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Former Florida State players suing coach over failed NIL payments

Six former Florida State basketball players sued coach Leonard Hamilton on Monday, alleging he failed to make good on a promise to get each of them $250,000 in NIL.

Darin Green Jr., De’Ante Green, Cam’Ron Fletcher, Josh Nickelberry, Primo Spears and Jalen Warley filed suit on Monday, according to Yahoo Sports.

The suit alleges Hamilton promised the players money from his “business partners.” The lawsuit said they walked out of a practice last season over the missed payments and intended to boycott a Feb. 17 game against Duke. They ended up playing — and losing 76-67 — after a guarantee from Hamilton that they would be paid but never were, according to the suit.

According to the report, in several messages to Hamilton and Will Cowen, an executive with one of Florida State’s NIL collectives, players expressed a need for the money to pay taxes, rent and car notes, and that they were “tired of the lies.”

Green texted Cowen, per Yahoo, that “this money situation is weighing on a lot of guys and affecting guys on the court” and explained that he was trying to “get the guys to understand” the delay in payment but “it’s hard when they have been told 250 grand.”

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.

General

Where does Auburn men’s basketball rank in the AP Poll ahead of SEC play?

Auburn men’s basketball will start Southeastern Conference play as the No. 2 team in the AP Top 25.

Monday’s rankings placed the Tigers second behind Tennessee for the fourth week in a row, earning 20 first place votes to the Volunteers’ 41. Auburn also maintains the No. 2 spot despite not playing last week.

With conference play set to begin this week, 10 SEC teams are ranked in the top 25 and five landed in the top 10. Florida, Alabama and Kentucky sit behind Auburn and Tennessee in the top, and Auburn will play the four other top 10 schools during conference play.

Auburn starts the SEC gauntlet at home against Missouri on Saturday, but will finish nonconference play with a home game against Monmouth Monday evening.

Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and will be streaming on SEC Network+ and ESPN+.

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

General

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General

California woman killed in Bibb County ATV crash; passenger injured

A California woman was killed in an ATV crash Sunday afternoon in Bibb County.

Zelina R. Rosales, 31, was driving a Can-Am Commander ATV when, at 4:30 p.m., the vehicle left the road and struck a ditch.

The wreck happened on Lawley Junction Road in Bibb County, about 10 miles north of the Chilton County line, said ALEA State Trooper Cpl. Reginal King.

Rosales, of San Diego, died on the scene.

Her passenger, 25-year-old Luis Alberto Saucedo Barahona, of New York, was taken to Bibb Medical Center in Centreville. The severity of his injuries was not released.

The investigation is ongoing.

General

Kristin Cavallari reveals intimate details of Morgan Wallen romance

Kristin Cavallari revealed on a recent episode of Bunnie XO’s podcast “Dumb Blonde” that Morgan Wallen has “been with every woman on the planet.”

The “Hills” star, 37, called the 31-year-old Wallen a “good guy” with a “big heart.” However, she also admitted he was a “player from the Himalayas.”

Cavallari, who said she hasn’t spoken to the country music star in a year, was complimentary of Wallen.

“He’s a great (f-word) buddy … He was good in bed,” she told Bunnie, who is married to country star Jelly Roll.

She said Wallen had been a “true gentleman” on their first date and had even met her kids.

Earlier this month, Wallen pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts in a Nashville courtroom as a result of an April incident in which he threw a chair off the sixth-floor balcony of Eric Church’s bar, Chief’s.

Wallen, 31, was sentenced to one week at a DUI education center. He also received two years of probation, one year for each charge of reckless endangerment. The performer must also pay a $350 fine and court fees.

General

Alex City man ejected, killed in single-vehicle rollover crash

An Alexander City man was killed in a weekend crash in Tallapoosa County.

Alabama State Troopers identified the victim as Derek J. McVey. He was 36.

The wreck happened at 8:44 p.m. Sunday on Campground Road near Kodiak Lane, about four miles northeast of Alex City.

ALEA Lt. Jeremy Burkett said McVey was driving a Kia Sorento that left the road and hit a fence, a mailbox and several trees before overturning.

McVey was not using a seat belt and was thrown from the Kia, Burkett said. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

The crash remains under investigation by troopers.

General

What’s motivating Alabama football in ReliaQuest Bowl vs. Michigan?

Nobody with even a passing knowledge of college football would think that Alabama football beating Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl is real revenge. The Wolverines beat the Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff’s Rose Bowl semifinal to end Nick Saban’s tenure and UA’s 2023 season on Jan. 1.

On Tuesday, the two teams, both with different coaches, are facing off once again, this time in an 11 a.m. CT bowl in Tampa, with no championship stakes.

“It’s all about the 2024 team taking advantage of the opportunity that we have right now,” Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe said Saturday.

Michigan lost 18 starters from its 2023 team, which won the national championship after beating Alabama. Its opponent in the title game: Kalen DeBoer’s Washington team.

In theory, nearly everyone in the room should be looking for revenge. But according to DeBoer, right after the ReliaQuest Bowl matchup was announced, that isn’t a motivating factor.

“We’ve made it always about this team,” DeBoer said earlier in December. “That’s when we’ve been at our best, is when we really focus on just what it means to this program, this team. We go back to the Iron Bowl. It wasn’t about anything external, it was about this group. And that’s what we will certainly keep it to, you know when it comes to getting ready for Michigan and the bowl game.”

There’s other things that can keep UA’s collective head in the game. One is the Crimson Tide’s streak of 10 win seasons, which dates back to 2008, Saban’s second season in Tuscaloosa.

DeBoer was asked about that streak on Monday, during a joint press conference with Michigan’s Sherrone Moore.

“It’s something that’s really important to the guys,” DeBoer said. “There’s no question, they want to keep the streak alive there.”

Milroe agreed.

“That’s definitely one of our tasks,” Milroe said. “That’s definitely one of our missions, to have that 10-win season. And that’s something that we gotta go get, it’s not something that’s going to be given to us.”

According to the quarterback, who very well could be playing in his final Alabama game, with an NFL Draft future there for the taking if he wants it, Saturday’s game is about pride.

“It comes down to unfinished business,” Milroe said. “When it comes to the last game of your season, how can we finish on top?”

Alabama and Michigan are scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m. CT Tuesday at Raymond James Stadium. The game will be aired on ESPN.

General

ReliaQuest Bowl by the numbers: Alabama vs. Michigan

ReliaQuest Bowl

No. 11 Alabama (9-3) vs. Michigan (7-5)

11 a.m. CST Tuesday (ESPN)

Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida

1 Player available for Michigan has recorded more than 44 rushing yards during the 2024 season – backup QB Alex Orji, who had 260 yards and one TD on 53 carries. The Wolverines’ opt-outs for Tuesday’s game include RB Kalel Mullings, who ran for 948 yards and 12 TDs on 185 carries, and RB Donovan Edwards, who ran for 589 yards and four TDs on 128 carries.

3 Victories for Alabama and three for Michigan in the Crimson Tide-Wolverines series. Alabama won 17-14 in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1, 1997, 41-14 on Sept. 1, 2012, and 35-16 in the Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1, 2020. Michigan won 28-24 in the Hall of Fame Bowl on Jan. 2, 1988, 35-34 in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 2000, and 27-20 in overtime in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 2024.

3 Quarterbacks started games for Michigan this season, with eight-game starter Davis Warren and three-game starter Alex Orji available for Tuesday’s game. Warren has completed 125-of-197 passes for 1,126 yards with six TDs and nine interceptions and run for minus-8 yards on 44 carries this season. Orji has completed 23-of-44 passes for 148 yards with three TDs and one interception and run for 260 yards and one TD on 53 carries in 2024.

4 Games with at least 200 passing yards and two or more rushing TDs this season by Alabama QB Jalen Milroe, the most in the nation.

6 Teams have three players with at least seven TD runs this season, including Alabama. Crimson Tide QB Jalen Milroe has 719 yards and 20 TDs on 152 rushing attempts, RB Jam Miller has 641 yards and seven TDs on 135 rushing attempts and RB Justice Haynes has 463 yards and seven TDs on 79 carries. Alabama won’t have Haynes for Tuesday’s game as he is transferring. The other teams with three players with at least seven rushing TDs this season are Notre Dame, Ohio State, South Alabama, South Florida and Texas A&M.

7 Appearances in the ReliaQuest Bowl for Michigan when the Wolverines take the field on Tuesday, more than any other team in the bowl’s history, which includes its time as the Hall of Fame Bowl and the Outback Bowl. Iowa and Wisconsin have played in the game six times apiece. Michigan has a 3-3 record in the game. Alabama has two previous appearances in the ReliaQuest Bowl and played Michigan in both – losing to the Wolverines 28-24 on Jan. 2, 1988, and defeating Michigan 17-14 on Jan. 1, 1997. In the Wolverines’ other appearances in the game, Michigan defeated North Carolina State 42-7 on Jan. 1, 1994, and Florida 38-30 on Jan. 1, 2003, and lost to South Carolina 33-28 on Jan. 1, 2013, and 26-19 on Jan. 1, 2018.

8 Yards on eight punt returns by Alabama’s opponents this season. The Crimson Tide’s punt-return defense of 1.0 yards per return was the best in the nation entering the bowl season. Michigan has returned 15 punts for 158 yards this season.

9 Victories are the most for an Alabama coach in his first season, achieved by Frank Thomas when the Crimson Tide went 9-1 in 1931 and Kalen DeBoer, who has a 9-3 record in 2024.

14 Victories and six losses for Alabama against Big Ten opponents, including a 10-5 bowl record. The Crimson Tide defeated Wisconsin 42-10 on Sept. 14 in its most recent meeting with a Big Ten member.

15 Victories and 11 losses for Michigan against SEC opponents, including an 9-9 bowl record. The Wolverines defeated Alabama 27-20 in overtime in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 2024, in their most recent game against an SEC opponent.

16 Consecutive December games have been won by Alabama, the longest winning streak in the 12th month in SEC history. The Crimson Tide’s most recent loss in the 12th month is a 31-20 setback against Florida in the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 6, 2008. Since then, Alabama has won nine SEC title games, four bowls that served as CFP semifinal games, two regular-season games and the 2022 Sugar Bowl in December.

16 Consecutive seasons with at least 10 victories for Alabama. The Crimson Tide needs a victory on Tuesday to extend the major-college record for consecutive seasons with double-digit victories. In 2022, Alabama broke the record for consecutive 10-win seasons that Florida State established from 1987 through 2000. Alabama most recently failed to win 10 games in a season in 2007, when the Tide went 7-6. Alabama won 12 games in 2008, 14 in 2009, 10 in 2010, 12 in 2011, 13 in 2012, 11 in 2013, 12 in 2014, 14 in 2015, 14 in 2016, 13 in 2017, 14 in 2018, 11 in 2019, 13 in 2020, 13 in 2021, 11 in 2022 and 12 in 2023. Alabama’s record streak of 13 seasons with at least 11 victories will end in 2024.

30 Consecutive Outback/ReliaQuest bowls have matched teams from the SEC and Big Ten. The SEC leads the Big Ten 19-10 in the preceding games. Overall, the SEC is 21-13 in the bowl. The Big Ten is 13-22 overall. In last season’s ReliaQuest Bowl, LSU defeated Wisconsin 35-31 to extend the SEC’s winning streak to four games.

46 Bowl victories for Alabama, more than any other college program. The Crimson Tide has a 46-28-3 bowl record. Michigan has a 23-29 bowl record, and the Wolverines are tied with Ohio State for the most bowl losses.

56 Receptions for Colston Loveland in 2024, the most for a tight end in one season in Michigan history, and 248 receiving yards for Tyler Morris in 2024, the most among the Wolverines’ wide receivers this season. Loveland has 649 receiving yards and five TD receptions this season, but he isn’t playing in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Morris had 23 receptions and two TDs this season, but he isn’t playing on Tuesday either. Michigan’s leading receiver entering the game is WR Semaj Morgan with 23 receptions for 134 yards and one TD.

111 Points for Alabama and 22 points for the Crimson Tide’s opponents in the first quarter this season. In Alabama’s three losses, the Tide was outscored 13-10 in the first quarter. Michigan has outscored its opponents 48-41 in the first quarter in 2024.

143 Receiving yards are needed for WR Ryan Williams to record Alabama’s 14th 1,000-yard season. Williams has 45 receptions for 857 yards and eight TDs during his freshman season. Williams’ top performance this season featured 177 yards and one TD on six receptions in a 41-34 victory over Georgia on Sept. 28. One player reached 100 receiving yards against Michigan this season. Oregon WR Traeshon Holden had six receptions for 149 yards in the Ducks’ 38-17 victory over the Wolverines on Nov. 2.

212 Points have been the responsibility of Alabama QB Jalen Milroe, the most in the SEC this season. Milroe has 15 TD passes, 20 TD runs and one 2-point conversion pass in 2024. His 20 TD runs are the most for an Alabama QB in one season.

322 Games have been played by Alabama since it was most recently shut out. Alabama’s scoring streak is the third-longest in SEC history. Alabama’s most recent shutout loss came 9-0 to Auburn on Nov. 18, 2000.

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

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

General

Jimmy Carter’s life ‘brought greater dignity to the presidency,’ says Gov. Kay Ivey

Gov. Kay Ivey has authorized flags flown at half-staff in the capitol complex and across Alabama for 30 days in honor of President Jimmy Carter, who died Sunday at the age of 100.

The governor’s proclamation summarized the public service of Carter, the peanut farmer, engineer, Navy officer, and Sunday school teacher who worked for causes such as Habitat for Humanity for decades after leaving the White House:

“A native of Plains, Georgia, approximately 40 miles from the Alabama state line, Jimmy Carter first served his country as a lieutenant in the United States Navy. After his father died, he left military service to return home to take over the family peanut farm. In 1962, Carter entered politics running successfully for the Georgia State Senate. In 1970, he won the Georgia Governor’s race. In December 1974, Jimmy Carter jumped into the Democratic primary for President among a field of more than a dozen candidates. His long-shot candidacy was not only victorious in the primary but ultimately in the 1976 general election. He served one term in office as President during which time our country faced many challenges from an energy shortage to U.S. diplomats being taken hostage in Iran.

“After leaving the White House in 1981, Carter forged the longest post presidency of any American chief executive. He was well known for his advocacy of international human rights through the Carter Center, and his hands-on assistance to disadvantaged persons through his years of volunteering for Habitat for Humanity. Jimmy Carter not only lived the longest of any former U.S. President, but his life also brought greater dignity to the presidency.”

Carter’s death on Sunday came more than a year after he entered hospice care at his home in Plains. Carter’s wife, Rosalynn, died in November 2023 at age 96.

Archibald: Mourn Jimmy Carter, and grieve for America, too

JD Crowe: Tribute to Jimmy Carter, our greatest former president

General

What Kalen DeBoer called ‘the Christmas gift’ for Alabama football ahead of 2025

Alabama football could have a key piece of the defense back for 2025.

Justin Jefferson, because of a court ruling around junior college players, can have one more year of eligibility to play if he so chooses.

Has that decision been made if he will use it?

“I’ll let him make the announcement,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said Monday. “I know he was pretty excited to hear about the opportunity if that can give you an indication kind of where his head’s at. We’ve had the talks. Pretty confident he’s excited to continue to play college football. Nothing official has been said, but that was certainly a big announcement around Christmas there. Good Christmas present for him. Good Christmas present for us for sure.”

The Crimson Tide could use a veteran linebacker for 2025. Starters Jihaad Campbell and Deontae Lawson haven’t yet made their NFL Draft decisions known, but one or both could head to the league.

Jefferson has rotated in on the defense in 2024, tallying 26 tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble. He joined Alabama ahead of the 2023 season from Pear River Community College.

Alabama will face Michigan at 11 a.m. CT on Tuesday in the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

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