Alabama tops coaches poll, Auburn No. 23

The preseason estimation of the coaches in the USA Today poll is out and there were not many surprises at the top Alabama got 55 of the 59 first-place votes but only 77 more total points than No. 2 Ohio State.

Just a reminder: Nick Saban is a voter in the poll and he previously said he didn’t think Alabama should be voted the preseason No. 1. So, we might have an idea where one of the four Ohio State votes originated.

Overall, there are six SEC schools in the top 25 and five of Alabama’s opponents on the list.

Rank; Team (first-place votes); 2009 record; Points; Final 2009 rank
1. Alabama (55); 14-0; 1,469; 1
2. Ohio State (4); 11-2; 1,392; 5
3. Florida; 13-1; 1,245; 3
4. Texas; 13-1; 1,240; 2
5. Boise State; 14-0; 1,215; 4
6. Virginia Tech; 10-3; 1,052; 10
7. TCU; 12-1; 1,051; 6
8. Oklahoma; 8-5; 1,035; NR
9. Nebraska; 10-4; 1,001; 14
10. Iowa; 11-2; 952; 7
11. Oregon; 10-3; 940; 11
12. Wisconsin; 10-3; 778; 16
13. Miami (Fla.); 9-4; 728; 19
14. Penn State; 11-2; 508; 8
15. Pittsburgh; 10-3; 492; 15
16. LSU; 9-4; 476; 17
17. Georgia Tech; 11-3; 455; 13
18. North Carolina; 8-5; 445; NR
19. Arkansas; 8-5; 438; NR
20. Florida State; 7-6; 374; NR
21. Georgia; 8-5; 312; NR
22. Oregon State; 8-5; 263; NR
23. Auburn; 8-5; 260; NR
24t. Utah; 10-3; 169; 18
24t. West Virginia; 9-4; 169; 22
—
Others receiving votes

Cincinnati (12-1) 135; Houston (10-4) 76; Brigham Young (11-2) 66; Arizona (8-5) 65; Ole Miss(9-4) 48; Clemson (9-5) 44; Stanford (8-5) 41; Connecticut (8-5) 40; Notre Dame (6-6) 38; South Carolina (7-6) 38; Washington (5-7) 26; Missouri (8-5) 23; Navy (10-4) 12; Oklahoma State (9-4) 11; Boston College (8-5) 10; Michigan State (6-7) 10; Arizona State (4-8) 6; California (8-5) 6; Texas Tech (9-4) 5; South Florida (8-5) 4; Texas A&M (6-7) 3; Northwestern (8-5) 2; Temple (9-4) 2; Central Michigan (12-2) 1; Mississippi State (5-7) 1; Nevada (8-5) 1; Northern Illinois (7-6) 1; Southern Methodist (8-5) 1.

Bryant-Denny Stadium now fifth biggest

The home of Crimson Tide football is now ranked fifth among college football stadiums according to the new capacity released today by UA.

Bryant-Denny Stadium’s new capacity is officially 101,821 — up from 92,138 before the south end zone got the upper deck and luxury suites.

The complete rankings:

1. Michigan Stadium (Michigan) 109,901
2. Beaver Stadium (Penn State) 107,282
3. Neyland Stadium (Tennessee)102,455
4. Ohio Stadium (Ohio State) 102,329
5. Bryant-Denny Stadium (Alabama) 101,821
6. Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium (Texas) 100,119
7. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (USC) 93,607
8. Sanford Stadium (Georgia) 92,746
9. Tiger Stadium (LSU) 92,400
10. Rose Bowl (UCLA) 92,340

Here is the latest from outside the south end zone of Bryant-Denny Stadium. It looks like this feature is about to die since work is all but done.

BDS expansion, updated Aug. 4 2010

Lobby fans vanish in Hoover

Remember yesterday when the lobby at the Wynfrey Hotel was complete chaos? Not so on Thursday. Without Alabama or Auburn (coming Friday) only a few stray Arkansas and Georgia fans are milling about so far.

Bama blows another big lead

Up 13 in the second half, Alabama found away to blow another healthy lead in SEC competition. This time it was Georgia who mounted the comeback to grab the 76-70 win in Athens.

This is one hot and cold team. They just seem to wilt under the pressure late in big games. It took away any of the momentum gained in last Saturday’s win over SEC West leading Arkansas.

Now, it’s on to Starkville on Wednesday.

(I did not see the peanut butter boy on the telecast).

Will peanut butter boy strike Saturday in Georgia?

In one of the more disturbing fanatical gestures in recent memory, the gentleman photographed by the Athens Banner-Herald several weeks ago loves his Georgia basketball (and peanut butter).

Keep your eyes pealed during the 3 p.m. telecast of Alabama’s road game at Georgia to see if Drake Scott makes a return to pervert the legacy of his state’s favorite agricultural product and terrify everyone in his presence.

To read a complete account of his madness, read this story from the Athens newspaper.

Here is a quick taste (pun intended):

Since slathering himself up with peanut butter for Georgia basketball’s game with Tennessee, Scott, a Georgia junior from Dacula, has become a phenomenon on Facebook and online discussion boards.

The self-professed super fan is no stranger to shenanigans, painting himself up for countless Georgia sporting events, and wearing outlandish ’80s-inspired garb when he doesn’t do that.

But peanut butter? This one was in a league of its own.

Rolando McClain going pro, Smart staying

No surprise here. Rolando McClain just announced his decision to skip his final season at Alabama and enter the NFL Draft.

The Decatur High product is expected to go in the first round of the April draft, possibly as high as the top 10.

The decision is hardly a surprise given McClain’s monster junior season that included a Butkus Award, All-American honors. There is also the issue of the rookie salary cap that applies to every incoming class after this season’s draft.

McClain made 105 tackles this fall — 14. 5 were behind the line of scrimmage including two against Texas in the BCS National Championship Game. For video of McClain speaking to reporters after the game, click here.

UPDATE: In other news, Nick Saban told reporters in Tuscaloosa that Tide defensive coordinator Kirby Smart will remain at Alabama. Reports had indicated Georgia made a big-money offer to the Bulldog alum in attempts to bring him back to Athens in the same capacity.

2:50 p.m. UPDATE: Alabama just released a statement about Kirby’s plans to stay that included the following quote from the coordinator:

“I think it was pretty well known that there was an opportunity to return to my alma mater as defensive coordinator. I wouldn’t even have considered discussing the position with any other school, but when it is a place I’ve spent some of my best years and had some great memories, I thought it was something I should discuss with my family and figure out what was best.

“After thinking about all the factors over the last couple days, we are going to stay at the University of Alabama. We love it in Tuscaloosa, have made some great friends here and I think we are building something special here at Alabama with Coach Saban. I have learned so much in the time I’ve spent with Coach Saban, and every year I feel like I become a better coach.

“I’ve got a great deal of respect for Coach Richt and the job he has done there and the University of Georgia will also have a special place in my heart. Not only did I play there, but my wife played basketball there and we have a lot of friends at UGA.

“At the end of the day, I just feel like this is where I am supposed to be and this is a special time to be at the University of Alabama.”

More details to come. Check back in a bit.

(Photo by Gary Cosby Jr./The Decatur Daily)