Barrett Jones Gets SEC Recognition

In the final week of regular season play, Southeastern Conference teams were playing rivalry games and important games, and there was, no doubt, stiff competition for the various SEC player of the week categories.

Probably because Alabama had a relatively easy time of it in a 49-0 rout of Auburn, several outstanding performances by Crimson Tide players were not rewarded with SEC recognition. Senior center Barrett Jones, however, was selected as the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week.

Jones, a 6-5, 302-pound All-America candidate from Germantown, Tenn., had the highest grade of any Alabama offensive lineman this season at 96 per cent. This is on an offensive line that is universally considered the best in college football.

Jones and his offensive line teammates did not allow a sack in the game and Jones did not have any pressures, penalties, or missed assignments. The Bama offense scored a touchdown on each of the seven possessions on which the first offensive unit played. Starting offensive players were removed from the game after the score got to the 49-0 level midway through the third quarter.

Also cited for his play in “other outstanding performances” was Alabama safety Robert Lester, who led the Tide with five tackles (four primary) and had an interception that he returned 31 yards to set up a Bama touchdown.



Not mentioned were Alabama performances such as:

• Quarterback A.J. McCarron completing 15 of 21 passes for 216 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions.

• Tailback Eddie Lacy rushing 18 times for 131 yards and two touchdowns.

• Freshman wide receiver Amari Cooper catching five passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns.

This week Alabama will play Georgia in the SEC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Kickoff will be at 4 p.m. EST (3 p.m. central time) with television coverage by CBS. Both teams are 11-1 overall and 7-1 in SEC games. The winner goes to the BCS National Championship Game in Miami to play Notre Dame on Jan. 7.

After the Bulldogs rolled over Georgia Tech in their regular season finale, Georgia senior safety Bacarri Rambo was named a Co-Defensive Player of the Week.

Cited in the “other outstanding performances” was Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray, who completed 14 of 17 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns.