ALABAMA NOTEBOOK: Coffee, Tide on cover of Sports Illustrated

By Ken Rogers

Published: September 2, 2008

TUSCALOOSA — Alabama jumped from No. 24 to No. 13 in the Associated Press poll, which was released Tuesday. It was the biggest leap of any team in the poll.

In the wake of its 34-10 victory over previously No. 9 Clemson, the national media took notice. Glen Coffee is on the cover of this week’s Sports Illustrated with the headline: “SEC Beware: Alabama sends an early warning.”

Coffee’s backfield teammate, Roy Upchurch, said he had seen a copy of the cover.

“I heard. I saw a nice little picture of Glen on there,” Upchurch said. “He’s not big-headed. Hey, whatever keeps us motivated, I’m for. ... A lot of people don’t get the chance to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated. I’m happy for him. More power to him.”

Coffee wasn’t aware of the Tide’s ranking. Told it is No. 13, he nodded and said, “Pretty good. I was hoping for Top 10. I like the cover, though.”

Southern Cal jumped from No. 3 to No. 1 with its impressive 52-7 win over Virginia. Top-ranked Georgia and No. 2 Ohio State, which opened with convincing, but humane, victories over Georgia Southern and Youngstown State, respectively, each dropped one spot.

Auburn is No. 9 this week. joining Georgia, Florida (5), LSU (7), Alabama and South Carolina (24) in the poll. Tennessee, which was No. 18 and lost to UCLA in overtime 27-24 Monday night, fell out.

Tide linemen honored
Terrence Cody is this week’s SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week.

Mike Johnson, Alabama’s versatile lineman, is the league’s Offensive Lineman of the Week. Johnson started a left guard and moved to
left tackle when Andre Smith was injured midway through the third quarter.

Alabama held the ball for more than 41 minutes. Saban called it Johnson’s best game in his two years.

Speaking of Smith, he and wide receiver Earl Alexander were back on the bikes in black jerseys at practice Tuesday. Smith sprained his right knee and Alexander sprained an ankle. Both are day-to-day.

Left behind
Apparently, Clemson accidentally left a player in Atlanta after Saturday night’s game.

Beat writer Paul Strelow, who writes for The State newspaper, told the story in his blog.

Jamie Cumbie, a defensive tackle, apparently was upset on the bus as the team loaded up after the game. Defensive coordinator Vic Koenning told Cumbie to get off the bus and move to the Tigers’ third bus.

Cumbie took a walk to cool down, but when he got back to the driveway, the Clemson contingent had pulled off. Cumbie called his parents to come pick him up.

Clemson coach Tommy Bowden had no comment on the incident, saying it was an “internal matter.”

Bowden acknowledged calling Nick Saban — and others like his Bobby Bowden and Frank Beamer — on Monday, seeking advice on how to keep his team from a repeat of the debacle in Atlanta.