EDITOR’S NOTE: Every day until Aug. 29, Creg Stephenson is counting down significant numbers in Alabama football history, both in the lead-up to the 2025 football season and in commemoration of the Crimson Tide’s first national championship 100 years ago. The number could be attached to a year, a uniform number or even a football-specific statistic. We hope you enjoy.

Alabama and Auburn first played a football game against each other in 1893 at Lakeside Park in Birmingham, but the Iron Bowl as we know it came into being on Dec. 4, 1948, at Legion Field.

That was the day the Crimson Tide and Tigers ended a four-decade cold war between the schools, meeting on the gridiron for the first time since 1907. Alabama won 55-0 in the first modern Iron Bowl, touching off the rivalry that would become the most-famous in the SEC.

The reason the two in-state schools didn’t play each other for 41 years depends upon whom you ask (or asked, as all of the complainants are long deceased). At one point, Auburn alleged that Alabama had used “ringers” (players who were not students) during the 1905 and 1906 games, which the Crimson Tide won by a combined score of 40-0.

Other complaints included illegal “tactics” (pre-snap shifting, among others things), per diem amounts for travel and how officials would be chosen. It was not until the state legislature got involved after World War II by threatening to withhold funding that Alabama and Auburn finally agreed to play again.

A banner headline in the May 20, 1948, edition of The Birmingham News read “Alabama-Auburn Game Booked Here.” The story reported that both the 1948 and 1949 Alabama-Auburn games would be played at Legion Field (a tradition that continued through 1988).

Student body presidents from the two schools literally buried a hatchet in Birmingham’s Woodrow Wilson Park to celebrate the rivalry’s renewal. Auburn’s Gillis Cammack and Alabama’s Willie Johns dug the hole together and Cammack dropped the hatchet in, he told AL.com in 2010, when he was 86 years old.

“The idea was we bury the hatchet and we’d forget about all the bad things between the schools,” said Cammack, who died in 2013. “I threw the hatchet in. Just dropped it in a hole is all. I don’t imagine it stayed there long. Someone probably dug it up before we left.”

In addition, the Omicron Delta Kappa honor society created the ODK Sportsmanship Trophy, which would be awarded to the winning school. Captains Ray Richeson of Alabama and Russ Inman of Auburn were photographed with the trophy prior to the 1948 game.

Alabama had slipped a bit from the Wallace Wade/Frank Thomas glory years by 1948, and carried a 5-4-1 record into its first meeting with Auburn since the first decade of the 20th century. Do-everything halfback Harry Gilmer had graduated the year before, and coach Harold “Red” Drew’s Crimson Tide had suffered decisive losses to Tennessee, Georgia and LSU during the season, as well as a seven-point defeat to Tulane and a tie with Vanderbilt.

Auburn, though, was at one of its lower ebbs in its football history in the late 1940s, having not had a winning season since before the war. Coach Earl Brown’s Tigers beat Southern Miss 20-14 in their 1948 opener, then tied Louisiana Tech before losing seven consecutive games heading into their meeting with Auburn on the first Saturday in December.

On an afternoon “as bright as a ’39-model blue serge suit,” as Henry Vance of the Birmingham News wrote, Alabama wholly throttled Auburn before a crowd of 46,000. The Crimson Tide’s Ed Salem was the hero of the day, accounting for four touchdowns and 28 of his team’s 55 points.

Salem, who had starred at Birmingham’s Ramsay High School, completed eight of 10 passes for 159 yards and three touchdowns and also ran for a score. In addition, the sophomore halfback connected on seven of eight extra-point attempts.

Auburn never advanced beyond the Alabama 40-yard line, though the Tigers’ offense was hamstrung by the loss of star halfback Travis Tidwell to injury in the first half. But there was no stopping the Crimson Tide, which rang up 404 yards of offense and limited Auburn to three net rushing yards while intercepting four passes.

The loss was Auburn’s worst since a 68-7 defeat to Georgia Tech in 1917, and remains the most-decisive score for either team in the Iron Bowl. Alabama equaled the 55-point output against Auburn in 2014, but the Tigers scored 44 points in that game.

Despite the decisiveness of that first meeting in 41 years, the Iron Bowl proved to be a hit. It’s been played every year since, of course, with Alabama holding a 47-30 edge since 1948 (a 14-13 upset win by Auburn in 1949 probably went a long way toward validating the rivalry’s renewal).

But back on that December Saturday 78 years ago, Vance was among those who thought he’d never see the Crimson Tide and Tigers face off again.

“I don’t know what Nostradamus predicted about Saturday,” Vance wrote in The Birmingham News, “but I will say that the Auburn Tigers and the Crimson Tide have met in a football game, after shrinking away from such a contest for near a half century, here I am sitting in the press box writing this story, and if the end of the world has come, it hasn’t hit Legion Field as yet.”

Coming Monday: Our countdown to kickoff continues with No. 47, a last-second field goal hands Alabama an upset victory.

Now that we are less than six weeks from the start of the 2025 high school football season in Alabama, here are some intriguing trends and numbers entering another year.

1993 – The last time UMS-Wright missed the playoffs.

.828 – Best playoff winning percentage (Mars Hill Bible, 24-5).

784 – Most points scored in a season (Hueytown, 2021).

738 – T.R. Miller football wins (the most of any AHSAA team).

639 – Most wins without a state championship (Hamilton).

363 – Most all-time wins by a head coach (Danny Horn).

109 – Most playoff wins (Hoover/W.A. Berry).

108 – Combined coaching changes this offseason in the AHSAA and the AISA.

91 – The longest active losing streak (Columbia).

64 – Most consecutive games without a loss (Tuscaloosa, 1925-31, 61-0-3).

62 – Most consecutive region wins (Brantley, 2002-2010).

55 – Most consecutive wins (Clay County 1994-1997).

43 – Longest active regular-season win streak (Montgomery Catholic).

42 – Longest active consecutive playoff streak (Luverne).

33 – Longest active home winning streak (Saraland).

32 – Longest active streak of consecutive winning seasons (Gordo).

29 – The longest active winning streak (Montgomery Catholic).

29 – Most consecutive playoff wins (Hazlewood 1988-1993).

20 – Most appearances in a state championship game (Hoover/W.A. Berry).

13 – Most state championships by one team (Hoover/W.A. Berry).

8 – Most state championships by a coach (Central-Clay County’s Danny Horn, Retired UMS-Wright coach Terry Curtis).

6 – Most undefeated seasons including ties (Tuscaloosa, Auburn, Andalusia).

5 – Most consecutive state titles (Hazlewood 1988-92).

5 – Number of Class 7A state titles for Thompson. The Warriors have won five of the past six.

Data courtesy of the Alabama High School Athletic Association and the Alabama High School Football Historical Society.

Our brains treat unresolved tasks like open browser tabs — each consuming a little RAM that when multiplied becomes background stress, even if you’re “doing nothing.” The Saturn retrograde suggests a restart to help you clear the “tabs,” get organized, dump the trash and maybe even close the screen for a minute for the breath you need before reembarking once more — this time backward.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Getting more sleep is one of the most effective steps to becoming healthier. Bonus: It’s free. With your busy life, the timing and rituals around rest will require some planning, which will pay off for you in better energy for the week ahead.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’ll handle what’s yours, and it will feel good to be in control. And if you notice that you are not in control, consider that maybe this is not yours to deal with after all. To whom can you give it over? Or is it appropriate to simply drop it?

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). There are people around who can show you how a thing is done. They’ll help you skip over a lot of potentially embarrassing trial-and-error. You won’t know what you might have invented through failing on your own.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). What one person won’t take on because it’s too “weird,” you don’t find weird at all. You may even call it a fantastic challenge. You break it into parts. You give it structure without killing the magic. You carry it all the way to done.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’re sensitive in the best kind of way. Keep that tenderness even when others move carelessly. That vulnerable part of you deserves to be cradled, studied and kept safe. Stay close to yourself — that’s the bond that steadies everything else.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’re still on a quest, but often the quest doesn’t look like movement. Sometimes it’s sitting still while the chaos of the world swirls on by, knowing that the weather of the world will come and go. In stillness, you can observe the problem, sort your feelings and prepare your strategy.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You decide, and it’s decided. That’s the end of guessing, of hesitation, of testing and experiments and related whimsy. You do what you say you will do. Life gets simple. The way becomes clear, the execution inevitable.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). In some way, the well-being of others will be affected by your choices. Remember that the most beloved leaders are the ones who serve and care for the others, knowing that when the highest position is also the humblest, the mark of great leadership is alive.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Society mixes a lot of things up. For instance, people often conflate wealth with good taste, authority with virtue, or beauty with sameness. Recognizing these patterns lets you think outside the machinery. Instead of reacting or following the crowd, you observe, assess and choose deliberately.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You can accept the way things are now and build from here in any direction. You’re not denying the past but you’re also not identifying too strongly with it. The past is only the architect of your future if you make it so. Instead, you make it a new day.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Even the most demanding roles benefit from empathy, emotional regulation and clear communication. A lot of people can do certain kinds of work and processes and even thinking. But you also do the connecting, and that’s a very special talent.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Resist the urge to explain yourself. There are several reasons why you don’t need to. First of all, it would lower your status. Secondly, you’re likely to change your mind, your stance, your tactics or all three. Let the journey be fully yours for now.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (July 13). This year, it’s as much about what you do as what you don’t do. You don’t lose heart. You don’t lose vision. And you don’t lose the connection between the two, which is you, in motion. The work goes on because the dream goes on. Because it’s alive in you, it’s alive indeed. More highlights: You’ll make money doing something simple and offering it to many. You’ll cultivate calm. Love is easy and bright. Gemini and Pisces adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 5, 11, 20, 3 and 13.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Harrison Ford has captivated generations with his steady intensity, dry wit and rugged charisma. Whether playing Han Solo or Indiana Jones, Ford makes his characters feel lived-in and loyal beneath the bravado. Cancers are tied to legacy, and Ford’s filmography feels like a cornerstone of modern mythology. Off-screen, he’s a devoted environmentalist and pilot, still flying and filming into his 80s. Ford has natal sun, moon, Mercury and Jupiter all in the sign of the crab.

Holiday Mathis’ debut novel, “How To Fail Epically in Hollywood,” is out now! This fast-paced romp about achieving Hollywood stardom is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit creatorspublishing.com for more information. Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com.

A 43-year-old man found unresponsive in his Birmingham home one week ago has died.

Police identified the victim as Mardrecus Hardy.

East Precinct officers were dispatched at 2:40 p.m. Saturday, July 5, to a report of a person down inside a residence in the 6900 block of Division Avenue.

Family members made the discovery during a welfare check, said Officer Truman Fitzgerald, and believed Hardy was dead.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service arrived, and Hardy was still alive but unresponsive. Officers later learned he had been shot.

Hardy was taken to UAB Hospital where he remained until his death on Saturday, July 12.

No arrests have been made.

Hardy is Birmingham’s 39th homicide this year.

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

Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins is in jail on Saturday night in Broward County, Florida, after being arrested by the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.

Jail records show the former Pike Road High School star faces one count – Florida Statute 784.03-1a1(HG), which deals with battery and felony battery. Jail records describe the charge as “touch or strike/battery/domestic violence.”

The Browns are “aware and gathering more details,” a team spokesperson told ESPN, which reported Judkins will make his first court appearance on Sunday. He is being held pending his bond hearing, jail records indicate.

Judkins joined Cleveland as the fourth pick in the second round of the NFL Draft on April 25. He has not signed his rookie contract and is scheduled to report to training camp with the Browns’ other rookies on Friday.

At Pike Road, Judkins earned All-State recognition in 2020 and 2021, when he ran for 3,016 yards and scored 51 touchdowns. The Patriots won the AHSAA Class 5A championship for the 2021 season, when Pike Road didn’t lose a game and won all but two of the 14 by at least 25 points.

In two seasons at Ole Miss, Judkins ran for 2,725 yards and 31 touchdowns before transferring to Ohio State. The Buckeyes won the CFP national championship with Judson running for 1,060 yards and scoring 16 touchdowns.

In the 34-23 title-game victory over Notre Dame, Judson ran for 100 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries and caught two passes for 21 yards and one touchdown.

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 X at @AMarkG1.

Auburn star point guard Tahaad Pettiford made headlines on Saturday, but not for anything basketball related.

He was arrested and charged with driving under the influence (alcohol) in Lee County early Saturday morning.

“We are aware of the situation and we will handle internally with Tahaad and his family,” head coach Bruce Pearl said in a statement to AL.com. “We take these matters seriously and will learn and grow from it moving forward.”

Pettiford took to social media to make his own statement Saturday night, apologizing for the arrest.

“Last night, I made a serious mistake and one that I take full responsibility for,” the post read. “My actions put myself and others at risk, and for that, I’m deeply sorry. There is no excuse.

“To my family, teammates, coaches, and fans, I know I’ve let you down. I understand the disappointment and concern that this has caused, and I want you to know that I’m taking this seriously. This is not who I am, and not who I will be.

“I’m committed to learning from this moment and making meaningful, positive changes in my life. I’m grateful for the support and accountability of those around me, and I will work to earn back the trust I’ve lost.”

During his breakout freshman season, Pettiford averaged 11.6 points and three assists per game, helping lead Auburn to the Final Four.

Pettiford was the only Auburn player to return for the 2025-2026 season. He announced his return in May after initially declaring for the NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility.

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

Multiple shots rang out on Birmingham’s busy First Avenue North at a reunion picnic for Woodlawn High School evening.

A woman was seriously injured, and multiple cars were damaged by the gunfire.

The shooting happened shortly after 7 p.m. in the 5600 block of First Avenue.

Officer Truman Fitzgerald said East Precinct Officers received a call of multiple shots fired.

The city’s Shot Spotter gunfire detection picked up one incident of three shots fired, and then a second burst with 10 shots fired.

Officers arrived to find about seven vehicles damaged by the gunfire.

A young woman then showed up a short time later at UAB Hospital with gunshot injuries. She told staff she was shot at Woodlawn High School.

The school has had reunion activities all week, culminating Saturday with a picnic and other festivities at the school.

Fitzgerald said two groups of people who were in attendance at the function got into an argument. The argument was between one person from each group.

One of those involved retrieved a gun from a vehicle and a gunfight ensued.

“The next thing you know, multiple guys are shooting at each other in a crowded parking lot,” Fitzgerald said.

“We know these two groups were already here participating in the Woodlawn function,” he said.

“We know somebody knows at least one person from those groups. If you turn that information into Crime Stoppers, you can receive up to a $5,000 cash reward.”

Fitzgerald said those in attendance are the detectives’ greatest resource and police are asking those witnesses to come forward.

“It’s a scary thought to think multiple guys were shooting at one another in a crowded parking lot,” he said. “This could have been horrible.”

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

 

 

The National Weather Service issued a weather alert at 8:38 p.m. on Saturday for strong thunderstorms until 9:15 p.m. for Pickens and Greene counties.

Residents can look for wind gusts of up to 40 mph.

“At 8:37 p.m., Doppler radar tracked a cluster of strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 6 miles south of Columbus to near Union. Movement was northeast at 15 mph,” according to the weather service. “Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.”

Locations impacted by the alert include Eutaw, Aliceville, Gordo, Reform, Carrollton, Pickensville, Union, Ethelsville, Memphis, McMullen, West Greene, Benevola, Johnston Lake, Bevill Lock And Dam, Garden, New West Greene, Mantua, Jena, Knoxville and Snoddy.

According to the weather service, “Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle.”

Staying safe as lightning approaches: Expert advice

Lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times each year, with the bulk of these electrical discharges occurring during the summer months. Tragically, lightning claims the lives of about 20 individuals annually, as reported by the weather service. The risk of lightning-related incidents escalates as thunderstorms draw near, reaching its peak when the storm directly looms overhead. However, it gradually recedes as the tempest moves away.

To ensure your safety during a thunderstorm, keep these recommendations in mind:

Lightning safety plan:

• When venturing outdoors, it’s vital to establish a clear plan for seeking shelter in case of lightning.
• Monitor the sky for threatening signs and listen for the sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it’s an indication that lightning is nearby.
• Seek shelter promptly in a safe location, preferably indoors.

Indoors safety measures:

• Once you’ve found shelter indoors, abstain from using corded phones, electrical appliances, or plumbing fixtures, and refrain from approaching windows and doors.
• These precautions help reduce the risk of electrical surges, as lightning can follow conductive pathways.

Wait for the all-clear:

• After the last lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities.
• Lightning can strike even when a storm has seemingly passed, so exercise caution.

When indoor shelter isn’t available:

If you find yourself outdoors without access to indoor shelter during a thunderstorm, take these steps to maximize your safety:

• Avoid open fields, hilltops, or ridge crests, as they expose you to greater lightning risk.
• Steer clear of tall, isolated trees and other prominent objects. In forested areas, stay close to lower stands of trees.
• If you’re with a group, ensure individuals are spread out to prevent lightning current from transferring between people.
• Camping in an open setting during a thunderstorm is strongly discouraged. If you have no alternative, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low-lying areas. It’s crucial to note that a tent provides no protection against lightning.
• Do not approach water bodies, wet objects, or metal items. Although water and metal do not attract lightning, they conduct electricity effectively and can pose significant risks.

In summary, when facing the threat of lightning, vigilance and preparedness are your best allies. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the chances of lightning-related accidents and prioritize your safety.

Mastering wet roads: Safety tips for heavy rainfall

When heavy rain sets in, the risk of flooding and hazardous driving conditions rises. Whether it’s prolonged rainfall or rapid runoff, being prepared is essential. Here are some valuable safety tips from the weather service to ensure you stay safe in heavy rain:

Beware of swollen waterways:

During heavy rain, avoid parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a serious risk.

Maintain safe driving distances:

Use the two-second rule to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you and allow an extra two seconds in heavy rain.

Slow down and drive with care:

On wet roads, reducing your speed is crucial. Ease off the gas pedal gradually and avoid abrupt braking to prevent skidding.

Choose your lane wisely:

Stick to the middle lanes on multi-lane roads to minimize the risk of hydroplaning, as water tends to accumulate in outer lanes.

Visibility matters:

Enhance your visibility in heavy rain by activating your headlights. Be particularly vigilant for vehicles in blind spots, as rain-smeared windows can obscure them.

Watch out for slippery roads:

The first half-hour of rain is when roads are slickest due to a mix of rain, grime, and oil. Exercise heightened caution during this period.

Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:

Don’t follow large trucks or buses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision. Take care when passing them as well; if you must pass, do so quickly and safely.

Mind your windshield wipers:

Overloaded wiper blades can hinder visibility. If rain severely impairs your vision, pull over and wait for conditions to improve. Seek refuge at rest areas or sheltered spots.

If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait until the storm passes. Keep your headlights on and turn on emergency flashers to alert other drivers of your position.

By following these safety measures, you can significantly reduce risks and ensure your well-being when heavy rain pours down. Stay informed about weather conditions and heed advice from local authorities to make your journey safe and sound.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.

The invasive Burmese pythons plaguing Florida have an almost supernatural ability to absorb skeletons and scientists say they have finally found out how it’s done.

Turns out the intimidating predators have “previously unknown cell type” in the walls of their intestines that completely dissolves skeletons, according to a study published June 25 in the Journal of Experimental Biology.

The revelation helps explain why the giant snakes — which can grow to 18 feet in Florida — are not afraid to swallow creatures that are nearly equal in size, experts say.

Professor Jehan-Hervé Lignot of the University of Montpellier in France is credited with making the discovery, using captive juvenile pythons as his test subjects.

It has long been known that bones went into pythons and never came out the other end, but the “mechanisms that enable them to do this have remained mysterious until now,” Lignot told Eureka Alert!

To solve the mystery, researchers fed three types of meals to young pythons: Whole rodents, rodents with no bones, and boneless rodents injected with calcium carbonate, the study reports.

It became clear that the intestines of the snakes reacted differently when they were fed whole rodents or rodents injected with calcium, the researchers said.

Not only were they able to completely dissolve the skeletons, but they also were able to excrete excess calcium in cases where too much bone was consumed, tests showed.

Not even fragments of bones showed up in their feces, the team found.

“This study revealed the presence of a new type of cell along the intestine that is involved in the production of large particles made from calcium, phosphorus and iron,” a July 9 news release says. “When fed with boneless prey, these calcium and phosphorus-rich particles were not produced.”

The newly discovered “bone-digesting cell” has since been found in other species of pythons and boas, along with venomous Gila monsters native to the Southwestern United States and Mexico, the study reports.

“Marine predators that eat bony fish or aquatic mammals must face the same problem,” Lignot said in the release. “Birds that eat mostly bones, such as the bearded vulture, would be fascinating candidates too.”

Native to Southeast Asia, burmese pythons were introduced to South Florida “due to accidental or intentional release of captive pet animals,” the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reports.

The snakes have no natural enemies in Florida and they are creating havoc with the ecosystem by preying on native wildlife, including deer and alligators, experts say.

In 2022, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida discovered a 115-pound python in the process of swallowing a 77-pound deer, which amounted to 66.9% of the snake’s body mass, officials said.

A study published in 2024 also revealed the predators are capable of eating each other, McClatchy News reported.

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