Happy New Year!

2010 has begun, and the Alabama football team has arrived in southern California. A four hour plane ride from Birmingham to Santa Ana, California, and then a short bus ride to the Newport Beach/Costa Mesa area saw the Tide make its way to the team hotel.

They team will make a short visit to Disneyland tomorrow, and they'll get to work. Bama will practice five times in California is preparation for Thursday night's game. Coaches and players will be made available to the media at the discretion of the BSC, but we'll let you know if anything important happens.

Roll Tide! And I hate orange!

On Wednesday afternoon the Alabama football team held its ninth practice for the BCS Championship Game. Due to rain in Tuscaloosa, the team worked inside the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility. The full pads practice was the penultimate one in Tuscaloosa, and the final one that will have a media viewing period.

Here's what you need to know:

The Alabama football team was back outside in the cold Tuscaloosa weather for their eigth practice in preparation for the Texas Longhorns in the BCS National Championship Game. With just two more practices remaining before the Tide heads to California, Bama was in full pads.

Here's what you need to know:

The Alabama football team worked out in the brisk cold of Tuscaloosa on Monday afternoon. The practice was in shells, though the team was in sweat pants rather than the customary shorts.

Here's what you need to know:

Citing health concerns, Florida head football coach Urban Meyer has announced that he is retiring.

That's pretty sobering news for a fan base that has been riding pretty high for the last three (plus) years. And, really, it should serve as sobering news to any college football fan. Rivalries aside, Urban Meyer is a great football coach, and him having to retire because of health issues, especially at his age, is a terrible thing.

Our collective hearts here at the BSR go out to Coach Meyer, his family, and the entire Florida family.

Guess who's been a lousy blogger lately? If you guessed me, you win! If it weren't for nxojkt holding down the fort here lately, it would have been a real ghost town. Sorry about that gang.

OK, it's about time for a long-overdue Weekend Roundup.

• Jennifer Floyd Engel argues that Alabama shouldn't be in the BCS title game due to probation. Let me help you out here. Alabama was slammed for "major violations", but is not on "major probation". There's a difference, and Engel knows it. She's being disingenuous.
• Texas is already poking fun at us. Everyone seems fascinated with Alabama fans' fascination with one of the best coaches every to roam the sidelines. It's an old joke now, guys.
• Doug at Every Day Should Be Saturday has a hilarious piece up about the Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl up - even if the game is over, it's still funny.
• There's already a 2010 preseason poll... and the Tide is ranked first.
• And Mike Wise of the Washington Post has one of the saner Tiger Woods takes you'll see. Ever. Good writing and great perspective.

The Alabama football team practiced again on Tuesday in pre-Christmas preparation for the Texas Longhorns and the BCS National Championship Game. The Tide worked outside and in shells.

Here's what you need to know:

The Alabama football team practiced on Monday afternoon for the third time in preparation for the BCS National Championship Game. Sorry for the lateness of the post... Monday was a heck of a day.

The practice was outside, in full pads, and

Here's what you need to know:

The Alabama football practiced Sunday afternoon for the second time in preparation for the BCS National Championship Game. Unlike yesterday's practice, the Tide donned full pads and worked outside.

Here's what you need to know:

The Alabama football team hit the practice field for the first of its 15 practices leading up to the BCS National Championship Game on January 7. The practice, in shells, was held inside the Hank Crisp Indoor Practice Facility due to 40 degree weather in Tuscaloosa.

Here's what you need to know: