Alabama Football

• Practices suit Saban
/Cut/p12.9/cMIKE KITTRELL/ Staff PhotographerAlabama coach Nick Saban reacts to a penalty in the second quarter against Kentucky last weekend. Saban, who worked first-team offense against first-team defense Thursday, said he was pleased with his team's practice during the bye week.

• Alabama bringing its 'A' game on midseason report card
TUSCALOOSA ? Through the many highs and rare lows of Alabama's first six games, the ultimate measuring stick is being met.

• Alabama football notes for its open date
No. 2 ALABAMA (6-0, 3-0) does not play this week. -- NEXT GAME: vs. Ole Miss, 2:30 p.m. Oct. 18 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa (TV: WKRG/CBS)

• Alabama, Ole Miss to play on CBS on Oct. 18
TUSCALOOSA ? Alabama's Oct. 18 home game against Ole Miss was picked up Wednesday for broadcast by CBS and will kick off at 2:30 p.m. It marks the second consecutive Crimson Tide game featured on the national network.

• Anders finally getting noticed at Alabama
TUSCALOOSA -- How often did junior linebacker Eryk Anders think perhaps it wasn't going to happen for him at Alabama?

• Saban wants second-ranked Alabama to maintain intensity during bye-week
TUSCALOOSA ? As with most things, Alabama coach Nick Saban looks at the 6-0 start to this season as a teaching tool.

• Alabama keeps No. 2 ranking
After grinding out a tense victory to assure a flawless record through the first half of the 2008 season, Alabama coach Nick Saban finally took a brief moment to reflect.

• Sentimore commits to Tide
Prep defensive lineman Darrington Sentimore of Destrehan, La., held scholarship offers from a host of national powers. But the one closest to him never pulled the trigger.

• Alabama must maintain intensity
TUSCALOOSA ? It's nothing against Louisville, Norfolk State, Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky.

• Crimson Tide's Oakley making strides
TUSCALOOSA ? Alabama senior receiver Will Oakley looked down in the weight room to notice a bone popping out of his foot.

• Bama in national spotlight
TUSCALOOSA ? Quarterback John Parker Wilson has a way not to get caught up in the mounting hype about Alabama's 2008 season.

• Alabama football notes for Saturday's game against Kentucky
KENTUCKY (4-0, 0-0) at No. 2 ALABAMA (5-0, 2-0) 2:30 p.m. Saturday (WKRG/CBS) Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa -- LINE: Alabama by 16cm HALF

• Alabama wide receive Mike McCoy could miss Saturday's game against Kentucky with hamstring injury
TUSCALOOSA ? Alabama first-string receiver Mike McCoy returned to practice in a limited capacity Wednesday, but is "very questionable" for Saturday's 2:30 p.m. game against Kentucky, coach Nick Saban said.

• Alabama's Upchurch now 'seeing the light'
TUSCALOOSA ? Long gone are the dreadlocks that used to wave atop Alabama tailback Roy Upchurch's head.

• Alabama's Brandon Deaderick is lone Kentucky native on team
TUSCALOOSA ? Alabama's starting defensive end Brandon Deaderick admits he was "a pretty good" basketball player in his hometown of Elizabethtown, Ky.

• No. 2 Alabama's fast, physical starts keep opponents reeling
TUSCALOOSA ? Alabama coach Nick Saban hasn't taken exception to college football's quicker clock rules this year.

• Alabama notebook: Tailback Terry Grant left out of Crimson Tide's offensive plans so far in 2009
TUSCALOOSA ? Alabama has grinded it way to the top of the Southeastern Conference in rushing offense without much use of its top tailback from 2007.

• Tide now at No. 2
TUSCALOOSA ? With a 41-3 victory over Western Kentucky in its final stages Saturday night, Kentucky's players began searching for an update from Georgia.

• Alabama notebook: Quarterback John Parker Wilson 'totally different' player this season
TUSCALOOSA ? In the wake of Saturday night's stirring victory at then-No. 3 Georgia, Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson got the personal question.