Jersey Countdown to Gameday

[Snuffy Smith]

John Mangum

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[BamaHoHo]

29 Days: John Mangum

by Kerry Goode

29 days from kickoff.
Today is the first day of camp. The quest for #17 starts today. The Process begins here. Fall Camp. Day 1
Let’s honor #29 John Wayne Mangum Jr. from Magee, MS, is a former professional football player who played in 9 NFL seasons from 1990-1998 for the Chicago Bears. He played collegiately at Alabama and holds the career record for passes broken up (47).
John was a sixth-round draft choice and played for the Chicago Bears between 1990 and 1998. He finished his Bears career with 272 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 5 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles.
His brother Kris played at the University of Alabama in his freshman year. Kris played in eight games mostly on special teams for the Crimson Tide football team. Kris was part of the 1993 Sugar Bowl and national champion Alabama team of 1992. In 1993, Kris transferred to the University of Mississippi and sat out the season for the Ole Miss Rebels. Kinda like Maurice Smith is trying to do now.
Kris played tight end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League throughout his 10 year NFL career.
His father John Mangum Sr, played for the Boston Patriots in the old American Football League.
Currently works in Jackson, Mississippi as a Senior Vice President and Financial Advisor for CapTrust independent investment advisor and asset management firm. Is the father of three children: Bailey, Abbey, and Jake. His son Jake is a starting outfielder for Mississippi State

 

[TideEngineer08]

Ahmaad Galloway

 

[TideEngineer08]

Dennis Riddle:

 

[TIDE24]

Favorite Alabama player of all time #29 John Mangum!

 

[Snuffy Smith]

Don McNeal

Everyone remembers the Penn State stand on 4th and goal but McNeals "outta nowhere" stop on 2nd down was just as important to that National Championship

Javier Arenas

Dee Milliner

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[FitToBeTide]

Benny Nelson

 

[TideEngineer08]

Brian Steger:

 

[BamaHoHo]

28 Days: Javier Arenas

by Kerry Goode

28 days until the fun begins.
Dee Milliner, David Casteal, Robert “Bo” Jones and Stan Gay are a few guys to wear the #28 but we salute the game changer.
Javier E. Arenas a cornerback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). Arenas played college football for the University of Alabama, earned consensus All-American honors, and was a member of a BCS National Championship team. He played for coaches Mike Shula, Joe Kines, and Nick Saban from 2006 to 2009. Arenas set SEC records with 1,752 career punt-return yards and seven punt-return touchdowns. He was a first-team All-SEC selection and was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American. The 2009 Crimson Tide completed an undefeated 14–0 season, beat the Florida Gators 32–13 to win the 2009 SEC Championship Game, and then defeated the Texas Longhorns 37–21 to win the 2010 BCS National Championship.
Entering his seventh season, Arenas has spent time with the Chiefs, Cardinals, Falcons, Jets and now the Bills since being drafted by Kansas City in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft with the 50th overall pick.
“I’m a guy that knows what to do with the ball in my hands … When you talk about the punt-return position — you’ve got to be quick. Of course, you’ve got to be fast. Speed is one thing, but as a punt returner I like to think quickness first,” “You’ve got to maneuver through the small spaces on punt returns because you don’t have that much space. The speed kicks in when it’s time to separate from guys when you break loose.”
“I’m pretty confident that I can get away from guys as well.” Says Arenas
Arenas was born in Tampa, Florida. He attended Robinson High School. He is the cousin of All-Star point guard Gilbert Arenas. Like Gilbert, his paternal grandfather is of Cuban descent. His brother, Armando Murillo, was a Golden Helmet winner at Robinson High School in Tampa, and started at defensive back for the University of Nebraska in 2007 and 2008.

 

[Snuffy Smith]

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[BamaHoHo]

27 Days: Siran Stacy


by Kerry Goode

#27 days and counting.
Today we celebrated the birthday of our honoree. #27 Siran Stacy born August 6 in Geneva, Al. is a former football running back for the Tide.
November 19, 2007, van driven by former University of Alabama football star Siran Stacy was struck by a pickup truck at an intersection, killing six people, including Stacy's wife and four of his children. The drunk driver of the pickup was on the wrong side of the road when it struck Stacy's van on the passenger side.
"The light turned green and they proceeded to cross the road" when hit by the other vehicle, Byrd said. "It was a small pickup truck headed west, but it was in the eastbound lane." "He hit them broadside, T-boned them at the intersection there," Houston County Coroner Robert Byrd said.
A year later, On November 29, 2008, Stacy was the honorary captain of the 2008 Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn. Stacy’s run through the stadium worked the crowd into a frenzy.
Stacy played at the University of Alabama from 1989–91, after spending two years at Coffeyville Community College in Coffeyville, Kansas. For the Crimson Tide, he was a two-year starter and two-time All-SEC performer. During his time at Alabama, Stacy rushed for 2,113 yards and 27 touchdowns. He also had 62 receptions for 574 yards for one touchdown.
Stacy was drafted in the second round of the 1992 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles as the 48th overall pick. Stacy also played for Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Canadian Football League and the Scottish Claymores in NFL Europe. With the latter, he would become the team's all-time leading rusher with 2350 yards.
Now, as one of the country’s leading motivational speakers, Stacy uses his story to make a difference in the lives of others. Stacy has drawn on his international career as a professional football player and his profound faith to become one of the premier inspirational speakers in a variety of settings. Stacy has spoken to churches, corporate groups, schools, prisons, military branches, and many other groups. As one of the most passionate keynote speakers operating today, Stacy can leave a lasting impression with your group too.
http://www.siranstacy.org/

 

[Snuffy Smith]

Bobby Humphrey

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[BamaHoHo]

26 Days: Bobby Humphrey

by Kerry Goode

26 days from kickoff.
Today we salute #26 Bobby Humphrey. Bobby is on the ballot for the years College Football Hall of Fame. We wish him the best!!!!
Tell me your Bobby Humphrey story...

 

[Snuffy Smith]

Rolando McClain

Or as Uncle Verne would say - Orlando McCain

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[TideEngineer08]

Derrick Lassic, one of my all-time favorites:

And to play a little catch up, a guy I wanted to see mentioned but I missed day 27. Ray Hudson:

 

[BamaHoHo]

25 Days: Dennis Homan

by Kerry Goode

25 days to go….Derrick Lassic, Linnie Patrick and Rolando McClain (please pray for “Rolando”) are few guys to were the 25 jersey. But, I’d like to salute a man that helped recruit me to the capstone.
Dennis Frank Homan of Muscle Shoals, Al. was a wide receiver in the National Football League for five seasons for the Dallas Cowboys (1968–1970) and the Kansas City Chiefs (1971–1972). He later played for the Birmingham Americans (1974) and Birmingham Vulcans (1975) of the World Football League. Homan attended Muscle Shoals High School where he played football, basketball and baseball. He was a Consensus All-American, both athletically & academically, and was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.
“I have more respect for Coach Bryant than any person I’ve ever known.” -Dennis Homan.
Like many former Alabama football players, Dennis Homan has some wonderful mementos of his playing days on display in his Florence Al. home. One of his prized possession is a frame letter from Coach Bryant sent to all his former players after announcing his retirement.
In the note, Bryant basically gave credit for his success to his players and challenged them to become even bigger winners in their post-football lives.
“That’s a treasure,” Homan said. “He gave all the praise and accolades to us. It’s amazing.”
Photos, magazine clippings, and other memorabilia fill up an entire room (The Homans call it the “Red room”) dedicated to all things Alabama. There is one things missing, though.
“We used to visit Mrs. Bryant,” remember Homan. “Every time we’d go over she was trying to give something away. Well, Coach Bryant had several of his hound’s-tooth hats hanging on a hat rack. She said, “Dennis, why don’t you take one of these hats? Paul would love for you to have one.” I said, “Oh No, I couldn’t.” Now I wish I had!””

 

[Snuffy Smith]

Kevin Turner

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[BamaHoHo]

by Kerry Goode

24 days from kickoff
Kevin Turner No. 24 changed the world. He made the world take notice that it's your "Brain" not a Bell. You can't continue ringing it and be ok.
Paul Kevin Turner (June 12, 1969 – March 24, 2016) played eight seasons in the National Football League for the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles.
Turner attended Prattville High School in Prattville, Alabama. Playing for the school's gridiron football team, Turner was a member of the 1984 Alabama state champions. Turner was regarded as a strong blocker, supporting running backs Siran Stacy and Bobby Humphrey.
In June 2010, Turner was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease. He was involved in research that links chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) to ALS, and agreed to donate his brain and spinal cord when he died. Turner served as a lead plaintiff in a major lawsuit filed by former players against the NFL regarding the health risks of concussions in American football.
It was while playing guitar that Turner first realized something wasn't right.
"I noticed the fingers on my left hand just weren't responding the way they had always done," he recalled. "I just found it curious that chords I had been playing for 20 years, my fingers just wouldn't go there."
The first diagnosis was a compressed nerve in his neck, for which Turner had surgery in July 2009.
"About nine months later, I went back to the doctor and said, 'I think we must have missed something,'" he said.
Subsequent tests later revealed he had ALS, a disease Turner knew little about except that it was also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, after the New York Yankees great who was diagnosed with ALS in 1939, on his 36th birthday, and died two years later.
"I guess I knew it was how Lou Gehrig died, but I really didn't know it was still a terminal diagnosis until I asked the doctor, 'What do we do?'" Turner said. "She kind of shrugged her shoulders like, 'There is nothing we can do for it.'"
The disease affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, slowly but surely causing its victims' muscles to waste away, leading to paralysis and, eventually, death. There is no cure.
"I really am very optimistic about finding a way to cure this disease — if not reverse it, at least stop it," he said. "I think we are less than five years away, and that would be the ultimate happy ending for me.
Turner had three children. Kevin married Allison Sanford in 2014. His son Nolan will play college football for the Clemson Tigers of Clemson University.

 

[Snuffy Smith]

Benny Perrin

Bobby Luna

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[BamaHoHo]

23 Days: Benny Perrin

by Kerry Goode

23 days away my friends…
Paul Tripoli, Todd Richardson, Jim Nix and Reggie Myles lead this group of 23, the number 23. Most of them played like our honoree. Jesse Bennett Perrin from Decatur Al. where he attended Decatur High School, where he currently resides and is owner of BB Perrins Sports Bar and Grille.
Perrin drafted in 1982 /Round: 3 / Pick: 65 played four seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals in the National Football League.
A cast-iron pig is the first thing you notice as you approach the restaurant's front door. Restaurant owner Benny Perrin greets customers from the cash register. At B.B. Perrins. The B.B. stands for brothers Benny and Braxton.
The former Crimson Tide defensive back and his wife, Courtney, watch Alabama games together and he cheers on the big hits… She cringed.
As a cornerback, Perrin was a self-described “headhunter.” He grew up idolizing former Oakland Raiders star Jack Tatum, known as “The Assassin” for his devastating hits. Perrin knows what it’s like delivering a knockout blow. Courtney, though, was a trauma nurse who has seen her share of head and neck injuries.
Perrin doesn’t condone unsportsmanlike hitting after the whistle, but he misses the time when receivers were afraid to come across the middle of a defense and is frustrated by all the new rules that take away that fear. What is illegal now was strategy then.
“Once you made it clear that you were that kind of player, don’t think that didn’t go through those guys’ minds,”
Equipment is better, but players are bigger, stronger and faster, making the potential for life-changing hits more of a reality.
“Coach Saban is going to teach the near leg, near shoulder and keep teaching the proper way to tackle someone,” “And you never want to lead in with your head.”
Perrin, who remembers walking to the wrong huddle after taking a knee to the ear while playing the Falcons. Atlanta quarterback Steve Bartkowski had to walk him back to the Cardinals sideline. Perrin played two more downs before being taken off the field.
His break didn’t last long. “Once I was able to tell the doctor what stadium I was in, I’m cleared to go back in the game,” he said.
For Perrin, looking back on his football glory days comes with some of the sport’s lingering effects still felt today. He was forced to retire after three NFL seasons when a routine chest X-ray revealed a broken bone in his neck.
He lives with pain to this day, but that comes with the sport, and he doesn’t have regrets for the way he played the game. “I played out there for years; at any second that could have been the end,” he said. “If you choose that profession, that’s part of it. It’s like a race car driver: If you’re not worried about flipping that thing and getting killed that afternoon, you might want to find something else to do.”