A-Day Notebook

Ken Rogers and Jon Johnson
Media General News Service
Published: April 12, 2008

Big Turnout
It wasn’t full like a year ago, but an estimated crowd of 78,200 watched the annual A-Day spring football game in Bryant-Denny Stadium on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon.

Last year the game drew a national spring game record of 92,138 fans with some being turned away at the gate in what was Alabama coach Nick Saban’s first A-Day at the school.

Saturday’s crowd is the second largest to watch an A-Day on campus, moving ahead of the 46,700 mark set in 1994.

“I’ve been involved with a lot of things at a lot of places, but this is really a positive family experience that we have here for A-Day,” Saban said. “To have over 78,000 people to show up for the game and to honor our captains today at Denny Chimes is a tradition like no other that I have seen relative to giving someone the opportunity to become a part of the legacy of all the people who have been captains on this team.”

The permanent captains of the 2007 team were honored before the game at the Chimes. Darren Mustin, the only senior captain, and Rashad Johnson and Antoine Caldwell set their handprints and footprints into concrete. Johnson and Caldwell, of course, had to return to the locker room and prepare for the game.
Catching on
The Alabama receivers had plenty of opportunities on Saturday to showcase their skills in the system employed by new offensive coordinator Jim McElwain.

There were 14 players to make catches as 81 passes were thrown in the scrimmage — 40 passes by White team quarterbacks and 41 from Crimson team quarterbacks.

Mike McCoy led the way with six catches for 101 yards, while tight end Nick Walker caught five passes for 69 yards. Redshirt freshman receiver Darius Hanks was impressive, catching four for 102 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown. Running back Terry Grant caught four for 87 yards, which included a 75-yard touchdown. Six players made at least four receptions. Joining McCoy, Walker, Hanks and Grant were Earl Alexander and Marquis Maze.
Stars of the game
Alfred McCullough, a redshirt defensive tackle, was voted by media members the Dwight Stephenson Most Valuable Lineman of the A-Day Game, while running back Terry Grant was named the winner of the Dixie Howell Memorial for Most Valuable Player.

McCullough had six tackles, while Grant caught four passes for 87 yards with two touchdowns and rushed for 21 yards on six carries.
Spring awards
The coaching staff honored several players with the annual spring awards. Here are the winners:

Lee Roy Jordan Headhunter Award: Rolando McClain (LB)

Jerry Duncan “I Like To Practice” Award: Javier Arenas (CB/KR) and Travis McCall (TE).

Billy Neighbors Defensive Lineman Award: Lorenzo Washington (DT)

Bobby Johns Defensive Back Award: Kareem Jackson (CB)

Paul Crane Offensive Lineman Award: Mike Johnson (LG) and Andre Smith (LT)

Ray Perkins Receiver Award: Mike McCoy (WR)

Johnny Musso Offensive Back Award: John Parker Wilson (QB)

Woodrow Lowe Linebacker Award: Jimmy Johns (LB)

Ozzie Newsome Most Improved Freshman Award: Josh Chapman (DT) and Darius Hanks (WR)

Bear Bryant Outstanding Non-scholarship Player Award: Tyrone King (CB) and Leigh Tiffin (PK)

Derrick Thomas Community Service Award: Glen Coffee (RB) and Cory Reamer (LB)

Mal Moore Leadership Award: Antoine Caldwell (OL) and Rashad Johnson (S)

Bart Starr Most Improved Player Award: Drew Davis (OL) and Justin Woodall (S)

Sylvester Croom Commitment to Excellence Award: Marlon Davis (OL) and Bobby Greenwood (DL)