University of Alabama football Archives

On a call with Alabama reporters on Wednesday, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville got a break from questions about the latest on Capitol Hill to talk about something else he knows a lot about: College football.

Coach gave his take on some of the country’s more successful teams and why he thinks that this year’s national championship could be different from years past.

“I think we’ve got a lot of good well rounded teams,” Tuberville said. “Ole Miss is moving up. I watched them play last week. They’re much improved. I saw them play against Auburn.”

The Senator managed to catch some PAC 12 action as well. “Washington squeaked it out against USC,” he said.

When it comes to the question of who could win the national title this year, Tuberville thinks that there isn’t a team that has shown themselves to be ahead of the rest.

“I think Georgia and Alabama are probably much improved than they were at the beginning of the year,” he said.

“I don’t think there’s a dominant team this year when it comes to the National Championship. I think that’s going to be what makes the playoffs fun.”

Tuberville’s name remains synonymous with success in the SEC, particularly due to his famous “six in a row” streak of wins over Alabama in the Iron Bowl from 2002 to 2007.

The Senator believes that in the coming weeks the world of college football could become increasingly unpredictable.

“We’ll have to see what happens in the next couple of weeks. I think you’re going to have some losses of top 10 teams.”

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.

The Crimson Tide once again has the most in-demand ticket in all of college football after being dethroned in the category last year by Ohio State.

It is third time the Tide has held the distinction in the rankings developed by StubHub. In- state rival Auburn University was No. 7.

“This is likely to be the last season of college football as we know it, with conferences realigning at a rapid pace and playoff expansion on the horizon. We predict that ticket sales will start to reflect changes in how fans travel, create new rivalries and spotlight more teams across the country,” said Adam Budelli of StubHub. “Sales are trending up almost 50% over last season and we’re seeing the most preseason sales of the past five years.”

Alabama’s sales for the 2023 season have reportedly increased by 50%. The school will also be hosting three of the top 10 highest selling games of the season. It also outsold Michigan, the second highest in-demand team for 2023, by a whopping 24%.

Despite Auburn’s struggles throughout Bryan Harsin’s 21-game tenure, the team this year has moved up three positions in the category of most in-demand team. A large reason for the jump is Hugh Freeze’s hiring as head coach of the Tigers.

The Tide kick off their season Sept. 2 against Middle Tennessee at Bryant Denny Stadium at 6:30 p.m.

The Tigers will begin their fresh start Sept. 2 against the University of Massachusetts. Kickoff at Jordan-Hare Stadium is 2:30 p.m.

StubHub’s Top In-Demand College Football Teams of 2023

(Based on cumulative StubHub ticket sales as of Aug. 22 for the 2023 season)

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.

It was an interesting choice of words Alabama Head Football Coach Nick Saban used Monday when he announced the suspension of freshman defensive back Tony Mitchell.

Mitchell was arrested in Florida last week on charges of marijuana possession with intent to sell and/or deliver.

“Tony Mitchell has been suspended from the team and all team activities until we get more information about the situation and what his legal circumstance is,” Saban said at a news conference after the team’s first spring practice. “Everybody’s got an opportunity to make choices and decisions. There’s no such thing as being in the wrong place at the wrong time. You’ve got to be responsible for who you’re with, who you’re around and what you do, and who you associate with and the situations you put yourself in.

“It is what it is. There is cause and effect when you make choices and decisions that put you in bad situations.”

Mitchell was a four-star prospect from Thompson High School in Alabaster.

According to reports, Mitchell was driving a vehicle and evaded police at 141 mph before being stopped. A passenger in the car, Christopher Lewis, was arrested on the marijuana charge, also, and for possession of a concealed firearm without a permit.

The police said they found a “significant amount” of marijuana, a set of scales, a loaded handgun, and a large amount of cash in Mitchell’s car.

Last month, Tide Head Basketball Coach Nate Oats, in talking about freshman Brandon Miller and his involvement in a fatal shooting in Tuscaloosa, said the freshman was in the “wrong spot at the wrong time.”

Oats later apologized for the remark.

Crimson Tide fans have a reason to celebrate.

Just in time for football season, renowned football and sports radio broadcaster Eli Gold said he will be returning to the broadcast booth this fall, according to tuscaloosathread.com.

Gold has been away dealing with health issues that included almost losing the ability to walk due to orthopedic issues and cancer.

According to tuscaloosathread.com, WWE Hall of Fame announcer Jim Ross tweeted Tuesday: “Received a lovely call today from my dear friend Eli Gold. The voice of @AlabamaFTBL is healing from cancer and will return to the broadcast booth this fall. No one in the biz is better than Eli.”

Gold remained positive after the cancer diagnosis last year.

“I want to thank everyone for their well wishes and prayers,” the broadcaster said in September. “After extensive testing, I have now been diagnosed of a treatable form of cancer. I’m already making progress and hope to get back behind the mic again soon. Roll Tide.”

In his career, Gold has also broadcast NASCAR events, ice hockey, and arena football.

During Gold’s time away, his position has been filled by Alabama basketball commentator Chris Stewart.

Gold has been a part of Crimson Tide athletics since 1988. The only season he has missed was 2022 due to his medical issues.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News

Will the third time be a charm?

Kevin Steele has been named the defensive coordinator for the University of Alabama. He replaces Pete Golding, who took the defensive coordinator at Ole Miss.

This is Steele’s third time with the Crimson Tide under Head Coach Nick Saban.

“I think Kevin is just really sound, fundamental,” said Saban. “You win with execution. Their players really do a good job of executing whatever it is they do. They make really good adjustments to take away what you’re trying to do. And the players play hard, and they play with a lot of toughness.

“I think those are all signs of Kevin’s leadership.”

Steele, 64, was Saban’s first defensive coordinator at Alabama for the 2007 season. However, when Kirby Smart was promoted in 2008 to the post, Steele coached linebackers. He left after that season to take the defensive coordinator post at Clemson.

In 2013, he returned to the Tide as personnel director and, the next season, he coached linebackers. He left in 2015 for the LSU defensive coordinator position.

After LSU, Steele spent five seasons (2016-20) as Auburn’s defensive coordinator and served as interim head coach for the 2020 Citrus Bowl when Gus Malzahn was fired.

After not being retained at Auburn in the 2021 season, he was named defensive coordinator at Miami in 2022 under Mario Cristobal, another former Saban assistant

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.

The search has ended.

Tommy Rees, former offensive coordinator for Notre Dame, will become the new offensive coordinator for the Crimson Tide. Reese will replace Bill O’Brien, who is leaving for the New England Patriots.

The South Bend Tribune first reported Rees has accepted the job after an interview on Thursday.

BREAKING: Tommy Rees has accepted the offensive coordinator position @AlabamaFTBL , per person with direct knowledge. #NDFootball players have been informed. #NotreDame

— Mike BerardinoNDI (@MikeBerardino) February 3, 2023

Rees, 30, was at one time the quarterback of the Fighting Irish. He has been a member of Notre Dame’s coaching staff since 2017. He took on the role of quarterbacks’ coach and worked his way up to offensive coordinator.

Prior to coaching at Notre Dame, Rees spent some time as an offensive assistant with the Chargers in the NFL and was also a graduate assistant at Northwestern University.

Notre Dame finished #19 nationally in offensive scoring during the 2021 season. As he becomes the sixth offensive coordinator for Alabama in the past eight years, he’ll look to bring his recipe of being a 31-8 playcaller at Notre Dame to Tuscaloosa.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.

DeVonta Smith is one of several former University of Alabama players that are now members of the Super Bowl bound Philadelphia Eagles.

Jalen Hurts, quarterback for the Eagles and fellow Bama Alum, has many receivers to choose from on his offense. DeVonta Smith has always been a preferred option throughout this season for the quarterback.

After the Eagles’ NFC Championship victory, DeVonta Smith was interviewed and asked a number of questions. One came up that didn’t appear to take much reflection.

“It’s amazing. But the job is not done”

I asked DeVonta Smith where that mentality comes from. He always says the job is not done like Jalen Hurts

“Bama” pic.twitter.com/bFiK1yb4Ag

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) January 30, 2023

“Where does this mentality come from? You and Jalen? At such a young age.”

“Every time I talk to you after these huge wins, you’re like, “…the job is not done.”

After a trademark smile, the Heisman trophy winner simply replied, “Bama.”

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.

7. Alabama and Georgia are set for the national championship (Prediction: Alabama 38-21)

The University of Alabama and the University of Georgia are set to face off in the national championship. As the state prepares for the game, some of those in the congressional delegation have placed wagers on the outcome.
U.S. Representatives Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) and David Scott (D-GA) have entered a “double or nothing” bet on the winner. If Alabama wins, Sewell will be treated to Chick-fil-A and peach cheesecake by Scott, but if Georgia wins, Scott will get Dreamland Bar-B-Que and sweet potato fries. U.S. Representatives Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) and Buddy Carter (R-GA) have also entered a wager. If Alabama wins, Carter has to wear Alabama gear, but if Georgia wins, Carl has to wear Georgia apparel.

6. AOC tests positive for COVID after controversial Florida vacation

U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) recently made a controversial trip to Miami, Florida, and now she has tested positive for the coronavirus. Coronavirus numbers are surging across the country, and it’s been reported that AOC has been symptomatic.
AOC received the booster shot for the coronavirus vaccine in the fall, but a week ago, she attended a crowded show at a drag queen bar in Miami. AOC’s trip was largely controversial since she has advocated for masking and mitigation efforts, but during her vacation, she was seen multiple times ignoring the rules she encourages.

5. Democratic candidate for governor wants marijuana and the lottery

A self-proclaimed conservative Democrat has entered the gubernatorial race in Alabama. Chad “Chig” Martin has announced his candidacy and qualified to run. Yolanda Flowers is the other Democratic candidate in the race that has qualified.
Martin is primarily focused on getting the lottery legalized in Alabama, decriminalizing marijuana and sending more funding to schools. Martin stated, “I want to be a governor that works with all parties.” When discussing decriminalizing marijuana, Martin advised, “Alcohol is much more dangerous than cannabis. People can buy all they want freely and get as drunk as they want now. And they’re much more dangerous than people out there using cannabis.” The ALGOP has a pro-pot candidate as well.

4. No, Brooks wasn’t cheering for rioters

U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) has denied claims from U.S. Representative Liz Cheney’s (R-WY) staffer Ryan O’Toole that during the riot at the U.S. Capitol, Brooks “was glad.” O’Toole added, “He was cheering on the fact that the 117^th Congress had started this way. That was much to the dismay of others in the room, and certainly, I think, does not carry the sentiment that the day has today.”
Brooks responded to the claim saying that O’Toole is a “dishonorable gutter rat,” adding that the claim is “categorically false.” Brooks went on to say, “If there were an instance in which I had met with one of these protestors on the Capitol grounds or one of these people who is engaged in illegal conduct and cheered them on, that would be on videotape…The witch-hunt committee would have released that to the news media the very moment they saw it.”

3. SCOTUS justices are spreading misinformation

President Joe Biden’s private employer mandate was scheduled to go into effect on Monday, but multiple federal court rulings have put a pause on that plan to allow the Supreme Court to take on the issue. While the issue has not been ruled on by the higher court yet, the court did take on the issue Friday, even though some of the judges seem to have a tenuous grasp on the facts.
The liberal justices on the court sound like COVID-19 alarmists as they misstated the number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths. They claimed that masks and vaccines prevented the spread of COVID-19, instead of preventing it greatly. It was so egregious, the head of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention had to correct the record.

2. Legislative priorities continue to come into focus

Republicans in the State House have already laid out their legislate agenda, which includes tax cuts, constitutional carry and a ban on Critical Race Theory. State Senate Pro-Tem Greg Reed (R-Jasper) said bills of local interest will come up that were stalled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Noting the second year of the quadrennium was shortened, apparently, this is where local bills thrive. Reed explained, “I want to make sure that those members. If they’ve offered legislation, they want to offer legislation again this year on issues that are important to their communities, that they have an opportunity for that to be done and be debated.”

1. Alabama nurses are asking for assistance

As Alabama struggles with a nursing shortage, which is also a current issue in most states, the Alabama State Nurses Association (ASNA) is asking for the state to send them more funding so they can increase staff. ASNA president Lindsey Harris said, “The main concern is that nurses have not received any [funding].”
Harris was specifically talking about appropriate funds going to nurses during the coronavirus pandemic. She advised, “State funding has gone toward hospitals, state funding has even gone toward travel nurses.” Harris is emphasizing that funding is needed for nurses that have been in the state throughout the pandemic and bringing more “long-term” nurses. It was reported last week that $1.5 billion of coronavirus relief spending is available for allocation which may require a special session.

Tuesday, the Tuscaloosa News reported veteran Alabama beat writer Cecil Hurt passed away at age 62 at the UAB Hospital in Birmingham due to complications from pneumonia.

Hurt was a household name for college football fans across the state of Alabama.

Hurt started at The Tuscaloosa News in 1982 as a sports writer. In 1989, he became the News’ sports editor and columnist, according to the report.

He was named the National Sports Media Association’s Alabama Sportswriter of the Year in 2016, 2018 and 2019. He was also given the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame’s Mel Allen Media Award in 2019.

In addition to his numerous sportswriting awards, Hurt was also part of a team that won a Pulitzer Prize for its 2011 coverage of a tornado that wrecked Tuscaloosa and surrounding areas.

A post to Hurt’s Twitter account on November 10 revealed he had been struggling with pneumonia but also said that it was not COVID-related.

According to The Tuscaloosa News, Hurt is survived by his mother Carol Messina of Sugar Hill, Ga., brother Cary Hurt and his wife Aimee of Huntsville, and sister Caren Hidgon and husband Ray of Cumming, Ga.

pic.twitter.com/NqGHVZNtiM

— Cecil Hurt (@CecilHurt) November 23, 2021

@Jeff_Poor is a graduate of Auburn University and the University of South Alabama, the editor of Breitbart TV, a columnist for Mobile’s Lagniappe Weekly, and host of Mobile’s “The Jeff Poor Show” from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on FM Talk 106.5.