West Alabama Friday Briefing

Good morning West Alabama. It is Friday, November 15, 2024.

Friday Morning Observations:

One of the shortcomings of playing lower college football division schools like Mercer tomorrow is fans might have to shell out big bucks if you want to watch the Crimson Tide on television. Because there are bigger, more important and interesting games being played, ESPN/ABC is not interested in making Mercer at Alabama part of its standard, gameday broadcast schedule.

If you don't already subscribe, you will need to get access to ESPN+ or SEC Network+ to view the mismatch from your easy chair.

It will actually be cheaper to see the game in person. Seat Geek, UA's partnered secondary ticket vendor, has upper deck tickets available as low at $16.00. There are lower bowl seats for sale as low as $33.00.

Despite Mercer coming into Bryant-Denny with a 9-1 record and Bama being ranked 10th in the CFP Brackets, the game is seen as such a mismatch that there is no line set by Las Vegas.

Tide fans, who shell out a ton of money to support their favorite team deserve more than such a dog of a game. If UA doesn't want to play a front-line team, then schedule Duke, Purdue or Memphis, some school that will provide enough competition to give the game interest and a TV network broadcast.

Perhaps the best choice at 1:00 tomorrow afternoon is to settle back in your recliner, turn on your radio to 95.3 The Bear, Tide 100.9 or 1230AM and listen to Chris Stewert on the Crimson Tide Sports Network. The broadcast is pure Bama, and it won't cost you a thing.

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

Weather:

Weather for tonight's high school playoff games and tomorrow's next to last regular season home game for UA at Bryant-Denny should be near perfect for late season football.

The Forecast

Today

Sunny, with a high near 66. North wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 42. North wind around 5 mph.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 69. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.

Saturday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 44. Calm wind.

Sunday

Sunny, with a high near 72. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.

Sunday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.

Next Week

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Topping the News:

After years of poor or incomplete grades from a healthcare rating service, DCH Regional Medical Center is receiving praise.

Leapfrog has declared DCH, Northport Medical center and Fayette Medical Center (all owned by DCH Healthcare) "Best in West Alabama for Quality and Patient Safety".

Nearly 3,000 hospitals nationwide participate in the voluntary survey.

Three years ago DCH received a "D" grade. Hardwork to upgrade and improve garnered one of the city's largest employers a "B".

19-year-old Jarell Hodges has been charged with Felony Murder in the shooting death of 18-year-old Keandre Simmons near Kaulton Field Wednesday afternoon. Two other males who were wounded were transported to DCH Regional Medical Center.

Read More: Investigators ID Teen Killed in Tuscaloosa Wednesday, Charge 19-Year-Old with Murder

After the September urging of Cottondale Republican State Senator Gerald Allen, the City of Tuscaloosa has now approved a resolution urging Gov. Ivey to have the state buy the Black Warrior Parkway Toll Bridge.

The bridge is part of the Western Bypass. It has slowly drawn traffic since it opened in 1998 but has not served as a draw for 18-wheelers passing through downtown due to the toll.

Council President Kip Tyner also believes the toll bridge has suppressed growth in the area.

There is precedence, the state purchased the Foley toll bridge and removed the toll in Baldwin County.

Ashley Gill, the longtime operator of the Chick-fil-A next to the Northport Walmart on McFarland Boulevard has posted a social media announcement for another restaurant.

According to a Facebook post, the Gill family has broken ground on a new location at 6375 McFarland Boulevard, further west on Highway 82, near the airport.

Read More: Longtime Owners of Northport Chick-Fil-A Break Ground on Second Location

A stretch of Rice Mine Road in Tuscaloosa will be closed to traffic for five days later this month, weather permitting, as the ambitious project to extend McWright's Ferry Road continues.

Read More: Stretch of Tuscaloosa’s Rice Mine Road to Briefly Close As $69 Million Project Passes Halfway Mark

Shots were reported fire Thursday afternoon near Central High School in West End. A large law enforcement presence, including a TPD helicopter, searched the area but found no evident of a shooting.

Read More: Reports of Shots Fired Draw Tuscaloosa Police to Area Near Central Elementary School

If State Rep. Patrick Sellers has his way cellphones and other electronic devices will be banned for students in K-12 schools. The Democrat has prefilled a bill that would keep the devices out of schools.

Topping Sports News:

Second Round West Alabama Prep Football Playoff Games Tonight:

Class 1A:

Sweetwater hosts Maplesville
Linden travels to Elba
Berry is home to Spring Garden

Class 2A:

Tuscaloosa Academy welcomes Susan Moore
Sulligent travels to Southeastern

Class 3A:

Gordo hosts Fyffe

Class 4A:

Bibb County hosts Jackson

Class 5A:

No West Alabama Teams

Class 6A:

No West Alabama Teams

Class 7A:

No West Alabama Teams

The 22nd ranked Alabama Women's Basketball Team got 38 points in the paint enroute to a 88-59 win over Alcorn State last night at Coleman Coliseum. Bama is now 5-0 after Essence Cody led Alabama with 18 points in the game. Alabama shot 44 percent from the floor.

The Tide is at Louisiana-Monroe for a 2:00pm game Sunday.

The 2nd ranked Bama Men's Basketball Team faces a tough road test tonight at #13 Purdue. Th 6:00pm game will be broadcast by the Crimson Tide Sports Network on 95.3 The Bear, Tide 100.9 and 1230 AM. The game will be televised on the Peacock Network.

Click TuscaloosaThread.com for the latest West Alabama news, sports and weather throughout the day, it is free. Better yet, download the app.

Have a great weekend and ROLL TIDE!!