Arenas sits outs, ends 20-game streak

TUSCALOOSA - Alabama cornerback and kick returner Javier Arenas did not play in Saturday's game against South Carolina, ending a streak of 20 consecutive games started by the senior.

Arenas dressed for the game, but did not participate in pregame warm-ups. His injury was not disclosed before the game.

He was replaced in the starting lineup by senior Marquis Johnson at cornerback, while wide receiver Julio Jones handled punt return duties for the Crimson Tide.

Arenas is just 150 yards away from breaking Lee Nalley's long-standing SEC record of 1,695 yards in career punt returns. He is also just 216 yards short of Wes Welker's record of 1,761 yards.

Tiffin moves up

Senior kicker Leigh Tiffin continued his assault on the Alabama record book Saturday. The former Muscle Shoals standout passed his father, Van, on the career scoring list with his 25-yard field goal in the first quarter.

That field goal extended Tiffin's streak of consecutive field goals made to nine. That streak was broken in the second quarter when he missed from 49 yards, but he came back to add a 35-yarder before halftime. The two field goals gave him 67 for his career, moving him past Michael Proctor (65) for second place on the career field goals list.

Tiffin's seven points in the first half gave him 318 career points. He trails only Proctor (326) and Phillip Doyle (345) on the all-time scoring list.

McElroy's streak ends

Tide quarterback Greg McElroy threw an interception on his

first pass attempt against South Carolina.

That interception broke a streak of 141 consecutive attempts without an interception. The streak dated back to the second quarter of the season opener against Virginia Tech. The 141-pass stretch is the third-longest in Alabama history. Brodie Croyle holds the record with 190 consecutive attempts.

Brown OK

There was a scary moment late in the first half when South Carolina wide receiver Moe Brown suffered an apparent neck injury after being hit by Alabama's Robby Green after a reception near the goal line.

Brown lay motionless for several minutes before being carried off the field on a stretcher. Brown gave the "thumbs up" sign as he was carried off.

He was driven to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a concussion, but otherwise checked out OK. Brown was expected to make the trip home to South Carolina with the team.

Spurrier vs. Bama

Saturday's win was the first against South Carolina coach for Tide coach Nick Saban. Spurrier had a 2-0 record against Saban entering the game, with both games coming while Spurrier was head coach at Florida and Saban at LSU.

Spurrier is now 6-5 all-time against Alabama. He was 6-3 against the Tide while at Florida, posting regular season wins in 1990, 1991 and 1998 and three wins in the SEC Championship Game (1993, 1994, 1996).

Alabama defeated Spurrier and the Gators in the SEC Championship Game in 1992 and 1999. The Crimson Tide also recorded a regular-season victory over the Gators in 1999.

Spurrier's only previous game against Alabama as head coach of the Gamecocks was in 2005 when the Tide beat South Carolina 37-14 in Columbia. Spurrier was 2-0 in Tuscaloosa before Saturday's loss.

Batchelor back in Bama

One of three players from Alabama on South Carolina's roster is Heath Batchelor, of Haleyville. The former Lions standout is a now a 6-foot-7, 308-pound junior offensive lineman for the Gamecocks.

Batchelor wears No. 74 for the Gamecocks and is listed as a starter at left guard on the South Carolina depth chart.

Todd serves as captain

Former Alabama great Richard Todd had a busy day Saturday. The former Tide quarterback served as grand marshal for the annual homecoming parade Saturday morning and was the honorary captain for the game.

Todd, a Mobile native, is now a Florence resident. He played for Alabama from 1973-75 on teams with a combined record of 33-3 and winning three SEC titles and one national championship. He was MVP of the 1975 Sugar Bowl and went on to play 11 years in the NFL with the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints.

Alabama played its 89th homecoming game Saturday and now has compiled a 75-13-1 record in those games. The Crimson Tide has now won eight consecutive homecoming games. The last homecoming loss was a 35-21 defeat to Nick Saban's LSU Tigers on Nov. 3, 2001.

The streak is the longest since Alabama won 26 straight from

1958-83. That streak ended with a 30-21 loss to Vanderbilt on Sept. 29, 1984.

Jeff McIntyre can be reached at 740-5737 or jeff.mcintyre@TimesDaily.com.