Category: General

General

Alabama ranked as one of worst states for fall foliage and fun: Do you agree?

Is Alabama really one of the worst places to visit for fall foliage and festivities? A recent study says so, but folks in the state may beg to differ.

The LawnStarter site basically trashes Alabama as a fall destination, giving the state a bottom-of-the-barrel rating in its list of “2024′s Best States to Visit This Fall: Foliage and Festivities.” A total of 48 states were including in the rankings —Alaska and Hawaii were omitted due to “a lack of fall foliage data” — and Alabama came in at No. 44, landing in the bottom five.

Only Mississippi (No. 45), Oklahoma (No. 46), Delaware (No. 47) and Louisiana (No. 48) fared worse than Alabama in the study, which ranked states for qualities such as “the projected length of fall foliage and peak foliage, scenic drives and pumpkin patches,” according to a press release.

California was ranked at No. 1, followed by Washington (No. 2), Oregon (No. 3), Vermont (No. 4) and Michigan (No. 5).

“California scores at the top enjoying a unique advantage as the changing leaves slowly trickle down the state, with patches peaking between mid-October in NorCal and mid-November in SoCal, so folks can enjoy the colorful atmosphere for a longer period of time,” the LawnStarter site says. “The state is also full of parks, forests, trails, and scenic drives for admiring the hues.”

Several Southeastern state appear to be at a disadvantage in the rankings, but it should be noted that Tennessee came in at No. 12, North Carolina was No. 13 and Georgia was near the middle of the pack at No. 25. (See the full rankings here.)

So why did Alabama get major side-eye from LawnStarter? All we can do is point to the methodology for the study, as described on the company’s site:

“First, we determined the factors (metrics) that are most relevant to rank the Best States to Visit This Fall. We then assigned a weight to each factor based on its importance and grouped those factors into 4 categories: Fall Scenery, Outdoor Recreation, Entertainment, and Safety. … We calculated scores (out of 100 points) for each state to determine its rank in each factor, each category, and overall. A state’s Overall Score is the average of its scores across all factors and categories. The highest Overall Score ranked ‘Best’ (No. 1) and the lowest ‘Worst’ (No. 48).

In the fall scenery category, LawnStarted considered the projected number of weeks with fall foliage, projected number of days of peak fall foliage and the number of scenic drives. The outdoor recreation category included numbers of national and state parks, total acreage of forest land, number of hiking trails and more.

In the entertainment category, the study emphasized numbers for outdoor attractions, fall festivals, apple orchards, corn mazes, pumpkin patches, hayrides and more. The safety category focused on wildfire and hurricane risk.

Autumn foliage in Alabama typically peaks in late October or early November, but can last well into November. (Joe Songer/[email protected]) al.com

Alabama earned an overall total score of 24.13 out of 100 in the study, earning the state its spot in the bottom five. In a breakdown of the four main categories in the study, Alabama received a score of 43/100 for fall scenery, 31/100 for outdoor recreation, 38/100 for fall entertainment and 27/100 for safety.

But let’s not get too upset about the rankings right now. Alabama people can make their own decisions about the state’s fall foliage and entertainment (including 50+ fall fairs and festivals) simply by heading out the door.

Much of the state is typically at peak fall color right now, according to the Alabama Tourism Department’s website. “Fall colors will begin showing in the mountains of North Alabama in early October and then sweep across the region,” the site says. “Colors will be at their peak from late October to early November.”

The tourism department’s recommendations for a “Fall Color Trail” include Oak Mountain State Park, Bankhead National Forest, Joe Wheeler State Park, Monte Sano State Park, Little River Canyon, Cheaha State Park, Noccalula Falls and more. There’s also a North Alabama Fall Color Trail, courtesy of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association.

Southern Living has weighed in on fall foliage in recent years, naming the “The Best Places In Every Southern State For Incredible Fall Color.” Two spots in Alabama earned kudos in the 2024 list: Lookout Mountain Scenic Parkway and Little River Canyon Nature Preserve.

Little River Canyon in Fort Payne was was touted by Southern Living for “a glorious autumn view of its 45-foot waterfalls. You’ll also find vibrant fall foliage as the preserve’s sassafras, flowering dogwood, hickory, dogwood, oak, and maple trees change colors.” Lookout Mountain Scenic Parkway, which runs from Gadsden to Chattanooga, received a thumb’s up as a “93-mile parkway (that) runs alongside waterfalls, canyons, small towns and villages, state and national parks, and some of the state’s most colorful trees.”

AL.com has kept its eyes on the fall foliage, of course, recommending visits to Little River Canyon, the covered bridges in Blount County, DeSoto State Park, Bankhead National Forest. Cheaha State Park, Oak Mountain State Park and more. Also, fall color in Alabama can last well into November, depending on where you live and what the weather’s like.

“The state’s northern area typically receives colder air temperatures first and onlookers can track the color change as it makes its way down the state,” says the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. “The most prominent colors of fall are yellow, orange, red and purple. When all shades are present at the same time, it creates a dazzling scene of beauty.”

Autumn color 2020 drone — Autumn color from the drone on Simmons Mountain in Springville along Newton Road. (Joe Songer | [email protected]).Joe Songer | [email protected]

General

5 bold predictions for Auburn men’s basketball’s 2024-2025 season

Basketball season is here and Auburn goes into the 2024-2025 season with high expectations.

Bruce Pearl’s team ranks 11th in the preseason AP Poll and was picked to finish second in the Southeastern Conference. Much of the hype is warranted, though, for a team coming off a conference tournament championship and returning much of its production.

It won’t be an easy to match last year’s success, though. Auburn plays one of the toughest nonconference schedules in the country and the SEC continues to be one of the deepest conferences in college basketball.

With Auburn officially getting started on Wednesday, here are five bold predictions for the Tigers’ upcoming season:

Auburn will lose at least three nonconference games

With a tougher nonconference schedule often comes more nonconference losses. Auburn plays one of the toughest nonconference schedules in the country this season, so it’ would be unrealistic to expect the Tigers to run through the beginning of the season unscathed.

Games against Houston, at Duke and Iowa State in Maui standout as the toughest early-season matchups. Auburn might not lose all three of those games, but those along with other tough games like Purdue and Ohio State force the Tigers to come together quickly.

With how strong the schedule is overall, a few losses early on won‘t negatively impact Auburn’s tournament resume much. Auburn has more to gain than to lose from these games and some early lumps could help the team later in the season.

Auburn will win the SEC

There‘s a very good chance the SEC comes down to the state of Alabama’s two teams this season. The Crimson Tide was picked to win the conference in the preseason poll, but Auburn wasn’t far behind in second place.

Both teams are more than talented enough to win the SEC and it wouldn‘t be a surprise if either team won it. That’s not to say only Auburn and Alabama can win it either, with teams like Arkansas, Tennessee and Texas A&M all looking like contenders.

This season feels right for Auburn, though. When you combine a returning All-American, multiple returning starters, two instant-impact freshmen and proven transfers with enough early tests to figure out what works, you get a team that’s going to be hard to beat in the second half of the season.

Johni Broome will win the Wooden Award

Fourteen seniors have been awarded the Wooden Award in the past 24 seasons. Auburn’s Johni Broome has a chance at being No. 15 if he mirrors what he did a season ago for the Tigers.

Broome was named to the preseason All-SEC first team after averaging 16.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game in 2023. His other accolades include SEC Tournament Most Valuable Player, All-SEC first team and an SEC All-Defensive team pick.

A Wooden Award to Broome’s college career resume would put him up there with the greats college basketball has seen in recent years.

Tahaad Pettiford and Jahki Howard will be named to the SEC All-Freshman team

Pearl brought in two highly touted freshmen in guard Tahaad Pettiford and forward Jahki Howard. The duo turned heads early in the Tigers’ two exhibition games, pointing to great signs for a good year from both players.

Pettiford signed as the No. 29 overall recruit in the country and scored 12 points with five assists in Auburn’s last exhibition game against Florida Atlantic. He drained two of his five 3-point attempts, nearly dropping a third that rimmed out due to a foul.

Howard scored 14 points on 5-for-10 shooting while adding four steals on the defensive end. With his unbelievable athleticism, his ability to create shot opportunities will be key down the stretch in conference play.

Nineteen players have been named to the SEC All-Freshman Team in Auburn’s history. The most recent Tiger players to be named to the All-Freshman Team were Aden Holloway (2024) and Jabari Smith (2022).

Miles Kelly will lead the team in 3-point percentage

Georgia Tech transfer Miles Kelly will be Auburn’s secret weapon on offense. Coming off averaging 13.9 points and 5.5 rebounds for the Yellow Jackets a season ago, Kelly’s experience will add deep depth to a loaded Auburn backcourt.

Kelly’s 184 career 3-point field goals made ranks ninth most in Georgia Tech history. After missing the Tigers first scrimmage against Furman, Kelly lit up the court for 15 points against Florida Atlantic. He was 4-for-8 from the floor drilling three 3-pointers.

General

Week 11 state college football schedule

Below is the in-state college football schedule for Week 11 of the 2024 season (all times Central):

Saturday, Nov. 9

West Alabama at Shorter, 11 a.m.

Cumberland (Tenn.) at Faulkner, 11 a.m.

Huntingdon at Southern Utah, noon

Miles at Tuskegee, 1 p.m.

Connecticut at UAB, 1:30 p.m., ESPN+

Alabama A&M at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 2 p.m.

Alabama State at Grambling State, 2 p.m., ESPN+

Tennessee Tech at Samford, 2 p.m., ESPN+

North Alabama at Southern Utah, 2 p.m.

Jacksonville State at Louisiana Tech, 3:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network

Alabama at LSU, 6:30 p.m., ABC

OPEN: Auburn, South Alabama, Troy

General

Let’s start by imagining Alabama vs. Auburn in the ultimate Final Four ending

This is an opinion column.

And so it begins tonight, with greater expectations and possibilities than ever, in a most unlikely place at a most opportune moment. It’s basketball season in this suddenly basketball state, and if your favorite football team has let you down, chin up. Your favorite basketball team is here to lift your spirits, climb a ladder and cut down nets.

Again.

General

Dehydrated governor, football ‘drama’: Down in Alabama

The election is tomorrow. No matter which side wins, just remember, not only will the sun come up Wednesday morning, but it’ll come up an hour earlier than it did a week ago.

Quiz answers are below.

Thanks for reading,

Ike

Gov. Ivey’s medical treatment

Gov. Kay Ivey was treated by paramedics Sunday night for what her staff said was a case of dehydration, reports AL.com’s Mike Cason.

The governor was attending a campaign event for Congressional District 2 candidate Caroleene Dobson. Communications Director Gina Maiola said Ivey felt better after receiving fluids and being evaluated as a precaution.

Ivey is an 80-year-old lung-cancer survivor whose doctor has said was cured of her cancer.

A rare and valuable mussel

Recent south Alabama roadwork was aimed at protecting a rare mollusk in small creeks and streams, reports AL.com’s Margaret Kates for the Mobile Press-Register digital edition.

The Alabama pearlshell mussel is endangered, is one of only five pearlshell mussels in the U.S., and is native only to certain drainages in Monroe, Conecuh and Escambia counties. It does valuable work, however, filtering bacteria and cleaning the water at a high rate.

A problem is that the little bivalve needs creek beds of coarse sand that allows water to flow through it, but runoff from unpaved roads bring in finer sediment. So the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and affected county governments improved some roads to nip that issue.

University of South Alabama biologist Matt Hodges said it’s a good return on investment. The work helps protect an endangered species, of course. In return, Hodges said, the Alabama pearlshell mussel cleans the water, it serves as a “canary in the coalmine” because of its job as a filter, and the work also benefits motorists.

The Alabama pearlshell lives for 60-80 years.

Fake injuries

Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey wants to put a stop to football players pretending to be hurt in order to get an injury timeout, reports AL.com’s Creg Stephenson.

You may have seen this happen before.

Allegedly … it’s been suggested that it might’ve taken place during the Alabama-Tennessee game. Crimson Tide defensive back King Mack ran off the field, then turned and ran back onto the field a few steps, then went down like he’d run right into George Foreman’s roundhouse.

And the Golden Globe allegedly goes to …

The rise in accusations of phantom injuries probably traces back to the rise in hurry-up offenses and the desire for defenses to get time any way they can.

If you think it’s a bad look, then the SEC commissioner seems to agree.

Yahoo Sports obtained a memo sent from Sankey to member programs’ football coaches and athletics directors: “As plainly as it can be stated: Stop any and all activity related to faking injuries to create timeouts,” Sankey wrote. “… When a game stoppage is needed, use a time-out in accordance with NCAA Football Rule 3-3-4. This is not a complicated or confusing principle.”

The warning has teeth: In cases where the national coordinator for football officiating determines that it is “more likely than not” a player is channeling Brando, a first offense will bring the program a $50,000 fine, a second offense will bring a $100,000 fine, and a third offense will fetch a public reprimand and a one-game suspension for the head coach and any other involved coach.

Quiz answers

Here’s how the Friday’s weekly Alabama News quiz went over the weekend:

National political figures, including a former U.S. Attorney General and the U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader, have been campaigning in Alabama over the race for this position:

Alabama’s Congressional District 2 representative (CORRECT) 83.8%
Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court 9.3%
Public Service Commission president 5.7%
Alexander Shunnarah’s stylist 1.1%

This election, there’s only one statewide amendment on the ballot. It’s on this topic:

A Franklin County Schools land sale. (CORRECT) 59.7%
Increased protections of Mobile County oyster habitat. 20.3%
Changes to the organization of the Houston County Commission. 16.2%
A Jefferson County measure requiring students to take a course on navigating a flashing yellow traffic light. 3.8%

This popular musical instrument recently returned to The Alabama Theatre after spending a few months in Georgia being repaired.

Pipe organ (CORRECT) 85.9%
Harp 5.5%
Steel guitar 5.3%
Didgeridoo 3.2%

A South Alabama couple has applied for a Guinness World Record for the height of this kind of plant growing in their garden.

Okra (CORRECT) 71.9%
Corn 17.3%
Mustard greens 6.1%
Asparagus 4.8%

A man who once attended the Alabama School of Math and Science in Mobile recently received attention for his discovery of this.

The largest known prime number. (CORRECT) 62.5%
The molecular abnormality that causes lupus. 18.4%
A yet-unnamed comet. 18.1%
Big Bob Gibson’s recipe for Alabama white sauce. 1.0%

More Alabama News

The podcast

General

State NFL roundup: Former Gadsden City star burns Cowboys on fourth down

Facing fourth-and-3 at the Dallas Cowboys 36-yard line on Sunday, the Atlanta Falcons got a lot more than the necessary yardage.

Quarterback Kirk Cousins found wide receiver Darnell Mooney alone along the right sideline, and the former Gadsden City High School standout took the reception all the way to the end zone.

The touchdown with 8:28 left in the first half gave the Falcons an 11-point lead on their way to a 27-21 victory over Dallas.

Mooney finished the game with five receptions for 88 yards and one touchdown. Two of the receptions came on fourth down.

In his first season with Atlanta, Mooney has 41 receptions for 588 yards and five touchdowns. Those are his best stats since he was a 1,000-yard receiver for the Chicago Bears in 2021.

Mooney’s other TD receptions this season had covered 41, 24, 12 and 30 yards, and each of those four either tied the score or gave the Falcons the lead.

Mooney was among the 34 players from Alabama high schools and colleges (excluding Alabama and Auburn) who got on the field on the ninth Sunday of the NFL’s 105th season.

Two other former state players were involved in the Dallas-Atlanta game:

· Jalen Tolbert (McGill-Toolen, South Alabama) started at wide receiver for the Cowboys. Tolbert had three receptions for 19 yards and one touchdown. Tolbert caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cooper Rush with 1:28 remaining.

· Cowboys defensive end Sam Williams (Lee-Montgomery) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

In the other Sunday games:

Baltimore Ravens 41, Denver Broncos 10

· Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine (Spanish Fort) was designated as a game-day inactive.

· Kwon Alexander (Oxford) started at inside linebacker for the Broncos. Alexander made five tackles and forced a fumble, which was recovered by Baltimore. Denver elevated Alexander from its practice squad to make him eligible to play.

· Ravens wide receiver Malik Cunningham (Park Crossing) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Broncos linebacker Zach Cunningham (Pinson Valley) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Ravens nose tackle Michael Pierce (Daphne, Samford) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Broncos cornerback Tremon Smith (Saks) returned three kickoffs for 78 yards.

Buffalo Bills 30, Miami Dolphins 27

· Dolphins defensive tackle Shakel Brown (Troy) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Dolphins wide receiver Grant DuBose (Park Crossing, Miles) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Dolphins defensive tackle Neil Farrell Jr. (Murphy) made one tackle. Miami elevated Farrell from the practice squad to make him eligible to play.

· Bills defensive tackle Tylan Grable (Jacksonville State) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Tyreek Hill (West Alabama) started at wide receiver for the Dolphins. Hill had four receptions for 80 yards.

· Bills linebacker Nicholas Morrow (Huntsville) was designated as a game-day inactive.

· Dolphins cornerback Siran Neal (Eufaula, Jacksonville State) made three tackles against his former team.

· Bills defensive end Javon Solomon (Troy) did not record any stats.

Carolina Panthers 23, New Orleans Saints 22

· Michael Jackson (Spain Park) started at cornerback for the Panthers. Jackson made three tackles, recorded one tackle for loss and broke up one pass.

· Panthers tight end Jordan Matthews (Madison Academy) made one tackle on special teams.

Cincinnati Bengals 41, Las Vegas Raiders 24

· Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah (Homewood) ran for 12 yards on four carries and caught three passes for 14 yards.

· Jakorian Bennett (McGill-Toolen) started at cornerback for the Raiders. Bennett made six tackles and broke up one pass.

· Raiders quarterback Carter Bradley (South Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Bengals defensive end Cedric Johnson (Davidson) did not record any stats.

· Bengals kicker Evan McPherson (Fort Payne) made all his kicks – five extra points and field goals of 44 and 27 yards.

· Cam Taylor-Britt (Park Crossing) started at cornerback for the Bengals. Taylor-Britt made one tackle and broke up one pass.

Los Angeles Chargers 27, Cleveland Browns 10

· Mohamoud Diabate (Auburn High) started at linebacker for the Browns. Diabate made four tackles and broke up one pass.

· Browns safety Chris Edmonds (Samford) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Chargers safety A.J. Finley (St. Paul’s Episcopal) made one tackle on defense and one on special teams.

· Za’Darius Smith (Greenville) started at defensive end for the Browns. Smith made one tackle for loss and registered one quarterback hit.

· Browns wide receiver Kadarius Toney (Blount) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Browns linebacker Nathaniel Watson (Maplesville) did not record any stats.

· Jameis Winston (Hueytown) started at quarterback for the Browns. Winston completed 26-of-46 passes for 235 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions and ran for 27 yards on five carries. Winston threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Cedric Tillman with 44 seconds remaining. Winston was intercepted three times in the second half – in the end zone, at the Chargers 14-yard line and the Los Angeles 35 – in his second start of the season.

· Browns defensive end Alex Wright (Elba, UAB) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

Washington Commanders 27, New York Giants 22

· Giants cornerback Cor’Dale Flott (Saraland) made five tackles and recorded one tackle for loss.

· Chris Hubbard (UAB) started at left offensive tackle for the Giants.

· Rakeem Nunez-Roches (Central-Phenix City) started at defensive tackle for the Giants. Nunez-Roches made five tackles.

· Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves (South Alabama) made three tackles on special teams.

· Commanders offensive tackle Trent Scott (Lee-Huntsville) did not record any stats.

Tennessee Titans 20, New England Patriots 17 (OT)

· Patriots center Jake Andrews (Stanhope Elmore, Troy) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Marcus Jones (Enterprise, Troy) started at cornerback for the Patriots. Jones made two tackles, recorded one tackle for loss and had punt returns of 44 and 25 yards.

· Patriots safety Dell Pettus (Sparkman, Troy) made six tackles.

Arizona Cardinals 29, Chicago Bears 9

· Bears tight end Gerald Everett (UAB/South Alabama) had a 5-yard reception.

· Cardinals wide receiver Tejhaun Palmer (UAB) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Bears cornerback Reddy Steward (Austin, Troy) made one tackle and forced a fumble in his NFL debut. Steward caused Arizona wide receiver Marvin Harrison to fumble, and Chicago recovered the loose football at the Cardinals 46-yard line, leading to a field goal. The Bears elevated Steward from their practice squad to make him eligible to play.

· Starling Thomas V (Ramsay, UAB) started at cornerback for the Cardinals. Thomas made six tackles and broke up one pass.

Philadelphia Eagles 28, Jacksonville Jaguars 23

· Reed Blankenship (West Limestone) started at safety for the Eagles. Blankenship made five tackles.

· Eagles defensive back James Bradberry (Pleasant Grove, Samford) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Jaguars defensive end DJ Coleman (Jacksonville State) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Josh Hines-Allen (Abbeville) started at defensive end for the Jaguars. Hines-Allen made four tackles and recorded two sacks. Hines-Allen has five sacks this season and 50 in his career.

· Eagles defensive end Bryce Huff (St. Paul’s Episcopal) did not record any stats.

· Jaguars wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (Saraland) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Detroit Lions 24, Green Bay Packers 14

· Lions defensive tackle Brodric Martin (Northridge, North Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible play.

· Packers offensive tackle Kadeem Telfort (UAB) did not record any stats.

Los Angeles Rams 26, Seattle Seahawks 20 (OT)

· Darious Williams (UAB) started at cornerback for the Rams. Williams made five tackles and broke up two passes.

Minnesota Vikings 21, Indianapolis Colts 13

· Vikings defensive back Bobby McCain (Oxford) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens (Spain Park) dressed for the game but did not play.

Week 9 started on Thursday night, when the New York Jets defeated the Houston Texans 21-13.

Week 9 concludes on Monday, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs square off at 7:15 p.m. CDT at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. ABC and ESPN 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

Asking Eric: Local shelter backs out on book promotion idea

Dear Eric: I’m a newly published children’s book author and pet advocate. After my book was published, I approached a local shelter informing them I would be donating a portion of book sales to their shelter. In return, they were going to promote my book.

I presumed it would be a win-win for both parties.

A month went by before a post went out on social media. A month later, the same post ended up in their emailed newsletter. Nothing more was sent.

Later, I graciously offered to donate 10 of my books for a raffle. They were excited.

The following day I was told due to the number of raffle baskets, there wasn’t any room to hold flyers with my bio or QR codes for my book. I explained, since the event was sold out, this would be a great opportunity to offer the flyers to those who would want to buy one of my books. A portion of the proceeds would be going back to them. I never heard back.

I was upset because I felt they didn’t support me like I was supporting them. I’ve since severed my relationship with them. As far as the proceeds, I sold all the books due to my marketing. They didn’t contribute in any way. I’m considering not donating these proceeds because of their lack of support.

– Upset Author

Dear Author: Congratulations on your book. I hope this experience doesn’t dampen your excitement.

A shelter is not a marketing agency. If you care about the actual work that the shelter does, and want to see it continue, you should make good on your promise to donate. If you were hoping to use the shelter to supplement your sales, you should still make good on your promise because it’s unfair to expect an animal shelter to promote your book with the same energy and consistency that you do. While they stood to benefit, selling more books profits you the most.

From the way you’ve written it – and forgive me if this is a misreading – you approached the shelter with a fully formed plan. Did you consider their capacity for promotional support? I’m worried you had an unrealistic expectation and that’s what’s causing your resentment.

It would be different if this was structured as a partnership between you and the shelter, because then both parties could decide if the work was worth the projected income. But you presented it as a donation. When you get a tax receipt for a donation, most, if not all, nonprofits state that the gift was not given in return for goods or services. So, it will help you to think of your donation as being free and clear of stipulations and structure any future arrangements differently.

Read more Asking Eric and other advice columns.

Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at [email protected] or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.

General

Asking Eric: Friend’s meaner personality change is worrying

Dear Eric: A few years ago, I noticed a change in a close friend of more than four decades. She is beloved, kind, supportive and generous and has been a great friend over the decades. Yet, she has become more strident in her opinions, almost to the point of bullying.

She wasn’t always like this. Her husband and I are the main recipients of this behavior – I’ve seen her make fun of her husband in front of other people, but he just shrugs it off. I don’t see her doing this to her other friends and family members.

The last time I saw her, over a month ago, she called me stupid in front of other friends at a group dinner when I politely disagreed with her on a topic and a mutual friend in the group called her out on it. My friend never apologized to me. This was hurtful, and at this point, I am inclined to distance myself from her, although this is very painful because she has been an important part of my life and I’ve been a loyal friend to her.

I’m tired of being her punching bag and I don’t know why she does this, but I also don’t know what to do about it anymore.

– Frustrated Friend

Dear Friend: Different aspects of our personalities can emerge as we age, so it’s possible that this is a normal, if unfortunate, new side to your friend. But it’s also possible that it’s health related. Though her husband shrugs it off, it’s worth talking to him about whether he’s noticed any other signs of a problem and how he can help his wife to seek treatment.

With regard to your friendship, however, you should be clear that in order to remain in a relationship, you need an apology, an acknowledgment of the way you feel and a change. Even if a more irritable side of her personality has emerged, there’s no excuse for cruelty. Give her a chance to make this right before stepping away for good.

Read more Asking Eric and other advice columns.

Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at [email protected] or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.

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Auburn NFL roundup: Carl Lawson gets back in the sack

Defensive end Carl Lawson didn’t sign with the Dallas Cowboys until halfway through training camp. He began the season on the practice squad. But on Sunday, Lawson made his third start in a row for Dallas and rang up two sacks of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins in the Cowboys’ 27-21 loss.

Lawson had one-half sack for the 2024 season entering Sunday’s game, and his most recent full sack had come during the 2022 season.

But against Atlanta, Lawson recorded his fourth game with at least two sacks and his first since Sept. 27, 2020.

Lawson caused Cousins to fumble in the second quarter, and Dallas recovered at its 33-yard line.

Lawson was among the 16 former Auburn players who got on the field on the ninth Sunday of the NFL’s 105th season.

One other former Auburn player was involved in the Dallas-Atlanta game:

· Cowboys wide receiver Seth Williams (Paul Bryant) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

In the other Sunday games:

Baltimore Ravens 41, Denver Broncos 10

· Bo Nix (Pinson Valley) started at quarterback for the Broncos. Nix completed 19-of-33 passes for 223 yards with no touchdowns and one interception and ran six times for 36 yards. Nix also caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from wide receiver Courtland Sutton to cut Baltimore’s lead to 10-7 with 7:15 left in the first half. Nix lost a touchdown run to a holding penalty, and his interception bounced off a receiver’s hands.

· Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham dressed for the game but did not play.

Buffalo Bills 30, Miami Dolphins 27

· Dolphins wide receiver Anthony Schwartz is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

Carolina Panthers 23, New Orleans Saints 22

· Derrick Brown is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

Cincinnati Bengals 41, Las Vegas Raiders 24

· Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson made all his kicks – three extra points and a 46-yard field goal.

· Bengals guard Tashawn Manning is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Bengals defensive tackle Justin Rogers is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Los Angeles Chargers 27, Cleveland Browns 10

· Chargers long snapper Josh Harris handled the snaps for seven punts, four extra-point tries and one field-goal attempt.

Washington Commanders 27, New York Giants 22

· Noah Igbinoghene (Hewitt-Trussville) started at cornerback for the Commanders. Igbinoghene made three tackles and broke up one pass.

· Darius Slayton started at wide receiver for the Giants. Slayton had three receptions for 49 yards and picked up 11 yards on his first rushing attempt since 2021.

Tennessee Titans 20, New England Patriots 17 (OT)

· Titans defensive tackle Marlon Davidson (Greenville) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Patriots defensive tackle Marcus Harris (Park Crossing) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Jonathan Jones started at cornerback for the Patriots. Jones made three tackles and broke up one pass.

· Roger McCreary (Williamson) started at cornerback for the Titans. McCreary made three tackles and recorded one tackle for loss.

Arizona Cardinals 29, Chicago Bears 9

· Cardinals defensive tackle Angelo Blackson is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Bears defensive tackle Byron Cowart was designated as a game-day inactive.

· Cardinals inside linebacker Owen Pappoe made four tackles and forced a fumble for the first time in his NFL career. (Chicago recovered the fumble.)

Philadelphia Eagles 28, Jacksonville Jaguars 23

· Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby ran for 22 yards on eight carries.

· Eagles offensive lineman Jack Driscoll did not record any stats.

· Jaguars safety Daniel Thomas (Lee-Montgomery) did not record any stats.

· Eagles tight end C.J. Uzomah is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Detroit Lions 24, Green Bay Packers 14

· Carlton Davis started at cornerback for the Lions. Davis made seven tackles and broke up two passes.

· Packers quarterback Malik Willis dressed for the game but did not play.

· Packers defensive tackle Colby Wooden made one tackle and registered one quarterback hit before leaving with a shoulder injury.

Los Angeles Rams 26, Seattle Seahawks 20 (OT)

· Derick Hall started at strongside linebacker for the Seahawks. Hall made one tackle.

· Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (Jackson) was designated as a game-day inactive. An ankle injury kept Pritchett off the field.

Minnesota Vikings 21, Indianapolis Colts 13

· Colts cornerback Jaylin Simpson is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Braden Smith started at right offensive tackle for the Colts.

Week 9 started on Thursday night, when the New York Jets defeated the Houston Texans 21-13.

Week 9 concludes on Monday, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs square off at 7:15 p.m. CDT at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. ABC and ESPN 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

Alabama NFL roundup: Jahmyr Gibbs goes 1 game longer than Derrick Henry

Entering Sunday’s NFL games, Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs and Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry had recorded six consecutive games with an average of 5.0 yards per rushing attempt. For players with at least 10 carries in each game, their streaks were tied for the longest in the NFL’s AFC/NFC era.

Henry ran for 106 yards on Sunday, but it was Gibbs who became the first player with seven consecutive games with a yards-per-carry average of 5.0 or better.

In the Lions’ 24-14 victory over the Green Bay Packers, Gibbs ran for 65 yards on 11 carries – an average of 5.9 yards per carry — and had an 11-yard reception in the rain at Lambeau Field.

Gibbs scored on a 15-yard run as Detroit took a 24-3 lead with 9:32 left in the third quarter.

The touchdown extended Gibbs’ streak of scoring against NFC North rivals to five games as the Lions raised their record to 7-1 while dropping the Packers to 6-3.

Henry ran for 106 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries – an average of 4.6 yards per carry that ended his streak — and had a 27-yard reception.

Henry opened the scoring with a 7-yard run with 2:18 left in the first quarter that made him the 10th player in NFL history with 100 touchdown runs in regular-season play.

Henry also scored on a 6-yard run with 9:36 remaining in the third quarter.

In between the touchdowns, Henry went past 1,000

rushing yards for the season. Nine games into the 2024 campaign, Henry has 1,052 yards and 11 touchdowns on 168 rushing attempts.

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ Franco Harris in 1972 was the first player in the AFC/NFC era with six games in a row with a 5.0-yards-per-carry average. He was followed by the Buffalo Bills’ O.J. Simpson in 1973, Tennessee Titans’ Chris Johnson in 2009 and Minnesota Vikings’ Adrian Peterson in 2012 before Gibbs and Henry accomplished the feat this season.

Gibbs and Henry were among the 45 former Alabama players who got on the field on the ninth Sunday of the NFL’s 105th season.

Five other former Alabama players were involved in the Detroit-Green Bay game:

· Terrion Arnold started at cornerback for the Lions. Arnold made five tackles.

· Brian Branch started at safety for the Lions. Branch made two tackles before being ejected from the game in the third quarter for a helmet-to-helmet hit on a Green Bay receiver.

· Josh Jacobs started at running back for the Packers. Jacobs ran for 95 yards on 13 carries and had two receptions for 13 yards.

· Xavier McKinney started at safety for the Packers. McKinney made five tackles on defense and one tackle on special teams.

· Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams was serving the second game of a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s Policy on Performance-Enhancing Substances.

Seven other former Alabama players were involved in the Denver-Baltimore game:

· Ravens cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (St. Paul’s Episcopal) was designated as a game-day inactive. A knee injury kept Armour-Davis off the field.

· Ravens guard Darrian Dalcourt is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Marlon Humphrey (Hoover) started at cornerback for the Ravens. Playing with a knee injury, Humphrey had one tackle and broke up one pass.

· Ravens safety Eddie Jackson was designated as a game-day inactive.

· Broncos linebacker Drew Sanders is on the physically-unable-to-perform list and not eligible to play.

· Patrick Surtain II started at cornerback for the Broncos. Surtain made two tackles.

· Broncos cornerback Levi Wallace did not record any stats.

In the other Sunday games:

Atlanta Falcons 27, Dallas Cowboys 21

· Trevon Diggs started at cornerback for the Cowboys despite a calf injury. Diggs made three tackles and broke up two passes.

· Falcons inside linebacker Rashaan Evans (Auburn High) did not record any stats in his 2024 season debut.

· Falcons safety DeMarcco Hellams is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Falcons running back Jase McClellan was designated as a game-day inactive.

Buffalo Bills 30, Miami Dolphins 27

· Bills wide receiver Amari Cooper was designated as a game-day inactive. A wrist injury kept Cooper out of the lineup.

· Dolphins guard Lester Cotton (Central-Tuscaloosa) did not record any stats.

· Bills safety Kareem Jackson is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Da’Shawn Hand started at defensive tackle for the Dolphins. Hand made three tackles, recorded one tackle for loss, registered one quarterback hit and broke up one pass.

· Bills wide receiver Tyrell Shavers in on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Tua Tagovailoa started at quarterback for the Dolphins. Tagovailoa completed 25-of-28 passes for 231 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions and ran two times for 3 yards. Tagovailoa threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to running back De’Von Achane as Miami took a 10-3 lead with 3:20 left in the first half and a 7-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jaylen Waddle as the Dolphins tied the game at 27-27 with 1:38 to play.

· Jaylen Waddle started at wide receiver for the Dolphins. Waddle had two receptions for minus-4 yards and one touchdown. He scored on a 7-yard pass from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa as Miami tied the game at 27-27 with 1:38 to play. After Buffalo kicked a 61-yard field goal with five seconds to play, the Dolphins tried to run a trick play on the final snap, with running back De’Von Achane lateralling the football to Waddle after catching a short pass, and the play ended up taking 23 yards off Waddle’s receiving total.

Carolina Panthers 23, New Orleans Saints 22

· Saints cornerback Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry (Pinson Valley) was designated as a game-day inactive. A hamstring injury kept McKinstry off the field.

· Panthers defensive end LaBryan Ray (James Clemens) reached a career high with five tackles.

· A’Shawn Robinson started at defensive end for the Panthers. Robinson made six tackles and registered one quarterback hit.

· Bryce Young started at quarterback for the Panthers. Young completed 16-of-26 passes for 171 yards with one touchdown and one interception and ran four times for 9 yards. Young threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Xavier Legette as Carolina took a 7-6 lead with 9:59 left in the first half.

Cincinnati Bengals 41, Las Vegas Raiders 24

· Jordan Battle made five tackles on defense, registered a quarterback hit, broke up a pass and had one tackle on special teams.

· Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton was designated as a game-day inactive.

Los Angeles Chargers 27, Cleveland Browns 10

· Bradley Bozeman (Handley) started at center for the Chargers.

· Browns cornerback Tony Brown is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Browns guard Javion Cohen (Central-Phenix City) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Chargers defensive tackle Justin Eboigbe was designated as a game-day inactive.

· Browns running back Jerome Ford had two carries for 5 yards and a 2-yard reception.

· Jerry Jeudy started at wide receiver for the Browns. Jeudy had seven receptions for 73 yards.

· Browns tight end Cameron Latu is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Chargers offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Chargers punter JK Scott averaged 47.1 yards on seven punts, with a 40.1-yard net. Scott had a 43-yard punt for a fair catch at the Cleveland 9-yard line, a 48-yarder returned 5 yards to the Cleveland 44, a 53-yarder returned 4 yards to the Cleveland 46, a 34-yarder out of bounds at the Cleveland 47, a 51-yarder returned 10 yards to the Cleveland 43, a 46-yarder returned 19 yards to the Cleveland 37 and a 55-yarder returned 11 yards to the Cleveland 22.

· Dalvin Tomlinson started at defensive tackle for the Browns. Tomlinson made three tackles, recorded 1.5 sacks, had two tackles for loss and registered three quarterback hits. Tomlinson had the second game of his career with more than one sack and the third with three quarterback hits.

· Browns offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. did not record any stats. The game was the first of Wills’ 60 with Cleveland that he did not start at left tackle. Wills was returning from a knee injury that sidelined him last week.

Washington Commanders 27, New York Giants 22

· Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Commanders defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis made two tackles before leaving the game to be evaluated for a concussion.

· Giants offensive tackle Evan Neal did not record any stats.

· Daron Payne (Shades Valley) started at defensive tackle for the Commanders. Payne made three tackles.

· Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. (Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa) was designated as a game-day inactive. A hamstring injury kept Robinson out of the lineup.

Tennessee Titans 20, New England Patriots 17 (OT)

· Patriots wide receiver Javon Baker did not record any stats.

· Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore is on the non-football illness list and not eligible to play.

· Anfernee Jennings (Dadeville) started at linebacker for the Patriots. Jennings made five tackles.

· J.C. Latham started at left offensive tackle for the Titans.

· Calvin Ridley started at wide receiver for the Titans. Ridley had five receptions for 73 yards.

Arizona Cardinals 29, Chicago Bears 9

· Cardinals offensive tackle Jonah Williams is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Mack Wilson (Carver-Montgomery) started at inside linebacker for the Cardinals. Wilson made two tackles and registered one quarterback hit.

Philadelphia Eagles 28, Jacksonville Jaguars 23

· Landon Dickerson started at left guard for the Eagles.

· Jalen Hurts started at quarterback for the Eagles. Hurts completed 18-of-24 passes for 230 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions and ran for 67 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries. Hurts threw touchdown passes of 20 yards to running back Saquon Barkley with 10:22 left in the first quarter and 25 yards to wide receiver DeVonta Smith with 7:43 remaining in the game. Hurts scored on an 18-yard run with 9:25 left in the third quarter.

· Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones dressed for the game but did not play.

· Eagles cornerback Eli Ricks made one tackle on special teams.

· Jaguars running back Keilan Robinson is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· DeVonta Smith started at wide receiver for the Eagles. Smith had four receptions and 87 yards. He scored on a 25-yard catch with 7:43 left to play.

· Eagles offensive lineman Tyler Steen did not record any stats.

· Eagles defensive tackle Byron Young is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

Los Angeles Rams 26, Seattle Seahawks 20 (OT)

· Rams tight end Miller Forristall is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe made four tackles and broke up one pass. Seattle elevated Jobe from its practice squad to make him eligible to play.

· Jarran Reed started at defensive end for the Seahawks. Reed made two tackles and registered two quarterback hits.

Minnesota Vikings 21, Indianapolis Colts 13

· Colts defensive tackle Raekwon Davis made one tackle.

· Colts safety Ronnie Harrison did not record any stats.

· Ryan Kelly started at center for the Colts.

· Cam Robinson started at left offensive tackle for the Vikings. Robinson started even though he joined Minnesota in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars last week and didn’t practice with the Vikings for the first time until Thursday.

· Vikings kicker Will Reichard (Hoover) made three extra points, but he was wide right on a 53-yard field-goal attempt and hit the right upright on a 31-yard field-goal attempts. Reichard had made all 14 of his field-goal attempts and 20 extra-point tries during his rookie season before Sunday night’s game. Reichard continued to kick even though he was dealing with a quadriceps injury on his kicking leg against Indianapolis.

· Vikings outside linebacker Dallas Turner made two tackles and registered one quarterback hit.

Week 9 started on Thursday night, when the New York Jets defeated the Houston Texans 21-13.

Week 9 concludes on Monday, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs square off at 7:15 p.m. CDT at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. ABC and ESPN 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.