Alabama News

General

Goodman: Nate Oats takes a mighty swing at Bruce Pearl

Note to readers: Make your picks for Joe’s 6-0 Challenge at the bottom of the post.

This is an opinion column.

___________________

Alabama doesn’t play Auburn in basketball until mid-February, but the comparisons will begin now.

Give the first round of fisticuffs to Nate Oats, the masterful coach of the Crimson Tide.

Alabama lit Birmingham’s Legacy Arena ablaze on Wednesday night, and then afterwards Oats scorched Pearl with a burn that will sting throughout the cold winter.

Displaying the type of depth that can deliver a league title and earn a No.1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, Alabama defeated a good Illinois team 100-87. Notable was the fact that Alabama’s veteran guard, Mark Sears, didn’t score a single point, and apparently even benched himself, and yet Illinois trailed by double digits for most of the game.

Sears didn’t speak with reporters during post-game, but, according to Oats, Alabama’s starting point guard held himself out of the second half because he could see that his backcourt mates had things under control. Starting two-guard Latrell Wrightsell, Jr., had an efficient 16 points, but the headlines will go to Labaron Philon and Aden Holloway.

Labaron, the freshman from Mobile, had a LeBron-esque 16 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. Holloway, the transfer from Auburn, had 18 points on 7 of 10 shooting and 3 of 4 from distance.

Based on his defense, Labaron is starting to look like a future first-round pick. His energy is infectious. I asked Labaron about his hot start to the season. He said he’s not trying to be a hero on the court. Put it on a poster. I’m already in love with his game.

Incendiary Oats was then asked about Holloway’s role on the team and Alabama’s coach didn’t shy away from the question.

Certainly Holloway had good games at Auburn, Oats said, before adding that, “We thought he could be more like he was out of high school, and that’s what he was tonight.”

Intentional or not, it came off as a direct shot at Pearl’s ability to develop guards. For the record, both Pearl and Oats have a pretty good history of putting players in the NBA.

Have I mentioned yet how fun this basketball season is going to be?

Oats, fresh off of his first trip to a Final Four, is feeling himself these days. He has one of the best teams in the country, and he’s already using his once-Auburn guard to go after Alabama’s in-state rival. If Holloway develops into a consistent player, then it could be used as a major chess piece for Oats on the recruiting trail.

The next opportunity to compare Alabama and Auburn isn’t far off. Alabama travels to Las Vegas on Tuesday for a Thanksgiving-week showcase against Houston. Auburn went to Houston and manhandled the Cougars 74-69 back at the beginning of November. It remains one of the best wins of the non-conference schedule in the country.

Alabama’s victory against Illinois isn’t far off, though, and especially considering Sears wasn’t at his best.

“He’s under a lot of pressure,” Oats said after the game.

Oats has a habit of saying pretty much everything he’s thinking, but that observation of his star player felt loaded down with layered intent. Oats is known as a stats guy, but he’s also an excellent motivator. Sears has played in a Final Four, so the bright lights of Legacy Arena shouldn’t have been a problem. If Sears is feeling any pressure at all, then it’s coming from Alabama’s own depth at the guard position.

Philon, the freshman who prepped at Baker High School in Mobile, looks like one of the best young guards in the country. He was originally committed to Kansas last summer, but he ended up choosing Alabama in the end. It looks like he made the right decision.

I asked Oats if he was surprised by Philon’s immediate impact. It’s not just his offense. Philon is already Alabama’s second-best backcourt defender behind Wrightsell. Oats said he would have been surprised by Philon last summer, but that when he showed up on campus he quickly became one of Alabama’s best guards.

Oats said the key to Philon’s early ascension is open competition on the practice court. No one is guaranteed minutes. No one is promised anything. It’s Saban-type stuff. Survival of the fittest. That’s a tricky proposition in the NIL era, but Oats is managing it well. It’s why NBA executives are paying attention to Alabama’s fiery coach.

Oats might very well be a coach in the NBA one day, but I don’t think he’s leaving Alabama for another college-level gig at this point. He has everything he wants at Alabama, and that includes a better version of Auburn’s former guard.

MAKE YOUR PICKS

College football geniuses, it’s time make your picks for Week 13 of the 6-0 Challenge. Go 6-0 and be a certified college football genius.

BE HEARD

Got a question for Joe? Want to get something off your chest? Send Joe an email about what’s on your mind. Let your voice be heard. Ask him anything.

Joseph Goodman is the lead sports columnist for the Alabama Media Group, and author of the book “We Want Bama: A Season of Hope and the Making of Nick Saban’s Ultimate Team.”

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General

Asking Eric: Son changes contact names in phone

Dear Eric: I’m gay and a dad. Recently, my 16-year-old’s phone was connected to the car display, and I noticed from a notification that he had changed his phone contact for me from Dad to my real name and changed my husband’s name to Dad. My feelings are hurt. Am I overreacting or should I have a discussion with my son about it? I can’t stop thinking about what could’ve happened to cause this change.

– Used to be Dad

Dear Dad: I understand why this hits a sensitive spot for you. Your relationship with your kid probably continues to change and develop as he moves toward adulthood. And I imagine there have been people at various points in your life who have questioned the legitimacy of your family structure. But you know the truth: you are your kid’s dad, and you always will be.

So, what’s going on with him? Probably nothing. Maybe it’s funny to him that when his father calls, his full government name pops up on the screen. Maybe he’s experimenting with being more mature and testing out new nomenclature. Our phones are places where we deposit the weird insides of our brains, and it doesn’t always make sense to the outside eye.

I’m curious what he calls you when speaking to you. Are you still “Dad?” Or has that changed, too? That’s a better measure, I think.

But the best measure of the strength of your relationship is your actual relationship. Try to put aside the hurt; chalk it up to teen capriciousness. Mention it to him casually if you’re nervous that it means something bigger. “I see you changed my name on your phone. Any story there?” If he gives that textbook teen response “Nothing” (or its cousin: a shrug), let it be just that.

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.

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Week 13 Huntsville Times Player of the Week had 3-TD night to help team advance

The Week 13 Huntsville Times football Player of the Week helped keep his team unbeaten in an emotion-packed second-round playoff win.

West Morgan running back Ty Jones picked up 87 percent of the 821 votes cast in the survey after scoring three touchdowns in the Rebels’ 28-7 win over Madison Academy in Class 4A play. Jones, a 6-foot, 195-pound senior, had a 32-yard TD reception and scored on runs of 13 and 1 yard in the win.

Jones is the first student-athlete from West Morgan to finish atop the poll this season.

The game pitted West Morgan head coach Drew Phillips against his former high school coach Bob Godsey with the student moving on to the quarterfinals.

West Morgan (12-0) will host 7-5 Anniston on Friday while Madison Academy closed out the season at 7-5.

Fyffe running back Ryder Gipson finished second in the poll with 9 percent of the total. Gipson, a 5-11, 185-pound sophomore, had 25 carries for 230 yards and 4 touchdowns as the fifth-ranked Red Devils beat No. 6 Gordo 42-14 in the Class 3A playoffs.

Fyffe, at 9-2, will travel to play No. 3 Piedmont (12-0) on Friday for a chance to earn a spot in the semifinals. Fyffe has beaten the Bulldogs all three times the teams have met.

Christian Pritchard was third in the balloting with 2 percent of the total. The 5-8, 140-pound Muscle Shoals defensive back had a 74-yard fumble recovery return for a touchdown with less than a minute left in the game as the Trojans beat defending Class 6A state champions Clay-Chalkville 31-21 last week.

No. 9 Muscle Shoals (9-2) will travel to meet second-ranked Parker (11-1) in the quarterfinals.

Watch for the weekly nominees on Sundays this fall and be sure to cast your vote each week.

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General

Alabama cold snap: Which night will be the coldest?

It was chilly in Alabama on Thursday morning as cold air settled in across the state.

Here were some of the overnight temperatures from the National Weather Service (not the official lows):

* Alexander City: 38 degrees

* Anniston: 36 degrees

* Birmingham: 39 degrees

* Decatur: 43 degrees

* Demopolis: 37 degrees

* Dothan: 42 degrees

* Eufaula: 38 degrees

* Evergreen: 38 degrees

* Gadsden: 32 degrees

* Greenville: 40 degrees

* Haleyville: 37 degrees

* Huntsville: 40 degrees

* Mobile: 42 degrees

* Montgomery: 41 degrees

* Muscle Shoals: 40 degrees

* Ozark: 42 degrees

* Prattville: 41 degrees

* Sylacauga: 34 degrees

* Talladega: 33 degrees

* Troy: 37 degrees

* Tuscaloosa: 37 degrees

Temperatures during the day won’t warm up all that much. Highs today will only make it into the 50s for north and much of central Alabama, according to the weather service. South Alabama will top out in the 60s. (Today’s forecast highs are at the top of this post.)

It is expected to be even colder tonight, according to the weather service.

Low temperatures are expected to fall into the 30s across a wide area. Here is the low temperature forecast for tonight:

Another cold day is in store for Friday as cold air continues to flow into the state from the northwest. High temperatures on Friday could be a degree or two colder than today in many areas. Here is the forecast for Friday:

Friday night could be the coldest of the week, with temperatures dipping below freezing across a large part of the state by early Saturday morning. Even many areas in south Alabama will experience temperatures in the 30s:

The weather service said the cold from Friday night into Saturday morning will likely end the growing season for north and central Alabama.

Saturday temperatures will still be chilly, but Saturday could begin a slow warming trend that will go into next week. Many areas will make it into the 60s for highs.

Here are Saturday’s forecast highs:

Saturday night will again be chilly, but it will be the last of the really cold nights. Here are the forecast lows for Saturday night into Sunday morning:

A warmup really gets going on Sunday, with highs expected to rise into the 60s and 70s statewide:

Warmer temperatures are expected to continue into next week, according to forecasters.

Looking a bit further into the future, it appears that warmer-than-average temperatures could return to Alabama through the end of the month.

Here is the six- to 10-day temperature outlook from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. It shows that warmer-than-normal temperatures are favored for the state through Nov. 30:

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General

‘Be quiet’: LGBTQ people at Auburn search for community after campus spaces close

Whenever Eric Burkholder, an assistant professor at Auburn University’s physics department, feels “out of sorts,” as he says, a student will point to a pillow in his office that reads, “The horrors persist but so do I.”

For the past few months, Burkholder has been the faculty adviser for the Sexuality and Gender Alliance Group. Many of his LGBTQ students and fellow faculty members have displaced from community spots and say they feel unwanted because of the anti-DEI legislation that began in October.

The law prohibits state institutions from using public funding for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives focusing on gender, race, and sexual orientation. Now, those topics are considered “divisive concepts.”

Auburn’s DEI office closed in July. The Pride Center, a casual and colorful space housed in the centrally-located Haley Center, never reopened for the fall semester.

The University of Alabama also closed its DEI office and safe zone this year as a result of the law. Nationally, 28 state legislatures have introduced 86 anti-DEI bills. So far, 14 have become law, according to the DEI legislation tracker at the Chronicle of Education.

Burkholder hoped that Auburn’s space would stay open because it is available to allies of the LGBTQ community and wasn’t designated only for LGBTQ people.

“I feel like we were given false hope,” Burkholder said. He said he thinks the space itself didn’t violate the law, but the name of the space “drew heightened attention,” so “out of an abundance of caution,” it was closed.

Dakota Grimes, a chemistry graduate student, is president of the student organization. and said all the resources LGBTQ students have come to rely on now are scattered.

“While those resources still exist, now they’re decentralized,” Grimes said. She said the Pride space was lovely, and she enjoyed going there when she had time. Now students like her feel displaced.

“It was a safe space for LGBTQ students to hang out in between classes where they could be with others like them,” Grimes said. “They could relax, not have to worry about any judgment or feeling unwelcome on campus.”

She said there’s no space to “just exist on campus as queer students.” LGBTQ students must find room in the student center or the library to study, but “there’s no designated place for us to really gather as a community.”

Grimes said Auburn has improved when it comes to LGBTQ inclusivity, such as allowing pronoun selection when students enroll in online activities. But it’s still tough to make sure people feel accepted.

“It’s a very red school in a red city in a red state,” Grimes said. “There are a lot of people that make homophobic jokes, transphobic jokes, even around people that they know are queer, because they just don’t care.”

Burkholder said some faculty and staff aren’t comfortable being out as LGBTQ and are frustrated. He worries that other areas of university life, such as research, could be affected.

“I think a lot of the message that I’m getting is, ‘We don’t really want you here. If we do, you should be quiet,’” Burkholder said.

Burkholder said LGBTQ people now need to go off-campus or work with organizations such as Pride on the Plains, which hosts Pride events and drag shows regularly at local parks and bars, to find public celebration and community.

One off-campus hangout is Coffee Mafia, now run by Auburn native Ian Oriol. He said the space has always felt LGBTQ-friendly, even growing up, when it was under different ownership and called Mama Mocha’s.

“We’ve always attracted unconventional people, people that are looking for a sort of alternative space in the area,” Oriol said. “I’ve leaned more into that. When I took over, as a queer person from the Bible belt, I think it’s important to kind of curate that sort of space, make that space available. Especially because there aren’t many spaces like that in this area.”

Oriol, who’s performed drag for a decade, said he’s recently seen an uptick in newer and younger faces at the shop and at drag performances. These students are grateful for the space.

“I’ve had many a freshly queer person in their first semester at Auburn cry and hug me in full drag after a show,” Oriol said.

Burkholder said students are resilient and will find ways to connect with each other.

“We queer people have always found spaces,” Burkholder said. “I think ultimately the students will find a way to carve out a place for themselves where they feel safe.”

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General

Asking Eric: Uncles fail to acknowledge niece’s birthday, but want presents for their kids

Dear Eric: I have two brothers that have recently failed to send a birthday gift or even a card to my 12-year-old daughter. My wife and I on the other hand always send birthday gifts or money and a card to their kids, our nieces and nephews.

My daughter took note of not getting a gift from them this past year in a sad kind of manner. She enjoys her aunts and uncles and cousins otherwise.

One of my brothers just sent a request for a video game birthday gift to his 9-year-old son. I am happy to give a gift to my nephew but also a bit annoyed that this is not reciprocated. Welcome your advice.

– No Gift Back

Dear No Gift Back: Send the gift but have a separate conversation with your brothers about what gifts mean to your daughter and how the lack of acknowledgment has made her, and you feel.

The niece/nephew gift exchange need not be tit for tat, but it’s important that your brothers know that you’re not feeling the kind of family connection that you want. Offer to send them reminders or gift request lists, if you want, for your daughter’s sake. This may not be an intentional slight; they may simply not be great at keeping up with birthdays.

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.

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General

From Parisian to Zesto: Take a nostalgic journey through Alabama’s most missed businesses

From department stores to restaurants and more, a lot of great Alabama businesses have come and gone over the years.

So when our friends at This is Alabama asked its Facebook followers to tell them what Alabama stores and eateries they used to love, we knew we were in for a trip down memory lane and would quickly be reminded of many great businesses that have closed over the years.

From Parisian to Catfish Cabin, The Lamplight, Red Bird Inn and more, you can take a look at nine of the businesses readers used to love below, and you can read all of the responses — and add your own — on the This is Alabama Facebook page.

Catfish Cabin

Catfish Cabin, which had several locations in Alabama, came up often as a restaurant folks used to love. Most notably, the Albertville location of the beloved eatery announced on Facebook that it would be closing its doors after more than four decades in business in 2021. The restaurant was known for serving everything from catfish filets to ribeye steaks, seafood gumbo, homemade desserts and much more. That said, Catfish Cabin II remains open in Athens.

Read more: Albertville’s Catfish Cabin closing after four decades

The Lamplighter

The Lamplighter in Tuscaloosa may have shuttered its doors more than 30 years ago, but that didn’t keep it from garnering a spot on this list. Known for its wide menu offering affordable steaks, fresh seafood and more, The Lamplighter closed its doors sometime in the 1980s. Even with so much time passing, many folks still have fond memories of eating there, including Linda Smelley of The Waysider Restaurant.

“That’s been so long ago that I can’t even remember when that was,” Smelley told AL.com “But it was always good.”

Read more: Ask an Alabama chef: What old restaurant do you miss the most?

Parisian Department Store

Many residents from all over the state have fond memories of shopping at Parisian department stores, which got their start in Birmingham in 1877 and opened multiple locations in Alabama before ultimately going out of business in 2006. While these days online shopping is the go-to, many readers said they missed visiting the old department store and the experience of shopping there.

Read more: Comeback Town: Soft-spot in my heart for an old Birmingham department store

Red Bird Inn

Another restaurant that closed nearly 40 years ago but is still missed by readers is The Red Bird Inn. Located on Seibels Road in Montgomery when it opened in the 1920s, the eatery was known for its fried chicken and onion rings, according to the Montgomery Advertiser. It closed it’s doors for good in 1983, but the memory of its signature dishes lives on.

Pizitz Department Store

Like Parisian, Pizitz department store was once a shopping destination for families all over the state before its closure in 1988. Louis Pizitz opened his first store in the late 1800s, which grew into several locations throughout the Birmingham and Huntsville area. Today, the Pizitz building where the department store was founded is now home to The Pizitz Food Hall, offices, apartments and the Sidewalk Film Center.

Read more: BBQ restaurants we miss

Britling’s Cafeteria

Britling’s Cafeteria once had locations all over Birmingham after the first restaurant was opened in 1919 by W.B. Johnson. At one time, there were three downtown and several more in the suburbs, but during the 1970s and 1980s, each Britling’s location eventually closed due to the competition of other eateries. Still, readers said they missed the popular cafeteria, and we like to think some of them still have that signature mug kids who finished their milk were awarded.

Read more: Britling Cafeterias were part of Birmingham’s dining landscape for years

Zesto

Zesto first got its start in Huntsville in 1947 as an ice cream shop franchise before being converted into a diner-style eatery in 1951 that became known for its “dip dogs” and “dip burgers.” While it closed in the early 2000s, anybody craving a “dip dog” can still score one and much more at the ZestoAF food truck run by Amelia Mathison, the daughter of former owners Earl and Virgina Noe.

Read more: The spirit of classic Huntsville restaurant Zesto rides again

McCollum’s Catfish

In 2016, McCollum’s Catfish in Decatur served dinner for the last time, and fans of the seafood spot have been missing it ever since. Open since 1961, the family-owned restaurant developed a strong following of loyal customers thanks to its menu of fresh seafood, hamburger steaks and more, but ultimately rising food costs and competition for business led to its demise, according to WHNT.

Bonus: Quincy’s Restaurant

Quincy’s, a popular steakhouse and buffet in the early ‘90s, might not have got its start in Alabama, but many readers still brought it up as the restaurant they miss the most (and yes, those yeast rolls were a big part of why). The restaurant chain once had more than 200 locations throughout our state and the rest of the South, but today, there ARE only two Quincy’s still open and neither are in Alabama.

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General

AL.com college football staff picks for Week 13 of 2024

There’s still chaos atop the college football rankings, but not so in AL.com’s staff picks.

With three weeks left for our panel, our own Mark Inabinett has opened up a three-game lead on the field. However, we do have a tie for last place (including yours truly).

In the real college football world, there are a couple of massive battles involving unbeaten teams this week. In the SEC, some playoff contenders trying to hold serve. Across the state, three of our teams — Alabama, Jacksonville State and South Alabama — are trying to stay in contention for conference titles. The others — Auburn, UAB and Troy — are mostly playing for pride.

Scroll along below to find out how various AL.com sports staffers see this week’s games playing out. We’ve also given predicted scores for this week’s Alabama and Auburn games.

A reminder that these picks are AGAINST THE SPREAD. That means that each person’s selection doesn’t necessarily mean he or she thinks that team will win outright, just that it will cover the point spread.

On with this week’s picks (all times Central and all games Saturday unless noted):

Ole Miss (-9.5) at Florida, 11 a.m., ABC

Thomas Ashworth: Ole Miss

Michael Casagrande: Ole Miss

Patrick Greenfield: Florida

Andrew Hammond: Ole Miss

Mark Inabinett: Ole Miss

Nick Kelly: Florida

Peter Rauterkus: Ole Miss

Creg Stephenson: Florida

Indiana (+11.5) at Ohio State, 11 a.m., Fox

Thomas Ashworth: Ohio State

Michael Casagrande: Ohio State

Patrick Greenfield: Ohio State

Andrew Hammond: Ohio State

Mark Inabinett: Ohio State

Nick Kelly: Ohio State

Peter Rauterkus: Ohio State

Creg Stephenson: Ohio State

Army (+16.5) vs. Notre Dame (Bronx, N.Y.), 6 p.m., NBC

Thomas Ashworth: Army

Michael Casagrande: Notre Dame

Patrick Greenfield: Notre Dame

Andrew Hammond: Army

Mark Inabinett: Army

Nick Kelly: Notre Dame

Peter Rauterkus: Army

Creg Stephenson: Notre Dame

Vanderbilt (+8.5) at LSU, 6:45 p.m., SEC Network

Thomas Ashworth: LSU

Michael Casagrande: Vanderbilt

Patrick Greenfield: LSU

Andrew Hammond: Vanderbilt

Mark Inabinett: Vanderbilt

Nick Kelly: Vanderbilt

Peter Rauterkus: Vanderbilt

Creg Stephenson: Vanderbilt

Sam Houston (+6) at Jacksonville State, 11 a.m., CBS Sports Network

Thomas Ashworth: Jacksonville State

Michael Casagrande: Jacksonville State

Patrick Greenfield: Jacksonville State

Andrew Hammond: Jacksonville State

Mark Inabinett: Sam Houston

Nick Kelly: Jacksonville State

Peter Rauterkus: Jacksonville State

Creg Stephenson: Jacksonville State

Rice (-6.5) at UAB, 1 p.m., ESPN+

Thomas Ashworth: Rice

Michael Casagrande: UAB

Patrick Greenfield: UAB

Andrew Hammond: Rice

Mark Inabinett: Rice

Nick Kelly: Rice

Peter Rauterkus: UAB

Creg Stephenson: UAB

South Alabama (-22.5) at Southern Miss, 2 p.m., ESPN+

Thomas Ashworth: South Alabama

Michael Casagrande: South Alabama

Patrick Greenfield: Southern Miss

Andrew Hammond: South Alabama

Mark Inabinett: Southern Miss

Nick Kelly: Southern Miss

Peter Rauterkus: South Alabama

Creg Stephenson: South Alabama

Troy (+11.5) at Louisiana, 4 p.m., ESPN+

Thomas Ashworth: Louisiana

Michael Casagrande: Louisiana

Patrick Greenfield: Louisiana

Andrew Hammond: Louisiana

Mark Inabinett: Troy

Nick Kelly: Louisiana

Peter Rauterkus: Louisiana

Creg Stephenson: Troy

Texas A&M (-2.5) at Auburn, 6:30 p.m., ESPN

Thomas Ashworth: Texas A&M 30, Auburn 24

Michael Casagrande: Texas A&M 28, Auburn 24

Patrick Greenfield: Texas A&M 28, Auburn 17

Andrew Hammond: Texas A&M 28, Auburn 14

Mark Inabinett: Texas A&M 24, Auburn 23

Nick Kelly: Texas A&M 23, Auburn 17

Peter Rauterkus: Auburn 20, Texas A&M 17

Creg Stephenson: Texas A&M 16, Auburn 14

Alabama (-14) at Oklahoma, 6:30 p.m., ABC

Thomas Ashworth: Alabama 34, Oklahoma 17

Michael Casagrande: Alabama 38, Oklahoma 14

Patrick Greenfield: Alabama 34, Oklahoma 17

Andrew Hammond: Alabama 45, Oklahoma 17

Mark Inabinett: Alabama 31, Oklahoma 18

Nick Kelly: Alabama 31, Oklahoma 13

Peter Rauterkus: Alabama 31, Oklahoma 14

Creg Stephenson: Alabama 21, Oklahoma 0

Standings after Week 12

Mark Inabinett 65-55 (5-5 last week)

Nick Kelly 62-58 (4-6 last week)

Michael Casagrande 59-61 (3-7 last week)

Andrew Hammond 58-62 (4-6 last week)

Peter Rauterkus 58-62 (3-7 last week)

Patrick Greenfield 56-64 (2-8 last week)

Thomas Ashworth 55-65 (5-5 last week)

Creg Stephenson 55-65 (3-7 last week)

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General

Country music singer sentenced to prison for fatal DUI crash

Country music singer Caleb Kennedy was sentenced Monday to prison for his role in a 2022 DUI crash that left one man dead.

Taste of Country reports Kennedy spend the next two years and three months in prison.

The former “American Idol” star actually got 25 years in prison and a $25,100 fine for the crash, which left Larry Duane Parris, 54, dead.

The sentence, according to Taste of Country, was suspended to eight years and the fine was lowered to $15,100. Three years will be served in home detention, per the report. Kennedy also is receiving credit for two years and nine months served.

In February, Kennedy was arrested in Spartanburg, South Carolina on felony driving-under-the-influence charges back after he crashed into a workshop. Parris, who was in the shop, died from the injuries he sustained in the crash.

Taste of Country reported that Kennedy’s toxicology report showed traces of THC and Prozac, which he had a prescription for.

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.

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Why Oklahoma game is emotional for Alabama football’s special teams coach

Alabama football special teams coordinator Jay Nunez used to get in the car with his high school friends in Alva, Okla. on Saturdays to make a three-hour drive to Norman. The youngsters would pull into town, watch Oklahoma play, then turn around and drive home.

Starting with the 2022 season, Nunez found himself coaching special teams for the Sooners, back in his home state.

“Coach (Brent) Venables, I owe him the world,” Nunez said Wednesday. “He pulled me out of Eastern Michigan to go home and coach at a school like that.”

Then, after two seasons in Norman, Nunez left home again. He took a job coaching special teams for new Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer.

It wasn’t easy for the Sooner State native.

“I’m a big believer in, God tells you where he wants you to be if you just shut up and listen,” Nunez said. “Which is very, very hard to do most of the time.”

DeBoer and Nunez had never worked together before this season. However, they had mutual friends, as Nunez had followed behind his new boss at Southern Illinois and Eastern Michigan.

“The name kept following kind of where I was at,” DeBoer said Monday. “Not necessarily, obviously, in my position, but just seemed to be a guy that, really, the staff related to well. Heard nothing but great things, and then when it came to production, just the variety of things that he did mostly with special teams, but also coaching positions, just a really, really great football coach.”

On Saturday, Nunez and the Crimson Tide are returning to Norman. Alabama and Oklahoma will face off for the first time since 2018.

It’s a huge game for the Tide. UA will be expected to win easily against a team that has only won one SEC matchup this season, and a loss would effectively knock DeBoer and company out of College Football Playoff contention.

It’s been an emotional week for Nunez, who said he hadn’t slept at all.

“There’s a lot of positional guys that played special teams that I never got to say goodbye to.” Nunez said. “Excited to give some of those guys a hug if they want to. If not, I’ll put my head down and cry. But there’s some bittersweetness to it, for sure.”

In the meantime, DeBoer praised his contributions to Alabama’s 2024 efforts.

“He touches pretty much every player (while) coaching the special teams,” DeBoer said. “Every player is in those meetings at some point throughout the week. He does a good job of just relating to them. He keeps them excited about special teams and understanding the significance, not just to our team now but the value it can bring them as they continue their careers well beyond their days here at Alabama.”

Alabama and Oklahoma are scheduled to kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT Saturday in Norman. The game will be aired on ABC.

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