Tide returns to practice; Darby questionable

By Christopher Walsh
Sports Writer
December 18, 2004

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TUSCALOOSA | Junior quarterback Spencer Pennington was more than a little out of breath Friday afternoon. Not only was he a bit rusty during the University of Alabama’s first practice for the upcoming Music City Bowl, but he also had to run extra sprints for being late.

“Stayed a little too long on a deer stand," the avid hunter said.

Nevertheless, after taking nearly a month off, the Crimson Tide had just about everyone on hand, although coach Mike Shula said that sophomore running back Kenneth Darby (abdomen strain) and senior tight end David Cavan (back) were questionable for Minnesota.

Notably absent was junior tight end Clint Johnston (concussion), who was to meet with team doctors later Friday and is considered “doubtful."

“If feels good to be back on the field with our guys, with our family," Shula said. “All of the coaches have been on the road working hard recruiting-wise. The one thing that stood out to me today was that guys worked hard the last couple of weeks to stay in shape."

Darby suffered the strain during the third quarter against LSU, when he “felt a pop" after trying to make a move. He had just 19 yards on 14 carries the following week against Auburn.

“It’s getting there," Darby said. “I feel a lot better then when I did during Auburn week. It kind of wore down on me that week, knowing that I was playing so hard and then got to that last game I really wanted to play in and wasn’t able to."

Darby and number of other injured players will not go full-out in practice, in part to give younger players reps, including redshirts _ offensive lineman Antoine Caldwell, Cody Davis and B.J. Stabler, defensive back Aaron McDaniel, wide receiver Will Oakley and tight end Nick Walker.

Caldwell lined up at left guard Friday with Stabler at right guard. Freshman Chris Capps had a final exam, so Davis took his place at left tackle.

Of the 28 players with injuries against Auburn at least 12 were somewhat limited Friday, including: freshman cornerbacks Simeon Castille and Travis Robinson; freshmen receivers Keith Brown, DJ Hall and Matt Caddell; sophomore return specialist Brandon Brooks; senior cornerback Anthony Madison, junior safety Charlie Peprah; sophomore cornerback Ramzee Robinson; senior cornerback Anthony Madison; and junior defensive tackle Rudy Griffin.

Sophomore fullback Le’Ron McClain did practice with his right ankle taped. Sixth-year senior wide receiver Antonio Carter (leg) did not practice.

“The rest has helped tremendously," sophomore quarterback Marc Guillon said about his back injury. “I feel 10 times better than when we were playing games [before]."

After two weeks in the weight room with strength and conditioning coach Kent Johnston, the Crimson Tide worked almost exclusively first-team offense against first-team defense followed by a lengthy set of conditioning drills. The Tide will hold a two-a-day today before scheming against the Gophers.

“We were ready for these practices to hurry up and get here," Pennington said. “They’re a whole lot easier than what coach Johnston has been putting us through. We were excited for practice to get here."

Minnesota has something to prove

Quarterback Bryant Cupito, a sophomore who started every game and passed for 2,022 yards with 14 touchdowns and six interceptions, wants to show that Minnesota’s swoon in the second half of the season was an aberration.

“Our expectations this year were real high," Cupito said during a teleconference. “This is our chance to prove that we’re better than our record is.

“It’s disappointing. We started off 5-0 and now we’re 6-5. We’ve just got to get back to the basics and some things we got away from."

The Gophers have lost five of their last six games, including three straight.

“This game is our last chance to get a win," Gophers senior safety Justin Fraley said. “What better way to end a season than with a win so you can roll it over for the next year."

Meanwhile, someone appeared to have walked into the wrong press conference in Minneapolis when football coach Glen Mason was asked a volleyball question.

The Gophers advanced to today’s NCAA championship match by knocking off two-time defending national champion Southern Cal.

“Win one more," Mason said. “[Coach] Mike Herbert does a great job, we’re tremendously proud of them and we’re rooting for them."

Practice notes

Six players are expected to receive their degrees today: Alex Fox (criminal justice), Bo Freelend (human environmental sciences), Matt Grice (healthcare management), Peprah (marketing), Matt Ragland (finance) and Josh Smith (mechanical engineering). Graduate assistant coaches Paul Hogan and Danny Kimble will receive their master’s degrees.

Because final exams were still ongoing Friday, offensive lineman Drew Davis and quarterback John Parker Wilson, who greyshirted, were on-hand but can’t practice until today. They’ll join defensive back Lionel Mitchell, a recruit from Hargrave Military Academy in Chatom, Va., who has already enrolled in classes. …

Pennington denied rumors that he’s going to quit football and concentrate on baseball after the Music City Bowl. He will play baseball for the Crimson Tide, but plans on playing football his senior season. …

Shula has been keeping an eye on the Miami Dolphins’ interest in LSU coach Nick Saban because he knows many people in the pro organization. “But we’ve been so busy worrying about our future," Shula said. “That’s what’s exciting about these two weeks, finding out what our future is going to be like."