Connect with us

Published

on

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 8 Alabama might be without starting guard Jaeden Roberts for its season opener at Florida State on Saturday.

Roberts, a fifth-year senior who has started 21 games over the past two seasons, missed the last two weeks of practice and remains in the NCAA concussion protocol.

“[Jaeden]’s in question with what he’s going through with the protocol,” coach Kalen DeBoer said Monday. “He’s progressing, so we’ll kind of see here.”

If Roberts can’t play, Alabama would turn to senior Geno VanDeMark. VanDeMark played in all 13 games last season for the Crimson Tide, including one start. He has appeared in 31 career games, with nine starts.

“We threw him out there for a couple series a game last year,” DeBoer said. “And he did a great job. We’ve referred to him as a Swiss army knife guy so he’s really valuable to us. So you feel like you don’t skip a beat, and he was competing for [a starting spot] in the first place.”

VanDeMark and Texas A&M transfer Kam Dewberry had been vying for the starting guard spot opposite Roberts.

The only other injury of note for the Tide: running back Jam Miller will miss several weeks with a dislocated collarbone sustained in the team’s second scrimmage of training camp. He is expected to return for the team’s Southeastern Conference opener against Georgia in late September.

Alabama’s offensive line — four of five projected starters have at least 20 games of experience — is expected to be a strength this season even though the unit was part of an offense that finished 47th nationally in rushing yards in 2024, 61st in sacks allowed and 90th in tackles for loss allowed.

“Feel like they’re in a good spot,” offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said. “A lot of starts with the guys on the field.”

Continue Reading

Sports

Army to allow alcohol sales at football games

Published

on

By

Army to allow alcohol sales at football games

WEST POINT, N.Y. — Army will begin selling alcoholic beverages at football games at Michie Stadium beginning with its game Friday against Tarleton State, athletic director Tom Theodorakis announced Wednesday.

Army was the last service academy to not sell alcohol at football games. Air Force began sales in 2017 and Navy in 2021.

“The opportunity to purchase alcohol has become common practice at college athletic venues across the country, and we’re pleased to introduce it here at West Point as part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing the gameday experience,” Theodorakis said, adding that Army is committed to ensuring a safe and family-friendly environment for fans.

Fans will be able to purchase beer and ready-to-drink cocktails with a limit of two drinks per transaction. A portion of the revenue from alcohol sales will help support Army’s other 29 sports.

Continue Reading

Sports

Harvard-Yale rivalry to return to Fenway in 2026

Published

on

By

Harvard-Yale rivalry to return to Fenway in 2026

BOSTON — Harvard and Yale will play The Game at Fenway Park next season, the second time the rivalry has moved to the historic home of the Boston Red Sox.

The Nov. 21, 2026, game will be the 142nd meeting between the Ivy League schools — the third most-played rivalry in college football. Yale leads the series 71-61-8, including the last three years.

Harvard won the 2018 game 45-27 at Fenway, the first time The Game was played off campus since an 1894 meeting that was so violent the Harvard faculty voted to disband the football program.

Fenway has hosted football since its opening year in 1912, and it served as the home of the AFL’s Boston Patriots from 1963-68. More recently, the ballpark has hosted some Boston College and high school football games and the Fenway Bowl.

Fenway also has hosted concerts, Shakespeare in the Park, big air skiing, Irish hurling and pickleball.

Continue Reading

Sports

Sources: Tide DL Keenan (ankle) out for opener

Published

on

By

Sources: Tide DL Keenan (ankle) out for opener

Alabama will be without team captain and starting defensive tackle Tim Keenan III for Saturday’s opener against Florida State after he suffered a high ankle sprain Tuesday in practice, sources told ESPN.

Keenan was scheduled to undergo a tightrope surgical procedure Wednesday and is expected to miss multiple games, but sources said Alabama expects him back at some point this season. The Crimson Tide face UL Monroe in Week 2, Wisconsin in Week 3 and then have a bye week before traveling to Georgia for the SEC opener on Sept. 27.

Coach Kalen DeBoer said earlier Wednesday on the SEC coaches teleconference that Keenan was still being evaluated after suffering a lower-body injury and would “probably not” be full go for the game.

Keenan, a fifth-year senior, is one of the anchors of an Alabama defensive line that should be one of the strengths of the team. He’s a two-year starter and one of the strongest leaders on the team. Redshirt freshman Jeremiah Beaman and true freshman London Simmons are next in line to step in for Keenan, who was second on the team a year ago with 7.5 tackles for loss.

Offensive lineman Jaeden Roberts‘ status for Saturday’s opener remains uncertain, according to DeBoer. The fifth-year senior, who has started 21 games over the past two seasons, has been “very limited” in recent practices as he works his way through the NCAA concussion protocol.

The Crimson Tide were already going to be without starting running back Jam Miller, who dislocated his collarbone in a scrimmage and will miss multiple games. DeBoer told ESPN last week he expected Miller to be back for the Georgia game.

On3.com was the first to report the news of Keenan’s surgery and the expectation he would miss multiple games.

Continue Reading

Trending