2007-03-29 10:01:29.0
Tommy Deas: Welcome aboard one and all. I'm here to chat for the next 60 minutes about anything related to Tide sports.
2007-03-29 10:17:29.0
Bamabigdog: I talked with DJ a couple of weeks ago and he says this will be a much different Tide team. Much, much more disiplined. I live in Fort walton by the way. My father is Bill Travis. He was the last Freshman Basketball Coach at Bama.
2007-03-29 10:18:20.0
Tommy Deas: I agree with DJ that this team will be different in a lot of ways, but I don't expect Nick Saban to part seas. It will take time to make this program in his mold, but I believe he will get it done.
2007-03-29 10:22:31.0
keith.reavis: Any news on the "latest" position for Jimmy Johns? Do you think the coaches will keep him at RB or move him?
2007-03-29 10:24:12.0
Tommy Deas: As far as I know he's still at RB. I think he'll get a look at LB, but that's just speculation. We're not getting much access at all -- either to watch practice or to ask questions after, so the lid on what's going on out there is pretty tight. Kinda like when Bryant covered the fences and put in the wishbone (and no, I don't think Saban will run the veer).
2007-03-29 10:27:37.0
crimson4280: Tommy, do you think the Matchett commitment is a sign that Mobile is about to open up more for Alabama?
2007-03-29 10:28:22.0
Tommy Deas: Too early to say. It's not like Alabama hasn't been getting some players from down that way. Don't know enough about the kid's background to know if he might have been an Alabama guy all along or if this is a sign of a new sherriff in L.A.
2007-03-29 10:28:27.0
keith.reavis: I'm sure that you have been asked this at least a hundred time before, but what are your "first" impressions of Saban now that practice has began?
2007-03-29 10:32:33.0
Tommy Deas: My first impression of Nick Saban came a LONG time before he got to Alabama. And that impression is that he's the most intelligent head football coach I've ever been around. Give you an example: At SEC media days a reporter was asking all the coaches about the new (at that time) rule that teams couldn't hold two-a-day practices on back-to-back days. Most coaches answered something like "I'm for it, it's safer that way," or "I'm against it, we need to make these guys tougher." Saban's response was something like this: "I'm glad you asked me that. You know, when I was at Michigan State we were wondering about that so we started keeping statistics. We looked at injury rates on days when we had two-a-days back-to-back and when we didn't. We still do the same thing at LSU. So when the rules committee took this up I had all our data compiled and sent it over. We found that our injury rate was 29 percent higher (or whatever the number was) when we had two-a-days two days in a row, so we stopped doing that a couple of years ago anyway. So I'm for it."
2007-03-29 10:34:47.0
Bamabigdog: I raed an article a few weeks ago by Chris Mortenson about Saban and his recruiting from this year. he commented that Nick Fanuzzi was a player and that he will be a Heisman candidate in 3 years. I have seen alot of film on this kid and he is for real. I have also watch film on all Sabans recriuts this year. alot of strength and speed! We are headed in the right direction!
2007-03-29 10:36:18.0
Tommy Deas: Never seen the kid play. QBs are hard to project. Nobody said, 'This Barker kid is going to be a Heisman candidate by the time he's a senior. Bet he'll win more games in a row than any QB in SEC history.' Lotta people liked Ron Pawlous or whatever his name was at ND. I do believe Saban will has a history of being a great evaluator of talent, and that will pay dividends.
2007-03-29 10:38:50.0
echo $USER: sorry, I arrived late. hope this hasnt already been asked. but what are your early impressions of Applewhite?
2007-03-29 10:39:47.0
Tommy Deas: I haven't been out at practice, but he seems like a bright, young, energetic guy. I also thought he was a better college QB than Chris Simms and got screwed at Texas.
2007-03-29 10:39:49.0
Bamabigdog: Where can I find phots that I can make a wallpaper and screen saver for my computer. Bama Football stuff of course!
2007-03-29 10:40:32.0
Tommy Deas: I'd do a search on the Web of University of Alabama wallpaper. Otherwise you might check at crimontradition.com or rolltide.com if we don't have it.
2007-03-29 10:40:59.0
echo $USER: My thoughts exactly concerning Simms/Major.
2007-03-29 10:41:07.0
Tommy Deas: We've got 19 minutes to go!
2007-03-29 10:41:15.0
Tommy Deas: And counting!
2007-03-29 10:42:39.0
cffavrot: I just logged in. What is the word around practices??
2007-03-29 10:43:16.0
Tommy Deas: Quiet. As in we're not allowed to watch more than stretching and some days we get to talk to Saban or players and other days we don't. So don't expect a lot of info leaking out.
2007-03-29 10:43:19.0
Bamabigdog: I agree on the Applewhite over Sims issue. I have read an awful lot of things by the so called " Football Guru's and they all agree that Applewhite is one of the future great coaches.
2007-03-29 10:43:38.0
Tommy Deas: He'll certainly get an opportunity to show what he can do.
2007-03-29 10:43:46.0
echo $USER: What do you think of Pendry's job when he was at the Texans. Did he just now have much to work with or could that reflect poor coaching ability?
2007-03-29 10:44:51.0
Tommy Deas: I don't know how to evaluate that. It seems to be a case where there just wasn't enough talent to compete in the NFL. That franchise has been a disaster from the start. If Nick Saban believes he's a quality coach, good enough for me.
2007-03-29 10:46:48.0
cffavrot: Why do keep letting Les Fowler operate on Prothro. He is a bafoon in my opinion. We pay top dollar for a coach let's dod the same with our DR's especially for top players.
2007-03-29 10:47:53.0
Tommy Deas: I don't think Prothro's problem has to do with doctors. That's not the kind of injury you just bounce back from. I'll be very surprised if he ever plays football again. If I were you I'd give up on that idea.
2007-03-29 10:47:55.0
echo $USER: True, but I do think the O line will make great progess this year ie Andre and Caldwell leading the way.
2007-03-29 10:48:16.0
Tommy Deas: I expect that will be an area of concentration in Saban's plan for improvement.
2007-03-29 10:51:32.0
cffavrot: What is your win/loss prediction for the upcoming season????
2007-03-29 10:51:49.0
Tommy Deas: Way, way too early to go there.
2007-03-29 10:51:56.0
Tommy Deas: What's yours?
2007-03-29 10:53:13.0
cffavrot: I could live with 8-4, but have to win a key game or 2.
2007-03-29 10:53:30.0
Tommy Deas: And they say Alabama fans have high expectations.
2007-03-29 10:53:32.0
echo $USER: At this point, I just dont want to lose games Bama shouldn't. Miss State, etc..., but I'm sure that wont happen on a regular basis any longer.
2007-03-29 10:54:04.0
Tommy Deas: Remember Saban lost to UAB early in his LSU tenure. It's going to take time.
2007-03-29 10:56:09.0
echo $USER: I'd rather lose to UAB than Miss State.
2007-03-29 10:56:27.0
Tommy Deas: I'd rather never play UAB. In anything (OK, maybe tennis or golf).
2007-03-29 10:56:29.0
cffavrot: Just win Baby!!!!
2007-03-29 10:56:47.0
Tommy Deas: We're down to less than 4 minutes. If you have a burning desire, get it out there now.
2007-03-29 10:58:38.0
echo $USER: Will Bama wear Nike this year or some other vendor provide the uniforms?
2007-03-29 10:58:46.0
Tommy Deas: Nike as far as I know.
2007-03-29 10:59:01.0
echo $USER: ugh
2007-03-29 10:59:29.0
Tommy Deas: We're downt to less than 1 minute so I'll go and say my goodbye now. Thanks for dropping in. I'll be back at the same time and place next week.
2007-03-29 10:59:31.0
echo $USER: Thanks for the time!