Thursday Morning Briefing

Good morning West Alabama. It is Thursday, December 19, 2024.

Thursday Morning Observations:

University of Alabama's Athletics Director Greg Byrne is taking heat for a social media post (on X, formally known as twitter) asking fans to join the Alabama collective to help pay for players.

Alabama fans,  

Over the past few years, there have been drastic changes in college athletics. We have been careful during this transitional period to protect our position at the top of college athletics while being mindful to listen, engage and learn from our generous supporters, proud alumni and unrivaled fans to make sure that we protect our great traditions here at Alabama. But there’s a time for talk and a time for action. Now is a time for action.  

Although we have been competitive from an NIL standpoint, our competition has us in their sights and are actively trying to surge ahead with NIL. You have heard examples of other teams using promises of million-dollar paydays to lure away our players or convince them not to come to Alabama. It is time for the Bama Nation to fight back.  

Under the new model of college athletics, which is the result of an antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA, a university can succeed if their fans purchase authentic NIL from student-athletes. The good news is when @yea_ala was created last year, the focus was on providing our fans with a legitimate product rather than booster inducements. @yea_ala delivers exclusive content and access you cannot get anywhere else. We also have a plan to grow @yea_ala’s offerings with more videos, features and news in 2025.  

So, please visit https://yea-alabama.com/join/ to join!

A dozen Alabama players have hit the transfer portal so far. Most were highly regarded as high school prospects who are looking for more playing time and more Name, Image and Likeness money.

Bama fans and haters have taken to social media to criticize Byrne, make fun of Bama and in-general make a lot of negative comments.

It is a new day in college sports and unfortunately NIL is actually pay-for-play because the supposed well-educated NCAA has abdicated control over college athletics. It is the wild west and only schools like Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma and a handful of others with oil billionaire boosters and wealthy celeb alums will get the donations needed to draw the best players with their handout.

Alabama doesn't have that many well-heeled alums so it must depend on fans filling the gap, fans that are already burdened with high priced Tide Pride membership and expensive tickets.

Fans also forget, the athletic department funds not only football and basketball but other sports that don't bring in sizeable income and have to exist off of football revenue.

Unless something is done, and soon, college athletic success will only be in the hands of a few wealthy schools.

(Opinions expressed in Morning Briefing are not necessarily those of the ownership, management or staff of Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa.)

Weather:

Decreasing clouds and more seasonable temperatures are on tap for the next few days. A look ahead does reveal a chance of some showers on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

The Forecast:

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Topping the News:

44-year-old Devonta Farmer, a Mississippi man, has been sentenced to 40 years for shooting a Tuscaloosa Police officer in 2021. Prosecutors had asked for a 50-year sentence, but TPD Chief Brent Blankley told says although he believes anyone who shoots an officer should go to prison for the rest of their life, officers are ok with the judge's sentence.

Farmer had pleaded guilty to attempted murder charges.

A juvenile has been charged with murdering 18-year-old Cameron Jamal Mikquise Thompson who identified as a woman. Police say Tuscaloosa’s 20^th Homicide of 2024 allegedly resulted from comments made on social media. Thompson’s body was found by officers responding to a shots fired call at a residence on East 35^th Avenue Monday afternoon.

The ribbon cutting for the new Benjamin Barnes YMCA is set for 4:00 this afternoon. There will also be an open house following so the public can get a look at the new facility on the McDonald-Hughes Center property at 3011 MLK, Jr. Blvd. Construction on the $10 million building began in October of last year.

Multiple law enforcement officers scoured the home and property located on Highway 129, just outside of Winfield last night. They were looking for clues associated with the disappearance of one-year-old Kahleb Collins. Deputies were tight lipped about their search, but crime scene tape surrounds the property.

The search for the child began after a crash that killed his father, 2-year-old sister and severely injured his mother. The 1-year-old was not with the family and family members reported not seeing him in weeks.

The child’s grandfather John Bailey remains in jail, charged with failure to report the baby’s disappearance.

Topping Sports News:

The Alabama Men's Basketball Team was almost as cold as the -12-degree wind chill outside as they edged North Dakota 97-90 just 80 miles south of the U.S. border with Canada.

It was a homecoming of sorts for Tide Forward Grant Nelson who played at North Dakota State and whose family lives just a couple of hours away. Nelson recorded a double-double in front of a large contingent of family and friends.

The Crimson Tide (9-2) trailed by as many nine points midway through the first half but scored 62 second half points and outscored the Fighting Hawks (4-9) by 10 (62-52) to pull out the victory.

Alabama will begin a three-game homestand including its two final non-conference games, beginning with Kent State at noon on Sunday at Coleman Coliseum.

Believe it or not, college baseball season is just around the corner, beginning for Alabama on February 14. The Tide's 2025 schedule has now been released.

Read More: Alabama Finalizes 2025 Baseball Schedule

Click TuscaloosaThread.com for the lates West Alabama news, sports and weather. Better yet, download the app.

Merry Christmas and Have a terrific Thursday!!