It was a hot one in Tuscaloosa when the University of Alabama football team took the field for the opening of fall camp Thursday afternoon with an afternoon temperature of 97 degrees and a feels-like temperature of 108.
Local product Bo Scarbrough, a sophomore running back, fell victim to the heat at the beginning of the day. He dealt with an early case of the cramps, likely caused by the stifling heat, sitting out most of the drills during the media viewing period. Scarbrough is one of the main competitors vying for the starting running back spot this season.
UA head coach Nick Saban said Scarbrough was able to participate most of the practice.
"He was just struggling a little bit early with some cramps,” Saban said. “Some of these guys get so anxious before they go out there. He actually got over it and went through practice and did a pretty good job after he got going and got started and got loosened up. He was fine.”
Addressing reporters following the roughly two-hour practice, Saban updated the status of several players, including Alphonse Taylor and Tony Brown.
Brown is going through the appeals process with the NCAA stemming from his multi-game suspension that was levied at the beginning of the year.
“We're sort of having a work in progress with the NCAA,” Saban said. “At some point in time they'll give us a decision based on what they feel is their punishment for him or whatever. When that comes, we'll let you know. We're preparing for the season as if he's going to be suspended for several games.”
Taylor, who was recently arrested for a DUI and subsequently indefinitely suspended by Saban, participated in Thursday’s practice, and Saban said a resolution has not been determined for his future playing status.
“Alphonse Taylor has gone through a program – pretty significant program, pretty intense program – and we have cleared him to practice,” Saban said. “But we have not made a decision, and it will be based on what he does and how he does it as to whether that suspension that he had will be lifted when the games come.
“I’m not ready to make that decision right now and I don’t think we have all the information we need to have to be able to make that decision.”
Saban also updated the status of players who had medical procedures over the summer, including Richie Petitbone, Ronnie Clark, Shawn Jennings and Nigel Knott.
“Those guys will not be able to participate probably until school starts, but we'll manage their rehab on an individual basis and when they're ready to get into football we'll sort of step them into it as they can,” Saban said.
First-year defensive line coach Karl Dunbar wore sweatpants and a sweatshirt for the first practice, something he might not being doing in the future, according to one of his players.
"He said he might take those off,” defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson said. “Yeah it was a hot one out there today and he was sweating just like we were.”
But Dunbar’s coaching style meets up with his predecessor’s standards.”
It was intense as usual, just about like any other practice,” Tomlinson said. “He pushed us hard, just like Coach Saban would have if he was over with the defensive line so I feel like he got us a lot better today."
Reach Aaron Suttles at aaron@tidesports.com or at 205-722-0229.
