VIDEO: Pre-scrimmage drills on tape!

We didn’t get long to watch the pre-scrimmage routine this afternoon, just enough time to capture these low-quality home videos for you.

So, without delay, let’s start with the receivers.

Fan Day videos, Part I

Next, the Crimson Tide offense works on some passing and catching. (AJ McCarron (10), Phillip Sims (14), Greg McElroy (12), Julio Jones (7).

More to come.

McClain named Bama player of decade

Of the 3,000 or so ballots cast in the BAMA Magazine voting, only three didn’t include Rolando McClain. Despite that, the Decatur product earned enough to be named player of the decade by the publication. He was one of six players from the 2009 title team to make the team of the decade released Wednesday afternoon by BAMA Magazine.

Full coverage can be found in the spring issue of the magazine, but editor Kirk McNair gave us a preview today. McClain, not much for the individual accolades,  wasn’t expecting this one

 “Really, I’m surprised, particularly since we had a Heisman Trophy winner n this decade,” McClain told BAMA Mag. “There have been a lot of great players at Alabama over the past ten years, so this is really an honor that I appreciate. But it’s also a team award. Because we accomplished so much as a
team, we have had a lot of individual honors.”

The other 2009 team members honored include that Heisman winner Mark Ingram, offensive lineman Mike Johnson, nose tackle Terrence Cody, cornerback Javier Arenas, placekicker Leigh Tiffin and wide receiver Julio Jones.

Monday football practice notes

Nothing major from today’s spring football practice on another beautiful day here in Tuscaloosa. After watching the same drills as usual, here is what I can tell you:

• Star Jackson was not at practice for the third straight day. As Nick Saban said Saturday, it is an academic issue and did not say when he could be expected back on the practice field.
• Spring weather is amazing.
• Julio Jones was working with the wide receivers, not the defensive backs, punters or linebackers.
• It was relatively uneventful.
• Check back for video later.

VIDEO: Quarterbacks at Monday’s spring practice

Here is footage of the quarterbacks from this afternoon: Greg McElroy (12), Star Jackson (2), AJ McCarron (10) and heralded true freshman Phillip Sims (14).

Now they move on to work with the receivers led by Julio Jones (8).

Video: Ingram, Julio at practice

I broke out the old point and shoot camera, switched to video mode and shot Mark Ingram and Julio Jones catching passes. Enjoy.

Bye week reading time

Ahhh. The relaxation of a bye week. Well, sort of. It’s not a complete week away from football for this beat writer. While I’m working on a few things for the weekend papers, here are a few other stories you might like to read.

• Check out this story on ESPN.com about recruiting, more specifically a few top Alabama recruits including Phillip Sims. It’s an interesting look at the process written by former Birmingham News Alabama beat writer Ian Rapoport.
• Now, for one of the stories I love to read and wish I could write more often. Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News wrote this interesting story about Julio Jones’ kindness to a kid with a brain tumor.
• Stay tuned to Sunday’s paper for an off-the-field type story I’m working on. It’s not as heartwarming as Goodbread’s but I thought it was an interesting topic. No more clues until Sunday.
• Apparently, Mark Ingram is quite the golfer. Read this.
• For the latest installment of the jtbowtie YouTube video series, check out this link.

That’s it for now. Thanks for visiting. If you’re a newcomer, I’d welcome you to bookmark the Bama Blog and make it a daily destination.

Wednesday practice report

There was a new player doing strength and conditioning work instead of practicing this afternoon. Freshman Dre Kirkpatrick, who had an injury in the preseason, was back on the exercise bike Wednesday wearing a black jersey.

The defensive back was also wearing a black walking boot. Hopefully we can get an update on this new situation when coach Nick Saban addresses reporters this evening after practice.

On an unrelated injury front, Julio Jones and Roy Upchurch practiced at full speed for the third straight day.

There was also an influx of NFL scouts at today’s steamy workout. I saw representatives wearing hats and t-shirts from the Philadelphia Eagles, St. Louis Rams and San Diego Chargers. I’m sure there were others too. They spent time watching the defensive lineman, most likely Terrence Cody, doing drills while a few others kept an eye on the linebackers.

Check back later for any injury updates.

A few Monday afternoon notes

Now that we’re done with the weekly news conference and player interviews, I can update some of the day’s news.

• Game time was set for the Oct. 3 game at Kentucky. Like last week’s game, it will be the 11:21 a.m. SEC Network game. Those decisions are made every Monday for games two weeks in advance. This week’s game with Arkansas was picked up by CBS as the 2:30 p.m. game of the week.
• There weren’t any Alabama representatives made the SEC player of the week honors for the first time this season.
• Greg McElroy and Colin Peak were Alabama’s offensive players of the week as selected by the coaching staff. Mark Barron and Terrence Cody shared the defensive honors while Javier Arenas, Robby Green and Chris Jordan was recognized for their special teams work against North Texas.
• Nick Saban said Julio Jones and Roy Upchurch will both practice today and will continue to be evaluated on a day-to-day basis.
• Check out where ESPN.com’s Chris Low slots Alabama in his weekly SEC power rankings by clicking here.

Quick injury update

Julio Jones is dressed in his No. 8 uniform and is currently warming up with the receivers. Whether or not he plays is still TBD, an athletics spokesman said.

Roy Upchurch will not dress today and obviously will not play a week after suffering a high-ankle sprain against Florida International.

Another Jones/Upchurch injury update

The status of Julio Jones and Roy Upchurch is still up in the air as their injuries continue to heal.

Speaking on his weekly radio show Thursday evening, coach Nick Saban said both were questionable for Saturday against North Texas.

“I don’t think either guy is out of the realm of being able to play, and will be back fairly soon if they can’t play in this game,” Saban said.

Jones, a sophomore receiver, suffered a bruised knee against Florida International last Saturday while Upchurch went down with a high ankle sprain.

Neither has practiced at full-speed this week.

Saban also said highly-recruited running back Eddie Lacy will likely redshirt his freshman season unless another back goes down with an injury.

Wednesday practice update

I know, this is getting repetitive at this point.

Julio Jones, Roy Upchurch and Kenny Bell continued to work on strength and conditioning at Wednesday afternoon’s outdoor practice. That hasn’t changed since Monday’s workout.

Check back later for anything special coming out of Nick Saban’s final press briefing before Saturday’s game. Read Thursday’s paper for more about the connection between Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy and North Texas coach Todd Dodge.

Also, are you guys still up for Friday’s chat at noon. Let me know how you feel with an e-mail at michael.casagrande@gmail.com

Update on Julio Jones, Upchurch

Without going into specifics, Alabama coach Nick Saban said injured players Julio Jones and Roy Upchurch have made “significant improvements” on the SEC teleconference this morning. Neither have practiced this week while recovering from injuries suffered against Florida International on Saturday.

Their availability for this Saturday’s game with North Texas will be determined at some point after Thursday’s practice.

Jones has a bruised knee and Upchurch a high ankle sprain.

Tuesday afternoon practice report

No breaking news to report from the practice field.

Injured players Julio Jones, Kenny Bell and Roy Upchurch continued to workout on the exercise, with hand weights and the medicine ball. It was their second day of wearing black non-contact jerseys after suffering injuries in Saturday’s win over FIU.

Upchurch has a high ankle sprain and Jones bruised his knee. Bell has struggled with shin splints since the preseason.

Monday practice update

Rain in Tuscaloosa forced practice to move indoors Monday afternoon.

Injured players Julio Jones and Roy Upchurch were suited up and wearing black non-contact jerseys. The two rode exercise bikes during the brief media viewing period while the rest of the team went through the usual routine.

Running back/wide receiver Terry Grant was working out with the backs when we were watching.