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Alabama must get ‘significantly better’ in one area to make Final Four run

Nate Oats wants some anti-rat poison to be spewed about the Alabama defense.

“I’d appreciate it if you guys put a lot more talk out there about how our defense isn’t good enough to win this game,” Oats said Wednesday, “so that we can show our guys that nobody believes in them like last year.”

Last year, the defense was not good. The Crimson Tide ranked No. 111 in adjusted defensive efficiency, per KenPom. This year, it’s much better, at No. 29 in KenPom heading into the Sweet 16. Still, Oats isn’t satisfied.

“It’s still not where we’d like it to be,” Oats said. “It’s going to have to get significantly better to make another Final Four run. Because the next two teams we play, if we’re fortunate to even have a second game, BYU has got the No. 1 offense in the country I think since February 12th or something like that, and then Duke and Arizona are two of the best offenses in the country, as well.”

Oats, in this offense-heavy region, said he thinks the team that plays the defense is most likely to emerge from the region and head to the Final Four.

“I think we’ve got to get our guys’ attention, which we have, and we’re capable of being a great defensive team,” Oats said, “and that’s what we’re going to have to do over these next couple days if we’re going to get out of this four-team bracket here.”

No. 2 seed Alabama will face No. 6 seed BYU in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday (6:09 p.m. CT, CBS) at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

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

General

Louisiana woman killed, two toddlers injured in Baldwin County crash

A Louisiana woman died and two small children were injured following a wreck last Thursday in Baldwin County.

According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the multi-vehicle wreck occurred at about 5:47 a.m. on Interstate 10.

ALEA identified the victim as Danielle Harry, 46, from Donaldsonville, Louisiana.

Harry was sitting in her 2017 Honda Cumiv when she was hit by a 2015 Toyota Tacoma. Harry was stopped because she was involved in a prior accident, ALEA said.

The driver of the Tacoma was identified as Michael T. McBride, 20.

The impact of the crash caused the Honda to fly off the road and hit an unoccupied 2012 Chevrolet Impala.

Aside from Harry, there were three other passengers in the Honda that were transported to hospitals after sustaining injuries.

The passengers were 26 year old Hegel K. Sandolph, also from Louisiana and two small children, a one year old and a two year old.

ALEA said no additional information was available regarding the incident.

General

Who replaces Jalen Milroe? Our prediction and how you should bet the Tide’s futures odds

Winning the national championship was a far-fetched expectation for head coach Kalen DeBoer’s first year in Tuscaloosa. Still, fans wanted more than nine wins and a missed berth in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff.

DeBoer deserves some leeway considering he joined the team in mid-January of 2024. Shortly after Nick Saban retired, stars like Caleb Downs and Isaiah Bond hit the transfer portal. A few months later, players got another opportunity to leave Tuscaloosa via the Spring portal window.

Now that DeBoer is getting a standard offseason to operate as Alabama’s head coach, the expectations will ramp up. Crimson Tide fans are eager for improvement, and much of the team’s success relies on the QB battle between Ty Simpson, Austin Mack, and Keelon Russell. How the competition plays out should impact which Alabama futures bets you place for the 2025 season.

Alabama QB competition: Meet the contestants

Projected QB1 Ty Simpson

Simpson, a redshirt junior, is viewed as the favorite to win the starting job. He was third on the depth chart behind Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe in 2022, then sat behind Milroe for the past two seasons. Many players would’ve transferred, but Simpson stuck it out and is finally starting to see his commitment pay off through the first weeks of practice.

Entering his fourth season at Alabama gives Simpson a major leg up in the QB battle. He’s gotten small chunks of playing time each year, and his career stats include 29/50 passing for 381 yards. Simpson may not have a ton of snaps under his belt, but it’s still more than Mack and Russell.

Simpson isn’t a full-on dual-threat QB but has the mobility to make plays with his feet. Accuracy was always an issue for Milroe, and Alabama’s offense may take a step forward with a more polished passer like Simpson.

Projected QB2 Austin Mack

The redshirt sophomore’s college career started at Washington in 2023 where he was recruited by DeBoer and new Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb. Mack followed DeBoer to Tuscaloosa in 2024, and he only attempted three passes last season.

Simpson has more in-game experience and a longer tenure at Alabama, but Mack’s familiarity with DeBoer and Grubb could make the QB competition a bit tighter. At 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds, Mack certainly looks like an SEC QB.

There’s still a lot of time for the depth chart to shake up. But for now, Mack is expected to slot in at QB2 behind Simpson.

Projected QB3 Keelon Russell

Russell was an early enrollee, joining the program in Jan. 2025. The five-star recruit was the second-best player of the 2025 cycle and has the highest upside of the group. However, it’s hard to imagine DeBoer trotting out the 17-year-old to start as a true freshman.

Russell has top-tier athleticism and agility combined with outstanding arm talent. He seems destined for a successful career in Tuscaloosa – just don’t expect a major impact on the field this season.

Alabama futures bets to make based on QB competition

Over 9.5 wins: +115 at DraftKings Sportsbook
To win the SEC Championship: +750 at bet365 Sportsbook

Over 9.5 wins

Alabama opens the season on the road against Florida State. This would typically be a tough matchup, but the Seminoles are coming off an incredibly disappointing two-win season. The early odds FanDuel Sportsbook lists the Crimson Tide as 8.5-point favorites.

UL Monroe, Wisconsin, and Eastern Illinois round out the non-conference schedule. The Badgers will be the most difficult test, but Alabama had no problem imposing its will in a 42-10 victory at Camp Randall Stadium last season.

If the Crimson Tide wins all four non-conference games, hitting over 9.5 wins will require no more than two losses in SEC play. Alabama’s conference schedule starts on the road against Georgia, but the Tide benefit from a bye the week before.

A trying three-game stretch against Tennessee, South Carolina and LSU awaits in the year’s second half. Luckily, two of the three matchups are at Bryant-Denny Stadium, and Alabama has another bye between the South Carolina and LSU matchups.

The Crimson Tide don’t have the easiest schedule, but Simpson’s experience could go a long way if he’s named Alabama’s starting QB. Being a full-time starter can be overwhelming, but Simpson has seen what it takes to lead and win after sitting behind Young and Milroe for the past three years.

To win the SEC Championship

Bet365 Sportsbook gives Alabama the fourth-best odds to win the SEC, trailing Texas (+200), Georgia (+400) and Tennessee (+700). Every other team has +1000 odds or longer.

If you’ve got faith in the Crimson Tide surpassing 9.5 wins, betting DeBoer’s squad to win the SEC Championship goes hand-in-hand. Last season, Georgia earned a spot in the conference title game with 10 wins. The transfer portal, NIL, and conference realignment have evened the playing field in the SEC, making it unlikely for a team to run the table with a perfect conference record.

Whichever QB earns the starting job will benefit from the return of three starting offensive linemen and RB Jam Miller. WRs Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard are also back after leading Alabama in most receiving stats last season. There wasn’t much pass-catching depth beyond the top two, so the Crimson Tide grabbed former Miami WR Isaiah Horton from the transfer portal.

General

Alabama’s Grant Nelson has been playing hurt for more than a month

No one can call Grant Nelson soft. Not with the toughness he’s displayed the past month or so.

Nelson has continued to play, even while facing multiple injuries over the back half of the season. Even after he sustained a knee injury against Florida in the SEC Tournament, Nelson played late against Robert Morris in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

“We’ve got everything about as close to 100(%) as you’re going to be able to get at this point of the year,” Alabama coach Nate Oats said Wednesday. “And Grant is probably the furthest from that, but like he made the point to me, he hasn’t been better than 90(%) for the last month or so.”

Despite not being 100%, Nelson is expected to play again when No. 2 seed Alabama faces No. 6 seed BYU in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday (6:09 p.m. CT, CBS) at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

“I think we’ll have our full roster available for us to play this game,” Oats said.

But know that Nelson is playing hurt, which makes anything he does on the court all the more impressive. Against Saint Mary’s in the second round, he scored 12 points, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked a shot. Against Auburn on March 8, Nelson scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds at Neville Arena.

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

General

Alabama elementary school with 64 students shutting down after 120 years: ‘It is heartbreaking’

The Jackson County School Board voted unanimously on Wednesday to close Flat Rock School at the end of this academic year, according to Superintendent Jason Davidson.

In an email to AL.com, Davidson cited low classroom attendance, staffing issues, and lack of opportunities for students as motivations for closing the school.

“We are responsible for being good stewards of taxpayers dollars and have to look at what’s best for ALL of Jackson County students,” he wrote.

This school year, only 64 students are enrolled in total at Flat Rock from Pre-K to sixth grade, according to Davidson.

Due to low student numbers, teachers at the school have been responsible for multiple classrooms, and most are teaching as many as five subjects at a time, he added.

“Getting the same person adequately prepared in each subject is nearly impossible,” Davidson wrote.

The school is also currently operating without a counselor, he said.

Current Flat Rock students will finish the remainder of the school year as planned and can then feed into one of the county’s other nearby schools like Rosalie Elementary or Pisgah High School, according to Davidson.

Despite the school’s challenges, many members of the Flat Rock community have recently taken to social media to mourn its impending loss.

The school was founded in 1905 as a mission school by the United Methodist Church Conference, according to the school system’s website. The church school in 1929 was purchased by the state and became a public school for grades one through nine.

Earlier this month, Flat Rock mother Sarah Wooten filed a petition on Change.org in an attempt to keep the school open.

“Our lives, particularly those of our kids, are directly intertwined with our small community school, Flat Rock,” she wrote.

“My son, who just joined PreK this year, has his world centered around this warm and nurturing space. The one-on-one time he gets with his teachers has ensured tremendous growth and learning, something bigger schools with larger classrooms cannot guarantee.”

“The closure of our school means uprooting our children, forcing them into unknown territories which can negatively impact their learning and overall development,” she continued.

“Children thrive in environments where they feel comfortable and safe. Smaller class sizes, as demonstrated by several research studies, often have a greater impact on student achievement than larger ones.”

The petition had received 365 signatures as of Mar. 26.

“Our school has been serving the community for years, shaping generations, and building the fabric of our society,” Wooten wrote.

“It is heartbreaking for us to see our beloved school having to close its doors…Society functions on the strength of its communities, and schools play an integral part in building these communities.”

A foster mother whose children also attend Flat Rock joined in praising the school’s nurturing environment.

“If every school was like Flat Rock School, this world would be a better place,” she wrote in a post to Facebook.

General

Troy signs receiver who was dismissed from Georgia team following arrest

Rara Thomas has resolved his legal issues, and the talented wide receiver will get another opportunity to play college football, this time in his home state.

The 22-year-old Eufaula native has signed with Troy, AL.com has confirmed. Thomas was dismissed from the team at Georgia in August following an arrest on charges related to family violence.

Troy athletics released the following statement to AL.com:

“After a thorough investigation of the incidents and a legal review of the facts, we have made the decision to accept Rara Thomas to the Troy Football program. The process included speaking directly with Rara Thomas, officials at the University of Georgia, his high school coach Ed Rigby, his mentor Jerrel Jernigan and others involved in Rara’s life. We are confident in the detailed plan that has been laid out for him to be successful in life and on the field as a Troy Trojan.”

Jerrel Jernigan is a former Troy wide receiver who played many years in the NFL. Ed Rigby is a longtime high school coach in the Wiregrass area (currently at Opp) and is also the husband of Troy women’s basketball coach Chanda Rigby.

Thomas, whose given name is Rodarius, was sentenced to two years of probation after reaching a plea deal in a family violence case last week in Athens, Ga. He entered what is known as an Alford plea, in which he did not admit guilt, but acknowledges the prosecution had enough evidence for a conviction, according to Fox 5 of Atlanta. Thomas was originally charged with second-degree cruelty to children and family violence battery, but avoided a felony conviction under Georgia’s first-offender law.

“I am happy that we were able to obtain this very favorable result for RaRa and look forward to seeing the great things Mr. Thomas does personally and professionally in the future,” Thomas’ attorney, Kim Stephens, said in a statement to Fox 5 Atlanta. “Mr. Thomas can’t wait to get back on the field doing what he loves.”

The details of Thomas’ July 26 arrest were not made public at the time due to the involvement of a juvenile (which turned out to be Thomas’ daughter), but the Athens Banner-Herald reported them following a grand jury indictment in November. Thomas was charged with battery/family violence against the mother of his child and leaving her with a “bloody nose, bloody split lip, a scrape to the chin and bruising to the neck … by punching her in the face.”

In addition, Thomas was charged with cruelty to children by causing “cruel physical pain by hitting said victim [his daughter] while battering her mother,” who was holding the child at the time. Thomas spent four days in jail before Georgia coach Kirby Smart dismissed him from the team on Aug. 1.

“He can no longer be part of the football team,” Smart said at the time. “He understands that. We wish him the best moving forward.”

Thomas was also arrested in January 2023 after being accused of false imprisonment and misdemeanor battery-family violence, though those charges were eventually dropped after he entered a pre-trial diversion program. He remained on the team at Georgia and played the entire 2023 season for the Bulldogs.

Thomas has not publicly confirmed his commitment to Troy, but did appear to acknowledge the resolution of his legal status on March 19 when he posted “God is good” on X.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Thomas played his first two seasons at Mississippi State, where he totaled 62 receptions for 878 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2021-22. He then transferred to Georgia, catching 23 passes for 383 yards and a touchdown in 2023 as a part-time starter.

Thomas will have one season of eligibility at Troy, which is currently in the middle of spring practice. He is expected to formally join the team over the summer.

Troy needs help at receiver after All-Sun Belt selection Devonte Ross — who caught 76 passes and for 11 touchdowns and led the conference in all-purpose yards in 2024 — transferred to Penn State. In addition, senior Chris Lewis — who led the Sun Belt with 10 touchdown catches in 2023 — is likely to miss a second straight season after undergoing cancer treatments.

Troy went 4-8 in 2024 under first-year coach Gerad Parker. The Trojans open the 2025 season at home Aug. 30 vs. Nicholls.

General

‘The Conners’ season 7 premiere: How to watch, where to stream free

The final season of The Conners premieres on ABC Wednesday, March 26 at 8/7c.

Season seven of The Conners consists of six episodes, and the premiere episode titled “It’s Gonna Be a Great Day,” shows Darlene celebrating her promotion, hoping it allows her to spend more time with Ben.

Meanwhile, Jackie stumbles upon an opportunity to sue the pharmaceutical company responsible for Roseanne’s addiction, which sparks a family debate.

Where can I watch The Conners season 7?

Those interested in watching the last season of the hit ABC comedy series can stream the show for free through Fubo or DirecTV Stream—both of which have free trials set up for new subscribers.

What is Fubo?

Fubo considers itself a sports-focused live streaming service but also offers over 100 live TV channels through its base package at just $84.99 a month following its free trial. Through this plan, users can stream popular channels such as ABC, USA, Hallmark Channel, ESPN, BET, CMT, MTV and more.

Currently, Fubo’s base plan, also referred to as the Pro plan, is included in the service’s ongoing promotion offering $30 off the first month with a new subscription. Other Fubo plans included in this promotion are the Elite plan ($30 off first month), the Essentials plan ($25 off first month) and the Latino plan ($5 off first month).

To learn more about available channels for streaming through Fubo and a deeper dive into the packages, click here.

What is DirecTV Stream?

Much like other top streaming services, DirecTV Stream offers subscribers with a plethora of live TV channels and helpful features, too. The Entertainment package, also known as DirecTV Stream’s base package, starts at just $86.99 a month after its 5-day free trial and includes popular TV channels such as HGTV, ESPN, Bravo, CMT, CNBC, BET, CNN and more.

Two other DirecTV Stream packages are the Choice package (original price $114.99) and the Ultimate package (original price $129.99), both of which are part of an ongoing promotion that offers new subscribers $25 off the original price for the first three months of their subscription.

DirecTV Stream has also recently introduced a lineup of genre packs, which allow subscribers to choose their favorite viewing options based on what genre they watch the most. Whether it’s MySports, MyEntertainment, MyNews or MiEspañol, users can get the channels and content they want without the worry of filler channel overload. Genre packs start at just $34.99 a month.

Those interested in comparing all DirecTV Stream’s channel packages and genre packs can check them out here.

General

Biden administration lacked the authority to cancel oil and gas leases in Alaska refuge, judge rules

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A federal judge in Alaska on Tuesday ruled the Biden administration lacked the authority to cancel seven oil and gas leases that had been issued for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason said terms of a 2017 tax law that set the stage for the first-ever lease sale in the refuge’s coastal plain in early 2021 suggested that leases could only be canceled by a court order. She sent the matter back to the Department of Interior for further action.

President Donald Trump upon his return to office in January signed an Alaska-specific executive order that among other things had sought to rescind the lease cancelation.

The tax law called for two lease sale offerings by late 2024 in the refuge’s coastal plain, a roughly 1.5 million acre (more than 6 million hectare) swath of the vast refuge that borders the Beaufort Sea and is home to such wildlife as polar bears, caribou and birds. The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, a state corporation, was the major bidder in the first sale, which was held in the waning days of the first Trump administration. Small companies won two other leases but gave them up.

Gleason in 2021 had rejected calls by drilling opponents to halt that first lease sale until underlying lawsuits were resolved.

The second sale, held shortly before Biden left office, drew no bids. It was criticized by Alaska political leaders as too restrictive to attract interest, but environmental groups pointed to a lack of interest from oil companies as a reason to put the long-running debate over whether to allow drilling to rest.

Tuesday’s decision, in a case brought by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority against the Interior Department and federal officials, is the latest twist in the decades-long fight.

Gwich’in leaders have opposed drilling on the coastal plain, which they consider sacred, citing its importance to caribou they rely upon. Leaders of the Iñupiaq community of Kaktovik, which is within the refuge, have expressed support for drilling, as have Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy and the state’s congressional delegation.

Dunleavy in a statement lauded the decision: “Now the leasing program can move forward and could result in more safe, secure energy production right here in Alaska.”

Gwich’in leaders and environmental groups vowed to keep fighting.

“While we are deeply disappointed by today’s ruling, we want to be clear that this decision does not diminish our determination to protect these sacred lands,” Raeann Garnett, First Chief of the Native Village of Venetie Tribal Government, said in a statement.

General

Alabama basketball guard returns after missing two weeks

Houston Mallette was with Alabama basketball on Wednesday in Newark, N.J. as the Crimson Tide prepares for the Sweet 16. That wasn’t the case the past two weeks.

“Houston had a non-basketball-related injury that kept him at home,” Alabama coach Nate Oats said. “He was unable to travel with us for the first two rounds. He’s been with us now.”

Because Alabama flew straight from the Round of 32 in Cleveland to Newark, Mallette had to fly commercial to meet up with the team in New Jersey. Mallette hasn’t played since Jan. 8 because he’s expected to apply for a medical redshirt for this season, to play one more season of college basketball.

“He’s one of the best kids I’ve ever coached in my life,” Oats said. “I want him with the program. He wanted to be with us. He just health-wise wasn’t able to make the first two rounds. Although he’s back with us, he’ll be on the bench with us. He’s obviously not playing; he’s redshirted this year. But he’s back with the program.”

Mallette also was not with the team at the SEC Tournament in Nashville the week prior as he recovered from the non-basketball injury.

Mallette transferred from Pepperdine ahead of the 2024-25 season. He played in six games this season. His most notable performance occurred against North Dakota when Mallette scored 10 points, made two triples and grabbed five rebounds in 19 minutes.

No. 2 seed Alabama will face No. 6 seed BYU in the Sweet 16 on Thursday (6:10 p.m. CT, CBS) at Prudential Center.

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

General

Country music star falls while performing on stage, band reacts

It wasn’t his best moment, but Scotty McCreery took all in stride when he fell on stage during a recent show.

The country singer, who was opening for Kane Brown, posted a video of himself falling to social media.

McCreery, known for his “Fall of Summer” hit, rebounded nicely as was back on his feet, giving the audience a quick hand gesture to let them know he was OK.

“Who put that there?” he joked to the audience.

The real fun started after the show with his band reacting to the fall. Check it out in the video posted above.

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.