Good morning West Alabama. It is Thursday, January 23, 2025. It is the 23rd day of the year with 342 remaining.

Thursday Morning Observations:

Sports talk show hosts and sports writers are stunned, in near hysteria. The ratings for the College Football Playoff Championship Game were down for the second year in a row. 7th seeded Ohio State’s victory over 8th seeded Notre Dame averaged 22.1 million viewers. That is a 12% decline compared to the year-ago mark. It was the fourth least-watched title game of the last 10 years.

How did that happen is a question being asked at schools, in the upper levels of ESPN, on sports talk shows and among the College Football Playoff Committee. It was a championship match-up made for prime time. It was the Big 10's darling Ohio State against the favorite of college football elite media and Catholics everywhere Notre Dame.

The week before the game, predictions of the largest college football TV audience in history were being bounced around. Talking heads were saying the lack of a Southeastern Conference team in the title game would attract a huge audience of fans suffering from SEC burnout.

The truth is probably a combination of factors. The 12-team playoff has extended the college football season to more games than ever. Some fans, like me, simply got burned out on all the pregame overhype. This might become an even bigger factor if and when the playoffs are extended to 16 teams.

But there is more: The contest had to compete with two major events last Monday, MLK Day and the Presidential Inauguration...many fans want games on Saturdays only...The contest was a blowout into halftime...the 12-team playoff requires too much of a fan investment...The NFL Playoffs are well underway...College basketball is having a banner season...both teams are hated by many fans...extreme winter weather was plaguing some parts of the nation and oh yes, there was no team from the viewer rich SEC.

It also is likely that nationwide viewership was damaged by the two teams being from the same region, just 300 miles apart.

Look for tweaks before next season's game which is also on MLK Day.

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


Weather:

Finally, slightly warmer temperatures can be expected with highs in the low to mid 40s today. However, the polar express returns tonight with overnight lows in the lower 20s again. So, continue to practice precaution with people, pets, plants and pipes.

The Forecast:

Today
Sunny, with a high near 46. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 22. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 43. Light and variable wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 20. Calm wind.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 49. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
Saturday Night
Increasing clouds, with a low around 30.
Sunday
A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 48.
Sunday Night
Showers likely, mainly after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 40. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

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Topping the News:

Shooting Suspect Still Being Sought in Tuscaloosa

A shooting investigation is underway in Tuscaloosa. The Wednesday evening incident at the Krystal located at the intersection of McFarland Boulevard and James I. Harrison Jr. Parkway sent a victim to DCH for treatment and a suspect on the run.

The Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit has released little information about the shoot except to say the victims wound was not life threatening. They speculate that the 6:00pm shooting was the result of some type of altercation.


 

Pickens County Gets Air Medic Subscriber Service

Pickens County has been struggling to maintain an ambulance service for some time. Currently medical calls are answered by a ground ambulance out of Lamar County but because the county's only hospital is closed, transport times can be lengthy.

PHI Air Medical, an air ambulance service is now available in the West Alabama county located on the Mississippi State Line.

A $65.00 a year membership includes individual and the household. There will be no out of pocket expense for members.


 

South Alabama Slowly Thawing

Many stores, businesses, schools and roads continue to be closed after the record snowfall and ice earlier this week. Trucks are still waiting fat truck stops or the highly traveled I10 corridor to be reopened.

The iconic dome of the Mobile Civic Center dome collapsed from the weight of snow. The civic center was already under demolition since the city plans to build a new Civic Center arena.


Committee Formed to Search for New UA President

A 14-member committee has been appointed by the University of Alabama to find a replacement for current president Dr. Stuart Bell. He recently announced he is stepping down this summer after being at the helm of the Capstone for a decade.

Read More: Committee Forms to Find University of Alabama’s Next President


 

Another Candidate Qualifies for Tuscaloosa municipal Elections

Longtime Tuscaloosa funeral director Oliver “Maurice” Sealey has qualified to challenge incumbent 7th District Councilman Cassius Lanier in the March 4th Municipal Election.

In a press release Sealey pointed to strengthening neighborhoods as one of the key focuses of his campaign.

Qualifying ends next Tuesday.

Read More: Funeral Director to Challenge Lanier for Tuscaloosa Council Seat


 

DCH Opens New Parking Deck Today

DCH Regional Medical Center will open its new parking deck on the southside of the huge medical facility.

The 864-parking space deck features a modern ticketing system designed for maximum convenience. Patients and visitors will now be able to pay for parking at kiosks inside the hospital.

Medical center leaders had planned to do a formal ribbon cutting but it was too cold to have it outside.

Read More: DCH Medical Center Enhances Accessibility with New Parking Deck


 

Aderholt Goes After Planned Parenthood

West Alabama Republican Congressman Robert Aderholt will introduce the Protect Funding for Women’s Health Care Act in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The proposed legislation aims to prevent federal taxpayer dollars from being used to fund Planned Parenthood and its affiliates. The bill would ban any federal funds being provided to the private non-profit.


 

ADPH Investigating Bad Reaction to 

The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) is investigating reports of adverse reactions to injections of the antibiotic ceftriaxone, also known as Rocephin.

The ADPH received 11 reports as of Tuesday, Jan. 21.

 These injections occurred within the last few months in Alabama, but the ADPH did not identify the individuals or the cities where the incidents took place.



Topping Sports News:

First pitch for the new college softball season is in 15 days and Alabama is just out of the top 10 in the pre-season poll.
The Southeastern Conference is well represented in the poll. Texas, Florida, and Oklahoma are ranked 1, 2, and 3 in the poll.  Tennessee is at No.5, Texas A&M at No.7, LSU at No.9, Arkansas at No.13, Georgia at No.14, Missouri at No.15, and Mississippi State at No.25.

Bama Football Gets Big News

There has to be a smile on the face of Crimson Tide Football Coach Kalen DeBoer today. One of the top players on his team has announced he will bypass the NFL Draft and remain in Tuscaloosa for his senior year.
"I had some deep talks with a lot of people. My family, my family played a huge role in this decision. Overall, I just, I don't feel accomplished here yet. I don't really feel like I got things to prove, but I just don't feel like my story is complete here." Lawson told the Crimson Tide Sports Network.
Lawson missed the last two games of the 2024 season due to injury.


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Have a great Thursday!

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