Coffee Going Pro Will Help Tide

Glen Coffee announced today that he will be foregoing his senior season and will enter the NFL Draft. The decision came after Coffee put together the second best single season rushing in Alabama Football history. Many Alabama fans are upset that Coffee is going pro, but do not worry. Although I feel Coffee is not yet prepared for a transition into the pro game, it is best for the Tide which already was seeing a crowded backfield.

I feel Coffee's exit will strengthen the commitment of five star running back Trent Richardson. It is no secret that Richardson has the talent to come in and play immediately.

Coffee is expected to go in the mid to late rounds.

Rookie Wages Good for Alabama

Roger Goodell announced that NFL rookie salaries will not change this year. Goodell goes as far as to warn underclassmen not to be misled with the unfounded wage decrease.

"There will be no change in our current [rookie pool] system, at least until 2011," Goodell told ESPN on Saturday. "I've explained that to some college head coaches, athletic directors and league commissioners. Any underclassman who is hearing differently is probably hearing it from an agent or from another source who is misinformed."

This is great news when it comes to Andre Smith and Glen Coffee. Although I believe Coffee would have decided to stay after receiving feedback from the NFL Draft Board, it is rumored that an abnormally large amount of underclassmen would have entered the NFL draft with the rumors of lower rookie salary caps.

being an almost guaranteed top 10 pick, I still believe Smith will declare for the NFL draft, but the news of the wage restrictions be unfounded increases the chance Smith will return for his senior season.

Recruiting

We all know that recruiting is a shady business, but I was surprised to read an article in The New York Times, titled Inside the Red River Recruiting Rivalry, covering the recruitment of Jemarkus McFarland. It is obvious these players are wined and dined, but this report is shocking.

LSU, Oklahoma, Texas and USC were all in final running for McFarland with him committing to Oklahoma. An interesting part of the report is his description of Les Miles:

“He was very dry,” Adams said of Miles.

What A Difference A Year Makes

It's a cliche statement in the sporting world, but I am going to say it one time: No one could have predicted the Alabama Crimson Tide to be 12-0 going into the SEC Championship. Alcohol was often involved when such bold statements were made. I personally thought the Crimson Tide would finish 8-4 at worst and 10-2 at best.

Many 800 lbs. gurillas were lifted off the Alabama programs back including ending Auburn's six game winning streak and Saban beating his former team, LSU. The "process" Saban always mentions is not only taking place, it is a year ahead of schedule.

With all this momentum, I am excited about the Sugar Bowl.

At the moment, the players are on a brief Christmas break and will return to practice in New Orleans on December 27th. That means the players will be in The Big Easy for six nights before the game on January 2nd. This trip to New Orleans is unique for the Crimson Tide because this is the only time each season the team will not travel together to the game. Many players will carpool in order to save their traveling expenses to spend on other things and some will have to fly.

If you have ever been to New Orleans, you know the temptations that are thrown at you. Saban is taking a very relaxed stance when trying to prevent his players from getting into any kind of trouble by saying, "I can't be on Bourbon Street with my whistle like at practice. ... I know if one of our guys messes up, it's going to be my fault. And I'm going to be in bed."

I thought that was a great response, but Saban's approach is not as relaxed as that statement makes it out to be. A curfew will be set and speakers have already talked to the team about what to do and what not to do.