Alabama / LSU postgame interviews with Brodie Croyle, Tyrone Prothro, Charlie Peprah, Shaud Williams, Mike Shula, Joe Kines, Dave Rader

These comments came during a post game interview with ABC 33/40 Sports Director Mike Raita ...

Home Games … Alabama clinched a losing season tonight. What were your impressions of what happened?

Mike Raita … Well, they got totally manhandled by LSU, but I don’t think that was totally unexpected. LSU after all is the #3 team in the nation and Alabama had been struggling. They have some injury problems and a quarterback who is playing with one shoulder. There are a lot of excuses and Shula doesn’t want to make any. But the truth be told, Alabama is probably achieving what they should be right now.

They have a patchwork offensive line. They had a lot of injuries there. Any time you’re working with guys and mixing second and sometimes third teamers in there, you’re going to struggle. LSU is so quick defensively and they’re front four are so good that they just laid their ears back and came after Brodie Croyle and put him under duress.

Brodie is putting on the tough face about his shoulder, but how do you think he’s holding up?

I think he’s in pain, but he’s well enough to play or he wouldn’t be playing. He wouldn’t jeopardize any future career he might have, especially in a losing season. Croyle is the kind of guy who is going to tough it out. The thing that they really need to do is get a running game to take some pressure off him. They’ve got to be able to run the football against Auburn to have any chance.

Talk about that running game a little bit. With Shaud Williams gone next year, what do you see happening?

Kenneth Darby showed some flashes. Tim Castille made a huge play tonight. I was surprised he didn’t play more, given the fact that every time he touches the ball he tends to make sometime happen. I don’t think they have worries with Shaud Williams leaving. I think they have worries this year with this offensive line and the fact that teams know if Alabama can’t run the football they can go after an injured Brodie Croyle.

I counted at least 20 freshmen and sophomore that got significant playing time tonight. What do you think that says about this team?

It says they have a lot of injury problems and not much depth. If you heard the ESPN commentators, every time they televise an Alabama game they talk about how Mike Shula came in to a very difficult situation and this season is not on him. This season comes down to the fact that they don’t have a lot of depth and didn’t have a lot of time to prepare. They had a hundred recruits at this game tonight. So they’re trying to build some depth with recruiting classes, and it’s going to take a year or two. But I think that Shula is on the right track.

Do you think it hurts to have a hundred recruits see a game like tonight’s game?

I think it can work both ways. If a recruiting class comes in and sees a team get totally dismantled, they could say “Oh man, I don’t want to go there. That team is awful!” But on the other hand they’re thinking, “I can go in there and help this team right away.” I’m sure that’s what the coaches are telling these young kids because that’s what they want to hear.

Cleburne County … he’s a player. I saw him play in high school. He’s a guy who is an exciting player. Both he and Tim Castille. It seems every time they touch the ball something good happens. Now Prothro, every now and then, will make a mistake. But he’s a playmaker. He’s a guy that you have to put up with some of the bad because you’re going to get so much positive return out of him.

That’s the million dollar question and I wish I had a definitive answer. Both teams are reeling coming into this game. I think even Auburn more so than Alabama. All their expectations are just down the tubes. The coaching staff is feeling pressure. If Alabama can go down there and get on top of them early, I think Alabama will win that game. I think the first quarter will be a key in that game.

They’ll have to stop the running game. If they can stop Auburn’s running game and make them throw the ball, I think they can win the game. I don’t think (AU quarterback) Jason Campbell is good enough to beat them.

Click on the name for parts of their post-game interviews ..
Coach Mike Shula (Head Coach)

Brodie Croyle (#12 So. QB, 6-3 200 lbs. Rainbow City, AL - Westbrook Christian High)

Charlie Peprah (#26 So. LCB, 5-10 189 lbs. Plano, TX - Plano East High School)

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