Alabama News

Sean “Diddy” Combs got a standing ovation from fellow inmates when the music mogul returned to jail after winning acquittals on potential life-in-prison charges, providing what his lawyer says might have been the best thing he could do for incarcerated Black men in America.

“They all said: ‘We never get to see anyone who beats the government,’” attorney Marc Agnifilo told The Associated Press in a weekend interview days after a jury acquitted Combs of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges.

Combs, 55, remains jailed at a federal lockup in Brooklyn after his conviction Wednesday on prostitution-related charges, which could put him in prison for several more years. Any sentence will include credit for time already served. So far that’s almost 10 months.

After federal agents raided Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and the Miami area in March 2024, Agnifilo said he told the “I’ll Be Missing You” singer to expect to be arrested on sex trafficking charges.

“I said: ‘Maybe it’s your fate in life to be the guy who wins,’” he recalled during a telephone interview briefly interrupted by a jailhouse call from Combs. “They need to see that someone can win. I think he took that to heart.”

Blunt trial strategy works

The verdict in Manhattan federal court came after a veteran team of eight defense lawyers led by Agnifilo executed a trial strategy that resonated with jurors. Combs passed lawyers notes during effective cross-examinations of nearly three dozen witnesses over two months, including Combs’ ex-employees.

The lawyers told jurors Combs was a jealous domestic abuser with a drug problem who participated in the swinger lifestyle through threesomes involving Combs, his girlfriends and another man.

“You may think to yourself, wow, he is a really bad boyfriend,” Combs’ lawyer Teny Geragos told jurors in her May opening statement. But that, she said, “is simply not sex trafficking.”

Agnifilo said the blunt talk was a “no brainer.”

“The violence was so clear and up front and we knew the government was going to try to confuse the jury into thinking it was part of a sex trafficking effort. So we had to tell the jury what it was so they wouldn’t think it was something it wasn’t,” he said.

Combs and his lawyers seemed deflated Tuesday when jurors said they were deadlocked on the racketeering count but had reached a verdict on sex trafficking and lesser prostitution-related charges. A judge ordered them back to deliberate Wednesday.

“No one knows what to think,” Agnifilo said. Then he slept on it.

Morning surprise awakes lawyer

“I wake up at three in the morning and I text Teny and say: ”We have to get a bail application together,” he recalled. “It’s going to be a good verdict for us but I think he went down on the prostitution counts so let’s try to get him out.”

He said he “kind of whipped everybody into feeling better” after concluding jurors would have convicted him of racketeering if they had convicted him of sex trafficking because trafficking was an alleged component of racketeering.

Agnifilo met with Combs before court and Combs entered the courtroom rejuvenated. Smiling, the onetime Catholic schoolboy prayed with family. In less than an hour, the jury matched Agnifilo’s prediction.

The seemingly chastened Combs mouthed “thank you” to jurors and smiled as family and supporters applauded. After he was escorted from the room, spectators cheered the defense team, a few chanting: “Dream Team! Dream Team!” Several lawyers, including Geragos, cried.

“This was a major victory for the defense and a major loss for the prosecution,” said Mitchell Epner, a lawyer who worked with Agnifilo as a federal prosecutor in New Jersey over two decades ago. He credited “a dream team of defense lawyers” against prosecutors who almost always win.

Agnifilo showcased what would become his trial strategy — belittling the charges and mocking the investigation that led to them — last September in arguing unsuccessfully for bail. The case against Combs was what happens when the “federal government comes into our bedrooms,” he said.

Lawyers gently questioned most witnesses

During an eight-week trial, Combs’ lawyers picked apart the prosecution case with mostly gentle but firm cross-examinations. Combs never testified and his lawyers called no witnesses.

Sarah Krissoff, a federal prosecutor in Manhattan from 2008 to 2021, said Combs’ defense team “had a narrative from the beginning and they did all of it without putting on any witnesses. That’s masterful.”

Ironically, Agnifilo expanded the use of racketeering laws as a federal prosecutor on an organized crime task force in New Jersey two decades ago, using them often to indict street gangs in violence-torn cities.

“I knew the weak points in the statute,” he said. “The statute is very mechanical. If you know how the car works, you know where the fail points are.”

He said prosecutors had “dozens of fail points.”

“They didn’t have a conspiracy, they just didn’t,” he said. “They basically had Combs’ personal life and tried to build racketeering around personal assistants.”

Some personal assistants, even after viewing videos of Combs beating his longtime girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, had glowing things to say about Combs on cross examination.

Once freed, Combs likely to reenter domestic abusers program

For Combs, Agnifilo sees a long road ahead once he is freed and resumes work on personal demons, likely reentering a program for domestic batterers that he had just started before his arrest.

“He’s doing OK,” said Agnifilo, who speaks with him four or five times daily.

He said Combs genuinely desires improvement and “realizes he has flaws like everyone else that he never worked on.”

“He burns hot in all matters. I think what he has come to see is that he has these flaws and there’s no amount of fame and no amount of fortune” that can erase them,” he said. “You can’t cover them up.”

For Agnifilo, a final surprise awaited him after Combs’ bail was rejected when a man collapsed into violent seizures at the elevators outside the courtroom.

“I’m like: ‘What the hell?’” recalled the lawyer, who has experience in treating seizures.

Agnifilo straddled him, pulling him onto his side and using a foot to prevent him from rolling backward while a law partner, Jacob Kaplan, put a backpack under the man’s head and Agnifilo’s daughter took his pulse.

“We made sure he didn’t choke on vomit. It was crazy. I was worried about him,” he said.

The man was eventually taken away conscious by rescue workers, leaving Agnifilo to ponder a tumultuous day.

“It was like I was getting punked by God,” he said.

Leading up to the 2025 season, AL.com is highlighting the top high school football players in Alabama.

Our first statewide list focuses on the best running backs in 6A.

We contacted coaches across the state and asked them to fill out a survey requesting information about their team. These lists were compiled primarily based on the information provided by the coaches who chose to respond.

If you are an Alabama high school football coach who did not receive the survey, email [email protected] or [email protected]. We will continue to add to these lists throughout the summer.

BEST RUNNING BACKS, ALABAMA 6A

Kendrick Able Jr., jr., Theodore

Able’s stellar sophomore season included nearly 1,000 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns. After a focused offseason, expect even more production from him in 2025. “I’ve been working with my trainer, trying to get my speed up as well as my strength,” Able said. “I’ve been grinding in the weight room, working on our schemes for the season.” He’s caught the attention of several colleges and has offers from Alabama-Birmingham and Troy, among other Division I programs. Able is incredibly strong for a running back — he bench-presses 350 pounds and squats 500. But his most impressive number? His 4.43 GPA.

Will Abrams, jr., St. Paul’s Episcopal

Abrams’ future is as a linebacker in college — he has offers from Georgia Tech, Michigan and Mississippi, among others — but he also plays a key role in the Saints’ offense. He has rushed for more than 500 yards and 10 touchdowns in high school. “My experience on defense helps me identify fronts, slants and things of that nature to understand where the hole will be and what cutback lanes will probably open up,” Abrams said. “It helps you understand how to break down that second-level defender because you are one of those guys.” His linebacker mindset doesn’t change when he’s carrying the ball. “I’m willing to go through whatever or whoever to touch the end zone,” he said.

Isaiah Allen, jr., Decatur

Allen split carries with Devin Haley last season, and the two juniors will team to form a solid Red Raiders rushing attack again in 2025. Allen finished his sophomore campaign with 505 yards on 81 carries. “Great vision and great pass-catcher out of the backfield,” Decatur coach John Ritter said.

Quinteris Anderson, sr., Baldwin County

After an all-region season at safety, Anderson will be the Tigers’ lead ball-carrier in 2025. He’s ready. “Q has completely embraced the weight room this offseason and has gotten bigger, stronger and faster,” Baldwin County senior quarterback Hayden Coley said. “Q is a great teammate to share the backfield with because he understands the game at a high level.”

Stuart Andrews, sr., Mountain Brook

Andrews was named Newcomer of the Year by the Birmingham News and was voted first team all-state by the Alabama Sports Writers Association after rushing for 1,805 yards and scoring 23 touchdowns as a junior, but his impact on his team goes far beyond the statistics. “He has been an inspiration to me and my teammates for how hard he works and how much he is willing to sacrifice for us,” Spartans senior center Rocco Gray said. His hard work also has paid off on the wrestling mats, as he’s placed four times at the state championships. “There is no one in the state I would rather be blocking for and see score touchdowns than him,” Gray added.

Justin Bonner, sr., Spanish Fort

Bonner is a two-year starter at wide receiver who is moving to running back for his senior season. “I’m very excited about the position switch because it’s something I played all throughout my youth days, and I know my teammates and my coach believe in me to do it,” Bonner said. He’s right about that — Toros coach Chase Smith said Bonner is the type of player who would succeed in any role. “Very physical and strong,” Smith said. “Hard worker and talented player. We’re looking for him to have a great year.” Bonner’s No. 1 goal? “Helping my teammates grow and be the best version of themselves.” Alabama A&M, Louisiana-Monroe and North Alabama are among the colleges that have made him an offer.

PJ Brown, sr., Saraland

A transfer from Mobile Christian, Brown is joining the reigning 6A runner-up Spartans for his senior year. Among his many incredible games for the Leopards was a 331-yard rushing performance in a win over Satsuma last September. “PJ is a total back who can run with speed and play in the slot,” Saraland coach Jeff Kelly said. “He has a great burst on his first step and has home run ability on every touch.” Football isn’t the only sport in which Brown has home run ability — he’s also a standout on the baseball diamond.

Leland Brown-Foster, sr., Brookwood

The Panthers have several players who can run the ball, including junior Jordan Riley (also the leader of the defense at middle linebacker) and sophomore Jamarcus Jackson (who also plays quarterback). Brown-Foster, though, might be the most complete back on the roster. “Should be a big part of the offense because he can do it all,” Brookwood coach Chris Foster said. “He can be a great between-the-tackles runner and can split out to catch the ball as well.”

Xavier Edwards, sr., Athens

Edwards received all-region honorable mention by the Huntsville Times last year. One of the plays of the season was his 57-yard touchdown catch from receiver Grady Sullivan in the playoff game against Homewood. Golden Eagles coach Cody Gross describes Edwards as “an explosive and physical runner who can also be a threat in the passing game.” He has offers from Alabama-Birmingham, North Alabama and Southeast Missouri State.

Anthony Frasier, sr., St. Paul’s Episcopal

Frasier is entering his third season as the Saints’ starting running back; he has more than 2,000 yards rushing and 26 touchdowns in high school. “I have loved watching him grow as a young man,” St. Paul’s Episcopal coach Ham Barnett said. “He has become more vocal and will be a leader for the offense.” Frasier has received numerous college offers in the past few months, including from Austin Peay, North Alabama, Samford, Tennessee-Chattanooga and Wofford.

Devin Haley, jr., Decatur

Haley had a productive sophomore season splitting time with classmate Isaiah Allen in the Red Raiders backfield, including a 102-yard, three-touchdown performance in a memorable 44-0 Homecoming win over Lee-Huntsville. A “bruiser-type runner” is how Decatur coach John Ritter describes Haley.

Jordan Henderson, sr., Calera

Henderson’s 49-yard touchdown catch helped the Eagles edge Pelham 35-33 last September for the program’s first win in nearly two years. He had a highlight-reel 28-yard touchdown run in another win a month later over Brookwood, and Calera coach Scott Rials foresees more big plays in 2025. “Great upside,” Rials said of Henderson. “Shifty and quick.”

Kawann Johnson, sr., McAdory

Johnson was productive as a junior, and teammates are expecting even bigger things from him this year. “He’s only been getting better,” Yellowjackets junior wide receiver Carter Feagin said. “He’s more of a downhill back that drops his shoulder but also is elusive when he has to be. He’s a threat in the receiving game, too, and not one to be tackled by only one person.” Johnson recently picked up an offer from Alabama State.

Ja’Michael Jones, sr., Pike Road

The state’s No. 23 class of 2026 recruit in 247Sports’ composite rankings committed to Mississippi over Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia, Notre Dame and others. Quinshon Judkins, a running back taken by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, also went from Pike Road to Ole Miss before transferring to Ohio State after his sophomore season. Patriots coach Granger Shook calls Jones an “excellent leader.” He rushed for more than 1,400 yards and 17 touchdowns last year and was a second-team all-state pick by the Alabama Sports Writers Association.

Chase Malone, sr., Chelsea

Malone racked up 1,601 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns last season, and he helped bring confidence and composure to his Hornets teammates in several close games. “When the game is on the line, I lead by example with keeping a calm and collected mindset,” Malone said. He was a Birmingham News first-team all-region selection and a second-team all-state pick by the Alabama Sports Writers Association.

Damarcus Malone, sr., Athens

Malone and classmate Xavier Edwards once again will make up one of the best 1-2 running back punches in Alabama. As juniors, they combined for more than 1,600 yards and 26 touchdowns. “A physical, downhill runner that loves contact,” Golden Eagles coach Cody Gross said. “He has developed into a great leader for us, and we expect big things from him this season.”

Ryder McMakin, so., Mountain Brook

Stuart Andrews is the present at the running back position for the Spartans, and McMakin is the future. “Long, fast, physical” is how longtime Mountain Brook coach Chris Yeager describes McMakin, who scored on one of his first carries in the spring game. “He learned the playbook and the concepts very quickly and is ready to add more to his plate,” Spartans senior center Rocco Gray said. “I am very excited to see where he can take his career at Mountain Brook. He is going to be great, especially under the leadership of Stuart.”

Ladarien Miller, jr., McGill-Toolen

Miller broke through as a sophomore for the Yellowjackets, rushing for 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns and piling up another 331 yards and three touchdowns receiving. He was a second-team Press-Register all-Coastal selection.

Micah Pledger, sr., Jasper

Pledger racked up 1,431 total yards and 22 touchdowns for the Vikings in 2024 and received honorable mention all-state by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. He has offers from Alabama-Birmingham, Alabama State and North Alabama, among others.

Kaedin Ray, sr., Gadsden City

As a junior, Ray was the backup to TJ Worthy, a first-team all-state pick by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. With Worthy at Tennessee-Chattanooga, it will be Ray’s turn to shine, and Titans senior quarterback Kai Franklin said Ray boasts many of the same skills as his predecessor. “He can catch out of the backfield really well, like TJ last year, so I think he’ll be a receiving threat as well,” Franklin said. “And he’s a downhill runner — he can get downhill quick and hit the holes.”

Anthony (AJ) Robinson, sr., Hueytown

Robinson is entering his second season as a starter and his third season as a key player for the Golden Gophers. He rushed for 1,081 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior and is fresh off a standout performance in Hueytown’s spring game against Spain Park. “AJ is a talented running back who likes to finish his runs with physicality,” Golden Gophers coach Greg Patterson said. “He has good speed and catches the ball out of the backfield well.” He has offers from Alabama A&M and Austin Peay, and whichever college program gets him will be landing a young star who is mature beyond his years. “AJ takes a professional approach in all aspects from the weight room, meetings/film and the practice field,” Patterson said.

Quinton Robinson, jr., Pike Road

The Patriots are developing quite the tradition at running back, with recent NFL Draft pick Quinshon Judkins and rising senior Ja’Michael Jones, a Mississippi commit. They have another strong back on the roster in Robinson. “He will be a playmaker for us,” Pike Road coach Granger Shook said. Robinson also stars on the baseball field as an outfielder and a right-handed pitcher, and he has a 3.9 GPA.

Tristen Rutledge, sr., Pelham

Rutledge is returning to Pelham after spending last season at John Carroll Catholic. Panthers coach Ross Newton said he believes Rutledge can be a 1,000-yard back. “He is an unbelievable young man with great energy that works very hard,” Newton said. Pelham senior linebacker Joe Hampton said the team is happy to have Rutledge back. “He’s going to be a great running back for us this year,” Hampton said. “He’s a strong, fast and physical player who can run away from defenders. He’s going to surprise some folks and be a good college running back.”

Dom Santiago, sr., Helena

As a junior, Santiago averaged 8.8 yards per carry and scored 12 touchdowns — 10 rushing, two receiving. Five of those touchdowns came in a monster 270-yard performance in the Huskies’ regular-season finale against Calera, including a 71-yard run to cap a 49-21 win. “Great three-down back with excellent hands out of the backfield,” Helena coach Richie Busby said.

Izaiah Smith, sr., Pell City

Coaches and teammates rave about Smith’s athleticism. “Very, very speedy — if he finds a hole, he will hit it,” Panthers junior quarterback Brody Gossett said. “He is very patient. He is also versatile. He has very good feet and will trick with them.” Smith was part of Pell City’s third-place 4×200-meter relay team at the Alabama high school indoor track championships.

Chancellor Sparks, sr., Parker

Sparks is a football player with track speed: His 10.7 seconds in the 100 meters is the second-fastest time in school history. His football coaches use him all over the field and on special teams. As a junior, he rushed for 856 yards and eight touchdowns and helped the Thundering Herd win the 6A state championship before committing to Miami (Ohio) a few months later. After an offseason spent “working on getting bigger, stronger and faster as well as focusing on my diet,” Sparks has a statistical goal he calls “20/20 vision” — that is, he sees clearly a 2,000-yard, 20-touchdown campaign in his future. Another goal is to finish high school with a 4.0 GPA. Sparks plans to graduate early and begin college in January.

Donovan “Dj” Verges, jr., Pell City

Verges is a future college linebacker — he has offers from Alabama-Birmingham, Jacksonville State, Liberty and Southern Mississippi, among others — and many of the traits that make him a standout on defense translate to the offensive game. “He is a playmaker,” Panthers junior quarterback Brody Gossett said. “He reads things very well and has very good vision on both sides of the ball.”

Dre Williams, fr., Oxford

Here’s a name to remember. The Yellow Jackets have one future college running back in senior Caleb Wynn (a South Alabama commit), and they could have another in Williams. “He’s very explosive, and we feel like we can do a lot of things to get him the ball,” Oxford coach Sam Adams said.

Joshua Woods, sr., Clay-Chalkville

Woods was behind West Alabama-bound running back Aaron Osley last season, but he still ended up with close to 800 yards and 13 touchdowns. Now that he’s the main ball-carrier, “this is definitely the year he puts people on notice,” Cougars senior quarterback Aaron Frye said. Frye added that Woods’ strengths are his power and his balance. “It’s hard to bring him down,” Frye said. The quarterback also appreciates Woods’ humor and his role in keeping the team loose. “Everybody on the team jokes around a lot, which makes it easier to play for each other,” Frye said. “Josh and (junior safety) Josh Ivy are the main ones joking and having fun.”

Caleb Wynn, sr., Oxford

Wynn was a second-team all-state honoree by the Alabama Sports Writers Association after he rushed for 1,200 yards and 21 touchdowns as a junior and heled lead the Yellow Jackets to the 6A semifinals. He is committed to South Alabama. “Hard downhill runner, a bigger back with great hands,” Oxford coach Sam Adams said. “Very versatile player.”

Jayden Morris and Jaheim Pruitt, srs., Hartselle

There will be plenty of carries for both of them out of the Tigers backfield. Pruitt “had a great year last year, and we’re expecting more this year,” Hartselle coach Bert Newton said. As for Morris, he’s a three-year starter on offense who “can play any skill position,” according to Newton.

Darius Burwell and Tavarian Moore-Langford, srs., Mae Jemison

In Burwell and Moore-Langford, the Jaguars have two dynamic athletes who can fill multiple roles on both sides of the ball. Moore-Langford was the Huntsville City Schools offensive player of the year and a second-team Huntsville Times all-region pick in 2024. Burwell received honorable mention from the Huntsville Times and is committed to South Alabama.

Jeremiah Jackson, jr., and Kameron Murphy, so., Parker

Two-way star and Birmingham News all-region player of the year Na’eem Offord is off to the University of Oregon after rushing for 629 yards and 13 touchdowns and helping to lead the Thundering Herd to the 2024 state title. Chancellor Sparks has one year left at Parker before heading to Miami (Ohio) — not even a full year, as Sparks plans to graduate early and enroll in college shortly after the football season. Plenty of touches soon will be available in the Thundering Herd backfield, and two youngsters ready to pounce on the opportunity are Jackson and Murphy. They played JV last season, but Parker coach Frank Warren envisions both making an impact for the varsity team as early as this fall. Other capable backs on the roster include senior Isaiah Miles and junior Darryl Sanders. “At Parker, we call ourselves RBU,” Sparks said.

For complete coverage of Alabama high school football, including schedules, scores, recruiting news and additional player spotlights, visit AL.com’s high school sports section throughout the season.

DEAR ABBY: Last year, my son, his girlfriend and two others were murdered outside a city where “things like this don’t happen.” My other two boys received a call to come immediately to their dad’s home, where it had happened.

My boys were the first to witness the bloody scene. They called 911. My son lived two days more. Today would have been his birthday. His brothers witnessed something beyond imaginable.

My youngest (now 32) has isolated himself. He has become a different person, as we all have. I’m worried about him. He was always a laid-back, sweet young man. Now his temper is quick, and his fuse is short.

I invited him to come with me on a getaway for a few days, but he declined. He tells me he doesn’t know why; he just doesn’t want to be around people. I know why. It’s because of what happened.

How can I convince him to seek counseling? I withdrew from society, too, for about three months. But I got counseling within that time. I’m lost about what to do. Any advice would be so appreciated. — LIVING IN A NIGHTMARE

DEAR LIVING: Please accept my deepest sympathy for the tragedy your family has suffered. Because your son is resistant to the idea of counseling, suggest that he might benefit from joining a support group of people like himself. A group called Parents of Murdered Children (POMC) provides emotional support to survivors of homicide and helps them to put their lives back together. It has been in existence since 1978 and has been mentioned in my column before. The website is pomc.org, and I hope your son will agree to check them out.

Read more Dear Abby and other advice columns.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

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

Many college football players — and athletes in general — see their careers defined by a fleeting, infamous moment.

But few are involved in as bizarre an incident as Tommy Lewis. He was the Alabama fullback and team captain who illegally came off the sideline to make a tackle in the Crimson Tide’s Cotton Bowl loss to Rice on New Year’s Day 1954.

Alabama trailed Rice 7-6 in the second quarter, when Owls halfback Dicky Moegle — who had scored on a 79-yard run earlier in the game — broke loose down the right sideline. Lewis, on the bench with the Crimson Tide offense, inexplicably ran onto the field — sans helmet — and threw a shoulder into Moegle’s legs near midfield.

Here’s video:

After the play, Lewis ran back to the Alabama bench and hid his head in his hands. His response when asked about it after the game became famous in its own right.

“I’m guess I’m too full of Alabama,” Lewis said. “He just ran too close.

“… I kept telling myself ‘I didn’t do it. I didn’t do it.’ But I know I did.”

Officials awarded Moegle a 95-yard touchdown under college football’s “unfair act” rule. The Owls went on to win the game 28-6, with Moegle scoring three touchdowns and rushing for a Cotton Bowl record 265 yards on just 11 carries.

“Tommy Lewis was seen to jump from the bench and leaped for Moegle,” Zipp Newman wrote in the following day’s Birmingham News. “Lewis’ (jersey number) 42 looked bigger than a headlight. It was a terrific tackle.

“There was a round of boos that quickly died out. And Moegle became the first player in all bowl history to score a touchdown while flat on his back.”

Newman also noted how Lewis’ teammates and coaches rallied behind him, as did many in the media. The Dallas Morning News’ Felix R. McKnight called on readers to write to Lewis “and let him known he hasn’t lost his last friend.”

“He’s quite a fighter — and we like them that way in Texas,” read McKnight’s front-page editorial in the paper’s Jan. 2 edition. “… Texans know competitive spirit. We thrive on it. It might not be a bad idea to drop Tommy Lewis a line over at the University of Alabama.”

Lindsey Nelson, calling the game for CBS Sports along with Hall-of-Fame running back Red Grange, described what he saw on the play many years later. Ironically, Grange had asked Nelson during dinner the night before if he’d ever seen anyone come off the bench to make a tackle.

“Dicky Moegle was running down the sidelines and I was trying to decide in my own mind whether anybody could catch him,” Nelson told the Associated Press in 1979. “All of a sudden, he went down. There was total consternation. I hadn’t seen anyone capable of making the tackle, but I did see this guy with no helmet on scampering back to the Alabama bench. It was Tommy Lewis.

“Up in the booth, Red had the biggest smile on his face. He just turned to me and motioned for an explanation. I said on the air that in a case like this, the referee is empowered to award a touchdown, which he did. Nobody knew Red and I had discussed the very same possibility the night before.”

Lewis apologized to Moegle and Rice coach Jess Neely after the game, and the two players later appeared together on the Ed Sullivan Show. Moegle (who later changed the spelling of his last name to “Maegle” to better reflect its pronunciation) told a reporter several years later he was fortunate to avoid serious injury on the play, though he still came out of it hurting.

“I veered one step to my left before the tackle, otherwise I think he’d have broken both my legs,” Moegle told the Associated Press in 1979. “It didn’t come out at the time, but it tore a hip muscle.”

Moegle, however, quickly forgave Lewis.

“He’s a nice guy and I like him personally,” Moegle, who died in 2021, said 25 years later. “I’ve been very sympathetic with what he did because he’s suffered a great deal as a result and it’s been very traumatic for him.”

Indeed, Lewis — a good football player on a good Alabama team who later became a very successful businessman in the Huntsville area — never lived down the moment. He died in 2014, but had to endure more than 60 years of being asked about the play, the grainy, black and white footage of which gets replayed often around Cotton Bowl time and has appeared in numerous all-time sports blooper compilations.

“If I could take back anything in my whole life, that would be it,” Lewis once said.

Coming Tuesday: Our countdown continues with No. 53, an all-time bowl game blowout.

Dear Eric: I am very much enjoying the second time around following a long and less than joyful first marriage.

My problem is plans for burial.

All of our children are terribly against our marriage even though both of our spouses were deceased at the time we met.

Our children have virtually no relationship with us now and if there is any contact it is ugly.

I have a cemetery plot out of state with my deceased wife. My wife has a local plot with her deceased husband.

I would like to get a new plot for the two of us but expect that any such request would receive pushback and be ignored.

My wife’s mother is buried with her second husband using her last name at the time of her death and her father is buried with a subsequent wife so there is precedent for what I want but I know her daughter would require that her mother be buried next to her father.

How do I get what I want?

I have not discussed any of this with my wife. If I did and she brought it up with her daughter the reaction would be for the daughter to express her displeasure by keeping the grandchildren from my wife. She has done that for less.

If I am to get a plot, I should do that sooner rather than later as they are in short supply.

While living I would feel great joy if I could know that I could count on being buried beside my wife for all of eternity.

Am I being silly to not just take the easy route?

– Burial Conflict

Dear Plans: You have every right to make a burial plan that suits your life and your love. And – this might be controversial – you don’t have to tell your kids. If you have virtually no relationship as it is, you certainly don’t need to bend to their wishes. It seems there’s no pleasing them, anyway.

In general, it’s better to communicate about final wishes and plans for one’s end-of-life in advance. This helps intentions to be understood and gets questions answered while you’re still around to answer them. But the conflict that’s roiling your family complicates things.

Without knowing more about the circumstances of your marriage, I can’t say your kids are completely wrong, but the punishment you mentioned is more than concerning.

Perhaps they’re struggling with acceptance because of unprocessed grief, perhaps there’s something else going on that I’m not privy, too. Either way, the stated conditions dictate that the burial conversation should happen only between you and your wife right now. Once you’re both on the same page, you’ll know what the next step is. That might mean purchasing a joint plot that makes you happy and appointing someone other than one of your kids as executor. (That last part is probably wise regardless.)

There would still be a lot of complications, of course. Namely, one of you will predecease the other and at that point, presumably, the kids would find out the plan. So, while you are working on doing what brings you joy, I’d also encourage you to get down to the root of what’s going on with your kids.

Read more Asking Eric and other advice columns.

Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at [email protected] or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.

Tommy Tuberville wants to be the next governor of Alabama. He’s already thrown his MAGA hat into the ring, which means he will be the next governor of Alabama. That’s the way politics is played around here.

The Democratic candidate to be named later for the state’s highest office in 2026 will be the equivalent of a non-conference cupcake in the same field as the current U.S. senator. Mike Shula had a better chance to beat Tuberville in an Iron Bowl.

Shula and Alabama went 0-4 against Tuberville and Auburn from 2003-06, but the Tigers didn’t win a single one of those games by more than 10 points. It’ll be an upset if next year’s gubernatorial vote is that close.

That said, our next governor already is failing one of his most well-known constituents on a statewide issue of supreme importance that Tuberville fully understands. Where is the former Auburn football coach when the current Auburn coach needs him most?

This has been the summer of Hugh Freeze’s discontent. In the eyes of his critics, he’s playing too much golf and landing too few commitments after losing too many games during his first two seasons. The latest shot across his bow came from, of all places, Golf Digest.

The magazine that good-naturedly declared the undefeated 2004 Auburn football team national champions — at coach Tuberville’s humorous request — posted a story on its website Saturday under this headline: “Auburn football coach Hugh Freeze plays a lot of golf, leading to speculation that it is hurting recruiting efforts.”

The article, barely longer than the headline, cites the enterprising June 24 piece by al.com‘s Matt Stahl, which documented that Freeze does indeed play a lot of golf. That was true at Freeze’s previous job at Liberty, as Auburn knew, and it has remained true since he unpacked his clubs in the Loveliest Village.

If there is anyone on God’s well-manicured green earth who has walked in Freeze’s shoes 18 holes at a time, it’s Tuberville. Never known as a grinder as a football coach, he enjoyed his down time and spent much of it working on his golf swing.

Of all the concerns about Tuberville during his solid decade as the Auburn head coach, I don’t recall the number of rounds he played or the relatively high quality of his game being prominent among them. It helped that he led the Tigers to two SEC West titles, one SEC championship in that undefeated 2004 season and six straight wins over Alabama.

All of which makes Tuberville the perfect person to stand up and speak up for Freeze while so many others are questioning him. The senator could go on Fox News, the favorite TV channel of current and former Auburn coaches in multiple sports, and make a case for the importance of recharging your batteries and renewing your spirit with a 9-iron in your hands.

Tuberville could cite his favorite president, Donald Trump, and his old coaching and golfing rival, Steve Spurrier, as examples of people in high places that took every opportunity to hit the links.

Freeze certainly could use the encouragement if not a full-on endorsement.

As of Sunday afternoon, 247Sports ranked Auburn’s 2026 recruiting class – with seven commitments, none of them in the top 100 – at No. 86 in the nation. The raw number is surprising enough, especially since Freeze’s first two full-year Auburn classes finished No. 10 in 2024 and No. 8 in 2025. The comparisons are downright shocking.

Start with the in-state rivalry. Alabama’s class at No. 5 is ranked 81 spots higher than Auburn’s. Don’t recall recruiting misfit Bryan Harsin ever falling that far behind recruiting master Nick Saban, at least by the numbers. Kalen DeBoer has nuked the “Husky Harsin” narrative, landing pledges from almost as many five-star prospects as Freeze has total commitments.

There are 16 SEC teams. Auburn’s current class is ranked 16th among them. There are 68 power conference teams, 67 in the SEC (16), Big Ten (18), ACC (17) and Big 12 (16) plus Notre Dame. Auburn’s current class is ranked 67th among those 68 teams. Colorado is the only power conference team ranked behind Auburn at No. 101. Makes you wonder about the loud voices that wanted Deion Sanders to take over on the Plains because he allegedly would have cleaned up in recruiting there.

Freeze and Auburn AD John Cohen tried to explain the current recruiting situation at an event last week in Alexander City. They said, in moving forward in this uncertain revenue-sharing era, they’re doing things “the right way” with their pragmatic approach, mindful that written offers to high school seniors can’t be extended until Aug. 1 nor inked until the December signing period.

That explanation implies that other schools are doing things the wrong way, that Auburn’s 2026 class will make a different statement by December and that recruiting rankings are as fleeting as golf handicaps.

No one knows this territory better than Tuberville. If he wants to be a champion for the people of Alabama on a micro level, there’s no better place to start than with a public defense of one of the state’s most prominent citizens. Today’s a great day to fire off a few words in support of Hugh Freeze.

Texas tragedy

Among the victims of Friday’s flooding in Texas Hill Country was 8-year-old Sarah Marsh of Mountain Brook, reports AL.com’s Hannah Denham.

At our deadlines the overall death toll being reported by the Associated Press had risen above 80. Ten girls from Camp Mystic were still missing. Sarah was attending that Christian retreat near the Guadalupe River when heavy rains overnight Thursday into Friday led to flash flooding that devastated the area.

Meteorologist James Spann posted on social media that Sarah was a student at Cherokee Bend Elementary School in Mountain Brook.

Union effort

The United Auto Workers has taken steps to unionize workers at an Alabama powertrain plant, reports AL.com’s William Thornton.

Last year the UAW invested millions into expanding its footprint, and union officials vowed to increase unionization in the South. It met rejection in Tuscaloosa County, where 56% of Mercedez-Benz employees voted against joining.

Then last week, the UAW filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to represent workers at Huntsville’s International Motors. The plant manufactures diesel engines and transmissions for International’s assembly plants.

According to the paperwork, it affects 220 full- and part-time manufacturing employees.

Risky celebration

Fourth of July celebrations didn’t go off without at least some fireworks-related injuries.

At Lake Martin, an explosion on a pontoon-boat-turned-launch-pad resulted in six injured people, reports AL.com’s Carol Robinson and Jeremy Gray.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said the fireworks were not permitted.

Two people were airlifted to UAB Hospital in Birmingham. The others were taken to area hospitals.

The explosion took place in Blue Creek on Lake Martin in Tallapoosa County.

Mormons in Madison

The City of Madison’s zoning board has approved what would be the second Mormon temple in Alabama, reports AL.com’s John R. Roby.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wants to build a one-story, 30,000-square-foot facility topped with a 120-foot spire.

Just last week, Madison’s planning commission recommended that the city annex just under 14 acres of the church’s property on the east side of the temple site.

There are an estimated 40,000 Mormons living in Alabama. Their other temple opened in Gardendale 25 years ago.

RIP Bruce Underwood

Longtime radio host, former TV journalist and popular Guntersville personality Bruce Underwood has passed away, according to a story by WHNT and a social-media post by the Guntersville Advertiser-Gleam. Congressman Robert Aderholt also acknowledged Underwood’s passing with a weekend post.

Underwood started doing radio while Alabama’s governor was Jim Folsom — Big Jim Folsom.

WHNT reported that Underwood had been doing a morning radio show on WTWX 95.9 in Guntersville since 1958. He also became one of WHNT’s first reporters when they hired him to cover Marshall County in 1963. And he had been a weather observer for the National Weather Service, calling in temperatures and rainfall totals since the late 50s.

Quoting

“Twenty years ago, if you would have asked me, ‘Would you want to have A-Day?’ I’d say, ‘Yes.’ Today, I would say, with all the things that come now surrounding it, I think it’s better for us not to have A-Day and focus on the UA-generated events that don’t require so much security personnel and other logistical support.”

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, to The Tuscaloosa News

By the Numbers

$8 million

That’s the budget shortfall the University of Montevallo is trying to chip into by canceling some majors, laying off some staff and increasing tuition.

More Alabama News

Born on This Date

In 1902, Negro League pitcher, catcher and, later, manager Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe of Mobile.

In 1906, Hall of Famer pitcher Satchel Paige of Mobile.

In 1927, singer, songwriter and guitarist Charlie Louvin of Section.

In 1980, Miss America 2005 Dr. Deidre Downs Gunn of Pelham.

The podcast

A hundred years ago, making a sandwich required superior knife skills and the will to continue with but one more of the mountain of repetitive tasks in the invisible load of typical domestic housework. Then, on July 7, 1928, the first presliced loaf of bread was sold. Even children could make their own sandwiches. It was neater, quicker, and … well, it truly was the greatest thing since … At this point in the sun’s journey through domestic Cancer, we’re reminded that sometimes genius is what you take off your plate.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). There’s something you’ve been holding in. When you release it, you’ll realize how much lighter and more focused you become. The clarity will subtly improve your decisions, your energy and even the way people respond to you. You’ll feel more like yourself again.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Your perspective shapes your experience more than you realize. Something that feels like a setback — rejection, delay, inconvenience — is actually a hidden blessing. And what seems exciting or desirable might turn out to be a burden, so check it and mentally try it on. Vet your options.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). When you feel the spin, just zoom in on the next move — the next sentence, the next frame, the next dish to wash. That kind of focus conducts your power. You’re doing it. You’re alive and awake in the thick of your purpose. The rest is just pacing.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Aesthetics matter, but honesty matters much more. A messy truth spoken gently will have far more impact than a polished performance. Today, vulnerability looks better on you than perfection.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’ve been polite long enough. Today’s the day to set terms, state needs or make a clean break. You don’t have to be harsh — just resolute. Say it directly and with a smile, and you’ll get your needs met.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). A memory surfaces to redirect you. What you learned back then is finally useful now. Apply it and watch the tension dissolve. This insight brings relief, and a sense that you’re right where you need to be.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Don’t confuse discomfort with deficiency. Some people think, “If I feel off here, maybe I’m not good enough.” But really, that feeling can be situational, not personal. You’re learning to separate the two, and it’s empowering.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Someone’s thinking of you but holding back from reaching out. You’ll sense it anyway — your emotional radar is that strong right now. Let the connection speak through intuition before it takes shape in words or action.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Write down the unedited version of your experience — not for anyone else, just for you. Honesty is a map. When you’re ready to share, it’ll be because you’ve already made it somewhere worth inviting others to.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’ll catch yourself being critical of your own progress, but pause. The truth is, you’re doing something many people wouldn’t even attempt. Celebrate your courage, not just your results. Tonight, a little order brings a surprising sense of peace.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). The storyline keeps twisting, and you’re rolling with it. You’re learning that fulfillment doesn’t always come with certainty — it comes from staying curious. When you reflect on this day, you might be surprised at the random detail you claim as the highlight.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). What once felt charged now feels neutral. You’ll glide through moments that used to snag you. This calm represents evolution. Your mood sets the tone for everyone, whether you mean this to happen or not.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (July 7). This year, your instincts sharpen, and you’ll make decisions with more ease than ever before. You’ll feel freer — financially, emotionally, creatively. More highlights: a reunion with someone who brings out the best in you. A move or change of setting refreshes your spirit. You’ll be asked to lead, and you’ll do it on your own terms, creating something totally original and galvanizing a group that loves it. Gemini and Aquarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 2, 17, 21, 39 and 45.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: His song “Octopus’s Garden” captures his Cancerian longing for comfort, whimsy and underwater peace — a dreamy escape from the spotlight. Ringo Starr is the beloved drummer of The Beatles, known for his steady beat, distinct charm and signature wit. Like many Cancers, he radiates warmth and loyalty, often described as the emotional glue of the band. Ringo leads the All-Starr Band, spreading peace and love and signing off every social post with those exact words — classic Cancer tenderness.

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A north Alabama woman was killed and five others injured in a head-on crash in Cullman County.

Alabama State Troopers identified the fatality victim as Cynthia Ruth Baker Reeves. She was 55 and lived in Hartselle.

The wreck happened at 3 p.m. Sunday on Cullman County 222 near Cullman County 351, about one mile south of Crane Hill.

Senior Trooper Gregory Corble said Reeves was driving a Chevrolet Impala that collided head-on with a Chevrolet Silverado driven by 39-year-old Shawn P. Bagwell of Cullman.

Reeves was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and was pronounced dead on the scene, Corble said.

Bagwell was injured and airlifted to UAB Hospital in Birmingham.

Four children in the Silverado – ages 14, 13, 11 and 8 – were also injured and taken to a hospital.

The investigation is ongoing by troopers.