The Presidential Welcome: ‘Bama Visits D.C.

In one final acknowledgment for winning the 2009 national championship, the University of Alabama football team visited Washington D.C. on Monday.

The highlight of the trip was a 15-minute ceremony in the East Room of the White House with none other than President Barack Obama.

President Obama delivered his personal congratulations to the team for the wonderful accomplishments they achieved on and off the field.

“It’s safe to say the Tide is back,” exclaimed Obama during his address.



Once Obama concluded his speech, former Tide cornerback Javier Arenas presented him with a football and a ‘Bama helmet with the No. 13.

However the most "prized" and notable gift came when former Crimson Tide offensive lineman Mike Johnson presented a Tide No. 1 jersey to Obama with his name across the back. Over the years it has been a tradition of athletic teams visiting the White House to present the President with a team jersey.

Among those in attendance for the special day in Washington D.C. were Alabama President Robert Witt, and Tide athletics director Mal Moore.

Spring practice for the 2010 season begins on Friday.

White House Bound

(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The University of Alabama’s 2009 national championship football team will meet with President Barack Obama on Monday.

The Tide will tour the White House; visit the U.S. Capitol, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, and the National Mall.

The national champs will also meet with local youth encouraging them to stay in school, and the importance of making positive life choices.

The visit to D.C. is the culmination of accolades and acknowledgements for the 2009 BCS champs.

Spring practice for the 2010 season is scheduled to begin March 12.

College Football Rule Proposals

(AP Photo/John Bazemore)

The NCAA is once again looking to add and take away in respect to certain rules in college football. The rules committee has proposed various rules which if passed, will be effective during the 2010 or 2011 seasons.

One of the most notable rules proposed regards unsportsmanlike conduct being considered a live ball foul beginning in 2011.

Celebration after a score has been and will continue to be addressed as a dead-ball personal foul. However, a new rule concerning celebration while IN THE ACT of scoring would NULLIFY the score.

An example would be a long touchdown run where the player begins to celebrate and high-step PRIOR to breaking the goal line. In this case a flag would be thrown and the touchdown REMOVED and NULLIFIED! Using the aforementioned example, a personal foul would be accessed, the score removed, and the penalty would be imposed from either the original line of scrimmage or spot of the “celebration” foul.

Additional rule proposals include:

-The extension of medical hardships to include concussions. The rule simply means that if a player was sidelined very early in the season due to a serious concussion, the player in question could possibly receive a medical hardship and retain his year of eligibility.

-Eye black will no longer be a means of “message writing” effective in 2010. Bible verses, area codes, personal promotion, (etc) will no longer be allowed. Notable players such as former USC star Reggie Bush (area code), and former Florida great Tim Tebow (scriptures), are examples of what would now be considered a violation.

-In 2011 television monitors will be permitted in the press box and used by coaches. The home team must be responsible for the monitors and insure that both teams (coaches) have the same viewing abilities and capacity.

-The rule requiring a player’s pants to cover his knee at all times has been nullified.

-Proposal to eliminate an intentional wedge containing three or more receiving team players on kickoffs. This proposal is designed to make it more difficult to “plan” a return on free kicks. Multiple players will not be allowed to serve as part of a “swinging gate” or “sideline wall” on kickoffs…etc.

-Proposed discussion at the 2011 committee meeting to abridge the rules concerning blocking below the waist. The committee will meet to help clarify and possibly adjust the rule in the future.

Crimson Commitment: National Signing Day 2010

(AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

In February of 2009, Alabama waited until late in the afternoon to see if star running back Trent Richardson would hold true to his word and commit to Alabama. Richardson did sign with the Tide, and 'Bama concluded National Signing Day on a high note…late in the afternoon.

In 2010 the day was rather uneventful, and National Signing Day was
over by 10 a.m. on Wednesday morning. If 2009 was a day of drama…2010 was more like a day of paid programming.

As expected, Alabama lost 5-star defensive back Keenan Allen, as he officially signed with California. Other than the Allen departure, Alabama sealed all 26 commitments…as expected.

The Tide had some “flirtations” in the person of Shon Coleman (offensive tackle) and James Stone (offensive guard), but like many projected, Coleman and Stone maintained verbal commitments and signed with Auburn and Tennessee, respectively.

2010 ALABAMA RECRUITING CLASS

ENROLLED IN JANUARY
PK Cade Foster (6-1, 215) Southlake (Texas) Carroll
RB Jalston Fowler (6-0, 240) Prichard Vigor
DB John Fulton (6-1, 180) Manning (S.C.)
DL Brandon Lewis (6-3, 275) Scooba (Miss.) East Mississippi Community College
OL Chad Lindsay (6-3, 307) The Woodlands (Texas)
DB DeMarcus Milliner (6-2, 180) Millbrook Stanhope Elmore
OL Austin Shepherd (6-5, 316) Suwanee (Ga.) North Gwinnett
QB Phillip Sims (6-2, 209) Chesapeake (Va.) Oscar Smith

NATIONAL SIGNING DAY LETTERS OF INTENT
DB Deion Belue (6-0, 175) Tuscumbia Deshler
WR Ronald Carswell (6-0, 180) Macon (Ga.) Westside
RB Corey Grant (5-10, 186) Opelika
DE Alfy Hill (6-4, 222) Shallotte (N.C.) West Brunswick
DE Adrian Hubbard (6-7, 222) Norcross (Ga.)
DT Brandon Ivory (6-3, 330) Memphis (Tenn.) East
TE Harrison Jones (6-4, 230) Memphis (Tenn.) Evangelical Christian
OL Arie Kouandjio (6-6, 315) Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha
DE Wilson Love (6-4, 235) Birmingham Mountain Brook
WR Keiwone Malone (6-1, 165) Memphis (Tenn.) Mitchell
DB Dequan Menzie (5-11, 200) Wesson (Miss.) Copiah-Lincoln C.C.
LB C.J. Mosley (6-2, 212) Theodore
DB Nick Perry (6-2, 195) Prattville
ATH Blake Sims (6-0, 180) Gainesville (Ga.)
TE Brian Vogler (6-7, 248) Columbus (Ga.) Brookstone
WR DeAndrew White (6-0, 170) Galena Park (Texas) North Shore
DB Jarrick Williams (6-2, 205) Eight Mile Blount
P Jay Williams (6-4, 220) Thomasville

For more information on each player, including position rank, national rank, and star rank, simply click the link below. Once the page loads, simply enter (or copy/paste) the players name in the initial search box available.
PROSPECT SEARCH

For information on team rankings:
2010 NATIONAL TEAM RANKINGS