Tide back on cover of Sports Illustrated

This time, Mark Ingram got a break and the defense got all the love on the latest Alabama-themed cover of Sports Illustrated. That’s four since November if I’m counting properly (Here’s 1, 2 and 3). Ingram appeared on the cover of 1, 3 and the SI for Kids from August seen over to the side.

As you can see, Dont’a Hightower, Mark Barron and Marcell Dareus appear next to the rankings that puts the Crimson Tide on top again. (Don’t let Nick Saban see that part).

All these covers may create an issue in the Alabama football complex. There is a wall next to the media room with all the Alabama magazine covers (mostly SI) blown up and framed. Before last season, there was plenty of room, but before the one above hit stands, the frames reached all the way down the hall. Where to put this one?

VIDEO: Marcell Dareus and the D-line

After a little water, it was back to the sleds for the defensive linemen at Thursday’s practice.

VIDEO: Marcell Dareus, Tide D-line first practice

Marcell Dareus and the rest of the defensive line hits the sleds at Thursday morning’s first practice of the fall. Notice the ESPN camera/boom mic getting right in there.

Alabama football practice opens

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It was already 86 degrees outside when football practices officially began at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in Tuscaloosa. That said, water breaks were plentiful during the 15 or so minutes the media was allowed to observe.

The first practice was for returning players only. The new guys will be out there at 7:30 p.m. when the Weather Channel says it will be even hotter at 92 degrees.

There were three different ESPN camera teams on the field this morning focusing mostly on the defensive line, running backs and offensive line.

Marcell Dareus was on the field and in the cameras’ focus quite a bit. Any NCAA eligibility issue would not change his practice status.

The only new face out there appeared to be Dequan Menzie, the JUCO transfer who is back from the April Achilles tendon tear. He was one of five defensive backs working with Nick Saban.

Come back soon for a wealth of videos.

Rod Woodson leaves team, other nuggets

Nick Saban just wrapped his first news conference of the preseason, prepractice period. There was a little bit of news. Here is the run down:

• Sophomore-to-be defensive back Rod Woodson left the team in a move Saban said was a mutual decision. Coming out of Olive Branch (Miss.) High School, Woodson was rated one of the top defensive backs in the country by recruiting services.
• On a related matter, Saban said junior college transfer Dequan Menzie is recovering quite nicely from the torn Achilles tendon he suffered in the spring. He’s participated in voluntary off-season drills including 7-on-7 drills and could be ready to go by the Sept. 4 opener against San Jose State. That would be huge for the depleted secondary since Menzie was one of the top JUCO defensive backs in the country last fall.
• Eligibility questions remain for freshmen Blake Sims and Tuscumbia’s Deion Belue. Neither have been cleared academically and are awaiting word on their status.
• Two freshmen are definitely out for this fall. Ronald Carswell qualified, Saban said but will defer enrollment until the spring, and Wilson Love did not pass his physical due to a pre-existing ankle injury. Both will join the team in January and will not count against scholarship limits.
• On the Marcell Dareus front, there is nothing new to report. Saban said the NCAA has the case in its hands and will issue a decision eventually. If you need the background on that situation, see the archives.
• Saban was mic’ed up and ESPNU cameras intently followed his every move at the newer for the one-hour “Alabama All-Access” set to air later this month.

Read more on these topics and a few more later on or in tomorrow’s paper. Also expect some new photos of the almost-complete south end zone expansion at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

UA denies reports of Dareus’ ineligibilty

Is he eligible or not? That’s the question floating around SEC Media Days surrounding Alabama defensive end Marcell Dareus.

A story on the Tuscaloosa News website cited a source who said Dareus had been ruled ineligible because of alleged dealings with a sports agent.

Not true, says a UA spokesman who couldn’t comment further than to say the story was not accurate.

Read more tomorrow and possibly later today as this story continues to evolve.

UPDATED: ESPN: UA investigating Dareus involvement with agent

Not good news for Alabama on the day before facing the media in Hoover.

ESPN.com is reporting the school’s compliance department is looking to a trip allegedly taken by Alabama defensive end Marcell Dareus to a Miami party thrown by a sports agent this summer.

See the full story by clicking here.

The Tuscaloosa News is reporting a few other Crimson Tide players may have attended the same party.

This is just the latest wrinkle in the evolving story concerning college football players and their involvement with agents. Any potential rules violations could hurt Alabama more than the rest since it is already in probation stemming from the textbook scandal ruling issued last summer.

Here is the rule in question:
12.3.1.2 Benefits from Prospective Agents. An individual shall be ineligible per Bylaw 12.3.1 if he or she (or his or her relatives or friends) accepts transportation or other benefits from:

(a) Any person who represents any individual in the marketing of his or her athletics ability. The receipt of such expenses constitutes compensation based on athletics skill and is an extra benefit not available to the student body in general; or

(b) An agent, even if the agent has indicated that he or she has no interest in representing the student-athlete in the marketing of his or her athletics ability or reputation and does not represent individuals in the student-athlete’s sport.