Josh Casher gives verbal to Alabama

St. Paul’s High School (Mobile, AL) offensive lineman Josh Casher has given his verbal commitment to the University of Alabama for 2014.

BREAKING: St. Paul's offensive lineman Josh Casher commits to #Alabama , source says http://t.co/Ukqyb2hizS
— Ben Thomas (@BenThomasPreps) October 30, 2013

Casher, who stands 6-foot-1 and tops the scale at 300-pounds, selected the Crimson Tide over Florida State.

In April, the St. Paul’s standout gave his verbal pledge to Auburn, but eventually decommitted from the Tigers in late July and reopened his recruitment.

Currently attending the same high school that produced AJ McCarron, Casher is listed as a four-star prospect per Rivals.com.

With the inclusion of the 9th ranked prospect in the state of Alabama, the Crimson Tide have now solidified 22 verbal commitments in respect to the 2014 signing class.

Top-ranked Tide “smokes” overmatched Tennessee

Break out the cigars…Alabama has done it again. For the seventh consecutive season, the Alabama Crimson Tide owned the Tennessee Volunteers. In a contest that wasn’t unlike many since 2007, UA “smoked” the Vols by the score of 45-10.

Courtesy of 479 yards of total offense, and the “signature” Alabama defense, the Vols never found an answer for the top-ranked team in the nation.

CB Deion Belue on UT players calling them the 'red team.': "We can be the red team, but we're going to be the Navy seal red team."
— Marquavius Burnett (@Marq_Burnett) October 26, 2013

Jumping out to a 21-0 lead by the conclusion of the initial quarter of play, Alabama dominated the contest from start to finish.

Needless to say, the “red team” had UT coach Butch Jones seeing “red” by the time the clock hit zero.

While Crimson Tide players and fans enjoy a nice victory cigar, per tradition, Tennessee will “huff and puff” over yet another beating at the hands of Alabama.

With the victory over Tennessee, 'Bama improves to 8-0 overall and 5-0 in the SEC.

--Complete Stats--

Saban post-game press conference pic.twitter.com/fM5PqCSRQi
— The Game (@TheGameWDGM) October 26, 2013

CECIL HURT: Tennessee not much of a rival right now http://t.co/YZeLPLcPXq
— tuscaloosanews (@tuscaloosanews) October 27, 2013

Injury report/Cigar showcase

While Alabama sustained the “typical” bumps and bruises, overall, UA exited the contest with Tennessee in relatively good health.

Alabama injury roundup: NG Brandon Ivory out for 'medical reasons,' Jalston Fowler suffers concussion http://t.co/5jcEI2RXbV
— Andrew Gribble (@Andrew_Gribble) October 27, 2013

As Cecil Hurt expressed in his commentary piece, the current status of the Alabama/Tennessee rivalry is "flimsy" at best. However, tradition is tradition, and the 45-10 victory over the Vols was celebrated with a smoke show.

Enjoy the photo gallery of ‘Bama players partaking in a time-honored tradition that is synonymous following a victory over the Vols.

Alabama players light up victory cigars after 45-10 win over Tennessee (photos) http://t.co/9XhxuHeJxx
— Matt Scalici (@MattScalici) October 27, 2013

The Crimson Crossover: Confidence on Rocky Top

Tennessee - 2013

Record: 4-3
Conference Record: 1-2 (SEC - Eastern Division)
Last Game: Tennessee 23 South Carolina 21

Alabama - 2013

Record: 7-0
Conference Record: 4-0 (SEC - Western Division)
Last Game: Alabama 52 Arkansas 0

History lesson

Series: Alabama leads series 49-38-7 (First meeting in 1901)
Most Recent Meeting: Alabama 44 Tennessee 13 (2012)

Setting the scene

Tennessee vs. Alabama
Bryant-Denny Stadium – Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Betting Line: Alabama -28.5 (as of 10/22)

---Click Here To Track The Line---

#Vols take momentum to Tuscaloosa on Saturday for a rivalry slated for 3:30pm ET on @SEConCBS: http://t.co/VkCb14uSzs pic.twitter.com/5K8HbYzqMM
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) October 21, 2013

Beat writer of the week

Evan Woodbery - Covers the University of Tennessee and college football for the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Twitter: @TennesseeBeat

Follow Evan via Twitter to get the latest (breaking) news concerning the Tennessee Volunteers as they prepare for Alabama.

Tennessee on the wire

>>Tennessee's progress to be tested at No. 1 Alabama

>>FOOTBALL CENTRAL: #1/1 Alabama The Vols Travel To Tuscaloosa on Oct. 26 for a 3:30 p.m. ET SEC Rivalry on CBS

>>Butch Jones on Alabama: 'Their program is what we are building here at Tennessee' (Jones’ Monday press conference)

>>Justin Worley's development evident in Tennessee Vols' progress

The weekly quotable

While many fans and pundits have spent ample time discussing Tennessee's "upset victory" over South Carolina, UT head coach Butch Jones seems to have the ideal perspective.

Butch: "This is the most humbling profession in the world. You have to prove yourself each week. Alabama doesn't care what we did last week"
— Evan Woodbery (@TennesseeBeat) October 21, 2013

The Crimson Elephant verdict

For the first time, in a very long time, Tennessee has a competent football coach and a bucket of confidence.

While still lacking depth at key positions, the Vols are a much improved football team, and are currently playing better than they ever played under Derek Dooley.

Also, we just added another playmaker #Brick to the foundation! #BrickByBrick we will #RiseToTheTop!!! pic.twitter.com/dsBbfuc8zi
— Butch Jones (@UTCoachJones) October 20, 2013

Although Georgia was/is hapless and injury plagued, Tennessee did manage to take the Bulldogs to overtime, and last week, as the nation witnessed, UT defeated South Carolina in grand fourth quarter fashion.

Tennessee, with a quality victory over a ranked opponent? Amazing! Quite amazing considering Vol fans, reasonable Vol fans, possibly wondered if a "big win" would ever happen again in the foreseeable future. Prior to Saturday, most college football fans, if asked, probably couldn't recall the last time Tennessee actually won a "meaningful" game.

Enter Alabama...

Cue the whole, "this will be a good litmus test" narrative. Cue it, because it is ever so true...

Tennessee is a much improved football team. Much improved from a garbage football team. If one is inclined to call a spade a spade, the 2013 edition of Tennessee/Alabama shouldn't be unlike the contests of the most recent years.

Alabama is almost a 30-point favorite over the Vols. The line is based on the fact Alabama is simply that good, and not so much on the fact that UT is an "improving" program.

Under the umbrella of fair assumption, the Vols will probably never beat Alabama as long as Nick Saban resides in Tuscaloosa. Having said that, Butch Jones will likely have the Vols "bowl bound" for the remainder of his tenure at Tennessee.

As for Saturday, Tide fans...don't forget the victory cigars!

Alabama 38
Tennessee 13

Vinnie Sunseri to miss the remainder of 2013 season

Initially reported by Marquavius Burnett of The Anniston Star, Nick Saban has confirmed (Monday presser) that Alabama safety Vinnie Sunseri will be lost for the remainder of the season due to a torn ACL in his left knee.

Alabama safety Vinnie Sunseri will have surgery tomorrow and miss the remainder of the season tearing his ACL Saturday, Saban confirms.
— Alex Scarborough (@AlexS_ESPN) October 21, 2013

Sunseri, one of the top contributors on the defensive side of the ball, was injured in Saturday’s game against Arkansas while working punt coverage for the special teams unit.



In Sunseri’s absence, expect the likes of Landon Collins and Jarrick Williams to take over the duties at strong safety.