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Former Florida State OC, Dothan native to take over as Jax State’s receivers coach

Former Florida State wide receiver and offensive coordinator Lawrence Dawsey will take over as Jacksonville State’s wide receivers coach, his agency announced on Monday.

Dawsey, a Dothan native and graduate of Northview High School, was serving in the same position at Appalachian State before taking the job at Jax State.

The move for Dawsey reunites him with new Jax State head football coach Charles Kelly, who was announced as the program’s next head football coach on Dec. 21.

He has been regarded as one of the best recruiters in the country, being named 2011 ACC Recruiter of the year by SI.com and ranking in the top 10 of the ACC for three seasons during his time at Florida State.

Dawsey coached wide receivers at Florida State for 11 seasons (2007-2017) before becoming the Seminoles’ co-offensive coordinator in his final five seasons; Kelly was FSU’s special teams coordinator in 2013 and was moved to defensive coordinator from 2014-2017.

The receivers coach was FSU’s passing game coordinator when Heisman Trophy winner and Hueytown High alum Jameis Winston led the program to a 2013 BCS National Championship.

He worked with the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship for two seasons before serving as an offensive analyst at Texas A&M in 2020 and 2021, taking over App State’s receivers in 2022.

Before his stint as a coach at Florida State, his alma mater, he spent three seasons as receivers coach at South Florida after serving as a graduate assistant at LSU.

He was a standout wide receiver for Florida State from 1987-1990, earning First-team All-American honors as a senior before being selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 1991 NFL Draft.

Dawsey had a seven-season career in the NFL with the Bucs, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints.

He will join an offensive staff for Jax State that includes offensive coordinator Clint Trickett and offensive line coach Rick Trickett.

General

Casagrande: Nick Saban as college football commissioner? Let’s get real

This is an opinion column.

The headlines are hard to miss if you’re into college football and have an internet connection.

Lane Kiffin wants Nick Saban to be the commissioner of college football.

James Franklin also wants Nick Saban to be the commissioner of college football.

Kirby Smart too.

Everyone wants Nick Saban to be the commissioner of college football.

Sounds cool, but three questions, if I might.

What is a commissioner of college football? Like in reality? We’re discussing this job, like it ACTUALLY exists. (It doesn’t)
Does anyone think any single person could be given absolute power, wave a wand and fix the compounding issues facing the sport today?
What makes you think the 73-year-old would want this monumental (though imaginary) task?

Not trying to end the year on a cynical note, but like, what are we talking about here?

Are coaches this desperate that they’re creating a mystical superhero from their former ultimate villain?

Nick Saban is going to swoop down from the College Football GameDay set and fix the problems that greatly contributed to his retirement from coaching?

What are we talking about here?

That’s not to say the problems facing the sport are some fantastical Marvel storyline. They’re real and not going away.

The concern is valid because the intersection of NIL, revenue sharing, and recruiting is only getting more complicated and with real-world consequences. The NCAA is losing power every passing day after court rulings stripped much of its power in this realm.

With that power vacuum came a patchwork of state laws that created an untenable situation that we’ve been told can only be solved by Congress.

Like the one in Washington D.C.

And Tommy Tuberville’s trying to be a leader in that movement.

So, one can understand why these coaches are so frantic to find a competent leader who understands the reality of the situation.

But reality is where we should remain.

And in this dimension, there’s no such thing as a commissioner of college football. Are we suggesting the formation of a new governing body that breaks away from the NCAA to regulate the sport? That brings a whole new web of complications that nobody appears to be equipped to handle.

The College Football Playoff only governs the postseason with no power to do anything but fill a 12-team bracket.

And they stink at that. So, next.

Smart, a longtime Saban assistant, had the most realistic take on the situation when speaking before the Sugar Bowl quarterfinal this week.

“I don’t know if it as simple as let’s name a commissioner, and it solved all our problems,” Smart said in New Orleans. “I don’t think that’s that case. We are governed by separate circumstances. Conferences govern us. NCAA governs us. Now we have courts govern us.

“I think a commissioner would be a nice thing in theory, but what can they effectively get done if everybody can’t agree on something?”

That said, Smart added he thinks Saban “would be great” for this made up position.

Cool.

Great in theory, but again, we don’t live in theory.

As with any of these discussions about the future of college football and collegiate athletics as a whole, it’s a matter of power. It’s a struggle between those at the top of the pyramid with conference commissioners on top of the current scheme.

Notice you don’t hear any of them suggesting the seven-time national champion retired coach should assume power over the sport?

Because as D’Angelo Barksdale once said, “The King stay the King, aight?”

There are multiple crowns in this realm, and none of them are bowing to kiss the ring of Saban (in this fantasy world where he’s actually trying to steal the power because he isn’t in this one).

In fact, Saban himself said the conference commissioners or ADs would be more qualified for such a mystical position as college football commissioner. It’s right there in a February 2024 piece from ESPN.

“I’m not really looking for a job,” Saban said in the piece, “but I do know I’d like to impact college football the best way I can, whether it’s being a spokesperson or anything else.”

He’s long been a thought leader in the sport who has always had an eye on the big picture while building and maintaining an empire unmatched in the sport’s modern history. None of this diminishes the idea of what he could do to salvage a sport at the crossroads.

In a perfect world, we’d have a functioning Congress.

Or Saban would be 10 years younger in a space where leaders were willing to cede power even if it was against their own self-interest.

But this is a world painted in the imperfect.

Instead, we’re trying to navigate the mess made by those already in power and who aren’t letting any of it go.

The idea of Saban in a wizard’s hat descending from the clouds, ready to abracadabra a functioning college football is awesome. Lane Kiffin never had a bad idea.

But we aren’t in a Disney movie.

Nick Saban isn’t Santa Claus.

So we should stick to solutions rooted in reality rather than fantasy because the clock is ticking.

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.

General

Dear Annie: I’m struggling to find peace while living with my mother-in-law

Dear Annie: My mother-in-law is currently living with my husband and me.

She insisted she needed to move in with us, as she was divorcing her husband who received a much larger retirement than her and she was convinced she couldn’t live on her own. She owned her house outright but refused to stay in it because she felt the upkeep of the land would be too much. My husband was worried that if we said no, we would lose that relationship, and we believed that she could be able to compromise and live peacefully with us as she stated that she valued honesty and compromise the way we do. (We both see in hindsight that this was flawed, but we never had any reason to doubt her at the time).

She contributed funds to assist us in buying the house (a major sticking point), and we all moved in and quickly found out she is not what she presents to be. She is mean, vindictive and manipulative. She expects my husband, who is autistic and absolutely needs decompress time, to drop everything as soon as she demands it to assist her with something, like he did when he used to live with her. When he tells her no, she becomes passive aggressive and cold. We try to establish boundaries, and it makes our home a war zone.

Annie, I have PTSD. I suffered a lot of abuse in my life, and this kind of conflict puts me on major edge. I have panic attacks in my room, and I obsess over every little thing she does to try to understand it, because I’m constantly in survival mode. We are afraid to try to “kick her out” because my husband is worried about the effect the fall-out will have on me, so we’re waiting for the divorce to finalize and for her to have more money than she thought so that she’ll decide to leave since she hated living with us (something I’m not sure will happen, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it).

My big question is, how do I find peace through all of this? How do I care for myself and my husband without letting her continue to mess me up? I am struggling so hard in this situation, to the point that my husband and I don’t invite friends or family over because we’re worried about the impact. I just want some peace with my husband. — Drowning in Drama

Dear Drowning in Drama: Right now you are in a limbo period. You are waiting to have your living situation changed and go back to the way it was. Sounds like your mother-in-law’s moving out will be beneficial for all of you.

While you are waiting, repeat the serenity prayer: God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Read more Dear Annie and other advice columns.

“How Can I Forgive My Cheating Partner?” is out now! Annie Lane’s second anthology — featuring favorite columns on marriage, infidelity, communication and reconciliation — is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit Creators Publishing for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to [email protected].

General

Texas Bowl by the numbers: LSU vs. Baylor

Kinder’s Texas Bowl

LSU (8-4) vs. Baylor (8-4)

2:30 p.m. CST Tuesday (ESPN)

NRG Stadium in Houston

2 Previous appearances apiece for Baylor and LSU in the Texas Bowl. Baylor lost to Illinois 38-14 on Dec. 29, 2010, and defeated Vanderbilt 45-38 on Dec. 27, 2018. LSU defeated Texas Tech 56-17 on Dec. 29, 2015, and lost to Kansas State 42-20 on Jan. 4, 2022.

2 First-team All-Big 12 inside linebackers for Baylor in 2024 – Matt Jones and Keaton Thomas. Thomas has 107 tackles and Jones has 103 this season.

4 Players in the nation have at least 525 receiving yards and 240 punt-return yards this season, including Baylor WR Josh Cameron. Cameron’s average of 20.7 yards per punt return is the best in the nation for any player with at least 14 returns, and he has 44 receptions for 643 yards and nine TDs this season.

4 Seasons as LSU’s defensive coordinator for Dave Aranda before he became Baylor’s head coach in 2020.

6 Consecutive victories for Baylor. Since a 43-21 loss to Iowa State that dropped the Bears to 2-4, Baylor has beaten Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, TCU, West Virginia, Houston and Kansas. The Bears have never finished a season with seven consecutive wins.

6 Victories and eight losses for LSU in bowls against opponents from the Big 12 and its ancestral conferences. The meetings started with a 35-0 loss to Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 23, 1950, and continued most recently with a 42-20 loss to Kansas State in the Texas Bowl on Jan. 4, 2022. LSU has a 13-10-1 overall record against Big 12 opponents.

10 Consecutive Texas Bowls have matched SEC and Big 12 teams, including Tuesday’s game. Oklahoma State defeated Texas A&M 31-23 in last season’s game to boost the Big 12’s winning streak to three games and lift its record to 6-3 in the meetings with the SEC. The Big 12 has an 8-6 overall record in the Texas Bowl. The SEC is 3-6.

14 Victories and 13 losses for Baylor in bowls. The Bears lost to Air Force 30-15 in the Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 22, 2022, in their most recent bowl appearance.

16 Victories, 18 losses and two ties for Baylor against SEC opponents. The Bears played an SEC opponent for the first time on Nov. 13, 1948, when Tulane defeated Baylor 35-13. The Bears’ most recent meeting with an SEC opponent came on Jan. 1, 2022, when Baylor beat Ole Miss 21-7 in the Sugar Bowl. Baylor has a 5-5 record against SEC teams in bowls. The Bears will open the 2025 season against Auburn, another SEC member.

17 Of Baylor QB Sawyer Robertson’s 2024 total of 26 TD passes have come during the Bears’ current six-game winning streak. Robertson has completed 199-of-317 passes for 2,626 yards with 26 TDs and seven interceptions this season, which he started at No. 2 on the depth chart.

30 Victories, 24 losses and one tie for LSU in bowls. The Tigers defeated Wisconsin 35-31 in last season’s ReliaQuest Bowl.

38 Consensus All-Americans in LSU history, including offensive left tackle Will Campbell in the 2024 season. Campbell has opted out of the Texas Bowl, as has Emery Jones, the Tigers’ starter at right tackle.

39 Years since the previous meeting between Baylor and LSU. The Bears beat the Tigers 21-7 in the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 27, 1985, for their third victory in 11 games against LSU. The teams have one other bowl meeting: Baylor beat LSU 14-7 in the Bluebonnet Bowl on Dec. 21, 1963.

261 Passing yards are needed by LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier to record the second 4,000-yard season in school history. Joe Burrow holds the Tigers’ single-season record with 5,671 passing yards for LSU’s undefeated CFP national-championship team in 2019. Nussmeier has completed 313-of-491 passes for 3,739 yards with 26 TDs and 11 interceptions.

395 Passing yards for LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier in his first start – a 35-31 victory over Wisconsin in last season’s ReliaQuest Bowl. Including that game, Nussmeier has thrown for 1,766 yards with 16 TDs in his five starts against non-conference opponents, who have included Southern Cal, Nicholls, UCLA and South Alabama in 2024.

1,004 Rushing yards for Baylor RB Bryson Washington in 2024, the most for a freshman in school history. Washington had 12 TDs among his 170 rushing attempts this season. LSU’s leading rusher also is a freshman. RB Caden Durham has 693 yards and six TDs on 127 carries this season for the Tigers.

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

Human remains found in Opelika woods

An investigation is underway after skeletal remains were found in Opelika over the weekend.

Opelika police were notified just before 3 p.m. Saturday that someone had located the remains in a wooded area in the 2600 block of Northpark Drive.

Detectives requested help from the Montgomery Police Department’s cadaver dog.

This morning, investigators from both agencies launched an active search of the area.

Officials said the remains will be sent to the Lee County Coroner’s Office for further examination.

Anyone with information is asked to call Opelika police at 334-705-5220 or the Secret Witness Hotline at (334) 745-8665. Tips can be submitted through our Opelika Police Mobile App.

Tips can also be submitted to Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at (334) 215-STOP (7867).

General

Hollywood star had ‘massive blood clot’ in her brain during pregnancy

Gal Gadot revealed on social media a “terrifying” event in which she was diagnosed with a “massive blood clot” in her brain during her eighth month of pregnancy.

The Wonder Woman actress, 39, posted on Instagram on Sunday.

“For weeks, I had endured excruciating headaches that confined me to bed, until I finally underwent an MRI that revealed the terrifying truth,” she posted. “In one moment, my family and I were faced with how fragile life can be. It was a stark reminder of how quickly everything can change, and in the midst of a difficult year, all I wanted was to hold on and live.”

Gadot was rushed to the hospital where she underwent emergency surgery and also gave birth to her daughter Ori, now 9 months old, during the procedure in March.

“Her name, meaning ‘my light,’ wasn’t chosen by chance,” Gadot posted. “Before the surgery, I told (husband) Jaron that when our daughter arrived, she would be the light waiting for me at the end of this tunnel.”

Gadot said the goal of her post was to “empower” those who read about her ordeal.

“If even one person feels compelled to take action for their health because of this story, it will have been worth sharing,” she concluded, while noting that she hopes sharing her personal experience will pull “back the curtain on the fragile reality behind the curated moments we share on social media.”

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

Authorities searching for man who jumped off Fairhope pier

A search is underway for a man who appeared to jump off a pier in south Alabama early Monday morning, according to the Fairhope Police Department.

In a Facebook post the department stated they responded to a call of a “possible incident” at Fairhope Municipal Pier at 2 a.m.

Surveillance footage of the incident captured a man wearing a light-colored shirt jump from the pier, according to the department.

Fairhope police are currently unsure whether the man made it out of the water safely.

The Fairhope Volunteer Fire Department, U.S. Coast Guard and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency are helping searching the area.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Jackson with the Fairhope Police Department at 251-928-2385.

General

Citrus Bowl by the numbers: South Carolina vs. Illinois

Cheez-It Citrus Bowl

No. 16 South Carolina (9-3) vs. No. 20 Illinois (9-3)

2 p.m. CST Tuesday (ABC)

Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida

0 Victories for Illinois in six games against SEC opponents. The Illini lost to Florida 14-0 on Sept. 23, 1967, Mississippi State 28-21 on Oct. 4, 1980, Alabama 21-15 in the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 29, 1982, Florida 14-10 in the All-American Bowl on Dec. 29, 1988, LSU 47-34 in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, 2002, and Mississippi State 19-10 in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Jan. 2, 2023.

0 Previous games between South Carolina and Illinois.

2 Interceptions have been returned for touchdowns by South Carolina CB Nick Emmanwori this season. He was among the five players in the nation with two pick-sixes in 2024 entering the bowl season. Emmanwori has four interceptions this season.

2 Games against South Carolina for Illinois coach Bret Bielema while he was the coach at Arkansas. The Razorbacks lost in SEC games to the Gamecocks 52-7 in 2013 and 48-22 in 2017.

3 Players in the nation this season have at least 2,200 passing yards, 650 rushing yards and 150 passing-efficiency rating, including South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers, along with Alabama QB Jalen Milroe and Washington State QB John Mateer. Sellers has completed 172-of-265 passes for 2,274 yards with 17 TDs and seven interceptions and run for 655 yards and seven TDs on 155 carries.

3 Previous appearances in the Citrus Bowl for South Carolina. The Gamecocks lost to Miami (Ohio) 20-7 on Dec. 20, 1975, and defeated Nebraska 30-13 on Jan. 2, 2012, and Wisconsin 34-24 on Jan. 1, 2014. Illinois defeated Virginia 31-21 on Jan. 1, 1990, in its only Citrus Bowl appearance.

3 TD passes for Illinois QB Luke Altmyer in the final minute of the fourth quarter or overtime this season to win games. The Illini trailed in the fourth quarter of four of their nine victories but rallied to defeat Kansas, Nebraska, Purdue and Rutgers.

4 Consecutive victories for South Carolina against Big Ten opponents. The Gamecocks are 8-4 against Big Ten opponents, with the past eight meetings coming in bowls. South Carolina’s most recent game against a Big Ten member came in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1, 2018, when the Gamecocks defeated Michigan 26-19. South Carolina’s most recent loss to a Big Ten opponent came in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1, 2009, when the Gamecocks fell to Iowa 31-10.

4 Illinois seasons have featured 10 victories. The Illini would tie the school record with a victory in the Citrus Bowl. Illinois had 10-win seasons in 1902, 1983, 1989 and 2001.

5 South Carolina players have won the SEC Freshman of the Year Award with QB LaNorris Sellers joining the list in 2024. Sellers followed QB Steve Taneyhill in 1992, DB Ko Simpson in 2004, RB Marcus Lattimore in 2010 and DE Jadeveon Clowney in 2011 as the Gamecocks’ winners.

5 Players in the nation have 21 or more TD passes and five or fewer interceptions this season, including Illinois QB Luke Altmyer. In 2024, Altmyer has completed 198-of-325 passes for 2,543 yards with 21 TDs and five TDs.

6 Consecutive victories for South Carolina, the longest active winning streak in the SEC. The Gamecocks haven’t lost since a 27-25 setback against Alabama on Oct. 12. South Carolina hasn’t won seven games in a row since the Gamecocks won the final four games of the 2011 season and the first six games of the 2012 season. South Carolina most recently won seven games in a row in a single season in 1984, when the Gamecocks opened the campaign 9-0.

8 South Carolina opponents have been ranked in The Associated Press poll when playing the Gamecocks this season. With Illinois at No. 21 in the AP Poll, South Carolina will set a school record for ranked opponents in a single season. The Gamecocks faced seven ranked opponents in 2010. South Carolina has a 4-3 record against teams ranked in the AP Poll this season. The Gamecocks had never beaten more than three ranked opponents in a season until 2024.

10 Victories and 15 losses for South Carolina in bowls. The Gamecocks lost to Notre Dame 45-38 in the Gator Bowl on Dec. 30, 2022, in their most recent bowl appearance. South Carolina’s most recent bowl victory is a 38-21 win over North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Dec. 30, 2021. The Gamecocks lost their first eight bowl appearances.

11.5 Sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss were recorded by South Carolina DE Kyle Kennard in the 2024 season as he won the Nagurski Award as the nation’s best defensive player. But Kennard will not play in the Citrus Bowl.

13 Years since Illinois won a bowl. The Illini defeated UCLA 20-14 in the Fight Hunger Bowl on Dec. 31, 2011. Illinois has lost its three bowl appearances since – 35-18 to Louisiana Tech in the Heart of Dallas Bowl on Dec. 26, 2014, 35-20 to California in the Redbox Bowl on Dec. 30, 2019, and 19-10 to Mississippi State in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Jan. 2, 2023 – to drop its bowl record to 8-12.

25 Victories, 14 losses and one tie for SEC teams in the Citrus Bowl and its predecessors — the Tangerine Bowl, Florida Citrus Bowl and Capital One Bowl. Big Ten teams have a 13-19 record in the game. The SEC has a 20-11 record when playing a Big Ten opponent in the game, with Tennessee beating Iowa 35-0 in last season’s game.

27 Fumbles for South Carolina’s opponents this season, the most in the nation entering the bowl season. The Gamecocks have recovered nine of the fumbles.

200 Completions apiece for Illinois and South Carolina this season. The Gamecocks have thrown 307 passes and have 2,644 passing yards, 20 TD passes and seven interceptions. The Illini have thrown 331 passes and have 2,572 passing yards, 21 TD passes and five interceptions.

226 Yards and two TDs on 63 rushing attempts this season for Oscar Adaway, who is the most productive running back on South Carolina’s roster after Raheim Sanders opted out of the Citrus Bowl. Sanders ran for 881 yards and 11 TDs this season. Illinois’ top running backs are Adian Laughery, who has 522 yards and four TDs on 81 carries, and Josh McCray, who had 495 yards and eight TDs on 104 carries.

613 Yards and three TDs on 51 receptions in 2024 for WR Zakhari Franklin, who is Illinois’ leading receiver entering the Citrus Bowl after WR Pat Bryant opted out. Bryant had 54 receptions for 984 yards and 10 TDs this season. South Carolina’s leading receiver is WR Joshua Simon with 34 receptions for 450 yards and six TDs.

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

3 questions for Alabama football before ReliaQuest Bowl vs. Michigan

Alabama football’s 2024 season is set to come to an end Tuesday, when the Crimson Tide finishes the year how it began: facing Michigan. Unlike the Jan. 1 Rose Bowl that turned out to be Nick Saban’s final game, the ReliaQuest Bowl matchup has no College Football Playoff stakes.

The game still represents a chance for the Tide to keep up the 10-win season streak it began in 2008. Kalen DeBoer’s first postseason game as UA’s head coach is scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m. CT Tuesday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., and will be aired on ESPN.

Before that, here’s three questions for Alabama to answer in its season finale.

How will the depleted wide receiver group perform?

Alabama was a little thin at wide receiver even before the transfer portal opened, due to injuries. The departure of Kobe Prentice, Kendrick Law, Caleb Odom and Emmanuel Henderson certainly didn’t help.

Jaylen Mbakwe, who spent the regular season as a cornerback, is moving to wideout for the ReliaQuest Bowl and beyond. He joins just four other scholarship receivers, including Ryan Williams, Germie Bernard, Jaren Hamilton and Rico Scott.

Williams and Bernard carried the load for the Crimson Tide throughout the regular season. Whoever else steps up will be interesting to see.

Mbakwe has earned rave reviews so far since moving to offense.

“He’s certainly got the skill set, and really excited about what he can do for us there at that position,” DeBoer said “He’s got the speed. He’s had the ball in his hands all through high school, running the offense there at that level, and then we’ve used him in the punt return game and the return games. We’re just really comfortable with what he can bring to the table.”

Will we see a motivated Crimson Tide?

In the past, Alabama teams have been accused of tuning out and losing focus once there was nothing left to play for. This year’s Crimson Tide faces a Michigan team that should be overmatched, but UA has lost to worse squads this season.

Without a playoff bid on the table, Alabama has to look elsewhere for motivation. Both players and coaches have downplayed any idea of the ReliaQuest Bowl as a revenge game.

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

Alabama also has a streak on the table. The Crimson Tide hasn’t won less than 10 games since 2007, something players have said is important to continue.

“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.”

Who is playing their final college games?

Milroe’s upcoming NFL Draft decision is an interesting one. He could very well be playing in his final game for Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

The redshirt junior wasn’t sharing any final choices before the game.

“I think, for me, it’s all about maximizing right now,” Milroe said. “Taking care of right now, because future-tense, it’s hard to get to that point unless you’re taking care of right now. So taking in the moment of just playing with my guys right now. Prepare as much as possible, practice and take care of right now.”

Other Alabama players who will have to make a draft decision in the near future include Tyler Booker, Germie Bernard, Jihaad Campbell, Deontae Lawson, Domani Jackson and more.

General

Downtown Athens likely to lose buildings in tornado’s wake

Several buildings in downtown Athens will likely have to come down, the city said Monday as cleanup from the tornado that struck this past weekend continues.

The city’s building department has determined the brick warehouse on Pryor Street with the veterans mural and one of the Persell Lumber buildings are total losses, according to an emailed statement from the city spokesperson. Former Gas Department buildings on Clinton Street were also damaged and likely will be torn down, according to the city.

No city services are being relocated at this time, said Holly Hollman, the Athens spokesperson.