Bama's First Scrimmage And a Saban Statue?

Alabama offense stars in first scrimmage

Written by The Associated Press

Posted on 04.02.10

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. | Alabama's quarterbacks had big passing days during the Crimson Tide's first scrimmage of the spring.

Greg McElroy passed for 235 yards and a touchdown in the 120-play scrimmage Friday at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Redshirt freshman backup A.J. McCarron went 21-of-28 for 229 yards and three touchdowns.

Several of the team's stars had big days. Julio Jones caught eight passes for 105 yards while Trent Richardson had touchdown runs of 18 and 21 yards.

Defensive end Marcell Dareus had four sacks and eight tackles for the defense, while cornerback B.J. Scott had six tackles and broke up two passes.

"I think it was obvious that the guys that have knowledge and experience played fast, played well and made a lot of plays," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "Some of the guys that are learning what to do, how to do it and why it's important to do it that way didn't play quite as fast. But this was a good starting point. Every mistake is an opportunity to learn for each one of these guys."

The defense especially has plenty of young players. The Tide has only two defensive starters returning, counting linebacker Dont'a Hightower, who is coming back from a knee injury.

Hightower participated in the scrimmage.

"I was pleased with the way the first defense played," Saban said. "We don't have the same kind of depth, and we have to get more players playing consistently on the defensive (side) after that first group. Marcell Dareus had a really good day."

The scrimmage was also an audition for freshman placekicker Cade Foster, trying to replace All-American Leigh Tiffin. Foster made field goals of 42 and 38 yards at the end of the scrimmage, while missing from 56 and 39 yards.

Sophomore Jeremy Shelly hit on his only attempt of the day from 30 yards.

Alabama will take Saturday and Sunday off for Easter.

Stats for the closed scrimmage were provided by the Alabama media relations department.

'Bama thinks bronze for Saban

The University of Alabama says it will unveil in August a bronze statue of Nick Saban, the coach who led the Crimson Tide to the national championship last season.

The statue will stand in the Walk of Champions plaza at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

A date has not been set for the unveiling. Alabama opens its football season Sept. 4 against San Jose State.

The event also will serve as a dedication of the stadium's south end zone expansion, which will add more luxury skyboxes and increase seating to more than 100,000.

Alabama's four previous national title-winning coaches - Wallace Wade, Frank Thomas, Paul W. "Bear" Bryant and Gene Stallings - are all commemorated with statues in the plaza area outside the stadium.

I can't wait to see the statue! And the finished expansion! and I can't wait for football season! ROLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE ROLLLLLLLLL!