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09/06/2010 -
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -Alabama took advantage of an opening rout to get plenty of youngsters on the field.
The top-ranked Crimson Tide's top tackler in Saturday night's 48-3 route of San Jose State was freshman linebacker C.J. Mosley. The leading rusher was redshirt freshman Eddie Lacy. Both the kicker and punter were freshmen.
And coach Nick Saban said he had other freshmen ready to go, including No. 3 quarterback Phillip Sims.
Besides the kickers, 13 players made their first college starts for the Tide: seven defenders, two offensive linemen, tailback Trent Richardson and their long snapper.
It was enough to make Saban consider giving his players a refresher course on little things like what to wear on the road.
``It's the first time since we've been here that I have felt the need to talk about things that you take for granted, like the dress code for a trip,'' Saban said. ``We had guys who had been here for two or three years that know what's going on. Now we have a significant number of guys that don't know what's going on, haven't played before and haven't traveled before, that I find myself saying I need to spend some time explaining this stuff that we explained three years ago.''
The road dress code can wait another week. The Tide (1-0) is preparing to host No. 19 Penn State, coming off a 44-14 win over Youngstown State, in what will surely be a more telling game for the youngsters.
Saban has had freshmen play key roles in each of his three seasons with Alabama, ranging from Rolando McClain to Julio Jones, Mark Ingram and Richardson. Two opened as starters in both 2007 and 2008, only the second and third time that's happened at Alabama.
Make that four. Punter Cody Mandell and kicker Cade Foster both started in their first college games. Both had nice debuts and answered a couple of the team's biggest question marks.
Mandell's first two punts each went for 52 yards. Foster made field goals of 41 and 24 yards.
The Tide also started junior college cornerback DeQuan Menzie, six sophomores and a redshirt freshman.
Mosley led Alabama with seven tackles. Starting linebacker Courtney Upshaw sprained his ankle, but Saban said he should be available against Penn State. Redshirt freshman quarterback A.J. McCarron completed 9 of 15 passes for 116 yards and one touchdown.
Richardson got his first start in place of Heisman Trophy winner Ingram, who is out because of a knee injury. Fellow sophomore Damion Square started for defensive end Marcell Dareus, serving a two-game NCAA suspension pending the results of Alabama's appeal.
The defense gave up a 49-yard pass and a 32-yard run, but only 94 yards on the other 46 plays. San Jose State converted only 1 of 13 third downs. Mosley's seven tackles led the team.
``We have a lot of young guys, but they have shown a lot of improvement,'' said sophomore safety Robert Lester, who had an interception and a sack in his first start. ``They have been able to learn the system quickly and go out there and show that. You don't see many freshmen like C.J. Mosley come in and lead the team in tackles like he did and make that many big plays.''
Other freshmen who played included cornerback John Fulton and linebacker Jalston Fowler.
Saban said even more freshmen were ready to go, including Sims in case there's an emergency situation later.
``One of the toughest decisions that you have to make as a coach is if I play a guy in a game like this, he loses a whole year,'' he said. ``So unless he's going to play a significant amount ... then you don't play the guy.
``Phillip is really ready to play and I'd love to play him. You don't have a crystal ball. I'm telling you all in advance that. You can second-guess me for all this if it happens.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
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in the Sprint Cup Series by taking Sunday's Emory Healthcare 500 at Atlanta
Motor Speedway.
Stewart put on a dominating performance by leading 176 of 325 lap
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LaCrosse and Song both c
Arkansas sharp in opener, but far from perfect >>
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -If this was Ryan Mallett's idea of a so-so performance, then No. 17 Arkansas has high expectations indeed.Mallett completed 21 of 24 passes Saturday night, leading the Razorbacks over Tennessee Tech 44-3. He threw for 301 ya
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The biggest threat to the U.S. Ryder Cup team >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - While I was busy searching for the best line to describe
Miguel Angel Jimenez, someone I don't know beat me to it.
In the Internet age, it isn't hard to believe how it happened.
Sports Illustrated writer Alan Shipnuck po
Sportsbook betting odds favor Europe in Ryder Cup
September 19, – Despite holding a decided edge in the all-time series, with 24 wins, 2 ties and 10 losses, Team USA is the underdog again heading into the Ryder Cup in Kidare, Ireland this weekend, according to MySportsbook.com. The Europeans have captured four of the past five editions, including their largest victory ever, an 18 ½ to 9 ½ thumping in Michigan in 2004. Current Ryder Cup betting odds favor the Europeans to continue their winning ways; they are a 4-5 bet to take the title, compared to 6-5 for the Americans.
Despite being knocked out in the first round of World Match play by Shaun Micheel, Tiger Woods is predicted to lead the US charge and be their highest point scorer for the week, with odds listed at 9-4 that he outpoints all other American players, including Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco to name a few. Team USA has four relatively unknown players on the roster but all four are 2007 tournament winners and have posted some of season’s best performances, each earning over $1.5 million on the PGA TOUR. They include Zach Johnson, Vaughan Taylor, JJ Henry and Brett Wetterich.
The experienced European squad includes the likes of Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Jose Maria Olazabal and Darren Clarke, who’s emotions will be tested after the passing of his wife to a battle with cancer. Donald and Garcia are in particularly good form and each is a 5-1 bet to lead the European squad in the points race. Donald has proven he can go head to head with Woods at a major event after a run for the $1.2 million purse at the PGA Championship. Garcia’s Ryder Cup credentials prove he’s ready for battle too.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your golf sportsbook needs.
Ryder Cup Odds| Europe Tie USA |
4-5 10-1 6-5 |
| Tiger Woods Jim Furyk Phil Mickelson Chris DiMarco David Toms Stewart Cink Chad Campbell Scott Verplank Zach Johnson Vaughan Taylor JJ Henry Brett Wetterich |
9-4 4-1 5-1 7-1 8-1 12-1 15-1 15-1 25-1 30-1 30-1 50-1 |
| Sergio Garcia Luke Donald Padraig Harrington Colin Montgomerie Darren Clarke David Howell Lee Westwood Paul Casey Henrik Stenson Jose Maria Olazabal Paul McGinley Robert Karlsson |
5-1 5-1 6-1 13-2 8-1 9-1 9-1 11-1 12-1 12-1 20-1 25-1 |
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com
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