Category: General

General

Auburn players look to avenge 2023 Iron Bowl loss: ‘It will always replay through our minds’

The 2023 Iron Bowl was unforgettable.

For the Auburn players, though, it’s a memory that still haunts them. The Tigers lost the game 27-24, capped off by a 31-yard Hail Mary with 32 seconds left in the game.

Many of Auburn’s key players in 2024 were on the field for that game, a memory that can only be erased by revenge on Saturday.

“That moment has been sitting with me for 365 days, so we’re creeping up on the 365th day,” sixth-year senior tight end Luke Deal told reporters Monday. “I think it’s going to fuel us a lot. And guys who experience that pain and experienced that low in our careers and our time here, that’s something that will definitely fuel us so we don’t go out like that again.”

Deal has been a part of more Iron Bowls than anyone else on the roster and is the only player left from Auburn’s last win over Alabama in 2019.

Jeremiah Wright, one of Auburn’s veteran offensive linemen, wasn’t playing in that 2019 game, but took in the scenes as a recruit. Wright described that as one of his best Iron Bowl memories, but 2023 was easily the most heartbreaking.

“It will always replay through our minds,” Wright said. “I still have family that calls me. They called me yesterday and were messing with me like, ‘what are you going to do?’ We’re just going to go back to the drawing board. We block out all of the outside noise.”

Much of the outside noise going into this year’s Iron Bowl is being directed toward Alabama, as the Crimson Tide limp into the game after a 24-3 loss to Oklahoma. Auburn comes in on a polar opposite note, knocking off then No. 15 Texas A&M in four overtimes.

Freshman defensive lineman Malik Blocton had a unique perspective on the 2023 Iron Bowl. He didn’t play in the game, but his brother, Marcus Harris, did.

Blocton was at the game as a recruit and saw firsthand what the loss meant to his brother as he played his last game at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

“It was crazy for me last year, I was at the game, and I see my brother walk off the field with tears in his eyes,” Blocton said. “I just don’t want that to be me on Saturday. That’s not going to be me.”

For Payton Thorne, Auburn’s starting quarterback and one of its leaders, he doesn’t want the team’s focus to be on the past.

“You remember, but you do your best not to dwell on it,” Thorne said. “You don’t want it to impact what we’re doing this week. Keep it in the back of your mind, remember for the right reasons, but don’t let it consume you.

“We’ve got a different team. So do they. And focused on the task at hand and doing everything we can to win the game on Saturday.”

If Auburn were to beat Alabama on Saturday, it would be the program’s first win in Tuscaloosa since 2010 and the first Iron Bowl win at all since 2019.

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at [email protected]m

General

Former Alabama All-American won’t face concealed-weapon charge

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams will not be charged with carrying a concealed weapon in a motor vehicle, the Wayne County (Michigan) Prosecutor’s Office announced on Monday.

The Detroit Police Department had requested a warrant to arrest Williams while conducting an internal review of a traffic stop in October involving the former Alabama All-American.

Police reported they stopped a car driven by Williams’ brother for speeding. The driver disclosed there were two guns in the car – one on the back seat and one under the front-passenger seat, where Williams was sitting.

The gun on the back seat was registered to Williams’ brother, who had a concealed-pistol license for it. The other gun was registered to Williams, who did not have a concealed-pistol license.

Williams was handcuffed and taken into custody for not having a CPL, but he was released at the scene without being transported to the Detroit Detention Center for processing.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy told WXYZ-TV in Detroit that Williams would have been charged if he had the gun in his possession at the time of the traffic stop. Because he didn’t, it raised the question of if the CPL belonging to Williams’ brother applied to both guns in the car when neither was in direct possession of the occupants of the vehicle.

“Because the case law is silent regarding the specific issue,” Worthy said in a statement released by the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, “and the legislative intent of the CPL statute does not support charges under these facts, no charges will issue in this matter, and the warrant is denied.

“While no case has identical facts, we can look at similar facts, if possible, to aid us in our decision-making. We really could not recall any case that had facts that mirrored this case. Every case is fact-specific. As always, we apply the alleged facts to the existing law. And the applicable law and its accompanying legislative history is far from clear.”

A first-round draft pick in 2022, Williams has 29 receptions for 602 yards and four touchdowns and six rushing attempts for 38 yards this season.

With the best record in the NFC at 10-1, the Lions will play the Chicago Bears in their annual Thanksgiving game at 11:30 a.m. CST Thursday at Ford Field in Detroit. CBS will televise the game.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.

General

Miss Manners: Is it rude to split my holiday party guest list in two?

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Due to the small size of our home, we host two holiday parties each year, essentially splitting one big gathering into two events so that we can see everyone.

We send different invites to separate guest lists. It is always a little uncomfortable when friends talk to each other and wonder why one of them was invited on this day and another on a different day.

Could I send an invitation that lists both parties, and let the guests RSVP as to the one they would like to attend? Of course, that would require guests to respond. Many don’t even send regrets, which is all we currently ask.

I want to let my friends feel open to come to whichever is most convenient for them. Is that tacky?

GENTLE READER: You are asking for a lot of trouble on behalf of people who do not even trouble themselves to answer your invitations.

Even if this new plan prompts them to respond, what if they all want to attend on the same day? Lopsided attendance would defeat your judgment about the best use of your space.

If it were Miss Manners, she would invite only polite people, thus giving only one party. Perhaps a very intimate one. But you presumably want them all, as you have been kindly overlooking the rudeness of ignored invitations year after year.

So here is a kinder suggestion: Scrawl the phrase “‘A’ list,” as if by accident, somewhere on both sets of invitations.

Please send your questions to Miss Manners at missmanners.com, by email to [email protected], or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

General

Alabama GOP announces new executive director

Shannon Whitt, the Alabama Republican Party’s director of finance and special events, will be taking over as executive director following the departure of current Alabama GOP Director Reed Phillips.

The party announced the transition on Monday and said that Phillips would be leaving the GOP to “pursue an exciting new opportunity.”

“It has been an incredible honor to serve the Alabama Republican Party and work alongside so many talented and dedicated individuals,” Phillips said.

“I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to help grow our Party and for the friendships I’ve built with members of the State Executive Committee and grassroots leaders across the state. I look forward to seeing the Party continue to thrive in the years ahead.”

Phillips, who has been with ALGOP for nearly a decade, first served as political director before being promoted to executive director in 2020, according to the release.

But Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl said he is confident in the party’s future under Whitt.

“Shannon Whitt is an exceptional leader with a proven track record of success,” Wahl said.

“Her abilities have empowered the Alabama Republican Party to compete and succeed on a national level within the Republican Party. I have full confidence that her vision, professionalism, and deep institutional knowledge will continue to propel the Party forward.”

Alabama and national politics

General

‘They took a piece of my heart’: Birmingham mom devastated after missing son found slain

Chervon Tanner feels like her heart has been torn into pieces.

The Birmingham mother spent the weekend worrying about her missing son, and then ended the weekend by learning that he had been murdered.

“It’s a nightmare,’’ Tanner said, “and I’m still asking someone to wake me up from it.”

“They took a piece of my heart,’’ she said. “My full circle is gone.”

Dontrell Gooden, 20, was last seen at about 11 p.m. on Friday. He had been staying with his sister.

She woke up the next morning and realized he’d not come home.

The family immediately launched a search for him.

“She called my middle son, and they went to the area where his phone last pinged and started searching,’’ Tanner said.

When they still couldn’t find him, they called Birmingham police. Officers on Saturday night issued a Critical Missing Alert for Gooden, saying they believed he was in danger.

The body of a 20-year-old man was found Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, two days after he disappeared in east Birmingham.(Carol Robinson)

The police launched their own search. The family continued theirs, and spread word of Gooden’s disappearance on social media.

About 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, officers looking for Gooden discovered him dead inside his sister’s vehicle in a wooded area in the Brummitt Heights neighborhood.

He had been shot.

The discovery was made on Spruce Avenue and Cunningham Street. That location was just a street over from where Gooden’s family had been searching for him.

Tanner said she believes her son was killed by someone he knew.

“He liked to help people, and he trusted too many people,’’ Tanner said.

“I think they killed him over a gun over a gun they wanted,’’ she said. “They could have just taken it from him, and he would still be here.”

Gooden, who had attended Tarrant High School, was the baby of Tanner’s family.

“We spoiled him because his Daddy died when he was 3 years old so all of us just spoiled him,’’ she said, “and considered him our baby.”

Gooden loved to make people laugh, she said.

“He liked to tickle you and play jokes on you,’’ Tanner said.

Gooden adored his 2-year-old twin nieces.

“They were his world, and he was their world,’’ his mother said. “I just broke down crying when one of them was calling his name last night.”

No arrests have been announced.

Dontrell Gooden has been missing since Friday, Nov. 22, 2024.(BPD)

Tanner said she’d like to ask the suspect or suspects, “Why?”

“Why would you do him like that when you already knew he’d give you the shirt off his back,’’ she said. “Why would you do him like that over a raggedy gun?”

Tanner said she also wants them to know what they took from her.

“I can’t begin to tell you how much it’s hurt our family,’’ she said. “He was true friend to the end, and he died over it.”

She said she’s tired of the violence plaguing Birmingham.

“The violence needs to stop,’’ she said. “These young men are killing their whole generation.”

Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.

General

How Alabama football coaches are balancing Iron Bowl, signing day and transfer portal

Alabama football is entering the busiest part of its calendar. The Crimson Tide plays the Iron Bowl against Auburn Saturday, ending its regular season, before a major moment for roster management.

The football early signing period for high school recruits begins on Dec. 4. The transfer portal opens Dec. 9.

The schedule has been a log jam at the end of seasons for several years now. On Monday, Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer was asked how he balances all of the roster management with trying to finish out the season on the field.

“I think that’s one thing with our staff, just the relationships that exist,” DeBoer said of talking to players currently on the roster about their future plans. “I think those little conversations that happen periodically, it might happen different times with different guys, just because they feel open to talk to our staff. Yes, there’s different levels of conversations. Some of them are initiated not just by us but by the players and just talking through it and getting our input.”

An Iron Bowl win is needed for Alabama to preserve any slim chance of a College Football Playoff bid after it suffered its third loss of the season Saturday at Oklahoma. Unfortunately, DeBoer and company must at least pay some attention to the future roster, lest even more seasons turn out like 2024 is threatening to.

“That’s not the focus right now,” DeBoer said. “The focus is on the Iron Bowl. The focus is on the regular season, but I think just in the sidebar conversations that looking to our staff as mentors and you know they have their families they have the people that they go to away from the building as well, just really working through it with them.

“Comfortable with where we’re at, but the roster management piece is a huge deal, this signing class in particular and then obviously, it isn’t just an end of the season thing anymore it’s a constant year-round management of the roster and kind of having a beat on what you think and feel might happen and what you’ve got to be ready for when that time comes.”

Alabama and Auburn are scheduled to kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday in Tuscaloosa. The Iron Bowl will be aired on ABC.

General

Birmingham man charged with felony murder even though he didn’t fire fatal shots

A 40-year-old has been charged with felony murder in a deadly Birmingham shooting, even though he wasn’t the one who pulled the trigger.

Brandon Quartez Jemison is charged in the September shooting of Malike Williams, according to court records made public Monday. However, the two are believed to be related, and were in a confrontation with a third man.

Police previously said the third man fired the shots that killed Williams and he was justified in defending himself because Williams was the aggressor.

However, under Alabama’s accomplice liability, Jemison is being charged with the death of Williams. That law allows a person to be charged if they are participating in a felony crime that results in a death, whether or not that person actually pulled the trigger.

The shooting happened about 5 p.m. on Sept. 24 at Big Boy Convenience Store on Pearson Avenue.

Williams died en route to UAB Hospital.

Police at the time said the deadly shooting possibly stemmed from a dispute over a social media post.

Officer Truman Fitzgerald previously said that: One party had a gun, the second party had a gun, and one of those males fired shots.”

Jemison and Williams were the two men involved in the confrontation with the shooter, police said. Jemison fled the scene after Williams was shot.

Charging documents say Jemison caused the death of Williams by “participating in the attempted murder of” the intended victim, who was able to shoot first and kill Williams.

Jemison is also charged with attempted murder of the intended victim.

Jemison was booked into the Jefferson County Jail Friday. He remains held on bonds totaling $60,000.

Williams’ best friend, 34-year-old Damone Gardner, was shot to death less than four hours later, possibly during an argument over Williams’ killing.

No arrests have been made in Gardner’s death.

General

Candidates for NFL’s sportsmanship honor include 5 from Alabama

Five players with Alabama football roots have been nominated for the NFL’s Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award

Each NFL team nominated one player for the annual honor, and the league revealed the candidates on Monday.

The award is presented annually to the NFL player “who best demonstrates the qualities of on-field sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for the game and opponents, and integrity in competition.”

The nominees for the award for the 2024 season included:

Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama)
New England Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones (Auburn)
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (Alabama)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama)
New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (Wenonah, Alabama)

The 32 nominees will be reduced to eight finalists – four from each conference – by four players from the NFL Legends Community — Warrick Dunn, Larry Fitzgerald, Curtis Martin and Leonard Wheeler. From the eight finalists, each team’s players will submit a consensus vote of their choice for the winner. As in Pro Bowl voting, a team cannot vote for its own player.

The winner will be announced during the annual NFL Honors program in February. The winner will receive a $25,000 donation from the NFL Foundation for the charity of his choice.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.

General

Huntsville airport lands nonstop flight to New York City

The Rocket City and the Big Apple are about to feel a whole lot closer.

Delta Air Lines is launching a daily direct flight from Huntsville International Airport to LaGuardia Airport beginning April 14, along with a daily return flight. The airline will operate the route on 76-passenger Bombardier CRJ-900 jets with available first-class seating.

“Our customers desire non-stop service to major destinations to enable them the convenience of doing business in a day if needed,” Port of Huntsville Chairman Trey Bentley said in a news release. “We continue to strive to add new markets and provide travel options for our customers.”

General

Former Temple star under federal investigation for allegedly point-shaving vs. UAB last March

Former Temple men’s basketball player Hysier Miller is under federal investigation over allegations of point shaving, according to a report from ESPN.

During his tenure with the Temple Owls, a 100-72 loss against the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) on March 7, 2024, raised eyebrows at popular sportsbooks. Before the game, the line moved from UAB -2 to -8 due to an influx of wagers on UAB.

Miller, who led the Owls in scoring at 15.9 ppg last season, finished the outing with 8 points on 3-9 shooting and failed to record an assist for the first time all season.

Sportsbooks alert FBI to potential point shaving

The investigation follows alerts from sportsbooks to the Las Vegas firm U.S Integrity. According to an ESPN report, The Borgata in Atlantic City, New Jersey, halted betting action on the UAB vs. Temple matchup the morning of the game. Even following the line movement, sportsbook director Thomas Gable told ESPN the wagers continued, ultimately leading to the decision to halt the action.

The investigation has been ongoing for several months, and the NCAA is reportedly also seeking answers, per the ESPN report. Investigators have spent the months following the March matchup investigating Temple games.

“We have been fully responsive and cooperative with the NCAA since the moment we learned of the investigation,” Temple spokesperson Steve Orbanek told ESPN.

Jason P. Bologna, an attorney representing Miller, released the following statement to ESPN: “Hysier Miller has overcome more adversity in his 22 years than most people face in their lifetime. He will meet and overcome whatever obstacles lay ahead.”

Miller Case mirrors other recent gambling scandals

Miller’s alleged point-shaving is not the only recent gambling scandal. We have seen major integrity issues this year across the industry including the NBA, MLB, and NFL.

Jontay Porter of the NBA is currently on trial for his involvement in an alleged sports betting scheme during his brief time with the Toronto Raptors. Porter pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy for his role in the case, including tipping off coconspirators ahead of games he planned to leave early due to injury or illness.

Tucupita Marcano of the San Diego Padres received a lifetime ban from the MLB for betting on games, including on his own team. And of course, Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter was embroiled in a major gambling scandal as well.

All leagues both at the collegiate and professional level have strict rules to combat integrity issues. Despite this, there are still situations like the Hysier Miller, Jontay Porter, and Tucupita Marano cases. With the investigation still ongoing there is no word as to what repercussions, if any, Miller will face.

Miller initially transferred to Virginia Tech in the offseason, but was dismissed from the team on Oct. 23. He did not play a single game for the Hokies all season.