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New wave drives hope for Tide
Alabama coach Nick Saban speaks to the media at the SEC football media days in Hoover, Ala. on Thursday, July 24, 2008.
Butch Dill/AP
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AUDIO: Nick Saban at SEC Media DaysNormally, you would expect seniors to have a skeptical attitude about hyped freshmen. They hear the big talk and roll their eyes, remembering back to when they first came to campus.
Not Antoine Caldwell. The Alabama offensive lineman needed only a quick look at his new teammates before he started raving.
“I thought my group was pretty good, but these guys came in and are 10 times better than our class,” Caldwell said.
It could be 10 times better than a lot of classes if you believe the rankings. Coach Nick Saban’s second recruiting class, and his first with a full year to work the trail, was the top-ranked class in the country, according to rivals.com and others.
And with the Crimson Tide coming off a disappointing 7-6 season, Saban could go to the well right away.
Alabama has some key veterans, including Caldwell and junior offensive lineman Andre Smith and senior safety Rashad Johnson. Quarterback John Parker Wilson is one of the league’s few returning quarterbacks.
Still, it appears the young talent will be given a chance to succeed very early.
“These young players and how they respond to the challenges in the SEC is certainly going to go a long way to determine how much success this team can have and how much this team will actually improve,” Saban said.
The headliner of the group is receiver Julio Jones, one of the nation’s top recruits. Caldwell says the hype for Jones is warranted.
“Julio Jones has been everything I heard he could be,” Caldwell said. “It’s not often a guy comes in from high school and is as good as everyone talked about right away. He’s as fast as I thought, stronger than I thought. He’s got a lot of star potential.”
Receiver Burton Scott should also see playing time, in addition to linebacker Jerrell Harris and cornerback Mark Barron. Since linebacker is Alabama’s biggest need position, Don’ta Hightower and Courtney Upshaw also could get looks.
Last year, Alabama’s biggest recruit was Saban. It didn’t translate to immediate success, but Caldwell thinks “being able to just take a deep breath” after that hype will make a difference.
“At this point last year everybody had a deer-in-the-headlights look,” Caldwell said. “We didn’t know what to expect, we’d been hearing so much about him. Going into this year, everybody’s just a whole lot more comfortable, not just the players but the staff. The trainers, equipment managers ... everybody knows what they expect out of him.”
Much was expected of Saban, and that has not changed. Now much is expected of the freshmen. It remains to be seen when, and if, those expectations are realized.
Reach Emerson at (803) 771-8676.
About the Crimson Tide
2007 RECORD: 7-6 overall, 4-4 in the SEC
COACH: Nick Saban (7-6 in one season at Alabama)
PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB John Parker Wilson (2,846 passing yards, 18 TDs, 12 Ints. in 2007), RB Terry Grant (891 rushing yards in 2007), OL Andre Smith (preseason All-SEC first team), S Rashad Johnson (6 Ints. in 2007).
THE SKINNY: Alabama has a chance to improve, but a big drop-off in the SEC West after LSU and Auburn exists. The Crimson Tide might be a year or two away from really contending, or at least until the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class is ready to blossom.
SCHEDULE
| Aug. 30 | vs. Clemson (Atlanta) |
| Sept. 6 | Tulane |
| Sept. 13 | Western Kentucky |
| Sept. 20 | at Arkansas |
| Sept. 27 | at Georgia |
| Oct. 4 | Kentucky |
| Oct. 18 | Mississippi |
| Oct. 25 | at Tennessee |
| Nov. 1 | Arkansas State |
| Nov. 8 | at LSU |
| Nov. 15 | Mississippi State |
| Nov. 29 | Auburn |
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