
West Alabama Friday Briefing
Good morning West Alabama! It is Friday, January 31, 2025. This is the last day in January and the 31st day of the year with 334 remaining.
Friday Morning Observations:
College sports are broken and there is nobody (or few) with guts enough to repair it. Who is responsible? All of us and if adults don’t start acting like adults soon, it may become irreparable. Maybe as avid fans, we are loving college sports to death.
Big money, lack of loyalty, television control, sports media, play-for-pay/NIL, player agents, overpaid coaches and administrators, conference realignment, ineffective governance and little emphasis on the term “STUDENT “athlete are slowly strangling collegiate athletics. Unfortunately, few seem worried about the future. Collegiate sports have become get everything I can, as quickly as I can and don’t worry about its impact on tomorrow.
Fans, especially wealthy fans and boosters, are contributing to the problem. They are being called by schools to pay more for priority seating and tickets to build and maintain bigger, better and more elaborate facilities because recruiting demands it.
Because recruiting has become pay-for play, big money doners are being tapped for larger and larger contributions. How long will it be before the average fan and big money doners are tapped out?
Loss of the name, image and likeness (NIL) lawsuit traumatized the NCAA. The once powerful college athletics governing body is now paranoid, willing to do anything to avoid another lawsuit. The mere mention of “anti-trust” sends the organization into apoplexy.
Final approval in a current suit grants a $2.78 billion legal settlement that would allow schools to pay players past and present is looming. It will cost each school millions.
NIL, as it is now, is not name, image and likeness. It has become “how much money are you going to pay me to come to your school”. Never mind if it doesn’t work out, the player (and school) can always hit the portal for more greenbacks.
Most players no longer pick a school because they grew up with that team’s pennant on their bedroom wall. They pick the school that can pay the most and all think they are NFL prospects.
Academics are still stressed at some schools but other high standard institutions like Notre Dame are making concessions so they can recruit the 5-star wonders.
Coaches earn millions of dollars then leave for another school for more millions. If those coaches fail, schools are stuck with a massive buyout. Is it any wonder players wanted some of that action?
Conferences do not realign because it is good for their fans but because it is good for their pocketbook. Or is it? ACC member schools are shelling out a fortune for cross country travel. The average fan can’t afford that trip.
Many sportswriters/broadcasters (often former athletes) want to see players become school employees, unionize, and make more money than their professors.
The National Labor Relations Board unofficially calls certain athletes “employees under the National Labor Relations Act, and, as such, are afforded all statutory protections.” That includes collective bargaining.
TV networks are enablers, spending unbelievable amounts of money on rights fees, allowing collegiate sports to become a bloated corporate model.
We got here because the NCAA refused to increase monthly stipends and because Northwestern University athletes wanted NIL compensation. Athletes claimed they wanted to be treated like other students and be allowed to earn money. They are now treated better than the average student.
Is it too late to find common sense at a time when most athletic departments are losing money, cutting athletic staff, and delving into academic funds and student fees to pay the bills? What about concern for funding non-revenue sports and potential Title IX conflicts?
It is time the powers-that-be find a solution instead of strangling the goose that laid the golden egg.
(Opinions expressed in Morning Briefing are those of the author and not necessarily those of the ownership, management, staff or sponsors of Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa.)
Weather:
Today will seem like an early spring day with showers spreading across the area this morning along with a rumble or two of thunder possible with highs in the lower to mid 60s. The rain should begin to end from the west later today.
The rain is needed as most of West Alabama remains in Abnormally Dry to Severe Drought conditions according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor.
The Forecast:

The Tuscaloosa Public Library is reducing the virtual offerings available to residents of Northport over a disparity in funding from local governments. TPL's executive director, Jennifer Pearson, and its board chairman Jeff Hinton said Thursday that the cuts follow failed negotiations asking for better, more sustainable funding for the library in the years to come.
Read More: Tuscaloosa Library to Cut Some Services in Northport Over Funding Feud
The Tuscaloosa NAACP Branch is claiming they are getting no response from TPD in their request for information related to their investigation of a Tuesday incident at a home on Loop Road.
Officers used an unlocked window to enter the home to serve warrants on an occupant. A 35-second video of the entry has drawn social media criticism. Lisa Young is president of the organization and also a candidate for a seat on the Tuscaloosa City Council. She told news partner ABC 3340 that TPD has not responded to any of her information requests.
29-year-old D’ereka Renee Geter Scott was arrested on felony second-degree assault and failure to appear in court charges. TPD Chief Brent Blankley has determined department protocol was followed.
Read More: Tuscaloosa Police Respond to Video Of Home Entry Through Children’s Window
Tuberville Continues to Criticize the VA
The Veteran’s Administration is drawing the ire of Alabama Senior Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville again. At an oversight hearing titled: “Correcting VA’s Violations of Veterans’ Due Process and Second Amendment Rights." Tuberville told participants he doesn’t understand why the VA cannot communicate in a timely and accurate manner with Vets.
Tuberville claims the VA is too inefficient and ineffective but voiced hope the new Secretary of Veterans Affairs Todd Hunter can straighten out the VA.
Local NAACP President Announces Campaign for City Council
Lisa Young, who has led the Tuscaloosa NAACP Branch since 2021 is running to represent Tuscaloosa City Council District 6, which includes a large swath of neighborhoods between Hargrove Road and Veterans Memorial Parkway.
The incumbent in that race is John Faile who announced his re-election bid earlier.
Read More: President of Tuscaloosa NAACP Vying for City Council Seat
A Student Hoping for Country Music Success
Myles Morgan has already had success with his first two singles, "Nobody's Fault but Yours" and "Jon Boat or A Yacht". Now the UA sophomore is asking area residents and fans to "save" his new song "Is This Seat Taken?" on Spotify.
Myles says he wrote the new song about a life-changing experience at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
You can keep up with Myles and his music on social media here
Read More: Alabama Student On Verge Of Country Music Stardom
ALDOT Grant to Aid Road and Bridge Work in West Alabama
One West Alabama county and two area cities will receive more than $4 million from a $40 million-dollar ALDOT grant for road and bridge work. Walker County will get $1.4 million to improve access management along SR 78, from Walston Bridge Rd. to Fernway Dr…The Pickens County City of Reform will receive $1.4 million to improve intersection and drainage at US 82 and SR 17…and the City of Fayette will use $1.7 million to improve the roundabout at SR 171 and Temple Ave.
Deadline to Sign up for Specialty Schools in TCS is Today
3:00pm today is the deadline to apply for the Tuscaloosa City School System’s Specialty Schools. Those schools include Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools - Elementary, Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools - Middle, The Alberta School of Performing Arts; the IB Program at Central High School, and the Tuscaloosa Fine Arts Academy at Paul W. Bryant High School.
Parents interested in applying must obtain their child's 10-digit student ID and contact their school's office. You can apply online here.
Topping Sports News:
Bama Falls to Wildcats in Women's Basketball Road Game
12th ranked Kentucky beat 22nd ranked Alabama 65-56 in Lexington last night. The game had six ties and six lead changes before the Cats pulled away for the win.
The Crimson Tide will return to Coleman Coliseum on Sunday to take on the Georgia Bulldogs at 2 p.m. CT. The game will be available on SEC Network+.
Read More: No. 22 Alabama Women’s Basketball Falls to No.12 Kentucky
#4 Bama Men to Host Georgia Saturday Afternoon
Alabama (18-3 overall, 7-1 SEC) was able to out slog Mississippi State Wednesday night on the road now the Tide returns home to face Georgia (15-6 overall, 3-5 SEC), another physical team, and the season has shown that the Tide struggles against physical teams.
The matchup between the Crimson Tide and the Bulldogs currently does not have a line set.
The Coleman Coliseum game tips at 3:00pm tomorrow on ESPN and the Crimson Tide Sports Network (95.3 The Bear, Tide 100.9 and 1230AM WTBC).
Bama Gymnastics in Athens Tonight
The Crimson Tide gymnastics team faces an old traditional rival tonight on the road. Bama is at Georgia at 6:00 tonight CST. The Tide is coming off two straight meet losses while the Gym Dawgs have a one meet losing streak.
The meet is part of the SEC Network's "Friday Night Heights" broadcast schedule.
Click TuscaloosaThread.com for the latest West Alabama news, sports and weather. Better yet, download the app.
Have a wonderful weekend and ROLL TIDE!!
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