2010 Football Preview
Phil Paramore shares his thoughts on Alabama’s big three college teams while Robby Smith breaks down the upcoming prep season for Dothan, Northview, Houston Academy and Providence Christian Schools.
Auburn University
Josh Bynes in the 2010 Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Todd Van Emst)
A year ago, uncertainty and doubt surrounded the Auburn Tigers. Those sentiments have been replaced by optimism and the hope this could be a special season.
Gene Chizik was a surprise hire by Auburn after the departure of Tommy Tuberville, but he and his staff surprised most observers by posting an 8-5 record that could have easily been even better. The Tigers were 5-0 at one point, then after moving to 7-3, led both Georgia and Alabama 14-0 before bowing in the fourth quarter of two close games.
Now, with the entire staff back — the only one in the SEC to stay intact from a year ago — Auburn fans are eager to see what unfolds in 2010. Much of the excitement from last year was generated by Gus Malzahn’s offense, which confounded defenses repeatedly. He’s got seven starters back on that side of the ball, including stellar receivers Darvin Adams and Terrell Zachery. Adams averaged 16.7 yards per catch last year, while Zachery averaged 18.3 yards.
For the full Auburn football preview please see the September/October issue of Dothan Magazine available around Dothan at these locations. Click here to become a subscriber!
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University of Alabama
One of the oldest axioms in sports suggests it’s much easier to get to the top than stay there. Alabama’s Crimson Tide will try and disprove that theory this fall, as the defending national champions are picked by virtually every pre-season poll to repeat.
There are plenty of reasons. In just three short years, Nick Saban has built what many consider to be one of the best overall programs in America. He has enjoyed stellar success on the recruiting trail and continues to stockpile talent in Tuscaloosa.
While Saban has built a reputation as being a defensive-minded coach, he may have to rely on an offense that scored at least 30 points nine times last year. And what a group of players he returns on that side of the ball, led by Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram. He rushed for 1,658 yards as a sophomore a year ago, and is backed up by Freshman All-American Trent Richardson. Greg McElroy, who has never lost a game as a starting quarterback in high school or college, is back at the throttle of the Tide attack, and he has all three of his favorite targets back too, including All-SEC product Julio Jones, Marquis Maze, and Darius Hanks.
For the full Alabama football preview please see the September/October issue of Dothan Magazine available around Dothan at these locations. Click here to become a subscriber!
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Troy University
The Troy Trojans enter the 2010 season hoping to continue a string of success that has landed them in a bowl game four of the past six seasons. If they are able to accomplish that goal, a host of new faces will have to contribute in a big way.
Troy lost eight starters on defense and five on offense from last year’s club that went 9-4 and won the Sun Belt Conference again. The Trojans saw the end of the careers of a talented group of seniors with a double-overtime 44-41 loss to Central Michigan in the GMAC Bowl in Mobile.
While former starter Jamie Hampton returns at quarterback for Larry Blakeney’s team, Hampton faces a tall order in replacing record-setting passer Levi Brown, who threw for a whopping 4,254 yards last season with 23 touchdown passes against just nine interceptions. Hampton, a southpaw, does have a gifted corps of skill-position players around him, including former Oklahoma receiver Josh Jarboe and All-Sun Belt Conference performer Jerrel Jernigan of Eufaula.
For the full Troy football preview please see the September/October issue of Dothan Magazine available around Dothan at these locations. Click here to become a subscriber!
