The Auburn Shooting

(Update: 6-12-2012)

 We now know most of the facts, and are fears where confirmed. Six young people where shot at the Universtiy Heights Auburn Apartments near the campus of Auburn Universtiy, sadly three lives where taken off this earth too soon. 

 What we know

Former players Ed Christian and Ladarious Phillips where two of the three killed, also non football player Demario Pitts was tragicly shot to death.

Eric Mack a current Auburn Football players was shot in the hip and has since been releast from the hosptial.

 John Robertson was shot and transfered to UAB. Robertson is in critial condision and fighting for his life. Robertson had no connection to the football team.

Xavier Moss was also shot but was non life threatening and has been relasted from the hospital. Moss also had no connection to the football team. 

 What we don't know 

DESMONTE LEONARD

22 year old Desmonte Leonard is being charged withe the shooting but is still on the loose and it thought to be armed and extreamly danguos! If you see Leonard or have any information on his whereabouts please call 911.

Please pray for the familys of Christian, Phillips, and Pitts. As a father I can't imagin having my son taken from me like that, and they will need all the help in the world to every attempt to recover. Also please pray John Robertson who's still fighting to make a full recovery. 

-Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @PatrickpAla13

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 (Writen at 8am on 6-11-2012)

This is still a very much developing story, but what we have confirmed right now is three players shot and at least one confirmed dead. There is a second player who is reported to have passed away, but as of this writing that is unconfirmed.

Ed Christian a offensive lineman from Valdosta, Ga. is the confirmed dead player.

Here is the video from the crime scene in Auburn VIDEO 

All of the latest details can be found at Alabamas13.com

Prayers to the Auburn Football team and to the Family of the victims.

 -Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @PatrickpAla13

Bama addeds a few more commits now up to 17

 (6-11-12) Over the last five days Alabama has added two more commitments. Frist you had the 29th best pro style QB Parker McLeod the 3 star is out of Marietta, Ga. Mcleod is the second QB commitment for the 2013 class. Big Bad Leon Brown commited to the Tide over the weekend Brown is a JUCO from ASA College in Brooklyn, NY. Saban has said in the past that he only offers JUCO's if he has plains for them to have a role right away. Brown is 6'6" 315 lbs and could be a big time O-Tackle.  

 Team Rankings as of 6-8-2012

• Rivals Class Ranking: 3rd
• Scouts Class Ranking: 6th
• 247 Class Ranking: 1st
• ESPN Class Ranking: 3rd

Alabama commitments for 2013

• Reuben Foster LB 6'2" 228lbs Stars --> Rivals: 5/ Scouts: 5/ 247: 5 
• Jonathan Allen DE 6'3" 225lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 5
• Altee Tenpenny RB 5'11" 200lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 4
• Cooper Bateman QB 6'3" 190 Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 4
• Maurice Smith DB 5'11" 179lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 4
• Bradley Bozeman OL 6'5" 315lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 3  
• Raheem Falkins WR 6'4" 192lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 4
• Grant Hill OL 6'6" 315lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 4
• OJ Howard TE 6'5" 221lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 4
• Tyren Jones RB 5'8" 185lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts: 4/ 247: 4
• Ardarius Stewart ATH 6'3" 190lbs Stars --> Rivals: 4/ Scouts:4/ 247: 4
• Andy Dodd OL 6'4" 324lbs  Stars --> Rivals: 3/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 4
• Anthony Averett ATH 6'1" 175lbs --> Rivals: 3/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 4
• Deon Johnson ATH 6'0" 170lbs --> Rivals: 3/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 4
• Darius Paige DT 6'3" 275lbs --> Rivals: 3/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 3
• Parker McLeod QB 6'2" 189lbs --> Rivals: 3/ Scouts: 3/ 247: 3 
• Leon Brown OT 6'6" 315lbs --> Rivals: NR/ Scouts: NR/ 247: NR

-Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @Patrickp13 

Texas A&M Preview

We are now 83 days from the start of the 2012 college football season and its time to revile my latest  school on my SEC power rankings. Coming in at number 10 is SEC newbie Texas A&M Aggie's.

#10 Texas A&M

I think Texas A&M will be a nice fit into the SEC style of play, but there's a lot of transitions taking place down in College Station. Learning their way around the SEC will be challenging enough plus a new coaching staff who will still be learning their players, and putting in their system. They say it's home of the 12th man and for them to have a great first year in the SEC they might need 14 men. Not all is bad in Aggie land they return 9 starts from last years offence that finished the season ranked 7th in the nation for total offence. The issue here is their key player in 2011 QB Ryan Tannehill now plays for the Miami Dolphins. Softmore Jameill Showers and incoming freshman four star Matt Davis out of Houston will be battling for the starting job. Their Defence will need to improve to SEC levels they where 59th in total defence in 2011. They bring in former Marshal head coach Mark Snyder to run the Defence, and I look for it to improve under his watch in time, but they will be young this season. I look for A&M to have good offences numbers and maybe some improvements in defence. Last season they finished 7-6, but those 6 losses where all really close games. 

Returning Starters 16

• Offence 9
• Defence 6
•        ST 1

Predictions for 2012

• @ La Tech W
• Florida L
• @SMU W
• South Carolina State W
• Arkansas L
• @ Ole Miss W
• LSU L
• @ Auburn L
• @ Miss State ? L
• @ Alabama L
• Sam Houston State W
• Missouri ? W

W win / L lost / ? Swing game

I think they will start out okay at 3-1, but then its welcome to the SEC time with LSU, Auburn, Miss State, Alabama all in back to back weeks ouch. They have two swing game which I think they will spilt putting them at 6-6 on the season. If I was an Aggie with all the adjusting that will be taking place I think 6-6 and a bowl game should be considered a good season.

-Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @PatrickpAla13

Game 7, who's the real big 3? #NBAPLAYOFFS

Before we look forward and try and predict game 7 of the eastern conference finals lets take a look back to see if games 1-6 have really shown us anything.

Game 1: The Heat started out in control and stayed in control. The Celtics struggled to shoot the ball all night, and there was never really a ball game. Heat up 1-0

Game 2: Rondo (or if your the Mayor of Boston you would call him Hondo) played the best game of his career. To Boston it was a must win game as going down 2-0 seemed at the time to big of a hill to clime. The Celtics hit the Heat with everything they had that night, but it still wasn't enough (some would say the got robbed by the refs) as Miami pulled out a close one in overtime. Heat up 2-0

Game 3: Some including my self thought that the ageing Celtics put everything they had into game 2, and might get swept, but game 3 looked more like game one. Except this time it was reversed with the Celtics controlling the whole game that never really got close.  Heat up 2-1

Game 4: This became a very important game for the Celtics as they needed to hold home court to have any shot in this series, but really both teams played a little sluggish. The Celtics gave up a big lead and the Heat looked discombobulated trying to close out the game which ended up going to overtime. The Celtics where able to take the lead, but the Heat would have one last shot to for the win, but once again missed. Heat and Celtics now tied up 2-2

Game 5: This can be the most important game outside of game 7. If you win this game you take control of the series when tied up 2-2 and you only have to win one of your next two. It was played back down in Miami that was sure to be rocking. The Heat jumped out to a quick start and got up a good lead, but the Celtics keep grinding and exploded on a 16-1 run to close out the 3rd. This would set up a close game that would be coming down to the wire. Paul Pierce who had been struggling all night hit a 3 right in Lebrons James face to seal the deal and put the Celtics in control. Celtics up 3-2

Game 6: With the Celtics coming back home on a three game winning streak and a chance to close it out and head on to the finals one would only assume it was the Celtics game to lose. Lebron James though reminded us why his nickname is King because that's what he was last night. He mean mugged the whole game as he knocked down shot after shot racking up 30 by half time. On the other end the Celtics just didn't have it shooting wise, it was one of those games where nothing would fall. The Heat rumped the Celtics in this one. Celtics and Heat tied up 3-3

On Saturday night game 7 will take place and what kind of game can we expect? Will it be like games 1,3, & 6 (very one sided and not much of a contest)? or will it be like games 2,4, & 5 (extremely close going down to the final shot or overtime)?

I think its going to be just like game 2 and I'm not talking about the end result it could go either way, but I think this is where Boston is at their best and I think the Heat will answer the challenge just like they did in game 2. If we was to have a third overtime game in game series then this series could go down as one of the best in history. No matter what it's been an epic battle.

To answer the title question of the blog who is the real big 3? As you know the Celtics started the calling Pierce, Garnett, and Allen the BIG 3 (Rondo has really replaced Allen in that grouping now), but when Miami brought in James and Bosh to go along with Wade they started calling their group the BIG 3. So one must ask the question who's the real BIG 3? If the Celtics win tonight at their age then I think no question they are and will always be the first and real BIG 3. If Miami wins then I don't think they can officially take the title as the true BIG 3, but they will be on their way, but a championship must take place for their legacy to be implanted as a 3 man unit.

 -Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter PatrickpAla13

Win game five, win the series? #NBAPLAYOFFS

Both conference finals are tied up 2-2 between the Heat vs Celtics and Spurs vs Thunder. So how BIG is game five? I say its HUGE! If the road teams (Celtics and Thunder) where to win on the road in game five it would set them up to take the series in game six at home. If either one of them loses game five then there only other chance to steal one on the road would be in game seven, and I don't think either of them want that.

If the home teams (Heat and Spurs) take care of business in game five and protect there house then it would relieve a lot of pressure off of them putting them back in the drivers seat again. All they would have to do after that is just win one of the next two games and take the series.

This is why game five is so important to all four teams, its the last real turning point in the series.

For the Celtics they will need their bench to play as well as they have played the last two outings. They don't need Rondo to go off like he did in game two, but they need some triple doubles out of him down the stretch. Pierce will need to stay in games and stop fouling out, and Allen ankles will have to hold up down the final run.

Keys for the Heat will be getting Bosh back in to game form, He's supposed to be coming back for game five but will there be any rust and will be at 100%? Wade will have to be more consistent, there have been long portions of the game where he's been non existing. James seems to be carrying this team, but when he goes to the line it hasn't been pretty. Chalmers has played well in the thus far and will need to keep it up.

Thunder's keys will be to play some defence on the road, the last game in San Antonio the Spurs hung 120 on them. There a young team who hasn't been in lot of these situations before unlike the Spurs so down the stretch they will need to keep there heads in the game. Being the younger team though will give them some energy help in a game six or seven (there less likely to run out of gas)

Spurs won 20 games in a row before losing the last two to the Thunder, so there's no question they no how to get it done. That's going to be there key factor leaning on there experience, they have been here many times before. I think they will need to be able to extend there defence out a little bit from last game the Thunders bigs where left all long time after time from about 15' feet out.

Right now it's to hard to call a winner in any of these games, but which ever teams win game five I think will hold a very strong advantage and history will back me up on that.

-Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @Patrickp13

Can the Tide win the most Titles in one year?

In January Alabama's Football team lifted the crystal ball winning it's 14th National Title, but also the 1st of many during this historic banner year for the University of Alabama. So far to date the Tide has 3 National Championships in 2012 Football, Gymnastics, and Woman's Golf.

Today the Men's Golf Team will face off vs Texas for the National Championship ironically it takes place just a few miles away from the Rose Bowl where Alabama and Texas faced off for a football title in 2009. If the Men's golf team has the same luck as the football team and beats the Longhorns they will win Alabama's 4th title of the year.

Softball semifinals start today for Alabama as they face off against Cal today at 2:30pm, if they win that game then they will move on to the National Championship best of three series. If the softball team wins its next three games it will be the first softball title for the SEC, but also Alabama's 5th of the year!

So will be five be enough to break a all time record for championships? No that record belongs the 1992 Stanford athletic program winning titles in Woman's Basketball, Men's Gymnastics, Men and Woman's Diving, Men's Tennis, and Volleyball.

But at least the tide has the most Football National Championships at 14.

 -Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @Patrickp13

Vanderbilt Preview

We are now 92 days away from the start of college football, and today preview is my number #11 in my SEC power poll the Vanderbilt Commodores. A quick up date #14 Kentucky #13 Ole Miss #12 Tennessee  

#11 Vanderbilt

James Franklin has brought a new attitude to Vandy in a very short amount of time. The dores have started to believe that they can win and that there no longer a doormat to the rest of the SEC. Going 6-7 in year one wouldn't be thought of as a good season at most schools, but for anytime Vandy gets to the 6 win mark it's big. I look for Franklin to back that up with another 6 or 7 win season in 2012. What he will need for that to happen is to keep improving there offence which was 98th in the nation last season. They was solid on defense finishing 18th in total D. Really what the dores need is a little luck on there side as they where kind of snake bit a few times last year. 

2012 Returning Starters 

Total 18

Offense 9

Defense 7

ST 2

365 Predictions 

•  VS South Carolina L
• @ Northwestern ? L
• VS Presbyterian W
• @ Georgia L
• @ Missouri ? L
• VS Florida L
• VS Auburn ? L
• VS U-Mass W
• @ Kentucky W
• @ Ole Miss W
• VS Tennessee ? W
• @ Wake Forest ? W

L- Loose / W- Win / ? Swing Game

I think Vandy will start a little slow, but everything sets up for them to finish really strong. I'm calling for them to go 6-6, but as you can see by the questions marks they have five swing games. What I'm calling a swing game is a game that could easily be won or lost. If some how they won all five swing games they would be looking at an epic 9-3 season up in Nashville, but I don't see them pulling that off.

- Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @Patrickp13