West Alabama Friday Briefing
It is Friday, December 29, 2023. The last weekend of the year is just ahead, and the bowl games become bigger and the weekend proceeds, leading to January 1 and the first round of the College Football Playoffs.
The "Granddaddy of Them All," the Rose Bowl game, will be first up Monday afternoon at 4:00pm CST. The G.O.A.T., Nick Saban, matches wits with Jim Harbaugh, the Michigan head coach who apparently believes the old adage that rules are made to be broken.
Monday night in the Sugar Bowl former Bama OC Steve Sarkesian and his Texas Longhorns take on the undefeated Washington Huskies. The Huskies are a four-point favorite while the Wolverines are getting a 1.5-point nod from Las Vegas over the Crimson Tide.
The winner of the two games will meet for the national championship in Houston.
About one-half to one inch of rainfall is expected in the Pasadena area this weekend. There is a 20% chance of light rain in the forecast Monday during the Rose Parade but is expected to end before the game kicks off later in the afternoon.
Locally, the chance for snow flurries or snow showers are back in the forecast from Tuscaloosa/Northport northward. It will start out as light rain showers and/or light rain sprinkles before becoming mixed or switching over to very light snow or flurries as the evening progresses. No accumulation is expected.
The Forecast:
Today: A chance of sprinkles after 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 50. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tonight: A chance of sprinkles, mixing with flurries after 10pm, then gradually ending. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. West wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 51. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 30. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 59. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
New Years Eve: A 20 percent chance of rain after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41.
New Years Day: A 30 percent chance of rain before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 52.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 28.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 52.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.
Remainder of 1st Work Week of 2024: Rain Wednesday and Wednesday night with sun returning Thursday. Highs will be in the lower 50s and lows in the lower 30s.
Topping the news:
Questions arise about officer in volved shooting. In a press conference late Wednesday, the family of the late Tristan Clark questioned the narrative of his shooting by a Tuscaloosa Police Narcotics Officer on December 20th.
Officers claim Clak pointed a gun at them prompting an officer to open fire during a traffic stop near Bowers Park. The other occupants of the car admit Clark was armed but did not point the gun at the officer.
Clark's family believes the shooting was unjustified and called for immediate action for transparency. They want all records and reports handed over to their attorneys.
"In a million years I would never imagine standing here, but I stand here asking everybody to stand up and help me fight for justice for my son," said Clark's mother Jacoya Clark.
The narcotics officers were apparently not wearing body cams prompting the family to call for changes that will require all officers wear body cameras.
According to a post on X (formally known as Twitter), former ALGOP chairman Elbert Peters passed away Thursday at the age of 90.
"It is with incredible sadness that we report former ALGOP Chairman and longtime member Elbert Peters passed away this afternoon at the age of 90. His contributions to our Party are immeasurable and he will be greatly missed. Please join us in lifting his loved ones up in prayer." the post stated.
Peters was a longtime fixture of Huntsville politics.
Members of the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission say they are aiming to get the state’s medical marijuana program underway in 2024 after a series of delays and legal disputes.
Several companies have filed lawsuits challenging the license selection process as flawed and seeking to stop the awards. Montgomery Circuit Judge James Anderson held a hearing Thursday on the injunction request. but no judgement was issued.
New Years is always a big party time with lots of alcohol and that has ALEA State Troopers concerned about impaired driving. Trooper Corporal Reginal King is imploring partyers to have a sober driver available to drive home. Troopers and local police will be out in force to keep highways and streets safe.
King says if you do not have an alternate driver available then consider using a ride-sharing service such as Uber.
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport officials are expected a large number of passengers today through Sunday headed west for Monday's Rose Bowl matchup between Alabama and Michigan.
TSA says the bowl games combined with New Year's revelers will account for .3 million flyers this weekend. Today and tomorrow will be the biggest travel days.
In Sports:
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe has the No. 4 Crimson Tide two wins away from a national championship.
But Milroe has been met with doubters along his route to the 2023 College Football Playoff, including one of his former Alabama coaches.
Speaking at a Rose Ball press conference, Milroe revealed that ex-Alabama offensive coordinator and current New England Patriots OC Bill O'Brien told him to change positions. "My own offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien told me I shouldn't play quarterback," Milroe told reporters. "That's something I have motivation from."
When asked how O'Brien's suggestion made him feel, Milroe responded, "How would you feel if I told you 'You suck'?'"
The Auburn Tigers and Maryland Terrapins will face off tomorrow in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl 1:00 p.m. CST.
Auburn finished the season with an overall record of 6-6 while Maryland was 7-5 from the Big 10 conference.
Two Southeastern Conference teams will play in bowl games today:
- Kentucky takes on Clemson at 11:00am in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla.
- Missouri battles Ohio State in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at Arlington TX.
Have a happy, safe and enjoyable New Years weekend!! ROLL TIDE!!
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