a hundred to one

[TigrisAzure 0]

lsu-usually plays like a hangover

bama-usually plays straight ahead hardhead fundamental style

I SAY BAM TO 'DAR DAR' IN 2ND AFTER LSU "D" IS TIRED.

pro numbers?? Dar- 200 yds bam-21 or more ptz

Alabama's Darby Motivated by Doubters, Peers

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Nov 7, 4:34 PM (ET)

By JOHN ZENOR

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) - Kenneth Darby spent the offseason recovering from surgery and stewing over all the attention other star running backs were receiving.

Alabama's junior tailback was mostly overlooked amid uncertainty over his health. But he kept those magazines featuring backs such as Gerald Riggs Jr. of Tennessee and Laurence Maroney of Minnesota handy for whenever he needed extra motivation.

"That's what got me through my rehab sessions during the summer and right now during the season," Darby said. "So many folks put so much publicity on these other running backs. They're all great backs, but at the same time you didn't hear about Ken Darby.

"You'd probably hear about me but there'd be all these guys on a big list and my name would be right there in the middle, just a little name."

Darby has earned more attention these days for the fourth-ranked Crimson Tide (9-0, 6-0 Southeastern Conference), the most consistent player on a sputtering offense entering Saturday's game with No. 5 LSU.

He sustained a sports hernia during a run in last year's meeting, virtually ending his breakout season and requiring surgery in the offseason.

"I think about it every day," Darby said. "This is another game I have had marked on my calendar from the beginning of the season that I can't wait to play."

Darby is the league's No. 2 rusher with 968 yards, averaging 5.7 yards per carry.

His production isn't particularly surprising considering he rushed for 1,062 yards last season, despite being a backup until Ray Hudson's season-ending knee injury in Game 6.

Darby's own health was a question leading up to fall camp after he sat out spring practice.

"We just weren't quite sure how he would respond," coach Mike Shula said. "The first scrimmage, I remember we were all waiting to see how he would do and waiting to see how he felt the next day."

It took running backs coach Sparky Woods a little longer to feel comfortable about Darby's health.

"Truthfully, it was that first game. That Sunday morning when he felt good," Woods said. "I was just so afraid to test him before then."

Darby hasn't had to carry as much of the load this season, only reaching 20 carries five times. He ran 35 times in last year's game against LSU despite the injury and averaged nearly 28 in his five starts.

He has four consecutive 100-yard games.

"He's our workhorse," quarterback Brodie Croyle said. "When it comes to crunch time, he gets the yards he's got to get. He's the best back in the SEC, bar none. I truly believe that."

Darby made it a goal to convince others of that this season. He was the league's top returning rusher, but was only a second-team preseason All-SEC pick behind Riggs and Mississippi State's Jerious Norwood. The doubters rankled him.

"It gave me the idea that nobody really respected me," Darby said. "The game of football is a respect thing and an attitude thing. You've got to have an attitude on the field and you've got to earn the other person's respect."

He clearly wasn't the same in the final two games after the injury last season. He eked out 19 yards on 14 carries against Auburn, and ran only once in the Music City Bowl.

Doctors initially thought he had a lower abdominal strain and then a hairline fracture in his pelvic bone. Darby had surgery on March 2.

He is adamant when asked if he ever had his own doubts of how he'd fare this season.

"I want you to put this in good quotes: I never doubted myself whatsoever," he said. "I had negative thoughts sometimes go through my head, but that wasn't anything but the devil on me.

"I always prayed every day, 'God, just give me the strength to come back this year and be a better player.' I guess all that praying and all that hard work is really paying off right now."

[vatz22au 142]

Bama wont score 21 points....

[WAR EAGLE!!! 0]

you never cease to amaze me...

[WarEagle_57 0]

In English por favor