Contributed
(Nov. 25, 2009)

TUSCALOOSA – Alabama tight end Colin Peek and right guard Barrett Jones were named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American Team, as selected by the College of Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on Tuesday afternoon.

A first-team Academic All-American, Peek sports a 3.79 grade point average in finance and is expected to graduate this December.  He has played in 11 games and has recorded 20 catches for 221 yards (11.1 per catch) and one touchdown.  He is also an outstanding blocker and has helped paved the way for Mark Ingram’s SEC-leading 127.2 rushing yards per game this season.

He was a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Honor Roll in 2006, 2007 and 2008 at Georgia Tech. Once Peek transferred to Alabama, he was honored on Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll in 2009. He was named to the ACC’s All-Academic Football team at tight end in 2008 and is a member of Sigma Alpha Lambda and Golden Key. Peek was also honored with the Outstanding Undergraduate Award in Finance and named to the Dean’s List at Georgia Tech (2006, 2007, and 2008) and Alabama (2009).   He is expected to graduate from the University of Alabama in December.

Jones is a second-team Academic All-American after compiling a 4.0 grade point average in management for the Tide.  He has started all 11 games for the Crimson Tide this season at right guard.  He is one of three first-year starters on the offensive line.  He has been an integral part of the Tide’s rushing success this season with the Crimson Tide averaging 225.6 rushing yards per game to rank second in the SEC and 10th nationally this season.  The Tide’s offensive line leads the SEC and ranks 11th nationally in fewest sacks allowed (1.0) per game.

He was a member of the 2009 SEC Freshman Academic Honor Roll and has been selected to the President’s List in 2008 and 2009 with a 4.0 GPA. 

Brock reinstated to basketball team

Alabama guard Anthony Brock has been reinstated to the basketball team after serving a two-game suspension for an unspecified violation of team rules.

"Anthony Brock has met the requirements that we set for him to end his suspension effective immediately," said Alabama basketball coach Anthony Grant. "Anthony is committed to this program and understands the expectations that we hold for our basketball team."

Brock, a 5-foot-9 senior from Little Rock, Ark., had 15 points and three steals in the season opener against Cornell but was suspended two days later by Grant.

"I am remorseful that my actions let down my teammates, coaches and the University of Alabama," Brock said. "However, I am grateful for the opportunity coach Grant has given me to rejoin my teammates and represent the Crimson Tide."

Ingram graces SI cover

Alabama sophomore running back Mark Ingram has landed on this week’s cover of Sports Illustrated, the magazine announced Tuesday. The issue is expected to hit the newsstands on Wednesday.

The Flint, Mich., native is a finalist for both the Doak Walker Award and the 73rd Maxwell Trophy.  In 11 games this season, Ingram leads the SEC and ranks fifth nationally with 127.2 rushing yards per game. He has 205 rushing attempts for 1,399 yards and 12 touchdowns.  He averages 6.8 yards per attempt this season.  Ingram also has 25 catches (2nd most on the team) for 225 yards and three touchdowns.  He leads the Tide with 1,624 combined rushing and receiving yards (147.6 per game) and 15 touchdowns.

Ingram’s appearance on this week’s cover of Sports Illustrated continues the latest trend of national exposure for the Crimson Tide football program since head coach Nick Saban’s arrival in 2007.  During that three-year span, Alabama has made six total appearances on national magazine covers. There have been four appearances on the cover of Sports Illustrated (Coach Saban – two times, Glen Coffee and Ingram) and one appearance each on the cover of Forbes (Saban) and Sporting News (team running out of tunnel).

Practice update

The Alabama football team practiced for two hours in full pads Tuesday afternoon at the Thomas-Drew Facility as preparations for Friday’s game with Auburn continue.

Alabama senior defensive end Brandon Deaderick talked about Auburn’s offense and how the Tide is preparing this week.

“They have a really explosive offense,” Deaderick said following practice. “They have a lot of powerful running and some really good backs.  They are pretty good up front.  They are a big, physical bunch with sound blocking. They really try and go downhill with it, so we are going to have to match that physicality up front.

Nick Saban Show change

Coach Saban will attend his weekly radio show at Buffalo Wild Wings, which will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 25 due to Thanksgiving and the game being moved up to Friday. Due to the short week, Coach Saban will go on the air at approximately 7:20 p.m. The radio broadcast will begin as it usually does with “Hey Coach” starting things off at 6:30 p.m. followed by “The Nick Saban Show.”  Tom Roberts serves as the program’s host and Tyler Watts will be on as a special guest.