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

Finally! A new poll question

After allowing the last poll question to fester on the blog for well over a month, I present a new one with an added feature. Feel free to leave comments on this new one if the mood strikes you.

Enjoy, but play nice.

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Tide vs. Auburn in SEC baseball opener

The biggest crowd of next week’s SEC baseball tournament will likely come in its first game.

LSU’s loss to Mississippi State coupled with Alabama’s win over Tennessee gave the Tide the seventh seed and a date with Auburn at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in Hoover.

Auburn has the No. 2 seed after winning the West Division. Read more about this Sunday.

And now, the Bama Blog’s pick for YouTube video of the day.

Bama baseball sneaks into SEC tournament

Barring a complete disaster, the Crimson Tide has slipped into the SEC tournament after beating Tennessee 4-2 in 11 innings.

A two-run Jake Smith homer in the 11th gave Alabama the win and the opportunity to play in Hoover next week.

All Alabama needs is Georgia to hold onto its 17-0 lead in the seventh to make it official. Who is taking odds on that one?

Tide baseball still breathing

One day into the three game series that will determine if Alabama makes the SEC baseball tournament, the respirator is still on.

The Crimson Tide’s 11-3 win over Tennessee is one-third of the sweep it will most likely need to grab that eighth and final spot. Kentucky lost 8-6 to Georgia, so now Alabama just needs an LSU loss Mississippi State in the next two days, coupled with that sweep of the Vols.

LSU survived a 14-13 series opener with the Bulldogs on Thursday to keep things interesting.

And now, a slight change to a daily feature. Instead of featuring only the great Kige Ramsey, the Bama Blog will now present a general YouTube video of the day. Some will be funny, others more interesting. Today, we start with funny. Enjoy.

Important weekend ahead for Tide sports

For a non-football weekend, this coming edition will be a busy one with a lot on the line for a host of Alabama sports. Here is a quick breakdown:

• The Crimson Tide baseball team is fighting for a spot in the SEC tournament. As one of a four-team deadlock for that eighth spot, Alabama needs to sweep Tennessee this weekend to have a shot. LSU and Kentucky also need to lose at least one game this weekend to keep the Tide in contention. Two Alabama wins coupled with two losses apiece from LSU and Kentucky also gets Mitch Gaspard’s team to Hoover.
• On the softball field, the No. 1 overall-seeded Tide hosts UAB, Lipscomb and Alcorn State in the Tuscaloosa Regional. Riding high after winning the SEC tournament a week ago, coach Patrick Murphy’s squad is pointed towards the young program’s first national title.
• Speaking of NCAA championships, the Alabama women’s golf team is in the hunt. The Tide is second in the championship, trailing USC by seven strokes after the second round in Wilmington, N.C. Stay tuned for updates.
• The men’s golf team is seeded fifth in the New Haven Regional that starts Thursday. It won the regional round a year ago with the core of that team back.

Alabama students mock Vol recruiting scandal

I found the following confiscated prop just outside the media room located just off the Coleman Coliseum playing floor. It is likely talen from the Alabama student section before Tuesday night’s basketball game with Tennessee. Something tells me it has to do with the recruiting scandal involving blonds who helped recruit football players.

VIDEO: Tennessee at Alabama, full replay

Check out this poorly shot video of a key miss in Alabama’s loss to Tennessee. Trailing by five, JaMychal Green misses from in close, giving the Vols a chance to ice away the win at the line. They did.

For the full replay, click here.

Live from Tuscaloosa, it’s Alabama basketball

FINAL: Tennessee 63, Alabama 56

3:31 second half: It’s not over yet. Tennessee 56, Alabama 51 with a JaMychal Green free throw pending.

11:04 second half: Tennessee jumped ahead 44-33 behind a 14-4 run. Wayne Chism and Mikhail Torrance both have yet to score.

15:32 second half: Tennessee 33, Alabama 31. The Vols scored six quick points and led by as many as four in the half. Tide leading scorer Mikhail Torrance has yet to earn a single point tonight.

Halftime: Alabama 25, Tennessee 24.

(Photo by Associated Press)

3:22 first half: Alabama back up 20-19 after falling behind by four. The Tide never really took advantage of Chism’s absence although he isn’t back yet.

7:19 first half: Tied at 15-15, this game keeps getting uglier.The Vols edged ahead in the shooting percentage category (33 percent to 30).

11:56 first half: Alabama still leads 11-9 despite shooting 4-for-16 (25 percent) to this point. It’s an ugly game, but Tennessee star center Wayne Chism is on the bench with two early fouls. UT is also shooting 25 percent from the field (3-for-12).

15:13 first half: Alabama leads 9-3 after a big dunk from JaMychal Green.

We’re close to tip-off for Alabama and Tennessee in Coleman Coliseum. The arena is slow to fill tonight with the early tip time. There are plenty of students on hand for the game set for ESPN coverage. There is a big camera just over my shoulder in the media seating opposite Alabama’s bench.

Tonight’s action will teach everyone a lot about what kind of team Alabama will have the rest of the way. Also check back later for a picture of contraband confiscated from the Alabama students. (This stupid reporter forgot the cords to connect his camera to the computer)

Big week for Tide basketball

Facing a cross roads with a 1-2 SEC record, Alabama will see two of the league’s better teams this week in Coleman Coliseum. Read more in Tuesday’s paper, but the Tide will host No. 8 Tennessee on Tuesday on ESPN followed by a 11 a.m. Saturday visit from No. 23 Mississippi State.

Two straight losses won’t help Alabama’s momentum entering this big week. It blew a 10-point lead in the Vandy loss and lacked focus against Arkansas, coach Anthony Grant said today.

Like I said, this is just a teaser. Read more tomorrow morning.

Report: NCAA investigating Tennessee recruiting

From the Assoicated Press this morning:

NEW YORK (AP) — The NCAA is investigating Tennessee’s football recruiting practices, including the use of hostesses to attract top players, The New York Times reported on its Web site Wednesday.

The NCAA has met with four prospects and is expected to talk to two more this week, The Times reported.

Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton told the newspaper an investigation was ongoing, but did not provide any details. Hamilton did not immediately return a message left on his cell phone by The Associated Press on Wednesday morning. A spokeswoman at the University of Tennessee also did not immediately return a message, and neither did the NCAA.

Marcus Lattimore, a high school running back, told The Times several hostesses came to a game in South Carolina and brought signs including one that read, “Come to Tennessee.”

The hostesses are considered representatives of the university and are not allowed to recruit players off campus. The visits could be considered violations of NCAA rules.

Ingram a Doak Walker semifinalst

The latest round of awards news includes Mark Ingram on the Doak Walker Award semifinalist list. Ben Tate of Auburn also made the cut along with eight others.

Three finalists will be named Nov. 23 and the winner will be announced Dec. 10 live on ESPN.

On a a side note, three Tennessee football players were arrested in connection with an armed-robbery. Read more here and stay tuned for updates on this one.

Alabama vs. Notre Dame: It’s possible

If Alabama has anything, it’s plenty of natural rivals built into the schedule. Tennessee, LSU, and umm Auburn. There is one other that hasn’t been an opponent in two decades but remains unliked. I’ve seen Notre Dame play on television a few times in Tuscaloosa sports bars and every time the crowd cheered against the Irish. Loudly.

Now, they could get that opportunity in person. Don Kausler of the Birmingham News updated the ongoing talks between the two football powers about a potential neutral-site meeting.

My vote would be to play in New York at the new Yankee Stadium. Do you, the reader, have any thoughts on the matter? Leave a comment.

Daniel Moore wins in court, works on UT block painting

The next Daniel Moore painting is in the works just as a federal judge gives him a win in court. Read more about his legal battle with the University of Alabama here.

Although the court battle isn’t over, Moore is working on his next piece called “Maximum block.” Of course it will commemorate the Terrence Cody block that salvaged the 12-10 Alabama win over Tennessee on Oct. 24.

Read more about “Maximum block” on Moore’s Web site.

And while I have your attention, I’d encourage you to bookmark the Bama Blog. If you’re a real fan, become a follower by clicking here. Thanks for visiting and feel free to comment on any of the posts.

Kiffin complains, then scolded

You may have seen this story about Lane Kiffin’s complaints about officiating in the Alabama game.

Well, as expected, the Southeastern Conference did not like the criticism. So they punished him. Here is the release distributed by the league:

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Oct. 26, 2009) – Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive has issued a public reprimand to University of Tennessee head football coach Lane Kiffin for his public comments concerning officiating Sunday.

“Coach Kiffin has violated the Southeastern Conference Code of Ethics,” Slive said. “SEC Bylaw 10.5.4 clearly states that coaches, players and support personnel shall refrain from all public criticism of officials.”

“This is the second reprimand for Coach Kiffin in this calendar year. Coach Kiffin is on notice that for any further violations of SEC policies will subject him to additional penalties including suspension.”