The cowbells are ringing lustfully in Starkville, Miss.
Mississippi State welcomes fifth-ranked Alabama to Davis Wade Stadium.
Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide are looking for a bounce-back victory after losing to Texas A&M. The Bulldogs (3-2) want a better performance than last year. Alabama’s defense pitched a 41-0 shutout at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mike Leach is in his second year with the “Air-Raid” offense, and it’s taking root.
People want to see how the Tide responds to adversity, and this matchup is one to test it.
As both teams are on the field for pregame warmups, the notes for Alabama are listed below.
-Nothing has changed on Alabama’s offensive line. The lineup is Evan Neal, Javion Cohen, Darrian Dalcourt, Emil Ekiyor Jr., Chris Owens, and Kendall Randolph (C-gap tight end).
-Alabama’s starting defensive line is Phidarian Mathis, DJ Dale, and Justin Eboigbe.
-Byron Young, Tim Smith, and Jamil Burroughs make up the second team. LaBryan Ray will see more action tonight, as he continues to build confidence.
-A few NFL scouts are in attendance, including one from the Miami Dolphins.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
