Head coach Mike Shula began the season optimistic. Shula saidthe 2004 team was a different team than last year’s squadwhich was 4-9 overall and 2-6 in Southeastern Conference play.
Although a young team, experience holds the key to keepingAlabama’s season looking bright.
Opening the season 3-0, Shula’s positive vibes seemed tobe rubbing off on all of the Alabama fans until the injury ofjunior quarterback Brodie Croyle.
During last Saturday’s blowout victory against Division1-AA Western Carolina, Croyle fell to the ground with a tornACL.
He will be nothing more than a spectator on the sidelines forthe rest of the season because of the injury.
“I was just going to the sideline,” Croyle said in astatement after the game. “I went to plant and my knee justwent out. This isn’t how I imagined it happening. ButI’ve been through it before and I’ll start over again.It was just unfortunate that it happened.”
Alabama began their Southeastern Conference play with adominating win over Ole Miss, 28-7.
With an SEC record of 1-0, Alabama travels to Arkansas this weekwith hopes of avenging last year’s 34-31 double overtimeloss, after blowing a 21-point third-quarter lead.
With a huge piece of its team missing, ‘Bama looks to fillthe void and lean on other key players to make big plays.
Sophomore Mark Guillon, a transfer from Miami University, takesover the reigns at quarterback with big shoes to fill.
Shula said he feels great about the decision and thinks Guillonwill take advantage of the opportunity.
“As a backup, you prepare as a starter every week,”Guillon said after the game. “No one wants to see that happen[Brodie’s injury], but I’m going to keep goinghard.”
Guillon will have support on offense with senior halfback RyanHudson leading the team in returning rushes and fullback TimCastille as the leading returning receiver. Castille teams up withLe’Ron McClain in the backfield to add pressure to thedefense.
The offensive line returns four starters from last year,including All-America candidate Wesley Britt.
Charlie Peprah anchors the defensive side of the ball. Peprah, a5-foot-10, 190-pound safety who played cornerback last year, hasstarted 24 consecutive games and has eight career interceptions.The junior was moved to strong safety in the spring.
Junior linebacker DeMeco Ryans, who was the team’s leadingtackler last year with 126 tackles, also figures to play a key roleon the team.
A home game with South Carolina is sandwiched in between tworoad games against Arkansas and Kentucky in the next three weeksfor the Crimson Tide.
After facing a tough non-conference foe in Southern Mississippiat home, Alabama goes on the road to face traditional opponentTennessee before ending the season with home contests againstMississippi State and in-state rival Auburn, with a trip to BatonRouge to face LSU in between.