Alabama
Former Alabama linebacker tackling a new sport
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – If you’re an Alabama football fan or a UFC fan, Eryk Anders is a name that you will probably recognize.
Some Crimson Tide fans might even have the image playing in their heads when Anders made the play of the game in the 2009-2010 BCS title game between Alabama and Texas. With three minutes left in the fourth quarter as Alabama led 24-21, Anders tackled then Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert and forced a fumble that would ultimately seal the game and kick-off the Nick Saban dynasty.
It’s a moment that will be remembered forever, but unfortunately, football didn’t work out. So, Anders decided to tackle another sport and traded in the football for fighting gloves and replaced grass with mats.
“I went from being a black belt in football to a white belt in fighting,” Anders said.
Anders worked for Coca-Cola, was once a customer service representative, and did just about everything under the sun. However, nothing satisfied him more than training did. Anders made his UFC debut in 2017 fighting out Birmingham, and now wants to help others pick up the gloves.
“Who better to teach you to fight than the guy who fought at the highest level for an extended period of time,” Anders said.
Not one to ever back down from a fight, Anders knows struggle. He has fought his way through life to have these opportunities. Now at 36-years-old, Anders has three more fights left on his UFC contract. He said that will take as long as it takes. Once he’s done, he wants to do just that of training others how to fight just like he once learned years ago.
“You can’t be scared to fail,” Anders said. “I’m not scared to fail. I’ll give it a go, and if it works out, it works out, and if not, what did I really lose?”
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Alabama
YMCA of South Alabama holds Healthy Kids Day in Spanish Fort
SPANISH FORT, Ala. (WALA) – The YMCA of South Alabama held a Healthy Kids Day at Spanish Fort Town Center Park.
Saturday’s event featured games and demonstrations, along with interactive activities featuring police and fire vehicles.
“I think just seeing so many organizations come together that serve kids, and just seeing kids have fun,” said Gwen Summer, CEO of the YMCA of South Alabama.
Marissa Rennaker, director of development for the YMCA of South Alabama, said the event exposed children to new activities.
“I think it’s been seeing all the kids laugh and try different things that they probably haven’t tried before,” Rennaker said. “There was a big group doing pickleball and yoga. We had ballet earlier, so just getting them out and exposed to things, I think it’s been great.”
The event was designed to kick off a healthy, active summer.
The YMCA of South Alabama is located at 27080 Pollard Road in Daphne.
Copyright 2026 WALA. All rights reserved.
Alabama
Former Alabama superstar signs massive extension with NFL team
Former Alabama star Will Anderson Jr. has reportedly signed a three-year, $150 million extension with the Houston Texans, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Anderson instantly solidified himself as one of the top defensive players in football throughout his rookie campaign in 2023. The star defensive end was named as the Rookie of the Year in 2023, as Anderson’s extension will officially keep him in Houston long-term, as well as make him the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Anderson recorded an impressive 12 sacks on the Texans’ defensive line in 2025, as the former Alabama star has made history following his head turning extension with Houston.
Anderson was nothing short of a superstar throughout his time at Alabama. Houston drafted the talented lineman with the third overall pick of the 2023 NFL draft, as Anderson was widely regarded as one of the top overall selections from his class.
The former Crimson Tide superstar has officially inked a massive extension with the Texans, as Anderson will undoubtedly continue playing a critical role on Houston’s defensive line over the coming seasons.
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Alabama
Alabama Baseball Strikes Out 17 Times in Noncompetitive Loss to Texas
Alabama head coach Rob Vaughn said that No. 4 Texas would be “hungry” against the No. 11Crimson Tide coming off its first series loss of the season to Texas A&M.
The Longhorns certainly were, as they pounced all over Vaughn’s team, striking out 17 Alabama batters en route to a 10-2 win.
“The story of the game was they just kind of kicked our tail in every phase tonight,” Vaughn said.
Alabama starter Tyler Fay had been elite over his past four starts, dating back to his complete-game no-hitter against Florida, allowing just six earned runs over the 26.0 innings pitched in those games. That changed instantly on Friday evening, as leadoff batter Aiden Robbins opened the game with a double and catcher Carson Tinney took him deep for a two-run blast moments later.
Texas added a third run in the first off an Ethan Mendoza RBI double, setting the tone for a dominant day. Alabama did not record a hit until the fourth inning as Longhorn ace Dylan Volantis tore through batters, striking out 12 over six innings.
Fay ended up going 5.1 innings, just the second time he did not make it through the sixth. The other, against Auburn, was only due to Vaughn wanting to keep his pitch count down in the wake of the no-hitter. He allowed season-highs of seven earned runs and 12 hits in the loss.
The Longhorns added a run each in the third and the fifth, before Alabama put the slightest amount of pressure on Texas in the top of the sixth. Bryce Fowler and Justin Lebron scored on the basepaths off an error and a wild pitch, respectively, to cut the Texas lead to three runs.
“You’ve got to find ways to score,” Vaughn said. “Those two guys just created two runs for us, and did a great job creating those runs and we crawl back in at 5-2, and it’s like, ‘Let’s go back to work…’ So thought we had that chance in those middle innings.”
The Longhorns effectively put the game to bed in the next frame, responding with three runs as Fay was relieved by Connor Lehman. Texas would add two more runs on the day, with the only silver lining coming in the fact that Alabama avoided a run-rule.
The Crimson Tide has now lost four straight SEC games after winning three consecutive series. Zane Adams takes the mound with the series on the line on Saturday, in a game that has been moved up to 12 p.m. CT due to anticipated rain in Austin.
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