On Saturday at 10:52 a.m. the National Weather Service issued a wind advisory valid from 9 p.m. until Sunday 6 a.m. for Marion, Lamar, Fayette, Winston, Walker, Blount, Etowah, Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, Clay, Randolph, Sumter, Greene, Hale, Perry, Bibb, Chilton, Coosa, Tallapoosa, Chambers, Marengo, Dallas, Autauga, Lowndes, Elmore, Montgomery, Macon, Bullock, Lee, Russell, Pike and Barbour counties.
The weather service states, “Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph expected.”
“Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Trees could be blown down and a few power outages may result,” states the weather service. “Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution. Secure outdoor objects.”
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 biggest game in college basketball will be played in Tuscaloosa on Saturday. Ahead of Alabama hosting Auburn in a No. 1 vs. No. 2 battle with the positions dictated by which poll a fan base prefers, the Crimson Tide faithful arrived at Coleman Coliseum early, some even camping out for a good spot on ESPN’s College Gameday program.
As UA fans waved signs poking fun of Auburn coach Bruce Pearl’s weight and the Tiger loss to Yale in last year’s NCAA Tournament, Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats sat down with the Gameday crew on set. First question: What does Alabama need to do to win it all?
“Stop turning the ball over,” Oats said. “We’ve got too many turnovers. We’ve gotta stop turning the ball over, and we’ve gotta rebound it a little bit better.
“And then if our defense can get a little bit better – it’s been great at times. It hasn’t been great for a full 40 minutes yet. If we can get some defensive consistency over 40 minutes and stop turning the ball over and then rebound it a little bit better, we’ve got a chance to win it all.”
As the crowd cheered him on, Oats joked about taking fashion and coaching advice from his daughters. He discussed his approach to analytics in coaching and hit on a few key players for the Crimson Tide.
Oats also acknowledged how difficult the Tide’s upcoming schedule is, with no games against unranked teams remaining on the regular season slate.
“Which one of those is a gimme?” Oats said. “There’s no easy one. There’s a number in front of every one of them. Listen, obviously, this is a big game. We know that. That’s why all these people are here so early in the morning, why you’re here. But if you win this one and then drop another one, a loss is a loss in the SEC column. You’re trying to win the regular season.”
After facing the No. 1 Tigers, the Crimson Tide travels to Missouri before facing Kentucky. Home games against Missisippi State and Florida sandwich a trip to Tennessee, before Alabama closes the year at Auburn.
“We’re gonna be ready to go tonight,” Oats said. “We know that. But then we’ve gotta turn this thing around and be ready to go at Missouri. Turn around and be ready to go (vs.) Kentucky. It’s a gauntlet, but you’ve gotta come ready to go.
“I think that’s why our non-conference schedule has helped so much because we had a lot of good games in there. We had quite a stretch there, as well. Not quite like this, but pretty close. I think our guys are ready for it.”
Alabama and Auburn are scheduled to tip off at 3 p.m. CT in Tuscaloosa. The game will be aired on ESPN.
An updated flood warning was issued by the National Weather Service on Saturday at 10:40 a.m. valid from Monday 2 a.m. until Wednesday 8:25 p.m. for Greene, Hale, Marengo and Sumter counties.
The weather service describes, “Minor flooding is forecast for Tombigbee River at Demopolis Lock and Dam.”
“At 68.0 feet, Flooding of lowlands in the area occurs and cattle should be moved to higher ground,” states the weather service. “Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. The next statement will be issued late tonight, or sooner if conditions warrant.”
Understanding the differences between advisories, watches, and warnings
Flash flood warning: Take action!
A flash flood warning is issued when a flash flood is imminent or occurring. If you are in a flood-prone area, move immediately to high ground. A flash flood is a sudden violent flood that can take from minutes to hours to develop. It is even possible to experience a flash flood in areas not immediately receiving rain.
Flood warning: Take action!
A flood warning is issued when flooding is imminent or occurring.
Flood advisory: Be aware:
A flood advisory is issued when flooding is not expected to be bad enough to issue a warning. However, it may cause significant inconvenience, and if caution is not exercised, it could lead to situations that may threaten life and/or property.
Flood watch: Be prepared:
A flood watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding. It does not mean flooding will occur, but it is possible.
Staying safe during a flood: Recommendations from the weather service
Floods can pose a significant threat, especially if you live in a flood-prone area or find yourself camping in a low-lying region. To ensure your safety, the weather service offers essential flood safety guidelines:
Move to higher ground:
If you reside in a flood-prone region or are camping in low-lying terrain, the first step to safety is relocating to higher ground.
Adhere to evacuation orders:
If local authorities issue an evacuation order, heed it promptly. Prior to leaving, secure your home by locking it.
Disconnect utilities and appliances:
If time permits, disconnect your utilities and appliances. This precaution minimizes electrical hazards during flooding.
Steer clear of flooded basements and submerged areas:
Avoid basements or rooms submerged in water with electrical outlets or cords. Preventing electrical accidents is crucial.
Swift evacuation for your safety:
If you notice sparks or hear buzzing, crackling, snapping, or popping noises, evacuate immediately. Avoid any water that may be charged with electricity.
Stay away from floodwaters:
Never attempt to walk through floodwaters. Even just 6 inches of swiftly moving water can forcefully knock you off your feet.
Seek high ground if trapped:
In the event you become trapped by moving water, make your way to the highest point available and contact emergency services by calling 911.
During heavy rainfall, the risk of flooding is heightened, especially in low-lying and flood-prone regions. Always remember never to drive through water on the road, no matter how shallow it appears. According to the weather service, as little as 12 inches of rapidly flowing water can carry away most vehicles. Stay safe by being prepared and informed.
Navigating rainy roads: Safety tips for wet weather
When heavy rain pours, the risk of flooding and treacherous roads rises. Here’s your guide from the weather service to staying safe during downpours:
Beware of rapid water flow:
In heavy rain, refrain from parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a grave danger.
Maintain safe driving distances:
The two-second rule for following distance is your ally in heavy rain. Extend it to four seconds to ensure safe spacing in adverse conditions.
Reduce speed and drive cautiously:
If it is raining and the roads are wet, slow down. Take your foot off the accelerator and let your speed drop gradually. Never use the brakes suddenly because this may cause the car to skid.
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.
Prioritize visibility:
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:
Large trucks and buses can reduce your visibility with tire spray. Avoid tailgating and pass them swiftly and safely.
Mind your windshield wipers:
Overloaded wiper blades can hinder visibility. If rain severely limits your sight, pull over and wait for conditions to improve. Seek refuge at rest areas or protected spots.
When stopping by the roadside is your only option, position your vehicle as far off the road as possible, ideally beyond guardrails. Keep your headlights on and activate emergency flashers to alert other drivers of your position.
In the face of heavy rain, these precautions can make a significant difference in ensuring your safety on the road. Remember to stay informed about weather conditions and heed guidance from local authorities for a secure journey.
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.
Transfers across rivalry lines have become more common in college sports in the age of the transfer portal.
In football, former Alabama defensive back Antonio Kite made the controversial move across Iron Bowl lines last season, transferring to Auburn after legendary Alabama coach Nick Saban retired.
While that move raised eyebrows, Kite didn’t have the kind of prominence former five-star prospect Aden Holloway had at Auburn when he left for Tuscaloosa after one season.
The transfer worked out for Holloway too, averaging 11.8 points per game and shooting 48.5% from the field this season at Alabama, significant jumps from his freshman year averages at Auburn.
When speaking to ESPN during College GameDay Saturday morning, Holloway said his decision had to do with finding the right fit and playstyle.
“I simply came to Alabama for the fact that, like their play style and their concepts and their terms and like everything just fit my personal game better,” Holloway said. “Auburn’s still a great program. It just didn’t fit me, like for my development.”
Holloway was also asked by ESPN whether there was more margin for error at Alabama, playing in a different system.
“For any freshman, like on any team in the country, this will be tough, like the margin for error is not that high, and I’m saying that’s how it was last year,” Holloway said. “But this year, coaches trust me a little more. See me do a little more in practice. So, they gave me a little more freedom and confidence to go play my game and make a little more mistakes and be able to play through them.”
Holloway acknowledged the stakes of Saturday’s matchup, but says he’s trying to make himself realize that it’s “just another game.”
Auburn and Alabama’s No. 1 versus No. 2 Iron Bowl of basketball matchup is set to tip off at 3 p.m. Saturday and will be televised on ESPN.
The No. 6 Houston Cougars play against the No. 13 Arizona Wildcats in a Big 12 basketball game today. The matchup will begin at 1 p.m. CT on ESPN. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.
The Cougars enter this matchup with a 20-4 record, and they possess a 12-1 record in conference play. Notably, the team has won three consecutive games.
In their most recent game, the Cougars defeated Baylor 76-65. During the victory, L.J. Cryer led the Houston offense. He scored 14 points and shot 4-7 from three-point range, so Cryer will try to perform similarly today.
The Wildcats enter this matchup with a 17-7 record, and they have an 11-2 record in conference play. However, the team is coming off a 73-70 loss against Kansas State.
In order to bounce back today, the Wildcats will need to rely on their star guard Caleb Love. He currently leads the team in points.
Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.
The Carolina Panthers benched quarterback Bryce Young two games into his second NFL season. Five months later, the former Alabama All-American not only is back in the Panthers’ plans, he is being consulted about the franchise’s future.
“He’s always asking me stuff,” Young said about Carolina general manager Dan Morgan during a Super Bowl Week appearance on FanDuel TV’s “Up and Adams.” “He wants me to send him things and give him my opinion, which I’m super grateful for him having that open mind, having an open line of communication, wanting to include me in things. That means a lot. That goes a long way for me.
“He’s done a great job, so I’m super grateful for that.”
Young served as Andy Dalton’s backup for five games after Carolina removed him from the lineup. Dalton sustained a thumb injury in a traffic accident to put Young back on the field for a 28-14 loss to the Denver Broncos on Oct. 27, and he stayed in the lineup the rest of the season.
After a 2-15 showing in 2023, Carolina won one of its first eight games in 2024. But the Panthers had four victories in their final nine games. Young passed for 1,880 yards with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions while also running for 217 yards and five touchdowns in those nine contests.
That prompted postseason votes of confidence from Morgan, coach Dave Canales and owner David Tepper as the Panthers lay plans for their 2025 season.
“It means a lot,” Young said. “Just knowing how to operate, how to move forward, just getting that bolt of confidence from the organization, from everyone, I’m super grateful for that. And then it’s just time to parlay that into success, of course, just as a team.
“I’m super excited because we all understand the work that it’s going to take, and we’re all excited for that. We all have that attitude of just wanting to get better throughout the offseason for next year, wanting to build, wanting to continue to grow. And I’m all in. Everyone’s all in. I’m grateful to just get back to work and continue building.”
In Carolina’s 2024 finale, Young threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more in a 44-38 overtime victory against the Atlanta Falcons on Jan. 5. The only other player to have three TD passes and two TD runs in a game this season was Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, the AP NFL MVP Award winner.
“We wanted to make sure that we finished on our own terms,” Young said. “Coach Canales is always talking about finish. That’s kind of just a theme for us, a mantra, and something that we try to live by. And, obviously, we knew that was going to be the last game of the year, and I was just so proud to be a part of a team like that. Knowing that it’s offseason next week, no one phoned it in. There was no lack of confidence or lack of focus throughout the week. And then on Sunday, you can go out there and just think about having a foot in the parking lot and think about the offseason. But for us to battle, pull out a game in OT, it means something to everyone. That was something that I was super grateful to be a part of.”
The 2021 Heisman Trophy winner said he’s eager for the 2025 NFL season to begin.
“You get used to Sundays,” Young said. “You’re out there, and there’s the lights, and it’s what you work towards. Then you’re like, ‘Dang, I would do anything right now to go back to one of those Sundays and be able to play with my team and all that.’ So you definitely miss it, but you just got to get to work, focus on the offseason stuff. And then when it does come back around, keep that same joy.”
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.
NBA All-Star Weekend continues tonight with the NBA 3-Point Contest. The All-Star coverage will begin at 7 p.m. CT on TNT, and the 3-Point Contest will be the second event of the night. Fans can watch this event for free online by using the free trial offered by DirecTV Stream. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.
The 3-Point Contest will feature eight NBA players this evening: Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, Darius Garland, Tyler Herro,Buddy Hield, Cam Johnson, Damian Lillard, and Norman Powell.
Lillard enters this competition as a 2-time champion. He has shot 38% from beyond the arc this season, so Lillard will be a difficult player to beat tonight.
Powell and Garland will be key players to watch in this competition, as both players are currently shooting better than 42% from three-point range. Powell and Garland have also shot at least seven three-pointers per game this season.
Johnson will be another top competitor this evening, as he shoots better than 41% from beyond the arc. Johnson averages nearly eight three-point attempts per game, so he is a high-volume shooter.
Fans can watch the NBA 3-Point Contest for free online by using the free trial offered by DirecTV Stream. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.
“Saturday Night Live” has been making us laugh for five decades now, since the show premiered in October 1975.
“SNL50: The Anniversary Celebration,” will air at 7 p.m. CST Sunday, Feb. 16, on NBC and Peacock to celebrate the iconic show’s anniversary. Lots of the show’s iconic alumni, like original cast members Chevy Chase, Laraine Newman, Jane Curtin and Garrett Morris, are reportedly returning for the special. Also on deck is Adam Sandler, Eddie Murphy, Amy Poehler, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock, Andy Samberg, Maya Rudolph and others.
This celebration got us to thinking back on all the Alabama moments that have happened on the show.
Let’s look back on some of our favorites, shall we?
Charles Barkley’s four appearances as SNL host are more than any other sports star.
Charles Barkley hosts season premiere
Leeds native and former Auburn and NBA star Charles Barkley hosted the Season 19 premiere of “Saturday Night Live” in 1993, when he famously introduced the Seattle supergroup, that show’s musical guests, in this promo — a clip that made the cut in the recent NBC documentary “Ladies & Gentlemen . . . 50 Years of SNL Music.” While Barkley, by most accounts, made a solid first impression, he would not host “SNL” again until 2010. He subsequently hosted a third time in 2012 and a fourth in 2018, and his four appearances as host are more than any other sports star, including his former friend Michael Jordan, who only hosted once. – Bob Carlton
It had the Norman-Rockwell-on-acid feel of a David Lynch movie. Alabama U.S. Senator Katie Britt’s delivery of Republicans’ 2024 State of the Union response, beamed in from her kitchen, was perfectly teed-up for “SNL” satire. And it got it. The show’s March 9, 2024 cold-open emulated CNN coverage of then-President Joe Biden’s SOTU address, before cutting to Britt’s response. Surprise! Scarlett Johansson, one of the world’s biggest movie stars and wife of “SNL” cast member Colin Jost, was playing Britt. Johansson nailed it. In a green top, cross-charm necklace, and brunette hair to resemble Britt, ScarJo deftly channeled the surreal SOTU response. Britt, a 43-year-old mother of two kids and married to an ex-Alabama footballer, could still take pride though. Just in the fact “SNL” had Johansson, twice named by Esquire magazine as the “sexiest woman alive,” play her. — Matt Wake
While many folks with Alabama ties, including political figures, celebrities and more, have been depicted on Saturday Night Live, Kate McKinnon’s reoccurring portrayals of former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, of Selma, has to be one of the best. The Emmy-winning “SNL” star played Sessions in a slew of skits in 2017 and 2018, and with so many good ones to choose from, it can be hard to pick a favorite. That said, the cold opening from March 4, 2017, that featured Montgomery native and host Octavia Spencer alongside McKinnon portraying Sessions playing his own version of Forrest Gump always comes to mind first because of the Alabama of it all. Another one worth mentioning? The Nov. 11, 2017, cold opening that included McKinnon’s Sessions giving advice to then-Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, played by “SNL” cast member Mikey Day, because it featured a double-whammy of Alabama politicians that — as is the case for so many skits featuring legislators from our state — you had to laugh at to keep from crying about. – Amber Sutton
Morgan Wallen gets dropped – then rehired
Country star Morgan Wallen was dropped as a musical guest on “Saturday Night Live” in October 2020, after he was caught partying in Tuscaloosa during the coronavirus pandemic. No mask, no worries, just up close and personal with his adoring fans. Wallen was invited back to the show two months later, however, and writers incorporated the incident into a skit. Wallen played himself, bursting into an Alabama bar that was full of Crimson Tide logos, hats and other gear. An exterior shot of T-Town’s Innisfree Irish Pub was shown on screen, too. “I’m sure he’s taking all the necessary COVID precautions,” Beck Bennett said in the skit. Wallen was having none of that; he simply raised a beer and said, “Alabama! To no consequences!” Jason Bateman and Bowen Yang then showed up, however, dressed in the same clothes as Wallen and saying they were “you from the future.” Their goal? To stop the singer from making a big mistake. The sketch ended with Wallen singing an ditty about mending his ways, focusing on the future and getting a “second Yankee chance.” – Mary Colurso
Jason Sudeikis, right, told The Birmingham News that a gray wig and a “nice blazer” were essential to any impersonation of “American Idol” favorite Taylor Hicks. Sudeikis spoofed Hicks during a “Weekend Update” segment in April 2006, shortly before Hicks won the crown on the reality TV series.(NBC photo)
Soul Patrol comes to ‘SNL’
Birmingham’s Taylor Hicks was arguably one of the most famous people in America in 2006, when he won the title on “American Idol.” Viewership for the reality series peaked that year, with about 30 million people tuning in per episode. Hicks also received perhaps the ultimate compliment from “Saturday Night Live,” with a parody segment on “Weekend Update.” Jason Sudeikis portrayed the gray-haired soul singer, tossing his head and shouting “Soul Patrol!” ‘’I watch the show all the time, and he’s actually my favorite guy on it,‘’ Sudeikis told The Birmingham News. ‘’It’s the enthusiasm that pulls everyone in.” Sudeikis said he wrote the Hicks sketch with “SNL” writer John Lutz, also a Hicks fan. One key to the impersonation was getting the voice right, Sudeikis said: “Just sound like you’re having a blast.” — Mary Colurso
Daniel Craig tries out an Alabama accent
“Why don’t we take a little trip down to … Ahhl uh bahmah,” says Beck Bennett, and it’s awl ovah. Bennett plays dialect coach Franklin Hughes, who’s guiding Daniel Craig at a “Knives Out” audition where Craig is trying to develop the deep-fried vocal persona of detective Benoit Blanc. Hughes’ take on Alabama-speak: “Oh, they got some good tuhtles down thayah. Hoo lawd! You bettah get me a fan because it’s haht. My butt is haht!” It’s a gratuitous and silly skit and you get a little taste of the real Benoit Blanc toward the end, a plummy take on Tennessee Williams and Shelby Foote that would make Foghorn Leghorn blush. Eventually Hughes admits he’s never been to the South, “But I have studied the region, mainly through cartoons.” Yeah, we get that a lot down here. – Lawrence Specker
This raunchy cold open to this 1991 episode, which satirized the salacious Senate Judiciary Committee hearings for Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas, featured a cast of “SNL” All-Stars as bawdy Senate good ol’ boys who make easy targets for parody. Kevin Nealon as Joe Biden. Phil Hartman as Ted Kennedy. Dana Carvey as Strom Thurmond. Al Franken as Paul Simon. As funny as they all were, though, viewers from Alabama laughed loudest at the late, great Chris Farley’s extra-large impersonation of Howell Heflin, the folksy Democrat from Tuscumbia with a drawl as thick as sawmill gravy. – Bob Carlton
Channing Tatum hosts right before ‘Magic Mike’ fame
Channing Tatum had to bust out some dance moves, of course, when he hosted “Saturday Night Live” in February 2012. “Magic Mike” had yet to be released, but viewers got a preview during the Cullman native’s monologue. “It is such an honor to be on this stage, especially considering my first job in show business was as a male stripper,” Tatum said. He gave the studio audience some ground rules (“No touching!”) and proceeded to spot some former “customers” in the crowd. All of them — including embarrassed characters played by Kristen Wiig and Fred Armisen — denied getting lap dances from the actor. “I don’t go to strip clubs!” Wiig said. “I sit at home and I pray.” To jog their memories, Tatum began to shimmy, sway and shake his groove thing. He even ripped open his shirt. If anyone wondered if Tatum was a good sport — or if he could make fun of himself — this monologue proved it. — Mary Colurso
Actors Patrick Fugit and Kate Hudson in DreamWorks Pictures’ “Almost Famous.” Kate Hudson starred in “Saturday Night Live” fresh off the film’s success. (Photo: Neal Preston/2000 DreamWorks LLC.)bn
Kate Hudson in an UA shirt
As the name implies, “Girls Gone Wild!” featured risqué real-life footage of college-aged gals, often filmed during spring break debauchery. The video series, launched in the late ’90s, was sleazy entertainment for many Axe-Body-Spray-wearing dudes. But it was a nightmare scenario for parents with daughters in their late teens or early 20s. An “SNL” skit from an episode hosted by Kate Hudson in 2000 perfectly captured this dynamic. At the time, Hudson was one of Hollywood’s hottest young actors, after an Academy Award nominated performance as a ‘70s rock groupie in “Almost Famous.” In the “SNL” skit, Hudson wears a University of Alabama T-shirt as she portrays a daughter home from college visiting her parents, played by Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon. Dad, mom and daughter are on the couch together watching TV when a commercial for “Girls Gone Wild!” appears. The commercial includes, whoops, a clip Hudson’s character drunkenly flashing the camera. An awkward family moment ensues. Roll Tide! — Matt Wake
The No. 7 Purdue Boilermakers play against the No. 16 Wisconsin Badgers in a Big Ten basketball game today. The matchup will begin at 12 p.m. CT on CBS. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV.
The Boilermakers enter this matchup with a 19-6 record, and they possess an 11-3 record in Big Ten play. However, the team is coming off a 75-73 loss against No. 20 Michigan.
In order to bounce back today, the Boilermakers will need to rely on their star forward Trey Kaufman-Renn. He currently averages 19 points per game, which leads the Purdue offense.
The Badgers enter this matchup with a 19-5 record, and they have a 9-4 record in Big Ten play. Notably, the team has won three consecutive games. In their last game, the Badgers defeated Iowa 74-63.
During the victory, John Tonje and John Blackwell led the Wisconsin offense. The two players combined to score 41 points, and they made six shots from three-point range. With this in mind, Tonje and Blackwell will look to perform similarly today.
Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV.
