West Alabama Monday Briefing
Good morning West Alabama. It is Monday, October 21, 2024.
Monday Morning Observations:
My how the mighty have fallen! That is how the rest of the college football world is laughingly referring to the Alabama football team after its Saturday loss at Tennessee. They have been waiting on the demise of the Crimson Tide for 17 years.
After the Wisconsin win and the Georgia game, Alabama haters were fearful that Kalen DeBoer was just picking up where Nick Saban's retirement left off. Bama even had a one week stay at #1 that gave false hope. But since then, the Tide has been a team in disarray.
The term most often used by former players and coaches turned broadcast analysts to describe Alabama is undisciplined. To be fair, that lack of disciplined showed last season before Saban and the team leaders righted the ship and made the playoffs. This season, there is no hint that the team or coaching staff is going to be able to repeat that feat.
The lack of discipline is on display each week with the Tide piling up penalty-after-penalty. All those penalties often either stall a promising Alabama drive or extend an opponent drive that had been fizzling.
No one incident reflected the lack of discipline more than when Tennessee defensive back Boo Carter got in the face of Tide receiver Kendrick Law. It was obvious he was attempting to provoke a reaction from Law, and he got one. Instead of walking away, Law reacted, drawing a 15-yard personal foul penalty. That put Alabama into a fourth-and-22 at their own 18-yard line.
That situation was compounded by poor officiating. It should have been offsetting penalties because Carter should have penalized for not only getting into Law's face but also taking a swing at him. But the whole thing would have been mitigated if Law had been mature and disciplined enough to just walk away which would have made Carter look foolish.
But Law is not the only problem, there are too many silly offsides, illegal procedure, holding, pass interference penalties being committed for Alabama to win against ranked teams. Add to that the "deer in the headlights" look of DeBoer on the sideline and you understand why the Tide may lose more games.
As it looks right now, without significant improvement, including becoming less predictable offensively, Mercer may be the only guaranteed win. However, that doesn't mean give up on the Tide or the coaching staff.
-----
Weather:
The Forecast
Topping the News:
The Northport City Council is expected to, at tonight’s meeting, hear a first reading of a resolution creating the controversial University Beach Capital Improvement Cooperative District. Also, part of the resolution a three-member board of directors is to be appointed. The project on U-S 82 West has created considerable negative response from some in the city.
Anti-Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) legislation passed by the Alabama Legislature could cost UA and other schools across the state faculty members. A survey of states with new anti-DEA laws found many faculty willing to leave for Democrat dominated states, many taking research grant money with them.
Construction of new pickleball courts at Powell Pavilion and Miller Activity Center could begin after the first of the year. That is thanks to a partnership between the Tuscaloosa County Commission and City of Tuscaloosa. Overall, the commission has approved $200,000 for 11 pickleball courts at the PARA facilities.
One of the nation’s premiere arts festivals, Kentuck, wrapped up a successful first festival at Snow Hinton Park in Tuscaloosa Sunday. The 53-year-old festival featured 270-plus artists, live music, spoken word, activities for children, folk and contemporary craft demonstrations, food trucks, and local craft brews.
Kentuck had previously been help in Northport.
41-year-old Travis Terrell Williams pleaded guilty to two counts of murder in a hearing held in Fayette County Circuit Court last week. The Tuscaloosa man was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for the murder of his ex-wife. Authorities said a friend discovered 48-year-old Maronda Parker Williams dead in her home on Alabama Highway 18 East outside Fayette on January 21, 2020.
Topping Sports:
The University of Alabama has made $100,000 each from losing to Tennessee and Vanderbilt. It is part of an SEC rule stemming from fans storming the field.
AP Top 25:
- Oregon
- Georgia
- Penn State
- Ohio State
- Texas
- Miami
- Tennessee
- LSU
- Clemson
- Iowa State
- BYU
- Notre Dame
- Indiana
- Texas A&M
- Alabama
- Kansas
- Boise State
- Ole Miss
- Pittsburgh
- Illinois
- Missouri
- SMU
- Army
- Navy
- Vanderbilt
We now know the kickoff time for this coming weekend's Alabama Homecoming Game.
Alabama (5-2, 2-2) and Missouri (6-1, 2-1) faces off against a good Missouri team at 2:30 p.m. CDT Saturday.
Alabama QB Jalen Milroe overthrew wide open receivers several times in Saturday's loss to UT. He told media he has to do better.
Read More: Jalen Milroe’s Post Game Comments After Disappointing Loss to Tennessee
Click on TuscaloosaThread.com to keep up with all the latest West Alabama news, sports and weather. Better yet, download the app.
Have a magnificent Monday. ROLL TIDE!