West Alabama Wednesday Briefing
Good morning West Alabama! It is Wednesday, October 23, 2024.
Wednesday Morning Observations:
"Lack of Discipline", those are the words being used by almost everyone to describe the 2024 Alabama Football Team and the major reason for their two losses in the State of Tennessee.
Discipline was also an issue at times during the tenure of retired Tide Coach Nick Saban who addressed it on "Hey Coach" after the loss to Texas A&M in 2021.
"It's amazing to me — and I think we're all sort of guilty of this to some degree — that people respond so much better when bad things happen than when good things happen," Saban said. "And I think that when good things happen a lot, people have the tendency to get complacent. Complacency breeds a blatant disregard for doing things right, so you're not doing the little things right — you're not creating the right habits — and eventually that catches up with you.
"And when you don't have humility, you don't have enough respect for other people regardless of who you're playing. But basically, whoever we're playing, the opponent should be faceless. You should respect the technical parts of what they do and how you have to prepare to do it, but really your focus should be totally on your own performance in terms of how you play."
Saban put an emphasis on leadership on the team as well as how his team needed to maintain focus and personal discipline in order to maintain success. The leaders on this year's team need to step forward and lead.
During Monday's press conference, current Bama Coach Kalen DeBoer explained that the "biggest message" over the past couple of weeks has been that there's no room for excuses as they "soften character."
Much was made of "The Bama Standard" during Saban's tenure. It was a standard of doing things the right way, admitting mistakes and working to correct them, not make excuses.
Former players like Tide national champions QB A.J. McCarron has added his voice to those of other players who accuse today's players of being self-centered, not enough about TEAM and making excuses.
The Bama Standard should not apply to just the tenure of Nick Saban, it should be something players and coaches always attempt to live up to while they wear the crimson and white.
-----
Weather
The Forecast:
Much of the opposition has centered around the 9-story height of the buildings, controversial timeshare units and potential traffic congestion.
Two-term Jasper Mayor David O’Mary has died. The Jasper native previously had served on the Jasper Industrial Development Board and Jasper City Board of Education. He was 72.
Several local agencies are partnering with a statewide organization to launch a free program to keep young professionals in Tuscaloosa long after they earn their degrees.
Called Anchor Tuscaloosa, the initiative is a collaboration between the statewide Fuel Alabama program and the Tuscaloosa County Economic Development Authority, The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama and Visit Tuscaloosa.
The program is free and available for up to 40 qualified undergraduate and graduate students at not only the University of Alabama but also Stillman College and Shelton State Community College who have completed at least 30 hours of credit before December 31, 2024.
Read More: Organizations Partner on Anchor Tuscaloosa Initiative to Keep Graduates Local
Organizers have declared this past weekend’s Kentuck Arts Festival as a great success. It was the first time the nationally recognized festival was held in Tuscaloosa instead of its original home in Northport. Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox thanked city employees, who put in extra hours for the festival, for their hard work.
A 16-year-old, who was hit by a car on October 13th has died. The youth was struck by a vehicle just before 11:00pm while walking along U.S. 82, about four miles east of Tuscaloosa
The Northport teen died at DCH Regional Medical Center on October 16th according to ALEA, which is still investigating the incident.
A political sign thief is at it again in Northport. For the 2nd time in the last two weeks, residents in Northport displaying Harris/Waltz signs have had them stolen.
The City of Tuscaloosa is accepting applications for one position on the Zoning Board of Adjustments for a term ending September 28, 2027.
The Zoning Board of Adjustments was formed in 1959 to hear and decide requests for special exceptions, authorize any variances from the Zoning Ordinance, and hear and decide appeals where there is believed to be an error in any order, requirement, decision, or determination made by the Zoning Officer.
Members must:
- Be a resident of the City of Tuscaloosa
- Be available to attend monthly meetings
- Meetings are held the fourth Monday of each month at 5 p.m.
Training or experience with zoning ordinances or in a related field is preferred. All candidates will be reviewed and recommended by the City Council.
To learn more about the Zoning Board of Adjustments, visit Tuscaloosa.com/ZBA.
To submit an application, visit Tuscaloosa.com/boards. Applications will be open until October 29th at 5 p.m.
The City of Tuscaloosa will host the annual Tech or Treat event this Thursday, October 24 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Gateway, located at 2614 University Blvd East.
Tech or Treat is a free community event similar to a “trunk-or-treat.” Families and children will go table to table collecting candy and being introduced to STEM concepts through activities facilitated by City departments and community organizations.
The event is free and open to all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Learn more at Tuscaloosa.com/techortreat.
Topping Sports News:
Mexican pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, an iconic LA Dodgers player and Major League Baseball figure, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 63. "The Dodgers mourn the loss of legendary pitcher Fernando Valenzuela. "Fernandomania" forever," the Los Angeles team posted on social media X with an image of the left-handed pitcher.
Valenzuela's death comes just three days before the start of the World Series, where his beloved Dodgers will face the New York Yankees.
Highly sought-after Class of 2025 tight end Marshall Pritchett has flipped to Alabama from the North Carolina Tar Heels. Pritchett had been committed to UNC since March of this year. His commitment comes a few weeks after returning to Tuscaloosa for the Alabama vs. Georgia game.
Alabama's Homecoming Pep Rally Friday night on the Quad will include something new - drones. The pep rally will kick off at 6:30 p.m. and the aerial show will follow at 7:30.
Read More: Alabama’s Homecoming to Feature UA’s First-Ever Drone Light Show
No. 1 quarterback prospect Jared Curtis will attend the Iron Bowl game at Bryant-Denny Stadium at the end of the regular season. Once a Georgia commit, the Nashville, Tenn., native recently told On3's Hayes Fawcett that Oregon is now number one of his list.
Curtis has already visited Tuscaloosa five times during his collegiate recruitment, but this will be the first time under Kalen DeBoer.
Read More: 2026 Five-Star QB to Visit Crimson Tide over Iron Bowl Weekend
Click TuscaloosaThread.com to keep up with the latest West Alabama news, sports and weather. Better yet, download the app.
Have a wonderful "Hump Day" It is downhill toward the weekend after noon today. ROLL TIDE!
More From 95.3 The Bear
