[RollTideFan] Barbecue icon Johnny Ray dead at 80
http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/109022857970240.xml Barbecue icon Johnny Ray dead at 80 Monday, July 19, 2004 SHERRI C. GOODMAN News staff writer Johnny Ray, founder of Johnny Ray's Bar-B-Que, died Saturday after a career that established him as a pioneer among Birmingham's barbecue elite. Mr. Ray was 80 and died in Panama City Beach while vacationing with his family, said Richard Duell, a Birmingham attorney who helped Ray expand his business through franchising. Mr. Ray opened the first Johnny Ray's in Roebuck in 1953, said Duell, and the restaurant's barbecue, lemon pie, onion rings and sweet tea quickly developed a loyal following. Mr. Ray took his brother-in-law's recipe for barbecue and fiddled with it to create the signature sweet sauce that accompanies beef, chicken and pork in the chain's eight central Alabama restaurants, said John Simonetti, who operates two of the restaurants. But the restaurant's pies, created from the recipes of his wife, Honey Ray, draw just as many customers. He is one of the most important personalities in barbecue, said Scott Walton, an area financial planner who is co-author of the Glove Box Guides to Barbecue series. Mr. Ray was the first Birmingham barbecue restaurant owner to start a successful franchise, Walton said. `He was meticulous': Mr. Ray's reputation and dedication to quality helped propel the chain, Duell said. He was meticulous when it came to preparing the food and insisted on teaching the franchisees himself how to prepare the meats and sauce. He was the type of person that could go into a (restaurant) and could tell them immediately if they needed help and could do it in a way everybody appreciated, Duell said. Mr. Ray's personality helped set Johnny Ray's apart from other barbecue restaurants, said Jefferson County Commission President Larry Langford, who has been a regular customer at the Valley Avenue restaurant for nearly 20 years. He was a really class gentleman, Langford said. He knew me by name and he knew what I wanted, said Langford. I would walk in the place, and he would say `Langford's here, open-faced barbecue chicken sandwich with extra sauce and toast the inside of the bun so it looks like him,' Langford recalled, adding that he often talked politics with Mr. Ray. He knew my career better than I did, he said. Lots of friends: Over the past six years, Mr. Ray, an avid golfer, started spending less time at the barbecue pit and more time vacationing with his family and on the greens in Florida, Duell said. He just didn't have enough energy to continue to oversee and advise all the restaurants, Duell said. His son-in-law, Josh Palmer, who runs the Pelham restaurant, and his daughter, Dee Wood, became more involved in the business, Duell said. But Mr. Ray still made the occasional appearance to check on the restaurants that bore his name. He had held a franchisee meeting just a couple of months ago, Duell said. He was a very honorable man, said Simonetti, who bought the Valley Avenue store from Mr. Ray in 1996 and the Vestavia Hills store in 1998. His word was his bond. Mr. Ray's list of friends included legendary football coaches Bobby Bowden, Shug Jordan and Bear Bryant, said Simonetti. Mr. Ray, Simonetti said, had more friends than he had hair on his head. __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
[RollTideFan] season football tickets
How many of you would buy $2 chances for season football tickets this year (if our chapter is able to get the tickets)? Devonna __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
Re: [RollTideFan] season football tickets
I'd pay $2 to watch flies fsck. Count me in! Slef E. - Original Message - From: Devonna Snuggs [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; bf [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, July 19, 2004 8:58 AM Subject: [RollTideFan] season football tickets How many of you would buy $2 chances for season football tickets this year (if our chapter is able to get the tickets)? Devonna __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
Re: [RollTideFan] season football tickets
Me, too!!! Jenny - Original Message - From: Jeff Todd [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: RollTideFan-The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, July 19, 2004 9:02 AM Subject: Re: [RollTideFan] season football tickets I'd pay $2 to watch flies fsck. Count me in! Slef E. - Original Message - From: Devonna Snuggs [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; bf [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, July 19, 2004 8:58 AM Subject: [RollTideFan] season football tickets How many of you would buy $2 chances for season football tickets this year (if our chapter is able to get the tickets)? Devonna __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
Re: [RollTideFan] season football tickets
COOL!!! I'll start looking for the two flies!! Jenny is so cool. (I would have figured Pat would have been the first to mirror Slef's remark...) ScR -Original Message- From: Jenny H. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Me, too!!! Jenny - Original Message - From: Jeff Todd [EMAIL PROTECTED] I'd pay $2 to watch flies fsck. Count me in! Slef E. __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
Re: [RollTideFan] season football tickets
Add me to that listJamie __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
RE: [RollTideFan] season football tickets
I'll pay an extra dollar if the flies are gay. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, July 19, 2004 9:48 AM To: RollTideFan-The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Subject:Re: [RollTideFan] season football tickets COOL!!! I'll start looking for the two flies!! Jenny is so cool. (I would have figured Pat would have been the first to mirror Slef's remark...) ScR -Original Message- From: Jenny H. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Me, too!!! Jenny - Original Message - From: Jeff Todd [EMAIL PROTECTED] I'd pay $2 to watch flies fsck. Count me in! Slef E. __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
RE: [RollTideFan] season football tickets
I don't know how Jenny would feel about dat. ScR -Original Message- From: Joel Perry [EMAIL PROTECTED] I'll pay an extra dollar if the flies are gay. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On COOL!!! I'll start looking for the two flies!! Jenny is so cool. (I would have figured Pat would have been the first to mirror Slef's remark...) ScR -Original Message- From: Jenny H. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Me, too!!! Jenny - Original Message - From: Jeff Todd [EMAIL PROTECTED] I'd pay $2 to watch flies fsck. Count me in! Slef E. __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
Re: [RollTideFan] season football tickets
Okay, everybody. It's a go; we've got the tickets. Email me off list and we can work out the specifics. __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
Re: [RollTideFan] season football tickets
Hey. If the flies involved were in any way what so ever connected with Bama, I wouldn't care if they had two heads. :-)) Jenny - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: RollTideFan-The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, July 19, 2004 11:07 AM Subject: RE: [RollTideFan] season football tickets I don't know how Jenny would feel about dat. ScR -Original Message- From: Joel Perry [EMAIL PROTECTED] I'll pay an extra dollar if the flies are gay. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On COOL!!! I'll start looking for the two flies!! Jenny is so cool. (I would have figured Pat would have been the first to mirror Slef's remark...) ScR -Original Message- From: Jenny H. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Me, too!!! Jenny - Original Message - From: Jeff Todd [EMAIL PROTECTED] I'd pay $2 to watch flies fsck. Count me in! Slef E. __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
RE: [RollTideFan] season football tickets
Didcha hear about the guy who had two heads? Well, he musta had two because he kept trying to give away free head. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jenny H. Sent: Monday, July 19, 2004 11:13 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; RollTideFan-The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Subject:Re: [RollTideFan] season football tickets Hey. If the flies involved were in any way what so ever connected with Bama, I wouldn't care if they had two heads. :-)) Jenny - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: RollTideFan-The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, July 19, 2004 11:07 AM Subject: RE: [RollTideFan] season football tickets I don't know how Jenny would feel about dat. ScR -Original Message- From: Joel Perry [EMAIL PROTECTED] I'll pay an extra dollar if the flies are gay. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On COOL!!! I'll start looking for the two flies!! Jenny is so cool. (I would have figured Pat would have been the first to mirror Slef's remark...) ScR -Original Message- From: Jenny H. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Me, too!!! Jenny - Original Message - From: Jeff Todd [EMAIL PROTECTED] I'd pay $2 to watch flies fsck. Count me in! Slef E. __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
Re: [RollTideFan] season football tickets
I would. RTR LC --- Devonna Snuggs [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: How many of you would buy $2 chances for season football tickets this year (if our chapter is able to get the tickets)? Devonna __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net __ Do you Yahoo!? Vote for the stars of Yahoo!'s next ad campaign! http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/yahoo/votelifeengine/ __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
[RollTideFan] RE: Deere Slef - YGM - Was (season football tickets)
http://www.tmcreations.com/ina.html I'll take my $2 in small bills. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, July 19, 2004 11:07 AM To: RollTideFan-The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Subject:RE: [RollTideFan] season football tickets I don't know how Jenny would feel about dat. ScR -Original Message- From: Joel Perry [EMAIL PROTECTED] I'll pay an extra dollar if the flies are gay. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On COOL!!! I'll start looking for the two flies!! Jenny is so cool. (I would have figured Pat would have been the first to mirror Slef's remark...) ScR -Original Message- From: Jenny H. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Me, too!!! Jenny - Original Message - From: Jeff Todd [EMAIL PROTECTED] I'd pay $2 to watch flies fsck. Count me in! Slef E. __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
Re: [RollTideFan] season football tickets
Count Javvy in! That reminds me. Mrs. VO, can you send me your mailing address please? Monday, July 19, 2004, 8:58:49 AM, you wrote: DS How many of you would buy $2 chances for season football tickets this year DS (if our chapter is able to get the tickets)? DS Devonna DS __ DS RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List DS Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! DS To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
Re: [RollTideFan] RE: Deere Slef - YGM - Was (season football tickets)
Good one! Money is on the way to you now. Slef E. - Original Message - From: Joel Perry [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: 'RollTideFan-The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List' [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, July 19, 2004 2:33 PM Subject: [RollTideFan] RE: Deere Slef - YGM - Was (season football tickets) http://www.tmcreations.com/ina.html I'll take my $2 in small bills. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, July 19, 2004 11:07 AM To: RollTideFan-The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Subject: RE: [RollTideFan] season football tickets I don't know how Jenny would feel about dat. ScR -Original Message- From: Joel Perry [EMAIL PROTECTED] I'll pay an extra dollar if the flies are gay. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On COOL!!! I'll start looking for the two flies!! Jenny is so cool. (I would have figured Pat would have been the first to mirror Slef's remark...) ScR -Original Message- From: Jenny H. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Me, too!!! Jenny - Original Message - From: Jeff Todd [EMAIL PROTECTED] I'd pay $2 to watch flies fsck. Count me in! Slef E. __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
Re[2]: [RollTideFan] season football tickets
heehee! You said package! Now, Are we talking one seat or 2? I keep seeing tickets as opposed to ticket. I can't believe you aren't including Utah State. Wow. Bama's only win this year (Hi Krut!) and I'll have to buy those tix seperately. Monday, July 19, 2004, 12:39:57 PM, you wrote: DS I need to make a little clarification on these tickets - the package would DS NOT include the Utah State game as we are having our kick-off party on DS September 9 (which is when we will raffle the tickets but these Ut State DS tickets will be for sale). DS We are doing $2 per chance or 3 chances for $5.00. __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
Re: [RollTideFan] season football tickets
Count me in, Devonna. - Original Message - From: Devonna Snuggs [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; bf [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, July 19, 2004 8:58 AM Subject: [RollTideFan] season football tickets How many of you would buy $2 chances for season football tickets this year (if our chapter is able to get the tickets)? Devonna __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
Re: [RollTideFan] season football tickets
M Laborde wrote: heehee! You said package! Now, Are we talking one seat or 2? I keep seeing tickets as opposed to ticket. I can't believe you aren't including Utah State. Wow. Bama's only win this year (Hi Krut!) [...] sigh kurt __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
[RollTideFan] ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!!
that is all... :) Rick __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
[RollTideFan] [ATTENTION PLEASE!] Bama Fan Action Needed!
**Please** contact your ISP and/or preferred news server admin and demand that they add the news group alt.sports.college.alabama.rolltidefan to their list of available news groups. The RTF mail list is now connected to that news group. All posts to RTF will be posted to that news group. In the future I MAY allow all posts to the news group to be posted to the list but not at the moment. Once you get access to the news group you may read all RTF posts from a news reader. Until your ISP picks up the group you may find it on the FREE news server freenews.netfront.net through the 119 port on your PC. As I find more servers that carry the group I will notify y'all. Google will also eventually pick up the group and you will be able to read all posts on Google. (Secret: You already can read all post via Google if you know how...) This is a very cool thing and I hope all of you help get the group propagated and take advantage of the list access. __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
[RollTideFan] Ray Ray Article
http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/sports/040719/hudson.shtml Time is now for Hudson UA back wants improved season By Gentry Estes DAILY Sports Writer TUSCALOOSA Ray Hudson knows enough to realize this year is different. The Alabama senior tailback also thinks people still don't understand how awkward and rough last summer really was. We really don't understand, to tell the truth, Hudson said. It's a lot easier learning a couple new things than a whole playbook. That's hard. With head coach Mike Shula and his staff around for a second year, there's an air of comfort around a program mired in so much recent turmoil and coaching shifts. It's just more stable, sophomore running back Tim Castille said. You don't have as many things to worry about. Like the bulk of their Crimson Tide teammates, Hudson and Castille are on campus this summer, pacing through seven-on-seven drills in anxious anticipation to redeem the season gone wrong. For Hudson, that also means making fans and teammates forget about his arrest for misdemeanor marijuana possession and subsequent suspension during a 27-3 loss to LSU in November. Ask him and he'll tell you: this season is an opportunity he has been waiting years to seize. He finally has the chance to be the marquee tailback in Alabama's offense, a key ingredient in a team hoping to get off the mat and back into a bowl game. That makes it tough during all these summer workouts. I'm just ready to put on pads, and I get kind of crazy sometimes. I think I have on pads or something, he said, chuckling. I got the itch. If you've ever played, you would know the feeling. When the season is over with, you're ready for the season to be over with. But when the season is about to start, you just get that itch, that killer mentality. You're just ready to hit somebody. Hudson enters this season as the No. 1 tailback in an offense short on receivers, meaning the running game should be the featured aspect. As a junior, Hudson showed flashes of brilliance, recklessly throwing his 5-foot-10, 202-pound frame into defenders for extra yards. Seeing third downs as Shaud Williams' primary backup, Hudson rushed for 490 yards on 100 carries. The 4.9-yards-per-carry average was the lowest he's compiled in his Alabama tenure. Through three seasons, Hudson is averaging 5.4. Ready to step up He brings expectations into this season. Those he puts on himself, as well as the ones Alabama's fans and coaches have on him to carry a program stepped in success from the running game. I'm a little nervous, because I don't want to let anyone down, Hudson said. But I know in my heart what I can do, so I can't wait. It's been a long time waiting. I'm just ready to go out there and prove what I can do. At first, Hudson figures to get the majority of carries in a crowded backfield that boasts sophomores Kenneth Darby and Castille, a potential star in the making who, in addition to being the son of a former Crimson Tide All-American, will line up at fullback and tailback in an effort to get him on the field. Last season, Castille became only the eighth true freshman in school history to start his first game. He, too, will get his carries in this setup. I'm sure if I meet my own expectations, it will please everyone else, Castille said. If I don't meet mine, then I'm a failure. That's kind of the way I look at it. Hard work pays off, even if it's not immediate. I'm just prepared. That's all you can do prepare. ROLL TIDE ROLL!! Rick __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
Re: [RollTideFan] season football tickets
Coming out of the closet? Joe The one thing that is more painful than learning from experience is NOT learning from experience! - Original Message - From: Joel Perry [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: 'RollTideFan-The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List' [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, July 19, 2004 10:11 AM Subject: RE: [RollTideFan] season football tickets I'll pay an extra dollar if the flies are gay. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, July 19, 2004 9:48 AM To: RollTideFan-The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Subject: Re: [RollTideFan] season football tickets COOL!!! I'll start looking for the two flies!! Jenny is so cool. (I would have figured Pat would have been the first to mirror Slef's remark...) ScR -Original Message- From: Jenny H. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Me, too!!! Jenny - Original Message - From: Jeff Todd [EMAIL PROTECTED] I'd pay $2 to watch flies fsck. Count me in! Slef E. __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
[RollTideFan] July bouncyball chat..
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/9192042.htm?1c Gottfried brushes off sky-high expectations *JOHN ZENOR* *Associated Press* *TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - *Mark Gottfried is doing his best to puncture the blown-up expectations from Alabama's deepest NCAA tournament run. Sure, the Crimson Tide has four returning starters, including its top three scorers. But Gottfried quickly points out that there's barely any experience beyond that and forward Kennedy Winston is still recuperating from knee surgery in June. I ain't buying all this high expectation stuff - yet, Gottfried said Monday during a gathering with reporters. I think we have a chance, but we just have a lot of questions that we have to get answered. The two biggest questions are how will Winston's knee hold up and who will replace point guards Antoine Pettway and Demetrius Smith. Winston had surgery on his left knee last September and had scar tissue removed last month. Gottfried said he's expecting the Tide's leading scorer to be cleared to resume running in a few weeks. In the meantime, he's only been able to work out his upper body in the weight room and has packed on about 18 pounds to his playing weight of 220 pounds. They're just being real cautious with him, Gottfried said. He's not been allowed to lift or run or do any lower-body work. He hasn't played in a pickup game in probably close to two months. Gottfried is expecting freshmen Glenn Miles and Ronald Steele - a two-time Alabama Mr. Basketball - to compete for the point guard job. He also welcomes two more signees, junior college transfer Jean Felix and shooting guard Albert Weber, and redshirted four newcomers last season, including big men Shawn Taylor (6-foot-11) and Akini Adkins (6-9). The only other key departure was Emmett Thomas, a backup forward who averaged 8.7 points per game for a team that upset top-seeded Stanford to advance to the NCAA tournament's round of eight. Alabama, which had never advanced beyond the round of 16, was knocked out by eventual champion Connecticut. All the expectations people are talking about, I've not bought into it yet, Gottfried said. We've got a lot to prove to be a bonafide Top 25 team right now. The players have apparently responded to the challenge. Gottfried said nine stayed on campus and attended classes during the first summer session, taking a total of 60 hours with the lowest grades being two C's. Guard Earnest Shelton said the postseason run has motivated the Tide players during the offseason. We're going to have a target on us, Shelton said. It's going to be a lot harder this year. We're going to have to come out this year and be ready to take every team's best shot. We got a taste of the tournament last year and saw what it's like. We've got a lot of guys who are hungry, and we just want to get back. __ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
