In Defense of (The Group Formerly Known as) Mark's Madness

Upon picking up my copy of the Crimson White this morning, not only did I first notice that 'Bama did not play Kentucky in the SEC Basketball Tournament last season (I would know, I almost died in that tornado and slept in my car to watch those games), I opened it up to find an opinion column about Mark's Madness, a group I am largely involved in.

Besides there being some truth to this article, there were a few things that irked me a bit with public perception of the group.

First was the perception of the group after the Kentucky game in the article. We were also surprised by the great play in the Kentucky game, but the "classic come apart" was not aimed at the players. We love those guys and are the reason we come to the games.

The come apart was a staple of Mark Gottfried coaching. In the last few minutes of the game, when 'Bama was down by eight with about three minutes remaining, Gottfried was showing no signs of using new plays to get better scoring opportunities while Kentucky was having their way on the opposite end.

It is something that came to be known as "twisting the knife." It is that feeling that a game is in the grasp of winning, only to somehow snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. When you follow around the team as much as I have, going as far as Columbia, South Carolina and Lexington Kentucky, not to mention Auburn three times and Starkville twice, it is something you get used to seeing, but you always have hope because you want those guys to succeed.

To say that fan support for the players is lacking is false. In my time here, I have a personal 1-13 record away from Coleman, 0-11 in true road games. Over the past three seasons, the Crimson Tide have won one SEC road game, a large player in why Gottfried was let go.

Now, compared to the article, the video on Tidesports.com about Mark's Madness is something that would really, for all you Family Guy fans, grind my gears.

One cocky UA student described the group as, "A waste of space" and a group that doesn't "contribute at all." He finished his little soap box rant by hoping he would be able to sit on the front row and that the program gets dissolved.

First things first, him saying he views the student group as a waste of space is just like me saying there is a waste of space on Jefferson Avenue, it's all opinion, not to mention the campus needs more parking.

Second, he has as much of a right to that front row as any, if he puts forth the effort and time to come to the games like so many Alabama basketball "fans" say they do.

Want to sit there, here is how. First, pay your fifteen bucks. Second, show up about two hours before the game, not just five minutes like your precious block seating section, which actually dissolves at thirty minutes before kickoff. Third, come to the games that don't matter. So many "fans" show up for Kentucky, LSU and Auburn, but aren't there to support the players for the FAMU's, Alabama A&M's, and Quincy's of the world. Showing up to those games will show more support for the players than coming to SEC games.

Finally, the group isn't going anywhere. Sure, we may have to change names, but the stronghold as a student section will still be present. Whether the name is changed to Anderson's Army, Calipari's Crimson Crew, Tubby's Tide, or maybe just the Colemaniacs, there will still be a student group there to support the basketball team and the new head coach. Too bad Anthony Grant won't be joining us here.

No Matter How Bad Things Have Been, Thanks is Due All the Same

After learning of the resignation of head basketball coach Mark Gottfried today, I struggled with how I really wanted to react to it.

There was of course the sense of joy that the burden is finally gone and the hopes of a new offense besides the high post.

There was also a sense of relief that it was over with, and that Alabama could finally move on to a new regime.

There is still the sense of disappointment in knowing how talented a team Alabama currently has, and how this season was doomed from the start after Mark was kept on for another year.

Even after all of that thinking, I settled on actually looking back at what Mark has done for this university as the head coach of the men's basketball team.

Sure, I have been one of those people to say that we need to make a change and have found many things to be critical of over the past year, but that still doesn't erase what Mark did for Alabama.

When Mark was hired here from Murray State, he was replacing a coach in David Hobbs who had the wonderful task of following the legend Wimp Sanderson. Gottfried was not only a player for Sanderson, he was also one of the best three-point shooters in school history.

Mark brought some respect back to the Alabama Basketball program, making five straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament and winning the 2001-02 SEC title. The following season, he led the Crimson Tide to a number one ranking for the first time in school history.

In 2004, he led the Crimson Tide to an Elite 8 appearance after wins over Syracuse and Stanford to post the deepest post season advancement in school history.

Even through all the good that he did, Gottfried still had his troubles.

Injuries were constantly a problem for his teams, as Earnest Shelton, Chuck Davis, and Ronald Steele were all out for lengthy periods of time during their careers at Alabama.

Mark's teams also had a hard time winning road games in the SEC. During his 10 1/2 years, his teams complied a 27-77 record on the road, only going above .500 on the road once. He ends his career at Bama with 14 straight road losses in the SEC, with the last win coming at LSU in 2007.

Maybe the thing hurt Gottfried the most in his time as head coach was his players leaving for the NBA. Sure, he produced Gerald Wallace and Mo Williams, but those are the shining stars compared to Rod Grizzard, Kennedy Winston, and Richard Hendrix. Between the injuries and early entries, Mark was always having to find a way to recreate his team.

You may not think of it right now, but Mark Gottfried did a lot for his Alma Mater. His run may have ended on rocky terms, but he is still a native son, and definitely deserves praise for all that he did for his school.

With this, I say farewell Mark, and thank you for your time in Tuscaloosa.

(An Extensive) View From the Stands-Jan. 25th, 2009

It has been a long week, and a lot has happened since I last took a seat to look out at the sports world.

So, to make up for lost time, here is an ultra-extended version of View from the Stands.

• NJIT is no longer Ice Cold! That's right, the Highlanders who made my list of the coldest of the cold finally won their first game as a Division-I basketball team on Wednesday. The New Jersey Institute of Technology beat Bryant University out of Smithfield, Rhode Island 61-51 to get their first win in their last fifty-two games. The Highlanders led by as much as 18 at early points in the second half before finishing off the Bulldogs.
• The Reuben Randle Saga continues. Since his visit last weekend to Tuscaloosa, a lot has happened in the chase for Louisiana's top prospect Reuben Randle. First, he has now officially said he will take a visit to Auburn next weekend after going to LSU this weekend. Speaking of LSU, wide receiver Brandon LaFell withdrew his name from the NFL Draft, filling up a spot that could have easily been taken by Randle had LaFell stayed declared. It was also a scary site for Alabama fans this week when an LSU rivals' writer left the Tide out of Randle's top three in an article about the nation's top high school receiver. But don't worry folks, hopefully it will all be over in nine more days...that is, unless Randle pulls a Terrell Pryor.
• James Willis switches over from the dark side. Nick Saban made un-characteristically quick work in hiring replacements for the spots made available on his staff, and managed to make some big noise with them as well. Saban hired Sal Sunseri from the Carolina Panthers to coach the linebackers, along with former Auburn linebackers coach James Willis. Both are considered serious recruiters in college football, something Saban always places a great emphasis on.
• Alonzo Mourning, Jeff Kent hang it up. On Thursday, two of the greats in their respective games said goodbye for the last time. Alonzo Mourning, a man who deserves great respect after his battle with cancer and still making a comeback, officially announced his retirement after not playing in a game for over a year. Mourning was a part of the Heat team with Shaq and Dwyane Wade that won it all a few years back and was Mourning only title. Mourning was also a two-time defensive player of the year during his peak. Jeff Kent has long been known as one of the best second basemen in baseball. Now that he has retired, he is in the discussion for the best ever. After a career that saw him peak with the Giants and end with the Dodgers, Kent is the all-time leader in home runs by a second baseman. Kent managed to win one MVP award while playing with the Giants and was always a feared hitter when he stepped into the box. Both sports will miss these players.
• Kay Yow loses her battle with cancer. There are few coaches in basketball who can match their impact off the court with their impact on the court. Jim Valvano was one of them, and N.C. State women's head coach Kay Yow was one as well. The 66-year old passed away yesterday morning after a 21-year battle with breast cancer. Yow had stepped down from coaching this season about two weeks ago when the cancer reappeared. Yow had been on and off the bench over the past few years as she courageously battled the disease which kept her from the game she loved. She is one of only seven women's basketball coaches to ever reach 700 career wins, a platform which she shares with her good friend Pat Summit. Yow also won a gold medal in 1988 while coaching the women's national team and also lead NC State to a Final Four during her career.

View From the Stands-Jan. 20th, 2009

On this historic day in which President Barack Obama has been inaugurated, the sports world doesn't stand still.

There is still plenty to talk about today, and these are the things that are on my mind:

• The World Baseball Classic Provisional Rosters have been released. All last night, just as fast as those at ESPN could send them out, I got message after message about what major league stars will be playing for which country potentially. Among those who will be playing for a country other than the United States are Alex Rodriguez (Dominican Republic), Albert Pujols (Dominican Republic), Johan Santana (Venezuela), Daisuke Matsuzaka (Japan), Ichiro Suzuki (Japan), and Carlos Beltran (Puerto Rico). Each player had the chance to play with the USA team, but chose to play for either their home country or country of their parents. Some people may view this as selfish, but I view it as something that makes the World Baseball Classic something worth continuing.


• The Steelers and Cardinals will square off in Super Bowl XLIII. To see the Steelers in this position is nothing surprising. The Steel Curtain made a comeback this season as the Pittsburgh defense was the best in the NFL, holding almost every opponent under 300 yards of offense. The Cardinals, however, are a totally different story. Arizona finished the season 9-7, including a terrible showing in New England in a 47-7 beatdown. However, the Cardinals offense has found itself in the playoffs, averaging about 31 points per game behind the stellar play of Larry Fitzgerald. This is Arizona's first trip to the Super Bowl, while the Steelers are making their seventh trip, the second under Ben Roethlisberger.


• That basketball game at Auburn still ails me. There are way too many things wrong with Bama Basketball right now. If any list were made, the problems would easily go into the double letters and probably well past MM. Nonetheless, that is no excuse for a team who has seemingly completely given up on the season and its coach. There have been numerous people questioning Mark Gottfried's job status after Auburn 85, Alabama 71. Some feel that Mal Moore should have met Mark at the bus Saturday night to end this debacle. Mark still has his job, but some people are beginning to wonder how long before he is removed.

Even with that horrid game, I still managed to have a good time. Not to mention, I got the best Facebook profile picture possible. Hope you enjoy.

What's Cooler Than Being Cool?..ICE COLD!

With the recent cold snap that brought the coldest weather in six years to Alabama, it got me thinking about who are some of the coldest teams/individuals in sports right now.

Besides the Alabama Basketball team, which will get a post all its own later, here are the top three that I came up with:

• Andruw Jones. Until Thursday, Jones was a member of the Dodgers. Then, he made the quickest $22.1 million in the country when Los Angeles released him, but how could you blame them. In 75 games last season, Jones hit an awful .158 with 3 HRs and 14 RBIs. In 1996,Jones' rookie season when he only played in 31 games, he had 5 HRs and 13 RBIs. 2008 was also Jones' first year in the past 12 to have an on-base percentage below .300, bottoming out at .256.


• The Oklahoma City Thunder. First off, it was a great idea to move the Supersonics out of Seattle. Congrats to the NBA for allowing this to happen in the first place. Even more praise for giving them the horrid colors of blue, orange, and gold. And finally, here comes the season. Despite back-to-back wins over Utah and Detroit, the Thunder are an NBA worst 8-33, the only team under a .200 win percentage (.195). Sure, the Clippers are currently on a 12-game losing streak and the Thunder are 5-5 in their last ten, but it takes a special kind of team to miss seven dunks in one game.


• New Jersey Institute of Technology basketball. All teams go through losing streaks and terrible seasons, but the Highlanders have taken that idea to a whole new level. This team went 5-24 in the 2006-07 season, losing their final four games of the season. Last year, NJIT didn't win a single game, going 0-29 and losing by an average of 20.7 points per game. So far this season, they are 0-18. That puts the current losing streak at 51 straight games. Sure, the Highlanders are in the middle of reclassifying from Division-II to Division-I, but more than half way into year two, NJIT has yet to notch their first win as a Division-I program.

View From the Stands-Jan. 15, 2009

It has been somewhat of an eventful day today, especially with today being the deadline for NFL Draft declarations. So, who is staying, and who wants the money?

Bradford, Hardy stay in school, Sanchez, Harvin bolt for NFL. The thoughts of Greg Hardy staying at Ole Miss were quite shocking, but understandable as Hardy didn't have as great of a year this year. Him returning to an Ole Miss team that will only get better is a scary thought on the defensive line for the third straight year.

Sam Bradford going back to Norman puts the Sooners in the top five easily, up there with Texas and Florida, who will retain all eleven starters since Brandon Spikes is going to return. Bradford will once again be a prohibitive favorite for the Heisman, but both of his biggest competitors will be back to battle for the Bronze statue.

As for those departing the college life, USC may actually GAIN from this move. With Sanchez leaving, against the ideas of Pete Carroll no less, this allows for Mitch Mustain to flourish in the USC offense next season. As for Percy Harvin leaving, Florida loses their most dynamic player for next season. Tim Tebow will once again have to improve his passing abilities next season, and may even have to find a new top receiver.

Arkansas has a better record in the Big XII than the SEC. After posting huge wins over Texas and Oklahoma at Bud Walton Arena, the Hogs are starring at an 0-2 SEC hole after their loss to Ole Miss on Wednesday. It never helps when you shoot a horrid 16.5% from three-point land while allowing 40% to your opponents. In their two Big XII games, Arkansas shot 37% from behind the arch while holding Texas and Oklahoma to 23.5%. As it stands currently, Arkansas is not only the worst in the SEC, but is also losing the tie breaker with the current West leader Mississippi State.

What happened in Starkville Wednesday Night was pathetic. From the beginning, Alabama had no business in being on the floor with Mississippi State. The Bulldogs started the game 3-5 from three, then managed to miss their next eight from that distance.

In the second half, though, it was a different story. On their way to scoring fifty in the second frame, the Bulldogs hit eight treys, including three straight to start the second half. Alabama was then over-matched in all facets of the game, from defense to transition offense. The Crimson Tide was led by Mikhail Torrance, who has played very sparingly for 'Bama this year. It also didn't help that Alabama was without Ron Steele, and it seems things will stay that way for a while.

T-Mobile drops Charles Barkley from their Fav 5. This is what happens who you are too worried about your own sexual exploits and not about your job status. In light of his recent drunk driving incident, the cell phone company has dropped the former 11-time All-Star from their commercials. Sadly enough, Dwayne Wade will now have to find someone else to call for his basketball advice, but it's not like he needs any.

View from the Stands-Jan. 14, 2009

So, now that I get ESPN alerts at a rate of almost one every twenty minutes, my thoughts and opinions on things in the sporting world are starting to become more frequent.

This feeling is now the brainchild behind what will hopefully start a daily or every other day post about two-four random stories in the world of sports. So sit back and enjoy this inaugural installment.

Bama's recruitment of Reuben Randle may have taken a hit. This stems from LSU Jr. WR Brandon LaFell declaring for the NFL Draft. With LaFell gone, LSU becomes a more attractive school for a player looking to be the go-to receiver for an SEC team. Sure, the idea of playing opposite Julio Jones is a great draw in itself, but if you want to make your own name, why would you turn down an opportunity to be the guy that everyone is watching.

Speaking of recruiting, will teams be able to rest easy about early commits sometime soon? As the college football conference commissioners convene this week, the idea of a three year trial of an early signing period will be voted upon. The idea would be for players who commit early on in the process to be able to sign with their school in the middle of December, relieving some of the stress of these coaches to continue to harp on certain guys for another grueling two months. According to the American Football Coaches Association, 1,805 recruits had given verbal commitments to 120 schools. That's roughly fifteen commits per school, all of which could be signed by now if the new rule is voted into effect for next season.

This is Jodi Meeks' world, we all just live in it. After watching an incredible display in Knoxville last night, it definitely feels that way. In a 90-72 SEC road victory for the Kentucky Wildcats over the Tennessee Vols, Meeks put on a clinic in every facet of the game. Just take a look at his final stat line from last night.

• 54 points, 15-22 FGs, 14-14 FTs, 10-15 3 pt. FGs, 4 asst, 1 TO

In other words, he ruled the court for the night. Among the records broken by Meeks were...

• Three-points field goals in a game, school record-10 (formerly held by Dan Issel)
• Most points in a game, school record-54 (formerly held by Dan Issel)
• Most points by an opponent in Thompson-Boling Arena (previously held by Chris Jackson from LSU[49 points])
• Most points scored by a single player from a BCS conference in a regulation game in the past decade.

To say that Meeks is now a player of the year candidate would be an understatement of epic proportions. He entered the game fourth in the country at points per game, already putting 46 points on Appalachian State earlier in the season. If Kentucky can continue their run, he should be the Player of the Year winner, and there be no doubt about it.

Julio Jones: College Football's Premiere Reciever in 2009

With the alarming rate in which juniors and red-shirt sophomores are entering the NFL Draft, the talent pool in college football will change dramatically.

There are still five more days for guys like Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford to make their final decisions on their 2009 plans, but at the wide receiver position, many guys are taking advantage to leave this year.

With the departure of Jeremy Maclin from Missouri, leading yards per game receivers Austin Collie (BYU) and Kenny Britt (Rutgers), and the rumors of Michael Crabtree announcing officially sometime soon, Julio Jones will be the best receiver in college football in 2009.

Don't believe me? Take a look at who could possibly be left to contend for this unofficial title.

• Dez Bryant from Oklahoma State will be back as a junior, but he is a smaller guy than Julio. His numbers will be more flashy due to his offense and his speed advantage over Julio, but his hands and ability to break tackles will not nearly match Julio.
• A.J. Green will also be back as Georgia as a sophomore, but will Matthew Stafford going to the NFL, the ability of the quarterback position at UGA will take a hit, and so will Green's production. With Stafford, Green could get the ball on his hands always with Stafford's accuracy, but whoever replaces Stafford at Georgia, it will definitely be a step down.
• DeAndre Brown at Southern Miss was also one of the more highly recruited guys out of high school last year with Jones and Green, but suffered a horrible leg break in the bowl game against Troy. The break was similar to what happened to former Alabama receiver Tyrone Prothro, but Brown should be ready for the season next year. Brown will definitely be hindered by the injury, especially with how bad of a break it was.

So, with all that said, why will Julio be the guy in college football?

For starters, as mentioned earlier, he has some of the best hands in college football. Unlike some receivers who have to bring the ball in to their chest, Jones can catch it away from his body. This allows him to get balls that may be a foot or two ahead of him and not worrying about breaking stride or having to lay out for those kinds of passes. His catch across the middle against Georgia that got to the two yard line was one of his most impressive of the season.

Secondly, he will be the most physically dominant receiver. Jones repeatedly carried multiple defensive players for yards at a time after the catch and never went down on first contact between the numbers. At the same time, he can use his size to put himself in position to be the only one able to catch a football, with his best example coming against LSU in overtime.

Third, he can break away from defensive backs when necessary. Jones may not look like a fast receiver, but his size makes him look deceptively quick. If Jones can get outside, he can manage to break away from his defender, especially if someone decides to use single coverage on him. Even in a zone, Jones will also use his size to help break away, a la his 77-yard reception against Florida.

Finally, Jones will have a quarterback with better accuracy than John Parker Wilson next season. Whether it's Greg McElroy, Star Jackson, or even A.J. McCarron, the ability of Alabama's quarterback to place the football on the receiver will be improved. John Parker Wilson definitely improved his accuracy this season, but there were still times when Jones was overthrown or missed on an easy route. Those possible catches should become actual catches in 2009, resulting in a 1,000 yard season for Jones.

That package of abilities and skills that Julio Jones possesses makes him the odds on favorite to be the best receiver in college football. If Jones can get a reliable receiver his opposite, such as a consistent Mike McCoy, Brandon Gibson, or maybe the signature of Reuben Randle or Patrick Patterson, Jones' abilities will be given more chances with the football and be an even greater threat.

Bowls, Polls, and a Quick Look at Recruiting

So, after a good, lengthy break, its time to get back into the blog and take a look into the next semester.

Personally, the break was good, short of that thing called the Sugar Bowl, but we will use the 24-hour rule on that game and move on past.

As for the Bowl Pick'em competition, congratulations to Mike Plan for having the best record overall record of the Bowl season with a 19-15 record. However, due to the use of Confidence Points and a tie-breaker, Josh Zavadil's entry became the overall winner with a total of 294.

Personally, I finished with a horrid 15-19 record and 278 total points. Bad choices of Bama (33 confidence points), North Carolina (30) and Troy (29) didn't help my cause. Even after all that, however, I still could have won had Ball State taken care of business. So much for that.

Now, moving on to next season's predictions, which only take a few minutes to formulate after the Crystal Football is presented. ESPN already has Alabama as the number five team in the nation for next season. USAToday had Alabama at four in their Sports section of Friday's edition. Sports Illustrated's Stewart Mandel has 'Bama at five as well in his way too early predictions.

Between all of those polls, here are some points of interest:

• Mandel has Ole Miss at six, right behind Alabama, after the way the Rebels ran through the remainder of their schedule to finish the season. LSU also checks in at number nine. Safe the say the SEC West will be stacked next season.
• Alabama's first 2009 opponent, Virginia Tech, is placed at 10 by Mandel, but Mark Schlabach of ESPN has the Hokies at seven, meaning a top ten match up in week one of 2009. VT will be no slouch, judging by all the points made by Mandel about the probable ACC favorites.

Now, of course, once the season is over at Alabama, the focus goes directly to recruiting. The Crimson Tide is hosting their first of two huge weekends this weekend, as potential Tide stars such as Trent Richardson, DJ Fluker, and Rod Woodson are amongst the commits visiting the Capstone this weekend. Of the contingent who are still undecided, names such as Dre Kirkpatrick, Kendall Kelly, Tana Patrick, Chad Bumphis, and Patrick Patterson are making the rounds in T-town this weekend. With only four weeks remaining until National Signing Day, don't be surprised if one or two verbals come rolling in before Wednesday of next week.

As for the blog, be on the lookout this weekend for stories on Julio Jones, Alabama Women's Basketball, and Utah potentially busting the BCS for a third time.

It's good to be back, and 2009 looks like a bright year for In the Nic of Time.