Tiger Prowl Sucks/Crimson Caravan Rules

[Townhallsavoy]

HANCEVILLE -- A line full of crimson-colored Alabama fans began to form more than an hour before their arrival.


There were houndstooth hats, shirts and shoes, men dressed in suits, and children with their shirts tucked in and their hair comb neatly.
 Such douchebags.


The Crimson Caravan rolled in just before 6 p.m. at Wallace State College LOL, a line of automobiles led by a police escort with a pair of SUVs carrying Alabama coach Nick Saban and athletic director Mal Moore.


The display once again underscored the Crimson Tide's popularity in the state, which skyrocketed to new heights once Saban was hired in 2007.


"Our fans, their passion is a real asset to the program," Saban said. "I spoke in Memphis (Monday) night. I took (roughly 100) pictures, and at least half the people said we saw the (A-Day) game on TV, we saw the game on ESPN. ... I think that ESPN came to Alabama to do the game because of how many fans we get, not because we're any good in football to start with. All those things contribute to a lot of positives, a lot of exposure that enhances the chances of being successful."


Saban, who spoke to a dinner audience, also answered some questions about football, including the decision to keep Blake Sims with the quarterbacks entering preseason camp.


Sims began spring camp with the quarterbacks as an emergency plan, but impressed coaches enough to potentially utilize his athleticism at the position.


"I think he's kind of the third quarterback right now, and actually threw the ball better and played the position better and grasped the position better than what we anticipated, and does have some physical attributes that separate him from the other guys," Saban said. "There's some things he might be able to do that we obviously didn't do in the spring game, but may add some things to our offense."


Sims was 1-for-5 passing for the White team in the A-Day game and also had one carry for 4 yards. Sounds like a badass. Of course, one game does not make a complete spring, and Saban is looking at the entire body of work.


Sims (6-0, 200) is a redshirt freshman from Gainesville, Ga., where he was a star quarterback. He initially signed as an athlete, and was once tabbed as a potential safety. At which position will he win the Heisman Trophy?  Stay tuned for the 2011 season to see him do it at all three

Saban also said true freshman quarterback Phillip Ely, who enrolled in January from Tampa (Fla.) Plant, "is doing fine."


"He's just a young guy that probably is not quite ready for everything that got thrown at him in the spring," Saban said. "But he's a good kid and he's working hard. He does have some physical ability, and we'll see how he develops."


Saban touched on the ongoing evaluation at left tackle, where Barrett Jones played Saturday in a departure from his starting spot at right guard.


The competition to start at left tackle for most of the spring had been between junior college transfer Aaron Douglas and senior Alfred McCullough. Douglas played left tackle with the second team Saturday beside McCullough, who was the left guard.


"Aaron Douglas actually played probably the best he's played all spring," Saban said. "Things are starting to come into place for him, probably a little simpler plan easier for him to execute. He did a much better job fundamentally."


Saban said he thought Alabama had better execution than he first thought during A-Day. He said quarterbacks AJ McCarron and Phillip Sims did some good things and also showed the need to improve in other areas. Saban also said the younger players "melted down" and "got a little anxious" at times, but called the spring a great experience for them.


"I actually thought watching the film it was probably better execution than what I thought," Saban said of the game. "I thought it was very competitive. I thought the guys were playing hard, gave good effort, a lot of good hitting."


Saban declined to answer specifically about minor injuries, but said "nothing is real serious, all minor things."


Also of note Tuesday was the announcement former Alabama running back Mark Ingram had won the fan vote to have his image on the cover of EA Sports' NCAA Football 2012. More than 140,000 votes were cast. Ingram helped make the announcement on ESPN2 Tuesday during ESPN's First Take. Others considered for the cover were Auburn's Nick Fairley, Washington's Jake Locker and Oklahoma's DeMarco Murray.


"I'm happy for him," Saban said. "He's well deserving."

I'm just pickin'. 

But I love how the Crimson Caravan is portrayed as a gentlemen's club.  A real Sunday afternoon event.  Wear your church clothes and bring your Alabama programs as we venture around the state like it's Mardi Gras.

[AUsweetheart]

God, I hate them.

[AUJarhead]

God, I hate them.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

[Buzz Killington]

The author had me at shirts and shoes.

[Townhallsavoy]

The author had me at shirts and shoes.

Ha.  I completely missed that one.

Notice he didn't include "teeth."

[Buzz Killington]

Ha.  I completely missed that one.

Notice he didn't include "teeth."

After reading it again, maybe he meant houndstooth shirts and shoes.

[Townhallsavoy]

After reading it again, maybe he meant houndstooth shirts and shoes.

No he didn't.  Don't give him any credit.  He meant he was happy to see Bama fans wear shirts and shoes. 

[AUTiger1]

God, I hate them.

^^^

[AUChizad]

So wasn't "Tiger Prowl"-like events made illegal, and now the event currently under investigation from before it was made illegal?

Explain to me how the Crimson Caravan is different from last year's version of the Tiger Prowl, where they took the bus to the Oak Mountain Amphitheater parking lot, and wherever it went in Montgomery and Huntsville, etc.

[Snaggletiger]

I have a simple, and probably far too logical question.  Now first, I'm not saying Tiger Prowl was an infraction of NCAA rules or a bad thing in any way.  But, the fact/perception is....that the Tiger Prowl operation is under investigation by the NCAA.  So, you come up with this innovative idea.  Definitely outside the box as far as recruiting tactics or building publicity and public relations for Auburn go.  You know it will draw attention...a lot of attention....obviously because you'll be rollin' up in limos and Hummers and blinged out carriages, puttin' the coaching staff bum rush on em' every where you go.

Now, the question is....if you're going put this thing in motion....why on earth would you not go straight to the NCAA compliance office beforehand and say, "Okay look.  Here's what we plan to do.  This is how we will go about it.  Please review this with us and tell us if we're within the rules.  Anything we can and can't do.  You give us the stamp of approval on what's acceptable here."

You have a freakin' compliance department at Auburn.  Isn't that their job?  Not to just advise but to actually check with the NCAA before it goes into motion.  That way, when any questions arise...before countless smear pieces are written...before the NCAA comes calling....Auburn can simply issue a press release that says, "On August 25, 2009, we contacted the NCAA...."  Case closed.  Idiot media members and message board fucks...shut the hell up.  Makes sense to me. But no, that would be too logical.   

[Saniflush]

I would actually think that the main reason that this is not done in most cases is because the NCAA will not tell you whether or not gray area stuff is ok.  They put the monkey back on the school saying they have the information to make intelligent/informed decisions. 

I actually look at a compliance office a lot like what I deal with concerning OSHA.  Very few items are specifically defined and covered in the rulebook.  It is up to the company/representative of the company to decide how to best stay within the guidelines and spirit of the regulation.

In other words from OSHA/NCAA "we ain't telling you shit but we reserve the right to come back to you and tell you that you did it wrong".

Fuck both of 'em in da mouf.

[Townhallsavoy]

First rule of recruiting - Do it and ask for forgiveness later.

I bet the compliance department determined it would at worst be a secondary violation.  I think it only violates the bump rule.  It just does it in style.  Once they determined that, they went all for it. 

That's also just speculation.