Good morning West Alabama! It is Friday, November 8, 2024.

Thursday Morning Observations:

Every football game from this weekend through the end of the regular season is do-or-die for the University of Alabama and many West Alabama high school football teams.

With two loses the Tide faces another two-loss team, LSU, in what is an elimination game tomorrow night for one of the 12 slots in the College Football Playoffs. The loser of tomorrow night's game in "Death Valley" will be out of playoff competition and will instead look to land the best post-season bowl game possible.

On the prep side West Alabama has a number of teams (See list in the sports section below) competing in the Class 1A - 6A playoffs (no area team qualified for the 7A playoffs). One loss and you are out.

So, it is now or never! Best of luck!

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

Weather:

An area of southern Greene County and extreme western Hale County are now designated as being in Extreme Drought in the current U.S. Drought Monitor. The remainder of West Alabama is in Moderate to Severe Drought.

The dry conditions have led to 23 wildfires burning across the state but none currently in West Alabama.

Up to an inch of rain in scattered areas across West Alabama will help today, tonight, Saturday and through the weekend but will not end the drought according to the national Weather Service in Birmingham.

The Forecast

Today

Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Northeast wind around 5 mph.

Tonight

A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. East wind around 5 mph.

Saturday

A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before noon, then a chance of showers between noon and 3pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Sunday

A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 73. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Sunday Night

Veterans Day

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before noon, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. Chance of precipitation is 30%

Next Week

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Murder suspect Stacy Lee Drake was arrested in Arkansas in June, but it may be next year before he is tried. He is charged with homicides in Oklahoma and the death of Russell Andrews Sr. at the AA facility on Warner Parkway in Tuscaloosa in May.

Yesterday body cam footage of his arrest in the woods was made available by Arkansas authorities. Drake is being held without bail in Oklahoma with no trial date yet set.

It wasn’t just UA students that received those racist texts earlier this week telling them they would be picked up and transported to a nearby plantation. It was also women, children and men of color, including students at Montevallo High School.

The FBI is investigating and President and CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Margaret Huang says so is her organization. UA issued a statement calling the messages "disgusting"

Gov. Ivey has helped cut the ribbon to Smucker’s new $1.1 billion dollar facility to produce the popular Uncrustables brand frozen sandwich treat. The 900,000-square-foot factory, located on PB&J Way, just across the county line in McCalla, is the company’s largest facility.

Ivey told the crowd, "If its Smucker's and Sweet Home Alabama, it has to be good."

Roughly 340 of 400 employees have already been hired.

The American Freight Appliances & Furniture store in Northport (2300 McFarland Blvd.) and the national chain's 369 other stores are being closed due to the parent company filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.

The warehouse store that sells furniture, mattresses, and appliances has 10 stores in Alabama, including the Northport location.

Franchise Group, also known as FRG, operates American Freight, along with Pet Supplies Plus, The Vitamin Shoppe and Buddy’s Home Furnishings.

Christmas has to be just around the corner. Holidays on the Plaza, will return to Government Plaza on Nov. 29. The annual event features ice skating and the Tuscaloosa One Place Tinsel Trail of decorated Christmas Trees.

The event is free, but skate passes must be purchased to enter the skating rink.

Holidays on the Plaza will run until January 20th.

A vote today by the full board of the University of Alabama Board of Trustees is expected to pave the way for upgrading and expanding Wi-Fi service at Bryant-Denny Stadium and Coleman Coliseum next year.

The board's Projects Committee ok's the $13.3 million project that will be funded by the Crimson Tide Foundation.

Want to be an integral part of Bama athletics? UA has announced the Big AL tryouts info session is set for Tuesday, December 3rd at 8:00 pm in the C.M. Newton Room at Coleman Coliseum

Topping Sports News:

First Round West Alabama AHSAA Football Playoffs Games:

Class 1A:

Keith hosts McKenzie
University Charter travels to Millry
Sweetwater hits the road to Choctaw County
Pickens Academy is home to Leroy
Linden 63 Southern Choctaw 14 (Thursday Night)
Berry is at Addison
Pickens County welcomes Hackleburg

Class 2A:

Sulligent hosts Pleasant Valley
Tuscaloosa Academy travels to North Sand Mountain
Aliceville welcomes Pisgah

Class 3A:

Hale County 6 Bayside Academy 36 (Thursday Night)
Gordo travels to Rogers

Class 4A:

Bibb County is on the road at Opp
Fayette County hosts West Morgan

Class 5A:

Northside welcomes Williamson
Sipsey Valley is home to Vigor
Demopolis travels to UMS Wright Prep

Class 6A:

Northridge is home to Russell County

The line on the Alabama game has risen slightly. The Crimson Tide is now a three-point favorite to beat LSU in Baton Rouge tomorrow night.

ESPN Gameday will be outside Tiger Stadium tomorrow morning.

There is a chance for precipitation at tomorrow night's Tide Tiger tussle in Baton Rouge, but the rainfall is not expected to be heavy or all throughout the game.

The 1-0 Crimson Tide Men's Basketball Team plays game two of the season tonight at 7:00pm in Coleman Coliseum. The 2nd ranked Tide will face Arkansas State whose head coach had to play bus mechanic on the Red Wolves trip to Tuscaloosa.

West Alabama Friday Briefing

Read More: Arkansas State MBB HC Bryan Hodgson Fixes Team Bus On Drive to Tuscaloosa