http://www.yardbarker.com/rss/school/505 Recent Yardbarker Articles: Alabama Crimson Tide en-us Texas vs. SEC champ in BCS title game inevitable Reviewing the weekend in college football. Sunday, November 29, 2009 We're still on track for Texas vs. SEC title game If only everything in life was as predictable as this college football season at the top of the polls. Twelve weeks down and one to go, and the national championship matchup remains the way it looked in early September: Texas vs. SEC champion (Florida or Alabama). The holiday weekend results did guarantee the SEC&#039... Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:17:37 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/The_Austin_Statesman/1651530 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/The_Austin_Statesman/1651530 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/The_Austin_Statesman/1651530 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/0/90d27f56e63ac5d662c2607771ed2666b62b4a30/small/LSU_v_Alabama_9db4.jpg Before the season even started rumors that turned out to be fact came drifting from the Manning Passing Academy, a special summer camp for the elite quarterbacks to attend, that this "new kid" from Alabama was raising everyone's eyebrows and putting some of the big name quarterbacks to shame. He burst onto the college football world with a big second half in the Virginia Tech game but still many doubted that this was a man that Saban could pin his hopes on for a national champio... Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:51:20 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Alabama_8217s_Quarterback_Greg_McElroy_Heating_Up_at_The_Right_Time/1650384 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Alabama_8217s_Quarterback_Greg_McElroy_Heating_Up_at_The_Right_Time/1650384 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Alabama_8217s_Quarterback_Greg_McElroy_Heating_Up_at_The_Right_Time/1650384 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/c/7/c7e59d5d1e1c87451d81ff0fd9a7cbe536d31311/small/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f90356982.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D02464DB0CC99E9A1F9F1408224923EEE8D7C13382C1002A81.jpg For Florida: The Must Do's They must make the passing game work because the running game won't. Everybody thinks they have the team that can run against Alabama and yet nobody has, so the passing game must work. They must let Tim Tebow be Tim Tebow. Don't force him into a game plan that he's not comfortable with, let him run the offense. After all, hasn't he proven he IS the offense? They must cover Julio Jones with two men or lose. Julio Jones can turn an eight yard out ... Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:38:23 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/The_SEC_Championship_Games_What_Each_Must_Do_and_Not_Do_to_Win/1649821 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/The_SEC_Championship_Games_What_Each_Must_Do_and_Not_Do_to_Win/1649821 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/The_SEC_Championship_Games_What_Each_Must_Do_and_Not_Do_to_Win/1649821 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/5/7/57062486ae463cf8f0b3ae1a877aa8885f3505e9/small/Florida_International_v_9ac7.jpg The first odds for the 2009 SEC Championship Game are up. It’s No. 1 versus No. 2 the Florida Gators and Alabama Crimson Tide. The Gators are at -5.5 and the total should be up shortly in the college football odds section of OffshoreInsiders.com and at top sportsbooks such as BetUs Sportsbook, BetED, and 5 Dimes.   OffshoreInsiders.com Sun, 29 Nov 2009 09:01:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Florida_Alabama_2009_SEC_Championship_Odds_Betting_Line_Vegas_Spread/1648577 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Florida_Alabama_2009_SEC_Championship_Odds_Betting_Line_Vegas_Spread/1648577 Tim Tebow is considered by many to be one of the greatest college football players of all-time and Mark Ingram is regarded by many as the leading candidate for the 2009 Heisman Trophy. Both players will undoubtedly leave their mark on the SEC Championship game, but neither will provide an impact like Julio Jones. That's right. The 6-4, 211-pound sophomore from Foley, Alabama will not only make himself a household name, but he will lead Alabama to the National Championship game. The Gators... Sat, 28 Nov 2009 19:10:32 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Julio_Jones_Is_Key_To_8216Bama_Success_Against_Florida/1646678 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Julio_Jones_Is_Key_To_8216Bama_Success_Against_Florida/1646678 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Julio_Jones_Is_Key_To_8216Bama_Success_Against_Florida/1646678 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/5/65a7ea121f0f2ee0c3441f9ba9722ef6a2342d7d/small/LSU_v_Alabama_dddd.jpg Although Bama fans had hoped the Crimson Tide would have had a more convincing victory against the in-state rival Auburn Tigers, this win is the best thing that could have happened to this team on the weekend just before the SEC Championship game. Alabama fans and players alike now know that an average team in the SEC can put together a complete game and rock the hopeful dreams of any championship into another dimension. The Auburn Tigers took a week off, rested, schemed and practiced a plan ... Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:58:04 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Alabama_Auburn_Post_Thanksgiving_Humble_Pie_Is_a_Treat_for_Crimson_Tide/1643908 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Alabama_Auburn_Post_Thanksgiving_Humble_Pie_Is_a_Treat_for_Crimson_Tide/1643908 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Alabama_Auburn_Post_Thanksgiving_Humble_Pie_Is_a_Treat_for_Crimson_Tide/1643908 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/1/61365e0cc5f098d2aa741e1d7459990be98a5fc3/small/Tennessee_v_Alabama_f446.jpg Before the game the Auburn fans were pretty vocal for an underdog. They had pestered Alabama fans all week, “We are going to shut Ingram down.” “ Y'all haven't seen an offense like this.” For me I let it roll in one ear and out the other. Lots of teams have talked smack before the game. They were all quiet by the end.   I never would have believed it, but Auburn did all of that and more.   The first quarter felt like Pearl Harbor. Auburn bombed Alabama's secondary with misdirectio... Fri, 27 Nov 2009 21:23:59 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Quarterback_Greg_McElroy_Grows_Up_In_the_Iron_Bowl/1643296 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Quarterback_Greg_McElroy_Grows_Up_In_the_Iron_Bowl/1643296 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Quarterback_Greg_McElroy_Grows_Up_In_the_Iron_Bowl/1643296 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/d/7d6bdf9a19b4f5a2e3bc86b9693b2c308dcea6d6/small/University_of_Alabama_c835.jpg Outplayed most of the game, the Crimson Tide stayed unbeaten with a 26-21 victory over Auburn, taking the lead with a nearly perfect drive that was capped by Greg McElroy's 4-yard touchdown pass to Roy Upchurch with 1:24 left. Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:12:19 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Bama_rallies_from_14_down_holds_on_vs_Auburn/1641308 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Bama_rallies_from_14_down_holds_on_vs_Auburn/1641308 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Bama_rallies_from_14_down_holds_on_vs_Auburn/1641308 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/0/80a46350c5a24dee3f4676ec7c1fa4d685f57f88/small/Alabama_v_Virginia_644b.jpg Inside the day's key match-ups. The biggest star in the 68th edition of the Iron Bowl is obviously Alabama's thundering tailback, Mark Ingram, but with his nasty defensive counterparts, it's much easier to imagine the Tide winning without a particularly Heisman-worthy afternoon from Ingram or receiver Julio Jones than it is to picture Auburn pulling off one of the upsets of the year without its best effort on offense: The fact for the Tigers and the most generous defense in the S... Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:03:57 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Pregame_Cram_Can_Auburn_keep_its_balance_against_Bamas_D/1639471 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Pregame_Cram_Can_Auburn_keep_its_balance_against_Bamas_D/1639471 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Pregame_Cram_Can_Auburn_keep_its_balance_against_Bamas_D/1639471 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/5/a/5a5b028941466f87d185beab2cd88669d92ac21e/small/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f90896311.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D0CD645A35DA5127E915B5071228331AC09E59D661610E3996.jpg by Jim HenryFiled under: Alabama, Auburn, SEC AUBURN, Ala. -- It just might be Alabama's biggest success story this season. For an offensive line that lost All-Americans Andre Smith and Antoine Caldwell and opened the year with three first-time starters, the Tide's unit has come together just fine this season, thank you. The O-line will get another opportunity to show off in Friday's Iron Bowl against an Auburn defense that ranks last in the SEC in scoring defense (27 points per ... Fri, 27 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Tides_Offensive_Line_a_Success_Story/1638776 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Tides_Offensive_Line_a_Success_Story/1638776 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Tides_Offensive_Line_a_Success_Story/1638776 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/7/6782db874c6a2c4dd99dc3068b16cd64bf0c3d11/small/781c.jpg Mike Johnson, as told to Bob Hille Alabama guard Mike Johnson, a senior from Pensacola, Fla., is playing in his last Iron Bowl. A preseason All-American, he is the veteran—with 39 career starts—on an offensive line that has helped the Crimson Tide to an 11-0 record and a spot in the SEC championship for the second year in a row. Mike Johnson is confident this year's Tide will be more composed they they were two years ago. The first Alabama-Auburn game I saw, I was a... Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:48:38 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Alabama_guard_Mike_Johnson_This_year_it_means_everything_039/1637575 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Alabama_guard_Mike_Johnson_This_year_it_means_everything_039/1637575 Place: Auburn, Ala. Time: 2:30 p.m. ET, Friday TV: CBS Line: Alabama by 10 1/2 Three reasons Alabama will win Mark Ingram: The man who could win the Tide's first Heisman Trophy has showed remarkable consistency over the past two months. Since October dawned, he has gained 100 or more yards in six of seven games; Tennessee held him to 99. "I don't think anybody's really stopped Mark all year," Auburn coach Gene Chizik said on a teleconference. With its continued passi... Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:43:44 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Spotlight_game_No_2_Alabama_at_Auburn/1637411 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Spotlight_game_No_2_Alabama_at_Auburn/1637411 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Spotlight_game_No_2_Alabama_at_Auburn/1637411 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/6/468454d8a66c4045791338e8e0f19ad816631e09/small/LSU_v_Alabama_7cda.jpg For the second consecutive season, Baylor will participate in an ESPN-hosted event during the Thanksgiving holiday as the Bears venture to the Sunshine State for the Old Spice Classic. Baylor, which is receiving votes in the latest AP Top 25 Poll, will face the Alabama Crimson Tide Thanksgiving night at 5:30 p.m. CST on ESPN2. The Bears will then either play Florida State or Iona Friday at a time to be determined. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:03:05 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/M_Basketball_Mens_Hoops_to_Clash_with_Crimson_Tide_at_Old_Spice/1624266 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/M_Basketball_Mens_Hoops_to_Clash_with_Crimson_Tide_at_Old_Spice/1624266 by Jim HenryFiled under: Alabama, SECOkay, Greg McElroy admits he overreacted and his feelings were hurt. It was two Saturdays ago, following Alabama's dramatic victory over LSU, when McElroy vented that people, including teammates, had lost faith in him as the Crimson Tide's starting quarterback. Two days later, McElroy apologized if his postgame comments offended anyone and he further explained that getting mad was not the way to getting better. McElroy was certainly better in Alaba... Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:04:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Bamas_Greg_McElroy_Silences_Critics/1582282 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Bamas_Greg_McElroy_Silences_Critics/1582282 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Bamas_Greg_McElroy_Silences_Critics/1582282 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/5/7/579ccc42844cc23911d3437b78ff7fef599ad13c/small/Alabama_v_Virginia_c6da.jpg With Mark Ingram having such a standout year, perhaps it should come as no real surprise that he is indeed closing in on Alabama's all-time single season rushing record. The following is a quick grab from the media guide showing the rushing record list as it stood coming into this season: As of right now, Ingram currently has 1,297 yards, putting him a mere 174 yards away from the single season rushing record. With four games remaining in the season, and Ingram averaging right a... Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:18:12 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Mark_Ingram_Approaching_Single_Season_Rushing_Record/1573843 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Mark_Ingram_Approaching_Single_Season_Rushing_Record/1573843 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Mark_Ingram_Approaching_Single_Season_Rushing_Record/1573843 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/1/61365e0cc5f098d2aa741e1d7459990be98a5fc3/small/Tennessee_v_Alabama_f446.jpg On the heels of acquiring Tim Tebow's phone number in 2007 (and winning), taking Knowshon Moreno and AJ Green's numbers in 2008 (and losing), snagging John Parker Wilson's digits last year (and losing), and getting in touch with backup John Brantley this year (and, uh, losing), LSU fans are trying the same trick with Alabama's Greg McElroy, seemingly. It appears that LSU students and fans are living up to their reputation and appear to be targeting Alabama quarterback Greg ... Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:50:33 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Maybe_LSU_Fans_Should_Try_Telemarketing_With_Greg_McElroy/1498276 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Maybe_LSU_Fans_Should_Try_Telemarketing_With_Greg_McElroy/1498276 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Maybe_LSU_Fans_Should_Try_Telemarketing_With_Greg_McElroy/1498276 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/1/7/1782782678a2fffb150b0f790868675f6fc0452a/small/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f90356924.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D0CDAB8DF5A39FFB969F1408224923EEE8297DDD8C8D8B81ED.jpg Tennessee and Alabama played a close, conservative game to the death this afternoon, but the tight grip only did in the Vols. Above, we have what happens when you get into field goal range, then sit on the ball with plays that waste 40 seconds of valuable time: Terrence Cody blocked this kick, his second of the day, and preserved Alabama's 12-10 win and their perch atop the AP Poll and SEC West.But watch the lower-right corner of the brackish video around the 0:22 mark, and you can ... Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:43:21 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Mount_Cody_Helps_Stave_Off_Rocky_Top_Renditions_SEC_Avoids_Another_Controversy/1428298 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Mount_Cody_Helps_Stave_Off_Rocky_Top_Renditions_SEC_Avoids_Another_Controversy/1428298 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/Mount_Cody_Helps_Stave_Off_Rocky_Top_Renditions_SEC_Avoids_Another_Controversy/1428298 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/f/3f009d0e8a1cc11db61825239b25f25a51bdb6db/small/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f90896218.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D077BE3CFB45F51B5F15B5071228331AC010D074AEEA111B4D.jpg