| FTBL Burnthall playing for UNA this fall.

[Argo]

http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20080820/NEWS/808200338/1164/SPORTS

Lions pick up former Tider Burnthall

By Jeff McIntyre
Assistant Sports Editor
Published: August 20. 2008 3:30AM

FLORENCE - North Alabama added some depth to its secondary Tuesday with the addition of former Alabama safety Sam Burnthall.

Since leaving Alabama last week, Burnthall had visited Jacksonville State and UNA, but chose to play his final two seasons for the Lions.

"It was a tough decision for me," said Burnthall, a former Decatur standout. "But after visiting both places I just felt more comfortable at UNA. Florence is just 40 miles from home, and I know several guys on the team. I talked it over with my parents, and we decided UNA was the best place for me."

Burnthall played in 11 games at Alabama as a freshman in 2006, recording nine total tackles. He played in three games last season, but failed to record a tackle.

He practiced with Alabama at the beginning of fall drills before announcing last week that he was leaving the Crimson Tide.

"I was happy at Alabama," Burnthall said. "My decision was nothing about the coaching staff or playing time. I just had certain things in my life I needed to take care of, and they involved me leaving."

Burnthall enrolled for classes at UNA on Tuesday and hopes to practice with his new team today. He is excited to be joining a team that is expected to compete for a national championship.

"I like the coaching staff here, and I know they have a good team," he said. "I'm not sure exactly what position I'll be playing, but I feel like I can help the team somewhere."

With the season opener against Southern Arkansas just eight days away, Burnthall understands that he will have to get up to speed quickly if he is to see early playing time.

"I've got to learn the defense quickly," he said. "Our defense at Alabama was pretty tough, so hopefully I can pick things up in a hurry. They have a lot of the same concepts, it's just different terminology.

"I'm excited about getting back on the field and getting to play defense. I prefer playing free safety, but if they need me somewhere else I'll adjust. I just want to play."

 

[Guest]

He'll get a shot at UNA, I wish him the best of luck.

 

[Outlaw]

Coach Hud loves D1 transfers, so he will probably be playing immediately.

 

[Bamaman37]

So, Burnthall played most of the game tonight....until he was ejected in the 4th quarter. :lol: He didn't start the fight, but he didn't back down after getting nailed late after a play. Southern Arkansas had SEVERAL cheap shots before Burnthall and others decided not to take it anymore. It was a good way to start his new playing career. He looked good, and he should be a vital part of UNA's defense this year. I did notice that he had a limp for most of the second half. It didn't look serious, especially since he was allowed to keep playing.

BTW, UNA won the game 57-14. The #3 Lions will go on the road to face #5 Carson-Newman next week.

 

[Guest]

Well it says #4 on the website. :roll:

Thanks for the Lions update 37, does Vincent Jackson start in the secondary still? I hung out with him in one night in T-town, dude is hilarious.

 

[Bamaman37]

Well it says #4 on the website. :roll:

Thanks for the Lions update 37, does Vincent Jackson start in the secondary still? I hung out with him in one night in T-town, dude is hilarious.

Top 25

That looks like #3 to me, but I didn't go to one of those fancy Linden public schools. :?

 

[Guest]

Well it says #4 on the website. :roll:

Thanks for the Lions update 37, does Vincent Jackson start in the secondary still? I hung out with him in one night in T-town, dude is hilarious.

Top 25

That looks like #3 to me, but I didn't go to one of those fancy Linden public schools. :?

Hey don't look at me...I call it like I see um. Maybe they should hire a NASA computer guy to help them out?

I didn't go to a fancy Linden public school anyway, it was private and far from fancy. :lol:

 

[Bamaman37]

BTW, Vincent Jackson is still on the team, but he didn't play tonight.

Oh, and regarding the polls, you're actually correct. :roll: UNA is #4 in the AFCA DII Coaches Poll, and it is the official DII football poll. However, I decided to go with the d2football.com poll since we are #3 in that one.

 

[Guest]

BTW, Vincent Jackson is still on the team, but he didn't play tonight.

Oh, and regarding the polls, you're actually correct. :roll: UNA is #4 in the AFCA DII Coaches Poll, and it is the official DII football poll. However, I decided to go with the d2football.com poll since we are #3 in that one.

Well that sucks, I thought he was good enough to start at UNA. I actually thought he did the previous years. ;scr

As for the polls...I was picking, I don't follow it that closely.

 

[Bamaman37]

I forgot to mention that Courtney Moore, another former tide DB played last night as well for UNA. He had a couple of tackles, and he also broke up a pass. ;tr

 

[Outlaw]

Burnthall got in a fight? He'll fit right in on the team. :lol: