Conspiracy in West Alabama?

As seen recently on ESPN, Nick Saban got very upset with Ian Rapaport of the Birmingham News for asking how he was going to get down to the NCAA required 85, Ian wrote about it in his blog.

"Some questions, you can't wait to ask. If a pitcher coming off arm surgery throws a no-hitter in his first start back, it would be fun to ask him, So how does that feel? On the other hand, there are some questions that you simply have to ask. Ya know, because it's your job. Numbers! A lot of times, it's clear that while the answer will be valuable, the process getting there won't be pretty. Your subject might not want to talk about it. Yeah, you might get yelled at. (Not that you mind...) Today, after Alabama's last spring practice, I had one of those situations. One of the big questions, I think, for the off season is how will coach Nick Saban whittle the roster down to just 85 scholarships? There are 66 on scholarship now, and assume 25 freshman will enroll. That's 91. ...."

There are two numbers set in stone: 25 (the maximum number of recruits signing LOI each year) and 85 (the maximum number of players on football scholarships at any time each year). spuat signed 32 players to LOIs in 2008 - that's 7 over the limit! Rapaport stated; "... There are 66 on scholarship now, ..." and $aban didn't disagree. So it's safe to say that was a correct number of spuat players on football scholarships! Add 32 ( number of recruits signing 2008 LOIs) and you get 98 - that's 13 over the limit (max number of players on football scholarships at any time each year). So Rapaport was justifiably responsible in asking how Saban was going to whittle the spuat roster down to the 25 (players signed on National Signing Day) and 85 ( the maximum number of players allowed on football scholarships at any time during a year)!

Of course, Saban 'ducked' the legitimate and pertinent question asked by Rapoport. Also, Saban has had most of spuat's practices closed to the fans and media. Could it be that this is how Saban plans to get around the "25 - 85 NCAA Rule"? If no one is allowed to attend practice, then spuat can exceed the "25 - 85 Rule" and have as many players as they want involved in practice (of course, $aban would only dress out 85 players at game time, giving an appearance of adhering to the "25 - 85 NCAA Rule")! Another version of the old "shell and pea" confidence game, Saban style if you believe in conspiracies.

Of course this can't be true, how on earth could you pull such a thing off? But the bigger question is how in the Hell is Alabama going to get rid of 13 kids? No matter how he does it there is going to be a stink, no matter how much deflecting and sweeping he does.

Mike Belotti’s Crab and Shrimp Bisque

crab and shrimp bisque

2 lbs jumbo lump crab meat (picking out pieces of shell will take a while)

2 1/2 lbs small peeled and deveined shrimp (uncooked)

1 medium white onion

2 cans swanson chicken broth

2 cans cream of chicken soup

2 cans cream of shrimp soup

1 stick of butter

1 pint half and half

tony's creole seasoning

cayenne pepper

3 bunches of green onions

dice white onion into small pieces and sautee with stick of butter until goft and mushy

in a large stock pot combine all soups and one can of water and sauteed onion on medium heat and bring to a simmer

add tonys and cayenne pepper to taste,add cayenne slowly and taste until you get a slight after burn

add crab meat and shrimp and cook for about 5-6 min to cook shrimp

stir in half and half and bring back to a simmer stirring often to keep from sticking in bottom of the pot.

dice the green onions and put in a bowl

pour bisque in bowl and sprinkle green onions on top and serve with crackers

BONUS: Dana Jacobsen's Vodka Cocktail Recipe!

1 Large Bottle of Belvedere Vodka

Open Bottle, invert with open end in mouth.

WARNING: Random hatred may spew from your mouth

Jim Tressel’s Mancakes

Cause real men don't eat pancakes, they eat mancakes (and wear sweatervests apparently).

1 cup Wheat flour (make sure it is well ground)

1 cup Oatmeal

1/4 tsp Salt

2 tbsp Brown Sugar

4 tbsp Flax Seed (ground)

1 tsp Baking Soda

1 tbsp Nutmeg (ground)

1 tbsp Cinnamon (ground)

1 cup Milk (can be skimmed)

2 Eggs (you can use just whites but add 2 more)

1 tbsp Real Butter (soft)

Optional Ingredients:

1 green apple (peeled, cored, & diced)

1 banana (diced)

1/4 cup Craisins

1/4 cup Raisins

1/4 cup Almonds (crushed or diced)

Any other dried fruits, but sti

Should be same consistency as regular pancakes - cook the same way.

Best of luck,

Jim Tressel

Kirk Herbstreit’s “I’m better than all of you” Yellow fin Tuna and Crab Dip

1 1/2 lb of fresh Yellow fin Tuna
1 lb of snow crab leg meat broken into pieces
1 medium red onion
1 24 oz container of sour cream
2 10 oz boxes of cream cheese
1 small bottle crab boil
1 tsp Tony Cachere’s
Cayenne pepper

Cut the YFT into small chunks and boil in crab boil for about 3- 4 min or until done. strain tuna and spread on cutting board and let cool.
break into small pieces and combine with crab meat. dice red onion into small pieces. in a large mixing bowl pour sour cream and cream
cheese(let cream cheese soften first)with red onion. Add tony cachere's cajun seasoning to taste then add cayenne pepper until you get
the heat to your liking. Be careful with the cayenne, you just want a little after burn when you taste it. Add tuna and crab meat and you’re
ready to go. Serve with crackers. Be careful, once you start eating it you can’t stop.