Alabama
Goodman: Will receiver Isaiah Bond regret leaving Alabama for Texas?
This is an opinion column.
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If anyone was still in denial about the new world of college football, then Isaiah Bond’s transfer from Alabama to Texas ended any and all doubt that the sport would ever be the same again.
Bond was the hero of the 2023 Iron Bowl. His game-winning touchdown reception on fourth and 31 made him an instant legend of Crimson Tide football. He led Alabama in receiving yards in the SEC championship game. After another year in Tuscaloosa, everything was in place for him to carry on the long tradition of Alabama receivers taken in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Then the unthinkable happened. Bond transferred out of Alabama shortly after Nick Saban announced his retirement from college football.
I’m not going to call Bond a turncoat villain, but it’s fair to say that his decision to double-cross Alabama left the Crimson Tide shaken and the rest of the SEC stirred.
Of all the moves we’ve seen throughout the sport of college football since January, Bond’s decision to leave hero status at Alabama for more NIL money at Texas represents the most jaw-dropping plot twist of the offseason. For me, it was even more shocking than Saban’s retirement.
Saban is 72 years old and there were plenty of signs throughout the 2023 season that his career was winding down. My Saban retirement column was ready to publish weeks before the news happened. Bond’s stunning flip caught me completely off guard.
Did a request by Bond for more NIL money from Alabama inform Saban’s decision to call it a career? Since walking away, Saban has acknowledged that the changing motivations of modern-day college football players coaxed him into retirement. When Bond arrived in Austin, Texas, after his transfer, one of the first places he visited was a local Lamborghini dealership.
Can Alabama compete with the NIL collectives out in Texas? Put it this way. The closest Lambo showrooms to Tuscaloosa are in Atlanta and Nashville. There aren’t any in Alabama.
Fans might not like the changes happening in college football, but the real truth can’t be denied. While the sport is evolving by the week, college football has never been more intriguing or popular. Over the next couple months, I’m going to write a series of columns focusing on 10 burning questions throughout the SEC and college football.
Question No.1: Will Isaiah Bond regret leaving Alabama?
NIL was the major factor in Bond’s move west, but Bond also wanted to play for Texas coach Steve Sarkisian. Sarkisian recruited Bond while the receiver was in high school. They had an established relationship before Bond entered the transfer portal. When Saban retired, Bond was the first Alabama player to bolt. It opened the floodgates.
If head-to-head coaching records are an indication, then Bond maybe should have waited to see who Alabama was going to hire as Saban’s successor.
Both Alabama and Texas made the College Football Playoff last season. Both teams went out in the semifinals. Alabama lost to Mighian in overtime of the Rose Bowl and Texas couldn’t keep pace with Washington in the Sugar Bowl.
Alabama then hired Washington coach Kalen DeBoer to replace Saban. It was a bold move not without the potential to fail, but DeBoer’s record against some of the best coaches in college football can’t be denied. Against Sarkisian of Texas, DeBoer is 2-0 over the last two years.
Based on recent history, Bond chose incorrectly and should have waited to hear DeBeor’s pitch.
There are other measures of DeBoer’s success with receivers as well. Look at the 2024 NFL Draft. DeBoer has the edge on Sarkisian there, too.
Texas had an excellent draft class. The Longhorns set a program record with 11 selections and three of those were receivers. Xavier Worthy went No.28 in the first round, Adonai Mitchell was drafted 52nd overall in the second round and then Jordan Whittington was drafted in the sixth round.
Now compare those draft picks to the pass catchers Alabama’s new coach just put in the draft. DeBoer’s trio of former Washington receivers went before the Texas threesome. Rome Odunze was ninth overall to Chicago. Ja’Lynn Polk, a transfer from Texas Tech, was drafted 37th overall in the second round. Jalen McMillan, a crisp route runner, went to Tampa Bay in the third round (92nd overall).
DeBoer scored a major victory for Alabama when he convinced receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard to leave Washington for the Crimson Tide. It was the most important hire for DeBoer’s new staff. Former Washington receiver Germie Bernard followed Shephard to Tuscaloosa and, based on the spring game, will fill the role previously manned by Bond.
Bernard is poised to be Alabama’s new breakout star and Bond is the biggest X-factor in the SEC entering the 2024 season. A spot in the SEC championship game could come down to which player fits in better with their new team.
SOUND OFF
Got a question for Joe? Want to get something off your chest? Send Joe an email about what’s on your mind for the weekly mailbag. Let your voice be heard. Ask him anything.
Joseph Goodman is the lead sports columnist for the Alabama Media Group, and author of the most controversial sports book ever written, “We Want Bama: A Season of Hope and the Making of Nick Saban’s Ultimate Team.”
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – 7-seeded Alabama continues NCAA regional action in the Tuscaloosa Regional on Saturday against USC Upstate. The Crimson Tide is coming off a monstrous offensive effort on Friday that saw the team score the most runs in program NCAA Tournament history with 21. The Spartans scored in each of the first four innings to upset Oklahoma State and advance to Saturday’s winner’s bracket game.
Alabama Baseball Regional Tournament Central: Schedule, How to Watch, Bracket Breakdown
Live Updates (Refresh Your Browser For Latest Updates at the Top)
Pregame
- Tonight’s start time has been delayed as we’ve entered a weather delay.
- Alabama vs. USC Upstate will have a first pitch time of 6:23 p.m. CT. The grounds crew is currently tending the field in between matchups.
- 5:13 p.m. CT – Oklahoma State beat Alabama State 8-7 in 11 innings to eliminate the Hornets from the Tuscaloosa Regional. The Cowboys move into tomorrow’s elimination game against the loser of Alabama and USC Upstate on Sunday.
Starting Lineups
USC Upstate
Alabama
How to Watch: 7-Seed Alabama vs. USC Upstate in the Tuscaloosa Regional
Who: 7-seed Alabama (38-19, 18-12 SEC) vs. USC Upstate (34-28, 13-11 Big South Conference)
What: NCAA Regional Game 4
When: Saturday, May 30, 6 p.m. CT
Where: Sewell-Thomas Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
TV: ESPN +
Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network. LISTEN LIVE
Series: Alabama and USC Upstate have never played in baseball.
Last Meeting: The Crimson Tide and Spartans have never played in baseball.
Last time out, Alabama: The Crimson Tide used 15 hits, and took advantage of eight walks, four errors, and four wild pitches to beat Alabama State 21-3 in their first NCAA Regional matchup of the weekend. Alabama had four different players hit home runs as the Crimson Tide cruised to an easy win.
Last time out, USC Upstate: The Spartans upset Oklahoma State 8-5 in their first game of the NCAA Regional. USC Upstate struck out 10 batters and scored in each of the first four innings to upset the Cowboys.
Tuscaloosa Regional Information
- Alabama, (37-19)
- Oklahoma State, (37-20)
- USC Upstate, (31-27)
- Alabama State, (31-21)
Friday
- Game 1 – #2 Oklahoma St. (37-20) vs. #3 USC Upstate (33-28), 1 p.m. CT, ESPN+
- Game 2 – #1 Alabama (37-19) vs. #4 Alabama St. (34-21), 6 p.m. CT, SEC Network
Saturday
- Game 3 – Oklahoma State vs. Alabama State – 1 p.m. CT
- Game 4 – USC Upstate vs. Alabama – 6 p.m. CT
Sunday
- Game 5 – Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 – 2 p.m. CT
- Game 6 – Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5 – 7 p.m. CT
Monday
Game 7 – IF Necessary – Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 – TBD
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The Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Alabama State Hornets meet in the first game of Saturday’s action at the Tuscaloosa Regional on Saturday.
The Cowboys (37-21) and the Hornets lost their first games of the tournament on Friday. The loser of this game will be eliminated. The winner of this game will advance to another elimination game on Sunday between the loser of the USC Upstate-Alabama game, which follows OSU-ASU
Oklahoma State fans can keep up with the game here, including lineups and inning by inning details on the game. Check out Oklahoma State On SI’s NCAA Tournament Central for everything related to the Tuscaloosa Regional.
Game Details
Oklahoma State vs. Alabama State
Time: 1 p.m. central
TV: ESPN+ (Derek Jones & Jared Mitchell on the call). NOTE: TV is subject to change without notice.
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network & The Varsity Network App/93.7 KSPI-FM or okla.state/GetVarsity (Rex Holt on the call)
OSU Batting Order
The batting order for Saturday’s game will be posted here when it is released by the team.
Xxx
Tuscaloosa Regional
Location: Tuscaloosa, Ala. Venue: Sewell-Thomas Stadium (5,867).
Friday’s Results
Game 1: USC Upstate 8, Oklahoma State 5
Game 2: Alabama 21, Alabama State 3
Saturday’s Games
Game 3: Oklahoma State vs. Alabama State, TBA (elimination game)
Game 4: USC Upstate vs. Alabama, TBA (advances to Sunday’s final)
Sunday’s Games
Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 (elimination game)
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5
Monday’s Game
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (if necessary)
(Times subject to change for TV purposes)
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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – For those incarcerated in Alabama, there is a path to employment through the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles Re-Entry Program.
The Bureau looks at where someone may live after serving their sentence and starts connecting them with potential employers, while also conducting drug screenings to help ensure employers and communities are getting a safe employee.
“We make sure as they’re moving through our re-entry programs that they’re re-assessed for mental health stability for substance abuse challenges,” said Rebecca Bensema, Assistant Director of Re-entry and Rehabilitation.
Bensema said the agency sits down with inmates to gauge their interests and review their work history to help match them with opportunities.
Bureau Director Cam Ward explained that there are areas where an individual would be unable to work because of their conviction.
“For example, if I committed check fraud, I’m not going to be able to get a job at the bank. Sex offense… you’re not going to be eligible to work anywhere near kids or sensitive facilities,” Ward said.
Ward said offering job possibilities to people leaving incarceration is key to reducing recidivism and repeat offenses.
“Give the employer all the information and if they want to hire somebody based on their criminal history, let the employer decide, don’t let the government be the one who dictates it,” he said.
The Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles says it currently has positions open that people with a criminal background can apply for.
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