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General

Today’s daily horoscopes: March 31, 2025

A Taurus moon rules this very unusual astrologically day, devoid of remarkable aspects. It’s like picking up a clean, hot plate and staring wide-eyed into the grand buffet. What do I want? What would be good to want? What goes together? What amount is actually way too much? Decisions, decisions — but it’s all you can eat, so dive in!

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Not every connection offers something. If the relationship isn’t a neat fit, even friction has its purpose. You’ll be compatible in some ways and complementary in others. When you’re neither, you’re one another’s teacher.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Oh, to be in relationships that feel real and reciprocal! Whether you’re experiencing the rush of being in one or the grating discomfort of one-way relationships, you’ll be reminded how important it is to choose the right company.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You realize that you’ve been carrying a certain story for decades now. Maybe it’s about who you are, who you will be or how you fit in the world. Today you’ll see ways that this story is surfacing in real time.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). When was the last time you checked in with your feelings? Whatever they are, they matter. Sometimes you’re not sure what you’re feeling, but your attention on it for a few minutes of golden silence is enough to let in the slightest whisper of knowing.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Your dreams are telling you about the past you’re ready to process, the present you don’t consciously see and the insides of your future. You’re open to the magic of your subconscious and could wake up tomorrow knowing exactly what to do.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’ll pause to examine your course. You have momentum in a direction, but momentum is not inevitability; it can be interrupted or redirected. You are following footprints in the sand, and the tide always returns.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Relationships are co-created, so no one is completely in control. There’s no reason to judge yourself for what goes wrong or credit yourself for what goes right. Instead, stay aware of the give-and-take and the reality; each moment together is a collaboration.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Being seen is one of the basic human needs. People seek attention in strange ways today, perhaps by being late and making everyone wait for them, or sensationalism, alarm, etc. Avoid those cheap attention grabbers. Your time is precious.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Sometimes learning from others is the quickest path to understanding your current journey is different. The lesson is something custom-fitted to make your life better for you, and it will come through your own quest and openness to self-discovery.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). A project is veering into unintended territory. It’s not necessarily wrong, but it’s not where you meant to go. Time for a realistic assessment. You can manage your end of things, but that in and of itself may not be enough to get a thing headed where you want it to go.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Perception is personal, shaped by history, mood and attention. Two people will walk through an environment together and come away with a totally different experience of it. Neither view is the whole picture — sharing perspectives is what makes it richer.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). The foundations of connection often start small but grow stronger with each exchange. Lightness opens the door for depth. A casual conversation is the first step to a more meaningful one.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (March 31). Exciting momentum is the norm this year. You’ll get used to your ideas and dreams coming to speedy fruition. Inner confidence will be your secret weapon in every endeavor. More highlights: A creative breakthrough sends you traveling, breaking into new circles and even earning a prize. Joyful relationships take many forms. You’ll get caught up in someone’s story and love the role! Virgo and Sagittarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 17, 23, 5, 9 and 27.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: As Burt Goodman in the series “Severance,” Christopher Walken is half of a comedic duo with his friend John Turturro, who specifically requested him for the part. Walken is a legendary giver artistically and a favorite of his colleagues. Case in point: “That’s Amore!” with John Travolta, another reunion in production. With well over 100 major entertainment enterprises in his illustrious career, a truer original than Walken would be hard to find. Walken was born when the sun and Mercury were in energetic Aries and the moon and Mars were in eccentric Aquarius.

Holiday Mathis’ debut novel, “How To Fail Epically in Hollywood,” is out now! This fast-paced romp about achieving Hollywood stardom is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit creatorspublishing.com for more information. Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com.

General

Auburn basketball players react to playing Florida in the Final Four

Auburn basketball dropped its first conference game of the game of the season to Florida in a 90-81 loss this past February.

Now heading to the programs second Final Four appearance in school history, the Tigers will get another shot at the Gators this weekend.

“I mean, Florida has a great team. They were good enough to beat us at home, so we’ve just got to go game by game. It’s another team in the way of us getting to the National Championship,” Chaney Johnson said postgame. “So, we’ve just got to continue putting our head down, continue staying humble, continue staying hungry. Just go out there and play with great effort and great energy.”

In the first matchup against Florida, The Tigers main source of offense came from the game’s leading scorer Miles Kelly with 22 points.

Kelly said all the Tigers need to do this time around is play their game.

“We just got to go in there and play Auburn basketball,” Kelly said postgame. “We are going to watch the film on how we played them earlier in the year, and I really believe we got our groove back. We are smoking hot right now and all we have to do is keep playing our brand of basketball.”

All eyes will be on the matchup between Florida’s Alex Condon and Auburn’s Johni Broome. Condon dominated with 17 points on three missed shots in first game against the Tigers.

Walter Clayton scored 19 points in the Gators victory at Auburn. During the NCAA tournament, he became the first Florida player to finish with back-to-back 30-point games.

Auburn coach Bruce Pearl explained the importance of representing the SEC in the Final Four as he’ll matchup against his former assistant and current Florida coach Todd Golden.

“We’re going to the Final Four with our four 1 seeds. The four teams that advanced, I think they’re the four best teams in the country. That doesn’t obviously always happen.”

“The league has done a great job, and unfortunately, there will only be one SEC team playing for the National Championship on Monday.”

Jerry Humphrey III covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Jerryhump3 or email him at [email protected].

General

North Alabama under a tornado watch until early Monday morning

The National Weather Service released a tornado watch at 11:18 p.m. on Sunday in effect until Monday at 5 a.m. for Colbert, Cullman, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison and Morgan counties.

Tornado watches and warnings: Your safety guide

When it comes to tornadoes, understanding the distinction between a Tornado watch and a Tornado warning can be a matter of life and death. Here’s a breakdown:

Tornado watch: Be prepared!

A Tornado watch serves as an early warning that conditions are conducive to tornado formation.
It’s your signal to review your emergency plans, ensure your supplies are in order, and identify your safe room.
While it doesn’t indicate an imminent tornado, it’s a heads-up to be prepared to take swift action if a Tornado warning is issued or if you suspect a tornado is approaching.
Tornado Watches are issued by the Storm Prediction Center and often encompass a broad area, potentially spanning multiple counties or even states.

Tornado warning: Take action!

A Tornado warning signifies that a tornado has been spotted or detected by weather radar.
This is the real deal – there’s an immediate threat to life and property.
Your response should be swift: move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, away from windows.
If you’re in a mobile home, a vehicle, or caught outdoors, seek the nearest substantial shelter and shield yourself from flying debris.
Warnings are issued by your local forecast office and pinpoint a much smaller area, typically the size of a city or a small county, where a tornado has been identified, either by radar or by trained spotters and law enforcement.

Knowing the distinction between these two alerts is paramount for staying safe during tornado season. Stay informed, have a plan, and act promptly when danger looms.

Prepare for a tornado

Be weather-ready:

Check the forecast regularly to see if you’re at risk for tornadoes. Listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay informed about tornado watches and warnings.

Sign up for notifications:

Know how your community sends warnings. Some communities have outdoor sirens. Others depend on media and smartphones to alert residents of severe storms capable of producing tornadoes.

Establish a communication plan:

Create a family emergency plan that includes a designated meeting place and important contact information. If your home lacks a basement, identify a nearby safe building, like a church or a relative’s house, that you can reach quickly.

Choose a secure shelter:

Pick a safe room in your home, such as a basement, storm cellar, or an interior room on the lowest floor with no windows.

Establish a communication plan:

Conduct regular family drills for severe thunderstorms so everyone knows what to do when a tornado threat arises. Ensure that all family members are aware of the safe location to seek shelter, and don’t forget about your pets if time permits.

Prepare your home:

Consider reinforcing your safe room for added protection. You can find plans for fortifying an interior room on the Federal Emergency Management Agency website.

Help your neighbor:

Encourage your neighbors and loved ones to prepare for possible tornadoes. Consider taking CPR training to be of assistance in case of injuries.

Staying safe during a tornado: Quick actions to take

When a tornado strikes, taking swift action is crucial to ensuring your safety and minimizing potential harm. Follow these guidelines from the weather service:

Stay informed:

To ensure your safety during a tornado, remember that acting promptly is crucial, according to the weather service. Stay informed about tornado watches and warnings through regular updates on local news or a NOAA Weather Radio.

At home:

If you find yourself under a tornado warning, immediately seek refuge in your basement, safe room, or an interior room without windows. If there’s enough time, bring your pets with you.

At work or school:

Follow your tornado drill and proceed to your tornado shelter location quickly and calmly. Stay away from windows and do not go to large open rooms such as cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums.

Outdoors:

When you are outdoors and a tornado is approaching, seek immediate refuge inside a sturdy building. Remember that sheds, storage facilities, mobile homes, and tents are not safe options. If there is sufficient time, make your way to a secure structure.

In a vehicle:

Being in a vehicle during a tornado is highly unsafe. Your best option is to drive to the nearest shelter. If reaching shelter is not possible, either stay inside your car, covering your head, or abandon the vehicle and seek refuge in a low-lying area like a ditch or ravine.

Always keep in mind that taking swift action and following established safety procedures are crucial for your well-being when a tornado threat is imminent.

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.

General

Tornado watch in place for Alabama until early Monday morning

On Sunday at 11:07 p.m. a tornado watch was released by the National Weather Service in effect until Monday at 5 a.m. for Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker and Winston counties.

Tornado watches and warnings: What you need to know

When it comes to tornadoes, understanding the distinction between a Tornado watch and a Tornado warning can be a matter of life and death. Here’s a breakdown:

Tornado watch: Be prepared!

A Tornado watch serves as an early warning that conditions are conducive to tornado formation.
It’s your cue to review and discuss your emergency plans, check your supplies, and locate your safe room.
While it doesn’t mean a tornado is imminent, it’s a heads-up that you should be ready to act quickly if a Tornado warning is issued or if you suspect a tornado is approaching.
Tornado Watches are issued by the Storm Prediction Center and often encompass a broad area, potentially spanning multiple counties or even states.

Tornado warning: Take action!

A Tornado warning means a tornado has been spotted or detected by weather radar.
This is the real deal – there’s an immediate threat to life and property.
Your response should be quick: seek shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, away from windows.
If you’re in a mobile home, a vehicle, or caught outdoors, find the nearest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.
Warnings are issued by your local forecast office and pinpoint a much smaller area, typically the size of a city or a small county, where a tornado has been identified, either by radar or by trained spotters and law enforcement.

Knowing the difference between these two alerts is essential in staying safe during tornado season. Stay informed, have a plan, and act promptly when danger approaches.

Prepare for a tornado

Stay weather-ready:

Check the forecast regularly to see if you’re at risk for tornadoes. Listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay informed about tornado watches and warnings.

Sign up for alerts:

Familiarize yourself with your community’s warning systems. Some places have outdoor sirens, while others rely on media and smartphone alerts for severe storm notifications.

Create a communication plan:

Choose a secure shelter:

Pick a safe room in your home, such as a basement, storm cellar, or an interior room on the lowest floor with no windows.

Practice your plan:

Secure your home:

Consider reinforcing your safe room for added protection. You can find plans for fortifying an interior room on the Federal Emergency Management Agency website.

Help your neighbor:

Encourage your neighbors and loved ones to prepare for possible tornadoes. Consider taking CPR training to be of assistance in case of injuries.

Staying safe during a tornado: Quick actions to take

When a tornado strikes, taking swift action is crucial to ensuring your safety and minimizing potential harm. Follow these guidelines from the weather service:

Stay informed:

At home:

If you find yourself under a tornado warning, immediately seek refuge in your basement, safe room, or an interior room without windows. If there’s enough time, bring your pets with you.

At work or school:

In the workplace or at school, adhere to tornado drill procedures and proceed promptly and calmly to your designated tornado shelter. Avoid areas with large, open spaces like cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums, and stay away from windows.

Outdoors:

In a vehicle:

It is not safe to be in a vehicle during a tornado. The recommended action is to drive to the nearest shelter. If reaching a safe shelter is not possible, either crouch down in your car and cover your head, or leave your vehicle and seek refuge in a low-lying area like a ditch or ravine.

Always keep in mind that taking swift action and following established safety procedures are crucial for your well-being when a tornado threat is imminent.

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.

General

Why for Auburn basketball in 2025, ‘It was time to make our own history’

Dylan Cardwell has seen almost everything there is to see in college basketball.

Success, failure, a pandemic and multiple conference championships, but never a Final Four. When Auburn beat Michigan State Sunday in the Elite Eight, that finally changed for the fifth-year senior and the Tigers’ all-time winningest player.

“It doesn’t feel real,” Cardwell said as he held the south region championship trophy in Auburn’s locker room after the game.

It’s the second time in school history Auburn has reached the Final Four, the first coming in 2019. That season was two years before Cardwell arrived on campus, but it’s hard to be a part of the Auburn men’s basketball team without hearing about that group.

“I just got tired of hearing about the 2019 team. That’s all you here about,” Cardwell said. “I’ve been here five years and the password to the Arena is 2019 and the password to the Bluetooth and the wifi is 2019. They’ve got a 2019 banner outside of the Arena. I mean, we can’t get 2019 out of our heads. So, for me, it was like I want to make my own history.”

Cardwell is one of just two players on the current team to be in his fifth season with the program. The other is backup forward Chris Moore, who has been through similar ups and downs throughout his career.

Moore is averaging just 1.1 points per game this season, playing a role that few players might accept in their fifth year at one stop. But for the West Memphis, Arkansas, native, though, the Final Four run makes all the sacrifices worth it.

“It makes it real special,” Moore said. “This is a winning program, I’ve been winning since I’ve been here. I couldn’t ask for a better place to be at, honestly. Auburn is a special place, and like I said, it’s all about winning.”

Cardwell and Moore represent the experienced side of an Auburn team that was put together through a number of avenues.

The group has it all. A five-star freshman, mid-major transfers, high-major transfers, former junior college players and a former Division II player. But for Bruce Pearl, his formula seemed to work in 2025.

Chaney Johnson, a former in-state recruit and star at Alabama-Huntsville, could’ve never predicted that he’d be playing in a Final Four when he was a young player at the Division II level.

Now, he’s doing so after scoring eight points and grabbing six rebounds in the Elite Eight.

“I’ve kind of always been an underdog,” Johnson said. “So, I mean, I’m just grateful, and I’m just going to continue to praise my Lord, because he blessed me so much.”

For Miles Kelly, Sunday was a chance for him to clinch a Final Four berth in his hometown of Atlanta, a year after transferring away from his hometown school, Georgia Tech.

“To be able to have the chance of making it to the Final Four, and making it to the national championship, in my home city, with my family and stuff watching, it means a lot to me,” Kelly said. “I didn’t have the best game last game or the best game this game, but I think at the end of the day, we’re still going to the Final Four and hopefully make it to the national championship.”

With a Final Four berth achieved, the only left for this Auburn team to check off the list is the one feat the program has never accomplished: A national championship.

It won’t be easy, with games against Florida and either Duke or Houston standing in the Tigers’ way. But for now, Auburn can celebrate as the program and its players continue to reach new heights.

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

General

Alabama official’s plan to rename Lake Michigan after Auburn’s win comes from Trump

Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth has an idea for commemorating Auburn’s second trip to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four.

In a post on social media site X, Ainsworth suggested a new name for Lake Michigan — Gulf of Auburn.

“We will be working on a resolution this week renaming a certain body of water. #WarEagle” Ainsworth posted.

Included was a map renaming the lake as the “Gulf of Auburn,” an allusion to President Trump renaming of the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.

Ainsworth, a likely candidate for governor of Alabama in 2026, visited the White House this week “to discuss widening I-65 from the Tennessee line to the Gulf of America.”

Auburn defeated Michigan State 70-64 to clinch its second Final Four berth in program history Sunday night.

That came after a 78-65 win over Michigan Friday to get to the Elite Eight. Auburn next plays Florida for a chance to go to the title game.

That wasn’t the only comment about owning the state of Michigan.

General

What Bruce Pearl said about Johni Broome’s availability in the Final Four

Auburn basketball punched its ticket to the Final Four after defeating Michigan State 70-64 in the Elite 8 round Sunday.

However, the Tigers victory came with a little scare in the second half as leading scorer Johni Broome went down with a right elbow injury.

Despite checking back in the game, Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said the team will monitor Broome’s elbow ahead of Saturday’s game against Florida.

“I didn’t get any diagnosis. When Johni came out of the locker room, I hadn’t talked to the doctor, but I just asked him, are you good to go? He said, I am. I said, well, get your ass in there,” Pearl said postgame.

“I think we won’t really know until tomorrow and see what that was. Whether it’s a slight hyperextension or whatever it was. Obviously, the doctors were able to examine it and determine that there was no damage. I bet you it will be pretty sore Monday, though.”

Broome broke down the moments in the locker room and what gave him the confidence to check back in the game.

“I went to the locker room. We have a great support staff. I checked my arm out. The Doc said nothing’s wrong, you’re good. Nothing serious. So, at that moment, I just wanted to help my teammates,” Broome said postgame.

“If that’s coming back out and playing and hitting one shot and grabbing the rebound, I was going to do it. [Dylan Cardwell] needed a break, so I went in for a couple minutes just to help us win.”

Auburn will meet the No. 1 seed Florida Gators next weekend, with the winner advancing to the national championship game.

Jerry Humphrey III covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Jerryhump3 or email him at [email protected].

General

Inside the moment Johni Broome made his return from injury to help send Auburn to the Final Four

The crowd inside State Farm Arena had been had a fever pitch all evening, but with 10:37 to play, the eerie silence felt loud.

After scoring 22 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and once again proving why he’s a candidate for National Player of the Year, Auburn’s All-American forward was on the ground in pain.

His arm was hurt, his leg was hurt, and his eyes told the story of a player worried that his run with Auburn in the NCAA tournament could be coming to an end.

Then, around five in-game minutes later, Broome emerged from the tunnel like Willis Reed in 1970. Not only that, he went straight from the locker room to the scorer’s table, returning to the game minutes after it looked like his season might have been over.

As if the scene didn’t already look like something out of a Disney movie, Broome grabbed a defensive rebound, jogged back down the court and knocked down a 3-pointer off of a Miles Kelly assist. All of that occurred within a minute of Broome checking back in.

“All glory to God,” Broome said after the game. “When I came back out, when I hit that three-ball, I called on him again. You got to always call on him. He’s always going to deliver.”

For many of his teammates, that moment felt like the dagger. Auburn was already up by nine with under five minutes left when the shot happened, but it felt like nothing could stop the Tigers from that moment forward.

Auburn forward Chaney Johnson said it sealed the game. Denver Jones called it a weight lifted off the team’s shoulders. Dylan Cardwell put his own twist on what the moment said about Broome.

“Big balls,” Cardwell said. “You couldn’t have scripted it better. I hope he gets a 30 For 30 from that shot alone.”

Despite Broome’s big shot having a storybook feel to it, few players on Auburn’s bench were surprised when the two-time All-American came out of the locker room to re-enter the game.

Associate head coach Steven Pearl said after the game that he didn’t even see Broome come out of the tunnel. The crowd started to get louder, and the next thing Pearl saw was Broome right next to him.

Pearl asked Broome if he was okay and Broome’s response was, “I can play if you need me.” Before Pearl could even respond, Cardwell motioned to be subbed out and Broome was already making his way to the scorer’s table.

“It was great to see him walk out. More so just because I’m glad he was okay,” Pearl said.

Each game in the second half of the season has felt like Broome re-making his case to be National Player of the Year. When factoring in that he finished Sunday’s game with 25 points and 14 rebounds, his comeback from injury against Michigan State felt like an exclamation point.

For the time being, though, individual awards aren’t what Broome or any of his teammates are thinking about. After cutting down the nets in Atlanta, he and the Tigers now get to play in the Final Four for the second time in school history and the first in Broome’s storied Auburn career.

“To stand on top of the ladder in front of all the Auburn fans still being there traveling and witnessing it as well and looking down and seeing my teammates, the whole Auburn family,” Broome said. “It just means the world to me.”

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

General

UFL Week 1 roundup: Teams turn the tables in openers

The Arlington Renegades and the DC Defenders missed the United Football League playoffs in 2024. But during Week 1 of the UFL’s second season, they defeated the teams that played in the league’s inaugural championship game.

In the Week 1 games:

The St. Louis Battlehawks ran for a league-record 273 yards in a 31-6 victory over the Houston Roughnecks on Friday night. Battlehawks running back Jarveon Howard’s 115 yards on 13 carries included a 74-yard touchdown run that was the longest in league history (until being broken the next day).
Arlington running back DeVeon Smith scored a 1-yard touchdown on all three of his rushing attempts and Kalen Ballage’s 110 rushing yards included a 77-yard touchdown in the Renegades’ 33-9 victory over the San Antonio Brahmas on Saturday.
With Memphis at the Michigan 22-yard line, Panthers safety Kai Nacua returned an interception 80 yards for a touchdown with 23 seconds to play to seal a 26-12 victory over the Showboats on Sunday. Nacua’s brother, wide receiver Samson Nacua, caught a 25-yard touchdown pass.
DC sacked Birmingham quarterback Alex McGough eight times in the Defenders’ 18-11 victory over the Stallions on Sunday. Defensive end Derick Roberson and inside linebacker Anthony Hines III registered two sacks apiece for DC.

Last season, the Stallions defeated the Brahmas 25-0 in the UFL Championship Game on June 16. The Defenders posted a 4-6 record and the Renegades went 3-7 in 2024.

In the UFL’s Week 1 games, 19 players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field:

St. Louis Battlehawks 31, Houston Roughnecks 6

Christopher Allen (Alabama) started at middle linebacker for the Roughnecks. Allen did not record any stats.
Roughnecks defensive tackle Shakel Brown (Troy) was designated as a game-day inactive.
Cam Carter (Minor) started at right offensive tackle for the Roughnecks.
Keenan Isaac (Midfield, Alabama State) started at cornerback for the Roughnecks. Isaac made three tackles.
Roughnecks center Avery Jones (Auburn) did not record any stats.
Mike Rivers (Troy) averaged 48.5 yards on four punts for the Roughnecks. Rivers had a 51-yard punt returned 11 yards to the St. Louis 16-yard line, a 49-yarder returned 26 yards to the St. Louis 48, a 45-yarder returned 10 yards to the St. Louis 32 and a 49-yarder returned 14 yards to the St. Louis 28.

Arlington Renegades 33, San Antonio Brahmas 9

Brahmas wide receiver Kawaan Baker (South Alabama) was designated as a game-day inactive.
Sal Cannella (Auburn) started at tight end for the Renegades. Cannella led Arlington with five receptions for 45 yards. He also caught a 2-point conversion pass after the Renegades’ first touchdown as Arlington took an 8-0 lead with 4:45 left in the first quarter.
Renegades defensive lineman DaVonte Lambert (Auburn) was designated as a game-time inactive.

Michigan Panthers 26, Memphis Showboats 12

Showboats wide receiver Dee Anderson (Alabama A&M) had an 8-yard reception.
Panthers outside linebacker De’Gabriel Floyd (Alabama A&M) is on the injured list and not eligible to play.
Showboats cornerback Eric Garror (McGill-Toolen) made six tackles.
Garrett Marino (UAB) started at defensive tackle for the Panthers. Marino made six tackles and shared one sack.
Eli Stove (Auburn) started at wide receiver for the Showboats. Stove had a 9-yard reception.
Jay Jay Wilson (Auburn) started at tight end for the Showboats. Wilson had an 8-yard reception.

DC Defenders 18, Birmingham Stallions 11

Defenders long snapper/tight end Trae Barry (Spanish Fort, Jacksonville State) handled the snaps for four field goals and three punts.
Gunner Britton (Auburn) started at right offensive tackle for the Defenders.
Deonte Brown (Austin, Alabama) started at left guard for the Stallions.
Stallions cornerback Shyheim Carter (Alabama) was designated as a game-day inactive.
Stallions defensive end D.J. Coleman (Jacksonville State) made four tackles.
Tykeem Doss (Aliceville) started at left guard for the Defenders.
Stallions guard Lachavious Simmons (Selma) did not record any stats.
Austin Watkins (UAB) started at wide receiver for the Stallions. Watkins was targeted twice but did not have a reception.
Stallions wide receiver Marlon Williams (McGill-Toolen) caught a 2-point conversion pass.

The Week 2 schedule for the UFL season includes (all times Central):

Birmingham Stallions vs. Michigan Panthers at 7 p.m. Friday, April 4 at Ford Field in Detroit (FOX)
Memphis Showboats vs. DC Defenders at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 5 at Audi Field in Washington (ABC)
Houston Roughnecks vs. Arlington Renegades at 11 a.m. Sunday, April 6 at Choctaw Stadium in Arlington, Texas (ESPN)
San Antonio Brahmas vs. St. Louis Battlehawks at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, April 6 at the Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis (FS1)

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

General

Goodman: Call God, Auburn is going to the Final Four

This is an opinion column.

____________________

Call God, as Johni Broome likes to say.

Let the Big Guy know that Auburn’s All-Everything legend not only deserves national player of the year after his Elite 8 heroics, but a statue next to Charles Barkley, too.

Michigan State wanted to make it close after Broome left the Elite 8 with his elbow injury. The pro-Auburn crowd was silent when Broome was resting on the court in pain. Then, when Broome appeared to tell his teammates that he wasn’t coming back, it felt like Auburn’s season was suddenly on the brink.

Broome’s parents were even escorted to the back to be with their son.

There was nervous energy inside Atlanta’s State Farm Arena. Was Auburn’s magical ride coming to an end?

Nah, not a chance.

Not with Broome still in the building.

When Broome emerged from the locker room and entered the game, the arena here in Atlanta erupted with love for Auburn’s captain. His elbow was wrapped with tape and over top of that was a protective sleeve.

Broome was back, and it was an inspiring gesture from Auburn’s leader, but it looked like he couldn’t lift his arm.

When Broome hit that one-armed 3-pointer a few scenes later, the Spartans were done and Auburn had punched its ticket to the Final Four. Final score: Auburn 70, Michigan State 64.

What a dream. What a time. What a team.

“All glory to God,” Broome said. “I hit the 3-ball and called game.”

Said coach Bruce Pearl: “Just keep doubting him and keep thinking that he’s not going to get to another gear. You talk about delivering at the biggest moments?”

After it was all over, and Broome was cutting down the nets, he turned around and reflected on his time at Auburn.

“Words can’t even describe it,” Broome said. “The fact that this team has been working so hard from the first time I talked to the coach. This was part of our plans and part of our goals.

“Looking down and seeing my teammates, it means the world to me getting a chance to deliver for my Auburn family.”

“It was a scary moment, but my team had my back,” Broome said after the game.

Next up, the Florida Gators in San Antonio.

When he was asked about San Antonio, Broome offered words that frame this season for his Tigers.

“Call God,” he said.

Auburn has rallied around the expression for months. What does it mean? It’s a team celebration more than a taunt directed towards opponents.

How was Broome feeling after the game? Broome noted in the postgame news conference that he was “thankful to be healthy.”

He’ll be sore, but it looks like Auburn dodged catastrophe.

Auburn is back in the Final Four for the first time since the run in 2019 when the Tigers knocked off blue-bloods Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky all in a row. This path was a little easier, but San Antonio will be a showcase for future NBA talent.

Every No.1 seed advanced to the Final Four. No Cinderellas. Only monsters, and Auburn, for all of its greatness, is 1-2 against the field.

It’s Auburn vs. Florida at 5:09 p.m. CT on Saturday in an SEC showdown and then Duke vs. Houston in the nightcap.

“I think the four teams are the four best teams in the country,” Pearl said. “That obviously doesn’t always happen.”

Neither does the atmosphere in Atlanta that helped Auburn along the way. No one who was there will ever forget it. Auburn’s fans turned the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 into a couple of home games. Everyone and their cousin were there. Even football coach Hugh Freeze made the trip despite spring practice.

Freeze, who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, joined the basketball team on the court for the victory celebration. The first person Freeze hugged was Steven Pearl, the Auburn basketball assistant who is also the son of the coach.

It was Steven Pearl who turned to the crowd in the first half and asked for more noise. Freshman Tahaad Pettiford had just drilled a 3-pointer and Auburn was cooking. The shot came amid a 17-0 run.

The arena answered Young Pearl’s request. It was so deafeningly loud in State Farm Arena at that moment that ear protection didn’t do much of anything.

Ears were ringing after it was all over, souls were singing and back in Auburn the toilet paper flew.

BE HEARD

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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.”