WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2014 VOLUME 121 | ISSUE 11
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SERVING THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA SINCE 1894
Alabama Action
11 Ice Bucket
4 Our New Look
More than 100 UA students arrived in Tuscaloosa early to work with Alabama Action. They helped renovate two area schools, cleared trails in public parks and painted signs for Pre-K programs in Alabama’s Black Belt region.
After Tuesday’s practice, the Crimson Tide football team took the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Nick Saban challenged Paul Finebaum, Joe Manchin, Mark Ingram and Will Muschamp.
The Crimson White switches to a tabloid format today. Our new look is designed to be easier to hold, fold and read. We’re here to bring you the news, when and where you want it.
NEWS | GREEK SYSTEM TEM
Diversity marks fall recruitment 21 black women pledge Panhellenic sororities orities By Andy McWhorter | Production Editor
The most diverse group oup of sorority pledges in The University of Alabama’s history will gather for the start of fall classes on Wednesday, less than a year after allegations of n the recruitracial discrimination in ment process made al headlines. national “Every ery young an] identi[woman] Every young herself as fying [woman] an-American African-American identifying ed a bid,” received eborah Lane, said Deborah herself as ant vice presassistant Africanor University ident for American ons. “None Relations. rew from received a bid. withdrew itment recruitment or eleased.” were released.” – Deborah Lane – Thiss increase in ity recruitminority ment comes less than a year after n an article The Crimson White, in er,” reported titled “The Final Barrier,” tive sorority on allegations from active omen going members that black women ruitthrough formal recruited ment had been dropped ng one-by-one during ry recruitment. The story ion, drew national attention, protests and calls forr a ment change in the recruitment process. Less than two weeks after the article was published on September er 11, nounced 2013, the University announced
Countdown to Kickoff
CW File
The Crimson Tide opens the 2014 football season Aug. 30 foo ranked No. 2 in both major polls. Check out our sports sp preview for all the developing storylines, beginning on page 1B. 1B
SEE BID DAY PAGE 12
Introducing the new Nike concept shop at the SUPe Store Ferguson Center INSIDE briefs 2 news 3 opinions 4 culture 14 sports 1b
CONTACT email editor@cw.ua.edu website cw.ua.edu twitter @TheCrimsonWhite
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WEDNESDAY August 20, 2014
SCENE ON CAMPUS Sophomore Caroline Wilkinson shows freshman Rebecca Vanmarrel where her classes are. CW / Lindsey Leonard
P.O. Box 870170 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 Newsroom: 348-6144 | Fax: 348-8036 Advertising: 348-7845 Classifieds: 348-7355
EDITORIAL editor-in-chief Deanne WInslett
TODAY’S EVENTS
CAMPUS BRIEFS
Breakfast
Week of Welcome hosts campus events for new students
WHAT: Welcome Back Breakfast WHEN: 7-10 a.m. WHERE: Ferguson Student Center
editor@cw.ua.edu
managing editor Christopher Edmunds production editor Andy McWhorter visuals editor Sloane Arogeti online editor Maria Beddingfield opinions editor Patrick Crowley
Campus guides WHAT: Crimson Compass WHEN: 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. WHERE: The Quad
chief copy editor Beth Lindly news editor Rachel Brown culture editor Reed O’Mara sports editor Kelly Ward photo editor Pete Pajor
Processing WHAT: CPT/OPT Processing WHEN: 9-11 a.m. WHERE: 105 B.B. Comer Hall
lead designer Ashley Atkinson community manager Francie Johnson
ADVERTISING advertising manager Kennan Madden 251.408.2033 cwadmanager@gmail.com
territory manager Chloe Ledet
205.886.3512 territorymanager@gmail.com
Training WHAT: TIAA-CREF Individual Counseling Sessions WHEN: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. WHERE: G54 Rose Administration
special projects manager Taylor Shutt 904.504.3306 osmspecialprojects@gmail.com
creative services manager Hilary McDaniel 334.315.6068
is the community newspaper of The University of Alabama. The Crimson White is an editorially free newspaper produced by students.The University of Alabama cannot influence editorial decisions and editorial opinions are those of the editorial board and do not represent the official opinions of the University. Advertising offices of The Crimson White are in room 1014, Student Media Building, 414 Campus Drive East. The advertising mailing address is P.O. Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. The Crimson White (USPS 138020) is published four times weekly when classes are in session during Fall and Spring Semester except for the Monday after Spring Break and the Monday after Thanksgiving, and once a week when school is in session for the summer. Marked calendar provided. The Crimson White is provided for free up to three issues. Any other papers are $1.00. The subscription rate for The Crimson White is $125 per year. Checks should be made payable to The University of Alabama and sent to: The Crimson White Subscription Department, P.O. Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. The Crimson White is entered as periodical postage at Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Crimson White, P.O. Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. All material contained herein, except advertising or where indicated otherwise, is Copyright © 2014 by The Crimson White and protected under the “Work Made for Hire” and “Periodical Publication” categories of the U.S. copyright laws. Material herein may not be reprinted without the expressed, written permission of The Crimson White.
Campus exhibit WHAT: William C. Gorgas and the Panama Canal WHEN: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. WHERE: Gorgas House Museum
Senior event WHAT: Balfour Ring Event WHEN: 1:30 a.m. WHERE: SUPe Store Lobby Ferguson Center
Students will have 55 events to attend during Week of Welcome, hosted by University Programs. WOW is designed both to help new students get involved in the activities around campus and to begin the year right with a variety of fun and exciting events. WOW kicked off Sunday night at Coleman Coliseum with an X-Games-themed event, featuring zip lining, bungee jumping, BMX biking and the first pep rally of the year. Latoya Scott, director of University Programs, said the event brought in over 8,000 students. “The cool thing about it is it’s not mandatory, but everyone still came out here to have fun,” Scott said. “It’s a chance to connect and make lifelong friends.” On Wednesday and Thursday mornings between 7 and 10 a.m., students are encouraged to stop by the Ferguson Center Plaza for a free Welcome Back Breakfast with the Student Government Association courtesy of University Programs. Chick-fil-A and Dunkin’ Donuts will be offered. Crimson Compass volunteers will be stationed all around campus to help students. They will be available on the first and second day of classes to provide answers, maps and information about Android or iPhone apps to ensure successful navigation to class. Free samples of food will be available at the Ferg on Friday night from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. for
PLAN TO GO WHAT: Welcome Back Breakfast WHEN: 7-10 a.m., Wednesday and Thursday WHERE: Ferguson Center Plaza WHAT: Campus Compass guides WHEN: Wednesday and Thursday WHERE: All around campus WHAT: Ferguson Center Grand Opening WHEN: 7-10 p.m., Friday WHERE: Ferguson Center
the Ferguson Center Grand Opening, hosted by University Programs. The Grand Opening will also feature a light show, laser tag, movies and special performances. Students are encouraged to follow @UAwhatsUP and @UAWOW on Twitter or download the Guidebook app with the Week of Welcome 2014 guide, which is compatible with both Android and iPhone.
Fulbright ambassador provides information session for students Michelle Williams, a Fulbright Alumni Ambassador, will lead a discussion Thursday about the Fulbright program to any interested students. Williams will go over the application process and be available to answer questions. The discussion will take place in 256 B.B. Comer
Hall from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Fulbright Scholarship Program is a prestigious award granted to recent college graduates. Fulbright scholars can receive research grants or assume English Teaching Assistant positions in countries across the world, a ccording to usfulbrightonline.org.
READ and DREAM Alabama accepting student volunteers Campus exhibit WHAT: Glimpses of the Great War Abroad and at Home WHEN: All Day WHERE: J. Wray and Joan Billingsley Pearce Grand Foyer, Gorgas Library
VISIT US ONLINE:
www.cw.ua.edu
The University of Alabama Honors College is currently accepting volunteers for READ Alabama and a new program, DREAM Alabama. READ Alabama is a mentorship program between Honors College students and elementary students in the Tuscaloosa area. Honors students commit to reading with young children once a week for one hour. DREAM Alabama
@TheCrimsonWhite
is a mentorship program between Honors College students and middle school students, which focuses on building student character, learning soft skills and looking ahead to plan for the future. Applications for READ Alabama and DREAM Alabama can be found through the Honors College. The deadline to sign up for the programs is Sept. 2.
TheCrimsonWhite
thecrimsonwhite
3 Tuscaloosa named among top college towns Editor | Rachel Brown Newsdesk@cw.ua.edu Wednesday, August 20, 2014
By Samuel Yang | Contributing Writer
Livability, student-to-resident ratio, cultural offerings, school presence and large employers can help define a college town’s success. Best College Reviews, which compiled a list of “The 50 Best College Towns in America,” has considered those criteria and put Tuscaloosa at No. 48. The ranking designated Tuscaloosa as one of America’s Promise Alliance’s “100 Best Communities for Young People,” citing UA athletics, the diverse economy and the nightlife. For residents still in school like freshman Marlow Durbin, who is originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Tuscaloosa offers a convenient mix of rural and urban culture. “It’s a great balance between having the space you need in a medium-spaced town without being crushed in by a city or just being in the middle of nowhere,” Durbin said. Chapel Hill was ranked No. 7 on the list, but Durbin said he saw similarities between his hometown and new home. “They definitely fall in the mold of the town and the school being
Tuscaloosa has been named as one of America’s 100 Best Communities for Young People. CW / Pete Pajor
interconnected,” he said. Chapel Hill also plays host to a historic basketball rivalry Durbin said. “You definitely see the town light up for that, probably in a similar way to how Tuscaloosa lights up around a football game,” he said. On the commercial side, Tuscaloosa also offers a diversified economy that Best College Reviews noted includes Mercedes-Benz and BF Goodrich
Tire plants and health care companies. A Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama directory produced and provided by Chamber Director of Communications and Marketing Robin Jenkins said the region has been recognized as one of the best places in the nation to start a business. “Business and industry in Tuscaloosa County continue to thrive on diversity,” said Jenkins. Homegrown businesses from
the area have gone on to great success and continue to be fostered at The Edge, where the University and city collaborate to incubate businesses. “It consists of almost 900 square feet of office and shared space that is leased to early stage companies and provides a wide menu of services to both tenants and the local business community,” she said. “The Edge is an example of the potential Tuscaloosa has as an innovation center for
West Alabama.” Local businesses also contribute to the nightlife noted by Best College Reviews. Jon Alford is general manager of the Houndstooth Sports Bar, which was mentioned specifically in Best College Reviews’ write-up of Tuscaloosa. The list mentioned the Houndstooth’s designation as Best College Sports Bar by Playboy magazine. Alford said Sports Illustrated has similarly hailed the establishment. “Nightlife in college is pivotal to a student,” Alford said. “These kids need to blow off some steam from being in class all week.” When he was a student, he said, unclean dive bars with broken restrooms were the norm. “The nightlife has gotten better. Some of it is more upscale,” he said. “It offers students some better options.” Alford, a UA alumnus who has lived in Tuscaloosa for 17 years, said Tuscaloosa is the place to be. “I think Tuscaloosa is one of the best cities in America,” he said. “It’s got that small-town [feel] but it’s a big enough city that it has the amenities that you would want.”
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Editor | Patrick Crowley Letters@cw.ua.edu Wednesday, August 20, 2014
OURVIEW
Looking to the future
MCT Campus
COLUMN | OPINIONS
Welcome to the new year and new opinions page PATRICK
Crowley Opinions Editor
I am the architect of the Opinions Page. I do not build the opinions you will have the privilege to read throughout the year, I merely created the forum for a selection of diverse writers from all reaches on campus to produce a structure of thought – really, email is a powerful tool. On a campus as large as The University of Alabama, where the amount of individuals engenders a multitude of diverse and differing opinions, I will futilely attempt to present every opinion. Yet, the opinions I do choose to present will be those relevant to students on campus and pushes you, the reader, to challenge your currently held beliefs and ideals. In this noble aim, the opinions page exists for all members of the University (students, administrators, faculty, etc.)
to present their views. As a community of scholars and thinkers at The University, the onus is on us to learn to understand and, more importantly, respect the diverse viewpoints that we all possess. We live in a world filled with strife, discord and disrespectful disagreement, the least we could do as future leaders is to learn from the people around us and imagine a world with a little more agreement, a litle more harmony. The opinions page is merely one of numerous offerings at the University to nudge our mind to believe in a brighter future that we will mold, if we already do not. What the opinions page will not be is a battlefield for frustrated students, faculty and administrators to wage vendettas against any member or group in the UA community. The University of Alabama is much larger than a single organization, a single student, a single administrator. To believe there are intractable and irreconcilable differences between us is a disservice to the idea of a united, academic community committed to enhancing the
What the opinions page will not be is a battlefield for frustrated students, faculty and administrators to wage vendettas against any member or group in the UA community. quality of life for the citizens of Alabama and the world. The opinions page will not be among those many entities standing in the door to mutual respect and progress on this campus, I guarantee it. I encourage you all to read more and whether that is literature, news, people, it does not matter; reading helps us learn how to learn about ourselves and the world around us. I end by wishing you the best of luck with all your endeavors and challenge you to form an opinion piece of your own and submit it to letters@cw.ua.edu. Patrick Crowley is the Opinions Editor for The Crimson White. He is a senior studying mathematics, finance and economics.
EDITORIAL BOARD
WE WELCOME YOUR OPINIONS
Deanne Winslett editor-in-chief Sloane Arogeti visuals editor Christopher Edmunds managing editor Maria Beddingfield online editor Andy McWhorter production editor Beth Lindly chief copy editor Patrick Crowley opinions editor
Letters to the editor must contain fewer than 300 words and guest columns fewer than 500. Send submissions to letters@cw.ua. edu. Submissions must include the author’s name, year, major and daytime phone
number. Phone numbers are for verification and will not be published. Students should also include their year in school and major. The Crimson White reserves the right to edit all guest columns and letters to the editor.
You may have noticed something different about The Crimson White. No, we did not cut our hair, but we did lose IN SHORT: some weight, so The Crimson White to speak. is changing to Our print edibecome your go-to tion has been source for news. redesigned to a smaller tabloid format, making the CW much easier to hold, fold and read on the go. We are also changing the way we write and present stories, complete with plenty of color and visuals. This means what you read in the CW will be more engaging and useful in your day-to-day life at The University of Alabama. The new look for our print edition is just a step in the new direction of The Crimson White. Our goal is to become a more complete news organization, not just a newspaper. We are making several changes to provide you, our readers, the information you need whenever, wherever and however you want it. We want the CW to be a part of everyday life for our readers. Whether you get your news by picking up a paper each day, logging on to our website or following our social media, we will be ready to get you the information you need. Along with the redesigned print edition, our new website is easier to use, better organized and more focused. We can now present information online in ways that would be impossible in print. With that in mind, we will roll out online-only content in the fall, both to complement our print edition and to become a true 24/7 news organization. We will be busy reporting the news to our audience around Our goal is to become the clock, so we will be using our a more complete news online platform and social media organization, not just a to relay informanewspaper. tion accurately and quickly. We have streamlined our news sharing process, so you will know what’s happening as soon as we do. To adapt to a world that changes on a daily basis, we will continue to make changes as needed, always striving to be the best source for news in Tuscaloosa. Our View is the consensus of The Crimson White editorial board.
This Week’s Poll: What do you think of the new design and size of The Crimson White? Tweet us your opinion at @TheCrimsonWhite
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OPINIONS Wednesday, August 20, 2014 GUEST COLUMN | FACULTY SENATE
Faculty Senate will work to boost transparency, access to information By Paul Horwitz | Guest Columnist
This week the University’s Faculty Senate held its opening meeting for the 2014-15 academic year. Last year’s events – most prominently, controversies over racial segregation on campus and misdeeds in the municipal election off campus, as well as questions about the administration of the student government elections – made it a busy one for the Senate. This year, two issues should dominate our work. The Faculty Senate has two important jobs. The first is the “routine” work of communication between the faculty and the administration on matters of daily importance in university life, such as information technology, building plans, safety issues and parking (especially parking!). Beyond those matters, the Faculty Senate has another essential job. It is a key voice on matters of central concern to the University. It monitors what the administration is doing on those issues, urges further action and demands – sometimes loudly – that the University get out in front on those issues rather than lagging behind. The issues at the top of the Senate’s agenda this year should not be controversial. To all sensible people, they are not. But they are important,
We must demand hard numbers, not just soft statements. — Paul Horwitz — long-standing issues; the demand uncomfortable discussions; and they will require a great deal of commitment and force of will to achieve progress. The Senate will be a loud voice on both issues. The first is the continuing effort to make our campus – especially its oldest and largest Greek houses – truly transparent and non-discriminatory. The Senate and the administration were prominently involved in those issues last year. But the real leaders were the students themselves. From those sorority members who urged a more diverse membership despite the interference of foolish adults, to the members who went public with their concerns, to the many who marched on campus last fall. Not all students acted so commendably: some of the students who spoke out were shunned by others in the Greek system, and Snapchat suggests that others have a lot to learn. Still, the most important changes on campus last year came from the students: not
Dear Student: On behalf of The University of Alabama I’d like to welcome you to Alabama’s flagship university! You are joining the nation’s best and brightest students at the Capstone and you can look forward to a challenging, rewarding and enjoyable experience. I urge you to make the most of your time here,, academically and personally, by taking advantage of the outstanding academic, social and volunteer opportunities available at The University of Alabama. It is important, while you are here on campus, to make wise personal and academic decisions. You mayy be here for only a few years, but you will be part of The University of Alabama for the rest of your life.
Have a great year, and Roll Tide!
Dr. Judy L. Bonner President
from President Bonner, and not from the Faculty Senate. The news from this year’s sorority rush suggests continued progress, but there is still much to be done. The Faculty Senate will continue to be active. It must encourage the work of the Task Force appointed last year to address these issues, promote public discussion of those issues and demand that the administration swiftly implement any needed reforms. We must demand hard numbers, not just soft statements. The question of the Old Row fraternities is very much a live issue. Both the fraternities and the administration have been remarkably silent about this. We will expect real data showing progress by the fraternities, a fair and open selection process, and public leadership rather than back-room compromises. Nor have we forgotten that both the segregation issue and the controversy over election fraud on and off campus are intertwined with the so-called “Machine,” which has done great damage to this university. On this issue, too, we expect leadership and action. Secret societies breed corruption and discrimination. The Machine should grow up and go public, or go away. The administration and the Senate will demand just that. Another issue has risen to the top of the University agenda nationwide in the past
year – campus sexual assault. It is now a top priority for the federal Department of Education. Many universities have made a strong commitment to openness and change in addressing it. Others have remained silent – and a few have been exposed as having failed to protect their own students from this terrible crime. The University of Alabama is not on the list of the worst offenders, but there is a lot of room for improvement in educating and protecting our students. What we need is more information and public discussion. The Senate should work to make sure the University carefully collects and distributes all available information about sexual assault at the Capstone: information about how, where and why it happens. It should find out whether those numbers are comprehensive, where the worst problems occur on campus and demand action. You should expect to hear a lot about this issue this year. There are many issues that we can expect the Faculty Senate to address. But if we were to focus on these two issues, and achieve continued public discussion and perhaps reform, it would be a good year. Paul Horwitz is the Gordon Rosen Professor at the School of Law and a member of the Faculty Senate.
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WEDNESDAY August 20, 2014
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WEDNESDAY August 20, 2014
Alabama Action helps students, community NEWS | ALABAMA ACTION
CULTURE | ALABAMA ACTION
Students spend first week volunteering in Tuscaloosa By Andrew Langingham | Contributing Writer
University of Alabama students worked to make a difference in the Tuscaloosa community during the week leading up to the start of classes through participation in Honors Action programs. Students who participated in Alabama Action this year helped renovate two local elementary schools, Matthews Elementary and Faucett-Vestavia Elementary. The two schools were suggested by the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education. “We were able to do landscaping, renovate hallways, playgrounds, gyms and the front of the schools, as well as build outdoor classrooms,� Susan Alley, program director of Alabama Action, said. Students not only assisted in renovations, but also interacted with students. “I was able to feel a sense of achievement that I helped out this school,� Grant Nicholls, an Alabama Action participant, said. “I think that Alabama Action is a positive experience for everyone who is involved.� Students who participated in Outdoor Action had the opportunity to do service learning projects centered around local environmental issues, including projects at the Army Corps of Engineers Recreation Areas such as Deerlick Creek Campground, Foscue Campground and Jennings Ferry Campground. Students also had the opportunity to spend the day at Lake Lurleen State Park clearing trails, painting, removing invasive plants, picking up windfall branches and sprucing up the park. “I receive a lot of positive feedback from the community,� Outdoor Action program director Randy Mecredy said. “When you bring a group of 100-plus students (80 freshmen and 20-plus upperclassmen) into a community it is difficult to go unnoticed. They spend about 12 hours a day for
I think that Alabama Action is a positive experience for everyone who is involved. Students involved in Alabama Action volunteer to benefit the Tuscaloosa community. CW / Pete Pajor
— Grant Nicholls — a week before school starts participating in activities that enable them to interact with other students from all parts of the country and all walks of life. Next week when classes begin, they will already have 100 new friends and something in common.� The Black Belt Action program partnered with the Berean Baptist Church Head Start Program to start to develop projects for their pre-K schools in Marion, Alabama. Among these projects were replacing the front sign for the building, repairing and painting a wooden ramp leading to the playground and painting the front patio of the school “We believe the work we do with Black Belt Action is very important to the community in ways that are both tangible and intangible,� Henry Downes, Black Belt Action program director, said. “The projects directly meet an expressed community need but they also serve as a call to action for our partners in our community.� Over the past few years, Honors Action has become an avenue for students to become actively engaged in the Tuscaloosa community. “My favorite part of working with Alabama Action is seeing schools transformed, the students and faculty at the schools elated over the finished projects and the freshmen getting plugged into a community of like-minded individuals,� Alley said.. “This program is a great launching pad for an active and engaged experience on campus for these students.�
Lung Cancer or Colon Cancer
Alabama Action encourages new friendships, leadership By Kathryn Taylor | Contributing Writer
Alabama Action gears up freshman honor students for campus and community involvement. It is a service learning initiative for 150 freshmen students and allows them to get familiar with campus, the community and their student leaders while giving them Honors College credit. Taylor Wood, a senior from Seal Beach, California, is one of the program directors this year for Alabama Action and helps coordinate some of the activities. “The freshmen are divided up between two different elementary schools in the area,� Wood said. “They get a chance to have ‘buddy time’ with the children [while] students play interactive games designed to teach [the children] valuable lessons about working together.� Wood started out as a freshman participant herself and now four years later has become one of the program directors. “I love the program because it not only has such a positive impact on local schools, but it also provides a great way for incoming freshmen to make friends and feel at home here,� she said. Wood said she and her fellow leaders enjoyed taking their group out to local restaurants and playing games on the Quad while giving them a chance to be aware of their community.
“Whether the freshmen are out-of-state or in-state, it gives them an opportunity to become truly engaged in the Tuscaloosa community before classes even start,� she said. Davis Bragg, a freshman participant from Vestavia Hills, Alabama, found this experience to be one of the most rewarding. “In the short term, it makes you feel good for doing work for them, but that’s not what its all about,� Bragg said. After interacting with his own leader, Bragg’s goal is to become a leader himself once he gains more experience in the program. He hopes to do the same kind of activities and change lives in the process and said he felt he took away some important lessons from his leaders. “The way they lead with passion for everything they’re doing really impacted me,� he said. “They did such an incredible job and were a big help.� Through working with Alabama Action, Bragg said he felt more at home than most. After building relationships and getting plugged in to campus, he said he views Alabama Action as another alternative to recruitment. “Alabama Action did an incredible job of including everyone and helping us to build relationships that will last my four years here at Alabama,� he said.
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WEDNESDAY August 20, 2014
9 Farmers market offers fresh, healthy foods NEWS Wednesday, August 20, 2014
By Emily Williams | Staff Reporter
PLAN TO GO
The Homegrown Alabama Farmers Market caters to students and locals alike by providing fresh, healthy produce and convenient payment options. The market provides a wide variety of locally grown produce, meat and dairy products. The market runs every Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. at Canterbury Episcopal Church. The market’s co-manager, Dabney Powell, a senior majoring in nutrition, said the organization was started by students in 2005 and has grown from once a semester to every week. “It’s a whole different side to the Tuscaloosa community,” Powell said. “There’s a lot of students that come to the market because that’s obviously who it’s marketed to, but there’s also a lot of professors that come and people from the community. There’s always a lot of little kids and dogs.” At peak season, the market has about 16 vendors, all from the state of Alabama. The market requires that all food sold must have been grown within the state and periodically does farm visits to monitor farming practices. Vendors sell everything from organic produce to grassfed beef, pork and chicken, as well as ice cream, baked goods, tea and soap. Powell said the popular produce for the late summer season includes tomatoes, peaches, okra, squash, corn, apples, pears, figs, eggplant and berries. Co-manager Calee Camp, a senior majoring in nursing, said one of the most popular offerings is the local honey, which helps prevent allergies. Andrew Kesterson of Belle Meadow Farm has worked with Homegrown Alabama for a year. He grows organic produce on 13 acres outside of Tuscaloosa. Kesterson, a 2011 graduate of the University, said
WHEN: 3-6 p.m., every Thursday WHERE: Canterbury Episcopal Church PAYMENT: Bama Cash, cash, credit/debit, EBT
seasons determine what he grows, but he tries to produce a wide variety of vegetables. Currently, he is selling cherry tomatoes, okra, squash and eggplant, but for the fall he will have sweet potatoes, kale, collards, Brussels sprouts and broccoli. “We do pretty much everything kind of year by year,” he said. “We’ll vary the kind of stuff that we do but we have kind of a base that we work with and we branch out from there and include different types of stuff.” Both Powell and Camp agreed that farmers markets are important because they support the local economy and have less impact on the environment. “I’m from a small town, and I like to support the local farmers,” Camp said. “We don’t go to the grocery store for food. So it’s something that I was involved with in my own hometown before I moved here and I was super happy that it was offered here.” Powell also spoke about the health benefits of locally grown food. “When you go and shop at Publix for your groceries, it’s traveled from another state or even another country,” she said. “The minute you pick something off of the vine or out of the ground, it immediately starts to spoil, so if it’s going to travel across the country they’re going to have to treat
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The Homegrown Alabama Farmers Market provides students with the opportunity to buy fresh produce, herbs and vegetables. CW / Pete Pajor
it with chemicals so it stays preserved. It’s not as fresh. When the food is put through that kind of strain, a lot of the nutrition quality diminishes.” Farmers markets have a reputation for being expensive, but Powell said their farmers make an effort to keep things affordable for students. The market is distinct in that it accepts Bama Cash in addition to cash, credit and debit cards and EBT food stamps. “People complain a lot about ‘I don’t want to shop at a farmer’s market, it’s so expensive,’” Powell said. “It’s not really. Our farmers set their prices to match grocery stores. You can get a great deal.” Once a month, Homegrown has a market event to focus on whatever is in season, the most recent being “Melon Madness.” On event days, there are food demos, live music, games and contests. This month’s “Back To School Barbecue” will be Aug. 28 and will spotlight protein vendors.
10
NEWS
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
After months of planning and construction, Fresh Food Company now occupies a stand-alone location near Rodgers Library for Science and Engineering. CW / Pete Pajor
New Fresh Foods offers more options, space By Austin Frederick | Staff Reporter
WHAT TO KNOW
Moving from within the Ferguson Center to a stand-alone location of its own, the new Fresh Food Company is officially up and running. Located in an entirely new building, the new Fresh Foods has been redesigned. “Today is the busiest day we’ve had so far,” said Sandra Robinson, a Fresh Foods employee of five years. “There’s new equipment and larger spacing, which is making everything a lot better.”
Fresh Food hours:
• 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday • 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday • Closed Saturday and Sunday
In addition to the new Fresh Foods, the old location is getting a makeover. The space will be used solely for fast food and will include Chick-fil-A, Wendy’s, Topio’s
Pizza, Panda Express, Subway and Auntie Anne’s Pretzels. “The new Fresh Foods and the new fast food restaurants all have brand new concepts,” said Daniel Lowery, a manager at the new food court. “The new Subway is two times larger now and Chick-fila-a [sic] is four times larger as well as the vast amounts of seating.” Fresh Foods not only increased in size but also completely redesigned its menu and added new stations, including an Asian food station and a Mexican food station. “The quality of food is
better now. There are new ingredients and it’s going to make everything a lot better,” Lowery said. Foot traffic flow will be managed through four entrances to the new fast food location and two entrances to the new Fresh Foods. “Honestly, it was a significant improvement,” said Patrick Doyle, a junior majoring in chemical engineering. “The new location is convenient and it seems like a big step up from the previous Fresh Foods.” “I’m very optimistic about the new Fresh Foods. People seem to be impressed so far,” Robinson said.
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NEWS Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Tide takes challenge
August 18 August 20 August 27 August 27 October 29
By Kelly Ward | Sports Editor
Alabama football wasn’t the first team to partake in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, and it won’t be the last. The Crimson Tide finished off practice on Tuesday with the challenge. “That was really good that our team had enough interest to want to do that, to create awareness for ALS,� Coach Nick Saban said. “I’m really excited that so many people have taken such an interest in this, and it’s raised quite a bit of money and awareness to maybe affect this disease that’s affected a lot of people including our Kevin Turner who was a great player here and a great player in the NFL.� Turner, a former fullback at the University, was diagnosed with ALS in May 2010. The challenge raises awareness for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, a neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. The degeneration of motor neurons leads to cell death which leads to an inability for the brain to initiate and control muscle movement, according to the ALS Association’s website. By taking on the challenge, a
ACADEMIC CALENDAR Add/Drop Period Late Registration/add/drop Classes Begin Last day to register or add a course Last day to drop a course without a grade of "W" Last day to drop a course with a grade of "W" CW / Belle Newby
Coach Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide football team took the ice bucket challenge. Instagram / Alabama Football
person agrees to douse him or herself with a bucket of ice water, post a video and nominate others to do the same. Those who refuse are asked to make a donation to the ALS charity of their choice, according to the ALS Association’s website. The purpose of the challenge is to raise awareness about ALS. As of Tuesday, the Ice Bucket Challenge has resulted in $22.9 million donated to the ALS Association in a period from July 29 to Aug. 19. Saban said he challenged West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, former Alabama and current New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram, radio host Paul Finebaum and University of Florida head coach Will Muschamp.
Show Your Colors! MEN’S
Add/Drop deadline nears By Heather Buchanan | Contributing Writer
University of Alabama students have until Aug. 27 to tweak their schedules during the add/drop period. During the period, students can add or drop any classes in their schedule so long as they do not fall below full-time status, at least 12 hours for undergraduate students and at least nine hours for graduate students. Whitney Cortez, a career advisor in the Career Center at Culverhouse, said the effects of dropping a class depends on the student’s academic goals. “Many students decide to withdraw from class because of their projected final grade,� Cortez said. “If a student has no scholarship and needs only a 2.0 to graduate, then remaining in the class may be wise. They might receive a poor grade, but ultimately it won’t pull down their overall or major GPA too much to graduate.� Drops that occur after the deadline receive a grade of a “W.� The last day to drop a course with a “W’� is Oct. 29. Drops after this date have to be processed through the student’s college office. Michael George, University of Alabama registrar, said a “W� is not necessarily a terrible thing. “A ‘W’ is not a punitive grade, but rather
a chronological indicator for action taken in regards to enrollment in a course,� George said. “The ‘W’ grade does not affect GPA and applies to all courses – graded, audited, etc. A ‘W’ does impact a student’s Federal Student Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Standard. Otherwise, a ‘W’ is not a bad thing unless the student’s academic record reflects that he/she frequently drops courses.� George said a collection of withdrawn grades could imply that a student lacks drive, motivation and perseverance. Nathan Smith, assistant dean for students and admissions at UAB School of Medicine, said frequency was a major factor in determining how a “W� is perceived. “There are numerous reasons students withdraw from classes – everything from health problems and family crises to students realizing they are in the wrong course,� Smith said. “A red flag would be a pattern of repeated withdrawals.� If a student has a considerable number of withdrawn grades on his transcript, Smith said the best thing to do is to address it up front. “The mature action is to acknowledge and explain any pattern of withdrawals that may raise concern,� Smith said.
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12
NEWS
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
UA releases statement on racial slur in Snapchat
own sanctions in addition to any punishment brought by Chi Omega. “I want to assure you that The University of Alabama will not BID DAY FROM PAGE 1 allow this incident to interrupt our progress,” Bonner said. “We will that black members had been continue to work diligently and accepted into previously all-white with a renewed commitment to make sure that UA is a welcoming sororities. Only one black woman, Carla and inclusive campus every day of Ferguson in 2003, had ever been the week.” Bonner’s statement is the latest given a bid from a Panhellenic sorority during recruitment at The in a series of actions the University University of Alabama before this has taken to ensure racial diveryear. On Bid Day last Saturday, Aug. sity in the Greek community. Last 16, however, 21 black women and fall, after The Crimson White’s 169 women who identified as mem- report, the University instituted bers of other racial minorities ran a continuous open bidding proalongside their new sisters, each cess, where Panhellenic sororities clutching an invitation to join a could extend bids throughout the year to qualified women of their Panhellenic sorority. According to a statement from choosing. In an update on Greek earlier this Lane, all 16 Panhellenic sorori- i n t e g r a t i o n ties participating in recruitment year, Bonner said 21 black extended bids to black women. women had accepted bids to Through mutual selection, black Panhellenic sororities through women accepted bids from 10 continuous open bidding. This year’s fall 2014 Recruitment different Panhellenic sororities. However, a Snapchat sent by was the biggest thus far, with 2,276 women particia member of Chi pating in the proOmega sorority on cess, 195 more Bid Day brought than last year’s racial tension at the We have not reached our 2,081. A total University back to of 2,054 women national attention. destination, but we will received bids this The Snapchat used continue to move forward with year, 159 more a racial slur and than the 1,895 seemed to celebrate resolve, energy and who received a that Chi Omega had enthusiasm. bid last year. pledged no black Rachel Stanell, members, although a n incoming the sorority had — Deborah Lane — freshman and a actually extended new member of bids to two black Delta Delta Delta women. UA President Judy Bonner sent a sorority, said she enjoyed going university-wide email on Monday, through the recruitment process Aug. 18, condemning the use of over the past week. “Everyone’s just been friend“offensive racial language” in ly and kind, it’s just been the Snapchat. “We are all extremely disappoint- awesome,” Stanell said. “I didn’t ed when any student uses language really know what to expect, but it was that is disrespectful or offensive to just awesome.” This year a new online voting proany segment of the UA community,” Bonner said. “We are especially cess was used during Recruitment sad that this incident occurred on a to keep track of mutual selecday that was an exciting and happy tions. Stanell said she had to log in one for the young women who through her Panhellenic account in order to vote each day. participated in fall recruitment.” “It was very simple,” Stanell said. The member who sent the Lane said that while the Snapchat has since been dismissed from the organization, accord- University may not be where it ing to a statement from Whitney needs to be, it is on its way. “We have not reached our Plumpton, a spokesperson for Chi destination, but we will continue Omega’s national headquarters. “What was expressed is absolute- to move forward with resolve, ly reprehensible and completely energy and enthusiasm,” Lane said. inconsistent with Chi Omega’s val- “And, while numbers are not the ues and policies,” Plumpton said. only measure of success, they do “Chi Omega took swift disciplinary indicate that we are making action in accordance with the orga- progress. The University of Alabama nization’s policies and procedures.” will continue to focus on creating In her email, Bonner said the and sustaining a welcoming and University would impose its inclusive campus for all students.”
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CW / Pete Pajor More than 2,000 women celebrated joining Panhellenic sororities at The University of Alabama in the biggest Bid Day thus far. A year after allegations of racial discrimination in the recruitment process reached national headlines, 190 self-identified minorities, including 21 black women, received bids. Only one black woman, Carla Ferguson in 2003, had ever received a bid from a Panhellenic sorority during formal recruitment before this year.
14
Editor | Reed O’Mara Culture@cw.ua.edu Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Director juggles mentoring, performing By Tori Linville | Contributing Writer
At the helm of The University of Alabama’s School of Music stands director Skip Snead, who manages to divide his time between leading the school, instructing the school’s horn players and maintaining his own career in performance. Snead attends to the logistical side of the School of Music while teaching a class on applied horn and brass pedagogy. “Brass pedagogy is basically all the elements of how to play brass instruments correctly,” Snead said. “Which could range from brass literature to concepts of how to deal with mouthpieces and instruments and embouchure formation and correct aspects of performance.” The Alexandria Symphony in Alexandria, Egypt, The Tuscaloosa Symphony and The British Horn Society have all featured Snead in their ensembles. Snead has recorded with the TransAtlantic Horn Quartet, the Kentuckian Brass, Percussion Ensemble and more. He credits being able to manage his responsibilities at the University with his own career to time management skills. “Time management is always imperative. Most of my days start at about 6 a.m., where I have to do my own warm up and practice on my own horn. I frequently start my teaching day with my horn students as early as 7 a.m.,” Snead said. “By the time I finish with all my duties as the director
I believe that being here studying with him was the very best thing I could do for my career. — Martin King — of the School of Music, all my teaching responsibilities, and any concerts that might occur in the evening, my individual practice day usually wraps up somewhere between 10 p.m. and midnight every day.” The work ethic and personality he brings to the table creates a friendly environment that is the same for both faculty and students, Kenneth Ozzello, director of The Million Dollar Band, said. “He has kind of a dual reputation in that first, he teaches all the horn majors and that studio is absolutely internationally known for its quality and, in fact, attracts people from all over the world,” Ozzello said. “And there is his leadership track, where he’s the leader of the School of Music, and he’s built a reputation as kind of a general manager building a world class faculty.” Martin King, a doctoral candidate and French horn musician, refers to Snead as the reason he came to the University for his graduate studies. He said Snead’s ability to relate to others along with his teaching style was a large factor in his decision. “He’s the reason I’m here – his
reputation as a teacher is the reason why I came down here to visit, and my visit is the reason why I came down here to school,” King said. “[Snead] has a reputation as someone who is somewhat of a straight shooter who will tell you the truth, and I believe that being here studying with him was the very best thing I could do for my career.” He treats each person with the same amount of respect, whether they’re a freshman or a donor to the School of Music, King said. For Snead, the main goal is simply to keep doing what he’s always done. He’s satisfied with the current state of the School of Music and is certain about the future. "[I’d like] to continue doing everything I’m doing right now as well as I possibly can. I think the School of Music is in pretty good shape,” Snead said. “I’m confident about where we are as a school; we have a fabulous faculty and an absolutely terrific student body, so the School of Music is healthy and in a good place.”
Skip Snead. Submitted
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CULTURE Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Mellow Mushroom to celebrate 40th anniversary By Reed O’Mara | Culture Editor
Tuscaloosa residents will have the chance for more than a Throwback Thursday to welcome them back for the first week of fall semester. Mellow Mushroom will be hosting Way Back Wednesday on Wednesday, Aug. 20 in celebration of the pizza franchise’s 40th anniversary. Front of house manager Michellee Baker said the corporate Mellow Mushroom has been planning the event all year, and other Mellow Mushrooms will be conducting the same event company-wide. “I feel like the marketing group at headquarters is really good at pinpointing a good theme for improvement. It’s our 40th anniversary; it’s been a long time, and being in tune with social media, we went with Wednesday and have been promoting it with flashback photos,” Baker said. Mellow Mushroom will roll back its prices to circa 1974, the year the first Mellow Mushroom opened in Atlanta.
WAY BACK PRICES SMALL CHEESE PIZZA $2.50 DOMESTIC BEERS $0.75 COKE PRODUCTS $0.30
The price of a small cheese pizza will be $2.50, but additional toppings will be priced at the modern day rates. Domestic beers, such as Budweiser and Michelob Ultra, will be 75 cents, and Coke products will be 30 cents. The restaurant’s full menu will also be available at current prices. Emma Duncan, a sophomore majoring in biology, will be going to the event not only for the lower prices, but to celebrate the first day of classes, which coincides with the event. “Well, Mellow Mushroom started in Atlanta, and I’m from Atlanta, and it’s kind of a big deal there,” Duncan said. “It’s my favorite pizza place. It’s a good way to start off the school year – cheap, good pizza.” Way Back Wednesday will be dine-in only to curb some
UAct:
of the crowds Baker expects to attend, and beers will be sold one at a time. Baker said the focus for Wednesday is to avoid overserving while retaining quality service. In preparation for the large crowds, employees will have already stretched 100 pizza doughs by opening. “I hope, and am assuming, we are going to be pretty much packed from the time of opening to when we close. I expect a line by 10 o’clock,” Baker said. Aside from cheap pizza, birthday decorations and party hats, Mellow Mushroom will have a piñata and a 100-person birthday cake depicting the company’s logo character, Mel. Local band The Junkyard Kings will be performing sixties and seventies songs on the restaurant’s mezzanine. “Everybody’s trying to dress up in seventies gear. There will be costume contests, so if anybody has an outrageous costume or wants to dress in theme, I’m going to dish out gift certificates throughout the day,” Baker said.
Mellow Mushroom will be hosting Way Back Wednesday on Aug. 20 in celebration of the pizza franchise’s 40th anniversary. CW / Reed O’Mara
Mellow Mushroom has had a cardboard standup of the original store on display all month. Restaurant goers have been encouraged to use the hashtag #40YrsBaked on Instagram to enter to win a couple’s trip to Amsterdam. Registration for the competition ends Aug. 31. Mellow Mushroom bartender Ryan Sparks said he is (excited) to be a part the event, which
he says showcases the reason the company has remained in business so long. “It shows that Mellow Mushroom has been able to stick around and is doing a good job,” Sparks said. “It also shows the customers that we’re willing to give something back by making everything so cheap and inviting them in for something like the birthday party.”
Working together to create an ethical community defined by respect and civility
Any member of the campus community who has concerns about illegal discrimination, harassment, sexual assault, sexual violence or retaliation, threat assessment or fraud is encouraged to seek the assistance of the appropriate University official. Reporting channels for all students, employees and campus visitors are available at
ua.edu/uact/uactchannels.pdf For emergencies and immediate assistance call UAPD at 205-345-5454. The University of Alabama is committed to providing an environment for employees, students and campus visitors that is free from illegal harassment based on race, color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability or veteran status.
16
CULTURE
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
First things to do when returning to T-town Tuscaloosa is home to over 34,000 students, 15 national football championships and more houndstooth printed items than you’ll find anywhere else. Tuscaloosa is a hotspot for local restaurants with cheap (but delicious) grubs and places to catch live music and socialize on Saturday nights. According to various University of Alabama veterans, these are the top places you can find students after their return for the fall semester.
CW / Sloane Arogeti
Denny Chimes It may sound cliché, but you really aren’t home until you’ve gone to pay your respects to the sanctuary of handprints and footprints of Alabama football captains past and present and the glorious 115-foot structure erected to honor President Denny. After you cruise by Denny Chimes, hopefully with your windows down and “Sweet Home Alabama” playing loudly over your stereo system, BryantDenny Stadium is the next place you will revere. The beautiful stadium, which can hold over 100,000 fans, is the ultimate symbol of school pride and encompasses enough history and tradition to give you chills.
CW / Pete Pajor
Epiphany Epiphany is a Tuscaloosa gem unlike any other restaurant in town. All food and beverages are sourced from local farms in the region. The Epiphany chefs are always busy creating new dishes, and the menu is constantly changing. One thing is for sure; you will always find something delicious to eat.
CW / Pete Pajor
CW / Pete Pajor
DePalma’s DePalma’s is a staple of downtown Tuscaloosa. The Italian restaurant opened in 1993 and recently underwent several renovations and updates. The menu includes everything from pizza to the famous Pasta DePalma.
The Strip Whether you’re in the mood for fresh seafood, Thai or a juicy burger, the Strip has it all. Steamers, Buffalo Phil’s, Surin, The Red Shed, The Jupiter Bar and The Bear Trap are among many of the local hotspots and dives students immediately go to. Let us not forget the plethora of bookstores and T-shirt shops, especially The Trunk for all our sorority girls where all manner of Greek accessories can be found.
17
CULTURE Wednesday, August 20, 2014
New fast casual pizza chain opens on 15th Street By Anslee Wilson | Contributing Writer
When walking into Pizza 120, a new restaurant located on 15th Street just off McFarland Boulevard, guests are immediately embraced by the enticing smell of freshly baked pizza wafting through the air and enveloped by red and black decor reminiscent of a true Italian eatery. As Tuscaloosa’s newest and only fast casual pizza restaurant, Pizza 120 seeks to offer its customers everything from gluten-free pizza crust to candy dessert pizzas. The restaurant opened to the public Saturday, Aug.16. “The problem with Tuscaloosa is that it doesn’t have an upscale, fast casual pizza place. We thought we could fill that void,” owner David Kahn said. At Pizza 120, diners can choose from eight different 10-inch signature pizzas, including a cheeseburger pizza topped with beef, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese and ketchup. They can also build their own pizza by choosing from an array of crusts sauces, cheeses and toppings. Prices range from $5.99 for a plain cheese pizza to $7.99 for unlimited toppings. The restaurant takes its namesake from the two minutes it takes for each pizza to cook. In just the couple of days since Pizza 120 opened, University of Alabama students have already taken the opportunity to try a slice from Tuscaloosa’s
WHAT TO KNOW • Pizza 120 is located at 501 15th Street E. Pizza 120 Hours:
• 11a.m. – 10 p.m. Sunday – Thursday • 11a.m. – 11 p.m. Friday – Saturday
Pizza 120 offers everything from gluten-free to candy dessert pizzas. Photo Courtesy of Annslee Wilson
newest pizza joint. “Eating at Pizza 120 was a wonderful experience,” said Will Kennedy, a junior majoring in engineering. “I was a huge fan of the broad selection of toppings and the excellent service. I can’t wait to eat there again.” Tasker Hewitt, Pizza 120’s vice president of operations, said the idea behind Pizza 120 was to have all upscale and natural ingredients at affordable prices. To meet these goals, the restaurant imports cheese straight from Wisconsin and even imported their pizza oven from Italy. “We wanted to come up with a dough that was a real upscale type of dough
and we wanted our ingredients to be without fillers, expanders, MSGs, soy, all stuff that you’d find in a typical pizza,” Kahn said. Kahn enters the pizza business with a vast background in franchise ownership. In 1990, Kahn brought the popular movie rental franchise Blockbuster to Northport. Within 18 years, Kahn opened 45 Blockbusters across Alabama and Mississippi. After deciding to sell the successful franchise, Kahn purchased six Subway stores in Birmingham. Upon selling those, Kahn traveled to Los Angeles to find a new idea that he could bring back to Alabama. He
discovered the success of frozen yogurt shops and knew that this trend could be successful in Alabama. Kahn’s vision became a reality with the birth of Yogurt Mountain in 2009. Yogurt Mountain’s quickly developed into a franchise, as well as a corporate store. In July 2013, Kahn sold Yogurt Mountain to Books-A-Million. After selling Yogurt Mountain, it didn’t take long for Kahn to realize that he wanted a new project. So he flew back to Los Angeles to discover the latest trend. He discovered that people were obsessed with fast, casual pizza developments. Kahn turned to Tasker Hewitt, a longtime general manager of California Pizza Kitchen in Birmingham. Hewitt decided to leave CPK to partner with Kahn. Tuscaloosa’s Pizza 120’s audience stretches far from just the University. “We built this for families, for individuals; we built it for students, for Greeks, for independents; we built it for everybody,” Kahn said.
18
CULTURE
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
COLUMN | FILM
First-year students learn Lack of optimism to blame for UA culture at Camp 1831 lackluster summer movie season By Noah Cannon
Camp 1831 is a three-day program hosted by First Year Experience designed to help incoming freshmen, transfer students and other first-year students learn about UA traditions while making friends and setting aside fears about their upcoming school year. Photo Courtesy of Jessie King By Tara Massouleh | Assistant Culture Editor
For about 150 first-year students, the place they learn about The University of Alabama’s culture isn’t in BryantDenny Stadium, on the Quad or at Gorgas Library. In fact, it isn’t on campus at all. It is located an hour and a half north of Tuscaloosa at Camp McDowell, the home of Camp 1831. Camp 1831 is a three-day program hosted by First Year Experience designed to help incoming freshmen, transfer students and other first-year students learn about UA traditions while making friends and setting aside fears about their upcoming school year. Students participate in a number of team building and traditional camp activities, from high ropes courses to canoeing and activities specific to the University, all while focusing on Camp 1831’s four main themes: adventure, leadership, service and history and tradition. In addition to the color wars, relay races, square dancing and campfires, students have the opportunity to participate in a service project and to hear from UA faculty members and staff at a formal scholarly discussion and dinner. This year’s service project involved painting a mural and building a rock garden at Maxwell Elementary School. Campers are led by 24 UA upperclassmen called the A-Team. The A-Team guides campers in activities throughout the program and serves as mentors and friends to campers past their days at Camp McDowell.
Sheela Kailasam, a sophomore majoring in finance and math, served as an A-Team member during the three Camp 1831 sessions this year. After attending camp her freshman year, she couldn’t stay away from the program, so she applied to become part of the A-Team, she said. “I wanted to share my excitement and love of Alabama with other people and get them excited about all the opportunities we have,” Kailasam said. Kailasam said one of the most important things about Camp 1831 is its ability to make students feel more at ease as they transition into college. “We focus a lot on group activities, trying to energize the students as well as taking into account every student’s fears and excitements for the year and kind of fostering that and using those emotions for their on-campus experience,” she said. “Since we do focus a lot on the fears and excitements, it’s a way to show all the students that they’re all apprehensive about the same things.” Many of the program’s participants said the small group sizes and individual attention from A-Team members at Camp 1831 were extremely helpful in preparing them to attend such a large university. AJ Burdick, a freshman majoring in computer science and a Camp 1831 participant, said the camp was helpful. “It’s pretty hard to get adjusted to a campus like this because there are so many people, but breaking it up into a little people at a time makes you feel more comfortable.”
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The annual string of big-budget spectaculars is slowing to a crawl as Labor Day looms ever closer, and this year’s roster of films has come up short at the box office. Barring a miraculous turnaround in the next two weeks, 2014 will be the first summer movie season since 2001 in which no one film’s gross broke $300 million at the U.S. box office. When adjusting for ticket inflation, 2014 would be the first summer to not cross this threshold since “Jaws” made blockbusters a summer staple in 1975. Confusingly, this summer’s meager box office cannot easily be chalked up to the quality of the films released. So what happened? What could possibly have gotten in the way of the American people and our thirst for bombastic CGI wonders? It’s my view that the movies were just too depressing this year. Sure, popular films have always had villains and danger. Becoming invested in on-screen characters whose lives hang in the balance is one of the major joys of going to the movies.
Rotten Tomatoes
But looking at the last four years of summer blockbusters, the most successful films in each respective year all offer more than just that. They offer a core message of hope and recovery.
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HOROSCOPES Today’s Birthday (08/20/14). You’ve got the magical “it” this year. Flaunt it. Hold out for what’s important. Organize for powerful action. It’s easier to clean up now. Provide beauty and comfort for your family. Manage finances carefully. Changes at home and work take attention through 12/23, when a fun new phase develops. Indulge in spontaneous exploration. Patiently tend your garden for a bounteous harvest. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is an 8 -- A profitable opportunity arises. You’re doing a fine job of juggling. Attend to household matters today and tomorrow. Implement some changes you’ve been considering. Partnership plays a big role in a decision. Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 7 -- It’s amazing what can be accomplished with warm water and soap. Express and release emotions through art, music or spoken word. You’re especially clever with communication today and tomorrow. Coordinate efforts with your team. Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is a 9 -- It’s a good time to ask for money. Communications lead to increased profits. Get the word out. Decide
what you want, and re-organize your workspace to reflect it. Friends provide moral support. Share dreams. Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is a 9 -- You’re in the spotlight today and tomorrow. Don’t let not knowing how to do something stop you. You have the support of friends and family. Persuasion works better than orders. They can help. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Finish up old business (more productive if privately) today and tomorrow. Do what you said you’d do. A good partner provides inspiration. Share resources and ideas for solutions. Fuss over somebody. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Sell your great idea. Allow the story to play out in its own time. Upgrade workplace technology. Perfection is worth extra effort. Travel could be nice. Celebrate with friends over the next two days. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Advance your career today and tomorrow. It’s more easy to balance business and personal time. Social networking beefs up your status, as more find out what you can do. Your philosophy is catching on. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Take the trip of your dreams. Explore something you’ve
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SUDOKU always been curious about. Business travel can be rewarding. Plan your itinerary in detail, and confirm reservations. Let your imagination loose. The path is magical. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 9 -- Manage finances today and tomorrow, and handle outstanding paperwork. An amazing discovery lies hidden in the details. Believe in your team. Trust emotion over intellect. Make your choice, and sign on the dotted line. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is an 8 -Get something you’ve always wanted. Don’t bet on a long shot, though. A partner comes to your rescue over the next two days. Together, you feel invincible. Others are getting a good impression. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is a 9 -- Your strong work ethic is gathering attention over the next two days. Collaboration can realize a dream. Provide your talents where they serve best and delegate the stuff you don’t love. Play with it. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Indulge in favorite games over the next two days. Prioritize fun and romance. It could even get profitable. Restore your spirit and heart with playful activities. Sports, hobbies and amusements light your spark.
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WEDNESDAY August 20, 2014
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Editor | Kelly Ward Sports@cw.ua.edu Wednesday, August 20, 2014
CRIMSON TIDE LOOKING FOR LEADER S Somebody on our ur team is goi going to have to take ke the bull s... by the horns... — Nick Saban —
By Sean Landry | Assistant Sports Editor
ake Coker, the much-anticipated transfer from Florida State, stands at 6 feet 5 inches, 250 pounds. Wearing No. 14, Coker resembles a larger, stronger edition of AJ McCarron, the three-time national champion quarterback he hopes to succeed. If Coker wins the job, it wouldn’t be the first time he followed the Mobile native: Both quarterbacks led the St. Paul’s Episcopal School football team, and Coker appears just behind McCarron for a number of St. Paul’s records. Beside Coker, five inches shorter and 45 pounds lighter, stands the quarterback who wasn’t really supposed to be here. Blake Sims came to Alabama as a running back, though he was tagged as an “athlete.” During his redshirt freshman season, the Gainesville, Georgia native carried the ball 22 times, averaging 4.9 yards per carry. Sims didn’t play quarterback for Alabama until the 2012 season, when the other Sims, Philip, transferred to Virginia after losing the starting spot to McCarron. When he committed, Blake Sims wasn’t assured of what position he would play, between slot receiver, running back or return specialist. He came as a dual-threat quarterback to a pro-style offense, and stayed as a backup quarterback when many have transferred. Now, five years into his career, he has remained in contention for the starting job, surprising even head coach Nick Saban. Then there’s the long shot, the young one, possibly the future of the position: Cooper Bateman. A highly-touted pro-style recruit, the redshirt freshman lacks the experience of other contenders. Every day in practice, though, Bateman is working alongside the others, trying to make the choice that much harder for Saban and his coaching staff. It’s a choice that Saban doesn’t seem eager to make. In fact, SEE QUARTERBACK PAGE 2B
3b Rediscovering winning identity Following two losses to finish the 2013 season, Alabama has to find the motivation to do whatever it takes to reclaim its former success.
CW File
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Florida State transfer Jake Coker and 5th year senior Blake Sims are competing to succed AJ McCarron at quarterback. Photo Illustration by Sloane Arogeti
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Wednesday, August 20, 2014
2014 Alabama Football Schedule AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DATE: 9/6/14 OPPONENT: Florida Atlantic LOCATION: Tuscaloosa, Alabama TIME: 11 a.m. CT
DATE: 10/4/14 OPPONENT: Ole Miss LOCATION: Oxford, Mississippi TIME: TBA
DATE: 11/8/14 OPPONENT: LSU LOCATION: Tuscaloosa, Alabama TIME: TBA
DATE: 10/11/14 OPPONENT: Arkansas LOCATION: Fayetteville, Arkansas TIME: TBA
DATE: 11/15/14 OPPONENT: Mississippi State LOCATION: Baton Rouge, Louisiana TIME: TBA
DATE: 9/13/14 OPPONENT: Southern Miss LOCATION: Tuscaloosa, Alabama TIME: 5 p.m. CT DATE: 9/20/14 OPPONENT: Florida LOCATION: Tuscaloosa, Alabama TIME: TBA
DATE: 10/25/14 OPPONENT: Tennessee LOCATION: Knoxville, Tennessee TIME: TBA
DATE: 8/30/14 OPPONENT: West Virginia LOCATION: Atlanta, Georgia TIME: 2:30 p.m. CT
Senior Blake Sims backed up AJ McCarron for two years after spending a year at running back. CW File
Saban evaluating accuracy, judgment and leadership QUARTERBACKS FROM PAGE 1B
Saban said the choice isn’t his to make at all. “When you come to picking players, and you’re trying to decide who’s going to be the leader of your team, you can’t really force those things,” Saban said at SEC Media Days in July. “I was always told ‘If you work hard you’ll be successful. If you’re successful you’ll be happy.’ That’s not always true. You have to do something of significance. Somebody on our team is going to have to take the bull by the horns to be the quarterback, and I would like to see that sooner rather than later. But I have no control over that.” Saban boiled his criteria for a starting quarterback down to three factors: on-field judgment, passing accuracy and leadership.
DATE: 10/18/14 OPPONENT: Texas A&M LOCATION: Tuscaloosa, Alabama TIME: TBA
“Two out of three of those things are a little bit innate in terms of a guy understanding a system, feeling confident in application of that system so they can make good choices and decisions, can lead, can be accurate, to enhance the players around him,” Saban said. “That’s the challenge with a young quarterback.” Saturday’s scrimmage shed little light on the battle. “Both guys had their moments of doing good things, but I also saw inconsistencies with those guys.” Saban said of the scrimmage. “I do think Blake probably is playing a little faster right now. He’s been in the system longer, has a better understanding has a little bit more rhythm. I think sometimes Jake is still trying to feel his way. He made some real significant strides in practice this week and really had some really good practices. That’s still going to be a competitive situation.” Coker, who backed up Heisman winner and national champion Jameis Winston at Florida State, transferred to Alabama
DATE: 11/22/14 OPPONENT: Western Carolina LOCATION: Tuscaloosa, Alabama TIME: TBA DATE: 11/29/14 OPPONENT: Auburn LOCATION: Tuscaloosa, Alabama TIME: TBA
Junior Jake Coker spent one season behind Heisman winner Jameis Winston at Florida State. CW / Pete Pajor
after graduating in three years, and was accompanied by the kind of fanfare commonly reserved for five-star recruits. “Including what they’ve had, he’s much more talented than anything they’ve had,” Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher told TideSports.com. “I don’t mean to discredit the previous guys; they were all great. But this guy is extremely talented. Arm and mind.” As for Sims, he’s already exceeded his coach’s earliest expectations. “Blake has really played well and probably developed into a more consistent player at that position than maybe I thought he could at some point in time,” Saban told Marcus Spears of the SEC Network. No matter who earns the top spot on the Alabama depth chart, other Alabama players said they support either quarterback. “Jacob’s done a great job since he came in May. He’s been doing an awesome job with our wide receivers, with our coaches, learning and doing all the little things
right, trying to become the quarterback that we want him to be,” senior wide receiver Christion Jones said. “It’s a competitive job for him as well, and he understands that because we’ve got three or four other guys who can also help us win.” Junior wide receiver Amari Cooper praised both Coker’s ability and Sims’ intangibles when asked at SEC Media Days. "[Blake] seems ready,” Cooper said. “He’s approaching every day like he wants it. Like he’s hungry and I like that about him.” Saban has been characteristically quiet concerning the front-runner for the job. In the 2011 season, the competition extended into the season. Saban has not ruled that out for Coker and Sims, even saying that Alabama could use a two-quarterback system. “Until somebody clearly wins the job, we’re not going to make a decision,” Saban said.
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SPORTS Wednesday, August 20, 2014
After finishing the 2013 campaign 11-2, No. 2 Alabama looks to rebound from its worst season since 2010. CW / Pete Pajor
Crimson Tide looks to reclaim past success
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The outcome of the 2014 football season isn’t dependent on the Alabama football team’s skill level. It has the talent: a unanimous No. 1 2014 recruiting class, 13 returning starters and 51 returning letter winners. The season hinges on ‘why.’ Renowned motivational speaker Eric Thomas visited Alabama on Friday with what coach Nick Saban called a simple message. “Do you have a why? Do you have a reason why you’re doing what you do? Everybody wants to be the beast. Everybody wants to be number one, but until they gotta do what the beast gotta do to be a beast, then it all changes,” Saban said. “So that’s going to be the difference in this team. You know, I’m sure they all want to be good, but are they going to do what they have to do to be good? That will be the test.” That means the team brings its A-game, plays to a high standard and is able to do both of these on a consistent basis. This edition of the Crimson Tide comes into the season with much to replace. The team lost more than its seniors. The team lost its identity, something Saban wants his players to reestablish. “I think you basically need to check your ego at the door, all of us in our organization: players, coaches, everybody in our
organization,” Saban said. “You know, really trust and believe in the things that have helped us be successful, have enough humility to understand our role, what we need to do to help the team be successful, and certainly have the willingness as a family and a group to serve each other and help each other so that we have the best opportunity to accomplish this.” Alabama is ranked No. 2 in the AP Preseason Poll after finishing No. 7 following a 45-31 loss in the Allstate Sugar Bowl to Oklahoma, handing Alabama its worst record since 2010 when it went 10-3. “As a team we wouldn’t say redemption, we just say it’s a new season,” junior defensive back Landon Collins said. “It’s a reckoning for us. It’s to build on what we didn’t have last year and to be better with what we are this year.” Alabama was picked by the media at SEC Media Days to win the West and the overall conference. The Crimson Tide had 10 players on the preseason All-SEC team, eight of which were on the first team. The hype surrounding the team is a distraction the players want to tune out. “You gotta stay humble. You don’t wanna get over yourself,” sophomore running back Derrick Henry said. “Last year, it humbled me a lot. It gave me the fuel to go into this season and this fall camp. I just tune it out and come in here and work and get the job done.”
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SPORTS
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Cooper develops leadership on field By Kelly Ward | Sports Editor
In an Iron Bowl capped with the instantly famous — and for Alabama fans, infamous — 100-yard missed field goal return, it’s easy to forget quarterback AJ McCarron connecting with wide receiver Amari Cooper for a 99-yard touchdown. Even in the loss that spoiled Alabama’s pursuit of perfection and a third consecutive championship, Cooper led the team. In the Iron Bowl, he had six catches for 178 yards including the 99-yard touchdown. A month later in the Sugar Bowl, Cooper had 121 yards receiving on a team-leading nine receptions in the 45-31 loss to Oklahoma. In an up-and-down sophomore season riddled with injuries, he led the team with 45 receptions for 736 yards. Despite those impressive statistics, Cooper said he’s not satisfied with the end of his second season in Tuscaloosa. “I think we used those losses at the end of the season last year to serve as our impetus for this year,” Cooper said. “I think the leaders, they’re coming in everyday being positive in offseason workouts, and it’s having an effect on the guys who are trying to lead.” According to senior wide receiver Christion Jones, he and Cooper are two of those leaders on the 2014 team. “It really doesn’t matter — Amari Cooper — what my title is, I would rather just be titled as a leader of the team. My role on the team has changed,” Jones said. “I do consider myself a leader and I’m going to try to lead this team with the other leaders such as Amari Cooper and Landon Collins and try to mold this team into a different type of path that we sort of mishandled last year.” The junior receiver was selected for the Preseason All-SEC first team, but said he’s far from satisfied with his current ability. “I work really hard,” Cooper said. “I try to train everyday. I try to do anything that I can to become a better receiver.” New offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin praised the star receiver’s work ethic and said he was surprised by Cooper’s drive. “Watching Amari, much like T.J. [Yeldon], does not say very much, [he] just goes to work every day,” Kiffin said. “We would have workouts when we first got here, and Amari sometimes would work out two hours before workouts started, which I thought was a really hard workout that we were doing – the 4th Quarter program here – and he’d workout two hours before that.” Cooper’s determination to improve extends beyond the weight room, as he asks questions on how he can improve his play. “What you realize about Amari is that there really isn’t any off field stuff,” he said. “Amari is completely dedicated to being the best football player that he can and completely focused so he’s great to work with. He wants to be great, but then also wants to expand his game.” In addition to pushing the workout boundaries, Cooper expands his mindset to the team as a whole. The wide receiver said he’s focused on a national championship. “I think if we have that mentality that we actually want to go to the national championship and win the national championship, I think it will permeate throughout the team and those guys will have a positive attitude and a winning attitude as well,” Cooper said.
I try to do anything that I can to become a better receiver.
CW / Pete Pajor
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SPORTS Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Griffith moves into starting role for new season By Kelly Ward | Sports Editor
In a summer where most positions are in question, there’s one that’s already been filled: Adam Griffith at place kicker. “Specialists were really good today,” head coach Nick Saban said after Saturday’s scrimmage. “[Griffith] was really good today on field goals.” Griffith was 5-for-5 on Saturday with several over 40 yards. He missed one field
goal in a rain-soaked first scrimmage. Special teams has plagued Alabama recently, with several kickers missing high-profile kicks and an erratic punt team. Saban said he expects this year’s unit to improve and Griffith to develop well if he can handle the pressure. “As long as he doesn’t have the whole world evaluating every kick that he misses and the guy has to read the
Internet and, you know, go see the psychiatrist because he gets criticized for every kick that he misses, I think he’s got a chance – a really good chance,” Saban said. Even if Griffith does miss a few, Saban said it’s the team’s responsibility to pick him up. “If he doesn’t make the kick, we have to overcome whatever we have to do as a team so that it really doesn’t matter,” Saban said.
Adam Griffith attempts a field goal. CW File
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SPORTS
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
WHAT TO KNOW • Beginning in 2014, the 15-yard penalty associated with targeting fouls will also be reviewable, along with the automatic ejection. • All targeting fouls carry an automatic review. • The targeting rule is a two-part rule – NCAA rules 9-1-3 and 9-1-4. • Rule 9-1-3: “No player shall target and initiate contact against an opponent with the crown (top) of his helmet. When in question, it is a foul.” • Rule 9-1-4: “No player shall target and initiate contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulder. When in question, it is a foul.” • A defenseless player is any player who cannot move or defend himself against a hit – passers, recievers, kickers, etc.
The targeting foul, called against Alabama several times in 2013, has been revised for the 2014 season. CW / Pete Pajor
Targeting foul revised for upcoming season By Sean Landry | Assistant Sports Editor
On September 14, 2013, at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, with Alabama leading Texas A&M 21-14 with 8 minutes and 48 seconds to go in the second quarter, quarterback Johnny Manziel dropped back and hurled a pass to the left sideline in the direction of senior Derel Walker, around the 45-yard line. The ball arched through the air and fell into the waiting hands of Walker, just before the wide receiver met the left shoulder of safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, separating the ball from the receiver and the receiver from the ground. Flags flew, and ClintonDix was called for a targeting foul, an automatic ejection and 15-yard penalty. The hit was powerful, eliciting gestures and protests from the Aggies bench, who, like the referees, were only a few feet from the play. But it wasn’t targeting, as replays would show. Beginning in the 2014 season, the 15-yard penalty will be able to be overturned when the targeting call is not accompanied by a different personal foul call. Under the 2013 targeting rule, however, the 15-yard penalty could not be overturned. The targeting call remains one of the most controversial in the game, one of the few calls that can drastically affect a game’s outcome after only one occurrence – a difficult call to make, exacerbated by
confusion by fans and players alike over what qualifies as targeting. The two rules collectively referred to as the targeting foul, rule 9-1-3 and 9-1-4 in the NCAA 2013-2014 football rulebook read as follows: “No player shall target and initiate contact against an opponent with the crown (top) of his helmet. When in question, it is a foul. No player shall target and initiate contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulder. When in question, it is a foul.” For the first rule to come into effect, a player must lower his head and initiate forcible contact with the top of his helmet. Contact with the sides of the helmet does not qualify as targeting. Only an intentional ramming with the top of the helmet would elicit the call. The second rule is the more controversial and is the call that would have been in effect with Clinton-Dix. A defenseless player is any player who is in the act of or has just completed throwing or catching a ball, kicking a ball, or any player clearly removed from a play. Quarterbacks are ruled defenseless after turnovers, and a player whose forward progress has been halted becomes defenseless. Any of those players cannot legally be initially and forcibly contacted above the shoulder pads.
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SPORTS Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Newcomers get opportunities in Tide secondary By Kevin Connell | Staff Reporter
When Johnny Manziel passed for over 450 yards and five touchdowns in Alabama’s second game of the season last year, it appeared to be a rare off-game by a Crimson Tide secondary known for churning out NFL talent in recent years. But thanks to injuries, suspensions and inexperience, that early-season shootout against Texas A&M proved to be one of a number of poor performances, including the 45-31 Sugar Bowl loss to Oklahoma. In an offseason where Alabama coach Nick Saban has preached about re-establishing the Crimson Tide’s identity, the secondary is surely one of the areas he has in mind. “When you look out there this year, we seem to have, even though we lost a few players, more guys that have more experience,� Saban said. “I know those were some painful times that we all had to go through, but I think that those guys are more confident, and I think they can be more consistent this year. I think we have the addition of a few young guys that are really talented that are going to be beneficial as well.�
I think they get to go up against a better group of receivers every day in practice than anybody in the country. — Kirby Smart — Joining the fray this season are the nation’s top two high school cornerbacks according to 247Sports, Tony Brown and Marlon Humphrey, and two highly-touted safeties, Laurence “Hootie� Jones and Ronnie Clark. With top returning cornerback Eddie Jackson still recovering from an ACL tear in the spring, Brown, who enrolled in the spring, could become the first true freshman to start in the Crimson Tide secondary since Dee Milliner in 2010. Defensive coordinator Kirby Smart said experience isn’t the most important factor in playing at cornerback, giving Brown and Humphrey more than their fair chance, even as newcomers. “I wouldn’t say that’s the toughest position [to learn quickly] for the players in our system because a lot of what you get is dictated
by the formation of the offense,� Smart said. “You can give them that information. We don’t ask them to understand a lot of the checks and system they have to get through communication. They have to understand the word that the safety is calling.� Other players competing at cornerback include Cyrus Jones, who made five starts last season, Bradley Sylve and Maurice Smith. Junior Landon Collins is expected to start at strong safety. Fifthyear senior Nick Perry and junior Geno Smith are competing at free safety, and both Jarrick Williams and Smith will likely see playing time at the “Star� and “Money� defensive back positions. Gone from last season are veteran safeties Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Vinnie Sunseri and cornerback Deion Belue, who was hampered by a turf toe injury. It will be the third consecutive season with at least two new starters in the secondary. Though statistics show Alabama’s pass defense ranked 11th nationally last season, the struggles at times indicated much worse, which coaches and players alike recognized. The team remains optimistic about progress
Landon Collins returns to the secondary after a standout season. CW / Pete Pajor
in that area in 2014, with many of the same faces back this season. “It wasn’t a good year to have down corners,� Smart said. “I put them in a lot of tough situations in some games, and they made some plays on them. Those guys have all been through that, they know playing that position and the style of play that Alabama plays that that’s going to happen. We have to
try and minimize that. “And we have to minimize that by calls, we have to minimize that by making more plays at other positions. I think those guys understand the challenges, but you know what the great thing is? I think they get to go up against a better group of receivers every day in practice than anybody in the country.�
Welcome to the Capstone! Welcome to The University of Alabama! We are excited to have all of our students back on campus for the year, and we are especially happy to welcome the Class of WR FDPSXV IRU WKHLU ÀUVW VHPHVWHU DW 8$ The Division of Student Affairs is committed to enhancing your UA experience WKURXJK SURJUDPV VXFK DV UHFUHDWLRQ VWXGHQW RUJDQL]DWLRQV DQG FRPPXQLW\ VHUYLFH Student Affairs seeks to provide opportunities for learning beyond the classroom WKDW ZLOO KHOS \RX DFKLHYH \RXU JRDOV Be sure to connect with us on social media to stay in the loop with campus events, VWXGHQW SURJUDPV DQG OHDGHUVKLS RSSRUWXQLWLHV %HVW RI OXFN WKLV \HDU DQG 5ROO 7LGH 6WHYHQ +RRG (G ' Interim Vice President for Student Affairs
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Wednesday, August 20, 2014
SPORTS Wednesday, August 20, 2014
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TIDEIN THE NFL Mark Ingram - New Orleans Saints - 5 carries - 19 yards - 1 receptions - 23 yards - TD NFL.com
Eddie Lacy - Green Bay Packers - 5 carries - 25 yards - 2 receptions - 22 yards
Louisiana State University is one of the Crimson Tide’s top match-ups in the 2014 football season. CW / Pete Pajor
Story lines for Alabama’s key opponents NFL.com
West Virginia (Aug. 30 in Atlanta)
Ole Miss (Oct. 4 in Oxford, Mississippi)
LSU (Nov. 8 in Baton Rouge)
Like Alabama, West Virginia faces question marks at quarterback. Senior Clint Trickett was named the starter in June but has thrown as many interceptions as touchdowns in his career and battled injuries for much of 2013.
Ole Miss hasn’t finished above No. 5 in the SEC West since 2009 when the Rebels finished No. 3. With the West expected to be more open than in recent years and much of the young talent coming into their own, can the Rebels cement themselves as a contender in possibly the most competitive division in college football?
Freshman Leonard Fournette has been compared to Adrian Peterson and Michael Jordan and has yet to play a down of college football. The Tigers will need Fournette to live up to the hype if they want to challenge for the SEC West crown.
Florida (Sept. 20 in Tuscaloosa) The Gators had a dominant defense in 2013, ranked No. 15 in points against per game. The offense, however, was anemic, particularly after QB Jeff Driskel went down with a broken fibula. Much of Florida’s success – and coach Will Muschamp’s job security – will depend on Driskel and the rest of the offense’s ability to score.
Texas A&M (Oct. 18 in Tuscaloosa) Johnny Manziel is gone, so the Aggies will have to replace their backfield dynamo. Possibly as important as Manziel, Kevin Sumlin will also have to find a way to replace All-American receiver Mike Evans and tackle Jake Matthews.
Auburn (Nov. 29 in Tuscaloosa) Billed by some as the best Auburn running back since Bo Jackson, Tre Mason is gone to the NFL, and Auburn will have to replace his offensive output. Along with the backfield, Gus Malzahn will be expecting quarterback Nick Marshall to develop the passing game to keep his offense fresh and efficient.
Rolando McClain - Dallas Cowboys - 6 combined tackles, 4 total, 2 unnassited - 1 forced fumble NFL.com
Julio Jones - Atlanta Falcons - 2 receptions - 20 yards
NFL.com
The Bama Supe Store has everything new students need to get their first A. From apparel to course materials and even computers, the Supe Store has it covered. Shop on campus at one of four convenient locations, including the bigger and better Ferguson Center, or online at supestore.ua.edu.
Kayla Fields, Advertising & PR graduate student.
11b Linebackers regroup for upcoming season SPORTS Wednesday, August 20, 2014
By Sean Landry | Assistant Sports Editor
Under the watchful eye of position coach Lance Thompson in practice, the outside linebackers worked against the tight ends, attacking a stand-in quarterback. For the most part, the linebackers, led by juniors Denzel Devall and Dillon Lee, won their battle, knocking O.J. Howard and the other tight ends off the line, although former defensive lineman Dakota Ball held his own. Next to the outside linebackers, the inside linebackers ran through individual drills, led by Trey DePriest and Reggie Ragland, followed by Reuben Foster and Shaun Dion Hamilton. Each is working to earn his spot in the rotation for the 2014 season, and each is expected to help fill the gap left by former captain and two-time All-American C.J. Mosley. Collectively, the unit has been tasked by head coach Nick Saban with the restoration of the team’s defensive identity, which he said was lacking in 2013. “Defensively we probably weren’t quite as good as we were last year as we were in the past,” Saban said. “We’re in a little bit of a rebuilding situation, even though we played a lot of young players that have the right
After a 45-31 defeat in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, Alabama’s linebackers are working to re-establish the team’s defensive identity. CW / Pete Pajor
attitude and character to improve and be more consistent players. There still is some question marks about how our defense comes together.” Much of the weight of the responsibility falls on the shoulders of senior linebacker Trey DePriest, tapped by Mosley as a team leader and his replacement at the end of last season. Saban also said he sees leadership potential in DePriest.
“You know, leadership is your ability to impact someone else for their benefit. When you impact somebody else for your benefit, that’s manipulation. I think sometimes people can see through that pretty easily, all right? But to do that you have to be somebody that somebody wants to emulate. You have to set a good example. You have to care about other people,” Saban said. “That’s something that’s really important to try to get young
players to do, to help the young players on our team young people to do, to help the young players on our team. Trey has done a good job of that to this point.” DePriest, a Butkus Award nominee, has been working in camp next to Ragland, Foster and Hamilton, when he hasn’t been out with a minor knee injury. Next to those inside linebackers, Alabama will have to find stability at one of its least experienced positions. Lee and Devall are both juniors with game experience, but Devall has started only three games and spent most of his time as the substitute linebacker. Lee has been a versatile reserve on the Alabama squad, but has faced issues off the field, including an April arrest for DUI. “Dillon is a very responsible player on the field,” Saban said of Lee. “He’s done a good job for us. He has really good eyes and experience. I think he’s matured a lot and I think he’s learned a lot from the experience that he’s had here, good and bad. I’ve sort of seen that maturity and been pleased with it but all these things are a work in progress and you’ve got to make good choices and decisions all the time.”
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12b College Football Playoff replaces BCS system SPORTS
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
By Sean Landry | Assistant Sports Editor
For 16 years, the Bowl Championship Series ruled the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision with an algorithm designed to put the two best college football teams on the field at the end of the season to decide the perennially controversial national champion. In just over a week, the top flight of college football will enter a new era under the rule of the College Football Playoff, a four-team playoff designed to put the four best college football teams on three separate fields at the end of the season to decide the national champion. Gone are the computer selections, the Harris Interactive poll and automatic qualifiers. The AP Poll and the USA Today Coaches’ Poll will both crown a champion, but will have no bearing on the College Football Playoff. In this new world of college football, a 13-member panel is made up of current and former university officials, former coaches and players, members of the media and one athletic director from each “Power 5” conference. These panel members will select, in order, the top four teams in the FBS at the end of the season. The committee, chaired by Arkansas Athletic Director
Jeff Long, will release weekly top 25
BowlGames
WHAT TO KNOW
• Top 4 teams will be seeded into national semifinal games • Semifinals will rotate between Sugar, Rose, Cotton, Orange, Fiesta and Peach bowls
2,020.3 mi driving: 28 hrs
rankings every Tuesday beginning Oct. 28. The national semifinals will rotate between the six major bowls: the Sugar Bowl and the Rose Bowl, the Cotton Bowl and the Orange Bowl, and the Fiesta Bowl and the Peach Bowl. Each of the six bowls will be played on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day. After the final rankings are released on Selection Sunday, Dec. 7, the committee will select the teams for the six bowls, based on rankings and the conference affiliations of each. At each instance, the committee will seek to create the closest matchup in each bowl while avoiding season rematches and intra-conference contests in the non-semifinal bowls. Without variance, the No. 1 team will play the No. 4 team in the national semifinal closest to the No. 1 team’s campus. The No. 2 and No. 3 teams will play in the remaining semifinal.
606.9 mi
driving: 8.5 hrs
291.7 mi driving: 4 hrs
National Championship: Arlington, Texas Sugar Bowl: New Orleans, Louisiana Rose Bowl: Pasadena, California CW / Hannah Glenn
The winner of each game will go on to the National Championship game, played every year on a Monday in January. This season, the Sugar Bowl and Rose Bowl will be the national semifinals, and the National Championship will be claimed at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Jan. 12. Rematches won’t be avoided in the national semifinals. At the end of
the 2013 season, had the Playoff been in effect, No. 3 Alabama would have played No. 2 Auburn in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California – a playoff Iron Bowl. If Alabama should finish as the topranked team in the nation, it will play the national semifinal in the Sugar Bowl, where the Crimson Tide is 0-2 in recent years, with losses to Utah and Oklahoma.
13b Robinson poised to fill void on offensive line SPORTS Wednesday, August 20, 2014
By Kayla Montgomery | Staff Reporter
Although the Crimson Tide will return a trio of key starters on the offensive line, holes at left tackle and right guard add to the list of questions Alabama must answer as the late-August kickoff game approaches in less than two weeks. While the preseason camp saw a fairly consistent first-team offensive line, coach Nick Saban was far from finalizing the starting front five when camp began. “I can’t say coming out of spring practice we’re completely set with where we are in the offensive line, so there’s still some, at least early in camp, evaluation that must go in to the new players, and how much the older guys improve relative to how the new guys could contribute. And there may be a couple of those guys who can contribute,” Saban said after Alabama’s Fan Day on August 3. “The goal and objective is to get the five best guys at the positions that they can play, and get them together and get them to develop chemistry so they can play well together, as soon as possible.” Early-enrollee and top-rated offensive tackle recruit Cam Robinson was an early favorite to become one of the five best and fill a void at left tackle. Robinson will be faced with high expectations in a spot previously occupied by Cyrus Kouandjio. Cyrus Kouandjio, a 2013 All-American and two-year starter, was taken in the sec-
However, Brown has remained sidelined for much of fall camp with a foot injury, missing both preseason scrimmages. He is expected to return to full strength this week, and will compete against sophomore Alphonse Taylor, who has held the firstteam position throughout the preseason. Junior college transfer and offensive line competitor Dominick Jackson was also sidelined temporarily with an ankle sprain, missing Saturday’s scrimmage. Though Brown and Jackson’s injuries have been minor, they have carried a severe impact throughout the fall camp. “Those guys would have both either been starters, competed to be starters, or at worst case, been really really good backups and provided a tremendous amount of The Alabama offensive line will look to replace two veteran starters who departed for the NFL. CW / Pete Pajor depth for us as a team,” Saban said. “Both ond round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the got here through spring practice through those guys are big, they’re physical – that’s Buffalo Bills. the summer ‘til now. We’re encouraged by what we’ve tried to create in the offensive line, to be a little more Robinson, a West Monroe, Louisiana that progress and developphysical this year.” native, was highly touted throughout the ment, and he has executI think Cam has done Despite the lingering recruiting process as one of very few who ed much better,” Saban would be capable of starting for the Crimson said at the beginning of really well, and you can questions, Arie Kouandjio he feels confident in Tide as a true freshman, a rare feat in the preseason camp. definitely see progress said the group who will line Saban era. After securing the first-team The battle to fill the and maturity. up in front of Alabama’s slot during A-Day, he has remained the vacancy at right guard has ye t - t o - b e - d e t e r m i n e d favorite for the job, and has earned praise not been as certain, with quarterback. from Saban as he continues to grow since injuries plaguing the hope— Nick Saban — “I feel like we have a his enrollment in January. ful starters. Senior Leon good core group of guys “I think Cam has done really well, and Brown seemed to be the you can definitely see progress and maturi- favorite for the spot left by Anthony Steen to move forward with, and accomplish the goals we have set up for ourselves.” ty as a person and as a player from when he as spring practice concluded.
CW staff predicts 2014 football season
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Sean Landry
Kelly Ward
Kevin Connell
Best case: 15-0 – The quarterback position is effective, the defense is elite, cornerbacks are improved and the running backs fulfill the All-American expectations people have for them. An easier schedule allows the team to play at an efficient level all season long, and Saban’s preparation carries the team to the first College Football Playoff championship. Worst case: 10-3 – The first-year quarterback is ineffective, particularly in road games. The inexperienced offensive line is porous, exacerbating the problem, and the cornerbacks remain inconsistent. Auburn improves and beats Alabama in Tuscaloosa, retaining its SEC West Division crown. Leonard Fournette leads LSU to win on a Saturday night in Death Valley, and the Ole Miss secondary forces turnovers from the inexperienced QB. Specific prediction: Freshman Tony Brown wins a starting cornerback position by the midpoint of the season, recording at least one pick-six.
Best case: 13-1 – Alabama sorts out its quarterback and secondary questions to go undefeated in the SEC and fulfill the media’s prediction for it to win the West and the conference championship game. The Crimson Tide falls in the College Football Playoff’s first semifinal game after the effects of a long season and inevitable injuries take their toll. Worst case: 10-3 – Alabama is upset by Ole Miss in Oxford after the secondary can’t contain Bo Wallace. Alabama’s weaknesses are revealed and haven’t been fixed by the LSU game. The Crimson Tide keeps it close, but Les Miles eventually dismantles the game plan. Alabama fails to hold onto a lead in the Iron Bowl again and falls at home. It finishes the season where it started: with a win in Atlanta, this time in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Specific prediction: Cyrus Jones steps up at cornerback to help lead secondary. Despite missing match ups early last season, Jones has the potential to win a starting spot this season. He’s one of the smaller defensive backs at Alabama, but if he can be consistent, he could fill in what could be a shaky secondary.
Best case: 12-2 – With a new quarterback – whether it’s Blake Sims or Jake Coker – taking the reins this season, growing pains will be almost inevitable as is the case for most new quarterbacks. Fortunately for Sims or Coker, a plethora of talented receivers and a trio of running backs who each have a distinct playing style will be able to help carry much of the load in most games this season. But even in each of its last two national championship seasons, the Crimson Tide slipped up at least once, making it hard to believe it won’t lose at least once in the regular season. If it can manage that much, a bid in the inaugural College Football Playoff will be almost guaranteed. Worst case: 10-3 – With the starting quarterback battle possibly carrying over into the regular season, valuable playing experience may be lost for the eventual starter when tougher games begin appearing on the schedule. Uncertainty at both cornerback positions and spots along the offensive line could catch up to them on more than one occasion against the likes of LSU, Auburn and a potential sleeper team. Specific prediction: T.J. Yeldon will rush for more than 1,500 yards and be a Heisman candidate.
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Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Alabama players named to watchlists The Maxwell Award recognizes the collegiate player of the year. The Bednarik Award is given to the collegiate defensive player of the year. The Biletnikoff Award recognizes receivers. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is given to the defensive player of the year. The Butkus Award recognizes the nation’s top linebacker. The Doak Walker Award recognizes the premier running back, and the Jim Thorpe Award is awarded to the nation’s best defensive back. The Walter Camp Award recognizes the nation’s most outstanding player.
AMARI COOPER
T.J. YELDON
WR, junior
RB, junior
Maxwell Award Biletnikoff Award Walter Camp Award
Maxwell Award Doak Walker Award Walter Camp Award
CW File
CW / Pete Pajor
LANDON COLLINS
TREY DEPRIEST
S, junior
LB, senior
Bednarik Award Bronko Nagurski Trophy Jim Thorpe Award Walter Camp Award
Bednarik Award Bronko Nagurski Trophy Butkus Award CW File
CW / Pete Pajor
SPORTS Wednesday, August 20, 2014
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16b
SPORTS
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
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