The Wiz of Odds

Alabama's Use of Medical Hardships Is Questioned

Did Alabama pressure some underperforming players to quit the team for medical reasons, even in cases where the players were healthy enough to play?

The Crimson Tide has offered at least 12 medical hardship scholarships since Nick Saban became coach of the team in 2007. The scholarships, allowed under NCAA rules, are intended to ensure that scholarship athletes who are too injured to play don't lose their financial aid. Once a player agrees to take a medical scholarship, they can no longer play for that team.

But at least three Alabama players who took that route say the team is using the practice to clear spots for better players by cutting players it no longer wants.

"I'm still kind of bitter, former linebacker Chuck Kirschman told the Wall Street Journal.

"It's a business," he said. "College football is all about politics. And this is a loophole in the system."

Give Them a Hand

Three players made spectacular one-handed receptions in Week 1. Let's take a look at each, starting with Boise State's Tommy Gallarda hauling in a scoring pass in Monday night's victory against Virginia Tech.

Southern Methodist's Darius Johnson twists and pulls in a pass against Texas Tech.

Alabama's Julio Jones scores a touchdown in spectacular fashion against San Jose State.

Roll Tide!

Alabama has misspelled "Mississippi" on its 2010 season tickets. Clay Travis of FanHouse posted this image on his Twitpic account.

The error is getting quite a few comments on the Twittersphere, including this one from Dan Wetzel of Yahoo! Sports: "In wake of spelling error, admission standards at Alabama to be raised. You now need a 23 on your alphabet."

Political Football in Alabama

If Tim James, Republican candidate for governor in Alabama, wasn't a divisive figure leading to the June 1 primary (see video above), he became one Friday.

James, in a neck-and-neck battle with Bradley Byrne for the nomination, denied that if elected, he would cut the annual $4.1 million salary of Nick Saban or fire the Crimson Tide coach.

"Dispelling another untruth from the Byrne camp: I will neither be firing nor cutting Coach Saban's salary if elected," read a post on James' Twitter page.

The controversy started in April, when James reportedly joked about cutting Saban's salary during a meeting with the editorial board of the Crimson White, Alabama's student newspaper.

"It was kind of an off-handed remark" James made as he walked up the office stairs with the newspaper's staff members, former managing editor Alan Blinder told the Birmingham News.

Make Way for the Nick Saban Statue

It's official. Nick Saban has reached legendary status.

Work has started on a bronze statue of the Alabama coach, and officials are hoping to have the project completed by April 17, the date of the spring game.

Saban's wife, Terry, is among several people who will have input on the statue's appearance, according to Corey Beltz, project manager for the company that is handling the project.

"We are sculpting clay right now and we have pretty good direction on what they want for the look of it," Beltz said.

It Pays to Be a Student Leader at Alabama

Five Alabama students, including four members of the Student Government Association, had a trip to Pasadena paid for in violation of spending rules, the student newspaper Crimson White reported.

The students traveled to California to cook and serve food at the Union Station Homeless Services Adult Center on Jan. 6, the day before the Bowl Championship Series title game. Student leaders from Texas also took part.

The group spent $4,742.95 for the trip, which included airfare, hotel, a rental van and food stipends. Tickets to the BCS title game were an out-of-pocket expense.