Alabama, the only team in the top 5 to actually play and beat a top 10 team, only gets 2 first place votes

[Dirk]

NEW YORK -- BYU barged into the top 10 of The Associated Press college football poll, making the biggest jump of any team from the preseason rankings after scoring the biggest upset of the opening weekend of the regular season.
The Cougars jumped 11 spots to No. 9 in the Top 25 released Tuesday, three days after they stunned Oklahoma 14-13 as three-touchdown underdogs.
Cougars quarterback Max Hall said the victory has energized Provo, Utah, and the BYU campus.
"For the first time there were people at the airport to greet the team. About 2,000 people were out there when we got back," he said. "The overall atmosphere has been really cool and we're enjoying it."
Florida was still an overwhelming No. 1, receiving 56 of 60 first-place votes, two less than last week. Texas held steady at No. 2, with two first-place votes.
USC will be No. 3 when it visits No. 8 Ohio State on Saturday in one of the biggest nonconference games of the season. The Trojans moved up a spot this week and the Buckeyes fell after narrowly escaping with a 31-27 victory against Navy.
No. 4 Alabama moved up one spot after its 34-24 victory against Virginia Tech and persuaded two voters to pick them as the top-ranked team in the country.
No. 5 Oklahoma State moved up four spots after an impressive 24-10 victory against Georgia. The Cowboys have their best ranking since October 1985. The loss dropped the Bulldogs eight spots to No. 21.
No. 6 Mississippi, No. 7 Penn State and No. 10 California round out the top 10.
Oklahoma dropped 10 spots to No. 13 after losing, but all things considered the Sooners are probably feeling much better about their long-term outlook now than they were Saturday night at Dallas Cowboys Stadium.
Oklahoma lost Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford to a shoulder injury late in the first half against BYU. He is expected to miss two to four weeks, but will not need surgery and could be back by the time the Sooners play their next big game -- against Miami Hurricanes on Oct. 3.
BYU is no stranger to the top 10. The Cougars were ranked as high as eighth last season. But BYU stumbled in its biggest games, suffering lopsided losses to Mountain West Conference rivals TCU and Utah, then losing to Arizona in the Las Vegas Bowl.
"Our football team, we have three goals ... winning a conference championship, winning the state championship and going to a bowl game and winning it. We didn't do any of them," Hall said during a conference call with reporters. "Even though we won 10 games, we were upset with the way it ended."
BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said the Oklahoma victory should give a boost to the whole Mountain West Conference, which has been fighting for more access to the Bowl Championship Series.
"I do think that the game and how we played helped our conference, helped our team and helped the exposure of the fight that we're all kind of engaged in as our league is trying to gain credibility," Mendenhall said.
BYU travels to New Orleans to face Tulane on Saturday before playing their first home game on Sept. 19 against Florida State, one of three teams to fall out of the rankings this week.
Oregon and Iowa also fell out. Moving into the Top 25 were Miami, Cincinnati and Missouri.
LSU was No. 11 and No. 12 Boise State moved up two spots after beating Oregon 19-8 on Thursday.
Virginia Tech's opening loss dropped the Hokies seven spots to No. 14.
No. 15 Georgia Tech, was followed by TCU and Utah.
Notre Dame's 35-0 victory against Nevada helped the Fighting Irish climb five spots to No. 18.
North Carolina was No. 19 and Miami moved into the poll at No. 20 after a thrilling 38-34 victory Monday night against Florida State in Tallahassee.
The final five were Georgia, Nebraska, Cincinnati, Kansas and Missouri.
The Big 12 has six ranked teams, most of any conference.
Cincinnati, the defending Big East champions, is the first team from the conference to be ranked this season. The Bearcats started their season Monday with a 47-15 road victory against Big East rival Rutgers.

[CTR man]

GO BYU!!!

[Five-0]

http://blog.al.com/bamabeat/2009/09/saban_contract.html

Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Saban's new deal approved by Bama

Associated Press

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama coach Nick Saban has received a new contract that could be worth $4.7 million annually over the next nine seasons counting a series of completion bonuses.

Low: Sweet As Can Be

If coaching salaries around the country skyrocket by the time Nick Saban gets to those last three years of his new deal, then he's going to benefit substantially, Chris Low writes. Blog



The university system's Board of Trustees compensation committee unanimously approved the three-year extension through Jan. 31, 2018, on Wednesday.

Saban would receive a series of three completion bonuses totaling $5 million if he is still the coach through 2011, 2014 and 2017.

His total pay would be $42.35 million if he remains through the nine-year deal.

The contract guarantees Saban will be among the nation's five highest-paid football coaches or the three highest in the Southeastern Conference, whichever is higher. His pay cannot fall below those averages.


Sep. 9

Alfy Hill, DE
Shallotte, NC
West Brunswick High School

Scouts Grade: 82
ESPN150 Rank: 51
Position Rank: 6
Under Armour All-American Alfy Hill selects Crimson Tide over Tar Heels

ESPNU 150 defensive end Alfy Hill (Shallotte, N.C./West Brunswick) committed to sign with Alabama over North Carolina Wednesday during a press conference at his high school, ESPN affiliate Web site CrimsonConfidential.com reports.

Other programs such as LSU, N.C. State, Clemson, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Duke, West Virginia, Oregon, Purdue, Iowa State and New Mexico also offered Hill who will likely play outside linebacker in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

ESPN's Craig Haubert added, "Alabama was able to prevail in a battle with the in-state Tar Heels for a commitment from ESPNU 150 defender Alfy Hill."

"The Under Armour All-American committed to the Crimson Tide this morning and is really an ideal fit for that defense. He is a prospect who possesses good size and the kid can run. You will see him on film play defensive end and linebacker and that versatility fits well in Alabama's defensive scheme. He has the size to develop into an end in Tuscaloosa and could fit well there, but may more likely play linebacker. He could fit at several spots, but may end up in the hybrid linebacker / pass rush 'Jack' role. That would be ideal as he could use his size and speed best to attack vertically."

"The Crimson Tide have time to figure out best how to use him, but the fact that he gives them options is huge as they try and keep that defense one of the toughest in the nation. Hill has some areas he needs to polish up as he can get away with superior athleticism at times at the high school level, but this pluck from ACC country should have Alabama fans chanting Roll Tide."

[Captain America]

USC could offer Saban even more loot when Pete Carroll leaves to coach the Raiders....

[Five-0]

USC could offer Saban even more loot when Pete Carroll leaves to coach the Raiders....

Your team (and a lot of other teams') only hope.

[Captain America]

Your team (and a lot of other teams) only hope.

Don't worry , after that he'll probably come back to the SEC and coach Auburn.

[Five-0]

Don't worry , after that he'll probably come back to the SEC and coach Auburn.

Good thing LSU has a Gerry DiNardo comeback as a plan B for when Les Miles quits or is fired.

[Captain America]

Good thing LSU has a Gerry DiNardo comeback as a plan B for when Les Miles quits or is fired.

I would rather we give Mike Price a shot at the job before Mr. PotatoHead gets the job again. We would just have to keep Price off of Airline Hwy.

[IndianaFuzz]

Your team (and a lot of other teams') only hope.

He makes hope seem quite real. Saban is well known for staying loyal to a team............... He'll prob coach USC, the Detroit Lions, and Auburn before he's done.

And reference Bama being the only top ten team to beat a top ten team....anyone crying that is an idiot. All Bama has to do is win games. An undefeated Bama will be in the title game regardless of what voters want to do early in the season.