Alabama News

To put it in college football terms, it just meant more to Jason Aldean.

The country music singer revealed his favorite venue to perform is none other than Sanford Stadium, home of his Georgia Bulldogs.

“My favorite show I ever played,” Aldean revealed in a “Marty & McGee” tease of their CMA Fest Special. “There’s just nothing like it, man. As a Georgia fan, a kid that grew up there, and that was the only concert ever to be held in Sanford Stadium to this day.”

Aldean and Luke Bryan headlined a 2013 concert in the SEC venue to the tune of 66,000 fans.

“They had told everybody else no,” Aldean said. “(Bruce) Springsteen, REM, you name it. They’re (like), ‘No, not you guys, but you guys can come.’ I was, ‘Like, really? Alright.’”

Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks told Online Athens his athletic department is aiming to bring its next concert there in the spring of 2026.

According to the report, the concert would be held between Georgia’s spring game in April and the university’s commencement in May.

There has been a long-standing feeling that R.E.M. has always been the obvious choice to perform in the stadium. The iconic group got it’s start in Athens, but the group retired years ago.

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.

President Donald Trump is having a tough time convincing Democrats he’s handling his job well, according to a new poll that shows almost everyone on the other side of the aisle disapproves of his performance.

Trump has the support of just 3% of Democrats, according to the latest Economist/YouGov Poll released Tuesday.

Another 95% of Democrats told the survey they disapprove of Trump’s job performance.

The percentage of Republicans who disapprove of Trump’s performance is higher than Democrats who approve.

While Trump has a 92% approval rating among Republicans, 6% of GOP respondents said they disapprove of the president’s job performance.

Overall, Trump’s approval rating is underwater by 14 percentage points, the poll found.

His approval rating slid 1 percentage point to 41% from last week while his disapproval rating ticked 2 percentage points lower to 55%.

Trump started his second term with a +6 net approval rating; 49% approved of his performance then while 43% disapproved.

Trump’s presidency is in a precarious position with a large section of his base revolting over how the Jeffrey Epstein case is being handled.

During the 2024 election, Trump promised to release the so-called Epstein files.

On July 6, the Department of Justice and the FBI issued a joint memo saying there was “no incriminating ‘client list’” and “no credible evidence” that Epstein blackmailed co-conspirators who sexually abused underaged girls provided by him, Axios first reported.

MAGA was not buying the explanation after Bondi told Fox News in February that the list was on her desk.

Feigning injuries won’t come without a price starting this season.

In 2025, once the ball is spotted, if a player goes down with an injury, that will cost his team a timeout. If the team doesn’t have a timeout left, then the team will be issued a five-yard delay-of-game penalty. SEC coordinator of officials John McDaid discussed the new rule Tuesday at SEC Media Days in Atlanta.

If a player goes down because of an injury before the ball is ready for play, the team will not be charged a timeout and no penalty would be issued.

McDaid showed a play where a player went down right before the ball was snapped. Another player on the defense was starting to grab at his hamstring. Then he stopped when the defensive lineman went down with an injury.

“I see smiles out there,” McDaid said. “Sometimes these plays bring a little hilarity to the presentation.”

Previously, there was no rule in place. If a player went down with an injury at any point before the ball was snapped, officials would call timeout for injury. There was no penalty and teams wouldn’t have to use a timeout.

The new rule is an attempt to slow down fake injuries in college football.

“Sometimes players may do it on their own because it feels accepted, and that’s what we want to stop,” Steve Shaw, the national coordinator of officials, told ESPN. “I’m not sure there is a perfect solution, but I think this is a good first step. This will have impact to those that are very obvious and are late and looking to the sideline and going down. Coaches do not want to risk a timeout under any circumstances. Those are very valuable commodities in the game.”

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.

Jackson Arnold may be Auburn’s starting quarterback in 2025, but that hasn’t changed the optimism for five-star freshman signal caller Deuce Knight.

He was a highlight of Auburn’s top 10-ranked 2025 signing class and already made a strong impression during spring practice.

In an appearance on SEC Now during SEC Media Days, head coach Hugh Freeze was asked what the plan is for Knight in 2025, even if he’s behind Arnold on the depth chart.

“If Jackson is having the year that we all expect and hope he has, it’d sure be nice to convince Deuce to play in a few games and get yourself ready, because we think Jackson’s gonna be gone,” Freeze said. “At the same time, Deuce is so talented, and his ceiling is high.”

This isn’t the first time Freeze has been complimentary of Knight since he arrived on campus in January. The early enrollee freshman impressed the staff throughout spring practice, and Freeze sang his praises again on Tuesday.

“He can make every throw. He’s got a high football IQ and is coachable,” Freeze said. “Not one excuse comes out of his mouth ever. So, he’ll be ready.”

He added that it’s hard to say specifically what the plan will be for Knight, but said he thinks the freshman “has a really bright future.”

Freeze also made sure to mentioned Ashton Daniels, a transfer from Stanford who is another new addition to the quarterback room in 2025. He started in each of the last two seasons at Stanford, throwing for 1,700 yards in 2024 while adding 669 yards on the ground.

“On some quarterback runs [he] ran away from good football teams and so they’ll all be ready,” Freeze said.

Auburn will officially begin fall camp on July 29, exactly one month before the Tigers are set to kick off the 2025 season on Aug. 29 against Baylor.

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

The future for Auburn men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl has been a matter of great speculation this offseason.

Will he run for the U.S. Senate seat that will open with Tommy Tuberville entering the governor’s race?

Pearl has neither confirmed nor denied interest in the seat in interviews this summer as the chatter swirls. So AL.com went to Pearl’s boss, athletics director John Cohen, with a simple question.

Does he expect Pearl to be the head basketball coach at Auburn this season?

“I absolutely expect him to be the head coach at Auburn,” Cohen said in an interview with AL.com on Tuesday morning at SEC football media days in Atlanta, “but I, I also expect all the policies of NIL Go and, and you know, our new governing body to be upheld. But things can change. We’ve seen that.”

Cohen said he’s had “many discussions” on the matter.

“Maybe more than any coach I’ve ever been associated with, Coach Pearl, he’s a patriot and he loves his country and he loves his faith and he loves Israel,” Cohen said. “And I think at some level he’s always searching in his mind for a way for how do I make a difference in this world.

“So I don’t think anything in his future will ever be taken off the table because he’s such a great leader.”

Pearl has always been outspoken politically on social media but he’s turned up the volume this offseason. He’s written opinion pieces for publications ranging fromAL.com to the New York Post. He’s also appeared as a guest on Fox News as observers read tea leaves and speculation swirls.

Cohen said he’s also putting in the time at the Auburn basketball complex outside of the spotlight. The AD said he sees Pearl at 6:30 a.m., workouts just as he’s always been.

“He’s there, he’s in the middle of it, he’s with our kids and nothing has changed,” Cohen said. “He is spending every available moment with our kids preparing them for next season and that’s where we are right now.”

It’s also worth noting Pearl’s son, associate head coach Steven Pearl has been making multiple public appearances on behalf of the program. He was at an early July donor event in Alexander City and at a news conference last Tuesday in Birmingham announcing Auburn’s involvement in an exhibition game.

Steven Pearl in Birmingham said his appearances are a result of a long-overdue vacation his father took.

“He took some time to decompress,” Cohen said Tuesday. “You know, he’s 65 years old and he needed some time. He has the energy of a 25-year-old kid, but he needed some time to decompress and we almost insisted that he take some time away.”

The deadline to file as a candidate for the senate seat is Jan. 23, 2026 but decisions would clearly need to come sooner than that with a year-round basketball calendar.

The full practice schedule begins in September with the first exhibition game set for Oct. 15 in Birmingham against Oklahoma State.

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

When Amtrak’s long-anticipated Mardi Gras Service begins rolling between Mobile and New Orleans on Aug. 18, passengers can expect a 3.5-hour trip—with potential for an even quicker journey down the line.

But while the train is on track, much of the $178 million in federally funded infrastructure upgrades meant to support and accelerate the service is still sitting in the station.

Despite the slow start on construction, project supporters say delays won’t impact the train’s launch.

“I think the whole thing is that we have to show it will be successful,” said Knox Ross, chairman of the Southern Rail Commission (SRC), which has championed restoring Gulf Coast passenger rail since Hurricane Katrina knocked it offline nearly 20 years ago.

“What (Amtrak) did was have the schedule published based on what infrastructure is there now,” Ross said. “The schedule will be sped up as projects are completed. The idea is that these improvements, as they cut in, will improve the schedule.”

Schedules

Confusion over the new route’s timing flared in April, when Amtrak responded to questions on a social media post by citing a six-to-eight-hour one-way trip between Mobile and New Orleans—a duration far longer than the scheduled 3.5 hours. By comparison, driving from Mobile to Houston takes about seven hours.

Both Ross and Amtrak say that estimate is incorrect and likely the result of a posting error.

Marc Magliari, spokesperson for Amtrak, confirmed that while infrastructure work will continue during the launch of service, it should not derail the schedule.

“There will be several infrastructure projects that will be under construction while the service occurs,” he said, and while “related delays may occur,” he added, “schedules are always subject to change, and it is a common practice for us to shorten them as improvements are made that will reduce travel time.”

CSX work

Still, questions remain about exactly when many of those improvements will begin, let alone be completed.

Most of the work tied to the $178 million CRISI grant falls under the purview of CSX, the freight rail operator that controls much of the Gulf Coast line and once objected to Amtrak’s return to the Gulf Coast. A CSX spokesperson confirmed that the company’s grant-related work is underway but declined to offer specifics.

“The projects are designed to facilitate efficient movement of both passenger and freight trains on the Gulf Coast corridor,” said CSX spokesperson Austin Staton.

According to the Federal Railroad Administration in an email to AL.com, CSX submitted concept plans for several components on May 15. Among them:

• 13,500 feet of new track at the Gentilly Bypass near New Orleans
• 4,700 feet of rail siding in Pearlington, Mississippi
• 6,800 feet of rail siding in Biloxi
• 4,500 feet of rail siding in Gulfport
• Replacement of three hand-throw turnouts in Theodore to speed up CSX switching operations and clear the main line more efficiently

Several other upgrades funded by the CRISI grant, however, have yet to be formally submitted for approval. One such project, in Mobile, is a joint effort between CSX and the Alabama State Port Authority known as the “Virginia Street Lead.”

That work includes 1,400 feet of new track and the refurbishment of 4,100 feet of existing rail to improve access to the McDuffie Island Coal Terminal. The upgrade is intended to reduce potential conflicts between freight and passenger trains, according to the grant application.

Maggie Oliver, spokesperson with the Port Authority, said work on their project has not yet started.

Norfolk Southern

Norfolk Southern is also connected to three rail crossover projects as outlined within the CRISI grant application. A crossover is a rail track configuration that allows trains to switch between parallel tracks, enabling them to cross one track to another, and is designed to facilitate a smoother flow of train traffic on busy lines.

“Norfolk Southern will host the Gulf Coast train for just a few miles along its route from Mobile to New Orleans, as it transits to and from the CSX line into and out of New Orleans Back Belt and the New Orleans station,” said Kasandra Ortiz, spokesperson with Norfolk Southern.

The crossover projects, all located in New Orleans, will cost an estimated $20 million, Ortiz said.

She said the Gulf Coast route is part of Norfolk Southern’s 22-state service area, adding that “we are confident that these improvements will ensure efficient passenger and freight service which will continue to have a positive impact on the local tourism and the economy.”

CSX, Norfolk Southern and the Port Authority were included in a high-profile lawsuit with Amtrak that was before the U.S. Surface Transportation Board until late 2022. A confidential agreement was authorized that year, which led to the approval of the CRISI grant and a major financial investment into upgrading the rail line.

Ross said that other components listed within the CRISI grant are being handled by local governments and are likely to already have been completed. He said that grade crossing improvements in Mississippi are finished.

Train station projects, also outlined in the CRISI grant, are expected to be completed by the time the Mardi Gras service begins. The final station project to be under construction was the new platform in Mobile, which will be located adjacent to Cooper Riverside Park and next to the Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center along Water Street.

Service

David Clark, president & CEO with Visit Mobile and one of the Alabama commissioners on the SRC, said that Amtrak’s posting of the train schedule “gives me confidence” about the project’s efficiency and the timing of the trains.

“That doesn’t mean to say that the scheduled routes will not change from time to time,” Clark said. “I know Amtrak will communicate those changes as they happen.”

Amtrak, in announcing the service start date on July 1, said the twice-daily service between the cities will begin each morning from Mobile at 6:30 a.m. The westbound stops include the following locations: 7:13 a.m. in Pascagoula, 7:45 a.m. in Biloxi, 8:11 a.m. in Gulfport, 8:42 a.m. in Bay St. Louis, and 10:30 a.m. in New Orleans.

Similar durations exist for the evening trip from Mobile to New Orleans, and the two eastbound trips from New Orleans to Mobile.

Amtrak Mardi Gras Service includes three cars and two locomotives. Seating capacity is 135, with the ability to add more. The Amtrak train will offer Coach and Business class services in addition to Café services.

The Café menu will feature Gulf Coast cuisine, including a Muffaletta sandwich, Pralines and Moon Pies, and local beers like New Orleans-based Abita and Gulfport-based Chandeleur Island Brewing Company.

The initial trip from Mobile to New Orleans is sold out, but coach seats are still available for the return trip on the 4:30 p.m. departure from New Orleans eastbound to Mobile. The fare is $46.

Amtrak announced on July 1, that adult coach fares from Mobile to New Orleans started at $15 each way, and less for shorter distances.

One week later, on Monday, Aug. 25, the fare is $24 for a one-way coach trip from Mobile to New Orleans, $59 for a business class fare. The 4:30 p.m. departure from New Orleans is similarly priced.

Kirby Smart in entering his 10th season as head football coach at Georgia, but he drew on his nine seasons on the Alabama staff when talking about how the game has changed in recent years.

Making his annual appearance at SEC Media Days on Tuesday in Atlanta, Smart was asked about who on his team was showing the most “fire, passion and energy” as the 2025 season approaches. Smart — who was part of three national championship teams at Alabama and has won two titles at Georgia — said that remains to be determined, but had no problem describing some of the all-time greats in that regard he’d been around during his career.

“The culture in college football is slowly changing,” Smart said. “You’ve got to remember, I was part of a 9-year program and a 9-year run (at Alabama) that was one of the greatest ever in college football, OK? And now I’m at a place that’s doing it right and competing on a really high level.

“I’ve seen what it looks like to have fire, passion, and energy, and I’ve seen guys that were really hungry and I go back to (Alabama’s) Dont’a Hightower, Rolando McClain, Julio Jones and Trent Richardson and Mark Ingram all the way to (Georgia’s) Roquan Smith to Nolan Smith, to Jordan Davis, to George Pickens, to Jake Fromm … D’Andre Swift. You know what they had? They had a love for the game and fire, passion, and energy. That’s not the same as it used to be.”

So why is it different now? Easy, Smart said — players have become too “comfortable” in the NIL era, where many have already been “paid” rather than working to get a big-time NFL contract.

“You can say what you want, but there’s people more in college football today, especially in the SEC, that are comfortable with where they are,” Smart said. “’This is a pretty good life. I’m earning $200k a year. I’m very comfortable.’ And you don’t reach your goals being comfortable. You don’t attain great success. None of those people I mentioned before were ever comfortable. They were aiming at something. They had a goal; they wanted to go achieve it.

“What you see now is, where’s the drive and energy and enthusiasm? Well, we want people that have it. We’re going to seek it; we’re going to try to go find it. And if we can just do that 1% better than everybody else, it gives us an opportunity to be ahead we’re going to go.”

Despite former Alabama football quarterback Greg McElroy’s attempts to temper the madness, his Monday claim that he had heard from someone “in the know” that Nick Saban could return to coaching became the dominant story at SEC media days.

Ole Miss coach and former Saban assistant Lane Kiffin said it wouldn’t surprise him, but longtime Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart didn’t sound convinced on Tuesday.

When asked about it, Smart began with a joke.

“I called him and offered him (Will) Muschamp’s job,” Smart said in Atlanta, mentioning his former Bulldog co-defensive coordinator. “But he’s overqualified so he wasn’t interested.”

Smart worked at Alabama under Saban for nine seasons. He then headed back to his alma mater, where he’s won two national championships, even beating the Crimson Tide in the national title game for the 2021 season.

Smart acknowledged his old boss’ competitive fire but said he didn’t believe the rumor of a return.

“I heard all that scuttlebutt and everything about it, I almost laughed,” Smart said. “It was like somebody needed something interesting to talk about yesterday, so they chose to got to coach Saban and do it. The game’s better with him involved. He is involved. He is passionate about it. He and I still talk and share ideas from time to time about defensive philosophies and the way to do things.

“And he’s still watching tape and very, very involved in football. He loves it. And his brilliance, as brilliant as he is, is around football. I mean, it’s around scheme. It’s around another way to do something, to stay ahead of the offensive minds. And I think that’s one of the unique talents that he has, and he still loves that. He’s still passionate about that.”

Saban has moved into media since leaving Alabama in January 2024. He won an Emmy for his work on ESPN’s College Gameday show.

He’s also been enjoying the spoils of retirement, playing golf and spending time with family. Smart predicted Saban’s wife, Terry, might have something to say about a possible decision to return to coaching.

“Make no mistake about it,” Smart said. “The boss at home will make that call for him, not him.”

Kirby Smart didn’t get to leave his press conference at SEC Media Days without a question about one of college football’s premier matchups in 2025.

The final question of his time at the main stage Tuesday, Smart was asked for his thoughts on the rematch with Alabama football.

“It’s a great atmosphere just like we went into last year to play them, a night game on the road,” Smart said. “They’ll come to our place and play. A tremendous atmosphere. I know a lot of people from Tuscaloosa coming over to the game. Athens, the city of, loves it. We bring a great environment.”

A season ago, Alabama defeated Georgia at Bryant-Denny Stadium 41-34. This season, the Bulldogs will look to return the favor at Sanford Stadium.

“It’s what college football’s about,” Smart said. “This game is about playing great matchups like that. It’s what the fanbases want. It’s what the nation wants. It’s what college football needs. It’s what college football and the SEC is about. Georgia, Alabama at home at our place, wish it could happen more often. Seems like we’ve played over there three or four times since they’ve come to see us and play. It’s a great opportunity and looking forward to it.”

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.