Nick Saban has found has man. Less than a week after Scott Cochran left the Crimson Tide to become the Special Teams coach at Georgia, Alabama has a new Strength & Conditioning Coach. David Ballou, who has held the same position at Indiana for the past two years, has accepted the position.
Ballou was the Co-Director of Football Strength & Conditioning at Notre Dame in 2017. Prior to that he was Head Strength Coach at IMG Academy in Florida. Can you say recruiting?
Indiana Athletic Performance Coach Matt Rhea will also be joining the Crimson Tide. Rhea was also at IMG, as the its head of sports science.
The addition of Rhea coincides with the addition of Alabama’s new Sports Science Center.
“As we do with every position that opens here, we will go out and hire the best person to lead our strength and conditioning program,” Saban said last week, “and help our players maximize the resources available in our new sports science facility.”
Many have considered the loss of Cochran to be a blow to the Alabama program. One thing is always a certainty, however. Nick Saban always has a contingency plan. These two hires look to be the right people at the right time.
We’ll be following up with detailed stories on Ballou and Rhea in the days to come.
UPDATE: Get To Know David Ballou & Matt Rhea
Game Highlights: Bama Destroys LSU 55-17
Here we go.... Just the start Najee Harris and @AlabamaFTBL were looking for. pic.twitter.com/neV3DfTsPv — CBS Sports (@CBSSports) December 6, 2020 Mac.....Billingsley.....Touchdown... Mac Jones wasn't gonna miss this. pic.twitter.com/mWpnVZIAFv — CBS Sports...
Game Highlights: Bama Dominates Auburn From Start To Finish
That's what you call WIIIIDE OPEN! DeVonta Smith might be the fastest WR in the country ⚡️ @DeVontaSmith_6 @AlabamaFTBL (via @CBSSports) pic.twitter.com/ZNNJ8V2PjM — The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) November 28, 2020 We're Rollin' The Mac-Metchie connection strikes again...
Game Highlights: Alabama Trounces Kentucky 63-3
Jahleel Billingsley, y'all... JAHLEEL. BILLINGSLEY. HURDLE. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/aXonI9dt3Z — SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 21, 2020 32 TD Receptions for Devonta Smith....That's an SEC RECORD! Career TD catch No. 3️⃣2️⃣ for DeVonta Smith. This one was for the record...
Alabama Gets Back on the Field Versus Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats (3-4, 3-4 SEC) vs. No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide (6-0, 6-0 SEC) Date: Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020 Time: 3:00 p.m. CST Venue: Bryant-Denny Stadium – Tuscaloosa, AL TV Coverage: SEC Network Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network Spread: Alabama is a 30+ point...
Tide Muzzles Dawgs….Again
There were plenty of questions for Alabama before kickoff in Tuscaloosa Saturday night. How would Nick Saban's physical absence during the three proceeding days affect Alabama's performance? Could the defense regroup from a complete meltdown against Ole Miss? Was the...
Crimson Tide Rolls Over Missouri 38-19
Alabama started the 2020 football season with an impressive first half Saturday night. The Crimson Tide dominated early, building a 28-3 halftime lead, before cruising to a 38-19 victory over the Missouri Tigers in Columbia, Missouri. The offense was led by...
Alabama’s 2020 Football Schedule
Sat, Sep 26 at Mizzou Sat, Oct 3 vs Texas A&M Sat, Oct 10 at Ole Miss Sat, Oct 17 vs Georgia Sat, Oct 24 at Tennessee Sat, Oct 31 vs Mississippi State Sat, Nov 7 off week Sat, Nov 14 at LSU Sat, Nov 21 vs Kentucky Sat, Nov 28 vs Auburn Sat, Dec 5 at Arkansas...
Four Tide Players Taken in First 15 Picks of NFL Draft
Four Alabama players were taken in the first round of the NFL Draft Thursday night. All four went in the first fifteen picks to be more precise. Tua Tagovailoa led the way, going in the fifth spot to the Miami Dolphins. Much recent speculation had Tua slipping to the...
Crimson Classics: 2009 SEC Championship, Bama Drowns Gators
Alabama totally dismantled the Florida Gators in the 2009 SEC Championship Game by a score of 32-13. The win moved the Crimson Tide into the BCS National Championship Game, which they won against the Texas Longhorns. With the win against Florida, Alabama once again...
Crimson Classics: The Blackout, Alabama Dominates Georgia in 2008
Georiga chose to wear blackout jerseys against Alabama in 2008. The color turned out to be appropriate as the Bulldogs and their fans were left mourning the outcome. Alabama dominated the first half, cruising to a 31-0 lead at the midway point. Georgia had a strong...
Nick Saban Says Tua Will Overcome Injury and Succeed in NFL
Alabama Head Football Coach Nick Saban says Tua Tagovailoa will overcome his injuries and will be a successful NFL quarterback. You can watch his conversation with Hannah Storm below:
Mama Called, Watch the Documentary on Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant
"Mama Called" is an excellent documentary about Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. The film was produced by the University of Alabama's Center for Public Television & Radio.