Right now, the first 100 new players to use our exclusive Dara Casino promo code LIVE30 get 300,000 Gold Coins and 30 free Sweeps Coins with a $9.99 purchase. That’s a 300% bonus.
Act fast, because only the first 100 lucky players get to take advantage of Dara’s exclusive bonus offer.
Make the $9.99 purchase to get 300% extra bonus coins.
Important: You must be one of the first 100 new players to claim this Dara Casino promo code to be eligible for 300,000 Gold Coins and 30 free Sweeps Coins for only $9.99.
Dara Casino is shaping up as one of the best sweepstakes casinos, and this new-user exclusive promo backs that up.
Other Dara Casino promos
Some of the top sweepstakes casino bonuses are awarded to existing players at Dara Casino. Below, I’ll show you some ways to get bonus coins at Dara Casino:
Daily log-in bonus
Players are eligible to receive free Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins by simply logging into your Dara Casino account each day. Just make sure to manually claim your bonus each day:
Day 1: 500 Gold Coins + 0.1 Sweeps Coins
Day 2: 600 GC + 0.1 SC
Day 3: 1,000 GC + 0.2 SC
Day 4: 1,200 GC + 0.2 SC
Day 5: 1,500 GC + 0.3 SC
Day 6: 1,800 GC + 0.4 SC
Day 7: 2,000 GC + 0.5 SC
Connect with Google or Facebook
You will earn 15,000 Gold Coins and 1 free Sweeps Coin after connecting either your Google or Facebook account. You will find this offer in the Free Rewards section. After connecting and verifying through your email, you will receive the rewards from this bonus.
Referral program
Send a friend your unique referral link. Once they sign up and make an initial purchase of at least $20, you will be credited 25,000 Gold Coins and 2.5 free Sweeps Coins.
What you can use our exclusive Dara Casino promo code to play
Dara Casino provides around 100 games. The selection is mostly made up of free-to-play slots, but you will find some scratchcard games and one table game in the form of blackjack.
You will come across slot titles powered by software companies TaDa Games and Jili Games, along with some titles made by in-house software. This makes for some unique playing opportunities.
Different themed games are available as well, including shooting games, which supply an arcade-style gaming experience. A standout aspect of Dara Casino is its high RTP slots, with many titles having average return to players of over 97%.
You can use the 300,000 Gold Coins and 30 free Sweeps Coins that come from using Dara Casino bonus code LIVE30 to play any of the games available on the site.
If you or a loved one has questions or needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit 1800gambler.net for more information.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Whenever Terry Curtis retired as head football coach of UMS-Wright after a quarter of a century, it was going lead to a huge change at the Mobile private school.
Curtis won 284 games and 8 state titles in 26 years with a largely run-oriented offense and a stingy defense.
Enter Sam Williams, a 34-year-old Mississippi coaching prodigy, who is flipping the script at UMS to a more wide-open, offensive passing attack.
“It’s a lot different,” Williams said earlier this week during a 7-on-7 event at Saraland. “We are getting there. I’m one of those guys who wants it to be perfect right now, and we’ve only been doing it for three and a half months. I’m tickled with how far we’ve come. I know we have a long way to go, but I think if we keep progressing at the rate we are we are really going to be good at it when the season hits.”
UMS-Wright head coach Sam Williams in action during a 7-on-7 competition Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Saraland, Ala. (Mike Kittrell | [email protected])
One of the biggest questions – not just in Coastal Alabama – but in the state in general entering the 2025 high school season is centered around exactly what UMS will look like in the post-Curtis era. There are few holdovers from Curtis’ staff – UMS mainstay Gerald Jones being one of the exceptions — but that turnover wasn’t unexpected.
“It was all cordial,” Williams said. “I just said, ‘Guys, everyone has a job. If you want to stay, you’re good. If you want to go, no hard feelings. It’s going to be a lot different.’ Some people didn’t want to do that because things had been done a certain way around here forever. There is nothing wrong with that. It is just part of it. We have a great staff. I think we went from being one of the older staffs in the state to one of the younger staffs. I’m one of the elders, and I’m 34.”
Williams’ staff also includes veteran coach Phil Lazenby, who is returning to UMS after leading Bayside Academy for 16 years and Bayshore Christian for two.
“We had a lot of staff turnover, so that was tough early on,” Williams said. “But I’ve been really happy with getting a new staff in. We are continuing a great tradition and just doing it a little differently. I think it has gone really well. I think kids are buying in. We are learning how to compete and learning how to do it the way we are going to do it now.”
Williams, a former Mississippi State wide receiver, spent his entire coaching career up to this point in Mississippi. He has won everywhere he has been.
He went 27-11 in three years at Class 2A Pelahatchie (2017-2019), led 5A Ridgeland to the state semifinals and a 10-3 record in his only year there and had a 45-10 record in Brandon.
Williams has described his coaching philosophy and schemes as “borderline, over-the-top, super aggressive” on offense and defense.
“We will be fast paced, high tempo,” he said at his introductory press conference in March. “People come to our games. I preach attacking football, family atmosphere, playing for your brother. I think that is real apparent when you see my teams play.”
He said when he took the job at UMS, he was leaving a talent-filled Brandon roster that included multiple future Power 4 players. He won’t necessarily have that in Mobile. UMS has won and won big over the years with hard-nosed, smart football players who react well to coaching.
“I understand we are not going to be as big, fast and strong as some people but we know what we have to do to win,” he said. “Let’s not make excuses. Let’s get out every day and compete and be the best versions of ourselves we can be.”
UMS opens the season against rival St. Paul’s at home on Aug. 22.
State champion coach switching roles
Veteran Alabama coach Vince DiLorenzo has stepped down as head coach at Coosa Valley but will remain at the school as an assistant coach.
In an unusual switch, Coosa announced this week that assistant Reece Donahoo would become the head coach with DiLorenzo helping him as the assistant. Andrew Simonson of the Shelby County Reporter announced the news this week.
DiLorenzo spent two stints at Coosa Valley as head coach, leading the team to an AISA state title in 2010 and returning in 2021 for four more years. He also was Spain Park’s first head coach from 2002-2005 and spent 17 years at Gadsden High from 1984-2000 where he won 127 games and a pair of state titles.
DiLorenzo’s 1991 Class 5A state championship team was the first championship team I covered. Those Tigers, with offensive coordinator Mike Argo and defensive coordinator Charles Nails, went 14-0 and beat Blount 20-7 at Prichard Stadium in the state championship game. Almost every time I pass by that Stadium on I-65 now that I live on the Gulf Coast, I think about that game and that night.
Coach Di and I became fast friends that year, and I learned a lot about being a journalist from that staff and that team. DiLorenzo has won 190 games in 31 years as a head coach.
Daphne coach honored
Daphne High head football coach Kenny King was honored this week as a “Coach of Character” by Positive Athlete, a program that celebrates high character students and coaches who have overcome difficult circumstances, given back to their schools and communities or have an infectious positive attitude to be around.
King was recognized as one of the Southeast Regional Winners. The organization described King this way on social media:
“Kenny King leads by example, attending games weekly to personally connect with every student-athlete from elementary through high school while implementing programs like free ACT prep to ensure their success beyond sports. His visionary leadership has secured $35-plus million in facility upgrades and created assessment programs that bridge academic and athletic excellence, proving that his genuine care for students drives transformational change through the entire Daphne community.”
King, a Daphne graduate and former Alabama and NFL standout, is entering his 10th season as the head coach of his alma mater. He also served as the school’s athletic director until Baldwin County recently decided to separate the head football coach and AD roles at each of its schools. King is 59-39 with the Trojans.
New coach at Faith Academy
Faith Academy has announced the hire of Christian Shelter as its new girls basketball coach.
According to a school release, “Coach Shelter brings a wealth of experience and a strong foundation of character to our athletic program. With multiple years of coaching at both the high school and collegiate levels, over three years of personal training experience, and five years of playing professional basketball internationally with FIBA teams, she offers a dynamic blend of leadership, athletic knowledge, and mentorship.”
Thought for the Week
“When God selects you, it doesn’t matter who rejects you.”
Ben Thomas is the high school managing producer at AL.com. He has been named one of the 50 legends of the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Follow him on twitter at @BenThomasPreps or email him at [email protected].
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Federal judges will weigh a request to bring Alabama back under the preclearance requirement of the Voting Rights Act after ruling the state intentionally diluted the voting strength of Black residents when drawing congressional lines.
Black voters and civil rights organizations, who successfully challenged Alabama’s congressional map, are asking a three-judge panel to require any new congressional maps drawn by state lawmakers to go through federal review before being implemented. The Alabama attorney general and the U.S. Department of Justice oppose the request.
Judges on Thursday set a July 29 hearing on the request.
The three-judge panel in 2023 ordered the use of a new congressional map in Alabama. The judges selected the new map after saying they were “deeply troubled” that state lawmakers had ignored their directive to draw a second majority-Black district or something close to it.
Plaintiffs said Alabama’s actions and the defiance of the court order mirror the state’s actions in the 1960s.
“Alabama sought to ignore, evade, and strategically frustrate attempts to remedy racial discrimination,” lawyers for the plaintiffs wrote in a court filing.
The request would require new congressional maps drawn through the 2030 Census cycle to undergo federal review by the court before being used.
The Voting Rights Act for decades required that states with a history of discrimination — including many in the South — get federal approval before changing the way they hold elections. The requirement of preclearance effectively went away in 2013 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled, in a case arising from Alabama, that the provision determining which states are covered was outdated and unconstitutional.
Plaintiffs argue that Alabama’s actions should trigger the so-called “bail-in” section of the Voting Rights Act that enables courts to retain jurisdiction and exercise preclearance power.
“Preclearance flips the burden on the State to prove its innocence. That power is extraordinary,” Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall’s office wrote in a court filing opposing the request.
The Justice Department is backing Alabama in asking the judges to reject the request.
“Preclearance is permissible only when jurisdictions have engaged in pervasive, flagrant, widespread, and rampant discrimination,” Justice Department lawyers wrote in the filing signed by the acting chief of the voting section. Alabama’s actions did not rise to that level, they argued.
The same three-judge panel in May permanently blocked Alabama from using the state-drawn map that they said flouted their directive to draw a plan that was fair to Black voters. The state is appealing that decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Amazon Prime Day 2025 is officially underway, and one of the best live deals right now is a rare offer for Prime members and book lovers a like: three months of Audible Premium Plus completely free.
This is actually a great Prime Day deal as this extended 90-day trial period is a major upgrade from Audible’s standard 30-day offer, making it a great time to listen into audiobooks, podcasts and exclusive Audible Originals without spending a dime.
After the Audible free trial ends, the subscription auto-renews at $14.95 per month, but you can cancel anytime before the three months are up to avoid being charged.
One credit per month to download any audiobook you choose, including new and best-selling titles
Unlimited listening from the Audible Plus Catalog, featuring thousands of binge-worthy series, podcasts, and more
Audible, owned by Amazon, gives subscribers access to a massive library of audio content that can be streamed or downloaded from anywhere, perfect for summer road trips, workouts or winding down at night.
This is just one of many standout offers going on during Prime Day 2025, so be sure to check out other deals on Fire TVs, Echo devices and Amazon Music Unlimited while they last.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
P.J. Guy said he left “home” at Helena to become the new head baseball coach at Oak Mountain High School.
After all, Guy is the only coach Helena has ever had and he led the Huskies to a Class 6A state championship in 2017 and runner-up finishes in 2015 and 2018.
“Helena has been my home,” he said after being announced as the replacement for Derek Irons, who resigned to become an assistant at Briarwood Christian. “Although I’m leaving for another job, I’ll probably always consider that as my home.
“I met this past Monday with the boys and it was a very, very tough, emotional day for me. I let them know I was leaving and those boys – and not just them, all the former players I’ve had over 11 years – I cherish them all. It’s not just the players, it’s all my co-workers who have become family.
“It’s been a roller-coaster week, but I’m grateful and ready for it.”
Irons recorded 222 wins in 10 seasons at the helm at Oak Mountain, but the Eagles have missed the postseason for the past four seasons and were 17-17 in 2025.
“They contacted me about two weeks ago,” Guy said of his journey to a new job. “Through a lot of prayer and thought of whether I could leave Helena – the toughest part since it was home for the last 11 years – all the dots connected for me to make the move at this stage of my career.
“The opportunity to take a baseball program to another level excites me. It’s the right time for me in my life.”
Guy brings a 346-216 career record to Oak Mountain headed into his 20th season – 15th as a head coach. He also was the first baseball coach at Sipsey Valley. He took the Bears to a Class 3A runner-up finish in 2014.
The coach said he had a connection to the Eagles. “My wife (Lee Anne) is an Oak Mountain graduate,” he said, “and although I’ve never worked there, I’m very familiar with the school and the community.”
Guy also knows what he’s in for with the move to Class 7A and Area 6. “I’m a competitor and it’s a challenge to move up to play 7A baseball in the Birmingham metro area with Hewitt-Trussville, Vestavia Hills and Hoover. I think that’s probably the strongest 7A area in the state. That excites me, just the challenge of that.
“I am friends with all three of those coaches. They (Jeff Mauldin at Hewitt, Jamie Harris at Vestavia and Adam Moseley at Hoover) are all great coaches and all great men who run great programs. We’ve competed against them all the past 11 years. I’ve got a ton of respect for them and I look forward to playing more meaningful games with them. I think that’s what you look forward to as a player – to play against the best.”
Guy, who graduated from Holt High School and played outfield on a junior college World Series team at Wallace State-Hanceville Community College before finishing at AUM, said he was eager to start building relationships at his new school.
“I’m looking to get involved in the community and the school,” he said. “I have to build relationships, coming to a big school where I don’t know the players. The next four to six weeks, we’ll just be building those relationships and going to work.”
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
You’d have to go back to Florida in 1984 to find the last time a first-time champion won the SEC in football, but that’s what is being predicted this year.
Texas, SEC runner-up in its 2024 debut season, is the pick to take home the conference title in its second year in the league. The Longhorns received seven of nine votes from AL.com sports staff members as part of the 79th annual SEC post-spring football report, first published by the Birmingham News in 1947.
Georgia was the correct prediction of last year’s AL.com panel, beating Texas 22-19 in overtime in Atlanta for its second SEC championship in three years. The Bulldogs were picked to finish second this year, receiving one first-place vote.
Texas, which returns a star-laden defense led by tackle Colin Simmons, linebacker Anthony Hill and safety Michael Taaffe, totaled 140 poll points to outdistance Georgia (130) in the overall preseason rankings. Highly touted sophomore Arch Manning takes over as the Longhorns’ quarterback following the departure of Quinn Ewers to the NFL.
Georgia finished 11-3 last season, falling to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl College Football Playoff Quarterfinal. The Bulldogs must replace star quarterback Carson Beck — who transferred to Miami — as well as 13 players drafted by NFL teams, three of them in the first round.
Auburn, which finished 5-7 last season, received the other first-place vote. The Tigers have not won the SEC title since 2014.
Teams were ranked 1-thru-16, with 16 points for first place on down to one for 16th (last). Mississippi State, which went 2-10 in 2024, was named last on eight of nine ballots.
Alabama, coming off a disappointing 9-4 finish under first-year coach Kalen DeBoer, is picked to finish third in the SEC this year. The Crimson Tide did not receive any first- or second-place votes for the first time in recent memory, but totaled 118 poll points to rank behind only Texas and Georgia.
LSU (103 points) is the pick to finish fourth, with Ole Miss (90), Florida (87), South Carolina (82) and Texas A&M (81) rounding out the top half of the projected standings. Tennessee (80) checks in ninth, followed by Oklahoma (73), Missouri (68), Auburn (64), Vanderbilt (46), Arkansas (31), Kentucky (21) and Mississippi State (10).
Here’s how the SEC voting looks in table form:
Votes
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Pts
1. TEX
7
1
1
140
2. UGA
1
5
1
1
1
130
3. BAMA
5
2
2
118
4. LSU
1
2
2
1
2
1
103
5. OM
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
90
6. FLA
3
3
1
1
1
87
7. SC
2
2
1
3
1
82
8. TAMU
1
1
1
1
3
2
81
9. TENN
1
4
1
2
1
80
10. OK
2
1
2
2
1
1
73
11. MIZZ
1
1
2
1
2
2
68
12. AUB
1
1
2
2
2
1
64
13. VAN
1
1
1
3
2
1
46
14. ARK
1
1
1
4
2
31
15. KY
1
2
5
1
21
16. MSU
1
8
10
COMING SATURDAY: AL.com’s 2025 preseason All-SEC team
COMING SUNDAY: Answering key questions about the SEC’s top teams and players in 2025.
Creg Stephenson is a sports writer for AL.com. He has covered college football for a variety of publications since 1994. Contact him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @CregStephenson.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
We have an announcement over on the Down in Alabama podcast today. We’re going to talk about a new 8-episode podcast coming from AL.com called “American Shrapnel.” It’s all about the manhunt for 1996 Olympic Park bomber Eric Rudolph after he bombed a Birmingham abortion clinic. Columnist John Archibald and producer John Hammontree will join me on the DIA podcast to talk about “American Shrapnel” and some related experiences.
Pearl’s frequent social-media posting about his support of Israel has grown into voicing support for President Trump and/or conservative issues. In fact, this off-season you’re more likely to see Pearl post about politics than basketball.
Pearl himself hasn’t indicated that he’s interested in the Senate seat. But he hasn’t seized an opportunity to slam the door shut on it, either. He didn’t respond to a request for comment from AL.com. He went on the podcast “One Jewish State,” was asked about it, and said “there is no news to be made” and “I care about these issues but I love Auburn and I love being Auburn’s basketball coach.”
Barkley told Johnson: “I respect and trust him. I just told him to do what he wants to do. Obviously, he’s made Auburn basketball relevant, which makes me happy. I said, ‘Hey, man, as much as I love you being the head basketball coach at Auburn, you taking Auburn to two Final Fours, something I never thought would happen, but I do understand.’
“If he wants to run, I’m gonna support him 100%.”
(Remember years ago when Barkley teased everyone by saying he was running for governor?)
It sounds like the Pearl thing is going to be a thing until Pearl is emphatic that it’s not anything. Or files to run.
On Thursday, the city approved the annexation of about 1,014 acres south of the Tennessee River in Morgan and Marshall counties. Of course, Huntsville’s biggest area stretches across Madison and Limestone counties.
According to City Manager of Planning and Zoning Services Thomas Nunez, there’s only one single-family home on the land, and no more homes are planned.
Wiz Kidz LLC and the company that operates Smyrna Ready Mix Concrete LLC petitioned Huntsville to annex the land. It allows the city to regulate Smyrna’s quarry there.
This also means that Huntsville has annexed more than 1,600 acres this year and is now the 37th-largest city geographically in the nation. The Rocket City is roughly the size of Chicago and San Francisco.
About that Amber alert
You may have received an Amber Alert on your phone Thursday afternoon. It was for 3-year-old Jibreel Harun, who was missing out of Auburn, reports AL.com’s Carol Robinson.
He was found to be missing when police found the bodies of the child’s mother, 34-year-old Tyeisha Williams, and 13-year-old Zynniya Wright in their home in Auburn.
Police are looking for Aaron Dontay Williams, who is the husband of Williams and the father of young Jibreel. They said he’s not the father of the teenage girl.
Williams has a criminal history and ties to the Huntsville area. Police said he could be driving a gray 2010 Honda Accord. He’s a 6-foot-1, 240-pound 41-year-old Black male and described by police as armed and dangerous.
Crime Stoppers and the FBI are offering a $15,000 reward. If you have information call 911 or the Auburn Police Department.
The order, which ends at sunrise Monday, is to honor the victims of last week’s flooding in Texas Hill Country. Those victims include 8-year-old Sarah Marsh of Mountain Brook, who was one of 27 killed at Camp Mystic. Among the many who are still missing are Eddie Santana Sr. and his wife, Ileana, of Mobile, and their granddaughter 5-year-old Mila Rosa Santana.
More Alabama News
Born on This Date
In 1897, former Birmingham Commissioner of Public Safety Bull Connor of Selma.
In 1975, former NFL Pro Bowler Willie Anderson of Mobile.
The podcast
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
On one end of the Facetime video call in late May was Labaron Philon.
On the call with him: Alabama men’s basketball assistant coach Preston Murphy. And Philon had a question for him.
What would you do if I said I was coming back?
“Labaron’s got a joker’s personality,” Murphy told AL.com Tuesday.
But Philon wasn’t joking. He made it official and announced publicly May 28, the night of the deadline for him to remove his name from the NBA Draft process and maintain his college eligibility.
“We were so excited,” Murphy said. “It was kind of like a shock. In my mind, he was gone.”
The door never fully closed on Philon returning to Alabama for his sophomore season. His public comments seemed to all but close the door completely. But as it turns out, the door always remained slightly ajar.
It was just a matter of would Philon actually step through it.
At first, Philon declared for the NBA Draft and did not publicly indicate he had maintained his college eligibility. But he had. The guard told ESPN he was “all in on starting my pro career” on April 14.
By April 29, he cracked the door open ever so slightly to a return to college.
“I would say 100% draft, but you know, things can change,” Philon said on The Schuz Show.
“You never know. But I would say I love ‘Bama. The whole program, the school, the state. It was all love when I was playing there. I never received any hatred or nothing like that. Walking around school and just being a regular kid again was mostly the most fun part for me. I’ll never take that for granted. But I’m all in on the draft right now because I feel like I want to be a pro. You never know what can happen. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
Meanwhile, the Crimson Tide was trying to prepare for the 2025-26 season.
“We were preparing and constructing a roster that didn’t have him included,” Murphy said.
Alabama had pieced together most of its roster by that point, adding compelling talent via the transfer portal with the likes of Noah Williamson, Taylor Bol Bowen and Jalil Bethea. But the roster was still lacking at guard.
Alabama was actually set to play host to USC transfer guard Desmond Claude that weekend. Then Philon changed his mind.
“We were just ecstatic he’s back,” guard Houston Mallette said. “He’s going to help out the team a lot. I felt like that was the one position we really needed and were looking for.”
Mallette’s phone also rang one night in late May. He didn’t recognize the number, though. It was a group FaceTime call, though. Included on the video call he saw all the returners: Latrell Wrightsell Jr., Aden Holloway and Aiden Sherrell, plus one unknown number.
The unknown number: Philon’s. He had changed it. But that wasn’t the biggest surprise. No. The true surprise was he revealed his plan to return.
“I didn’t know he was coming back,” forward Aiden Sherrell said. “Coach kept it a secret from us. When we found out, we were super excited.”
As part of the call, Philon also had a message to send.
“His whole mindset when he came back, what he told us on the phone and told us in the locker room is we have unfinished business,” Mallette said. “We want to win the whole thing. We want to win it all. We feel like we came up short on our goals. That’s kind of the attitude of our locker room: We’re really hungry. I think he’s incredibly hungry. He’s going to do great.”
Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Buddy’s received plenty of nominations as well as the most votes in our poll, which featured hidden gem eateries from all over the state that came up early and often among submissions from readers, despite not having as much notoriety as the state’s more iconic spots.
That said, it wasn’t the only Alabama barbecue joint readers said is deserving of more recognition. To prove it, you can read some of the submissions we received for restaurants all over the state below. Plus, be on the lookout for more unsung barbecue features to come.
Sam’s Smokehouse in Fayette is a reader favorite in our search for Alabama’s best barbecue. (Ben Flanagan / AL.com)
“Sam’s Smokehouse’s award-winning ribs in Fayette are as good as it gets.” — Sammy Smith
“T-N-T BBQin York is the best barbecue and owners. Very friendly. Always a line waiting to get to the barbecue.” — Deborah Ezell Truelove
“I’ve never had a bad meal from Good Ole Boys BBQ in Childersburg, and the barbecue sauce is my favorite!” — Cassy Gable
“A slab and More BBQ in Demopolis! I will die on the hill that they have the best ribs in Alabama.” — Harrison Sentell
“Creekside BBQ in Pelham. They also have one of the best smash burgers around and the best side with their smoked cheese grits.” — Jeremy Hamm
“EG’S BBQin Bremen has the best brisket and pork belly taco you can put in your mouth.” — Matt Chandler
“Kendall’s BBQ at the 114 exit in Georgiana! Ask any yearly beach travelers and they’ll tell you that’s their main stop!” — Tammy Head Hicks
“Tate’s Bar-B-Que in Scottsboro! The BEST barbeque in the world is coming out of that little cinderblock building. It has been there my entire life, decades of serving our community with this family-owned business. Definitely worth you checking out. I always order inside meat, and it is fabulous EVERY TIME!” — Abby Gentry Benson
“I drive to Butts To Go in Pell City for all my barbecue, and their Thanksgiving meals are wonderful! Best dressing I’ve ever found. Anytime I visit relatives in Tennessee, I am expected to bring their barbecue, delicious potato salad and wings.” — Bianca Judd Allen
Chequita Walker is picture here at the takeout window of JJ’s BBQ with her adopted son, JJ. Walker opened her takeout barbecue business to make some extra money to pay for JJ’s daycare.(Bob Carlton/[email protected])
“JJ’s Barbecue in Elba! This, folks, is REAL BBQ that is outstanding. Anything, and I mean anything, on the menu is delectable. You’ll stand in line for a bit, but the food is so very worth it. Small town businesses such as JJ’s deserve some love.” — Debra Calhoun
“If y’all drive up to try it, no other BBQ place will even be close to how delicious Chief & Snoogie’s Hickory Pit in Trinity is. Their stuffed potatoes are next level. We have tried six other barbecue places in our little town, and nobody’s potatoes look/taste like theirs! Their family pack with tater salad is another huge hit. Out of this world flavor. Don’t take my word for it, come on and try it yourselves!” — Clair Bear
“Smokehouse Pit BBQ in Millbrook has excellent brisket, and their breakfasts are to die for! They catered our daughter’s wedding and the food and service were exceptional!” — Tonya Copeland Lawless
“Holy Smoke BBQ in Hartselle deserves so much more love and recognition for their above and beyond barbecue!” — Laura Stevenson
“The Ranch Housein Elba is an under-appreciated rising star.” — Don Hulgan
The Shack BBQ in Talladega, Ala., has been smoking since 1983.(Bob Carlton/[email protected])
“The Shack BBQ in Talladega! Amazing people for so many decades! Best BBQ around!” — Brook Wills-Dabbs
“Big Man’s Barbecue in Florence is a must-try! The brisket baked potato is amazing.” — Lisa Marie Myrick
“I live in North Alabama, and we have tried all the others. Pigskin All Sports BBQ in Hartselle is the best all-around. The barbecue, the turkey, the ribs, stuffed potatoes…it is all delicious.” — Tammy Warnke Thompson
“Fatty Matty’s BBQ in Fruitdale is the best around!” — Victoria Williams
“The Pottery Grill Restaurantin Cottondale (near Tuscaloosa). Pulled pork, chicken, sausage and the the best baked beans around!” — Robby Lett
“Cotton’s Alabama Barbecuein Eclectic. Food is great, big portions and not expensive. Worth the trip if you are in or around Lake Martin.” — Christopher Utter
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
This is another installment in AL.com’s series “Beyond the Violence,” which explores solutions that could make Birmingham safer, healthier and happier. Sign up for the newsletter here.
On Friday, more than 800 children and teens will spend the day playing and competing while learning how to put a stop to youth violence.
The RESTORE Games, an annual community event providing youth a safe space to have fun, will run from 12 to 4 p.m. at the Birmingham CrossPlex. The free event is open to the public and will include sports tournaments, resources, panel discussions and seminars led by city leaders and local violence prevention experts.
“The event is all about reducing the violence among our youth in the community,” Renee Price, the event consultant, told AL.com.
“We want to expose them to the fact that there’s so many different things that kids can be doing, other than resorting to violence. So I just hope that maybe they’re sparked or impacted in some way.”
RESTORE, a violence prevention and re-entry program for justice-impacted youth, has focused on setting youth on the right path since its inception in 2023.
On Friday, kids can participate in horseback riding, basketball, golf, baseball, ski ball, volleyball, life-sized chess, ax throwing, drone soccer, and classic yard fun like hula hooping, jump rope and sack races.
The event will also feature a live DJ, a temporary tattoo station, a block party, free food and drinks.
But this event isn’t just about playing games. Every child is also required to attend a conflict resolution session.
Antski Williams, a RESTORE program manager, who will be participating in a panel discussion, said the games began as a community block party in 2023. Yet, it has grown into a multi-partner event that is working to bring the whole city together for one common goal: stopping the violence.
“This year, more partners got involved and they’re buying into the ecosystem of community violence intervention…That’s huge,” Williams said.
Organizers said the event will help to reinforce positive community engagement between youth and local resources.
“They’ll be able to go off and hear different seminars and workshops about conflict resolution, anger management, emotional regulation…We’re helping to thwart the violence before it happens,” Williams said.
Sheree Kennon, founder of What About Us, a support group for those who have lost someone to gun violence, has set up a memorial hall in the CrossPlex with the faces of homicide victims to remind those who pass through about the importance of violence prevention.
“We’re bringing more awareness to what’s been going on in our community…Put down the guns, love on each other, support each other,” Kennon said.
“Some of the activities are going to be tremendously important to our youth and change the trajectory of how they see life…These are our babies, and if we can’t show our community and our children that we’re here to support them, then why are we here?”
Price said she is grateful that so many community members and partners came together to make the games happen.
“It really says something about the growth of Birmingham and where we’re going to see the change that we want, and actually putting action towards that,” Price said.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
