AMEDAYG

REBUILDING REBUILDING OR RELOADING?OR RELOADING?

is the only returning player on Alabama’s defense who started every game last season.Can the pieces around him get the job done?

MARK BARRON>>>MARK BARRON>>>

6:07 p.m. Sept. 4, 20106:07 p.m. Sept. 4, 2010 San Jose State TV: PPVSan Jose State TV: PPV

2010 ALABAMA FOOTBALL SCHEDULESept. 4 San Jose State Tuscaloosa, Ala. Sept. 11 Penn State Tuscaloosa, Ala. Sept. 18 Duke Durham, N.C.Sept. 25 Arkansas Fayetteville, Ark.Oct. 2 Florida Tuscaloosa, Ala.Oct. 9 South Carolina Columbia, S.C.Oct. 16 Mississippi Tuscaloosa, Ala.Oct. 23 Tennessee Knoxville, Tenn.Nov. 6 LSU Baton Rouge, La.Nov. 13 Mississippi State Tuscaloosa, Ala.Nov. 18 Georgia State Tuscaloosa, Ala.Nov. 26 Auburn Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Your exclusive source for official GameDay updates.

The Mi l l ion Dol lar Band. Sweet Home Alabama. Rammer Jammer. Dix ieland Del ight . We Wil l Rock You. and more. . .

Hear Alabama’s sports anthems played on game day Saturdays till midnight.

1

GAM

EDAY Septm

eber 3

GAMEDAY STAFF• Jason Galloway, GameDay editor• Laura Owens, assistant GameDay editor• Victor Luckerson, editor-in-chief• Jonathan Reed, managing editor• Brandee Easter, print-production editor• Emily Johnson, design editor• Chris Jackson, art director• Adam Greene, chief copy editor• Jerrod Seaton, photo editor• Katie Bennett, photographer

Cover photos: Katie Bennett and Jerrod Seaton

The proof is in the defenseHaving lost nine starters from last year, Alabama’s defense looks to prove itself in the first game of 2010. Page 4

INSIDE GameDay|

3 | XBOX 360 SIMULATION

The Tide takes the field for its

first 2010 game in the newly reno-

vated Bryant-Denny Stadium,

defeating San Jose State 56-0.

Alabama’s offense built up

more than 500 yards on a big

passing day from Greg McElroy.

By Colin Cavoto

8 | RELIVING THE TRADITIONFormer Tide quarterback Steadman Shealy talks about his days playing foot-ball under leg-endary Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.By Jordan Eichenblatt

GAME INFORMATION: SATURDAY, SEPT. 4• Field: Bryant-Denny Stadium• Place: Tuscaloosa• Time: 6:07 p.m.• TV: PPV• Radio: 1420 AM (Eli Gold, play-by-play; Phil Savage, color analyst; Barry Krauss, sideline reporter)

Alabama Crimson Tide

(0-0)

San Jose State Spartans

(0-0)

vs

CW | Jerrod Seaton

#1 BEST-SELLERGet your copy

NOW at www.amazon.com

Kindle - $2.99Paperback - $9.25

Also available for iPad!

Follow a former Alabama Football player on his amazing life journey that

celebrates Southern unity & fellowship in sports.

Dedicated to Heisman-winner

MARK INGRAM!

“PIG-SKINNED”by Dr. Jacob Ray

AP POLL1. Alabama (54)

2. Ohio State (3)

3. Boise State (1)

4. Florida

5. Texas (1)

6. TCU

7. Oklahoma (1)

8. Nebraska

9. Iowa

10. Virginia Tech

11. Oregon

12. Wisconsin

13. Miami (FL)

14. USC

15. Pittsburgh

16. Georgia Tech

17. Arkansas

18. North Carolina

19. Penn State

20. Florida State

21. LSU

22. Auburn

23. Georgia

24. Oregon State

25. West Virginia

COACHESʼ POLL1. Alabama (55)

2. Ohio State (4)

3. Florida

4. Texas

5. Boise State

6. Virginia Tech

7. TCU

8. Oklahoma

9. Nebraska

10. Iowa

11. Oregon

12. Wisconsin

13. Miami (FL)

14. Penn State

15. Pittsburgh

16. LSU

17. Georgia Tech

18. North Carolina

19. Arkansas

20. Florida State

21. Georgia

22. Oregon State

23. Auburn

24. Utah

25. West Virginia

studentstudentSECTIONSECTIONwhat you’re saying...

“Dont’a Hightower because we have a lot of question marks on defense this year, and he is not one of them.”

Spencer Jones Seniorphilosopy

“Greg McElroy because he is a great leader, and he is going to lead Bama to another perfect season.”

Brittany Ammons Seniorelementary education

“Trent Richardson because Alabama will domiate, so Ingram will play very little, and Bama will run right over SJSU with Trent.”

Brandon Pledger Junioradvertising

2G

AMED

AY September 3

CW | Luke Willingham

Who will have the biggest game Saturday?

THINK YOU KNOW COLLEGE FOOTBALL?

PROVE IT.Enter our campus-wide

college pick ‘em challenge at gameday.ua.edu.

Leaders will have their names published in GameDay.

‘s the TIDE!

Students Recieve 10% Off!other coupond & offers do not apply

912 Veterans Memorial Pkwy.205.469.9542

Sun–Thurs 11am–11pmFri & Sat 11am–11:30pm

Dine In, Takeout or Drive Thru

www.locker-room.biz205.752.2990

1218 University Blvd

Home of the Original Elephantwear

Houndstooth Wind ShirtMens S-XXL

$85

3

GAM

EDAY Septem

ber 3

XBOX 360 SIMULATION

Greg McElroy throws a pass in Alabama’s 56-0 simulated victory over San Jose State.Xbox 360 screenshot

ALABAMAALABAMA 56 SAN JOSE STATE SAN JOSE STATE OCRIMSON TIDE StatisticsCRIMSON TIDE StatisticsTotal Yards: 524 Passing: 300 ydsRushing: 224 ydsTurnovers: 0Passing: Greg McElroy, 16-of-21, 211 yds, 4 TDsRushing: Trent Richardson, 22 rushes, 105 yds, 1 TDReceiving: Marquis Maze, 6 catches, 79 yds, 1 TD

SPARTAN StatisticsSPARTAN StatisticsTotal Yards: 56Passing: 46 ydsRushing: 10 ydsTurnovers: 3Passing: Jordan La Secla, 4-of-21, 45 yds, 3 INTsRushing: Wade O’Neill, 12 rushes, 6 ydsReceiving: Brandon Rutley, 2 catches, 8 yds

Compiled by Colin Cavoto

BY MARQUAVIUS BURNETTSports Reporter

MaintainingDominance

DEFENSE has always been a staple for the Alabama football team. That reputation can make it tough to believe how words like “liabil-ity” and “weakness” have been used to describe a unit that has ranked third and second in total defense the last two seasons, respectively.

It’s a matter of inexperience. After losing nine starters from last year, including leaders Rolando McClain, Terrence Cody and Javier Arenas, it’s natural to doubt. Although their replacements have talent, they don’t have the playing time to validate it. Head coach Nick Saban will be the first to say freshmen don’t have talent until they prove it on the field. Although he said the Crimson Tide is comfortable heading into the season with its current defen-sive roster, he remains concerned about the consistency within the unit, particularly in the secondary because of injuries suffered in fall camp that kept players out of prac-tice. “I feel comfortable with the play-ers we have,” Saban said. “The thing that has been most difficult

during this camp is that when you have a new group of guys that haven’t played, you’d like to get continuity, but we have had guys out, and we haven’t been able to do that.” Even a few of the defensive play-ers who have already made names for themselves have question marks surrounding them heading into 2010. Sophomore linebacker Dont’a Hightower had a stellar freshman season, but he is coming off of reconstructive knee surgery and will have to prove his durability. Defensive lineman Marcell Dareus stepped in last year and played well in the national championship game, but his eligibility is in ques-tion while the NCAA investigates a party thrown by an agent that Dareus may have attended.

As one of the most experienced players on Alabama’s defense, sophomore linebacker Dont’a Hightower will be called upon to make the defensive calls for the entire unit this season.

CW | Jerrod Seaton

GAM

EDAY Septem

ber 3

6ball off. I think it’s a credit to those guys being opportunistic.” Despite the new faces, the Tide remains optimistic about its chanc-es to have a great year and uphold the identity of a typical Alabama defense. Just ask some of the offen-sive players about their experiences facing that defense every day during fall camp. “I’m tired of going against them every day,” junior tight end Brad Smelley said. “The defense has improved a lot. Those guys, they’ve been working hard, and you notice it going against them every day. The defensive backfield is com-ing together. Our linebackers have improved – those are some big guys, good guys that can play, play the run, play the pass. They can do it all. And d-line, there’s some hosses in there for sure.” Said McElroy: “I think you’ve got to give credit to the defense because when the plays have been there to be made, they’ve made the plays.” The young players have been step-ping in and trying to prove that they are ready to be on the big stage. A freshman class that’s eager to learn has impressed some of the team’s veterans during fall camp. “It shows out there on the field,” Hightower said. “Guys, whenever

they mess up, they’re always ask-ing questions. They go straight to the coach on the sideline. You don’t have to tell the young guys to break on the ball or try harder. “It surprised me a lot. Whenever you have young guys come in, you’re always going to have older guys be like, ‘Let’s go watch film.’ But with these guys, they want to play. They’re asking the older guys to come in and watch film. There’s something that impresses me a lot about the freshmen.” Saturday’s game against San Jose State will hardly answer whether Alabama can sustain the same kind of dominance on defense as the past couple seasons, as San Jose State ranked 115th out of 120 FBS teams in total defense last year. The Tide sec-ondary doesn’t have long before a true test comes, however. Alabama’s third and fourth opponents of the season (Duke and Arkansas) both have offenses that ranked in the top 10 in the nation through the air last season. But Alabama’s defensive goals stretch beyond the top 10. “Our goals are just to be the best,” linebacker Chris Jordan said. “Everybody’s working hard to be the best. I feel really good about the defense.”

Junior defensive back Mark Barron, the only returning defensive player to start every game last sea-son, will be one of the players asked to play a huge role for the Tide’s sec-ondary this year. He will make more calls and adjustments for the entire defense. Last year, Barron led the Southeastern Conference in inter-ceptions. “We had a talk at dinner [on August 25] – me and [William] Vlachos, actually – about how good

Mark [Barron] really is,” senior quarterback Greg McElroy said. “I think a lot of people think of him as a playmaker, a guy that’s just so great in coverage, but one thing he does is just read eyes. He’s got such great instincts. “I can think of a play [August 25] where I threw the ball with good tim-ing to [Darius] Hanks on an option route, and Mark was not necessarily in the greatest position, but he made a great recovery, and he picked the

Head coach Nick

Saban talks

with Dre Kirkpatrick

(middle) and

DeQuan Menzie

(right) at practice

Monday. Both will

start at corner-

back this season

with limited ex-

perience.

CW | Jerrod Seaton

Q&A8G

AMED

AY September 3

By Jordan EichenblattContributing Writer

Steadman Shealy, quarterback of Alabama’s 1979 National Championship team, was part of the team that held the Crimson Tide’s longest winning streak of 28 games from 1978-1980. Before the Tide’s 2010 season started, Shealy sat down with a GameDay staff member to discuss some of his favorite memories that came from his years with the Alabama football team.

Reliving the tradition with

GD: Other than winning the national championship, what was your greatest memory?

SS: Throwing the winning touchdown pass versus Auburn to finish our perfect season. It was such a relief. We were los-ing in the second half, about to lose our perfect season, and to Auburn! We marched down 82 yards in the fourth quarter and did what Coach Bryant taught us to do: win and throw touch-downs. I celebrated for the first time that entire season. Heck, we all celebrated after that. We were trained not to celebrate winning or scoring because it was our job to score; [Bryant] would have looked down on us for that.

Interview from SportsCampus on 1230am radio. You can listen to SportsCampus every Sunday from 6-8 p.m.

GameDay: You were part of the Alabama teams that cur-rently hold the record for the longest winning streak. With an undefeated season this year, the Tide would be one win away from breaking it.

Steadman Shealy: I hope [they break it] (laughs). When it comes to Alabama, I am so hope-ful for the team. If they break the record, it means the program is getting better, and the coaches and players have done a great job. Coach Bryant instilled in us to be a winner and nothing else, and that has stuck with the program today.

GD: You said Coach Bryant instilled that into you. What is one thing from Coach Bryant that you apply to every day life?

SS: Always show and have class no matter the circumstance. You have to be a respectable person in a situation you may not be enjoy-ing. He also taught us to do what-ever it is that someone else isn’t doing. I am a lawyer now, and I outwork and outthink within rea-son to be the best lawyer you can be and also to be the best person, husband and father, too. That is something Coach taught me that I never forgot.

GD: What about your favorite memory with him?

SS: Well, some you can’t repeat to the public (laughs). Probably [the best] though is after my knee surgery, I missed the first week of practice. He stood up for me to get on the field and be a part of the ‘78 national championship team. He believed in me.

GD: How did Bryant recruit you?

SS: Well, it is a funny story. Coach Bafield of Auburn was in my living room and Coach Dooley of Georgia was outside waiting his turn. The phone rang and my mother picked it up and grabbed me. It was Coach Bryant. He said, “Son what jersey you wanna wear?” I told him crim-son and he said, “Well, what’s your problem?” He told me if I signed with him right there he would come to Dothan and sign me him-self, which is what happened.

Steadman Shealy

=MORE PLAYLESS PAY

MOVE IN TODAY IMMEDIATE SPACES AVAILABLE

roll pride roll.

We are open on Game Day:

Ferguson CenterTutwiler Hall

Bryant MuseumTent on the Quad

Tent at Soccer Lot

ALABAMAALABAMA SAN JOSE STATESAN JOSE STATEKEY PLAYERS

LTLGC

RGRTTEHBQBRBWRWR

7765737576898512384

James Carpenter (Sr.)Chance Warmack (So.)William Vlachos (Jr.)Barrett Jones (So.)D.J. Fluker (So.)Michael Williams (R-Fr.)Preston Dial (Sr.)Greg McElroy (Sr.)Trent Richardson (So.)Julio Jones (Jr..)Marquis Maze (Jr.)

David Quessenberry (Sr.)Isaac Leatiota (So.)Robbie Reed (Sr.)Ailao Eliapo (Sr.)Andres Vargas (Jr.)Ryan Otten (So.)Jordan La Secla (Sr.)Wade OʼNeill (So.)Jalal Beauchman (Sr.)Chandler Jones (Fr.)Noel Grigsby (Fr.)

Marcell Dareus (Jr.)Josh Chapman (Jr.)Luther Davis (Sr.)Courtney Upshaw (Jr.)Jerrell Harris (Jr.)Dontʼa Hightower (So.)Chavis Williams (Sr.)Dre Kirkpatrick (So.)Robert Lester (So.)Mark Barron (Jr.)DeQuan Menzie (Jr.)

OFFENSIVE STARTERS DEFENSIVE STARTERSDEDTDE

JACKWILLMIKESAMCBFSSSCB

57999641530552137424

OFFENSIVE STARTERSLTLGC

RGRTTEQBRBWRWRWR

7672707378821244888923

DEFENSIVE STARTERSDEDTDTDELBLBLBCBCBSS

2692974340361381925

Mohamed Marah (Sr.)Pablo Garcia (Jr.)Anthony Larceval (Fr.)Travis Johnson (So.)Tiuke Tuipulotu (Jr.)Vince Buhagiar (Fr.)Kyler OʼNeal (So.)Brandon Driver (Jr.)Peyton Thompson (Jr.)Duke Ihenacho (Sr.)Alex Germany (Jr.)

KP

PRKR

4344838

Cade Foster (Fr.)Jay Williams (Fr.)Julio Jones (Jr.)Trent Richardson (So.)Julio Jones (Jr.)

SPECIAL TEAMS STARTERSKP

PRKR

101099

33

Harrison Waid (Fr.)Harrison Waid (Fr.)Brandon Rutley (Jr.)Brandon Rutley (Jr.)Dominique Hunsucker (Sr.)

SPECIAL TEAMS STARTERS

Dont’a Hightower, LB

Even someone who many believe is the best player on this year’s defense has question marks surrounding him. Coming off a serious knee injury, Hightower needs to use this game to show the injury hasn’t made him lose a step. And with a change in position (now in Rolando McClain’s old position of “Mike” linebacker), the sopho-more will handle all the defensive calls this season. His ability off the injury and his leadership qualities are questions that could play major factors into Alabama’s defense this season.

D.J. Fluker, RT

Fluker came to Alabama last year as one of the highest recruited players in the nation. After playing defense the major-ity of his high school career, he came to The Capstone undeveloped as an offen-sive tackle. After a year of improvement, Fluker is listed as this year’s starting right tackle. With nine returning start-ers on offense, Fluker comes in as the only question mark on that side of the ball. Saturday will be a good opportunity to validate his high recruiting ranking.

Mark Barron, S

Barron is the only returning defensive player who started every game for the Tide last season. A year ago, he was in the same position as just about every player on this year’s defense - a new starter with unproven talent. His lead-ership will be vital to the defensive unit this season, and his performance in Saturday’s game will be key while every-one else is adjusting to their new roles.

Duke Ihenacho, S

Ihenacho enters the season as the Spartans’ top returning tackler. The safety recorded 89 last year and has a bigger load on his shoul-ders after San Jose State’s lead-ing tackler, safety Tanner Burns, transferred to Kansas State in the offseason. Ihenacho is one of two seniors on the Spartans defense, and poise is one of the main factors when trying to hang with the No. 1 team in the country.

Lamon Muldrow, RB

Although he only rushed for 592 yards and three touchdowns last season, Muldrow was San Jose State’s leading rusher. For the Spartans to move the ball effective-ly, they cannot be one-dimensional. Muldrow will need to get his yards to keep the Alabama defense hon-est and not allow the Crimson Tide to play nickle and dime packages all game.

Jordan La Secla, QB

La Secla had to beat out junior col-lege transfer Matt Faulkner for the starting job at quarterback despite being the Spartans man under cen-ter last season. He threw 11 inter-ceptions to only 10 touchdowns. For San Jose State to have any chance of hanging around later in the game, La Secla would need to have the game of his life. Whenever a small school pulls this kind of upset, the quarterback manages the game and doesn’t make mistakes.