Category: General

General

South Alabama starting offensive lineman lost for season

South Alabama offensive lineman Reed Buys is out for the season due to a knee injury suffered at Southern Miss this past Saturday, head coach Major Applewhite confirmed Monday.

Buys — the Jaguars’ starting right guard — was seen on crutches during the second half of the Jaguars’ 35-14 victory in Hattiesburg, which clinched bowl-eligibility. The Vicksburg, Miss, native is a sixth-year senior and has already used a redshirt, so his college career is over.

Freshman Asher Hale, a former St. Paul’s Episcopal School standout who filled when Buys missed time earlier this season, will start at left guard in Friday’s regular-season finale vs. Texas State. Regular left guard Kenton Jerido will slide to the right side as he did earlier this year when Buys was out.

“We hate it for Reed Buys,” offensive coordinator Rob Ezell said. “He’s one of the leaders on the team and you hate to see that.

“But Asher, he’s played a lot this year already, a local kid who will be chomping at the bit for the last home game of the season — last guaranteed home game. So we’ve got plenty of confidence in him. He knows the playbook and we’re going to call it the same way.”

The 6-foot-4, 301-pound Buys started nine games in 2023 and 10 this year after transferring to South Alabama following two years at Mississippi State and one in junior college. He missed the Oct. 15 Troy game with a minor knee injury, but otherwise the Jaguars have started the same offensive line — Jordan Davis at left tackle, Jerido at left guard, Malachi Preciado at center, Buys at right guard and Malachi Carney at right tackle — in every game this season.

South Alabama (6-5, 4-2 Sun Belt Conference) hosts Texas State (6-5, 4-3) at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Hancock Whitney Stadium, with still a chance to win the Sun Belt West Division title if first-place Louisiana loses on Saturday at Louisiana-Monroe. The South Alabama-Texas State game will stream live via ESPN+.

General

Alabama football coaches on adjustments vs. Oklahoma: ‘Not good enough’

Alabama football couldn’t find any answers for Oklahoma in its 24-3 loss on Saturday. The Crimson Tide got dominated on both sides of the ball, and watched its College Football Playoff dreams wither in the defeat.

On Monday, Crimson Tide coaches were asked about their in-game adjustments throughout the loss. Offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan said he wasn’t pleased with how he and the staff had handled the game.

“Not good enough, right?” Sheridan said. “I think that that’s a fair assessment. And so, like I mentioned before, none of us did a good enough job to put our team in a position to win, and that certainly starts with me, and we need to do a better job.”

The offense stayed stagnant throughout the game, only managing a field goal in the first half. On the other side of the ball, Kane Wommack’s defense got better after halftime, but still not good enough to stop the Sooner run game that torched the Tide all night.

Wommack said he thought the defense adjusted well after halftime. Still, he said after looking at the film that there were “two or three” calls he would have liked to change.

“I think you’ve got to be critical of yourself first in terms of, OK what could I have called to put ourselves in a better position?” Wommack said. “Quite honestly, the explosive plays that we gave up, probably one of those calls I would have liked to have had back. The other two really didn’t hurt us, but I thought I could have called something better in the moment.”

Wommack pointed out that consistency was a problem for the Crimson Tide in the game, an issue echoed by Sheridan and head coach Kalen DeBoer. DeBoer also discussed the in-game adjustments on Monday.

“There was probably a few more adjustments in the game plan as it goes on,” DeBoer said. “But those are usually part of the game plan itself. You’re just going to Plan B, Plan C, and that’s, to me, what adjustments are. You know what the possibilities are each and every week from the film that you watch.

“And it’s just a matter of going to the next level and next set of plays that either attack offensively or adjust to what you’ve been seeing defensively, and you call more of this rather than that. So I think, yeah, it evolved, but I think it’s different for each side of the ball.”

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

General

Water outage scheduled in north Alabama

Parts of Madison County will be impacted by a scheduled water outage beginning at 8:30 Tuesday morning, according to a recent announcement from the county water department.

Weather permitting, the county will be making system improvements around Huntsville, the announcement says.

Customers on W.T. Garrison Lane in Huntsville are expected to experience a temporary outage between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

“We appreciate your patience and will restore service as quickly as possible,” the announcement reads.

“If you have any questions, please contact the Madison County Water Department at 256-746-2888.”

General

The coaching Jalen Milroe received about his running after Oklahoma

Jalen Milroe had minimal rushing success against Oklahoma.

The Alabama football quarterback ran 15 times and tallied only seven yards.

Just two weeks prior, he had rushed for 185 yards on 12 carries and four touchdowns on the road against LSU.

What changed? It was among many questions about the lackluster offensive effort.

“I think there was a little bit, at times, a little bit too much lateral running that occurred,” Alabama offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan said. “And so, we watched the tape, just encouraging him to be a little more north/south in some of those moments, just to have a little bit more production. There’s a fine line there. Obviously he’s making instinctual plays and trying to create, you know, plays. He’s trying to create explosive plays, but I think there were times in the game where he could have been a little bit more north/south and a little bit more decisive that way, when he ran the ball.”

Without Milroe being able to run, the offense couldn’t get much anything going. Alabama managed only three points in a 24-3 loss to the Sooners in Norman, Oklahoma. It marked the first game since 2011 that Alabama hasn’t scored a touchdown.

“It’s hard to explain,” Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said about stopping Milroe from running. “Just discipline and physicality. There’s a timeliness to it. There’s how we defended several of the runs, there was a little bit of deception, and the players executed at an incredibly high level. The staff did a fantastic job of putting together a bulletproof plan and having answers.

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.

General

Ravens-Chargers free livestream: How to watch NFL game tonight, TV, schedule

The Baltimore Ravens play against the Los Angeles Chargers in an NFL game tonight. The matchup will begin at 7:15 p.m. CT on ESPN. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.

The Ravens enter this matchup with a 7-4 record, but they are coming off an 18-16 loss against Pittsburgh. During the loss, Baltimore struggled offensively with three turnovers. The team’s star running back Derrick Henry lost a fumble, his first turnover of the season.

Notably, Henry has rushed for 1,185 yards this year, so he will try to continue his offensive success tonight.

The Chargers enter this matchup with a 7-3 record, and they have won four consecutive games. In their most recent game, the Chargers defeated Cincinnati 34-27.

During the victory, Justin Herbert led the Los Angeles offense. The star quarterback threw for nearly 300 yards and two touchdowns. Herbert has thrown for 13 touchdowns and more than 2,100 yards this season and will be a key player to watch tonight.

Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.

General

Shooting in Hoover shopping center parking lot likely self-inflicted, police say; teen girl recovering

A shooting in the parking lot of a Hoover shopping center involved a teen girl and is believed to have been self-inflicted, according to police.

Hoover police on Monday released new information about the 9 p.m. Sunday shooting at the Village of Lee Branch on Doug Baker Boulevard, near Panera Bread.

Lt. Daniel Lowe said police responded to the scene after officers in the area heard a gunshot and a female screaming for help.

They arrived to find the 16-year-old with a gunshot wound to the face. She was conscious, alert and talking to police when she was transported to the hospital.

Her injuries aren’t life-threatening.

Lowe said the girl’s father was there at the time of the shooting. He was detained, questioned, and released with no charges.

“While the investigation remains ongoing the preliminary indications are that the gunshot wound was self-inflicted,’’ Lowe said. “The victim continues to receive treatment at a local hospital, and because the case involves a juvenile no further information can be released at this time.”

General

Will Auburn flip the state’s top recruit on Signing Day?

Parker defensive back Na’eem Offord has been committed to Ohio State for nearly a year.

But will Alabama’s top senior prospect sign with the Buckeyes next week?

Recruiting experts are beginning to log strong predictions for Auburn to flip the standout before National Signing Day on Dec. 4.

Parker coach Frank Warren said the 6-foot-1, 185-pound Offord will announce his decision at 10:30 a.m. on Signing Day. Both Warren and Offord have said he will decide between Ohio State, Auburn and Oregon.

“They all have been on him the whole time,” Warren said Monday. “It’s going to be a tough decision for him. I’ve been trying to tell him it’s a big decision, but he has to make it soon.”

Offord attended Auburn’s dramatic 43-41 overtime win over No. 15 Texas A&M on Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium. On3’s recruiting prediction machine currently has Auburn with a 74.3 percent chance to land him. The expert averages on 247 Sports have the Tigers with an 80 percent chance to sign Offord.

“He’s a three-year starter for us,” Warren said. “He’s a great young man, first of all. He is also a great football player. He’s a humble kid to be around. He’s like a superstar around here. All the kids love him, but he stays humble about it. He’s a kid you want to coach.

“I think he’s one of the best athletes I have coached in my career. He does things right on the field and off the field.”

Auburn already has commitments from eight of the top 10-ranked players, according to the 247 rankings. Offord and Enterprise DE Zion Grady are both currently committed to Ohio State.

Offord, a five-star prospect, is ranked No. 12 nationally overall and No. 2 at his position. He and his Parker teammates will be on the field Friday night for the Class 6A semifinals against Oxford.

He leads the team with 14 touchdowns – 13 rushing.

“A lot of people might have bigger numbers, but I think he should be in the running for Mr. Football,” Warren said. “He’s a great player on both sides of the ball. Defensively, he takes away the other team’s best threat. Offensively, every time he touches the ball there’s a chance he might score. He reminds me of Travis Hunter (Colorado cornerback/wide receiver and Heisman favorite). He might not have the gaudy numbers, but if he played just on offense, he’d have tremendous numbers.”

General

Kalen DeBoer discusses Cam Coleman before Iron Bowl

Alabama football knows a thing or two about having an electric freshmen receiver, with Ryan Williams on the team. Now this week, the Crimson Tide will get to face another of the country’s best young receivers.

Cam Coleman and Auburn football will come to Tuscaloosa this week to face Alabama in the Iron Bowl on Saturday (2:30 p.m., ABC) at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Coleman enters the game on a recent hot streak, having caught 15 passes for 228 yards and five touchdowns the past two games against Louisiana Monroe and Texas A&M.

“He’s extremely impressive,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said of Coleman. “He’s made a lot of plays for them this year. And yeah, I mean, you’ve gotta not just focus on him, you’ve gotta focus on the other guys that have had big games. And it’s not just the pass game but it’s also the run game. Their quarterback now, Thorne, has done a nice job adding to that, too, with his legs. A lot of threats. And that’s what you wanna be. You wanna be an offense that has a lot of threats, and they have that.”

Coleman is actually the second-leading receiver on the team behind KeAndre Lambert-Smith. The former Penn State receiver has caught 42 passes for 865 yards and eight touchdowns. Coleman has tallied 30 receptions for 520 yards and seven touchdowns.

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.

General

Teen driver charged in north Alabama crash that killed 2 passengers, ages 13 and 15

A north Alabama teen has been charged in a traffic crash that killed two other teens, ages 13 and 15, and injured a fourth.

Yeismin Ramirez, 18, of Albertville, is charged with vehicular manslaughter and two counts of first-degree assault, Alabama State Troopers announced Monday.

Ramirez was booked into the Marshall County Jail Thursday, and released this morning after posting $500,000 bond, jail records show.

Authorities have not said what led to the criminal charges against Ramirez.

All of the students involved in the crash attended Albertville City Schools.

“Our entire school community is grieving this loss, and our thoughts are with the families of both students we have lost, as well as with those who are still recovering’’ school officials said in an announcement following the wreck. “This is an incredibly difficult time for so many, and we want to remind everyone that no one has to go through it alone.”

“Let’s continue to keep these families and one another in our prayers as we navigate this together,’’ the statement read.

The wreck happened at 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, on Blessing Road near Arley Lacey Road, about two miles north of Boaz.

Ramirez was driving a Nissan Altima that left the road, hitting a tree stump, a sign post, and a fence, said Alabama State Trooper Cpl. Reginal King.

A 13-year-old girl, Tamy Carmelo, was pronounced dead on the scene.

Another passenger, 15-year-old Jovana Morales, died Thursday at the hospital.

A 17-year-old passenger was injured.

Authorities said the teens were not using seat belts at the time of the crash.

GoFundMe accounts have been started to help with the teens’ burials.

Jovana is remembered as a beloved daughter, sister, and friend, according to the fundraising site.

Tamy’s death, according to her GoFundMe, “has left a void in the hearts of our family, friends, and classmates.”

General

Marchers rally to support family of Black man found hanging in rural Alabama

More than 100 people marched from Sheffield to Tuscumbia on Saturday in support of the family of a Black man found dead at an abandoned house in Colbert County on Sept. 28, after he filed a federal lawsuit earlier this year accusing Sheffield police officers of brutality.

Dennoriss Richardson, 39, of Sheffield, was found hanging by a rope on the litter-strewn carport of an abandoned house surrounded by overgrown weeds. Colbert County Sheriff Eric Balentine ruled the death a suicide.

Family members say he would have never committed suicide, and that he had no reason to drive to such a remote location that he had no connection with. They carried signs saying “Justice for NaNa,” a reference to their nickname for Richardson, who is survived by five children and was known for coaching in youth sports leagues.

The FBI agreed in October to investigate the case, at Balentine’s request.

On Saturday afternoon, marchers started at the Sheffield City Hall, near the jail where Richardson said officers restrained and tazed him. They concluded the march about two miles away at the steps of the Colbert County Courthouse, where a series of speakers complained of a litany of perceived racial injustice perpetrated by law enforcement officers.

Sheriff Balentine stood by as civil rights attorney Roderick Van Daniel, who represented Richardson in the federal lawsuit, questioned Balentine’s ruling of suicide in the case.

Balentine said he felt the peaceful rally went well.

“The people who were in charge of getting everything together, they did just as they promised, and we did too, and everybody was able to exercise their First Amendment rights, and that’s what we want them to do – a lot of people suffered in the community,” Balentine said. “Everybody got to speak what was on their heart.”

Balentine said he has touched base with the FBI to ask about a time frame on the investigation, but still doesn’t know how long it will take. “Sometimes those wheels turn slow,” Balentine said. “It’s just up to them. I don’t know where they’re at on it.”

Sheffield Police officers and Colbert County Sheriff’s deputies provided a security escort for the march.

Richardson filed a lawsuit Feb. 26 against several Sheffield police officers, alleging abusive behavior while Richardson was detained in the Sheffield City Jail for five days from Nov. 30 until Dec. 1, 2022.

His widow, Leigh Ann Richardson, said he was later arrested again on a drug charge and told it would be dropped if he dropped the lawsuit, but he refused, she said.

Several marchers expressed skepticism that Richardson killed himself.

“It’s fishy,” said Beth Colburn, a white woman from Muscle Shoals who brought her teenage son and daughter to march.

“We have been mistreated long enough,” said Michael Poole, of Sheffield. “It’s something that’s not adding up.”

Lorenza Collier, president of the Tri-County NAACP chapter that includes Colbert, Lauderdale and Franklin counties, said marchers want to show their concern for the Richardson family.

“I’m out here to pray we can get peace and understanding,” he said.

Rodney Gordon, another NAACP activist who spoke, said the march and rally was not intended to accuse anyone of wrongdoing.

“We want to raise awareness of what happened, and get to the facts,” he said. “We want to get some answers.”

Dennoriss Richardson was found dead, hanging by a rope at an abandoned house on Sept. 28, 2024. His family wears shirts and holds signs on the steps of the Colbert County Courthouse after a rally on Nov. 23, 2024. The FBI is investigating the case, which was ruled a suicide by the Colbert County sheriff. (Photo by Greg Garrison/AL.com)[email protected]