Wenonah’s Samarian Franklin was as unstoppable with the ball as she was unselfish with it helping rally the third-ranked Dragons to a 62-60 overtime victory over No. 4 Moody in Friday’s Class 5A sub-regional matchup at Wenonah.
Wenonah (27-3) advanced to its first regional since 2022 and its fourth since the death of Hall of Fame coach Emanuel Bell.
Read MoreThe Decatur Heritage girls and boys swept Falkville in a pair of Class 2A sub-regional matchups on Friday to advance to the Northwest Regional at Wallace State in Hanceville.
In the first game, top-ranked Decatur Heritage girls coasted to a 69-16 win. The No. 5 Eagles boys pulled off a 78-50 victory.
Read MoreOn Friday at 9:05 p.m. a dense fog advisory was issued by the National Weather Service in effect until Saturday at 9 a.m. for Mobile and Baldwin counties.
The weather service comments, “Visibility one quarter mile or less in dense fog.”
“Low visibility could make driving conditions hazardous,” explains the weather service. “If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you.”
When a dense fog advisory is issued for your area, it means that widespread dense fog has developed and visibility can plummet to a quarter-mile or less. These conditions pose challenges for travel, so exercise extra caution on the road or consider postponing your trip if possible.
If you must drive in foggy conditions, keep the following safety tips in mind:
Reduce speed:
Slow down and allow extra travel time to reach your destination safely.
Visibility priority:
Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which also activate your taillights. If available, employ your fog lights.
Avoid high-beams:
Refrain from using high-beam headlights, as they create glare that impairs your visibility on the road.
Maintain safe gaps:
Keep a considerable following distance to account for sudden stops or shifts in traffic patterns.
Stay in your lane:
Use the road’s lane markings as a guide to staying in the correct lane.
Zero visibility protocol:
In cases of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, activate your hazard lights and seek a safe spot, like a nearby business parking lot, to pull over and stop.
Limited parking options:
If no designated parking area is available, pull your vehicle as far off the road as possible. Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights remain unlit, minimizing the chance of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.
By adhering to these recommendations from the weather service, you can navigate foggy conditions more safely, reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring your well-being.
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.
Read MoreOn Friday at 9:05 p.m. a dense fog advisory was issued by the National Weather Service in effect until Saturday at 9 a.m. for Mobile and Baldwin counties.
The weather service states, “Visibility one quarter mile or less in dense fog.”
“Low visibility could make driving conditions hazardous,” explains the weather service. “If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you.”
If a dense fog advisory is issued for your area, it means that widespread dense fog has developed and visibility often drops to just a quarter-mile or less. These conditions can make driving challenging, so exercise extreme caution on the road, and if possible, consider delaying your trip.
If driving in fog becomes unavoidable, remember these safety tips:
Reduce speed:
Slow down and allocate extra travel time to reach your destination safely.
Visibility priority:
Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which also activate your taillights. If available, employ your fog lights.
Avoid high-beams:
Refrain from using high-beam headlights, as they create glare that impairs your visibility on the road.
Keep your distance:
Leave a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to account for sudden stops or changes in the traffic pattern.
Stay in your lane:
To ensure you are staying in the correct lane, use the road’s lane markings as a guide.
Zero visibility strategy:
In situations of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, activate your hazard lights and seek a secure location, such as a nearby business’s parking lot, to pull over and come to a stop.
Limited parking options:
If no designated parking area is available, pull your vehicle as far off the road as possible. Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights are not illuminated, reducing the risk of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.
By adhering to these recommendations from the weather service, you can navigate foggy conditions more safely, reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring your well-being.
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.
Read MoreMadison Academy’s trio of seniors contributed plenty in the Mustangs’ 62-47 win over North Jackson in the Class 4A sub-regional round.
Friday’s win aside, Krista Baldwin and the rest of the community know that the impact left by Emily Mouser, Brooklyn Tucker and Regan Boyd can’t be overstated.
Read MoreThe Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 added four players to the football shrine’s lineup, but it didn’t increase the SEC’s roster among the game’s greats – but one of the conference’s members still had reason to celebrate.
Sterling Sharpe joined Eric Allen, Jared Allen and Antonio Gates to form the Class of 2025, which was announced on Thursday night during the “NFL Honors” awards program.
Inducted for his work as a wide receiver with the Green Bay Packers, Sharpe reached the NFL from South Carolina, becoming the first former Gamecocks standout to reach the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But Sharpe’s time at South Carolina ended with a 30-13 loss to LSU in the Gator Bowl on Dec. 31, 1987, and the Gamecocks did not play their first season in the SEC until 1992.
Seven players made it to the final ballot from which Eric Allen from Arizona State, Jared Allen from Idaho State and Gates from Kent State were chosen. Among the four players not picked for enshrinement was former Auburn standout Willie Anderson.
RELATED: WILLIE ANDERSON TURNED BACK 1 STEP FROM THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME AGAIN
Three players were senior candidates, with Sharpe advancing into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Left one step short was Maxie Baughan, who starred at Georgia Tech when the Yellow Jackets played as SEC members.
RELATED: FORMER BESSEMER STAR REBUFFED BY PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
That left the SEC’s representation in the Pro Football Hall of Fame at 32 players.
Eight of those players are Alabama alumni, giving the Crimson Tide two more Pro Football Hall of Fame members than any other SEC program.
A rundown of the current SEC football members’ former players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
Alabama members: 8
End/safety/place-kicker Don Hutson: Green Bay Packers 1935-1945. Inducted in 1963.
Quarterback Bart Starr: Green Bay Packers 1956-1971. Inducted in 1977.
Quarterback Joe Namath: New York Jets 1965-1976, Los Angeles Rams 1977. Inducted in 1985.
Guard John Hannah: New England Patriots 1973-1985. Inducted in 1991.
Center Dwight Stephenson: Miami Dolphins 1980-1987. Inducted in 1998.
Tight end Ozzie Newsome: Cleveland Browns 1978-1990. Inducted in 1999.
Outside linebacker Derrick Thomas: Kansas City Chiefs 1989-1999. Inducted in 2009.
Quarterback Ken Stabler: Oakland Raiders 1970-1979, Houston Oilers 1980-1981, New Orleans Saints 1982-1984. Inducted in 2016.
Arkansas members: 3
Flanker Lance Alworth: San Diego Chargers 1962-1970, Dallas Cowboys 1971-1972. Inducted in 1978.
Defensive lineman Dan Hampton: Chicago Bears 1979-1990. Inducted in 2002.
Safety Steve Atwater: Denver Broncos 1989-1998, New York Jets 1999. Inducted in 2020.
None of the Arkansas’ Pro Football Hall of Fame alumni played in the SEC. The Razorbacks joined the conference in 1992. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and former coach Jimmy Johnson also played football in Arkansas’ pre-SEC era and are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Auburn members: 2
Center Frank Gatski: Cleveland Browns 1946-1956, Detroit Lions 1957. Inducted in 1985.
Outside linebacker Kevin Greene: Los Angeles Rams 1985-1992, Pittsburgh Steelers 1993-1995, Carolina Panthers 1996, 1998-1999, San Francisco 49ers 1997. Inducted in 2016.
Florida members: 2
Defensive end Jack Youngblood: Los Angeles Rams 1971-1984. Inducted in 2001.
Running back Emmitt Smith: Dallas Cowboys 1990-2002, Arizona Cardinals 2003-2004. Inducted in 2010.
Georgia members: 5
Halfback Charley Trippi: Chicago Cardinals 1947-1955. Inducted in 1968.
Quarterback Fran Tarkenton: Minnesota Vikings 1961-1966, 1972-1978, New York Giants 1967-1971. Inducted in 1986.
Running back Terrell Davis: Denver Broncos 1995-2001. Inducted in 2017.
Cornerback Champ Bailey: Washington Redskins 1999-2003, Denver Broncos 2004-2013. Inducted in 2019.
Defensive lineman Richard Seymour: New England Patriots 2001-2008, Oakland Raiders 2009-2012. Inducted in 2022.
Kentucky members: 2
Quarterback/place-kicker George Blanda: Chicago Bears 1949-1958, Houston Oilers 1960-1966, Oakland Raiders 1967-1975. Inducted in 1981.
Center Dermontti Dawson: Pittsburgh Steelers 1988-2000. Inducted in 2012.
LSU members: 6
Halfback Steve Van Buren: Philadelphia Eagles 1944-1951. Inducted in 1965.
Quarterback Y.A. Tittle: Baltimore Colts 1948-1950, San Francisco 49ers 1951-1960, New York Giants 1961-1964. Inducted in 1971.
Fullback Jim Taylor: Green Bay Packers 1958-1966, New Orleans Saints 1967. Inducted in 1976.
Center Kevin Mawae: Seattle Seahawks 1994-1997, New York Jets 1998-2005, Tennessee Titans 2006-2009. Inducted in 2019.
Safety Johnny Robinson: Dallas Texans 1960-1962, Kansas City Chiefs 1963-1971. Inducted in 2019.
Guard Alan Faneca: Pittsburgh Steelers 1998-2007, New York Jets 2008-2009, Arizona Cardinals 2010. Inducted in 2021.
Mississippi State members: 0
MSU has four alumni who have been chosen for the Pro Bowl more than three times, and two are playing in the NFL currently – Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones and Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay.
Missouri members: 2
Tight end Kellen Winslow: San Diego Chargers 1979-1987. Inducted in 1995.
Cornerback Roger Wehrli: St. Louis Cardinals 1969-1982. Inducted in 2007.
Neither of Missouri’s Pro Football Hall of Fame alumni played in the SEC. The Tigers joined the conference in 2012.
Oklahoma
Defensive tackle Lee Roy Selmon: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1976-1984. Inducted in 1995.
Wide receiver Tommy McDonald: Philadelphia Eagles 1957-1963, Dallas Cowboys 1964, Los Angeles Rams 1965-1966, Atlanta Falcons 1967, Cleveland Browns 1968. Inducted in 1998.
Quarterback Troy Aikman: Dallas Cowboys 1989-2000. Inducted in 2006.
Oklahoma played its first SEC season in 2024, so none of the Sooners in the Pro Football of Fame played in the conference.
Ole Miss members: 3
Tackle Frank “Bruiser” Kinard: Brooklyn Dodgers 1938-1944, New York Yankees 1946-1947. Inducted in 1971.
Guard Gene Hickerson: Cleveland Browns 1958-1973. Inducted in 2007.
Linebacker Patrick Willis: San Francisco 49ers 2007-2014. Inducted in 2024.
South Carolina members: 1
Wide receiver Sterling Sharpe: Green Bay Packers 1988-1994.
The Class of 2025 selection doesn’t count on the SEC’s Pro Football Hall of Fame total. Sharpe’s final season with the Gamecocks came in 1987, and South Carolina’s first season in the SEC occurred in 1992.
Tennessee members: 3
Defensive end Doug Atkins: Cleveland Browns 1953-1954, Chicago Bears 1955-1966, New Orleans Saints 1967-1969. Inducted in 1982.
Defensive end Reggie White: Philadelphia Eagles 1985-1992, Green Bay Packers 1993-1998, Carolina Panthers 2000. Inducted in 2006.
Quarterback Peyton Manning: Indianapolis Colts 1998-2011, Denver Broncos 2012-2015. Inducted in 2021.
Texas
Quarterback Bobby Layne: Chicago Bears 1948, New York Bulldogs 1949, Detroit Lions 1950-1958, Pittsburgh Steelers 1958-1962. Inducted in 1967.
Running back Earl Campbell: Houston Oilers 1978-1984, New Orleans Saints 1985-1985. Inducted in 1991.
Safety Bobby Dillon: Green Bay Packers 1952-1959. Inducted in 2020.
Defensive tackle Steve McMichael: New England Patriots 1980, Chicago Bears 1981-1993, Green Bay Packers 1994. Inducted in 2024.
Texas played its first SEC season in 2024, so none of the Sooners in the Pro Football of Fame played in the conference.
Texas A&M members: 1
Safety/punter Yale Lary: Detroit Lions 1952-1964. Inducted in 1979.
Texas A&M’s Pro Football Hall of Fame alumnus never played in the SEC. The Aggies joined the conference in 2012.
Vanderbilt members: 0
Only one Vanderbilt alumnus has been chosen for the Pro Bowl more than twice – offensive tackle Will Wolford, with three selections. One former Vanderbilt has been an AP All-Pro first-team choice – punter Jim Arnold.
Plus Billy Shaw
Adding up the Pro Football Hall of Fame members to this point leaves the total at 31. That’s because there’s a Pro Football Hall of Famer who played in the SEC, but his alma mater is no longer a member of the league. Guard Billy Shaw, inducted in 1999 for his career with the Buffalo Bills from 1961 through 1969, came from Georgia Tech, an original member of the SEC in 1933 that played its final SEC football season in 1963. Georgia Tech has Pro Football Hall of Fame members from before and after its SEC era. Halfback Joe Guyon played in the NFL from its inaugural season in 1920 through 1927 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966. Wide receiver Calvin Johnson played for the Detroit Lions from 2007 through 2015 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
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.
Read MoreA death investigation early Friday evening has evolved into a homicide probe in Mobile, police said.
The investigation involves a “deceased male victim” in the 2400 block of Wiley Street said Mobile police spokesman Blake Brown.
The death investigation began shortly before 5 p.m. Friday.
The cause of the male’s death was not known as of early Friday evening.
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Read MorePGA Tour star Justin Thomas faced a birdie putt on the 13th green during the pro-am for the WM Phoenix Open when he handed his putter to a fan and said, “All right, Lulu, knock it in.”
And Lulu Gribbin did.
Gribbin rolled in the putt with one hand on Wednesday. The Mountain Brook teen lost her left hand and right leg above the knee in a shark attack on June 7, 2024, in the Gulf waters off Walton County, Florida.
Gribbin was hospitalized for 77 days. But within three months of the attack, she was working on her golf swing.
In the same month that Gribbin was injured, Thomas sent her a video message.
“I know you’re in the recovery process right now,” Thomas said, “which, if everything I’ve heard about you is true, you’re going to do great with. Stay strong, be confident, be positive. All this stuff will come to an end and a lot of good will come from it. I also heard that you’re a big golf fan, so I’m very excited for you to be able to get back to playing some golf and, hopefully, come to some tournaments soon, where we can meet and get together.”
On Wednesday, Gribbin met Thomas as he tuned up on the Scottsdale TPC Course. After the teen sank the putt, the former Alabama All-American autographed Gribbin’s “birdie ball.”
RELATED: JUSTIN THOMAS AMONG THE GOLF PROS APPEARING IN ‘HAPPY GILMORE 2’
At the WM Phoenix Open on Friday, Thomas followed his opening-round 66 with a 3-under-par 68. At 8 under, Thomas is four shots behind leader Thomas Detry halfway through the tournament.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.
Read MoreThe Super Bowl attracts more betting action than any other sporting event in the U.S., and sportsbooks like DraftKings, FanDuel and bet365 celebrate by offering upgraded sign-up bonuses. Come along as I provide expert analysis on the top Super Bowl betting promos, explain how they work and show you how to sign up.
NOTE: If you’re in a state that has not yet legalized sports betting, you’ll see a list of the top fantasy sports operators, which are available in most states.
If you’re a first-time sports bettor, joining a sportsbook can be confusing. One small misstep during the sign-up process could make you ineligible to receive the bonus.
It’s important to know the fine print behind a welcome offer, and I’ve sorted through the details of each promo listed below to ensure your sports betting journey starts without any roadblocks.
Related: See DraftKings oddsmaker Johnny Avello’s insight on Super Bowl 59 betting trends
FanDuel is offering a massive odds boost for your opening wager. A small $5 bet will return $200 in bonuses if the bet wins. FanDuel doesn’t impose an odds restriction, and I recommend backing a market with extremely short odds, like Chiefs alt. spread +10.5 (-800 odds).
The FanDuel Super Bowl promo is straightforward, and claiming the offer is no different.
FanDuel is an excellent choice because the sportsbook offers an array of Super Bowl betting markets. No odds restriction on your $5 bet is crucial because it allows you to find a market with safe odds. However, sportsbooks like DraftKings and bet365 have similar welcome offers that don’t require a winning bet to earn a bonus.
Our exclusive bet365 bonus code ALBET365 reveals a $150 bonus after you sign up and wager $5 or more. This is one of my favorite offers on the board because the bonus comes whether your bet wins or loses.
If you want to maximize the value of bet365’s new-user bonus, search for a long shot like Eagles WR A.J. Brown to win MVP (+3000 odds).
Activating the bet365 new user promo is a breeze if you follow these steps.
If the $150 bonus offer isn’t intriguing, bet365 is one of the rare sportsbooks providing two new-user bonuses. With the first-bet safety net offer, bet365 will refund your initial wager with up to $1,000 in bonuses if you lose.
The bet $5, get $150 offer is great for new bettors and is preferable over the FanDuel Super Bowl betting promo because you don’t need to win your first bet. Unlike the DraftKings Super Bowl betting promo, however, you won’t get your bonus bets immediately. Bet365 issues them once your first wager settles.
A $5 bet unlocks a $200 bonus when you register for the DraftKings Super Bowl betting promo. The bonus will hit your account instantly after placing the bet, so the result of your wager doesn’t matter. Placing a multi-leg parlay is a good way to potentially pair the $200 bonus with a hefty cash payout.
The guide below shares how to redeem the DraftKings Super Bowl promo and score a $200 bonus for Eagles versus Chiefs.
If you prefer bet-and-get offers, DraftKings is the best option for Super Bowl 59. DraftKings’ welcome bonus is higher than bet365’s, and unlike FanDuel, your qualifying wager doesn’t have to win.
No other sportsbook matches the amount you can gain from BetMGM bonus code ALCOM1500. If your first wager loses, BetMGM will refund the amount wagered with up to $1,500 in bonuses.
There are a few boxes to check before getting your hands on the BetMGM Super Bowl promo.
Bettors with large bankrolls will appreciate BetMGM’s new customer bonus. It’s one of the few Super Bowl betting promos built for players looking to put a big wager on Eagles versus Chiefs. However, this promo trails behind the others like DraftKings and bet365 because you don’t get a bonus bet unless you lose your first wager.
That said, it’s good for taking a first TD scorer prop with your first bet. The bonus with a wager like that is BetMGM also offers the Second-Chance TD scorer prop, which give you a bonus bet if your first TD scorer bet scores the second TD of the game.
If there was an award for the most creative Super Bowl betting promo, Fanatics Sportsbook would win by a landslide. The welcome offer spans 10 days, and new users can enjoy up to $1,000 in bonuses. Each day gives players an opportunity to score between $5 and $100 in bonuses.
Here’s how to activate the Fanatics Super Bowl promo in just a few minutes.
Fanatics’ welcome offer lasts for 10 days, but you’re not forced to place 10 wagers. If you’re content with getting a bonus or two in the first few days, feel free to stop there. This flexibility makes Fanatics a great option for bettors of all bankrolls.
Picking the best wager to place after claiming a Super Bowl betting promo comes down to which sportsbook you’re using.
Joining FanDuel requires careful consideration because your bet must win to earn the bonus. I recommend playing it as safe as possible by betting an alternate spread or total with odds of -500 or shorter. The cash payout will be minimal, but you’ll be in a prime position to win and land the bonus.
DraftKings sends a bonus no matter the result of your bet. Fanatics, bet365 and BetMGM have you covered if your wager loses. With these sportsbooks, you can feel comfortable backing any Super Bowl 59 betting market.
However, some sportsbooks have odds restrictions on qualifying bets, so be sure to familiarize yourself with the terms and conditions before submitting a wager.
Read More