The Irish’s coach has a lot on his mind, especially with a trip to Duke coming.
SOUTH BEND – Mike Brey’s mind after Notre Dame’s 93-87 loss to Virginia Tech featured a variety of things. It was his usual upbeat act that the media has come to expect from him win or lose, but you could tell he was thinking about a lot of things. There was [autotag]Nate Laszewski[/autotag]’s career-high 33 points going for naught because of 33 from Grant Basile. And there was the fact that for the next game, he will lead the Irish to Duke, where he cut his coaching teeth as an assistant to Mike Krzyzewski, for the last time.
With another loss in the books and his past facing him again in a few days, how can one possibly think he has only one focus right now? He’s coming at a crossroads in his life, so he’s doing his best to deal with that. You’ll find all of this and more in some of what he said after the latest in what has been many defeats in his final season:
Tommy Rees emerging as top candidate to join Crimson Tide as OC, he will soon be in Tuscaloosa to meet with Nick Saban.
The search for the Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator position is heating up as the Tide are currently in pursuit of Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. A plane from the University of Alabama is in South Bend, Indiana to pick Rees up to meet with Coach Saban in Tuscaloosa later today.
There has to be some level of mutual interest for the two sides to meet, but we don’t know how serious the two sides are. Rees just finished his third year as an offensive coordinator with the Irish and they went 9-4 with a bowl win over South Carolina. The offense was not the issue as they scored nearly 32 points per game.
Rees could become a serious head coaching candidate in the next few years with the guidance of Coach Saban.
A plane from the University of Alabama has landed at South Bend airport and Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees is boarding it to fly south for an interview with Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa.
Source says no decision made from Rees’ side of the equation.
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Steve Sarkisian has his mind set on beating the Tide.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is focused on the 2023 season. On Sunday, he shared where his offseason preparation is centered around currently.
Sarkisian posted an Instagram story with film from last year’s game with Alabama on his TV screen. It appears his offseason focus is exactly where it should be in January.
Last offseason I opined that Oklahoma would be the most important game of the year for Texas. While an 8-4 season doesn’t get anyone too excited about the program, the 49-0 victory in Red River showed significant progress from 2021 to 2022.
The most important game this year takes place in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The matchup affords Texas to beat college football’s best team and best coach of the last decade. A win would signal that this Longhorns team is not the same as in past seasons.
Sarkisian and company will likely not face a tougher road test than at Bryant-Denny Stadium. It provides an early look at life in the SEC for the ‘Horns.
Last year’s game did not define the season for Texas. This matchup could be different.
Alabama first-round talent undecided on NFL or return to Tuscaloosa
Alabama junior safety, Brian Branch, was a key piece for the Crimson Tide defense this year and has been a first-round selection in many NFL mock drafts. Despite this, Branch is still undecided on his future and only focusing on Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl.
In only Branch’s third season in Tuscaloosa, he posted 78 tackles with two sacks seven passes defended and one interception. Branch will more likely than not go to the NFL, but for now, he wants to suit up with his teammates one last time.
To the surprise of many, Bryce Young and Will Anderson decided to play in the bowl game, and everyone else, including Branch, followed.
Kansas State upset TCU to win the Big 12 Championship and the Sugar Bowl will be no easy outing for Nick Saban’s squad.
Alabama junior safety Brian Branch on entering NFL draft: "I haven't really thought about that yet. My mindset is on this game, and this game only, for right now. As far as the NFL, that's going to come, so I'm really just focusing on Kansas State."
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In Tuscaloosa, Alabama only a few things are bigger than football. One of those things is earning a degree.
In modern-day college football, we have seen players leave early for the NFL draft time and time again, only for it not to pan out. As Nick Saban always says, football won’t last forever but a degree will. Saban has always stressed the importance of a degree, whether you finish it while in college or come back to get it at a later point in life he has always made this an emphasis point to his players.
This weekend, 13 Alabama Crimson Tide football players are set to graduate with their degrees, including Bryce Young and Will Anderson Jr.. who both will leave UA with above 3.0 GPAs. What’s even more remarkable about these two is that this is only their third year in Tuscaloosa.
These young men are mostly known for the things they do on the field, but it is always so cool to see them accomplish things in their personal lives as well. For whatever the future hold for these 13 men, all of Roll Tide nation will be cheering them on!
Thirteen #Alabama football players will graduate from UA this weekend
Will Anderson Jordan Battle Bret Bolin Tanner Bowles DJ Dale DeMarcco Hellams Braylen Ingraham Jack Martin Joshua Robinson Trey Sanders Henry To'o To'o Bryce Young Byron Younghttps://t.co/Jzkeg75dbypic.twitter.com/TJSScJmXfs
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Alabama women’s soccer dominating the SEC, ranked No. 2 in the country
The Alabama women’s soccer team is taking the country by storm as they have now reached the No. 2 ranking in the most recent polls. The team is off to a stellar start outscoring their opponents 46-9.
The Tide has had an outstanding start to the season at 13-1-1, with the only loss coming to the Miami Hurricanes on the road. As for SEC play, the women are in a good position as they have raced out to a 6-0 conference start with big wins over LSU, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and others.
The Tide were barely over .500 in 2021, so to see such a quick turnaround should excite all Alabama fans. The Tide take on No. 7 Arkansas on Sunday in Tuscaloosa in what will be the team’s biggest test of the season. A win could even catapult the Tide into the top spot.
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Alabama football volunteers with educational supply drive!
The University of Alabama football team has always made it a top priority to establish a great relationship with the community, especially under [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag]. The 2022 team will be no different as the team has participated in countless volunteer programs throughout the summer and spring.
Recently, linemen from the team were at the University Mall to push the Alabama One School Supply Share Bug to spread awareness for the Backpack Connection’s Apples for Education school drive.
Watch below as the Tide players smile while helping a good cause:
Lineman on the University of Alabama football team push the Alabama One School Supply Share Bug through University Mall for Thursday’s kickoff of Backpack Connection’s Apples for Education school supply drive. The supply drive runs until July 17th. pic.twitter.com/eIz3wBFraY
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Deontay Wilder was overwhelmed at the unveiling of a statue of him in Tuscaloosa and vowed to fight again on Wednesday.
Former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has been immortalized by his hometown of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
The city unveiled a statue of Wilder outside the Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports on Wednesday because of his accomplishments in his decorated career, which the grateful fighter announced at the ceremony isn’t over.
Wilder was overwhelmed by the statue, which was created by local artist Caleb O’Connor.
“I love Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It holds a dear place in my heart and it forever will,” The Tuscaloosa News quoted Wilder as saying. “It’s just an amazing feeling, especially for the simple fact, I’m still, well, alive.
“You know, most times things [like this] happen [when] people retire or they die. And they gave me my flowers while I was alive. And that make me feel so happy.”
Tuscaloosa dignitaries heaped praise on their native son.
“Our organization has long supported Deontay Wilder and his journey to becoming a heavyweight champion,” Don Staley of Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports said. “We’re proud of his accomplishments and are thrilled the visitor center will be home to this incredible statue.
“His championship title has put our community, Deontay’s hometown, on the map and his statue will pay tribute to that.”
Said Mayor Walt Maddox: “Today, we’re going to unveil a permanent reminder of what determination looks like, what fierceness looks like, what loyalty looks like, what conviction looks like, and most importantly, what inspiration looks like.
“And in the decades to come thousands upon thousands of people are going to stop at that statue and not just remember what Deontay accomplished. That’s only just a part of it, they themselves will see a beacon of hope.”
Wilder (42-2-1, 41 KOs) has been the dominant U.S. heavyweight of his era. He was a titleholder from 2015 to 2020 and built a reputation as one of the biggest punchers in the history of the sport.
He made it clear on Wednesday that he’s not ready to walk away.
“Not at this moment in time,” he said. “You know, I’ve been highly requested. … So many people were telling me ‘Come back, come back.’ So, I’d say I’m back by popular demand. The business of boxing needs me.”
Deontay Wilder was overwhelmed at the unveiling of a statue of him in Tuscaloosa and vowed to fight again on Wednesday.
Former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has been immortalized by his hometown of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
The city unveiled a statue of Wilder outside the Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports on Wednesday because of his accomplishments in his decorated career, which the grateful fighter announced at the ceremony isn’t over.
Wilder was overwhelmed by the statue, which was created by local artist Caleb O’Connor.
“I love Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It holds a dear place in my heart and it forever will,” The Tuscaloosa News quoted Wilder as saying. “It’s just an amazing feeling, especially for the simple fact, I’m still, well, alive.
“You know, most times things [like this] happen [when] people retire or they die. And they gave me my flowers while I was alive. And that make me feel so happy.”
Tuscaloosa dignitaries heaped praise on their native son.
“Our organization has long supported Deontay Wilder and his journey to becoming a heavyweight champion,” Don Staley of Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports said. “We’re proud of his accomplishments and are thrilled the visitor center will be home to this incredible statue.
“His championship title has put our community, Deontay’s hometown, on the map and his statue will pay tribute to that.”
Said Mayor Walt Maddox: “Today, we’re going to unveil a permanent reminder of what determination looks like, what fierceness looks like, what loyalty looks like, what conviction looks like, and most importantly, what inspiration looks like.
“And in the decades to come thousands upon thousands of people are going to stop at that statue and not just remember what Deontay accomplished. That’s only just a part of it, they themselves will see a beacon of hope.”
Wilder (42-2-1, 41 KOs) has been the dominant U.S. heavyweight of his era. He was a titleholder from 2015 to 2020 and built a reputation as one of the biggest punchers in the history of the sport.
He made it clear on Wednesday that he’s not ready to walk away.
“Not at this moment in time,” he said. “You know, I’ve been highly requested. … So many people were telling me ‘Come back, come back.’ So, I’d say I’m back by popular demand. The business of boxing needs me.”
Notre Dame might have had a better record than Alabama this season, but that means nothing come NCAA Tournament time. Even if you take away, you’ll notice that the Irish trail the Crimson Tide in almost every major individual category. Is that because the Tide actually are the better team, or is that the result of the SEC being a much better conference over the past year than the ACC? Either way, the Irish have their work cut out for them with that talent from Tuscaloosa.
Maybe the 3-point shooting could swing this contest. Whether that comes down more to accuracy or actual number of 3-pointers made is anyone’s guess. This game could work in the Irish’s favor if it’s the former, but they’ll have to try and win a shooting contest if it’s the latter.
In the end, individual talent only gets you so far during March Madness. All it takes is one off game from somebody, and chances are you’re headed home. Hopefully for the Irish’s sake, that won’t happen to anyone on their team.
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