Alabama
Predicting the 2024 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Season: Wisconsin Badgers
The third installment of wild blind dart-throwing predictions of Alabama opponents takes us deep into the Rust Belt wilderness.
GAME 3, September 14: at WISCONSIN BADGERS
Coach: Luke Fickell (7–6, 5–4 B1G in one full season as head coach, plus 1-0 as interim at Wisky in 2022; 71–31 overall with one plagued year at anOhio State and six acceptional seasons at Cincy; 3-4 in bowls)
2023 record: 7-6 (4–4 AAC, lost Tampa Bowl to LSU 35-31)
Looking back: In their first five games, UW beat up on Buffalo, Georgia Southern, Purdue, and Rutgers, but somehow managed to drop a game at Washington State in between. Then, the conference schedule kicked in and true colors were exposed. The Badgers would lose four of their next five, averaging 10 points scored in those four defeats. Wisky rebounded for wins over Nebraska and Minnie, but couldn’t outscore defense-optional LSU in the bowl game to finish with the dreaded 7-6 record. It’s a winning record, but the ugliest kind.
Key losses: RB Braelon Allen (Round 4, Jets), C Tanor Bortolini (Round 4, Colts), QB Tanner Mordecai (grad), LB Maema Njongmeta (grad), DT Gio Paez (xfer to LSU), 3rd leading tackler ILB Jordan Turner (to Sparty), 3rd leading receiver and former team captain Chimere Dike (to Florida), co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Colin Hitschler (now at Alabama), wide receiver coach Mike Brown (to Notre Dame)
Top returnees: Leading tackler SS Hunter Wohler, CB Ricardo Hallman, #1 WR Will Pauling, #2 WR Bryson Green, LB Jake Chaney, OL Riley Mahlman (6’8”/308).
Returning Starters: 5 on defense, 5 on offense, punter and kicker.
Top newcomers: QB Tyler Van Dyke (from Miami-FL), FCS All-American OLB John Pius (William & Mary), RB Tawee Walker (Oklahoma, 513 YDS, 7 TD), Lincoln Riley’s former DC Alex Grinch 2019-2023 is the new Wisconsin DC (because those LR defenses have been so good. Amirite?)
Strengths: Van Dyke’s potential… Stout defense (20.2 ppg allowed in 2023 – 21st best)… Secondary…
Weaknesses: Wisky had a heck of a time scoring points in league play in 2023. They averaged a hair under 20 ppg and tallied 14 or less on four occasions (Iowa, Ohio State, Northwestern, at Indiana)… Receivers need to step up… Defensive line is suspect… Special teams were mediocre last year and the same guys are back…
Outlook: At Miami-FL in 2021, QB Tyler Van Dyke took over for injured starter D’Eriq King and never looked back. He had a fine freshman season (2,931, 25 TD, 6 INT), but the next two campaigns were a little rocky (1,844-10-5 / 2,703-19-12) which included some benchings. Will a change in scenery do him good?
The UW defense probably does not have the speed, depth, or bulk to keep up with the Tide.
Fickell was supposed to be the Wisconsin Messiah, but he has not gotten off to a start that Badgers fans were hoping for. He lost two key staffers in the off-season and the schedule is a daunting one, exchanging two B1G patsies for a trip to Southern Cal and home game vs Oregon.
Bama is currently favored by nine points with the game taking place in Madison with an 11am/noon kickoff. Look for a score around Tide 38 UW 20.
Wisconsin Win Total Odds*
Over 7 -105 (bet $105 to profit $100)
Under 7 -115 (bet $115 to profit $100)
*Source: DraftKings
2024 WISCONSIN BADGERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE:
Fri, Aug 30 vs Western Michigan – W
Sat, Sep 7 vs South Dakota – W
Sat, Sep 14 vs Alabama – L
Sat, Sep 28 @ Southern Cal – L
Sat, Oct 5 vs Purdue – W
Sat, Oct 12 @ Rutgers – W
Sat, Oct 19 @ Northwestern – W
Sat, Oct 26 vs Penn State – L
Sat, Nov 2 @ Iowa – L
Sat, Nov 16 vs Oregon – L
Sat, Nov 23 @ Nebraska – L
Fri, Nov 29 vs Minnesota – W
Poll
It’s WAY early, but not too early to bet. What say you?
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0%
Bama does not cover 9.
(0 votes)
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0%
A 9 point Tide win sounds spot on.
(0 votes)
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25%
Bama wins by 10-14.
(1 vote)
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75%
Bama wins by 15-20.
(3 votes)
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0%
Bama wins 21 or more.
(0 votes)
4 votes total
Vote Now
2024 ALABAMA SCHEDULE PREVIEWS:
Sat, Aug 31 vs Western Kentucky
Sat, Sep 7 vs South Florida
Sat, Sep 14 @ Wisconsin
Sat, Sep 28 vs Georgia
Sat, Oct 5 @ Vanderbilt
Sat, Oct 12 vs South Carolina
Sat, Oct 19 @ Tennessee
Sat, Oct 26 vs Missouri
Sat, Nov 9 @ LSU
Sat, Nov 16 vs Mercer
Sat, Nov 23 @ Oklahoma
Sat, Nov 30 vs Auburn
Alabama residents will make their choice for U.S. Congress during the May 19 primary, and officials are urging people to vote despite an ever-evolving situation surrounding the state’s congressional maps.
Currently, there are legal disputes surrounding the Congressional districts map in use in Alabama. Following the Supreme Court’s ruling in late April on a redistricting case in Louisiana, Alabama asked for the preliminary injunction which barred them from redrawing their maps until 2030 to be lifted, which the courts have granted as of May 11.
Though there’s been some confusion in the face of ongoing legal motions regarding the maps, what is certain is that primary elections will go on as planned despite Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey calling for a special election in August for the affected congressional districts — Districts 1, 2, 6 and 7.
The Northern District Court of Alabama, which originally issued the injunction, still has to reconsider the case. The court asked state officials in a May 12 order to explain the plan for the 2026 elections and to explain how they plan to “ensure that all Alabamians may timely and efficaciously exercise their constitutional right to vote.”
There are two more elections after the primaries this month. On June 16, the state will hold primary runoff elections, and on Nov. 3, the state will host the general election. Additional candidates could come up after the primaries conclude, so once the names are finalized, the ballots may appear differently in November.
The special election in races affected by new congressional maps is currently planned for Aug. 11, though officials — including Ivey — have encouraged all voters to cast their ballots in the regular May 19 primary.
Who’s running for U.S. Senate?
The seat currently held by U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville is up for election. Tuberville, who has thrown his hat in the governor’s race, will not be returning to the position, so all candidates listed would be new to the Senate. The other seat is held by U.S. Sen. Katie Britt and won’t be open until her term expires in 2028.
Republican candidates
- Seth Burton
- Dale Shelton Deas Jr.
- Jared Hudson
- Steve Marshall
- Barry Moore
- Rodney Walker
Some names on this list are already serving in federal and Alabama state government positions, with Marshall currently serving as the state’s Attorney General, and Moore currently representing Alabama’s 1st District in the House of Representatives and previously representing the 2nd District. Of the candidates, President Donald Trump has endorsed only one, which is Moore.
Hudson is the only candidate who has attempted to run for another position, albeit unsuccessfully — he ran for sheriff of Jefferson County in 2022, but lost to incumbent Sheriff Mark Pettway.
Democratic candidates
- Dakarai Larriett
- Kyle Sweetser
- Everett Wess
- Mark S. Wheeler II
Who’s running for House of Representatives?
U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell is running unopposed in District 7. Voters in every district have candidates from both sides of the aisle to consider.
Considering the special election that is now on the horizon, candidate names may appear differently on ballots in August if different maps are approved. For the May 19 primaries, the following is how candidate names will appear.
District 1 Republican Candidates
- Jerry Carl
- James (Jimmy) Dees
- Rhett Marques
- Joshua McKee
- John Mills
- James Richardson
- Austin Sidwell
District 1 Democratic Candidates
Senate candidate Moore currently holds the District 1 position, so no candidates are incumbents. A few of the candidates in this race have previous political experience. Carl is a former member of the U.S. House and used to represent District 1, with his tenure in office lasting from 2021-25. Marques is a current Alabama State House representative.
District 2 Republican Candidates
District 2 Democratic Candidates
U.S. Rep. Figures currently holds the District 2 position.
District 3 Republican Candidates
District 3 Democratic Candidates
U.S. Rep. Rogers currently holds the District 3 position.
District 4 Republican Candidates
- Robert B. Aderholt
- Tommy Barnes
District 4 Democratic Candidates
- Amanda N. Pusczek
- Shane Weaver
U.S. Rep. Aderholt currently holds the District 4 position. His one Republican opponent, Barnes, has a history in public service, serving as a Colbert County Commissioner.
District 5 Republican Candidates
District 5 Democratic Candidates
- Jeremy Devito
- Candice Dollar Duvieilh
- Andrew Sneed
U.S. Rep. Strong currently holds the District 5 position.
District 6 Republican candidates
District 6 Democratic candidates
U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer currently holds the District 6 position.
How do I check my voter registration status?
To vote in the primary election, voters need to have been registered to vote in Alabama for 15 days before the election is scheduled to happen.
To check your registration status, visit vote.gov.
Sarah Clifton covers business for the Montgomery Advertiser. You can reach her at sclifton@montgome.gannett.com or follow her on X @sarahgclifton and TikTok @sarahgclifton. To support her work, please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.
PENSACOLA, Fla. — A bipartisan bill is making its way through Washington that would preserve and possibly restore a famous piece of naval aviation history.
The F-14 Tomcat was in service with the Navy for more than 30 years and was famously used in the original “Top Gun” movie.
But when the aircraft retired in 2005, the U.S. government destroyed a majority of the airplanes that were here in the U.S. This made the prospects of the jet returning to the skies next to impossible.
The “Maverick Act” hopes to bring a jet that inspired a generation back to life.
“The Maverick Act got a lot of support,” “It passed the Senate unanimously. It now heads to Congress for a final vote.”
Pensacola Navy veteran Dan McCort can still feel the raw power the F-14 Tomcat brought to naval aviation.
“It was a blast to fly. I gotta tell you I got it,” McCort said. “I love the airplane. I love the missions because it came with a huge mission set.”
The only country in the world flying the jet was Iran. The jets were given to Iran in 1979. But when the government was overthrown, the jets fell into the hands of an anti-American government.
Because of that, when the jet retired in 2006, the U.S. ordered most of the aircraft and its parts be destroyed.
During Operation Epic Fury, American and Israeli pilots destroyed Iran’s entire Air Force, including all the remaining flyable F-14s.
“We had to take them out, but boy that was hard for me to watch,” McCort said.
A bill dubbed the “Maverick Act” was introduced through a bipartisan effort. The legislation would preserve and restore three F-14s sitting in our nation’s boneyard.
“That airplane inspired an entire nation, partly because of the movie, partly because of the times it was hard Cold War, and it represented frankly American air power,” said McCort.
“A fantastic piece of equipment that served our country well,” Congressman Jimmy Patronis said. “But I can’t help but poke fun at it simply because of what Tom Cruise has done with the most recent ‘Top Gun’ movies.”
The bill calls for the Navy to donate the Tomcats to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where they will be restored. If there’s enough spare parts, the bill calls for one of them to be restored to flight status to be flown at airshows across the country.
All of this would be funded by private donors, and not American taxpayers.
“If there’s no taxpayer dollars being used to restore these things then put it on the table,” said Patronis.
McCort says restoring the airplane will cost millions of dollars.
“A foundation that could generate some donations to defer the costs of making this thing fly because it will not be inexpensive,” said McCort. “I believe we’ll pay dividends down the road, both for the museum as well as a recruiting opportunity… as well as a recruiting opportunity for the country in general, and for the Navy frankly.”
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