Tide Tidbits - November 21, 2008

UA’s Johnson keeps turning heads on field
Rashad Johnson is one of the thinking men on No. 1 Alabama's defense, a trait that often enables him to be in position to make big plays. Then there's special teams, where he lines up on the edge as a gunner on punt returns and can just run down the field with reckless abandon. Johnson makes plays that way, too. "It's a lot of fun, especially when you're out there one-on-one," Johnson said. "You just feel like there's not going to be one guy that can stand there and backpedal as fast as you can run forward. By the time he turns and opens his hips you can be around him. It's definitely a lot of fun."

5 QUESTIONS FOR... CRAIG JAMES
Q: Are you surprised that Nick Saban has transformed Alabama into a national championship contender so quickly?

A: Not really, because Nick Saban is just a stubborn, hard-headed, proven winner. He wasn't listening to any outside influences. He had a model that had worked before, especially in that conference, and stayed the course, read the ingredients of his own manual and didn't listen to booster guys running around with toilet rolls taped to their backs.

Offensive coordinator Jim McElwain has Alabama rolling in first season
Now preparing for his 12th game as the Crimson Tide's offensive coordinator, McElwain has yet to lose. Overall, McElwain's teams are 19-2 in his past 21 games, a remarkable run for a guy in only his second year as a Division I coordinator. "If we have five yards of offense and win the game 3-0, it's the greatest game in the history of football because we won," McElwain said in August. "And that's what the bottom line is, trying to win the football game. I'm not caught up in a lot of the stats."

Tide’s Greenwood knows time flies
Alabama senior defensive end Bobby Greenwood now knows what Kyle Tatum was talking about. Teammates at Prattville High, Tatum preceded Greenwood to Alabama. He told the youngster to take advantage of every opportunity. “He told me, ‘Man, you won’t believe how fast this flies by. I’m already out of here,’ ” Greenwood said after practice Tuesday night. “I’m like, ‘Whatever, old man.’ Now I’m the old guy.”

Defensive back Sam Burnthall granted release by Tide
Junior defensive back Sam Burnthall is no longer a member of the University of Alabama football team. 'Sam Burnthall has left the team for personal reasons,' head coach Nick Saban said Wednesday. 'We have granted him his release and we wish him the best.'

Saban endorses coach-in-waiting idea at Alabama
Head coaches in waiting? Just walked out of the office of a prominent head coach who likes the idea. Matter of fact, Nick Saban said he wouldn't mind seeing Alabama football follow that trend. "That's the way I'd like for it to be," Saban said Thursday in his office. "That's what I'd like to happen. Someday. But you've got to have the right person and have everybody in agreement on it."

Roll Tide!