The Thursday edition of “The Joe Gaither Show on BamaCentral” opens up the NFL season as the year kicks off on Thursday night. What are the best Alabama themed fantasy football plays of the weekend? We then dive into the Crimson Tide’s matchup with the South Florida Bulls as we predict three players to standout on Saturday.

The program opens with the NFL as the Crimson Tide has players all over the league. Thursday night features Derrick Henry on the Baltimore Ravens for the first time ever, while Friday night’s Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers has Alabama players in prominent positions and more. The show picks an all-Alabama fantasy football lineup for the weekend except there’s no tight end in the league with Crimson Tide-ties.

The show then turns its attention to this weekend’s matchup between Alabama and South Florida. The Bulls are outmatched at every position, so what will we watch for to make it interesting? We choose three Alabama players we predict has good games on the first official game on Saban Field in Byrant-Denny Stadium.

Lastly the program highlights a basketball scheduling addition as the Crimson Tide will play in Birmingham and discusses what could become a problem with the SEC’s injury reports this fall.

The show can be seen on the BamaCentral YouTube channel. Keep up with each show on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. Shows can also be heard on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon.

Wednesday: Who’s Playing Left Tackle For Alabama?

Monday: Alabama vs. Western Kentucky Game Review

Nick Saban isn’t going to forget his time as Alabama football coach anytime soon. Especially the experience he had over a short period of time on Jan. 8, 2018.

Saban was speaking at the University of Alabama Board of Trustees meeting Thursday when he brought up the national championship against Georgia from the 2017 season.

“I also had, in the game, the greatest moment of horrific ‘this could never happen’ to ‘greatest feeling of success’ when Tua (Tagovailoa) gets sacked in overtime in 2017,” Saban said. “I break the headset. I’m screaming at him. Before I could get done yelling at him for that play, we won the game.”

Tagovailoa hit DeVonta Smith for the game-winning score in overtime to give Saban his fifth national championship at Alabama.

The Crimson Tide will officially dedicate the field to Saban, who retired in January, on Saturday when No. 4 Alabama faces South Florida. Before the weekend, the board of trustees officially approved the resolution to name the playing surface at Bryant-Denny Stadium “Saban Field.”

After it was approved and the trustees took a photo with the Sabans, the retired Alabama coach spoke.

“I have some of the greatest memories of my lifetime, the 17 years being the coach at Alabama,” Saban said. “Maybe the best opportunity that anybody could ever have.”

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.

On Thursday, Governor Ivey formally requested the resignation of Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Kent Davis and removed John Kilpatrick from the Alabama State Board of Veterans Affairs, effective immediately.

In a letter addressed to Davis, Ivey cited mishandling of a federal grant program as a driving factor for the change in leadership. The governor pointed to delays and ineligible proposals for the use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, which she said jeopardized Alabama’s ability to meet federal requirements and serve its veterans effectively.

Ivey told Davis he has until 5:00 p.m. today to notify her if he intends to resign. If he does so, he can make his resignation effective on September 30, 2024.

“Ample cause exists for your removal as Commissioner,” Ivey wrote in her letter to Davis.

“For example, your agency mishandled an ARPA grant program by, among other things, proposing—on a substantially delayed basis—uses of grant funds that would be ineligible under U.S. Treasury rules and regulations and/or state law or policy. This jeopardized the State of Alabama’s ability to fulfill its obligations under ARPA and your agency’s ability to most effectively serve veterans. It thus seriously calls into question your ability to secure ‘additional services’ for Alabama veterans and to ‘cooperate with all other heads of the state departments’ as is required by your duties under state law.”

Ivey said she reserves the right to argue that Davis failed to consult with her office as required by Executive Order No. 726. The governor did not announce any immediate replacements for Davis or Kilpatrick.

The governor’s request for Davis’ resignation comes just after the Alabama Ethics Commission dismissed a complaint Davis filed against Alabama Department of Mental Health Commissioner Kim Boswell, as chronicled by Alabama Daily News. 

Davis alleged that Boswell “colluded” with others to improperly block the department from receiving about $7 million in ARPA funds and working to “kill” legislation to create a state-run system of mental health care for veterans, according to ADN. 

A review by the commission found the complaint to be categorically unfounded. Governor Ivey called the complaint “entirely frivolous” after their ruling. Davis used numerous ethics complaints seemingly as a canvas to impugn the integrity of colleagues and other respected professionals involved in the legislative process.

John Kilpatrick, who was central to one of the ethics complaints made by Davis, was removed from the veterans board by Ivey on Thursday. Kilpatrick’s nonprofit, Vets Recover, sought a portion of the disputed ARPA funds.

At time of publication, Davis has yet to inform the Governor’s office of his resignation.

Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270