2015 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Media Guide

213 Pages·2015·47.91 MB·English

introduction
TABLE OF CONTENTS 2015 ALABAMA COACHING STAFF
IN THIS IS ALABAMA Nick Saban (Kent State, 1973) Head Coach
T
R Coaching Staff / Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Burton Burns (Nebraska, 1976) Associate Head Coach/Running Backs
O
D Pronunciation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Mario Cristobal (Miami, 1993) Assistant Heach Coach/Offensive Line
U
C Quick Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Bo Davis (LSU, 1993) Defensive Line
TIO Athletics Communications Personnel . . . . .3 Lane Kiffin (Fresno State, 1998) Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
N Tosh Lupoi (California, 2005) Outside Linebackers
Media Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Billy Napier (Furman, 2003) Wide Receivers
Kirby Smart (Georgia, 1999) Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers
ON THE GRIDIRON
Mel Tucker (Wisconsin, 1995) Assistant Head Coach/Secondary
2015 Alabama Football Preview . . . . . . 6-13
Bobby Williams (Purdue, 1982) Tight Ends/Special Teams Coordinator
2015 Roster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-15 Scott Cochran (LSU, 2001) Director of Strength and Conditioning
2015 Opponents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-17
2014 Final Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-22 2015 ALABAMA ADMINISTRATION DIRECTORY
THE CRIMSON TIDE
Athletics Director Bill Battle
Returning Player Bios . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-58
Senior Executive Associate Athletics Director/Chief Financial Officer Finus Gaston
Non-Scholarship Personnel . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Executive Associate Athletics Director/Support Services Kevin Almond
Newcomer Bios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60-64 Senior Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator Marie Robbins
Senior Associate Athletics Director/Development Sam Branch
COACHING PERSONNEL Senior Associate Athletics Director/Marketing & Football Communications Jeff Purinton
Head Coach Nick Saban . . . . . . . . . . . 66-73 Senior Associate Athletics Director/Communications Douglas Walker
Coaching Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74-83 Associate Athletics Director/Ticket Office and Tide Pride Chris Besanceney
Support Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84-88 Associate Athletics Director/Compliance Jonathan Bowling
Associate Athletics Director/Student Services Jon Dever
UNIVERSITY Associate Athletics Director/Strategic Marketing Brad Ledford
The University of Alabama . . . . . . . . . 90-95 Associate Athletics Director/Business Carol Park
Director of Athletics Bill Battle . . . . . . . . .96 Associate Athletics Director/Major Gifts Aaron Vold
Faculty Athletics Representative Dr. Kevin Whitacker
Senior Athletics Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
Director of Football Operations Justin Dickens
A Day In The Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98-101
Academic Excellence . . . . . . . . . . . 102-103 2015 ALABAMA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Built for Bama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104
TRADITIONS Date Opponent Site
The Rise of the Tide . . . . . . . . . . . . 106-107 Sept. 5 #vs. Wisconsin Arlington, Texas
Sept. 12 Middle Tennessee State Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Paul “Bear” Bryant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108-109
Sept. 19 *Ole Miss Tuscaloosa, Ala.
History of Bryant-Denny Stadium . . 110-111
Sept. 26 Louisiana-Monroe Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Football’s Top Bowl Team . . . . . . . . 112-113
Oct. 3 *at Georgia Athens, Ga.
Alabama in the SEC . . . . . . . . . . . . 114-115 Oct. 10 *Arkansas Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Any Given Saturday . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116-117 Oct. 17 *at Texas A&M College Station, Texas
The Football Capital Oct. 24 *Tennessee Tuscaloosa, Ala.
of the Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118-119 Nov. 7 *LSU Tuscaloosa, Ala.
15 National Championships . . . . . . 120-138 Nov. 14 *at Mississippi State Starkville, Miss.
Nov. 21 Charleston Southern Tuscaloosa, Ala.
HONORS & AWARDS Nov. 28 *at Auburn Auburn, Ala.
The Heisman Trophy . . . . . . . . . . . . 140-141
*SEC Game • #Cowboys Classic (Arlington, Texas)
National Award Winners . . . . . . . . . 142-147 Bold denotes home game
College Football Hall of Fame . . . . 148-149
All-Americans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150 PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
ALABAMA IN THE NFL
Pipeline to the NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152-157 Parker BARRINEAU Bear-in-oh
The NFL Draft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158-163 MEKHI Brown Ma-KI
DAYLON CHARLOT DAY-lon Shar-LOT
NFL Hall of Fame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164-165
Lawrence EREKOSIMA O-seem-uh
NFL Pro Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .166
Ty FLOURNOY-Smith Fluh-noy
J.C. HASSENAUER Haas-en-our
RECORDS
ANFERNEE Jennings An-fer-knee
Opponents Game-By-Game
Derek KIEF Keef
Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168-169
KORREN KIRVEN CORE-in CURVE-in
Alabama Record vs. All Opponents . . . .170 Isaac LUATUA Lew-uh-too-uh
Year-By-Year Results . . . . . . . . . . . . 171-188 Richard MULLANEY Mull-A-knee
Alabama Coaching Records . . . . . . . . . .189 Michael NYSEWANDER Nye-swan-der
Crimson Tide Record Book . . . . . . . 190-205 Richie PETITBON Petty-bone
What You Should Know. . . . . . . . . . . . . .206 Ross PIERSCHBACHER Piersch-backer
JARRAN Reed Jer-in
Crimson Tide Sports Marketing . . . . . . .207
ARDARIUS Stewart R-Darius
Bradley SYLVE Silve
DEIONTE Thompson Dee-on-tay
2 2015 ALABAMA FOOTBALL
introduction
ALABAMA ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS STAFF QUICK FACTS
N
Department Phone: [phone] Associate Director of Athletics Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tuscaloosa, Ala. O
Department Fax: [phone] Communications (FB Statistics): Enrollment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36,155 CTI
Aaron Jordan U
Founded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April 12, 1831 D
Senior Associate Athletics Director for Office: [phone] O
Athletics Communications: e-mail: [email protected] Conference . . . . . . . . . Southeastern (West) R
T
Douglas Walker Colors . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Crimson and White N
I
Office: [phone] Associate Director of Athletics Nickname . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Crimson Tide
e-mail: [email protected] Communications (FB Credentials):
President . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Stuart R. Bell
Roots Woodruff
Senior Associate Athletics Director for Office: [phone] Athletics Director . . . . . . . . . . . .Bill Battle
Marketing & Communications: e-mail: [email protected] Faculty Athletics
Jeff Purinton Representative . . . . Dr. Kevin Whitaker
Office: [phone] Assistant Director of Athletics
Stadium . . Bryant-Denny Stadium (101,821)
e-mail: [email protected] Communications (FB Notes):
Alex Thompson
Director of Football Communications: Office: [phone] First Year of Football . . . . . . . . . . . . .1892
Josh Maxson e-mail: [email protected] Overall Football Record 850-325-43 (.715)
Office: [phone] 1,218 games over 120 seasons
e-mail: [email protected] Assistant Director of Athletics
SEC Record . . . . . . . . . . . 379-166-20 (.688)
Communications:
565 games over 82 seasons
Director of Athletics Communications Nathan Sheehan
(FB Program): Office: [phone]
Jessica Paré e-mail: [email protected] National Championships . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Office: [phone] 1925, 1926, 1930, 1934, 1941, 1961,
e-mail: [email protected] Athletics Communications Assistants: 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1992,
Michael Stimpert & Nick Snow 2009, 2011, 2012
Assistant Director of Athletics Office: [phone]
Communications (FB Players): e-mail: [email protected]
TBD e-mail: [email protected] SEC Championships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Office: TBD 1933, 1934, 1937, 1945, 1953, 1961,
e-mail: TBD 1964, 1965, 1966, 1971, 1972, 1973,
1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981,
TEAM INFORMATION 1989, 1992, 1999, 2009, 2012, 2014
Head Coach . . Nick Saban (Kent State, 1973) RETURNING OFFENSIVE STARTERS First Team All-Americans
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 players, 135 times
Collegiate Record . . . . . . . . . 177-59-1 (.749) No. Name Pos. Class
Alabama Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86-17 (.835) 70 Ryan Kelly . . . . . . . . . . . . OL . . . . . . Sr. First Team All-Conference
74 Cam Robinson . . . . . . . . . OL . . . . . .So. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232 players, 305 times
2014 Overall Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2
2014 SEC Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-1 RETURNING DEFENSIVE STARTERS Bowl Appearances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62*
Bowl . . . .Allstate Sugar Bowl (CFP Semifinal) No. Name Pos. Class Bowl Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34*-24-3
Result . . . . . . . . . . . . . .lost Ohio State, 35-42 93 Jonathan Allen . . . . . . . . . DL . . . . . . .Jr. *NCAA Record
Basic Offense . . . . . . . . . . Pro Style (Multiple) 30 Denzel Devall . . . . . . . . . . LB . . . . . . Sr.
Basic Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-4 (Multiple) 4 Eddie Jackson . . . . . . . . . DB . . . . . . .Jr.
CREDITS: The 2015 University of Alabama
5 Cyrus Jones . . . . . . . . . . DB . . . . . . Sr.
Football Media Guide was produced
LETTERWINNERS RETURNING: 19 Reggie Ragland . . . . . . . . LB . . . . . . Sr.
by the staff of the Alabama Athletics
Offense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 90 Jarran Reed . . . . . . . . . . . DL . . . . . . Sr.
Communications Office. The publication
Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 86 A’Shawn Robinson . . . . . . DL . . . . . . .Jr.
was written by Josh Maxson with editorial
Specialty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 assistance from Jeff Purinton, Doug
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 STARTERS LOST Walker, Jessica Paré and Alex Thompso.
No. Name Pos. Class Photography by UA Director of Photography
LETTERWINNERS LOST: 72 Leon Brown . . . . . . . . . . . OL . . . . . . Sr. Kent Gidley, Amelia Brackin and staff.
Offense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 26 Landon Collins . . . . . . . . . DB . . . . . . .Jr. Thanks to Crimson Tide Productions for the
Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 9 Amari Cooper . . . . . . . . . WR . . . . . .Jr. cover and page designs. Special thanks to
Specialty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 33 Trey DePriest . . . . . . . . . . LB . . . . . . Sr. the Crimson Tide coaching staff, teams of
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 47 Xzavier Dickson . . . . . . . . LB . . . . . . Sr. the NFL for photography assistance and
22 Christion Jones . . . . . . . . WR . . . . . Sr. the staff of the SEC office. Copyright 2015
STARTERS RETURNING: 77 Arie Kouandjio . . . . . . . . . OL . . . . . . Sr. by the Board of Trustees of the University
Offense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 26 Nick Perry . . . . . . . . . . . . DB . . . . . . Sr. of Alabama. “Roll Tide,” “Crimson Tide”
Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 79 Austin Shepherd . . . . . . . OL . . . . . . Sr. and “Bama,” along with the primary and
Specialty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 6 Blake Sims . . . . . . . . . . . . QB . . . . . . Sr. secondary logos, are registered trademarks
of The University of Alabama.
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 84 Brian Vogler . . . . . . . . . . . TE . . . . . . Sr.
2 DeAndrew White . . . . . . . WR . . . . . Sr.
STARTERS LOST:
4 T.J. Yeldon . . . . . . . . . . . . RB . . . . . . .Jr.
Offense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Specialty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
ROLLTIDE.COM 3
introduction
GAMEDAY ENTRANCE SEC DIGITAL NETWORK
The press area in the Bryant-Denny Stadium Press Box is located on the second The SEC now offers access to free licensed game highlights and other
level on the west side of the Stadium. The entrance to the press box is through newsworthy event video, including select live streams, through the SEC Affiliate
IN the press elevator, located near gate 11. The elevator will be in operation three Network. This annual program is exclusively available to the accredited media.
T hours prior to kickoff. Media Will Call is at ticket window 8 located at the northwest It covers all teams and all sports for both men’s and women’s teams. Video is
R
O corner of the end zone complex adjacent to Gate 3 of Bryant-Denny Stadium. delivered through a customizable digital video player immediately after televised
D games/events conclude. Participating news affiliates can also select individual clips
U
C RADIO/TELEVISION/COACHES to insert directly into online stories. Television stations also have access to an FTP
TION and Lao cbaoteodth o na vtahiela mblaein f porre tsasp leev-dele, ltahyeerde itse ale pcraimstas.r yT lihvies tleelveevli saiolsno b aroccaodmcamsto bdoaoteths aDcigcoituanl.t Ttoo rjouinn ,c opnletaesnet orenq-auier.s Tt hae pSaErCti cAipffailtiiaotne Nfoermtw ofrrokm is tmhea npargoegdr atmhr’os udgirhe XctOoSr,
booths for both home and visiting radio crews and Alabama and visiting coaches Anna Marie Neri, at [email protected] or at 407-670-5049.
booths. Only those with appropriate passes will be admitted to these booths.
INTERVIEW POLICIES
CREDENTIALS
HEAD COACH NICK SABAN
Media credentials are available only to working members of the media who
All interview requests for head coach Nick Saban are coordinated through
represent accredited outlets that are actively covering the event. All credential
Senior Associate AD Jeff Purinton at [email protected] or [phone] and
requests must be made through the Crimson Tide’s online credentialing system.
Director of Football Communications Josh Maxson at [email protected]. Coach
For further information, contact Roots Woodruff @ [email protected].
Saban will meet with the media each Monday preceding a game at 12 p.m.
(CT) in the Naylor Stone Media Room on the second floor of the Mal M. Moore
PHOTO DECK Athletic Building. Coach Saban will participate in the SEC head coaches weekly
This level, located in front of the main press box at Bryant-Denny Stadium, teleconference with the other 13 league coaches each Wednesday at 10:35
offers ample space for still photographers, network TV cameras and coaches film a.m. (CT). He also will meet with the media immediately following practice on
crews. Wednesday afternoon in the Naylor Stone Media Room. In addition, Coach Saban
is available by request between noon and 1 p.m. (CT) Tuesday through Thursday.
SIDELINES
Alabama follows NCAA and SEC rules regarding media representatives on PLAYERS
the sidelines. All player interviews must be coordinated through the Alabama Communications
• Credentials must be visible in order to gain access to the field. Office and must be requested at least one day in advance. Several players will be
• All photographers/videographers on the sideline must be in attendance in available each week following Coach Saban’s Monday press conference, if their
a working capacity with proper equipment. class schedule permits. Player interviews should be requested through Director of
• Photographers are not permitted to shoot between the 25-yard lines. Football Communications Josh Maxson. In addition to Monday’s press luncheon,
• No credentials will be issued to freelance photographers, cutline writers, players are available prior to Tuesday’s and following Wednesday’s practices.
equipment carriers or radio station representatives, except for each team’s Team locker rooms are off limits to media representatives at all times. Media
broadcast originating networks. members are not permitted to call players at any time or talk to players on
• Affiliate TV stations are not allowed the services of a grip and credentials Sunday, Thursday or Friday.
will not be provided for grip operations.
• No one under 18 years of age will be issued a credential for sideline access.
POSTGAME
• Photographers or videographers are considered working members of the
The University of Alabama observes and abides by Southeastern Conference
media and they are to refrain from cheering or talking to players, coaches
policy regarding equal access to all members of the working media. Coach Saban
or officials.
will conduct his postgame news conference at home games approximately 10
• Photographers should contact associate SID Roots Woodruff for further
minutes after the game, in the Media Room located on the second floor of the
information at [phone].
North End Zone complex. His news conference also can be heard in the press
• Photographers may send photos from the Alabama Photo Room located in
box. The Alabama locker room is closed. Requested players will be brought to the
the south end on the field level of Bryant-Denny Stadium. Contact Roots
Media Room following Coach Saban’s postgame news conference. The opposing
Woodruff to reserve space.
coach will conduct his postgame news conference in the South End Zone Media
• Not conforming to any of the above listed guidelines will result in the
Room adjoining the visiting team locker room.
immediate dismissal from the stadium by Event Management staff.
PRACTICE ACCESS
PRESS BOX SERVICES
Alabama football practices are open to the media on Monday through
Complete individual and team statistics, running play-by-play, postgame
Wednesday from the beginning of practice until team or group work begins.
coaches quotes and game facts will be distributed via e-mail to members of the
Media members should request to have their name placed on a practice pass list
working media. There will be a limited number of printed notes packages available
for admission to practices.
in the media relations work room in the hallway of the press box, but that number
will not facilitate the number of media outlets covering the game. Alabama’s
gameday notes and a flip card are located at each seat throughout the press box. ALABAMA SATELLITE FEED
Alabama’s game notes, opponent notes and conference notes will be provided Video highlights of Alabama football are available via satellite each Monday
in a PDF via e-mail on Thursday evening. A pregame meal will be served beginning during the regular season. Contact Alabama for times and FTP information.
90 minutes before kickoff. Soft drinks will be available throughout the game.
PARKING
Media parking is located in lots nearby Bryant-Denny Stadium. Because of
limited space, requests for parking should be made with credential requests.
It should not be assumed that parking passes will be provided with all media
credentials.
PRESS BOX CONNECTIVITY
Wireless internet is available in the Bryant-Denny Stadium press box. In
addition, a limited number of ethernet lines also are available.
PRO SCOUTS
Despite severe space limitations, scouts of professional football teams are
issued press credentials. Credentials should be requested two weeks prior to the
date of the game to guarantee availability and should be requested online. For
further details contact Doug Walker at [email protected].
SATELLITE TRUCKS
Any outlet using a satellite truck must request satellite truck access and have
a truck in place at least five hours prior to kickoff (example: 2 p.m. for a 7 p.m.
kickoff). Satellite trucks arriving less than five hours prior to kickoff may be denied
access to the stadium. Requests for parking area for satellite trucks must be made
by 12 p.m. (noon) Wednesday prior to Saturday games and must be confirmed
through Doug Walker or Roots Woodruff. No other vehicles will be allowed to park
with the satellite truck and all credential needs for personnel must be included in
the online request.
4 2015 ALABAMA FOOTBALL
SS EE AA SS OO NN
2015
PP RR EE VV II EE WW
11
Inside
2015 Preview ....................................... 6
N
O Rosters ............................................... 14
I 2015 Opponents .................................16
T
C 2014 Statistics ................................... 18
E
S