Click here for link

Alabama linebacker Courtney Upshaw talks about getting to the quarterback, leadership skills, motivation for 2011 and more.

FOR LINK TO DISCUSSION THREAD AND MORE ARTICLES, LINKS, AND VIDEOS FROM FRIDAY'S PRACTICE:
CLICK HERE

Friday Practice Notebook

- Sophomore defensive lineman Brandon Moore was noticeably absent from Friday’s practice and BamaOnline has learned that the status of both he and senior defensive back Robby Green are in doubt.


- Junior Tyler Love appeared to be working at left tackle during individual drills, with sophomore Kellen Williams the backup center.

-Noticed quarterbacks A.J. McCarron and Phillip Sims swapping sides during passing drills. If you're wondering how the reps are being split this spring, that might be a good indication.

-good news on big Brnadon Ivory (who was rather soft and round last year) reports are that he had a VERY productive off season

FULL STORY HERE


__________________________________________________

Scenes from Practice

Friday Practice Photo Update by TG Paschal

________________________________________________________

Practice Video 247 Sports

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvOkEohOl34" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvOkEohOl34</a>

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - A complete game shutout from senior righty Nathan Kilcrease earned the Alabama baseball team (16-7, 3-1 SEC) the 4-0 win over the Kentucky Wildcats (14-9, 2-2 SEC), Friday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

Kilcrease (4-1) threw a gem, peppering the zone all night while going the full nine, striking out six and walking none. The complete game shutout was the first of his career and the complete game was his third during his time at the Capstone. Of his 21 non-strikeout outs, 14 were on the ground while only four were in the air.

"(Kilcrease) commanded all of his pitches, and he never really let them make a run," UA head coach Mitch Gaspard said. "He worked from ahead all night and was just really locked in. When it got late, he just had that look that we've seen before that he just was not going to let them score tonight. I'm glad he's on our team, he's a good one.

Josh Rosecrans continued to stay hot for the week, going 2-for-3 with three RBI and one walk. He is now 5-for-7 with two runs and seven RBI this week at The Joe. The seven RBI nearly doubled his season total of eight prior to the start of this week.

Click here for link