Area Sports
Prayers turn into roars as Bama edges Arkansas in classic
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama’s Labaron Philon turned a lecture into rapture, a command to change his ways into a command performance. Nate Oats turned jeers into rhapsodical cheers reverberating off the hangar-style ceiling of Coleman Coliseum, where, at the end of Wednesday night’s double-overtime jousting with Arkansas, nobody could have heard…
Read MorePearl’s not panicking but hints at changes to stop Auburn’s slide
AUBURN, Ala. — In the aftermath of a third straight SEC loss Tuesday night, Auburn coach Steven Pearl repeatedly pressed his left index finger to his temple as he performed a painful self-examination. “People are going to be panicking right now,” he predicted after the Tigers led for only 20 seconds in an…
Read MoreSaraland QB Jamison Roberts narrows list to eight finalists, including Auburn, Ole Miss, Oklahoma
By JIMMY WIGFIELD Saraland quarterback Jamison Roberts announced his list of eight finalists on Monday, including Auburn, Ole Miss and Oklahoma. The other finalists are Arkansas, Kentucky, Duke, Northwestern and Iowa. “He’s playing the game at a level where it’s easy for all these decision makers to watch his tape and say, ‘Wow,…
Read MoreTide finds grit to cut its way through The Jungle and perhaps right its season
AUBURN, Ala. — Alabama’s 96-92 victory over Auburn on Saturday after it had been shoved to the precipice of a humiliating defeat, then refused to be packed up and sent back to Tuscaloosa in a sausage casing, might be a turning point for the Crimson Tide. Or it might be…
Read MoreSuper 7 in Mobile gets five days; Class 6A playoffs expand to 24 teams
By JIMMY WIGFIELD MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Class 6A football playoffs will expand to 24 teams this year and the Super 7 in Mobile will be conducted over five days in December, the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Central Board voted on Friday. The Super 7 — which will be played in…
Read MoreTerry Curtis’ legacy is far from complete as he seeks win No. 362, which might be the biggest of all
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — When lifetime achievement awards are bestowed on coaches, there is a tendency to think they can do nothing more to make their profession and their sport better. Terry Curtis did not feel a door closing behind him Saturday upon receiving such a commendation, although his emotions leaked out when his…
Read MoreDo the math: Danny Powell is one of Alabama’s greatest coaches
____________________ “I am not trying to outsmart the other coach so much as outsmart his kids. As a coach, you may see what they’re fixing to do but you ain’t got time to tell those 11 kids in those five seconds.” Danny Powell _______________________________ By JIMMY WIGFIELD MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Danny…
Read MorePrivate schools don’t revolt against the AHSAA but feel more powerful after meeting
By JIMMY WIGFIELD The state’s private schools did not declare an open rebellion and sever ties with the Alabama High School Athletic Association at a meeting in Montgomery Friday but headmasters and coaches hope they can build enough leverage to alter some of last week’s historic changes. The AHSAA’s Central Board voted…
Read MoreSaraland, Mary Montgomery to meet in home-and-home series
By JIMMY WIGFIELD Mary G. Montgomery and Saraland — the two preeminent football teams in the Mobile area the last four years — will play each other in a two-year home-and-home series beginning this season in Semmes. The Class 6A Vikings and the Class 5A Spartans will open the season on Aug.…
Read MoreShort-handed Tide plays Tennessee tough (but not tough enough) and Oats makes no excuses
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama coach Nate Oats is not one to make excuses, although he could have. He could have said a 79-73 loss to Tennessee Saturday night would have been averted if the injured Aden Holloway and Amari Allen — who average 29 points per game combined — had played. He…
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