Alabama News

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20 things Alabama wants more of, and a few things it could do with less of

We love our state, but there’s always room for improvement.

That’s why AL.com recently asked its Facebook followers what they wish Alabama had more of, and in a nutshell, the answer is “a lot.” With nearly 2,000 responses, readers mentioned they wish Alabama had more sidewalks, entertainment options, seafood restaurants and more. They also mentioned a few things they wouldn’t mind having a little less of.

You can read 20 of the submissions below, and you can read all of them, as well as add your own, by visiting the AL.com Facebook page.

(Some responses were edited for clarity.)

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“Bike lanes and sidewalks.” — Vibeke Svanevik Frøyen

“Roundabouts.” — Ed Stone

“Higher paying jobs!” — Dianna Duncan

“More seafood restaurants.” — Adam Wicker

“More green spaces….less pickleball!” — Georgi Prochazka Grant

“Well-defined road lines on the highway.” — CC Gorman Miller

“Family entertainment. I’m from Panama City, and on every corner there’s something to do.” — Bridgett Collier Hargroves

“Farmers Markets.” — Marvin Sara Kennedy

“Alabama would greatly benefit from having more international stores, representing diverse cultures such as Indian, Pakistani, Somali and Muslim communities. Just imagine the possibilities – food, clothing, music and more!” — Simran Gani Abdull

“Direct flights.” — Brad Green

“We have it all! Maybe better use of what we do have! Appreciation for small businesses! Hard to compete with Walmart and such!” — Paul Burchfield

“Support for local music.” — Kyle Sawhill

“State parks along the large rivers.” — Andrea Mancil

“Neighborhood parks where kids can play baseball, football, basketball just between themselves, and recreation centers where different kinds of games like chess, horseshoes, arts and crafts, etc., like we had in my neighborhood. Absolutely great memories.” — Gerald Fant

“Walkable towns.” — Michael Ray

“Cheerwine! I was born and raised in North Carolina. When I moved here, was very difficult to find. I hope the restaurants and grocery stores fix that problem!” — Nick Moske

“More greenways and bike trails.” — Catherine Campbell O’Hare

“Attractions to promote tourism. There’s too much history in Alabama not to share.” — Trenice J. Brinkley

“Healthy restaurants.” — Heather Brown

“Public transit options.” — Eric Franchoi

“Public storm shelters. All these new builds should have storm shelters built in.” — Brittani Searcy

Less..

“Less Dollar General stores and Alexander Shunnarah signs, please.” — Jeff Parrish

“Less skeeters and cockroaches.” — Leigh Porter

“Less humidity.” — Tara Rowland Spickard

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General

He was given a year to live. Then he was given an unexpected gift.

He’s doing well for a man who a year ago was told he had a year to live.

Former Auburn University and Major League Baseball pitcher Steven Register is excited, yet nervous, just nine days from one of the most important days of his life. In nine days, Steven will receive a liver from a former high school classmate who, until a few weeks ago, he hadn’t seen in over 20 years.

It seems like yesterday when Steven Register graduated from Shaw High School in Columbus, Georgia, a member of the SHS Class of 2001.

Steven had a gift, and the gift was his right arm.

He matriculated to Auburn University, where he pitched from 2002 to 2004. Major league scouts flocked to Plainsman Park to watch Steven, who would soon spend a few years in the minors before making The Show and pitching with the Colorado Rockies in 2008 and the Philadelphia Phillies in 2009.

Kristin Mathias graduated from Shaw High School a year after Steven. Kristin went on to Georgia College & State University, where she cheered. She received an undergraduate degree from Columbus State and then earned a master’s degree in English education from the University of Georgia in Athens.

It’s hard for Steven and Kristin to fathom how quickly the time has gone.

It’s been almost 25 years since they were casual friends, chatting in school and hanging out at church. They later went their separate ways, both married, and both saw three kids born into their families.

Today, Steven and Beth Register of Auburn have three kids under the age of 16, while Cody and Kristin Johnston of Atlanta have three kids under the age of 9. It’s a hectic time in the lives of the Registers and the Johnstons as each day, it’s everything, everywhere all at once.

It was March of 2024 when he just couldn’t eat. “I was hungry, but when it came to eating, I was at a loss,” Steven told me.

It was not a good time to have health issues — Steven was only 41 years old, and his kids were 15, 13 and 7.

“I made a doctor’s appointment and went in for a CT scan,” said Steven. “After the appointment, I was immediately diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, and it had spread to my liver.

“The pictures were insanely scary, as the tumors were covering 90 percent of my liver,” Steven added.

Steven, his wife Beth and their children were shocked at the diagnosis, and they were frightened at the news that followed: Steven Register was given a year to live.

“We immediately took action to try to find the best way to save my life,” said Steven.

Steven and Beth traveled to MD Anderson in Houston, where Steven underwent emergency surgery for a temporary colostomy. He immediately started chemotherapy.

“The chemo is very harsh,” Steven told me. “Many people struggle while receiving this chemo, but I’ve been lucky.”

Just five months ago, Steven had surgery to remove the tumor in his colon. The chemo was working well — so well that doctors thought Steven’s liver could be saved.

But then … “they decided that if they did a liver resection, the tumors they would remove would just grow back,” Steven said. “They said I would need a new liver.”

Kristin Johnston has always tried to do right.

“As a Christian, I try to be kind and help others. When I saw on Facebook that Steven Register was looking for a living liver donor, I messaged him,” Kristin said.

Steven’s former high school classmate, who he hadn’t seen in 20 years, sent Steven a message on Facebook: “What blood type are you, Steven?” Kristin wrote. “B-positive,” Steven answered.

“I’m B-positive, too!” wrote Kristin.

Why not? Kristin Johnston had yet to turn 40. She had studied about liver transplants and knew whatever doctors took of her liver would grow back.

Kristin had ultrasounds and stress tests. She donated 30 vials of blood. She attended meetings with doctors and nurses.

“God put this in front of me,” said Kristin. “I was ready to help Steven.”

Meanwhile, Steven was taken off chemo after 22 treatments, and like Kristin, he was consulted about the surgery.

It will be nine days from today when Kristin Johnston and Steven Register will be in side-by-side hospital rooms. Kristin will do what she can to help save Steven’s life, while Steven will do what he can to see that his life will continue.

It will be a complicated surgery performed at Strong Memorial Hospital of the University of Rochester in New York. World-renowned surgeon Dr. Robert Hernandez-Alejandro will perform the procedure.

“Dr. Hernandez will remove my entire liver, and he will give me 70 percent of Kristin’s liver,” said Steven.

Said Kristin, “While I’ll have only 30 percent of my liver remain, it will regenerate. Steven’s liver will also grow, so at some point we will both have 100 percent liver function.”

While both Kristin and Steven are a bit anxious about the procedure, they feel blessed.

“Kristin Johnston came out of left field to help me,” said the former pitcher, who tells me he’s grateful for a chance to hear good news about his future. “When you have a wife and three kids and you hear you have a year to live, you can go to a dark place.

“There are days when I sit and cry about my situation, but other times I rejoice in having God, my wife Beth and our children by my side. I wouldn’t be here without them, and I wouldn’t be here without all the support and all the prayers I have received.”

While the surgery will be performed up north, University of Georgia alum Kristin Johnston will remind former Auburn pitcher Steven Register that “Mr. War Eagle” will soon have some Georgia Bulldog in him.

That will certainly bring a laugh to a husband and father who plans on being around for quite some time.

The husband and father who a year ago was told he had a year to live.

*Rick Karle, who writes a weekly ‘Good News’ story, is a 25-time Emmy winner and a 43-year veteran of broadcast news who has lived and worked in Alabama for 35 years. You can find his work on Facebook at Rick Karle Good News. Send your story suggestions to: [email protected]

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General

How Auburn baseball avoided disaster to beat Stetson and advance to regional final

Sam Dutton could hardly believe it.

After a six-pitch battle in which a couple borderline pitches didn’t go his way, Auburn’s ace thought he landed the big strike to send the Tigers out of the seventh inning. Instead, another pitch on the corner was called a ball, capping off a walk and leaving Dutton visibly upset.

That seemed to shift the energy of the moment, one in which Auburn led 7-3, but was now asked to do more work than it felt was necessary.

What followed was a misplayed ball in right field leading to a run and Dutton leaving the game before a single and hit by pitch loaded the bases as Auburn now only led by two.

The 69-degree crisp air inside Plainsman Park suddenly felt thin and stale, as the anxiety from Tiger fans roared louder than their eruptions from previous offensive surges.

When Ryan Hetzler came in to relieve Dutton, his first two actions were giving up a single that scored a run and hitting a batter to load the bases. But when Auburn was in the biggest jam of the night, Hetzler forced a ground ball, salvaging the inning and never letting Stetson back in.

Auburn won the game 8-5, advancing to Sunday’s regional championship game. However, it didn’t come without a battle, and what head coach Butch Thompson described as some “randomness” that decided the game.

“Amazing college baseball game,” Thomspon said. “That’s about all you need to write down.”

Hetzler picked up his eighth save of the season, but his poise to get out of multiple jams wasn’t the only key to Auburn holding off a Stetson team that never seemed to go away.

In the top of the seventh, right before Hetzler’s first escape act, Auburn was up 5-3 with two outs and two strikes, before freshman left fielder Bub Terrell delivered a big moment of his own.

After battling at the plate, Terrell skied a ball to left field that might have left the park in other places, but it bounced off the giant War Eagle Wall, scoring two runs and giving Auburn a four-run cushion that turned out to be crucial.

“I always like to fire my guys up,” Terrell said. “And the at-bat, I have been locked in since day one of regionals. I don’t feel like anyone can get a ball by me.”

Terrell finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate with two doubles and led the team in RBI with three. Auburn as a team finished with 12 hits as a team, keeping the bats hot into the NCAA tournament.

While Terrell’s moment set up Hetzler’s escape in the seventh, Ike Irish delivered for Auburn in the ninth to slam the door. The junior and star of the team blasted a solo home run to left-center field, giving the Tigers a much-needed insurance run to preserve the win.

Now, the Tigers are a game away from doing something never done before in program history: hosting a super regional at Plainsman Park.

And it might just take a little more randomness.

“It’s not going to be perfect,” Thompson said. “You just play as hard as you can and keep moving forward. And I think we did that again tonight.”

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports forAL.com. You can follow him on X at@peter_rauterkusor email him at[email protected]m

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General

Alabama ‘backyard barbecue dude’ aims to smoke the competition on reality TV: ‘Gotta go for it’

You’ve probably heard of “The Horse Whisperer” and the “Dog Whisperer.” But did you know that Alabama has its very own steak whisperer?

Tim Van Doren, an Alabaster resident, knows exactly how to tame those quality cuts of beef, cooking them to perfection in his backyard, at grilling competitions and on social media.

Van Doren, known as @BamaGrillMaster, has attracted more than 2 million followers with his skillful, down-to-earth videos, showcasing everything from Waygu steaks to smashburgers to smoked brisket.

Steaks have been his specialty for the past several years, however, and Van Doren can definitely back it up when he’s touted as “The Steak Whisperer!” on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

He was a top five finisher in the 2019 World Food Steak Championship, for example, and Van Doren has won plenty of competitions sanctioned by the SCA Steak Cookoff Association.

Van Doren’s daughter, 17-year-old Kailey Van Doren, has been following in her father’s footsteps, as well, grilling and competing and sharing her love for food on social media.

“Steaks are where we’re at,” Van Doren, 47, told AL.com during a phone interview. “Steak is one of those things that’s just good. I mean, good grief. It’s hard to beat a good old ribeye.”

This gregarious guy can grill just about anything, however, and his talents were put to the test when he agreed to compete on a Food Network show. Van Doren is one of 12 contestants featured on Season 6 of “BBQ Brawl,” a reality series led by celebrity chef Bobby Flay.

Flay is one of three mentors on the show, all of whom oversee teams that focus on difficult grilling challenges. Season 6, which debuts on Sunday, June 1, also includes chef mentors Maneet Chauhan and Antonia Lofaso.

Under their guidance, one of the contestants will earn the title of “Master of ‘Cue” and be featured across the Food Network’s social platforms. The title doesn’t come with a cash prize, but it promises to significantly increase the public profile of the season’s winner.

Judges for “BBQ Brawl” are TV personality Carson Kressley, chef Brooke Williamson and Rodney Scott, a South Carolina pitmaster with two restaurants in the Birmingham metro area.

Over the course of 10 episodes, the list of contestants is trimmed via weekly eliminations, and the winner is announced on the season finale. Season 6 was filmed in advance at the Star Hill Ranch in Austin, Texas.

Van Doren, a self-professed “backyard barbecue dude,” said he’d been approached by producers for “BBQ Brawl” in the past, but initially was reluctant to appear on the show.

He has confidence working on all types of grills, for sure, and experience preparing a variety of proteins — chicken, pork, fish, lamb, venison and even elk, along with his signature beef dishes. Van Doren has learned to be comfortable on camera over the years, and his down-home personality earns praise from followers on social media.

Most of Van Doren’s videos start with the grillmaster saying, “Aight guys!” and his Southern accent is much in evidence. (Van Doren teamed with Lane’s Rubs & Sauces to put his catchphrase on the labels of two barbecue rubs, one “smokey sweet” and and one described as “AbsolutelyFreakinKiller.”)

To outsiders, Van Doren seems like a natural for a series like “BBQ Brawl,” but the grillmaster wasn’t so sure. Contestants face tight cooking times on the series, and the challenges come with unusual twists. Gourmet-style plating, a cooking show staple, is not in Van Doren’s wheelhouse, and certainly not required at the steak grilling competitions he favors.

“I got that phone call (to be on the show), and I’m just like, ‘Huh, now what?’” Van Doren said. “Being in your backyard and doing videos, we’ve got all the time in the world. I’m not on any timeframe, just doing my thing. So that was a biggie.

“I make seasoning sometimes, I make sauces sometimes, but I have so many (commercial) rubs and sauces that I don’t think about making my own. Well, out there you gotta make your own, right? So I’m just racking my brain about that. … I can cook, but trying to make it look pretty, that’s not my cup of tea. There’s so many things going through your head. But I just dug in and went with it.”

Daughter Kailey had a big role to play in her father’s decision-making, urging him to compete on “BBQ Brawl” in no uncertain terms.

“My daughter, she’s like, ‘Dad, it’s your time. You’ve got to. People would kill for that opportunity. And if you don’t take it, you’re crazy. You have to. You don’t have a choice,’” Van Doren said. “And so here we are. So that’s why I decided to do it. I said to her, ‘OK, I’ll blame it on you, whatever happens.’”

Van Doren also received encouragement from two grillmaster friends in Alabama, Mike and Bryson McGlynn. Mike is the founder of the Auburn BBQ/Grill Association; his son Bryson is the reigning champ on “MasterChef Junior.”

“They came to the house, we sat down, we talked,” Van Doren said. “I’ve known Bryson since he was little, watching him grow up, cooking the junior competitions. Just to see what he’s done has been amazing. He’s been an inspiration to me, for sure. He kept telling me, ‘Be you. Let Bama Grill Master shine. Stick to your story. You know who you are, you know how to cook, so just be you.’ And that’s what I did.”

Van Doren, a Mississippi native, comes from a family of foodies who relish great ingredients, dishes and meals. “We’re one of those that, we sit down for breakfast and we’re talking about what we’re having for lunch and dinner,“ he said.

Van Doren traces his fondness for grilling back to his childhood, as he watched his parents prepare delectable meals.

“My mom was always in the kitchen, great at casseroles, baking, anything like that,” Van Doren said, “My dad always had a big old 55-gallon drum that he would use to cook some of the best barbecue chicken and smoked sausage. And he had his little PK Grill that he cooked steaks on. Every Friday night was steak night. Our whole life really revolved around food.”

Although he’s a determined competitor, outdoor cooking remains a pleasurable experience for Van Doren, allowing him to kick back and relax at home. When he’s not grilling, Van Doren runs his own bail bonds company, Bail Bond Brothers LLC. (“I tell people, ‘We cook and get people out of jail,’” Van Doren said.)

“It’s one of those things that if I’ve had a rough day, I can go outside, I can light my grill, I can turn on some music, and it puts me in the happiest mood ever,” Van Doren said. “Another thing about cooking or grilling or barbecue, it brings people together. It puts smiles on people’s faces, and it’s just therapy for me a lot of times.”

He realized, of course, that grilling on reality TV was likely to be far from relaxing, testing his mettle and jangling his nerves. But Van Doren decided to cook in high gear on “BBQ Brawl,” because he was in it to win it.

“No doubt about it, 100%,” Van Doren said. “You give it everything you got. A lot of people come up to me, and they’re like, ‘Man, how did you get on there?’ I stayed away for a long time. I was just scared to do it, and just didn’t want to put myself out there. But you gotta go for it.”

Believe it or not, his on-camera wardrobe proved to be a sticking point: Van Doren dislikes wearing aprons, which are a must for team members on “BBQ Brawl.” While ceding to that rule, he held his ground on another issue, advocating strongly for his favorite ball cap.

“It was a big ordeal for me to wear a hat,” Van Doren said. “I told the producers on the show, ‘Guys, I have one stipulation. I have my hat that I cook in. I don’t cook without it.’ They balked at it, but (my producer) was able to pull it off and let me wear it. There were some brawlers on the show that are the same way. Some of them didn’t get to wear their hat. They’re like, ‘How in the world are you wearing your hat? They won’t let me wear mine.’ I was like, ‘Oh, that was a deal breaker for me.’”

Van Doren can’t go into detail about his experiences on “BBQ Brawl,” and spoilers for Season 6 are verboten. He did emphasize, though, that his first venture into reality TV was a positive one.

“This was like a ‘fish out of water’ for me,” Van Doren said. “It was a learning experience. It was a great experience. I wouldn’t change it for the world. No way, no how.”

If you watch: The Season 6 premiere of “BBQ Brawl” is set for Sunday, June 1, at 8 p.m. CT on the Food Network. New episodes air on Sundays, and stream the next day on HBO Max. Episodes also repeat on Food Network at various times during the week.

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General

Alabama football countdown to kickoff: No. 90, the time Tide fans did what they ‘never’ do

EDITOR’S NOTE: Every day until Aug. 29, Creg Stephenson is counting down significant numbers in Alabama football history, both in the lead-up to the 2025 football season and in commemoration of the Crimson Tide’s first national championship 100 years ago. The number could be attached to a year, a uniform number or even a football-specific statistic. We hope you enjoy.

Alabama fans like to brag that they’ve never stormed the field after a victory, doing so being something reserved for lesser programs who don’t have the expectation of winning every week.

Well, never is a long time.

Older observers will remember that Alabama did on at least one occasion rush the field, or at least tried to. And it didn’t go so well.

Alabama beat Auburn 16-7 at Birmingham’s Legion Field on Dec. 1, 1990, ending four years of frustration in the Iron Bowl. The victory also clinched a winning record for the Crimson Tide, which had begun Gene Stallings’ first season at 0-3.

It was the first of three straight Iron Bowl wins for Alabama, which early the next season would embark on a school-record-tying 28-game winning streak. Included in that run was a 13-0 record in 1992, when the Crimson Tide won its first national championship in 13 years.

As the final horn sounded in the 1990 game, a few hundred Crimson Tide fans jumped out of the stands in the south end zone (the location of the Alabama student section) and headed for the field. As Mike Bolton wrote in the following day’s Birmingham News, they “were greeted by police and security personnel, some waving billy clubs.”

“Every time the police tried to tackle one person, 10 would get by them,” eyewitness Jack Munch told The News. “They were going for the goal posts. “The police began to arrest them, but they made the mistake of handcuffing them and putting them around the goal post, too close to the end zone. … Whiskey bottles started flying out of the stands. The police finally just lost their temper.”

Police officers eventually began handcuffing fans and placing them in the middle of the field. At least 12 were arrested and another 15 detained before being released, charged with or cited for crimes such as trespassing, disorderly conduct, public intoxication and interfering with police.

According to some reports, the reason more fans weren’t arrested was because the 50-60 police and security officers on hand that day at Legion Field ran out of handcuffs. Other field-stormers were able to jump the fence and escape back into the crowd, aided by their fellow fans.

As is typical at college football games, fans at the 1990 Iron Bowl were warned over the loudspeaker at various times during the afternoon not to enter the field once the game ended. Alabama athletics director Hootie Ingram — who was reportedly in the Crimson Tide locker room not on the field when the melee erupted — praised the police for controlling the situation.

“I’m glad the Birmingham police did their job,” Ingram told the Birmingham News the following day. “People should have respect and patience for the security officers. I hope all our fans understand that something that might have seemed bad might have saved someone’s life.”

Not everyone saw it that way. A group of six Alabama students arrested following the Iron Bowl obtained counsel with plans to sue the city of Birmingham for excessive force exhibited by police.

Some two weeks later, on Dec. 17, the matter was settled. The city of Birmingham dismissed the charges against those fans who stormed the field in exchange for assurances they would forgo any legal action.

In the 34 years since, Alabama fans have not attempted to rush the field. It’s a point of pride for the school and its supporters, and perhaps it should be.

Every other SEC school other than Florida and Georgia has seen fans rush the field at least once in recent years (often after beating Alabama). Not even the SEC instituting an escalating series of fines for field-storming (as well as court-storming in basketball) in 2004 seems to have deterred the notion.

A number of SEC athletics directors have weighed-in on the issue, some arguing that a field-storming should cost their team a home game in the future. Alabama’s Greg Byrne even suggested last year rushing the field should result in an immediate forfeit.

It appears, however —especially in this era of young people regularly filming themselves in order to post the video on social media — that field-storming is here to stay. Just not at Alabama.

Coming Monday: Our countdown to kickoff continues with No. 89, when we look back at an historic blowout win for Alabama

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General

How many former Auburn players are eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame?

The College Football Hall of Fame ballot for its Class of 2025 included three former Auburn stars among the 77 players on the NCAA FBS portion.

Linebacker Gregg Carr was chosen as a member of Class of 2025, leaving guard Ed King and linebacker Takeo Spikes to wait for next year.

Next year starts on Monday, when the ballot for the Class of 2026 is scheduled to be released.

King and Spikes are among the 26 former Auburn players who are eligible for the Class of 2026 ballot, with center Reese Dismukes entering the eligibility window for the first time. That doesn’t include 19 Auburn alumni who meet the first standard for consideration for the College Football Hall of Fame but aren’t in the current eligibility window.

That’s 45 players from Auburn with the possibility of becoming Hall of Famers someday.

To be considered for the College Football Hall of Fame today, a player must have been a first-team All-American selection by one of the organizations that the NCAA uses to compile its annual consensus All-American team. Currently, those organizations are the American Football Coaches Association, Associated Press, Football Writers Association of American, Sporting News and Walter Camp Football Foundation. But the selectors used by the NCAA have varied over the years.

Players aren’t considered for the College Football Hall of Fame until 10 full seasons after their final college campaign. They also aren’t considered while they are active professional players. Auburn hasfive players who meet the All-American standard but aren’t eligible yet because their final season with the Tigers came in 2015 or later and/or they’re still playing professionally.

Players also aren’t considered if their college careers ended more than 50 years ago, so any player who completed his time with Auburn before 1976 isn’t eligible for the 2026 ballot. The Tigers have 14 players who meet the All-American standard but are outside the 50-year window.

Those players still can be considered for the College Football Hall of Fame, but their qualifications are examined by the Football Bowl Subdivision Honors Review Committee, bypassing the ballot.

King qualified for the ballot as a unanimous All-American. Spikes was a non-consensus All-American.

A unanimous All-American is a player who was a first-team selection for all the organizations used by the NCAA to compile the consensus All-American team for that season.

A consensus All-American usually is a player who was a first-team selection for at least half of the organizations used by the NCAA to compile the consensus All-American team. It’s possible to become a consensus All-American without reaching the halfway mark.

For consideration for the College Football Hall of Fame, players don’t have to be consensus All-Americans – just first-teamers for the right selector.

Former Auburn players eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame whose careers ended more than 50 years ago include (presented alphabetically with their All-American qualifying standards):

Linebacker Ken Bernich: Consensus in 1974

Center Jackie Burkett: Non-consensus in 1958

Defensive tackle David Campbell: Non-consensus in 1968

Fullback Joe Childress: Non-consensus in 1955

Tackle Frank D’Agostino: Non-consensus in 1955

Halfback Monk Gafford: Non-consensus in 1942

Defensive back Buddy McClinton: Consensus in 1969

End Jim “Red” Phillips: Unanimous in 1957

Tackle Ken Rice: Non-consensus in 1959 and consensus in 1960

Back Jimmy Sidle: Non-consensus in 1963

Guard Zeke Smith: Consensus in 1958 and non-consensus in 1959

Defensive tackle Jack Thornton: Non-consensus in 1965

Center Caleb Warrington: Non-consensus in 1944

Defensive back Larry Willingham: Consensus in 1970

Former Auburn players currently eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame ballot include (presented alphabetically with their All-American qualifying standards):

Linebacker Aundray Bruce: Consensus in 1987

Punter Lewis Colbert: Non-consensus in 1985

Linebacker Kurt Crain: Non-consensus in 1987

Punter Terry Daniel: Consensus in 1993

Linebacker Karlos Dansby: Consensus in 2003

All-purpose/kick returner Chris Davis: Non-consensus in 2013

Center Reese Dismukes: Consensus in 2014

Kicker Damon Duval: Consensus in 2001

Defensive tackle Nick Fairley: Consensus in 2010

Running back Brent Fullwood: Unanimous in 1986

Offensive tackle Wayne Gandy: Consensus in 1993

Guard Ed King: Non-consensus in 1989 and unanimous in 1990

Running back Tre Mason: Non-consensus in 2013

Offensive tackle Marcus McNeill: Consensus in 2005

Quarterback Cam Newton: Consensus in 2010

Offensive tackle Victor Riley: Non-consensus in 1997

Defensive back Brian Robinson: Consensus in 1994

Defensive tackle David Rocker: Consensus in 1990

Cornerback Carlos Rogers: Consensus in 2004

Wide receiver Frank Sanders: Non-consensus in 1990

Offensive tackle Stacy Searels: Non-consensus in 1987

Defensive back Chris Shelling: Non-consensus in 1994

Linebacker Takeo Spikes: Non-consensus in 1997

Center Ben Tamburello: Unanimous in 1986

Running back Carnell “Cadillac” Williams: Non-consensus in 2004

Offensive tackle Lee Ziemba: Consensus in 2010

Former Auburn players who meet the All-American standard for the College Football Hall of Fame but are not yet eligible for consideration include (presented alphabetically with their All-American qualifying standards):

Defensive tackle Derrick Brown: Unanimous in 2019

Kicker Daniel Carlson: Non-consensus in 2017

Defensive end Carl Lawson: Non-consensus in 2016

Cornerback Roger McCreary: Non-consensus in 2021

Guard Braden Smith: Non-consensus in 2017

Auburn has nine players in the College Football Hall of Fame (presented alphabetically with their All-American qualifying standards):

Wide receiver Terry Beasley: Unanimous in 1971

Linebacker Gregg Carr: Consensus in 1984

Fullback Ed Dyas: Non-consensus in 1960

Halfback Tucker Frederickson: Consensus in 1964

Halfback Jimmy Hitchcock: Consensus in 1932

Running back Bo Jackson: Consensus in 1983 and unanimous in 1985

Defensive tackle Tracy Rocker: Consensus in 1987 and unanimous in 1988

Quarterback Pat Sullivan: Unanimous in 1971

One of College Football Hall of Fame members from Auburn does not meet the currently used All-American standard – center Walter Gilbert, who played for the Tigers from 1934 through 1936.

Players on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot are nominated by athletic directors, head coaches and sports-information directors at National Football Foundation-member schools.

The FBS nominees are sorted geographically for eight District Screening Committees. The committee members vote on which players will represent their region on the ballot. Players who received significant support in the final voting in the previous year but did not make the College Football Hall of Fame also are held over on the ballot automatically.

The more than 12,000 members of the National Football Foundation then get the annual ballot for their consideration.

After the vote, the NFF Honors Court considers recommendations from the veterans committee, reviews the voting and chooses the members of the Hall of Fame class.

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

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How many former Alabama players are eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame?

The College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 ballot included two players from Alabama — running back Mark Ingram and offensive tackle Chris Samuels.

Neither was selected for enshrinement, so when the Class of 2026 ballot is released on Monday, they could be back for another chance at joining the 22 Alabama players already in the College Football Hall of Fame.

But 39 other Crimson Tide players also are eligible to appear on the Class of 2026 ballot — and that doesn’t include 49 Crimson Tide alumni who meet the first standard for consideration for the College Football Hall of Fame but aren’t in the current eligibility window.

That’s 90 players from Alabama with the possibility of becoming Hall of Famers.

To be considered for the College Football Hall of Fame today, a player must have been a first-team All-American selection by one of the organizations that the NCAA uses to compile its annual consensus All-American team. Currently, those organizations are the American Football Coaches Association, Associated Press, Football Writers Association of American, Sporting News and Walter Camp Football Foundation. But the selectors used by the NCAA have varied over the years.

Players aren’t considered for the College Football Hall of Fame until 10 full seasons after their final college campaign. They also aren’t considered while they are active pro players. Alabama has 26 players who meet the All-American standard but aren’t eligible yet because their final season with the Tide came in 2015 or later and/or they’re still playing professionally.

Players also aren’t considered if their college careers ended more than 50 years ago, so any player who completed his time with the Tide before 1976 isn’t eligible for the 2025 ballot. Alabama has 23 players who meet the All-American standard but are outside the 50-year window, with defensive end Leroy Cook, Alabama’s first two-time consensus All-American, joining that list this year.

Those players still can be considered for the College Football Hall of Fame, but their qualifications are examined by the Football Bowl Subdivision Honors Review Committee, bypassing the ballot.

Alabama has 14 players who were unanimous All-Americans and two players who were two-time consensus All-Americans eligible for the 2026 ballot.

A unanimous All-American is a player who was a first-team selection for all the organizations used by the NCAA to compile the consensus All-American team for that season.

A consensus All-American usually is a player who was a first-team selection for at least half of the organizations used by the NCAA to compile the consensus All-American team. It’s also possible to become a consensus All-American without reaching the halfway mark.

For consideration for the College Football Hall of Fame, players don’t have to be consensus All-Americans – just first-teamers for a qualifying selector.

Former Alabama players eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame whose careers ended more than 50 years ago include (presented alphabetically with their All-American qualifying standards):

Offensive tackle Buddy Brown: Consensus in 1973

Defensive end Leroy Cook: Consensus in 1974 and unanimous in 1975

Center Cary Cox: Non-consensus in 1939

Center Paul Crane: Consensus in 1965

Center Joe Domnanovich: Consensus in 1942

Tackle Cecil Dowdy: Unanimous in 1966

Guard Wayne Freeman: Non-consensus in 1964

Linebacker Mike Hall: Non-consensus in 1968

Fullback Tony Holm: Non-consensus in 1929

End Dennis Homan: Consensus in 1967

Defensive back Bobby Johns: Non-consensus in 1966 and consensus in 1967

Defensive tackle Dan Kearley: Non-consensus in 1964

Fullback Joe Kilgrow: Non-consensus in 1937

Center Jim Krapf: Non-consensus in 1972

Tackle Bill Lee: Consensus in 1934

Linebacker John Mitchell: Non-consensus in 1972

Guard Leroy Monsky: Consensus in 1937

End Ray Perkins: Consensus in 1966

End Holt Rast: Consensus in 1941

Defensive back Ed Salem: Non-consensus in 1950

Wide receiver Wayne Wheeler: Non-consensus in 1973

Guard Art “Tarzan” White: Non-consensus in 1936

End Hoyt Winslett: Non-consensus in 1926

Former Alabama players currently eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame ballot include (presented alphabetically with their All-American qualifying standards):

Running back Shaun Alexander: Non-consensus in 1999

Defensive back Javier Arenas: Consensus in 2009

Safety Mark Barron: Non-consensus in 2010 and unanimous in 2011

Offensive tackle Jim Bunch: Consensus in 1979

Center Antoine Caldwell: Consensus in 2008

Defensive back Jeremiah Castille: Non-consensus in 1982

Safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix: Consensus in 2013

Defensive tackle Terrence Cody: Consensus in 2008 and 2009

Safety Landon Collins: Unanimous in 2014

Defensive lineman John Copeland: Consensus in 1992

Defensive lineman Eric Curry: Consensus in 1992

Linebacker Trey DePriest: Non-consensus in 2014

Kicker Philip Doyle: Unanimous in 1990

Linebacker Dont’a Hightower: Consensus in 2011

Running back Bobby Humphrey: Non-consensus in 1987

Running back Mark Ingram: Unanimous in 2009

Defensive back Kevin Jackson: Unanimous in 1996

Guard Mike Johnson: Consensus in 2009

Safety Rashad Johnson: Non-consensus in 2008

Offensive lineman Barrett Jones: Unanimous in 2011 (as a tackle) and consensus in 2012 (as a center)

Cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick: Non-consensus in 2011

Offensive tackle Arie Kouandjio: Non-consensus in 2014

Offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio: Consensus in 2013

Linebacker Keith McCants: Unanimous in 1989

Linebacker Rolando McClain: Unanimous in 2009

Cornerback DeQuan Menzie: Non-consensus in 2011

Cornerback Dee Milliner: Unanimous in 2012

Defensive lineman Michael Myers: Non-consensus in 1996

All-purpose/kick returner David Palmer: Consensus in 1993

Defensive tackle Mike Pitts: Consensus in 1982

Kicker Michael Proctor: Non-consensus in 1993 and 1994

Running back Trent Richardson: Unanimous in 2011

Linebacker Dwayne Rudd: Non-consensus in 1996

Linebacker DeMeco Ryans: Unanimous in 2005

Offensive tackle Chris Samuels: Unanimous in 1999

Offensive tackle Andre Smith: Unanimous in 2008

Defensive lineman Robert Stewart: Non-consensus in 1991

Kicker Leigh Tiffin: Non-consensus in 2009

Linebacker Courtney Upshaw: Non-consensus in 2011

Guard Chance Warmack: Unanimous in 2012

Defensive back Tommy Wilcox: Consensus in 1981

Former Alabama players who meet the All-American standard for the College Football Hall of Fame but are not yet eligible for consideration include (presented alphabetically with their All-American qualifying standards):

Defensive lineman Jonathan Allen: Unanimous in 2016

Linebacker Will Anderson Jr.: Unanimous in 2021 and 2022

Cornerback Terrion Arnold: Non-consensus in 2023

Wide receiver Amari Cooper: Unanimous in 2014

Center Landon Dickerson: Unanimous in 2020

Linebacker Rashaan Evans: Non-consensus in 2017

Defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick: Consensus in 2016 and unanimous in 2017

Linebacker Reuben Foster: Unanimous in 2016

Running back Najee Harris: Unanimous in 2020

Running back Derrick Henry: Unanimous in 2015

Cornerback Marlon Humphrey: Non-consensus in 2016

Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy: Consensus in 2018 and non-consensus in 2019

Quarterback Mac Jones: Consensus in 2020

Center Ryan Kelly: Consensus in 2015

Offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood: Non-consensus in 2019 and unanimous in 2020

Quarterback AJ McCarron: Non-consensus in 2013

Cornerback Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry: Non-consensusin 2023

Linebacker Dylan Moses: Non-consensus in 2020

Linebacker C.J. Mosley: Consensus in 2012 and unanimous in 2013

Offensive tackle Evan Neal: Consensus in 2021

Center Ross Pierschbacher: Non-consensus in 2018

Linebacker Reggie Ragland: Unanimous in 2015

Defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson: Consensus in 2015

Offensive tackle Cam Robinson: Unanimous in 2016

Punter JK Scott: Non-consensus in 2014

Wide receiver DeVonta Smith: Unanimous in 2020

Cornerback Patrick Surtain II: Unanimous in 2020

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa: Consensus in 2018

Safety Deionte Thompson: Consensus in 2018

Linebacker Dallas Turner: Consensus in 2023

All-purpose/kick returner Jaylen Waddle: Non-consensus in 2019

Wide receiver Jameson Williams: Non-consensus in 2021

Offensive tackle Jonah Williams: Unanimous in 2018

Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams: Unanimous in 2018

Quarterback Bryce Young: Consensus in 2021

Alabama has 22 players already in the College Football Hall of Fame (presented alphabetically with their All-American qualifying standards):

Linebacker Cornelius Bennett: Non-consensus in 1985 and unanimous in 1986

Quarterback Johnny Cain: Non-consensus in 1931

Center Sylvester Croom: Non-consensus in 1974

Halfback Harry Gilmer: Non-consensus in 1945

Guard John Hannah: Non-consensus in 1971 (as an offensive tackle) and unanimous in 1972

Halfback Dixie Howell: Consensus in 1934

End Don Hutson: Consensus in 1934

Center Lee Roy Jordan: Unanimous in 1962

Defensive end E.J. Junior: Unanimous in 1980

Defensive back Antonio Langham: Unanimous in 1993

Linebacker Woodrow Lowe: Non-consensus in 1973 and 1975 and consensus in 1974

Defensive tackle Marty Lyons: Consensus in 1978

Center Vaughn Mancha: Consensus in 1945

Running back Johnny Musso: Consensus in 1971

Tackle Billy Neighbors: Unanimous in 1961

Wide receiver Ozzie Newsome: Consensus in 1977

Tackle Fred Sington: Unanimous in 1930

Quarterback Riley Smith: Consensus in 1935

Linebacker Derrick Thomas: Unanimous in 1988

Tackle Don Whitmire: Non-consensus in 1942 (and after transferring to Navy, a consensus All-American in 1943 and a unanimous All-American in 1944)

Langham is Alabama’s most recent player to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2024. He’s also the most recent of the Tide’s Hall of Famers to appear on the field. No Alabama player who has appeared in a game in the previous 31 seasons is in the College Football Hall of Fame.

Two of College Football Hall of Fame members from Alabama do not meet the currently used All-American standard – halfback Johnny Mack Brown, who played for the Crimson Tide from 1923 through 1925, and fullback Pooley Hubert, who played from 1922 through 1925.

Players on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot are nominated by athletic directors, head coaches and sports-information directors at National Football Foundation-member schools.

The FBS nominees are sorted geographically for eight District Screening Committees. The committee members vote on which players will represent their region on the ballot. Players who received significant support in the final voting in the previous year but did not make the College Football Hall of Fame also are held over on the ballot automatically.

The more than 12,000 members of the National Football Foundation then get the annual ballot for their consideration.

After the vote, the NFF Honors Court considers recommendations from the veterans committee, reviews the voting and chooses the members of the Hall of Fame class.

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

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Today’s daily horoscopes: June 1, 2025

A passionate lunar trine to Venus reminds us that truth isn’t just about what happened — it’s about how people experienced what happened. By hearing different perspectives, we gather more than just facts. We learn of motivations, complex feelings, choices and reactions. Listening widely helps us understand deeply.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You may find yourself questioning an old belief about who you are or noticing a gap between how you feel and how you present. This is a powerful day to reflect, realign and consciously shape the way you move through the world.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’re the light and the ground beneath it, too — because even the stars need a horizon to rise over. With every practical move, you’re building the world where your brightness gets to mean something.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Someone hears you completely and tells you what they see. Being witnessed is a huge part of your transcendence to the next stage of what you’re trying to do. And you, dear force of nature, are certain to get there.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Give yourself room to stumble. Progress isn’t always graceful, especially in the early stages. You wouldn’t chide a baby for falling after their first few steps, so why would you expect yourself to do well with tasks you’re brand new to?

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). A few beautiful things about you: You are emotionally courageous. You go to the hard places and come back ready to teach. You notice everything — tones, details, pauses, unsaid things — and you use that information to care.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’ll dissect your work. Note what you enjoy and also what you simply accept as necessary. Is it? There just may be a way to disappear into the work that fuels your passion and delegate the rest.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Beauty and meaning don’t only live in depth — they’re also in levity, in laughter, in the lift of a well-timed moment. Let your mind wander through both shadows and light. There’s insight on either side.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). As for your idol, you’re not necessarily trying to be this person, but certainly, they possess qualities you’re nurturing in yourself these days. Every journey needs a guide, and you’ll be well guided by the beckon of your hero.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Relationships can come together organically or they can take a lot of work, and neither way is better than the other. When they take work, they teach you what exactly is involved in creating connections.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’ll make concessions. Compromise isn’t weakness — it’s collaboration. You’re contributing to a relationship where both parties genuinely value and support one another. The give-and-take feels balanced, and every small effort strengthens the bond.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Your wins are grounded. You admit you’re not perfect, but even your mistakes have poetry. Something you’ve been working on — perhaps a portfolio — is going to make things happen for you, so keep going.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Boldness will serve you well. Say yes with your whole being, as though this door was always meant for you. The more you commit, the more you’ll grow into the role like it was tailored for you.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (June 1). You’re a driven, powerful boss with the “rage” properly harnessed — it’s a furnace you keep stoking. Many gather to dance around this fire in you. You’re also deeply original and will profit from your trailblazing ways. More highlights: Belonging to a group and holding many roles within it, three instances of doubling your money and a happy turn for health and fitness. Taurus and Virgo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 3, 20, 1, 11 and 16.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: In 2024, the home of Marilyn Monroe was confirmed as a cultural landmark and her estate earned $10 million from licensing and merchandising deals, ranking her among the highest-paid heavenly celebrities. Over six decades after her passing, Monroe is an enduring icon of beauty, charisma and cultural influence. A witty Gemini sun and an entertaining Leo moon mirror her enduring appeal and the timeless fascination she holds in popular culture.

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.

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Live updates from Auburn baseball’s regional game against Stetson

Auburn baseball returns to Plainsman Park to host Stetson in its NCAA tournament regional. First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m.

Central Connecticut State was eliminated from the regional after falling to NC State 12-0. The Wolfpack will meet the loser of Auburn and Stetson in a win or go home game Sunday afternoon.

Here’s a live update stream from the Tigers game against Stetson:

First Inning

• Auburn’s Chris Rembert files out on the Tigers first at bat. Eric Guevara strikes out and Ike Irish gets out at first base.
• First pitch 8:06 p.m.

Pregame

Starting pitchers

Auburn: RHP Sam Dutton (6-3, 3.58 ERA) Stetson: RHP James Hayes (4-0, 4.47 ERA)

Auburn starting lineup

1. RF Chris Rembert
2. 3B Eric Guevara
3. LF Ike Irish
4. 1B Cooper McMurray
5. DH Lucas Steele
6. 2B Eric Snow
7. CF Bub Terrell
8. C Chase Fralick
9. SS Deric Fabian

Stetson Starting lineup

1. 3B Isaiah Barkett
2. 2B Juan De La Cruz
3. SS Lorenzo Meola
4. 1B Landon Moran
5. LF Foster Apple
6. RF Jordan Taylor
7. DH Evan Griffis
8. CF Landon Russell
9. C Danny Perez

Officials: Nate White (HP); Eric Goshay (1B); David Uyl (2B); Zach Neff (3B)

Jerry Humphrey III covers Auburn sports forAL.com. You can follow him on X at @Jerryhump3or email him at [email protected].

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Republican doubles down on ‘we’re all going to die’ Medicaid cut defense: ‘Embrace my Lord and savior’

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst on Saturday doubled down after she said “we all are going to die” as she addressed potential changes to Medicaid eligibility at a town hall in north-central Iowa on Friday.

Her comment was met with shouts and groans.

In a social media video on Saturday, Ernst joked about the outrage.

“I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that, yes, we are all going to perish from this earth. So I apologize,” Ernst said in the video.

“I’m really, really glad that I didn’t have to bring up the subject of the tooth fairy,” Ernst added. “For those who would like to see eternal and everlasting, I encourage you to embrace my lord and savior, Jesus Christ.”

She had been consistent in her message throughout the contentious forum at a high school in Parkersburg, Iowa, as she defended the tax and immigration package that has passed the House and is now under consideration in the Senate.

Facing several constituents concerned about cuts to Medicaid, she defended the $700 billion in reduced spending, saying it would keep immigrants in the U.S. illegally and those who have access to insurance through their employers off the rolls.

Then someone in the crowd yelled that people will die without coverage.

“People are not … well, we all are going to die,” Ernst said, drawing groans. “So, for heaven’s sakes. For heaven’s sakes, folks.”

“What you don’t want to do is listen to me when I say that we are going to focus on those that are most vulnerable,” Ernst went on. “Those that meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid we will protect.”

House Republicans last week muscled through the massive spending and tax cut package, dubbed “the big, beautiful bill” at the urging of President Donald Trump, by a single vote. It now moves to the Senate.

Ernst made clear Friday that any measure that emerges from the Senate will look different from the House version.

Republicans have defended the new work requirements for nondisabled adults without dependents and stepped up eligibility verification, saying the generated savings will sustain the program for vulnerable populations. Democrats warn that millions of Americans will lose coverage.

A preliminary estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the proposals would reduce the number of people with health care by 8.6 million over the decade.

Video of Ernst’s comment started making the rounds among Democratic elected officials and candidates. Ernst is up for reelection in 2026.

“This morning, Joni Ernst said the quiet part out loud,” said Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee, in a statement. He added that Republicans do not care “about whether their own constituents live or die as long as the richest few get richer.”

AL.com contributed to this report.

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